🌱 Man Arrested For Anti-Asian Hate Crimes + Jodamo Downsizing

Happy Friday, neighbors! I am your host, Patrick Murray here with three fresh stories as we head into the weekend.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cold with a high of 38 and a low of 30.

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

1. Police arrested 28-year-old Steven Zajonc and charged him with seven counts of hate crime assault, attempted assault, aggravated harassment, and harassment for the attacks on seven Asian women on Feb. 27. In each instance, Zajonc approached his victims without saying a word and struck them in the face and head before fleeing. The perpetrator is accused targeting his victims specifically based on their race and did not engage any of them in dialogue before attacking. (AMNY)
2. Jodamo, the local haberdasher on Orchard and Grand, will be downsizing but staying in the same building. The store has long occupied the ground floor of the iconic "Pink Building" on the Lower East Side. According to the real estate brokerage, the corner location will command $20,000 per month in rent. (Bowery Boogie)
3. Hundreds of people were ejected from the city's subways during the first week of Mayor Eric Adams' new safety initiative, however, less than 25 of them agreed to go to shelters. Not all of the 1,050 New Yorkers included in the data were homeless, and some were experiencing mental health crises. A crackdown on subway rules, which is a large aim of the initiative, has resulted in 1,553 summonses and 143 arrests. (Patch)

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Today in Lower East Side-Chinatown:

• "Cleo from 5 to 7" screening at The Metrograph. (Noon)
• Live music at Mercury Lounge. (6:30 p.m.)
• Game Night Happy Hour Social at Sour Mouse. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Looking forward to the Tenement Museum's next Tenement Talk with author Qian Julie Wang. (Facebook)
• Help the Lower East Side Ecology Center and ensure that composting programs are included in the city's budget. (Facebook)
• Take a look at the neighborhood weather forecast for the week ahead. (Lower East Side-Chinatown Patch)
• A Union Square throwback photo. (Facebook)

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• Toddler Virtual Open House (March 9)
• Samuel L. Jackson: Apple TV+’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (March 10)
• Organ Builder Henry Erben's 222nd Birthday Celebration! (March 10)
• Toddler Virtual Open House (March 15)
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That's it for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Patrick Murray