AGBC News Episode 1: New Ferry Routes, a Pricey Penthouse, and the Miracle on the Hudson

Podcast artwork
Podcast artwork via AGBC

Welcome to the first episode of the AGBC News podcast! Listen below, learn more on our podcast page, and be sure to subscribe πŸ‘

AGBC News Episode 1

History and Top Stories for the week of January 14

  • The Highline Ballroom is Closing

  • 58 years ago on January 11, 1961 β€” The Throgs Neck Bridge opens to traffic, carrying 20,000 vehicles and generating $5,000 in tolls in the first 12 hours, which helped put a dent in its $92,000,000 cost to build β€” In other bridge news, the old Tappan Zee, first opened in December 1955, is set to be demolished this Tuesday at 10am, weather permitting.

  • 66 years ago on January 16, 1953 β€” A Staten Island ferry and a freighter collide due to heavy fog, injuring 13. The foggy conditions would cause another collision involving a Staten Island ferry and an Ellis Island ferry four days later on January 20th.

  • In happier ferry news, the city announced that the NYC ferry system will expand over the next few years with new routes connecting all five boroughs and a new Staten Island route bringing ferry service to the Hudson River at Battery Park City and Midtown. A Coney Island route will depart Wall Street and make one additional stop in Bay Ridge. The Astoria route will add a stop at the Brooklyn Navy Yard before sailing over to Wall Street. The Navy Yard stop is expected to open by May 2019, while the other routes are projected for 2020 and 2021. The fare will remain at $2.75 per ride, despite figures showing that the average cost of each ride was almost $9 in previous years.

  • The Port Authority will be relocating candy sculptures from downtown to JFK Airport after the sculpture bearing the Saudi Arabian flag drew online criticism for its placement near the site of the September 11th attack. The sculptures depict the flags of every G20 member nation and have been displayed in 25 countries since 2011, including the Garment District in Manhattan in October 2018. The sculptures were scheduled to be displayed outside the Oculus at the World Trade Center complex through February 2019, but will now move to locations along the JFK Airport Airtrain.

  • According to Olshan Realty’s Luxury Market Report, someone purchased apartment 95A on the 95th floor of 432 Park Avenue for $41.25 million, making it the most expensive sale of the week, at almost double the second-most-expensive sale. The corner apartment is just under 4,000 square feet and has three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a library, an entry foyer, and views of Central Park. But hey, it's a north-facing apartment, so even with windows providing a panoramic view of the city from east to west, it won't get the invigorating rays of sun in the winter that your sixth-floor walk-up gets! If you're still in the market, there's a similar rental unit on the 70th floor for just $70,000 per month.

  • 10 years ago on January 15, 2009 β€” Captain Sully Sullenberger lands USAir Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, an event that would become known as the Miracle on the Hudson. An investigation determined that an engine had been damaged after striking a flock of Canada Geese on takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. Sullenberger told ABC News in an interview ahead of the 10th anniversary that during pilot training, flight simulators did not simulate a water landing, and he had only received classroom training on how to handle the situation. Upon hitting the water, Sullenberger and co-pilot Jeff Skiles simultaneously said "That wasn't as bad as I thought!"

  • 62 years ago on January 21, 1957 β€” The Mad Bomber is arrested after planting at least 33 bombs that injured 15 people. He attacked various public locations across the city for 16 years with small bombs, justifying his crimes as retribution for an injury he received while working for ConEd in 1931. He was found incompetent to stand trial and was committed to a mental hospital. Metesky was identified by a ConEd clerk named Alice Kelly who had been searching employee records for someone who matched the police profile based on details revealed in the bomber's letters.

Park of the day

  • Winston Churchill Square β€” 10 Downing Street at Bleecker and Sixth Avenue, Manhattan β€” A small and intimate park that is filled with greenery and surrounded by a high iron fence. Named for Sir Winston Churchill because of the nearby similarly-named "10 Downing Street".

  • Skate Night: Disco Get Down β€” Date: January 18, 2019 Join NYC Parks for a fun skate night at Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. Dance and enjoy a night of disco roller skating! Skates will be provided but are limited. Feel free to bring your own skates. The use of socks is required. Socks will not be provided on site. RSVP only for one session. 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. // Family Skate 6:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. // Adult Skate Only Please note: RSVP is required at skatenighttd.eventbrite.com. Contact Colleen Flood at colleen.flood@parks.nyc.gov or at (212) 242-5228 for more information regarding accessibility. Start time: 5:00 pm End time: 8:00 pm Contact phone: (212) 408-0243 Location: Tony Dapolito Recreation Center

Weather

The historic highs and lows for Monday, January 14
Record High: 70Β°F in 1932
Record Low: -5Β°F in 1914

Weather for the week ahead:
Snow (4–8 in.) over the weekend, with high temperatures peaking at 46Β°F on Friday.


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Intro and outro music: "Start the Day" by Lee Rosevere


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