At a press conference this morning in Brooklyn, Mayor Bill de Blasio promised to save New York City’s industrial properties. Alongside City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Mr. de Blasio unveiled a 10-point plan that aims to sustain and grow jobs in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, which account for 15 percent of the city’s employmen (about 500,000 people). Mr. de Blasio vowed to add 20,000 new jobs. The plan also aims to launch a new Advanced Manufacturing Center and provide loans and grants to new firms in the city. “I want to send a clear message to the developers of this city: If you’re buying land in an industrial area … plan on creating an industrial business because that’s our vision for these areas,” Mr. de Blasio said. (CBS New York)
Tensions are rising between the city’s elected officials and the MTA, after the agency reduced spending on the Second Ave. subway extension by $1 billion. In a letter inquiring about the next phase of the project, Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Charles Rangel said it is “disappointing to know that this project is once again being short-changed.” MTA spokesman Adam Lisberg said that there was no point in keeping $1 billion in the budget if it wouldn’t be spent, adding that the agency remains “committed and full speed ahead on bringing the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem.” (amNewYork)
An off-duty worker for Hatzolah, a private EMS service for Jewish communities, was slashed in Crown Heights last night, in what police are investigating as a hate crime. Around 9 p.m. Tuesday night, a man in his 30s was walking on the Eastern Parkway pedestrian path between Nostrand and Rogers Avenues when he was attacked. The suspect slashed him across the right shoulder with a razor blade before running eastbound. The man was treated at Methodist Hospital with minor injuries, and the NYPD hate crime task force is currently investigating the attack. (DNAinfo)
Classes were cancelled Wednesday morning at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn after a student threatened a shooting in the Catholic school. The male student, who is not being identified, posted a message on Facebook that read, “Don’t go to Bishop Loughlin today because it’s going to get shot up.” After finding no immediate threat on campus, police continued to look for the boy and planned on searching his house for weapons. (New York Post)
Some tenants living in city affordable housing are still spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent, according to a new survey conducted by the housing advocate group Real Affordability for All. The report also concluded that 14 percent of New Yorkers who reside in affordable housing spend more than 50 percent of their income on rent. Real Affordability for All plans to protest at a gala for the affordable housing trade group, NYS Association for Affordable Housing, on Wednesday night.. (Daily News)
