Gothamist: NY Appellate Court: Law enforcement agencies can’t use DNA database for familial searches. “Law enforcement agencies can’t use a state DNA database to investigate the possible relatives of people whose genetic material matches those on file, a panel of state appellate judges ruled Thursday. The court found the use of the database can disproportionately target people of color.”
New York Times: New York City Enters Higher Coronavirus Risk Level as Case Numbers Rise. “As coronavirus cases continue to rise in New York City, the city entered a higher risk level for the virus on Monday, a troubling reminder that the pandemic is not over and that the virus still has the power to harm New Yorkers. The city moved into the medium, or yellow, risk category for virus transmission, a development that could trigger the return of public health restrictions, although they are not required.”
Geneanet: NYC Vital Records Are Online Now in New York: A Guide. “Last month, New York City made available online over 9 million birth, marriage and death certificates! Previously, these images were only available at a FamilySearch Family History Center or as a certified hardcopy from the archives. Read our guide to get the most out of the portal’s new search screen.”
New York Times: Masks Are Still Required for N.Y.C. Public Transit, Taxis and Ride Shares. “The Metropolitan Transportation Authority doubled down on its mask mandate for subways, buses and commuter rail, as airlines lifted their requirements.”
New York Daily News: NYC schools facing unprecedented levels of chronic absenteeism. “Before the pandemic, the percentage of city students marked ‘chronically absent’ — those who miss 10% or more of school days — hovered around 25%, and was generally on the decline. That progress stopped in March 2020 when COVID-19 shuttered school buildings and 35% of kids were marked chronically absent during virtual classes. The following fall, when families chose between part-time in-person and fully remote classes and COVID-19 disruptions were frequent, 30% of kids ended the year marked chronically absent.”
New York Comptroller: Comptroller Lander Unveils NYC Climate Dashboard to Hold City Accountable to Climate Goals. “To kick-off Earth Week, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and the Comptroller’s Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung unveiled the NYC Climate Dashboard to shine a spotlight on the City’s incremental progress and path forward to meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. The dashboard tracks key metrics on NYC’s energy transition, emissions, pension fund investments, and resiliency infrastructure.”
Deadline: Broadway’s Covid-Hit ‘Paradise Square’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘A Strange Loop’ Cancel Additional Performances. “Also today, the Broadway productions of Macbeth, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, and the Pulitzer-winning A Strange Loop canceled tonight’s performances as both shows recover from recent Covid cases. The two productions are expected to resume performances on Tuesday, April 12. Both shows had previously canceled last week’s performances due to Covid cases within their casts and companies, and had expected to return today.”
Streetsblog NYC: Opinion: Fake Plates are Hiding in Plain Sight on Facebook, Yet Authorities Do Little . “For a certain kind of person, license plates are a pain. If you want to drag race, leave the scene of a crash, avoid bridge tolls, park illegally, or ignore speed cameras, license plates mean you can get busted. That’s where fake temporary tags come in. These paper license plates are almost totally unregulated. The NYPD is well aware of the problem — Det. Thomas Burke appeared on NBC News last year to say that the plates even facilitate drive-by shootings. The Port Authority, according to that report, complained to eBay and Craigslist, asking them to quit selling fake tags. But today, the market has moved to Facebook Marketplace and fellow Meta app Instagram.”
NBC News: Frank James, suspect in Brooklyn subway shooting, discussed violence in YouTube clips. “One of the photos police shared of James was a screenshot of a video from the ‘prophet of truth 88’ YouTube channel, a platform where he appears to go on lengthy, profanity-filled rants and express controversial views. He talks about death in several videos and the desire to “exterminate” certain groups of people in one clip.”
New York Daily News: NYC Mayor Adams tests positive for COVID. “[Eric] Adams went into isolation, canceled his public events for the rest of the week and planned to begin taking antiviral medication, his office stated. He had no symptoms other than a raspy voice, it added.”
New York Times: Former New Yorkers Are Networking Through WhatsApp. “New Yorkers have been seeking one another out in other American cities for decades. How else could they complain about the lack of public transportation, the difficulty in finding a decent slice or the fact that most neighborhood bodegas are not open 24/7? The only difference is now, apps and social media have made it easier for them to find their kindred spirits instantly.”
New York Times: As Yet Another Wave of Covid Looms, New Yorkers Ask: Should I Worry?. “The city is registering about 1,500 new cases a day and a positivity rate of nearly 3 percent, both figures more than double what they were a month ago. In Manhattan, where the last wave also first emerged, the positivity rate is above 6 percent in some neighborhoods. In another potentially worrisome indicator, the prevalence of fevers across the city — which can offer a forewarning of Covid trends — has reached levels last seen at some of the worst points of the pandemic, according to data from internet-connected thermometers.”
GovTech: Personal Data of 820,000 Students Exposed in NYC Hack. “In what seems to be the largest-ever breach of personal student data in the U.S., hackers accessed the online grading system of New York City public schools in January. Officials are furious with Illuminate Education.”
New York Times: International Tourists Flock Back to New York, With One Big Exception. “After two years of sparse crowds in Times Square and other popular attractions, New York City is finally hoping for a robust rebound of visitors this year. But the city will still be missing a main driver of its prepandemic tourism boom: big spenders from China, whose government has yet to allow travel abroad.”
New York Times: Need a Drink? Get in Line. “New York City’s bars are back and more crowded than ever. Since indoor vaccine mandates were lifted for the city’s bars on March 4, bar and club owners have reported huge lines and a big bump in drink sales.”
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