Target’s East Harlem location is one of nine stores the retail chain is closing. The company blamed the closures on retail theft and violence against employees, although the NYPD says that shoplifting incidents in the precinct where the store sits are on the decline. ( Photo via Torresco Realty) Target Claims Theft Is Behind Harlem Store Closure, One of Nine Nationwide Citing retail theft and customer threats against employees, Target will be closing nine locations nationwide–including their... News 28 Sep 2023 | 10:29
A photo of an e-biker that police say struck and killed the Head Start teacher Priscilla Loke in Chinatown. Loke’s family is demanding answers from the NYPD, after noting that the unidentified suspect was allowed to leave the scene after talking with cops. ( Photo via NYPD) Family of Woman Killed by E-Bike Demand Answers From NYPD, Video of Suspect Released As the e-biker that fatally ran over 69 year-old Priscilla Loke in Chinatown earlier this month remains at large, the NYPD... News 27 Sep 2023 | 02:38
Rebecca Seawright, the Chair of the People with Disabilities Committee in the New York State Assembly, pushed two bills mandating inclusive language for people with disabilities. ( Photo via Rebecca Seawright ) Disability Rights Bills Pushed by Seawright Are Signed Into Law Governor Kathy Hochul has signed two bills intended to foster further inclusivity for people with disabilities into law.... News 23 Sep 2023 | 03:47
A group of 21 organizations are combining for the event, to be held alongside the banks of the Hudson River. ( Photo: West Side Fest) West Side Fest to Bring Free Cultural Bonanza to Locals on Sept. 30 An inaugural West Side Fest is coming to the banks of the Hudson River on September 30th, hosted by 21 organizations that... News 22 Sep 2023 | 08:42
An Access-A-Ride vehicle bearing snow tires. An 88 year-old woman was killed by one of the MTA vans–used to transport disabled people & operated by private contractors–in Chinatown on Friday, September 8. ( Photo via MTA on Wikimedia Commons) Two Pedestrians Killed in Separate Chinatown Accidents This Month Two senior citizens walking in Chinatown have been struck and killed by separate vehicles recently, in a spate of sudden... News 20 Sep 2023 | 12:57
Mount Sinai Health Systems said it plans to close its Beth Israel campus on East 16th St., citing mounting losses. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly) Mt. Sinai Plans to Close Beth Israel, Citing $1B in Losses Over Past Decade Mount Sinai’s Beth Israel campus, located at 1st Ave. & 16th St., is shuttering. Its parent company said the location is... News 18 Sep 2023 | 06:03
Erich Ulrich sitting to the right of Mayor Eric Adams in September of 2022, when he was the Department of Buildings Commissioner. He has now been indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney for various alleged counts of bribery undertaken in that role (and others). ( Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office) Former DOB Commissioner & His Associates Indicted For Bribery by Manhattan D.A. Erich Ulrich, 38, has been indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office for allegedly accepting $150,000 in bribes... News 18 Sep 2023 | 04:23
The PAC NYC cube at night, resembling nothing so much as the James Webb Space Telescope. Its official launch event drew over 600 guests. ( Photo: REX rendering for Perelman Performing Center) $500 Million Perelman Performing Arts Center Gets Its Ribbon Connected at the WTC The Perelman Arts Center, the long-delayed cultural complex designed to grace the World Trade Center, will finally be able... News 16 Sep 2023 | 12:08
A mugshot of Yenchun Chen. ( Photo via NYC DOC) Prisoner That Rappelled Down Beth Israel Hospital Using Bedsheets Caught, Rearrested Yenchun Chen, a prisoner that stunned New York City on August 9 by managing to rappel down the side of the Mt. Sinai Beth... News 14 Sep 2023 | 06:08
From left to right: MTA Chair Janno Lieber, Mayor Eric Adams, & DOE Chancellor David C. Banks. They helmed a September 5 press conference declaring a public info war on subway surfing. ( Photo via NYC’s Mayor’s Office) Mayor Adams Calls on Social Media Firms to Help Curb Deadly Subway Surfing Teenage subway surfing deaths are practically an epidemic these days, and Mayor Eric Adams & Co. are hoping to convince young... News 12 Sep 2023 | 08:33
Pier 66, transformed from desolate to refurbished. ( Photo via Hudson River Park ) Hudson River Park Celebrates 25 Years, With Desolation Transformed Into Greenery The Hudson River Park will be hosting a 25th anniversary gala on October 12, which will serve to highlight the complete transformation... News 11 Sep 2023 | 05:48
Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban (in the matching tan suits) at a September 6th press conference, where they proclaimed their desire to eliminate car thefts via police tech and PSA campaigns. ( Photo via NYC’s Mayor’s Office) As Overall Crime Rate Drops, Adams Targets Surging Car Theft Craze As the blaze of a disconcerting September heatwave beat down on assembled hangers-on, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner... News 08 Sep 2023 | 10:22
A UPS cargo bike in Rome, Italy. How would their bigger cousins change New York? ( Photo via NYC DOT) CB8 Considers DOT’s Cargo Bike Rules, With Public Comment Period Coming to a Close As the one-month public comment period on DOT’s full authorization of cargo pedal-assist bikes comes to a close on September... News 08 Sep 2023 | 10:22
Protests were a daily NYC occurrence in the days after George Floyd was killed. This May 30, 2020 march had escalated into clashes between police and protestors as night fell. ( Photo: Keith J. Kelly) NYPD Agrees on New Tiered Approach to Policing Protests As Part of BLM Settlement If ultimately signed off on by a judge, a new settlement will codify a mandatory de-escalation system for the NYPD when it... News 06 Sep 2023 | 09:23
CCTV cameras reportedly capturing 75 year-old Franz Vila with a 5 year-old girl, circulated by the NYPD on its Crime Stoppers app. The Manhattan D.A.’s office confirmed to Our Town that he has seemingly been indicted by a grand jury, for allegedly kidnapping the child and sexually abusing her at his UES residence. ( Photo via NYPD ) UES Suspect Indicted by Grand Jury for Kidnapping & Sexually Abusing 5 y.o. Queens Girl A man charged with allegedly kidnapping and sexually abusing a five-year-old girl he offered to babysit has reportedly been... News 03 Sep 2023 | 02:53