The Briefly for February 25, 2020 – The "Would You Be Fired for Choking Someone On the Job?" Edition

Today - Low: 45˚ High: 51˚

Light rain starting later this morning, continuing until tonight.

At least four babies have been infected with herpes in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community due to a ritual circumcision where the mohel sucks the blood from the foreskin of the baby boy. This is a highly uncommon practice outside of the ultra-Orthodox community. At least 20 babies have been infected with herpes since the year 2000. Mayor de Blasio has been accused of trading safety for votes in the ultra-Orthodox community when he repealed the informed consent law surrounding this type of ritual circumcision. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist)

It's manhole explosion season in the city, let's take a deep dive. (Gaspard Le Dem and Gabriel Sandoval for The City)

The governor assumed congestion pricing's approval by the Federal Highway Administration would be simple. The president has recently said that Cuomo has "lost control, and lost his mind." After meeting in person over the Trusted Traveler Program, the two were further apart than when they started. Is congestion pricing doomed if Cuomo can't eat shit in front of the president for the sake of the state? (Christina Goldbaum and Winnie Hu for NY Times)

NYPD officer Numael Amador was caught on video apparently choking a protester at a protest against ICE deportations in early 2018 reportedly had his vacation days taken away and was removed from the NYPD's strategic response group. in 2015 Amador was accused of wrongfully arresting a man who was filming an NYPD interaction. He was named "hero of the month" by Brooklyn Borough Eric Adams about six months before choking someone while on the job. If you choked someone at your job, you would be fired. (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist)

There's a new mural on the corner of Hester and Eldridge by Madsteez celebrating Kobe and Gianni Bryant. Take a look at the work in progress. (EV Grieve)

A hit-and-run driver killed 88-year-old Dolores Soho on Bell Blvd in Queens on Sunday. This is the second driver in three weeks that was uncharged for killing someone on Bell Blvd. (Julianna Cuba for Streetsblog)

The City Council hired their own firm to assess the future of the BQE, which is where the $11 billion tunnel idea came from. The other option is a $3.5 billion capped highway, which would extend Brooklyn Bridge Park. The city has $1.7 billion budgeted for the project, with hopes the rest would come from the state. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch)

Photos: The final competition of the Brooklyn Robotics League, who will advance to the citywide championships in March. (Paul Frangipane for The Brooklyn Home Reporter)

Harvey Weinstein: rapist. No longer alleged. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch)

A timeline of the Harvey Weinstein case. (Alan Feuer for NY Times)

By putting that golem behind bars, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance hopes this will stop thinking about his record of being lenient with rich and powerful men like Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, leading to calls for his resignation. (Bobby Cuza for NY1)

A rare duck is normally a cause of celebration in Central Park, but a rare duck with a piece of plastic wrapped around its bill is a cause for alarm. (Corey Kilgannon for NY Times)

This summer, here comes bed cinema: outdoor movie screenings, complete with inflatable beds. Mark your calendars for August 12-16. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out)

Here's an amazing hack for this weekend's impending plastic bag ban: get a tote bag. The city is giving them out for free. (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist)

The first post-Byford rush hour was met with... a complete meltdown of the L train. Even the trains are sad without Andy Byford. (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist)

62% of New Yorkers think Trump will win re-election in November. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch)

Apartment Porn: Inside the $2.35 million apartment inside the Eagle Warehouse in Dumbo, an apartment behind a giant clock. (Dana Schulz for 6sqft)

Rebekah Mercer is off the Board of Trustees at the American Museum of Natural History, thanks to a years-long protest by the group Revolting Lesbians. Mercer is a major investor in Breitbart News and an investor in climate change denial. (Matt Tracy for Gay City News)

David Hay, the NYC education official charged with allegedly trying to have sex with a 14-year-old, managed to secure a top city position without ever receiving a completed Department of Investigation background check. But according to a new report, the city's current vetting process is so broken, it wouldn't have made a difference anyway. (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist)

Where to eat before or after a Broadway show. (Hannah Albertine, Bryan Kim, & Matt Tervooren for The Infatuation)

Thanks to reader Helena for today's featured photo.