The Briefly for January 6, 2020 – The "Y2K Bug Arrives in NYC 20 Years Late" Edition
Today - Low: 33˚ High: 46˚
Partly cloudy throughout the day.
New York is the latest state to enact a state-wide elevator safety law, calling for state oversight of the elevator industry, establishing standards for elevator contractors, mechanics, and inspectors. Anyone think it's weird this didn't already exist? (Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist) It's hard not to make Y2K jokes when the city's parking meters stopped accepting credit cards on January 1, 2020. This is the second time in a year that a city's system has malfunctioned as a result of a lack up upgrading software. (BenYakas for Gothamist) Speaking of parking tickets, Corey Johnson is proposing a "day fine" system, which is common in Europe. Instead of a fixed fee, which unfairly burdens low-income people, fines would be representative of a percentage of a person's daily income. (Ben Brachfeld for Gothamist) Governor Cuomo vetoed the Securing Wages Earned Against Theft bill that would have allowed employees to freeze the assets of their employer while a wage theft case is pending. (Max Parrot for QNS) Meet Josh and Benny Safdie, the directing duo behind Uncut Gems. (Alex Mitchell for amNewYork) Did you know there's a secret H subway train? It was renamed to the Rockaway Park Shuttle in 1993, but it's still out there if you look carefully. (Tribeca Citizen) 12 new public art installations not to miss in January. (Michelle Young for Untapped Cities) The mayor's reaction to multiple deaths on Third Avenue in Brooklyn is to lower the speed limit from 30mph to 25mph. Lowering the speed limit without enforcement is akin to doing nothing, so the mayor has also promised a step up in enforcement. (Paula Katinas for The Brooklyn Home Reporter) Chepe, the Nevins Street raccoon was captured. He'll be living out his days known as Chepe, the Prospect Park raccoon. (Jen Chung for Gothamist) The state has a new minimum wage law for tipped workers, which doesn't include restaurant or bar workers. (Ryan Sutton for Eater) A look at the city's new bail reforms from inside Manhattan's criminal court. (Beth Fertig for Gothamist) A deep look at why some parents are freaking out about the city's potential scrapping of the Gifted and Talented program. (Emily Shwake for Gothamist) Photos: Inside The Deco, Midtown West's new food hall. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft) The 13-year-old arrested in connection with Tessa Majors's murder was denied a pre-trial release. and will remain in custody while awaiting the trial. (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist) Times Square features the ridiculous version of everything. $30 Domino's pizzas. A Red Lobster. And the planned TSX hotel will include an outdoor stage and ball drop suites. (Devin Gannon for 6sqft) Say farewell to the last of the "meat honkeytonks" in Times Square, Tad's Steaks. (Serena Dai for Eater) The Queens Public Library on the first floor of One Court Square will be closing at the end of the month. The library's been in that location since 1989. If you remember, the building was supposed to become Amazon's temporary office while their Long Island City campus was built, but since the deal fell through the developer of the building is making other plans. The library is looking for a new home. (Allie Griffin for LIC Post) A dozen illuminated seesaws are coming to Broadway today (Monday) between 37th and 38th as part of the installation "Impulse." The seesaws will create light and make music as well. Adding an installation in that spot is an annual tradition. Last year's installation was an illuminated tunnel you could walk through that made sounds as people walked through it. (Shaye Weaver for Time Out) New York is a city of signs, but of very few sign-painters. Travis Fitzsimmons of Prospect Lefferts Gardens makes hand-painted signs whose simplicity and style catch eyes. (Ben Verde for Brooklyn Paper) Pizza Paradise, the nondescript and honestly sub-par pizza place in Flatiron, holds a secret. Inside is also Taste of Persia, which will be closing at the end of the month due to being told to close by the new owners. Owner Said Pourkay is looking for a new space. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist) The Hells Angels' supporters used to claim the block that housed their clubhouse on E 3rd was the safest block in the city. Some unknown gunmen tested that theory at their new clubhouse in Throggs Neck late on Thursday night. (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) Video: A look inside Joe's Shanghai legendary soup dumplings. (Matt Coneybeare for Viewing NYC) The process hasn't officially begun, but parents in Queens are organizing against desegregating schools in Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, Rego Park, and Jamaica. (Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist) The Grand Street bike lane in Brooklyn is being upgraded today to physically separate cyclists from moving traffic and prevent drivers from parking in the bike lane. (Julianne Cuba for Streetsblog) It's the most mulch-iest time of year. (EV Grieve) Fairway Market is filing for bankruptcy again. (David Cunningham for I Love the Upper West Side) The city showed its support for the Jewish community over the weekend with a nearly 20,000 person march across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. (Christina Goldbaum and Matthew Sedacca for NY Times) Photos: Inside the new East Village Trader Joe's. (Gabe Herman for amNewYork) A Chinatown bus with a station on Canal Street was involved in a horrific traffic accident early Sunday morning in Southwest Pennsylvania that killed five and injured sixty. (Bowery Boogie) How can you make finding an apartment even less fun than it already is? Add Excel and decision matrices. (Kim Velsey for NY Times) You've got all week to prepare yourself. This weekend is The No Pants Subway Ride. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist) In another depressing blow to sources of local news, amNewYork and Metro will be combining into one newspaper under the Schneps Media banner. It seems like Metro's website will be eaten by amNewYork's, which has been increasing filled using Associated Press stories instead of local reporters. The announcement doesn't include the number of layoffs that will be involved. (amNewYork) The hottest restaurants in Brooklyn for January. (Eater)