The "A New Stadium in Queens" Edition
The latest in the state's concealed carry laws, mold in your $17 cold brew, pop-up holiday bars, the origins of the black and white cookie, eight crooked cops, and more
Today - Low: 33˚ High: 42˚
Clear throughout the day.
This weekend - Low: 31˚ High: 42˚

A little bit behind this poll. Substack has an option to “chat” with subscribers of a newsletter, but you need to use the app to make that happen. I can see from the metrics of the newsletter that about 0% of you are using the Substack app. If you’re interested in chatting with like-minded folks, I’m happy to put it together and test it out.
• A judge ruled that Department of Corrections Commissioner Louis Molina should be given more time to implement a plan for action in the city's jails before the city's Department of Corrections is transferred to a "receiver." The next time this is set to be reviewed is in April when, god willing, someone will take this away from the city. (Reuven Blau for The City)
• We've spent $18 million on the federal monitor and staff, and the city's jail system is more deadly and dangerous than before the monitor was installed. I'm avoiding saying the monitor's name is Steve Martin, but we've spent $18 million on the other Steve Martin. Gothamist looks at how we got here and what that $18 million has brought us. (Matt Katz for Gothamist)
• The cost of taxis is going up. Base rates, rush hour surcharges, overnight ride fees, and flat-rate airport trips are more expensive. "I don't take taxis, I take Ubers and Lyfts everywhere." Well, buddy, Uber and Lyft rides are also increasing in cost by 7% a minute. At least we have a reliable and speedy alternative in the subways and buses, right? Right? (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• Here's the latest list of gridlock traffic days in the city, where car traffic is expected to hit an all-time high. Cool. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• New York State's concealed carry law is back after the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled to reinstate sections of the law that were blocked by a judge last week. At this point, I can't keep track of which gun laws have been blocked or unblocked, so I don't blame you if this has been confusing. (Catalina Gonella for Gothamist)
• The city's Major League Soccer team is getting a new stadium in Queens. The plan is to move the team from Yankee Stadium to Willets Point. The stadium will eventually sit partially on city-owned and privately owned land, which means the city will be forcibly taking land to build another stadium near CitiField and Arthur Ashe Stadium. As part of the plan, 2,500 "affordable" apartments will be built along with a new school. Before celebrating this achievement, we may want to check how much affordable housing was promised to be built with the Barclays Center. (Katie Honan for The City)
• Hey, Governor Hochul, why haven't you signed the crypto-mining ban bill waiting on your desk? (Max Rivlin-Nadler for Hell Gate)
• Workers were on strike at the Chelsea Starbucks Roastery, claiming mold was in the ice machine and bedbugs in the break rooms. Starbucks denied this. It was inspected, mold was found in the ice machines and on food surfaces, and meal moths were found in the coffee storage area. I suggest you buy your $17 cold brews elsewhere. (Claudia Irizarry Aponte for The City)
• The state's Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board recommends how the state uses over $129 million received from legal settlements with pharmaceutical companies involved in the opioid crisis. One of the board members founded the referral network New York MATTERS, and the board is recommending New York MATTERS receive $8 million of the funds. It's the only non-governmental group with money allocated. This is a fantastic way to remove trust from this process. (Caroline Lewis for Gothamist)
• While I can't guarantee it, this new 23,000-square-foot Starbucks in the Emire State Building might not have mold-infected ice and moth-infested coffee beans. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg will toss nearly 200 convictions because of these bastard cops and for the following reasons. (Matt Troutman for Patch)
Jason Arbeent: planted drugs, falsified business records
Michael Arenella: petit larceny, official misconduct, falsifying business records
Michael Carsey: first-degree perjury
Johnny Diaz: bribe-receiving in the second degree, petit larceny, second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance
William Eiseman: first-degree perjury, official misconduct
Michael Foder: lying under oath
Richard Hall: released an 18-year-old woman from custody in exchange for sexual favors
Nicholas Mina: who stole and sold guns from a police precinct
• The NYPD took $762 million in overtime from the city between June 2021 and June 2022, more than $100 million over budget. Mayor Adams committed to cutting NYPD overtime in half during his first year in office. You're doing great, Mr. Mayor. (Chris Gelardi for New York Focus)
• Get your damn flu shots this year. I don't want to link to articles about a "tri-demic" this winter where we see a simultaneous spike in three different respiratory illnesses. RSV cases have been increasing over the last two months. We know Covid-19 will spike again because we're all inside, and this year's flu ain't gonna be a picnic either. Get the damn shot. (Matt Troutman for Patch)
• The mysterious origins of the black and white cookie. (Noah Sheidlower for Untapped New York)
• Apartment Porn: A $6.5 million Upper West Side townhouse near Riverside Park with a private garden, outdoor terrace, rooftop, a quadruplex, garden-level apartment, 6,500 square feet, eight beds, five baths, and more. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft)
• The 15 best Indian restaurants right now. (Swathi Reddy for Thrillist)
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Featured City Pet: Ratty at Casey Rubber Stamps!
Thanks to Jessica for sending this photo of Ratty, the store cat at Casey Rubber Stamps in the East Village. Send in your favorite store cat, your cousin’s lizard, or your fave furry beast. Send them to thebriefly@gmail.com