Cricket Returns to Bronx
The $13 million renovations to 10 cricket fields in Van Cortlandt Park opened on May 5. City officials say it is the largest complex for the sport in the United States. The British sport is similar to baseball and is widely popular among immigrant communities from Caribbean nations and South Asia.
Stop and Frisk Drops
Police data showed over 99,000 stop and frisks were conducted from Jan. 1 through March 31 this year, according to the Wall Street Journal. In a comparable time from 2012, over 203,000 stop and frisks were conducted. Crime fell by 2.7 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, including a 30 percent drop in murders.
J-Cats Gets Liberal Party Nod
Billionaire Republican businessman John Catsimatidis is the Liberal Party’s new pick for mayor, the party announced May 7. The endorsement gives Catsimatidis the possibility of a spot on the November ballot regardless of how his quest for the GOP nomination goes. Former MTA Chair Joseph Lhota and Doe Fund founder George McDonald are also running on the Republican ticket.
Paid Sick Leave Passes
The paid sick leave bill, which requires businesses with more than 20 employees to give 40 hours of paid sick time to workers, passed the New York City Council on May 8. The new law will go into effect on April 1, 2014, assuming the city’s finances stay positive.
Teacher Evaluation Deadline Set
The United Federation of Teachers and the city have until May 29 to reach a deal on teacher evaluations, or State Education Department Commissioner John King will issue one. The city’s students lost out on $250 million in education funding because a deal was not reached earlier this year.
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