WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY - THE CITY SCOOP: When ‘Doves’ Fly: Council Floats Bill to Ban Bird Releases

 

View this email in your browser 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, A flock of politicians wants to put an end to bird releases at weddings, funerals and other events. Last week, Councilmembers Carlina Rivera, Lynn Schulman and Shaun Abreu introduced legislation that would make it illegal to set pigeons and doves  flying for a fee, or to purchase or keep birds in order to do so. The goal, Rivera told THE CITY, is to clip the wings of a cottage industry that profits from having birds fly out of cages and into the sky.   “These bird releases — they're just a harmful and cruel way to mark weddings, gender reveals and memorial services,” said Rivera, who represents an area that includes Madison Square Park, where a white pigeon that had been colored pink at a gender reveal party died this year.  “We just feel it’s unnecessary — things can go terribly wrong.” Animal rights activists are rallying behind the bill, saying that domesticated birds too often die after they are uncaged. Breeders and fanciers who supply these pigeons for ceremonies, however, say the birds are by no means abandoned but know through instinct and training to fly home.  Read more here. Some other items of note: Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has taken a second shot at suspending the city’s “right to shelter” in a late Tuesday court filing. The revised plea would suspend the decree under more tailored circumstances: either the governor or the mayor would have to declare a state of emergency, and the average number of single adults in city shelters would have to be 50% greater than the daily average over the past two years. But advocates say it still amounts to the end of “right to shelter” as we know it. If approved by a Manhattan State Supreme Court judge, this would mark the first major change to a practice that's been on the books since 1981, when the city agreed to settle a Legal Aid Society lawsuit by providing shelter to any adult who requested it. New York City botched its communication to schools in response to last week’s record rainfall, Chancellor David Banks acknowledged on Tuesday, reports Chalkbeat. He vowed to conduct a review of a messaging misfire as a “shelter-n-place” order voiced by Mayor Eric Adams and others during last week’s flash flooding failed to be conveyed to schools (10 school administrators told Chalkbeat that they did not enforce the shelter-in-place order largely because they weren’t aware it existed). The chancellor also suggested that the Department of Education never intended to issue a typical shelter-in-place order in the first place. “What we’re trying to say to everybody was: ‘Stay where you are. Don’t send kids out to the streets.’” Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 8/10. Another warm October day, as high temperatures reach the lower 80s once again this afternoon. A southeast wind will usher in slightly more humidity this afternoon. Still, the vibes are pretty dang good! Things To Do Here’s what’s going on around the city this week. Wednesday, Oct. 4: Crafting with Lavender, a workshop to create satchels and wreaths with the soothing plant. Pelham Fritz Recreation Center in Manhattan, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Friday, Oct. 6: The Amazing Maize Maze, NYC’s only corn maze. Fridays through Sundays (plus Monday, Oct. 9) through Oct. 28. Queens County Farm Museum. Various hours. Tickets: free for kids 3 and under, $14 all other kids, $16 adults.  Saturday, Oct. 7: The Little Red Lighthouse Festival, a celebration of Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with readings of an eponymous children’s book, live music, puppets, and more. Fort Washington Park, various tour times available. Free. THE KICKER: A very New York show dropped its season three finale yesterday, and also got renewed for a fourth season. 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. THE CITY's work is made possible, in part, through the support of our sponsors. Interested in becoming a sponsor of THE CITY? Contact us here.  Copyright © 2023 THE CITY, All rights reserved.