Early Addition: NYC's air quality isn't great

Also, the perseverance of illegal weed stores and an end to the 'ducking' autocorrect. [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.]( [How to protect your lungs as NYC’s air quality suffers from wildfires]( [first image]( [by Emily Nadal]( Welcome to Wednesday, New York City, where the air quality has been [very unhealthy]( lately. We [spoke with an expert]( on how to stay safe. Here's what else is happening: - Estimates for the number of affordable apartments in NYC [range from 2,500 to nearly 90,000]( with landlord “warehousing” getting some of the blame for the confusion. - A last-ditch effort in Albany has lawmakers [considering a bill]( that would increase NYC tenant protections. - The NYPD is trying to crack down on [illegal marijuana stores,]( but that’s not stopping more than a thousand unlicensed dispensaries from operating. - A former armed guard was charged with [sexually assaulting a migrant]( inside of a Manhattan federal building. - Nearly 400 people were [mistakenly told they had cancer]( after a glitch with a test company's system. - More than 300 criminal convictions were [vacated by a Manhattan judge]( because they relied on the work of nine corrupt cops. - New York prisons are no longer allowing incarcerated people to [publish their creative work]( on the outside. - Find out if you can [vote in NY’s upcoming June primary]( elections. - Apple will now use AI to figure out when you’re [actually typing ‘ducking’]( or your favorite curse word to avoid that dreadful autocorrect. - Lyrics used as [trial evidence may soon be limited]( through a bill up before the New York State Assembly. - The Barbie movie used such an [obscene amount of pink paint,]( they ran their supplier dry. - Orange and Rockland counties [can’t enforce their local executive orders]( that ban migrants from relocating to their communities, a judge ruled Tuesday. - The city’s oldest standing bridge, where no cars are allowed, just [celebrated its 175th birthday.]( - Mayor Eric Adams is [offering up his home]( Gracie Mansion, as a housing option for migrants. - Sibling relationships are [pretty special,]( especially as we age. “I just don’t understand why we’re not doing all we can to move people into these apartments.” - Gale Brewer, Manhattan Councilmember on the [AMOUNT OF VACANT APARTMENTS IN THE CITY.]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [After Airbnb lawsuit, NYC delays short-term rental registration deadline]( New York City is delaying a long-awaited rental registration rule for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals — again. [We Rely On Your Support]( [New bill would set NY's presidential primary earlier, increasing state's influence over Democrats]( New York lawmakers want to move the upcoming 2024 presidential primary to April 2, earlier than the last two primaries in 2016 and 2020. [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.