NYC NOW - Evening Roundup: Congestion Tolls Rake in $100 Million in Two Months, New York’s Wage Gap, Warning Labels on Gas Stoves and Women’s History Month

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

The MTA says they collected $52 million from drivers through its congestion pricing program in February. Plus, a new report from New York State comptroller shows that the wage gap between women and men persists in New York State. Also, new legislation would put health warnings on new gas stoves. And finally, we mark Women’s History Month by profiling local musicians and their journey through the music industry.

Congestion tolls rake in $100 million in two months, New York's wage gap, warning labels on gas stoves, and Women's History Month. From WMYC, this is NYC Now. I'm Jenae Pierre. The MTA says they collected $52 million from drivers through its congestion pricing program in February. The hall means the agency raked in just over $100 million during the first two months of the program, which launched on January. 5th. State law requires the MTA to use the money to finance billions worth of upgrades to the city's mass transit system. The numbers come as the Trump administration tries to kill the tolling initiative. Governor Kathy Hokel says she's in talks with the president over the future of the program. Just last week, the DOT postponed a deadline to incongestion pricing by 30 days.

March is Women's History Month, but a new report from New York State Comptroller Tom Denapoli shows that the wage gap between men and women persist throughout the state. According to the report, in 2023, women earned 87 cents for every dollar men earned in New York. And in order to make up the difference, women would have to work 53 more days per year. That said, the Comptroller's report also indicates that the gender pay gap in New York State is smaller than the national average. In our previous episode, we've mentioned the resurfacing of a gas stove bill in Albany. After the break, we'll explain what's being proposed and why. Stick around.

NYC Aura. New legislation in Albany would put health warnings on new gas stoves. WNYC's Rosemary Misdairy explains what the bill would do. This bill would put a label on gas stoves themselves, but it would also put signage in the areas where they're sold, whether they're online or they're in a store. It's similar to what we've done with cigarettes, where you're. you walk into a bodega and there's a big sign in the background that tells you that smoking is dangerous and then there's a label right on the cigarette pack. And, you know, the warning label, it's very simple. It just tells you what kind of toxins are released and that those toxins are

unsafe and they could lead to respiratory diseases and other outcomes. If past New York would become the first day to require this type of warning to be added to gas stoves. Rosie, do you have a gas stove in your apartment? Yes, I do, and I have no choice about it because I'm a renter. Most renters in New York City apartments have gas stoves. You're not alone, but what are the risks? The risks include cancer, respiratory illness, toxins like carbon monoxide, which is poisonous, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide. Even when the stove is off, it is still emitting a lot of toxic gases. 75% of the methane emissions come when the gas stove is off. One study found that nearly 20% of childhood asthma cases are linked to having a gas stove at home.

I remember gas stoves became an issue during the presidential race last year. There was all this talk about a gas stove ban. How does this bill relate to the controversy there? Last year, a similar bill was vetoed in California by the governor. And it's a very partisan issue. It divides right down party lines where Republicans feel that laws like this take away consumer choice and treat Americans like they live in a nanny state. And Democrats are for legislation like this because it warns consumers of the health issues that are involved with purchasing an appliance like this. Now, for example, the Institute for Energy Research, a think tank that is very friendly towards the fossil fuel industry, said the bill fuels unnecessary fear.

But New York State Senator Liz Kruger says the health risks are real. And she says nobody is coming for their gas stoves. They're just putting a warning label on the appliance to let people know what the risks are. And the risks are undeniable. There was a 670-page compendium last year that was released by a whole host of physicians and experts across the field about all of the issues related to gas stoves. That's WMYC's Rosemary Mizderi. To Mark Woman's History Month, we're profiling several local musicians and their journey through the music industry. Meet Haley Brook, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter based in Manhattan.

I didn't really get into singing and songwriting as much until late high school, but mostly college. So that was the first time that I really connected with music, but I always loved singing and storytelling and did a lot of musical theater growing up. The reason I got into music largely was because of my own struggles with mental health, and I feel really grateful to have had that outlet. And to me, as an artist, I really want to be that older sister, almost like, like a music therapist. Being a female artist today, I feel really empowered. More women's stories are being told.

A lot of female artists have been in the spotlight and a majority of the Grammy winners were female. Even Songwriter of the year was a woman for the first time, and that's so exciting. But I do think there's still a lot left to be done, especially when it comes to songwriters, producers, and people behind the scenes. You know, the industry is still very male-dominated.

And then also just like a general challenge is the focus in the modern age on numbers and streaming and how many fans you have. And it's hard because I didn't become a musician to be an influencer, but sometimes it feels like you have to be both in order to be successful as a musician in the modern day. And for a while, I feel like I would be. I was letting fear get in the way of my dreams and my ambitions. And I'm finally getting to the place where I'm, like, doing what I want and engaging with

audiences in new authentic ways really helps. Then also finding like-minded individuals going through the same journeys that you are. You know, being an artist is scary and sometimes I don't know what I'm doing or what I'm supposed to be doing, but, like, that's okay. Ultimately, it's really about engaging in what you do in a positive way that isn't just about the followers. Because at the end of the day, you have to love what you're doing to be willing to go through all the hardships. That's local singer-songwriter, Haley Brooke. Thanks for listening to NYC Now.

I'm Jenae Pierre. We'll be back tomorrow.