🌱 NYC Food Price Spike + Yankees, Mets Top Contenders For World Series

Good morning New York City! Rockaway's beaches were closed due to shark sightings again this weekend, New Yorkers are struggling to pay for food as prices rise with inflation, and–in the spirit of hometown pride–both the Yankees and Mets are top contenders for the World Series this year.

First, today's weather:

A severe afternoon t-storm. High: 90 Low: 72.

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

1. While New York State prepares to issue licenses for the sale of recreational cannabis, a group of advocates, including the mothers of Eric Garner and Sean Bell, are calling on the government to open the existing medical marijuana market to Black and brown communities with a focus on equity. Last week they sent a letter to the Cannabis Control Board. (New York Daily News)
2. Approximately 200 Parks Department cleanup workers almost lost their job, despite a deal made during the NYC budget process which was supposed to guarantee all parks positions would be maintained. City Hall, according to sources, did not initially communicate the details of the agreement with the agency. (AMNY)
3. NYC food prices increased over 9 percent in the past twelve months – the biggest increase in 40 years. That's putting a strain on middle and working class New Yorkers, as well as the community nonprofits that support them, which in some cases are needing to cut back on services. (Gothamist)
4. Rockaway Beach was once again closed for swimming on Saturday after sharks were sighted in nearby waters. Just Wednesday, a 16-year-old surfer on Long Island was bitten by a shark. Experts sight cleaner and warmer waters as the reason the sharks are coming closer to the shore. (ABC 7 NY)
5. Both of NYC's hometown baseball teams, Yankees and Mets, are considered top contenders to win this year's World Series. The Yankees are in first place, after winning against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. (AMNY)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at Wollman Rink (10 a.m.)
• FREE Bona Ice Cream at Moxy Times Square (4 p.m.)
• Zumba with Dodge YMCA in Brooklyn Bridge Park (6 p.m.)
• Fitness class in Hudson River Park (6:30 p.m.)
• Iman Hariri-Kia + Jessica C. Andrews : A Hundred Other Girls at The Strand Bookstore (7 p.m.)

Crime and safety corner:

• Police are searching for two suspects who they believe carried out a total of 15 robberies while riding on scooters in Upper Manhattan and The Bronx last month. (WABC-TV)
• A 69-year-old man from Harlem with Alzheimer's has been missing for over two days. He was last seen in Lower Manhattan. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• Hot dog fans are flocking to the Upper East Side location of Papaya King, which will soon be closing as Patch previously reported. (Gothamist)
• NYC plans to offer student debt relief to behavioral health professionals in the city hospital network. (SILive.com)
• Dance lovers rejoice. The Alvin Ailey dance company is putting on a series of events across the five boroughs now through August 1 called Ailey Moves NYC! (New York City Patch)
• Central Park's Lasker Rink – formerly both a swimming pool and ice skating rink – towards the north has been closed since the pandemic, and it's not coming back for a while. It's being rebuilt as the new Harlem Meer Center. Here's a (journalistic) portrait of the New Yorkers that used to frequent the park for lap swimming, who referred to themselves as "the penguins." (Hell Gate)

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• FREE Citi Bike Tour Upper Manhattan, Bronx and Randall's Island! (August 20)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you 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