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FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

You may have seen that the Rent Guidelines Board this week said they want to raise the rent on New York’s rent-stabilized apartments.

Meanwhile, half dozen candidates running for mayor say they want a rent freeze instead.

Can they do it? That depends on the current mayor.

But if Mayor Eric Adams takes no action on his appointees to the board and loses his reelection bid — the new occupant of City Hall could almost completely shake up the body that determines the price of rent for one million rent-stabilized apartments — a huge slice of the city’s housing. Read more here about how they could do it, and what the mayoral hopefuls are promising.

Weather 🌤️

Partly sunny and hot, with temps up to 80 and potential thunderstorms in the afternoon. Soak up the sun while you can — we’re in for a lot of rain in the next few days.

MTA 🚇

The E is rerouted in Queens and Manhattan all weekend, starting tonight at 9:45 p.m. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, May 2.

By the way …

As the school year nears its end, some low-income families may be eligible for summer food benefits for their kids — here’s how you apply.

Our Other Top Stories

Releasing his $115 billion spending plan Wednesday in a reelection year, Mayor Eric Adams touted it as the “best budget ever” — but can it weather looming federal budget cuts and a roller-coaster Trump-era economy? Fiscal watchdogs warn that the sunny forecast from the mayor and City Council isn’t geared for the rough storms ahead. A lot of readers have asked us: Can you game your ranked choice ballot? What’s the strategy at the polls? We talked to voting experts to find out what to keep in mind when you’re choosing your top five. In this week’s election newsletter, we dove into a new trove of local voting data from last November and shared what stuck out — like a huge spike in young voters. Catch up on the latest edition here.

SPONSORED How One Chase Community Manager Serves Her Community — On and Off the Job   Every day, Chase’s 150+ Community Managers — including over a dozen in New York City — work with their neighbors, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses to help New Yorkers get on a path to a stronger financial future. NY1 recently featured Brooklyn Community Manager Tabinda Iftikhar as their “New Yorker of the Week” after she was nominated by the Muslim Community Network, highlighting how she’s combined her passion for helping her community with her position as a Community Manager. Watch the story and learn how she takes care of her community, on and off the job.

Reporter’s Notebook

Enrollments Resume at 9/11 Health Program

The federal program that provides medical screening and health care for 125,000 survivors and emergency responders exposed to toxic dust at Ground Zero will resume enrollments and certifications beginning today, said Fire Department spokesperson Amanda Farinacci.

Most of the staff at the World Trade Center Health Program were laid off last month after the Trump administration effectively eliminated the relatively small agency that oversees the program, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Department of Health and Human Services now led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Three FDNY employees diagnosed with cancer just in the last week were unable to get approved for treatment due to the cuts, the Daily News reported Wednesday.

Farinacci said NIOSH informed FDNY of the reversal Thursday afternoon, and a spokesperson for the federal agency confirmed the program had resumed processing requests. It’s unclear if those NIOSH staff have been reinstated.

“Our members and patients will now get the care they have always gotten and the care they deserve, given their heroic response to the attacks on September 11,” Farinacci said.

— Claudia Irizarry Aponte

Things To Do

Here are some free and low-cost things going on around the city this week.

Friday, May 2: Hike along the shoreline at Hunter’s Point South Park and learn about the city’s man-made wetlands. Queens, 2 p.m. Friday, May 2: Attend an outdoor jazz concert as part of the First Fridays Jazz series at the Jackie Robinson bandshell. Harlem, 6 p.m. Sunday, May 4: Attend Sunday in the Cemetery, a day-long “exploration of mortality” at Green-Wood Cemetery. Advanced registration is recommended. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

THE KICKER: Winning appropriately on a Jalen Brunson dagger three, the Knicks took game six in Detroit last night and advanced to a second-round series against eternal foe the Boston Celtics.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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