🌱 NYC Sanitation Reforms + Draw Your Own City Council District

Good morning New York City, and happy Friday! It's your turn to have a say in who represents you for the next ten years, thanks to a new interactive tool that allows New Yorkers to design their own City Council districts. In other news, US Veep Kamala Harris was in Brooklyn yesterday for a big announcement, and the Department of Sanitation is trying to keep trash bags on the streets for shorter periods of time.

First, today's weather:

Humid with variable clouds. High: 87 Low: 72.

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

1. The Department of Sanitation is considering rolling back the hours permitted to leave trash in bags out on the street from 4 to 8 p.m. Did you know that 4 p.m., aside from being the start of rush hour, is the earliest garbage drop off time in the United States? (New York City Patch)
2. The New York City Districting Commission launched Thursday an online tool that allows New Yorkers to create their own City Council districts, which can be submitted as testimony. The Commission released initial redistricting maps earlier in July. (AMNY)
   • Two of the redrawn districts in the Upper East Side and Astoria have caused controversy, with residents charging they divide up established communities. (New York City Patch)
3. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Bed-Stuy on Thursday to announce a multi-billion-dollar initiative, the Economic Opportunity Coalition, which will financially invest in underserved communities. "We all do better as a nation when all our communities do better. Today we have gathered in a neighborhood that is living proof of the power of this approach," she said. (New York City Patch)
4. UPS workers in Queens are protesting against their working conditions, which they say are putting them in the hospital. They say the delivery company hasn't installed fans in their trucks, which made working conditions practically unlivable during NYC's recent heat wave. (News 12 Bronx)
5. Newly released and updated flood maps show where New York City is most at risk from rising sea levels and coastal storms like Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The new data highlights the heightened risk for NYCHA public housing developments. (Gothamist)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• The Puppet Cycle: Small World Stories at Manhattan West (3 p.m.)
• Healthy on the Hudson x lululemon: Relaxation Fridays (6:30 p.m.)
• Josiah Haken + Laura Ravo: Neighbors with No Doors (7 p.m.)
• MoMA PS1 Presents: No gods only flowers (7 p.m.)
• "Taken by Artificial Surprise" – Magic meets machine learning (7:30 p.m.)

Crime and safety corner:

• A man traveling out of the New York City area from Newark Airport was busted by authorities for attempting to smuggle out pieces of guns. (Gothamist)
• A dramatic fire broke out on the roof of an Astoria apartment building, injuring two people. (New York City Patch)
• A man is wanted for a series of butt-grabbing incidents that took place in Washington Square Park on Wednesday and Thursday last week. (New York City Patch)

From my notebook:

• CVS is being sued by New York State for violating antitrust laws, "diverting millions of dollars away from healthcare providers in low-income communities," according to Attorney General Letitia James. (New York City Patch)
• Inflation is the culprit for a steep price increase in bacon and egg and cheese sandwiches, an NYC staple that's now going for over $4–up from just $2.50. (Associated Press)
• Comfort Zone Camp, a nonprofit summer program in NYC could bring solace to the thousands of children that have lost loved once due to COVID-19. (THE CITY)
• A huge affordable housing apartment tower in Long Island City with over 400 units has an open lottery, with some apartments going for as little as under $4oo. (New York City Patch)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Dashiell Allen

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