Manhattan Average Rent Reaches $5K + Primary Races Heat Up
No. 279 | Monday, July 18
Local News:
The average rent in Manhattan reached $5,000 per month for the first time ever.
A new New York Police Department unit, announced earlier this year by Mayor Adams to crack down on guns, includes a disproportionate number of officers about whom civilians have filed complaints for excessive force or abuse of authority, according to an investigation by New York Focus.
An investigation of ShotSpotter, a technology used by New York City and other cities to identify gunshots, shows that it does not work.
Janet DiFiore, the chief judge on the New York State Court of Appeals, is resigning at the end of August, setting up a chance to reshape the State's top court, which has been controlled by conservatives appointed by former governor Andrew Cuomo.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for failing to bring transparency to Albany.
Despite his promises otherwise during last year's campaign, Mayor Eric Adams continues to close playgrounds on New York City Housing Authority grounds.
The vacancy rate for municipal jobs reached 7.7 percent, five times higher than it has been in recent years, resulting in critical worker shortages across all City agencies. Some are citing lethargic hiring practices, as well as Mayor Adams's insistence that City workers return to the office, for the shortfall.
Following Comptroller Brad Lander’s investigation, fares for the New York City Ferry will increase to $4 per ride.
Elections:
The endorsement race in New York's 10th Congressional District (Park Slope) is heating up, with Assembly Member Robert Carroll (District 44, Park Slope) endorsing Dan Goldman and Gloria Steinem backing Liz Holtzman. A recent Data for Progress poll showed Goldman just trailing Council Member Carlina Rivera (District 2, East Village) and Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou (District 65, Chinatown).
Kristen Gonzalez and Nomiki Konst, candidates in the 59th State Senate District primary, are exchanging jabs with each other on social media. Gonzalez had already picked up the backing of key progressive endorsers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (District 14, Jackson Heights) and the New York City Democratic Socialists of America when Konst announced her candidacy in early June.
The New York City Districting Commission, which is charged with adjusting the City Council’s district lines, released its first proposal for new district boundaries on Friday, which includes a new majority district for Asian and Pacific Islanders.
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