Welcome to the NYC Weekly News Roundup.
This week, we reported on the potential for NYC's first Chinese American history landmark, the hundreds of bodies of people who died from coronavirus last year that remain in refrigerated trucks, a Brooklyn boy who bought $2,600 of SpongeBob popsicles and a new city schools policy to turn snow days into remote school days.
Catch up on this week's news below, and follow our borough-specific accounts to get the daily news most relevant to you.
Manhattan Echo
It was an ultra-busy week in Manhattan amid New York City's ongoing reopening plans. So instead of summarizing the takeaways from a few major stories, we've listed the headlines from all the important stories below. Because many of the stories were fairly straightforward, the headlines capture most of the story, but if you want to read further, click the link for the full story.
However, if only because it's life-affirming as a New Yorker, we do want to draw your attention to one particular story, not that you don't already know it's correct: New York has the best drivers in the country, study says.
- 'No one’s knocking me down': Scott Stringer vows to fight on after losing supporters in NYC mayoral race
- Woman who accused NYC Mayoral Candidate Scott Stringer of sexual assault requests state AG investigates
- Rabbi fired for sexual conduct that took place at a New York synagogue
- New York City schools will begin swapping snow days for remote learning
- New York City's Broadway to reopen at 100% capacity on Sept. 14
- Broadway tickets are now available, here's a list of shows reopening in the fall
- NYC’s subway to resume 24-hour service on May 17
- New York City could get its first Chinese American history landmark
- Manhattan man caught stealing paintings worth $80,000, including Warhol piece
The Brooklyn Beat
Brooklyn 4-year-old buys $2,600 worth of SpongeBob popsicles with his mom's credit card
A 4-year-old Brooklyn boy got his mom into a tough financial situation after he bought about $2,600 worth of SpongeBob Squarepants popsicles using her credit card.
Noah Bryant, who is reportedly obsessed with the boisterous sea sponge, ordered 918 popsicles after he snuck into his mom’s Amazon account. Fortunately, a classmate of his mother's set up a GoFundMe page that quickly recouped the losses and more.
Protester accuses police of sexual assault, public humiliation at Brooklyn Bridge march
A racial justice protester says she was sexually assaulted, stripped and forced to stand naked by the New York City Police Department at an April 24 demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Maila Beach and her lawyer, Tahanie Aboushi, who is a candidate for Manhattan district attorney, held a press conference Friday to address the allegations against the NYPD.
Protesters started to cross the bridge as part of a march against police violence. Police blockaded the bridge and forced the demonstrators to retreat. As the protesters moved back, police began making arrests as other officers pepper-sprayed, tackled and shoved demonstrators.
Beach said this was when she was sexually assaulted and publically humiliated, claiming police pulled her shift off, zip-tied her hands behind her back, pulled her pants down and paraded her in front of a crowd of officers and protesters.
She intends to take legal action against the NYPD, Aboushi said. The NYPD tacitly acknowledged Beach became undressed during her arrest but said no officers were at fault. Beach received a summons for blocking the roadway after her arrest, according to police.
Hundreds of bodies still stored in trucks at Brooklyn pier a year after coronavirus death peak
The bodies of about 750 coronavirus victims are still being stored in refrigerated trucks at Brooklyn’s 39th Street pier over a year after a wave of mass death forced the city’s morgues and funeral homes to resort to overflow storage.
Authorities have not disclosed a timetable for moving these bodies will be transported for burial or cremation.
Most of the bodies will be transferred to Hart Island, the burial ground for New Yorkers who lack the funds for a private burial. Many of the bereaved families of those currently held in cold storage said they prefer their loved ones be moved there immediately, but the city has not been responsive to their requests.
Hart Island took on 2,666 burials in 2020 — more than double the usual number. The backlog at the island could explain the delay in moving the corpses from the pier.
The Bronx Beacon
3 shootings leave 2 dead in less than 24 hours across the Bronx
The Bronx saw three reported shootings on Thursday, two of which ended fatally, as the city continues to see a spike in gun violence across the five boroughs.
Police said the first shooting in the Bronx took place around 3:07 p.m., when a 23-year-old man was fatally struck near the intersection of Cruger and Lydig avenues in Allerton.
The NYPD also responded to a 911 call and located Abdessamad Essafoui — who resided on Kingsland Avenue in Pelham Gardens — passed out and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his torso. He later died at Jacobi Hospital.
The third shooting took place inside the Gouverneur Playground shortly before midnight. Police discovered an unnamed man at the location with several gunshot wounds to his torso. He was pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital. Police later learned a second victim went to Lincoln Hospital for treatment. She was listed in stable condition.
An initial investigation into the third shooting led to the arrest of a teenage male suspect, who was brought in for further interrogation.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or by messaging on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
Alleged gang members detained in the Bronx on federal racketeering conspiracy charges
Authorities arrested seven alleged street gang members in the Bronx on Thursday on racketeering conspiracy charges.
The suspects allegedly represent the 800 YGz gang, which is accused of brandishing weapons and attacking rivals in the Bronx between summer 2019 and summer 2020.
The alleged gang members also reportedly sold narcotics and participated in wire fraud to gain money quickly, earning power and notoriety for the gang.
All men face a maximum of life in prison for the alleged racketeering conspiracy.
“These defendants are charged with participating in the activities of the 800 YGz gang and committing numerous acts of violence. Their alleged criminal conduct has been a scourge on communities in the Bronx for years,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond P. Donovan said in a statement after the bust.
Facebook photos helped apprehend a man in Florida who is believed to be the top suspect in the shooting of a 75-year-old bystander in Manhattan.
Carlyle Herring, 42, was placed in custody in Tampa on April 26 after investigators examined photos on his Facebook page that depicted palm trees and a pool in the background, police sources said.
The 42-year-old Bronx native was extradited to New York on Tuesday and charged with attempted murder, police said.
On Feb. 16, Herring allegedly fire multiple shots at a BMW driver at the intersection of Clinton and Delancy streets after the car almost struck him. The driver was uninjured and left the scene, but one of the bullets hit a 75-year-old woman walking by.
Queens Daily News
6 free movie screenings coming to Queens Drive-In, including 'Star Wars' and 'Moonlight'
This summer, Queens Drive-In is bringing at least six free movie screenings to its theater at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The first showing, "Star Wars," was held Tuesday.
For the next five weeks, visitors can plan to watch these upcoming films:
- Wednesday, May 19: “Inside Out” (2015)
- Wednesday, May 26: “Moonlight” (2016)
- Wednesday, June 16: “Coming to America” (1988)
- Thursday, June 24: “Monsoon Wedding” (2001)
- Date TBA: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)
For more information, visit www.queensdrivein.com.
Governors Ball announces September return, move to Citi Field
Governors Ball Music Festival announced Tuesday that it will be returning in September with a new lineup featuring Billie Eilish, Post Malone, A$AP Rocky and more.
The festival, which normally takes place on Randall’s Island, will be at Citi Field this year from Sept. 24-26.
Some of the other artists slated for the festival include Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, 21 Savage, Ellie Goulding, Phoebe Bridgers, Portugal. The Man, Young Thug, Carly Rae Jepsen and plenty more.
Tickets are available now on the festival’s website.