5 Stories You Need to Pay Attention to This Week

NEW YORK, NY — The lazy days of summer have come to a conclusion, and the first full week of September is packed full of important dates.

From a windy start to the solemn remembrance of 9/11, here's a look at five stories you'll be discussing in New York this week:

1. Sept. 5: Windy weather — So much for New York City getting walloped by Tropical Storm Hermine, but the story on Monday will still be the very windy conditions generated by the storm hanging offshore. The tropical storm warning expired Sunday at 11 p.m., but winds will pick up early Monday morning. By about 6 a.m. there will be sustained winds of 20 to 28 mph, which will last throughout the day, with gusts as much as 44 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Even Tuesday gusts could reach as high as 34 mph. Oh, and by the way, if you're focusing solely on the storm, know that we're not quite done with the summer heat. The NWS is forecasting a heat wave for the second half of the week, with the temperature at 93 degrees on Thursday, 92 degrees on Friday and 90 degrees on Saturday
2. Sept. 7: Land Use battles — The City Council is back in full swing after a lighter summer schedule, with the Land Use subcommittees meeting on Wednesday. There are always a handful of controversial topics on the docket. Maybe the most controversial this week will be discussion of the Adorama Building development, which Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is forcing a Council vote over. There will also be discussion of the controversial East Houston Street Rezoning, where developer Samy Mahfar wants to build a 13-story retail/apartment building at 255 E. Houston St. against the wishes of City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez and much of the area community. The Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, when both these controversial developments will be heatedly debated, begins at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. The full Land Use Committee will address the subcommittees' decisions on Sept. 8 at 11 a.m.
3. Sept. 9: Miracle on the Hudson — We're not generally in the business of advertising movie releases, but this one is a unique case. The film "Sully," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks in the eponymous role, will be released on Friday. The movie tells the story of pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landing US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009 after losing both engines to a bird strike. It also tackles the aftermath as Sully becomes a hero, and then a subject of investigators.
4. Sept. 11: NFL begins — The NFL season technically begins on Thursday night, but the most popular sport (by a country mile) will begin in New York — yes, we know it's New Jersey technically — begins on Sunday. The Jets get the honor of opening at MetLife Stadium this year, hosting the Cincinnati Bengals at 1 p.m. Cincy was excellent last season, winning the AFC North with a 12-4 record, so the Jets will have a tough test right off the bat as they aim for their first playoff birth in six years. The Giants open at division foe Dallas at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. The Cowboys will be without injured QB Tony Romo, but the Giants are coming off a 6-10 season, which ended with the axing of head coach Tom Coughlin after 12 years and two Super Bowl titles.
5. Sept. 11: 15th Anniversary — Every year it seems incredible it's been so long since terrorist attacks of 9/11. It'll be the 15th anniversary of the solemn occasion on Sunday. The commemoration ceremony will be broadcast live starting at 8:46 a.m., the time the first place hit the World Trade Center. The reading of the names will follow and the Tribute in Light will shine again on Sunday evening.

Photo Credit: 9/11 Tribute in Lights by Anthony Quintano via Flickr/Creative Commons