Arun Venugopal

3 weeks ago | gothamist.com | Arun Venugopal |Herb Pinder

Jacob’s Pickles, a staple of the Upper West Side dining scene, temporarily shut down this week after the Department of Health found a series of health code violations. The violations, posted on the department’s website, include “evidence of rats” and roaches in the restaurant. The establishment at 509 Amsterdam Ave., one of several Jacob’s Pickles locations around the city, is scheduled to open Monday, according to a statement from management.

3 weeks ago | gothamist.com | Arun Venugopal

“Cruel.”“Very confused.”“Frightening times.”Those are just some of the reactions from members of New York’s immigrant communities following the announcement of President Donald Trump’s new travel ban. The restrictions, announced Wednesday, are set to take effect Monday and will most directly affect citizens traveling from 12 countries: Haiti, Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia and Libya, according to the White House’s list.

3 weeks ago | gothamist.com | Arun Venugopal

Could modular construction help solve New York City’s housing affordability crisis? State officials are banking $50 million on it. The recently passed state budget is allocating that much in hopes of jump-starting the conversation about modular-style building.

1 month ago | gothamist.com | Arun Venugopal

Jawanza James Williams was a 30-year-old racial justice organizer when protests broke out five years ago in New York City and worldwide after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis. Williams, a Black, queer man from Bed-Stuy, led an “occupation” of City Hall Park. He was one of hundreds of people of different racial backgrounds who for weeks ate, slept and forged alliances beneath the Manhattan sky while urging city leaders to slash at least $1 billion in NYPD funding.

1 month ago | gothamist.com | Arun Venugopal

Gaming giant Wynn Resorts, citing political opposition, is withdrawing its proposal for a sprawling casino in Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side, where officials are now pushing a 4,000-unit housing development, but no gaming, officials said Monday. The announcement was made by City Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who represents the area, and confirmed by Wynn Resorts.