MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025
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Dear New Yorkers,
On a recent Saturday night, the St. John’s County Sheriff’s office near Jacksonville, Fla. received a call from the NYPD about online threats that were made to a retired NYPD lieutenant now living in the area.
Within five minutes, a unit was dispatched to the home of John Macari, 44 — a former NYPD lieutenant and the founder of a podcast about policing that has for two years been unsparing in its criticism of the leaders of the department.
The unexpected visit opened the door on a two-year saga that has featured an unusually public battle between former lieutenants and outspoken NYPD brass — particularly Kaz Daughtry and John Chell, respectively the deputy mayor for public safety and the Chief of Department, the NYPD’s highest ranking uniformed officer.
It involves an Internal Affairs Bureau probe around both Daughtry and Chell, public sniping on both sides and alleged social media volleys that escalated to threats that sparked the Saturday night visit.
Read more here about the feud between the ex-NYPD podcasters and the department’s top brass.
Weather ☔
Bring an umbrella. Showers throughout the day with a chance of a thunderstorm, high in the mid-60s.
MTA 🚇
In Queens, the Flushing-bound 7 train skips 103 Street-Corona Plaza — beginning this morning, until early 2026. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.
Alternate side parking 🚙
It’s in effect today, May 5.
By the way… A bunch of streets around Central Park are closed today for both the Cinco de Mayo Parade and the Met Gala. See the full list here.
Our Other Top Stories
- Only about 4 in 10 tenants facing eviction had lawyers in housing court last year despite efforts by “right to counsel” laws implemented in recent years.
- All 51 seats in the City Council are up for grabs this year. Here are the 11 most competitive, crowded races we’re watching heading into the June primaries.
Reporter’s Notebook
One-Time Boost for Books
The city’s three library systems saw a little boost in funding in Mayor Eric Adams’s executive budget proposal last week – but so far it’s a one-shot deal.
The $15.7 million increase over last year’s budget plan – boosting the city spending for the New York, Brooklyn and Queens libraries to $494 million – is just for the next fiscal year, a City Hall spokesperson confirmed.
Throughout his “best budget ever” presentation last week, Adams mentioned baseline funding, which he incorrectly said was “forever,” more than two dozen times. But that didn’t include the money for libraries.
“As the budget process continues, we look forward to our ongoing work with the istration and the City Council to ensure libraries have the funding needed to provide the services, materials and programs New Yorkers depend on,” a statement from the library systems said.
A spokesperson for the mayor, Zachary Nosanchuk, said it’s “an ongoing budget process, and we continue to be in with the branches to address their needs.”
— Katie Honan
Things To Do
Here are some free and low-cost things to do around the city this week.
- Monday, May 5: NYC is creating an urban forest, and the city wants your input: their first community meeting in The Bronx to learn about what an urban forest is and share your thoughts on the plan.
- Monday, May 5: Learn to juggle at Bryant Park — all materials provided. 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 6: Attend a talk from Data & Society, “What is Work Worth? What Generative AI Means for Workers’ Lives and Labor.” to attend either in-person or online. The Greene Space, Manhattan. 6:30 p.m.
THE KICKER: In celebration of tonight’s Met Gala and the new exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Vogue staffers reflect on the Black dandies in their lives.
Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Monday.
Love,
THE CITY
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