team ciaooo, Author at ciaooo!

2024 is YOUR year! Remember, there’s no right decision just the way you decide to move.
-ciaooo! team

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THIS WEEK’S UPDATE

1. NYC NEWS TO KNOW

GOOD NEWS

Minimum Wage Officially Went Up Yesterday– On January 1st, the minimum wage went up to $16 an hour in New York City, Westchester and Long Island and $15 upstate.
The $100 Million East River Path is Finally Open! – The East River Midtown East Greenway Esplanade (say that 3x fast) has been under construction since 2017 and just opened last month. The pathway connects 53rd to 61st allowing for walkways, bike paths and a patch of pathway to rival the West Side Highway. East Sideeee Represent

BAD NEWS

The Brooklyn Bridge is Not for Shopping, Ok?– As of today, the city has banned street vendors from selling souvenirs and trinkets from all of the city’s 789 bridges. I know what you’re thinking…what? The city has 789 bridges?! Yes – the city is trying to clear up congestion. Great for locals, terrible for tourists.
New Yorkers are Not Ok..Mentally – But its not our fault, ok? A report from NY Attorney General Letitia James found that out of 400 mental health providers listed on health plans’ networks, 86% were unreachable, not-in-network or not accepting new patients. Health Insurance companies stay scamming.

OPINION

2. LET’S TALK ABOUT NEW YORK CITY’S BUDGET CRISIS

If you are feeling bad about your 2023, take comfort in knowing that someone, somewhere is doing a horrendously worse job than you ever could. Today’s case? New York City.

A report by the NYC Comptroller, Brad Lander showcased NYC is facing a major budget deficit, and the biggest culprits? Not avocado toast and lattes but:

Lawsuits against the city – Traffic crashes caused by city drivers account for over $1.5 BILLION a year. Like, we know New Yorkers can’t drive but dang!
Uniformed Overtime – The NYPD alone saw a 3700% increase in overtime last year but more on that below***. They should have been arresting those city drivers
Carter Cases – Due to the city’s lack of public schools for students with disabilities, costs grew by 80% to $918 million to pay for private schools.
Migrant Crisis – Over 100K migrants have arrived in NYC, but it’s estimated to cost over $2 billion due to inefficient (corrupt) programs

***NYPD Overtime Pay Blew Up from $4 Mill to $155 Mill in 2023 –
Mayor Adams needs to chill, maybe? You may remember the subway as an especially debaucherous place in early 2023 when subway shovings and murders/rapes ran rampant. As a result, Gov Hochul + Mayor Adams decided to add extra officers to deter crime, an additional 1000 officers PER DAY to be exact. While the sight of officers may be reassuring, it brought less than a 2% decrease in crime, with a 160% uptick in summonses for fare evasion disproportionately towards black and brown people. $155 Million to recover about $100K in fare evasion? The math ain’t mathing…

While the Mayor has continued to point to the migrant crisis for the budget crisis, much of the gap already existed. In fact, if you were to add up the lawsuits and overtime alone, it would almost amount to the same cost of the migrant crisis.

What do you think? What should we do about the city’s budget?

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. A FRESH WAY TO START YOUR 2024

It’s national mentoring month! And what better way to start your year than by doing some good for someone else?

SCORE NYC is a volunteer team of experienced business mentors and advisors providing free insights and knowledge to small business owners and entrepreneurs wishing to start a business.

Whether you’re looking to start a business or share some of your insights and experience, check out SCORE to help NYC business owners today or sign up for mentorship!

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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

GET YOUR TIX

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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

GET YOUR TIX

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

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CORONAVIRUS & MONKEYPOX

1. HERE’S THE NY SCOOP

THE STATS:

1,232, 536 vaccines bivalent vaccines
139 new hospitalizations
1,851 new cases

GOOD NEWS

Ski Season is Finally Here! – After a long Winter sans snow, over a foot of powder dropped into the Catskills, giving ski resorts a much sought-after reprieve. Hey, at least there are still 2 weeks of Winter left.

A Plan to Get Rid of Ugly Scaffolding – A new plan by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is calling for the removal of old scaffolding. There are over 4000 scaffolds across the city with one being up since 2006! More like..scoff-foldings. Ok, I’ll stop.

BAD NEWS

NYC is Overdosing – Every 3 hours, a New Yorker dies of an overdose. Last year, more New Yorkers died from overdoses than suicides, homicides, and automobile accidents combined. Fentanyl is real, y’all. Stay safe out there.

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. THE GRAND PLAN TO TURN CONEY ISLAND INTO A…CASINO?

Welcome to our latest deep dive (which is written entirely without the help of ChatGPT, but the random musings of yours truly). Following up on our last newsletter about New York’s addiction to gambling comes a new plan to turn Brooklyn’s iconic Coney Island into a bonafide, starry-eyed casino by the sea.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CONEY ISLAND?
The plan hails from Joseph Sitt, owner of Thor Equities (made famous for buying up Coney Island property in the early 2000s) and women’s fashion line, Ashley Stewart. Sitt, a native Brooklynite born and raised in Coney Island has been vocal about bringing Coney Island to its original glory days.

CONEY ISLAND, REALLY?
While most people think of Nathan’s Hot Dog when they think of Coney Island, at its prime, the beach saw over a million visitors per day and was the number one resort for America’s wealthy and elite.

With three primary amusement parks (Steeplechase, Dreamland & Luna) competing for America’s attention, the gamut of attractions ranged from an elephant-shaped hotel (that later turned into a brothel, okurrr), a mini-village of over 300 little people from all over the world called Lilliputia aka “Midget City” and the world’s first roller coaster in 1884.

Coney Island also inadvertently played a part in medical advancement with its Baby Incubator exhibit in Luna Park. Headed by Dr. Martin Couney and an actual rotating cast of doctors and nurses, visitors could gawk at premature babies in a hospital ward. The exhibit ended up saving the lives of thousands of premature babies and offered free treatment to parents of premature babies.

SO, WILL “THE CONEY” HAPPEN?
So far, there are 2 other bids for casinos in NYC, including the Hudson Yards and Times Square. Critics argue that Coney Island is seasonal by nature, and will be cold, even for casino-goers. Supporters argue that reinvigorating Coney Island will bring thousands of mostly union, well-paying jobs that could uplift the local community.

The bid has been placed, but we won’t find out if there are any chances of it happening until next year. What do you think? Let us know!

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. IT’S WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH!

This March, The New York Public Library celebrates women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling in honor of Women’s History Month. Join the NYPL for recommended reading, programs, resources, and more. Plus, check out book lists that highlight the contributions of women writers and look back on the women who helped build NYPL. Tap the link below to see upcoming events!

LEARN MORE

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

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CORONAVIRUS & MONKEYPOX

1. HERE’S THE NY SCOOP

THE STATS:

1,211,669 vaccines bivalent vaccines
388 new hospitalizations
1,103 new cases

GOOD NEWS

Remote Work May Be Coming to City Employees– DC 37, NY’s largest public employee union is in negotiations with Mayor Adams to include remote work…something he vehemently was against in order to keep NY’s economy booming. Could this be a sign of change?

BAD NEWS

Three Eyed Fish, Here We Come! The Hudson River may become the new dumping ground for over 1 MILLION gallons of nuclear waste due to the now-defunct Indian Point Nuclear Facility located just 23 miles outside of NYC. Critics argue that this is wholly unsafe, while others say it is the standard removal process. What do you think?

$224 Million in PPE Auctioned Off for $500K – The Dept of Citywide Administrative Services has tried to auction off equipment that is no longer needed that they purchased during the height of COVID-19. So far, the city has only recouped $500,000 so far. According to the CityNY, “A junk dealer from Long Island picked up the entire $12 million, 500,000-pound kit and kaboodle — for only $24,600”. What the heck?!

GIVE US THE SCOOP

2. TO BET, OR NOT TO BET?

Welcome to our latest deep dive (which is written entirely without the help of ChatGPT, but the random musings of yours truly). Today, we’re focusing on the toxic yet symbiotic relationship between New York State, Kathy Hochul and the volatile affair that makes, breaks and ends relationships…sports betting.

SPORTS BETTING…IT’S WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY?
In January of 2022, online sports betting was legalized in New York State by Governor Hochul. Since then, NY has generated over $709.2 MILLION in taxes from said bets which go on to fund NYS’s education programs. New York has now become the biggest legal sports betting state in the entire country.

IS YOUR UNCLE’S GAMBLING ADDICTION PAYING FOR OUR SCHOOLS?
Between January 8, 2022 and January 8,2023, gambling totaled $16,595,732,482 and generated a total net revenue to education of $709,247,358. The breakdown for funds is as follows:

$5 million to fund sports programs for underserved youths
$6 million to fund problem gambling education and treatment
The remaining majority to fund education aid

Politicians statewide celebrated the influx of funds for the state, which shattered revenue expectations within 10 Months. For context, the highest monthly mobile sports tax generated outside of NY was Pennsylvania in November 2021 at $19 million.

COLLEGE SPORTS BETTING IS LEGAL NOW While tax funds may be incredible for NYS’s budget now (which was in deficit due to the Pandemic), other challenges have been set forth including an increase in 25% in calls to gambling addiction hotlines and even worse, teenage gambling. The increase in funds has even inspired universities to legalize online sports betting within campuses, including marketing directly on grounds and even sponsoring their sports teams. While gambling has helped to fund education and sports programs at exorbitant amounts across the nation, it seems there is a longterm price to pay, especially in terms of breeding the next generation of young gamblers. This begs to ask the question…shouldn’t there be a better way to pay for education programs in the first place? What do you think?

KEEP READING

OH HEY, HELLO, ciaooo!

3. HIP HOP, A HIP HOP PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW?

Celebrate Black History Month with the brand new exhibition at Fotografiska, the photography museum in the Flatiron District, also the famed building that Anna Delvey tried to purchase as part of her malignant scheme to launch the Anna Delvey foundation.

The exhibit features 200 powerful photos by 57 photographers. “Hip-Hop: Conscious, Unconscious,” presents images ranging from iconic staples of visual culture to rare and intimate portraits of hip-hop’s biggest stars from legendary pioneers including Nas, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G, and Mary J. Blige to modern icons such as Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B.

Get your tickets here:
Fotografiska
281 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010
Runs from now through May 21

RSVP

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

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