🌱Biden Funding For Subway Expansion? + NYC Pol. Accused Of Harassment

Good morning, New York City!

• The expensive East Harlem 2nd Avenue subway expansion could get more federal funding.
• A Queens Assemblyman is accused of sexual assault.
• A new bipartisan congressional caucus aims at stopping congestion pricing.

But first, today's weather: Partly sunny and not as cool. High: 55 Low: 46.

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

1. President Joe Biden included nearly $500 million in funding to extend the Second Avenue subway into East Harlem in his budget released last Thursday, bringing the long-stalled $7.7 billion transit project one step closer to reality. The Federal Transit Authority is also expected to contribute more than $3 billion in grants. (Harlem Patch)
2. A group of lawmakers is calling on a Queens Assemblyman, Juan Ardila, to step down from his seat following allegations from two women that he "exposed himself and kissed two women while they were intoxicated in 2015," as Patch reports. The anonymous women's accounts were first published in the Queens Chronicle. (Astoria-Long Island City Patch)
3. New York City public schools could see another round of budget cuts, especially those hit hard by falling enrollment, Schools Chancellor David Banks said at a City Council hearing Wednesday. Last year, millions were cut from school budgets, prompting some administrators to slash funding for arts programs. (Gothamist)
4. An oversight board nixed a plan highly criticized by some politicians to digitize and screen mail entering Rikers Island. Critics, including Public Advocate Jumanne Williams, have said the idea, which would involve a private company reading detainee's correspondences, would amount to illegal surveillance. Jail leaders say they're concerned about fentanyl and other substances entering the premises. (THE CITY)
5. A bipartisan congressional caucus is being created to fight congestion pricing, with Democratic New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis making the announcement on Wednesday. They say they want to see an environmental impact study on how the plan affects communities outside of Manhattan, and will use Congressional oversight and the threat of lawsuits to further impeded the plan. (WABC-TV)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York - Opening Night (5:30 p.m.)
• “The Couric Effect”: A Conversation with Katie Couric about Media and Public Health — The Paley Museum (6:30 p.m.)
• Hand-stitched Shamrock Brooches with Brooklyn Craft Co. (7 p.m.)
• Big Smooth - FREE Comedy Show — The Gutter (8 p.m.)
• "The Dark Knight" Entirely From Memory — Brooklyn (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The FBI was forced to flee from the apartment of an exiled Chinese businessman on Wednesday when a fire broke out, just hours after agents had arrested him, according to reports. (New York City Patch)
• A man from Colorado is facing a felony hate crime charge for allegedly spray-painting racist graffiti in New York City in 2021, including on the Wall Street Charging Bull statue. (New York City Patch)
• It's almost time for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade down Fifth Avenue, scheduled for this Friday. Here's the details. (New York City Patch)
• The owners of Veselka are planning on expanding the beloved Ukrainian restaurant to a second location in Williamsburg, possibly before the year's end. (Brooklyn Paper)
• A new study from John Jay College’s Data Collaborative for Justice found that New York State's controversial 2020 bail reform laws actually lowered the rate of recidivism for individuals arrested for low-level crimes, although re-arrests slightly increased for those "released following recent violent felony arrests." (Gothamist)

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Featured events:

• SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York - Opening Night (March 16)
• National Security Seminar: Radicalization and Violent Extremism Today (March 16)
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• Death in New York Walking Tour (March 18)
• The Psychiatric History of New York Walking Tour (March 18)
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• Ladysmith Black Mambazo (March 18)
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• Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Parade (March 19)
• Gospel Music & Clean Comedy Showcase (March 19)
• Kerris Greenidge on the "The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family" (March 19)
• Rejoice Resist: BIPOC Films and Filmmakers (March 20)
• White Collar Week: Scott Semple, Former Connecticut Correction Commissioner (March 21)
• SRFF 2023 - 10th anniversary edition Closing Awards Night (March 23)
• HAMPTONS | NORTH WEDDING & EVENT EXPO WEEKEND: 3/25 NoFo & 3/26 Hamptons (March 25)
• New Spiritual Concert to Celebrate Healing and the Arts With Music and Poetry (March 26)
• Kids Easter Party Queens NY (April 9)
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That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Dashiell Allen

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