How these NYC landlords are fighting high insurance rates

Also, how summer camps keep kids cool. [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.]( [Landlords of NYC affordable housing launch new venture to combat spiking insurance costs]( [first image]( [Today's newsletter curated by Emily Nadal]( Weather: ☀️ We're looking at a [muggy high of 90 degrees]( today. Stay cool! It’s Monday morning in New York City, where several [affordable housing landlords created an insurance collective]( in response to skyrocketing insurance rates. The cost of property and liability insurance, which covers damages and lawsuit settlements, in the city has more than doubled between 2019 and 2023, which landlords say hinders their ability to repay loans and deal with other costs like building repairs and maintenance. With this new collective, members pool their money to cover claims. Tenants are hopeful this will mean conditions in their buildings improve. Here’s what else is happening: - House cleaners, at-home caretakers, nannies and other domestic workers in New Jersey are [now entitled to the state’s minimum wage]( and other protections. But advocates worry they won’t be informed of the new rules. - We’re in for a hot summer, one of the hottest on record, so here’s how some summer camps in our area are [keeping kids cool](. - Many of those once-sprawling underground retail malls in NYC subway stations are [now sitting empty]( especially since the pandemic, making for pretty dreary travel for some commuters. - An 18-foot boat [collided with a smaller vessel]( in the waters off South Brooklyn on Saturday, leaving a 58-year-old man dead. - A man was stabbed in the stomach after an [argument between two families]( broke out at a Long Island amusement park on Sunday. - A group of men detained at Rikers Island filed a lawsuit against the city, [claiming officers left them trapped in their cells]( as a fire broke out at the facility. - Illinois just passed a groundbreaking law that will [require social media influencer parents to pay their children]( if they are featured in at least 30% of their content over the course of 30 days. - Beloved hot dog joint Papaya King is [back in business at a new location]( after closing its doors in April 2023 as the owners searched for a new storefront. - If you’re not tapped into the backstory and falling out of the infamous duo who made up the local personal injury law firm Cellino & Barnes, fear not, [there’s a new off Broadway show]( that will break it all down. - Local animal shelters are [overwhelmed with too many dogs]( not because of more pet surrenders, but because the number of people coming to adopt has shrunk dramatically recently. - Instead of adoption, some people are opting for buying exclusive dog breeds, like [this one]( that comes with a $150,000 price tag. - State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, a close ally of Mayor Eric Adams, is [“seriously considering”]( running for NYC comptroller and has opened an exploratory committee. - The American Dream mall in New Jersey is [getting a movie theater]( with a 270-degree screen, the first of its kind in the tristate area. - Hello Kitty (who is apparently NOT a cat) [turns 50-years-old this year]( and she has a lot to look forward to, like continued TikTok stardom and maybe even a feature film? [“If you don't solve this insurance cost problem, you will not have affordable housing."]( - John Crotty, Member of new affordable housing landlord insurance collective, [ON HIGH COST OF INSURANCE]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [Driver accused of July 4 crash at LES park arraigned and held without bail]( Daniel Hyden, 44, pleaded not guilty to charges including vehicular homicide, manslaughter, assault and driving while intoxicated. [NYPD identify Queens man shot by officer and 8-year-old boy he allegedly killed]( Police say Pedro Felix stabbed his little stepbrother to death and also attacked his father and stepmother. [We Rely On Your Support]( [NJ lawmaker looks to ban algorithms blamed for jacking up your rent]( A New Jersey lawmaker is looking to ban rent-setting algorithms that housing advocates blame for driving apartment prices sky-high. [NYPD: 2 teenage sisters drown off Coney Island amid rip current warnings]( The incident occurred roughly two weeks after another pair of teenagers died after drowning at Jacob Riis Park, in Queens. [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.