It might be only people who enjoy renting an entire apartment to vacation in New York City who remember the legal fight between the state of New York and Airbnb over a new state law. Last month, the governor signed a bill limiting rentals in New York City and imposes stiffer penalties on people who rent out entire apartments. While it’s a state law, the lawsuit has been dismissed, and it’s the city that will enforce the law. [More]
new york city
Amazon Contractor Agrees To Pay Drivers $100K In Phantom Lunch Breaks
By 10.28.16
What if your employer deducted lunch breaks from your time sheet, but you weren’t allowed to actually take any time for lunch? That’s what New York’s attorney general says happened to employees of Cornucopia Logistics, a contractor that handles deliveries for Amazon and for its grocery delivery service in New York City. The company has settled with the state, and will pay affected workers and former workers $100,000 in back wages for the practice. [More]
Modell’s To Take Over A Former Sports Authority Store After All
By 10.27.16
Back when Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, regional chain Modell’s reportedly wanted a piece of the business being abandoned. The chain briefly considered teaming up with a British sports retailer to take over some stores. The deal didn’t work out, and Modell’s didn’t bid on any store leases in the bankruptcy auction, either. However, the chain will now be opening a showcase store in what used to be Sports Authority’s last store in Manhattan. [More]
Airbnb Tries More Self-Regulation In New York, Too
By 10.19.16
If the vacation-booking site Airbnb has to be regulated, it at least wants to impose regulations on itself instead of having local governments do it. While the company is starting to self-regulate in San Francisco and cooperated with the city to make rules in Chicago, it also proposed rules for itself in New York. [More]
Attaching A “Love Lock” To The Brooklyn Bridge Can Now Earn You A $100 Fine
By 10.7.16
All we need is love, or so they say, but the New York City doesn’t need padlocks declaring your heart’s desire on the Brooklyn Bridge anymore. [More]
Kiosk-Hogging Complaints Drop 82% After NYC Blocks Porn At Free WiFi Spots
By 10.5.16
Now that New Yorkers can no longer “inappropriately” use the city’s free WiFi kiosks while web browsing, the agency that runs the program says reports of people monopolizing the spots has dropped 82%. Weird. [More]
Former Carnegie Deli Dishwasher Wants To Buy It And Keep It Open
By 10.4.16
Sandwich fans around the world were likely sad to hear last week that New York City’s famed Carnegie Deli would be shutting its doors for good at the end of the year. At least one person has stepped forward thus far to express interest in buying the business and keeping it open. [More]
Want A Sandwich From NYC’s Carnegie Deli? You’ve Got Until Dec. 31
By 9.30.16
If you’re the kind of person who visits New York City just for the sandwiches, you’ll probably want to pay attention: the famed Carnegie Deli announced it’ll be closing its flagship location by the end of the year. [More]
NYC Says Verizon Defaulted On Its Agreement To Make FiOS Available Citywide
By 9.14.16 — Updated: 3.13.17
Ask just about anyone in New York City what they think of Time Warner Cable and you’ll probably hear swear words that aren’t anatomically possible. The city hoped to improve things by opening up the market to competition from Verizon FiOS in 2008, but more than a year after an audit called out FiOS for apparently failing to live up to its obligation, the city says Verizon has defaulted on its agreement, meaning the company could face legal action. [More]
Under Armour Will Be Available In Kohl’s Stores, Take Over Former FAO Schwarz Store
By 7.26.16
The news out of athletic apparel company Under Armour’s latest report to investors isn’t great, but it has also taught its leaders something very important: not to depend too much on any one retailer, even if that retailer is a nationwide sporting goods chain. The company shared two important and related pieces of news today: they’re creating a line of athletic wear for department store Kohl’s, and taking over what used to be the FAO Schwarz store on New York’s Fifth Avenue. [More]
Taxis Still Provide More Rides Than Uber In New York City
By 7.12.16
Since bursting onto the transportation scene, Uber has served as a contentious rival for traditional taxis, with the industry arguing that the ride-hailing service has taken away business and depleted driver’s take-home pay. But a new report suggests that simply isn’t the case, at least in New York City, where traditional cabs continue to dominate the streets. [More]
NYC Businesses Now Facing Fines For Air Conditioning The City’s Sidewalks
By 7.8.16
Lovely though it might feel to walk through a sudden gush of Arctic air on an otherwise hot, steamy New York City day, businesses that keep their doors open with the air conditioning on can now expect to pay a fine if they’re caught blasting cool air onto the sidewalks. [More]
Kellogg’s Opening An All-Day Premium Cereal Cafe In Times Square
By 6.28.16
Do you like the idea of restaurants that serve nothing but cereal all day, but want to combine that with the prestige of the company that invented corn flakes? Cereal brand Kellogg’s hopes that lots of people do. They’re opening a cereal cafe in New York’s Times Square that seats 20 people and serves them dressed-up bowls of the company’s cereals, like Frosted Flakes with pistachios, lemon zest, and fresh thyme. [More]
Buddhist Leaders Telling NYC Tourists To Beware Fake Monks Who Solicit Donations
By 6.27.16
Just because someone is dressed like the kind of person you may trust, you should always know exactly who it is you’re handing your money to. That’s the warning Buddhist leaders are issuing to tourists visiting New York City, telling them to watch out for fake monks who are pushing people into giving them donations for temples that don’t exist. [More]
Court Says NYC’s Salt Warning Labels Can Go Into Effect As Planned
By 5.27.16
Despite efforts from a restaurant trade group to stop a New York City rule requiring warning labels on foods high in sodium from going into effect, a state appeals court says the city can begin enforcing the rule as planned starting June 6. [More]
NYC Police Arrest 21 Vendors Accused Of Shilling Fake Statue Of Liberty Tickets
By 5.19.16
If you’re planning a trip to New York City, it’s important to know which vendors you can trust to give you a fair deal on the Big Apple’s many attractions. And because not just anyone is allowed to sell access to the city’s tourist gems, the New York Police Department has arrested 21 vendors accused of pushing fake tickets to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. [More]
American Girl Will Move And Experiment With Its Store In NYC, ‘Evolve As A Total Brand’
By 5.12.16
Visiting an American Girl Doll store is an amazing bit of “experiential retail,” which is a thing that people actually say. The stores offer a historical fiction and a highly customizable world designed around school-age girls. The company’s flagship store in Manhattan is at the end of its lease, and is moving to a space in Rockefeller Center that will be even more easily found by tourists. It will include a “media studio,” massive party rooms, and other features for an immersive brand-centric experience. [More]
Group That Is Totally Not A Union Can Represent New York City’s Uber Drivers
By 5.10.16
The people who drive for Uber in New York City are independent contractors and not employees of the ride-hailing service, at least according to current laws. Drivers know that, but want a union-like group that would advocate for workers’ concerns with the company, even if it doesn’t engage in collective bargaining to set fares. Uber has agreed to work with a non-union, the Independent Drivers Guild, which will meet with the company and help drivers appeal when they’re “deactivated,” or fired. [More]
