Weekly News Roundup – February 5, 2024

Does New York City need congestion pricing? - NY1

Free Swim Program Gets $1.5M from Philanthropist, Offsets Some of $5.3M Budget Cuts - Our Town

New Veterinary Surgery Opens At Upper East Side Animal Hospital - Patch

No, the Frick Collection is not opening 14 new bars - Time Out NY

Ribbon cutting ceremony celebrates newly renovated Paul L. McDermott Rink in Manhattan - AM NY

NY Rangers & Parks Dept. Cheer Refurbished Roller Rink at Stanley Isaacs Playground - Our Town

Illegal UES Pot Shops Raids Net $150K In Fines, Arrests: Officials - Patch

Schedule change: Gillibrand pushes for federal reclassification of marijuana to end negative impacts on communities of color - AM NY

Calling Cannabis Rollout a ‘Disaster,’ Hochul Blames Law for Rampant Illegal Sales - The City

Congress in Rare Agreement on E-Bike Battery Bill Pushed by NY Reps - The City

E-Bike Battery Fire Hazards Lurk Where New Yorkers Live, Says FDNY - The City

City Wants Delivery Giants to Give Workers Safe Batteries and Bikes — and Take Dangerous Ones Off the Street - Streetsblog

Big F’n (B, D And M) Deal: Congestion Pricing Lawsuits Threaten More MTA Signal Progress - Streetsblog

Gov. Hochul backs congestion pricing but gives free tolls to Queens, Bronx drivers - Gothamist

FDNY Chief Blames Slower Emergency Response Times on More Cars - Streetsblog

Emergency gates will soon take 15 seconds to open at 3 NYC subway stations - Gothamist

New Subway Fare Gates and Platform Barriers Fail to Impress New Yorkers - NY Times

Only Half of NYC Subway Riders Say They’re Satisfied With System - Bloomberg

Real estate market took $636M bite out of MTA budget - Crain’s

DiNapoli: MTA needs $43B for repairs and upgrades - City and State

Port Authority moves ahead with $10B replacement of Midtown's miserable bus terminal - Gothamist

New ‘open gangway’ R211 subway cars enter service on the C line between Brooklyn & Manhattan - AM NY

MTA: Fare Evasion Expected to Top $700M in 2023 - Our Town

DOT Bike Lane Intros Dropped 86% in 2023 - Streetsblog

NYC Outdoor Dining's Final Rules: No More Sheds, Seasonal Road Cafes - Patch

Adams vs. Adams: New York’s Top Democrats Clash on City’s Path - NY Times

Hochul finishes 2023 business with no pocket vetoes - City and State

Democrats’ next crime fight: Retail theft - Politico

New House maps in New York stall as deadline for June primaries nears - Politico

Should the Mayor Run New York City Schools? - NY Times

Few NYC public school parents taking advantage of free money for college savings - Gothamist

Across the political spectrum, lawmakers are peeved about Hochul’s plan for education funding - City and State

How well is your school teaching your child to read? Some parents feel in the dark, report finds. - Chalkbeat

Police union argues against settlement that would change how NYPD responds to protests - Gothamist

Mayor Adams loses fight over criminal justice bills, further empowering City Council - Gothamist

New York, looking to boost work opportunities for migrants, relaxes some requirements

 - Gothamist

 1,600 Families With Children Have Seen Their Shelter Stays Expire; 7,200 More Face Coming Deadlines - City Limits

Hochul's office says New York Republicans 'have taken no action' to solve migrant crisis - Gothamist

NY government gears up for fight against TikTok, Facebook and other social media giants - Gothamist

NYC launches delayed reforms to chaotic private garbage truck industry - Gothamist 

Hochul signs Rape is Rape Act - City & State

NYC touts faster fire inspections in new report - City & State

NYC wants to offer more cash for reporting idle vehicles — except to 1 guy - Gothamist

NY Senate passes prescription drug affordability package - City and State

NYC program for non-police 911 response still handles a fraction of eligible mental health calls - Gothamist

Less Crime, Slower Responses, Greener Parks — the MMR’s Mixed Bag - The City

NYC lifeguards to get another raise, retention bonus - City and State

50K NYC buildings need climate law compliance reviews. 11 DOB staffers have to do it. - Gothamist

NYPD Dragging Many More Vendors to Criminal Court, Data Shows - The City