Pitch to hold NYC mayoral elections in even years may be on the ballot this November

Today's newsletter is curated by James Ramsay

Weather: ⛈️ Cloudy this morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely this evening, with highs in the upper 80s.

It's Tuesday in New York City, where voters won’t just pick a new mayor this November — they could also see a ballot question asking whether citywide elections should be held the same year as presidential elections.

Turnout in this year's Democratic mayoral primary neared a comparatively high 30%, fueled by strong participation among young and first-time Democratic primary voters.

But experts point out that turnout in presidential elections is more than double that of mayoral elections. 

Here's what needs to happen next before the proposal gets printed on ballots.

And here's what else is happening:

• The city's Rent Guidelines Board last night voted to raise rents by 3% on new one-year leases and 4.5% on two-year leases for regulated apartments.
  • The vote came at a politically charged moment after Democratic mayoral primary winner Zohran Mamdani ran on calls to "freeze the rent."
• NJ Transit’s 3% fare hike for trains, light rail and buses goes into effect today.
• In order to make New York Harbor deep enough for cargo ships, the Army Corps of Engineers needs to dredge up 50 million cubic yards of ocean floor dirt over the next 20 years. Then they need a place to dump it.
• The Rockaway Rocket, NYC Ferry's $12 premium beach-bound boat with guaranteed seats and express service, returns on July 4 with ferries departing from Long Island City and Greenpoint.
• A Queens gastroenterologist yesterday pleaded guilty to raping and sexually abusing female patients while they were sedated.
• State lawmakers in Albany have adjourned their annual session without adopting any legislation protecting immigrants, frustrating advocates who fear the Trump administration's crackdowns.

• The high-rise buildings on the Williamsburg waterfront are full of rich Boomers.
• The City Council has approved the rezoning that would be required for a Coney Island casino to get built.
• The City Council is considering a bill that would ban pet stores from selling birds.
• We got a few more details about the Mexican Navy ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.
• The floating East River + POOL, which Gov. Kathy Hochul said would open this summer, has been delayed at least two years — and the team building it say it'll instead make its debut as a rectangular, minus-shaped pool.
• Tough stretch for the Mets.
• King Charles is giving up the royal train.
• NASA signed a deal to stream its rocket launches on Netflix.