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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025

Today's SCOOP is brought to you by our members.

Dear New Yorkers,

In a sign of a deepening mental health crisis behind bars, the number of people who died by suicide in New York State prisons more than doubled in the past year, according to newly released data obtained by a prison oversight group.

The Correctional Association of New York (CANY), a nonprofit with a mandate to monitor prison conditions, unveiled a new dashboard Tuesday detailing that 25 people died by suicide in state prisons in 2024 — up from 12 the previous year. That marks a 108% spike from 2023 and the highest total in at least two decades.

The suicide rate — and overall number of deaths behind bars — is rising even as the overall prison population shrinks, suggesting worsening mental health conditions behind the walls, according to prison rights advocates and medical experts. Read more here.

Weather ☁️

Mostly cloudy with a high near 82 and a low around 69.

MTA 🚇

In Brooklyn, Manhattan-bound F trains skip Avenue P, Avenue N, Bay Parkway and Avenue I from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. into Friday. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, August 6.

By the way…

In case you missed it, here’s what to know about long COVID and how to get treatment for it in NYC.

Our Other Top Stories

Only crappy when it rains? More than 454 million gallons of raw sewage and runoff enter the southernmost portion of the Bronx River each year, but a water quality reclassification for its aquatic neighbors may have concerning implications for it and other New York City waterways.. Rage over proposed gerrymandering in Texas that might cost Democrats up to five seats in the U.S. House during the midterm elections has pushed many party leaders to promise an all-out, tit-for-tat redistricting war. After Democrats spent years railing against the practice — framing it as a threat to democracy, and even leading efforts to force states to have bipartisan, independent commissions draw maps nationwide — many are now whole-heartedly supporting efforts to cook up their own partisan maps. “All’s fair in love and war. That’s why I’m exploring with our leaders every option to redraw our state congressional lines as soon as possible,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters at a news conference Monday as she sat alongside Texas legislators who’d fled their state the day prior to block Republicans from enacting their proposed map.

Things To Do

Here are some free and low-cost things to do around the city this week.

Wednesday, August 6: Come watch Dominican-American musician Judy Santos step into the spotlight at Summer for the City hosted at Lincoln Center to perform her hits while getting bachata lessons from a professional dance instructor starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 6: Bring your children from the ages of six to 14 where everyone of all skill levels can learn and enjoy the game of soccer at the Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Registration ends today at 5:15 p.m.  Wednesday, August 6: Come watch the 10-piece Swingtime Big Band perform at the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, playing the familiar sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and many others from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.    Thursday, August 7: Trek to the Mott Haven Library for a fun & casual hour of board games with a large selection to choose from and play with friends old and new between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

THE KICKER: The Clark Street subway station reopened on Tuesday after the marque of the historic Hotel St. George collapsed in front of the entrance over the weekend.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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