Gothamist

NYC board votes to hike rents by 2.75% for 1 million rent-stabilized apartments

David Brand, Naim Ali-Pacheco — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:52:00 +0000

In late April, Rent Guidelines Board members agreed to consider increases of 2% to 4.5% on one-year leases.

The move by the city’s Rent Guidelines Board drew quick condemnation from tenants and their advocates as well as landlords. [ more › ]

Congestion pricing pause jeopardizes NYC projects fighting air pollution in low-income areas

Stephen Nessen

The Cross-Bronx Expressway slices through neighborhoods with some of the highest asthma rates in the country.

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres called Gov. Hochul's move to pause congestion pricing "a profound betrayal of the Bronx." [ more › ]

NYC bill could cover in vitro fertilization for gay male couples on its health plan

Giulia Heyward

City Councilmember Lynn Schulman is sponsoring a bill that would expand IVF access for city workers.

Some argue the city’s coverage is discriminatory against same-sex couples, including gay men. [ more › ]

NYC buildings inspector pleads guilty to accepting bribes, Queens DA says

Catalina Gonella

Officials say the inspector requested and took cash from Queens’ homeowners in exchange for not issuing violations.

The DOI has since identified corruption vulnerabilities in the inspection process and recommended several reforms. [ more › ]

Every NYC classroom will have air conditioning during heatwave, education official says

Jessica Gould

Previous heatwaves have sparked complaints from parents and students about sweltering classrooms without working air conditioners.

The city has spent more than $400 million to install air conditioners in recent years. [ more › ]

Brooklyn's ‘Bling Bishop’ sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for fraud

Samantha Max — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:45:00 +0000

Bishop Lamor Whitehead attends the Celebration of Life Event for DJ Mister Cee at Brooklyn Paramount on April 30, 2024 in New York City.

Prosecutors said Lamor Whitehead, a self-described mentee of Mayor Eric Adams, claimed he could get favorable treatment from the mayor. [ more › ]

Extra Extra: Diddy has officially returned his key to New York City

James Ramsay

Because Sean Combs no longer gets the privilege of holding a special key, here are your afternoon links: Congestion pricing is paused but commuting from NJ still stinks, lesbians meeting up at Liberty games, Nick Jonas coming to Broadway and more. [ more › ]

Automated ticketing of drivers blocking MTA bus stops begins this week

Ramsey Khalifeh

Don't block this bus at a bus stop -- you could get a $50 ticket.

Drivers parked or double parked at bus stops will receive written warnings for the next 60 days. Then the $50 fines kick in. [ more › ]

Powerful NJ political boss George Norcross accused of racketeering in sweeping indictment

Nancy Solomon, Matt Katz — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 22:24:00 +0000

South Jersey political boss George Norcross was indicted today on racketeering charges.

Prosecutors say he used his political and business influence to help strong-arm $1.1 billion in tax breaks for companies tied to his family. [ more › ]

NYC cooling centers to open on Tuesday as heat wave arrives, Mayor Adams says

Catalina Gonella — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:30:00 +0000

The Empire State Building is seen during a heat wave in New York City on Sept. 6, 2023.

Adams and other city officials urged residents to plan for extreme heat and check on vulnerable neighbors. [ more › ]

Early Addition: What happened at the 'kinda dull' Tony Awards

James Ramsay

Because "Hell's Kitchen" got robbed of Best Musical, here are your early links: Chuck Schumer's weird grilling picture, flirting at the running club, advertising is very white and more. [ more › ]

Triple shooting in Upper Manhattan leaves 2 men dead, NYPD says

Brittany Kriegstein — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:04:00 +0000

Police officers stand at the scene of the shooting on the corner of West 206th Street and 10th Avenue on June 17, 2024.

A third man is recovering from his injuries, according to police officials. [ more › ]

NYC area braces for heat wave from Tuesday to Friday. Heat index could surpass 100

Brittany Kriegstein

People walk in Lower Manhattan on a warm late spring afternoon on June 3, 2024.

Local officials are warning residents to take precautions and find ways to keep cool. [ more › ]

How to plug the MTA’s congestion pricing budget hole? Few options, fewer answers.

Jon Campbell

Lawmakers left the Capitol for the 2024 legislative session earlier this month.

A tax on millionaires or NYC businesses? There’s only so many ways to raise state revenue, experts say. [ more › ]

An upstate NY program lets you camp out with wolves, so I tried it

Alec Hamilton

Here's how to hear the call of the wild without leaving the state. Arooooooooo! [ more › ]

Opening of NYC's 1st public observatory at risk due to last-minute regulations

Rosemary Misdary

The observatory would be placed in Jerome Park, near the Bronx High School of Science.

The Amateur Astronomers Association and the parks department had hoped to open the facility in Jerome Park in the Bronx this spring. [ more › ]

Massive dragon deployed to top of Empire State Building as 'Game of Thrones' prequel promo

Catalina Gonella

The dragon is made up of more than 1,700 total patterns and 600,000 inches of sewn seams.

The 270-foot spectacle is a marketing stunt by streaming service Max to promote its show “House of the Dragon.” [ more › ]

Outgoing NYC Transit chief warns congestion pricing pause could lead to subway failures

Stephen Nessen

Outgoing NYC Transit President Richard Davey said Gov. Kathy Hochul's move to pause congestion pricing could result in subway service falling apart.

Davey said the MTA won’t be able to pay for projects intended to keep the subways from falling into disrepair. [ more › ]

Advocates say congestion pricing pause sticks NYers with $20B of time lost to traffic

Ramsey Khalifeh — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:30:00 +0000

Data shows traffic speeds in Midtown are historically slow.

The group Riders Alliance sent a letter to Hochul on Sunday, pointing to research that shows street congestion costs $20 billion worth of lost time annually, or about $1,200 for the average commuter in the five boroughs. [ more › ]

Daniel Radcliffe on his Broadway hit 'Merrily We Roll Along'

ALL OF IT with ALISON STEWART, Jordan Lauf

Daniel Radcliffe stars in "Merrily We Roll Along."

The actor is nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. [ more › ]

How a chance encounter at a party led to Charli XCX curating a film series at Roxy Cinema

Ryan Kailath — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 17:36:00 +0000

Charli XCX at the Roxy Cinema in Tribeca

A new film series curated by Charli XCX showcases the movies that inspired ‘Brat.’ [ more › ]

160 Pride flags vandalized at historic Stonewall National Monument, NYPD says

Mike Hayes

An NYPD officer stands next to the Stonewall Monument during the 2022 NYC Pride March.

Police have neither identified a suspect nor made any arrests in connection with the incident, which marks the second consecutive year that the monument's flags have been vandalized during Pride month. [ more › ]

NYC schools chief boots 2 education council members after public controversy

Michelle Bocanegra

Schools Chancellor David Banks says two CEC members violated school policy.

The Department of Education is citing legal and policy violations in removing two Community Education Council members from opposite sides of the political spectrum. [ more › ]

NYPD: Woman suspected of fatal Midtown stabbing arrested, charged with murder

David Giambusso

Police say a woman fatally stabbed another woman outside Weng Palace on Tuesday

Samaria Lopez, 22, was arrested Friday. [ more › ]

Trifecta of NYC utility hikes could bring double-digit increases: What to know

Charles Lane

Con Ed sais maintenance and upgrades ae partially to blame for a rate increase.

Three utility bill increases will take roughly $53 more a month from the average New Yorker's pocket. [ more › ]

Patients with Aetna could lose coverage at NJ's largest health system in just weeks

Caroline Lewis

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Hackensack Meridian is one of the Garden State’s largest health networks, with 18 hospitals. [ more › ]

Early voting begins in New York congressional and state legislative primaries

Giulia Heyward

A flyer advertising a nearby polling site in Brooklyn on April 2, 2024, the day of the presidential primary.

The early voting period lasts from June 15 to 23, with Primary Day on June 25. The state attorney general is promoting a voter hotline for anyone who encounters problems. [ more › ]

Gov. Cuomo's top-down COVID approach was an 'unnecessary mistake,' report says

Caroline Lewis

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks to reporters following a closed-door interview with the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic on Capitol Hill, on June 11.

But the report, released on Friday and commissioned by Gov. Kathy Hochul, says the former governor's policies for nursing homes reflected “the best understanding of the scientific community at the time." [ more › ]

Illegal cannabis bus seized by authorities in Sunnyside, Queens DA says

Giulia Heyward

Law enforcement officials from the Queens DA's office and NYPD stand next to the Green Empress bus in Sunnyside.

Prosecutors allege that the converted school bus, dubbed the “Green Empress,” was used as an illegal mobile smoke shop. [ more › ]

Gov. Hochul’s push to restrict masking on the subway faces legal and public health concerns

Elizabeth Kim, Jon Campbell — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 23:52:00 +0000

A man wears a black bandana over his face during a demonstration in 2012 in support of the band Pussy Riot.

The governor said “people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes,” but later added that she wanted to make certain exemptions. [ more › ]

Extra Extra: Skateboarding cat sets new world record

James Ramsay

Because there's a Chinese cat that shreds, here are your afternoon links: Chunk of ice from airplane fell through NJ house, Tony Awards are on Sunday, Trump tries out AI and more. [ more › ]

Manhattan gridlock worse than ever with congestion pricing paused – a look at the numbers

Stephen Nessen, Clayton Guse

Manhattan gridlock is as bad as ever.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing pause comes as Manhattan gridlock reaches an all-time high. [ more › ]

Early Addition: Hearing embarrassing videos off someone's phone speaker is kind of fun

James Ramsay

Because what are you going to do, tell a stranger to put headphones on, here are your early links: Queens moped crackdown, documentary about Sunset Park vs. Industry City, reading the manual beforehand and more. [ more › ]

Head of NY-based charity ‘Modest Needs’ charged with stealing millions

Herb Pinder

A new criminal complaint from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York alleges that Keith Taylor, founder of New York-based charity Modest Needs, used millions in donor funds to support "lavish personal spending," including hundreds of thousands of dollars at the city's most expensive restaurants. A favorite was Per Se on Columbus Circle, where Taylor spent more than $68,000 on meals, according to the complaint.

A federal complaint alleges the charity’s founder spent donor funds on high-end restaurants, food delivery, cosmetic surgery. [ more › ]

I’m visiting all 350 of NYC’s neighborhoods. Here’s some of what I’ve learned so far.

Rob Stephenson

Meadowmere

Each one is a revelation into how diverse and unique our city is. [ more › ]

Murder suspected in Brooklyn after man found on J train platform, police say

Brittany Kriegstein

The Kosciuszko Street station.

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. [ more › ]

NYPD: Two young teens tied up, assaulted in Queens park

Brittany Kriegstein — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:24:00 +0000

Colden Street and Kalmia Avenue in Flushing

The teens, a boy and a girl, were in Kissena Park near Colden Street and Kalmia Avenue in Flushing. [ more › ]

NYC water bills to go up 8.5%, largest hike since 2011

Charles Lane — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 14:34:00 +0000

The city Water Board pinned the historically high increase in water rates on Mayor Eric Adams.

The city Water Board said a budget maneuver by Mayor Eric Adams forced them to approve such a steep hike. [ more › ]

Mayor Adams' 2021 campaign stopped replying to NYC watchdog. It still got public funds.

Brigid Bergin

The correspondence shows the unconventional ways Adams' campaign was trying to raise money and clout.

Records obtained by Gothamist show a campaign that was interested in some rules and then ignored numerous information requests as cash flowed in. [ more › ]

NYC braces for 'heat dome' as meteorologists predict historically hot summer

Elizabeth Shwe

Skies are expected to be clear during next week's heat wave, which a National Weather Service meteorologist says will make for great beach weather.

Last year was the hottest on record in New York City — and meteorologists believe this summer could also see all-time highs, raising concerns about the effects of climate change. [ more › ]