Press Release

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Kota the Friend Releases Just Happy To Be Here

Independent artist Kota the Friend has released his new album, Just Happy To Be Here, a 10-track project featuring Loony and Lisa Chiodo with production from Eeryskies, Powers Pleasant, ORIGAMI, Aja Grant, MAX HE, Bobby Wooten, and Pat Finnerty. The album arrives as part of New Music Friday while Kota continues his nationwide Just Happy To Be Here Tour.

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Farah Louis Introduces SCRIE, DRIE Expansion

A new bill introduced by New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis would expand access to the City's SCRIE and DRIE rent freeze programs by increasing the household income eligibility limit to $75,000. The proposal aligns New York City with recently approved state legislation and is intended to help more seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities remain in their homes despite rising housing costs. Supporters say the measure would reduce displacement, strengthen housing stability, and provide financial relief to residents living on fixed or limited incomes while maintaining reimbursement protections for landlords.

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Bellevue Expands ER CT Imaging for Faster Care

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has completed a nearly $7 million modernization of its Emergency Department CT suite by bringing a second advanced CT scanner online. The expanded imaging capacity is expected to speed the diagnosis of strokes, traumatic injuries, and other medical emergencies while improving patient flow in one of the nation's busiest emergency departments. Hospital leaders say the upgrade strengthens Bellevue's ability to provide uninterrupted, around-the-clock emergency imaging for the more than 110,000 patients treated annually.

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NY AG James Sues Trump Admin Over Mental Health Cuts

New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing a new lawsuit to block the U.S. Department of Education from ending federal grants that support school-based mental health services. The coalition argues the administration is attempting to bypass a previous court ruling that prevented similar funding cuts by using a different legal approach. If the funding is eliminated, schools across New York could lose millions of dollars used to hire counselors, psychologists, and social workers, potentially reducing access to critical mental health services for thousands of students.

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Elmhurst Brings Bedside MRI to Critically Ill Patients

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has unveiled a new portable point-of-care MRI system that allows clinicians to perform advanced brain imaging at a patient's bedside, eliminating the need to transport critically ill patients to a traditional MRI suite. The $500,000 investment, funded by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, is expected to improve care for patients in intensive care, neurosurgery, trauma, and other critical settings by providing faster diagnoses, reducing patient risk, and enhancing the overall hospital experience. Hospital leaders say the technology strengthens Elmhurst's commitment to equitable, patient-centered care while positioning the hospital as a national leader in innovative neuroimaging and critical care.

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$255M River Commons to Deliver 328 Bronx Homes

A major redevelopment project is moving forward in the South Bronx that will combine affordable housing, expanded medical services and community amenities on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania. The development will create 328 affordable and supportive apartments, new health care facilities, public open space and neighborhood-serving community organizations, with completion expected in 2027.

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NYC Opens Outdoor Pool Season Across Five Boroughs

New York City's outdoor pool season is officially underway, giving residents free access to dozens of public pools just as summer temperatures begin to rise. City leaders marked the opening at Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem while highlighting expanded swim lessons, additional lap swim opportunities and senior programming. The 2026 season also commemorates the 90th anniversary of the City's iconic WPA-era pools, recognizing a public investment that has served generations of New Yorkers.

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New Pilot Brings Home Health Aides to NYC's Homeless

For people leaving homelessness behind, the hardest part often isn't getting the keys to a new apartment — it's the weeks afterward, when Medicaid paperwork hasn't caught up and essential care can lapse. NYC Health + Hospitals' new Bridge to Care pilot, backed by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, is designed to close exactly that gap. The program has already placed 22 formerly homeless patients into Fischer Senior Apartments in the Bronx, pairing them with home health aides during the 45-to-90-day stretch before Medicaid coverage kicks in. Patient Edward Johnson, now receiving treatment for leukemia from the stability of his own apartment, describes the support as the difference between managing his recovery and facing it alone. The initiative is one piece of Project ASAP, the health system's broader push to speed up supportive housing placements citywide.

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NYC Health + Hospitals Launches 2026 Farmers Markets

NYC Health + Hospitals has announced the return of its seasonal farmers markets, bringing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables directly to hospital campuses and community health centers throughout New York City. Operated in partnership with GrowNYC and Harvest Home, the markets are designed to improve access to healthy food while supporting local agriculture. Residents can shop using a variety of payment options, including EBT/SNAP, WIC benefits, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons. Market locations are available across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, with most operating through November.