https://www.ourtownny.com/news/nyc-reading-scores-sink-with-3rd-grade-proficiency-falling-14-points-JA6112847 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-13T17:20:24-04:00 NYC Reading Scores Sink, with 3rd Grade Proficiency Falling 14 Points https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/test-scores-chalkbeat_4-11010133_20260813171750.jpg NYC students’ reading proficiency fell 6 percentage points in grades 3-8, with steeper drops in early grades, as officials investigate dramatic swings in test scores. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/judge-blocks-pied-a-terre-tax-but-appeals-court-judge-allows-rollout-to-continue-YC6105067 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-14T12:47:56-04:00 Judge Blocks “Pied-à-Terre” Tax but Appeals Court Judge Allows Rollout to Continue https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/mamdani-video-photo-at-griffin_4-11010073_20260813163238.jpg Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the now infamous video filmed outside the penthouse apartment of Citadel chairman Ken Griffin. “When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich,” he said in the video released in April. “I’m thrilled to announce we secured a pied a terre tax,” he said, “the first in NYC history.” https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-11-at-4-24-08-pm_4-10997010_20260811162517.png NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed up his “pied-à-terre” tax during a press conference on an unrelated topic on August 10 after a Staten Island Supreme Court judge issued a temporary block on the new surcharge. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/new-9-11-memorial-unveiled-at-church-of-st-francis-of-assisi-BA6112113 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-14T12:55:26-04:00 New 9/11 Memorial Unveiled at Church of St. Francis of Assisi https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-unveiled-asisi_4-11011594_20260814113545.jpg A new 9/11 memorial was unveiled at Church of St. Francis of Assisi on Aug. 11, 2026. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-unveiled-assisi-bur_4-11011597_20260814113725.jpg Retired firefighter and artist Dennis Burke and Father Jordan beside Burke’s sculpture, “Brotherhood 9/11.” https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/crystal-etching-of-famous-mychal-judg_4-11013145_20260814144517.jpg A Crystal etching based on the iconic photo taken by Reuters photographer Shannon Stapleton when five people carried the body of the fallen FDNY chaplain Father Mychal Judge out of the North Town on 9/11. It is at Engine 1 - Ladder 24 (142 W. 31st Street) Battalion 7, Division 1, across from St. Francis Assisi Church. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-unveiled-assisi-bur_4-11012042_20260814115520.jpg Retired firefighter Dennis Burke leaving the podium at St. Francis of Assisi after briefly speaking. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-assisi-brotherhood_4-11012044_20260814115525.jpg The new 9/11 Memorial at St. Francis of Assisi includes retired FDNY firefighter Dennis Burke’s sculpture “Brotherhood 9/11.” https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-burke-commissioner_4-11012046_20260814115527.jpg Retired FDNY firefighter and artist Dennis Burke with FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, Letitia James at right. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-unveiled-assisi-hel_4-11012048_20260814115530.jpg The new 9/11 memorial at St. Francis of Assisi also includes the damiano cross, Mychal Judge’s FDNY dress helmet, a Franciscan tau and twisted steel from the World Trade Center. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/new-9-11-memorial-unveled-commissione_4-11012537_20260814123026.jpg FDNY Commissioner Lilian Bonsignore (left), with retired FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer— Battalion 1 Chief on 9/11— walking behind her. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/archdiocese-plans-to-sell-church-2-west-side-catholic-schools-BG6109245 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-14T13:23:40-04:00 Archdiocese Plans to Sell Church, 2 West Side Catholic Schools https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/wilson-at-stop-sale-rally-flickr_4-11001733_20260812195143.jpg Carl Wilson led preservationists in a “Stop the Sale” rally outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chelsea after learning the Archdiocese plans to sell the church and two former Catholic school buildings on the west side. He wants the Landmarks Preservation Commission to declare the buildings landmarks. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/olg-church_4-11012462_20260814121846.jpg Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Chelsea is one of several buildings that city council member Carl Wilson says the Archdiocese wants to sell to raise additional funds to pay victims of past sexual abuse. He wants to landmark the building which is part of the first Spanish language parish the Archdiocese ever created. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/milimg-5861-5788136-new-68-2026081219_4-11001729_20260812191629.jpg Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, said Our Lady of Guadalupe was the first Spanish language parish in New York City. Today, he said over 30 percent of the city population is Hispanic and the church is an historic touchstone of the transformation. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/carl-wilson-at-our-lady-of-guadalupe_4-11001719_20260812191628.jpg City Council Member Carl Wilson led a “Stop the Sale” rally outside Our Lady of Guadalupe on Aug. 12. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/our-lady-of-guadalupe-at-st-bernard_4-11001734_20260812195144.jpg The Our Lady of Guadalupe parish was founded in 1902 in a west side neighborhood once known as “Little Spain” but merged into the former St. Bernard Church on West 14th Street in 2003 where it is currently based. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/cardinal-dolan-guadalupe-2024_4-11012705_20260814131952.webp Cardinal Timony Dolan entering St. Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate Feast of Our Lady Guadaulupe, Dec. 12, 2024. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/bishop-whalen-guadalupe-greets-celebr_4-11012708_20260814132158.webp Bishop Edmund Whalen greeting parisioners outside St. Patrick’s for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe., Dec. 12, 2023. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/1000s-pack-st-patricks-guadalupe-lupi_4-11012711_20260814132328.webp Pilgrims celebrating “Lupita” outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadaupe, Dec. 11, 2025. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/democratic-judicial-convention-taps-six-judges-for-november-ballot-CY6111114 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-14T15:20:31-04:00 Democratic Judicial Convention Taps Six Judges for November Ballot https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/60-centre-st_4-11004369_20260813144230.jpg The Democratic Judicial Convention on Aug. 10 nominated six judges who will likely be heading to New York Court house at 60 Centre Street after the November 3 election. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/some-new-e-bike-regs-introduced-but-menin-drops-registration-regs-YD6115203 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-14T17:15:26-04:00 Some New E-Bike Regs Introduced, but Menin Drops Registration Regs https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-30-36-pm_4-11013428_20260814163059.png A press conference on August 4 called for the passing of 17 new laws regarding E-bike safety and registration. Since then, Menin appears to be backing away from one of the planks for corporate registration of e-bikes used by deliveristas. https://www.ourtownny.com/news/city-council-brings-back-year-round-roadside-dining-IC6114659 hourly Our Town - Eastsider en 2026-08-14T17:46:44-04:00 City Council Brings Back Year-Round Roadside Dining https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/55462897587-64515df140-c_4-11013172_20260814152937.jpg City Council Members (from clockwise) Justin Sanchez, Lincoln Restler, Kamillah Hanks, Julie Menin, and Shanel Thomas-Henry celebrate the return of year-round roadside dining. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/img-9056-4-10595456-20260409102829_4-11013725_20260814161428.webp Roadway dining returned in the spring of this year, after being wound down for the winter. Yet many owners felt it was too expensive to take sheds down and then rebuild them, and dropped them entirely. Now, restaurants won’t have to retire these sheds in the off-season. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/outdoor-dining-room-mad-av-92st-hdr-j_4-11013435_20260814153149.jpg The City Council passed a return to year-round roadside dining into law on August 13, after previous seasonal-only rules led to a massive decline in restaurant participation. The new law will allow outdoor dining sheds to once again be enclosed. https://www.ourtownny.com/binrepository/dining-sheds_4-11013891_20260814162802.jpg Some residents objected to pandemic-era outdoor dining setups, objecting to the loss of parking spaces and the fact that some sheds were abandoned eyesores.