🌱 NYC Families Still Displaced From Ida + Judge Questions New Gun Laws

Happy Friday, New York City!

• Thursday marked Hurricane Ida's one-year anniversary, and many families are still feeling its damages.
• NYC's new gun laws are still in effect, despite a judge indicating they could be unconstitutional.
• New York City's workforce is unionizing at a fast pace, per a new study.

First, today's weather:

Sunshine and pleasant. High: 79 Low: 66.

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

1. Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida, which dumped a record-breaking 3.15 inches of rain on New York City in a single hour, killing 11 people. Both Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams marked the occasion by making speeches committing to prepare for climate change-induced weather events, by fixing sewer systems and building rain gardens, among other measures. (New York City Patch) As THE CITY reports, however, 109 NYC families that were displaced during the storm are still living in hotels a year later. (THE CITY)
2. A New York State judge indicated on Thursday that NYC's newly enacted gun laws are unconstitutional. He still let them go into effect, throwing out on technical grounds a lawsuit aimed at blocking them. The laws include more stringent background checks and the creation of gun-free zones in sensitive areas like Times Square. More lawsuits may be on their way. (Gothamist)
3. New York City is a union town, according to a recent report from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies which found that New Yorkers are joining unions at twice the rate of any other major US city. Of the roughly 17,000 that have joined unions since the start of 2021, nearly half are Amazon workers on Staten Island, the study found. (THE CITY)
4. Manhattan is the only NYC borough not experiencing "severe drought conditions," and things have only gotten worse since last week. A drought, which is affecting a large swath of the Northeast, is already leading to mandatory water use restrictions in Rockland County, Upstate New York. In New Jersey, crops are struggling to survive. (NBC New York)
5. Seventy-one percent of New York City voters would support a ban on horse-drawn carriages in Central Park, according to a study revealed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Voters For Animal. The study comes after a horse named Ryder collapsed on city streets last month, contributing to a renewed push in the City Council to put an end to the practice. (AMNY)

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.

Today in New York City:

• Watch the US Open at Hudson Yards (noon - 7 p.m.)
• The MoMA Hosts UNIQLO NYC Night (4 p.m.)
• Free Friday at The Intrepid Museum (5 p.m.)
• Date night at The Met (5 p.m.)

Crime and safety corner:

• Body camera footage released on Thursday shows a police officer punching a 19-year-old woman on a Harlem street earlier this week. (New York City Patch)
• What appear to be the remains of two human baby legs were found in a Bronx sewage plant this week. Their origin has yet to be determined. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• Volunteers are planning to pack close to one million meals for NYC families in observance of 9/11. They will benefit City Harvest and the Food Bank of New York City. (AMNY)
• Whoops! A shipment full of live lizards arrived at the wrong address in Port Chester, New York. (New York Post)
• If you're hoping to enjoy just a few more days of summer, here's Patch's guide to some of the best events going on in the next couple of weeks-the Queens Underground Film Festival, fireworks at Coney Island's Luna Park, and more! (New York City Patch)
• "Celebrities and tomatoes" regularly mingle at this Tribeca farmer's market that's only open on Tuesdays. (The New York Times)

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Events:

• NYC Labor Day Weekend Kickoff Jewel Yacht Party Booze Cruise Skyport Marina (September 2)
• Labor Day Weekend Latin Vibes NYC Cabana Yacht Party Cruise 2022 (September 3)
• Take Me Back to Manhattan (September 3)
• NYC Hip Hop vs. Reggae® Labor Day Weekend Kickoff Jewel Yacht party 2022 (September 3)
• Sunset Sunday LDW Edm Techno House NYC Crowd Control Cabana Yacht Party (September 4)
• Preschool Admissions Virtual Workshop (September 6)
• Exhibition Opening: Elias Wessel - It’s Complicated, Is Possibly Art (September 7)
• Deconstructing the Best High School Admissions Essay (September 7)
• Mid-Century Modern Design | Online Auction (September 8)
• Masha Gessen, Alexander Görlach, Prachi Gupta - "Tipping Points - Ever More Divided?” (September 8)
• Kindergarten Admissions Virtual Workshop (September 8)
• Improve Your Posture with an HSS Physical Therapist & Protect Yourself from Health Misinformation! (September 13)
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Announcements:

• HOLD THE DATE! Children's Book Reading/Signing by Author! (Details)
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Gigs & services:

• New York Dispensary License Process - Priority Applicants Start First (Details)
• Live Music for your Special Event! (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Dashiell Allen

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