They tried to stop NYC rats from having babies. They failed.

Also, bringing 'Blue Zones' to NYC communities. [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.]( [They tried to stop New York City rats from having babies. They failed.]( [first image]( [Today's newsletter curated by Emily Nadal]( Weather: ☀️ The weather is cool today with a high of just 76 degrees, but that [sun will carry us all through Labor Day Weekend.]( Happy Friday morning in New York City where we’ve really tried everything to decrease the rat population, [including contraceptives]( which was unsuccessful. Earlier this year, the city set up a pilot program in Bryant Park to sterilize rats, but called it quits soon after because of disappointing results. Experts say contraceptives are no match for NYC’s fertile rats, but the man behind the contraceptive company argues the city just needed to give it some more time. Clarification: Yesterday's newsletter incorrectly stated that Bed Stuy had the highest concentration of Airbnb listings in New York City. Bed Stuy has the highest concentration of listings for entire homes/apartments, but not all Airbnb listings. (Read the story [here.]( Here’s what else you need to know: - There’s a lot to learn from the world’s “Blue Zones,” places where people are said to enjoy longer, happier lives, and one woman is on a [mission to bring those lessons to communities in New York City.]( - A former NYPD officer who’s on trial for punching a homeless woman repeatedly in a Bronx jail cell in 2019 said [he did so after he “lost control”]( because the woman spit on him. - If you’re a patient at a public hospital in the city and you want meat in your meal, you’ll have to specifically request it as plant-based foods are the default, a move that has [cut the hospitals’ food-related carbon emissions by 36 percent]( according to the mayor’s office. - You may not need to go very far to see Saturn if you live in Brooklyn. Just look for 82-year-old Joe Delfausse who shares his love of astronomy by [setting up his telescope on the street]( people to gaze at the sky. - A Queens deli harnessed the potential of a beef patty and [turned it into a million-dollar business]( by adding mac and cheese. - Police arrested a 41-year-old White Plains man and [charged him with felony assault]( for allegedly pushing a woman onto the subway tracks of the Chambers Street station on Tuesday. - Going to a Major League Baseball game may soon require a face scan as the organization is [testing facial authentication-based entry]( that would allow game attendees to just walk right into stadiums. - A man [pleaded guilty in court]( to two counts of first-degree attempted murder for shooting and injuring two police officers within a 12-hour span back in 2020. - A new study shows that just a single dose of psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, [can reduce symptoms of depression.]( - The NYPD has started using drones to [monitor this weekend’s J’Ouvert and West Indian Day Parade festivities]( and respond to “priority and non-priority” calls, which includes 311 complaints about loud parties. - A rally was held in front of City Hall yesterday where elected officials and advocates brought clocks made of posterboard and [started a countdown of four years]( the date which the city promised to close the jail on Rikers Island. - Max is following the lead of most other streaming providers by publishing an in-app [daily list of its most popular TV shows and movies](. - Connecticut firefighters rescued a puppy from a hot car and then decided he’d be a good addition to the firehouse. So [they adopted him]( and named him Riggs. “They've survived for millions of years. You're not going to get rid of them.” - Phil Bergenson, a brooklynite who [doesn't think rat contraceptives are the answer.]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [New COVID variant detected in NYC wastewater: What is BA.2.86?]( BA.2.86 has caught scientists’ attention due to several mutations appearing on the part of the virus that infects human cells — similar to what happened with omicron two years ago. [‘Let them work!’ Mayor Adams, union leaders again push White House for migrant work permits]( Mayor Eric Adams is continuing to publicly call on the Biden administration to temporarily authorize work permits for tens of thousands of migrants. [We Rely On Your Support]( [Hochul, White House announce some progress on work authorization for migrants]( Both administrations said some migrants don’t know they are eligible to work or aren’t aware of how to go through the process to get a permit. [As new COVID variant arrives in NYC, here’s how to track the back-to-school surge]( A late-summer COVID surge is adding even more stress to an already busy time of year. [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.