NYC NOW Midday News: City Council Moves to Track Supportive Housing Vacancies, Natural History Museum Resumes Sleepovers, and Prospect Park Hosts Lenape Nations Pow Wow
Sep 12, 2025
New legislation requires the city to track supportive housing vacancies, revealing over 5,000 empty units. The American Museum of Natural History is bringing back its beloved children's sleepovers after a long hiatus. Additionally, a vibrant Lenape Nations Pow Wow is set to take place in Prospect Park, spotlighting Indigenous culture through dance, crafts, and community engagement. Brent Stonefish, a cofounder of the organizing group, shares insights on this celebration of Lenape heritage and life.
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Transparency On Supportive Housing Vacancies
- The City Council passed a law to publish detailed data on every supportive housing unit after finding over 5,000 vacancies.
- Public reporting aims to identify needed repairs and better use units to address homelessness.
Use Vacant Units To Fight Homelessness
- Councilmember Ressler urged the social services agency to use empty supportive units to help address the homelessness crisis.
- The new data rule is meant to guide the department toward repairing and reusing vacant apartments quickly.
Museum Sleepovers Return
- The American Museum of Natural History will resume monthly children's sleepovers starting late October after a pause since 2020.
- Tickets cost $225 and include flashlight tours, snacks, and breakfast under the blue whale.