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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

SoHo and NoHo are notorious for their exorbitant rent and upper-crust reputation. Mayor de Blasio's upzoning plan will create tens of thousands of affordable housing units in these neighborhoods. (Photo by Aleksandra Pankratova)

Opinion: De Blasio’s upzoning plan will foster housing affordability

Contrary to some unfounded criticisms, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s zoning proposal will, in fact, help mitigate the city’s housing crisis in NoHo and SoHo.
Michael Galati, Contributing Writer November 24, 2021

In October 2020, Bill de Blasio’s administration proposed an upzoning of the SoHo/NoHo neighborhood that would add 3,200 housing units over 10 years. Village Preservation, a...

Last week, Bill de Blasio filed paperwork that set him up for a New York gubernatorial campaign. Before taking further steps, he should address the concerns surrounding his misuse of security detail as mayor and make financial reimbursements to taxpayers. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: NYC deserves answers and reimbursements from Bill de Blasio

Before rushing to file for the governor’s race, Bill de Blasio should properly address his misuse of security detail as mayor and make appropriate financial reimbursements.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor November 4, 2021

With Eric Adams’ mayoral win confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 2, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s time in office is drawing to a close. De Blasio has already begun to prepare for his next political...

On Oct. 18, New York’s police watchdog agency recommended 65 officers be charged with misconduct. In order to hold police officers accountable, the NYPD commissioner should not have the final say in the disciplinary hearings. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYPD officers must be held legally accountable

Recent findings of NYPD officers' misconduct underscore the importance of strict disciplinary accountability.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor October 28, 2021

On Oct. 18, in response to an ongoing investigation into over 300 filed complaints of police brutality during the Black Lives Matter protests from the summer of 2020, New York’s...

A woman holds a sign demanding the closure of the Rikers Island jail. Activists are criticizing the rising death toll and inhumane living conditions, and New York City has pledged to close Rikers Island in 2027. (Photo by Sam Clegg)

Opinion: Close Rikers now

Amid an alarming rise in suicides, neglect and unlivable conditions, it is incumbent upon Mayor Bill de Blasio to shut down Rikers Island jail complex and stop wasting taxpayer money on pointless reforms.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor September 30, 2021

After touring Rikers Island on Monday, Sept. 27, Mayor Bill de Blasio noted the city’s progress in improving the jail. However, he failed to mention the deadly overcrowding,...

Members of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance have been protesting against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s debt relief plan for taxi workers outside City Hall for the past eight days. The plan is weak and does not do enough to financially protect taxi drivers. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Editorial: NYC taxi drivers deserve better than de Blasio’s deal

The debt relief plan offered by Mayor Bill de Blasio should be amended to financially protect taxi workers after decades of deregulation and private greed.
The Editorial Board September 27, 2021

For the past eight days, members of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance have been engaged in a 24/7 protest outside of City Hall in response to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s debt relief...

NYU continues construction on 181 Mercer Street in SoHo gentrifying the area. Mayor DeBlasio’s plan for affordable housing in the area does not serve the public interest of the surrounding area. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Opinion: De Blasio’s rezoning plan is gentrification in the making

Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to increase access to affordable housing for SoHo, NoHo and Chinatown residents with a controversial upzoning plan. The plan, however, will likely instead increase gentrification in NYU’s backyard and reduce net affordable housing. The City Planning Commision should reject it outright.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor September 1, 2021

Last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office introduced a rezoning plan targeting much of SoHo, NoHo and parts of Chinatown. The city has emphasized the plan’s potential to create...

New Yorkers Don’t Deserve Petty Politics

New Yorkers Don’t Deserve Petty Politics

The recent feud between Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio shows disunified leadership only hurts coronavirus efforts.
WSN Editorial Board April 12, 2020

On Saturday, April 11, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio closed public schools for the remainder of the academic year due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus as...

The Uncomfortable Issue of Bathroom Accessibility

The Uncomfortable Issue of Bathroom Accessibility

The lack of sanitary and accessible public bathrooms throughout NYC is inappropriate and dangerous for public health.
Emily Dai, Deputy Opinion Editor February 18, 2020

Imagine this: you’re stranded in Midtown and you’re starting to feel the chai latte you chugged an hour earlier. Or maybe you and your family are trying to hit up all the NYC...

De Blasio’s Abysmal Attempt at Homeless Outreach

De Blasio’s Abysmal Attempt at Homeless Outreach

Mayor de Blasio’s Outreach NYC program is a miserable attempt at solving the city’s homelessness crisis.
Jun Sung, Deputy Opinion Editor November 19, 2019

Mayor Bill de Blasio launched Outreach NYC last week, which aims to address the city’s homelessness issue. The program encourages city workers to contact a command center when...

New York City Must Help Its Homeless Children

New York City Must Help Its Homeless Children

The number of New York City public school students experiencing homelessness has remained higher than the population of Albany for over a year. The failure of the city to significantly reduce this number shows the city needs to treat this issue like the crisis it is.
Cole Stallone, Opinion Editor November 4, 2019

Since last year, over 114,000 New York City public school students have continued to struggle with homelessness, and nearly 38,000 live in shelters. Recent reports by the Advocates...

Bill de Blasio is the king of New York. (Staff Illustration by Marva Shi)

Off-Third: Happy Alumni Weekend From Bill de Blasio

The NYU alumnus and self-proclaimed king of New York may not have been invited to NYU’s Alumni Weekend, but that’s not stopping him from advocating for his alma mater’s students.
Abby Hofstetter, Opinion Editor October 28, 2019

Happy Alumni Weekend from Off-Third, WSN’s satire section. Try not to take us too seriously. Bill de Blasio is the king of New York. At least that’s what he tells me. We’re...

New York’s Homeless Deserve Safer Shelters

New York’s Homeless Deserve Safer Shelters

The gruesome murders in Chinatown reveal the need for safer facilities for the homeless.
Jun Sung, Deputy Opinion Editor October 21, 2019

Earlier this month, four homeless men were killed in Chinatown, and one was critically injured. The situation reveals the dangers of living on the street and is emblematic of New...