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Is Penn Station Scary? NYC Weighs In | Daily Digest

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Oh no, people were sitting in a train station.

In a city witnessing daily record-breaking spikes in COVID-19 cases, one candidate for governor proclaimed this week that what scared him was Penn Station. New Yorkers, predictably, had opinions about his assessment of the transit hub. "'Scary' is just shorthand for 'I can see homeless people,'" one New Yorker quipped. Added another recent Penn Station visitor, "IT WAS FINE." Is Penn Station 'Scary'? One Top Candidate For Governor Thinks So

Bill de Blasio bid farewell Thursday to New York with his last press briefing as its mayor. True to a tradition of his administration, he appeared about 40 minutes late. Asked how he felt about his record as Hizzoner, de Blasio said, basically, IT WAS FINE. De Blasio Says Buh-Bye To New York City

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What appears to be much less than fine is the situation in city jails, where the omicron surge has exacerbated an already serious problem with absenteeism among correction officers. According to union chief Benny Boscio, about 30 percent of the workforce called in sick Wednesday. Rikers Staff Shortages Spike To New Highs As COVID Spreads: Union

First, today's weather:

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Fog in the a.m.; cloudy, mild. High: 54 Low: 49.

Here are the top stories today in New York City:

  1. NYC Sees 43K New COVID-19 Cases In Single Day, Governor Says (New York City Patch)
  2. 75-Year-Old Man Sucker-Punched In Head At UWS Bank: NYPD (Upper West Side Patch)
  3. Westminster Kennel Club Postpones Annual Dog Show In NYC Due To COVID-19 Pandemic (CBS New York)
  4. Park Slope Restaurant 'Demoralized' After 4 Burglaries, Vandalism (Park Slope Patch)

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Today in New York City:

  • Last Chance for End of Year Giving for Trees in Fort Tryon Park (12:00 AM)
  • Watermark’s Winter Wonderland NYE Livestream (1:00 PM)
  • Free Improv Comedy Workshop For Beginners (4:00 PM)
  • NYE Dinner Celebration (5:00 PM)
  • Ophelia’s Early Evening Sunset Soirée + Late Night NYE Bash (5:00 PM)
  • Celebrate New Year’s Eve New Orleans-Style at INTERSECT BY LEXUS (5:00 PM)
  • Free New Year's Eve Guided Meditation with Yasuko Kasaki (6:30 PM)
  • Frames Bowling Lounge Times Square New Years Eve (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • New York City Fire Department (FDNY): "FDNY members, family, and friends gather for the funeral of Lieutenant Joseph Maiello." (Facebook)
  • NYC Parks: "Ring in 2022 in the great outdoors with a winter hike! Our Urban Park Rangers are hosting super hikes in each borough on New Year's Day. Visit nyc.gov/parks to join us, or to explore NYC's trail system on your own. (📸: @daniel.avila)" (Instagram)
  • Mayor Bill de Blasio: "Keeping our private sector vax mandate is THE right call, Mayor-elect Eric Adams. As Commissioner Chokshi put it, this is about protecting the best workforce in the world. Mandates work and vaccines work. Let’s keep going." (Facebook)
  • New-York Historical Society: "What draws you into this scene? ⁣ ⁣ Did you notice the color palette and reflections of light on the rain-slicked street? Or did you spot the double domes of the Ansonia Hotel? ⁣ ⁣ "Of all my Manhattan residences, the Ansonia is the clos..." (Facebook)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Central Harlem (W136-Lenox): "Today, on Ujamaa the 4th principal of Kwanzaa, I was sworn into office in front of a painting of me and my late father, on my great grandmother’s bible, held by my mother in her home in central Harlem. - I am all of my ancestors wildest ..." (Nextdoor)

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    • Mister East NJ New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)
    • Casa 51 NYC 5 Hour Openbar & Buffet NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • Stitch NYC New Year's Eve Singles Openbar Party 2022 (December 31)
    • Playwright Bar & Lounge 40s & Over New Years Eve Party 2022 (December 31)
    • Ravel Penthouse 808 New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • Harbor NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
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    • New Years Eve at Doha Bar Lounge in Queens, NYC (December 31)
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    • Libertador NYC New Year's Eve NYE Party 2022 (December 31)
    • The Harrison Time Square NYC New Years Eve Party 2022 (December 31)
    • Big City Tavern formerly Roxy Diner Time Square NYC New Years Eve Party 2022 (December 31)
    • Brooklyn Billiards NYE 3 Hour Openbar, Food & Pool 2022 (December 31)
    • The Billiard Company New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)
    • Doha Nightclub New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • Doha Nightclub New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • Blue Midtown NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • The Late Late NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • Elite Williamsburg NYC New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • The Beach House LI Long Beach New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)
    • Rosewood Theater New Years Eve NYE 2022 (December 31)
    • Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)
    • Don Miguelo live at El Ambiente NY New Years Eve 2022 (December 31)
    • The Williamsburg Hotel New Years Day Saturday party 2022 (January 1)
    • Success Academy Presents, How to Get into Kindergarten with Alina Adams (January 6)
    • New Year Real Estate Night Class (January 10)
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    Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you tomorrow morning for another update.

    — Kathleen Culliton

    About me: Kathleen Culliton is the managing editor of the New York City Patch. Most of her selfies are accidental.

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