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Friday, June 26, 2026

Dear New Yorkers,

Dolly R., a Holocaust survivor in her 90s, knew exactly how much was supposed to be on her food benefits card: $224.47.

But when she tried to check out at the grocery store in Borough Park, she was shocked. There was nothing left on her EBT card. Like tens of thousands of other New Yorkers, she had been a victim of fraud.

Dolly was devastated to learn that EBT cardholders don’t get reimbursed for fraudulent charges, as holders of credit and debit cards do.

Food stamp theft is surging, local service providers told the city. And it’s being orchestrated by criminal rings working out of Eastern Europe who siphon about $1 billion from poor Americans every year, according to the Secret Service.

Other states have implemented fraud detection systems, chip cards and other security measures found in commercial banking — but not New York State. It’s not seen as a crisis here, one advocate told The City Reporter, “because it’s poor people.”

Read more about what New York could be doing to stop the theft — and make victims whole.

Weather ⛅

Partly sunny with a high near 86 and a light breeze.

MTA 🚇

In the Bronx, Manhattan-bound express 6 trains run local from Parkchester to 3rd Avenue-138th Street, both ways. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, June 26.

By the way…

The city is throwing World Cup watch parties in local parks and plazas through July. Today, catch the Norway v. France game at Osborn Plaza, with a live performance by women-led samba reggae drumline band Fogo Azul. Here’s the full calendar.

Our Other Top Stories

Delivering a major campaign promise for Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Rent Guidelines Board approved a rent freeze for 1 million stabilized apartments last night. It was the first time ever that the board froze rents for both one- and two-year leases. Hours before the board took the much-anticipated vote, one of its members abruptly resigned, saying she did so to protest what she felt was a mandate. New York is home to about 40,000 Haitians who hold Temporary Protected Status, and yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling that will allow the Trump administration to end TPS swiftly sent shockwaves across their community. Today is the last day of public school, which means this weekend all outdoor pools will open — except two. Here’s our guide on what to know about swimming in the city this summer. And speaking of the pools opening, we’ve got a big news splash in this week’s summer newsletter: The mayor, like one of his predecessors, will jump into the water to start the season.

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: 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. 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. 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 home buying 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.

Things To Do

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

Friday, June 26: In East Harlem, catch a screening of “Pride,” a 2014 film about LGBTQ+ activists who raise money for the National Union of Mineworkers. Free, 125th Street Library, 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, June 26: PinkPantheress is flying stateside for the World Cup. Beginning at noon, celebrate the tournament with a performance, live DJs and watch parties. Free, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 12 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 26: If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy this American Revolution exhibition, complete with artifacts from 1776. Free, Center for Brooklyn History, 3 to 4 p.m.

THE KICKER: The greatest city in the world has the greatest tap water, too, according to a water sommelier. Or at least better tap water than Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C., and Jersey City.

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

Love,

The City Reporter

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