Riverside Park Conservancy

[Want to get New York Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.]It’s Thursday. Weather: Mostly sunny and humid with a chance of isolated showers. Highs near 90 but it will seem much hotter — a heat advisory warning is in place until tomorrow evening. Alternate-side parking: In effect until Monday (Eid al-Adha). Johnny Milano for The New York TimesAs Bill de Blasio appeared positioned to become mayor of New York City in 2013, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo painted a bright image of what Mr. de Blasio’s leadership would look like.The complimentary tone would be fleeting.In an effort to improve the relationship between the two offices, Eric Adams, the likely next mayor, made a public appearance with Mr. Cuomo on Wednesday, their first since Mr. Adams secured the Democratic nomination last week.The two emphasized areas of common ground, particularly around public safety. The major question: Will the unity last?[Read more about their joint appearance from my colleague Katie Glueck.]Here’s what to know:The shared messagingAt a Brooklyn church, Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Adams offered similar proclamations about the need for stronger public safety and better quality of life — talking in strikingly grim, sometimes hyperbolic terms as they discussed city life.The two also claimed the mantle of progressivism as they took apparent swipes at some on the left.The new relationshipMr. Adams and Mr. Cuomo are not thought to have deep personal bonds. But the two briefly overlapped while Mr. Adams was a state senator, which may ease the early stages of their relationship.Mr. Adams has said he supports an independent investigation into harassment allegations against the governor and believes in due process, but has also said “swift action must be taken” against powerful men who prey on women. He was one of the few Democratic mayoral candidates who did not call on Mr. Cuomo to immediately resign in the wake of the allegations.With Mr. Cuomo’s heavy reliance on support from Black voters, a strong relationship with Mr. Adams, who is poised to become the second Black mayor in the city’s history, may be in his own political interests as he heads into an election year amid a series of controversies.The past frictionMr. Cuomo greeted Mr. de Blasio warmly when he was the Democratic nominee in 2013. But their relationship devolved into an ugly political feud, and over the years they sparred over everything from pandemic plans and public housing to schools, snowstorms and the subway system.With Albany’s level of control over top municipal issues, the clashes have been common. Michael R. Bloomberg, too, had a sour relationship with Mr. Cuomo, as the two regularly battled for credit on successes.From The TimesHow Accurate Is New York’s Covid Death Toll?New N.Y.C. data shows how few fully vaccinated people were infectedCo-Working Spaces Are Back. And There Are Many, Many Options.‘Dana H.’ and ‘Is This a Room’ Will Share Broadway StageBob Baffert’s Suspension in New York Is Overturned in Federal CourtSummer is here, and New York City has largely reopened. Stay up to date on the best things to do, see and eat this season. Take a look at our latest newsletter, and sign up here.Want more news? Check out our full coverage.The Mini Crossword: Here is today’s puzzle.What we’re readingAmid a national backlash over lessons on systemic racism, some parents are starting debates over the subject in New York’s public schools. [Chalkbeat New York]Advocacy groups and elected leaders in New York are pushing the White House to ease the path toward protected status for Haitian nationals as the country faces uncertainty. [The City]Outdoor dining has been widely celebrated during the pandemic. But some East Village residents are frustrated with the new change. [Gothamist]And finally: Have you herd? Goats are back at Riverside ParkThe Times’s Precious Fondren writes:It was about 15 minutes into the second-ever “Running of the Goats” ceremony on Wednesday when the large crowd of spectators gathered at 120th Street and Riverside Drive began chanting: “Free the goats! Free the goats!”Twenty-four goats were awaiting their release into the not-so-wild to begin their weed-grazing journey through Riverside Park. The crowd erupted in cheers once the goats were let out of a trailer and began running down a staircase into a fenced enclosure.“I don’t think I’ve seen anything more random than this,” said Meera Sitaram, 30, of the Upper West Side.After taking a hiatus last year because of the pandemic, the Riverside Park Conservancy brought the herd of goats back to the city this year in an effort to reduce the amount of invasive plants in certain areas of the park.The masses gathered for the eccentric event listened to live musical performances, heard from local politicians and received free goat-embroidered fanny packs.Five of the goats — Buckles, Chalupa, Mallemar, Ms. Bo Peep and the fan favorite Skittles — will stay in the park until the end of August. New Yorkers will be able to vote for their favorite online, in an election that, in a nod to the recent primary, will use ranked-choice voting.Carol Berkin, 78, went to the first Running of the Goats, back in 2019, and noted how extravagant this year’s event was in comparison.“Last time there wasn’t an eighth of this,” Ms. Berkin said. “Now they had a band and they sold shirts and the fanny pack. It’s a nice thing, and New Yorkers are just great about nice things.”It’s Thursday — enjoy the show.Metropolitan Diary: Rewarding Dear Diary:I was home from college on a break and had come into Manhattan to visit my brother.I stopped at a pay phone to call and tell him that I was running late. I pulled a scrap of paper with his number on it from my wallet.When I got to his place, he greeted me with “So, you lost your wallet.”He said he had gotten a call from a woman who had found the wallet in a phone booth and called the number she found in it.“She’s waiting for you with your wallet in a bar,” he said. “Here’s the address.”I hurried across town to the bar, where a middle-age woman having drinks with some friends caught my eye.I walked over, she handed me the wallet and I thanked her profusely.“May I buy you a drink?” I asked, feeling that some gesture of gratitude was appropriate.“Oh, that’s very sweet, dear,” she said. “But you don’t have enough money.”— Michael HauptmanIllustrated by Agnes Lee. Read more Metropolitan Diary here.New York Today is published weekdays around 6 a.m. Sign up here to get it by email. You can also find it at nytoday.com. More