🌱 Uber, Lyft Plan LGA Airport Strike + Alligator In Prospect Park

Good morning, New York City! Happy Mardi Gras!

• Uber and Lyft drivers are planning a LaGuardia Airport strike
• Chronic absenteeism at public schools is at a decades-long high
• Flaco the owl will remain free, the zoo says

But first, today's weather: A little rain in the morning. High: 46 Low: 34.

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

1. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance plans on staging a one-day strike of Uber and Lyft drivers departing from LaGuardia Airport next Sunday, Feb. 26, the organization announced. They're protesting Uber's recently blocking a pay raise for drivers. (Gothamist)
2. Chronic absenteeism in New York City public schools has reached a more-than-two-decades high, with over 350,000 students — or 40.2 percent of all students — being marked as frequently absent last year, according to records. Children with disabilities, who don't have a "stable place to call home," and English-language learners were hit disproportionately harder. (Subscription/New York Daily News)
3. An arsonist burned an LGBTQ+ pride flag in front of a SoHo restaurant early Monday morning, in what is now being investigated as a potential hate crime. A new flag is now flying at the location, courtesy of a council member. (Gothamist)
4. So many lithium-ion batteries were recovered from fires in the city over the past year that the Department of Sanitation has run out of space to safely store them. The batteries had caused a record of 219 fires. (THE CITY)
5. The Central Park Zoo is giving up on trying to lure Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl, back to his previous home, at least for now, stating that "he has been very successful at hunting and consuming the abundant prey in the park." (Associated Press)

New York City pic of the day:

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Today in New York City: it's Mardi Gras and Patch has your day planned out!

• Mardi Gras 2023 at Time Out Market (11 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
• Mardi Gras Party at Wicked Willys (7 p.m.)
• "Brass, Sass & Ass" party in Bushwick (9 p.m.)

In non-Mardi Gras happenings:

• Kids Week at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park (9:30 a.m.)
• Bozoma Saint John: The Urgent Life -— The Strand Bookstore (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Members of Gov. Kathy Hochul's New York City security detail are facing a probe into whether they lied about when they were working, according to law enforcement sources. (New York Post )
• Students from four Bronx schools participated in an emotional poetry slam at Joe's Pub last Thursday. "Poetry is like music to me," said 14-year-old Savanah Lee. (Bronx Times)
• "Godzilla," the alligator was found in Prospect Park on Sunday and described by Parks officials as being in poor condition. It was brought to the Bronx Zoo for rehabilitation. There's actually been quite a few alligators encountered across the city in the past years. (AMNY)
• Mayor Eric Adams extended a less-than-warm welcome to GOP Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, who visited Staten Island on Sunday. (AMNY)
• A series of planned train disruptions along the A, C and E lines will conclude on Feb. 26, as signal upgrade work has a "ripple effect" on multiple other lines. (Gothamist)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Dashiell Allen

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