Marathon Sunday shuts the Verrazzano, five charter questions, an A train outage. New York Explained for November 1, 2026.

New York Explained
Politics & Government Public Safety & Justice Housing & Real Estate Transit & Streets Business & Economy Education Health & Environment Culture, Food & Nightlife Sports
November 1, 2026
The Front Page
About 60,000 runners start on the Verrazzano this morning, its upper level closed overnight, and the course finishes in Central Park.*
<!-- image-subject: Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge -->
### The story
The race runs 26.2 miles from Staten Island to Central Park, and officials are urging spectators onto mass transit and warning of delays [79]. Police say there are no credible threats, and the NYPD is adding officers, vehicles and thousands of barricades [79]. For the first time in 15 years the Bronx stretch of the course has changed, to cut disruption for residents and businesses [79]. Daniel Cho, punched onto the tracks at the Bowery J/Z station four days before last year's race, is running it this time [76].
### In their words
"Cops will be out there to keep you safe, but we ask everyone to stay alert." (Jessica Tisch, NYPD commissioner) [79]
"I was running for kids who are learning to trust this city to nurture and protect their futures." (Daniel Cho, runner and hate-crime survivor) [76]
### By the numbers
18,000+ first-time runners in this year's field [76]
190 pounds lost by Staten Islander Joe Macklin, now running for the Boomer Esiason Foundation [61]
548 felony assaults in transit so far this year, up from 490 a year ago [76]
### Watch
The pre-show starts at 7 a.m. on Channel 7; expect morning lows near 40 for anyone waiting curbside [87][40].
This Morning in New York

Weather

NYC
61°43°

Mostly Sunny

Subway

2 lines with delays
1234567ACEBDFMGJZLNQRWS
1Planned Work

In Upper Manhattan, downtown [1] skips 125 St, 116 St-Columbia University, Cathedral Pkwy (110 St) and 103 St

4Planned Work

In the Bronx, Woodlawn-bound [4] skips 170 St, Mt Eden Av and 176 St and runs every 16 minutes (days/evenings)

6Delays

Downtown [6] trains are running with delays after we requested EMS assistance for someone in need on a train at Pelham Bay Park.

7Planned Work

In Queens, Flushing-bound [7] skips 52 St and 69 St All trains at Woodside-61 St board from the Manhattan-bound platform

ADelays

[A] trains are running with delays in both directions while we conduct track maintenance on the line throughout Manhattan.

DPlanned Work

In Manhattan, downtown [D] runs local from 125 St to 59 St-Columbus Circle

LPlanned Work

No [L] between Broadway Junction and Canarsie-Rockaway Pkwy

This Week

Free things to do
Five charter questions on the back of Tuesday's ballotPhoto: gothamist

Five charter questions on the back of Tuesday's ballot

Question 3 would let the city sell small lots and landmark air rights through a faster review decided by the City Planning Commission instead of the Council.

Politics & GovernmentCitywide2 newsroomsRead the story →
The A train stops short of Lefferts for nine daysPhoto: amnewyork

The A train stops short of Lefferts for nine days

Transit & StreetsCitywide1 newsroom
Story: the day’s big ones, in their own words and numbers

Five charter questions on the back of Tuesday's ballot

Question 3 would let the city sell small lots and landmark air rights through a faster review decided by the City Planning Commission instead of the Council.

Five charter questions on the back of Tuesday's ballot
Photo: gothamist

Mayor Mamdani's Commission on Government Efficiency wrote five amendments: faster outdoor-dining and ramp permits (1), less contractor paperwork (2), quicker street-safety projects plus city land sales and office leases (3), a single Buildings Department permit hub (4), and a rainy-day fund target (5) [13]. Today a city land sale goes through ULURP, the full land-use review that ends in a Council vote; Question 3 would route it through the expedited review instead [13]. The Municipal Art Society opposes Question 3, warning the city could sell public land without safeguards on its use [13]. The administration is not supposed to campaign on the questions and has framed them as a "vote on faster government" [13].

By the numbers
  • 40construction permits now spread across 18 offices that Question 4 would gather in one hub [13]
  • 12 percentof the prior year's tax revenue, the rainy-day target in Question 5 [13]
The thread
  1. Nov 2025Voters approved last year's charter changes, including the Affordable Housing Fast Track and an appeal board that can reverse Council land-use rejections [13]
  2. Oct 2026Comptroller Levine found 1,405 of 4,911 outdoor dining applications filed since March 2024 had become licenses by June 15
  3. TodayEarly voting ends; Election Day is Tuesday [11]
WatchPolls open Tuesday, Nov. 3; the five questions are on the back of the ballot [13].
FromThe Real DealGothamist

The A train stops short of Lefferts for nine days

From Saturday, Nov. 7 to early Monday, Nov. 16, shuttle buses replace A trains between Rockaway Blvd and Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd.

The A train stops short of Lefferts for nine days
Photo: amnewyork

NYC Transit is replacing track and switches on the Liberty Avenue branch to prepare for CBTC, the computerized signaling that lets trains run closer together [35]. Lefferts-bound A trains will run to Howard Beach-JFK Airport instead, and free shuttle buses will cover the cut stations [35]. More weekend and overnight closures follow [35].

“This closure is the first in a series of planned outages needed to replace the 1930s-era signals currently in use.”
Bill Amarosa, executive vice president of subways, NYC Transit · [35]
By the numbers
  • 9 dayswithout A service between Rockaway Blvd and Lefferts Blvd [35]
WatchThe outage starts Saturday, Nov. 7; the MTA app and text alerts carry the later closure dates [35].
FromNYC Transit amNewYork

Around the Boroughs

  • Citywide: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's Neighborhood Navigators, outreach workers who were once homeless themselves, have placed more than 175 people in housing and got $1.25 million from the city this year [22].
  • Citywide: The city found 55 FARE Act violations from 2,500 broker-fee complaints, for $60,000 in fines and about $24,000 returned to tenants [25].
  • Brooklyn (Bay Ridge): Neighbors want Visitation Academy and Monastery landmarked before an expected sale opens it to redevelopment [28].
  • Manhattan: A high school student who visited the city's 590-plus privately owned public spaces counted more than 50 that work as private property, and argues the $5,000 fine is too low [29].
  • Manhattan: A judge sent the Sol Goldman family fight over a portfolio worth $4 billion to $16 billion to trial, refusing Jane Goldman's bid for summary judgment [36].
  • Manhattan: Luigi Mangione's lawyers say his federal plea bars the state murder case, writing "There is and was no other gun"; a ruling is expected Dec. 10 [24].
  • Manhattan: The Alexander brothers, the former luxury brokers, were each sentenced to 30 years for sex trafficking and plan to appeal [25].
  • Long Island: The 127-room Oheka Castle is set to sell for $72 million at auction after its owner's bankruptcy [36].
  • Buffalo: The Bills (5-1) host the Ravens at 1 p.m., and Josh Allen's next touchdown pass breaks Jim Kelly's franchise record [64][68].
  • New Jersey (East Rutherford): The 2-5 Jets host the Raiders without defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat, who went on injured reserve [70].

Worth Doing

  • An All Souls funeral for nine homeless New Yorkers: St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue holds a public service Monday, Nov. 2, at 5:30 p.m. for nine people who froze to death last winter, sparing them burial on Hart Island; free [17].
  • The Amazing Maize Maze: Three acres of corn at the Queens County Farm Museum, open Sunday, $17 adults and $10 for kids 3 to 11 [48].
  • Boo at the Zoo's last day: The Bronx Zoo's costume parades and hay-bale course wrap up this weekend, included with admission [48].
  • Good to know: The 2512 Bronx Park East lottery in Allerton has 17 apartments from $1,770 for a studio, for incomes from $67,955; apply on Housing Connect by Nov. 19 [32].

Only in New York

Only in New York
Wikimedia Commons / Upper West Side

A family of barn owls moved into a water tower on West 75th Street near Central Park West this month, the first barn owl nest ever recorded in Manhattan outside Central Park [39]. A roof crew tore it apart, got a stop-work order Friday, then went back to work hours later [39]. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Erik Bottcher came to the block, the state built the owls a wooden box, and New York Road Runners canceled its marathon drone show over the park out of caution for them [13][39].