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Dear New Yorkers,

When 28-year-old Lilybet Bercenas first moved to New York City a year and four months ago, she didn’t know many fluent English speakers who could help her master the language.

Her English only began to improve, she said, when she started attending free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes near her Woodside apartment at a local nonprofit, where she became quick friends with other newcomers who were also studying English four days a week.

“We all put in a lot of effort in learning English,” Bercenas said.

That ESOL program is now suspended along with those at several other city-funded learning centers. That’s because the city Department of Youth and Community Development earlier this year adjusted the eligibility criteria for $8.3 million in ESOL contracts to prioritize areas where the U.S. Census shows low English proficiency and high poverty rates — locking some long-time providers out of funding.

DYCD spokesperson Mark Zustovich said this new funding approach reflected Mayor Eric Adams’ commitment to “bringing equity to all New Yorkers.”

But city funding has yet to roll out to the two dozen organizations selected to provide ESOL and adult literacy classes in those priority areas. And because previous contracts with DYCD ended June 30, thousands of students are now left with few places to turn to continue their English studies in the meantime.

Read more here about the struggle to find ESOL lessons in New York City.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Friday's Weather Rating: 7/10. Not a bad start, with high temperatures in the upper 80s and manageable dew points. We've got some lingering wildfire smoke early and clouds moving in late. Still, the vibes are pretty good out there!

Our Other Top Stories

Landlords are registering tens of thousands more rent-regulated apartments than they have in recent years, as New York takes its first steps to enforce a law Gov. Kathy Hochul signed last year that created heavy new penalties for failing to file with the state. The law’s passage followed reporting by THE CITY that exposed sharp declines in the number of registered rent-stabilized apartments — and highlighted instances in which landlords removed apartments and rented them at market rate prices without state approval. Bravo to reporter Yoav Gonen and video producer Jeff Basinger! THE CITY has won the national Edward R. Murrow award for “Excellence in Video” for exposing how NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey intervened in — and then voided — an ex-cop’s arrest.

Reporter’s Notebook

Adams Subpoenaed

Mayor Eric Adams, City Hall and the mayor’s 2021 campaign were served grand jury subpoenas by federal prosecutors last month as part of the ongoing probe of Adams’ 2021 campaign by the FBI, The New York Times reported late Thursday.

The subpoenas sought information on topics that included fundraising, as well as travel by the mayor and others, the publication said, citing a number of sources familiar with the matter.

The three subpoenas were served just over nine months after the FBI raided the home of the mayor’s chief fundraiser and other locations, and then seized the mayor’s cell phones and electronic devices.

Brendan McGuire and Boyd Johnson, partners at the WilmerHale law firm that’s representing Adams in his personal capacity and also his 2021 campaign, said they’ve been conducting their own probe of the campaign and have found no evidence of “illegal conduct” by the mayor.

“To the contrary, we have identified extensive evidence undermining the reported theories of federal prosecution as to the Mayor, which we have voluntarily shared with the US Attorney,” they said in a joint statement.

City Hall spokesperson Fabien Levy said “nothing has changed” in terms of the mayor and City Hall’s cooperation with the probe. An attorney for the mayor’s 2021 campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

— Yoav Gonen and Katie Honan

Grid Strains Wallets

Expect your gas bill to rise this fall: The state Public Service Commission on Thursday approved a hike from National Grid that will increase the average customer’s charges by about 19% starting in September, and then about 5% and 11% in April each of the following two years.

The utility, which serves Brooklyn, Staten Island and most parts of Queens, says it will use the additional funds to update the system that delivers gas to homes, launch waste-to-energy projects and run energy efficiency programs.

The hikes come on top of New York City’s recently approved 8.5% water bill increase for property owners and a 12% increase on electric bills for Con Edison customers.

—Samantha Maldonado

Things To Do

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

Friday, Aug. 16: The 20th annual Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Concert, a 1920s-themed concert, returns after a years-long hiatus. Free from 3:30 p.m. through the evening at Sunnyside Arch in Queens. Friday, Aug. 16: A family-friendly community paddling event, with equipment provided. Free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Concrete Plant Park in The Bronx. Friday, Aug. 16: Jazzmobile and SummerStage present a Max Roach centennial tribute with M'boom featuring Warren Smith and Joe Chambers / The Kojo Melché Roney Experience. Free from 7 to 9 p.m. at Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan.

THE KICKER: An invasive species of ant is now so dominant in its namesake borough — and beyond — that it has been dubbed the ManhattAnt.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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