Metro New York - January 4, 2019

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by  Metro International

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GETTY IMAGES
Felicity Jones on why Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a What are Giants’ options besides by Sthwee Ndieswh IYnostrikt uSttea’tse p Erodgurcaamtios na rDee rpeagritsmteernetd. wAcitchr eadnitde rde bgyu lAatCeCdS C.
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-EVENTH-HOUR
SWITCH
Gov. Cuomo stunned New Yorkers by canceling April’s L train
shutdown, and instead turning to European technology to
make repairs to the tunnel without having to close it. 2-3
GETTY IMAGES
METRO.US
2
SERVICE RESTORED WEEKEND, JANUARY 4-6, 2019
Cuomo cancels full L train shutdown
NEWS
GETTY IMAGES sit Center, a foundation directions in the other
for improving urban mo- tube. Rush hour week-
bility, on Twitter. day service will not be
MTA Acting Chair- affected, officials said.
man Fernando Ferrer ad- The expected time-
dressed these concerns line range for this work
With fewer than at the press conference, is 15 to 20 months.
four months until saying that the answer When asked if he could
planned construc- for why this innovative assure that this would
approach hadn’t been take a maximum of 20
tion, the L train considered earlier is months, Cuomo said
won’t close com- that “the integration of he could not make that
pletely during these approaches — and promise.
there are several — and The night and week-
restoration. the technology had not end L train closures
previously been applied are expected to begin
in the context of a reha- around the same time
KRISTIN TOUSSAINT
[email protected] bilitation project, a reha- the original L train shut-
bilitation project that is down was scheduled to
underground.” start, in April.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo an- The new design in- As New Yorkers had
nounced on Thursday view the plan, to look April 2019 and last 15 subway travel for even cludes a polymer that prepared for the origi-
that the L train shut- at it with fresh eyes, no months, stranding thou- longer. Cuomo said at has previously only been nal shutdown, commu-
down will be canceled, assumptions, no givens, sands of straphangers the news conference used on bridges. nity activists and transit
with only some night and if there’s any pos- and disrupting New York that “this is the shortest, So  how will strap- advocates worked on
and weekend closures sible suggestions for how City transportation. The best route for rebuilding hangers be affected now? other solutions to help
now necessary to fix the we can make it better, closure was necessary, of- residents get around the
subway tunnel. great,” Cuomo said at a ficials said, to fix the Ca- “With this [new] design it would not city. With this plan halt-
The news comes more press conference Thurs- narsie Tunnel, which was ed, some are concerned
than two years after of- day. “To make a long flooded and damaged be necessary to close the L train tunnel that the other transpor-
ficials first announced story short, they have during Hurricane Sandy. at all.” tation initiatives will
that one of the busiest proposed a new design to Although the tunnel Gov. Andrew Cuomo also be left behind.
subway lines between use in the tunnel.” is structurally sound, “However this new
Brooklyn and Manhattan This design has not saltwater from the East the tunnel.” “The original plan was plan plays out, we expect
would stop running to al- yet been used in the Unit- River leaks inside, cor- Others wondered [to] close both tunnels that the new bus and
low for repairs. ed States, per Cuomo. roding electrical switch- why, if this design is pos- and do the work. This bike infrastructure that
Cuomo said that he “With this design it es and power lines. sible, a 15-month L train plan is [to] leave both has been planned will
asked a panel of “best would not be necessary “Saltwater and elec- shutdown was initially open during the day, be preserved,” Joe Cu-
experts,” including en- to close the L train tun- tronics do not mix,” Cuo- proposed at all. close one at night and trufo of Transportation
gineers from Columbia nel at all, which would mo said. “What’s left of MTA’s [on] weekends, so you’ll Alternatives told Metro,
and Cornell, to look be a phenomenal ben- Following the an- technical credibility always have constant ser- “and even without a full
at the L train situation efit to the people of New nouncement, some New when engineering pro- vice,” Cuomo said. 15-month L train shut-
again as the April 2019 York City,” he said. Yorkers expressed con- fessors can come up with As one tube will be down, New York City is
start date looms. The L train shutdown cern that this would a better plan in a few closed for repairs, L train still in the midst of a real
“I asked them to re- was slated to begin in inconvenience their weeks?” asked the Tran- service will run in both transportation crisis.”
The Twitterverse reacts to the governor’s ‘L’ of a bombshell
vanshnookenraggen
MsJessicaB @MsJessicaB @vanshnook
Can we just call it like it is, and acknowledge that Cuomo This Cuomo #Ltrain bomb
is shutting down the L train shutdown because he’s going means one of two things:
to run in 2020 and can’t have Manhattan and Brooklyn, he had planned this last
or anyone else, hating him for a 15 month shutdown that min announcement all
would cripple the system? #LTrainShutdown along, so he was always
f—king with us, or he
is doing this on a whim
based on ego, so he is
necessary repairs to had raised $5,417. just f—king with us. Either
the Canarsie Tunnel, The board game’s way, he is f—king us.
which runs under the co-creator, Hunter Fine,
East River. Some people told Metro that he was
took the time to share still waiting to learn of ‘hell’ as construction
GETTY IMAGES their feelings about the more details about the begins. The game is still
After Gov. Andrew make necessary repairs took to Twitter to governor.  L train news and wants moving forward, but we
Cuomo’s press confer- to the Canarsie Tunnel, express pleasure in the Several months back, to continue to move will update it to reflect
ence announcing a which was flooded and announcement, others a Kickstarter was cre- forward with the game. the latest decisions/
halt to the 15-month damaged during Hur- expressed concerns ated for a board game “No matter the out- news.”
L train shutdown that ricane Sandy. about how it will based around the L train come, Williamsburg res-
was planned to start  While many people continue to delay the shutdown called “Es- idents will face varieties LENYON WHITAKER
in April 2019, Twitter cape from HelL.” The
users began sharing game is based on get-
their opinions on the John Andrews @Jandies1 ting to Manhattan from
transit news that affects Honestly, I’d rather them shut down the #LTrain completely Williamsburg after the L lozeerose @lozeerose
approximately 250,000 for 15 months than have whatever semblance of service train has shut down. As Amazon: Yo, andy, We just bought Queens but apparently
daily commuters. we will now have for THREE YEARS! Are you kidding me of press time and with there’s some important train thing missing?
According to MTA with this? We had all come to terms with it. We had all 15 days remaining in Cuomo: I got u #Ltrain: this smells fishy
officials, the shutdown prepared. Now we will be crammed onto too few trains... the campaign, the game
was needed in order to had 143 backers and
METRO.US
3 NEWS
SERVICE RESTORED WEEKEND, JANUARY 4-6, 2019
PARTIAL
SHUTDOWN,
WHOLE LOT
OF PROBLEMS
GETTY IMAGES
The most cost-effective
ANALYSIS
time to do construction
work is when contractors
have 24/7 access. The con-
LARRY
tractor is on-site full-time,
mobilized with a staging
PENNER
area for workers, sup-
plies and debris removal.
Larry Penner is a
Forcing contractors to
transportation historian and
mobilize workers prior
advocate who previously
to tunnel access evenings
worked 31 years for
and weekends increases
the U.S. Department of
project costs. So does hav-
Transportation.
ing to stop work prior to
resuming subway service.
The proposed new
strategy could add mil-
lions to the project costs.
Having only one tube
open overnight on week-
days and during weekends
provides operational prob-
lems. Bi-directional ser-
vice on one track is risky.
Headways between trains
will double. Any train
with mechanical difficul-
ties in the tunnel could
result in chaos. Significant
Gov. Andrew Cuo- numbers of riders use the
mo’s announce- L train in the evening,
ment that the overnight and on week-
upcoming Canarsie Line ends.
tunnel reconstruction, Several hundred mil-
scheduled to start in April, lion was previously pro-
will be changed lacks criti- vided under a Federal
cal details. How much Transit Administration
longer will it take for NYC Hurricane Sandy Recov-
Transit and private con- ery and Resiliency grant.
tractors to complete work Washington doesn’t pay
with only overnight and for the same work twice.
weekend closures than MTA HQ and NYC
the previously announced Transit were blindsided by
15-month, 24/7 project du- Cuomo’s announcement.
ration? Was it designed to ingra-
MTA and NYC DOT tiate himself with vot-
have already spent mil- ers rather than serve the
lions in planning, envi- long-term interests of rid-
ronmental review and ers? MTA HQ, board mem-
design and engineering bers, NYC Transit, NYC
ahead of the shutdown. DOT managers and engi-
This work was performed neers have had no time
by experienced engineers to review and comment
and engineering consult- on this “new design” or
ing firms. They have first- potential budget impacts.
hand knowledge of how What will the impact
the nation’s largest sub- be on the final project
way system works. budget? Having to count
Cuomo’s outside ex- on periodic versus 24/7
perts come from Colum- access, potential private
bia and Cornell university construction contractors
world of academia. If their will increase their pro-
new design idea was used posed bids. How will the
abroad and could work, MTA find additional fund-
both the MTA and NYC ing to supplement previ-
Transit President Andy By- ously approved federal
ford (who previously ran funding?
transit systems in London Cuomo’s microman-
and Toronto) would have agement is penny-wise
considered it. and pound-foolish.
METRO.US
4 NEWS
WEEKEND, JANUARY 4-6, 2019
Comptroller demands
answers about failed
Fair Fares program
rollout
GETTY IMAGES
The half-price asked for many days,
MetroCard program ‘Where’s the program?’”
The Fair Fares plan in-
was scheduled for
CARING cluded a six-month wait-
Jan. 1, but there are ing period before it was to
still no details. be implemented, to help
develop the program,
HAS A PLAN. Stringer said. That plan-
KRISTIN TOUSSAINT ning process was to end
[email protected] Dec. 31.
She has a name. Stringer pointed out
The new year was sup- that no posters or bill-
Her health plan posed to bring half-price boards have even been
MetroCards to low-in- unveiled to announce the
come New Yorkers, but program to New Yorkers.
actually knows it.
the Fair Fares plan has yet With Fair Fares in lim-
to begin, and NYC Comp- bo, so is the $106 million
troller Scott M. Stringer is allocated to fund the plan.
demanding the city step “My job is to account
SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE up. for the $106 million,” said
Under the new Fair Stringer. “I have every
WHEN HEALTH CARE Fares plan, which was in- intention to continue to
cluded in the city budget ask questions, so people
GETS PERSONAL. in June, low-income New are not stuck in a wait-
Yorkers are eligible for ing time for another six
half-price seven-day and months or another year.”
30-day MetroCard passes. Advocates with the
Are you getting the most Fair Fares was sched- Community Service Soci-
uled to start Jan. 1, but on ety and the Riders Alliance
out of your Medicare plan?
Thursday, Stringer called joined Stringer Thursday
out City Hall for not yet morning to call on Mayor
detailing a timeline for Bill de Blasio for more
0 how the plan transparency
will be rolled “Now, 800,000 about the
out; who will program.
$ be eligible to New Yorkers are At an un-
plan participate; or waiting for the related press
even any infor- cheaper Metro- conference
premiums* mthaet ion porno ghraomw Cards they were odne BTlhasuiros dwaays,
will be imple- promised.” asked about
mented. Fair Fares up-
150 “Getting on NYC Comptroller dates in light
up to that train for Scott M. Stringer of the comp-
so many New troller’s com-
Yorkers is a true ments.
$ financial burden. So when “We are entirely fo-
the Fair Fares program of- cused on doing something
fering discount tickets got that’s never been done be-
funding in this year’s bud- fore in the history of New
get, low-income families York City,” he told report-
won a landmark battle,” ers, “and I want to thank
monthly over-the-counter card Stringer told reporters the City Council for their
Thursday morning. focus on this and for their
* Premium, co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles may vary based on the
“Now, 800,000 New partnership over the last
level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact plan for further details.
Yorkers are waiting for six months in creating a
the cheaper MetroCards brand-new initiative that
Call to enroll or make an in-person appointment they were promised, be- never existed before, and
cause this program was has to be gotten right.”
1-800-469-6292 (TTY 711) supposed to begin on Jan. Gov. Cuomo said that
1,” he said. “It was sup- an announcement ex-
posed to be the moment plaining how people can
villagecaremax.org 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week when people could sign apply for half-price Metro-
up and get on that train, Cards will be made soon,
save some money, con- and that “every stage”
tribute to the economy of the Fair Fares project
and make a difference will be announced as it is
for their families. We’ve ready.
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6 NEWS METRO.US
WEEKEND, JANUARY 4-6, 2019
Reports of rape up,
but overall NYC
crime hit historic
lows in 2018
GETTY IMAGES
Last year’s record also saw a slight bump,
lows affirm the five up 3.8 percent in 2018
compared to the previous
boroughs’ status as
year. Most of that increase
the safest big city comes from grand larce-
in America. ny incidents in Manhat-
tan. NYPD Chief of Transit
Edward Delatorre said in-
KRISTIN TOUSSAINT ternational professional
[email protected]
pickpocket teams and a
group of local repeat of-
Though overall New fenders contributed to
York City crime dropped this increase, but with
to record-low numbers those individuals in cus-
in 2018, reports of rape tody he expects to see a
rose — a sign, according downward trend again.
to the NYPD, not neces- Overall New York City
sarily of more incidents, crime dropped to a level
but of more people not seen since the 1950s,
“Absolutely coming forward. the mayor said. 2018 saw
Rape increased 22 the lowest number of ho-
The No. 1 (cid:32)Show percent in 2018, with micides recorded in the
328 more rapes reported city’s modern era with
in the world.” than in 2017, officials an- 289, compared to 292 in
nounced Thursday. 2017.
Of all rapes reported
—Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of
in 2018, 27 percent oc-
English National Ballet curred in prior years. In
2017, 20 percent of rapes New York City
reported occurred before crime statistics
that year.
“We meet with sexual for 2018
I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. assault advocates every
three months,” NYPD • Overall New York City
None can compare to what I saw tonight.” Commissioner James P. crime down 1.3% since
O’Neill told reporters. 2017
—Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic “Their contention, as • Murders down 13% since
well as our belief, is that 2013 and 87% since 1990
rape is an underreported • There were five days or
“Absolutely the greatest of the great! crime. … We’ve had our more without a recorded
public awareness pro- murder five different times
It must be experienced.” gram for people to come in 2018, including a streak
forward with sexual as- of nine days, from Nov. 25
—Christine Walevska, “Goddess of the Cello”, sault complaints, and I to Dec. 3.
think that’s a big part of • Shootings down by 35
watched Shen Yun 5 times why that number contin- incidents (4.4%) in 2018
ues to rise.” compared to 2017
Mayor Bill de
“The highest and the best
— Blasio pointed to
the  #MeToo  movement New York City’s mur-
of what humans can produce.”
and other encouraging der rate is about 3.3 per
messages in the public as 100,000 people.
—Olevia Brown-Klahn, singer and musician —Broadway World reasons why more people “What does New York
may be reporting rape. City look like going into
“We’re dealing with 2019? It looks like the
a new reality,” de Blasio safest big city in the
said, “where advocates country,” said NYPD
and the NYPD believe the Chief of Crime Control
same thing: that a his- Strategies Laurie Pol-
toric underreporting is lock.
finally being addressed.” Marijuana-related
Hate crimes increased arrests dropped 81 per-
7 percent in 2018, with cent in 2018 compared
JAN 10–20 LINCOLN CENTER ShenYun.com/NY
361 total hate crimes. to the year before, after
MAR 6–17 David H. Koch Theater 888.907.4697 More than half of those the NYPD  changed its
were anti-Semitic in na- policy  about arresting
ture, per the NYPD. first-time offenders for
MAR 20–24 SUNY Purchase • MAR 29–31 Stamford, CT • APR 26–MAY 4 Newark, NJ Overall transit crime smoking in public.
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8 NEWS METRO.US
WEEKEND, JANUARY 4-6, 2019
New NYPD directive will now fine
businesses for e-bike violations
Delivery work-
“In theory, the num- ers and elected officials
ers often rely on bers [of citations] for called on Mayor Bill de
throttle electric cyclists should be zero,” Blasio to help convert
Steven Wasserman, an these workers’ e-bikes
bicycles, which are
attorney for the Legal so that they can comply
not legal on city Aid Society, which ob- with the law.
streets. tained the department’s “I’ve been given
memo, told Gothamist. many fees and fines just
He thinks the di- for doing my job,” one
KRISTIN TOUSSAINT rective “is a very good delivery worker named
[email protected] thing,” he added. Clemente said at that
Though pedal-assist gathering in front of
e-bikes are legal in New City Hall. “We need the
New York City delivery York City, throttle e- support of the city so we
workers have been hit bikes, which can travel can be able to convert
with heavy fines from more than 20 mph, our e-bikes to comply
NYPD officers for the use are not allowed on city with the laws. We’re ask-
of throttle electric bi- streets. This delineation ing the city not to leave
cycles while on the job, has harmed delivery workers behind.”
but a new effort may al- GETTY IMAGES workers, advocates have Even if the fines are
leviate that individual argued, thus dispropor- given to the business
strain by targeting the transportation for work employer, though deliv- If the e-bike or elec- tionately affecting New rather than the delivery
employers they work for or for personal reasons, ery workers have often tric scooter is found to York City’s immigrant worker, the workers’
instead. according to a memo de- been the ones receiving be used for business community.  bikes are still confis-
The NYPD has direct- tailed by Gothamist. the fines.  purposes, the officer Some delivery work- cated, according to Go-
ed officers to interview City  law  states that The NYPD has direct- is directed to then de- ers have reported receiv- thamist. The employer
the rider of a throttle it’s the business that ed its officers to follow termine the business’s ing as many as 14 tickets is responsible for paying
e-bike or motorized should be held liable the law and thus cite the name and location and in one day. Per-ticket to get them back, which
scooter after stopping when someone is using restaurants instead, ac- “respond to business lo- fines are $500. could harm delivery
them to find out if they a motorized scooter or cording to the Nov. 20 cation if within a reason- In April,  transit ad- workers if they ignore
are using that mode of e-bike on behalf of their memo. able distance.” vocates, delivery work- the summons. 

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10 NEWS METRO.US
WEEKEND, JANUARY 4-6, 2019
Judge blocks New York City law
requiring Airbnb to hand over user data
Airbnb declares vic- and overcrowding. home-sharing com-
tory after a federal In 2010, in an effort pany, HomeAway.com
to address those con- Inc., both sued the city
judge prohibited
cerns, the state of New last year seeking to
NYC from enforcing York passed a law ban- block the law. Thurs-
a law being chal- ning apartment rent- day’s order applies to
als for periods of fewer both companies’ cases.
lenged in court.
than 30 days unless a Airbnb and Home-
permanent resident Away argued that the
A federal judge on remains in the apart- law ran afoul of the U.S.
Thursday blocked a ment. New York City Constitution’s protec-
New York City law re- also bans short-term tion against unreason-
quiring Airbnb to hand apartment rentals in able search and seizure
over data each month many cases. of private property by
about people who use The new city law, the government.
its apartment listing which was passed last Engelmayer said in
service from taking ef- July and scheduled to Thursday’s ruling that
fect while the company take effect next month, the companies were
challenges the law in aimed to help the city likely to prevail in their
court. identify Airbnb listings argument. He said the
The preliminary rul- that ran afoul of the scope of the informa-
ing, handed down by short-term rental laws. tion required by the law
U.S. District Judge Paul It would require was “breathtaking,” en-
Engelmayer in Manhat- GETTY IMAGES Airbnb and providers compassing “virtually
tan, could be a boon of similar services to all monthly informa-
for the San Francisco- is a huge win for Airbnb in a statement. their homes to guests turn over information tion the service receives
based company as it and its users, including New York City’s law through an online ser- about its users, includ- from each user.”
prepares for a widely the thousands of New department could not vice. The company’s ing names, addresses The judge will not
anticipated initial Yorkers at risk of illegal immediately be reached critics in New York and and details of how they enter a final ruling un-
public offering later surveillance who use for comment. other major cities say used the service, each til later in the case, af-
this year. Airbnb to help make Airbnb allows us- the service contributes month. ter both sides have ex-
“The decision today ends meet,” Airbnb said ers to lease or sublease to high housing costs Airbnb and another changed evidence. REUTERS
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Essential Plan.
866.206.1741
(TTY 711) AffinityPlan.org/EP
To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health
Plans through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855.355.5777.