GRIDLOCK SAM

Sun. Sept. 19th-Sat. Sept. 25th ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE SUSPENDED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FOR SUCCOTH

GRIDLOCK ALERT! The UN Assembly meets this week, meaning traffic will be a nightmare in Manhattan on weekdays. Closures are possible across a wide swath of Midtown east of 6th between 34th St. and 60th St., and on the FDR south of 42nd St. Conditions will be especially bad on Tuesday as President Biden addresses the gathering. Use transit if at all possible.

Succoth starts Monday at nightfall, continuing to the following Monday; expect extra activity in Williamsburg and Borough Park.

The Biden, End Vaccine Apartheid! Protest will be held on Monday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, at 47th St. and 1st Ave.

On Wednesday, the Bowling Green Park Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Impacts are possible to Broadway and Battery Pl.

The Long Island City Expo takes place Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along 28th St. between Queens Plaza South and 42nd Rd.

The Rangers will play the Yankees, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

MAILBAG Dear Gridlock Sam,

On August 24th, I received a ticket for a parking in front of a school where signage reads: “No Standing School Days 7am-4pm.”

I disputed the ticket, pointing out NYC

DoE’s official calendar states schools were out from June 25th through Sept. 13th, and the online calendar of the school I parked in front of showed no activities for that date and essentially zero for the entire month of August. My appeal was denied, with the judge stating: “Respondent’s testimony and evidence is not persuasive to establish that this school was closed for all purposes at the date and time this violation was issued.”

How else is a person to know whether a day is a “school day” if not by looking at the official calendars? Should I get a note from the principal?

Dear Aaron,

Aaron

This is an issue every summer. Schools may be closed for regular instruction, but open to all sorts of other activities; when they are, the school is considered open and the signs are in effect. Adding to the confusion, DOT has never defined what a school day is, and many institutions (like Catholic schools and yeshivas) follow different calendars, so it’s difficult to be sure if a given school is in session.

I think a note from the principal would help. Make sure it says there were no activities ongoing from DOE or any other entity and therefore the school was closed.