Crosstown with Pat Kiernan

Pat Kiernan has been a part of the morning routine of countless New Yorkers for more than 25 years. The journey from his early days in broadcasting to becoming the "Mornings On 1" anchor was both unpredictable and international. On a very special episode of the "Crosstown" podcast, his longtime colleague Jamie Stelter turns the tables and asks Kiernan the questions. Learn about Kiernan's early days in media, his rather impressive film resume and who the most famous contact in his phone is.

In just a few months, congestion pricing will come to New York City. Most drivers will have to pay a $15 fee to enter Manhattan below Central Park. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority hopes congestion pricing will lead to reduced traffic, less pollution and more money for roads and public transportation infrastructure. But the program took nearly two decades to come to fruition, and there are a lot of details still being worked out before it is implemented. Host Pat Kiernan speaks with his Spectrum News NY1 colleagues about what congestion pricing means for New Yorkers.

For more than 30 years, Annika Pergament has been bringing her tenacity and sophisticated storytelling to the journalism field. Now, she embarks on a new role as the 4 p.m. anchor on Spectrum News NY1. Pat Kiernan, a longtime colleague and friend, sits down with his co-worker to discuss what brought her into journalism, what stories she likes to cover and how NY1 has shaped her life outside of the studio.

Each week, NY1 highlights local heroes who are making the city a little bit better by giving back, volunteering or even just making their neighbors smile. The NY1 “New Yorker of the Week” segment is a bright spot in the regular news cycle that recognizes the people who find a way to make their city neighborhood better. Host Pat Kiernan speaks with the producers behind the project and revisits some of the standout New Yorkers they profiled this year.

Each night, Errol Louis dives into the biggest political issues affecting the city with the people at the center of the issues on "Inside City Hall." He sits down and explains to host Pat Kiernan how his journalism roots, runs for political office and financial endeavors inform important conversations across the spectrum.

For months, New York Rep. George Santos remained defiant and said he would stay in office despite uncovered lies, federal indictments and calls for resignation from both sides of the aisle. But last week, following a scathing report from the United States House Committee on Ethics that accused him of fraud, Santos said he wouldn't seek reelection. What made him change course? And will his colleagues vote him out before the next election? Anchor Pat Kiernan answers these questions with NY1 Managing Director of New York Politics Bob Hardt and Washington correspondent Kevin Frey.

There has been just one person bringing the news from the anchor desk since NY1 began, and his name is Lewis Dodley. As the nighttime anchor, he has brought his unbiased storytelling and iconic voice to New Yorkers for more than 30 years. As a part of a new series, NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan speaks with his colleague about how Dodley got into the business, where he finds inspiration and his hopes for the future of news.

Are there better ways to house people experiencing homelessness in New York? Elected officials have not reached a consensus on the best way to approach this issue, and the city shelter system has been further stressed recently with the arrival of thousands of migrants. So host Pat Kiernan analyzed Houston, which has moved 25,000 people into housing in the past decade. He also speaks with the CEO of a nonprofit to learn lessons that could be applied to New York.

Reubens on rye bread and platters of sturgeon and lox have long been staples at New York City delis. Some of these spots have become city institutions, bringing locals and tourists into their doors for a unique experience that is not possible anywhere else. But over the years, the definition of what it means to be a deli has expanded, and so have the menus. Anchor Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 reporter Eric Feldman about some of the deli classics and what it means to be a beloved city delicatessen.

Last week, President Joe Biden and his administration extended a federal policy for Venezuelan migrants in the United States, allowing for wider permissions like legal work permits. What does that mean for the thousands of migrants in the city, of which 40% are Venezuelan? And where does Mayor Eric Adams stand on the issue after saying the migrant situation would “destroy” the city? And how do New Yorkers feel living in a place long known for accepting immigrants? NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan speaks with political reporter Kelly Mena about all this and more.

As the new school year kicks off, there are big changes for city public school students. For the first time in years, they will learn to read using a new curriculum. The change is part of an effort to increase comprehension, a problem highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, schools around the five boroughs will absorb around 20,000 migrant children. NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan speaks with education reporter Jillian Jorgensen about what awaits students and teachers this school year.

As the U.S. Open comes to Queens, Pat Kiernan sits down with tennis stars Roger Federer and Jessica Pegula to talk about what makes this legendary competition so special. He also brings together some of his colleagues to discuss the impact that this international competition has on the city — both for fans and the local economy.

On a Thursday afternoon in 2003, the power went out in New York City. Rush hour commutes turned into walking across bridges or sleeping on the steps of Penn Station. Neighbors left their dark and quiet apartments and congregated on the streets outside of their buildings. Now 20 years later, Pat Kiernan speaks with his NY1 colleagues about what it was like covering the largest blackout in North America — when nobody could watch television.

On Wednesday morning, just before rush hour, a fire broke out on top of a crane and 16 tons of metal came crashing down, striking another building on its way. A dozen people were hurt, but no one was killed. How does a newsroom cover a breaking news event like this? And what does an investigation into a collapse like this look like? Pat Kiernan speaks with his colleagues and experts.

Over the past few weeks, New York City and surrounding areas have experienced some historic weather events. From dense orange skies to widespread flooding throughout the region, weather patterns seem to be changing. Pat Kiernan speaks with John Davitt, NY1's chief meteorologist, about recent extreme weather and how the city is responding.

This season, Major League Baseball instituted some of the biggest rule changes the game of baseball has seen in a while. What is the goal of the new rules? The league wants to speed up the game and keep fans engaged. Pat Kiernan speaks with his colleague Stef Manisero about how the rules have affected games through the first half of the season. They also hear reaction and opinions from fans about the new way America's pastime is played.

Without notice, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell handed in her resignation to Mayor Eric Adams last week. The sudden departure of the first woman commissioner was a shock to those even close to her. What led to that decision? Did the mayor, a former member of the NYPD himself, curb too much of her power? Were there internal politics that tipped the scales? And did Sewell leave hints leading up to her resignation? Pat Kiernan speaks with colleagues Dean Meminger and Bob Hardt about this historic appointment and resignation, and what it means for the NYPD and the mayor going forward.

The Tony Awards can send a surge of business to a Broadway show's ticket booth, but the absence of the awards can also mean posting closing notices. How thin are the financial margins for Broadway shows? What does it take to keep a show operating? And when does a financial hit become a financial boom? Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1's Frank DiLella and two Tony Award winners, Warren Leight and Ken Davenport, about the economics of the Great White Way.

Licenses for three casinos are up for grabs in the New York City area, and gambling powerhouses are hoping to cash in on what's expected to be the biggest market outside of the Las Vegas Strip. But what would a casino in New York City look like? Which communities are speaking out against such a venture? And how are politics and money affecting decision-making in government? Pat Kiernan speaks with political reporter Courtney Gross about her investigation into the bid for building a casino in New York.

From coffee shops to frozen yogurt shops, it might feel like there are more digital tip jars than ever. And it’s not just the frequency — many New Yorkers say they feel pressure to tip more than usual. How has the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift to digital currency changed our habits? And will rising inflation push us to a tipping point? Pat Kiernan talks with his NY1 colleagues about how we approach gratuity in the city.