🌱 NY Dem. Senators Reject Hochul's Judge Pick + Public Nurses Rally

Good morning, New York City!

A quick programming note: I will be taking time off the rest of this week, and will be back in your inbox with the latest news on Tuesday.

• ⚖️ A state senate committee votes against the governor's pick for top NY judge.
• 🐶 George Santos allegedly took $3,000 intended for a veteran's dog in 2016.
• 🏥 Public-sector nurses are rallying for a better contract right after their private counterparts ended a strike.

But first, today's weather:

Periods of rain. High: 43 Low: 40.

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

1. Fifty people and companies stand accused of a massive $5 million construction bribery scheme, according to a new 83-count indictment filed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. According to Bragg, subcontractors inflated bids to bilk developers, stealing millions. (New York City Patch)
2. Democratic lawmakers in a state senate committee voted overwhelmingly against Gov. Kathy Hochul's pick for chief judge of New York's highest court. Hochul believes her nominee, Hector LaSalle, should be voted on by the full senate, although it looks like the only chance he has to be accepted is with the support of Republicans. Some Democrats have expressed concerns with LaSalle's record which they consider conservative. (THE CITY)
3. Newly elected Congressman George Santos allegedly took $3,000 intended for a veteran's dog's life-saving surgery, after setting up a GoFundMe that he didn't distribute funds from. Santos appears to have used the name Anthony Devolder at the time. (New York City Patch)
   • In other Santos news, his mother appears to have not been present at the Twin Towers on 9/11 according to immigration records, contradicting claims he had made. (Subscription/The New York Times)
4. On the heel of private-sector nurses winning a new contract after a three-day strike, nurses from NYC's public hospitals want the same benefits, such as better staffing ratios. Nurses at Lincoln Hospital in The Bronx described caring for up to more than a dozen patients at a time–compared to the industry standard of two to three. (THE CITY)
5. A watchdog agency in charge of monitoring the Department of Corrections at Rikers Island will no longer have unfettered access to all camera footage inside the city's jail complex, the department announced — effectively limiting its ability to share videos with elected officials and the media. (Gothamist)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• Orient in Song — Bohemian National Hall (9 a.m.)
• The MoMA Presents — Black Power Naps: La Biblioteca Is Open (10:30 a.m.)
• NYC High School and Middle School Admissions Workshop — Parents League (1 p.m.)
• Salsa Thursdays at Time Out Market New York (6 p.m.)
• Author A.J. Jacobs in Conversation with Freakonomics’ Stephen J. Dubner (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• In Washington Heights, a burger, hot dog and chicken sandwich food truck just launched after being a hit on the streets over the past three years. (New York City Patch)
• Shake Shack is planning to open a new location in Bed-Stuy, sparking concerns from local residents about gentrification. (New York City Patch)
• A group protesting Drag Queen Story Hour in libraries vandalized the outside of a Jackson Heights, Queens Councilman's house, according to Council Member Shekar Krishnan. (Queens Post)
• A Manhattan man allegedly used 3D printers to produce illegal ghost guns out of his mother's apartment, according to police. (New York Daily News)
• Three of New York City's eight brick-and-mortar public health clinics are still closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Mayor Eric Adams' announcement that he would improve access to abortion pills at some locations. The health department said the continued closures were due to staffing shortages. (Gothamist)

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Events:

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• Author A.J. Jacobs in Conversation with Freakonomics’ Stephen J. Dubner (January 19)
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That's it for today! See you all 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