NYC NOW - Evening Roundup: Congestion Pricing Clears Major Hurdle, Hochul Vetoes Felon Jury Bill, NYC Considers Sanctuary City Changes, Buttermilk Channel to Close, and Kindergartners Take the Stage

Episode Date: December 23, 2024

A toll on drivers in Manhattan below 60th Street is closer to becoming reality after a federal judge rejected an injunction to block congestion pricing. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have allowed people with felony convictions to serve on juries. Plus, New York City may also revise its sanctuary city policies in the new year. Also, Brooklyn’s Buttermilk Channel is closing after 16 years, Finally, WNYC’s Jessica Gould takes us to Hell’s Kitchen, where kindergartners are exploring musical theater with a “Wicked” twist.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. I'm Jared Marcel. A toll-law drivers in Manhattan below 60th Street is one step closer to reality. Earlier Monday, a federal judge declined to issue an injunction that would have blocked congestion pricing from taking effect. He said he wasn't persuaded by arguments that congestion pricing violates the Constitution and various laws. The judge ruled against the city's teachers' union, a state trucking organization, and other groups that sued to block the toll. The ruling clears a major legal hurdle for the MTA,

which is planning to begin charging the $9-based toll on January 5th. But a judge hasn't ruled yet on a separate lawsuit from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The governor is also trying to halt the toll. New York Governor Kathy Hokel has vetoed a bill that would have allowed those convicted of felonies to sit on a jury. WNYC's John Campbell reports. State lawmakers approved the bill earlier. this year. It would have restored jury rights after a person convicted of a felony completes their

sentence. But Hockel says it would have created, quote, technical and operational challenges for her administration. She says she tried to negotiate changes to the bill with state lawmakers, but they couldn't strike a deal. Supporters of the legislation say it would have helped balance out bias in the criminal justice system. As of last year, about half of states banned people with felony convictions from the jury pool. The new year could bring changes to New York City's Sanctuary City policies. WNYC's ARIA's ASEU's ARIA has more and what lies ahead. Mayor Eric Adams is no fan of New York City's sanctuary city policies.

Those largely prohibit cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities looking to deport non-citizens. The mayor is made playing that he thinks those protections go too far. Adam says he plans to use his executive powers to loosen the current. and protections. He recently met with Trump's so-called borders are Tom Homan to see how the city could cooperate with President-elect Donald Trump's mass deportation plans. Trump has pledged to start the effort on day one of his new term. A beloved restaurant in Brooklyn's Carroll Gardens is closing at the end of the month. After 16 years, Buttermilk Channel's last day in business will be New Year's Eve. The corner of

Bistro has become a local landmark known for its great service and menu of elevated comfort food. Since announcing the closure, owner Doug Crowell says he's been overwhelmed with love from regulars. What we've seen there is beyond anything I expected. It's like every night the place has been full and every table is there to have a last meal or have a second to last meal and say goodbye. While the original location will soon close, Buttermilk Channel's two outposts, in Japan will both remain open. Up next, some kindergartners in Hell's Kitchen are getting a taste of Broadway through musical theater.

That story after the break. All the classrooms are staged for lucky kindergartners in Hell's kitchen getting a crash course in musical theater. And as WNYC's Jessica Gold reports, this year, they're having a wicked good time. Teacher and lifelong Broadway buff, Ryan Andes, has been weaving musicals into his curriculum for 20 years.

As the scarecrow might say, focusing on the Wizard of Oz and Wicked this year was a no-brainer. Welcome to the Land of Oz, our classroom this year. The Wicked Witch of the West hovers above the doorway. Ruby slippers peek out of the costume closet and a yellow brick road of blocks

lines kids' cubbies. Andes is a bit of a wizard himself. Over the years, he's persuaded hundreds of famous authors, composers, and actors to visit his classroom. Who was the person who came to our classroom who wrote Wicked? Do you remember, Ava?

Gregory Miss Wier. McGuire. McGuire. Yes. Gregory McGuire was the author of Wicked. McGuire explained how there can be multiple versions of a story. And maybe when someone like the Wicked Witch seems bad, it's more complicated. Was Elfaba really wicked in the beginning of her life? No.

Over the years, there have been enough famous faces to rival the walls at Sardis. We've had Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Chita Rivera, Bernadette Peters, Hugh Jackman, Denzel Washington, Lynn Manuel Miranda, and many more. Wicked Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz was actually the first celebrity to stop by 20 years ago. They got him by having a neighbor drop a letter

outside his apartment door. Every year, Andy's and his co-teacher, also take the kids to meet makeup artists, stage hands, and set designers. We think that all kids have access to going to Broadway shows because they live here, but it's not true. It's still this kind of foreign place right down the street. So it allows them to have a deep understanding of what goes on in their community. Then at the end of first grade, the kids write and put on their own performance. Everyone gets a role on stage or behind the scenes.

One even played the French horn on Broadway in Wicked. And these kindergartners, they're just. Just getting started. The four- and five-year-olds went on a field trip to the movie a few weeks ago. And they mostly sat still through the whole two hours and 40 minutes. Andes thinks that's because they know the story so well after months of studying the themes of good and evil, home, and friendship. Come on, let's make a Widtelva's world. You could say it's enough to make wicked fans green with envy.

Jessica Gould, WNYC News. Thanks for listening to NYC now from WNYC. Catch us every weekday. We'll be running one episode a day for the rest of the week. See you tomorrow.