NYC NOW - August 27, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: August 27, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards supports New York City Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes" plan, which aims to add up to 100,000 homes to the city's housing stock. Meanwhile, a city funeral home chain accused of mistreating customers will pay over $700,000 in a legal settlement. WNYC's Catalina Gonella reports. Plus, low-income New Yorkers now have access to the "Money in Your Pocket Guide," which compiles eligibility and application details for various government programs, including food assistance, rent discounts for seniors, and free meals.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, August 27th. Here's the morning headlines. I'm Jene Pierre. A plan by the Adams administration to add up to 100,000 homes to the city's housing stock has picked up a major endorsement. Queensboro President Donovan Richard says he's backing the mayor's city of yes plan.

That means four of the city's five borough leaders have signed on. The exception is Republican Staten Island borough president Vito Fusela, who opposes it. The City of Yes plan would ease zoning restrictions across the city to encourage the creation of more affordable housing. But a majority of the city's community boards have voiced opposition to the plan. City of Yes now heads to the City Planning Commission for a vote. A chain of New York City funeral homes accused of mistreating its customers is set to pay more than $700,000 under a new legal settlement. WMYC's Catalina Gonella reports. R.C. Ortiz funeral homes has eight locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, and is well known among Spanish-speaking New Yorkers.

City officials sued the business this past spring, alleging that it preyed on families by misleading them about its prices and not telling them where their loved ones' remains were. Those families will now receive more than $600,000 in restitution. Ortiz funeral homes is also on the hook for more than $100,000 in civil penalties. A representative for the business declined to comment when reached by phone. Low-income New Yorkers have a new tool to help them access important benefits. The city's money-in-your-pocket guide compiles eligibility and application details for dozens of government programs, including food assistance, rent discounts for older people, and free meals.

Mayor Eric Adams says too many residents are not accessing benefits. that they qualify for. I remember that song. We work hard for your money, and we're going to make sure you get your money. These are your dollars. These are tax dollars that you pay that comes back to you through the services. The guide is now available online at the city's website, NYC.gov. The air quality today is expected to be moderate due to both ozone and particle pollution.

There are moderate amounts of weed pollen in the air as well. 68 degrees patchy fog this morning. It'll be sunny today with highs in the upper 80s. Mostly clear skies ahead tonight with a low around 72. And sunny skies ahead on Wednesday with a high around 95. 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. See you this afternoon.