🌱 NYE Midtown Machete Attack + A New York City "Doom Loop"?

Good morning, New York City! Happy New Year! 🎉 I'm back with the latest news from across the city.

• A teenager stands accused of an attack on three police officers in Midtown on New Year's Eve.
• Could NYC's business districts be falling into a "doom loop"?
• Commercial wind farming comes to Long Island–and eventually to benefit New York City.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy; brief p.m. showers. High: 64 Low: 49.

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

1. The teenager from Maine accused of a machete attack on three NYPD officers in Midtown on the night of New Year's Eve is believed to have possibly been motivated by Islamic extremism, according to a report from ABC News. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said the Department is coordinating with the FBI. (New York City Patch)
2. Citing the still lagging pandemic recovery of Manhattan's business districts, some academics have characterized New York City as having the potential to all into an "urban doom loop," in which falling tax revenue leads to spending cuts, which then exacerbate each other. (Gothamist)
3. A viral video showing NYPD officers appearing to escort members of the Proud Boys into a Jackson Heights, Queens subway station without paying their fare has drawn backlash from some lawmakers, who have pointed out the police department's often strict enforcement of fare evasion. The NYPD said in a statement they were attempting to diffuse a tense situation following a protest outside a Drag Queen Story Hour protest. (New York City Patch)
4. Off the coast of Long Island, New York's first wind farm is about to go online, with the capacity to power up to 70,000 homes. It's the second offshore commercial wind farm in the United States. In the coming years, additional wind projects are expected to bring power directly to New York City's power grid. (THE CITY)
5. The man accused of a subway mass shooting last Spring pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges Tuesday, the Associated Press first reported. Prosecutors have signaled they plan to push for a long prison sentence. (New York City Patch)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City:

• The Public Theater's Under The Radar Festival (throughout the day)
• Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars - Blue Note Jazz Club (8 p.m.)
• Laughing Buddha Open Mic Spectacular - EastVille Comedy Club (9:45 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• New York City's "polar bears" took their annual plunge into Coney Island's waters with temperatures in the 50s on Sunday. (Spectrum New York 1)
• NYC Uber drivers are planning a second strike this Thursday, to protest the company's opposition of a raise that was set to go into effect. (Pix 11 New York)
• An Astoria-based carpentry group founded during the COVID-19 pandemic is seeking to set up a permanent shop. They've built everything from retail shelving to Little Free Libraries to a beehive enclosure. (New York City Patch)
• New Years in The Big Apple is famous for the Times Square Ball Drop–but a little less well-known is the 300-worker-strong sanitation cleanup operation that follows it. (Gothamist)
• The FDNY rescued a construction worker from a 15-foot-deep hole at a Manhattan site on Tuesday, in one of the first major workplace injuries this year. (AMNY)

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Events:

• Cooking Class “French Bistro“ (January 6)
• Join P.S.150 on January 8, 2023 for our very first Lunar New Year Celebration! (January 8)
• La Boutique Fantasque (January 8)
• Bach Vespers Presents J.S. Bach’s Cantata “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” (January 8)
• Lenihan & Weiner Comedy of the Yearier (January 9)
• White Collar Week: Elizabeth Kelley Criminal Defense for People w Mental Health Disabilities (January 10)
• Overcoming Burnout/Compassion Fatigue: A Workshop for Caregivers (January 14)
• Introduction to Judaism (January 18)
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Gigs & services:

• Tara's School for Dogs - Training for Puppies & Adult Dogs (Details)
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Housing:

• Top Senior Housing and Assisted Living in New York and Florida (Details)
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You're all caught up 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