The Briefly for March 2, 2020 – The "Yes, We Are All Out of Hand Sanitizer" Edition
Today - Low: 46˚ High: 57˚
Possible drizzle overnight.
The MTA will shut down the F train on nights and weekends beginning on March 21 through next year to install and upgrade the line's signals between Church and Stillwell Ave. Who on planet earth decided it was a good idea that one of the trains that beings people to Coney Island should be out of commission for the entire summer? (Irina Groushevaia for Bklyner) February 2020 was the second-smallest snow on record in New York City since records began in 1868. Technically it snowed the smallest bit on Saturday, Leap Day. In all of winter so far, we've had 4.8" total, compares to 61.9" nine years ago. (Anne Barnard for NY Times) Mayor de Blasio's plan to convert basement apartments into legal apartments is hitting one significant problem: reality. (Kathryn Brenzel for The Real Deal) The state has confirmed its first Coronavirus (COVID-19) case, and it's in Manhattan. The woman in her late 30s who contracted the virus had traveled to Iran and is now isolated in her home. People who had close contact with the patient have already been identified. The New York Health Commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, has called the spread to other New Yorkers from this woman "low risk." (Joseph Goldstein and Jesse McKinley for NY Times) The city and state both received approvals for testing the Coronavirus, previously the city had been sending potentially contaminated samples via FexEd to the CDC in Atlanta. (Robert Pozarycki for amNewYork Metro) Looking for hand sanitizer only to find out that it's sold out? You're not alone. Also, washing your hands for 20 seconds will prevent the spread of disease better than hand sanitizer. (Julie Creswell for NY Times) For the COVID-19 paranoid person in your life: The Wuhan Virus: How to Stay Safe. (Laurie Garret, a Pulitzer Prize winning science writer, for Foreign Policy) There are five works by Isamu Noguchi on display in New York City outside of the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City. Once of those pieces, an installation in the lobby of 666 Fifth Avenue, is in danger of being disassembled thanks to a pending renovation by the building's new owners. (Michelle Young for Untapped New York) Staten Island's City Councilmember Joe Borelli doesn't like speed camera tickets or the Reckless Driver Accountability Act, he should know because he's earned himself five tickets issued by speed cameras. 22 pedestrians have been killed by drivers in 2020. (Sophia Chang for Gothamist) Miss Staten Island Madison L'Insalata came out as bisexual and was promptly banned from marching in last weekend's Staten Island St Patrick's Day parade. Another pageant winner who showed support for her was also banned. Congrats Staten Island, you're the worst. (CBS News) Photos: Over at the Queens “St. Pat’s for All” Parade, the mayor, Speaker Corey Johnson Senator Chuck Schumer, AOC, and other federal and local officials marched and partied. (Todd Maisel for amNewYork Metro) The former president of the Stonewall Democratic Club is eyeing a seat on the City Council in Queens. (Matt Tracy for Gay City News) 10 surprising places to discover on Queens Blvd. (Michelle Young for Untapped New York) Video: How many of the places can you see in this video of the East Village in the 1960s are still there today? (Jen Carlson for Gothamist) Most of the city's remaining public phone booths will be removed. Not on the list for removal are the phone booths which offers free calls on West End and 66th, 90th, and 100th Streets. (Jen Carlson for Gothamist) Yes, plastic bags are banned in NYC, but the Department of Environmental Conservation is delaying enforcement of the ban until April 1. (Marie J. French for Politico) Back in October, Andy Byford submitted a letter of resignation to the MTA that he would later retract, only to quit again at the beginning of the year. Freedom of Information Law requests have been filed to reveal the letters and the MTA claims to "not have it is its possession." (Dana Rubenstein for Politico) If you graduated high school in New York, you know the stress of the Regents exams. All that may change. (Alex Williamson for Brooklyn Eagle) The Department of Education released a new recommended reading catalog that represents a wider range of diversity to the authors and book subjects. (Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech for amNewYork Metro) It took drivers less than 24 hours to destroy the city-installed bike and "protection" on 13th St. An example of how plastic barriers are useless. (Gersh Kuntzman for Streetsblog) An investigator with the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Stephen Abreu, punched a bouncer in the face and fired two gunshots inside the bar because his drunken attempts to flirt with women were failures, according to first-hand accounts and a police report. Stephen Abreu was suspended from work, arrested and charged with felony attempted murder, reckless endangerment, attempted assault, menacing, and more. For some reason, he was released without bail when his charges qualify for bail. (Jake Offenhartz for Gothamist) Say farewell to Islanders games at the Barclays Center. They'll finally be returning to Long Island. (Norman Oder for Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report) New York is the most tax burdened in the country according to a new analysis. (Kathleen Culliton for Patch) 28 restaurants that define the East Village. (Stefanie Tuder for Eater)