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Friday, March 20, 2026

Dear New Yorkers,

Will the first World Cup at MetLife stadium score big for New York’s economy? An early look at hotel bookings suggests … not so much.

FIFA’s projection last year held that the events of the championship would generate $3 billion in economic activity in the New York area.

But early projections from the hospitality sector in the city are much less bullish, and the city’s own comptroller recently estimated that the city would spend more on direct costs — like policing during the events — than it would receive in additional tax revenue.

Weather ☁️

A high near 56 with a chance of rain in the afternoon and likely at night.

MTA 🚇

In Brooklyn, no Manhattan-bound Q trains between Avenue M and Parkside Avenue from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s suspended today, March 20, for Eid Al-Fitr.

By the way…

This weekend marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims. Here are the Eid festivals, markets, parties and children’s events marking the final days of the celebration.

Our Other Top Stories

Our mayor is continuing a part of his predecessor’s budgeting legacy: using New Yorkers’ water bills as a piggy bank for the city budget. Here’s how it works. At City Hall yesterday, Mamdani named a new deputy mayor overseeing a new office of community safety, a slimmed down version of one of his signature campaign promises. Data centers are demanding power, guzzling water and hiking energy bills across the country. New York hasn’t seen a data center boom yet, but lawmakers are looking to get ahead of a potential proliferation — with affordability at top of mind.

SPONSORED A Major Milestone in Midtown Manhattan In October, JPMorganChase opened its new global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, which is the city’s largest all-electric skyscraper with net-zero operational emissions and features 2.5 times more public street-level outdoor space than the previous building. Construction created 8,000 jobs across 40 local unions and improved MTA infrastructure under the surrounding blocks. Designed to accommodate 10,000 employees and thousands of guests, the office underlines the firm’s commitment to New York City—and the $42 billion JPMorganChase contributes to the city’s economy, supporting an additional 40,000 jobs across local industries. Click here to learn more about JPMorganChase Tower.

Reporter’s Notebook

Next Gen Subway Cars

The MTA’s plans to replace up to one-third of the entire subway fleet took a big step forward Thursday, with the transportation authority issuing a request for proposals for its next generation of subway cars.

The MTA plans to order as many as 2,390 new cars to replace some that have been in service for more than 40 years. The initial order of 1,140 cars would replace those on the 1, 3 and 6 lines, with an option to purchase 1,250 more for the 2, 4 and 5 lines.

That means finally replacing those familiar rides with the orange and red seats that were manufactured nearly a half a century ago and which are more prone to mechanical failures.

“They’re really reached the end of their lines,” said Jessie Lazarus, the MTA’s chief of rolling stock. “Sometimes, when I board one I’m not sure if I’m going to run into Cyndi Lauper or Run-DMC on the way to a Mets ticker-tape parade.”

Officials said the MTA is exploring the addition of lighter, more energy-efficient cars to its fleet, as well as more open gangway cars linked by walk-through passageways. Its first such cars began rolling on the C line in 2024 and now also run on the G.

— Jose Martinez

Things To Do

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

Friday, March 20: Join author Angela Jaeger at The National Arts Club for a reading from “I Feel Famous: Punk Diaries 1977 – 1981” where she recounts her coming-of-age in the heart of New York’s punk scene. Free, at 7 p.m. Register here. Saturday, March 21: The Hispanic Museum & Library hosts a free guided tour of exhibitions featuring works by artists Goya, Velazquez and El Greco. Free, at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21: Lincoln Center’s inaugural Poet-in-Residence Mahogany L. Browne hosts a community salon held for Black and Brown women to enjoy visual art, creative practice and care-filled curation. Free, at 7:30 p.m.

THE KICKER: The Bronx Zoo is caring for a red fox that travelled a puzzling 3,600-mile journey from England to the Port of New York and New Jersey in a shipping container.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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