NYC Press Releases

"> ">

NYU Gets $525K Gift for Chinese Diasporic Art Study

New York University's Institute of Fine Arts has received a $525,000 gift from Asymmetry to establish a new academic initiative focused on Chinese and Sinophone diasporic art. The partnership will support two PhD fellowships for research examining how migration, cultural exchange and the movement of artists and ideas have influenced visual culture across different regions. Fellows will also have opportunities to conduct collections and archival research through the Institute's network of New York museums and cultural organizations. The initiative will include an annual symposium bringing together researchers, curators, students and other specialists to examine Chinese and Sinophone diasporas through comparative perspectives. Asymmetry, a London-based nonprofit founded in 2020, will also connect the fellows with its international academic and cultural network.

"> ">

NYC Breaks Ground on 229 Affordable Senior Homes

New York City has broken ground on Sol on Park, a 229-apartment affordable senior housing development planned for the NYCHA Morris Houses campus in the Bronx. The development will reserve 80 apartments for current Morris I and II residents and 69 for formerly homeless seniors, while another 79 apartments will be offered to low- and middle-income seniors through the Housing Connect lottery. Sol on Park will also include health and wellness services, more than 8,000 square feet of community space, a pedestrian plaza and a new accessible space for the Morris Houses Resident Association. Construction is underway, with pre-leasing and initial move-ins expected to begin in early 2029.

"> ">

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Nikki Lucas Announces Dem Chair Bid

Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas has issued the following statement announcing her candidacy to serve as the next Chair of the Kings County Democratic Party:

"> ">

NYC-Based AFSP Awards $9.47M for Suicide Research

The New York City-based American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is awarding $9.47 million through 29 new research grants examining ways to prevent suicide and improve treatment for people at risk. The projects address subjects including suicidal behavior among adolescents, rapid responses to suicide clusters, prevention strategies for Indigenous youth and treatment approaches combining ketamine with cognitive behavioral therapy. Other research will examine suicide risk among women who have experienced interpersonal violence and the relationship between cannabis use, cognitive processing and suicide risk in young adults. AFSP says the latest awards bring its total investment in research above $100 million and approximately 900 funded grants since the organization was founded in 1987.

"> ">

Bowery Presents Announces Major Leadership Change

The Bowery Presents is undergoing a major leadership transition as longtime co-presidents Jim Glancy and John Moore step aside from the New York-based concert promotion company. Four longtime executives—Josh Bhatti, Charley Magrew, Andrew Martin and Josh Moore—have been elevated to senior vice president and will collectively assume leadership responsibilities. Magrew will oversee marketing, ticketing, sponsorship and venue initiatives from New York, while Moore will lead talent operations from the city. Martin will oversee business and legal affairs from Nashville, and Bhatti will lead the company's New England operations. The Bowery Presents, which became part of AEG Presents in 2016, has played a major role in New York's live music industry and produces concerts at several prominent NYC venues.

"> ">

Brooklyn Nets Name Alibaba Official Technology Partner

The Brooklyn Nets are partnering with Alibaba Group in a multi-year agreement that will bring new technology to Barclays Center while placing the company's brand on the team's jerseys. Alibaba will serve as an official technology and cloud partner of the Nets and become the team's official jersey patch partner during its 60th anniversary season. Beginning with the 2026–27 NBA season, Alibaba technology will power a Real-Time 360° Replay system designed to give fans more immersive views of game action. The partnership will also introduce an in-arena Nets Figure Lab where fans can create personalized collectible cards. The Nets and Alibaba plan to test additional technology and marketing applications throughout the season.

"> ">

New Bronx Mental Health Clubhouse Opens in Fordham

A newly constructed clubhouse has opened in the Bronx to provide free community support for New Yorkers living with serious mental illness. Venture House Bronx in Fordham Heights includes a commercial kitchen, dining area, wellness center and art and media studios, with programs designed to help members build relationships, pursue employment and education and participate in community activities. The facility is part of New York City's expanded clubhouse network for adults with conditions that can include schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. The Health Department says approximately 5,000 people are active clubhouse members citywide, with roughly half joining during the past two years. Membership is available regardless of insurance, immigration or housing status.

"> ">

Akin Adds Goldman Sachs Tech Lawyer in New York

Akin has strengthened its New York corporate practice with the return of technology transactions lawyer Neil DuChez as a partner. DuChez most recently spent more than nine years at Goldman Sachs, where he served as Vice President and Senior Legal Director and advised on technology, data, artificial intelligence, intellectual property and commercial agreements. At Akin, his practice will include technology-enabled transactions, strategic partnerships, software and cloud agreements, AI and data analytics, payment technologies and technology issues connected to acquisitions and divestitures. The firm said the appointment expands its U.S.-based technology transactions capabilities as technology and data become increasingly important components of major corporate deals. DuChez previously worked at Akin as an intellectual property associate.

"> ">

Brooklyn Unveils Little Panama Way in Crown Heights

Brooklyn's Panamanian community has received permanent recognition in Crown Heights with the unveiling of Little Panama Way along Franklin Avenue. The ceremonial street co-naming honors generations of Panamanians who established families, businesses, institutions and cultural traditions in the neighborhood beginning decades ago. Panama 507 Roundtable Group organized the September 24 celebration with community organizations, elected officials and Panamanian dignitaries. The recognition comes as a related effort advances to establish a Little Panama Cultural District in the area, creating a framework for preserving Panamanian heritage while supporting cultural programming and economic activity. State legislation authorizing the cultural designation has passed both houses of the New York State Legislature