LaGuardia Airport will receive $37.5 million in federal and state funds to create new flood protections that will make it less vulnerable to future Superstorm Sandy-type extreme weather. The airport was paralyzed during last year's storm after it was flooded with what officials calculated was 100 million gallons of seawater. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the plans on Sunday during a visit to the airport.
Reforming Solitary Confinement At The City's Biggest Psych Ward — Rikers Island: After years of criticism from advocates, the city’s practice of isolating detainees through punitive segregation has come under scrutiny from lawmakers and city officials. In recent months, the City Council passed legislation to bring greater transparency to the practice. But perhaps the greatest change will come in the months ahead. By Caroline Lewis. READ MORE
Who Will Be The Next Speaker? A public forum with the candidates for City Council speaker co-sponsored by Gotham Gazette sister organization Citizens Union. 6 p.m. on Nov. 20. RSVPs required: email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 212-227-0342, x39. #NextSpeaker
Other Stories We're Following
Bronx Assemblyman Tries To Avoid Blowback With Concussion Bill (Albany Times Union)
State Education Commissioner Faces Criticism At Forums (NY Times)
New Poll Says NYers Lukewarm To State Education Reforms (the Post Standard)
Anti-Corruption Panel Co-Chair Got $1M Through Loophole (Daily News)
Ex-Bill Clinton Aide Ickes Advising De Blasio (Daily News)
Cuomo Has Raised Stunning Amount Of Cash For Re-Election (Wall Street Journal)
Labor Plays Kingmaker Role In Speaker Race (Crain's)
LaGuardia Airport To Receive Millions For Storm Protection (The Epoch Times)
Charter School Leaders Want To Work With Mayor-Elect (Newsday)
Landowners Say They'll Sue Over Fracking Decision Delays (WNYC)
Bids reached record levels in the first taxi medallion auction in over five years. The largest bid for a "mini-fleet" of two medallions blew past $2.5 million yesterday, the highest such bid on record. Single placards went for as much as $1.26 million, The Wall Street Journal reported. The city's taxi commissioner, David Yassky, told the newspaper that the prices demonstrated the health of the cab industry "and by extension the New York City economy." But, as The New York Times reported, the higher prices have made it more difficult for drivers to become owners — a long cherished dream of immigrant New Yorkers.
New in the Gotham Gazette
Council Gives Public New Tool For Government Transparency: New Yorkers may soon be able to watch any public hearing organized by the city from the electronic device of their choice. By Chester Soria. READ MORE
Here's How Bloomberg Could Burnish His Reputation In His Last Days: The plan to rezone East Midtown to make room for new, larger skyscrapers is dead — leaving Mayor Michael Bloomberg without one more data point to his 14-year legacy running the city. By Chester Soria. READ MORE
Other Stories We're Following
Council Approves Post-Sandy Building Codes (NY Times)
NYPD's Kelly Says He Felt Betrayed By Mayoral Candidates (NY Post)
Ex-Congressman Could Be Breaking Campaign Reporting Laws (The Center For Public Integrity)
Tax Reform Panel Makes Recommendations To Cuomo (Albany Times Union)
New Park At Governor's Island Completed (DNAinfo)
Council Speaker Candidates Debate Policy At Forum (Capital)
NYC Schools Modifies Procedures After Child Disappears (WNYC)
Cuomo Signs Hudson River Park Air Rights Bill (Chelsea Now)
The city released what could be the final round of letter grades for more than 1,600 public schools. It is unlikely that the system, created by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration, will survive his tenure. Bill de Blasio has previously said he would get rid of the policy, and a spokeswoman for the mayor-elect told The New York Times on Wednesday that letter grades provide "little real insight to parents and are not a reliable indicator of how schools are actually performing.” GothamSchools has a detailed look at the scores and what they mean. WNYC has a map to navigate the scores.
Today's Policy Agenda:
_ City Council members vote to require all city agencies, commissions, task forces and committees to record and webcast meetings live. 1:30 p.m., Council chambers.
_ The United Federation of Teachers and other groups call for a ban on standardized testing of students in pre-K through second grade. 11:30 a.m. dial-in. #RecessFromTests
Other Stories We're Following
Panel Found No 'Actual Partiality' By The Judge In Stop-And-Frisk Case (NY Times)
Analysis of Stop-And-Frisk Skeptical Of Effectiveness (Associated Press)
After 24 Years, State Elections Board Member To Leave (Albany Times Union)
Cuomo Vetoes MTA Bill (Capital)
Lopez Accusers Challenge Silver's Efforts To Quash Federal Lawsuit (NY Post)
Councilman Holds Out On Armory Deal (Norwood News)
State Senate Panel Scrutinizes Common Core (Albany Times Union)
A Map Of Median Incomes In NYC Neighborhoods (WNYC)