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THURSDAY, MAR. 13, 2025

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Dear New Yorkers,

The Columbia University graduate student detained by federal authorities for his pro-Palestinian activism is expected to remain in a Louisiana immigration jail at least through early next week.

In a procedural hearing on Wednesday, attorneys for Mahmoud Khalil appeared before a Manhattan federal judge who ordered the government to allow Khalil to speak with his lawyers on a non-recorded line. The judge also ordered both sides to prepare additional arguments — they have until Monday to respond.

Khalil has not been charged with any crime and is a valid green card holder. As of the hearing, the federal government had yet to justify Khalil’s detention or transfer to Louisiana.

Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian refugee, was studying public administration last spring at Columbia when he became a key spokesperson and mediator during the campus encampments opposing Israel’s war on Gaza.

His sudden arrest and detention by immigration authorities has sparked days of demonstrations in New York City and evoked parallels to the kind of suppression of free speech not seen since McCarthyism and the Red Scare.

Read more here about the hundreds rallying for Khalil’s release — and how he asked Columbia for protection days before his arrest.

Weather ☁️

A little cooler and a little cloudier than yesterday: highs in the upper 40s.

MTA 🚇

The Flushing-bound 7 train skips 82 Street, 90 Street, 103 Street and 111 Street from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Mar. 12.

By the way…

Having a criminal record can make it a lot harder to find work and housing. But what’s in a record, exactly — and how could it, potentially, be sealed? Our guide explains.

Our Other Top Stories

New York City schools get $2 billion from the federal government. Now, with President Donald Trump dismantling the Department of Education, there are fears that some of that money could get cut. Though it’s unclear what will actually happen to the funding the DOE currently allocates, we’ve gone through the highest-funded grant programs that could be at risk — including money for schools that serve low-income students, meal programs and support for students with disabilities. Three construction firms subcontracted by city government agencies and Con Edison failed to pay workers their full required wages and have agreed to pay six figures in back pay and penalties, under settlements announced by Comptroller Brad Lander Thursday. The settlements center on unpaid prevailing wages, which are set by the comptroller for workers on publicly funded projects. A lot of workers don’t know that they may be entitled to higher pay — which makes it easier for employers to cheat them. There’s a new survey out by pollster John Della Volpe that asks what likely voters in the city want —  including proposed policy changes to public safety, housing, mental health and transit challenges — as well as who they want to lead them. What emerged was a tale of two cities: a starkly divided electorate with perceptions of public safety at sharp extremes.  In 1951, Frankie King of James Madison High was a Brooklyn legend, the youngest basketball player ever to make first-team all city before he withdrew from public life — while remaining in the city. A father-son duo have chronicled King’s remarkable New York life in their new graphic novel. On the latest episode of FAQ NYC, we spoke with the authors about King’s story and how it connected with their own.

Reporter’s Notebook

Adams Case Still On Hold

A month after the Department of Justice moved to dismiss Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case, the judge in charge has yet to give a thumbs up or down — and it looks increasingly clear that's not going to happen right away.

On Wednesday, Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho cancelled a scheduled hearing set for Friday after deciding he'd accept so-called amicus filings from five outside parties before weighing in.

Three of the parties — some former U.S. attorneys, some former federal judges and Common Cause — want a hearing on the DOJ's decision to kill Adams' case without assessing its merits. The DOJ under President Donald Trump instead said dismissal was necessary so the mayor could assist in the administration's immigration crackdown.

Two more parties — including former Trump official Lt. General Michael Flynn — insist a hearing is not allowed, demanding that Ho immediately dismiss the case. As of late Wednesday, none of those "friend of the court" briefs had yet arrived.

— Greg B. Smith

Council Passes Bill to Shed Light on Rikers Psychiatric Exams

The Department of Correction would have to regularly issue public reports listing how many people found unfit to stand trial are stuck in jail because there is no space at state-run mental health facilities, based on a bill passed by the City Council Wednesday.

The DOC would also have to detail the number of people in jail waiting so-called 730 psychiatric exams.

Councilmember Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn), the legislation’s primary sponsor, cited THE CITY’s coverage about people with serious mental illness on Rikers Island.

In February, at least 127 people who were found mentally unfit to stand trial were still waiting to be transferred to a secure state mental health facility, THE CITY reported. Twenty-five of them had been waiting for 100 or more days.

“We know that it is extremely dangerous for anyone to be on Rikers,” Nurse told THE CITY shortly before the vote. “So for a person with a serious mental illness, they are very, very vulnerable.”

Intro. 1036  passed with 46 votes in favor. Mayor Eric Adams now has 30 days to veto the bill, sign it, or take no action, in which case it would become law.

— Reuven Blau

Things To Do

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

Wednesday, Mar. 12 – Saturday, Mar. 15: Attend the Fusion Film Festival at NYU, a student-run festival showcasing women and nonbinary creators. Free with RSVP.  Thursday, Mar. 13: See a string quartet concert as part of the free World Music Concert series put on by the Queens College School of Arts and the Parks Department. Oak Ridge in Forest Park, Queens. 7 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 15: Celebrate Holi! The celebration will have dances, music, great food and colorful Holi powder play. The Seaport, Manhattan, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

THE KICKER: Everyone really does have a podcast these days: NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health system in the U.S., just released the second season of their show The Remedy, which focuses on the frontline workers who often care for people outside hospital walls.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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