Today is Monday, July 13th, 2026
Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 84 degrees, which is as cool as it’s expected to be this week. Tomorrow, temperatures will climb into the 90s and stay there through Thursday; Friday they’ll hover around 90, with a possibility of thundershowers.
On this date in 1930, the first-ever FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay, bringing together 13 teams from three continents (compared to the 48 teams representing six continents in the current competition). France and the United States scored the first-ever goals in the competition, but the home team, Uruguay, ultimately won the cup, defeating Argentina 4-2.
Notices
Our calendar has lots of local events. Click on the link or the lady in the upper righthand corner to check.
The City Council’s Health Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. this Wednesday, July 15, on a law that would phase out horse-drawn carriages in the city. Named Romanch’s Law, for teenager Romanch Mahajan, who died earlier this summer after being thrown out of a runaway carriage in Central Park, it also would provide support for carriage drivers transitioning to other employment. To testify at the hearing in person or on Zoom, register — HERE. (In the drop-down menu, select “10 AM – Committee on Health.”) More on the horse-drawn carriage debate in the News Roundup, below.
Councilmember Gale Brewer’s Fresh Food for Seniors is back for the 14th year; the program provides seniors with a bag of fresh, locally grown produce every other week for $10 per bag. It’s pay-as-you-go (no seasonal subscription required) and the first pickup/ordering day of the season is this Wednesday, July 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center, 593 Columbus Avenue. If you’re a senior and would like to participate, pay $10 this week, and pick up your produce July 29 at Goddard Riverside or one of the program’s other locations; more information, including the other locations and order/pickup dates — HERE.
The New York Blood Center has declared its second “blood emergency” in six weeks – the first time in its history that it’s had to do so twice in a single summer. The center blames the recent heatwaves, storms and power outages for a drop in donations, and says it now has only about a two-day supply on hand. Information on how and where to give blood is — HERE, and information on hosting a blood drive is — HERE.
News Roundup
Compiled by Laura Muha
A new Central Park Conservancy poll of adults across the city’s five boroughs suggests that the majority now support a ban on horse-drawn carriages in the city, the non-profit group announced.
“The numbers tell a very clear story: after eight serious incidents in 13 months, our fellow New Yorkers do not accept the dangers that horse carriages pose in Central Park,” said Betsy Smith, president and CEO of the Conservancy. “There is broad consensus that no tourist attraction is worth risking another preventable tragedy, and the era of horse carriages must come to an end.”
The Conservancy said the “methodologically rigorous poll” included 834 adults, and to ensure that they were representative, was weighted to reflect the latest U.S. Census estimates. Of those surveyed, 68% said they supported a ban, 20% said they opposed it, and 12% were undecided.
But Alexander Kemp, the administrative vice president of TWU Local 100, which represents the drivers, told Gothamist that their own polling showed the opposite. “We believe most New Yorkers, when provided with unbiased information, oppose a ban,” he said in a statement to the publication. “They don’t want to see immigrant carriage drivers, owners and their families economically wiped out. They don’t want to see carriage horses forced into unpredictable and dangerous futures. They know that some would very likely end up at slaughter auctions or be euthanized.” The results of union polls were not included in the story.
The Conservancy conducted its survey between June 30 and July 4, about two weeks after teenager Romanch Mahajan fell from a runaway carriage in Central Park and died,. About three-quarters of those surveyed had heard of the teen’s death, the Conservancy said in a press release.
See more information on the Conservancy’s methodology and detailed poll results HERE, and read Gothamist’s story — HERE.
Two UWS soon-to-be-third-graders are waiting to find out if they set a world record by visiting 41 city playgrounds in a single day, CBS News reported.
The two — identified in the story only as 8-year-old besties Hannah and Wilder — said they were inspired by a 2019 challenge in which three Australian children set a record by visiting 26 parks in one day.
“The playground plot was Hannah’s idea, and Wilder was shocked, but happy to join her,” CBS reported.
“I’ve always wanted to break a world record,” the station quoted him as saying.
The two, accompanied by their parents, rode their bikes to 41 playgrounds on July 3, including their favorite: River Run Playground at Riverside Drive and West 83rd Street. Now they’re waiting, and hoping, for the Guinness Book of World Records to confirm their feat.
Read the full story — HERE.
In the category of “this probably won’t come as a suprise,” a host of elected officials whose districts include the Upper West Side are endorsing incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul’s bid for reelection to a second full term.
A press release issued last week by the governor’s campaign included endorsements from Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal; City Councilmembers Gale Brewer and Shaun Abreu; state Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, and former Assemblymember Micah Lasher, who currently is running for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler.
All are Democrats, as is Hochul, who faces Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican also endorsed by the Conservative Party, in the November general election.
“I speak from experience: Manhattan has had no better partner than Governor Kathy Hochul — which is why Democrats across the borough have united behind her re-election,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a statement. “And the stakes couldn’t be higher. Bruce Blakeman … promises to do Donald Trump’s bidding by killing congestion pricing, even though the program has reduced travel time and made our streets safer for pedestrians and the air cleaner in Manhattan. Governor Hochul has stood by women, immigrants and the LGBTQ community — Bruce Blakeman is apparently only committed to Donald Trump. That’s why we must elect Kathy Hochul this November and continue making progress for Manhattanites and all New Yorkers,” Holyman-Sigal added.
In Other UWS News
- Police are investigating the death of a 16-month-old girl who was found in an apartment at the Belnord Hotel, WPIX reported. Read the story — HERE.
- amNY reported on the thousands of runners who converged on Central Park last week FOR a joint run sponsored by the New York Road Runners Club and the 9/11 Museum, in honor of those who lost their lives on or because of the terror attacks. Read about it — HERE.
ICYMI
Here are a few stories we think are worth a look if you missed them last week — or a second look if you saw them. (Note that our comments stay open for six days after publication, so you may not be able to comment on all of them.)
Upper West Side Funding Wins For the Next New York City Budget
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I liked Kathy Hochul previously and at the very least appreciated her efforts, however, an endorsement of Mamdani and his ilk means you endorse the DSA, means you endorse open Jew haters like Darializa Chevalier, means “as a Jew” I can no longer lend my vote to her. I’ll have to vote Blakeman.
Sure, vote for Blakeman — if you want to see an armed but untrained civilian militia, which he has proposed for Nassau County, patrolling the UWS. Not to mention his Trumpian enthusiasm for fracking and drilling.
Yeah, thats the DSA’s job and this is a union shop.
I have plenty of other reasons to dislike Mamdani. But happy that there are a few other folks out there that refuse to join the cult for their own reasons.
Hard to tell from your sentence construction / quotation marks if you are or aren’t actually Jewish yourself.
I am Jewish, I live in the Upper West Side, and voted for Mamdani. I think that, so far, he’s done well. He is NOT anti-Semitic!
So you don’t consider the following antisemetic: supporting a woman “Darializa” who celebrated the murder and rape of Jews on Oct 8th 2023. Calling American citizens that are Jews that support the only Jewish state “monsters” but not having comments about any other group or state in the world. Saying he doesn’t support Israel as a Jewish state, but not commenting on the 55 Muslim ruled countries where non Muslims don’t have equal rights. Blocking legislation keeping rioters away from synagogues. His wife following/ supporting/celebrating Oct 7th. Leading chants of “from the river to the sea” which means kill all the Jews in Israel. Not commenting on a woman who was Jewish and attacked mercilessly on the subway just for being a Jew. Presiding over a city where antisemetic attacks are at an all time high. Ok I’m out of room but you get the hint. I don’t think you people are actually Jewish or you would agree with me.
Of course none of that actually happened. Just another case of Mamdani derangement syndrome.
FYI, someone telling Jews they’re not really Jews or that all Jews must think a certain way is pretty obnoxious. And, some would suggest, anti-Semitic itself.
The fact remains that the majority of Jews (and their allies) hear the dog whistles of Mamdani, his wife and the rest of the DSA and their street muscle. NYC has been down the road of ethnic tension before in the 80s and 90s, and it left some pretty ugly and shameful history behind. Except then it was often driven by so-called “community leaders” and not by actual elected officials and those seeking election. I can only imagine the uproar if this was happening to some other groups in this city, the hypocrisy is actually staggering but not surprising if you know who these people really are. If and when something truly tragic happens, and their denials and evasions flow, remember the dangerous games they’ve been playing with the communal peace of the city now.
I’m very proud of my Jewish heritage and I support Hochul, and I STRONGLY support Mayor Mamdani, and I’m tired of people calling him antisemitic. Our mayor is not antisemitic and his views on the Palestine/Israel conflict are very much in line with my own.
Go get yourself a cookie. Atta boy.
Hochul and Mamdani are both Democrats and because of their respective positions, work together often. But they do not share many ideological views. Vote for Blakeman if you want, (it’s still a free country, I hear) but not because Hochul aligns with the DSA (which she doesn’t) .
Hochul’s a long time, Buffalo-based corporation supporter. Cldn’t be less socialist. Picked up “affordabllity” theme when she saw Mamdani’s numbers. Quietly sends tons of $ to her home base.
To be clear, Hochul specifically endorsed Adriano Espaillat, who ran AGAINST Darializa Chevalier. As a Jew (not sure why you put that in quotes), I think Mamdani’s done a very good job so far and has repeatedly spoken out against anti-Semitism. I will certainly be voting for Hochul over someone aligned with Trump.
PLEASE do not replace the horse-drawn buggies with electric ones. There are more than enough peddie cabs for tourists. It is time to end the horse-drawn carriage industry, which clearly doesn’t belong in Central Park, but let’s not substitute it with another inappropriate and unnecessary vehicle.
The pedi cabs are a whole other problem. They price gouge.
But first get rid of the horse-drawn carriages.
God no to another term for Gov Hochul. Just simply, NO.
Any particular policy that you think the Republican candidate will do better on?
Let me make a prediction given the history of past elections: 80% of the comments will be opposed to reelecting Hochul but she’ll get 80% of the vote on the UWS.
It’s time to end horse carriages in the city but there should be a horse alternative like horseback riding on the Briddle Path. Maybe a Llama petting area also.
As far as Hochul, her support for Marxist Communism, the terrible job she’s done and her tax increases eliminates her for reelection.
You kidding?!
Let’s get creative. Someone start a PALANQUIN BEARER industry. More jobs for more people, too!
Are you being serious? You want to allow random people to rent a horse in Central Park with no way of verifying their riding skills?
There was horseback riding on the Central Park bridle path until 2007. The horses came from the Claremont Riding Academy on 89th Street near Amsterdam, which stabled them and taught equestrian skills. It was impressive to see the well-trained, well-groomed horses and their often elegant riders make their way to the park. They were not just random people on rent-a-horses.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claremont_Riding_Academy
Well…the current administration and City leadership think that random people should be driving 25-30mph 70-100lbs+ bikes and scooters through and next to traffic of heavy trucks, buses, cars and baby strollers – with not even an inkling of verification of their age, skills, decision-making, impairment condition, insurance, etc. etc. And that they should be free of criminal consequences even if they cause the most horrific accidents.
So…how much worse could horse riding be?
Hochul is a joke. She’s one of the reasons why this city is in/going deeper in decline. I will not vote for her. (And no, I’m not a Trump supporter, a Republican supporter, or a Democrat supporter. I’m a common sense supporter.)
There are only two candidates at this time. So not voting for her is a vote for the Republican…are you 18? First time voter?
Thanks so much for the link where you can submit your written opinion (or register to speak) against the carriages!
It was so easy to upload (and I liked that you don’t have to give your home address)
Agree! It’s very quick/easy. I hope many people take a minute to make their stance known to the council.
“We believe most New Yorkers, when provided with unbiased information, oppose a ban,” he said in a statement to the publication.”
This is rich, coming from the head of the union, given that the polls that THEY produce are so hopelessly biased that they are almost laughable.
It is long past time to get rid of this anachronistic, unnecessary and inhumane industry.
Doesn’t anyone remember that there was horseback riding in Central Park. One could take lessons and rent horses from Claremont Academy. It existed for many years until the owner decided to make a killing in real estate and killed the Academy at the same time. That said, I do support banning the carriages in Central Park, mainly for the sake of the horses.
I will never forget or forgive her horrible announcement how safe the subways were the same day a woman was burned alive. Then she didn’t know her name when facing congress. That was despicable and summed it up right there how much she cared. Tired of all the tax increases and Con Ed bill increases with nothing improving in this state, let alone this city. She announces $400 checks to placate us and then gives us the 2nd highest taxes in the country. Time to see what improvements can be made with someone else. This one party system is not working for NY any longer. Trump shouldn’t be the reason to keep voting for a non-performing choice because the other has an “R” next to their name. The city and state is all under the “D” and it’s failing us. Check the rankings for schools, quality of life, economy, budgets, affordability compared to other states. We are failing. I don’t care what letter is next to a name. Just improve our lives now.
You’ve been paying attention. Remember the Buffalo Sabers (spell?) giant handout to her multi-billionaire pal-team owner?
Quality of life in NY is ridiculously high, the biggest problem we face from affordability is largely due to tremendous demand to live here. We should of course try to build more housing to help alleviate the high cost of housing, but Long Island republicans like Bruce Blakeman have done everything they can to block new housing in their region, including directly next to the LIRR
I beg to differ on “ridiculously high quality of life” For the amount of money we pay in taxes, should I be walking down the street and have someone throw water at me, or follow me in the middle of the daytime, or see a man in a heroine stupor leaning over with his pants halfway down, or see overflowing trashcans bringing rats to the corners, or see a man defecate in front of the 96th street subway entrance, or be in a fastfood restaurant and see a man ask for money and when someone said no, the man yelled out “I’ll kill you all”, or trip over someone’s legs at night who was sleeping on the sidewalk? These are all weekly occurrences now. If you were here 10 years ago, THAT was a high quality of life for the amount of taxes we pay. Let’s not forget the woman who was burned alive on the subway, or the UWS man who killed when he was pushed down subway stairs, or the UWS woman who was killed by being pushed in front of the subway 2 years ago. This is not what I consider a high quality of life for having the 2nd highest taxes in the entire country.
States run by governors with an R next to their names are generally much worse off, in crime, education, and many other areas. Sticking with Hochul, thanks.
That’s rich, given the state of education in NY – and especially relative to its cost per pupil.
Just as rich as Hoylman-Sigal having the gall to talk about “standing by women” when rapes in the City last year topped 2,000, vs. ~1,400 average through the 2010s.
So what, exactly, are you implying? That the governor (or Brad Hoylman) raped an additional 600 people? That she somehow either one could have prevented those rapes?
Maybe you should look at the reason WHY there were so many more REPORTED rapes:
“Reported rapes in NYC have increased largely due to New York’s “Rape is Rape” Act. This law broadened the legal definition of rape to include a wider range of nonconsensual sexual contact rather than being strictly limited to vaginal penetration. Additionally, the NYPD’s proactive outreach and dedicated reporting at Family Justice Centers have encouraged more victims to come forward.”
So while it may sound counterintuitive, the increase in reported rapes is a GOOD thing because MORE women are reporting rape and related assaults.
“They don’t want to see immigrant carriage drivers, owners and their families economically wiped out. They don’t want to see carriage horses forced into unpredictable and dangerous futures. They know that some would very likely end up at slaughter auctions or be euthanized.”
This is hopelessly manipulative, to say nothing of inaccurate. First, most of the drivers are NOT immigrants, so the use of this word is outrageously manipulative. Second, every mayor from Bloomberg to Mamdani has promised the union that the drivers would get first dibs on whatever replaces the H&Cs, at similar rates of pay. So no one is going to be “economically wiped out.”
Finally, the claim that horses might end up being sent to slaughter is as phony as a four-dollar bill. There are at least four horse farms in the U.S. that cater specifically to retired carriage horses. They are used for light work, tourist riding, and equine-assisted therapy. And they get to walk on real earth! And not walk through dense Midtown traffic and pollution! And NONE of them get sent to slaughter.
So ignore the fear-mongering, and don’t be manipulated.
They’re not even in third grade yet and are already acting like influencers for clicks.