🌱 BQE Redesign Proposals + NYC Council Considers Guinea Pig Sale Ban

Good morning, New York City!

• Proposals are out to redesign a portion of the BQE in Brooklyn Heights.
• A local group opposes the location of New York's first cannabis dispensary in Harlem.
• The City Council is considering a ban on guinea pig sales.

But first, today's weather:

Afternoon rain; breezy. High: 40 Low: 39.

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

1. The city has unveiled plans to redesign the triple-cantilevered portion of the BQE within Brooklyn Heights by capping it with park land, although all proposed renderings involved maintaining the number of car lanes. Borough President Antonio Reynoso expressed concern that the state has not done enough to address the portions of the highway further to the north and south. (New York City Patch)
2. The 125th Street B.I.D., a Harlem business group, is against the state's plan to open its first legal cannabis dispensary on 125th Street, concerned that it could lead to a rise in crime in the neighborhood. Local community leaders also said they had not been consulted with prior to the site's announcement. (New York City Patch)
3. The Manhattan District Attorney is seeking a 'red flag' protective order barring an employee of the City Comptroller's office from owning a gun, alleging he made threats to co-workers. This is the third time the DA's office has sought this type of order since it became law in 2019. A sworn affidavit cites an August 2020 domestic violence case that is still pending in Manhattan criminal court. (THE CITY)
4. New York's program that provided assistance to tenants falling behind on their rent during the pandemic is set to close on Jan. 15 due to a lack of federal or state funding, according to an agreement reached Wednesday. It will reopen in the future if more funding becomes available. (Gothamist)
5. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday unveiled a report detailing what they touted as a "radical" collaboration between the city and state governments. One of their top priorities was business hubs like Midtown Manhattan into "round-the-clock communities" that are also residential. (AMNY)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• "Emily in Little Paris" — Lower Manhattan (12 p.m.)
• Salsa Thursdays at Time Out Market New York (6 p.m.)
• JCRC-NY Hosts 2022 Annual Benefit (6 p.m.)
• Christmas at the Strand hosted by Kendall Knight (7 p.m.)
• Live Performance by the PAUL MAHOS DUO (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Advocates are urging the City Council to pass a bill that would ban the sale of guinea pigs in pet stores, saying the number of the animals arriving in animal shelters has virtually tripled since the start of the pandemic. (THE CITY)
• A judge on Wednesday has said he will not immediately stop the city's plan to involuntarily commit more mentally ill New Yorkers into treatment. A schedule for arguments to be heard in the case stretches into January. (Associated Press)
• Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced a $9 million initiative to provide mental health and housing resources to New Yorkers charged with crimes after their first court hearings. (Subscription/The New York Times)
• Theaters on and off Broadway are still struggling to fill their seats, with many long-time shows closing or set to close soon. (AMNY)
• The MTA is considering the use of urine censors in some of the subway system's elevators that are frequently used as de facto urinals. (THE CITY)
• Fans gathered in Astoria's "Little Morocco" on Wednesday as the underdog team took on France. (New York City Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday! See you tomorrow for another update.

— Dashiell Allen

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