WNYC News

President Joe Biden has unveiled plans to enact immediate significant restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Policy experts say it's likely to affect life here in New York City and other communities hosting large numbers of migrants. WNYC's Arya Sundaram joined Morning Edition host Michael Hill to talk about what to expect.

Governor Hochul is indefinitely pausing the New York City congestion pricing plan...just weeks before the tolls were set to be turned on. The plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street was supposed to fund billions of dollars in subway upgrades and other transit projects, while reducing pollution and gridlock. Former city Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz spoke with WNYC's Sean Carlson about the implications of the governor's decision.

A New York City foster care provider is trying a novel approach to help the young moms in its care: housing them under one roof in apartments equipped with washer-dryer machines and where they can access support staff 24 hours a day. The New York Foundling recently opened a brand new building complex on a quiet residential street in the Bronx that will house 18 young moms between 14 and 21 years old and their infants and toddlers. Moms already under the nonprofit's care began moving into the pair of shared apartment buildings two weeks ago, where staff members can help them with child care, feeding their children or cooking — all in one place. The organization said its ultimate goal is to help young moms learn to live on their own when they age out of foster care. The new side-by-side buildings will allow the Foundling to expand its mother and child program that works with young moms. Organizers hope their new approach can be a model for others. More than 6,000 children and young people are in the city’s foster care system, with about 80 young moms in the city’s care, according to the Administration for Children’s Services. But as teens and young adults age out of the foster care system at 21 years old, they’re facing an increasingly tight housing market with the city’s overall vacancy rate at its lowest point since the 1960s and rents rising faster than wages. The debut of the program comes as the city is also investing in more career and education training for foster youth. Read the full story on Gothamist.com

Mayor Eric Adams applauded President Joe Biden’s decision to slow the influx of new migrants by temporarily closing the border, but he brushed off questions about whether he was even invited to Tuesday’s announcement. The signing, which was attended by Gov. Kathy Hochul, put into sharp focus the fractured relationship between the two Democrats since the crisis began. Adams has been a sharp critic of Biden’s response, claiming repeatedly that the migrant crisis would “destroy” the city. Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom discussed how the order would affect the city's migrant crisis with WNYC's Sean Carlson.

The International Cricket Council Men’s Twenty20 World Cup (ICC T20 for short) kicked off on Saturday, with teams from 20 countries competing for the world champion title. And Monday, the first of nine games will be played in New York, starting with the Sri Lanka versus South Africa match at 10:30 a.m. The ICC T20 Men’s World Cup takes place every two years and this is the first time the competition is being held in North America. If you’re new to cricket, here’s a primer on one of the world's most popular sports.

WNYC is marking Pride Month by highlighting the voices of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. Our Community Partnerships Desk recently spent some time at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center in Crown Heights to have conversations with people about what it means to navigate today's world as LGBTQ+ individuals and delve into the significance of Pride in their lives. Brooklyn resident Aden Hakimi shares his story. The transcript of Aden Hakimi's story has been lightly edited for clarity. Aden Hakimi: I live in Brooklyn. I'm 42. I identify as a queer, trans man. There's a lot of work involved in existing as an LGBTQ person in the world, and sometimes that's internal, sometimes that's external, sometimes that's educating people, sometimes that's trying to let something go. You know, after a while, it does wear you out that you have to keep doing it. I find hope in the youth, LGBTQ parents, and elders. I find hope in the personal knowledge that with visibility comes more threat, but there also comes this grit and this ability to know that on the other side of that threat, There are more people who are loving. I truly believe that there are more people who support, love, and value us. I'm hoping that with more joy, and love and ease, that everybody feels more comfortable being themselves, even if they are or are not LGBTQ. Pride means having joy in who you are. Taking joy in watching other people be who they are, sharing in that joy, and watching the joy grow. I don't think there's a Pride parade I've gone to where I haven't cried. Feels like the marathon to me, where you're just excited for people to have safe space to be themselves, and I think Pride is something we're often robbed of, and it's not somebody else's to take. You know, it's yours to have. It's yours to show, and I think Pride is earned in a way. And I think if you are out, even if it's just to yourself, you should feel proud of that.

As part of election coverage, WNYC is using laundromats across the New York metro area as hubs for civic engagement. We call the project 'Suds & Civics.' WNYC's Community Partnerships desk is visiting 8 laundromats across the New York metro area once per month as part of the initiative. George Bodarky, who leads WNYC's Community Partnerships Desk, joined Morning Edition to share a few insights he and his team gathered this May from people in between washing and folding.

There's only a couple days left in New York state's 2024 legislative session — a tense time when lawmakers and lobbyists learn whether their bills survive. But in Albany, the partisan battles aren't limited to halls of the Capitol. Last week, the state Assembly's Democrats squared off against Republicans in a charity softball game that raised more than $8,000 for the Food Pantries of the Capital District. But it was a surprisingly tense affair, with one party pulling off a dramatic comeback victory.

The International Cricket Council Men’s Twenty20 World Cup (ICC T20 for short) kicked off on Saturday, with teams from 20 countries competing for the world champion title. And Monday, the first of nine games will be played in New York, starting with the Sri Lanka versus South Africa match at 10:30 a.m. The ICC T20 Men’s World Cup takes place every two years and this is the first time the competition is being held in North America. Sports journalist Priya Desai joined WNYC's Sean Carlson for a primer on one of the world's most popular sports.

As the November election draws near, WNYC is focusing on what people in our region have to say about the issues and going to the polls. We’re using laundromats across the New York metro area as hubs for civic engagement. WNYC's Community Partnerships editor, George Bodarky, is leading our 'Suds and Civics' effort. He joined Morning Edition from Bubbles aRe US in Paterson, New Jersey, along with Lauren Nance of the League of Women Voters of Paterson, who also serves on the Board of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. Also joining them was Brigid Harrison, Department Chair and Professor of Political Science and Law at Montclair State University.

It's hard to believe, but the November election is only about 150 days away. WNYC is focusing on voters and where they stand on the issues, using laundromats across the New York metro area as hubs for civic engagement. We call the project 'Suds and Civics.' George Bodarky, who leads the WNYC newsroom's Community Partnerships desk, spoke with Morning Edition from Bubbles aRe US in Paterson, N.J. He was joined by Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the Executive Director of the FDU Poll.

As the weather gets warmer, you'll see more and more New Yorkers on bikes — and in Central Park, you may even see cyclists in blue T-shirts and jerseys riding tandem bikes. They’re part of a local nonprofit organization called InTandem Cycling, founded by Artie Elefant in 2013. Elefant was an avid cyclist who lost his vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, but realized he could ride a tandem bike. While Elefant died of cancer that year, his vision for the group lives on.

A Donald Trump supporter seeking to become New Jersey's next U.S. senator is leaning on her MAGA credentials in New Jersey, a state that resoundingly rejected the ex-president in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. And she’s vying for the GOP nomination against a more moderate candidate who could be much better positioned to appeal to the state’s 2.4 million independent voters in November’s election. Read more at Gothamist.com.

Top MTA officials are wringing their hands over fare evasion, mulling new strategies to make sure people pay for public transit. But over at JFK Airport, the Port Authority has a different approach: leaving some gates to the AirTrain wide open for fare beaters.

Mounds of garbage bags full of mouth-watering trash are complicating New York City’s efforts to control its rat population. But in one section of central Brooklyn, a 31-pound killer is offering up her rat control services at no cost. Meet Luna, a 7-year-old schnauzer mix and Crown Heights’ secret weapon in the war on rats. “She's very cuddly,” said her owner Zach Henson, a 39-year old cybersecurity professional. “But when she sees a rat, it's like a scene in a movie where there's a friendly robot and someone presses the Terminator button and then its eyes turn red and the claws come out and it's like, ‘Must kill.’” Luna and Henson hunt on the edge of Brooklyn’s “rat mitigation zone,” an area covering parts of Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, Prospect Heights and Crown Heights where city officials are stepping up inspections and encouraging building owners to store their trash in sealed containers to reduce the number of rats. So far, the strategies seem to be working. Rodent complaints are dropping, according to 311 data. The efforts to control the city’s rat population reached a crescendo with Mayor Eric Adams, who made “fighting rats” one of his pillars for ensuring the five boroughs remain a “livable city.” Last year, Adams appointed a “rat czar” to carry out his vision and will host a rat summit this fall. Read the full story on Gothamist.com

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has documented the sharp drop of seagrass, which scientists call submerged aquatic vegetation, since 1997. Similar surveys have found decreases in the Long Island Sound and along the Jersey Shore. The long tendrils of underwater greenery are a vital food source for birds and serve as protective cover for juvenile fish. Experts say human pollution and extreme weather are driving the seagrass's decline, which threatens the fragile underwater ecosystem.

For years, weather-related events have taken a substantial toll on New York City's infrastructure, especially during hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — or NOAA — has forecast a much more active than usual season this year. Daniel Zarrilli is special advisor for climate and sustainability at Columbia University. He played a senior role in climate resiliency under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg and most recently served as Chief Climate Policy Advisor under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. He joined WNYC Morning Edition host Michael Hill.

The Democratic primary is usually a cakewalk for Rep. Bill Pascrell, who has been in Congress for more than 25 years. But this year, he faces a rare competitive race in his Passaic County district — with a challenger seizing on Pascrell’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, and without the help of a New Jersey ballot system that gives establishment candidates a huge advantage. Read more on Gothamist.com.

State Sen. Jessica Ramos, after months of hinted-at opposition to a proposed casino and entertainment complex in her Queens district, on Tuesday made her rejection of the project official. “After three town halls, a poll, a survey, and I can't tell you how many conversations I've had around the district, I've concluded that the vast majority of our neighbors would not welcome a casino in our backyard,” Ramos, a Democrat, said in an interview ahead of a formal announcement of her opposition. Ramos’ approval was needed for the alienation of public parkland near Citi Field, where the project has been proposed, a required step for commercial development, according to her office and other lawmakers involved in the process. Read the full story on Gothamist.com.

Bus and subway fare evasion continues to be a growing problem for the MTA. The transit agency has attempted to address the issue in recent years, but its data indicates the rate of straphangers skipping fares has more than doubled since the pandemic. And more than half of bus riders aren’t paying for their ride. At a MTA board meeting last week, chair Janno Lieber said the agency would begin throwing more resources at the problem. He joined WNYC's Sean Carlson to discuss what the agency to address a problem Lieber says costs the MTA hundreds of millions of dollars per year.