WORLD WORLDWIDE USA New York NY New York City NYC the city THE CITY News Journal Update - 34 weed shops on the LES and only one is legal, mayor sues 17 migrant bus companies, rush hour derailed

Dear New Yorkers,

On a recent Friday afternoon, a line of people wrapped around a corner of Delancey Street waiting for a turn to get into Conbud — one of the city’s 15 legal weed dispensaries, and the only one on the Lower East Side.

It’s the kind of scene New York State lawmakers imagined would be commonplace when they legalized cannabis in March 2021: customers neatly queuing up at a limited number of suppliers.

Instead, such crowds are a rarity outside Conbud — and this particular one wasn’t even there for the weed. (People were lining up to see Mike Tyson, the boxer, who was promoting the New York launch of his cannabis brand inside.) That’s at least in part because of the competition: THE CITY and New York Magazine counted at least 33 stores selling cannabis within a few blocks of Conbud.

When lawmakers legalized pot, they gave people who were directly harmed by the war on drugs a head start in the market. But licensed dispensary openings were painstakingly slow — and crackdowns on illegal shops have been largely ineffective.

Legal shops are burdened in the market in ways that the illegal shops are not. Just to open their doors, they overcame a gamut of regulatory hurdles with a steep price tag. (Conbud’s owner says he spent more than $1 million just setting up shop.) Once in business, they can only carry products cultivated by New York farmers. Then, they’re subject to strict marketing regulations. Everything in a legal cannabis shop must be tested and taxed.

By contrast, the unlicensed shops can be cheap and easy to set up. Unlike their legal counterparts, they don’t pay state taxes on sales, which means their weed is often cheaper. Some get around regulations by operating as private membership clubs where pot isn’t sold outright but “gifted.”

Read more about the current state of the Lower East Side’s cannabis market here.

Editor’s Note 2023 was a difficult year for nonprofits, with a nationwide trend of decreased charitable giving. But here at THE CITY, we experienced something special. You‚ our readers and donors, stepped up beyond anything we’ve seen before. Thanks to your support, we raised more than in any of our previous fundraising campaigns. We celebrated 722 new members, and welcomed back 222 former members. That means our community is now at 4,722 members total — a new record for us, and a true show of confidence in our work. We don’t take that show of confidence lightly. Knowing you have our back means the world to us. So on behalf of our newsroom: thank you, and a very happy New Year to you. — Richard Kim Editor-in-chief, THE CITY

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Friday's Weather Rating: 4/10. Sunny once again today, but colder with high temps only reaching the upper 30s. It’s still not terrible for mid-winter, but grab that winter coat. The vibes are chilly out there! Bonus forecast: Read below to get the lowdown on whether we’re going to get any real snow this weekend!

Our Other Top Stories

Mayor Eric Adams has sued 17 charter bus companies who’ve been ferrying migrants to New York — at the behest of Texas Governor Greg Abbott — over the past year. Attorneys for the city argued that under a little-known provision of the state’s Social Services Law, city officials could seek damages from any party who “knowingly brings, or causes to be brought a needy person from out of state into this state for the purpose of making him a public charge.” The lawsuit aims to recuperate the costs of housing the influx of migrants to the tune of $708 million.  The city’s planned spring implementation of congestion pricing is under fire from a lawsuit filed yesterday by the New York City’s teachers union, reports Chalkbeat. Seven teachers, who are plaintiffs, alleged that the “regressive and discriminatory pricing” of the tolls violates their constitutional rights.Transit advocates blasted the lawsuit, arguing that congestion pricing will improve commutes for school staff and families. It has been nearly 700 days since the five boroughs got more than an inch of measurable snowfall. Winter precipitation is on its way this weekend. But will it break the city’s snowless streak?

Reporter’s Notebook

Rush Hour Derailed

About two dozen people were injured on Thursday afternoon in a slow-moving subway derailment, according to initial reports. It happened when a full 1 train moving slowly northward derailed after hitting the back of a work train while exiting the 96th Street station in Manhattan.

Someone had sabotaged the work train by pulling its emergency brake cords, MTA officials said at a briefing, and while those were in the process of being reset, the subway train carrying about 300 people hit the empty work train, suspending service on the 1, 2 and 3 lines through most of Manhattan.

“Thankfully, there were no serious injuries,” the president of the NYC Transit Authority said at the briefing. “Obviously, two trains should not be bumping into one another. We’re going to get to the bottom of that.”

— Harry Siegel

Basketball Game Ends With City’s First Jail Death of 2024

A man incarcerated on Rikers Island died Thursday morning as he was playing basketball, according to the Department of Correction.

Chima Williams, 43, was shooting hoops with other detainees for approximately an hour before he collapsed at 9:45 a.m. in the Eric M. Taylor Center jail, the DOC said in a statement. He appeared to go into cardiac arrest and officers administered CPR and Naloxone for possible drug overdose, jail records show.

“It’s overwhelming. I can’t believe this. I’m in shock,” his mother, Deleta Firth-Williams, told THE CITY by phone. “What happened to my son?”

Williams had been in jail since Christmas Eve on $25,000 bail facing a gun charge, court records show.

There were nine deaths in city jails last year, 19 in 2022 and 16 in 2021.

“On behalf of the New York City Department of Correction, we extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Williams’ loved ones,” said Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.

— Reuven Blau

Construction Supervisors Cleared of Negligence

Two construction supervisors blamed by prosecutors for a 2018 accident that seriously injured two workers at an East Harlem construction site were acquitted of all charges Thursday more than five years after the incident.

Acting Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley found Timothy Braico and Terrence Edwards not guilty of felony assault second degree and misdemeanor reckless endangerment after a non-jury trial that began in June.

As reported by THE CITY, in the June 2018 incident, two workers were knocked down and seriously hurt when an overloaded mini-crane collapsed while moving materials.

Then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. alleged the two supervisors negligently allowed an untrained worker to operate the crane to speed up a job that was behind schedule.

"We are grateful justice was done but it’s unfortunate Mr. Braico had to wait 5 and 1/2 years to be vindicated," said Daniel Horwitz, Braico's attorney.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who inherited the case from Vance, stated, "My office is committed to protecting New York workers and we will continue to collaborate with our partners to hold companies and managers accountable for their safety. While we are disappointed, we sincerely thank our prosecutors for their work and the judge for his consideration.”

— Greg Smith

Things To Do

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

Friday, Jan. 5: “Vertigo of Color: Matisse, Derain, and the Origins of Fauvism,” a drop-in drawing workshop with teaching artists and all materials provided. Free with museum admission from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Met Fifth Avenue, Gallery 963 in the Robert Lehman Wing. Saturday, Jan. 6: Winter Tea in Prospect Park, featuring a nature walk followed by tea, music and a multilingual poetry performance. Free (RSVP required, limited space) from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boathouse in Prospect Park. Saturday, Jan. 6 and Sunday, Jan. 7: Mulchfest: Chipping Weekend, in which the Parks Department will chip your Christmas tree and turn it into a bag of mulch for you to take home. Free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations in the five boroughs.

THE KICKER: Want to prevent “it” from happening? Whatever it is, the mayor’s 2009 book may have a word of advice.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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