NYC NOW - August 19, 2024: Midday News

Episode Date: August 19, 2024

Police are investigating a triple stabbing in Brooklyn early Sunday that left one man dead and two others wounded. Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing to add three new animals to its list of endangered and threatened species. Plus, the Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday night in Chicago, with several prominent New York officials in attendance. WNYC reporters Jon Campbell and Elizabeth Kim have a preview.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Monday, August 19th. Here's the midday news from Lance Lucky. Police are investigating a triple stabbing in Brooklyn that left one man dead and two others wounded early yesterday morning. The NYPD says first responders found two men with multiple stab wounds in front of a building at 50th Street and 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park. Police say one of the men was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Another was taken to get medical care and is in stable condition.

Police say a third man walked himself to a Brooklyn hospital with stab wounds. Officials say the suspect fled in a black Toyota Camry. No arrests have been made. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing to add three new animals to its list of endangered and threatened species. One of them is the Atlantic Coast leopard frog, which is exceptionally rare, a native to Staten Island. Also on the list is the American eel, which is commonly found in the Hudson River and an Atlantic Coast fish called the Eastern Pirate Perch. George Jackman is with the Environmental Advocacy Group Riverkeeper.

He explains that many of the animals on the state list also have federal protections. You cannot even touch this species. You can't harm it. You can't even look at it cross-eyed without incurring a federal fine. And nor can you disturb its habitat. The DEC will hold virtual public hearings on the endangered list on October 10th. It's 80 degrees now, just a few clouds early this afternoon, near 85 today, and more clouds later, with showers becoming likely into the evening, maybe a thunderstorm, 66 overnight, and clouds to start Tuesday,

then mostly sunny and much cooler tomorrow, only around 75, sunny and 75 again on Wednesday and sunny and 78 Thursday. This is WNYC. Stay close. There's more after the break. On WNYC, I'm David First. As you've been hearing, the Democratic National Convention will get underway in Chicago. And right now on this week in politics, we'll talk about why several prominent New York elected officials are heading there as well. Joining us are WNYC's John Campbell and Elizabeth Kim. John covers Albany and Liz covers city government.

And John, can you remind us about the function of these conventions? And is it any different this year, given Kamala Harrison? unorthodox route to the nomination? Well, David, technically speaking, the purposes for each party to set its official platform and really more importantly to nominate their candidates for president and vice president. So the Republicans did that last month when they nominated Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. Now it's the Democrats' turn. But this year is a little different for Democrats.

They've actually already held a virtual vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. So really, this Democratic convention is what most conventions are really about trying to promote the parties take it to the American public. And you'll see the Democrats roll out dozens of speakers throughout the week to make the case for Harris. That includes people like President Joe Biden and former president Barack Obama. You mentioned the speeches that are part of the convention. Does Governor Hockel have a speaking slot? A reporter asked the governor just that question. And she said, yes, she does have a speaking role.

I've been honored to accept the invitation to appear Monday night. I understand there's another lineup with President Biden will be there and Hillary Clinton, and I'm really, really honored that they selected me to be on that night. This is the governor's first time speaking at the National Convention. She's been a big supporter of Kamala Harris's campaign, and before that she was a big supporter of Joe Biden. Monday night is the first night of the convention, as the governor noted, Biden is the keynote speaker that night.

It's almost like a political farewell address for the current president after his decades in elected office. So speaking at the DNC, this is a role New York governors have certainly taken in the past. Yeah, they sure have, David. It's pretty standard to have the Democratic governors from the biggest states speak at the convention. Andrew Cuomo did it in 2012, 2016. David Patterson did it in 2008. But really, probably the most famous example came way back in 1980. That's when Mario Cuomo gave his famous tale of two cities speech that turned into this critique of Ronald Reagan's first term.

It kind of catapulted him under the national political scene. And it spurred years of these rumors that maybe he would run for president someday, although famously he never did. We have two of the most powerful Democrats in Congress in our area. Hakeem Jeffries leads the Democrats in the House. He represents parts of Brooklyn. And of course, there is a Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer representing the state. John, what are they doing at the convention? Yeah, you're right.

I mean, both Jeffries and Schumer play a huge role in the Democratic Party. They were in contact with President Biden behind the scenes as he made the decision to drop out of the race. And we can certainly expect both of them to speak at the convention. The stakes are really high for Jeffries in particular. If Democrats take control of the House in November, he's in line. to become Speaker of the House. And if the party holds the Senate, then both the Senate leader and the House Speaker

would hail from Brooklyn. A lot to happen between now and election time, of course. But Liz, turning to you now, Mayor Adams is going. But it seems like things were a little different, a little more chilly between him and the National Party. And that was before the New York Times reported on subpoenas that he and his campaign received last month as part of a federal corruption in,

investigation. Liz, there's a lot going on here. That's right, David. So City Hall did confirm the New York Times story reporting that the mayor himself and members of his campaign received subpoenas. They're seeking documents and text messages related to the ongoing federal corruption investigation. Now, to have that kind of news break days before he's headed to the convention in Chicago really casts a cloud over Adams. And yes, as you said, things were already chilly between him and the party. As we've talked about before, the mayor was very critical of President Biden's handling of the border, and Republicans and Donald Trump have used the mayor's comments as a talking point heading into the presidential election. Okay, so no speaking gig for the mayor at the convention.

So if you're Adams, why go? The mayor was asked by reporters, about going to the convention. And he talked about the event in terms of an opportunity to be part of history. This is what he said. I'm looking forward to being there. I was there when Obama was the nominee.

And it's exciting that I didn't think of my lifetime. I would be able to see not only two people of color, but also a woman to be the first president. So I'm excited about that. So Mayor Adams really talking about, a potential historic moment. Yeah, and also an opportunity to talk a policy, right? And I should point out that it would not have been unprecedented if the mayor elected not to go to the convention.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio did not go to the 2020 National Convention when Biden was nominated, but that was 2020 and it was during the pandemic. It would have been odd for Adams not to have gone to the convention, barring any reason. real emergency in the city. That's because of how tight the race is and also the drama of this campaign season. And also because when you're the Democratic mayor of the biggest city in America, you have a lot of stature in the party. You are representing a Democratic bastion. And it's also in New Yorkers' interests to have the mayor speak to other Democratic leaders about policy issues like the migrant crisis. Well, we'll hear much more about the DNC. And

As we move through the week, WNYC's Elizabeth Kim and John Campbell. Thanks for joining us. Thanks, David. Thanks, David. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

More soon.