NYC NOW - April 25, 2023: Midday News

Episode Date: April 25, 2023

Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Madison Square Club closes amid lawsuit settlements, SummerStage festival lineup is announced, and a labor deal between the Adams administration and the Police Benevolent Association increases officer wages by nearly 2 percent. And finally, as New York City's homelessness reaches record levels, a new supportive housing program in Brownsville aims to expedite the process for those seeking shelter. WNYC's Rebecca Redelmeier reports on this innovative approach.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, April 25th. Here's the midday news from Lance Lucky. A Madison Square Boys and Girls Club location in the Brooklyn Navy Yard is shutting its doors. Operations at the Navy Yard Clubhouse will wind down next month and shutter completely at the end of June, including its after-school programming. Club leaders say it's necessary to pay settlements in a number of child sexual abuse lawsuits, Almost 150 people allege they were abused by a pediatrician

who volunteered at the Center's East 29th Street location in Manhattan for decades. The lineup is out for one of New York City's most popular outdoor concert series. Summer Stage, WNYC's precious fondron has details. Every year, Summer Stage brings more than 80 free and benefit events to parks throughout the five boroughs. This year's lineup includes St. Paul and the Broken Bones, No Name, Skip Marley, and Cool in the Gang. Heather Lubov is City Parks Foundation's executive director. She says Summer Stage exposes people to culture in their own backyards. Someone's going to find something that they like, no matter what it is,

whether it's an artist that you've heard of and have heard many times or something you've never heard of before and you just want to try something new. It's a relief and a joy and a really special experience. Free shows will kick off on June 10th and wrap up on September 14th. A labor deal between the Adams administration, and the Police Benevolent Association increases officer wages by nearly 2%. Members voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying the city's eight-year, $5.5 billion contract.

It also provides for a new pilot program that will allow officers to test working extended tours of 10 to 12-hour shifts. In exchange, officers will work fewer days throughout the year. On WNYC, I'm Michael Hill. The number of people staying in New York City homeless shelters has reached a record high, but hundreds of the housing units meant to provide support for formerly homeless people still sit empty. Now a new pilot program is trying to get people off the streets and into supportive housing faster by simplifying the application process. WNYC's Rebecca Rentalmeyer has the story. There's nothing quiet about this block of Brownsville, Brooklyn.

There's construction and buses and people shouting from the street. But living here on East New York Avenue has been a relief for Angel Keylace. On the fourth floor of a large brick building, he's found the first stable home he's had in five years. I have two windows. You know, I get sun, I get air. I have a bathroom right outside my door. I don't have to go far. Keles lives in a city-owned supportive housing site.

He has a single bed, a chest of drawers, and a sink. He shares a kitchen and a bathroom with his neighbors. From his window, he can see cats play in an overgrown garden. It's a big change from where he used to stay. After his mom died a few years ago, he says he lost his home and spent many perilous nights on the D or the F train. Hunger, being cold, and not having security, you know, like my life. And I don't want to die, so I decided I should get help.

That was back in October. Kulis then went to a shelter for people who had been sleeping on the streets or in subways. And the staff there told him about a few potential housing options. One promised Keylace his own private room with a door that locked, a food pantry and counseling. And he wouldn't need to fill out a bunch of paperwork to get in. So he signed up, and in January he moved into his new apartment. It's a lot different because, you know, they're always making sure that everything is working right for us,

you know, whether it's food, whether it's a doctor, that you need or anything like that, they offer that. Most New Yorkers living on the streets and subways can only dream of such a quick move into permanent housing. Getting into supportive housing can be tough, even with empty apartments available. People have to gather IDs, vital records, health histories, sit for psychological exams,

and prove they qualify based on their income. But the city's new pilot program is trying to make the process easier. First comes the housing and assistance, then the paperwork. So when they come in, their focus, is to work on their physical health, their mental health, any substance abuse that they may have, and then we're doing all the background work. Mariel Crusetta is with the nonprofit volunteers for America, which runs the program.

So the end goal is to meet at the end and have them get their vouchers and sign a lease to become a permanent tenant in the unit that they've already been occupying. It's an approach called Housing First, the idea that you end homelessness by giving people homes and stepping in with additional support when it's needed. Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Park says it's been effective. I think we can safely say that this works and is providing a valuable pathway out of homelessness. But one drawback is the program can only house a maximum of 81 people, a fraction of the need.

The city counted nearly 3,500 people staying in public spaces during the most recent annual census. Experts say that's almost certainly an undercount. Tens of thousands of people spend each night in a city homeless shelter. Park says the agency wants to expand their efforts and streamline moves out of shelters. For Kiles and others, it's been life-changing. I don't want to go nowhere, you know what I mean? I want to stay here. You know, I feel good.

It's probably the best thing I've ever done, you know, for myself. And I got the help right here, too. He says it finally feels like home. Rebecca Rattlemeyer, WNYC News. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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