Photo: Trader Joe’s, Grand Street.
This week’s news and notes:
–A union vote at the Trader Joe’s on Grand Street ends in a tie, meaning the effort to unionize the Lower East Side has failed for now. [NY1]
–A look at why the city has been unable to cope with the explosion of unlicensed cannabis shops. Included in the story: lawsuits filed against four stores on the Lower East Side. [Daily News]
–A civil jury awards $2 million to Jawaun Fraser, who was imprisoned for two years after being arrested at a Lower East Side drug store in 2014 and charged with robbery. “Fraser had no way of knowing that the officers who charged him had been the target of dozens of civil lawsuits over alleged evidence fabrication, abuse of power and other misconduct — the New York Police Department and prosecutors never told his lawyers.” [Law 360]
–The Seward Park Library is closing for about 3 months for renovations, beginning tomorrow, April 24. [NYPL]
–Renonations are complete at the Grand Street subway station. [WPIX 11]
–Community Board 3’s monthly meeting will be held Tuesday evening. You can see the agenda here.
–There were two presentations at CB3’s transportation committee meeting earlier this month — detailing upcoming changes to the plaza areas on Delancey Street. You can watch the meeting here.
–A big renovation project is about to begin at the Abrons Arts Center. We’ll have more details about what’s happening next week. [Instagram]
—Â A new album tells the story of three momentous events in NYC history through one East Village building. [Time Out]
–Adam Zhu’s photo book “Nice Daze.” follows “a multigenerational group of skateboarders, graffiti writers, artists, musicians, and attendees of crowded parties—around New York’s East Village, Lower East Side, and Chinatown.” [The New Yorker]
–A new podcast debuts with an episode celebrating the varied and vibrant cultures of the Lower East Side. [Travel & Leisure]
–Pete Wells says the most exciting Vietnamese food in the City can be found at Mam on the Lower East Side. [The New York Times]
In the Times’ “100 Best Restaurants” in New York City list, a few LES/Chinatown spots, including: Una Pizza Napoletana, Mam, Great NY Noodletown, Ernesto’s, Dirt Candy, Hop Lee, Scarr’s Pizza, Dhamaka and Shopsin’s General Store. [The New York Times]
–If you’re really Bananas, you can get early access to Nick Morgenstern’s new dairy-free soft serve shop on Rivington Street. [The New York Times]
