🌱Government Drones Flying Over NYC: Report + School Buses Face Delays

Good morning, New York City!

• 🛸 There's at least 33 drones flying over our heads, according to the NYCLU.
• 🎟 Congresswoman Maloney is facing an investigation for allegedly soliciting a Met Gala ticket.
• 🚌 NYC School buses faced major delays this fall.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 50 Low: 37.

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

1. At least 33 government-owned drones may be flying over the heads of New Yorkers at any given moment — the majority of which are owned by the NYPD — a study from the New York Civil Liberties Union found. The study raised concerns that they are being used with "almost no regulation" and contain “biometric surveillance capabilities like facial recognition, gait recognition, emotion recognition, or behavior detection.” (New York City Patch)
2. Outgoing New York City Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is facing a potential House of Representatives ethics investigation for allegedly soliciting a ticket to the Met Gala in 2016 after not making it on the invite list. According to House rules, members are only allowed to accept gifts of up to $50 and may attend events that they didn't solicit an invitation to. (Gothamist)
3. The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is 'jump-starting' a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The investigation is now focused on a "hush-money payment" to actress Stormy Daniels who says she had an affair with Trump. (Subscription/The New York Times)
4. The majority of fires caused by e-bike lithium-ion batteries exploding in New York City have taken place in low-income neighborhoods, with the recent blaze in a Midtown apartment building being an exception, according to city data. The batteries themselves aren't inherently dangerous, experts say. The problem is that many of the ones being used come from the black market without safety testing. (THE CITY)
5. Delays on NYC school bus service averaged 41 minutes during the past month, with more than 22,000 occurring this fall, compared to 14,000 in the same period last year, according to a City Council analysis. The city is also facing a 300-person bus driver shortfall, and some bus routes look "nonsensical" according to Councilwoman Rita Joseph. (Gothamist)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• Take a trip to the newly opened Museum of Broadway (10 a.m.)
• An Evening with Itzhak Perlman — Midtown (6:30 p.m.)
• Drunk Planet Earth — comedy show (7 p.m.)
• Eddie Palmieri — Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m.)
• Sean Paul Hosts the Dutty Rock 20th Anniversary at Nebula (10 p.m.)

Crime and safety corner:

• The owners of a gay bar in Hell's Kitchen are reportedly upset with the police for what they see as a lack of response after the bar was attacked by a vandal for the third time in one week. (New York City Patch)
• The family of a 63-year-old taxi driver and grandfather who was killed while on the job in Upper Manhattan last year are asking for justice while an arrest has yet to be made connected to his hit-and-run death. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• Meet the NYC TikTok creator who goes around the city asking New Yorkers how much they spend on rent. (Spectrum NY 1)
• Innovation QNS, a massive proposal to build thousands of housing units in Western Queens, has gotten the support of local Councilwoman Julie Won, after reaching a deal to double the number of affordable units in the project to 1,436, compared to the developers' initial 711. (New York City Patch)
• Seven trailers that were supposed to be used in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade went up in smoke in a New Jersey fire on Monday. (New York City Patch)
• A homeless New Yorker who was the target of several of the city's encampment sweeps earlier this year was left disabled after suffering from a stroke she says was brought on in part by the way she was treated. (AMNY)

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You're all caught up 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 Daily? Contact me at patchnyc@patch.com