Good morning and happy Wednesday. We’ve got a damp day ahead of us with rain showers in the morning, afternoon and evening. We’ll top out in the low 40s, so layer up — and keep that umbrella within reach all day.
After more than a decade as the West Side’s state senator, Brad Hoylman-Sigal started January in a very different job: Manhattan Borough President. In his new One Center Street office, he reflects on power, family, bald eagles seen from the Albany train — and how to use his voice. Read more…
Gateway tunnel construction remains paused as workers are laid off and officials urge the Trump administration to release full funding. Report by Jose Martinez via THE CITY. Read more…
What We’ve Been Reading
* Stories marked with a 🎁 are gift links — you can open and read those paywalled articles for free.
A group of nonprofits has filed a lawsuit alleging the removal of the Pride Flag at Stonewall violated federal law. (New York Times 🎁)
Lunar New Year is being celebrated across New York City. (CBS)
Palantir’s deals with NYC public hospitals are being examined. (The Intercept)
Reverend Al Sharpton remembers Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday. (amNY)
Over in London, a ban on neon-lit, noisy pedicabs is looming. (London Centric)
Freeze Frame
Hell’s Kitchen currently has no elected voice at City Hall. With Erik Bottcher’s move to Albany, Council District 3 will remain vacant until the April 28 special election — an unusual two-month gap in representation during an active legislative period. When W42ST reached out to the district office for comment on the City’s outdoor dining proposal, staff told us they were unable to weigh in on legislation while the seat is empty. That leaves neighborhood issues moving forward without the direct input of a locally elected councilmember.
To fill that information gap for readers, we’ve begun asking the candidates running to replace Bottcher to respond to the same questions we would normally put to the sitting member. We’re publishing their answers verbatim — and noting non-responses — so voters can evaluate both their positions and their responsiveness. Four of the five candidates replied to our first question on outdoor dining. You can read their responses at the bottom of our updated story.
Thank you for reading. If you can support our ongoing work to keep Hell’s Kitchen connected, updated and upbeat — please hit the button below.
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