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Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

Ms. Paula Hargrove was reading a book with her school-age daughter on a recent Tuesday morning when, outside her apartment, two rookies from the Administration for Children’s Services prepared to pay her a visit.

She answered as they uttered words no parent wants to hear: “Good morning! We’re child protective specialists.”

A look of concern and confusion washed over Ms. Hargrove's face.

“Em, do you want to go into the room?” she asked her daughter, before letting the two ACS workers in.

But the girl was not actually a child. And Ms. Hargrove was not her mother. Both are fictional characters played by professional actors ACS has hired to help train people for a notably challenging job: visiting families who have been the subject of calls to a state child welfare hotline.

Click here for a glimpse of the ACS simulation site in Jamaica, Queens where THE CITY saw actors help future welfare workers learn the ropes.

Weather ☁️

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

MTA 🚇

In Queens, overnight Manhattan-bound E and F trains skip 67 Avenue, 63 Drive-Rego Park, Woodhaven Boulevard, Grand Avenue-Newtown and Elmhurst Avenue. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Nov. 21.

By the way…

Wondering if you have a criminal record, or what could come up in a background check? Here’s how to find out.

Our Other Top Stories

Later today, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet with President Donald Trump, his first meeting with the man who labeled him “my little communist mayor” and threatened to deport him — and pull federal funding to New York City. Here’s what the next mayor said about the planned meet-up. “This is a public safety crisis and the lives of thousands of NYCHA residents are in jeopardy.” That’s what a professional association of plumbers said about NYCHA boilers in the wake of the recent boiler explosion and chimney collapse at a Bronx public housing development.

SPONSORED Where Are you in Your Housing Journey? Homeownerships is one of the largest investments consumers will make in their lives – and one of the most exciting. But, the housing market has experienced a lot of highs and lows over the past few years, and many buyers are sitting on the sidelines wondering if now is the right time for them to buy. Here are a few questions considerations to determine whether you are financially ready for homeownership:  1. Your financial health is sound. This might look like having a regular, dependable source of income, having a good credit score—lenders typically look for a score of 620 and above—and having a low debt-to-income ratio. This allows lenders to better gauge how much you may be able to afford.  2. You understand the true cost of homeownership: This might look like understanding not only your borrowing capacity but also the monthly payment. You’re also prepared for the additional costs of buying a home, such as closing costs, property taxes, homeowners association fees, among other costs, as well as ongoing maintenance or repairs. Look for financial tools like the Chase affordability calculator to help determine buying power, based on income, and preferred monthly loan payments.  3. Your personal goals and timelines match up: Think about your upcoming life events and whether it makes sense to own a home, such as retiring, relocating or a growing family.   For more information to prepare you for your homebuying journey, visit chase.com/afford or connect with a local a mortgage professional who can help make recommendations based on your unique financial picture and goals.  Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.  © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Things To Do

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

Friday, Nov. 21 - Sunday, Nov. 23: Visit Adult Swim’s “Smiling Friends” installation at the Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn in Brooklyn. Free, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22: Gather around the campfire with the Urban Park Rangers for stories, songs and more. Free, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Ongoing: Check out art exhibits and events at the newly reopened Studio Museum in Harlem. Pay-what-you-can tickets available.

THE KICKER: Now this is co-op board drama. Residents in Forest Hills Gardens have launched an insurgency against the current board there, saying leadership needs to drop their lawsuits against Forest Hills Stadium — and move on.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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