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If you know anyone who might like this newsletter, send it to them. If this was sent to you by someone else, subscribe here — it's free!  Dear New Yorkers, Landlords will be able to hike rents by 3% later this year for more than one million rent-stabilized apartments. By a 5-4 vote at the Hunter College Assembly Hall on Wednesday evening, the Rent Guidelines Board approved a maximum rent increase of 3% on one-year leases, and a maximum rent increase of 2.75% in year one and 3.2% in year two on two-year leases. The increases — slightly lower than last year’s — will apply to leases signed on or after Oct. 1 on rent-stabilized apartments, which represent almost half of all rental units in the city. Read more here. Some other items of note: Some additional details are coming to light about the Chinatown e-bike store where a fire killed four people and injured two this week. The FDNY inspected the store just weeks ago, and issued no violations. But the inspector didn’t have access to the store's basement — where multiple e-bikes were found after the deadly blaze. And although the inspector conducted a visual inspection, he did not check any batteries to see if they had been modified. Multiple safety experts have warned that refurbished batteries are dangerous, and Mayor Eric Adams signed a new City Council-sponsored law in March outlawing their use. The FDNY’s investigation is ongoing, and it's not yet clear whether refurbished or modified batteries were involved in this Tuesday’s tragic blaze. The city’s Department of Correction is set to approve a $33 million contract with the Keefe Group, a private vendor that runs the Rikers commissary and has faced criticism and lawsuits in multiple states over high prices. After an investigation by THE CITY exposed problems with the company’s practices, the city’s proposed three-year contract now includes new stipulations — but still doesn't have a base price list. Early voting is underway for City Council primary elections, in redrawn districts. Election Day (and the last day to vote) is next Tuesday, June 27. Look up your local races in our Know Your District tool, which includes candidates as well as information about how redistricting shaped your area. Did you know? Queen’s District 28 is a bit different. It no longer includes the South Richmond Hill area or JFK Airport, but now encompasses the Aqueduct racetrack at the Resorts World casino. For the latest local numbers on COVID-19 hospitalizations, positivity rates and more, check our coronavirus tracker.  Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Thursday's Weather Rating: 3/10. Oof. Things have taken a turn. Showers and periods of rain are likely today — especially this morning — with increasing humidity as well. A bit of a break may move in by early evening. Here's hoping. The vibes are not good! THE KICKER: If you’ve walked down West 81st Street between Amsterdam and Columbus in Manhattan in recent years, you may have come across Achilles: the cat who “runs the block,” according to neighbors, and was recently profiled by West Side Rag.    Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Thursday. Love, THE CITY P.S. If you liked something about today's newsletter, or didn't, let us know at zshah@thecity.nyc

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