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Friday, July 17, 2026

Brooklyn Democratic Party chair and Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn speaks at a gala in Red Hook, Oct. 30, 2025. (Ben Fractenberg/The City Reporter)

Dear New Yorkers,

Brooklyn’s Democratic Party could be in for a major shakeup following last month’s primary election, when reform-oriented candidates flipped eight of nine contested district leader races.

The groups who backed those candidates — New Kings Democrats and Brooklyn Can’t Wait — say they now have enough votes to oust party chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and take over the county machine they have long railed against.

“This transfer of power that we’re seeing now is something that’s never happened before in Brooklyn,” said Tony Melone, president of New Kings Democrats. Members of his group and Brooklyn Can’t Wait are supporting district leader Julio Peña for party chair, with a vote to be held this fall.

As The City Reporter has previously detailed, Bichotte Hermelyn’s tenure as chair has been marred by internal party fights and losing ground to the Republican Party in Southern Brooklyn. Neither she nor a spokesperson for the Brooklyn Democratic Party returned requests for comment.

Still, several district leaders are expressing concerns that Bichotte Hermelyn, who serves as a state assemblymember, and the party’s current leadership might try to change internal rules or take other measures to keep control before the fall vote.

Read more about the battle within the Brooklyn Democratic Party and what’s at stake.

Weather ☀️

A high around 88 and mostly sunny during the daytime. A low around 72 and partly cloudy at night. Patchy smoke during parts of the day.

MTA 🚇

Midday in the Bronx, Pelham Bay Park-bound 6 trains skip Whitlock Avenue, Elder Avenue, Morrison Avenue–Soundview and St. Lawrence Avenue. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, July 17.

By the way…

Don’t miss our guide on where in the city you can watch Sunday’s World Cup final for free.

Our Other Top Stories

Hundreds of unionized public defenders, case managers and other workers in Brooklyn and Queens went on strike after failing to reach a new labor contract with their organizations’ management. In a city of rivers and bays, there’s a ton of ways to get out on the water and appreciate some nature. Among those highlighted in our latest summer newsletter: fishing at night on a charter boat out of Brooklyn and rowing on the Hudson River in a 25-foot-long wooden boat. The City Council approved one-time $10,000 payments for public school paraprofessionals, but Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the move violates state labor law. The wildfire smoke that swept through the city led education officials to move summer school activities indoors and reschedule field trips, Chalkbeat reports. Meteorologists said some smoke may return Friday into Saturday. Our friends at Healthbeat spoke with an infectious disease expert about the risks of the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ outbreak and what people should do if they think they have symptoms.

Sponsored by JPMorganChase Chase Community Manager Tayumika Zurita Shares Tips for Strengthening Financial Health We all have financial needs and goals, whether it’s dreaming of buying a new home, starting a business, or simply feeling more secure about your finances. No matter where you are on your financial journey, it’s never too early – or too late – to get started. Tayumika Zurita, Chase Community Manager in Brooklyn, shares ways to help strengthen your financial health journey:  Q: Which areas should people focus on to improve their financial well-being? A: To help strengthen any financial health journey, it’s important to focus on four key areas: earning, protecting, spending and saving. Earning is about understanding your income and how it supports your goals. Protecting your money involves keeping it safe from loss, theft and overspending. Spending wisely helps you stay on top of bills and make progress toward your goals. And saving—no matter how small the amount—sets you up for future needs and opportunities Strengthening your financial health is a lifelong journey, and every step can help you feel more organized and confident as you work toward your goals. To learn more, stop by your local branch or visit chase.com/financialgoals. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.  © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Things To Do

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

Friday, July 17: Louisiana Creole dance band Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas plays an outdoor show as part of the Carnegie Hall Citywide series. Free, Bryant Park, 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19: Local children’s theater company Treehouse Shakers gives two World Cup-inspired performances with music and dance activities for kids ages 4-8. $15 for adults, $8 for children, Flushing Town Hall, 10:30 a.m. both days.

THE KICKER: No kidding, three goats will face off in Riverside Park tomorrow for the second annual Great Goat Graze-Off to chomp away at invasive plants.

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

Love,

The City Reporter

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