WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY NewYork City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal Update - THE CITY SCOOP: Uncertainty for Migrants as 60-Day Deadline to Leave Shelters Looms

 

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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, With the expiration of their time in free city beds quickly approaching, some migrants are racing to find a place to live. Many are unsure where they will end up. Due to a dramatic policy shift announced in July, more than 4,500 adult migrants living in city shelters are nearing a 60-day deadline, after which they will be ejected from where they currently live. At a Brooklyn shelter at 455 Jefferson Ave., a converted commercial space, at least 533 residents have received the 60-day warning notices, city officials said. Copies of the letter shared with THE CITY promise that “a case worker will be reaching out to you in the coming days to explore your options for the future, including connecting with family, friends and other networks.”  The notices — on NYC letterhead with no agency specified — highlight cut-off dates beginning in late September. They instruct shelter residents to go to the Roosevelt Hotel on East 45th Street, the city’s main intake for newly arriving asylum-seekers, to “apply for another housing assistance option, which could include a faith or community-based organization or placement in a hotel in upstate New York.” More than a dozen migrants at two city-run shelters who received eviction notices said that while they were offered bus or plane tickets to other cities, they were given little guidance beyond that.  “It will be chaos,” predicted Yohandry Marquez, a 25-year-old migrant from Venezuela. Read more here.  In other news: Construction to Begin on Controversial McGuinness Boulevard Redesign Despite questions about whether it would move ahead, construction to redesign a stretch of street in Greenpoint is starting next week.  Plans to redesign McGuinness Boulevard sparked a fierce debate over the summer, with a campaign to block the redesign supported in part by the politically connected Argento family, as THE CITY reported. Mayor Eric Adams sent the Department of Transportation back to the drawing board, and it returned with an updated proposal that includes a protected bike lane in both directions, with one less lane of traffic in either direction and a dedicated parking lane running between Calyer Street and Meeker Avenue.  From Calyer north to the Pulaski Bridge, the street will widen back to two lanes of traffic in either direction during peak hours, with parking on either side during overnight hours.  — Gwynne Hogan Some other items of note: The city’s pause in collecting food scraps at the onset of the pandemic meant New Yorkers who wanted to compost had to find alternatives: neighborhood-level services filled the gap, and residents flocked to them. Now, those local businesses are pivoting to commercial clients to make up for the loss of residential customers who can once again compost for free as the city’s composting services roll out across the boroughs. The neighborhood composters all said they were happy about the city’s moves — but maintained they still had an important role to play. “Organizations like ours really connect people to the process,” said Dior St. Hillaire, co-director of BK ROT.  Nearly two million gallons of water gushed into Times Square-42nd Street, the busiest subway station in the city, early yesterday morning. A 127-year-old water main ruptured at 40th Street and Seventh Avenue, wrecking the commute on multiple lines and highlighting the challenges faced by the city in replacing hundreds of miles of pipes. In all, MTA officials said, close to 200 train trips had to be canceled. Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 7/10. Our patience will pay off today. We start out with showers, storms, humidity and clouds. A cold front passes by this morning and filters in a much nicer air mass. By afternoon, it's gorgeous out there with comfortable temperatures and a great breeze. The vibes are on the way up! Things To Do Here’s what’s going on around the city this week. Wednesday, Aug. 30: The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park production of “The Tempest,” through Sunday, Sept. 3, at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Free tickets are available. Wednesday, Aug. 30: NYC Parks presents “Heart of the City: Kevin Couliau, An Ode to NYC Basketball,” an exhibition of photographs of the city’s outdoor basketball scene. Arsenal Gallery in Central Park, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sept. 5 (closed Labor Day). Free. Wednesday, Aug. 30: A view of August’s “super blue moon” will peak over NYC skies on Wednesday night, appearing 17% larger and 30% brighter than usual. The planet Saturn will also be visible. THE KICKER: On the Upper West Side, a resident and a fruit vendor were distressed to notice a kitten trapped inside a shuttered AT&T store on Broadway and West 78th without any food or water. Thanks to their efforts, the kitten’s story has a happy ending.  Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Wednesday. Love, THE CITY P.S. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom runs on support from readers like you. Donate here.

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