🌱 NYC To Pay Wrongfully Convicted Man $7M + Last Payphone Removed

Happy Tuesday, New York City! The city's last payphone booth has been decommissioned, drug overdose prevention centers are struggling to find funding, and the city settles with a man wrongfully convicted in 1996. We've also details on this year's June pride festivities.

First, today's weather:

Clouds and sun. High: 70 Low: 55.

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

1. Grant Williams, 51, will receive $7 million from the City of New York for his wrongful conviction in a 1996 killing. Williams was released from prison in 2019 on parole after 23 years behind bars. His record was cleared last year. (Associated Press)
2. Despite receiving millions of dollars in settlements from the federal government to fight the opioid crisis, New York City's newly opened prevention centers are struggling to find funding. That's because the centers, which allow people to use drugs under supervision, are technically illegal under federal law, despite being legal in the city. (Gothamist)
3. It's the end of an era–NYC's last payphone was de-installed from a Midtown street corner on Monday. The city's once iconic pay phones have been almost entirely replaced by LinkNYC WiFi kiosks. The last phone will be on display at the Museum of the City of New York. (New York City Patch)
4. The CDC now believes that New York's one suspected case of monkeypox is indeed positive. The federal agency is monitoring five suspected cases across the country in total. (Gothamist)
5. NYCHA residents and leaders rallied outside the steps of City Hall on Monday in protest against a bill that they fear would lead to the privatization of their homes, by establishing a public housing trust. Separately, Mayor Adams held a rally in support of the state legislation. (amNY)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• City Parks Foundation’s PuppetMobile is out at Gorman Playground in Queens (11 a.m.)
• Garden Party - The 2022 helpNYC Gala (6 p.m.)
• Yoga in the park on Randall's Island (6:30 p.m.)
• Gay Marshall Sings Back on Boogie Street - Songs of Leonard Cohen (7 p.m.)
• Beatles Singalong with Tony Garofalo! (8 p.m.)

Here's a few exciting events on the horizon:

• NYC's annual pride celebrations are fully in-person this year, from June 15-26, with some COVID restrictions. (New York City Patch)
• Adam Jacobs from the musical Aladdin and Kate Rockwell from Mean Girls The Musical are performing at the Restoration Project's Spring Picnic Gala on June 15. (Broadway World)
• From Summer Stage, to Celebrate Brooklyn, to Governors Ball, here's your guide to the best music festivals this Spring and Summer. (Time Out NY)

Crime Corner:

• The MTA and NYPD will be bringing back its 'Train Patrol Force' to patrol the Subways during evenings and overnight hours. (amNY)
• Sunday's Q train shooter was still at large at press time. The police have released images of him and are asking the public for information. Per reports, the shooter allegedly handed his gun over to a homeless individual. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• To "fight against censorship" the NYC Public Library has started a reading challenge with 10 banned books, written by prominent authors including Toni Morrison and George Orwell. (NBC New York)
• Wednesday and Thursday the Department of Education will be hosting a series of information sessions about its planned expansion of Gifted & Talented programming. (SILive.com)
• Do remember Christian Cooper? He's the Central Park birdwatcher who was threatened on camera by Amy Cooper in the summer of 2020. Now he's getting his own show on National Geographic. (New York City Patch)

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Events:

• Adult Softball (May 23)
• Gay Marshall Sings Back on Boogie Street - Songs of Leonard Cohen (May 24)
• Nutrition! Art! Music! Free Workshop for Seniors with Hospital for Special Surgery (May 25)
• Living Our Jewish Values: A Conversation with Rabbi Mosbacher and Ruth Messinger (May 25)
• Justice in Action: The Future of NYC with New York State Attorney General Letitia James (May 26)
• Friday Yacht Party MDW Kickoff Midnight NYC Cruise at Skyport Marina Jewel Yacht (May 27)
• NYC Memorial Day Weekend Latin Vibes Sunset Cabana Yacht Party 2022 (May 28)
• Jewel Yacht MDW Hip Hop vs Reggae Party at Skyport Marina 2022 (May 28)
• Cabana Yacht Memorial Day Saturday Yacht Party at Skyport Marina 2022 (May 28)
• MDW Techno NYC Sunday Sunset Cabana Yacht Party Cruise Skyport Marina 2022 (May 29)
• NYC Memorial Day Sunday Midnight Cabana Yacht Party at Skyport Marina 2022 (May 29)
• Jazz By The Water™ Celebrating Jazz Yesterday and Today™ (June 4)
• Visul Arts and Jazz Day™ — A Free Community Celebration of Visual Arts and Jazz (June 10)
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Announcements:

• Leadership and Civics Camp for Middle and High School Students! (Details)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Dashiell Allen

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