The "Don't Bully the Mayor (Bully the Mayor)" Edition

An NYPD cop punches a pre-teen girl, the AirTrain finds a way to get worse, Joe Rogan convinces idiots to search the East River, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, the best restaurants of 2022, and more

Today - Low: 36˚ High: 48˚
Rain in the morning and afternoon.
This weekend - Low: 34˚ High: 44˚

Thanks to reader Kim for sending in this set of googly eyes from Park Slope! Send your NYC photos, googly eyes or not, to thebriefly@gmail.com

• A video of a uniformed cop from the NYPD repeatedly punching a 12-year-old girl in the head on Staten Island is making the rounds online. The unnamed officer was suspended pending an internal investigation, but it’s unknown if he'll continue to be paid while being suspended for punching a pre-teen multiple times. (Matt Troutman for Patch)

• Speaking of the NYPD punching people, taxpayers are footing the $135,000 federal lawsuit against the city after a cop punched a subway rider in the face twice, kicking his belongings off the 6 train, choking him, and hitting him with pepper spray. This was the case where the cop pressed assault charges against the guy he was punching. Turns out the cop cut his hand while repeatedly punching the person he arrested in the face. One of the officers involved, it's not specified if it's the one doing the face-punching, is facing discipline, but it's also not specified what the discipline is. (Reuven Blau for The City)

• Just when you thought riding AirTrain couldn't get worse, there are no plans for the Port Authority to use the OMNY system. While you can technically get to JFK via public transportation, it's a wonder why anyone still does. Oh, and also, you won't be able to use a portion of the system starting January 15, as the AirTrain will become a bus temporarily. (Christopher Robbins for Hell Gate)

• If you've been noticing more idiots than usual in the East River around 65th St, it's because the chuds who listen to Joe Rogan's podcast are convinced there are a billion dollars worth of wooly mammoth tusks at the bottom of the river. (James Ford for Pix11)

• Uber drivers were on strike on Thursday, protesting the Taxi and Limousine Commission's decision to block a pay raise approved months ago. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)

• Mayor Adams believes that the de Blasio administration members are being too mean to him. Last year he complained that the media was racist and mean towards him. The mayor claims that 2023 will be his "Aaron Judge year." The Yankees, for reference, were swept by the Astros and didn't make it to the World Series. (Elizabeth Kim for Gothamist)

• The mayor has been ticketed again for more rat problems at his Bed-Stuy brownstone. Perhaps the rats are also being too mean to him? (Clio Chang for Curbed)

@samibronowskiMeet New York’s hardest working man #nyc #bodegas

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• Target is moving into the old Food Emporium spot in Union Square. There's no known opening date. (EV Grieve)

• A fancy indoor pickleball court is opening in Hell's Kitchen next month, because why wouldn't someone make a "luxury" version of anything? We're not too far off from pickleball taking as the sport you get annoyed to see on Instagram. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)

• Welcome to the era of the $1,000 tasting menu date. Would you like dinner or an Xbox Series X and a Playstation 5? (Ryan Sutton for Eater)

• Speaking of trains not running, the MTA will suspend 7-line service between 34th Street-Hudson Yards and Queensboro Plaza on certain weekends in February through April. (Aaron Ginsburg for 6sqft)

• You can not compost yourself in New York. Attention murderers: This does not mean it's legal to bury your bodies wherever you want, there will still be regulations. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)

• CitiBike prices increased this week. Rides are now $0.50 more expensive, and extra time is $0.26. (Matt Troutman for Patch)

• Recommended Read: An overlooked relationship in our lives: the person behind the bodega counter. Do they miss you after you move? (Luke Winkie for Hell Gate)

• How many Manhattan blocks are in a mile? Oka,y you have an answer. How about avenues? That's a more difficult question. (Zachary Solomon for StreetEasy)

• All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ, open until 4 am. It's coming to 14th near 3rd in the old 5 Napkin Burger spot. (Emma Orlow for Eater)

• 14 ice skating rinks in NYC to visit this winter, including the new "highest skating ring in NYC" 100 floors up in Hudson Yards. (Aaron Ginsburg for 6sqft)

• Ted Leo is playing Union Pool for free at the end of the month. Ted Leo and bathroom sex, what more could you ask for on a Tuesday night? (Amy Geiger for BrooklynVegan)

• City schools have banned ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that can produce convincing responses to prompts on various subjects. Some educators fear the chatbot will make writing assignments obsolete and encourage cheating, while others believe it could be used as a tool for analysis in classrooms. I had ChatGPT write that summary. (Michael Eisen-Rooney for Chalkbeat)

• Jelas in Union Square serves clarified cocktails only. I didn't know what that meant either. They remove the cloudy or murky elements from cocktails using a cheesecloth or a centrifuge. There are photos of the cocktails but not of a centrifuge. Time Out says the bar holds about 12 at a time and describes the mood as "sultry" thanks to a decor that relies heavily on brass. (Anna Rahmanan for Time Out)

• Ryan Sutton's best restaurants of 2022. (Ryan Sutton for Eater)

Top Clicked Links from the Last Edition:

1. The Best Places to Get Cuffed ASAP

2. The Best NYC Restaurant Meals of 2022

3. This Was the Year Cocktail Trends Disappeared

Featured City Pet: Charlii!

Thanks to reader Beth for sending in this pic of Charlii from Brooklyn! Send your pet pics to thebriefly@gmail.com