Stefanos Chen
@stefanoschen.bsky.social
4.9K followers 490 following 160 posts
NYT reporter covering New York's transit systems. I snoop on Greek convos.
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Reposted by Stefanos Chen
maggieastor.bsky.social
Another call for sources: I'm reporting on pediatric Covid vaccine access. If you've had trouble finding pediatric doses in stock, or if your child was turned away, I'd love to hear from you: [email protected].

Thanks to those who replied to my pregnancy callout; that story will be out soon.
stefanoschen.bsky.social
It's official: NYC bus and subway fares are rising to $3 next year, along with a number of other increases to transit fares and tolls. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/n...
It Will Soon Cost More to Ride the Subway and Bus in New York
www.nytimes.com
stefanoschen.bsky.social
A strike on the Long Island Rail Road, America's biggest passenger rail service, has been averted, after unions made the unusual decision to ask President Trump to intervene on their behalf. The move could put off the strike for months. Free link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/n...
L.I.R.R. Strike Avoided for Now as Unions Ask U.S. to Intervene
www.nytimes.com
stefanoschen.bsky.social
We’ll go into more detail soon. But one fairly shocking example was that an engineer who switches the type of locomotive they are driving (from diesel to electric, for instance), can qualify for a whole other day’s wages, because of that switch, in the course of a single work day
stefanoschen.bsky.social
The Long Island Rail Road, the nation's busiest commuter rail service, could have its first strike in over 30 years next week. Here's why, and also what to do if you rely on it. Free link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/n...
Long Island Rail Road Workers May Strike. Here’s What to Know.
www.nytimes.com
stefanoschen.bsky.social
Last year, the MTA lost $1 BILLION to fare and toll evasion, across the buses, subway, railroads and road tolls. For the first time in five years, it looks like 2025 could start to turn the tide, thanks to a range of anti-fare evasion tactics www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/n...
Fare Evasion Cost the M.T.A. $1 Billion in 2024, but the Trend May Be Slowing
www.nytimes.com
stefanoschen.bsky.social
The subway had its safest summer in 15 years, according to police data, a vastly different picture than the one painted by the Trump administration
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/n...
The Subway Had Its Safest Summer in Years. The White House Shrugged.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
maggieastor.bsky.social
I can't help but notice that this job was posted in February but still appears to be open. "Come use your journalism degree to shovel out multiple pieces of AI slop every day in order to 'enable' your colleagues to do actual journalism" is such a good pitch though, I don't understand
AI-Assisted Reporter

Job Description
Posted Friday, February 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM

The USA TODAY Network is seeking a dynamic and tech-savvy AI-Assisted Reporter with a keen interest in automation tools. This is a fully remote position and can be based anywhere in the continental United States, but preference will be given to candidates in or near Indiana. The successful candidate will be at the forefront of a new era in journalism, utilizing AI technology to create content for our news brands while also applying their traditional journalism skills. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about journalism and the potential for AI to contribute to the way we produce and consume news, without losing sight of the importance of quality reporting and writing.  

We believe in the enduring role of human journalists, and our commitment to harness technology builds on our commitment to our people – and to creating the time and resources for them to do the irreplaceable work of interviewing, beat development and watchdogging the powerful.  

As an AI-Assisted Reporter, you will have the opportunity to develop your news and technical skills, including learning how to manage and utilize AI technology effectively. This is highly production-oriented work – you’ll be assisted by technology to create a high volume of stories from trusted community announcements and similar sources. This is not a beat-reporting position and does not require travel or face-to-face interviews; those are the activities you’ll enable other journalists to do by taking as much as possible off their plate. 

The ideal candidate will have basic journalism and phone/videoconference communication skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. You will be responsible for turning around multiple stories a day, ensuring our readers stay informed with the latest news. Our news operation is fast-paced, collegial and collaborative.
stefanoschen.bsky.social
Drink lots of freddo espresso for me 🇬🇷
stefanoschen.bsky.social
Good luck! Great working with you on this
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
samanthaliebman.bsky.social
I haven’t been in Grand Central Madison at rush hour until today and IMO it’s wild that retailers haven’t opened here yet. It’s bustling. Per @mta.info 70k commuters each weekday. And Tracks is now open and it’s already busy. MTA is negotiating 5 leases currently.
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
jenniecoughlin.bsky.social
Patients are inundating some NYC medical practices with messages that they are experiencing Covid symptoms. They also are peppering medical providers with questions about whether they qualify to receive a coronavirus vaccine after the FDA released new vaccine restrictions.
N.Y.C. Covid Cases Appear to Be Rising. So Are Inquiries on Vaccines.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
maggieastor.bsky.social
NEWS: CVS, the largest pharmacy chain in the country, is currently not offering Covid vaccines in 16 states and DC — even to people who meet the new FDA criteria — because the CDC hasn't signed off and isn't expected to do so (if it does so) for at least three weeks.
CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States
www.nytimes.com
stefanoschen.bsky.social
My Greek cousin described his neighborhood as the Jersey of Athens and I’ve never been prouder as a New Yorker of my family
stefanoschen.bsky.social
She is, but many of her coworkers are not. It’s part of the reason why employers are able to exploit this largely immigrant workforce
stefanoschen.bsky.social
The city called them essential workers, when they cleaned up trash, vomit and excrement in the subway, at the height of the pandemic. But they were grossly underpaid, the comptroller found. Now, they’ll split $3M in back pay.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/n...
They Cleaned the Subway During Covid. Now They Will Earn Back Pay.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
petersterne.com
In urban policy, it is considered bad for someone to be rent-burdened (spending at least 30% of their income on rent). But Cuomo's newly proposed law would *require* that people be rent-burdened. Absolutely insane.
New York, NY –  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, today announced ‘Zohran’s Law,’ a plan to protect the city’s rent-stabilized apartments from being occupied by high-income individauls, ensuring these limited, affordable units go to New Yorkers who actually need them.

Under Cuomo’s proposal, when a rent-stabilized apartment becomes vacant, the incoming individual income would be capped so that the annual rent makes up at least 30 percent of that income. For example, if an apartment rents for $2,500 a month ($30,000 per year), the new tenant’s income could not exceed $100,000. 

New York City is in the grip of a housing emergency. The city does not have enough units, and the drastically low vacancy rate is driving up prices, squeezing families, and forcing many to leave in record numbers.
stefanoschen.bsky.social
MORE THAN HALF of immigrants arrested in NYC since President Trump took office have had no criminal records whatsoever. New vital reporting from @luisferre7.bsky.social and Ashley Cai
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/n...
Trump’s Immigrant Crackdown in New York: More Arrests, Longer Detention
www.nytimes.com
stefanoschen.bsky.social
Omny finally brings back its trip history tabs. Shoot me a line, if you have issues with it
airlineflyer.net
More OMNY news: @mta.info has FINALLY reactivated the trip and charge history portal on the OMNY site years after removing it due to privacy concerns.

Sorta. Instead of actually fixing anything they just removed the subway station/bus route info. But at least you can verify free transfers again.
Reposted by Stefanos Chen
bencasselman.bsky.social
President Trump didn't like the jobs numbers, so he fired the person responsible for producing them.
It's a move that has been tried before, by leaders of countries from Argentina to Greece to the Soviet Union. It rarely ends well.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b... #EconSky
Trump Fired America’s Economic Data Collector. History Shows the Perils.
www.nytimes.com