1. On December 11, 1936, the Triborough Bridge connecting Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx was officially opened. It was the biggest public works project in New York City at the time, and it helped to alleviate traffic congestion and provide easier access to the three boroughs.

2. In 1985, John Gotti was acquitted of racketeering charges in a federal trial that lasted over six months. The trial took place in New York City, and it was one of the most high-profile cases of organized crime in American history.

3. The New York Stock Exchange was closed on December 11, 1985, in honor of former President Gerald Ford, who had recently passed away. Ford was the first president to have a Wall Street background, and he is credited with restoring confidence in the U.S. economy after the Watergate scandal.

4. On December 11, 2019, the New York City Council voted to close the Rikers Island jail complex, which was notorious for its poor conditions and mistreatment of inmates. The closure was part of a larger effort to reform the city's criminal justice system and reduce the number of people in jail.

5. In 1978, the city of New York declared a state of emergency due to a snowstorm that dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city. It was one of the worst snowstorms in the city's history, and it led to widespread transportation disruptions and power outages.