NYC Press Releases

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NYC Weill Cornell Gets $17.4M for Tuberculosis Research

New York City researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have received a $17.4 million federal grant to pursue new ways of shortening tuberculosis treatment and making therapy easier for patients to complete. The five-year research initiative will examine why some TB bacteria survive existing medications and identify biological vulnerabilities that could lead to faster and more effective drug combinations. Weill Cornell scientists will work with researchers from Rockefeller University, Tufts University and other collaborators, using approaches that include genomics, single-cell technologies and machine learning. The research could help address a persistent challenge in tuberculosis care: current antibiotic regimens can require months of treatment, increasing the likelihood that patients discontinue therapy before the infection has been fully eliminated.

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NYC Mount Sinai Studies Link Wildfire Smoke to Health Risks

New research led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggests that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke may carry greater health risks than comparable amounts of air pollution from other sources. Two large studies examined the effects of wildfire-related fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, on patients with lung cancer and people hospitalized for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Researchers found associations between wildfire pollution and poorer survival following lung cancer diagnoses, as well as increased hospitalization risks for conditions affecting the heart and lungs. The findings are particularly relevant as smoke from major fires increasingly travels across large portions of the United States, potentially exposing communities far from active wildfires and raising new questions about how health systems address air-quality risks.

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Free East New York Concert Brings 4 Days of Music

East New York will host four days of free live music, health programming and community resources beginning September 17, as New York State Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas and legendary DJ Watkins bring the annual East New York Concert and Wellness Series back to Brooklyn. The celebration on Van Siclen Avenue will feature Caribbean and Latin music, House, Hip-Hop, R&B, Gospel and Jazz, with scheduled performers including Doug E. Fresh, Nice & Smooth, Angela Winbush, Howard Hewett, Crystal Waters, Byron Stingily and other artists and DJs. Saturday’s program will also include health screenings, while community organizations will connect residents with wellness, public-safety and neighborhood resources. Running through September 20, the free series combines entertainment with services for families from East New York, Starrett City, Brownsville, Canarsie and surrounding Brooklyn communities.

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NY Bill Would Ban Sales of Illegal High-Speed E-Motos

New York lawmakers have introduced legislation targeting the sale and marketing of high-speed electric vehicles that do not meet state requirements for legal e-bikes and scooters. Senate Bill S.10700, sponsored by State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, would establish definitions for e-motos and electric off-highway motorcycles while restricting how certain vehicles can be sold and advertised. The proposal follows growing concern over faster electric devices operating on New York City streets and bike lanes, including after a fatal collision on the Queensboro Bridge this summer. The legislation would also require consumer warnings and address retailers that market noncompliant vehicles as conventional e-bikes or scooters. Supporters say the approach focuses enforcement on sellers while preserving access to legal micromobility options.

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Ronald McDonald House New York Unveils Renovation

Ronald McDonald House New York has completed a major renovation of shared family spaces at its Upper East Side residence, where children undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses stay with their families. The redesigned second floor at 405 East 73rd Street includes expanded areas for meals, recreation, education and family activities, along with spaces where caregivers can work or take private calls. New amenities include updated kitchens, dedicated play and tutoring areas, and a soundproof studio for music and podcast activities. The project is intended to provide families staying in Manhattan for medical care with more opportunities to maintain everyday routines and spend time together while navigating lengthy or demanding periods of pediatric treatment.

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Harlem Hospital Expands Adult Sickle Cell Clinic Hours

Adults living with sickle cell disease have expanded access to specialized treatment at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem following an increase in operating hours for the hospital’s new adult clinic. Launched in January, the program now sees patients on Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and combines management of sickle cell disease with routine primary and preventive healthcare. Patients can receive medications, screenings, pain-management support and assistance coordinating their care without having to navigate a separate medical practice for everyday health needs. The Harlem-based program also connects patients with social and community health workers who can assist with behavioral health concerns and challenges involving food or housing. Harlem is one of three NYC Health + Hospitals locations providing specialized adult sickle cell care.

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Chime Opens 84,000-Square-Foot NYC Office in Flatiron

Financial technology company Chime has expanded its New York City operations with an 84,000-square-foot workplace at 122 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. The three-floor location will serve as the company’s East Coast hub, housing employees working across technology, product development, marketing, partnerships and other business functions. The expansion builds on Chime’s New York presence, which began in 2023 and grew following its acquisition of local company Salt Labs. Chime identifies New York as its largest metropolitan market and expects the new location to support recruiting and continued growth in the region. The opening also comes as the company pursues a proposed acquisition of longtime banking partner Stride Bank, subject to regulatory approval.

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NYC Council Calls OpenAI, Anthropic to AI Hearing

New York City lawmakers will bring artificial intelligence oversight into a full-Council forum on October 5, with leaders of OpenAI and Anthropic expected to participate in a hearing focused on the technology’s potential impact on New Yorkers. The unusual Committee of the Whole proceeding will involve all 51 Council members and examine issues ranging from public and cybersecurity risks to consumer protection and economic disruption. Lawmakers also plan to scrutinize the safety measures used by major AI developers and consider whether additional local rules are warranted as increasingly capable systems enter workplaces, businesses and everyday life. The hearing builds on previous NYC legislation establishing standards for government use of artificial intelligence and represents a broader examination of how the city could respond to emerging risks while accounting for the technology’s economic and practical benefits.

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NYC Invests $4M to Expand Public Bathrooms Citywide

New York City is putting $4 million toward a new approach to increasing restroom availability throughout the five boroughs, with modular facilities intended to reduce the time and expense associated with traditional construction. NYCEDC will seek proposals from companies capable of supplying the new units, while city agencies will determine where additional facilities should be placed. West Harlem is among the first communities slated for expanded access, with a free, accessible and self-cleaning restroom planned near 12th Avenue and St. Clair Place. The broader initiative is designed to bring more facilities beyond parks and into plazas and other heavily used public spaces, addressing a longstanding shortage of convenient restroom options for residents, workers and visitors.