–The fire department says faulty wiring in a neighboring building caused the fire that destroyed the historic Middle Collegiate Church. [1010 WINS]
–The mayor refuses to clarify his role in the firing of Ricardo Morales, a central figure in the Rivington House scandal. Morales’ attorney says de Blasio will eventually have to explain himself under oath. [The Daily News]
–What’s happening with the plan to build a new jail in Chinatown? The city has cut a half a billion dollars from its budget to construct new facilities in each borough. [The City]
–Community activists gathered this past week to defend a poster “depicting Council Member Margaret Chin as a rampaging monster.” [AM New York]
–The Tenement Museum, in a fight for its survival, appoints a new president. Annie Polland, a familiar face at the Lower East Side historical institution, will take over in January. [The Forward]
–Another look at the nation’s Chinatowns in peril as the coronavirus enterers a deadly news phase and vulnerable neighborhoods prepare for a harsh winter. [Bloomberg City Lab]
–Even before the governor pulled the plug on indoor dining this week, some restaurants had already made the decision to close or shift their focus. One example is the Lower East Side restaurant Cervos, which has morphed into a neighborhood market featuring fresh fish, produce and other grocery items. [Eater]
–The beloved toy store, Dinosaur Hill, is closing, and Veselka will be taking over its space. The looming changes offer “glimmers of hope in the ever-evolving East Village.” [The New York Times]
–Just say no to Amazon! In a roundup of hyperlocal shopping, a little love for two grassroots organizations supporting small businesses in Chinatown: Send Chinatown Love and Welcome to Chinatown. [The New York Times]
–Starting next week, there will be a bike lane detour above 20th Street due to East River flood wall construction. [EV Grieve]
