November 2023 - Page 3 of 4

GOOD NEWS

The East Side is Getting Glam! A newly renovated bike and walking path is opening on the East side running from 38th street to 61st including a new waterfront pier and pedestrian bridge. West Side or East Side? You decide.

NYC’s Mental Health Crisis Shows Positive Signs Some early signs of progress from Mayor Adams contentious forced hospitalization policy for the mentally ill. Read how this group of 9 nonviolent homeless people are finally transitioning into long term housing and getting the care they need. Whether the process will be successful in the long term is up for debate.

Today’s Voting Day! Where to vote? This locator will tell you, make sure to vote for your local city council, district attorney, district leader and more!

WTF! NEWS

Hell is a Place in a Newark Airport Over 500 flights have been cancelled over the past 3 days across all 3 tristate area airports due to thunderstorms. Oddly enough, the sun is shining today…Conspiracy perhaps?

Apocalypto New York 🔥 Oy Vey. Governor Hochul declared yet ANOTHER air quality alert starting tomorrow, Wednesday June 28th due to the Canadian Wildfires. Get ready for smoky fog and haze. Stay inside and mask up.

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT TODAY’S ELECTION?

Today’s election is especially special because YOU get to vote on how nearly $30 million of the city’s budget should be spent in your community in a process called, participatory budgeting.

WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?
This is a process in which community members aka YOU directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. The process began in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989 and has now spanned across 3,000 different locations around the world. NYC first picked it up in 2011.

This year, over 29 City Council Members are giving their constituents a voice on over $30 million across the city. Suggestions on how to spend the money can be submitted by anyone in the neighborhood. Too many potholes in the street? Build a community garden? Getting the annoying neighbor to stop blasting their music at 4AM…well, maybe not the last one.

WHO GETS TO SPEND THE MONEY?
Council members get $5 million each budget year to devote to projects in their district. Those that opt in to participatory budgeting earmark at least $1 million for their constituents. Proposals are submitted every year from September to October, and are voted on today!

In today’s election however, proposals were submitted last year and voters will get to pick their top ranked proposals.

WAIT, WHAT DOES CITY COUNCIL DO EXACTLY?
Before we can break down what participatory budgeting is, let’s first break down what City Council is. The city council consists of 51 members, each of whom are elected in partisan elections by the city’s fifty-one districts (like today). Click here to see the district that you live in and the appointed council member. They are responsible for:

•Adopting the city budget
•Approving mayoral appointees
•Overseeing the use of municipal properties
•Levying taxes
•Making or amending city laws, policies, and ordinances

City Council members are here for YOU. They are your advocates and they want to listen. If you’ve ever had trouble getting your passport renewed, your city council member can help with that. If you needed help getting health insurance or have trouble with your landlord, you could call or email your city council member and they can assist you! Literally!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

If you voted already – did you see any interesting proposals? If not, what would you do with $1 million in your community? We’d love to know! Write back!

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. A NOTE FROM THE TEAM ❤️

Hi friends! Our apologies for missing out on the newsletter the past few weeks! We are a small team (Paola + Chau) and write this purely from our love for NYC! We’ve been spending the past month building out our content arm so please do patient with us! If you have any news, ideas or suggestions on what you’d like to see in the upcoming weeks, please respond to this email! We love you lots!

Community-first. Women-led. ciaooo! is on a mission to empower brands and organizations that make NYC a better place. Learn more!

Facebook Conversations

GOOD NEWS

Beaches are Back! It’s Memorial Day this weekend, which marks the start of rosé on rooftops, summer Fridays, and the communal lifting of NYC’s seasonal depression. Lifeguards are back starting this Saturday, May 27th!

AAPI & Latino Night Market Comes to NYC – Get ready for an Asian and Latino feast of epic proportions with food from NYC classics like Jing Fong, Ay Cachapas, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, and more! The one-night event runs on June 15 from 7 – 10 pm! Get tickets now before they sell out! #Sponsored

WTF NEWS!

MTA! It’s Not Fare!!! Is Fare not fair? Transit officials dropped a bombshell fare proposal yesterday at the MTA finance committee meeting. If approved, brace yourselves for a hike from $2.75 to $2.90 for single-ride fares starting on Labor Day.

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. AAPI HISTORY FOR AAPI MONTH

AAPI HISTORY, NOT AP HISTORY CLASS
It’s AAPI History Month, and to celebrate, NY Senator John Liu and Assembly Woman Grace Lee are pitching a bill mandating Asian-American history to be taught in schools.

The bill was initially drafted in response to the rise of anti-Asian attacks during the Pandemic. Legislators believe integrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history would “dispel the ignorance and negative stereotypes.”

As a first-generation Asian woman who attended NYC public school and went on to nearly fail Asian History in college…I can testify that this was much needed.

ISN’T THIS HAPPENING IN FLORIDA TOO?
Earlier this month, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1537, requiring AAPI history to be included in the state’s K-12 curriculum.

While this was a win for AAPI communities, controversy ensued as Governor DeSantis signed a bill banning Florida’s public colleges and universities from spending funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The NAACP issued a travel advisory warning Black Americans about visiting the state.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NEW YORKERS?
Well, NY isn’t entirely in the clear yet. The bills for AAPI History need to be passed by the House and Senate before being signed by Governor Hochul. To support this, you can vote on the legislation and message your Senator by clicking here.

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. CELEBRATE AAPI MONTH THIS WEEKEND!

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with the Urban Park Rangers on free history tours and engaging activities around the city. NYC Parks will be hosting free events this weekend including a free culture festival in Queens on Saturday, May 27th.

LEARN MORE

Community-first. Women-led. ciaooo! is on a mission to empower brands and organizations that make NYC a better place. Learn more!

Facebook Conversations

SHE’S AN ICON. SHE’S A LEGEND, AND SHE IS THE MOMENT.

GOOD NEWS

“A Goat is Tied to the Stairwell in My Building” – Did you know? 311 turned 20 years old this year! The city’s complaint hotline celebrated over 525 million reports since its launch in 2003. Tap the link to read some of the funniest complaints the city has seen.

NYPD Arrests Robbery Suspects in Hell’s Kitchen – Last summer, robberies, and drug deaths rocked the gay community in and around nightclubs in Hell’s Kitchen. The suspects were caught after they drugged the victims and Cashapped thousands of dollars to themselves.

BAD NEWS

Rent Is On The Rise- If you’re looking for an apartment…you should start saving now. The average rent in Manhattan is up 10% compared to last year. Exp: a studio apartment costs $3,268 compared to $2,896 last year. A 1 bedroom is $4,269 compared to $3,885. Roommates are still cool, right?

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. WHO IS THE RAT CZAR OF NEW YORK CITY?

All ye rats, bow down to the rat Czar!!

FAMOUS RATS IN NEW YORK CITY CULTURE
First, there was Splinter, the mutant rat and martial arts sensei of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Then came the infamous Pizza Rat in 2015, a real-life rat dragging a full-size slice of pizza down the stairs at the West 4th station. But today? In 2023? We are here to talk about this generation’s newest icon…The Rat Czar.

WHO IS THE RAT CZAR?
While rats have always been synonymous with NYC (sadly), the number of rat sitings has skyrocketed since the Pandemic. In 2020, the city saw about 16 K complaints; in 2022, the city saw 26 K!

Last November, Mayor Eric Adams announced a viral job posting for NYC’s first-ever Rat Czar. The role would be tasked with working with city agencies to reduce the number of rats. You may have seen other initiatives like rat-proof bins and trash pick-ups no earlier than 8 pm.

The Rat Czar is Kathleen Corradi, a sustainability expert who beat out 900 applicants for the role. As a former director at the NYC Department of Education, she developed the city’s Zero Waste Schools initiative to reduce waste…and rodents!

ARE RATS A SIGN OF THE TIMES?
While the concept of a rat czar is funny…the reality isn’t.

According to NY’s Chief of Staff, Camille Joseph Varlack, “Rats are more than just a quality-of-life issue – they are a symbol of systemic issues that for too long have plagued New Yorkers, particularly low-income and communities of color.”

Rats indicate that the city struggles with essential social services – from sanitation to education to housing, parks, and even schools. The first initiative will occur in Harlem, dispersing over $3.5 million across six city agencies to mitigate rodents.

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. DISCOVER YOUR FAVORITE NEW ARTIST AT THE CLIO ART FAIR

Want to discover the next big artist? Dubbed the “Anti Fair for Independent Artists,” the Clio Art Fair showcases independent artists without exclusive gallery representation in NYC.

It is held biannually in May and September. The fair is known for its democratic approach to art and emphasis on showcasing artists from various backgrounds and styles. The fair is named after Clio, the Greek Muse of History and Poetry, and is intended to give artists a platform to create a legacy through their work.

Location:
Clio Art Fair
Free – $20
May 18-21, 2023
550 West 29th st.
New York, NY 10001

LEARN MORE

Community-first. Women-led. ciaooo! is on a mission to empower brands and organizations that make NYC a better place. Learn more!

Facebook Conversations

GOOD NEWS

Block Parties are Back! Open Streets is back this summer! Launched in 2020, the free program allows community groups and businesses to close down streets around the city for street par-tays. Prepare for 160 locations stretching almost 300 blocks, including 25+ new sites. Apply to throw your own!

BAD NEWS

But What About the Libraries?! – The NYPL is facing a $52.7 million budget cut, which would cut programs, including weekend service. On the other hand, the NYPD had their budget increased by $366 million. Shoutout to our reader Ayumi for sending this tip! Unfair? Write a letter here

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. THE WEIRD HISTORY OF MAY 1ST

AND YOU THOUGHT MOVING WAS ROUGH IN NYC?
If you thought moving was annoying, imagine if EVERYONE moved on the same day every year. Did you know that May 1st was once the only day New Yorkers could move from their apartment? All leases in the city used to expire at 9 AM on May 1st at the same time.

It’s estimated that over a million city residents changed their residences simultaneously. It wasn’t until the start of World War II that Moving Day ended, as the moving industry lost its strapping young men to the war overseas.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH “MAYDAY!”
The term “Mayday” was created by Frederick Mockford, a radio officer at Croydon Airport in London, as an international distress call in 1948 after the French word m’aider, which means “help me”.

Next week, May 1st, count your blessings so you no longer have to move on the same day! Like this weird history? Let us know if you want more!

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. THE BEST NIGHT MARKET IS COMING TO TOWN

LEARN MORE

Community-first. Women-led. ciaooo! is on a mission to empower brands and organizations that make NYC a better place. Learn more!

Facebook Conversations

CORONAVIRUS & MONKEYPOX

1. HERE’S THE NY SCOOP

THE STATS:

1,300, 702 vaccines bivalent vaccines
96 new hospitalizations
420 new cases

GOOD NEWS

Tech Layoffs, Shmayoffs – NYC’s employment rate is now the highest its ever been since the Pandemic, finally getting back to its pre-pandemic level. PS – if you were one of the unlucky tech layoffs, explore job listings from over 720 companies right here in NYC! Or if you have a friend, just send this to them!

Pickleball Mania…It’s a Thing! – Did you hear? Central Park’s Wollman Rink is being replaced by pickleball courts for the summer. It’ll be pricey though… $80 an hour during off-peak hours, and $120 an hour for peak times to play. You can always go play for free in the parks.

BAD NEWS

Sayonara, Subway Booths – First it was the phone booths, and now it’s the glass boxes of emotion on the Subway platforms. Starting this week, over 2,200 MTA booth operators will be dispatched from the booths to be helping customers across the stations. Good luck to the tourists!

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. THE SUBWAY TOKEN, THE METROCARD AND NOW OMNY

Welcome to our latest deep dive (which is written entirely without the help of ChatGPT, but the random musings of yours truly).

THE METROCARD’S DAYS ARE DATED
2023 marks the final year of the MetroCard. By next year, OMNY, or the digital tap payment that automatically connects to your smartphone will be fitted into 472 MTA stations across all 5 boroughs. Not only will the MetroCard be dropped, but so will its partner, the hunkering silver MetroCard machines. This is all in addition to subway station operators leaving their ticket booths to be freestanding agents across the platform.

The move was originally announced in 2019 as a way for the MTA to become more environmentally conscious and to update the system’s efficiency.

JUST LIKE THE OL’ SUBWAY TOKEN
This isn’t the first time the MTA has phased out a payment model. The very first subway token was unveiled on July 25, 1953, when New York City’s subway fare was only 15 cents. It wasn’t until 2003, that the subway token was phased out to be replaced by the MetroCard.

OMNY IS NEXT
Charge your phones! Charge your kids! The MTA is gearing up to replace every MTA train and bus station with OMNY. While the move is much more efficient than fishing out your wallet and buying a card, critics argue that this prevents less technologically savvy individuals who do not have smartphones, digital banks, or accounts to adapt.

The MTA will still include machines to sell cards for those who do not have smartphones at each station. Get ready to see a very different (and hopefully, safer) MTA in 2024. Let’s see how this goes! What do you think?

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. THE QUEENS NIGHT MARKET IS BACK

Are you a lover of food? Do you salivate at the thought of a night market? Do you love cheap food?! The Queens Night Market is back with two preview dates on April 15th and the 22nd. With a cap of $5 on food items, the QNM is the best bang for your buck in terms of trying different foods without paying exorbitant prices.

The event gets busy though, so make sure to get your $5 tickets now! Also, its best to get here by train, bus or walking/riding. The festival opens up to the public for free starting April 29th.

Location:
QUEENS NIGHT MARKET – FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK
47-01 111th St, Queens, NY 11368

LEARN MORE

Community-first. Women-led. ciaooo! is on a mission to empower brands and organizations that make NYC a better place. Learn more!

Facebook Conversations