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Posted inFeatures

Exploring New York’s Lifeguard Shortage

by Angelina Nelson

There’s a lifeguard shortage across the city that doesn’t bode well for beachgoers and those looking to cool off from the heat in the city’s pools. As a result, beaches have been forced to limit the space where people can swim and pools now have fewer programs and hours. (Last week, one man was arrested for an off-hours dip at Rockaway Beach. The time? Just before 7 p.m.) More pressure is being placed on current lifeguards to show up to work and pick up more hours to provide adequate coverage.

Posted inCovid-19

Seniors continue to be the most vulnerable in this new phase of Covid

by Andrea Pineda-Salgado

Food insecurity appears to be gearing up to be the next pandemic, and like with Covid-19, seniors are the most vulnerable population. An increasing number of seniors are lining up at food pantries, hoping a free bag of groceries will help them to save extra money for rent, bills and medication. Epicenter’s community reporter Andrea Pineda-Salgado spoke to three community leaders: Zani Simmons, community engagement director at Queens Community House’s Pomonok Community Center; Mary Archana Fernandez, director of family support services at the South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS); and Helen Ahn, director of Korean Community Center (KCS) senior adult services, about struggles seniors have been facing trying to access food.

Posted inClimate

Here’s how we can prevent another IDA catastrophe: Epicenter chats with the Regional Planning Association

by Andrea Pineda-Salgado

Many New Yorkers remember the havoc Hurricane Ida wreaked last year. Commuters saw the stormwater rush into subway stations and dirty rain water pooled in the streets. The extreme flooding claimed 13 lives. Eleven of those people died trapped in their flooded basements. The many New Yorkers who live in basement apartments for their relative affordability wanted a change. But how? 

Posted inThings to Do

Epicenter’s top August getaways

by Danielle Hyams

Still need to book a summer getaway? we got you. The following are a list of my go-to spots for weekends where my family and I have just needed to decompress. New York is teeming with options (and Airbnbs, of course), but these are places I actually have been and can recommend. Epicenter researcher Alia Warsco called all of them to gauge availability; what follows is their status as of last week. Even if it looks like a place is booked, I recommend calling and seeing if there have been any cancellations (because Covid) or if you want to try to book for later in the year. Happy holiday!

Posted inSmall Biz Spotlight

Prince Abou’s Butchery is a cut above the rest

by Andrea Pineda-Salgado

Not everyone can say they had a first job like Abou Sow. At 11 years old, he began working at his uncle’s slaughterhouse in Jamaica, Queens. He learned how to slaughter animals according to halal standards — one pass of a clean knife blade across the animal’s throat. Sow, now 26, quickly learned the method and continued working for his uncle throughout high school. Since then, he has pursued other careers (at one point he contemplated becoming an MMA fighter) but eventually found his way back to the meat industry. To him, it’s art.