The former Harlem home of poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou is about to go on the market. The four-story, century-old brownstone where Angelou lived for ten years is being listed for around $5 million. Angelou moved into the apartment in 2004, and lived there whenever she returned to New York from her primary residence in North Carolina until her death in May 2014. Valon Nikci, owner of the company listing the property, says, “What makes this house so special is that you’re buying a piece of history.” (New York Times)
As the Zika virus spreads across the Americas, health officials in New York are encouraging cautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the city. Dr. Herminia Palacio, the deputy mayor for health and human services, and city health commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett announced yesterday that three people have been diagnosed with Zika in New York City, all of whom had recently returned from countries where the virus has reached epidemic levels. (New York Times)
A Brooklyn-based artist aims to make over two-thousand peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches in five days to honor the small sacrifices made by her mother. The artist, Jessica Olah, estimated the number of sandwiches her mother packed her for lunch throughout her childhood and decided to make all 2,340 of them. She says the sandwiches are “a metaphor for a lot of small tasks mothers might do.” She raised about $3,500 on Indigogo for the materials, and each sandwich she makes will be donated to The Bowery Mission. Ms. Olah will be making sandwiches in Alphabet City through the weekend. (DNA Info)
In the ongoing saga following the controversial announcement to shut down L train service between Brooklyn and Manhattan for a considerable length of time, a new proposal hopes to ease disruptions for northeast Brooklyn residents already plagued by long commutes and slim transit options. The “Freedom Ticket”, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, aims to give L train riders in neighborhoods like East New York the option of riding the Long Island Rail Road to Atlantic Terminal for a cheaper price than current peak rates. An MTA spokesperson said the proposal will be considered. (Politico New York)
Despite being fired after allegations of sexual assault were leveled against him, a lawyer who initially represented the family of Eric Garner says he still deserves portion of the wrongful death settlement the family recently won from the city for services his firm provided. The family of Garner is set to receive $6.9 million, $2.3 million of which is the attorney’s fee. According to court filings, since the firm was let go, they are not entitled to compensation. (Staten Island Advance)
