🌱 NYC To See 'Influx' Of Asylum Seekers: Adams+ Argentina Fans Rejoice

Good morning, New York City!

• Mayor Adams predicts another influx of up to 1,000 asylum seekers per week arriving in the city.
• Families are finding it difficult to visit their loved ones at Rikers Island, with limited in-person days.
• Argentinian fans rejoiced their team's World Cup win from Times Square and Queens.

But first, today's weather:

Windy with plenty of sunshine. High: 40 Low: 29.

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

1. Mayor Eric Adams renewed calls for Washington and state funding to help the city house and support asylum seekers. In a statement he estimated that 1,000 asylum seekers would arrive each week following the anticipated roll back of a federal policy on Wednesday. In his words: "Our shelter system is full, and we are nearly out of money, staff, and space. Truth be told, if corrective measures are not taken soon, we may very well be forced to cut or curtail programs New Yorkers rely on." (AMNY)
2. Argentina fans filled Times Square yesterday afternoon to celebrate their team's World Cup victory over France; the country's first in 36 years. (ABC 7 New York)
   • Fans also gathered in Boca Junior’s Restaurant in Queens. (AMNY)
3. The Adams administration has until Jan. 9 to move approximately 250,000 municipal retirees from their current medicare plan to a medicare advantage plan with a private insurer, an arbitrator has announced. The switch, which was first conceived of in 2018 as a cost-saving measure, has drawn criticism from some retirees and unions. Other advantage plans tend to be accepted by fewer doctors. (Gothamist)
4. It's difficult–and in some cases nearly impossible–for families to visit their loved-ones in person on Rikers Island, with visitations only permitted two days a week and not on the weekends. Family members say they often don't hear back when requesting a visit. Corrections experts say inmate visitation can reduce violence within institutions. (New York Daily News)
5. A group of protestors attempted to shut down a Drag Queen Story Hour event at a Manhattan library on Sunday. They were met with a group of supporters who blocked them, and the NYPL says the event went on as planned. (NBC New York)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• SKYY Vodka Says 'I Do' Pop-Up Wedding Chapel (12 p.m.)
• Free comedy - East Village at Cellar 77 (5:30 p.m.)
• Brooklyn's largest Menorah lighting at Grand Army Plaza (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have capped late fees for tolls on New York bridges and tunnels, saying it would have protected "scofflaws rather than responsible toll payers." (Gothamist)
• An investment banker has been suspended from his job after he allegedly attacked an MTA worker at a Coney Island subway station early Friday morning. (New York Post)
• UFO sightings were up 4 percent in New York City this year, with the greatest amount (13) reported in Manhattan. (New York Post)
• Patch is looking for New York readers to nominate star student athletes to be featured on the website in a partnership with T-Mobile. (New York City Patch)

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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Dashiell Allen

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