A state regulatory panel unanimously approved Maimonides Medical Center’s merger with NYC Health+Hospitals, moving the controversial proposal one step closer to reality.

The Public Health and Health Planning Council voted in favor of the takeover, which would bring Maimonides — a private safety-net hospital — into the city’s public health system. The merger still requires court approval. 

If approved, NYCH+H would take over operations of Maimonides’ 711-bed hospital in Borough Park, along with Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital, the freestanding Maimonides emergency room in Bay Ridge, and 15 outpatient clinics, filings show. 

City and hospital officials say the merger would allow the financially-struggling Maimonides to access higher Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates only offered to public hospitals, bringing in up to $9 million in additional revenue per month. 

“We are grateful that the Public Health and Health Planning Council approved the application to allow Maimonides to join NYC Health + Hospitals, bringing us one step closer to securing the financial support we need to maintain and expand the outstanding care our communities have come to rely on,” said Ken Gibbs, Maimonides’ president and CEO, in a statement. 

More than 80% of Maimonides patients are insured by Medicaid and Medicare, filings show. The hospital lost more than $80 million in 2024, according to Crain’s, and while it managed to turn things around and earn a 1.4% operating margin last year, the hospital warned that financial issues raised “substantial doubt” that the hospital could keep operating for another year. 

The merger would also come with a five-year, $2.2 million grant from the state and access to the electronic health record system EPIC, which would streamline care and allow patients to access records and contact doctors online. 

Supporters of the merger — including the New York State Nurses’ Association, which represents more than 1,000 nurses at Maimonides, and 1199SEIU — are in support of the merger, which they say will preserve quality care at the hospital. 

“We are in full support of protecting continuity of care and preservation of nursing jobs at Brooklyn’s only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center,” said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, a longtime Maimonides nurse. “In the face of federal funding cuts to healthcare, the state and city are doing the right thing by investing in protecting and improving the healthcare services our community needs. This merger would help ensure that Maimonides is able to provide the care our communities need for years to come.”

But opponents, including several members of Maimonides’ Board of Trustees, say joining NYCH+H would reduce the quality of Maimonides’ healthcare, threaten its long-term viability, and degrade the culturally-specific care it offers for the large Orthodox Jewish patient population. 

At a PHHPC committee meeting about the merger last month, Joel Rosenberg, who works at social services organization Together We Are in Borough Park, said local families who rely on Maimonides are concerned about what will happen if the merger is approved.

“We have also heard the promises that religious accommodations and cultural practices will be preserved,” he said. “Our community does not trust those promises.”

In a lawsuit filed last year, opponents also argued that Maimonides had failed to consider other partners for the merger and had rushed to reach an agreement with NYCH+H. 

The merger was initially set to be finalized in April, but was delayed when Attorney General Letitia James opted not to issue an administrative approval of the move, instead deciding to require court approval. 

The move was not immediately set to undergo review by the Public Health and Health Planning Council — state officials initially said it was exempt from the requirement — but a judge in May ruled that the review was necessary, after all. 

At the Sept. 17 PHHPC meeting, committee member Jeffrey Kraut said the body had carefully considered arguments for and against the merger. In the end, he said, it became clear that Maimonides’ financial condition is “absolutely unsustainable,” and that the merger presented “credible financial gain.”

“There certainly are many questions raised in approving this transaction, but there’s also substantial risk … in failing to act while the institution continues to deteriorate,” he said. “Ultimately our responsibility is to maintain access that’s needed for this hospital to give them a reasonable opportunity to remain viable for the community we serve.”

Mitchell Katz, president and CEO of NYCH+H, celebrated the vote as a “critical first step towards ensuring high-quality, culturally responsive health care remains available to the residents of Brooklyn.” 

The merger still requires “final regulatory and legal approvals,” said Maimonides spokesperson Sam Miller – including the court approval required by the AG — and they hope to obtain those approvals this fall. 

Martin Bienstock, a lawyer representing the Coalition to Preserve Maimonides, one of the groups opposing the merger, said the committee’s vote was unsurprising. 

“Yet no one should mistake today’s vote for the end of this process,” he said. “Major legal, financial, and public-interest questions remain unanswered that have shadowed this proposal from the beginning. The Coalition will continue to pursue every appropriate legal, regulatory, and public avenue to oppose an unlawful takeover of Brooklyn’s community hospital.”

For Brooklyn homebuyers, it is not just about finding the right neighborhood and place that feels like home. The reality of buying in NYC is choosing between a condo, co-op or new development. Each one has a significant impact on the buying process, monthly costs, flexibility and long-term plans.

Ashlie Roberson of The Agency hosted a webinar in collaboration with Brooklyn Paper, “Buying in Brooklyn 2.0: Condo vs. Co-op vs. New Development.” The webinar offered prospective buyers an inside look at what separates these three paths to homeownership, as well as what buyers should be considering and asking their brokers before making a decision. 

Roberson discussed everything from hidden costs and financing considerations to understanding board processes and approvals, resale potential and long-term value. Roberson emphasizes that the right choice depends on a buyer’s individual financial situation, lifestyle and goals.

For first-time buyers in particular, understanding the differences between property types is crucial to help avoid any surprises later. Condos generally extend flexibility in personal financials and approvals, but often with a higher purchasing price. On the other hand, co-ops may come with more extensive and strict board requirements, but each co-op is unique. New developments bring their own considerations, which can include common charges, taxes, amenities, warranties and the potential costs associated with buying into a newly built property.

Roberson also brought a unique perspective to the conversation, with more than $1 billion in closed sales and the founder of The Agency’s NYC top-performing team, she combines her extensive Brooklyn market knowledge with her construction background. Not only does this offer her trained eye in evaluating property values, but also allows her to lend her expertise to buyers about the potential of a space and long-term considerations. 

Roberson also acts as Treasurer of a Park Slope co-op board, providing listeners and clients firsthand insight into the board process and the responsibilities that come with co-op ownership.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing between a condo, co-op or new development. Understanding the financial, practical and long-term implications of each will allow buyers to approach the market with clarity, and help them find a home. 

New York City’s emergency alert system picked up nearly 177,000 additional subscriptions during Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first six months in office, as snowstorms, bitter cold, flooding and extreme heat battered the city — and Hizzoner repeatedly pushed the service across social media.

The growth is reflected in the Mayor’s Management Report released Thursday, which shows the broader reach of Notify NYC and three other emergency communications channels climbing from 1.34 million subscriptions in fiscal 2025 to 1.61 million in fiscal 2026 — a roughly 20% increase.

But because the fiscal year began six months before Mamdani took office, NYC Emergency Management provided a more detailed look at what happened under the new administration to amNewYork.

Notify-related subscriptions grew from 1,425,523 at the end of December to 1,602,111 by June 30, a net increase of 176,588 (up 12.3%). The vast majority of that growth came through two channels: Nixle, which lets people quickly subscribe to text alerts, and the Notify NYC mobile app.

Citywide Nixle subscriptions rose by 86,010 over the six-month period, while subscriptions to localized Nixle alerts rose by another 49,215. Together, they accounted for more than three-quarters of the growth. The mobile app added another 35,160 subscriptions.

NYCEM expanded its use of Nixle in fiscal 2025 under Eric Adams, launching localized messaging that lets people sign up for alerts tied to their neighborhoods. The agency has said the Nixle figures also incorporate an existing channel that was added to its subscriber count in 2025.

By comparison, signups through the Notify NYC website rose by just 1,371, while 22 additional subscriptions came through the city’s 311 phone system.

Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell said Nixle’s simplicity is part of its appeal: people can sign up by text and immediately begin receiving alerts. But she said the city also had an unusually eventful first half of the year.

“We also have had so many emergencies this year,” Farrell said in an interview Thursday, pointing to snowstorms, extended cold, flash flooding and extreme heat.

The city has long seen Notify subscriptions jump around major emergencies. Last year’s Mayor’s Management Report similarly noted that growth tended to spike around major weather events as city officials urged people to sign up.

Storms, signups and Mamdani’s megaphone

Farrell said this year’s first major jump came during January, when the Big Apple became the Frozen Apple — gripped by back-to-back snowstorms and an extended period of frigid temperatures.

The numbers show how sharp the jump was. Between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, Notify-related subscriptions increased by 69,239 — nearly 40% of the total growth recorded over the first six months of the year.

More than 58,000 of those additions came through citywide and local Nixle alerts.

The spike came as Mamdani and other city officials repeatedly promoted the service ahead of the winter weather. On Jan. 23, the mayor posted a short video telling viewers to “stay in the know for the snow” and directing them to sign up for Notify NYC. The video drew more than 1.7 million views across Instagram and Facebook, according to metrics shared by City Hall.

The data does not establish how many of those viewers subsequently subscribed. Farrell said emergency-related news coverage, elected officials and community groups all contribute to signup increases when severe weather approaches.

But she said Mamdani has brought a particularly large audience to the city’s outreach effort.

Farrell said Notify NYC came up during her first conversation with the mayor in January, when they discussed reaching populations that had not previously been plugged into the system.

“He has been a wonderful spokesperson,” Farrell said, adding that Mamdani has pushed Notify through his “multiple channels” and “large audience.”

“The prior mayors have definitely supported Notify, but I don’t think they had the platform,” Farrell said.

As of Thursday, Mamdani’s personal Instagram account had about 12.4 million followers, more than twice the 4.8 million following the official mayoral account. On TikTok, his personal account had 3.6 million followers, compared with 3.8 million on the official NYC Mayor account. On X, the official mayoral account had about 2.5 million followers, compared with about 1.2 million on Mamdani’s personal account.

Farrell said Mamdani’s reach may be particularly useful in connecting with younger New Yorkers, a group she said can be difficult to engage on emergency preparedness.

Older residents can be harder to reach for a different reason. Some do not rely as heavily on smartphones, apps or social media, Farrell said, requiring the city to continue using traditional media, printed materials, landlines and community organizations.

She said she believes many of the people signing up this year are younger and that Mamdani’s age and following may be helping the agency connect with that demographic.

NYCEM is also trying to expand its reach among non-English speakers and residents of areas particularly vulnerable to coastal storms, Farrell said, citing the Rockaways, Coney Island, the North Shore of Staten Island and City Island.

From faxes to Nixle

Once someone is signed up, the alerts are produced around the clock by NYCEM’s Watch Command, a 24/7 operation staffed across three shifts.

Farrell said staff receive information throughout the day about everything from transit disruptions and major crashes to flooding, road closures and planned events. Most alerts begin with templates that are adjusted to the circumstances, she said, and can then be translated and targeted citywide, by borough or to particular ZIP codes depending on who needs the information.

Notify NYC itself dates to 2007, when it began as a pilot in one community board in each borough. Farrell said the system initially relied much more heavily on phone calls, faxes, emails and text messages, years before mobile apps and social media became major ways of reaching New Yorkers.

The service has expanded over time to include more types of notifications and new ways of receiving them, including a mobile app and school-related alerts. Farrell estimated that close to 2 million people signed up for a dedicated COVID-era short code between roughly 2020 and 2023 as officials pushed rapidly changing information about city services and vaccines.

Today, the system sends information in 14 languages, including American Sign Language, according to the Mayor’s Management Report.

The subscription figures themselves are not necessarily a count of 1.6 million individual NYC residents. Farrell said the agency works to avoid double counting, but acknowledged that people can receive alerts on multiple devices or through different channels. NYCEM also encourages people outside the five boroughs to sign up, including commuters, tourists and people with relatives in the city.

The Mayor’s Management Report attributes this year’s broader increase partly to support from elected officials and coordinated social media and advertising campaigns. It says Notify NYC subscriptions rose 20% from fiscal 2025, with growth driven largely by summer event marketing and public encouragement from city officials between January and June.

Farrell said that push continued into the summer as the city promoted Notify around major events, including the Knicks’ championship run, World Cup matches and July 4 activities. She described that period as less about emergencies and more about helping people navigate major events and making residents and visitors more familiar with the system.

Now, she said, the agency is considering more ambitious targets and looking at which platforms and populations it should focus on next. With Notify’s audience now in the range of 1.6 million to 1.7 million subscriptions, Farrell said: “It would be great to get it up over 2 million.”

New Yorkers can subscribe to citywide and neighborhood-specific emergency text alerts by texting “NOTIFYNYC” to 692-692.

My son discovered how much he loves robotics at an after-school STEM program. I watched him light up in a way I hadn’t seen before. But we can’t always afford to keep him enrolled. To us, this program isn’t an extra. It’s where he found something he truly cares about.” – Melissa R., Public School Parent, Buffalo, NY 

For families across New York, this story is all too familiar. Learning does not stop when the school day ends.  After-school programs allow children to discover new interests. Tutoring helps struggling students catch up. Special education services, technology, transportation, and school supplies can make the difference between a child thriving and simply getting by. 

Every parent knows these supports aren’t extras, and the costs add up quickly.  

The new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program offers a powerful solution.  

Beginning in 2027, taxpayers can contribute up to $1,700 to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. Those contributions will fund scholarships that help eligible K–12 students pay for qualified educational expenses including after-school programs, tutoring, special education services, technology, transportation, and supplies.  

And importantly, eligible students in all public and nonpublic K-12 schools can benefit. 

The program does not take money from New York’s state budget. But New York can only participate if Gov. Kathy Hochul opts in. If she does, it would unlock up to $1.5 billion in scholarship dollars for New York students each year.  

Gov. Hochul has expressed support for the program. Now New York needs her to make that support official.  

If New York does not opt in, New York taxpayers could still contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations serving other participating states – while New York students miss out.  

This is a rare moment where educational access, fiscal responsibility, and economic development all point in the same direction. 

Let’s keep New York’s scholarship dollars in New York, supporting NY children in every kind of school.  

Visit Scholarships for All NY to add your name and urge Gov. Hochul to opt in.  

НЬЮ-ЙОРК — 17 сентября 2026 года. Администрация мэра Зохрана Мамдани начала установку 17 новых модульных общественных туалетов во всех пяти боро Нью-Йорка в рамках годовой пилотной программы стоимостью $4 млн.

Согласно официальному сообщению NYC Mayor’s Office, туалеты будут бесплатными, ADA-accessible и будут работать ежедневно с 7 утра до 10 вечера.

Проблема, которую пытается решить город, реальна: найти доступный общественный туалет во многих районах Нью-Йорка трудно.

Но выбранное решение поднимает другой вопрос:

почему город тратит $4 млн на создание и эксплуатацию 17 специальных модульных туалетов, если тысячи ресторанов, кафе и магазинов уже имеют действующие туалеты?

Можно ли было бы использовать часть этих средств для добровольной программы, по которой бизнес получал бы налоговую льготу, компенсацию расходов или другое финансовое поощрение за предоставление туалета людям с улицы?

И оказывается, что Нью-Йорк уже рассматривал очень похожую идею.

Что именно покупает город за $4 млн

По данным New York City Economic Development Corporation, компания Throne Labs была выбрана после конкурентной процедуры Request for Proposals.

Контракт стоимостью $4 млн предусматривает производство, доставку, установку и обслуживание 17 модульных туалетных комплексов во всех пяти боро.

Официальный NYCEDC источник:

https://edc.nyc/press-release/nycedc-selects-throne-labs-pilot-high-quality-modular-public-restrooms-citywide

Пилот рассчитан на один год.

Согласно Mayor’s Office, каждый туалет должен иметь:

• смывной туалет;
• раковину с проточной водой;
• отопление и кондиционирование;
• столик для смены подгузников;
• ADA-доступ;
• бесконтактные элементы управления.

Throne Labs также отвечает за уборку и обслуживание объектов.

Но у Нью-Йорка уже есть туалеты внутри частных заведений

На коммерческих улицах города находятся тысячи ресторанов, кафе и других заведений, многие из которых уже имеют туалеты.

Однако существующие правила не означают, что любой прохожий может потребовать доступ.

Официальный NYC311 сообщает, что заведение общественного питания с 20 и более посадочными местами, открытое после 1977 года, должно предоставлять туалет своим клиентам.

При этом:

• предприятие не обязано открывать для публики туалет, предназначенный для сотрудников;
• клиентам нельзя проходить к туалету через кухню;
• нельзя проводить посетителей через помещение хранения или приготовления пищи.

Официальные правила:

https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01351

Поэтому речь не может идти о том, чтобы просто обязать каждый магазин или ресторан пускать любого прохожего.

Но город мог бы создать добровольную программу.