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1 In the news
Two women jumped off NYC bridges Aspiring fashion designer Ashley Riggitano, 22, leaped off the George Washington Bridge on Wednesday afternoon around 4:45 p.m., the New York Post reported. .A 57-year-old woman jumped off the Whitestone Bridge around 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the Post. After being rescued by the Port Authority, she was brought to New York Hospital of Queens, where she is in stable condition. METRO/EC
In the news
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WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 8-10, 2013
Styrofoam latest target on Bloomberg’s ban list Sanitation wants a ban on the eco-unfriendly material Would be next up on Bloomberg’s chopping block The mayor says that he’s ‘willing to take a look’ GETTY IMAGES
Smoking, soda, Styrofoam. The eco-unfriendly material found in takeout containers and party cups might be next on the shortlist to get slashed by the city. One month before a ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces takes effect, the city may have found its next target. A sanitation official told reporters that the department will propose banning Styrofoam. John McCarthy, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, told Metro, “We are always willing to take a look at new ways to reduce waste that can’t be recycled or reused.” Bloomberg has in the past banned smoking in restaurants and parks, and he pushed for the soda ban, which begins in March. Right now, the city refuses to recycle Styrofoam — officials say it is too difficult. But it can be found
Schooled
The Department of Sanitation plans to propose a ban on Styrofoam, according to city officials.
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The city estimates that paper foam makes of up .5 percent of the city’s trash.
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Paper foam can take up to 80 years to break down, according to the EPA.
Weather. Blizzard
In the news Scott Stringer announces East River Park plan
Attempted Fed Reserve bomber pleads guilty
EAST RIVER. Manhattan
Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank on Liberty Street last October, the FBI reported. He is charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, for which he could be sentenced to life in prison. Nafis’ sentencing is scheduled for May 30. METRO/DT
One place Styrofoam can be found daily? Public schools, where students use Styrofoam trays. Styrofoam Out of Schools, a group of parents and teachers, has long tried to replace the trays with more ecofriendly options. In 2010, the city launched “Trayless Tuesdays,” using paper containers that day instead of the 830,000 Styrofoam trays the city estimates are tossed every day.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg visits with Department of Sanitation workers to go over their plans for the big snowstorm that is set to hit New York City. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
The calm before the storm Mayor Bloomberg laid out his plan on Thursday for preparing for the storm that is expected to drop inches of snow on the city this weekend. METRO
Borough President Scott Stringer used his final State of the Borough address Thursday night to showcase his plan for the Manhattan East River waterfront, involving both new fortifications and barriers to prevent flooding in another storm on the scale of last year’s superstorm Sandy, as well as a park allowing pedestrians waterfront access. Stringer said the plan was initiated in 2010, before Sandy ravaged the east Manhattan coastline, knocking out a major power station on East 14th Street. Assemblyman Brian
everywhere, from garbage cans to Brooklyn’s toxic Gowanus Canal. The council has previously considered legislation that would ask restaurants not to use Styrofoam. A Sanitation
Proposed waterfront
Kavanagh partnered with Stringer in developing the project, along with Manhattan community boards 3 and 6, the Lower East Side Ecology Center and various design teams, community organizations and elected officials. The Office of the Borough President is allocating $3.5 million to the East River Blueway Project. Additional funding will come from a New York State Department of State grant. METRO/AB
Subway deaths focus of hearing Increasing awareness of subway platform safety and
Department spokeswoman would not elaborate on whether the ban plan would stick to restaurants. Alison Bowen
alison.bowen@metro.us
adding help buttons for transit workers in subways were two of the MTA’s suggestions to combat a recent spate of subway deaths. The recommendations were announced at a special hearing on subway safety held Thursday at City Hall. In light of a series of deaths and accidents in the subway system that have happened recently, James Vacca, the city’s Committee on Transportation chair, hosted the emergency meeting on subway safety. At the hearing, the MTA announced plans to increase advertisements and public service announcements telling passengers to stay away from the platform edge. A helpbutton system to notify transit workers of emergencies will also be ready by the end of 2014. EVELYN CHENG