🌱 130% More Pollutants In River Subways + Hochul's State Of The State

Good morning, New York City!

• 🚇 ⚠️ A new study finds a much higher rate of pollutants in subway stations next to river tunnels.
• 🏗 Gov. Kathy Hochul gives her "State of the State" address with a focus on housing, bail reform and more.
• 👟 A Brooklyn teen has her own sneaker line.

But first, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 41 Low: 38.

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Here are the top five stories in New York City today:

1. Hazardous pollutants were up to 130 percent higher in subway stations immediately next to a river tunnel compared to other stations, a study from NYU Langone Health has found. According to the study's lead author David Luglio that's because the tunnels don't offer anywhere for polluted air to escape to. He said most passengers aren't in stations long enough to experience immediate consequences, but the study could point to dangers for transit workers and people with pre-existing respiratory health conditions. (New York City Patch)
2. Gov. Kathy Hochul gave her 2023 "State of the State" speech yesterday, with a large emphasis placed on creating more housing. She discussed her proposal to build 800,000 new units statewide, including a proposal that would require New York City and other downstate localities to increase their housing stock by 3 percent every three years. Hochul also discussed tweaking bail reform and a $1 billion mental health plan. (New York City Patch)
3. While nurses were on strike for the second day at two major New York City hospitals, some of them described challenging circumstances for the remaining doctors and non-union nurses in the units they normally work in, where they said inexperienced staff are carrying out tasks they aren't accustomed to. (Gothamist)
4. Two NYC Congressman — Ritchie Torres and newly-elected Dan Goldman — have filed a complaint against Long Island and Queens Congressman George Santos, alleging that he submitted a late and unverified financial disclosure, saying "He earned millions of dollars from clients, but he never disclosed the names of those clients." (Gothamist)
5. A Manhattan judge on Monday denied a pay raise set to take effect for Lyft and Uber drivers, saying that the Taxi and Limousine Commission hadn't adequately justified it, and more specifically "failed to include a single mathematical computation." (Subscription/New York Daily News)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• Holiday Train Show — New York Botanical Garden (10 a.m.)
• Job fair in The Bronx (11 a.m.)
• George Bellows: The Great American Painter — Green-Wood Cemetery (6 p.m.)
• Ambush Comedy at Two Boots Pizza in Williamsburg (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Great news for garden lovers! The Queens Botanical Gardens received an $8 million grant from a nonprofit, the largest in the landscape's history, which will go towards educational programing. (New York City Patch)
• During her speech yesterday, Gov. Kathy Hochul also called the MTA New York's "lifeblood," but didn't specify exactly how she would save it from its impending fiscal cliff. (THE CITY)
• A developer has a plan to build a massive new complex in East Midtown, which would include a Ferris wheel and a museum telling the history of democracy. (Curbed)
• Meet the Brooklyn teen who's started her own online sneaker line, combining her love of fashion and art. (Pix 11 New York)
• Local activists are concerned that a series of dead whales that have washed ashore recently in Long Island and New Jersey could be connected to new offshore wind energy projects. (CBS New York)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update!

— Dashiell Allen

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming New York City Daily? Contact me at patchnyc@patch.com