🌱 Soho/Noho Lawsuit + Two Bridges Residents Worry

Good morning, neighbors! I am your host, Patrick Murray here to get your Saturday started with three fresh headlines.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warm with a high of 60 and a low of 30.

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

1. A constitutional challenge was filed against the Soho/Noho rezoning plan on Thursday by the Coalition for Fairness in Soho and Noho. Seeking to "annul and vacate" the rezoning, the complaint argues that the new plans could cause mass displacement of many longtime residents. At the core of its argument, the lawsuit argues that rezoning favors developers hoping to profit off of new high-rise luxury rental units. (The Village Sun)
2. Two Bridges residents are calling on developer and city officials to protect them before the construction of two 73-story luxury residential towers at 261 South St. Before construction can begin, the "toxic" site which used to house a gas station, must be remediated. At a press conference Wednesday, longtime residents of the neighboring residential development known as Lands End, said that they fear for their health. (The Village Sun)
3. A homeless man was charged with murder as a hate crime for fatally beating 61-year-old Chinese immigrant Yao Pan Ma. The 50-year-old perpetrator, Jarod Powell, was arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday. His bail was set at $3 million. (New York Daily News)

Today in Lower East Side-Chinatown:

• Guitar for Youth, Hamilton Fish Recreation Center. (10 a.m.)
• Live music at Mercury Lounge. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The New York Magazine Look Book goes to a Lunar New Year dinner. (Curbed)
• Check out this "Valentine Antidote Art Show" at the Hey Check This Out Gallery. (Bowery Boogie)
• Neighborhood groups across NYC rally to eat and shop locally to support small business. (SILive.com)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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• Selling In Brooklyn: Everything You Need To Know in February 2022 (February 17)
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That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— Patrick Murray