The Briefly for January 1, 2019 – The "New Year, New York City" Edition
A petition has started collecting names to rename the portion of the street in front of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue "President Barack H. Obama Avenue." (6sqft)
The MTA bus that was stolen in the Bronx last week was nabbed by six teens, who may have prior experience in stealing and driving buses around. The NYPD are looking for the teens. (Gothamist)
Seven new movie theaters are scheduled to open in the city in 2019. (Rerelease News)
The Brooklyn Bridge was temporarily closed on Saturday to pedestrians because too many people tried to take advantage of the warmer winter day. Too many people were on the bridge and the NYPD had to shut the promenade down due to crowding. The Department of Transportation is in the process to figure out if the promenade can be safely expanded with an inspection scheduled for 2019. (Gothamist)
Note to self: Do not park anything in front of the Hells Angels' clubhouse in the East Village. (NY Post)
A look at the new laws of 2019 in New York state. (Metro)
Today begins the city's ban on styrofoam clamshells, cups, plates, bowls and packing peanuts. (NY Times)
The governor granted clemency to 29 convicts on New Year's Eve. 22 were pardoned, including immigrants facing deportation, and nine had their sentences commuted, three for armed robbery and four for murder. The people serving sentences for murder had already served between 20 and 33 years. (NY Post)
Seats taken. Simcha Felder will not be invited to join the Democratic conference after caucusing with the Republicans in the State Senate as part of the "Independent Democratic Conference." (Daily News)
Louis CK, unfortunately, continues to speak. (NY Times)
With the new year comes a new option for NYC birth certificates – X – for non-binary people. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle)
Even with the increase in hate crimes and rapes, New York City was the safest big city in 2018. (NY Times)
Meet Kevin Walker, the man who failed the FDNY's physical test three times and sued the city in an attempt to make himself a firefighter anyway. (NY Post)
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