A Great Big City — New York City News, History, and Events

The iconic "Charging Bull" statue has become recognized worldwide as a symbol of New York, but it was originally an illegal art installation that was dropped in the middle of the street on December 15, 1989.

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 93 years ago on June 26, 1927 — The Coney Island Cyclone wooden roller coaster opens to the public Postcard featuring The Cyclone via Boston Public Library / The Tichnor Brothers Collection 51 years ago on June 28, 1969 — Tensions between police and the gay community boil over into a revolt during an overnight raid on the Stonewall Inn 37 years ago on June 28, 1983 — Eight men are arrested in a $1.5 million gold heist 3 years ago on June 30, 2017 — A doctor opens fire at Bronx-Lebanon hospital, killing one and wounding six 21 years ago on July 1, 1999 — Area code 646 launches in Manhattan to supplement 212 and 917 numbers 34 years ago on July 3, 1986 — The opening ceremony of Liberty Weekend begins four days of celebrations around the Statue of Liberty's 100th anniversary and reopening after an extensive renovation 4 years ago on July 3, 2016 — A tourist steps on an explosive device in Central Park — If you have any information or photos from that day, contact NYPD CrimeStoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (1-800-577-8477), via text message at CRIMES (274637), or via online form. 2 years ago on July 4, 2018 — A woman climbs the Statue of Liberty pedestal, causing Liberty Island to be evacuated and canceling many midday Fourth of July tours AGBC history: 3 years ago — Would $123 Convince You to Bike to Work? — Wednesday, June 28 8 years ago — The NYPD's Newest Helicopter Focuses on Spotting Terrorism — Friday, June 29 8 years ago — Occupy Wall Street - June 28th, 6PM — Friday, June 29 9 years ago — Blimp Race on the Hudson — Monday, July 4 1 year ago — A Great Big City Will No Longer Publish to Facebook — Friday, July 5 9 years ago — Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus detected in New York City — Thursday, July 7 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Mullaly Park — 1015 RIVER AVENUE, the Bronx — 15 acre park in West Concourse, Bronx, named for newspaperman John Mullaly, who also helped found the New York Park Association in 1881. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: There is a birth in New York City every 4.4 minutes Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 103°F on July 3, 1966 Record Low: 52°F on June 29, 1888 AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 123 years ago on June 15, 1897 — A fire sweeps through Ellis Island's wood buildings 136 years ago on June 16, 1884 — America's first roller coaster opens in Coney Island 72 years ago on June 16, 1948 — Australian adventurer Ben Carlin and his wife Elinore launch their amphibious jeep into New York Bay in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe 67 years ago on June 22, 1953 — The Hollow Nickel Case 45 years ago on June 24, 1975 — Eastern Air Flight 66 crashes on approach at JFK Airport, killing 113 people 101 years ago on June 26, 1919 — The first issue of the Illustrated Daily News is published, which would become the modern-day New York Daily News Manhattanhenge Photography Tips and Viewing Locations A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Michel Triangle — Clay Av bet. E 171 St and Claremont Pkwy, the Bronx — Michel Triangle is bounded by Clay Avenue, Webster Avenue, and East 165th Street. The road that is now Clay Avenue, between 164th and 167th Streets, was part of the old General Staats Morris' racetrack that had been laid out in 1750 and survived through the mid-1800s. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: The largest class of Staten Island Ferry can carry 6,000 passengers Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 98°F on June 19, 1994 Record Low: 48°F on June 18, 1950 Weather for the week ahead: Possible light rain on Sunday and Tuesday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast, TuneIn Radio, RadioPublic, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Manhattanhenge music: Anonymous420

[Coronavirus monologue — 7 northeast states form a joint committee to evaluate ending social distancing] Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 116 years ago on April 8, 1904 — Longacre Square is renamed 'Times Square' 107 years ago on April 9, 1913 — The first game is played at Ebbets Field 154 years ago on April 10, 1866 — The ASPCA is founded in New York City, becoming the oldest animal welfare organization in the United States 59 years ago on April 11, 1961 — Bob Dylan plays in Greenwich Village for the first time 115 years ago on April 12, 1905 — The Hippodrome Theatre opens 103 years ago on April 12, 1917 — The Bijou Theatre opens on 45th Street at Broadway 38 years ago on April 12, 1982 — Three CBS employees are killed after encountering a gunman abducting a woman on the top of the Pier 92 parking garage 17 years ago on April 13, 2003 — Subway tokens are phased out and replaced by the MetroCard 2 years ago on April 14, 2018 — David Buckel, a prominent gay rights lawyer and environmental advocate, sets himself on fire in Prospect Park 9 years ago on April 16, 2011 — Area code 929 enters service 1 year ago on April 17, 2019 — A man was taken into custody after attempting to enter St. Patrick's Cathedral with cans of gasoline 14 years ago on April 18, 2006 — Roosevelt Island Tram suffers mechanical problems, trapping 69 people in two tram cars in the air for seven hours A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Ionia Avenue Forest — A very densely-forested triangle at the southern end of Staten Island New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: NYCHA, the New York City Housing Authority, oversees 325 housing developments citywide comprised of 2,418 buildings that house 400,000 New Yorkers Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 92°F on April 16, 2002 Record Low: 22°F on April 12, 1874 AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or RadioPublic, TuneIn Radio, Player FM, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 69 years ago on March 29, 1951 — The 'Mad Bomber' begins his largest streak of attacks, planting a series of explosive devices in public spaces across New York 111 years ago on March 30, 1909 — The Queensboro Bridge opens to traffic April 1 in History: Greenwich Village Chase after Bleecker Street Armed Robbery March 24 in History: Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the Rapid Transit System on "Tunnel Day" 5 years ago on April 2, 2015 — Two women are arrested in Jamaica, Queens for planning terrorist bombings 161 years ago on April 4, 1859 — The Civil War anthem 'Dixie' debuts in New York as part of a blackface minstrel show 87 years ago on April 4, 1933 — The USS Akron, one of history's largest airships, crashes into the ocean off the coast of New Jersey, killing 73 and leaving three survivors USS Akron flying over the southern end of Manhattan Island, New York City, circa 1931-1933 via U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command 53 years ago on April 4, 1967 — Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a speech at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights titled "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" — Hear the full audio of the speech. 47 years ago on April 4, 1973 — The twin towers of the World Trade Center officially open, becoming the tallest buildings in the world ☮️ A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Haffen Park — 1750 BURKE AVENUE, the Bronx — Named after Louis F. Haffen, first Borough President of the Bronx. In 1996 Haffen Park received new modular play equipment (including slides, clatter bridges, and ladders), safety surfacing and paving. In 2006, a $1.2 million reconstruction project included the installation of a new synthetic turf field for both baseball and soccer, and a refurbished ballfield fence. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: You can take a free training course from the Department of Health to learn the right words to say to someone suffering with mental distress or substance abuse Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 86°F on March 29, 1945 Record Low: 10°F on March 29, 1923 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain throughout the week. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. [Coronavirus monologue] 53 years ago on March 26, 1967 — Thousands of people gathered at Central Park's Sheep Meadow on Easter Sunday for one of the first hippie "be-ins" of the 1960s 5 years ago on March 26, 2015 — A gas explosion and fire destroys three buildings at Second Ave and St. Marks 57 years ago on March 28, 1963 — Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' Premieres in New York at the Palace Theater on Broadway 35 years ago on March 31, 1985 — The First WrestleMania is held at Madison Square Garden, featuring Mr. T and Hulk Hogan March 21 in History: Charles Lindbergh Receives the Medal of Honor in 1928 March 23 in History: Elisha Otis Installs First Passenger Elevator March 27 in History: The Disappearing House March 28 in History: Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' Premieres in New York A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Estella Diggs Park — 3436 3 AVENUE, the Bronx — Formerly known as Rocks and Roots Park, the park was named after Estella Diggs, the first African-American woman to represent the Bronx in the NY State Assembly. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: If the NYC population was spread out at the same density as Wyoming, it would cover nearly half of the lower 48 states Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 84°F on March 21, 1921 Record Low: 10°F on March 21, 1885 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Monday through Friday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Spotify, RadioPublic, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Monologue music: ＠ｈｏｔｌｉｎｅ．ｇｏｖ by Anonymous420

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. Coronavirus Info for NYC — Westchester resident tests positive for coronavirus, becoming second New York case NYC looks at new idea to fix the BQE: An $11B tunnel through Brooklyn 26 years ago on March 1, 1994 — A Lebanese-born man fires two handguns at a van of Jewish students on the Brooklyn Bridge, killing one and wounding three 97 years ago on March 5, 1923 — "Human Fly" Harry F. Young falls to his death while climbing the Hotel Martinique as part of a movie promotion Upcoming Events: Mar 8 – Daylight Saving Time begins Mar 9 – Full Moon (Worm Moon) Supermoon Mar 9 – First night of Purim Mar 9 – Hindu festival of Holi Mar 17 – St. Patrick's Day Mar 19 – March Equinox 50 years ago on March 6, 1970 — The Weather Underground townhouse explodes while the terrorist organization is constructing a bomb 12 years ago on March 6, 2008 — A unsolved mystery that stands out in modern New York history: An IED explodes outside the Times Square Army recruitment office 3 years ago on March 7, 2017 — The 'Fearless Girl' statue is placed at Bowling Green, facing the famous Wall Street Bull statue 61 years ago on March 9, 1959 — The Barbie doll debuts at the American International Toy Fair in New York 287 years ago on March 12, 1733 — Bowling Green Park is established as the city's first official park 6 years ago on March 12, 2014 — A natural gas explosion levels two five-story buildings on Park Avenue Stories from AGBC History: 9 years ago — What's happening with Admirals Row? — Friday, March 4 9 years ago — The TLC releases the results of their Taxi of Tomorrow survey — Friday, March 4 3 years ago — Caught on Live Video: ABC 7 Reporter Approached by Man in Mask on Lower East Side — Saturday, March 4 3 years ago — Not Real Yet - Don't Get Fooled by These Trump Internment Camp Signs — Monday, March 6 3 years ago — FDNY Debuts New Tethered Drone with Infrared Camera — Tuesday, March 7 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day New Lots / Dumont Triangle — A possible competitor for smallest park, this traffic island features just one tree and no grass, with paving stones surrounding the tree. Parks Events Astronomy: The Full Moon — Date: March 8, 2020 The wonders of the universe are ready to be discovered and New York City parks are the perfect place to stargaze and explore the night sky. Concert Calendar Celine Dion is playing Barclays Center on Thursday, March 5th at 7pm. Dermot Kennedy with SYML is playing Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, March 5th at 8pm. 070 Shake (16+, Rescheduled from October 9, 2019) are playing Webster Hall on Thursday, March 5th at 9pm. Jane Birkin is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Fabolous with Funkmaster Flex is playing Apollo Theater on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. bbno$ is playing Bowery Ballroom on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Silversun Pickups with The New Regime is playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Omarion with Bow Wow and Ying Yang Twins and Soulja Boy and The Millenium are playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday, March 6th at 8pm. Celine Dion is playing Prudential Center on Saturday, March 7th at 7pm. Steve Hackett is playing Bergen Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 7th at 8pm. Moein is playing Manhattan Center on Saturday, March 7th at 9pm. bbno$ is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, March 7th at 9pm. Tchami is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, March 7th at 9pm. Celine Dion is playing Prudential Center on Sunday, March 8th at 7pm. The Brothers (Allman Brothers Band 50th Anniversary) are playing Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, March 10th at 8pm. Dashboard Confessional with The Get Up Kids is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, March 11th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Residents or businesses can order posters, decals, and signs to properly label recycling bins and list items that are recyclable Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 77°F on March 9, 2016 Record Low: 3°F on March 5, 1872 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain Friday AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Pocket Casts, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Upcoming Events music: 'The Job Next Door' by Anonymous420

Passengers Aboard Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship Test Negative for New Coronavirus — AGBC Health page tracking the coronavirus Gunman Who Allegedly Ambushed Cops Due in Court as Tension Between NYPD, Elected Officials Escalates 64 years ago on February 8, 1956 — Eastern Air Flight 663 swerves to avoid an oncoming aircraft and crashes near Jones Beach, killing all 84 people on board 78 years ago on February 9, 1942 — The SS Normandie catches fire and capsizes into the Hudson River 52 years ago on February 11, 1968 — Madison Square Garden opens on the site of the old Pennsylvania Station Back in April 2019 on Episode 19 of the podcast, I first talked about the possibility of a tower rising above Macy's in Herald Square, and this week, the speculation of the tower moved closer to reality as the retail giant revealed new architectural renderings of a 900ft tower planned to be built on top of the classic Midtown store. Upcoming Events: February 10: Tu B'Shevat

Coronavirus Info for NYC 175 years ago on January 29, 1845 — 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe is first published in the New-York Evening Mirror 63 years ago on February 1, 1957 — Northeast Air Flight 823 crashes on Rikers Island after takeoff at LaGuardia, killing 20 and injuring 78 28 years ago on February 4, 1992 — Area code 917 is introduced, originally used only for cell phones 4 years ago on February 5, 2016 — A crane working at 60 Hudson Street collapses on Worth Street, killing one and injuring three — Read more about the life of David Wichs, who was killed in the collapse. 56 years ago on February 7, 1964 — The Beatles land at JFK Airport, beginning the British Invasion in American music culture 24 years ago on February 7, 1996 — The Concorde makes its final commercial flight from JFK Airport to London, ending the era of supersonic travel 7 years ago on February 8, 2013 — Winter Storm Nemo hits NYC — Winter Storm Nemo hits NYC 4 years ago — Zika Virus in NYC: Links and Information 8 years ago — A cannonball is discovered on Governors Island 2 years ago — Vintage New York Travel Tips Featured in a 1977 Newspaper — AGBC News Episode 8: The Beatles Meet NY, Empty Skyscrapers, and Travel Tips from 1977 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Benjamin Gladstone Square — Hoe Ave., Westchster Ave., W. Farms Rd., the Bronx — Named for Benjamin Gladstone (1897-1935), a New York City native who represented the Bronx's Fifth Assembly District in the New York State Legislature. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Cold War Kids is playing Webster Hall on Tuesday, February 4th at 8pm. Cold War Kids is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, February 5th at 8pm. Dijon is playing Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, February 6th at 7pm. Poppy with VOWWS is playing Brooklyn Steel on Thursday, February 6th at 8pm. Rex Orange County is playing Radio City Music Hall on Friday, February 7th at 8pm. Amber Liu is playing Terminal 5 on Friday, February 7th at 8pm. Mayer Hawthorne is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, February 7th at 9pm. Apollo Music Cafe is playing Apollo Theater on Friday, February 7th at 10pm. Oprah with Michelle Obama is playing Barclays Center on Saturday, February 8th at 9am. Thrice with mewithoutYou is playing Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, February 8th at 7pm. Rex Orange County is playing Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, February 8th at 8pm. Michael Kiwanuka with Sammy Brue is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, February 8th at 8pm. J.I. Prince is playing SOB's on Saturday, February 8th at 8pm. Apollo Music Cafe is playing Apollo Theater on Saturday, February 8th at 10pm. Rynx is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, February 8th at 10pm. J.I. Prince is playing SOB's on Sunday, February 9th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Learn about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: 1.8 million New Yorkers benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that helps families and individuals supplement the cost of their diet with nutritious foods Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 70°F on February 5, 1991 Record Low: -6°F on February 5, 1918 Weather for the week ahead: Rain tomorrow through next Friday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Pocket Casts, Overcast, TuneIn Radio, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

11 years ago on January 15, 2009 — Captain Sullenberger lands USAir Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, an event that would become known as the Miracle on the Hudson 19 years ago on January 17, 2001 — A 2.4 magnitude earthquake strikes the Upper East Side of Manhattan 63 years ago on January 21, 1957 — The Mad Bomber is arrested after planting at least 33 bombs that injured 15 people 50 years ago on January 22, 1970 — The first Boeing 747 enters commercial service on a Pan Am route from JFK Airport to London Heathrow 15 years ago on January 23, 2005 — The FDNY suffers "Black Sunday" when three firefighters are killed are four are injured in two separate fires — Fatal fires break out in Brooklyn, Queens and Bronx early Monday — one victim likely murdered before blaze 105 years ago on January 25, 1915 — Alexander Graham Bell places the first transcontinental long-distance telephone call from New York to San Francisco 2 years ago — Gov. Cuomo Pledges State Funds to Re-Open Statue of Liberty — Sunday, January 21 2 years ago — January 24 in History: Fraunces Tavern Bombing Kills Four — Wednesday, January 24 1 year ago — Survey Says: Bring on the Marijuana, But None For Me, Thanks — Thursday, January 24 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Church Triangle Parks Events Lunar New Year: 21st New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival Lunar New Year Celebration Dragon Dance audio via KrisNM on Flickr Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Teddy Swims is playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, January 25th at 7pm. Mat Kearney is playing New York Society for Ethical Culture on Saturday, January 25th at 7pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, January 25th at 8pm. LAUNDRY DAY is playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, January 25th at 8pm. Goose is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, January 25th at 9pm. Itzy - Band is playing Kings Theatre on Sunday, January 26th at 8pm. Lauren Alaina is playing Bowery Ballroom on Monday, January 27th at 8pm. Phora is playing Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, January 28th at 7pm. Stray Kids is playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, January 29th at 6pm. Ali Gatie is playing Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, January 29th at 7pm. Iann Dior with Landon Cube are playing Gramercy Theatre on Wednesday, January 29th at 8pm. Heilung is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, January 29th at 8pm. The Wood Brothers with Kat Wright is playing Webster Hall on Thursday, January 30th at 7pm. Loud Records 25th Anniversary with Wu Tang Clan , Big Pun tribute, Fat Joe, Mobb Deep and more are playing Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, January 30th at 8pm. The Wood Brothers with Kat Wright is playing Webster Hall on Friday, January 31st at 7pm. George Dalaras is playing Apollo Theater on Friday, January 31st at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Ward's Point in Tottenville, Staten Island is the southernmost point of both New York City and New York State Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 72°F on January 26, 1950 Record Low: -6°F on January 24, 1882 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Saturday. AGBC Weather Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, Spotify, Podcast Addict, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

AGBC collects a variety of links from across the internet and analyzes them to power our links page. Links are selected and ranked based on whether they are about New York and interesting enough to share. A few times per day, this same system also re-ranks the past few hours of news links and creates our top stories page. Taking that same idea and expanding it, here are the top stories about NYC for each month of 2019, along with a bit of follow-up to see how things have progressed since they were first published. January 2019 New York City's 2019 Women's March in Photos Not quite as large as the original 2017 Women's March, but still impactful enough to earn the highest-rated news story from January 2019. The third Women's March was actually two marches after one had split from the original organizing committee. Accusations of antisemitism against organizers of the national march led local organizations to split from the group based in Washington D.C. On January 19th, both an independent group, the Women's March Alliance, and the original national group held protest marches, one on the Upper West Side and one in downtown Manhattan at Foley Square. For 2020, the Women's March Alliance plans to march near Columbus Circle, but has not released a route as of yet, and the official local chapter of the national Women's March plans a rally in Foley Square. Both events are scheduled for January 18th. February 2019 Police detective killed by friendly fire in New York City A chaotic robbery at a T-Mobile store in Richmond Hill in Queens led to the first NYPD killed in the line of duty in nearly two years. The death of Detective Brian Simonsen brought increased focus to the case and revealed the many strange details of what would have been a typical store robbery. Most striking was the revelation that, although a bystander correctly told police that the man was robbing the store with a gun and forcing employees into a back room, in the aftermath of the police response and the shooting of the suspect, the gun was found to have been fake, and Simonsen had been accidentally shot and killed by fellow police officers. When the suspect emerged from the back room holding the realistic gun, officers retreated back outside, but the suspect not only raised the gun, but made movements as if he were firing it at officers. The seven officers at the scene then fired 42 shots within 11 seconds, striking the suspect eight times and hitting two officers. A second suspect, who had served as a lookout during the robbery, was captured several days later. Sergeant Matthew Gorman, who was also one of the first to respond to the robbery, was also hit in the hip by shots fired by other officers, but survived his injuries. In an interview with local news site The City in April 2019, the suspect said he was attempting to commit suicide by cop and he expressed that he wanted to tell the family of Detective Simonsen how sorry he was, although more recently, speaking to the NY Post from Rikers while awaiting trial, he stated that the robbery was meant as a prank and that he shouldn't be held responsible for the shootings of the officers. Although Detective Simonsen's death had been the first NYPD death in almost two years, tragedy would strike again in September 2019, when Detective Brian Mulkeen was accidentally shot and killed by fellow NYPD officers during a struggle with a suspect at the Edenwald NYCHA Houses in the Bronx. March 2019 Manhattan drivers near new era that may include $11.52 tolls The top story for March was about the congestion pricing plan, which was planned as part of the budget. Although the final toll price to charge vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street hasn't been decided on, a prior study in 2017 by a state-appointed task force called for a $11.52 toll, which is being used as a baseline for what the new recommendation will actually be in 2020. The congestion pricing plan would go on to pass as part of the state budget on April 1, 2019 despite the pricing not yet being finalized. Under the current plan, pricing and enforcement systems will be studied throughout 2020 and announced at the end of the year. With details still up in the air, the earliest that congestion pricing could take effect would be 2021, but it remains to be seen how many legal challenges the various parts of the system will face, including potential last-minute lawsuits similar to those that delayed the 14th Street busway for three months this year. When congestion pricing does take effect, the funds will be used to improve the entire MTA system and install bus and bike lanes citywide. If the timeline holds true, New York will be the first city in the United States to implement congestion pricing, following world cities like Singapore, London, and Stockholm. April 2019 Toll hike makes Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge most expensive in country While the congestion pricing plan made headlines in March 2019 when it was finalized in the state budget, another toll jumped into the spotlight by April 2019, when the Verrazzano Bridge became the most expensive toll bridge in the country. Depending on your discounts and payment methods, may pay a variety of prices to cross, but the most expensive crossing, a Staten Island-bound non-E-ZPass trip, increased $2 and hit $19 on April 1st, 2019. If you're looking to cross the bridge on a budget, you can get a discount for using an E-ZPass, which will bring the price down to $12.24, and if you're a Staten Island resident, you can further chop away at the price by showing proof of residency to get a $5.50 price, or if three or more people can carpool together in a Staten Island-registered vehicle, the price drops to $3.40. The MTA-maintained bridge had daily traffic of more than 202,000 daily crossings in 2016, down from an all-time high of 219,000 in 2001, and in 2017, tolls on the bridge totaled about $417 million per year. May 2019 Brooklyn, Queens neighborhoods top list of fastest growing rental markets With May 1st being the time when New York leases traditionally expired, it's no surprise that the top story for May was about rental prices. Real estate site StreetEasy outlined their report in which housing sales were dropping while the rental market was growing, especially in Brooklyn and Queens. StreetEasy saw the biggest rental growth in the most expensive neighborhoods, which they theorized may be because people who want to live in those desirable neighborhoods are more willing to rent as sales prices have been increasing three times more quickly than rentals. Given the different rates of price increases between rentals and sales, an expensive rental may still be the smartest choice once all the costs of owning an apartment are factored in. Even with Amazon canceling plans to move to Long Island City, that neighborhood remained in the greatest demand in Queens, with Dumbo taking the priciest spot in Brooklyn. Although May 1st is no longer official the city's Moving Day, the middle of the summer is still a difficult time to change apartments, so if you're looking for a new place, consider trudging through the snow-filled streets when the lower number of renters means you'll have more bargaining power when signing a new lease! June 2019 Even Without Amazon, Rents Spike in Northwest Queens Like I said, during the summer, a city's mind turns towards real estate, and for June, real estate site Mansion Global looked at data from Douglas Elliman and Citi Habitats focused on the high end of rentals in the city. Like the StreetEasy report, Douglas Elliman found luxury rents rising in Long Island City despite Amazon's decision to cancel HQ2. Long Island City will continue to grow with or without Amazon, and the new luxury buildings rising up in the former industrial neighborhood are finding tenants willing to make it the most expensive neighborhood in Queens. Luxury rentals in Manhattan stayed the same year-over-year, with the Soho and Tribeca area remaining the priciest, with a median monthly rent of $6,150, and Dumbo the priciest in Brooklyn, with a median rent of $5,100. July 2019 NY House Dems call on city to bail out thousands of cab drivers suffering because of taxi medallion ‘crisis' As the summer moved on, the top story for July highlighted the ongoing crisis hitting yellow cab drivers, who are being impacted by ride-share companies while being left with large investments in pricey taxi medallions and business expenses. In July 2019, the Daily News covered a letter signed by 10 U.S. Congressmembers from New York who asked the city council's newly-formed Taxi Medallion Sale Prices Task Force to ensure assistance for taxi drivers and medallion owners who were suffering from a weakening medallion market and predatory lending. The letter came after a New York Times report on the hardships faced by taxi drivers, including mounting debt that led some drivers to suicide. The city was eyed as a source of assistance after the report showed more than a decade of artificially-inflated medallion prices and the city's $855 million earned from selling medallions directly and by collecting taxes on medallion sales. After an influx of mostly-unregulated ride-share companies flooded the market, prices of medallions dropped, leaving medallion owners in debt on an asset that had been sold as a sure-fire investment. For reference, taxi medallions peaked at a price of $1 million in 2013, but none of have for more than $500,000 since 2018. August 2019 NYPD officer shoots self in head in Queens home, ninth suicide of city cop this year After July's story highlighting the risk of suicide among taxi drivers, in August a similar threat was revealed among NYPD officers, when an off-duty officer took his own life, becoming the ninth officer to die by suicide in 2019. Robert Echeverria was a 25-year member of the NYPD, and his death turned the conversation toward an epidemic of officer suicides that needed special attention. According to the Daily News, another officer had taken his own life just one day earlier, and four officers killed themselves in June 2019. Sadly, by October 2019 a 10th officer would die by suicide, doubling the typical rate of suicides seen among NYPD officers and leading the city to establish confidential mental health services for NYPD members, offering free counseling and prescriptions through a partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Officers interested in seeing what services the program provides can search "NYPD Finest Care" or call NewYork-Presbyterian at 1-877-697-9355 and ask for the NYPD Finest Care counseling program. September 2019 Six hundred straphangers evacuated in Brooklyn after train's mechanical failure We couldn't escape 2019 without a story of the subway breaking down, and September certainly delivered when a Manhattan-bound 'C' Train became stuck between stations underneath Brooklyn Heights at the High Street–Brooklyn Bridge station. Although there was also smoke reported in the tunnel, the cause was determined to have been the train's emergency brakes being activated. Although that sounds like the same work of the chronic emergency brake puller arrested in May 2019, this brake was apparently automatically activated after one of the shoes that make contact the third rail and power the train lifted off and caused sparks and smoke in the tunnel. In order to evacuate the tunnel, another train was pulled to the end of the disabled train and passengers were able to walk from one to the other and evacuate through the nearby station. Thankfully only one person was treated for a minor injury, which was a much better outcome than if a train of 600 people had come to a jolting stop, where many people would have been thrown to the ground. If you happen to find yourself crawling out of a smoke-filled subway tunnel but your coworkers refuse to believe your story, you can submit a Subway Delay Verification online to receive an official confirmation that you were late due to the MTA. One train evacuation aside, according to the MTA's own data, major incidents are slowly trending down across the entire subway system after a spike in January 2018. Subway on-time performance has also been on the rise, with Andy Byford claiming on-time performance topped 80% for the first time in six years, a figure defined as a train arriving within five minutes of its scheduled arrival. October 2019 ​Videos Of Teen Arrests In Subway Spur Outrage​ November 2019 City Council Grills MTA On Fare Evasion, Homelessness, And Hiring 500 New Cops By the time October and November rolled around, the MTA was having a harder time in the news. For two months, the top stories were directed at policing in the subways. Two chaotic arrests caught on video in October spread across social media and formed protests in response to what people saw as unnecessarily aggressive actions by police in the subway. Adding to the problems raised by the videos were confusion about what the teenagers in either video were being detained for, and the confusion was amplified by the clipped nature of the videos, only showing the police response and not the events that led to any of the teens being detained. Once it was revealed that one of the arrests was over turnstile jumping, the focus turned toward the MTA and Governor Cuomo's plan to hire 500 new police officers who would be assigned to the subway system. Critics saw the 500 officers as an unnecessary addition to preexisting NYPD subway patrols and the MTA police force, and at a time when the NYPD's data showed a decrease in subway crime. During a meeting with the city council in November, the plan for the new officers was scrutinized, with questions raised on why the 500 officers, which would cost $50 million a year, were being added when the MTA was running at a deficit. The costs of police assigned to stop fare evasion could potentially put a dent in the estimated $215 million per year lost to turnstile jumping, but the methods the MTA uses to estimate those losses were also questioned, as well as whether the 500 police would even be assigned to monitor fare evasion or if they were meant for general policing. The lack of any concrete plan for the 500 officers made the public and the city council skeptical, combined with video going viral on social media at the same time showing what people already considered an overly aggressive police response to a possible turnstile jumper. December 2019 'Bus lanes are for buses': MTA rolls out enforcement cameras on Brooklyn bus line And, ending out a year of top stories, another MTA story, but one where the MTA gets some good-natured retaliation after so many critical stories in previous months. For December, bus-mounted cameras took the top story spotlight as the MTA's social media campaign for the cameras gave straphangers a chuckle. Back in September, the MTA first started having some fun introducing their bus-mounted traffic cameras by showing an animated bus taking a photo that actually zapped the delivery truck out of the way, sending the bus lane scofflaw off into some other dimension and leaving the bus lane clear. After a 60-day trial period where warnings were mailed out, the cameras began issuing actual tickets along the M15 Select Bus line in December, where the cameras had caught 15,000 total bus lane blockages during the 60-day trial period. The first casualty in December was Santa and his sleigh! In a second social media post promoting the expanding bus camera program, a B44 bus zapped Santa's sleigh out of the way after Santa left his delivery vehicle parked in the bus lane. In another animation, an M15 bus cleared the snowy streets by zapping a car with an ice ray and knocking it out of the bus lane. The cameras will also come to M14 buses to help enforce parking and stopping rules along the 14th Street busway. So that was the year in New York City news! A few quick, unscientific numbers from our database of news stories: Of the 27,556 links indexed over 2019, the most common borough mentioned was Brooklyn, followed by the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and then Staten Island. "Police" and "NYPD" appeared in 3,575 stories, with firefighting keywords like "FDNY" and "fire" appearing in 1,066 stories. Both "man" and "woman" appeared in the top 25 most-popular terms, with terms like "man" and "boy" appearing 1,739 times and "woman" and "girl" appearing 1,058 times. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Sherman Street Seating Area — 40.650827, -73.973892 — This plaza provides a nice set of benches and some old trees providing shade before you ascend the stairs to cross Ocean Parkway via the pedestrian bridge. Parks Events Recycle your Christmas tree at Mulchfest — The Parks Department and the Sanitation Department are ready to take that Christmas tree off your hands with locations across the city where they will chop up real trees into mulch that can be spread around other trees to protect them from cold weather. You'll be able to drop off your tree, and at some locations you'll even be able to see the trees get chopped into mulch and be able to take some mulch home with you to either use on your own tree or to spread around a tree along the street. Remember to remove all lights and ornaments before handing over your tree, and schedule your trip for a Saturday if you want to see the mulch-making machine in action! Check out the list of locations at nycgovparks.org and drop off your tree anytime from December 26th to January 11th and visit one of the chipping sites on Saturdays beginning at 10am to pick up a bag of mulch! If you can't make it to the park, the Sanitation Department offers curbside pick-up of trees from January 6th through January 17th, when you can place your tree outside with regular trash bags. Real trees collected curbside will also be made into mulch and used in parks across the city. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Flosstradamus is playing Webster Hall on Friday, January 3rd at 9pm. Dry Reef is playing Mercury Lounge on Friday, January 3rd at 10pm. I Love The 90s with The Fresh Kids of Bel-Air is playing (Le) Poisson Rouge on Friday, January 3rd at 11pm. Ja Rule with Ashanti is playing New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 4th at 8pm. Satisfaction is playing Bergen Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 4th at 8pm. Jessie's Girl is playing (Le) Poisson Rouge on Saturday, January 4th at 9pm. Reggaeton vs Hip Hop Night NYC is playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, January 4th at 10pm. Firebeatz is playing Marquee New York on Saturday, January 4th at 11pm. Wolfgang Gartner is playing Webster Hall on Saturday, January 4th at 11pm. Motion City Soundtrack with The Sidekicks is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, January 8th at 7pm. Yola is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Wednesday, January 8th at 8pm. yMusic is playing Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, January 9th at 7pm. Smif-N-Wessun with Black Moon is playing Gramercy Theatre on Thursday, January 9th at 7pm. The Dead South with Legendary Shack Shakers is playing Warsaw on Thursday, January 9th at 8pm. Cimafunk is playing Webster Hall on Thursday, January 9th at 8pm. Afromondo Showcase is playing SOB's on Thursday, January 9th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: 220 West 135th Street lost its National Historic Landmark status in 2009 when it was discovered not to have been the correct address for the home of Florence Mills Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 72°F on January 6, 2007 Record Low: -4°F on January 1, 1918 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain on Friday through next Wednesday. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, Spotify, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Buzzy 'Auld Lang Syne' by David Fifield — 'Auld Lang Syne' by Two Ton Baker and the Maple City Four

Starting off with a bit more busway news this week: In a study released by Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants [PDF link], the 14th Street busway has improved travel times on multiple modes of transit by evaluating a variety of data sources, including the Department of Transportation, independent traffic counting, and Citibike data. M14 A and D bus weekday ridership is up 24% compared to last year, and transit times between Third Avenue and Eighth Avenue are faster by 36%, making the crosstown bus ride 5.3 minutes faster. Although the criticisms of the busway before it was even implemented were that the surrounding streets would become parking lots, the data shows that travel time on the surrounding crosstown streets stayed the same or increased by an average of one and a half minutes during weekday rush hours, with the biggest total increase found on 17th Street, the first crosstown street to the north of 14th that isn't broken up by Union Square. By comparison, travel times on the next-closest two-way crosstown streets, 23rd to the north and Houston to the south, showed a variety of increases and decreases in total travel times compared to October last year. On the Avenues, only minuscule changes were seen in drive times, with speeds actually increasing significantly during morning rush hours. The preliminary report released by Sam Schwartz Transportation Consultants is the first of seven scheduled reports, with the final report on the project set to be released in Spring 2021. In the span of just 16 hours, four people were struck and killed by drivers across the city. In Manhattan, a 26-year-old woman was struck at a crosswalk in SoHo by a box truck driving in reverse, a man in Hell's Kitchen was struck and killed by a sanitation truck driver, an 85-year-old man was killed in Sunset Park by a truck driver, and a 57-year-old man was struck by three drivers separate and killed in Park Slope. According to Streetsblog.org, that brings the total number killed by drivers this year to 214, an 8% increase over 2018. In response, Mayor de Blasio stated that the NYPD will be deploying extra officers citywide to increase truck enforcement. The news sadly coincides with bicyclist Daniel Cammerman being struck and killed by the driver of a school bus on the 96th Street Central Park transverse on December 18th and the Brooklyn Supreme Court handing down a $43 million ruling this week in the case of a young girl struck and seriously injured by the driver of a school bus in 2017. Now is the time to focus on avoiding the flu this winter. The measles outbreak was a rare occurrence that was confined to small communities and mostly young children who hadn't yet been vaccinated, and only a few hundred people were affected, but different types of flu viruses take hold each year and flu vaccines must be built to properly address the flu strains that will be most prominent during each flu season. Data from the New York Department of Health shows that flu activity in New York City is already at a high level and there has been a 48% increase in hospitalizations statewide due to influenza. Within the city, there have been a total of 2,028 cases since the flu season began in October, with the past week showing a sharp increase of nearly 1,000 new cases within a week. The number of total cases is much higher at this point in the season than it has been in previous years. Given the early arrival of flu season, it's important to get a flu shot as quickly as possible, and it is a vital step for young children and older adults, especially anyone with heart disease, diabetes, asthma, lung disease, liver disease, or those who are pregnant. Just like the measles vaccine, everyone should receive a flu shot to avoid potentially spreading the disease to someone else in the city who may have a more compromised immune system. To find flu vaccinations across the city, use the NYC.gov Health Map at nyc.gov/flu or visit your neighborhood pharmacy, hospital, or clinic and ask if they administer flu shots. And please, everyone, wash your hands and cover your mouth by coughing or sneezing into your elbow! It's one of the easiest most impactful actions you can take to stop the spread of disease, and everyone holding the subway pole after you will be thankful. 30 years ago on December 15, 1989 — Arturo Di Modica's 7,100 pound bronze 'Charging Bull' statue is secretly installed overnight near the New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree as a gift to the people of NYC Christmas and Hanukkah are on the way, and our list of tree and menorah lightings at agreatbigcity.com/christmas or agreatbigcity.com/hanukkah has the times and dates of 50 lighting ceremonies across the city! You can sort the list by holiday and past events are still listed, so that you can find a local Christmas tree to visit and keep track of public menorah lightings for each day of Hanukkah. If you don't see your local event on the list, drop us a note and we'll put the info up, whether it's the Rockefeller Center tree or just a neighborhood gathering to hang homemade ornaments on an evergreen in the local park! 48 years ago on December 26, 1971 — Members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War occupy the Statue of Liberty for 42 hours to draw attention to the ongoing war 35 years ago on December 22, 1984 — Bernhard Goetz shoots four men on a subway car, seriously wounding them during what was either a panhandling or robbery attempt 8 years ago — A Very Shepherd Christmas - Stories From Jean Shepherd's New York City Radio Show — Shepherd hosted a late-night show on WOR for 21 years, and each night was packed with the same storytelling and clever insights that became the inspiration for 'A Christmas Story'. While his voice has become ingrained in Christmas pop culture as the narrator of 'A Christmas Story', the recordings of his radio career from 1956-1977 paint a raw, impressionistic vision of New York City life. When Christmas came around each year, Shep would retell some of the various anecdotes that would be gathered together into 'A Christmas Story', some of which had recently been published in Playboy magazine and some of which made their debut on his radio show. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Franz Sigel Park Parks Events Lighting of the Largest Menorah in Brooklyn Lighting of the World's Largest Menorah in Manhattan Christmas Eve Caroling Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Sunday, December 22nd at 7pm. A KANYE WEST OPERA - MARY is playing David Geffen Hall on Sunday, December 22nd at 8pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Monday, December 23rd at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, December 24th at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, December 25th at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, December 26th at 7pm. Dave East is playing PlayStation Theater on Thursday, December 26th at 9pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Friday, December 27th at 7pm. PNB Rock (16+, Rescheduled from October 20, 2019) are playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, December 27th at 8pm. Oliver Heldens is playing Schimanski on Friday, December 27th at 9pm. The Disco Biscuits is playing PlayStation Theater on Friday, December 27th at 9pm. Gogol Bordello with Dub Trio is playing Webster Hall on Saturday, December 28th at 6pm. Phish is playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, December 28th at 7pm. Yo La Tengo is playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, December 28th at 7pm. The Allman Betts Band is playing Beacon Theatre on Saturday, December 28th at 8pm. NERO is playing Schimanski on Saturday, December 28th at 9pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: There have been 7 versions of the Times Square New Years Eve Ball: One made in 1907, 1920, 1955, 1995, 1999, 2007, and 2008 Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 72°F on December 24, 2015 Record Low: -4°F on December 20, 1942 Weather for the week ahead: No major precipitation throughout the week. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. A moment of remembrance this week for Alelia Murphy, who I mentioned back in July on Episode 30 of the podcast when she celebrated her birthday as the oldest living American. The Harlem resident died at the end of November at the age of 114 years, 140 days old. Ms. Murphy was born in North Carolina in 1905 and has lived in Harlem since the 1920s. Her funeral was held December 6th at the United House of Prayer for all People church on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The previous oldest American, Lessie Brown, died in January 2019. According to the Gerontology Research Group, the oldest living American is now Hester Ford, born just one month after Ms. Murphy in 1905. According to the records of the Gerontology Research Group, the oldest known New Yorker was Susannah Mushatt Jones, who was born in 1899 and lived 116 years, 311 days until her death in 2016 at a senior home in Brooklyn. In Uber's end-of-year report, the Empire State Building topped the list of most Ubered-to locations worldwide, with 1WTC coming in second place. — Transportation reporter Aaron Gordon wrote on Jalopnik that the Empire State Building is within a 10 minute walk of nearly every single subway line, PATH trains, MetroNorth, and the LIRR. At the World Trade Center, the second-most Ubered-to location worldwide, 12 subway lines and the PATH train stop nearby. Other proposals, like City Council Speaker Corey Johnson trying to convince Mayor de Blasio to duplicate the 14th Street busway in Midtown streets on 34th or 42nd Street would also help replace the caravan of crosstown Ubers with city buses that could alleviate the gridlock near the Empire State Building. According to the DOT's 2019 Mobility Report, on 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets, over 50% of the traffic is composed of taxis and rideshare vehicles, and traffic speeds in Midtown are 30% slower compared to the rest of Manhattan south of 59th, with vehicles creeping along at just 4.9 mph. Christmas tree lightings are already happening! So check out the AGBC list of tree and menorah lightings at agreatbigcity.com/christmas or agreatbigcity.com/hanukkah, where there are currently 41 lightings across the city. If you don't see your local event on the list, drop us a note and we'll put the info up, whether it's the Rockefeller Center tree or just a neighborhood gathering to hang homemade ornaments on an evergreen in the local park! 5 years ago on December 5, 2014 — Korean Air Flight 86 is forced to return to the gate at JFK Airport after Korean Air vice president Heather Cho throws a temper tantrum over the serving of in-flight macadamia nuts Back in Episode 49 we covered the closing of Ellis Island in 1954 and how the brick buildings were almost torn down to make way for a futuristic city designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, but 119 years ago on December 17, 1900, A new Ellis Island processing center opens after a fire destroyed the original wood buildings 25 years ago on December 7, 1994 — Howard Stern and a passing motorist save a man threatening to jump from the George Washington Bridge 40 years ago on December 2, 1979 — Elvita Adams attempts to jump from the Empire State Building, but is saved after hitting a ledge 20 feet below 1 year ago on December 10, 2018 — The 'Fearless Girl' statue is relocated from Bowling Green to a permanent location outside the New York Stock Exchange building 30 years ago on December 15, 1989 — Arturo Di Modica's 7,100 pound bronze 'Charging Bull' statue is secretly installed overnight near the New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree as a gift to the people of NYC A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Haviland Playground — Haviland Ave., Watson Ave. bet. Virginia Ave. and Pugsley Ave., the Bronx — Set on land that was part of Pugsley Farm and named for earlier landowners Joseph and Mary Haviland. Serves as the playground for adjacent I.S. 125. Parks Events Check out our list of Christmas tree and menorah lightings across the city for some of this week's upcoming tree lightings, since most of them are placed in public parks! And now let's check in with our robot friend for the concert calendar: Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Summer Walker with Melii is playing Terminal 5 on Sunday, December 8th at 8pm. Dimash Qudaibergen is playing Barclays Center on Tuesday, December 10th at 7pm. Angele with Angel is playing Webster Hall on Tuesday, December 10th at 7pm. Holiday Cheer for WFUV Benefit Concert: Mavis Staples with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats is playing Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, December 10th at 8pm. CAAMP with Savannah Conley is playing Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday, December 10th at 8pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm. Idina Menzel is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm. CAAMP is playing Brooklyn Steel on Wednesday, December 11th at 8pm. Anuel AA is playing Barclays Center on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm. DaBaby is playing Terminal 5 on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm. Omar Apollo is playing Brooklyn Steel on Thursday, December 12th at 8pm. Jingle Ball with Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, and more are playing Madison Square Garden on Friday, December 13th at 7pm. HennyPalooza is playing Barclays Center on Friday, December 13th at 8pm. Lindsey Stirling is playing New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Friday, December 13th at 8pm. Live from Here with Chris Thile is playing The Town Hall on Saturday, December 14th at 5pm. Tyler Childers with Liz Cooper & The Stampede is playing Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, December 14th at 9pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: The Port Authority of NY and NJ oversees a "port district" area that is loosely defined as a 25-mile radius around the Statue of Liberty Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 75°F on December 7, 1998 Record Low: 3°F on December 10, 1876 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Player FM, Podcast Addict, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. The ridership on crosstown buses at 14th Street has increased to more than 32,000 daily riders, an increase over last year's 26,000 daily riders, and now the city is looking at increasing service along the route. Now that buses are moving faster thanks to the clear streets and the installation of bus loading platforms, some are beginning to need to hold at bus stops to avoid getting ahead of schedule. The 14th Street buses will also be getting on-board camera systems that photograph any bus lane blockers and send that info to the Department of Transportation. Any scofflaws caught blocking buses by those on-board cameras or street-mounted cameras will be subject to fines. These are the same on-board cameras that made a dramatic debut recently when the Transit Authority posted a video on social media showing the bus camera zapping a delivery truck out of the bus lane. Although there haven't been any reports of disintegrating delivery vans, the cameras have been operating on the M15 and B44 Select Bus routes. Good and bad news for any holiday shoppers hoping for some traffic relief in Midtown this holiday season: City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said the success of the 14th Street busway should lead the city to expand the program to similar streets like 34th and 42nd, but Mayor de Blasio's view is still that instituting busways on other streets would be a premature move before the 14th street pilot program has completed. The current busway pilot program is scheduled to last 18 months, after which the DOT will examine the results and decide whether the program will continue. Midtown bus riders may still be stuck behind empty Ubers on 34th Street, but visitors to Rockefeller Center will get a bit more breathing room. The city announced on November 22nd that, beginning Friday, November 29th, movable barriers will be installed to close streets around Rockefeller Center and add more pedestrian space during the holiday season. The plan is to completely close 49th and 50th Streets from Fifth to Sixth beginning in the afternoon until midnight, when most shoppers and visitors will be in the area. Along Fifth Avenue from 48th to 52nd, a lane of the road on each side will be reclaimed for pedestrian traffic with movable barriers. On Sixth Avenue, a similar barrier setup will take over one lane of traffic, but only when the NYPD and DOT observers see that crowds are growing and more pedestrian space is needed. According to State Senator Brad Hoylman, the Rockefeller Center area attracts 125 million visitors during the holiday season. When news of the potential street closure plan leaked at the end of October, Mayor de Blasio emphasized that it had not yet been approved by City Hall and that someone at the DOT may have accidentally or intentionally leaked it "trying to further their own agenda". The plan will take effect the day after Thanksgiving. You may notice one problem when you combine the previous two stories: In response to news of the Rockefeller Center street closures, Transit Authority head Andy Byford released a short statement criticizing what he called a unilateral decision by the city that will slow down buses in the Rockefeller Center area since they are not given priority in the current plan. Fifth Avenue is a major north-south route for buses, and it remains to be seen how the four-block narrowing of the street will impact traffic or transit times. This week, the Port Authority announced this week that they hope to use autonomous vehicle technology to more closely space their buses through the Lincoln Tunnel. While they plan realistically wouldn't eliminating drivers, the technology would allow the buses to drive close to each other and maintain a higher speed by closely monitoring the surrounding environment and avoiding collisions with greater accuracy than a human driver. Today's podcast is brought to you by City Survival: The AGBC Holiday Gift Guide — Whether it's a tiny replica of a fire escape to hang on your wall or a gadget that may one day help you escape a stalled subway train, find all your gifts this year through our Gift Guide at agreatbigcity.com/gift-guide and your purchases will financially benefit AGBC. Coming up November 28th, the 93rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving parade will fly 16 giant balloons from 77th Street to 34th Street, with new giant balloons this year of Astronaut Snoopy, Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham, a new Spongebob Squarepants design featuring Gary the snail, and the reappearance of Smokey the Bear, but those new balloons will hopefully stop to pay their respects to some of their fallen comrades. Over the 93 years of Macy's parades, there have been three major balloon crashes: 26 years ago in 1993 — The Sonic the Hedgehog balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade knocks down a streetlight in Columbus Circle, injuring a child and an off-duty police officer 22 years ago in 1997 — Four are injured, two seriously, when a Cat in the Hat balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade knocks down a streetlight on Central Park West — Hear more about the Corey Lidle plane crash on Episode 44 of the podcast 14 years ago in 2005 — Two are injured when an M&M balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade knocks down a streetlight in Times Square Safety limits are now set on where balloons may only fly if sustained winds are below 23mph and gusts are below 34mph. For this Thanksgiving, the winds are predicted to be in the 20mph range, so it remains to be seen if high winds may ground the balloons this year. No matter what happens to this year's Macy's balloons, it won't be as exciting as the parade's end from 1927 to 1932, when parade balloons were simply launched into the sky after the parade, where the helium-filled balloons would rise into the air and Macy's predicted they would deflate and land, so they attached a note that offered a $100 reward to anyone who returned the balloon's remains. The tradition ended, however, when one of the loose balloons finally ended up getting stuck on the wing of an airplane and sent the plane into a tailspin. 13 years ago on November 25, 2006 — Sean Bell is shot and killed by police in a controversial shooting that raised protests over how police handled the encounter and whether anyone in Bell's bachelor party was actually armed — Sean Bell is shot and killed by police in a controversial shooting that raised protests over how police handled the encounter and whether anyone in Bell's bachelor party was actually armed. Upon leaving the bachelor party at a strip club, undercover police testified that they heard one of Bell's friends say he was going to get a gun, so police, who were outside the club investigating possible prostitution at the location, drew their guns and fired on the group, killing Bell and severely injuring two others. The NYPD response hinged on whether a gun was mentioned or displayed, with witnesses saying no one in the bachelor party mentioned a gun and none being found at the scene. Mayor Bloomberg called the shooting unacceptable and said it looked like a case of excessive force, with five officers firing a total of 50 shots, hitting Bell four times, Trent Benefield three times, and Joseph Guzman 19 times. Protests took place comparing Bell's death to similar police shootings of unarmed men and protesters called for the officers to be held accountable. Three of the five officers involved in the shooting were indicted and went before a judge in a bench trial where all charges were dropped on April 25, 2008. Despite their acquittal, all officers and their commanding officer were fired or forced to resign by 2012. Liverpool Street from 94th to 101st Ave in Jamaica, Queens was named in honor of Sean Bell on what would have been his 27th birthday. 109 years ago on November 27, 1910 — The original Penn Station opens to the public, with an estimated 100,000 visitors on the first day — The original Penn Station opens to the public, with an estimated 100,000 visitors on the first day The city operated a bit differently in those days, with the New York Times noting the increase in pedestrians on a Sunday in the "usually very quiet" area in Midtown between Penn Station and Times Square, and that the crowds were "impressed with the lack of confusion" at Penn Station on opening day. One aspect of the opening day report did seem all too familiar: The new station caused a notable increase in subway passengers at both the Times Square and 33rd Street stations, causing passengers to question why there had not been extra capacity added to the Seventh Avenue cross-town trolley. The increase in train traffic also relocated a large number of support personnel to the city, with many settling in southeast Queens near the newly-constructed Sunnyside train yards. This increased the population of Long Island City by at least 2,000. The original above-ground structure of Penn Station would remain until 1963, when it had fallen into disrepair and was torn down and replaced with Madison Square Garden. The loss of what was once an architectural wonder led to the formation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission that would save Grand Central Terminal from a similar fate just two years later. Today, the Moynihan Train Hall near Penn Station is being renovated into a modern version of what Penn Station once was. The new train station will service Amtrak and LIRR customers and feature a soaring glass atrium ceiling about the size of Grand Central's main hall. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Bergen Triangle — E. 181 St., Anthony Ave., Grand Concourse, the Bronx — Named for William Bergen, one of the largest developers in the Bronx, who spotted vacant lots and bought them, constructing over two hundred homes on his land. One of Bergen's most notable achievements as a developer was the construction of the Bergen Building, built in 1915 at the intersection of Tremont and Arthur Avenues, about one mile southeast from Bergen Triangle Park. Parks Events The city will be hosting Black Friday Hikes on November 29, 2019 as a way to clear your mind from any holiday stress and avoid any ravenous shopping crowds. There will be one official hike in each borough, but you're encouraged to visit any park and take your own hiking adventure. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Snoh Aalegra with Baby Rose is playing Webster Hall on Sunday, November 24th at 7pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Sunday, November 24th at 8pm. Hozier with Angie McMahon is playing Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday, November 25th at 8pm. Jaden Smith and Willow Smith are playing Terminal 5 on Tuesday, November 26th at 7pm. Hozier with Angie McMahon is playing Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, November 26th at 8pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Tuesday, November 26th at 8pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, November 27th at 8pm. Lil Tjay is playing PlayStation Theater on Wednesday, November 27th at 8pm. Mega Bash with Luis Fonsi, Reik, Ozuna are playing Prudential Center on Friday, November 29th at 7pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, November 29th at 8pm. Fobia is playing PlayStation Theater on Friday, November 29th at 8pm. Madeon with Instupendo is playing Brooklyn Steel on Friday, November 29th at 8pm. Pentatonix is playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 30th at 7pm. Guster with Rubblebucket is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, November 30th at 7pm. Bob Dylan is playing Beacon Theatre on Saturday, November 30th at 8pm. Hot Tuna is playing The Town Hall on Saturday, November 30th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: You can call, text, or chat with a trained counselor 24 hours a day at the city's NYC Well program Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 77°F on November 20, 1985 Record Low: 13°F on November 22, 1880 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain this weekend, with a chance of wind on Wednesday and Thursday Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify, Player FM, Pocket Casts, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. If you're one of the 26,000 people who visit the Wall Street Bull on a typical day, you may soon need to ask for a different set of directions. Back in April 2018, when it was announced that the Fearless Girl statue was going to be moved from Bowling Green to outside the New York Stock Exchange, there were also rumblings of a possible move for the Charging Bull statue. The Bull is one of the city's most popular and iconic attractions, but its location in the middle of Broadway has long caused a dangerous situation, with onlookers standing inches away from the taxis and tour buses that travel down Broadway. A small pedestrian area added along the border of Bowling Green plaza has not helped, and concrete barriers are still necessary along the border of the plaza to prevent the multiple lanes of traffic from hitting visitors to the statue. A year after the city moved Fearless Girl, the mayor's office has confirmed that the Wall Street Bull will be moving out of Bowling Green and into the plaza outside the NYSE, where visitors can more safely gather around the iconic statue. Tourists may be asking for directions to the Bull for quite a long time, as Google Maps currently still shows the Fearless Girl statue as being located in Bowling Green, despite being moved to the Stock Exchange a year ago in November 2018. If you're a fan of the Bull, be prepared for its 30th anniversary, coming up on December 15th, when the Bull was first dropped off in front of the Stock Exchange in what sculptor Arturo Di Modica called a gift to the people of New York that was meant to represent the strength and power of the American people. Despite initially placing the Bull in front of the Stock Exchange, Di Modica is no fan of the statue being relocated there again. Although no final placement has been announced, Di Modica was also critical of the placement of the Fearless Girl near his statue, and would likely fight having the statues placed facing each other again. The Parks Department does not purchase art to display in city parks, so in a unique arrangement, the Bull is technically still owned by Di Modica, but has also long outlasted the one-year limit that pieces of art are typically granted to be displayed in public parks. This unofficial arrangement over the statue's ownership will likely cause further confusion if the sculptor disagrees with the city's plans to relocate the statue. Checking in with the 14th Street busway, the Department of Transportation will be installing new bus-boarding platforms along 14th Street from now through December 2019. These are snap-together plastic islands that allow faster boarding of buses without taking up sidewalk space. The plastic platform extends out from the bus shelter and prevents vehicles from being able to block the bus stop and allows the bus to continue along the route without pausing to merge back into traffic. This, combined with the all-door boarding of the Select Bus Service allows faster bus stops with more room for passengers while exiting or waiting for the bus. Each platform will take about six days to install and will temporarily close the bus stop at that location, but the DOT will stagger the installations so that the nearest surrounding bus stops remain in service. The busway itself just passed one month in operation after a series of lawsuits delayed its opening. Both city Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Transit Authority president Andy Byford have publicly praised the results of the busway and see it as a template for possible busways in other parts of the city where traffic has slowed buses to a crawl. The 14th Street busway program is expected to last 18 months, after which the DOT will examine the results and decide whether the program will continue. If you're elsewhere in the city and can't catch one of the frequent 14th Street buses, soon you'll be able to flag down a truly unique taxi option. This week, the Taxi and Limo Commission added the 2019 Tesla Model 3 as an approved vehicle to be converted into a city taxi. The electric cars have a minimum range of 220 miles, but excel in city driving as they don't waste energy while stopped in traffic. During the Taxi of Tomorrow competition, part of the complaint against the winning Nissan NV200 was the cost of maintenance, another area where Teslas would shine, as they have no required maintenance. According to Allan Fromberg of the TLC, there are already Teslas operating as for-hire vehicles in the city, but none have gotten the full taxi treatment yet. Any potential Model 3s that will be used as city taxis will receive the same makeover as all other vehicles, from the yellow paint job to the clear partition and roof-mounted lights. It would be up to the taxi company using the Model 3 to figure out how and when to recharge the car, as Tesla explicitly prohibits taxi and rideshare vehicles from using its Supercharger network, which is the fastest way to recharge a Tesla vehicle. Taxi operators would instead need to install high-power electric hookups at their garages, much like companies install private gas pumps to refuel their fleets of vehicles. Coming up November 28th, the 93rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving parade will feature 16 giant balloons, 40 smaller balloons and inflatables, 26 floats, 1,200 performers, 11 marching bands, and more than 1,000 clowns. New giant balloons this year are Astronaut Snoopy, Green Eggs and Ham, a new Spongebob Squarepants design featuring Gary the snail, and the reappearance of Smokey the Bear. If you've ever followed AGBC during the Thanksgiving season, you may know that this is also the season for the AGBC Thanksgiving Parade — a page on our site that takes all 93 years of balloons and jumbles their names into a wacky new lineup. Let's hit the randomizer and see what ideas we come up with for this year's AGBC parade: Visit agreatbigcity.com/thanksgiving to shuffle the list and generate your own funny balloon names. Where else will you see the Buzz Rugrats balloon, How to Train Your Santa Claus, and Mama and Papa Doughboy? Only in a hypothetical AGBC parade, of course! 61 years ago on November 10, 1958 — New York jeweler Harry Winston donates the Hope Diamond to the Museum of Natural History by mailing it to Washington D.C. via registered mail 50 years ago on November 10, 1969 — Sesame Street debuts on public television after an earlier test period in July when episodes were shown to preschoolers in Philadelphia and NYC 212 years ago on November 11, 1807 — Washington Irving gives New York the name "Gotham", which means "goat's town" Bill de Blasio finally called it quits after attempting a Presidential run back in September, but this week former Mayor Bloomberg indicated that he may take another swing at the campaign, himself! Bloomberg has toyed with the possibility of running for President over the years, but seemed to declare his most serious effort for the upcoming 2020 election. While he has not officially declared his candidacy, this week Bloomberg filed paperwork to appear on the Alabama ballot, which had an early deadline candidates must meet, and is in the process of filing in Arkansas and is listed as a potential candidate by the Michigan Department of State. According to various reports from people close to Bloomberg, he has not made a final decision, and will soon announce his intentions. In a statement, top advisor Howard Wolfson stated that this was not a campaign announcement, but that Bloomberg was increasingly concerned that the current field of Democratic candidates are not well positioned to defeat Donald Trump. Neither Bloomberg nor Wolfson provided any specific criticisms on policies or candidates that they find troubling, earlier in October, Bloomberg had reportedly only considered entering the Presidential race if front-runner Joe Biden dropped out. With Bloomberg's recent filing of paperwork in Alabama, the latest Quinnipiac poll was only able to ask the final half of those surveyed about a potential Bloomberg Presidential run, and although the sample size is only 636 potential New Hampshire Democratic voters, the results are certainly less than encouraging: Of the 636 surveyed, 54% responded that they would definitely not vote for Bloomberg in the Democratic primary. Among the full 1,134 likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters, Joe Biden still takes the top spot, but with only 20% of those surveyed choosing him if the primary were held today. In a separate question, 61% indicated they might change their mind on which candidate they'd vote for before the primary. In a November 8th poll by Morning Consult, Bloomberg faced high unfavorability numbers, but would fare about as well as Biden, Sanders, and Warren in a hypothetical match-up against Trump if the election were held today. 65 years ago on November 12, 1954 — Ellis Island is closed after years of serving as a detention center after both World Wars 18 years ago on November 12, 2001 — American Airlines Flight 587 crashes in the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens on takeoff from JFK Airport, killing all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground In AGBC history: 2 years ago — Hugo Boss Rooftop Features Massive Cologne Bottle — Wednesday, November 8 8 years ago — Occupy Wall Street - Evicted From Zuccotti Park by the NYPD — Tuesday, November 15 3 years ago — NY1 is Rebranded as "Spectrum News" — Tuesday, November 15 A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Ewen Park Parks Events Raoul Wallenberg Forest Tree Planting — Date: November 17, 2019 Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to plant trees in Raoul Wallenburg Forest! Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Charly Bliss is playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, November 13th at 6pm. The Charlie Daniels Band with The Allman Betts Band are playing Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, November 13th at 8pm. Joe Bonamassa is playing Beacon Theatre on Thursday, November 14th at 8pm. Jay Park is playing Terminal 5 on Thursday, November 14th at 8pm. Lux Prima is playing Kings Theatre on Thursday, November 14th at 8pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden on Friday, November 15th at 8pm. Joe Bonamassa is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, November 15th at 8pm. Taking Back Sunday is playing Terminal 5 on Friday, November 15th at 8pm. Taking Back Sunday with Frank Iero is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, November 16th at 3am. New York Hurling Classic is playing Citi Field on Saturday, November 16th at 12pm. Tool with Killing Joke is playing Prudential Center on Saturday, November 16th at 7pm. Joe Bonamassa is playing Beacon Theatre on Saturday, November 16th at 8pm. Anderson .Paak are playing Brooklyn Steel on Sunday, November 17th at 8pm. A Day To Remember with Beartooth and I Prevail are playing Terminal 5 on Tuesday, November 19th at 6pm. SuperM is playing Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, November 19th at 7pm. Tool with Killing Joke is playing Barclays Center on Tuesday, November 19th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Did you know? Those dark green USPS sidewalk mailboxes without mail slots are called relay boxes and are used so that mail carriers don't have to carry an entire route's mail with them all at once Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 80°F on November 15, 1993 Record Low: 17°F on November 16, 1933 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain tomorrow and next Monday. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Podcast Addict, Player FM, Spotify, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Take a trip through the slimy, sickening side of the city and prepare yourself for A Great Big SCARE! It's ironically appropriate that the subway celebrates its birthday right around the spookiest time of year, as it prominently features in New Yorkers' nightmares. 115 years ago on October 27th, 1904, The original 28 subway stations opened, stretching from City Hall to 145th Street in Manhattan. From 1904 until 1948, the price for a subway ride was just 5¢, a price range that's equivalent to about 92¢ in today's dollars. Instead, you'll be paying three times that amount for a ride today, in a 100-year-old system that is struggling to keep up with modern demand. Although the subway's on-time performance recently hit a six-year high, only 81% of trains arrive on time during a typical weekday, and the subway's previous on-time figures put it at the lowest among all major cities' transit systems. In 2017, Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency for the New York transit system in an effort to revitalize the deteriorating subway and modernize its signal system. In an effort to avoid further increasing the subway fare, the MTA's $54 billion plan to improve the subway will rely on revenue from a congestion pricing toll on vehicles that enter Manhattan south of 61st Street. Vehicles entering central and southern Manhattan will be subject to a toll of around $12 for the privilege of sitting in traffic that has slowed to a crawl in recent years as rideshare drivers have flooded the streets, with speeds in Midtown in 2018 averaging just 4.7 mph. If streets lined with traffic and a subway running on ancient tracks make New York sound like the city for you, don't forget to pay at the door! Beginning January 2020, the cost of entering the city via bridge or tunnel will increase to $16 and the AirTrain ride to JFK Airport will increase to $7.75. If you've finally paid your toll to get into the city, good luck finding a place to stay! According to real estate site StreetEasy's data through August 2019, the prices of rentals are increasing while the prices of homes for sale are decreasing. The median asking price for a one-bedroom in Manhattan jumped 7.5% year-over-year, adding $233 to the monthly rent. If you end up looking at apartments more in your price range, the horrors continue. According to bedbugregistry.com, there have been 4,490 reports of bedbugs across the city, including a report from October 26th of a traveler who woke up from a lovely sleep in room 1622 of a hotel in Midtown only to find a bedbug crawling on his pillow. The hotel refused to believe him until he capture a live bug in a sandwich bag and showed it to the hotel staff. If you think you're safe from bedbugs if you don't stay in a Midtown hotel, consider the tale of a resident in Long Island City, who ordered a bed frame and headboard online, only to open the package and find bedbugs inside. When New Yorkers glance up to see air conditioners precariously hanging from every apartment window, a pedestrian's mind turns to tragedy, picturing their inevitable death after one of those menacing sheet metal boxes breaks free from its windowsill. If the air conditioner plummets toward you, will those days at the gym give you the nimble speed to heroically jump out of its path? In the past 30 years, there have been only a handful of documented air conditioner drops, despite millions of New Yorkers propping their A/Cs up on the hopes that the power cord will support the full weight of the machine if it ever tears loose. While you allow the fear of falling machinery to fade from your mind, consider a report from 2008 that showed the increased energy usage of air conditioning during the summer directly contributes to up to 1,000 deaths annually in the eastern United States. Without sustainable forms of energy, power-hungry air conditioning units put extra demand on coal-burning power plants, increasing ozone levels and fine particulate matter in the air, all of which will only get worse as climate change increases the frequency and duration of summer heat waves. New York is a world-class city that will survive far into the future, or at least some parts will survive. As the earth's climate changes and sea levels begin to rise, more and more of the city's shoreline will be regularly inundated with water, eroding the city's most valuable infrastructure. Water levels around New York have already risen more than one foot since 1900, and the rate of sea level rise is only increasing. By 2100, the waters around New York will rise from between 18 inches to over four feet, due to damage that has already been done to the planet. On a map from FloodHelpNY that uses FEMA data to estimate future flood-prone areas, water is seen flooding coastal areas across the city as water levels rise, putting areas like Long Island City, the Rockaways, and both JFK and LaGuardia Airport at risk. In Manhattan, the appropriately-named Canal Street will become a canal once again, pouring water directly into the Hudson Tunnel entrance, and in Brooklyn, the sea will wash over Red Hook and swell the waters of the Gowanus up into the surrounding neighborhood. New data shows that the elevation data used to calculate the impact that sea level rise will have on coastal cities was actually using satellite data that measured the heights of trees and buildings, mistaking them for the ground level, so much more low-lying land will be inundated with water than previously estimated. And all of that water is just on a good day, not when a 100-year flood hits the city. Seven years ago on October 29, 2012, the city saw how intensified natural disasters can bring an unprepared the city to its knees. When Superstorm Sandy hit the city, sweeping corrosive ocean water into basements, power stations, and subway tunnels, the city suffered a $30 billion impact, and one still felt seven years later as subway repairs continue and residents struggle to rebuild their homes. — Hurricane Sandy hits New York City, causing a five-day blackout across downtown Manhattan and damage to infrastructure across the city, on Long Island, and in New Jersey And now let's see what haunted happenings our robot friend has found for this Halloween night: Dead & Company is playing Madison Square Garden on Thursday, October 31st at 7pm. Flatbush Zombies is playing Brooklyn Steel on Thursday, October 31st at 8pm. Dead & Company is playing Madison Square Garden on Friday, November 1st at 7pm. Blues Traveler is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, November 1st at 8pm. King Princess with Girlpool is playing Terminal 5 on Friday, November 1st at 8pm. Live from Here With Chris Thile with Gregory Alan Isakov is playing The Town Hall on Saturday, November 2nd at 5pm. Mumiy Troll is playing Webster Hall on Saturday, November 2nd at 6pm. Super Freestyle Explosion with Stevie B and Expose and GEORGE LAMOND and Lisa Lisa are playing Prudential Center on Saturday, November 2nd at 7pm. Marc Anthony is playing Barclays Center on Saturday, November 2nd at 8pm. The Fab Faux is playing Beacon Theatre on Saturday, November 2nd at 8pm. Rosanne Cash with Ry Cooder is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium on Saturday, November 2nd at 8pm. King Princess with Girlpool is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday, November 2nd at 8pm. Leslie Odom Jr. is playing Bowery Ballroom on Monday, November 4th at 7pm. Clairo (16+ Event) is playing Brooklyn Steel on Monday, November 4th at 8pm. Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul are playing Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, November 6th at 7pm. Clairo (16+ Event) is playing Brooklyn Steel on Wednesday, November 6th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Here's something you may not have known about New York: According to a 2014 study, there are approximately 2 million rats living in New York City. The common brown rat not only carries a wide variety of diseases and viruses that is spread via saliva, urine, and rat droppings, but microscopic fleas also catch a ride on rats and carry diseases like the bubonic plague, typhus, and spotted fever. Although an adult rat weighs about as much as a can of soda, they can squeeze through an opening the size of a quarter and jump three feet in the air. Park of the Day Visit the former home of the king of horror, Edgar Allen Poe, at Poe Park in the Bronx, on Grand Concourse at 192nd. The poet rented the home from 1846 to 1849, just before his early death at the age of 40. Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 84°F on November 1, 1950 Record Low: 23°F on November 5, 1879 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain throughout the week. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere Concert Calendar music: 'La beauté dans les gouttes de sueur qui perlent sur ton front' by Dancefloor is Lava Feature music: 'Abyss' by Demoiselle Döner — 'Hello Michael !' by Loyalty Freak Music — 'Monster Parade' by Loyalty Freak Music — 'Insomnia at the bottom of the river' by Soft and Furious

Last week I walked you through the history of the Guggenheim Museum to mark its 60th anniversary on October 21, 1959, and this week I wanted to point you to a podcast by 99% Invisible, a design and architecture podcast, which worked with the Guggenheim to produce a special audio walkthrough that talks about the history of the building and some of the art that has been displayed in the museum over the years. For instance, you may not have known that Frank Lloyd Wright initially intended for museum attendees to ride an elevator to the top of the building and experience the museum's exhibitions from top to bottom. Learn more about the Guggenheim at 99pi.org and listen to episode 375 of 99% Invisible while you tour the museum. — The Guggenheim Museum Opens on the Upper East Side A few more details this week on the observation deck at Hudson Yards that we talked about in Episode 13 of the podcast: The deck is the glass triangle jutting off the southeast corner of 30 Hudson Yards that the surrounding neighborhood lovingly referred to as a bird beak! The observation deck is called New York Edge and will be the highest observation deck in the western hemisphere at 1,131 feet above street level, surpassing both the observation deck at 1WTC and the former Sears Tower, but still falling far short of overseas marvels like Shenzhen's Ping An International Finance Centre's observation deck that is 700 feet higher. The most striking aspect is the glass floor section at the center of the triangle, offering a view straight down the side of 30 Hudson Yards. Walking to the tip of the triangle-shaped deck will offer views across the entire city, from the new skyscrapers lining Billionaire's Row, full views of the Empire State Building, and a look down the western side of Manhattan all the way to 1WTC. The deck won't open until March 2020, but tickets are already on sale at an introductory price of $36/person for a specific time or $56/person for a daily pass. If you're a New York resident, you can receive a few more dollars off the list price. Both prices are comparable to what you'll pay to rise above the city at One World Observatory or the Empire State Building's observation decks. — Living with a view like that doesn't come without a hefty price tag, either! In PropertyShark's latest data, Hudson Yards ranked as the most expensive neighborhood, pushed to the top by a slew of expensive new sales in newly-opened buildings. For the third quarter of 2019, Hudson Yards sailed past Tribeca to post a median sale price of $5 million — more than twice Tribeca's $2.4 million median price for the same time period. Since PropertyShark's ranking of expensive neighborhoods is based on real estate transactions that closed during each quarter, neighborhoods can jump up the list quite drastically, as was seen in this report when the Lower East Side made an appearance at #8 on the list, jumping up eight places, after a number of units were sold at 250 South Street, a massive 72 story tower that grew along the waterfront at the base of the Manhattan Bridge. Sales during the third quarter in that building alone had a median price of $1.6 million. While you're up on the new observation deck at Hudson Yards, bring a pair of binoculars and see if you can spot some new signage in Dumbo: The former glowing-red Watchtower sign that stood along the Brooklyn waterfront for nearly 50 years will now be replaced with a glowing-red Welcome sign. The architectural renderings show a slightly less ominous font than the Watchtower sign, but the new Welcome sign will still be displayed in bold letters and still feature the LED clock above the sign. The building was sold by the Jehovah's Witnesses for $340 million in 2016 and the new owners are redeveloping the site into a mixed-use complex named the Panorama, which will incorporate shopping and innovative outdoor public spaces. Interestingly, the website for the Panorama still features an earlier rendering of the replacement sign, where the word Panorama would be spelled out in a similar font to the Welcome sign which will now be installed. The Rockefeller Center ice rink recently opened, the Bryant Park rink will open in Winter Village after Halloween, but you may notice a difference at the Central Park rink this winter: After buildings along Riverside Boulevard removed the Trump name from their buildings, two ice-skating rinks in Central Park were some of the last remaining Trump branding in the city, but as skating began this year, the Trump name was covered over or replaced with a small footnote where there had previously been large red letters on the rink's walls. As the Washington Post reports, some of the signs have been amended with a small "Operated by the Trump Organization" note at the bottom, while the skate rental counter simply hung a tarp over the name. According to the Parks Department, the change was unexpected and was the decision of the Trump Organization, which will still run the rinks, but voluntarily decided to downplay their branding for the first time since the 1980s. Although the rinks are still officially named the Wollman and Lasker rinks, the branding is a result of Trump's real estate company aiding the city in completing the construction and renovation project in the 1980s. Skating at Wollman rink is open now at 62nd Street and costs between $12 and $19, and skating at Lasker rink at 110th Street opens on October 27th and costs $9. For a free option, head to Bryant Park or the Conservatory Water pond on the east side at 74th Street, where remote control boats float during the summer, but free ice skating is available once the ice freezes thick enough! If you're not ready to get in the winter mood and go ice skating just yet, keep an eye on our listing of Halloween events in the city! Coming up on Saturday, October 26: The Fort Greene Great PUPkin costume contest for dogs at 11am and the larger Fort Greene Halloween Festival from noon to 3pm. On Sunday, October 27: The Howl-o-Ween dog costume party in Riverside Park at 87th Street at noon. On Wednesday, October 30: The Halloween Pumpkin Floatilla in Central Park's Harlem Meer at 110th Street at 4pm. And on Halloween, the Riverside Park costume parade at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at 89th Street at 3pm and the city's biggest party, the Village Halloween Parade at 7pm along Sixth Avenue in the West Village! Visit agreatbigcity.com/halloween for more info. 16 years ago on October 24, 2003 — The Concorde makes its final commercial flight from JFK Airport to London, ending the era of supersonic travel 1 year ago on October 26, 2018 — A suspect is taken into custody in Florida after mailing bombs to prominent critics of Donald Trump, including two to CNN's Columbus Circle headquarters and one to Robert De Niro in Tribeca 115 years ago on October 27, 1904 — The original 28 subway stations open 56 years ago on October 28, 1963 — Demolition begins on Penn Station, razing all above-ground structures to make way for Madison Square Garden despite outcry from architects and the public 7 years ago on October 29, 2012 — Hurricane Sandy hits New York City, causing a five-day blackout across downtown Manhattan and damage to infrastructure across the city, on Long Island, and in New Jersey A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Dunbar Playground Parks Events Halloween Fest 2019 — Date: October 26, 2019 at 11am in Bushwick Inlet Park Halloween Pet Costume Party — Date: October 26, 2019 at noon in Jackie Robinson Park Fort Totten Halloween Festival — Date: October 26, 2019 at noon in Queens 40th Annual Halloween Haunted Walk + Fair — Date: October 26, 2019 at noon in Prospect Park Halloween Harvest Festival — Date: October 26, 2019 Movies Under the Stars - Shocktoberfest: Beetlejuice — Date: October 26, 2019 Halloween Fest 2019: Beetlejuice — Date: October 26, 2019 Mad. Sq. Dogs Howl-o-ween — Date: October 27, 2019 Howl-o-ween — Date: October 27, 2019 Riverside Park Howl-O-Ween Costume Party — Date: October 27, 2019 Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla 2019 — Date: October 30, 2019 Glow-in-the-Dark Paint Night: Halloween Special — Date: October 31, 2019 Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Power 105.1's Powerhouse with Migos, Meek Mill, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and more are playing Prudential Center on Saturday, October 26th at 7pm. Scotty Sire with Toddy Smith is playing Gramercy Theatre on Saturday, October 26th at 8pm. Bad Bunny is playing Prudential Center on Sunday, October 27th at 7pm. Still Woozy is playing Webster Hall on Sunday, October 27th at 8pm. Hiatus Kaiyote with Rich Medina is playing Brooklyn Steel on Monday, October 28th at 8pm. Melanie Martinez with Lauren Ruth Ward is playing Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, October 29th at 8pm. Trey Anastasio is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium on Tuesday, October 29th at 8pm. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band is playing Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, October 30th at 7pm. X Ambassadors is playing Terminal 5 on Wednesday, October 30th at 7pm. Pink Martini is playing Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, October 30th at 8pm. Trey Anastasio is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium on Wednesday, October 30th at 8pm. Dead & Company is playing Madison Square Garden on Thursday, October 31st at 7pm. Flatbush Zombies is playing Brooklyn Steel on Thursday, October 31st at 8pm. Dead & Company is playing Madison Square Garden on Friday, November 1st at 7pm. King Princess with Girlpool is playing Terminal 5 on Friday, November 1st at 8pm. Blues Traveler is playing Beacon Theatre on Friday, November 1st at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: The current Times Square New Years Eve Ball weighs 11,875 pounds, about as much as three Checker Cabs! Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 83°F on October 28, 1919 Record Low: 28°F on October 27, 1936 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Sunday through next Thursday, with high temperatures falling to 58°F next Thursday. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn Radio, Player FM, Overcast, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. We've been following the 14th Street busway since it was first proposed, and after being blocked twice by legal complaints, the street has been swept free of cars and the buses have been roaming free for two weeks now. In a press release from the MTA, preliminary data shows that ridership is up and buses are moving faster along 14th Street. A cross-town trip from Third Avenue to Eighth Avenue will now take 10.6 minutes, compared to a 15 minute trip from last year. While collecting data on the Select Bus Service plan implemented along the M14 route, the MTA saw a jump in ridership, with 15% more people choosing to take the prioritized buses, and in the short time the 14th Street busway has been operating, the ridership has jumped again, topping 31,000 daily riders on an average weekday. The busway, which limits traffic on 14th Street from 6am to 10pm, is planned to last 18 months, after which the DOT will assess the impact it has had on bus transit and traffic in the surrounding area. — Also this week, independent data analysis firm INRIX evaluated traffic data from the streets surrounding the 14th Street busway and found that there was no change in traffic speeds, and zero impact on traffic to the immediate north or south of 14th. The initial objections raise by local community groups claimed the busway would negatively impact nearby streets by pushing 14th Street's traffic into their neighborhoods, but the speed increase for 31,000 daily bus riders came at no expense to traffic, with differences in average speeds on surrounding streets never slowing more than a half a mile per hour. Here's how INRIX described the results: "The impact, or lack-there-of, may seem surprising but similar projects around the world have had similar results. The reallocation of space from vehicles to buses represents a far more efficient use of a limited public resource. Whereas one urban lane in congestion can move roughly 1,000 people an hour, a transit way can hit 25,000. As a result of this project, more people are getting where they need to be faster and more reliably." 53 years ago on October 17, 1966 — 12 members of the FDNY are killed when a burning building collapses, becoming the largest single loss of life in FDNY history until the 9/11 attacks 18 years ago on October 24, 2001 — A 14-story construction scaffolding and brick building façade collapses, killing five workers and seriously injuring 10 others in a courtyard at 215 Park Ave South near Union Square 54 years ago on October 18, 1965 — Closing day of the NY World's Fair at Flushing Meadows Park — Bowery Boys podcast 24 years ago on October 23, 1995 — A Greenpeace activist piloting a "gas-powered parachute" flies a banner outside the UN building 88 years ago on October 24, 1931 — The upper level of the George Washington Bridge is opened in a dedication ceremony, and opens to traffic the next day — United States Marine Band conducted by Leonard Slatkin playing William Schuman's 1950 composition "George Washington Bridge" 60 years ago on October 21, 1959 — The Guggenheim Museum Opens on the Upper East Side 136 years ago to October 22, 1883 — The original Metropolitan Opera House opens Beginning October 18th through the 20th, you'll have the once-a-year opportunity to explore the city like never before when Open House New York brings you exclusive tours of the city's architectural masterpieces that are sometimes hidden from public view or pass by unnoticed the rest of the year. Visit ohny.org for the full schedule of events, some of which require advance registration, but most of which are open all day to the public. The choices range from brand-new developments like 277 Mott Street to historic homes like the Alice Austen House, built on Staten Island in the 1690s. Going beyond architecture, you can also tour special projects like a solar rooftop in Harlem and an urban farm run by Brooklyn Grange in Long Island City. Each site sets its own visitation hours, so visit ohny.org to plan out your weekend! And, if you're planning on marching in the Village Halloween Parade, you better be finishing up your costume soon! Halloween is less than two weeks away, and the city's biggest party will be stepping off Thursday, October 31st at 7pm at Sixth Avenue and Canal. The parade is unique because it lets anyone participate! If you wear a costume centered around this years theme of "Wild Thing", you'll be allowed to march is a special section of the parade, but anyone who shows up in a costume will become part of the parade, and usually more than 50,000 people show up! Visit halloween-nyc.com for full info, and if you haven't decided on a costume yet, visit the AGBC costume ideas generator at agreatbigcity.com/halloween-costumes where you can get funny New York-themed costume ideas like dressing up as a vintage traffic jam now that the 14th Street busway is open or strike fear in the heart of anyone who has walked the city streets by becoming the Starbucks Bathroom of Doom! A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Every evening, just before sundown, A Great Big City checks the Empire State Building's lighting schedule and sends out a notification if the tower's lighting will be lit in special colors for a holiday or celebration. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Crotona Park Parks Events 10th Annual Harvest Festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park — Saturday, October 19, 2019 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: The Misfits with Rancid and The Damned are playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, October 19th at 7pm. Mana is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Saturday, October 19th at 8pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Saturday, October 19th at 8pm. Benin International Musical is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium in Hell's Kitchen / Midtown on Saturday, October 19th at 9pm. 85 South is playing Apollo Theater in Central Harlem on Sunday, October 20th at 5pm. 85 South is playing Apollo Theater in Central Harlem on Sunday, October 20th at 9pm. Tidal X with Alicia Keys is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Monday, October 21st at 8pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Monday, October 21st at 8pm. Charli XCX is playing Terminal 5 in Hell's Kitchen / Midtown on Monday, October 21st at 8pm. Charli XCX with Allie X is playing Terminal 5 in Hell's Kitchen / Midtown on Tuesday, October 22nd at 8pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Tuesday, October 22nd at 8pm. Dermot Kennedy with Talos is playing Kings Theatre in Ditmas Park / Flatbush on Tuesday, October 22nd at 8pm. Jessie Reyez is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Wednesday, October 23rd at 8pm. Fantasia with Robin Thicke is playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Friday, October 25th at 7pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Friday, October 25th at 8pm. Alec Benjamin is playing Terminal 5 in Hell's Kitchen / Midtown on Friday, October 25th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: In 2016, the MTA had 5,710 buses in its citywide fleet Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 88°F on October 22, 1979 Record Low: 30°F on October 19, 1940 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain on Sunday through Wednesday, with high temperatures rising to 67°F next Friday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Pocket Casts, Spotify, Player FM, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

A surprising development in the city's fight against billboard barges — The company floating the LED billboards in the waters around Manhattan has thrown in the towel after new state regulations pushed them back 1,500 feet from the shoreline. The advertising company promoting the billboard boats has now settled with the city and agreed to be subject to a $100,000 fine if they operate within New York waters. The barge will be relocated to Florida, where the company set up a similar barge along the Miami shoreline in 2016. The agreement with the city ends both the company's six-month fight with the city and the challenge they raised to the state law. As of October 11th, the company's website has been replaced with a generic image saying the site is down for maintenance. According to a presentation acquired by Digiday in January 2019, the company was touting their Hudson River and East River coverage to advertisers at the rate of $55,000 for a 30 second looping at on the banner boats, and they referenced the city's plan to continue developing the shoreline and the city's ferry system as reasons to advertise on LED billboard barges. 86 years ago on October 10, 1933 — A United Air Lines Boeing 247 from Newark, NJ exploded in what is believed to have been the first sabotage bombing of a commercial aircraft 56 years ago on October 14, 1963 — A New York Airways helicopter crashes just after takeoff from Idlewild (JFK) Airport, killing all six people aboard Double-check your speed if you're on the West Side Highway after October 12th — The city is dropping speeds from 35 to 30 mph on the West Side south of 59th Street beginning Saturday. The move comes as part of Vision Zero, a set of plans adopted by cities worldwide and introduced to New York by Mayor de Blasio in 2014. Vision Zero aims to eliminate pedestrian injuries and fatalities from vehicles, and the reduction in speed on the West Side Highway is meant to reduce the severity of vehicle impacts in areas south of 59th where the highway becomes street-level and pedestrians and cyclists frequently have to cross highway traffic at intersections, including busy areas like the Intrepid museum, Chelsea Piers, and Battery Park City. While drivers may rarely even have the opportunity to top 30 mph in rush hour traffic, the DOT will catch any drivers speeding using new speed cameras along the highway. If the area south of 59th Street sounds familiar, it's because it's the same area targeted by the upcoming congestion pricing plan, where a system of cameras will collect tolls on cars entering the area south of 61st Street. While vehicles staying on the FDR or West Side Highway will be exempt from congestion pricing, vehicles would also be monitored by cameras used for collecting tolls on vehicles exiting the West Side Highway once it reaches street level and begins exiting into the central business district south of 61st. The speed limits on all small streets within the city were dropped to 25 mph in November 2014. If you can't enjoy a low-speed drive on the West Side Highway and don't want to pay a congestion toll, consider a ride along the new 14th Street busway, which was finally able to open on October 3rd, and has been going swimmingly ever since. The street has been cleared of cars, leaving the buses to freely glide from stop to stop along 14th Street from Third Avenue to Ninth Avenue. Even though the implementation was delayed by three months by community groups, the first week of the busway seems to have had no noticeable impact on the surrounding streets. Bus riders on social media showed quiet, peaceful, and efficient rides during multiple times of day, with just a sparse few delivery trucks parked along the curb. It remains to be seen if the city's experiment with a busway can indeed increase the average speeds of buses on 14th Street while also not slowing down the surrounding area, but for right now, the first attempt at reorganizing 14th Street seems to be a success. I'll bring you the full Department of Transportation report once the trial period for the busway is complete. 16 years ago on October 15, 2003 — A Staten Island ferry strikes a pier at St. George Terminal, S.I., killing 11 people and injuring 165 of the 1,500 passengers In A Great Big City history: We're currently watching the MTA's new busway on 14th Street, but 3 years ago the MTA Sends Test Trains Along the New Second Avenue Subway. Train aficionado DJ Hammers on Youtube caught a glimpse of empty subway cars through a stairway at 63rd and Lex that were being run on the new Second Avenue line. The test cars were loaded with large boxes, presumably to simulate the weight of a fully-loaded train. The Second Avenue line would open three months later in January 2017. 8 years ago we were looking at the Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park Preparing Their Skating Rinks, and both rinks are on schedule this year as well! Rockefeller Center's rink opens on Saturday, October 12th, with regular admission being $25 for adults and $15 for children under 11 years old, and the Bryant Park rink will open as part of their Winter Village on October 31st, with free admission. 2 years ago, the NTSB was working to track down the drone pilot who was responsible for a drone colliding with an Army helicopter. The Blackhawk helicopter was hovering at about 300 feet near Midland Beach in Staten Island when a DJI Phantom drone struck the helicopter's blade and window frame, which obliterated the drone but did lodge a piece of debris in the helicopter that the NTSB would use to identify the owner of the drone. When interviewed by the NTSB, the drone operator admitted that he was flying the drone outside of his visual range and was unaware of the helicopter's flight path. Data from the drone operator's controller showed the drone's flight from Dyker Beach Park out over the water, along the Coney Island shore, and then looping back over open water toward Staten Island. It was at that point that the drone hit the helicopter. — Drone Pilot Interviewed After Collision with Army Helicopter A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day Corporal Fischer Park — Highbridge, Nelson Avenue at West 170th Street — This park honors a New Yorker who enlisted in the United States Army and served in the 75th Joint Assault Signal Company of the Army Air Corps during World War II (1939-1945), Corporal Irwin A. Fischer. The park land is undeveloped and appears to be inaccessible due to a fence around the property, but it adds a nice bit of green to the corner. Nearby Corporal Irwin Fischer Place was previously known as Highbridge Street, Hennessy Place, and briefly James R. Murphy Place. Parks Events Pumpkin-picking at Decker Farm in Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island — Admission: $6, Saturdays and Sundays through October 26th from 11am to 5pm. Featuring hayrides, a hay maze, apple cider, s'mores, and of course a variety of pumpkins to choose from! The farm may be 200 years old, but it even features pumpkin chunkin with a huge bungee slingshot! Visit the link in the show notes to historicrichmondtown.org for directions and more info. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Wilco is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Sunday, October 13th at 7pm. Sara Bareilles with Emily King is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Sunday, October 13th at 8pm. Post Malone with Swae Lee is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Monday, October 14th at 8pm. The Black Keys with Modest Mouse is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Tuesday, October 15th at 7pm. Post Malone is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Tuesday, October 15th at 8pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Tuesday, October 15th at 8pm. Kacey Musgraves with Lucius is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Wednesday, October 16th at 8pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Wednesday, October 16th at 8pm. The Chainsmokers with 5 Seconds of Summer is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Thursday, October 17th at 7pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Friday, October 18th at 8pm. Moon Boots with Quantic is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Friday, October 18th at 8pm. Mahalia with Jvck James is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg in Williamsburg on Friday, October 18th at 9pm. The Misfits with Rancid and The Damned are playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, October 19th at 7pm. Mana is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Saturday, October 19th at 8pm. Steely Dan is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Saturday, October 19th at 8pm. Benin International Musical is playing Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium in Hell's Kitchen / Midtown on Saturday, October 19th at 9pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Learn about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Those silver Water Sampling boxes along the sidewalk are used to monitor the quality of NYC's water — There are 965 sampling stations citywide and more than 1,300 samples are collected each month Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 90°F on October 17, 1938 Record Low: 32°F on October 15, 1876 Weather for the week ahead: Rain on Sunday through Wednesday, with high temperatures peaking at 73°F on Monday. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast, Podcast Addict, Player FM, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. 9 years ago on October 4, 2010 —

On previous episodes we've covered the threat of measles and West Nile virus, but this week another mosquito-borne virus took the spotlight as Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, was found in mosquitoes in the surrounding area. The CDC describes the disease as rare, with only a few cases per year, but one out of three people die from the resulting flu-like symptoms. Even though the weather is getting colder and will eventually end the mosquito season, take steps to protect yourself if you'll be in an area with mosquitoes. Wear clothing that covers your skin, use a mosquito repellent containing the chemical repellents DEET or Picaridin, or use a natural repellent containing oil of lemon eucalyptus. You can even do your part by calling 311 to report standing water, defined as a place on public or private property where water gathers and remains for more than five days, creating a habitat where mosquitoes may breed. 7 years ago — The Bagel Store in Williamsburg brought back their candy corn bagels. Long before the rainbow bagel would make the shop world-famous, The Bagel Store was experimenting with new color and flavor combos. The shop premiered the orange-and-white swirled candy corn bagel the year before, and in 2012 it was back again, this time paired with marshmallow chocolate-chip cream cheese and alongside the equally-festive pumpkin pie bagel with pumpkin cream cheese! Unfortunately, when I checked in again to see what 2019's fall flavors would be, it looks like the shop has fallen on hard times, and photos posted on their Yelp page show New York state tax seizure notices posted on the closed store's roll-down gates. It's the same tax seizure notices that recently shut down Di Fara pizza and dozens of ice cream trucks in the city. The shutdown hasn't shut down bagel maker Scot Rossillo, who is still posting photos of new creations like rainbow-filled chocolate chip cookies, a waffle bagel, and modified bagel recipes suitable for a Keto diet! 2 years ago on September 27, 2017 — 18-year-old Abel Cedeno stabs two other students at Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx, killing one and injuring another — In September 2019, Cedeno received a 14 year prison sentence for manslaughter, 8 years for assault, and 90 days for criminal possession of a weapon, all of which will be served simultaneously. nn The stabbing became the first killing inside a NYC school in over 20 years. nn Listen to Episode 41 of the podcast to hear more about the attack and Cedeno's sentencing. 5 years ago on September 30, 2014 — Three parachutists make an early-morning jump from 1WTC, landing on nearby street — Three parachutists make an early-morning jump from 1WTC, landing nearby in front of the Goldman Sachs building nn The breathtaking video of the stunt shocked viewers as to how the jumpers accessed the city's tallest building while it was under construction and were able to glide down to the street on parachutes. The answer would come five months later when four men were arrested for the parachute jump. nn One of the men arrested was revealed to have been a construction worker at the site, and they gained access to the site via a hole in a fence. The parachute jump and an earlier trespassing teenager who dressed as a construction worker led to criticism of the building's security practices and the resignation of the site's head of security. nn The four men arrested were fined $2,000 and sentenced to community service, but did not receive jail time for the stunt. Well, we've been tricked before, namely back on Episode 37 in early August, but the Department of Transportation will again try to turn 14th Street into a restricted busway beginning on October 3rd. 14th Street was originally scheduled to convert to a traffic-restricted busway on July 1st to quickly move buses across the city during the L Train shutdown, but then L Train plans were modified to keep the subway open and community groups took legal action against the Department of Transportation's plan. A judge agreed to stop the busway from going into effect until the DOT provided more information, which they did, and it appeared that the buses would be allowed to roam free until another last-minute legal ruling kept cars on 14th Street. The busway was scheduled to begin on August 12th, when traffic would be restricted and buses given priority to increase transit speeds, but downtown community groups submitted a petition renewed their complaints on August 9th, claiming the Department of Transportation hadn't done sufficient studies into the impact that removing traffic from 14th Street would have on the surrounding area. nn This week, an appeals court ruled against the complaints and cleared the way for the busway to take effect, three months later than originally planned. nn Beginning on Thursday, October 3rd, only buses will be allowed on 14th Street between Third and Ninth Avenue from 6am to 10pm, with all other vehicles able to enter the street only for one block to make a local trip. Those vehicles will be required to exit immediately at an intersection to keep the street clear for M14A and D buses, one of the most heavily-used bus lines in the city. Left turns will be banned to keep traffic from backing up in front of the buses and automated traffic cameras will be used to monitor vehicles. The DOT estimates that the changes will increase the speeds of buses by 30%, and the plan is expected to run for 18 months. 8 years ago on October 1, 2011 — 700 Occupy Wall Street protesters are arrested after trying to cross the Brooklyn Bridge by walking on the roadway — 700 Occupy Wall Street protesters are arrested after trying to cross the Brooklyn Bridge by walking on the roadway nn It was the largest number of arrests during an Occupy protest and was one of the largest mass arrests since the 2004 Republican National Convention protests. There was controversy over the tactics used by police, who did not actively prevent the marchers from walking to the bridge roadway but then conducted a mass arrest a few hundred feet up the Manhattan side of the bridge while others on the narrow pedestrian walkway watched from above. The Occupy camp in Zuccotti Park would be cleared a month and a half later but the group would continue various protest demonstrations through the next year. Just a week earlier, the Occupy movement had held a protest march near Union Square, where the large numbers of protesters brought attention to the group and the NYPD's use of mesh nets to corral protesters into makeshift pens. Just south of Union Square, eyewitness video showed a group of young women being sprayed with pepper spray while on the sidewalk, which brought worldwide press coverage and criticism of the NYPD's handling of the growing protest group. 98 years ago on October 5, 1921 — A game between the NY Giants and NY Yankees at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan becomes the first World Series broadcast live on radio — A game between the NY Giants and NY Yankees at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan becomes the first World Series broadcast live on radio nn The Yankees won the first game, played in front of 30,203 attendees, but the Giants would win the overall series 5 games to 3. With two New York teams facing off, it was also the first World Series with all games played at one location, similar to the Subway Series that is played today between the Yankees and the Mets. nn Mike McNally steals home, 10/5/1921 World Series Game at Polo Grounds, 5th inning via Library of Congress In AGBC history: 8 years ago — Ford Transit Connect Taxi Spotted in Lower Manhattan — Wednesday, September 28 8 years ago, New York Apple stores were mourning the loss of Steve Jobs, who died of pancreatic cancer on October 5, 2011. At Tekserve in Chelsea, a memorial was placed in the front window of the store. At Apple stores in the Meatpacking District, SoHo, and on Fifth Avenue, makeshift memorials formed, with flowers and apples placed in front of each store. People used post-it notes to write their own memorial messages, forming colorful displays on the windows of the stores. The walls of post-its would continue to grow, and by the next week, street artist and muralist The Me Nobody Knows would put a custom piece of memorial art at the SoHo Apple store — 8 years ago — Steve Jobs Memorials at Apple Stores in NYC — Thursday, October 6 2 years ago — Suspects Arrested in Terror Plot to Strike New York — The Joint Terrorism Task Force charged two 19-year-old suspects, one Canadian citizen and one from the United States, and one 37-year-old from the Philippines in a terror plot that had advanced to the point of purchasing explosives. All three were charged with terrorism, with the 37-year-old communicating online with the two younger suspects and actively providing funding for an attack against the city. The group acquired bomb-making materials and a cabin outside the city and planned to bomb Times Square, the subway, and conduct random shootings within the city. The Canadian citizen received a 40 year prison sentence, but Pakistan has refused to extradite the American citizen accused in the plot, who had been living in Pakistan at the time of the plot. The older suspect was arrested in the Philippines and the United States has been attempting to secure his extradition since 2017. 1 year ago — Central Park Squirrel Census Will Give City Rodents a Proper Head-Count — The census set out to count the number of squirrels roaming around Manhattan's center. 323 volunteers divided up the park and recorded their squirrel sightings, with the data becoming part of a printed art project with maps and photos from the survey. The final statistical analysis revealed about 2,373 squirrels in Central Park based on the project's observations. It seems a bit low, but it's interesting nonetheless. While nearly 82% of the squirrels were the gray variety, count yourself lucky if you see a squirrel with black or cinnamon-colored fur: They were much more rare in Central Park, with black fur being the least common. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Clearview's Tail — Clearview Expressway at Whitehall Terrace, Queens — A small slip of a park, this land lies at the "tail" of the Clearview Expressway at Hillside Avenue. Parks Events Bronx Fit Fest — Date: October 5, 2019 Join us for free fitness and dance classes, healthy living tips, wellness screenings, and more at Bronx Fit Fest! Activities may include: Yoga Roller and Silent Disco Outdoor spin classes Chairobics Zumba Learn to Salsa Tennis Obstacle Course Line Dance* Healthy living workshops There will also... And now let's check in with our robot friend for the concert calendar: Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Tedeschi Trucks Band is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Tuesday, October 1st at 7pm. Maggie Rogers with Empress Of is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Tuesday, October 1st at 8pm. Madonna is playing BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Boerum Hill on Tuesday, October 1st at 8pm. Carrie Underwood with Maddie & Tae and Runaway June are playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, October 2nd at 7pm. Maggie Rogers with Empress Of is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Wednesday, October 2nd at 8pm. Sandy & Junior are playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Wednesday, October 2nd at 8pm. Madonna is playing BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Boerum Hill on Wednesday, October 2nd at 8pm. Incubus with Wild Belle is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Thursday, October 3rd at 8pm. Madonna is playing BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Boerum Hill on Thursday, October 3rd at 8pm. Tedeschi Trucks Band is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Friday, October 4th at 8pm. Maluma is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Friday, October 4th at 8pm. The Avett Brothers with Lake Street Dive is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Saturday, October 5th at 8pm. Tedeschi Trucks Band is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Saturday, October 5th at 8pm. Madonna is playing BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Boerum Hill on Saturday, October 5th at 8pm. Phil Collins is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Sunday, October 6th at 8pm. Madonna is playing BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Boerum Hill on Sunday, October 6th at 8pm. Thanks for listening! Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: The Hudson River is the longest river in New York State, at 315 miles Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 94°F on October 5, 1941 Record Low: 35°F on October 5, 1881 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain on Wednesday through Friday, with high temperatures peaking at 87°F on Wednesday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Those new state license plates may have hit a bump in the road. As we predicted when online voting opened began to choose the new plate, the actual replacement of the plates became a contentious issue, just like when the gold 'Empire' plates were rolled out in 2010. The uproar surrounded the mandatory $25 fee and the additional fees if you wanted to keep your current plate number. Vehicle owners were taken aback and now Governor Cuomo and the DMV have released statements indicating the new plates will likely follow the same path as the gold 'Empire' plates, which were changed from a mandatory replacement to a rolling schedule where only new plates were issued with the new design. The core issue in choosing a new design is to replace damaged plates that may not be readable by traffic cameras and the upcoming congestion pricing camera system, but owners with old plates that appear undamaged did not want to pay a minimum of $25 and also change their license plate number. Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder stated that "If a plate is damaged or the reflective coating is degraded the camera will not work and the person will not be charged the toll. The revenue loss will be borne by other drivers which is unfair. The national standard by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators is that 10 years is a license plate's useful life. It is possible that a plate may still be in good condition after 10 years but that determination would need to be made on a plate by plate basis after inspection. If the legislature can agree to a cost effective and practical plate inspection mechanism to determine what plates are still in good operating condition after the 10 year life and thus do not need to be replaced we would welcome the opportunity to be cooperative. The 10 year life replacement program does not go into effect until next April so we have time to work with the legislature to explore alternatives. We support reducing costs wherever possible." Bill de Blasio finally ended his run for President Friday morning on MSNBC. In an 18 minute interview, de Blasio reflected on his campaign, claiming that he actually entered the race too late, and gave various talking points on national politics and policies, including a vague endorsement on a plan similar to candidate Andrew Yang's tax on automation as it replaces manufacturing jobs, but de Blasio also played the opposite side of the issue, saying that American workers "want jobs, not Universal Basic Income". This looks to be the final President de Blasio News update, and New Yorkers may or may not be cheering the Mayor's return to the city to serve out his last two years. In the latest polling, Joe Biden remains the top pick, with Elizabeth Warren gaining in recent polls and turning out an estimated 20,000 supporters at a rally in Washington Square Park this week. 3 years ago on September 17, 2016 — A pressure-cooker bomb explodes on 23rd Street in Chelsea and an unexploded device is found on 27th Street 182 years ago on September 18, 1837 — Tiffany, Young and Ellis is founded in New York, selling stationary and fancy goods. By 1853, the store would shift its focus to jewelry and become Tiffany and Company 22 years ago on September 19, 1997 — A woman drives her 1992 Hyundai off the Staten Island ferry while it is still 50 feet from the dock, knocking down a worker and plunging into the water 61 years ago on September 20, 1958 — Martin Luther King, Jr. narrowly escapes death in Harlem 5 years ago on September 21, 2014 — The third section of the High Line opens from 30th Street through Hudson Yards 4 years ago on September 21, 2015 — A Bronx Legionnaires' disease outbreak kills 10 and sickens over 100 The air is getting cooler and it's beginning to look at lot like Fall, but 122 years ago this week, one little girl had her mind on the Christmas season! 122 years ago on September 21, 1897 — 'Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus' is first published

A quick note on what is undoubtedly the top story of this week: The September 11th attacks. It's a uniquely difficult subject to cover, and one that has a unique interpretation within the city, whether you witnessed it first-hand or have come to understand it by living in the city and walking the same streets. I won't be playing excerpts from eyewitness video of people's final moments. I won't be reinterpreting the attack as a patriotic celebration. I will ask that you look around you and treat your fellow New Yorkers with kindness and compassion to honor those we lost, who were also regular, everyday New Yorkers, walking these same streets. Kindness is stronger than hate. — 18 years ago: The September 11th attacks destroy three buildings in the World Trade Center complex, killing 2,606 people in and around the buildings and 147 aboard the two planes ☮️. Also 18 years ago, just one week after the September 11th attacks, A benefit concert and telethon is simulcast across 35 major television channels and raises over $200 million for the September 11th Fund — 'America: A Tribute to Heroes' featured musical performances from New York, London, and Los Angeles, and a variety of celebrities both hosting the event and answering calls. The money raised went toward cash assistance, counseling, and other services for individuals and businesses impacted by the September 11th attacks, and the Fund would distribute $528 million by 2004. Although 'Tribute to Heroes' was the first fundraiser held, by October 2001, the 'Concert for New York City' would be held at Madison Square Garden with another all-star line-up and raise $35 million for first responders, and on October 21st 'United We Stand: What More Can I Give' concert was headlined by Michael Jackson from Washington D.C. that unfortunately was haunted by technical problems and scheduling issues with performers. Recently I mentioned that 4 years ago, the MTA was facing a string of assaults on workers, and this week the same news appears again. The Transit Workers Union Local 100 reports that assaults on bus and subway workers are up 39% year-over-year, with 85 workers suffering various attacks in the first eight months of 2019. While the MTA and the state have been increasing the law enforcement presence in the subways, transit union president Tony Utano accused the MTA of concealing the increasing assault numbers and not making the statistics public. Earlier this year, the union had also called for greater police enforcement in the subway due to incidents where MTA workers were spit upon. This news of an increase in assaults comes as the transit union is in contract negotiations with the MTA, and workers have been without a contract since May 2019. The MTA is simultaneously trying to address increases in the homeless population within the subway system and a push from Governor Cuomo and MTA head Andy Byford to prosecute fare evasion. This week brought the final sentencing of the student who stabbed two classmates at a Bronx school in 2017. Abel Cedeno was 18 years old at the time and stabbed two younger students with a spring-loaded knife he had purchased from Amazon. One victim survived by was in a coma for several days and of the victims was killed, making the attack the first killing inside a city school in over 20 years. This week, Cedeno received a 14 year prison sentence for manslaughter, 8 years for assault, and 90 days for criminal possession of a weapon, all of which will be served simultaneously. Although the attack was initially explained as an on-going bullying incident, the court documents described the incident that precipitated the attack as a typical school interaction, where one of the victims threw something that hit Cedeno, then claimed that he didn't intend to hit him, but Cedeno challenged the victim to a fight and drew a knife. Further complicating the theory of on-going bullying was testimony given during the trial that the two victims had not had much prior interaction with Cedeno. In an interview with ABC7, Cedeno claimed that he took the knife to school because he felt threatened and that when the attack occurred, he 'just snapped'. In a stunning detail, Cedeno's mother had contacted the school two and a half years before the attack to tell them that he had been taking a knife to school, but administrators failed to take proper action to log the event, instead simply searching his belongings one time and not notifying the school's principal of the mother's concerns. Another terror attack also took place in the city 99 years ago on September 16, 1920 — A horse-drawn wagon bomb explodes outside 23 Wall Street, killing 38 and injuring hundreds — It was an unorthodox way of delivering a bomb, and no one knew the danger that was carried on a horse-drawn wagon as it was pulled along busy Wall Street. In the wagon was 100 pounds of dynamite surrounded by 500 pounds of sash weights, which are heavy cast-iron weights used to counter-balance windows that slide open. The dynamite exploded at noon and sent the heavy shrapnel flying into the lunchtime crowd outside the financial buildings along Wall Street. The attack is still unsolved, but historians believe it was carried out by an Italian anarchist group. The sheer cruelty of the bombing, which seemed to have no intended target and killed a random assortment of innocent people who were nearby, made it difficult to even theorize what the intent of the bombers had been. The federal Bureau of Investigation did find flyers with vague threats stuffed in nearby mailboxes, but they did not directly reference the bombing. It became the worst single loss of life in the city since the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire from nine years earlier in 1911. Today, you can still see damage from the blast at 23 Wall Street, where part of the stone wall has been preserved showing the chips in the stone from the projectiles in the explosion. Just around the corner from the 23 Wall Street bombing, 8 years ago on September 17, 2011 — The Occupy Wall Street movement gathers in the Financial District, eventually settling in a camp at Zuccotti Park — The Occupy Wall Street movement gathers in the Financial District, eventually settling in a camp at Zuccotti Park After planning to camp in either Chase Manhattan Plaza or Bowling Green Plaza, the group lucked out and selected Zuccotti Park, which is designated as a privately-owned public space. The park's status put the protest in kind of a limbo between rules the city could enforce, with police being able to monitor the camp from the sidewalk surrounding it, but otherwise needing to be invited onto the property by Brookfield, the property's owner. The protest camp would last two months until the early morning hours of November 15, when the group was evicted from Zuccotti Park by the city after courts ruled that the protesters did not have a First Amendment right to camp in the park. 168 years ago on September 18, 1851 — The first edition of the New-York Daily Times is published. Six years later, the paper would shorten its name to the New York Times — The paper published six days a week with morning and evening editions and charged one penny for the day's news. A larger, weekly version was printed to be distributed outside the city. Times Square would not be renamed after the paper for another 53 years, so the first offices were downtown at 113 Nassau Street near City Hall Park, then 138 Nassau Street, then 41 Park Row. By 1904, the paper would move to the Times Tower in what was then known as Longacre Square before it was renamed Times Square in honor of the paper. After establishing the Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop from atop their building, the paper would again outgrow the location, expanding and moving some offices westward until completely relocating to their current building on Eighth Avenue. For a bit of local news, that first edition of the New-York Daily Times contained a front page story on the ongoing construction of the fountain in Washington Square Park, which would be completed one year later in 1852. In another attack against the city that gets forgotten in the shadow of 9/11: 18 years ago on September 18, 2001 — One week after the September 11th attacks, letters containing anthrax poison are mailed to four NYC-area newsrooms — The letters appeared to have been mailed from Princeton, NJ and a public mailbox near the Princeton University campus was found to be contaminated with anthrax spores. Letters mailed to Democratic Senators in October 2001 contained a similar threatening note referencing the September 11th attacks. In all, 17 people were sickened and five were killed due to anthrax exposure. Victims included assistants who opened or handled the letters, postal workers who sorted the letters, and a woman from the Bronx whose exposure could never be determined. Although the letters were written to appear as if they were from Muslim extremists, an FBI investigation identified the perpetrator as an American microbiologist, vaccinologist, and senior biodefense researcher at a government facility in Maryland. Bruce Edwards Ivins, a 62-year-old white male, became the focus of the investigation seven years after the incidents, after which he started to show signs of strain and was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital where he went on to suggestively discuss the anthrax letters during therapy sessions. Ivins died by suicide on July 29, 2008 after learning that he had been identified, and the FBI formally closed the case in 2010, identifying Ivins as the sole perpetrator of the letters and detailing how he falsified evidence and attempted to frame co-workers at the governmental research lab to throw investigators off the case. It was back in July when we discussed mosquitoes first testing positive for West Nile virus within the city, and this week, the first human West Nile infections were documented within the city, with one confirmed infection in Brooklyn, two in Queens, and one in Staten Island, although mosquitoes testing positive for the disease have been found in every borough. Now is the time to be prepared and protect yourself from mosquitoes if you will be outside. Wear clothing that covers your skin, use a mosquito repellent containing the chemical repellents DEET or Picaridin, or use a natural repellent containing oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to seal around your window air conditioners so that mosquitoes won't have an easy entrance into your home, and use window screens if you'll be leaving windows open. If you'll be traveling overseas, take special precaution to avoid mosquito bites, and research which vaccinations you'll need to avoid diseases that are common in the areas where you will be traveling. If you're staying in the city, you can even do your part by calling 311 to report standing water, defined as a place on public or private property where water gathers and remains for more than five days, creating a habitat where mosquitoes may breed. The city may have escaped the effects of the most recent Hurricane Dorian, but 81 years ago on September 21, 1938 — A Category 3 hurricane made landfall on Long Island, becoming one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded to hit New England — A Category 3 hurricane makes landfall on Long Island, becoming one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded to hit New England It became known as the 1938 New England Hurricane and heavily impacted Long Island, although winds were only 60 to 70mph in NYC, with eastern Long Island taking the worst damage. An estimated 682 people were killed, with damages equivalent to $4.7 billion. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Galileo Playground — 75 WEST 175 STREET, the Bronx — Previously named Macombs Park, Galileo Playground is located in Morris Heights in the west central Bronx. A former vacant lot, the land for the playground was assigned to City of New York / Parks & Recreation on December 30, 1993. Construction of the new playground was completed during the Fall of 1999 and features jungle gyms and spray showers. Parks Events Check out some birds of prey up close at the Central Park Raptor Fest — Saturday, September 14 — The Urban Park Rangers will bring a selection of eagles, falcons, owls, and hawks to this family-friendly event on the East Lawn in Central Park, just inside the park parallel at 99th Street. The event is free and starts at noon. Call (212) 360-2774 for more info. And on Sunday, there will be the 39th Annual Antique Motorcycle Show in Queens at the Queens County Farm Museum — Sunday, September 15, 2019 — Over 100 antique motorcycles will be part of the show, and live music and food will be available. Tickets will cost $11 at the door to benefit the Queens County Farm Museum. The event runs from 11am to 4pm at Queens Farm Park on the border of Glen Oaks and Floral Park in Queens And now let's check in with our robot friend for the concert calendar: Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: GRAVITY and DAY6 are playing Playstation Theater on Friday, September 13th. Two Door Cinema Club and Overcoats are playing Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, September 13th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Friday, September 13th. AmaduConcert Music Albums and Amadu are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, September 14th. Kamelot, Battle Beast, and Sonata Arctica are playing Playstation Theater on Saturday, September 14th. The Growlers, The Lemonheads, and The Nude Party are playing SummerStage NYC on Saturday, September 14th. Japanese Breakfast is playing NeueHouse on Saturday, September 14th. Low and Christopher Tignor are playing Murmrr Theatre on Saturday, September 14th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Saturday, September 14th. Jethro Tull is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Saturday, September 14th at 7pm. Brandi Carlile with Mavis Staples are playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, September 14th at 8pm. Gipsy Kings is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Saturday, September 14th at 8pm. Salt-N-Pepa with Loni Love is playing Kings Theatre in Ditmas Park / Flatbush on Saturday, September 14th at 8pm. Shakey Graves and Dr. Dog, Shakey Graves, and Dr. Dog are playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Sunday, September 15th. The Body and Assembly Of Light are playing The Bell House on Sunday, September 15th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Sunday, September 15th. Backstreet Boys is playing Prudential Center on Sunday, September 15th at 8pm. Marina with Daya is playing Rumsey Playfield, Central Park in Midtown East on Monday, September 16th at 7pm. Angels and Airwaves are playing Playstation Theater on Tuesday, September 17th. Cold, Awake For Days, and University Drive are playing Brooklyn Bazaar on Tuesday, September 17th. Phantom Planet is playing Elsewhere on Wednesday, September 18th. Malcolm Mooney and The Eleventh Planet and Malcolm Mooney are playing Union Pool on Wednesday, September 18th. Mac DeMarco is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Thursday, September 19th at 8pm. Madonna is playing BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in Boerum Hill on Thursday, September 19th at 8pm. Blink-182 with Lil Wayne and Neck Deep are playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Friday, September 20th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: If you see a damaged, broken, or dying tree in the city, you can submit a tree service request notifying the Department of Parks Forestry Division of the location Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 94°F on September 13, 1952 Record Low: 44°F on September 15, 1873 Weather for the week ahead: Possible light rain tomorrow and Sunday, with high temperatures peaking at 84°F on Monday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

This may be the final measles update for this season: The city Health Department declared the Brooklyn outbreak over as of September 3rd. During the outbreak, 33,805 doses of the MMR vaccine were administered to people younger than 19 years old in Williamsburg and Boro Park, and the 2018 to 2019 outbreak involved 654 confirmed cases. Numerous others who were unvaccinated received vaccinations from other health professionals. Although the increased vaccination rates will help prevent transmission if the disease appears again, it's important to make sure newborn children receive their vaccinations on schedule, which involves two separate doses of the vaccine. Nearly all the infections during the outbreak were in children under 18 years old. For more information on city resources, call 311 or visit the Department of Health at nyc.gov/doh. As a result of the New York outbreak, the World Health Organization may now rescind the measles elimination status of the United States, which has been in place since the year 2000. It's been one year since Emirates flight 203 from Dubai landed at JFK after passengers reported feeling sick. On-board the plane, people were posting to social media, describing a group who seemed to all know each other, and all of who had been sick during the flight, but gotten much worse as the plane approached New York. Ten people were hospitalized and tested positive for the flu. Although the United Arab Emirates, where the flight originated, currently has CDC travel notices for diseases like MERS, which have similar symptoms to the flu, it seems like last year's flight that caused an endless string of Twitter jokes about horror movies was instead just a routine case of the flu, which is also a great reminder to get your flu shot this season, which can eliminate your chance of getting the flu this winter or lessen its impact if you're exposed to it. You can find flu shots at local pharmacies, private hospitals, and city health clinics. Visit nyc.gov/flu for more info. 29 years ago on September 2, 1990 — Brian Watkins is stabbed and killed after confronting a group of teens trying to rob his family 114 years ago on September 11, 1905 — The Ninth Avenue Elevated derails and falls off its track, killing 13 and injuring 48 Just before making a second political appearance on the Fox channel, Bill de Blasio declared this week that he will likely maybe consider thinking about suspending his presidential run if he does not meet the polling and fundraising requirements for the next month's debate, after already not qualifying for the upcoming September debate. The requirements are the same for October as they were for the September debate: Candidates need to achieve 2% in four polls or have 130,000 unique donors. While de Blasio is still polling between 0% and 1%, some more-recognizable fellow candidates throw in the towel, including New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Facing a multitude of problems at home, from NYPD officer suicides, the long-delayed firing of officer Pantaleo, and ever-increasing traffic fatalities, de Blasio took some time to visit the city this week and propose requiring Citi Bike riders to wear helmets and that all bicycles should be licensed, two measures that have previously been proposed, will never be implemented, and have shown to result in less cycling. In a reference to the Iowa state fair where de Blasio had been campaigning, comedians Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler took the opportunity last week to lay out some corn dogs and ears of fresh corn on a bed of hay outside City Hall, in an effort to lure the Mayor back home. This week in AGBC history: Criminal City, Train Trouble, and Superstorm Scammers One of the fake Buddhist monks in Times Square was arrested for knocking the phone out of a person's hand when the person tried to take a picture of the scammer, one of the imitation monks who roam Times Square, handing trinkets to tourists, then aggressively demanding payment. Also 4 years ago, a string of incidents in the subway showed the danger that subway conductors face while trying to keep the city moving. That week started out with five separate assaults on MTA employees, occurring at all hours throughout the day, including three attacks within the span of two hours. By 2018, after an increase in incidents targeting their workers, the MTA proposed a voluntary program for MTA workers to wear body cameras, but it's hard to tell what the status of the program is today. As recently as this year, the transit workers' union has called for greater police enforcement in the subway due incidents where MTA workers were spit upon. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day Eastchester Playground — Adee Ave. at Tenboeck Ave., the Bronx — This playground bears the name of one of the earliest settlements to have existed in the Bronx area. Eastchester was originally the name of the second English community, after Westchester, to be founded in what was considered the Dutch colony of New Netherland. Parks Events Urban Starfest in Central Park — Date: September 7, 2019 See the universe from Central Park! Join the Urban Park Rangers and the Amateur Astronomers Association (AAA) of New York for their Annual Autumn Starfest. Our Urban Park Rangers will be your guides to the solar system, discussing the science, history, and folklore of the universe.... 9th Annual Washington Square Park Folk Festival — Date: September 8, 2019 The Washington Square Park Folk Festival features the best of local New York and sometimes national talent in the field of folk music - including old-time string bands, Blues, jug bands, traditional Mexican and Balkan music, songwriters, New Orleans Jazz, Klezmer music and more! Washington Square... Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Vampire Weekend is playing Madison Square Garden on Friday, September 6th. Avail is playing Warsaw on Saturday, September 7th. Mitski and Lucy Dacus are playing Central Park SummerStage on Saturday, September 7th. 18th and Addison's Album Release Show!, 18th and Addison, Flake, Harbor Seals, Secret Tapes, and The Knottie Boys are playing Buckley's on Saturday, September 7th. The Raconteurs and Olivia Jean are playing King's Theater on Saturday, September 7th. Weyes Blood is playing Webster Hall on Saturday, September 7th. Saturday: Aurora Halal All Night and Aurora Halal are playing Nowadays on Saturday, September 7th. Morrissey with Interpol is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Saturday, September 7th at 6pm. Banda MS are playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, September 7th at 8pm. The Raconteurs with Olivia Jean is playing Kings Theatre in Ditmas Park / Flatbush on Saturday, September 7th at 8pm. Fletcher is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg in Williamsburg on Saturday, September 7th at 9pm. Kevin Garrett: BANKS is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Saturday, September 7th at 9pm. Mitski and Lucy Dacus are playing Central Park SummerStage on Sunday, September 8th. Mary J. Blige with Nas is playing Prudential Center on Sunday, September 8th at 8pm. T-Rextasy, Igbo, and Proper. are playing Baby's All Right on Monday, September 9th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Monday, September 9th. Dominic Fike is playing Bowery Ballroom on the Lower East Side on Monday, September 9th at 7pm. Sugar Candy Mountain are playing Baby's All Right on Tuesday, September 10th. BANKS and Kevin Garrett are playing Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday, September 10th. Deerhunter and Dirty Projectors are playing Webster Hall on Tuesday, September 10th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Tuesday, September 10th. Deerhunter and Dirty Projectors are playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, September 11th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Wednesday, September 11th. Outlaw Music Festival with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Willie Nelson are playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Wednesday, September 11th at 4pm. Koffee is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Wednesday, September 11th at 8pm. Red Hearse is playing Elsewhere on Thursday, September 12th. Tyler, the Creator, GoldLink, and Jaden Smith are playing Madison Square Garden on Thursday, September 12th. God Is An Astronaut is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday, September 12th. PUP and Illuminati Hotties are playing Terminal 5 on Thursday, September 12th. Joanna Newsom is playing El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio on Thursday, September 12th. Tyler, The Creator with Jaden Smith are playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Thursday, September 12th at 7pm. Day6 is playing PlayStation Theater in Midtown on Thursday, September 12th at 7pm. Two Door Cinema Club and Overcoats are playing Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, September 13th. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Did you know? Here's something you may not have known about New York: The Ed Koch / Queensboro / 59th Street Bridge is the busiest bridge controlled by the Department of Transportation, with 178,000 vehicles per day. Compare that to the George Washington Bridge, controlled by the Port Authority, that carries up to 350,000 vehicles per day! Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 101°F on September 7, 1881 Record Low: 43°F on September 10, 1883 Weather for the week ahead: Rain tomorrow through next Thursday, with high temperatures peaking at 81°F on Saturday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — News sound via Ali Imran on Youtube

The suspect wanted in connection with abandoning two empty rice cookers in the Fulton Street subway station and one in Chelsea was apprehended around 1am on August 17th. Larry Griffin of Bruno, West Virginia was seen in video being wheeled in a wheelchair out of a building in Longwood in the Bronx by paramedics with his head slumped to the side. Emergency responders had originally arrived at the location on reports of two people possibly overdosing, then identified Griffin from the subway security camera footage that had been circulated by police. Griffin had spoken to family members in West Virginia after the bomb scare incident and claimed he had found the rice cookers outside an Asian restaurant. Griffin's cousin described him as someone dealing with mental issues who had a tendency to pick up objects off the streets. The 26-year-old also has a criminal record in West Virginia and an active warrant was out for his arrest before the rice cooker incident. He is being held on a $200,000 bond and is facing three counts of placing a false bomb. His lawyers are reportedly in talks to arrange a plea deal and he will be back in court on September 6th. More than five years after Eric Garner's death, the NYPD announced on August 19th that the officer seen on eyewitness video putting Garner in a prohibited chokehold will be fired. Police Commissioner O'Neill announced that former officer Daniel Pantaleo would be fired and the Commissioner attributed the years-long delay to the U.S. Justice Department asking the NYPD to postpone the internal NYPD investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice began an investigation in 2014 into the actions of officer Daniel Pantaleo, and in 2019, the Department of Justice, now overseen by Trump-appointed Attorney General William Barr, announced that they would not pursue civil rights charges against Pantaleo, a decision they voluntarily chose to announce one day before the anniversary of Garner's death. Pantaleo's supervisor, Sergeant Kizzy Adonis, pleaded guilty to charges of failure to supervise and will lose 20 vacation days, with Commissioner O'Neill stating "nothing about her actions on that day either caused the use of the banned chokehold or delayed the arrival of medical attention for Mr. Garner". The city medical examiner's office concluded that the methods used to detain him during arrest, combined with his respiratory health, led to his death. A chokehold is a prohibited procedure for the NYPD to use, but video from the scene clearly showed officer Daniel Pantaleo with his arm around Eric's neck. The incident ignited protests across the city and country and Garner's dying words of "I can't breathe" became a rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2015, the city reached a settlement with the Garner family in which they received $5.9 million in response to their wrongful death claim. 15 years ago on August 26, 2004 — Protests begin surrounding the Republican National Convention scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden Two women who were arrested in 2015 for planning terrorist bombings in the city pleaded guilty this week to charges of teaching and distributing information about the manufacture and use of an explosive, destructive device, and weapon of mass destruction. 28 years ago on August 28, 1991 — A drunken subway operator derails a '4' Train at Union Square just after midnight, killing five and injuring 121 This will be the final week if you've been meaning to take a selfie with the the marble lions at the main branch of the NYPL. The famous lion sculptures, named Patience and Fortitude, that have guarded the entrance to the library at 42nd and Fifth since 1911, will be taking a much-deserved trip to the spa starting September 2nd when their $250,000 restoration begins. Some significant cracks have formed due to water damage and the Tennessee pink marble has been dirtied by air pollution and weather conditions. The lions will be enclosed in plywood and lasers will be used to zap contaminants from the surface of the stone, while cracks will be evaluated and repaired via a variety of methods. If you'll be missing the lions during the weeks they're under repair, the NYPL's online shop even offers replica of Patience and Fortitude as bookends for $150. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Macombs Dam Park — A large park situated next to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Macombs Dam has all the athletic amenities, including a baseball diamond that sits in the footprint of the 1923 Yankee Stadium. The Parks Department swapped land with the Yankees when the new stadium was built, so the new stadium sits atop the old Macombs Dam Park and vice-versa! Parks Events Movies Under the Stars: Bohemian Rhapsody — Monday August 26, 2019 at Highland Park in Queens Coney Island Flicks on the Beach: Avengers: Endgame — Date: Monday August 26, 2019 near the Cyclone Summer Movies Under the Stars: Crazy Rich Asians — Date: Monday August 26, 2019 in Cunningham Park in Queens at the main park house. And now let's check in with our robot friend for the concert calendar: Concert Calendar Squeeze is playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Saturday, August 24th. Shawn Mendes is playing Barclays Center on Saturday, August 24th. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Control Top are playing White Eagle Hall on Saturday, August 24th. Taking Meds, Husbandry, Rebuilder, and Substitute are playing Our Wicked Lady on Saturday, August 24th. Prevailer, For Those Who Can See, and Secret Ion are playing Buckley's on Saturday, August 24th. semaphore and Dead Empires are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Sunday, August 25th. Legion of Skanks Podcast is playing The Stand on Monday, August 26th. Lenny Kravitz is playing Radio City Music Hall on Tuesday, August 27th. Lenny Kravitz is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Tuesday, August 27th at 8pm. Billy Joel - In Concert and Billy Joel are playing Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, August 28th. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is playing Rumsey Playfield, Central Park in Midtown East on Wednesday, August 28th at 7pm. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, August 28th at 8pm. Mary J. Blige with Nas is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Wednesday, August 28th at 8pm. Kanine Records Rooftop Show, The Natvral, Bloom, Honey cutt, and Nicole Yun are playing Our Wicked Lady on Thursday, August 29th. Reaches, Dead Tooth, Chorty, and Painted Faces are playing Windjammer on Thursday, August 29th. Jonas Brothers: Happiness Begins Tour and Jonas Brothers are playing Madison Square Garden on Thursday, August 29th. Jonas Brothers with Bebe Rexha is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Thursday, August 29th at 7pm. Gladys Knight with Will Downing is playing New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Thursday, August 29th at 8pm. Electric Zoo: Evolved, 1788-L, 4B, Above and Beyond, Afrojack, Alison Wonderland, Anti Up, Armin van Buuren, ARMNHMR, and Bear Grillz are playing Randall's Island Park on Friday, August 30th. Jonah Matranga, Early Riser, and Stathi are playing Mercury Lounge on Friday, August 30th. Electric Zoo (Friday Pass) is playing Randalls Island in East Harlem / Randall's Island on Friday, August 30th at 3am. Electric Zoo (3 Day Pass) is playing Randalls Island in East Harlem / Randall's Island on Friday, August 30th at 12pm. Jonas Brothers with Bebe Rexha is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Friday, August 30th at 7pm. On Da Reggae Tip with Busy Signal is playing Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Seagate on Friday, August 30th at 7pm. Soulfrito Music Festival with Farruko, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Arcangel are playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Friday, August 30th at 8pm. Dionne Warwick with Peabo Bryson is playing Kings Theatre in Ditmas Park / Flatbush on Friday, August 30th at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Learn about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Mobile food vendors and food trucks in the city are being outfitted with battery-powered location-sharing devices so the Department of Health can find them and conduct random inspections Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 103°F on August 26, 1948 Record Low: 50°F on August 27, 1885 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain on Wednesday, with high temperatures rising to 86°F on Friday. AGBC Weather Weather.gov forecast Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Player FM, RadioPublic, Pocket Casts, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Last week, I started out with a quick measles update saying that the outbreak has mostly subsided, but I want to reiterate how important it is to get yourself and any young children vaccinated before the next outbreak begins. Israel-based Ynetnews revealed this week that a 43-year-old flight attendant who had contracted measles while working on the New York to Tel Aviv route for Israeli airline El Al died this week after a long hospital stay. Rotem Amitai was a mother of three who fell ill and was admitted to a hospital in Israel, where there has been a serious ongoing measles outbreak. She had only received one dose of the measles vaccination and was therefore still susceptible to the disease. In the United States, one does of vaccine is usually administered when a child turns one year old and a second is administered before the child enters school, and in city data, 46 of the total 653 measles cases in this year's outbreak were children or adults who had only received one does of the vaccine. El Al Airlines now requires all flight attendants to be vaccinated against the disease, and it's believed that people flying home from overseas trips and returning to communities in Williamsburg and upstate in Rockland County were the initial sources of New York's current measles outbreaks. 16 years ago on August 14, 2003 — A cascading power outage plunges millions into darkness across the northeast — What began as a damaged power line and a software malfunction in Ohio led to overloaded equipment throughout the interconnected power system stretching from Canada into the northeast United States. The power surge from Ohio triggered safety systems across the region, creating what is thought to have been the most widespread outage in both United States and Canadian history and the second-most-widespread in the world. It took around two days for all overloaded components to be checked and brought back online, with some smaller areas remaining without power for nearly a week. In New York, the city and most of the state were in the dark. Traffic lights were out and elevators and the subway were stopped, leaving many commuters in need of emergency evacuation and with no way to reach their homes as night began to fall. Some stayed in office buildings, on the floors of generous co-workers who lived nearby, or even slept outside, while others attempted to walk home or catch a ride on a bus or taxi, turning Manhattan's bridges into one-way exits. Update: The suspect was taken into custody around 1am on August 17th — Police are still looking for a possible suspect in Friday morning's bomb scare where two empty rice cookers were left in the Fulton Street subway station downtown. The proximity of the station to many government offices and the sheer number of commuters that pass through the station during morning rush hour, the area was quickly evacuated and subway lines were disrupted beginning around 7:30am. Police found the large silver rice cookers to be empty and deemed the situation safe, but a third, identical rice cooker was then found next to a city trash can in Chelsea at Seventh and 16th. The rice cookers were empty, and they may have been intended as hoax devices to cause disruption. Police released stills from security camera footage showing a white man in his 20s or 30s with dark, curly hair and a distinctive tattoo on his outer forearm, and described him as a person of interest. After seeing the security camera footage, a West Virginia man identified the person as his son, who may have recently been pan-handling in the city. No further info has been released and the police are still searching for the suspect as of this recording. Although the incident brings to mind the Chelsea pressure-cooker bombing of 2016, there have also been recent scares from abandoned rice cookers, one found in a suitcase in Midtown at a 6 Train station in 2017 and another in an F Train station on the Lower East Side in 2018. 42 years ago on August 22, 1977 — 19-year-old Richard Rodriguez from Staten Island sets a Guinness World Record for longest rollercoaster ride on the Coney Island Cyclone — His record time was 104 hours and 2,350 rides during the 50th anniversary of both the coaster and Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. Rodriguez would break the record once again 40 years later on a UK coaster with a time of over 405 hours! Here's Rodriguez interviewed in the 1978 film 'Coney Island Cyclone' by Mike Edwards. OMNY, the MTA's new fare-collecting system, sees 1 million uses in just over two months — The new MetroCard replacement is only available at 16 subway stations along the 4/5/6 and on Staten Island buses, but the tap-and-go system reached the 1 million target four times faster than the MTA has predicted. To use the system, you wave a credit or debit card or a cellphone or watch above the glowing panel. The system aims to reduce the waste and complexity of issuing disposable MetroCards since the contactless system uses your payment method directly, just like at a cash register, although there will be a refillable OMNY card once the system expands, and the MetroCard is still scheduled to be used through 2023. According to the MTA, 80% of the OMNY swipes have used mobile wallets where people have added their payment cards to their phone, since very few credit or debit cards have the built-in technology, which is different from the chips that are now seen on some cards. AGBC history: 8 years ago — Blast From The Past: Checker Cab Spotted in the West Village 8 years ago — Volkswagen Traffic Jam on Governor's Island 2 years ago — Eclipse Viewing Info for New York City 8 years ago — Earthquake felt in New York City A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Putnam Triangle Parks Events FlyNYC Kite Festival in Riverside Park South — Learn to fly a kite or just enjoy the view as decorative kites take to the skies above the Hudson River at Pier I in Riverside Park South across from 70th Street in Manhattan. If you have your own kite, bring it along, or a limited number of free kites will be available for children to try. Saturday, August 17, 2019 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Joyce Manor and Saves the Day are playing Webster Hall on Friday, August 16th. The Catenary Wires, jeanines, and Pale Lights are playing Berlin on Friday, August 16th. MORRIE's Solitude and KIYOHARU's Elegy, Morrie, and 清春 are playing Joe's Pub on Friday, August 16th. Beck, Cage the Elephant, and Spoon are playing Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday, August 17th. C. Tangana, Chaos in the CBD, deem spencer, Mike, and Sho Madjozi are playing MoMA PS1 on Saturday, August 17th. Bleeding Through, Sentinels + more at The Kingsland, Bleeding Through, Indrid Cold, Sentinels, and The Fallen Prodigy are playing The Kingsland on Saturday, August 17th. Rose Gold the Musical, Kitty, Ricky Eat Acid, and Vverevvolf are playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, August 17th. Ex Hex and Frankie and the Witch Fingers are playing Industry City Courtyard on Saturday, August 17th. Slaughter Beach, Dog and Cave People are playing The Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, August 17th. Bardo Pond and Sunburned Hand of the Man are playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, August 17th. Cinema Cinema, Descender, Fashion Week, Frail Body, and Marée noire are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Sunday, August 18th. The 5.6.7.8's and Metalleg are playing Brooklyn Bazaar on Sunday, August 18th. Sidney Gish is playing Elsewhere on Monday, August 19th. Sidney Gish is playing Elsewhere on Tuesday, August 20th. Squeeze is playing Bergen Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, August 20th. KISS is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Tuesday, August 20th at 7pm. Mark Knopfler is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Tuesday, August 20th at 8pm. Squeeze is playing Bergen Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, August 20th at 8pm. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Bedouin Soundclash are playing Webster Hall on Wednesday, August 21st. Tame Impala and Velvet Negroni are playing Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, August 21st. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones with Bedouin Soundclash is playing Webster Hall in Noho / Union Square on Wednesday, August 21st at 7pm. Tame Impala with Velvet Negroni is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, August 21st at 8pm. Mark Knopfler is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Wednesday, August 21st at 8pm. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is playing Brooklyn Bowl in Downtown Brooklyn on Wednesday, August 21st at 8pm. Pat Benatar with Neil Giraldo is playing St. George Theatre in St. George / Tompkinsville on Wednesday, August 21st at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: Hangman's Elm at the northwest corner of Washington Square Park is believed to be the oldest living tree in Manhattan, at more than 300 years old Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 97°F on August 20, 1955 Record Low: 52°F on August 22, 1895 Weather for the week ahead: Possible light rain tomorrow through Wednesday, with high temperatures peaking at 92°F on Monday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

In the latest city measles data, just six new cases were registered in July, with none so far in August. The number of new cases have steadily declined since the high point in April, when there were 183 new cases in one month. As the disease spreads through communities, it naturally reaches a maximum number of infections as the vast majority of people are vaccinated against the disease, and the city's efforts to distribute vaccinations ensured that the disease didn't spread further. Of the 642 total cases within the city, 88% were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. The outbreak was mainly contained within a few Brooklyn neighborhoods, with 460 cases in Williamsburg, 123 in Boro Park, and 17 in Sunset Park. While the outbreak is coming to an end, it's important to make sure newborn children receive their vaccinations on schedule, as nearly all the infections were in children under 18 years old. Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air as sick individuals cough or sneeze. The measles vaccination is included in MMR shots, standing for measles, mumps, and rubella, that contain a specially-weakened form of the virus that trains the body's immune system on how to defend against that virus in the future. For information on where to obtain a measles vaccination, call 311 or view information from the Department of Health at nyc.gov/doh. The M14 bus along 14th Street recently won the distinguished award for the city's slowest bus line, averaging just 4.3mph, and it won't be getting a boost anytime soon if the surrounding neighborhoods have their way. 14th Street was originally scheduled to convert to a traffic-restricted busway on July 1st to quickly move buses across the city during the L Train shutdown, but then L Train plans were modified to keep the subway open and community groups stepped in to take legal action against the Department of Transportation's plan. The DOT estimates that the changes will increase the speeds of buses by 30%, and the plan is expected to run for 18 months, whenever it finally goes into effect. This week, archivists released a collection of photos taken after the September 11th attacks, but the person who took the photos remains unknown. After working to restore the CD-ROMs that were found in an estate sale, the 2,389 digital photos have now been archived and uploaded to Flickr thanks to Dr. Johnathan Burgess and Jason Scott of textfiles.com. 49 years ago on August 5, 1970 — A fire at One New York Plaza kills two and injures 35 10 years ago on August 8, 2009 — A small plane collides with a sightseeing helicopter over the Hudson River, killing all nine people involved Flight attendant Steven Slater's dramatic exit from a JetBlue flight at JFK Airport — This week, one day before the actual 9-year anniversary of his story, TMZ reported that Steven Slater has been reported missing after recently moving to Tijuana in Mexico and losing contact with friends and family for several days. 15 years ago on August 12, 2004 — Security guard and elevator operator Carl DeClercq is killed by an elevator malfunction 74 years ago on August 14, 1945 — V-J Day celebration takes place in Times Square after Japan surrenders in World War II If you're ordering takeout food or picking something up from a street vendor, keep an eye out for styrofoam containers. The city's new styrofoam ban went into effect on January 1st, but businesses had a six-month grace period to adjust, and now the numbers are in for the first full month of enforcement. In the first month, the city delivered 57 styrofoam violations, which each carry a $250 fine. Styrofoam cups and containers are notoriously difficult to recycle, and can't be accepted for recycling at all once they have been used for food, which leaves a permanent piece of trash sitting in a landfill for hundreds of years. To report a business using styrofoam products, call 311 with the business name, address, and type of product being used. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day Great Kills Park — The Great Kills beaches along Staten Island's east coast are perfect for summer recreation or watching wildlife. The city park portion is near Oakwood and New Dorp Beach, whereas the national park, also named Great Kills, is to the south at Bay Terrace. Watch your step in the national park portion, because nearly half of the park land is closed and being tested for radioactivity! ☢️ Parks Events Summer Sports Experience Jamboree — Coming on Wednesday, August 14, the Summer Sports Experience brings an array of sports activities to youngsters at the Williamsbridge Oval in the Bronx. The program is geared toward children aged 6 to 13 and Parks Department will be on hand from 11am to 3pm to show kids how to use the wide variety of sports fields at Williamsbridge Oval. Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Laraaji is playing The Noguchi Museum on Sunday, August 11th. Iron Age, Waste Management, Candy, New Lows, Born Sinner, Iron Age, Born Sinner, Candy, New Lows, and Waste Management are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Sunday, August 11th. Who Do You Trust?, Papa Roach, Asking Alexandria, and Bad Wolves are playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Sunday, August 11th. David Crosby and Anaïs Mitchell are playing Damrosch Park Bandshell on Sunday, August 11th. Neurosis, Bell Witch, and DeaF Kids are playing Brooklyn Steel on Sunday, August 11th. Self Defense Family and Husbandry are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Sunday, August 11th. She Wants Revenge is playing Elsewhere on Monday, August 12th. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Tuesday, August 13th at 7pm. Rooftop show! Damn Jackals, Jonny Couch, Drager, Trash TV, Damn Jackals, Drager, Jonny Couch, and trash tv are playing Our Wicked Lady on Wednesday, August 14th. The Mystery Lights is playing Berlin on Wednesday, August 14th. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Wednesday, August 14th at 7pm. KISS is playing Prudential Center on Wednesday, August 14th at 7pm. Mutual Benefit is playing Mercury Lounge on Thursday, August 15th. Backstreet Boys is playing Barclays Center in Boerum Hill on Thursday, August 15th at 8pm. John Fogerty is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Thursday, August 15th at 8pm. Joyce Manor with Saves The Day is playing Webster Hall in Noho / Union Square on Friday, August 16th at 7pm. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Friday, August 16th at 8pm. Lil Tjay with Flipp Dinero is playing Gramercy Theatre in Flatiron / Madison Square on Friday, August 16th at 8pm. Galactic with Ikebe Shakedown is playing Brooklyn Bowl in Downtown Brooklyn on Friday, August 16th at 8pm. Ex Hex and Frankie and the Witch Fingers are playing Industry City Courtyard on Saturday, August 17th. Bardo Pond and Sunburned Hand of the Man are playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, August 17th. Beck with Spoon and Sunflower Bean and Cage The Elephant are playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Saturday, August 17th at 5pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: Manhattan, Kansas is nicknamed "The Little Apple" Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 103°F on August 9, 2001 Record Low: 54°F on August 8, 1903 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain today through Wednesday, with high temperatures bottoming out at 81°F on Sunday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Event Planner Ongoing events: Mostly Mozart Festival (All Day Event) NYC Restaurant Week (All Day Event) Thursday, August 8 Columbia Greenmarket Thursday and Sunday Cortelyou Greenmarket Sunday HHFM East Harlem Market NYC Public Beaches NYC Outdoor Public Pools Guster with Rubblebucket ¡Arriba! Latin Dance Party with Avenida B A Dash of Summer: Cooking with Chef Biny Celebrate Brooklyn! Friday, August 9 The Marked Men, Bugg, Career Suicide, Criaturas, and Savageheads Fister, Body Void, Pyrrhon, and Sea of Bones David Cook Peter Murphy - Cascade: The Peter Murphy Residency at LPR and Peter Murphy Bryan Ferry DRAB MAJESTY, Body of Light, and Hide Carnegie Hall Citywide Night Bryan Ferry Barry Manilow Coney Island Friday Night Fireworks Saturday, August 10 False and Vile Creature Spirit Family Reunion Walk Up Kayaking in Brooklyn Bridge Park Great Hudson River Fish Count Saturday Sculpture Workshop: Plastic Bag Couture Ecology Park Tour Central Park Conservancy and Jazzmobile Present: Great Jazz on the Great Hill - Live Performances in Central Park My Morning Jacket with Warpaint Shawn Mendes Hootie & The Blowfish with Barenaked Ladies Barry Manilow Sunday, August 11 Laraaji Iron Age, Waste Management, Candy, New Lows, Born Sinner, Iron Age, Born Sinner, Candy, New Lows, and Waste Management Who Do You Trust?, Papa Roach, Asking Alexandria, and Bad Wolves David Crosby and Anaïs Mitchell Neurosis, Bell Witch, and DeaF Kids Self Defense Family and Husbandry Walk Up Kayaking in Brooklyn Bridge Park Urban Park Ranger Tour: The Birthplace of Hip Hop Ecosystem Explorers: Coastline Seining Basic Canoeing Barry Manilow Shawn Mendes with Alessia Cara Hootie & The Blowfish with Barenaked Ladies Neurosis with Bell Witch Outdoor Movie Night at Randall's Island Park: Crazy Rich Asians (PG-13)

Visit agreatbigcity.com/support to learn how to support New York City local news and allow us to keep bringing you this podcast. If you are a New York-based business and would be interested in sponsoring our podcasts, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. The goats brought in to clean up Riverside Park are taking a summer vacation! The original flock brought to the park in May was narrowed down from 24 to 18 after they cleaned out the weeds too quickly, and now the group will be meeting back up at their farm in Rhinebeck, NY while the weeds are allowed to regrow a bit on the steep slopes of Riverside Park that they were maintaining. As part of their going-away party, the Riverside Park Conservancy honored Massey the goat with an award for receiving the most votes in an online contest. The 166-pound, 10-year-old goat is the oldest of the bunch and received a bouquet of edible flowers as a prize. Watch for the goats to return later in the summer when they will be back for a second round of snacking on the invasive plants that will further weaken them and ensure they don't have the energy left to regrow again. In July, one day before the anniversary of Eric Garner's death, the Department of Justice, now overseen by Trump-appointed Attorney General William Barr, announced that they will not pursue civil rights charges against officer Pantaleo, who was seen in video putting Garner in a chokehold. Immediately after, the NYPD was quick to point out that their own internal disciplinary case against Pantaleo was still underway, and on August 2nd, an NYPD judge ruled that the officer should be fired due to his use of a chokehold when attempting to arrest Eric Garner, a tactic that is prohibited by NYPD policy and was listed by the city medical examiner as a contributing factor in Garner's death. Although the ruling is preliminary, Pantaleo was suspended effective immediately, after being kept employed in administrative duty during the five years since Eric Garner's death. The announcement came days after de Blasio was heckled by protesters demanding he fire Pantaleo during the second Democratic Presidential primary debates in Detroit. In response, he continued to claim that justice would be served in the next 30 days. Fellow Democratic candidate Kirsten Gillibrand had a more decisive answer. nn De Blasio has been polling between 0% and 1% among likely voters. nn The NYPD judge's decision will now make its way to NYPD Commissioner O'Neill, who will decide whether to fire Pantaleo in the upcoming weeks. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson released a statement saying: This decision is long overdue. It should not have taken five years to determine what the public clearly understood in five minutes: Officer Pantaleo used an illegal chokehold on Eric Garner, which ultimately led to his death. nn Now Police Commissioner O'Neill must act. Pantaleo must be fired immediately. Nothing will bring back Mr. Garner, but I hope this decision gives the Garner family some peace 15 years ago on August 3, 2004 — The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty reopens for the first time since the September 11th attacks You may not think of the city as harboring invasive insects, but arborists from the national Department of Agriculture have been inspecting trees in Brooklyn and Queens for Asian longhorn beetles. The beetles are thought to have originally traveled to the United States in 1996 in wooden shipping pallets, and now they threaten trees across the city. Inspectors search for the telltale signs of round holes in the wood of a tree, where the adult beetles emerge in late July. nn Keep an eye out for the signs of beetle infestation on your local trees: They create deep round holes big enough for a pencil to fit in and leave a collection of sawdust below the holes. The beetles themselves are about one and a half inches long, mostly black with white specks, and have distinctive blue stripes on their legs and long striped antennae. If you find a tree or piece of wood that may be infested, call the Asian longhorned beetle tip line at 1-866-702-9938 or email foresthealth@dec.ny.gov. 9 years ago on August 9, 2010 — Upon landing at JFK, a JetBlue flight attendant announces that he is quitting his job and exits the jet via the emergency evacuation slide, taking two beers with him 42 years ago on August 10, 1977 — David Berkowitz is taken into custody 3 years ago on August 10, 2016 — A man partially climbs Trump Tower And finally, thanks go out to Eric Boyo, an MTA subway operator for 27 years who stopped his train to help a woman on the tracks this week. As he approached Fulton Street on the G Train line, he noticed people on the platform waving their arms. Seeing that something must be wrong, he slowed his train early and then spotted a woman on the tracks. He stopped the train and opened the door at the front of the train to speak with the woman, and ended up helping her back onto the platform. Whether the woman intended to be struck by the train or had just fallen was unclear, but onlookers praised Eric for remaining calm and showing compassion during the rescue. According to the MTA, the recommended way to flag down an oncoming train during an emergency situation is to light your cellphone's flashlight and wave it side to side while facing the train. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day Half-Nelson Playground — 1631 NELSON AvNUE, the Bronx — Named for being halfway down Nelson Avenue, this park features playground equipment built to resemble optical illusions! Parks Events The Department of Transportation's Summer Streets will close streets in Manhattan from 7am to 1pm from 72nd Street down Park Avenue and to the Brooklyn Bridge. The streets will be emptied out and made available to bicycles and pedestrians, with events and activities all along the route. At Foley Square downtown, a large group will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for simultaneous people doing a handstand, which currently stands at 399 people, at 51st Street, the Asia Society will be offering free temporary tattoos, and along Centre Street downtown, you can take a ride on a 30-foot-tall zipline! Concert Calendar Barbra Streisand is playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 3rd. Rebelution is playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Saturday, August 3rd. Soccer Cousins, Hurry, and Mount Sharp are playing Trans-Pecos on Saturday, August 3rd. Steve Gunn and Hand Habits are playing Industry City Courtyard on Saturday, August 3rd. MONSTA X WORLD TOUR 'WE ARE HERE' and MONSTA X are playing Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 3rd. Bad Religion and The Explosion are playing Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, August 3rd. Jenny Kern at Rockwood Music Hall and Jenny Kern are playing Rockwood Music Hall on Saturday, August 3rd. Krish Live At The Knitting Factory Brooklyn, Lucid, Corteez, Jovian, Kash, Siik Miind, and VENNESSY are playing Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Sunday, August 4th. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Sunday, August 4th at 7pm. The Rolling Stones and Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real are playing MetLife Stadium on Monday, August 5th. Tyler Childers is playing Webster Hall on Monday, August 5th. The Rolling Stones with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real (Rescheduled from 6/17) is playing MetLife Stadium on Monday, August 5th at 8pm. BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, Ex Hex, and Mac DeMarco are playing Prospect Park Bandshell on Tuesday, August 6th. Keane is playing The Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, August 6th. Hibou and Dolly Spartans are playing Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, August 6th. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Tuesday, August 6th at 7pm. Mac DeMarco is playing Prospect Park Bandshell in South Slope on Tuesday, August 6th at 7pm. Queen with Adam Lambert is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Tuesday, August 6th at 8pm. Queen + Adam Lambert: The Rhapsody Tour, Queen, and Adam Lambert are playing Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, August 7th. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Wednesday, August 7th at 7pm. Queen with Adam Lambert is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, August 7th at 8pm. Guster with Rubblebucket is playing Rumsey Playfield, Central Park in Midtown East on Thursday, August 8th at 6pm. The Marked Men, Bugg, Career Suicide, Criaturas, and Savageheads are playing Brooklyn Bazaar on Friday, August 9th. Thunderpussy and Hollis Brown, Thunderpussy, and Hollis Brown are playing Brooklyn Bowl on Friday, August 9th. David Cook is playing Sony Hall on Friday, August 9th. Peter Murphy - Cascade: The Peter Murphy Residency at LPR and Peter Murphy are playing (le) Poisson Rouge on Friday, August 9th. Bryan Ferry is playing United Palace Theatre on Friday, August 9th. DRAB MAJESTY, Body of Light, and Hide are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, August 9th. Suicideboys with Trash Talk and Night Lovell and Turnstile are playing Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Seagate on Friday, August 9th at 6pm. Bryan Ferry is playing United Palace Theatre in Hudson Heights on Friday, August 9th at 8pm. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Friday, August 9th at 8pm. False and Vile Creature are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Saturday, August 10th. Spirit Family Reunion is playing Union Pool on Saturday, August 10th. One Africa Music Fest with Kranium, Burna Boy, Wyclef Jean are playing Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Seagate on Saturday, August 10th at 6pm. My Morning Jacket with Warpaint is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Saturday, August 10th at 7pm. Shawn Mendes is playing Prudential Center on Saturday, August 10th at 7pm. Hootie & The Blowfish with Barenaked Ladies is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, August 10th at 7pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Learn about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: The striped bass was declared the New York state marine or saltwater fish in 2006, in reference to their seasonal presence in the tidal portion of the Hudson River and coastal waters around Long Island Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 104°F on August 7, 1918 Record Low: 54°F on August 8, 1903 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain tomorrow through Thursday, with high temperatures rising to 89°F next Friday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Event Planner 164 years ago on August 1, 1855 — Castle Clinton begins functioning as the country's first immigrant processing center at the tip of Manhattan — Castle Clinton begins functioning as the country's first immigrant processing center at the tip of Manhattan nn It was operated by New York until April 18, 1890, when the U.S. government would take control. Immigrant processing moved to Ellis Island on January 2, 1892. Thursday, August 1 — The Rolling Stones and The Wombats — — MetLife Stadium Thursday, August 1 — The Summer Slaughter Tour, Cattle Decapitation, Brand of Sacrifice, Carnifex, Lorna Shore, Nekrogoblikon, Rivers of Nihil, and The Faceless — (le) poisson rouge Thursday, August 1 — Ben Folds and Violent Femmes — The Rooftop at Pier 17 Thursday, August 1 — Blood Orange and Kelsey Lu, Blood Orange, and Kelsey Lu — Lincoln Center Thursday, August 1 — Coffee and Connections — Muhlenberg Library Thursday, August 1 — Central Park Tour: The Belvedere: Beautiful View — Belvedere Castle (in Central Park) Thursday, August 1 — Conception Art Show - New York City - August — M1-5 Lounge in Tribeca Thursday, August 1 — Movies with a View: Crooklyn — Harbor View Lawn (in Brooklyn Bridge Park) Thursday, August 1 — NYAFAIR VIP Artist Reception August 1, Tribeca's Contemporary Art Fair NYA — NYA art center | newyorkart.com in Tribeca Thursday, August 1 — Open House/Open Studios: Summer 2019 Artists — Celebrate the summer with BRIC and our summer 2019 artists-in-residence! — BRIC House in Boerum Hill Thursday, August 1 — West African Dance Workshop — Sherman Creek Park (in Sherman Creek) Thursday, August 1 — The Chemical Brothers with Charlotte de Witte — Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills Thursday, August 1 — Twilight in the Garden: Moonflowers and Angel's Trumpets Walk — Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill) Thursday, August 1 — Disco 54 Show — George Seuffert Bandshell (in Forest Park) Thursday, August 1 — The Rolling Stones with The Wombats (Rescheduled from 6/13) — MetLife Stadium Thursday, August 1 — Khalid with Clairo — Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards Thursday, August 1 — Herbie Hancock — Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side Friday, August 2 — Bad Religion and The Explosion — — Webster Hall Friday, August 2 — Torche, Murder Pact, and Wear Your Wounds — — Brooklyn Bazaar Friday, August 2 — Cayetana, Bacchae, and Katie Ellen — — Music Hall of Williamsburg Friday, August 2 — First Fridays: House Music Edition Honoring Larry Levan — Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Striver's Row / St. Nicholas Friday, August 2 — Hidden Colors 5-Film Screening — SVA Theatre in Chelsea Friday, August 2 — Sarah McLachlan with The New York Pops — Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills Friday, August 2 — Barry Manilow — Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown Friday, August 2 — Coney Island Friday Night Fireworks — Between West 10th Street and West 15th Street (in Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk) The Department of Transportation's Summer Streets will close streets in Manhattan from 7am to 1pm from 72nd Street down Park Avenue and to the Brooklyn Bridge. The streets will be emptied out and made available to bicyles and pedestrians, with events and activities all along the route. Saturday, August 3 — Walk Up Kayaking in Brooklyn Bridge Park — Pier 2 Dock (in Brooklyn Bridge Park) Saturday, August 3 — Brooklyn Beach Sports Festival — West 10th Street Boardwalk Entrance (in Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk) Saturday, August 3 — GetCoveredNYC - Table — Organization GetCoveredNYC assists New Yorkers with enrolling in affordable health insurance through in-person outreach. — Stapleton Library Saturday, August 3 — Bike Camp For Adults — Forest Park Visitor Center (in Forest Park) Saturday, August 3 — Bad Religion with The Explosion — Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint Saturday, August 3 — Ghana Fest-NY 2019 — Crotona Park in Tremont Saturday, August 3 — Ecology Park Tour — Ecology Park Saturday, August 3 — Central Park Tour: The Belvedere: Beautiful View — Belvedere Castle (in Central Park) Saturday, August 3 — Summer on the Hudson: Sweet Spot Festival — On the Pier (in West Harlem Piers),125th Street and Marginal Street (in West Harlem Piers) Saturday, August 3 — Movies Under the Stars: Crazy Rich Asians — Annunciation Playground Saturday, August 3 — Barbra Streisand — 8pm Madison Square Garden Sunday, August 4 — 23rd Annual Rockaway Sandcastle Championship — Beach 117th Street (in Rockaway Beach) Sunday, August 4 — Walk Up Kayaking in Brooklyn Bridge Park — Pier 2 Dock (in Brooklyn Bridge Park) Sunday, August 4 — Barry Manilow — 7pm Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown

Hudson Yards may be New York's newest neighborhood, but it has already risen to the #2 spot on PropertyShark's list of the city's most expensive neighborhoods Way back in Episode 7, we talked about the proposal for a public beach in Manhattan, and this week, the Hudson River Park Trust revealed some renderings of what the park and beach may look like 231 years ago on July 26, 1788 — New York becomes the 11th state to join the United States of America This week, the city Department of Health detected mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus within the NYC area. July begins the active season for West Nile infections, which are spread via mosquito bites, and no human cases of West Nile have been detected yet, so now is the time to be prepared and protect yourself from mosquitoes if you will be outside. Wear clothing that covers your skin, use a mosquito repellent containing the chemical repellents DEET or Picaridin, or use a natural repellent containing oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to seal around your window air conditioners so that mosquitoes won't have an easy entrance into your home, and use window screens if you'll be leaving windows open. If you'll be traveling overseas, take special precaution to avoid mosquito bites, and consider a vaccination against diseases that are common in the areas where you will be traveling. If you're staying in the city, you can even do your part by calling 311 to report standing water, defined as a place on public or private property where water gathers and remains for more than five days, creating a habitat where mosquitoes may breed. 102 years ago on July 28, 1917 — 10,000 people march in the Silent Parade down Fifth Avenue to protest recent violence and riots aimed at Blacks in the South — Learn more about the Silent Parade from the Bowery Boys. 3 years ago on August 2, 2016 — Karina Vetrano is attacked and murdered while jogging in Spring Creek Park in Howard Beach, Queens 74 years ago on July 28, 1945 — A U.S. Army B-25 bomber hits the Empire State Building, killing the three crew members and 11 people in the building 43 years ago on July 29, 1976 — David Berkowitz shoots two young women in the Bronx, beginning the Son of Sam murders that would keep NYC on edge for the next year 103 years ago on July 30, 1916 — The Black Tom explosion near Jersey City levels buildings, kills four, and injures hundreds — Read more from the FBI's history of the explosion 48 years ago on August 1, 1971 — George Harrison and Ravi Shankar organize the Concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden The Straphangers Campaign and TransitCenter had some distinguished awards to hand out to two of the city's bus lines this week: In Manhattan, the M14A, which runs from the Lower East Side to Chelsea along 14th Street, received the award for slowest bus line, achieving an average speed of just 4.3mph. When it comes to reliability, Brooklyn's B15 comes in last place, leaving bus riders wondering when or if the next bus would arrive. The slowest buses in Queens and Staten Island are leaving the other boroughs in the dust, racing down city streets at 6.4 and 7.8 mph respectively. Looking back through AGBC history: 1 year ago — Revel Brings Electric Moped Rentals to Brooklyn — The pilot program must have been a success, because by May of 2019 they announced that they would be adding 1,000 more electric mopeds to their fleet and expanding their service area. 2 years ago — De Blasio Takes a Hit in Latest Polling Numbers; Homelessness a Major Issue — Back in 2017, voters surveyed only gave de Blasio a 50% approval rating and he was hammered on the issue of homelessness, with 63% disapproval on his handling of poverty and homelessness and with 73% of respondents ranking homelessness as a very serious problem. Unfortunately those job approval numbers have only gotten worse, sinking down with each survey until he reached a 42% approval when Quinnipiac last asked the question in an April 2019 poll. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: It also automatically checks MTA data before morning rush hour and sends out notifications if there are delays on any subway lines, LIRR or MetroNorth trains, and bridges and tunnels. Follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts. Park of the day Arcilla Playground — 991 TELLER AVENUE, the Bronx — This playground, which is jointly operated by Parks and the Board of Education, has had several names since it was first opened in 1962: JHS 145 Playground, Arturo Toscanini Playground, Clay Playground, and now Arcilla Playground, the Spanish word for "clay"! Parks Events 41st Annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow Concert Calendar Kirk Franklin with Koryn Hawthorne is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Sunday, July 28th at 8pm. Limbo, Pixel Grip, Rare DM @ Baby's All Right, Rare Dm, Limbo, and PIXEL GRIP are playing Baby's All Right on Monday, July 29th. Rob Thomas with Abby Anderson are playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Monday, July 29th at 8pm. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Tuesday, July 30th at 7pm. Rob Thomas with Abby Anderson are playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Tuesday, July 30th at 8pm. Snail Mail and Duster are playing Brooklyn Steel on Wednesday, July 31st. This Is Not This Heat and This Heat are playing Elsewhere on Wednesday, July 31st. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Wednesday, July 31st at 7pm. Khalid with Clairo is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, July 31st at 7pm. Lights is playing Bowery Ballroom on the Lower East Side on Wednesday, July 31st at 9pm. The Rolling Stones and The Wombats are playing MetLife Stadium on Thursday, August 1st. The Summer Slaughter Tour, Cattle Decapitation, Brand of Sacrifice, Carnifex, Lorna Shore, Nekrogoblikon, Rivers of Nihil, and The Faceless are playing (le) poisson rouge on Thursday, August 1st. Ben Folds and Violent Femmes are playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Thursday, August 1st. Duster, Snail Mail, Duster, Sasami, and Snail Mail are playing Webster Hall on Thursday, August 1st. Blood Orange and Kelsey Lu, Blood Orange, and Kelsey Lu are playing Lincoln Center on Thursday, August 1st. Jonny Couch "Mystery Man" Album Release Show, Jonny Couch, Giggly Boys, Horny, and Shining Mirrors are playing Berlin on Thursday, August 1st. The Chemical Brothers with Charlotte de Witte is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Thursday, August 1st at 6pm. The Rolling Stones with The Wombats (Rescheduled from 6/13) is playing MetLife Stadium on Thursday, August 1st at 7pm. Khalid with Clairo is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Thursday, August 1st at 7pm. Herbie Hancock is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Thursday, August 1st at 7pm. Bad Religion and The Explosion are playing Webster Hall on Friday, August 2nd. Cayetana, Bacchae, and Katie Ellen are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, August 2nd. Sarah McLachlan with The New York Pops is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Friday, August 2nd at 7pm. Barry Manilow is playing Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in Midtown on Friday, August 2nd at 8pm. Barbra Streisand is playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 3rd. Rebelution is playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Saturday, August 3rd. Soccer Cousins and Hurry are playing Trans-Pecos on Saturday, August 3rd. Steve Gunn and Hand Habits are playing Industry City Courtyard on Saturday, August 3rd. MONSTA X WORLD TOUR 'WE ARE HERE' and MONSTA X are playing Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, August 3rd. Bad Religion and The Explosion are playing Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, August 3rd. Jenny Kern at Rockwood Music Hall and Jenny Kern are playing Rockwood Music Hall on Saturday, August 3rd. Bad Religion with The Explosion is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Saturday, August 3rd at 12pm. Barbra Streisand is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, August 3rd at 8pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Today's fact about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: Those silver Water Sampling boxes along the sidewalk are used to monitor the quality of NYC's water — There are 965 sampling stations citywide and more than 1,300 samples are collected each month The West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium F and Q Train station in Coney Island is the southernmost station in the subway system Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 102°F on July 31, 1933 Record Low: 55°F on July 27, 1920 Weather for the week ahead: Possible drizzle on Wednesday and Thursday, with high temperatures falling to 84°F next Saturday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

Top story this week has to be the blackout that hit west Manhattan. Coming 42 years to the day after the 1977 blackout from last week's show, this year's power outage was much less dramatic and lasted only a few hours. ConEd CEO John McAvoy described the failure of both the primary and backup protection systems at a power substation at 64th Street and West End Avenue, leading to power outages once the system was interrupted by a subsequent substation at 49th Street. Although the blackout wasn't caused by a spike in electricity usage, the heat is still on in the city, with daily high temps in the 90s. In response, cooling centers have been opened across the city in senior centers, public housing, and public libraries. On July 18th, Mayor de Blasio signed a local state of emergency that calls on city government buildings and all office buildings over 100 feet tall to conserve energy and set their thermostats no lower than 78°. Temperatures are set to rise and humidity will increase, leading to heat indexes over 100° before rain arrives on July 22nd. You can do your part by turning off your air conditioner when leaving your home and using public transportation instead of driving, which will keep the air quality clear during the heat wave. If you'll be opening your windows to get some ventilation, you can install safety devices called vent locks for sash windows or metal clips for sliding windows that make sure windows can't be forced all the way open from the outside. 5 years ago on July 17, 2014 — Eric Garner dies after being put in a chokehold by NYPD officers 12 years ago on July 18, 2007 — A steam pipe explodes near Grand Central, sending debris flying and disrupting Midtown during evening rush hour 1 year ago on July 19, 2018 — A steam pipe explodes near the Flatiron Building, causing a large crater outside 141 Fifth Avenue Be aware of your surroundings during this time of year, as two of city's steam explosions have happened during just this week in history. If you see any bulging pavement or steam escaping through cracks in the ground, stand clear and call 911 to report a dangerous condition. Citi Bike announced they will be expanding their coverage area over the next five years that will eventually triple the number of bikes to 40,000 and double the coverage to include the Bronx for the first time and further expand into Brooklyn and Queens. 5 years ago on July 22, 2014 — Two Berlin artists replace the American flags on the Brooklyn Bridge with all-white replicas 97 years ago on July 27, 1922 — The Hess family installs a mosaic at Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street marking what is probably the smallest plot of land in NYC 7 years ago — Photos of the Derecho Storm Hitting New York City 2 years ago — Top Five Subway Stations Ready for New Sponsored Names 8 years ago on July 28th, Mars Bar's Demolition Begins A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day Father Demo Square Parks Events Celebrate Open Garden Day with the NYC Parks Department's Greenthumb program, where your local community gardens will open their doors and host fun events and information sessions. Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Robyn is playing The Barclay Center on Friday, July 19th. Khemmis and Cloak are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Friday, July 19th. Acid Dad, Static Static, and The Values are playing Baby's All Right on Friday, July 19th. Billie Eilish is playing Radio City Music Hall on Friday, July 19th. 25 Years of Mercury Lounge, The Mooney Suzuki, The Negatones, and The Realistics are playing Mercury Lounge on Friday, July 19th. Mal Blum and adult mom are playing Rough Trade NYC on Friday, July 19th. OzyFest, A R I Z O N A, John Legend, Miguel, and Tove Lo are playing Great Lawn on Saturday, July 20th. Saor, Falls of Rauros, and Wayfarer are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Saturday, July 20th. Coney Island Music Festival, Bane's World, jeanines, Los Wilds, Miranda and The Beat, The Advertisers, The Feelies, and The Mystery Lights are playing Stillwell Stage Coney Island on Saturday, July 20th. The Mooney Suzuki and The Realistics are playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, July 20th. The Marías is playing The Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, July 20th. The Marias is playing Bowery Ballroom on the Lower East Side on Saturday, July 20th at 8pm. GIMME RADIO PRESENTS Tomb Mold Superstition Ruin Lust Coagula!, Tomb Mold, Coagula, Ruin Lust, and Superstition are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Sunday, July 21st. JoJo Siwa with The Belles is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Sunday, July 21st at 7pm. Twice is playing Prudential Center on Sunday, July 21st at 7pm. The Protomen and TWRP are playing Elsewhere on Monday, July 22nd. XXL Freshman Tour: XXL Freshmen is playing PlayStation Theater in Midtown on Monday, July 22nd at 8pm. Broadway Rising Stars is playing The Town Hall in Midtown on Monday, July 22nd at 8pm. Dead To A Dying World and Dead to a Dying World are playing Saint Vitus Bar on Tuesday, July 23rd. Godsmack with New Years Day is playing Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side on Tuesday, July 23rd at 8pm. Chase Atlantic is playing Webster Hall in Noho / Union Square on Tuesday, July 23rd at 8pm. Elvis Costello and The Imposters and Blondie, Elvis Costello and The Imposters, and Blondie are playing Forest Hills Stadium on Wednesday, July 24th. Summer Salt, Dante Elephante, and Motel Radio are playing Warsaw on Wednesday, July 24th. Wavves, Sharkmuffin, and SURFBORT are playing Industry City Courtyard on Wednesday, July 24th. JoJo Siwa with The Belles is playing Prudential Center on Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm. Elvis Costello with Blondie is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm. Iggy Azalea is playing Bowery Ballroom on the Lower East Side on Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm. Michael Buble is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, July 24th at 8pm. Kurt Vile, Cate le Bon, and Dinosaur Jr. are playing SummerStage NYC on Thursday, July 25th. John Mayer Summer Tour 2019 and John Mayer are playing Madison Square Garden on Thursday, July 25th. Imperial Teen, Liam Benzvi, and Macy Rodman are playing Baby's All Right on Thursday, July 25th. Kurt Vile is playing Rumsey Playfield, Central Park in Midtown East on Thursday, July 25th at 6pm. Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. Learn about New York Here's something you may not have known about New York: In 2016, the MTA's 6,418 subway cars traveled a total of 358,000,000 miles! Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 104°F on July 21, 1977 Record Low: 55°F on July 20, 1890 Weather for the week ahead: Rain today through Monday, with high temperatures peaking at 98°F on Sunday. Now that summer has arrived, so have warnings about high UV exposure: Now is the time to start protecting your skin and eyes from ultraviolet radiation, which will be higher during the summer months. Look for a skin protectant that is labeled as "broad spectrum" and at least SPF 50 and wear sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection. Outro Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Overcast, RadioPublic, Player FM, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com

New York honored the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team for their fourth World Cup victory with a ticker-tape parade and a presentation at city hall on July 10th where each member of the team received a key to the city. The team has won 48 of its last 50 games played and has now won four of the eight total women's World Cups played. (According to the Department of Sanitation, 7 tons of paper were collected along the parade route and recycled after the ticker-tape parade.) Back in April on Episode 18 we talked about an attempted arson at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and now Marc Lamparello, the man charged in the attack, has been declared mentally unable to stand trial. 7 years ago on July 5, 2012 — NYPD officer Brian Groves is shot while chasing a suspected drug dealer in a stairwell of the Seward Park Extension NYCHA housing on the Lower East Side 2 years ago on July 5, 2017 — NYPD officer Miosotis Familia is killed while sitting in a police vehicle in Fordham Heights, Bronx 12 years ago on July 9, 2007 — NYPD officer Russel Timoshenko is shot during a traffic stop in Crown Heights and dies five days later The Wall Street Bull may get some breathing room by next summer. In a Department of Transportation proposal, the area surrounding the narrow plaza at Bowling Green where the Charging Bull statue was placed in 1989 will be modified to be more pedestrian-friendly. Manhattanhenge July 42 years ago on July 13, 1977 — A two-day blackout sweeps across the city 23 years ago on July 17, 1996 — TWA Flight 800 explodes and crashes in Suffolk County after takeoff from JFK Airport, killing all 230 people on board If AGBC has kept you informed over the years, make a contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support, and if you're a local business, visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to view rates and learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day Jennings Park Parks Events Find a new viewing location for the upcoming Manhattanhenge by leaving Manhattan! There will be a unique perspective available across the East River in Hunters Point Park. Located in south Long Island City along the coastline, the new park offers a view straight across the water to 34th Street, giving a view of the entire Manhattan skyline with the sun glowing from within. Plan to arrive at the park early, as Manhattanhenge only shines for a short amount of time just before sundown at 8:21pm, and visit the AGBC Manhattanhenge page for more viewing locations — LIC Henge 2019 Concert Calendar Here's the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: The Psychedelic Furs, Dear Boy, and James are playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday, July 12th. Heize US and Canada Tour 2019, Heize, and 헤이즈 are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, July 12th. Charly Bliss is playing The Bowery Ballroom on Friday, July 12th. Freezepop and Nullsleep are playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday, July 13th. The Weeks is playing Baby's All Right on Saturday, July 13th. Marissa Nadler and Wild Pink are playing City Winery on Saturday, July 13th. Jennifer Lopez with World of Dance is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Saturday, July 13th at 8pm. Nick Murphy with Beacon is playing Brooklyn Steel in Greenpoint on Saturday, July 13th at 8pm. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. are playing Forest Hills Stadium on Sunday, July 14th. Public Practice and The Ritchie White Orchestra are playing Our Wicked Lady on Sunday, July 14th. Lynyrd Skynyrd with Hank Williams Jr. is playing Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills on Sunday, July 14th at 6pm. Lohai is playing Brooklyn Bowl in Downtown Brooklyn on Sunday, July 14th at 8pm. Chai and Bodega are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Monday, July 15th. Legion of Skanks Podcast and Francis Ellis are playing The Stand on Monday, July 15th. Sad Summer, State Champs, Mayday Parade, The Maine, and The Wonder Years are playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Tuesday, July 16th. David Allan Coe is playing Sony Hall on Tuesday, July 16th. Coyle Girelli and Riley Pinkerton are playing Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, July 16th. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: Central Park's Great Lawn was originally a reservoir of fresh water for city's water supply system. In 1931, it was filled in with material excavated from Rockefeller Center and the Eighth Avenue subway Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 102°F on July 15, 1995 Record Low: 54°F on July 13, 1888 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain on Thursday and next Friday, with high temperatures bottoming out at 85°F on Monday. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com — Manhattanhenge music by Anonymous420

Moving the Fourth of July fireworks back to the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time since 2014 went off without any problems, although it did leave a few flames burning on the bridge after the fireworks were finished. It seemed to be the smoldering remains of the fireworks casings or leftover chemicals and not the infrastructure of the bridge itself. The FDNY fireboats stationed in the East River made quick work of the flames, holding back from using the full force of their water cannons so as not to damage the bridge. This was the 43rd annual Macy's fireworks display. From the editor: A Great Big City will no longer publish to Facebook 1 year ago on July 4, 2018 — A woman climbs the Statue of Liberty pedestal, causing Liberty Island to be evacuated and canceling many midday Fourth of July tours It's been three years now since a tourist stepped on an explosive device in Central Park, and police have no new leads into where the device came from or its intention. If you have any information or photos from that day, contact NYPD CrimeStoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (1-800-577-8477), via text message at CRIMES (274637), or via online form. In 2017, the NYPD and ATF increased the reward for potential leads to $40,000. 33 years ago on July 7, 1986 — A man with a sword attacks Staten Island ferry passengers 8 years ago on July 7, 2011, we were tracking the first seasonal case of mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus being detected in the region. According to data collected by the CDC, July begins the active season for West Nile infections, which are spread via mosquito bites, so now is the time to be prepared and protect yourself from mosquitoes if you will be outside. If you'll be traveling overseas, take special precaution to avoid mosquito bites, and consider a vaccination against diseases that are common in the areas where you will be traveling. If you're staying in the city, you can even do your part by calling 311 with a report of standing water, defined as a place on public or private property where water gathers and remains for more than five days, creating a habitat where mosquitoes may breed. 108 years ago on July 9th, 1911, the New York Times described how a streak of hot weather, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees during the beginning of July 1911, made it difficult to transport ice from insulated storage warehouses to the "Greeks and Italians who have little ice depots in convenient basements", where people found it more convenient than waiting for the ice delivery wagons. Special honor goes out this week in recognition of Alelia Murphy, who will celebrate her 114th birthday on July 6th in Harlem. She is believed to be the oldest living American. Ms. Murphy was born in North Carolina in 1905 and has lived in Harlem since the 1920s. A Great Big City has been running a 24-hour newsfeed since 2010, but the AGBC News podcast is just getting started, and we need your support. A Great Big City is built on a dedication to explaining what is happening and how it fits into the larger history of New York, which means thoroughly researching every topic and avoiding clickbait headlines to provide a straightforward, honest, and factual explanation of the news. Individuals can make a monthly or one-time contribution at agreatbigcity.com/support and local businesses can have a lasting impact by supporting local news while promoting products or services directly to interested customers listening to this podcast. Visit agreatbigcity.com/advertising to learn more. AGBC is more than just a news website: Our fireworks page monitors the city's announcements of upcoming fireworks, lists them on our site, and automatically sends out a notification just before the fireworks begin, so that you can watch the show or prepare your pet for the upcoming sounds of explosions. Visit agreatbigcity.com/fireworks to see the full calendar and follow @agreatbigcity on social media to receive the alerts Park of the day The Big Park in Staten Island — Big Park was originally named Grandview Playground, but was always called "the big park" by locals, so it was renamed during renovation in 2017. The park has a wide array of playground equipment and sports fields. Positioned at the southwest corner of the Mariner's Harbor NYCHA houses, Big Park adds a welcome recreation area to the neighborhood. Parks Events Central Park Tour: The Belvedere: Beautiful View — Date: July 6, 2019 Enjoy the sweeping vistas of the Great Lawn from the newly restored Belvedere Castle while learning about its history and preservation. Plus, explore the surrounding landscapes and landmarks, including Turtle Pond, King Jagiello, and the 3,500-year-old "Cleopatra's Needle." Details Meet: Belvedere Castle (mid-Park at 79th Street).... Concert Calendar This is the AGBC Concert Calendar for the upcoming week: Morningside Lane, Mike Lawlor Banned, and Space Junk is Forever are playing FM Restaurant Bar and Lounge on Friday, July 5th. KCON NEW YORK 2019, ATEEZ, EVERGLOW, IZ*ONE, NU'EST, THE BOYZ, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER are playing Madison Square Garden on Saturday, July 6th. Summer School: Jonny Couch and GRITS. Outdoor Patio Show!, Jonny Couch, and grits. are playing Hard Times Christmas Liquors at the Sunset Bar on Saturday, July 6th. Dirty Bass is playing Schimanski in Williamsburg on Saturday, July 6th at 9pm. KCON 2019 NEW YORK, AB6IX, fromis_9, (G)I-DLE, Seventeen, SF9, and VERIVERY are playing Madison Square Garden on Sunday, July 7th. Got Ice Summer Fete is playing Knockdown Center in Maspeth on Sunday, July 7th at 2pm. Anberlin with I The Mighty is playing Irving Plaza in Noho / Union Square on Sunday, July 7th at 7pm. Legion of Skanks Podcast, Joe List, and Mark Normand are playing The Stand on Monday, July 8th. Los Campesinos! and Nervous Dater are playing Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday, July 9th. Surfaces (16+) is playing Mercury Lounge in Lower East Side on Tuesday, July 9th at 6pm. Earth, Wind & Fire are playing Beacon Theatre in Upper West Side on Tuesday, July 9th at 8pm. Dar Williams and Susan Werner are playing City Winery on Wednesday, July 10th. Earth, Wind & Fire are playing Beacon Theatre in Upper West Side on Wednesday, July 10th at 8pm. Jason Mraz with Ripe is playing The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Wednesday, July 10th at 8pm. Alana Davis is playing Rockwood Music Hall on Thursday, July 11th. CHVRCHES and Charly Bliss are playing Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, July 11th. MajorStage Presents: Live Hip Hop @ The Paper Box (Late Show), Dylie Dollas, and EMO-G are playing The Paper Box on Thursday, July 11th. Billy Joel is playing Madison Square Garden in Midtown West / Chelsea / Hudson Yards on Thursday, July 11th at 8pm. CHVRCHES with Charly Bliss is playing Radio City Music Hall in Midtown on Thursday, July 11th at 8pm. Operators (18+) is playing Bowery Ballroom in Lower East Side on Thursday, July 11th at 8pm. Soulive (21+) is playing Brooklyn Bowl in Downtown Brooklyn on Thursday, July 11th at 8pm. The Psychedelic Furs, Dear Boy, and James are playing The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday, July 12th. Charly Bliss is playing The Bowery Ballroom on Friday, July 12th. Kevin Johansen (21+) is playing Mercury Lounge in Lower East Side on Friday, July 12th at 6pm. Thanks for listening! Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events. New York Fact Here's something you may not have known about New York: Penn Station is the busiest rail station in North America, seeing over 500,000 passengers per day Weather The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history: Record High: 106°F on July 9, 1936 Record Low: 53°F on July 5, 1979 Weather for the week ahead: Light rain tomorrow through Thursday, with high temperatures rising to 91°F tomorrow. Thanks for listening to A Great Big City. Follow along 24 hours a day on social media @agreatbigcity or email contact@agreatbigcity.com with any news, feedback, or topic suggestions. Subscribe to AGBC News wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes, Google Play, or Podcast Addict, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, or listen to each episode on the podcast pages at agreatbigcity.com/podcast. If you enjoy the show, subscribe and leave a review wherever you're listening and visit our podcast site to see show notes and extra links for each episode. Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com