The Thorn

Local News:

The City Planning Commission voted 11-1 in favor of the Industry City rezoning in Sunset Park. Industry City executives now plan to present their case to the City Council in the final phase of the approval process. Incoming Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes (District 51, Sunset Park) penned an op-ed opposing the plan.
The NYPD has been withholding crucial evidence and undermining investigations of alleged abuse.
Governor Cuomo has delayed New York’s Coastal Resilience Bill until 2021. The decision has been criticized by legislators and activists who fear delayed action could increase costs in the long run.
There are 14,500 pending eviction warrants, and an additional 200,000 pending cases, all from before the onset of the pandemic, set to resume when the eviction moratorium ends in October. In addition, it is estimated that more than 1/4 of the City’s renters were unable to pay rent between April and June due to the shutdown.
The City has introduced a landlord-tenant mediation process to deal with tenants who have fallen behind on their rent during the coronavirus.
Commercial evictions will be delayed until at least September 4th, according to a ruling by an Administrative Judge.
There is an uptick in garbage on city streets after the sanitation department budget was cut.
New York State has reported over two straight weeks of COVID-19 positivity rates under 1%.
The MTA plans to begin charging for bus rides again starting on August 31.

Governor Cuomo signed a bill allowing any New Yorker to get an absentee ballot for November.
Kathryn Garcia, the city’s Department of Sanitation Commissioner, is considering a run for mayor.
All nine candidates currently running for Manhattan DA next year attended a forum together for the first time.