–Calls to defund the NYPD are certain to be the rallying cry of budget negotiations during the next few weeks. Local City Council member Carlina Rivera says, “It’s absolutely shameful, that in the wake of all of these protests, our mayor still clings to the notion that the NYPD’s massive budget doesn’t play a huge role in the inequities and racism that we see in this city.” [NY1]
–All is not right with an emergency food delivery program coordinated by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Residents in many buildings, including on the Lower East Side, say boxes are often dumped in lobbies and food is left to spoil. [The City]
–A quick recovery in Chinatown? Business owners say it’s unlikely and even have fears that the neighborhood will never come back from COVID-19, at least not in any recognizable form. [Yahoo Finance]
–Lists of black-owned restaurants have been making the rounds this week and some, including Cheeky Sandwiches on the Lower East Side, have noticed an uptick in business. [Eater]
–You can volunteer to help East Village businesses that have sustained damage in the past week. [EV Grieve]
–A recovery fund was created to assist businesses hit by vandalism in Chinatown. [GoFundMe]
–A staff member of Grand Street Settlement tells his story, after being brutally harassed, frisked and threatened in Brooklyn by members of the NYPFD. He is one of “countless Black Americans who have faced racist police departments across the country (and) are turning their pain into power.” [Medium]
–The Landmarks Preservation Commission has voted to calendar a decision to rescind the landmark designation of the former Beth Hamadresh Hagadol synagogue. The building was destroyed in an arson fire and the site will now be redeveloped with hundreds of units of new housing. [Cityland]
–Garry Greenberg, third generation owner of Beckenstein’s Fabrics, a onetime Orchard Street fixture, has passed away due to coronavirus complication (James & Karla Murray’s Facebook]
