2012 & Beyond: End of Year NYC Briefs

Headlines highlight: Stop and Frisk - High Cost of Living - Summer Heat - Aquarium Woes - Bike Share Stalled - Soda Ban - High Line and Lowline - 18,000 New Taxis Blocked
2012 & Beyond: End of Year NYC Briefs
(Courtesy of the Council for Community and Economic Research)
12/30/2012
Updated:
12/31/2012
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20120313midtown+Manhattan+skyline+_Chasteen_IMG_9946.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-330331" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20120313midtown+Manhattan+skyline+_Chasteen_IMG_9946-676x443.jpg" alt="New York City's midtown Manhattan skyline in March, 2012, seen here in this file photo. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)" width="590" height="387"/></a>
New York City's midtown Manhattan skyline in March, 2012, seen here in this file photo. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

 

Stop and Frisk

Discontent grew over the controversial practice of stop, question, and frisk used by the NYPD, despite a decrease in reported numbers for 2012 and a list of promised reforms by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly in May. In October four bills were introduced in City Council, including prohibiting bias-based profiling. The bills remain in committee.

 

 

High Cost of Living

Three of New York City’s boroughs—Manhattan (1), Brooklyn (2), and Queens (6)—were listed in the nation’s top 10 most expensive urban areas in the cost of living index, published in September.

 

Summer Heat

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20120629Summer+Heat_BenC_8546.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-330329" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20120629Summer+Heat_BenC_8546-676x431.jpg" alt=" A child runs through a water play area in New York City's Battery Park, to beat the summer heat this past June. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)" width="590" height="376"/></a>
 A child runs through a water play area in New York City's Battery Park, to beat the summer heat this past June. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

The summer of 2012 reached a record-breaking 98 degrees F at La Guardia Airport and 94 degrees F at JFK Airport on June 20. The heat caused some power outages throughout the city, and Con Edison asked residents to reduce their electrical use. The summer of 2010 was the hottest summer ever, but 2012 was the hottest for the Northeast region.

 

Aquarium Woes

On Aug. 16, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced funding for a new shark exhibit and an upgraded exterior for the Coney Island-based aquarium, ending a 10-year funding battle. On Oct. 29, floodwaters from Hurricane Sandy ravaged the aquarium, forcing it to close indefinitely while extensive repairs are made.

 

Bike Share Stalled

The bike share system has been delayed twice—once due to technology glitches and secondly due to Sandy damage. Originally scheduled to start in July, the rollout has been pushed back to May 2013. The system is slated to have 10,000 bikes and 600 stations.

 

Soda Ban

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/120709_Soda+Ban+Protest_Ben+C_9549.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-330336" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/120709_Soda+Ban+Protest_Ben+C_9549-676x450.jpg" alt=" Eric Moor from Staten Island drinks an Extreme Gulp from 7-Eleven filled with Gatorade to protest Mayor Bloomberg's soda ban in Manhattan on July 9. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)" width="590" height="393"/></a>
 Eric Moor from Staten Island drinks an Extreme Gulp from 7-Eleven filled with Gatorade to protest Mayor Bloomberg's soda ban in Manhattan on July 9. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20120712_Taxi+Driving+_Chasteen_IMG_0519.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-330340" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/20120712_Taxi+Driving+_Chasteen_IMG_0519-676x450.jpg" alt=" A New York City taxi drives across 23rd Street, next to Madison Square park this past July. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times) " width="590" height="393"/></a>
 A New York City taxi drives across 23rd Street, next to Madison Square park this past July. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

A plan for 2,000 yellow cabs and 16,000 outer-borough taxis, which could pick up passengers everywhere but the Manhattan core and airports—was blocked temporarily by a judge in June. Supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the plan, estimated to garner over $1 billion, faces fierce opposition from taxi owners and drivers. 

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