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Dear New Yorkers,

On Election Night, Chelsea Williams-Diggs, the executive director of the New York Abortion Access Fund, went to bed around 10 p.m.

It was too early to know who would be the next president, but a race that was important to her work had already been called: Florida’s Amendment 4.

It was the Sunshine State’s abortion referendum: a ballot question posed to voters that, if enacted, would have protected abortion access and dismantled the state’s current near-total ban. It needed 60% of the vote to succeed — but with only 57% of voters saying yes, it did not meet that threshold.

(In New York, the Proposition 1 ballot measure passed, enshrining abortion protections in the state constitution.)

Williams-Diggs had witnessed firsthand the consequences of Florida’s strict anti-abortion laws firsthand, as one of five employees at her fund to disburse money to abortion seekers.

“After Florida enacted their six-week ban, which was in May of this past year, [we] immediately saw a spike — a huge increase in Floridians traveling to New York to access abortion care,” she said.

Williams-Diggs wasn’t the only one to notice. According to Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Floridians make up the largest group of out-of-state abortion seekers that seek care at New York Planned Parenthood clinics. Local providers are working to cope with the influx while preparing for potential national threats to the procedure’s legality.

Read more here about why — and how — Floridians are traveling to New York for abortions.

Weather ⛅️

A mix of sun and clouds today, with highs in the low 50s.

MTA 🚇

No Q between Brighton Beach and Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue until Wednesday night, and more. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Nov. 25.

Our Other Top Stories

Vanderbilt and Northeastern universities are buying up campuses in New York City to develop outposts in the hub for finance and tech. And the city is in talks with a dozen colleges who are hoping to emulate those schools by establishing a base or expanding their current foothold. Those are just a couple of examples of the higher-education industry’s contribution to New York’s economy, according to a new study. But challenges loom for existing colleges, especially with expected Republican-led cuts to federal funding on the horizon. Another Democratic challenger to Mayor Eric Adams has entered the field of 2025 mayoral candidates: Michael Blake, a former Assemblymember from The Bronx, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and current CEO of Atlas Strategy Group. If you’re curious about all the dozens of people trying to be the next mayor, check out THE CITY’s guide on the growing field. In the latest episode of FAQ NYC, THE CITY’s executive editor Alyssa Katz and other guests grapple with “urban supremacy” and what places like New York are for in an era in which people can live, work, learn, shop, play and connect with virtually anyone, anywhere. Listen here.

Reporter’s Notebook

Congestion Pricing Clears Final Federal Hurdle

The federal government on Friday approved the planned January launch of congestion pricing in Manhattan.

The greenlight from the Federal Highway Administration marks a significant step toward the Jan. 5 start of the vehicle-tolling program designed to fund billions of dollars in mass-transit upgrades and reduce vehicle use by placing a new, once-daily toll on motorists south of 60th Street.

MTA CEO Janno Lieber acknowledged that the plan to place a $9 toll on most drivers during peak hours — with reduced rates at night — is "obviously controversial" and that it still faces multiple lawsuits. Among the challenges could be President-elect Donald Trump himself, who has pledged  to “TERMINATE” it on his first week back in the White House.

But the federal approval now limits those options.

Gov. Kathy Hochul revived congestion pricing earlier this month after pausing the plan in June, citing what initially would have been a $15 toll on most vehicles.

— Jose Martinez

Things To Do

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

Monday, Nov. 25: The Roebling Rink opens for seasonal ice skating today! Tickets are $10 per session, with limited free tickets available for Brooklyn residents at special times each week. The rink is open Monday to Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m., and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Thursday, Nov. 28: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you decide to brave the crowds, here is the route and the entry points. Monday, Dec. 2: “Trio Fadolín: From Near and Far,” a performance of compositions and folk music from Uzbekistan and beyond. Free at 6 p.m. at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

THE KICKER: Ignorance is no longer bliss: soon you’ll be legally obligated to be told if your neighbors have bedbugs. Hochul signed a law last week that requires landlords to notify tenants in nearby units of an infestation within 72 hours. Good luck out there.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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