“I cannot adhere to this policy and sleep at night”

The latest on drop-in centers for runaway and homeless youth, and freestyle music. #32

Photo by Ben Fractenberg

I wrote a follow-up story this week to a story I broke last week about a policy change at drop-in centers for runaway and homeless youth. In short, the city isn’t budging on its change to prohibit young people from sleeping – and ordering the removal of any furniture like cots or recliners that made it easier to do so. 

The non-profit providers I spoke with hoped the city would hear them out at a meeting this week, but nothing has changed. Meanwhile, some are defying the order, and letting people rest and sleep as comfortably as possible. At another center, young people are now resting on chairs instead of cots.

The mayor, for his part, blamed a stall on adding more shelter beds for young people on the migrant crisis.

“We would have done far more than that, but you know, we’re dealing with 47,000 people that showed up on our doorstep that we had to care for — but our focus is on our runaway youth and we’re going to be there for them,” Adams told me. 

You can read the full story here. 

Also: Mayor Adams on Friday announced the first new labor contract of his administration with one of the largest in the city, DC 37..

READ

Your sturdy houseplants don’t have to be boring! [NYT]
The MTA killed a $50 million contract to help fix paratransit, without much fixed [THE CITY]
“I think of her when I do my makeup in the morning. I use her unique turns of phrase. I imagine her advice before I make a major decision. I don’t do this consciously. I do it because I was born a sister.” [NYT]

And maybe file this under EAT too, but I loved this profile of the barber who cures his own Soppressata at his Bronx home and gives it away to friends and family. [GRUBSTREET]

LISTEN

Have you listened to La Brega from WNYC and Futuro Studios? For its second season, the show is tackling a song each episode – and this week they discussed “I Wonder If I Take You Home” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. It brought me happily down a freestyle rabbit hole, so here are some of my favorites:

“Diamond Girl” by Stevie B.
“Clave Rocks” by Amoretto
“Silent Morning” by Noel
”Let the Music Play” by Shannon

Here are a few photos from my week. Thanks for reading!