• Padlocking illegal smoke shops – We kicked off “Operation Padlock to Protect” to shut down unlicensed smoke and cannabis shops. After successfully securing new tools from the state that allow us to padlock these unlawful businesses, we established formal rules with the Sheriff’s Office and kicked off a multi-agency, five-borough operation to keep New Yorkers safe.

• Making our coasts more resilient – After announcing it in our State of the City address earlier this year, we broke ground on a Lower Manhattan coastal resiliency project that will protect 100,000 New Yorkers and 12,000 businesses from rising sea levels, create 400 constructions jobs, and preserve The Battery’s beautiful green space. We’ll keep our neighbors safe from whatever Mother Nature throws at us and continue leading the country in the fight against climate change.

• Putting power in New Yorkers’ hands – All New Yorkers, ages 11+, can vote on local projects to receive millions of dollars in city funding through our participatory budget process! Last year, you helped invest in job training, violence prevention, and community gardens — what will you support this year? Vote online now.

↳ Three things to know this week:

1. With mpox cases on the rise, New York City is helping people getting vaccinated and stay safe. Individuals in groups at risk of exposure should get vaccinated, and vaccines are free regardless of immigration or insurance status. Use our easy vaccine finder to locate a provider near you.

2. Our city’s public schools became one of the 10 largest comic book distributors in the country! As part of an in-house project to engage students in new ways, these 25 (and counting!) educational comics include a visual history of hip hop and a biography of Asian American trailblazer Patsy Mink. The comics are free to download here.

3. You can get a free bike helmet this weekend in Manhattan through the Department of Transportation. They’re helping New Yorkers of all ages access properly fitting helmets to ride safely. Check out their full bike event calendar, which includes more giveaways and repair opportunities. 

↳ FREE events this weekend:

...you can watch sheep shearing right here in New York City? The Queens County Farm Museum’s annual Sheep Shearing Festival is baaa-ck on Saturday, May 11, and it’s the only event of its kind in our city! With hayrides, live folk music, fiber spinning showcases, and more, ewe don’t want to miss this day of family-friendly fun at the farm.

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