A rent-stabilized 1-bedroom for $1,100? The broker's fee is $15K.

Plus: Who belongs in a lesbian bar? [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.]( [A rent-stabilized 1 bedroom apartment for $1,100? In NYC? The broker's fee is $15K.]( [first image]( [Today's newsletter is curated by James Ramsay]( Weather: ☀️ Sunny, with highs around 50. It's Thursday in New York City, where an affordable, rent-stabilized apartment can be yours — if you're willing to pay more than 100% of one year's rent as a broker's fee. [Here's why these "insane" fees remain legal]( despite repeated attempts by lawmakers to ban them. And here's what else is happening: - A viral video of several men grabbing and kicking two NYPD officers outside a migrant shelter in Times Square last month set off a wave of political commentary. [Here are the facts](. - A Long Island nursing home worker and her husband were arraigned in federal court on Wednesday on [charges of distributing fentanyl](. - A court-ordered plan to overhaul how the NYPD responds to protests [has survived a challenge]( from the city’s largest police union. - The city's construction of affordable housing [slowed down drastically]( after the Department of Housing Preservation and Development lost key staffing during the pandemic, according to a new report from Comptroller Brad Lander. - Gov. Kathy Hochul, meanwhile, said yesterday she wants to offer roughly $600 million in state grants and incentives to local governments to [expand their housing stock](. - Cecilia Gentili, a public health advocate, author and actor who [fought for trans rights]( and helped launch the movement to decriminalize sex work in New York, has died at 52. - Complaints to 311 about sewer back-ups spiked in 2023, and [the problem could get worse]( as New York City gets rainier due to climate change. - The New York Times has [a full play-by-play]( of President Joe Biden's Wednesday in the city. - "ORG8ZM" and 3,000 other vanity plate applications got [turned down by New York's DMV]( last year. - Police in Fort Meyers, Florida managed to take out a bank robber with a sniper rifle [while he was holding a hostage in a headlock](. - Former President Donald Trump's lawyers plan to argue [before the Supreme Court today]( that he shouldn't be kicked off primary ballots in Colorado because he wasn't an "officer" of the United States and he didn't technically "engage" in insurrection by telling his supporters to "fight like hell" and "take our country back." - Over on TikTok, people also love [playing with language](. - The Luxor has gone [Dorito mode]( for the Super Bowl. - The feds are warning Trader Joe's shoppers to return or throw out their frozen chicken pilaf [because there might be rocks in it](. - Have some time for a game? [Play]( our mini local news crossword. - Sign up for reminders when we publish new games [here](. [“It’s not really fair, but if you want to get that specific apartment you have to be prepared to pay up.”]( - Allia Mohamed, CEO of the listings and landlord review website openigloo, on [STEEP BROKER'S FEES]( More from Gothamist [second image]( [Incident at NYC lesbian bar Cubbyhole sparks debate about who belongs there]( A straight guy was blocking the path to the restroom in a West Village lesbian bar. The story of what happened next has been viewed millions of times on TikTok. [Taylor Swift’s alleged NYC stalker has been found mentally unfit to stand trial]( Experts say stalking is remarkably common — and a crime that's notoriously hard to police and prosecute. [We Rely On Your Support]( [One of NYC's best-dressed parties happens once a month at the Brooklyn Museum]( Thousands of people gather at the museum for "First Saturdays," a night of free programming that’s as much about the looks as the art. [Is NJ Transit up for hosting the World Cup in 2026? Commuters are skeptical.]( When the Super Bowl came to MetLife Stadium a decade ago this month, NJ Transit faceplanted. Will things go smoother for the World Cup final? [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.