Monday, December 29th
Good morning, New Yorker.
The city is shaking off a weekend storm and looking squarely toward the new year. Transit is in transition, streets are slushy, and a string of violent incidents has left parts of the Bronx on edge. With only days left in 2025, a mix of change, grief, and cold pushes up against the promise of starting fresh.
Weather Brief
It’s a raw, gray day at 34 degrees, with overcast skies and a biting wind that makes it feel closer to the high 20s. Snow lingering from the holiday storm is turning to ice, slowing foot traffic and making commutes and city services sluggish.
What to Watch Today
- The MTA officially retires the MetroCard system across all subway stations, completing its switch to OMNY tap-and-go technology.
- Alternate side parking remains suspended citywide for snow cleanup; expect plows and salting in residential areas throughout the day.
- The NYPD continues to investigate multiple violent incidents in the Bronx over the weekend, including three fatal cases involving teens and a woman.
- With just days before Times Square’s New Year’s Eve closure, city agencies will release final updates on security, transit detours, and public access.
The Lead
The MetroCard, a fixture in New Yorkers’ pockets for three decades has been fully replaced by OMNY as of today. The move, years in the making, retools how millions navigate the city daily, raises accessibility and equity concerns, and marks a major digital shift in one of the world’s largest mass transit systems. read more...
Power & Accountability
- A new state law now requires social media platforms to include health warnings for young users in New York, as part of broader youth safety legislation.
- A Housing Preservation and Development lottery is offering select rent-free apartments to income-qualified applicants, with applications surging ahead of the deadline.
- The NYPD confirmed it is investigating the unexplained death of a 4-year-old girl in the Bronx, with the medical examiner’s report pending.
Around the City
- A woman and a teenage boy were killed in separate shootings in Bronx apartment buildings over the weekend, prompting increased patrols in the area.
- Snow and ice made firefighting efforts in Queens more difficult during a Sunday blaze, with several engines delayed by slick roads.
- MulchFest continues across city parks, inviting residents to recycle their holiday trees through January 11.
The Thread
Today’s stories revolve around change layered with complexity, whether it's adapting to digital transit, battling frozen streets, or navigating systems meant to serve and protect. In each case, institutions are adjusting under pressure from tradition, crisis, and public need. Trust in these systems transit, housing, justice is being tested daily.
This is a day when the city trades old habits for new ones, even as the weight of the weekend lingers in its streets.