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| N.Y. Today: Our Maddening Election Laws May Finally Change | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| [Want to get New York Today by email? Here's the sign-up.] | [Want to get New York Today by email? Here's the sign-up.] |
| It’s Wednesday. | It’s Wednesday. |
| Weather: Still chilly but calmer and sunny, with a high of 43. Rain moves in tomorrow night. | Weather: Still chilly but calmer and sunny, with a high of 43. Rain moves in tomorrow night. |
| Alternate-side parking: in effect till Christmas. | Alternate-side parking: in effect till Christmas. |
| New Yorkers have a well-earned skepticism toward politicians’ promises. (Remember how long it took to build the Second Avenue subway?) | New Yorkers have a well-earned skepticism toward politicians’ promises. (Remember how long it took to build the Second Avenue subway?) |
| So when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Monday that he wanted the state’s byzantine election laws revamped and (gasp!) made more voter-friendly, there was applause — and apprehension. | So when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Monday that he wanted the state’s byzantine election laws revamped and (gasp!) made more voter-friendly, there was applause — and apprehension. |
| [Here’s an in-depth look at the proposed changes.] | [Here’s an in-depth look at the proposed changes.] |
| In his speech, Mr. Cuomo called for automatic voter registration, an ease on the restrictions to voting by mail, and an expansion in the number of days when people can vote. Thirty-eight other states already allow early voting. He even wants to make Election Day a state holiday. | In his speech, Mr. Cuomo called for automatic voter registration, an ease on the restrictions to voting by mail, and an expansion in the number of days when people can vote. Thirty-eight other states already allow early voting. He even wants to make Election Day a state holiday. |
| “We’re very pleased,” Susan Lerner, executive director of the good-government group Common Cause, told The Times. But “the devil’s in the details,” she said. | “We’re very pleased,” Susan Lerner, executive director of the good-government group Common Cause, told The Times. But “the devil’s in the details,” she said. |
| Early voting needed to include “a minimum of two weekends, and some evening hours,” she said. | Early voting needed to include “a minimum of two weekends, and some evening hours,” she said. |
| This would allow the most people to be able to get to the polls, she said: “Seniors, the young, communities that are often economically challenged, where people are working three or four jobs.” | This would allow the most people to be able to get to the polls, she said: “Seniors, the young, communities that are often economically challenged, where people are working three or four jobs.” |
| Mr. Cuomo and his fellow Democrats will control the State Legislature starting next month, so something is likely to come of this, though some changes will require approval from voters. | Mr. Cuomo and his fellow Democrats will control the State Legislature starting next month, so something is likely to come of this, though some changes will require approval from voters. |
| Reform is certainly needed. In the city, last month’s election was marred by broken voting machines and long lines. The city’s top election official called them a sign of a healthy democracy. With democracy like that, who needs Russian hackers? | Reform is certainly needed. In the city, last month’s election was marred by broken voting machines and long lines. The city’s top election official called them a sign of a healthy democracy. With democracy like that, who needs Russian hackers? |
| So in the spirit of holiday gift-giving, tell me (and the lawmakers): What voting reforms would you like to see in the new year? Email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, put them in the comments or tweet them @nytmetro. Thanks! | So in the spirit of holiday gift-giving, tell me (and the lawmakers): What voting reforms would you like to see in the new year? Email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, put them in the comments or tweet them @nytmetro. Thanks! |
| On Tuesday, State Senator Kevin Parker of Brooklyn, above, tweeted “Kill yourself!” to a legislative staffer who committed the grave sin of publicizing Mr. Parker’s apparent improper use of a parking placard. | On Tuesday, State Senator Kevin Parker of Brooklyn, above, tweeted “Kill yourself!” to a legislative staffer who committed the grave sin of publicizing Mr. Parker’s apparent improper use of a parking placard. |
| Then he apologized. Then he doubled down, saying that the aide had been “on the wrong side of history” on important state issues. (She is a Republican staffer; Mr. Parker is a Democrat.) | Then he apologized. Then he doubled down, saying that the aide had been “on the wrong side of history” on important state issues. (She is a Republican staffer; Mr. Parker is a Democrat.) |
| [Read the full story on the controversy.] | |
| Mr. Parker has a history of inflammatory behavior. For example: | Mr. Parker has a history of inflammatory behavior. For example: |
| 2010: In a heated meeting with colleagues, he reportedly yelled at and charged toward a fellow state senator, and had to be physically restrained. | 2010: In a heated meeting with colleagues, he reportedly yelled at and charged toward a fellow state senator, and had to be physically restrained. |
| 2009: Mr. Parker was charged with assaulting a photographer and convicted of criminal mischief. | 2009: Mr. Parker was charged with assaulting a photographer and convicted of criminal mischief. |
| 2009: Mr. Parker referred to then-Gov. David Paterson as a “staff-banging, coke-snorting” chief executive. | 2009: Mr. Parker referred to then-Gov. David Paterson as a “staff-banging, coke-snorting” chief executive. |
| 2005: He was arrested after punching a traffic agent in the face. One lawmaker said of Mr. Parker, “He needs to sit down with a professional who will help him understand that he has to act senatorial.” | 2005: He was arrested after punching a traffic agent in the face. One lawmaker said of Mr. Parker, “He needs to sit down with a professional who will help him understand that he has to act senatorial.” |
| Inspiring: A young woman from the Lower East Side — Chantel Diaz, above — pursued a career in technology to better support her children, and persevered even as she lost her father to cancer. | Inspiring: A young woman from the Lower East Side — Chantel Diaz, above — pursued a career in technology to better support her children, and persevered even as she lost her father to cancer. |
| Seven ways to fix the M.T.A.: And did we mention that it needs a $60 billion overhaul? | Seven ways to fix the M.T.A.: And did we mention that it needs a $60 billion overhaul? |
| Trump Foundation to close: After a lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general. | Trump Foundation to close: After a lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general. |
| What if Brexit were a restaurant? If you’re curious about the English food at Bluebird London near Columbus Circle, “you will regret this,” Pete Wells warns. | What if Brexit were a restaurant? If you’re curious about the English food at Bluebird London near Columbus Circle, “you will regret this,” Pete Wells warns. |
| Right to bear nunchucks: A federal judge ruled that New Yorkers have a constitutional right to the martial arts weapon. | Right to bear nunchucks: A federal judge ruled that New Yorkers have a constitutional right to the martial arts weapon. |
| Reviewing “The Prom” on Broadway: Its dancing is an “unpretentious delight.” | Reviewing “The Prom” on Broadway: Its dancing is an “unpretentious delight.” |
| Uwe Johnson’s 1,700-page novel, now in English: “Anniversaries,” set in 1961 New York City, is all-consuming. | Uwe Johnson’s 1,700-page novel, now in English: “Anniversaries,” set in 1961 New York City, is all-consuming. |
| The one hour you’re allowed inside Gramercy Park: From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. [Curbed] | The one hour you’re allowed inside Gramercy Park: From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. [Curbed] |
| Murder in the Five Towns: A teenager was found fatally shot behind a community center in Lawrence on Long Island. [CBS New York] | |
| Wrong car, thief: A woman in the Bronx caught a man trying to steal her car, pulled him out and held him for the police. [News12 the Bronx] | Wrong car, thief: A woman in the Bronx caught a man trying to steal her car, pulled him out and held him for the police. [News12 the Bronx] |
| Subway headaches uptown: Five subway stations in Washington Heights will close for a year of repairs each over the next three years. [NBC New York] | Subway headaches uptown: Five subway stations in Washington Heights will close for a year of repairs each over the next three years. [NBC New York] |
| Mandarin Ducks of New York City: You can find them in the Central Park Zoo, the Bronx Zoo and the Prospect Park Zoo. [Gothamist] | |
| That’s how many people were homeless in New York City at a point in time this past January, according to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which conducts annual counts around the country. | That’s how many people were homeless in New York City at a point in time this past January, according to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which conducts annual counts around the country. |
| That’s up about 3 percent from 2017. [hat tip to The Times’s Nikita Stewart] | That’s up about 3 percent from 2017. [hat tip to The Times’s Nikita Stewart] |
| Terre Roche’s annual tradition of gathering under the Washington Square arch for a night of caroling is in its 45th year. 6 p.m. [Free] | Terre Roche’s annual tradition of gathering under the Washington Square arch for a night of caroling is in its 45th year. 6 p.m. [Free] |
| If bling is your thing, head to a jewelry-making class at the Morris Park library in the Bronx. 1 p.m. [Free] | If bling is your thing, head to a jewelry-making class at the Morris Park library in the Bronx. 1 p.m. [Free] |
| Black female interior designers talk about how they made it in the industry at the New York School of Interior Design. 6 p.m. [$15] | Black female interior designers talk about how they made it in the industry at the New York School of Interior Design. 6 p.m. [$15] |
| The Literaryswag book club discusses Samantha Irby’s essay collection “We Are Never Meeting in Real Life” at the Brooklyn Circus. 7 p.m. [Free] | The Literaryswag book club discusses Samantha Irby’s essay collection “We Are Never Meeting in Real Life” at the Brooklyn Circus. 7 p.m. [Free] |
| “POP! A pop culture bingo party,” at Parklife in Gowanus. 7 p.m. [Free to attend / $2 per card] | “POP! A pop culture bingo party,” at Parklife in Gowanus. 7 p.m. [Free to attend / $2 per card] |
| — Iman Stevenson | — Iman Stevenson |
| Events are subject to change, so double-check before heading out. For more events, see the going-out guides from The Times’s culture pages. | Events are subject to change, so double-check before heading out. For more events, see the going-out guides from The Times’s culture pages. |
| Even in a city with some unusual cultural institutions (the Conjuring Arts Research Center, the Museum of the American Gangster), the Reanimation Library is pretty far out. | Even in a city with some unusual cultural institutions (the Conjuring Arts Research Center, the Museum of the American Gangster), the Reanimation Library is pretty far out. |
| It consists of 2,500 out-of-print volumes, culled from thrift stores and discard bins, bursting with illustrations and diagrams both prosaic and puzzling. | It consists of 2,500 out-of-print volumes, culled from thrift stores and discard bins, bursting with illustrations and diagrams both prosaic and puzzling. |
| The titles only hint at what’s inside: “Four-handed Dentistry in Clinical Practice,” “A Fruit is Born,” “A Study of Splashes,” “The Shocking Truth About Water: The Universal Fluid of Death.” | The titles only hint at what’s inside: “Four-handed Dentistry in Clinical Practice,” “A Fruit is Born,” “A Study of Splashes,” “The Shocking Truth About Water: The Universal Fluid of Death.” |
| One illustration, from “Public Address and Sound Distribution Handbook” (1956) is displayed above. A slide show from the collection can be viewed here. | One illustration, from “Public Address and Sound Distribution Handbook” (1956) is displayed above. A slide show from the collection can be viewed here. |
| But now the 12-year-old library, which bills itself as a resource for “artists, writers and other cultural archaeologists,” needs a home. | But now the 12-year-old library, which bills itself as a resource for “artists, writers and other cultural archaeologists,” needs a home. |
| It lost its latest space, in the back of Pioneer Books in Red Hook, and last week the library’s founder, Andrew Beccone, reluctantly moved the collection into storage. | It lost its latest space, in the back of Pioneer Books in Red Hook, and last week the library’s founder, Andrew Beccone, reluctantly moved the collection into storage. |
| So if you fancy yourself a patron of the arts and have a space big enough for 48 linear feet of books and scanners and a photocopier and you are looking to rent for very little, Mr. Beccone wants to hear from you. — Andy Newman | So if you fancy yourself a patron of the arts and have a space big enough for 48 linear feet of books and scanners and a photocopier and you are looking to rent for very little, Mr. Beccone wants to hear from you. — Andy Newman |
| Dear Diary: | Dear Diary: |
| I was taking my usual route from Chelsea to Union Square on a Friday night. The light was dimming fast. | I was taking my usual route from Chelsea to Union Square on a Friday night. The light was dimming fast. |
| An older woman stopped me as I was approaching Fifth Avenue. It was clear that she wanted to ask me something. There was no way I was going to be able to avoid her. | An older woman stopped me as I was approaching Fifth Avenue. It was clear that she wanted to ask me something. There was no way I was going to be able to avoid her. |
| My mind went into anticipatory overdrive: Did she want directions? Was she looking for a handout? Was she about to insult me? | My mind went into anticipatory overdrive: Did she want directions? Was she looking for a handout? Was she about to insult me? |
| “Can you give me a hand with the zipper at the back?” she said. “Once I get upstairs, I don’t know if I’d be able to get this off on my own.” | “Can you give me a hand with the zipper at the back?” she said. “Once I get upstairs, I don’t know if I’d be able to get this off on my own.” |
| “Sure,” I said, a little surprised to be doing it in the middle of the sidewalk, but gripped the zipper on the back her shift and helped it down a couple of inches. | “Sure,” I said, a little surprised to be doing it in the middle of the sidewalk, but gripped the zipper on the back her shift and helped it down a couple of inches. |
| — Maggie Feuchter | — Maggie Feuchter |
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| We’re experimenting with the format of New York Today. What would you like to see more (or less) of? Post a comment or email us: nytoday@nytimes.com. | We’re experimenting with the format of New York Today. What would you like to see more (or less) of? Post a comment or email us: nytoday@nytimes.com. |