The Briefly for February 4, 2020 – The "NYPD's Very Not Nice 69 Million Dollar Cost" Edition
Today - Low: 38˚ High: 56˚
Possible light rain overnight.
Is this the year that Albany passes marijuana legalization or... oh god I just can't keep doing this. It's been over a year with this story and every stupid pun has already been made. Up in smoke. Gone in a puff. High time to blahblahblah. Bottom line, can Albany get it done? (Peter Rugh for The Indypendent) While the CDC is doing the testing for coronavirus, there is a team of scientists in New York racing to help contain the outbreak. (Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist) Here's what we know about the coronavirus in New York so far. (Joseph Goldstein for NY Times) New York City medical labs can’t run their own diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus only the CDC's offices in Atlanta can run the tests and results take 36-48 hours. Mayor de Blasio is asking to change that. (Mary Frost for Brooklyn Eagle) The NYPD cost the city a very not nice nearly $69 million dollars in lawsuits in 2019. Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) Reports of “subway surfing” increased in 2019, MTA figures show, though transit officials say the toll of those wild rides is likely even higher and deadlier than statistics indicate. (Jose Martinez for The City) Things aren't great for the real estate industry right now, but if you look at who's running for mayor, things are looking worse. (Kathryn Brenzel for The Real Deal) Shaun Donovan, former Obama housing secretary and candidate for mayor, gets the NY Times treatment. (Aziz Paybarah for NY Times) Are you one of the 1,128 New Yorkers that are in JR's latest 53-foot mural in Domino Park? The mural is in conjunction with an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, titled "JR: Chronicles." Scott Enman for Brooklyn Eagle) Everything you need to know about steam heat. (Zachary Solomon for StreetEasy) The history of how the New York Public Library got its start downtown. (Andrew Berman for 6sqft) Can art survive Long Island City's gentrification? (Malique Morris for Queens Chronicle) Just when the city was about to ban plastic bags, it seems that a loophole may allow stores to hand out plastic bags as long as they're thicc. (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist) 13 notable NYC projects designed by black architects. (Tanay Warerkar for Curbed) Take a tour of Michelle Williams's Brooklyn real estate empire. (Mariela Quintana for StreetEasy) As a part of Governor Cuomo's plans to redevelop Penn Station, he'll need to find a way to acquire two full city blocks between 30th and 32nd and between Seventh and Eight Avenues. He could end up using eminent domain to get the land. (Eddie Small for The Real Deal) A look at the Tenderloin neighborhood, before it was razed in 1904 to make way for the original Penn Station. (Ephemeral New York) Speaking of Penn Station, Monday afternoon saw another commuting meltdown with only one tunnel for Amtrak and NJ Transit in operation crossing the Hudson. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist) 10 new public art installations not to miss in February. (Michelle Young for Untapped New York) The award for most radical stance goes to the "Students Speak Out: Cops Out of Our Schools and Subways" protest. The students in the protest are calling for the abolishment of the NYPD, a free subway system, and a fully funded and free CUNY system. (Amanda Salazar for Kings County Politics) Williamsburg's East River State Park will be renamed after the gay liberation movement leader Marsha P. Johnson, the first state park named in honor of an LGBTQ person. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch) The Great Canoe in the American Museum of Natural History moved for the first time in 60 years, which was a split feat of engineering and spirituality. The canoe will be the centerpiece of a newly renovated Northwest Coast Hall in 2021. (Jennifer Vanasco for Gothamist) Minerva Zanca, a principal in Queens, just cost the city over a million dollars for being a racist. She deliberately targeted black teachers and assistants with "racist insults and retaliation." (Jay Connor for The Root) PETA, who has always been on the right side of morals but displaying it in the most insufferable ways, put up a sign protest the Iditarod in Seward Park. Yes, protesting a dog sledding race in Alaska by installing a sign in front of the statue of Togo in Manhattan. (Gabe Herman for amNewYork Metro) We've been able to assume why, but we won't know why Andy Byford resigned without seeing his resignation letter. Release the Byford letter, you cowards! (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) The Baby Yoda mural at the top of the Second Ave F stop is no more, as "Gritty City Style" has taken over the wall. (EV Grieve) The NYPD is working its hardest to create boogeymen to overturn recent bail reforms, including leaking cherry-picked stories and statistics to the press (mostly the Post and the Daily News, I've stopped including any stories from the Post and the Daily News' paywall makes it difficult for me to link to regularly). Legal experts are urging caution whenever coming across an obviously sensationalized story and give the reforms a chance to work. (Christopher Robbins for Gothamist) 80% of Bronx subway stations will have OMNY by the end of February. (Ed García Conde for Welcome2TheBronx) The Parks Department is closing a portion of the Riverside Park bike trail for two months between 110th and 125th Streets for repairs and are offering no detour for bike riders. Bike riders, as you might imagine, are pissed. (Julianne Cuba) An updated hit list of the best new restaurants in Brooklyn. (Hannah Albertine, Nikko Duren, Bryan Kim, & Matt Tervooren for The Infatuation)