WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal Update - Chinatown archway renews questions about Adams associate, other State of the City updates, Hochul seemed to snuff out cannabis meeting

 

Dear New Yorkers,

A brief line in Mayor Eric Adams’ State of the City address yesterday has renewed questions about funds collected by a nonprofit headed by one of his close associates, Winnie Greco.

Adams announced a $56-million rehabilitation project in Manhattan’s Chinatown that features a long-sought ornamental archway.

That set off a wave of enthusiasm in the neighborhood — but triggered warnings from people in Sunset Park, where Adams and Greco had championed an archway project for more than a decade that has not materialized.

Some residents of Brooklyn’s Chinese-American community are still smarting over the lack of development of a local archway that they have waited so long for — and poured hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money into.

Their archway plan was championed by Adams when he was Brooklyn borough president and spearheaded by Greco, a former Adams volunteer who is now his director of Asian Affairs.

Sam Ni, a Brooklyn activist and small business owner, urged Chinatown residents to demand transparency when it comes to the Manhattan archway’s timeline and use of their donations.

“When we heard about the news regarding the Chinatown archway, we couldn’t help but wonder if it’s another Brooklyn archway situation,” Ni said. “We cannot simply be treated as ATMs.”

City Hall officials on Wednesday released few additional details, including any estimated completion time, and declined to directly address numerous questions from THE CITY and Documented — including about whether Greco will play a role in the Chinatown project, or in the fundraising for the neighborhood’s archway.

Meanwhile, Adams’ in his State of the City speech said he would create a “Department for Sustainable Delivery,” which would create guidelines around delivery work — including regulating e-bikes and their dangerous batteries. He also hammered social media companies, officially labeling them a health “hazard.”

Read more about the would-be Chinatown and Sunset Park archways here, and more details about the State of the City here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Thursday’s Weather Rating: 1/10. Dry January was just a suggestion for the atmosphere, apparently. Another day of rain, drizzle, fog and dreary conditions. Unusually warm, with highs near 50° F. The vibes are damp and actually kind of terrible.

Our Other Top Stories

An email suggests that Gov. Kathy Hochul abruptly requested the cancellation of a planned state cannabis licensing board meeting scheduled for Wednesday — and left applicants hoping to run weed businesses fuming. The first sign of trouble came late Tuesday afternoon, in an email obtained by THE CITY that was written by one of the members of the Cannabis Control Board: “The Governor requested we cancel the meeting, so no meeting tomorrow.” No future meeting date has been set so far and sources in the cannabis industry say they view the cancellation as the latest evidence of dysfunction from the state. Community boards are the entry level of local government — but what do community boards really do, and how are members chosen? It’s currently application season, so here’s THE CITY’s guide to community boards for anyone who wants to get involved.

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Friday, Jan. 26: Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial, featuring work by 26 artists who participated in the Bronx Museum’s flagship AIM Fellowship. Free from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bronx Museum. Saturday, Jan. 27: The Riverside Park Birding Club’s monthly bird walk, open to birders of all ages and experience levels. Free from 8 to 9:30 a.m., starting at W. 103rd Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan. Sunday, Jan. 28: A community reading of Elie Wiesel’s “Night” featuring speakers, music and a meditation space. Free from 1 p.m. (virtual and in-person) at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

THE KICKER: The NYC chefs and restaurants that made the cut as the James Beard Award semifinalists have been announced. (We once won a James Beard Award for Investigative Reporting, just saying!)

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Thursday.

Love,

THE CITY

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