The data behind trash and clean streets
Trash, the "Argentina 1985" soundtrack, and the etiquette of a voice memo. #31
Here’s a question for my New York City newsletter readers: is your block cleaner or dirtier than, say, 3 years ago? The recently-released preliminary mayor’s management report shows that the number of city streets rated “filthy” has gone up.
The sanitation department disputes that, saying that the city’s methodology is flawed. (Some of the MMR data, like this stuff, is calculated by inspectors from the mayor’s office of operations, and being a secret inspector sounds fun to me.)
They point instead to the uptick in litter-basket pickup – 3.6 million in the first four months – and the decrease in 311 complaints about those baskets overflowing (down 56%.)
In a city of more than 8 million people, trash on the street seems inevitable. Sometimes it’s windy; the garbage blows around. Some people are slobs and litter. Trash bags open up and bags of Cheetos make their way outside.
But clean streets is one of Mayor Eric Adams’ things, because he’s tied it to the thing he hates the most: RATS. That’s what the compost program is for, to separate the trash in closed bins so the rats don’t have a full feast.
What do you all think?
And you can read the full story here.
🎧 I was on Errol Louis’s podcast this week where I made a joke that I wish Mayor Adams would do a true-crime playlist. Our episode of FAQ this week also has a great discussion from Chrissy Greer on the declining Black population in the city. And I was also on the Brian Lehrer show with guest host Brigid Bergin even though my wifi was annoying.
READ
”Italians value aesthetics. And we are hopeless romantics. So learning Alfonso’s vision for the Moka design was inspired by the robust figure of his wife, does not surprise me. The 8-sided shape mimics the silhouette of his love – her broad shoulders, narrow waist, her arm on her hip (handle), and pleated skirt.” My friend Paula writes about the Moka pot. [THE WAVE]
LISTEN
“Argentina 1985” is excellent and Oscar-nominated and I’ve been listening to this soundtrack playlist for a week straight [SPOTIFY]
THE VOICE MEMO
New York Magazine published an excellent etiquette guide in this week’s issue, with plenty of advice on what to do and how to act in our new world.
What was most relevant to me was the bit about the voice memo.
From the article:
129. Hot gossip goes only in the voice memo, never in text.
When you (Oh my God) have something wild to share (You won’t believe this!) and you just (Are you kidding?!) can’t wait (I’m dying) to share it in person (Holy shit), you know you can’t put it in writing. Texts are far too easy to screenshot and far too boring to type. As your attorney, I must advise you: Send that gossip in a voice memo.
Unless the recipient is one of those people who saves all their voice memos — careful, they exist — this mode is ephemeral. It is fast, and it is fun. Nothing beats a face-to-face tête-à-tête or even a dishy phone call. But a series of increasingly (What?) unhinged (No!) recordings (Again?!) of your friend talking out of school in their actual (Gasp!) voice? It’s enough to singe your ear. — Madeline Leung Coleman
I wholeheartedly agree. In fact, most longer or good or interesting stories should be shared in voice memo form. I recently had a friend tell a group chat, in about 12 memos, a scandalous story involving a bar confrontation. Just this week I leapt from my seat when I found a more than 5 minute voice memo waiting for me in another group chat (Hi Walter.)
I find the memos help me connect with my friends and get to the point faster. I view them like little personal podcasts, where I can receive or give advice and also encourage my friends who may need a little vocal pick-me-up but can’t take a proper phone call.
“So what do you think about all this trash?” Thanks for reading!