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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, The biggest surprise of yesterday’s election came from Throggs Neck, where a Republican will hold a City Council seat in The Bronx for the first time since 1983. First-time candidate Kristy Marmorato appears to have bested progressive Democrat Marjorie Velázquez in the politically mixed District 13. Velázquez faced major opposition after she reversed her stance and supported local zoning changes to allow more development in her district. Marmorato held 52% of the vote as of late Tuesday night, to Velázquez’s 47%. The off-year election drew many fewer to the polls than in mid-term or presidential election years. At least 471,000 New York City voters cast ballots in nine days of early voting and on Election Day. That’s just over 10% of the 4.6 million active voters on the rolls in the five boroughs, according to a tally from this month by state election officials. Elsewhere in the city, Democrats appeared to hold on in key southern Brooklyn seats, while first-time candidate and exonerated Central Park 5 activist Yusef Salaam sailed to a win in Harlem. And in both Queens and Brooklyn, incumbent right-wing Republicans won their races despite recent controversies. Read more here. Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Wednesday's Weather Rating: 5/10. Breezy and chilly to start the day. High temperatures will only scrape the lower 50s this afternoon despite some sunshine. Clouds increase this evening with a chance of showers overnight. The vibes are crisp out there today! Some other items of note: Mets owner Steve Cohen on Tuesday released more details about his plan to build a casino on the city-owned lots surrounding Citi Field. He still needs the state legislature to approve so-called parkland alienation to start any construction. But his lobbying team has unveiled “Metropolitan Park,” an $8 billion vision for the 50 acres of parkland surrounding Citi Field that includes a hotel with restaurants and bars, a live music venue and a plan to build a casino “subject to Gaming Commission license.” But other players are also competing for the limited casino licenses, and the Willets Point area’s state senator, Jessica Ramos, says she still needs to hear more from the local community. Over the last few years, the number of fires caused by exploding lithium-ion batteries has risen steadily in New York City: from 30 in 2019 to 228 through October of this year (up from 220 last year, with two months still to go in 2023). Now, the New York City Housing Authority, the city's biggest landlord, is proposing rules that stop short of fully banning charging and storage of the batteries but still address warnings from the FDNY and Department of Investigation. Things To Do Here’s what’s going on around the city this week. Thursday, Nov. 9: Choral music performed by the composer/conductor collective C4. Free from 6-7:30 p.m. at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center in Manhattan. Register here. Friday, Nov. 10: Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off, a baking competition by both amateurs and professionals. The results are on view at the Museum of the City of New York through Jan. 15, 2024. Saturday, Nov. 11: A Kiku tour highlighting the expertly cultivated Japanese chrysanthemums at the New York Botanical Gardens. Free with admission from 12-1 p.m. THE KICKER: Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo back in February, was recently sighted in the East Village, five miles from his usual abode. Manhattan Bird Alert speculates that Flaco moved to find a mate. It’s that time of year for eagle-owls, and Flaco is likely unaware that another member of his species has not been seen in the region.  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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