NYC NOW - Evening Roundup: New Yorkers Exceed Early Voting Numbers, Metro North Expansion Delayed in the Bronx, and NYC Housing on the Ballot

Episode Date: October 28, 2025

Early voting is underway in New York City mayor and turnout has far exceeded previous election cycles. Meanwhile, the MTA says a major project to bring Metro North service to the East Bronx will be delayed by three years. And finally, New Yorkers get a say in the future of housing in New York City.

New Yorkers exceed early voting numbers. A metro-north expansion will likely be delayed in the Bronx. And what to know about housing measures on the ballot in New York City this election cycle? From WNYC, this is NYC Now. I'm Jene Pierre. Early voting is well underway for New York City mayor and other local offices, and turnout has far exceeded previous election cycles. The Board of Election says as of Monday at least 200,

223,000 people have already voted. Jeff Colton reports on New York City politics for the news site Politico. He says that's a huge increase from last time voters were asked to turn out. To put that into context, that's like five times the amount that voted early in the primary. And, you know, all the different campaigns are debating what that means and whether that's good for them. Democrat Zaramam Dani remains the frontrunner in the polls, with former Governor Andrew Cuomo in second and Republican. Curtis Lewa polling third. Early voting ends this Sunday, November 2nd. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th. New York Democrats could try again at drawing congressional maps. WMYCHD

Jimmy Vilkine reports on a new lawsuit that could open the door. A Democratic law firm is suing to overturn the state's congressional maps claiming they marginalize non-white voters. If the case succeeds, Democratic lawmakers could draw new lines that might help win more seats. It's part of a national battle. Republicans in red states like Texas have redrawn congressional maps to help the GOP pick up seats in 2026. California and other Democratic-led states are doing the same. State Senator Mike Gianaris is a Democrat from Queens. He supports drawing new lines. We obviously have to get engaged and not sit on the sidelines while red states are bastardizing the makeup of Congress. Republicans say the suit is frivolous. The current lines were

largely drawn by a court-appointed expert. The MTA says a major project to bring Metro North Service to the East Bronx will be delayed by three years. The PIN Access project will cost almost $3 billion, open four new stations in the Bronx, and bring Metro North Service to PIN Station. But now, MTA officials say the project won't be complete until 2030 at the earliest. MTA chair, Janna Lieber, blamed Amtrak,

which controls many of the rails involved in the project. If you get into an agreement and you immediately don't comply, it raises issues to whether the agreement was in good faith. The MTA is asking Amtrak to approve an alternative service plan that would bring some metro-north trains to the Bronx in 2027. An Amtrak spokesperson says the railroad company is committed to being a good steward of taxpayer funds. Voters could have a say in the future of housing in New York City. After the break, we look into housing measures on the ballot this election.

cycle. Stay close. Early voting is underway and aside from casting a ballot for a new mayor and city council members, New Yorkers will also decide on a few housing policies. At the heart of these ballot proposals is New York City's land use review process, which outlines the steps required before approving a change to the city zoning rules. Late last year, Mayor Eric Adams appointed a committee to find updates to the city charter that can stream the city's land use review process and speed up development. So this election, New York City voters are being asked to weigh in on four ballot questions, each seeking to reduce the power of the city council.

They're all kind of a check on city council authority or an end run around the council for certain projects. That's WNYC's housing reporter, David Brand. He says two of the measures would eliminate steps from the current land use review process. a review before the community board, an advisory recommendation by the borough president. The city planning commission has a public hearing and also a vote. And then it finally gets to the city council after about seven months of the other public review and the other steps. David says all of these questions proposed trimming the process for certain types of projects,

especially affordable housing development. The third ballot question would create a mechanism for appealing rejections or modifications. One question would establish a three-member panel that would have the authority to override the city council if the council rejects a land use application that's required to build more housing at a specific site. The first three housing measures have support from a broad range of elected officials, including Governor Kathy Hockel and Comptroller Brad Lander. But the city council hates these measures. If passed, David says the measures could be a real loss for council members. The city council has a tradition of member deference, where the whole body votes in line with the local member on land use issues in their district. That gives a local council member this immense influence over zoning and housing decisions.

They can use that power to just straight up block any new housing. But a lot of council members argue that actually they use this power to be the voice of the community. And they can leverage the influence they have here to get more affordable units in a proposal or to get investments from the, the city or developers in infrastructure, schools, roads. There's a fourth measure on the ballot that would digitize the city's official paper maps. David calls it a technical fix for efficiency. It's meant to make it easier for developers and city planners to propose land use changes without having to dig out these decades-old paper maps that are actually contained in

offices in each of the five boroughs, usually in borough hall. Right now, the city has 8,000 paper maps. and some of them date back to the 19th century. That's WMYC's David Brand. It's against the law in New York for a property owner to lock someone out of their apartment without a court order. But already this year, more than a thousand New Yorkers have accused their landlords of doing just that.

WMYC's Samantha Max reports illegal lockouts are a symptom of New York's housing shortage that can have stark consequences for residents. Joan Rodriguez did not expect to live for three years in a homeless shelter. The 51-year-old has worked as a chef for more than two decades. I like to do Spanish food, but I've worked in a lot of American restaurants and I do a lot of continental dinings. In 2022, Rodriguez's landlord locked her out of her apartment.

I spent the night out the first night. Actually, of course, she in the park, because I didn't know. I was so scared I didn't know what to do because I never had that problem. Today, Rodriguez and I are standing outside the downtown Brooklyn apartment where she once lived for about four years. It's a rent-stabilized unit in a luxury building. Rodriguez says she moved in in 2018 to take care of her then-fiancee's sister. He was incarcerated, and his sister, Tina Ann Williams, had Down syndrome. You hear those kids playing like that?

That's how she would be all dancing. She loves to dance. Rodriguez says she loved women. Williams, like her own sister. She was so funny and so cute. In October 2022, Williams died in her sleep from a heart attack, according to court papers. The very next day, Rodriguez says, the landlord locked her out. So I was in shock and then then another shock behind it.

Rodriguez got a new set of keys, but she says a couple weeks later, the property owner changed the locks again. I couldn't believe. It was like a nut. I like this. This is my life? Is this my life right now after all the work I've put in this city? Since then, Rodriguez has been arguing in housing court that she was illegally locked out of the apartment. She says staying at a shelter in the meantime has been really hard. It's chaos and confusing. And if you're late, they take you out. You know, you got to wait for a bed.

If they don't have a bed, they send you somewhere else. The landlord has argued in court that Rodriguez did not have a right to stay in the apartment. But tenant rights attorney Andrew Scherer says those arguments should not have mattered. The landlord can't take the law into their own hands. New York laws prohibit property owners from evicting residents from a rental unless they have a court order. Sherr says that includes changing the locks. Removing somebody from their home is violent and awful and unacceptable. Illegally locking a resident out of an apartment is also a misdemeanor that can lead to jail.

time. The NYPD says police have made more than 70 arrests this year, and the numbers have been climbing over time. In 2022, they made just 30 arrests. State law also allows unrelated people to inherit their loved ones' rent-regulated apartments if they lived together and meet certain criteria. Sherr says whether or not Rodriguez could prove that right in the long term, she should not have been locked out without due process. What kind of world do we want to have where a landlord could simply just put you out of your home and then it's on you to go back to the courts and ask for an order for you to be put back in? An appellate court ruled this summer that Rodriguez's landlord did illegally lock her out of her apartment

and she should be allowed to move back in. She expects to be home by early November. But housing attorney Adam Lightman Bailey says winning an illegal lockout case does not necessarily mean she'll get to stay long term. She should not get comfortable. Lightman Bailey represents property owners. He says Rodriguez's landlord could still go back to court and try to evict her. Do not buy furniture? The building manager says the landlord is waiting to find out if city officials will give Rodriguez a housing voucher.

And if they do, she'll get her. a new lease. Rodriguez says she is feeling hopeful. I feel relieved. So relieving and I sleep a little better. Rodriguez says the first thing she's going to do when she gets home is cook in her own kitchen again. Two chicken.

For Yogi Sal with white rice and beans because, you know, I'm Puerto Rican. That's WMYC's Samantha Max. Before we go, some exciting news for New Yorkers attending the Halloween parade this weekend. The theme for the 2025 New York City Village Halloween Parade is It's a Potluck. Organizers say they chose the theme to send a message of togetherness and spread community. The Grand Marshal is the Food Rescue Organization City Harvest. They take unused food from restaurants and give it to food insecure New Yorkers. The parade is Halloween night at 7 on 6th Avenue between Canal and 15th streets.

Anyone in costume is allowed to participate. So dress up this Friday. Thanks for listening to NYC now from WMYC. I'm Jene Pierre. We'll be back tomorrow.