https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/public-pools-and-beachespreparing-for-historically-hot-summer-heatwave-CX6000747 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-03T09:30:10-04:00 Lifeguard Shortages Loom as Public Pools and Beaches Prep for Hot Summer https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/public-pools_4-10888307_20260702213558.webp Last year, the Parks Department opened the Gottesman Pool at the Davis Center in Central Park, replacing the old Lasker Pool and Rink. The pool will be one of Manhattan’s outdoor pool locations offering the free Learn to Swim program this summer although only a handful of the public pools in Manhattan will offer similar programs. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/empty-lifeguard-stand_4-10888657_20260703092405.jpg The Parks Department said it is adding lifeguards through mid-July, hoping to avoid shutting down certain beaches to swimming, such as this one on Beach 129 Street in Rockaway on June 6. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/mamdani-cannonballs_4-10888630_20260703085857.jpg Mayor Zohran Mamdani leaped into the Thomas Jefferson Pool in East Harlem in a two piece business suit to signal the opening of the city’s 53 free, public swimming pools, including 16 in Manhattan, on June 27. https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/rockaway-beach-lifeguards_4-10888660_20260703092405.jpg The city needs about 1,400 lifeguards to fully staff its 14 miles of ocean beaches and 53 public swimming pools. Beach 130 in Rockaway seemed to have enough lifeguards when Straus News stopped by on June 6. But some nearby stands at Beach 129 Street sat empty that day. https://www.westsidespirit.com/voices/if-only-taylor-swift-said-i-don-t-to-an-over-the-top-wedding-BX6000650 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-03T10:33:22-04:00 If Only Taylor Swift Said, “I Don’t” to an Over the Top Wedding https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-ruomoured-m_4-10888298_20260702192352.webp Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got engaged in 2025, and married over the July 4th weekend 2026 at Madison Square Garden in front of 1000 guests. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/wilson-finally-clinches-chelsea-city-council-dem-primary-HB5993283 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-03T12:12:29-04:00 Wilson Finally Clinches Chelsea City Council Dem Primary https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-01-at-6-51-15-pm_4-10879273_20260701185132.png Carl Wilson, who currently serves as City Council Member for District 3, won the democratic nomination for re-election in November after three rounds of ranked-choice voting for an over 50% majority. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/fired-intern-leads-rally-against-unpaid-interns-at-city-council-FE5996513 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-03T12:25:26-04:00 Fired Intern Leads Rally Against Unpaid Interns at City Council https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-07-01-at-12-27-47-pm_4-10880599_20260701124531.png Mina Farahmand addresses the crowd while demonstrating with dozens in front of City Hall in a dispute over unpaid interns in the office of City Council member Harvey Epstein. https://www.westsidespirit.com/news/judge-bars-feds-from-freezing-gateway-funds-EC5994446 hourly The Spirit - Westsider en 2026-07-03T22:29:45-04:00 Judge Bars Feds From Freezing Gateway Funds https://www.westsidespirit.com/binrepository/screenshot-2026-02-16-at-3-08-15-pm-4_4-10879710_20260630174248.webp A judge has permanently barred the Trump administration from freezing funds going towards the Hudson River Tunnel portion of the Gateway Project (above), after a previous freeze led to temporary layoffs.