What would it take to make NYC's waterways safe for swimming?

Plus: Previewing Sunday's Puerto Rican Day Parade [View this email in a browser.]( Gothamist relies on your support to make local news available to all. Not yet a member? [Consider donating and join today.]( [What would it take to make NYC's waterways safe for swimming?]( [first image]( [Today's newsletter is curated by James Ramsay]( Weather: ⛅ Partly cloudy, highs in the mid 80s. It's Friday in New York City, where it’s not illegal to swim in the Hudson or East River — but it's uncommon for a reason. Every year, more than 27 billion gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater are dumped into the harbor. [Here's why it would cost $36 billion to prevent that runoff from getting into the water](. And here's what else is happening: - New York lawmakers on Thursday rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul’s behind-the-scenes push for a tax hike to fill a gap in the MTA’s budget after she abruptly abandoned congestion pricing — but they've returned to Albany today to pursue a yet-to-be-introduced measure that would [commit the state to providing $1 billion to the MTA]( without identifying a specific funding source. - The City Council yesterday passed a bill to [expand its approval authority over high-level appointments]( in the mayoral administration — a measure that has prompted fierce pushback from Mayor Eric Adams. - The influential New York Working Families Party is [pulling its funding and ground support]( for Democrat Mondaire Jones after he threw his fellow Democrat Jamaal Bowman under the political bus this week by endorsing his opponent in a tough Congressional primary. - New York City’s public schools will begin requiring principals and other school leaders to educate students and their families on [safe and proper gun storage](. - Day care centers say it’s increasingly difficult to hire and retain workers because [they make thousands of dollars less]( than their counterparts employed by the city’s public schools. - State lawmakers passed a bill yesterday requiring hospitals in New York to give more public notice and opportunities for community engagement [before they can shut down](. - WNYC has a brand new app! Listen to WNYC radio live, catch up on podcasts and read stories from Gothamist and NPR. [Download it here](. - "It’s a sh**tty f**king day": Curbed got some colorful accounts of [the mood at the MTA's office]( the day that congestion pricing all but died. - Families staged a "playdate" outside City Hall yesterday to [protest the mayor's proposed cuts]( to early child care programs for 3-year-olds. - Congrats to [the 28 musical acts]( whose auditions won them coveted spots in the MTA's official Music Under New York subway busker program. - These bees were not officially authorized to t[ake over a Queens subway entrance]( but they evidently didn't care. - Team USA got [a huge upset win]( over Pakistan in the T20 Cricket World Cup yesterday. - Pat Sajak is hosting Wheel of Fortune for the final time tonight [after 41 years on the job](. - On the occasion of the German cult classic philosophy action movie "Run Lola Run" getting a 25th anniversary theatrical rerelease, the film's star, Franka Potente, told Variety [how she did all that running in Doc Martens while smoking two packs a day](. - A Dolly Parton musical is [coming to Broadway]( in 2026. [“In order to make a sustainable career teaching, people who really have expertise in early childhood feel like they have to get out of the [day care] system.”]( - Gregory Brender, chief policy and innovation officer for the Day Care Council of New York, on [THE PAY DISPARITIES PUSHING WORKERS TO LEAVE CHILD CARE CENTERS]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [Here’s what you need to know about the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday]( The theme for the 2024 parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. on 44th Street and 5th Avenue, is Boricua de Corazon, or “Puerto Rican in your heart.” [It runs in the family: At ABT, 2 rising stars follow in their parents’ steps]( When the American Ballet Theatre begins its summer season on June 18, many eyes will be on Chloe Misseldine and Jake Roxander, both the progeny of celebrated ballet dancers. [We Rely On Your Support]( [Smartphones could soon be banned in NY schools. Students say they'll find loopholes.]( "If you don't want to pay attention, it's not my problem," said Catrina Chen, a junior at Brooklyn Tech. "We're at an age where we should know what to do." [Sober parties have been popping up around NYC, so I tried one]( For $28, you can get into a party full of strangers drinking juice made from gentian and rhodiola. [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [New York Public Radio] [WNYC]( | [WQXR]( | [NJPR]( | [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( | [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013 [TERMS OF USE]( You can update your [PREFERENCES]( or [UNSUBSCRIBE]( from this list.