Amidst the mounting discontent among NYPD officers with Mayor Bill de Blasio, protests have taken to the skies. Retired NYPD For a Safe New York launched their third airplane banner Tuesday, this time with the message, “De Blasio Get Off The Pot. Resign. We <3 NYPD.” The banner flew over the Hudson River while a pro-police rally occurred in Queens. While in this instance the banner references circulating rumors about de Blasio smoking pot, the group’s main grievances are against the mayor for his lack of support for police. (Gothamist)
New York City has now voted to cease solitary confinement for inmates 21 and under. The Board of Corrections approved the policy unanimously today, despite Mayor de Blasio’s previous resistance. The new policy follows along with other reforms, such as better staffing and improved programs. “With these reforms, New York City has taken an important stand for basic human rights and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of prisoners, prison staff and our communities,” said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. (New York Times)
A three-alarm fire erupted at about 2:20 this morning at Penn Station by an LIRR construction site. The fire took 150 firefighters and three hours to control, but subway service was back up by 6:30 am. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries. The cause of the fire is still unknown. (New York Post)
Featuring a mix of celebrity faces and “everyday New Yorkers,” a trio of videos have been released as part of Mayor de Blasio’s bid for the Democratic National Convention of 2016 to be held in Brooklyn. So far, the city has fundraised about $15 million, but pledges have dropped off in the past month. Some speculate that this could be due to the recent unrest surrounding the assassination of police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. The committee will choose its host city within the next few days. (Daily News)
Dennis Doyle picked the wrong time to attend all 82 Knicks’ games this season, with their dismal 5-35 record. After losing his job, Doyle emptied out the $25,000 in his savings to go on a road trip following the Knicks throughout their season. That road trip has included nearly $9,000 in airfare alone and 3,500 for full-season tickets. Doyle doesn’t seem too upset about the losing streak though, commenting, “I thought they’d contend for the eighth [playoff] seed, but I knew there was a chance they’d be awful. I’ll see it through—if it doesn’t kill me first.’’ (New York Post)
