The Briefly for July 6, 2020 – The "Another Sign of the Apocalypse" Edition
Today - Low: 73˚ High: 88˚
Rain in the evening.
Today starts phase three of the city's reopening. Here's what you can and can't do under phase three. First and foremost, don't stop wearing your damn masks. (Robert Pozarycki for amNewYork Metro) Everyone's got a friend outside the city that's been talking about moving here on and off. Here's a link you can send them instead of answering every question they have. How to know if you're ready fo move to NYC. (Localize.City) You'd think business interruption insurance would cover a moment like the Covid-19 pandemic, where businesses were... interrupted. You'd be giving the insurance industry too much credit, because they've been rejecting claims because businesses haven't paid for "pandemic insurance." (Peter Senzamici for The City) Sound familiar? That's because insurers were turning down business interruption insurance claims by the thousands after Hurricane Sandy, blaming specific damage on a flood at a Con Ed substation on E. 14th St. (Reuven Blau for Daily News in 2013) There's something killing the fish in the Hudson River. While officials say it's nothing to be alarmed about, it's hard to not see this as another sign of the apocalypse. (David Cruz for Gothamist) Ailing parents, dying family members, and economic insecurity, and all while trying to graduate high school. (Rebecca Klein for HuffPost) Video: A look at the history of the "Freedom" tunnel that runs under Riverside Park and how it became the canvas for Chris "Freedom" Pape's art and a homeless community. (Vice) In the last month, there have been 95 lawsuits against the Archdiocese of New York with dozens more on the way. When Covid-19 put a pause on all court cases except "essential matters," it paused all the court cases against the church, prompting the state's legislature to extend the window for filing cases from January 2021 until August. The governor hasn't signed the legislation yet, prompting the sudden flood. (Virginia Breen for The City) The price of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city dropped 2% and two-bedroom dropped 0.3% in June and rents are 5% down from last year, according to a new report from Zumper. (Emily Davenport for amNewYork Metro) In 2018, the Gowanus Canal's 4th St basin was supposedly cleaned of "Black Mayo," aka coal tar, by the EPA as a pilot program for the entire waterway. Work on cleaning the entire canal was scheduled to start later this year, using the same techniques. This week, unfortunately, the black mayo returned. (Katia Kelly for Pardon Me for Asking) Dog owners are turning to CBD dog treats amid the endless stream of fireworks leading up to July 4. (Kathleen Culliton for NY1, congrats on the new job Kathleen) The pandemic has brought a classic NYC staple back: rooftop culture. (Monika Hankova for Untapped New York) Dekalb Market, the underground food hall underneath City Point in Downtown Brooklyn is reopening, but not underground. It will be taking over a portion of Gold Street and Willoughby Square Park as a reimagined Dekalb "Open-Air" Market. (Meaghan McGoldrick for amNewYork Metro) Rafael Espinal couldn't have picked a worse time to abandon his post as the City Councilmember for Brooklyn's 37th District if he tried, essentially robbing his former constituents of their voice through the Covid-19 pandemic, protests, and city budget/defund the NYPD debates. A special election was canceled by Governor Cuomo and Bushwick, East New York, and Cypress Hills won't have representation on the City Council until Janaury. (Nigel Roberts for The Brooklyn Reader) Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is introducing their summer flavors this week. How does Caramelized Banana Praline sound? (Emily Davenport for amNewYork Metro) The union representing 30,000 faculty and staff at CUNY is suing, alleging CUNY violated the terms of its federal bailout by laying off hundreds of adjunct faculty members, and are demanding that they be rehired. (Ben Brachfeld for Gothamist) Tips from a hospital stint on protecting yourself from Covid-19. (Donna Duarte-Ladd for amNewYork Metro) What's the purpose of legal observers if the NYPD keep arresting them? (Sydney Pereira for Gothamist) It's been half a year since the mayor boasted to the press about the NYPD and Department of Homeless Services' command center. A look at the change coming now that the NYPD are being kicked out. (Courtney Gross for NY1) A memorial was held for Pop Smoke on Friday night outside his parents' house in Canarsie the night of his album "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon." (Todd Maisel for amNewYork Metro) If you're headed to the city's beaches, there's nothing that says you can't combine the city's new hobby of birdwatching with your beach-going. It's piping plover nesting season, so keep an eye out for the endangered (and super cute) bird! (Jen Chung for Gothamist) Governor Cuomo instituted a mandatory 14-day quarantine if you're traveling to New York from 16 different states. How is it being enforced? 🤷♂️ (Fred Mogul for Gothamist) Highlights from NBC's recap of a week of "surprise" fireworks displays from Macy's, including an unexplained shot of a building in South Korea for some reason? (John Del Signore for Gothamist) The rats have been quiet, but with restaurants opening, expect that to change. (Amy Pearl for Gothamist) Visitors are now able to go to the September 11th Memorial for the first time since March. The museum is still closed. (NY1) The Strand is opening its Upper West Side location this month on Columbus Ave between 81st and 82nd St, the former home of Book Culture. (Sara Lebwohl for I Love The Upper West Side) A rundown of the fatal five shootings in the city Sunday. (Todd Maisel for amNewyork Metro) SpotShotter, the system the NYPD uses to detect gunshots, is under a real test with all the fireworks around the city. The system is, pardon the pun, shoddy at best, and its implementation has resulted in the targeting of Black and brown communities. (Gabriel Sandoval for The City) RIP Nick Cordero, Tony-nominated Broadway performer, who passed away due to Covid-19. (Michael Paulson for NY Times) The de Blasio administration is giving up on the idea of reworking the Brooklyn Bridge promenade, leaving the pedestrian and cyclist nightmare for the city's next mayor. Here are Scott Stringer, Corey Johnson, and Eric Adams' takes on the future of the bridge. (Dave Colon for Streetsblog) More people are riding the MTA's buses than subways for the first time since volume numbers have been kept. (Christina Goldblum and Winnie Hu for NY Times) A look at the history of Firemen’s Garden on E 8th St, where the NYFD's Martin Celic lost his life in 1977. (Ephemeral New York) A guide to the real-life NYC locations from Hamilton. (Untapped New York) Congrats to Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, this year's hot dog eating champions who both set new records and are $10,000 richer for it. (ESPN) Where to eat hot dogs this summer. (Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner for Thrillist) Thanks to reader Nai for today's featured photo!