🌱 Most Subway Riders Since Pandemic + Alleged Rent Fraud In Harlem

Good morning, New York City!

• 🚇 Pre-pandemic subway riders and Manhattan office workers are (sort of) back–at least more than they were a few months ago.
• 🏙 The tenants of eleven Harlem buildings can now sue their landlord for alleged rent fraud.
• 📈 The New York Department of Health has ended its COVID-19 online schools tracker.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the New York City Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

First, today's weather:

Sun and areas of high clouds. High: 78 Low: 66.

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

1. NYC subways were more crowded Wednesday than they've been since the start of the pandemic, with 3.7 million riders – but there are still fewer people than pre-COVID. That didn't stop MTA officials from triumphantly declaring the number a "Ridership SURGE." (New York City Patch) Meanwhile, 49 percent of Manhattan office workers are in the office on any given weekday, a recent survey found. That's up from 38 percent in April. (New York City Patch)
2. The tenants of eleven buildings with rent-stabilized units can sue their landlord for illegally raising their rent, a judge has ruled in a long-pending case that's gone on since before 2018. The tenants allege that the landlord raised their rents under the guise of performing renovations which didn't actually take place. (New York City Patch)
3. The New York State Department of Health has taken its tracker of COVID-19 cases in schools offline, leaving parents and teachers without information on cases, hospitalizations or fatalities. Health experts say another COVID wave is possible this fall. (Gothamist)
4. Across Queens and Brooklyn different communities of color are hoping to be better represented when City Council districts are redrawn this fall during redistricting. In Southeast Queens, a growing South Asian community hopes to be represented by a single district–but that could also split already established majority-Black districts. (THE CITY)
5. General Electric will pay for an investigation into the contamination of PCBs –polychlorinated biphenyls – and other toxins in the lower Hudson River, stretching down to New York City. From the 1940s to 70s the company dumped over one million tons of PCBs, an "oily fire retardant and insulator," into the river in Upstate New York. According to EPA reports, remediation work may still need to be completed. (Poughkeepsie Journal)

New York City pic of the day:

Remember to submit a photo from your neighborhood to newyorkcity@patch.com for a chance to be featured! We love skylines, bodega cats, coffee shops, streetscapes, parks and everything else that makes this city great. Please include your full name and an optional description.

This weekend in New York City:

• SATURDAY: 3rd Annual BAGELFEST - Downtown Brooklyn (9:30 a.m.)
• SATURDAY: Rockefeller Center and Rough Trade Present Indieplaza: A Two-Day Celebration of Independent Music (11 a.m.)
• SATURDAY: Randall's Island children's book festival (noon)
• SUNDAY: German-American Steuben Parade on Fifth Avenue (9 a.m.)
• SUNDAY: 2022 African American Day Parade Returns To Harlem (11 a.m.)

Ongoing through September 25: Little Italy's San Gennaro Festival

Crime and safety corner:

• In recent weeks a group of men have been stealing necklaces from at least six women in Western Queens, police say. (New York City Patch)
• A Manhattan man has pleaded guilty for a 2019 murder and could spend at least 18 years in jail. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• Friends and family will gather this weekend to mourn the death of a young Queens firefighter who passed away from cancer on the anniversary of 9/11. (New York City Patch)
• Residents of Jacob Riis Houses on the Lower East Side – where city officials recently believed there was arsenic in the water – are still dealing with the emotional toll of the stress and fear the scare caused, even though the city says the water is safe to drink again. (City Limits)
• A $35 million investment will connect the Queens neighborhoods of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Glendale, Woodhaven and Ozone Park through a massive greenway, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Friday. (QNS)
• You might have noticed some haze in the sky on Friday morning caused by wildfires burning on the West Coast. (NBC New York)
• 'The Phantom of the Opera,' the longest-running show on Broadway, will be closing in February 2023 after a 35-year run. (NPR)

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Events:

• New Comedy Club on East 117th (September 17)
• The NYC Concours Launches Madison Avenue Men's Style Month: 30 fashion brands; 30 classic cars (September 17)
• Giant 2-Day Used Book Sale to Support Revolution Books (September 17)
• NYC Saturday Midnight Cruise Jewel Yacht Hip Hop vs Reggae® 2022 (September 17)
• The Big Truth: Upholding Democracy in the Age of “The Big Lie” (September 18)
• 2022 Middle School & High School Virtual Fair, Sept. 19-23 (September 19)
• How To Invest: David M. Rubenstein in Conversation with Ray Dalio (September 19)
• FREE Theatre [Untitled] Reading Series - Unfinished by James Powers (September 19)
• Up2Us2022: Strategies and Solutions to Save the Coolest Planet in the Universe (September 19)
• Imagine Dragons: A Conversation and Acoustic Performance (September 20)
• Organic Cold Process Soap Making Class - New York City (September 21)
• Match-Making Yappy Hour (September 21)
• Netflix’s A Jazzman’s Blues: Advance Screening and Tyler Perry in Conversation with Alison Stewart (September 21)
• Every Voice Choirs: Fall After-School Singing Programs (September 22)
• Real Estate Investment Opportunity - Log Home on 30+ Acres in Susquehanna County, PA (September 22)
• Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Fun & Games Festival (September 23)
• Jewel Yacht Dance under the Moonlight NYC Midnight Yacht Friday Party 2022 (September 23)
• "Murdered By The Mob" Dinner Theater Show / Party (September 24)
• Unlock Your Hidden Super Power! (September 25)
• 3-Day Fine Arts Event | September 27, 28 & 29 | Online Auctions (September 27)
• Michael K. Williams: A Night of Celebration (September 27)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Behind The Scoreboard – Overcoming Challenges To Achieve Success, Happiness (Details)
• Add your announcement

Gigs & services:

• Would You Like To Own A Marijuana Dispensary! Be One of the First to Apply! (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Dashiell Allen

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