🌱 NYC Mayor Adams Defends Robot Dog + Facebook Layoffs

Good morning, New York City! Today you'll find news about:

• Mayor Eric Adams defends NYC's robot dog.
• Facebook announces more New York City layoffs.
• Half of New Yorkers can't afford their "financial needs," a new study finds.

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Now, today's weather: A shower in the afternoon. High: 60 Low: 48.

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

1. New York City's $75,000 robotic dog is a good boy, according to Mayor Eric Adams, who defended the use of the mechanical canine in a press conference on Monday. It was recently used by the fire department to probe the damage caused by a parking lot collapse in Lower Manhattan. Some New Yorkers still have their doubts. (New York City Patch)
2. Facebook's parents company Meta is laying off 343 employees across three Manhattan offices. That's following an even larger round of layoffs in November. Back in 2020 the tech company had signed an office lease near Penn Station that would have brought its NYC workforce up to 10,000 but has since scaled back on those plans. (New York City Patch)
3. Corrections officers continue to use excessive force at New York City jails, a monitor's status report on Rikers Island finds. Serious injuries at the jail facility have tripled since 2016, according to the report. Advocates from the Legal Aid Society would like a receiver to oversee the city's jails. (Queens Patch)
4. Fifty percent of New York City households don't earn enough to meet their basic everyday needs, including rent, food and transportation, a new report finds. That's up from just 36 percent in 2021. Meanwhile, the "necessary hourly wage for a single adult" in the city is more than $20 across all five boroughs. (Gothamist)
5. Delays to New York State's budget mean an anticipated 5.5 percent increase to NYC public transit fares likely won't take place until July or August, instead of June as previously expected, according to the MTA. The raise would bring the price of a subway or bus ride to $2.90 from its current $2.75. (New York Daily News)

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.

Today in New York City:

• Kindergarten Admissions Virtual Workshop (1 p.m.)
• The Serenade by Najah Lewis — Moxy NYC Chelsea (6:30 p.m.)
• Ambush Comedy — Two Boots Williamsburg (7:30 p.m.)
• Speed Dating @ Radegast | 20s & 30s | Brooklyn, NYC (7:30 p.m.)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night at The Pressroom @Alamo Drafthouse 28 Liberty (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Want to impress your neighbors with a spring or summer block party? The first step is getting the right permits. Here's how you do it. (THE CITY)
• Some recently arrived asylum seekers in New York City are struggling to find pro bono lawyers to help them file for asylum before their one-year deadline. (Documented)
• An exciting upcoming event: you can try out riding an NYC vintage bus in Brooklyn Bridge Park on June 10. (NBC New York)
• Regina Spektor, Michal Franti & Spearhead, Jimmy Eat World, Café Tacvba and more are some of the performers you can see this summer in NYC parks at SummerStage 2023 — the full concert schedule is out now. (New York City Patch)

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• White Collar Week: Margaret Love, Former U.S. Pardon Attorney (May 2)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Dashiell Allen

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