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Dear New Yorkers,

In June, Roland Conner sat down to compose a letter to the creditors who had financed the construction of his licensed cannabis dispensary in downtown Manhattan. A year and a half after opening, he was under immense strain as monthly loan payments, tax bills and obligations to his vendors mounted.

“Despite our diligent efforts, we are encountering severe financial difficulties that threaten the viability of our business. I am reaching out to seek your support and understanding as we navigate these turbulent times,” he wrote.

Conner’s past marijuana convictions had qualified him for a class of retail license awarded by New York State as a means of reparations to people who had been harmed by discriminatory policing of old drug laws. His store, Smacked Village on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, was the first in the state to be supported by the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, a $200 million initiative to finance 150 dispensaries with a mix of public and private funding.

Conner was chosen to be a face of the state’s bold initiative. He was one of the top scoring social equity applicants based both on his business experience and prior convictions. But since then, his store has been hampered by a deal structure fashioned by the social equity fund that state officials vetted and agreed to.

Meanwhile, the fund’s three managers and its private lender are prospering.

Read more here about how Conner’s store, and others, are struggling.

Weather 🌤

Sunny today, with some clouds. Highs reach the low 50s.

MTA 🚇

Some station entrances will be closed at 59th Street-Columbus Circle from 1 to 6 p.m. today, and more. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Nov. 27, but suspended tomorrow, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving.

Our Other Top Stories

The MTA is looking into deploying drones to help “manage and oversee its bus operations more effectively,” according to a document posted to the transit agency’s website last week. It is reaching out to “qualified vendors” for ideas about how to use the technology in its 28 bus depots, and to provide insights on traffic patterns along bus service routes. But union officials are balking at the idea of replacing human supervisors. The specialized police unit focusing on quality-of-life issues created under Mayor Eric Adams has been operating for more than two years without written policies, procedures or any required training for its members, according to a report released Tuesday by the Inspector General for the NYPD.

Tayumika Zurita   SPONSORED End-of-Year Advice from Chase’s Brooklyn Community Manager   Earlier this year, JPMorganChase opened its 19th Community Center Branch in the country and third in New York City on Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Tayumika Zurita, the branch’s Community Manager, told us that this holiday season, she’s thankful for the new branch which provides “a bigger opportunity to serve my community.” In that vein, here are three end-of-year financial health tips that she’s sharing in Brooklyn:   Take an inventory of your finances and check what you achieved in 2024. Create a budget for holiday spending — and stick to it. Set new goals for 2025, focusing on ones that are specific, measurable, achievable, and have clear timelines. To learn more about how JPMorganChase is supporting financial health in Brooklyn and across New York City, visit www.jpmorganchase.com/nyc.

Things To Do

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

Wednesday, Nov. 27: The Roebling Rink opened for seasonal ice skating this week! Tickets are $10 per session, with limited free tickets available for Brooklyn residents at special times. 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 Emily Warren Roebling Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Thursday, Nov. 28: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you decide to brave the crowds and the lousy weather forecast, 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.

Programming Note

Scoop is taking a break for Thanksgiving. We’ll be back with more news on Monday, Dec. 2.

THE KICKER: A whale was spotted in the East River this week!

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

Love,

THE CITY

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