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FRIDAY, AUG. 29, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

Rent is about to go up for thousands of working families who get help paying for their housing through city vouchers.

The Adams administration has moved ahead with a controversial rule that will, after five years of receiving rental help, require voucher-holders to pay 10% more in rent — putting 40% of their incomes toward rent instead of the current 30%.

It will likely affect about 3,100 families in the first year. The voucher, called CityFHEPS, is meant for New Yorkers who have been homeless or are at risk of losing their housing.

City officials say the revamp is a cost-saving measure that will save about $11 million out of the voucher program’s total cost of $1.1 billion last fiscal year. To tenant advocates, that’s not a good enough deal — particularly when the change will have an outsize impact on vulnerable people who are least prepared to absorb a substantial rent hike.

“This is going to hurt a small subset of people a lot and not save that much money,” said Samuel Stein, a senior policy analyst at the Community Service Society. “So why do this?”

Read more here about the major voucher change.

Weather 🌤️

There’s a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny with a high near 76.

MTA 🚇

In the Bronx, Wakefield-bound 2 trains skip 219 St., 225 St., 233 St. and Nereid Ave. from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Aug. 29.

By the way…

Here are five day trips to take this Labor Day weekend if you don’t have a car.

Our Other Top Stories

Two correction officers were slashed by a detainee with a long history of violence during a routine transfer at Rikers Island Wednesday. The attack underscores the struggle jail officials have in trying to ensure detainees are treated within the law while also maintaining safety and security. The NYPD is shifting oversight of school safety agents to the office of first deputy commissioner Tamia Kinsella, department officials say. The decision was finalized after THE CITY reported last week that the department was mulling placing the agents under Chief of Department John Chell. Ukuleles, kazoos, a washtub bass — they’ve all appeared on the banks of the Gowanus Canal this summer for weekly musical jamborees open to everyone, of any musical skill level. Here’s our dispatch from the acoustic playground. On the eve of Labor Day weekend, read our latest edition of Summer & THE CITY for ideas on how to soak up the best of the season before it comes to a close.

SPONSORED Serving Up Fun US Open Experiences The US Open is in full swing and Chase is serving up fun experiences for New Yorkers on and off the court. This week, custom candies from Chase for Business client Lil Sweet Treat and tennis-themed prints from Ana Inciardi are available at the Chase Lounge and Chase Terrace on-site at the US Open. All tennis fans – whether you’re a Chase customer or not – can also pick up a complimentary mobile phone charger from Chase Booths on the Fountain Plaza or the Chase Charging Zone near the main entrance. Learn more about Chase’s US Open activations here: https://www.chase.com/personal/events/us-open Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.  © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Reporter’s Notebook

NYC Union Membership Stuck at 20%

Despite high-profile organizing drives in rent years, the share of New York City residents belonging to unions remains stuck at about 20%, according to the annual Labor Day report of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.

The report, released Thursday, put union membership at 20.5%, a slight uptick from last year but essentially unchanged from 2019. Union strength in the city is primarily in the public sector, where two-thirds of workers belong to unions. Only 14% of private sector workers are members.

Still, unions are stronger here than in the rest of the country, where only 10% belong to unions and only 6% of private-sector workers are organized.

Examining for the first time immigrants and unions, this year’s report found 22.5% of those born outside the U.S. belong to unions, slightly higher than native-born New Yorkers. Many of them are in the public sector and earn a median pay of $27.50 an hour or 22% higher than immigrants who are not union members.

— Greg David

Things To Do

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

Saturday, Aug. 30: Salsa at the last “Dance in the Park” outdoor class on Randall’s Island starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 to Monday, Sept. 1: The Richmond County Fair on Staten Island returns. Monday, Sept. 1: The annual West Indian Day Carnival and Parade is returning to Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. Watch the parade starting at 10 a.m.

THE KICKER: Every season should be ramen season.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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