WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA - New York NY - New York City NYC - THE CITY - A roadmap for readers through a tough city

Dear New Yorkers,

Over the years, I’ve written about some important but pretty abstract ideas: complicated policy proposals, murky legal battles and thorny local problems with no clear resolution.

Now as the editor of THE CITY’s “How to New York” service journalism, I find the topics are sometimes just as tough, but the resolution is much clearer: making a material difference in someone’s life by giving them a roadmap through a complicated city.

That’s what we’ve aimed to do as we’ve published guides on how to get your security deposit back, how to find your lost stuff in the city, how to get help paying for groceries, where to affordably learn to swim, how to find your rap sheet and seal your criminal record and how to get free legal help with evictions.

We’ve also published guides on how to understand the news, whether it’s how to comprehend the overlapping investigations of Mayor Eric Adams, November’s ballot proposals or what exactly is a sanctuary city, and what does that mean for the city’s migrants under Trump?

Those are just some of the many explainers THE CITY has published in 2024, all of which I add to a carefully maintained How to New York spreadsheet that I just love to scroll through. Those rows and rows of stories — mostly inspired by reader questions and written to deliver as much help as possible to New Yorkers who need it — make me so incredibly proud.

I hope one of our stories has helped you or a neighbor. And we’re still here to help; if you have a question about city life that we haven’t answered already, drop a line: ask@thecity.nyc.

It’s an honor and pleasure to answer as many as we can!

— Rachel Holliday Smith

Weather 🌧️

Partly cloudy with a chance of showers in the afternoon. The rain picks up as the night goes on — If you’re ringing in the New Year outside, bring an umbrella!

MTA 🚇

If you’re traveling through the Times Square area, expect lots of New Year’s Eve-related station closures: All Times Sq. exits will be closed, and some exits at the Bryant Park, 5th Ave, 7th Ave, 59th St - Columbus Circle, and 57th - 7th Ave stations will also be closed. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Dec. 31.

By the way …

On Dec. 23, the owner of the real estate construction firm KSK pled guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with straw donations to Adams’ 2021 campaign. To untangle the web of investigations that surrounds the Adams administration, read our guide on who’s investigating the mayor’s inner circle, and why.

Our Other Top Story

In the weeks before a raging fire killed journalist Fazil Khan, tenants in his building complained to the landlord that residents in the unit where the fire broke out had been routinely charging e-bike batteries inside their apartment, an investigation by THE CITY has found. One tenant even filed a formal complaint through 311, but there is no evidence that either the landlord or any city agency did anything in response to the complaints. The Fire Marshal reports obtained by THE CITY also show a shared cause in fatal scooter and e-bike fires: batteries that aren’t safety certified, purchased off-brand from sites like Amazon and eBay, charging inside residential buildings.

Things To Do

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

Thursday, Dec. 26 – Sunday, Jan. 12: Give back to the city’s greenery by turning your Christmas Tree into mulch! As part of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Mulchfest 2025, you can haul your tree to a dropoff location to recycle it.  Tuesday, Dec. 31: Coast into 2025 on a New Year’s Eve bike ride, organized by environmental group Time’s Up. Start biking at one of three locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and finish the ride with a dance party in Central Park. 9:45 p.m.  Wednesday, Jan. 1: Begin the new year with the Japanese tradition of Hatsuhinode, or welcoming the first sunrise. Van Cortlandt Park, 6:30 a.m. Register on Eventbrite.

THE KICKER: Those looking forward to dazzling drone displays this New Year’s Eve are in for a bit of a disappointment: Central Park has canceled its drone show, which was slated to replace the traditional fireworks. Prospect Park’s drones are still cleared for takeoff, but only pending FCC approval and good weather.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Tuesday — and a great 2025.

Love,

THE CITY

PS. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom is powered by readers like you. Donate here.

Want to view Scoop in your web browser? Click 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 © 2024 THE CITY, All rights reserved.