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Dear New Yorkers,

A bipartisan federal bill that would make e-bike batteries safer is being stalled in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

The bill would require drafting mandatory safety standards for all lithium-ion batteries and related chargers that power devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

The House version of the bill was sponsored by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-The Bronx), and passed in May with solid bipartisan support. The Senate version also has bipartisan backers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats.

New Yorkers are no stranger to the risks that come from unregulated e-bike batteries: fires from them have killed 31 people in the city in just four years.

But in July, Cruz, the ranking minority member of the Commerce Committee where the bill was pending, sent the Senate version into limbo by adding a controversial amendment to limit the power of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Read more here about how Cruz is putting roadblocks in the way of fire safety.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Thursday's Weather Rating: 9/10. A gorgeous start once again, with high temperatures in the upper 70s and partly sunny skies. Dew points are beginning to creep up later and winds turn easterly late in the day. The vibes remain VERY good for now!

Our Other Top Stories

Speaking of, THE CITY has closely covered e-bike batteries — from the FDNY’s attempts to track the scope of danger of the poorly regulated lithium-ion batteries in buildings, to publishing a guide on how to safely charge and maintain the batteries (with printouts available in English and Spanish). Earlier this year, the newsroom mourned our former colleague, Fazil Khan, who died in a fire started by a lithium-ion battery charging in a nearby apartment. More than 900,000 New York City public school students will return to the classroom on Thursday, ushering in a new academic year. Our friends at Chalkbeat have identified five trends to keep an eye on this school year, from AI to cell phone bans. Summer may just be coming to an close, but THE CITY is already looking ahead to next year. Here is our guide to prepping for summer 2025, from booking a state campsite to getting swimming lessons to finding a good end-of-season sale.

Reporter’s Notebook

East River Tunnel Has One Too Many Holes

The Queens-Midtown Tunnel was fully closed for hours on Wednesday after water came in through a hole mistakenly drilled by contractors working on a construction project along the East River, officials said.

Contractors for the United Nations Esplanade Project “accidentally perforated” the outside edge of the tunnel at around 12:30 p.m., Josh Kraus, the executive vice president and chief infrastructure officer for the Economic Development Corporation said at a press conference.

Cathy Sheridan, the president of the MTA Bridges and Tunnels, said it was a more than 2.5 inch hole that went through the cast iron liner of the tunnel above the exhaust duct.

Both sides of the tunnel, which runs under the river from Long Island City to East Midtown, were closed to traffic almost immediately. Both tubes reopened after 6 p.m., Mayor Eric Adams announced in the evening.

Officials didn’t know how much water got into the tunnel, but Sheridan said a “plug is in place and the leak has subsided.”

The EDC, a public-benefit corporation, is overseeing the $150 million esplanade project, which the U.N. has backed out of helping to pay for.

Jersey City-based Warren George Inc., the “drilling specialists” responsible for the work, declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday.

— Katie Honan

Ex-Buildings Commissioner Asks for Free Lawyer in Bribery Case

Eric Ulrich, a former top aide to Mayor Eric Adams who's facing felony charges in a wide-ranging bribery scheme, has apparently run out of money to pay his lawyer.

On Wednesday defense attorney Sam Braverman appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court to inform a judge that Ulrich is "in substantial arrears to my firm" and that he "does not have the funds to retain new counsel."

Judge Daniel Conviser said he would appoint a taxpayer-funded attorney within a week, noting that he needed to find one who had the experience to deal with the hours of secretly recorded cell phone conversations prosecutors are relying on.

A year ago, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced multiple indictments against Ulrich and several co-conspirators, alleging that the one-time City Council member used his influence — first as a senior aide to the mayor, then as the city's building commissioner — on behalf of individuals seeking favors from City Hall who bribed him with cash and Mets tickets.

— Greg Smith

Things To Do

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

Thursday, Sept. 5: Queer style platform dapperQ presents “Nine,” the ninth annual edition of New York Fashion Week’s largest LGBTQIA+ fashion show. Free with admission from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Brooklyn Museum. Thursday, Sept. 5: Accordions Around the World, an annual outdoor performance by celebrated accordionists. Free from 7 to 10 p.m. at Bryant Park in Manhattan. Saturday, Sept. 7: Jazz Explorations Trio 2024, a musical performance featuring original compositions as well as reimagined jazz standards. Free from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Queens Museum.

THE KICKER: (Buffalo) New York native Jessica Pegula is advancing to the semifinals of the U.S. Open — after defeating the No. 1 seed, Iga Swiatek, in a quarterfinals upset. She’ll get her chance to move on tonight versus unseeded Karolína Muchová.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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