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September 3, 2014 Rhett Jones

In an example of NYC landlords’ absurd neglect of their own properties, one block in Harlem has had to deal with scaffolding for a decade. The New York Times reports that the structures at Lenox Avenue and 123rd Street in Harlem provide unauthorized shelter for homeless people, “strapping young men” exercising, and alleged drugs deals. While ten […]

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August 18, 2014 Marina Galperina

ANIMAL’s feature Artist’s Notebook asks artists to show us their original “idea sketch” next to a finished artwork or project. This week, artist and comedian Sean Joseph Patrick Carney talks about making Experimental Aioli, seven signature aioli flavors paying tribute to a New York individual or institution of cultural influence including Bill de Blasio, Action Bronson and Matthew Barney for a performance installation […]

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July 16, 2014 Marina Galperina

This morning, commuters at the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn were personally reminded by Bill de Blasio that the new Paid Sick Leave bill goes into effect on July 30th, as the mayor joined a yellow-clad street team to pass out informational flyers to constituents. Observe as New Yorkers reflexively ignore this bearer of good news, regardless […]

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June 23, 2014 Bucky Turco

The 32nd annual Mermaid Parade took place on Saturday. Like in previous years, Coney Island was flooded with festive and scantily clad people dressed as mermaids, sea creatures and other things, including Dante and Chiara de Blasio, who were given the distinction of King Neptune and Queen Mermaid. Not to be outdone by their kids, Mayor Bill de Blasio […]

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June 2, 2014 Andy Cush

Today, City Hall will announce the Task Force on Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System, a new panel that the de Blasio administration hopes will reduce the rate of incarceration among mentally ill people in NYC. The Times has de Blasio’s statement: “For far too long, our city’s jails have acted as de facto mental health facilities,” Mr. de […]

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May 28, 2014 Andy Cush

In 1999, New York City banned pet ferrets, citing “unpredictable behavior,” “vicious, unprovoked attacks on humans,” and “serious injuries to infants.” That same year, then-mayor Rudy Giuliani took a call on the subject during his weekly radio show that lives on in infamy. Now, Bill de Blasio wants to reverse the ban. According to the […]

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April 25, 2014 Andy Cush

Yesterday, City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed on a plan that will allow the redevelopment of Williamsburg’s Domino Sugar Factory to go forward. The deal involved lowering the Area Median Income, which determines who will qualify to rent the new complex’s 700 units of affordable housing. “We came up with a framework that […]

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April 18, 2014 Andy Cush

Last we heard from Bill de Blasio about the state of the horse-and-carriage ban, he alluded to some setbacks. Now, we know what those setbacks are: they mayor lacks the support in City Council to get the bill passed. According to the Wall Street Journal, council members Andy King, Elizabeth Crowley, Costa Constantinides, Jumaane Williams, and others stand against […]

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March 24, 2014 Andy Cush

Bill de Blasio’s first Inner Circle dinner was Saturday night, and while the mayor’s appearance wasn’t quite as elaborate as any of Michael Bloomberg’s lavish theater productions, it did involve Steve Buscemi and a pair of red-white-and-blue sweatbands. The annual event is like an NYC version of the White House Press Correspondents’ Dinner, with the […]

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March 20, 2014 Andy Cush

A citywide ban on horse-drawn carriages is being drafted in City Council, this morning’s ‘Capital Playbook’ reveals (the full article is under paywall). According to the newsletter, Queens Democrat Daniel Dromm is the primary author of the legislation, which Mayor de Blasio has promised to pass. “It’s just a matter of time,” Dromm says. “It’s way […]

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