Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is cracking down on taxi scammers at JFK.

Happening off-Campus: The U.S. has announced that it will send $6 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba, targeted towards those living in its eastern region, where Hurricane Melissa hit late last year. The aid includes rice, beans, pasta, cans of tuna, and solar lamps, and will be delivered by the Catholic Church and Caritas, according to U.S. Department of State Senior Official Jeremy Lewin. Lewin denies Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s allegations that a U.S. blockade on oil shipments from Venezuela (which, according to Díaz-Canel, cost Cuba $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025) is responsible for the island’s humanitarian crisis (AP).

Happening near Campus: Kathryn Garcia, new executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has pledged to crack down on illegal taxi hustlers at JFK. Recently, there’s been a significant uptick in the number of these scammers, tricking lost tourists into getting into their cars and then emptying them of hundreds of dollars. As a solution, Garcia has suggested deploying both undercover and uniform forces, utilizing technology, and asking state legislators to pass new laws that toughen penalties for these illegal taxi hustlers (Gothamist).

Happening on Campus: Today from 12 to 3 pm, the CU Well Peer Leaders will be at the Lerner Ramps with well-being freebies, as well as information about health and well-being resources provided by Alice! Health Promotion and Columbia Health. See details here.

Song of the Day: “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell

Taxi from Bwarchives