NYC NOW - Evening Roundup: Times Square Casino Backers Withdraw Proposal to Residents, Central Park Leaders Call to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, ICE Must Meet Living Standards at Immigration Holding Areas, and NJ Beachgoers Weigh in on Governor’s Race

Episode Date: August 13, 2025

Backers of a casino proposed for Times Square have reversed course on a proposal to create a $22 million fund benefiting residents of a nearby affordable housing complex. Plus, the Central Park Conservancy says it's time to ban horse-drawn carriages. Also, a judge has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve conditions at their hold rooms in downtown Manhattan. And finally, WNYC’s Mike Hayes hit the Jersey Shore to see how voters are feeling about the upcoming race for governor.

Times Square Casino Backers withdraw their proposal to residents. Leaders at Central Park call on officials to ban horse-drawn carriages. A judge orders ICE to meet living standards at its immigration holding areas, and New Jersey beachgoers weigh in on the governor's race. From WNYC, this is NYC now. I'm Jene Pierre. Backers of a casino proposed for Times Square have reversed course on their proposal to create a $22 million fund

benefiting residents of a nearby affordable housing complex. SL Green, along with partners, Cesar's Entertainment, and Rock Nation, now say they're nixing their proposal to make those casino funds available for use by residents of Manhattan Plaza on 43rd Street. The news site West 42nd Street reports the developer's new plan would earmark millions of dollars

to the West Side Community Fund. That's a charity which, for years, has aided neighborhood groups. The Times Square proposal is among several buying for a downstate casino license. The Central Park Conservancy says it's time to ban horse-drawn carriages, a first for the group that manages the park. WMYC's Julia Hayward has more.

Conservancy President Betsy Smith says recent runaway horse incidents, road damage, and sanitation problems show the carriage trade is unsafe for visitors and harmful to the park. In a letter to city leaders, she called it no longer compatible, with a modern, heavily used public space. The nonprofit is now backing Riders Law, a city council bill named after a horse that was euthanized after it collapsed.

If signed into law, it would end horse carriage licenses in 2026 and help drivers transition to other jobs. The push comes a week after a horse named lady collapsed and died in Hell's Kitchen. A judge is ordering ice to meet basic living standards. at New York's holding area for immigrants. We'll get the details after the break.

A federal judge has ordered immigration and customs enforcement to improve conditions at their hold rooms in downtown Manhattan. That's where migrants are detained before being transferred to other more permanent detention centers. The lawsuit, brought by Make the Road, New York, the ACLU, and some other groups

described overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe conditions for people detained there, sometimes for days at a time. for days at a time. It's the latest development in an ongoing national debate over how ICE treats people in short-term custody. WMYC's immigration reporter, ARIA Sunderam, has been reporting on the case. So, Aria, what exactly did the judge order ICE to do here? So on Tuesday, the district judge, Lewis Kaplan, issued a temporary restraining order for ICE to meet basic living standards at 26th Federal Plaza, which is where they have about four holding rooms for migrants. And that,

includes providing sleeping mats, toiletries, and hygiene products, allowing people to ask for additional meals, granting them regular calls with attorneys, and also fewer people will be allowed in these holding rooms, only about 35 people spread out across the four rooms. And this is after those civil rights groups you mentioned filed a lawsuit with some disturbing allegations of people sleeping on concrete benches or the floor, sometimes for days at a time with as many as 100 people, you know, being given inadequate food at most, only two small meals per day, according to the lawsuit. and being denied basic hygiene items like toothbrushes and menstrual products. And these are exactly the concerns I heard when talking to migrants for a story I did a few weeks ago that was actually referenced in the lawsuit.

Okay, so what does ICE have to say about this lawsuit? Well, in court on Tuesday, there were government lawyers who actually agreed that some of the allegations were true, that people detained at 26 photo plaza are only given two meals per day. That's even though ICE rules require them to receive a meal every six hours. But overall, ICE is otherwise denying the allegations. ICE leadership claims that the facility is not overcrowded, that people receive necessary hygiene products. And the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, said in a statement that this order and this lawsuit are driven by what she said was a complete fiction about 26 Federal Plaza. And she said any claim of subprime conditions at ICE facilities are categorically false.

She also said that the government plans to appeal the order. All right, Aria, so what happens next? Could this lead to more permanent changes at the facility? So this order is an effect for the next two weeks, at least until there's another hearing in the case. Advocates say that this is an important first step, making sure that the facility meets basic conditions of decency and sanitary obligations. But there are still some outstanding concerns about the facility. For example, Congress members are still being denied access to the facility to conduct an oversight visit, an oversight visit that they say that they are legally allowed to conduct. And 12 members of Congress actually sued the Trump administration to gain access to the facility.

That case is still pending. And some lawmakers like Nydia Velasquez say the facility should be shut down entirely. And, Aria, we should note that this is actually a national issue. This isn't just happening in New York, right? Exactly. You know, similar concerns have popped up about ice holding rooms and other cities across the country, like Los Angeles and Baltimore. But an immigration expert I know says that this case, this ruling, is the first major ruling ever requiring. remediation of conditions at ice holding rooms in the country.

That's WMYC's Aria Sundaram. It's August, and in New Jersey, everyone's at the beach. No one's thinking about the state's major election for its next governor until at least Labor Day. Or are they? WMYC's Mike Hayes went down to the Jersey Shore to see how voters are feeling. Summer is the time for sunscreen and funnel cakes. Not a reporter in swim trunks asking questions about politics. Juan Milan is from Moorestown.

I found him on the beach in Asbury Park. I'm asking people about the New Jersey governor's race. Are you following the race at all? Not really, no. I'm just hanging out here. The beach, not trying to really think about all that stuff. This is harder than I thought. Voters might want to just soak up the sun now,

but in less than 90 days, they'll face an election that political experts say will have an unusual outcome no matter who claims victory. That's because New Jerseyans typically vote out the party in power after two terms. But Democratic nominee Mikey Sherrill has led the polls so far. And a win for her would mean a third term for Democrats after Governor Phil Murphy leaves office. We love Mikey Cheryl. Lori Murphy of New Providence was fine with that.

I met her under a beach tent with her family. I just think that she can work with Democrats and Republicans. She's progressive enough, but not too much that it would scare people off. and we need her right now. Polls also show a tightening race. A recent StimSight Research poll showed Cheryl's once healthy 20-point lead has shrunked just six points.

And it shows an increasing number of voters are leaning towards Republican nominee Jack Chitterelli. Voters like Melissa Zon-Frillo from Long Valley. I'm definitely voting for Jack, that's for sure. And we need to flip this red, absolutely, in New Jersey. If Chittarelli wins, that would be a lot of. break a different New Jersey tradition. The state's governor's race has long been considered a bellwether of the national mood. That's because it always comes the year after a presidential

election. And more often than not, New Jerseyans vote against the party in the White House. It could all come down to which candidate gets the most support from undecided voters like Alejandro Fernandez from North Bergen. Is there a particular candidate you're interested in might vote for in the upcoming election? Right now I'm a little undecided, kind of still waiting for a little bit more research. Fernandez says immigration is his key issue, and he's looking for a governor to further President Trump's policies. I'm an immigrant like most of this country is, but just, you know, got to come the right way. For that reason, he's leaning Republican.

What do you think about Mikey Sherrill and Jack Chuderelli? Based on, you know, what I've seen so far, what I've read, you know, I think Jack might be a little better for us. I found Sandra Romero from Bloomfield lounging in a beach chair beside her mom. She's also undecided, sort of leaning towards Cheryl. I think she has a great history. She's a woman. She's been in the military before. I'm supporting her mainly.

I've heard great things about her. Affordability is top of mind for Romero. Housing prices and electricity bills have skyrocketed, for example. And she says if Chittarelli can show her. her a good plan on some key issues, she could switch her vote. So if Jack could come out with a good plan to tackle property taxes, tackle energy, you might switch sides? Yes, maybe. Maybe. I don't think that's off the table. That's WMYC's Mike Hayes. Thanks for listening to NYC now from WMYC. I'm Junae Pierre. We'll be back tomorrow.