WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA - New York NY - New York City NYC - THE CITY - The NYPD is bringing ‘hardcore’ vibes to the Parks Dept.

 

Dear New Yorkers,

City Hall is forging ahead with embedding NYPD officials to other city agencies — even as the Police Department finds itself embroiled in a federal corruption probe.

As of Sept. 3, NYPD Deputy Inspector Timothy Wilson has been assigned as “Chief of Enforcement” at the city Department of Parks and Recreation, managing 250 Parks Enforcement Patrol officers, according to an internal memo obtained by THE CITY.

Now, the cops are bringing a “hardcore” culture of enforcement to the recreation-focused agency, said Joe Puleo, president of District Council 37 Local 983, which represents the park patrol officers.

The deployment of NYPD officials into civilian agencies is just one way that Adams has inserted police officers and retired members of the force into city management.

Among the former police officers who now serve in top roles under his administration include Louis Molina, who runs the city agency that manages purchasing, hiring and real estate, and Matthew Fraser, the former NYPD head of technology who now runs the city’s Office of Technology Innovation.

And two officials who were among those served search warrants by the FBI last week in a sweep of key Adams administration personnel were former NYPD officers: Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Philip Banks III and Adams advisor Timothy Pearson.

Read more about how the NYPD is taking over city government here.

Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Thursday's Weather Rating: 9/10. The incredible stretch of weather rolls on!! High temperatures are a bit warmer today (in the low 80s) but dew points remain manageable and we've got sunshine with a nice breeze. The vibes remain VERY good!

Our Other Top Stories

City officials will have to produce a masterplan to convert Rikers Island into a green haven by the end of 2026, if a bill set to be introduced in the City Council on Thursday becomes law. The legislation from Brooklyn Councilmember Sandy Nurse is an attempt to force action from a seemingly reluctant Adams administration. A short ferry ride from City Island across the Long Island Sound sits one of New York newest parks, which also happens to be the nation’s largest public cemetery with over a million New Yorkers buried there since the 19th Century. Hart Island is partly forested but boasts large open fields where geese meander and osprey swoop overhead as small white stones mark decades of mass graves.

Reporter’s Notebook

Rents, and Apartment Sizes, Are Down

Renters in Manhattan continue to downsize into smaller apartments, leading the median rent for new leases to fall for the third time in the last four months.

The average square foot of a newly leased apartment in August fell for the 12th consecutive month, according to the monthly Elliman report released Thursday, sending the median rent down to $4,245 a month, or 3.5% below the same figure a year ago.

The trend to smaller apartments is also evident in Brooklyn, where the average square footage in new leases has fallen for 11 consecutive months, and the median rent declined more than 5% from a year ago to $3,650.

Despite this trend, housing costs across the New York region continue to rise. Inflation in the New York area rose 3.7%, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday, about a third higher than the 2% rate for the nation, primarily because of increases in housing costs. New York had the fifth highest inflation rate of the 23 metropolitan areas tracked by BLS.

— Greg David

Things To Do

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

Friday, Sept. 13: Summer on the Hudson hosts their final game night of the season, with free bingo, trivia, and more. 7 to 9 p.m. at Pier I at Riverside Park South, West 70th Street, Manhattan. Saturday, Sept. 14: Beach Day Fair with school supply giveaway, bike jamboree and resource fair, hosted by Borough President Donovan Richards. Free with RSVP from 12 to 4 p.m. at the boardwalk and Beach 17th Street, Queens. All weekend: See a herd of 1oo life-sized elephant sculptures lumber through the Meatpacking District in “The Great Elephant Migration,” one of the largest outdoor art installations ever constructed in New York City. Up until October 20 at Gansevoort Plaza.

THE KICKER:  Meet “the only influencer who matters” in Chinatown — 81-year-old Uncle Big Lau.

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

Love,

THE CITY

PS. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom runs on support from 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.