🌱 Netflix Tax Could Stop Subway Fare Hike + NYC Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Good morning, New York City!

• Could a Netflix streaming tax keep subway fares down?
• More homeless outreach is coming to Midtown.
• The cherry blossoms are blooming — and Patch has all the details. 🌸

But first, today's weather: Cooler with periods of rain. High: 47 Low: 45.

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

1. State lawmakers are considering raising a tax on streaming services like Netflix in New York's upcoming budget, as an alternative to increasing NYC subway and bus fares to $3. The tax would go towards the roughly $1 billion the cash-strapped MTA says it needs. (New York City Patch)
2. Two Manhattan City Council members are pledging a total of $200,000 towards homeless outreach, with a focus on Midtown. The funds will support the Community First Initiative, founded by the Times Square Alliance, and expand its coverage area to include more of Central Manhattan. (Midtown-Hell's Kitchen Patch)
3. Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg received a letter in the mail on Friday that contained a mysterious white powder, which authorities later determined was not a dangerous substance, according to reports. Also on Friday, Donald Trump wrote in a social media post that there would be "death and destruction" if he were to be indicted by a grand jury. (AMNY)
4. New York City's Hart Island, where more than one million bodies are buried, is set to open to the public through guided tours in the coming months. The city transferred it from the jails system to the Parks Department in 2021. (Subscription/The New York Times)
5. The cherry blossoms along Central Park's west side are already at peak bloom, in what's turning out to be an early season, experts say. They're called Okame cherries, and tend to bloom earlier than other varieties. Read on for information on cherry blossom trackers and more. (New York City Patch)

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.

From our sponsor:

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This weekend in New York City:

• Saturday & Sunday — Affordable Art Show: Metropolitan Pavilion, Lower Manhattan (all day)
• Saturday — Colon Cancer Challenge 5k Run/Walk & 1 Mile Walk: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens (10 a.m.)
• Saturday — 2023 Bayside Saint Patrick's Day Parade: Bayside, Queens (1 p.m.)
• Sunday — Macy's Flower Show: Herald Square, Manhattan (all day)
• Sunday — Billy Joel Concert: Madison Square Garden (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• New Yorkers might not have been big fans of the city's "We Heart NYC" campaign — so what would they think if a whole bunch of other iconic logos were suddenly changed? (City & State)
• The city is giving out free Iftar meals for Muslim New Yorkers during Ramadan this year, starting on Friday. (Gothamist)
• Some parents and students are protesting the proposed move of their school from the Upper West Side to East Harlem. West Side High School is a transfer school, specifically tailored to students that have either dropped out or fallen behind in classes. (AMNY)
• To New Yorkers complaining there's not enough space to play pickleball, the city hears you loud and clear. A massive 14-court pickleball arena is coming to Wollman Rink in Central Park this summer. (Upper West Side Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. See you all on Monday for another update!

— Dashiell Allen

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