WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA - New York NY - New York City NYC - THE CITY SCOOP - A new asylum-blocking tactic.

 

[thecity.nyc/home]

Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

People in deportation proceedings have no right to seek asylum in the U.S. — because they’re eligible to do so in three other countries.

That’s what attorneys for the Trump administration have been arguing in New York immigration courts in recent weeks, moving to close asylum cases en masse and send people to countries they’re not from and have never visited.

Where? In court, attorneys are pointing to three nations with which the U.S. has recent agreements: Honduras, Ecuador and Uganda.

“I can’t tell you how many people are asking me, ‘Where is Uganda?’” one courtwatcher said.

Read more here about what we’re seeing in court.

Weather ☔

Lots of wind and rain, and possible thunderstorms. Be careful out there!

MTA 🚇

Tonight and over the weekend, uptown 1 trains will skip 103rd, 110th, 116th, 225th and 137th streets. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Friday, Dec. 19.

By the way…

There’s a coastal flood advisory in effect until 11 a.m. today and a wind gust advisory in effect until midnight tonight. As the rain comes down, read our guide on whether you need flood insurance as a renter, and how to get it.

Our Other Top Stories

It was a marathon session of voting in the City Council last night as members approved a torrent of bills related to criminal justice, housing construction, labor and even a resolution honoring the New York Knicks in an end-of-year push before the turnover of power at City Hall and the Council itself. A former Rikers Island detainee has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit accusing two city correction officers of sexually assaulting him during a retaliatory strip search, pepper-spraying him at close range and dragging him half-naked through his cell block. “They treated me like I was nothing,” he told THE CITY. First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro’s side gig representing the owners of Madison Square Garden was approved by the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board — but legally shouldn’t have been, a new report from the Department of Investigation found.

SPONSORED Bringing the Money Smart Financial Coaching Program to CUNY  Sound financial health helps set the foundation for strong and resilient households, communities and economies. That’s why JPMorganChase helped launch a new organization aimed at enhancing financial health and academic outcomes for college students called the Money Smart Financial Coaching Program, or MSFCP.org. The program, which combines financial coaching and education into one course, originated at SUNY Westchester Community College and is now offered at seven colleges and universities across New York. By leveraging local Chase Community Managers as guest lecturers, the initiative aims to improve students' financial skills, academic performance, and graduation rates. Learn more about the new nonprofit organization’s impact through the CUNY system. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.  © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Reporter’s Notebook

Resignation in Mamdani World

One of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s latest hires has already resigned from her appointment after years-old antisemitic social media posts were shared with news outlets.

Cat Da Costa was set to lead the Mayor’s Office of Appointments where she would oversee hiring for the upcoming administration.

She previously worked under former Mayor Bill de Blasio and at private companies before her return to City Hall.

On Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League of New York shared social media posts from 2011 and 2012, when Da Costa was in her late teens, that stereotyped and insulted Jewish people.

“I spoke with the mayor-elect this afternoon, apologized, and expressed my deep regret for my past statements,” she said in a statement.

She noted that her two children are Jewish and the “statements are not indicative of who I am.”

“As this has become a distraction from the work at hand, I have offered my resignation,” she added.

— Katie Honan

Rent Freeze on Ice?

Mayor Eric Adams appointed two new members of the Rent Guidelines Board and reappointed two others, according to Gothamist — potentially heading off an immediate rent freeze by his successor, Zohran Mamdani.

For the next year, Adams’ appointees will constitute a majority of the nine-member board, which determines rent increases for about a million rent-stabilized apartments. THE CITY reported in May that Adams could use his appointment power to put members in place primed to block a freeze, preventing Mamdani from following through on his promise to deliver a rent freeze when he takes office.

The new appointees are financial advisor Lliam Finn and Legal Services NYC attorney Sagar Sharma, who will represent tenants. Adams reupped the terms of attorney Christina Smyth, a landlord representative, and economist Arpit Gupta. Another Adams appointee, policy researcher Alex Armlovich, is one year into a two-year term.

On Thursday evening, Tenant Bloc and Legal Aid decried Adams’ last-minute move in statements and underscored their support for a freeze.

— Samantha Maldonado

Things To Do

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

Tonight through Sunday, Dec. 21: Brooklyn’s largest menorah lights up every night of Chanukah at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park. Lighting times vary, so check the schedule here. Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21: It’s the opening of the Transit Museum’s exhibit saying goodbye to the MetroCard. Pay tribute to the yellow and blue card from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Saturday and Sunday, at 99 Schermerhorn St. in Brooklyn. Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21: Japanese makers and artists display their handmade crafts and gifts at this free pop-up Japanese Holiday Market, 12 to 6 p.m. both days at Japan Village, 934 Third Ave., Sunset Park.

THE KICKER: What was the mood of New Yorkers in 2025, according to their library borrowing habits? Read the tea leaves in this year’s top 10 most-borrowed books from the New York Public Library.

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

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.