Tuesday’s Headlines are Celebrating Something

Hot dogs, fireworks and some news.

12:00 AM EDT on July 4, 2023

Main photo: Spencer T Tucker/Chestnut photo: Gersh Kuntzman

We're going to take off today, but we'll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, make sure to watch Joey "Jaws" Chestnut eat close to 70 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes today at New York's Coney Island.

But here's some limited news:

A handful of Bay Area pols don't want to raise bridge tolls to fund BART. (SF Chronicle)
The gas tax in California went up on July 1 — and, of course, TV news went all "war on cars" with it. (Fox11)
Tesla sales are up, the EV version of corporate welfare. (NY Times)
A legendary pro-car columnist who lives on a low-lying island in New York City is now complaining that drivers might have to pay for the damage they do. (SI Advance)
Not content with zero traffic deaths for several years, Hoboken, N.J. is doing more Vision Zero work. (Tap Into Hoboken)
Milan cyclists want safe routes. (Euro News)
The Daily Beast takes you inside the world of guerrilla street safety redesigners.

Gersh Kuntzman

Tabloid legend Gersh Kuntzman has been with New York newspapers since 1989, including stints at the New York Daily News, the Post, the Brooklyn Paper and even a cup of coffee with the Times. He’s also the writer and producer of “Murder at the Food Coop,” which was a hit at the NYC Fringe Festival in 2016, and “SUV: The Musical” in 2007. He also writes the Cycle of Rage column, which is archived here.

Promoted

Stay in touch

More from Streetsblog USA

Amtrak

Friday Video: Amtrak Is Way More Successful Than You Think

Why do so many people still treat Amtrak as a failure — and what would it take to deliver the rail investment that American riders deserve?

Streetsblog

October 24, 2025

Today's Headlines

Friday’s Headlines Are Hanging Out Down the Street

The same old thing we did last week — until the neighbor wrote a letter to the editor.

Blake Aued

October 24, 2025

Streetsblog San Francisco High speed rail

Report: Lessons from California’s HSR Project

A new paper from the Mineta Institute looks at California's high-speed rail project—and how to do better moving forward.

October 23, 2025

Talking Headways

Talking Headways Podcast: Life After Cars

Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of The War on Cars podcast on their new book, opposing views, Turtle Jesus and potential off-ramps towards car-free cities.

Jeff Wood

October 23, 2025

Streetsblog California Congestion

Traffic Congestion Is a Housing and Transit Problem, Not a Highway Problem

To truly solve tangled traffic in California (and across the U.S.), we need to take the problem out of the hands of the road builders and address the root causes of congestion: building more affordable housing near jobs and improving public transportation options.

October 23, 2025