🌱 NYC Water Bill Help Program + Rent Guidelines Board Vote Expected

Good morning, New York City!

• You might be eligible to get help paying your water bill.
• Rookie cops are being sent to high-crime precincts, an analysis show.
• An NYC board is voting today on whether to raise the rent.

But first, today's weather: A passing shower or two. High: 57 Low: 43.

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

1. A program to help potentially hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers pay their water bill has been extended until the end of May. The amnesty program will forgive up to 100 percent of interest for customers late on their bills with a balance of more than $1,000. Read on to find out how to participate if you qualify. (New York City Patch)
2. "Live from New York, it's a Saturday night strike!" Thousands of writers from the Writers Guild of America, including for the NBC shows Saturday Night Live, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon might begin a strike today if they don't reach an agreement. (New York City Patch)
3. The greatest amount of rookie NYPD cops have been assigned to the police precincts that saw the highest increase in crime between 2019 and 2022, according to a data analysis. New officers are "especially prone to making false arrests because they may misunderstand the legalities of the situation," according to Felipe Rodriguez, an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. (THE CITY)
4. A settlement announced on Monday will make it easier for millions of New Yorkers with Medicaid to receive dental care, including root canals, crowns and dentures. (Gothamist)
5. New Yorkers calling for an ambulance in an emergency must now pay $1,385, with a per-mile rate of $20. That's a 54 percent increase from the previous price of $900 set by the FDNY, which approved the hike following a hearing in March. The agency said it was due in part to inflation, higher salaries for EMTs, and would lower the amount taxpayers contribute to ambulance rides. (AMNY)

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:

• Book Talk with Rachel Heng — Urban Hawker (6:30 p.m.)
• NYC Book Launch: Jason Reynolds’s MILES MORALES SUSPENDED (7 p.m.)
• Speed Dating Marathon: Meet up to 15 Singles 30-49 in 1 night / Midtown NYC (7 p.m.)
• "How to Embarrass Your Immigrant Parents" — a comedy show (9:30 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• New York health officials are encouraging New Yorkers, especially in the LGBTQ+ community, to get vaccinated against mpox, previously known as monkeypox. They're concerned the virus, which spread last spring and summer, could see a resurgence. (Spectrum News)
• Hundreds of workers gathered in Washington Square Park yesterday to mark May Day. (WABC-TV)
• Also marking May First, home attendants rallied outside of City Hall, calling for an end to 24-hour home care shifts. (AMNY)
• New York City's Rent Guidelines Board is scheduled to vote this evening on potential rent hikes for rent stabilized apartments. (New York City Patch)
• Hell's Kitchen in west Manhattan is set to become New York City's next Chinatown, at least according to a food critic at Eater who toured the neighborhood's food offerings. (Midtown-Hell's Kitchen Patch)

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Featured businesses:

• Chronic Foot Pain Center - Dr. Robert Kornfeld — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• NYC Book Launch: Jason Reynolds’s MILES MORALES SUSPENDED (May 2)
• White Collar Week: Margaret Love, Former U.S. Pardon Attorney (May 2)
• Our Bar: "SMASH" (May 2)
• Legal and Justice Pathways Seminar (May 3)
• Salsa Night at The William Vale | Brooklyn, NYC (May 3)
• We Have Fun: A Free Weekly Comedy Show (May 3)
• Montclair History Center Herb & Heirloom Tomato Sale (May 4)
• Wine Enthusiast’s Sip of South America Tasting Event (May 4)
• The Super Crazy Funtime Show (An interactive comedy game show) (May 5)
• NYC Cinco De Mayo Sombrero Jewel Yacht Party Cruise Skyport Marina 2023 (May 5)
• FLOTUS to Help Celebrate Italian Americans at NOIAW's Annual Awards Luncheon (May 6)
• Bringing Back Branscombe to the Upper West Side (May 6)
• Concert: Bringing Back Branscombe to the Upper West Side (May 6)
• Latin Vibes NYC Cabana Yacht Party Cruise Skyport Marina 2023 (May 6)
• AbracaDRAGra! - The Magic Drag Show : NYC (May 6)
• NYC Hip Hop vs Reggae® Jewel Yacht Party Saturday Night Skyport Marina 2023 (May 6)
• I'll Build a Staircase to Paradise - The Life of Bunny Mellon with Mac Griswold (May 7)
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Featured gigs & services:

• Piano and Cello Lessons (Details)
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Featured job listings:

• Personal Assistant for Older New Yorkers in Manhattan (Details)
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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon!

— Dashiell Allen

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