https://www.otdowntown.com/news/chelsea-downtown-manhattan-events-aug-13-19-EH6108503 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-12T12:06:59-04:00 Chelsea & Downtown Manhattan Events: Aug. 13-19 https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/washington-square-via-washingtonsquar_4-11000431_20260812120701.jpg washington square via washingtonsquarepark.org https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/stavros-niarchos-foundation-via-www_4-11000435_20260812120702.jpg Stavros Niarchos Foundation via www.snf.org https://www.otdowntown.com/home/mta-hopes-to-cool-off-subway-platforms-with-thermal-tech-HH6108988 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-12T17:26:44-04:00 MTA Hopes to Cool Off Subway Platforms With Thermal Tech https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/55455529414-72042e8b9b-k_4-11001703_20260812163848.jpg The MTA hopes to one day create a “thermal energy network” that would radically cool off the interconnected Chambers Street and Brooklyn-Bridge City Hall subway stations. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/55454374412-03ea34ff23-k_4-11001708_20260812163849.jpg An $800,000 feasibility study on such a “thermal energy system” at the Lower Manhattan station is underway, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani (above) needing to cool off during an August 10 presser held there. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/democrat-judicial-convention-taps-six-judges-for-november-ballot-CY6111114 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-13T14:29:35-04:00 Democrat Judicial Convention Taps Six Judges for November Ballot https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/60-centre-st_4-11004369_20260813144230.jpg The Democratic Judicial Convention on Aug. 10 nominated six judges who will likely be heading to New York Court house at 60 Centre Street after the November 3 election. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/archdiocese-plans-to-sell-church-2-west-side-catholic-schools-BG6109245 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-13T15:23:25-04:00 Archdiocese Plans to Sell Church, 2 West Side Catholic Schools https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/wilson-at-stop-sale-rally-flickr_4-11001733_20260812195143.jpg Carl Wilson led preservationists in a “Stop the Sale” rally outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chelsea after learning the Archdiocese plans to sell the church and two former Catholic school buildings on the west side. He wants the Landmarks Preservation Commission to declare the buildings landmarks. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/milimg-5861-5788136-new-68-2026081219_4-11001729_20260812191629.jpg Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, said Our Lady of Guadalupe was the first Spanish language parish in New York City. Today, he said over 30 percent of the city population is Hispanic and the church is an historic touchstone of the transformation. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/carl-wilson-at-our-lady-of-guadalupe_4-11001719_20260812191628.jpg City Council Member Carl Wilson led a “Stop the Sale” rally outside Our Lady of Guadalupe on Aug. 12. https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/our-lady-of-guadalupe-at-st-bernard_4-11001734_20260812195144.jpg The Our Lady of Guadalupe parish was founded in 1902 in a west side neighborhood once known as “Little Spain” but merged into the former St. Bernard Church on West 14th Street in 2003 where it is currently based. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/judge-temporarily-blocks-pied-a-terre-tax-orders-mamdani-public-list-takedown-YC6105067 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-13T16:38:36-04:00 Judge Temporarily Blocks “Pied-à-Terre” Tax, Orders Mamdani Public List Takedown https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/mamdani-video-photo-at-griffin_4-11010073_20260813163238.jpg Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the now infamous video filmed outside the penthouse apartment of Citadel chairman Ken Griffin. “When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich,” he said in the video released in April. “I’m thrilled to announce we secured a pied a terre tax,” he said, “the first in NYC history.” https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-11-at-4-24-08-pm_4-10997010_20260811162517.png NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed up his “pied-à-terre” tax during a press conference on an unrelated topic on August 10 after a Staten Island Supreme Court judge issued a temporary block on the new surcharge. https://www.otdowntown.com/news/nyc-reading-scores-sink-with-3rd-grade-proficiency-falling-14-points-JA6112847 hourly Our Town - Downtowner en 2026-08-13T17:20:24-04:00 NYC Reading Scores Sink, with 3rd Grade Proficiency Falling 14 Points https://www.otdowntown.com/binrepository/test-scores-chalkbeat_4-11010133_20260813171750.jpg NYC students’ reading proficiency fell 6 percentage points in grades 3-8, with steeper drops in early grades, as officials investigate dramatic swings in test scores.