🌱 Lawsuit Takes Aim At NYC Outdoor Dining + Taxi Drivers Rally

Good morning New York City! A new lawsuit takes aim at NYC's outdoor dining program, a judge ruled in favor a homeless family attempting to secure housing with a city-issued voucher, and taxi drivers would like to see a cap removed on the number of new licenses given out. Also, check out the latest from NY's Congressional primaries.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warmer. High: 90 Low: 71.

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

1. A recently filed lawsuit hopes to immediately end outdoor dining, arguing there's no justification for it while other COVID restrictions have been eased. When asked about the suit, Mayor Eric Adams said he is in support of the program. A subset of New Yorkers have for months taken issue with its impact on quality of life. (New York City Patch)
2. A large Bronx apartment complex must allow a homeless New Yorker receiving a housing voucher to be given a home, a judge ruled on Friday. A 34-year-old mother had sued the building's landlord after being denied housing due to not meeting an income restriction threshold, despite having assurance from her city voucher that she could pay the monthly rent. (City Limits)
3. NYC Comptroller Brad Lander claims to have found a solution to the Department of Education's more than $215 million budget shortfall. He suggests allocating uncommitted federal COVID stimulus funds. There's now less than five weeks before classes start. (NBC New York)
4. Taxi drivers are calling on the city to remove a cap on the number of new licenses that are permitted. First implemented in 2018, the cap was meant to curb the increase in app-based car services such as Uber and Lyft, but it's inadvertently hurt the yellow taxi industry, drivers say. Now, whenever drivers retire due to the cap, new drivers aren't able to take their place. It's estimated the number of taxis in the city has gone down by 80 percent in eight years. (AMNY)
5. Construction work on a major renovation to the building in Times Square where the ball is dropped every new year is receiving pushback from a neighboring real estate owner, who contends in a lawsuit that the placement of scaffolding in the area will endanger tourists and make them more susceptible to crime. (New York City Patch)

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Things are heating up in two of New York City's closely watched Democratic Congressional primary races:

• In parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan below 14th Street 13 candidates are battling it out for the open 10th Congressional seat. Here's who's endorsing who. (City & State)
  • One of the contenders, Congressman Mondaire Jones who currently represents parts of Westchester, was just endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Politics NY)
• Further Uptown in the 12 district, two decades-long colleagues–Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney–are facing off against each other and a younger rival, Suraj Patel. A recent poll puts Nadler and Maloney neck-in-neck, with Patel not far behind. (New York Post)
  • Tune in Wednesday night for a live NY-12 debate. (Gothamist)

The primary is on August 23rd.

Today in New York City:

• Hurricane Preparedness Webinar (11 a.m.)
• On Site Hiring Event!! Come meet The Jewish Board and explore opportunities (2 p.m.)
• National Night Out with the NYPD (4 p.m.)
• Parker’s at Thompson Central Park Live Summer Jazz Nights (6 p.m.)
• Comedy & Cocktails at the Canary Club (7 p.m.)
• Nate Smith + Kinfolk at Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m.)

Crime and safety corner:

• A thief on a bike stole the phones of five women during a crime spree over the course of two days in June and July. Police are searching for the suspect. (New York City Patch)
• Three people were hurt when a transformer exploded in a tennis stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park on Monday. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• The Jamaican Jerk Festival took place Sunday in Queens! (Mayor Eric Adams via Instagram)
• On the Upper West Side, people on the street are questioning the upkeep by Zabar's of graffiti made by Banksy. (westsiderag.com)
• The first double HIV-Positive heart transplant was carried out for a woman in her 60s at a hospital in The Bronx. It was made possible by the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act passed in 2013. (New York City Patch)
• If you've ever wanted to eat cat food at a fancy Italian restaurant in the West Village, now is your chance. (New York City Patch)
• Queens residents are protesting to stop the proposed construction of a soccer stadium next to Citi Field, calling instead for affordable housing. (QNS)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Dashiell Allen

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