The Briefly for December 27, 2018 – The "Losing Your Job Over Poppy Seed Bagels" Edition
Let's explore some NYC ghost stories, from the hellbeasts, to the Staten Island murder mansion, to the hellmouth at Hell's Gate. (Gothamist)
There's a ghost subway tunnel that sits above the Broadway stop on the G. The Second System was an abandoned 1929 expansion of the subway system, which would have included an additional tunnel between Williamsburg and Manhattan. That would have been helpful with the impending shutdown of the L. (Greenpointers)
America's oldest mosque is just around the corner from the Lorimer stop on the L. (Bedford + Bowery)
The FIRST STEP Act, which is aimed at reforming the federal prison system and reducing recidivism, has roots in New York. US Representative Hakeem Jeffries, who represents parts of Queens and Brooklyn, crafted the bill. (Kings County Politics)
IT's the most wonderful time of the year: Mulchfest! (6sqft)
If you think that you can't fail a drug test because of poppy seed bagels, you might want to talk to officer Eleazar Paz. Paz was just reinstated to his post on Riker's Island after being fired over his failed test in January. (NY Post)
Rising rents will claim Chelsea's The Half King on January 2 after 18 years. (Eater)
Turns out the Queens podiatrist that helped President Bone Spurs dodge the Vietnam War draft did so for preferential treatment from his landlord: Trump's daddy. (Gothamist)
A tribute to Larry Eisenberg, The New York Times' most prolific commenter (whose 13,000 comments were mostly in limerick form), who died on Tuesday at 99-years-old. (NY Times)
Eight minutes of NYC in the 1920's. (Viewing NYC)
The home of the $18 coffee has closed. Yes, it was in Brooklyn, how did you know? (The Brooklyn Home Reporter)
New York is the 15th state to establish a bill of rights for sexual assault survivors. New protections include the right to consult with a victim assistance organization during physical exams and interviews, examinations, preventive HIV treatment and other services at no cost, among others. (amNY)
The federal immigration courts in the city have been thrown into chaos due to the federal shutdown. The Javitz Building's immigration court, which has a backlog of 105,000 cases, is closed while the Varick Street court remains open. (Gothamist)
The city's minimum wage increases on December 31. For employers with 11 or more employees, $15 is the new minimum wage. Companies with less than 11 employees will have a $13.50 minimum wage. (amNY)
82% of shots fired by police miss their targets. Irene Ureña Perez was accidentally shot in the abdomen by one of the 27 shots fired plainclothes NYPD officer Juan Gomez while in pursuit of a suspect in early December. Perez is still recovering, has endured multiple surgeries and is suing the city for $10 million. (Gothamist)
Two of the men who were caught on video allegedly assaulted an NYPD officer on a subway platform in Chinatown have been arrested. (NY Post)
City Comptroller Scott Stringer's 2018 transit wishlist. (Streetsblog)
As Long Island City girds itself for the delivery of Amazon's tech bros, prices on prime real estate are going up. (NY Times)
The top restaurant standbys of 2018. (Eater)
30 New Year's Eve events $35 and under. (the skint)
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