NYC NOW

The New York City Council passed a package of bills this week that'll expand eligibility for rental assistance programs. Plus, advocates are questioning who the city is counting as a migrant. Also, a popular Jersey Shore destination is cracking down on alcohol on the beach and boardwalk. And finally, WNYC’s Amy Pearl shadows a volunteer in Brooklyn who is helping New York City’s chestnut trees make a comeback.

Despite Mayor Adams' concerns over housing incoming migrants, over 1100 shelter beds remain vacant this week. Plus, Mayor Adams has made it illegal to discriminate based on weight in employment, housing, and public accommodations. And finally, a recent change in state election law allows for new voters in New York to register and cast their ballot on the same day. Voting rights advocates call it the “Golden Day” but are also concerned about whether local elections officials will be prepared to handle it. WNYC’s Michael Hill talks with senior politics reporter Brigid Bergin about the upcoming Golden Day on June 17 and what to expect from it.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: High staff sickness forces Staten Island ferry into hourly operation, two elected officials refute the city's claims of tracking new migrant shelter arrivals, and changes to New York City’s 'right to shelter', stirs skepticism among homeless advocates.

New York and New Jersey are home to the largest Turkish communities in the U-S. This Sunday, Turks will vote in a runoff election between sitting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu. To get a sense of how Turks in the region are feeling about this important political moment, WNYC’s Janae Pierre talked with Hafza Girdap, director of the group Advocates of Silenced Turkey.

Mayor Eric Adams is challenging New York City's "right to shelter" rule which requires the city to provide a bed to anyone who needs it. New York composer and bassist Bill Lee passed away at 94. And its Fleet Week, the annual celebration of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Finally, it's been three years since a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd. It set off a global movement for police reform and a reckoning with anti-Black racism. But how much has changed in our area since protests swept through New York and New Jersey that summer? Michael Hill speaks with WNYC’s public safety reporter Matt Katz.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Several Democratic lawmakers met with state legislators yesterday to push for more aid to house migrants, The NYPD officer driving a van that hit and killed a man on Eastern Parkway last spring will not face criminal charges, and a new ranking by The Trust for Public Land puts New York City in tenth place when it comes to big city parks in the United States.

New York City's Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz is stepping down from her role overseeing the city's response to worsening homelessness and housing affordability. Plus, NYPD Officer Orkhan Mamedov will not face criminal charges for driving a van that hit and killed a man on Eastern Parkway last spring. And finally, WNYC’s Elizabeth Kim reports on how New York City’s migrant crisis is challenging Mayor Eric Adams.

Doctors in training at Elmhurst Hospital will go back to work tomorrow morning after negotiating an end to their strike with residency program administrators, New York City officials are warning of impending service cuts due to the daily arrival of migrants unless the federal government provides additional support. And, a New York Times-Marshall Project investigation exposes a culture of abuse and cover-ups among correctional officers, analyzing over 290 cases of alleged prisoner abuse. Michael Hill talks with Alysia Santo, who co-reported the story.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Climate Central's new analysis shows rising wildfire risks in New York and New Jersey, renowned actors and writers are supporting striking television writers in New York City, and despite a post-pandemic rebound in school arts programs, the New York City education department reports federal stimulus funding is depleting.

A new investigation finds New York City public schools are still relying on the police to respond to students having a mental health crisis, despite a nearly decades-old policy mandating otherwise. WNYC’s Michael Hill talked with Jacqueline De Jesus, the mother of a public school student and Abigail Kramer, reporter with the news site, The City.