By Ethan Stark-Miller, published March 12, 2024

Leaders of the city’s three public library systems launched a fresh campaign Tuesday to demand that Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council reverse a collective $58.3 million in proposed cuts in the coming Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Tuesday marks the first time the leaders of the three branches — the New York, Brooklyn and Queens Public Libraries — are citing the sizable $58.3 million cut, which is higher than the $22.1 million trim the mayor enacted in November.

…

READ MORE

By Kelly Mena, published March 11, 2024

Judith Insell, the executive director of the Bronx Arts Ensemble, was shocked when she learned in February that she would not be receiving any City Hall funding for the rest of the fiscal year due to budget cuts.

“I was preparing for a 15% cut, but not a 100% cut,” Insell said.

…

READ MORE

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera and Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) joined community residents to celebrate the joyous return home of more than 20 households who are realizing the dream of homeownership in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood. The project was financed through HPD’s Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP), which selects qualified developers to rehabilitate distressed city-owned multifamily buildings in order to create affordable co-ops for low and moderate-income households.

…

READ MORE

By Graham Rayman, published March 7, 2024

Read here: https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/03/07/nyc-poised-to-restore-rikers-jails-counseling-funding-slashed-in-2023

By Claude Solnik, published March 5, 2024

Monday is traditionally the day when theaters are dark, stages are empty and performers take a break, providing a kind of industrywide intermission. It is also a day when events designed for performers and the theatergoing community often take place.

So, about 200 people, including performers, donors and simply fans of one of New York City’s longest-going and truest homes to new work united Feb.

…

READ MORE

By Councilmember Carlina Rivera, published March 4, 2024

Growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a community rich with cultural heritage, I had a front row seat to how the arts were transformative. For young people and their families, cultural institutions were often safe places to grow, dream and tell their stories without fear of retribution or judgment.

…

READ MORE

By Chris Welch, February 29, 2024

NEW YORK – Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh says this first-in-the-nation program will “literally” save lives.

City officials today unveiled the first of five public e-battery charging locations to be installed in New York City.  The first is now up in Cooper Square in the East Village.

“This is such an important moment,”

…

READ MORE

By Naeisha Rose, published February 29, 2024

“There is no New York City without our cultural institutions,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica) at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Coalition of Theatres of Color Initiative at Black Spectrum Theatre in St. Albans last Thursday. “We will shout that from the roofs.”

Councilwoman Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan), the newly appointed chair of Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations, said the arts are not just important to the survival of people, they also are essential to the city’s economy and a unifying force.

…

READ MORE

By Dan Rivoli, published February 26, 2024

The leaders of the city’s three public library systems testified to the City Council about their efforts to fight restrictions to certain books in school, libraries and curricula around the country.

“We provide regular banned book clubs and a writing contest and offer copies online, and in print, but online, to anyone in the country, especially those in the states that have seen the lead of these book bannings,” Anthony Marx, president of the New York Public Library, told councilmembers.

…

READ MORE

By Christina Fan, published February 26, 2024

NEW YORK — New York City’s public libraries are leading a push to increase access to books that are being banned in other cities.

As book ban attempts increase nationwide, the city’s libraries have been fighting against censorship. Now, a City Council hearing will focus on their efforts. 

…

READ MORE