🌱Longer School Days + NYC's 'Blue Highway' | Daily Digest

New York City NY

15 December, 2021

4:10 PM

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Happy Thursday! New Yorkers who love to gripe about how little time they have, the mayor and traffic — whether on the streets or subway — have a lot to chew on thanks to recent news. Let's dive in. Imagine going to school for longer days or on weekends. For New York City public school students, it could soon be a fact of life. Incoming Chancellor David Banks made the media rounds lately talking about how students and teachers could see longer school days, weekend classes and more summer learning. NYC School Students Could Get Longer Weekdays, Weekend Classes Mayor Bill de Blasio has been quacking more than a typical lame duck. His latest attempt to make a splash came Wednesday, when he unveiled a $38 million pledge into a "sustainable freight system." In English, that means the city would move more deliveries from 18-wheeler trucks on city streets and onto its waterways — or the "blue highway," as the mayor called it. NYC's $38M Pledge Will Help Tap 'Blue Highway' For Water Delivery It's official — MTA riders who use the new tap-to-pay OMNY system will finally get lower fares. The transit agency's leadership approved a "fare capping" pilot to essentially gives OMNY users a $33 weekly unlimited pass if they take more than 12 rides. Tap-To-Ride MTA Passengers Will Get Unlimited Passes Best From Around Patch: JFK Airport got its second big construction announcement this week. Officials brought ground on the $1.5 billion, COVID-delayed Terminal 4 revamp that will be Delta's home. (Queens Patch)A group of anti-vaxxers protested at a Queens Cheesecake Factory. They refused to show proof of vaccination and called NYPD officers "Nazis." (Jackson Heights-Elmhurst Patch)Speaking of Nazis, a man spray painted swastikas on City Hall and the Charging Bull statue. A hate crime investigation is underway. (New York City Patch) Keep up with your neighborhood by signing up to a local newsletter: https://patch.com/subscribe Today's weather: Breezy with variable clouds. High: 63 Low: 52. From our sponsor: Hey New York City, are you looking to buy a house, refinance or just explore your options? Check out the new Patch Mortgage Center for all your home financing needs! Today in New York City: Be a Family's Santa (5:00 PM) Member Holiday Celebration - The Frick Collection (6:30 PM) Animation Creation: the math of visual effects: "The Art of Digital Movement" (6:30 PM) Snowbirds: A Cultural Phenomenon (7:00 PM) City Lyric Opera presents Viardot's Cendrillon (7:00 PM) From my notebook: Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs: "Update on Heather: A few days ago, we alerted you of a dog in the shelter system with a grapefruit-sized mass on her abdomen. Heather went straight to a vet, where it was discovered that it was not a tumor but a massive hernia. Due to th..." (Facebook) Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs: "As the holidays grow nearer, it's good to start planning what you'll be bringing to the family dinner. How about a nice, chonky holiday brisket named CHUCK?! This boy is made of more than beefy paws, pouty lips, and baby teeth… he's comp..." (Facebook) Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs: ""Having respect for animals makes us better humans" Need a holiday gift for an animal lover? We have you covered! Don't stress about supply chain issues, just grab some SCR swag. Yesterday we shared our new t-shirt; today is our cozy swe..." (Facebook) New York City Fire Department (FDNY): "This holiday season, FDNY wants you to make safe and educated decisions when it comes to lithium-ion battery usage and storage. FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn says, "You want to store lithium-ion batteries away from your primary me..." (Facebook) NYC: The Official Guide: ""As we recover from this pandemic, I want to ensure that everyone traveling to New York has a welcoming and streamlined experience, and that New Yorkers have the modernized transportation hubs they deserve." — New York Governor Kathy Hochul" (Facebook) NYC Water: "#GreenInfrastructure will capture 1.1 MILLION gallons of stormwater annually at this new playground in Chinatown! It'll serve nearly 18,000 residents within a 10-minute walk: https://on.nyc.gov/3pe2lL2" (Facebook) From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news! 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(December 17) Grove Comedy THIS FRIDAY @ 8pm (December 17) Visible Presents: Shatter the Family Drama (December 18) Amahl & the Night Visitors - Family Opera at Sands Point Preserve (December 18) Once Again: Join the NO BUTTS Campaign (December 19) White Collar Support Group 288th Meeting Online on Zoom (December 20) Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTD's Sunniest Blooms (December 21) Add your event Announcements: All about Tree monitors Varanus (Details) Add your announcement For sale: Salon for sale (Details) Fast Sale PS5, Negotiable (Details) *** $75 OFF *** Walk with "CONFIDENCE" Again! (Details) Add your item Gigs & services: Tara's School for Dogs - Training for Puppies & Adult Dogs (Details) Add your gig or service Housing: FOR SALE || 80 Saint Nicholas Avenue || Manhattan (Harlem) (Details) Add your listing Loving the New York City Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at [email protected] You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow for another update. — Matt Troutman About me: I cover the citywide beat for Patch NYC after reporting on my beloved home borough of Brooklyn. Before Patch, I kicked around newspapers and other outlets in Indiana, Michigan and New York City. Along the way I've sat through innumerable trials and public meetings, picked up a national investigative reporting award, reported on televangelists flying private jets, among many other mundane, noteworthy or strange reporting experiences. In my free time, I'm a big movie buff, an aspiring home cook and am forever seeking good natural areas. You can reach me with story ideas, tips or feedback at [email protected] or call at 347-622-3654.