The Briefly for January 26, 2020 – The "Isn't A Dessert Bagel Called A Doughnut?" Edition
Today - Low: 44˚ High: 50˚
Rain and windy overnight.
State Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican, is asking the Trump administration to try to kill congestion pricing. Malliotakis, of course, represents Bay Ridge and Staten Island. (Alex Williamson for Brooklyn Eagle) An interview with Dermot Shea, Mayor de Blasio's new republican NYPD Commissioner, who won't say if he voted for Trump in 2016. (Jeff Coltin for City and State) Meet Efren Andaluz, the artist who painted the Kobe and Gianna tribute mural near the Barclays Center. (Kimmy Dole for Hiplanta) Andy Byford's temporary replacement is someone who led the push for more subway cops, MTA board member Sarah Feinberg. Her focus while on the board has been quality of life issues and homelessness. Feinberg oversaw the Federal Railroad Administration when a series of explosive oil train derailments and deadly commuter railroad crashes made headlines during the Obama administration. (Stephen Nessen, Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) See hundreds of pieces of Seneca Village artifacts online through the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission website. (Gabe Herman for amNewYork Metro) Brooklyn Public Library's University Open Air kicks off this week, offering 25 college-level courses for free from an international staff. (Colin Mixson for Brooklyn Paper) The city has health with the homelessness crisis like it's something to be managed, not solved. Can NYC actually fix its homeless crisis? (Valeria Ricciulli for Curbed) Photos: Inside Porto Rico, opened in 1907 and one of the city's oldest coffee stores. (Noah Sheidlower, Photos by Nicole Saraniero for Untapped New York) A dessert bagel? (Juan Vidal for Grub Street) If you drop something on the subway tracks, don't try to get it yourself. Two people have been hit by the 6 train at Astor Place this week while trying to get something that dropped onto the tracks. (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist) On his way to jail after his rape conviction, Harvey Weinstein was re-routed to Bellevue Medical Center with heart palpitations, pain, and high blood pressure. Once he's discharged, he'll be headed to Rikers Island. (Adam Nichols for Patch) Looking for a bit of green for your apartment? The 10 best plants for apartment dwellers. (Rebecca Paul for 6sqft) Apartment Porn: A $20,000/month 3,175 square foot rental in Nolita. (Dana Schulz for 6sqft) Amazon could buy the former Lord & Taylor building from WeWork for $1 billion. (Alexandra Alexa for 6sqft) A look back at the birth of The Committee to Save the West Village, led by Jane Jacobs, who history has proven to be the hero compared to Robert Moses. (Ariel Kates for GVSHP) Photos: Inside the "morgue" of The New York Times. (Michelle Young for Untapped New York) Goodbye Burger Heaven, after 77 years the Upper East Side diner is closing and going to diner heaven, blaming "delivery culture" on its demise. (Chris Crowley for Grub Street) The MTA is moving forward on purchasing nearly 1,000 “open-gangway” subway cars. (Michelle Cohen for 6sqft) & Sons is a new ham bar in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Wait, a ham bar? (Nikita Richardson for Grub Street) Alligators in the sewers of New York City? Here's the truth. (Corey Kilgannon for NY Times) Governors Island has an opening date for the summer: May 1. (Collier Sutter for Time Out) RIP Michael Hertz, designer of the current subway map. (Neil Genzlinger for NY Times) Salt Bae’s new burger restaurant, like the Salt Bae himself, seems like a giant joke that isn't funny. Recently his parent company has been sued for sexual harassment and wage theft. (Erika Adams for Eater) Where to eat in Staten Island, which Eater calls "a low-key culinary paradise." (Claire Elisabeth for Eater) "Saddest moment of my week, watching it roll onto the track seconds before the train pulled up." Thank you to reader Maiya for today's featured photo and sad story.