🌱 NYC Mayor Addresses Jordan Neely's Death + Santos Pleads Not Guilty

Good morning, New York City!

• Mayor Eric Adams addresses Jordan Neely's death.
• Rep. George Santos pleads not guilty to federal charges.
• Thirty thousand families could be left out of an NYC summer program.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 79 Low: 62.

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

1. Mayor Eric Adams gave a 14-minute address on the death of Jordan Neely, without mentioning the ex-Marine who put him in a fatal chokehold for one minute longer last week, who has yet to face criminal charges. During his speech, Adams did suggest that Neely could have been involuntarily detained and sent to a hospital, a policy he has pushed for in the past. (New York City Patch)
2. Queens and Long Island Congressman George Santos pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of financial fraud, money laundering, and false statements yesterday, after surrendering himself at a federal courthouse, prosecutors said. “The allegations in the indictment charge Santos with relying on repeated dishonesty and deception to ascend to the halls of Congress and enrich himself," said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. (Bayside-Douglaston Patch)
3. Nearly 30,000 NYC families might be shut out of the city's popular summer school and camp program. According to data provided to the City Council, over 139,000 families applied for just 110,000 spots. Students with disabilities, who live in foster care or temporary housing will be given priority in the program, officials said. (New York Daily News)
4. Have you heard of 'The Hole'? It's a neighborhood on the border between Brooklyn and Queens, where residents are frequently hit hard by flooding, due to it lacking in proper drainage systems and being at a low elevation. One resident has black mold in her apartment due to flooding, that's grown into mushrooms. (Gothamist)
5. About 20 percent of Manhattan's offices are now either vacant or owned by companies that are thinking of getting it off their hands, data shows. That's the highest rate since 1990, and office leasing has been slowing in recent months — except for the most expensive spaces, that can go for up to $100 or even $200 per square foot. (THE CITY)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• Art in Focus: Basil Kincaid at Rockefeller Center (9 a.m.)
• The Uptown Night Market — Harlem (4 p.m.)
• Live Music with Jazz at Lincoln Center — Times Square (5 p.m.)
• Tai Chi — Randall's Island Park Alliance (6:30 p.m.)
• "Asian American Film Thing" (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• This weekend, New York City's only bicycle flea market, "NY Bike Jumble," is returning to Park Slope. (Park Slope Patch)
• Meet NYC's first luxury cannabis dispensary opening today — that's also the state's sixth licensed one. (New York City Patch)
• An "ensemble cast of top-ticket names" joined writers striking for a new contract on Wednesday in Hudson Yards, including Lin-Miranda Manuel, Adam Scott and more. (Midtown-Hell's Kitchen Patch)
• A former Bronx City Councilman won't be allowed to run for his old seat, a court has ruled. He was expelled from the Council in 2020 following allegations of "harassment, discrimination and conflicts of interest." (Bronx Times)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Dashiell Allen

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