Thanks for your loyalty. We’ve been listening to your suggestions, and we’ll be incorporating some of these going forward by updating the look, feel, and even some of the content in the Daily Brief. Your support and readership mean the world to us, and we are committed to providing you with the best possible newsletter experience.
To ensure consistent delivery of this newsletter, please move this email into your primary inbox! If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].
Happy Christmas Eve in New York City, where the reign of popular newborn names Liam and Emma is officially over.
The New York City Health Department released a list of the most popular baby names in New York City for 2024, and for the first time in years, the top spots have changed hands. Since 2016, Liam has held a tight grip on the most popular name for boys, while Emma has topped the girls list since 2017. But this year, I am thrilled to announce that the most popular boy name in New York City is Noah, and the most popular girl name is Mia.
Neither Liam nor Emma fell very far. Both landed in second place in the 2024 rankings. For the boys, Noah and Liam were followed by Ethan, David and Lucas. For the girls, Mia and Emma were followed by Sophia, Leah and Isabella.
This was a year of turnover, but some names never go out of style, thanks to the Bible. According to the Health Department, the names Esther (the 10th most common name for girls) and Joseph (7th most popular for boys) are just as popular today as they were in 1898. That year — the year the city first consolidated the five boroughs — the top three boys’ names were John, William and Charles, and the top three girls’ names were Mary, Margaret and Catherine.
We’ll be out tomorrow for Christmas, but back in your inboxes on Friday!
Mayor Eric Adams swore in acting FDNY Commissioner Mark Guerra as the department’s 36th commissioner. Guerra will remain in the role only until Jan. 1, when Lillian Bonsignore, chief of EMS operations, will take over as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s pick for the job.
The New York City Council on Thursday approved a bill sponsored by Councilmember Gale Brewer calling on Congress to preserve the historic ocean liner SS United States and relocate it to New York City, the ship’s original home port.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes called Donald Trump’s decision on Thursday to pause multiple offshore wind projects for the second time, including the Empire Wind 1 farm off the Rockaways, “ridiculous” and “nonsensical.”
NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is said to be annoyed by reports circulating in both Greek and American media that claim the NBA superstar has made a multimillion investment in real estate in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
The TSA expects a record-setting end to the year as it prepares to screen an estimated 44.3 million air travelers between Dec. 19, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026.
Community members have raised over $80,000 for the family of a father who was killed last weekend while riding a standup scooter in Marine Park.
The Appellate Division upheld Justice Debra Silber’s ruling to dismiss a case brought by two Brooklyn homeowners who accused Verizon of installing new equipment in their backyard without proper permission.
Longtime local Christmas tree stand Greg’s Trees, outside McCarren Park, is marking a bittersweet 40th anniversary this year, after the passing of founder Gregory “Big Greg” Walsh, who died of prostate cancer in May on his 63rd birthday.
An investigation by the City Council found that many of the city’s public restrooms are closed during posted hours, lack basic supplies or are poorly maintained, according to a report released Monday.
Our World In Photos
Photo: Mykola Tys/AP
LVIV — Christmas parade in Ukraine: Ukrainian children attend a parade on Orthodox Christmas eve in downtown Lviv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025.
For more pictures like this, see Our World in Photos.
A unique marine haven, 99 miles from Manhattan, remains unprotected
A map displaying Hudson Canyon’s location off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. Photo: NOAA.
Fisheries, local markets and restaurants rely on healthy fish populations in Hudson Canyon
On a warm September evening, scientists and crew members aboard the Nancy Foster research vessel rushed to the deck to see dozens of pilot whales surrounded the ship. The moment captured the magic and biodiversity of the Hudson Canyon, a hotspot of animal life just 99 miles east of New York City. But the unprotected Hudson Canyon faces a moment of crisis, as the Trump Administration pushes for expanded offshore drilling and deprioritizes sustainability initiatives. Click here for more on the uncertain future of New York’s neighboring marine oasis.
🔎 Today’s Roundup
Hochul’s powerful pen
It’s been a busy December for Gov. Kathy Hochul, who came into the month with hundreds of bills on her desk that needed to be signed or vetoed before the end of the year. On Friday alone, Hochul signed 70 bills into law and vetoed 49. Here are some of the highlights of her marathon signing session:
SIGNED — Medical Aid in Dying Act: Legalizes physician-assisted suicide for certain mentally-competent, terminally-ill patients under strict procedural safeguards.
SIGNED — NY HEAT: Hochul signed a watered-down version of the NY Heat Act, which does away with the “100 foot rule” that required utility companies to provide free gas hookups to an existing main gas line within 100 feet of a building. Advocates of the bill argue that the utility companies then pass the cost onto consumers, costing New York ratepayers approximately $600 million a year.
SIGNED — RAISE Act: Establishes new guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in New York, including strict disclosure of safety information and protections against discrimination in hiring and lending. In signing the bill, Hochul ignored a Dec. 11 Executive Order from President Trump that prohibits states from issuing their own AI regulations.
SIGNED — Prison reform omnibus: A sweeping package of prison reforms that limits usage of solitary confinement, expands access to rehabilitation programs, enhances transparency measures and strengthens oversight of correctional facilities. The bill does not include many measures that were supported by criminal justice reform advocates, such as a requirement that cameras be added to corrections vehicles.
SIGNED — FAIR Business Practices Act: Updates consumer protection laws to ban abusive and deceptive business practices and empowers the attorney general to crack down on businesses that violate these protections.
VETOED — Freedom to Withhold Information: Vetoed two bills that would have strengthened the state’s Freedom of Information Law by requiring government agencies to comply with public records requests in a more timely and complete manner. Hopchul called the bills “arbitrary” and “duplicative” of existing laws.
VETOED – Grieving Families Act: Vetoed for the fourth time an update to the state’s wrongful death law that would allow family members to sue for emotional damages as well as fiscal damages. Hochul warned of increased financial burdens on hospitals and potential insurance hikes.
VETOED — Corporate Transparency: Vetoed a bill that would have required domestic and foreign limited liability companies (LLCs) in New York to disclose information about their owners. Hochul claimed the bill would have issued requirements for New York businesses that are not consistent with federal law.
The Mini
Our solver finished in 1 minute 9 seconds. Can you beat it?
Cartoon Sketchbook
By Dave Granlund
For the Road
Grand Expansion: Jake Leiber, owner of bistro Chez Ma Tante, located at 90 Clyer St., has signed a roughly 4,500-square-foot lease for a ground-floor space at 555 Greenwich St. in Hudson Square. Read more here.
Happy Birthday to the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Great Britain.
On This Day in 1868, the Eagle said, “One of the two holidays recognized by the laws of the United States — and one of the five holidays observed by law and practice in the State of New York — Christmas Day, occurs tomorrow. Christmas Day and the Fourth of July are the only days in the year, except Sundays, upon which the Executive Departments of the United States are not required to be kept open for the transaction of business.”
Got a tip? Send it in to [email protected].