The Black unemployment rate in NYC has significantly decreased since 2022, according to a report that the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) released Friday. The EDC, which releases an economic snapshot for the city each month, reports that Black unemployment in New York City fell from 10.7 to 7.9% from Jan. 1, 2022, to April 1, 2024, marking the first time since before the pandemic that the rate has fallen to below 8%. The dramatic decrease aligns with NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ entire stint in office. According to the mayor, his administration played a big role in getting Black New Yor ..read more

There are more weight loss gimmicks than stars in the sky. I know because I have several friends that have struggled with their weight, some of them severely, for many years. They’ve had the most success when they’ve applied four basic principles: Portion control: My husband and I once visited Paris and were surprised at how small the portions were in the restaurants. We thought we were being punked. If I could only replicate that in my day to day caloric intake. There are some helpful tools, which I’ll explain later in this piece. Drink water:  I visited my doctor yesterday for a routine ..read more

Seven words added to New York state law in the recently-passed state budget both weakens the power of squatters, and gives homeowners a sense of security. The legal change now clearly states that “a tenant shall not include a squatter,” thereby stripping squatters of their tenant rights, and making it easier for police to remove them without forcing the owner to resolve the issue in housing court – a process that can take years and expensive legal fees. The passage of the law in the state’s fiscal budget for 2025 can be attributed to two elected officials in northeast Queens, who introduc ..read more

Congestion pricing is happening starting at 12:01 a.m. June 30 after nearly two decades of fierce debate, study and grievances over the concept of charging drivers for heading into parts of Manhattan. The MTA confirmed the June 30 launch on Friday, giving drivers around the tri-state area about two months’ notice before putting the toll system into effect on all bridges and roads leading into the Central Business District of Manhattan, south of 60th Street. Motorists bringing their cars into the Central Business District will be charged up to $15, once per day, during peak traffic periods. Som ..read more

A Bed-Stuy father whose fiancé died while giving birth at Woodhull Hospital is fundraising to help his family financially — and to honor his late loved one’s legacy by supporting Black maternal health initiatives. Jose Perez, who lost his partner last November, launched a campaign called “Justice for Christine Fields” earlier this month and has since raised $1,020 toward a $10,000 goal. He said proceeds will be split between making up for Perez’s lost wages since becoming a full-time caregiver, therapy for the children as they struggle with losing their mom and supporting the family’s efforts ..read more

Chicken Kiev, AI-generated press releases and the annoyance of fan selfies while performing — there was a lot on the minds of the Pet Shop Boys as the iconic British duo prepared to release a new album. Their 15th studio album, “Nonetheless,” comes Friday — 40 years (and 50 million record sales) after Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe rose to fame with the single “West End Girls.” Bands of any longevity — especially such a long one — are often asked the cliche: “How do you stay relevant?” For them, it’s about never trying to be cool. “That’s something a lot of people try and do, to be somehow cool ..read more

#MeToo founder Tarana Burke has heard it before. Every time there’s a legal setback, the movement is declared dead in the water. A legal success, and presto, it’s alive again. So Burke, who nearly two decades ago coined the phrase “Me too” from her work with sexual assault survivors, found herself again declaring after New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction: The #MeToo reckoning is greater than any court case. It’s still there, and it’s working. The most obvious proof, Burke said: “Ten years ago we could not get a man like Harvey Weinstein ..read more

Brooklyn’s go-to sports center is boasting the Nets’ first private label merchandise storefront, designed by local, family-run design firm The Brooklyn Home Company. Berō, pronounced “borough,” opened at the center’s entrance last December and has since offered an exclusive collection of luxury-style hoodies, cardigans, hats and more to die-hard fans. Designers had the challenge of transforming a 200-square-foot concession stand into a moody retail store that reflects the creative culture of Brooklyn. Bero brings an elevated shopping experience to fans, offering an authentic Brooklyn experien ..read more

The 30-year-old Caribbean American Nurses Association/Bronx Manhattan Westchester Chapter (CANA/BMW) is appealing to nurses to join the Bronx-based organization. “We encourage nurses of Caribbean descent to join this organization to make it stronger and more efficient,” Recording Secretary, Jamaican-born Registered Nurse Elaine Mills-Ford told Caribbean Life on Sunday. She said CANA/BMW chapter was founded in 1994 in memory of a Barbadian-born registered nurse Vernese Weeks who died in same year. “For her dedication and outstanding service to others, she demonstrated a great love, and passion ..read more

The NYPD is investigating two separate hate crimes in Manhattan this month, including one near Columbia University that involved flag-burning, police said on Friday.  Law enforcement officials said that on Saturday, April 20, at approximately 9:55 p.m. a 22-year-old man was walking in the vicinity of Amsterdam Avenue and West 116 Street near Columbia University in Morningside Heights, displaying a large flag. An unknown individual then aggressively approached the victim, snatched the flag from him and then ran into a crowd of people, police said.  The victim then ran after the suspec ..read more