🌱 Attempted Rape On E Train + Marte On Struggling Bodegas

Happy Friday, neighbors! I am your host, Patrick Murray here with three fresh headlines to kick off your weekend.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and warm with a high of 51 and a low of 45.

Here are the top stories in Lower East Side-Chinatown today:

1. The NYPD is searching for a suspect in an attempted rape on a Lower Manhattan E train. The perpetrator attacked the 21-year-old woman on a Queens bound train near the Canal Street station at approximately 10 a.m. on Feb. 9, before he fled when the train arrived at Canal Street. The victim was evaluated at the crime scene and avoided any serious injuries. (amNY)
2. City Council member Christopher Marte acknowledged the ongoing struggle for neighborhood bodegas to stay afloat with the threat of rapid delivery services entering the community. "These bodegas are facing the ultimate threat from these 15-minute delivery apps,” said Marte, who himself grew up working at a Lower East Side bodega. Marte and others have quoted the rise of Uber and Lyft, and the negative impact these companies had on city cabs, as a blueprint for what could happen to these local small businesses. (Gothamist)
3. The tower at the former location of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol has topped out at 30 stories. The large development at Essex Crossing will feature 378 housing units, a quarter of which are considered "permanently affordable." The development will also feature a 4,ooo square-foot commercial condo unit for the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol congregation. (Bowery Boogie)

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Today in Lower East Side-Chinatown:

• "Heaven Can Wait" screening at The Metrograph. (2:45 p.m.)
• Kids That Fly, Mercury Lounge. (6:30 p.m.)
• Lower East Side Pub Crawl. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Take a look at the weather forecast for the week ahead. (Lower East Side-Chinatown Patch)
• Upcoming events for the weekend. (Lower East Side-Chinatown Patch)
• Five fresh neighborhood properties that just hit the market. (Lower East Side-Chinatown Patch)
• Check out these hand-painted kicks by many local artists. (Bowery Boogie)
• How Bijan Shahvali, and his Intramural Shop, became A24’s go-to source for vintage movie merch. (Complex)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Headliner Comedy Show on Friday Nights! (February 11)
• Office & Home Furniture Liquidation Warehouse Sale... (February 12)
• Help Us Improve Your Health | Ayúdenos a mejorar su salud | Помогите нам улучшить ваше здоровье (February 16)
• Selling In Brooklyn: Everything You Need To Know in February 2022 (February 17)
• Add your event

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for your next update.

— Patrick Murray