🌱 NYC Life Expectancy Fell 4 Years During COVID-19 + Subway Elevators

Good morning, New York City!

• The average New York City life expectancy fell four years due to the pandemic.
• The MTA is set to install elevators in 95 percent of subway stations.
• Could NYC ban weight and height discrimination in hiring?

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and pleasant. High: 65 Low: 49.

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

1. New Yorkers' life expectancy dropped an average of four years during the pandemic, between 2019 and 2020, according to a city health department study released on Friday. The drop was even larger for Black and Latino New Yorkers, whose life expectancy fell 5.5 and 6 years, respectively. (Gothamist)
2. A judge has approved a settlement that requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to install elevators in 95 percent of subway and Staten Island Railroad stations in the next three decades. Currently just one quarter of nearly 5000 stations have elevators. (THE CITY)
3. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James would like a court to overturn the Congressional districts map drawn by a court-appointed special master last year, and which contributed to Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives during the 2022 midterms. (AMNY)
4. The City Council is considering a bill that would ban discrimination in employment based on weight and height. It has support from a majority of Council Members, although some business leaders have concerns about how it could be enforced. (subscription/The New York Times)
5. A Brooklyn developer and landlord is overcharging tenants while benefiting from a controversial tax break known as 421-a, a lawsuit alleges. According to Housing Rights Initiative, a housing watchdog organization, over 1,500 apartment buildings benefiting from the break aren't following rent stabilization laws. (City Limits)

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. Photos of cherry blossoms or blooming spring flowers are extra appreciated!

Today in New York City:

• Yoga in the Ether at Immersive Art Exhibit, INTER_ (9 a.m.)
• All Star Stand Up Comedy - Broadway Comedy Club (7 p.m.)
• James Francies Residency - Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Take a look at some of New Yorkers' greatest outfits from the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival on Sunday outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral. (AMNY)
• A street renaming in The Bronx honors Angellyh Yambo, a teenager who was killed by a stray bullet one year ago while heading home from school. (New York Daily News)
• On the first home game of the Mets' baseball season, some fans expressed concern with the teams' owner who has plans to redevelop the field's 50-acre parking lot–possibly as a casino. (THE CITY)

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Featured events:

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• MOSA Concerts presents! Armenian Oud Virtuoso Ara Dinkjian w/NY Gypsy All-Stars! (April 16)
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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update!

— Dashiell Allen

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