NYC NOW - April 1, 2024: Evening Roundup

Episode Date: April 1, 2024

New York City's app-based delivery workers are getting a pay raise. Plus, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe is kicking off its $24 million renovation. Also, WNYC’s Brittany Kriegstein looks into the rise of domestic violence deaths in New York City. And finally, a pair of community health workers strike up conversations with New Yorkers about their mental health and the wide range of concerns that might contribute to it.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. I'm Jene Pierre. This is hardworking money that goes to mothers, that goes to fathers, that goes to kids who live in our communities, who now can finally be able to have some additional income to be able to pay rent. New York City's app-based delivery workers are now earning $19. $0.26 an hour. Monday marked the next phase of a 2021 law meant to set minimum wages for the more than 65,000 workers that braved the traffic, snow, and rain to deliver food to New Yorker's doorsteps. Rosario Reyes has been a delivery worker for five years.

For what we don't have in the applications, you'd have to do not, for no, for no She says she used to work so much to earn very little, but the increase helps her to survive. Prior to the pay boost, which began last year, workers earned an average of $5 before tips. Food app companies like Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub were able to skirt minimum wage laws by hiring workers as independent contractors.

An iconic performance space in the East Village is getting a $24 million innovation, and the city will pick up the tab. The New Yorkican Poets Cafe was founded in 1973. Organizers hope the makeover will ensure its future for decades to come. WNYC's Arun Vanekapal has the details. The poet Alan Ginsberg once called it the most integrated place on the planet. But in recent years, the New York and Poets Cafe face serious issues, including a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood and a crumbling building. The cafe's leadership says the extensive renovation will allow the cafe to expand

its programming thanks to the construction of an additional theater and classrooms for workshops. City officials say they fast-tracked work on the cafe, so it'll reopen in the spring of 26, a year earlier than scheduled. New York City data shows intimate partner killings jumped nearly 30% from 2021 to 2022. After the break, we'll look into the rise of domestic violence deaths. Stick around for that story and more. Violent crime in New York City continues to trend downward, but organizations that work with domestic violence survivors have flagged an alarming statistic. Intimate partner fatalities are rising, especially among women of color.

WNYC's Brittany Crickstein has more. Saida Bonia Mejia was shot and killed in her Ronk's apartment last month. Police and family allege the 40-year-old was murdered by her boyfriend after a late-night argument. Bonilla's cousin, Josie Vayesteros, says she didn't know just how bad the situation was, and that Bonilla only ever said that her boyfriend was resentful and controlling. Bonilla's boyfriend, Rosfin Mejia Castillo, was arrested and charged for her death. But her story is part of a larger trend, a growing number of black and brown women being murdered at the hands of their boyfriends or husbands,

according to city statistics. A report released last year by the mayor, office to end domestic and gender-based violence shows murder sparked by domestic incidents increased nearly 30% between 2021 and 2022. The report also shows that women of color in underserved communities are disproportionately harmed. Between 2021 and 2022, domestic murders increased from 4 to 13 in Brooklyn and from 7 to 11 in the Bronx. Black and brown women were involved in nearly a third of these incidents, despite making up less than a quarter of the city's population.

When you hear the mayor talk about crime going down, that's good. I think we also want the mayor to say, but it hasn't been a case for all populations, and to talk more about domestic violence to increase awareness of this. That's Nathaniel Fields, CEO of the Urban Resource Institute, or URI, a nonprofit working to get vulnerable families and domestic violence survivors into supportive housing. The organization provides shelter to almost 3,000 people every night across 15 facilities citywide

and offers additional resources like therapy, programming for kids, and help finding permanent housing. When I walked away, I literally walked away with $35 and three bags of clothes. That's Elizabeth Rose, who left her partner's home in 2019 after enduring severe physical and emotional abuse. Rose says she was hesitant to go to a shelter where she felt like she'd had to be. even less dignity. But the Bronx URI shelter she moved into was nothing like she expected. It felt like a real apartment. You know, I had a kitchen. I even had a living room with a couch and a TV. It was a big closet. I kind of was excited because I love clothing and having space to see my stuff. She was even able to bring her cat BB, thanks to the organization's

Pals program, which allows survivors to live with their pets. They had food. They had everything I could need for him and throughout my entire stay. And he's been a really important part of mine and my daughter's mental health throughout this journey. And he's still with me today. URI is working even harder to provide support and safety for survivors in the face of the spike in incidents. CEO Nathaniel Fields stresses the importance of building partnerships and pouring resources into underserved communities to combat intimate partner violence. If we invested more in prevention, we wouldn't have the high expense. or on the other side in those young people who did not get their services,

who more than likely will then be engaging in mental health services or committing crimes because they have been left without intervention. Thanks to help from URI, Elizabeth Rose now has her own home in Albany. I got the windows open, the birds are tripping, and I'm like, I never recognize these sounds before. She encourages other people in dangerous domestic situations to make the same call she did. That's WMYC's Brittany Cricstein. In response to the increase in incidents, City Hall says it has implemented a variety of prevention programs,

pledging to reduce domestic violence assaults by 25%. Next time you're lounging in Prospect Park, a pair of young guys might approach just to ask how you're doing. Don't be alarmed. They are community health workers trained by the city to start friendly conversations with New Yorkers about their mental health and the wide range of concerns that might contribute to it.

WNYC's Caroline Lewis has more. Jared Grant and Jonathan Tamal are on a mission. They're looking for people who are willing to have an open conversation about mental health with total strangers, not an easy task, especially on a weekday morning in Prospect Park. They approach a couple feeding the ducks who don't want to talk,

and a couple of parkgoers who don't speak English. But Grant has more luck with Jasmine Willi. who's resting after a run. Right now on a scale of one being horrible to five being excellent, how are you feeling? Let's give it a 3.5. The outreach program is first and foremost about mental health, but Grant's questions cover a range of topics, like food, housing, discrimination, personal safety. Do you have concerns about your physical health or the physical health of a family member or a loved one?

Yes. Okay. Like, do you feel like it's handled or do you feel like you need some type of urgent help? I don't know if it's urgent, but it does need help. Grant digs into his backpack and pulls out one of the handouts he carries with a broad list of resources, from health services to food pantries to eviction assistance. Do you have concerns about how you were coping with your emotions? Yes.

Like, do you feel like that's handled or do you feel like you would like somebody to talk to, like, one-on-one? Williams says she could use some help, and Grant points out the website and phone number for NYC Well, the city's mental health hub. Grant and Tamal are part of what's called the Community Support Network. The city says they're mostly targeting neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the Bronx with poor health outcomes, but they hope to meet a broad cross-section of New Yorkers in the park.

City officials say the calming effects of nature could help foster these conversations. Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vassin says the goal is to help people recognize their needs and find city resources that help address them. Those social drivers, those social needs are often foundational and primary in shaping a person's mental health. A recent survey from the city health department showed, for instance, that people struggling to pay rent or afford groceries were far more likely to experience psychological distress. Some parkgoers, like Jasmine Williams, say they find the conversations and referrals

helpful. Another person, Grant and Tamal, spoke with, Adrian Cobb, said she would have liked more from the interaction. I wish they could go more in depth in terms of, like, you know, why people are going through, what they're going through. And so, but it's, you know, I mean, it's a great start. I mean, I'm glad they're asking. The pilot program goes through June. The health department will be collecting data from these conversations. And if officials determine the program is effective at connecting New Yorkers to services, the city could look to extend it. That's WNYC's Caroline Lewis. Thanks for listening to NYC now from WMYC.

Catch us every weekday, three times a day. I'm Jene Pierre. We'll be back tomorrow.