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Dear New Yorkers,

The heat is here. Are you ready for it?

Not if you’re a Con Ed customer who’s getting billed for your neighbors’ energy use — the subject of a couple hundred complaints to state regulators since the energy utility started installing so-called smart meters in 2022 to help customers better monitor usage.

Among them is Nicole, who lives in Astoria, Queens, and noticed that even when her family left town their energy usage appeared to stay the same. Then, in January 2023, about a year after she’d moved in, her neighbors went away for a week.

“My usage dropped to nothing,” Nicole said. “I was like, Bingo!”

Two months later, a technician from Con Ed came to her home and confirmed the meter mix-up.

Go ahead and crank up the AC if you have one — and keep an eye on the stats.

Read more about confused Con Ed customers here.

And if you can’t cool at home, check out our guide on where to find one of the city’s cooling centers. Senior New Yorkers and those with underlying health conditions can be especially vulnerable to extreme heat. If you want to check in on your neighbors and ensure they’re staying cool, here’s how.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Tuesday's Weather Rating: 6/10. Partly sunny, yes — but also getting increasingly hot with high temperatures in the lower 90s and rising dew points. An onshore breeze keeps things somewhat manageable for now. The vibes are getting warm.

Our Other Top Stories

When Mayor Eric Adams visited Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia last October, he told reporters "I'm paying my own way, and you know my rule: my time, my dime, don't whine." But a new financial disclosure released Monday by the city Conflict of Interest Board shows that much of the trip was paid for by a nonprofit and in part by the Colombian government.  New York City's Rent Guidelines Board voted on Monday night to let landlords hike rents on the city’s roughly million stabilized apartments by up to 2.75% on one-year leases and 5.25% on two-year leases beginning in October.  On the latest episode of FAQ NYC, hosts Katie Honan and Christina Greer talk with Elisa Crespo, executive director of New Pride Agenda, about the biggest issues for LGBTQAI+ New Yorkers. Early voting is here until June 23. Remember, you may have two different poll sites depending on if you vote early or on Election Day, which is June 25. Double-check here. We’re keeping our eyes on NYC's tight races this primary season, nine of which are open state Assembly contests. Not sure if you’re eligible to vote? We broke down who can here.

Reporter’s Notebook

Nine Years for ‘Bling Bishop’

Politically connected Brooklyn pastor Lamor Whitehead is going from the pulpit back to prison.

Whitehead, known as the “Bling Bishop” for his high-end taste in clothes and cars, was sentenced to nine years in prison Monday for ripping off $90,000 from a parishioner’s mother — a scheme first reported by THE CITY in July 2022.

Before he was sentenced, Whitehead — who’d previously served time for an identity theft scheme before launching his ministry — talked about his longtime friendship with Mayor Eric Adams and other top elected officials, according to the Daily News.

“I don’t see any remorse for your conduct,” Manhattan federal court Judge Lorna Schofield told him during the sentencing hearing.

— Reuven Blau

Things To Do

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

Thursday, June 20: Create a glass suncatcher for your window in this guided arts and crafts class. Free from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ozone Park Library, 92-24 Rockaway Blvd. Friday, June 21: Head to the Bandshell, where you can see artists Ana Tijoux and Ambar Lucid take the stage from 7 to 9 p.m. Free with RSVP. Saturday, June 22: Celebrate community through the arts with the Fortune Society in Long Island City. Enjoy family-friendly festivities, including art-making workshops, live music, and more.  Free from 1 to 6 p.m.

THE KICKER: Nab one of the 450 items going to auction starting today from the late Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim’s personal collection.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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