The Briefly for June 17, 2020 – The "Don't Believe What Cops Say" Edition

Today - Low: 65˚ High: 74˚

Partly cloudy throughout the day.

You can watch the Public Hearing Via Video Conference on Police/Public Interactions During Recent Protests at that link at 11am on Wednesday. Nine protesters detail their violent encounters with the NYPD. (Sydney Pereira, Jake Offenhartz, and Gwynne Hogan for Gothamist) Why the hell are NYPD cruisers playing ice cream man music? This isn't an isolated incident and there is a video. (Luke Fater for Atlas Obscura) The first wave of lawsuits against the NYPD has begun, with 18 notice of claims being lodged with City Comptroller Scott Stringer's office. (Reuven Blau for The City) The lesson from yesterday's story about the NYPD poisoning that never was is clear: Stop believing the police. (Ashley Reese for Jezebel) The moment is demanding it, but is the NYPD capable of reform? (Nate File for Bedford + Bowery) A new policy mandates that body cam footage when the NYPD's weapons are fired. I hope we're all ready for a million reasons why cameras "malfunction." (Kathleen Culliton for Patch) The 1.8 acre 50 Kent pop-up park will open on July 9 on a part-time basis from Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. (Greenpointers) Mayor de Blasio announced that playgrounds will reopen in the city's second phase of reopening. Yeah, it sucks, but we're all fighting that same anxiousness in service of a greater good. (Todd Maisel for amNewYork Metro) It hasn't been confirmed that we'll be hitting phase 2 on June 22, and if we don't, it's because of assholes like Dani Zoldan on the Upper West Side, who has been running comedy shows inside Stand Up NY, the comedy club he owns. (Mike Mishkin for I Love the Upper West Side) Oh, look, more assholes. State Senator Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, and Councilman Kalman Yeger decided their community in Midwood has had enough of being careful and used a grinder to open the chains keeping the Kolbert Playground closed. (Lindsay Tuchman for NY1) When CMJ announced it was coming back, a virtual festival wasn't what we pictured. (Bill Pearis for BrooklynVegan) The stoop is the new bar. And the new restaurant. And everything else too. (Marie Solis for Gothamist) A look at Dennin Winser's hand-painted signs, which he's offering for free for Black-owned businesses. (Emma Orlow for Time Out) Sometimes a headline is perfect. A gay socialist could be the first LGBTQ person of color in the New York legislature. Get to know Jabari Brisport. (Molly Sprayregen for LGBTQ Nation) Ahead of the June 23 primary, Attorney General Letitia James opened a hotline for election issues. If you haven't applied for an absentee ballot already, you'll be voting in person. (Brendan Krisel for Patch) The city is providing free air conditioners for eligible households this summer. There are a few different guidelines to qualify and it's best to check before it starts getting unreasonably warm. (East New York News) Someone hung a noose inside Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. The Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. (Greg B. Smith for The City) Should you sign a new lease right now? Rents look like they might be on the decline through the end of the year. (Nancy Wu for StreetEasy) Kudos to the MTA for their creative social distancing decals on the subway. (Noah Sheidlower for Untapped Cities) We've all seen photos of the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, but have you thought about it represents? It's meant to be a celebration the start of the Space Age, symbolize the theme of the 1964 World's Fair "Peace Through Understanding" and also a part of Robert Moses's plans for New York City. (Lillia Paynch for Untapped New York) Juneteenth isn't a recognized holiday in New York, but we could be on the road to changing that. (Nick Reisman for NY1) Photos: What Michelin-starred restaurant takeout looks like. (Gary He for Eater) This year's 4th of July hot dog eating championship will happen without a crowd and will be in a secret location, leaving this the first year in a long time without the competition at the corner of Surf and Stillwell. (Bao Ong for Time Out) The U.S. Open tennis tournament will also be held without a crowd this summer. I hope they fill the stands with stuffed animals and sex dolls like the Korean baseball teams have. (Ben Yakas for Gothamist) Hospitals and group homes can now accept visitors with their discretion. (Emily Davenport for Gothamist) Housing courts in the state are starting to reopen, but there's some confusion over if evictions are allowed to resume. With no additional guidance, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks's order from March halting evictions stands, but with pushback from eviction-hungry attorneys and landlords. (Georgia Kromrei for The Real Deal) The state and city government is trying to get anyone who thinks they've been exposed to Covid-19 to get tested. If that's the case, why were less than 100 prisoners tested over the first two weeks of June? (Rosa Goldensohn for The City) Never trust the first thing Mayor de Blasio says. After taking a sick day on Monday and spreading the message that he didn't feel there was a need to get tested... he got tested. Everything de Blasio says is a three-day story. Day One: Thing happens. day Two: Mayor says something stupid, ruining credibility. Day Three: Mayor backtracks, becomes joke. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch) A conversation with Judd Apatow about his new film "The King of Staten Island." (Molly Given for amNewYork Metro)