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THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

President Donald Trump’s Homeland Security Advisory Council — a group that includes former mayor Rudy Giuliani, cop-turned-actor Bo Dietl and the founder of Bikers for Trump — held its first meeting on Wednesday to discuss the top threats facing the nation.

The conversation quickly turned to New York City mayoral candidate Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.

After joking that he could run for mayor again, Giuliani called Curtis Sliwa “our candidate,” whereas he labeled Mayor Eric Adams “kind of our candidate.” He described Mamdani as “the combination of an Islamic extremist and a communist.”

Normally, the Homeland Security Advisory Council is not typically so heavy on politics. Created in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, it’s meant to provide advice on “terrorist attacks, major disasters or other emergencies.”

But in the Wednesday meeting, it set its sights on Mamdani.

Read more here about what DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and others had to say about New York’s Democratic mayoral candidate.

Weather ☀️

No more rain (probably)! Hot and sunny, with highs in the upper 80s.

MTA 🚇

The last stop for some F trains headed toward Coney Island is Church Ave from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, July 3.

By the way…

Here are the best spots to see the Macy’s fireworks tomorrow.

Our Other Top Stories

The Roosevelt Hotel, which became the first stop for 155,000 new arrivals as it was remade into the city’s “welcome center” for migrants over the past few years, closed its doors to them last week. But people continue to show up. In a record-breaking season for outside spending in a New York City election, the City Council saw a sharp surge — from $6.6 million in 2021 to $14.3 million this year — driven by special interest groups and corporations pushing back on regulatory efforts. Housing code violations in NYCHA units will finally be made public. This policy was supposed to be implemented in January 2023, but months later, THE CITY revealed that tenants were still in the dark. Did you know that the Parks Department has a small fleet of beach wheelchairs available to use at the beach, free of charge? Learn how to reserve one here.

SPONSORED Is your OOO on Yet? Keep These Travel Budget Friendly Tips in Mind Summer is one of the most expensive seasons to travel. With warm weather, school breaks and slower work schedules encouraging many to hit the road or book a flight during the summer months, prices for flights, hotels and destinations often reach their peak, which could put a damper on your dream vacation plans. If you’re looking to get away and maximize your time out of office, these tips and tricks can help make seeing the world, or even just the U.S., a bit more affordable. Start saving & take advantage of travel perks: Don’t underestimate the power of credit card points – they can make travel more rewarding and help offset costs.  Explore the travel rewards your credit card offers. Timing is everything: Think about traveling in the month or two on either side of the peak season when tourists are less likely to visit. Whenever you travel, however, aim to book plane tickets about two months in advance, and start looking up flights as early as possible to get the lowest prices. Know what to skip: Once you’re at your destination, consider passing on expensive guided tours or private transit like taxis or ride shares. Instead, create your own city tour, look online for free walking tours or get around on public transportation. Plan a staycation: Take a day trip to a nearby town or plan a longer road trip through your state. You'll still get to see new places and try new hotels. If you’re planning to visit a friend or family member, explore a new venue while you’re in that town. Exploring lesser-known destinations can offer unique charm without the usual crowds and costs. Travel enriches our lives, and with some creative planning, you can enjoy memorable adventures without overspending. Using budget travel tips can help you add adventure to your life this summer without breaking the bank. Have fun finding strategic ways to cut costs while still having an enjoyable and fulfilling trip. For more financial health tips,  visit chase.com/financialgoals.

Reporter’s Notebook

Judge Orders State Prisons to Get HALT Going

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s ongoing “pause” of many elements of the so-called HALT Solitary Act must immediately be lifted, a state appeals judge ruled Wednesday.

Albany Supreme Court Judge Lynch said the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the agency that state prisons, “wholly failed to demonstrate” that the emergency suspension of the solitary confinement law was legitimate.

Passed into law by state legislators in 2021, the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act restricts how long prisoners can be placed in what’s also known as punitive segregation — bringing it down from indefinitely to 15 days.

Hochul used emergency powers to limit the policy during a 22-day wildcat strike by officers from Feb. 18 to March 11 but officials never reinstated the reforms. They blamed an ongoing staff shortage made worse by the unauthorized labor action.

“This decision reaffirms that no agency — regardless of political pressure — can unilaterally disregard laws enacted to protect human rights,” Antony Gemmell, supervising attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Prisoners’ Rights Project, told NY Focus after the ruling.

— Reuven Blau

Things To Do

This is our last THE CITY SCOOP until Monday. Here are some free and low-cost things going on around the city this weekend.

Thursday, July 3: Watch the competitors for Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest weigh in at the Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens. 12 p.m. Thursday, July 3: Nerd out before the holiday: see a pop-up exhibit of rarely-seen records highlighting 400 years of NYC history at the NYC Hall of Records. 31 Chambers Street, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 5: Pride Month may be over but “Yas Kween Karaoke” is still on every Saturday night at Good Judy bar in Brooklyn. 9 p.m. Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6: See the International African Arts Festival, featuring artists and vendors from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and more. Commodore Barry Park in Downtown Brooklyn, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

THE KICKER: The first ever Albanian-English bilingual class at a city public school will debut this fall for students in The Bronx.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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