The "A Threat to Move to Brooklyn" Edition
V-Day roundup, the state's mask mandate is lifted, the future of Open Restaurants, ConEd's high billing, Grindhaus returns to Red Hook, outstanding breakfast burritos, and more
Today - Low: 43˚ High: 50˚
Clear throughout the day.
This weekend - Low: 20˚ High: 54˚
The latest seven-day positivity rate: 3.92%
75.66% of city residents have received two shots, 84.85% of city residents have received one or more shots. Source: NYC Department of Health.
• Subway (and Staten Island Rail) ridership hit three million for the first time in 2022, which marks the first time we're over three million since before the omicron surge. (Jen Chung for Gothamist)
• Governor Hochul announced the state mask mandate, citing a 94% statewide drop in positive COVID cases from December and a 63% drop in hospitalizations from last month. Masks are still required on public transportation and at airports, bus stations, hospitals, and nursing homes. (Josefa Velasquez for The City)
• About 3,000 city workers face firing today for being unvaccinated or not having a valid exemption. The 3,000 people represent less than 1% of the city's workforce. The mandate was put in place back in October, giving everyone ample time to get their shit together. (Emma G. Fitzsimmons for NY Times)
• What the hell is Rat Covid? "it’s not worth panicking over. It’s theoretically possible" - a scientist. (Caroline Spivack for Curbed)
• The city doesn't track at-home Covid-19 tests because they say it can't be independently verified, despite cities like Austin and Washington DC tracking at-home tests to get a more accurate picture of positivity rates. (Nsikan Akpan for Gothamist)
• City Council held an eight-plus hour hearing on Open Restaurants as control over the program is transferred to the Department of Transportation. The program's future will likely not include sheds and will look a lot like it did before the structures went up. (Diana Budds for Curbed)
• Sleep No More is returning this Sunday with new masks (and KN95 masks), a new ventilation system, and new protocols. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• The Mermaid Parade is returning to Coney Island on June 18. (Brooklyn Magazine)
• The spa on Governor's Island, QC NY, will open on March 4. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• After calls to 311 about illegal parking, the NYPD threatened to kill the person who called instead of ticketing the illegally parked vehicle. This is far from the first time someone has received targeted harassment from the NYPD for illegal parking reports. The mayor's denounced the death threats, but that's about it. Anyone who's made a 311 illegal parking complaint knows complaining to a houseplant helps as much as the NYPD. (Jesse Coburn for Streetsblog)
• Mayor Adams testified to the State Senate this week, which pushed back on his case for bail reform, saying there is "danger that perception because reality" about his rhetoric about crime, arguing that is politicizing the issue of bail reform, pointing out that statistics and reality do not support his proposals, and that over-policing does not make communities safer. (Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist)
• During the testimony during the governor's executive budget hearing, Mayor Adams gave a non-answer on supporting a rent freeze for regulated tenants, saying that he supports it if the Rent Guidelines Board's analysis supports it. The mayor also supported the governor's call to eliminate the cap on residential density. (Kathryn Benzel for The Real Deal)
• If you were hit with a ConEd bill that was shockingly high last month, you're not alone. State Senator Michael Gianaris is calling for an investigation into the increase in supply charges by ConEd. ConEd blames winter and the situation between Russia and Ukraine for an increase in natural gas prices. (Aaron Ginsburg for 6sqft)
• Pete Davidson is threatening to move to Brooklyn. (Brooklyn Magazine)
• Daiso, the Japanese discount store, is opening its second NYC store at Industry City on February 25. It'll be located above the Sunrise Mart at Japanese Village. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)
• Here are all the NYC hotels featured in 'Inventing Anna'’ (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• Real Estate Lust: A $6 million Brooklyn Heights townhouse, next door to the fake house/subway vent 58 Joralemon, with 3,280 square feet, historic interiors, ceiling medallions brushed with gold, original pine floors from 1845, antique chandeliers, landscaped patio, four beds, and more. (Michelle Cohen for 6sqft)
• Play this Myst-esque game all about 58 Joralemon, made by Ben Tupper. Please report back if you beat the game and solve the mystery. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist)
• Bloom is a new art installation in Times Square, the 14th Times Square Love and Design Competition winner, which changes shape and visuals based on your perspective. The installation is made from PVC pipes and will be on display through March 9. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• Red Hook's Grindhaus, and its famous burger, have enjoyed a quiet relaunch. (Tammie Teclemariam for Curbed)
• The unionization push inside Starbucks locations has hit NYC. Employees of three stores filed to organize with Workers United asking for a vote on March 3. (Christine Chung for NY Times)
• Congressman Jamaal Bowman endorsed State Senator Alessandra Biaggi for U.S. Congress in New York’s 3rd congressional district. (Norwood News)
• The Resy guide to Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. (Kara Newman for Resy)
• Farewell MetroTech, being rebranded as Brooklyn Commons. (Raanan Geberer for Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
• Giant Chocolate Soufflé at Max Brenner is officially the largest chocolate soufflé in the city, and no one says you have to share it with anyone else if you don't want to. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• After what feels like forever, the Gateway Project, the $30 billion overhaul of New York and New Jersey's Amtrak infrastructure, looks like it might start moving forward. One problem: Amtrak never actually put a plan together, despite decades to prepare. You had one job. (Caroline Spivack for Curbed)
• 16 outstanding breakfast burritos. (Luke Fortney for Eater)
Thank you to the two readers who contributed to The Briefly using this Ko-Fi link since the last edition. Your contributions have been humbling.
A list of Valentine’s Day Lists:
• 18 local chocolate shops to love in NYC. (Michelle Cohen for 6sqft)
• Twelve romantic spots to take your sweetheart to this Valentine’s Day. (Christina Heiser for Give Me Astoria)
• Two of the country's most romantic restaurants are in New York. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)
• Six ways to spend Valentine's Day in Bushwick. (Anna Conkling for Bushwick Daily)
• Twelve swoon-worthy spots to celebrate Valentine's Day. (Beth Landman for Eater)
Featured Pet: Ozzie!
Thank you to reader Robin for this photo of Ozzie, who does not appear bashful.
