Congestion pricing tolls on Second Ave. and E. 60th St.–and all tolls charging (most) vehicles $9 to enter lower Manhattan during peak hours–remain operational, despite the Trump administration seeking to force Gov. Hochul and the MTA to turn them off on April 20. ( Photo: Patricia Walsh) Congestion Tolls Stay on, Feds Threaten Highway Funds And Set New Deadline for May 21 Congestion pricing tolls are still being collected, the MTA says, after the federal government sought to unilaterally shut... Home 21 Apr 2025 | 04:42
Local advocates rallied at City Hall on April 8 to demand greater transparency around arts education funding. ( Photo: Jack Ahern ) Advocates Urge City to Spend More on Arts Ed. for Public Schools, as Cuts Loom Local arts advocates hosted educators and students at an April 8 rally on the steps of Manhattan’s City Hall, in order to... Home 18 Apr 2025 | 07:32
Car-Free Earth Day will be held on April 26, the NYC Department of Transportation announced, formally kicking off 2025’s “Open Streets” programming. ( Photo: NYC DOT ) ‘Car-Free Earth Day’ to Kick Off Open Streets Across Manhattan The NYC Department of Transportation will kick off its Open Streets season on April 26, for its ninth annual Car-Free Earth... News 04 Apr 2025 | 01:53
A judge on Feb. 24 lifted a restraining order that temporarily blocked Mount Sinai from closing Beth Israel Hospital, which has served patients in downtown Manhattan since the 1800s. Community advocates quickly succeeded in getting an appeals court to reimpose a temporary stay, teeing up more legal wrangling. ( Photo: Jack Ahern ) Appeal Halts Beth Israel Closure After Lower Court Ok’d It An appeals-court ruling has once again halted Mount Sinai’s plan to close Beth Israel Hospital, this time only days before... News 03 Mar 2025 | 12:26
City Councilmember Gale Brewer has released a map of 65 faulty streetlights in her district. A few of the 65 were outright missing. The data was gathered in a volunteer survey. ( Photo: Gale Brewer) Volunteers Identify 65 Faulty or Missing UWS Streetlights Volunteers working on behalf of City Councilmember Gale Brewer have identified 65 nonfunctional streetlights on the Upper... Home 25 Feb 2025 | 03:17
The NYC Parks Department has maintained that it must demolish the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, pictured above, because of structural issues. The agency said it will reconstitute its outdoor pool and save the Keith Haring mural. ( Photo: Village Preservation ) Parks Dept.: We Must Demolish Tony Dapolito Rec. Center, but Will Rebuild the Pool & Mural It appears that the Parks Department has not budged on its plan to demolish the landmarked Tony Dapolito Recreation Center,... News 17 Feb 2025 | 12:18
The Ritz Bar pictured in 2024. A group of men—three of whom were just convicted—targeted patrons for robbery there in 2022, killing one. ( Photo: Google Maps ) Three Men Convicted for Robberies of Local Gay Bar Patrons That Left 2 Dead Three men—Jayqwan Hamilton, Robert Demaio, and Jacob Barroso—have been convicted by a jury for drugging and robbing gay bar... News 14 Feb 2025 | 06:31
Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and her fellow Aging Committee members listening to a report from Greg Olsen, Acting Director of the NYS Office for the Aging, on Feb. 4. ( Photo: Courtesy of Rebecca Seawright) Rebecca Seawright Vows to Serve Seniors As New State Assembly Aging Chair Upper East Side State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright became the chair of that body’s Aging Committee last month, a role... News 14 Feb 2025 | 10:43
Anthony Saccavino, 59, pictured addressing the FDNY before he actively retired. He’s pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges stemming from his time heading the Bureau of Fire Prevention. ( Photo: FDNY/Flickr ) Former FDNY Chief Pleads Guilty to Fed Bribery Charges A former high-ranking FDNY official, Anthony Saccavino, has pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges stemming from a pay-to-play... News 10 Feb 2025 | 03:46
Applications are now being accepted for a DOT program that will allow delivery drivers–such as the one pictured above–to trade in unregulated e-bikes for safe, UL-approved ones. ( Photo: Department of Transportation ) DOT Begins Rollout of $2 Million E-Bike Trade-In Program for Delivery Workers The DOT has begun accepting applications for an e-bike swap program open to delivery workers, as part of the Adams administration’s... News 28 Jan 2025 | 05:44
Reverend Amanda Ashcraft, of Middle Collegiate Church, condemned President Donald Trump’s directive to allow ICE to conducting sweeps at houses of worship. Such raids had previously been barred by executive order. ( Photo: Jack Ahern ) Faith Leaders Vow to Maintain Sanctuary For Undocumented New Yorkers A group of faith leaders & local NYC politicians gathered at a church in the East Village and promised to provide sanctuary... News 24 Jan 2025 | 11:03
Mt. Sinai sold two properties–317 and 321 E. 17th St.–around the corner from Beth Israel Hospital on First Ave. for $34 million on Dec. 16, 2024, city records reveal. Pictured above: 317 E. 17th St. ( Photo: Google Maps ) Mt. Sinai Sells Two Properties Near Beth Israel For Combined $34 Million Mt. Sinai–which is trying to lift a restraining order preventing it from closing Beth Israel Hospital on E. 16th St.–has... News 07 Jan 2025 | 09:05
The exterior of Joe’s Wine Co., on 3rd Ave., as of January 2025. They’ve taken down all exterior signage, after grocery giant Trader Joe’s filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against them. ( Photo: Jack Ahern ) Joe’s Wine Co. Now Has No Signage As It Battles Infringement Suit by Trader Joe’s A new East Village wine shop, which originally opened as Joe’s Wine Co., has apparently suffered a setback in its legal battle... Home 03 Jan 2025 | 10:47
Bill Cosby and his wife Camille are facing foreclosure on a six-story townhouse they own at 18 E. 71st St., pictured above. They are also facing foreclosure on a house at 243 E. 61st St. ( Photo: Google Maps ) Bill Cosby & Wife Face Foreclosure of Two Upper East Side Residences Bill Cosby, the disgraced former television star that served three years in prison after being convicted of criminal sexual... News 31 Dec 2024 | 04:59
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan will be hosting two NYE ball drops kids on Dec. 31, at the kid-friendly hours of noon and 1 p.m. ( Photo: Children’s Museum of Manhattan) Children’s Museum of Manhattan to Hold “Special Kid’s Ball Drop” on NYE Attention, parents of young children: do you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the big city, but your tykes are too tired... News 30 Dec 2024 | 01:33
