After last night’s dramatic storm, skies are clearing this morning and we’ll be warming to a high of 68.
We’re continuing to follow developments at the Marble cemetery on East 2nd Street, after yesterday’s C-4 explosives discovery. Andrew Knox, a cemetery board member, had a look inside the bag containing the C-4 on Sunday. He told the Times the explosives did not seem real: “We thought it was like a movie prop… It was sort of crumbly, the plastic was coming off. It clearly said explosive on it, but it had been outside for so long that the plastic was sort of delaminating.” Various media reports have suggested investigators are looking at whether there might be a connection to the Hells Angels clubhouse on 3rd Street.
In other news today, NY1 zeroes in on the highly regarded LES dual language school, Shuang Wen. A report broadcast last night said, “the mostly low-income students were told to start paying for (mandatory bilingual) classes at a cost of $1,000 each,” beginning this year. Education reporter Lindsey Christ continued: “Parents blame the city for celebrating the school’s program, sending more and more students but then not providing enough funding. And when the school tried to make up the difference by shaming parents who didn’t donate, the city cut its after-school funding altogether. The school said that left limited choices.”
The Times profiles Brooklyn Rabbi Yehuda Levin, whose congregation was the setting for Carl Paladino’s infamous anti-gay rant over the weekend. Levin, who dreams of creating an “Orthodox Tea Party,” apparently has much in common with Paladino, including a shared antipathy for State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Other headlines today: the city has paid out almost $4 million in recent years to bicyclists hurt due to bad roads. The Daily News article mentions the East River waterfront, which (as we all know) is in terrible condition. From the Post’s police blotter, we learn: a guy impersonating a cop mugged a woman near East Houston and Columbia streets, and was subsequently arrested by a real cop. Cracking down on careless drivers: “Hayley & Diego’s Law,” named after two children who were killed in Chinatown last year goes into effect Thursday.
Jeremiah says: “In only 4 years, the fashion industry has managed to do its part in changing the meaning of the Bowery, a meaning that held strong in the country’s consciousness for a century and a half.” Meanwhile, feathered heels come to Rivington Street. And Hotel Toshi comes to East 10th Street.
On our radar today: elected officials and members of Transportation Alternatives ride the new Select Bus Service, disembarking at Allen & East Houston for “bagels and testimonials.” Borough President Scott Stringer will join WNYC’s Brian Lehrer this morning to talk about his new bike lane study. And at noon, the Hester Street Collaborative debuts “Mall-terations,” a temporary art exhibition on the Allen Street pedestrian mall. Check our Community Calendar for more details.
Have a good Tuesday.
