NYC NOW - February 20, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: February 20, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: A New York City housing survey reveals increasing issues with peeling paint, mold, and rodents in apartment buildings. NYU researchers suggest sick tenants could pinpoint hazardous conditions before making official complaints. Meanwhile, In New Jersey, proposed legislation would require registration and liability insurance for e-bike and scooter owners. Plus, renowned Greenpoint, Brooklyn, metal music venue, Saint Vitus, has shut down due to missing permits for large gatherings.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, February 20th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The latest New York City housing survey shows peeling paint, mold, and rodent infestations are on the rise across city apartment buildings. WNYC's David Brand reports some NYU researchers say sick tenants could help identify hazardous living conditions before anyone ever files a complaint.

The researchers looked at health insurance claims from tenants living in buildings on the public advocate's landlord watch list to see how poor housing conditions worsen breathing problems, heart conditions, and even mental illness. They published their study in the journal Health Affairs this month. Their housing health index uses Medicaid data from tenants at over 22,000 buildings to predict where living conditions were most hazardous. They say, the city can use their method to figure out where building inspectors need to go. A new bill would require New Jersey residents to register their electric bikes and scooters. If the bill passes, it would also require riders to have liability insurance and personal injury

protection coverage for pedestrians. During the committee hearing, a city bike spokesperson said this bill with triple insurance expenses associated with each e-bike ride, which would mean New Jersey riders would pay fares way higher than New York City. riders. City bike operates in New York City, Hoboken, and Jersey City. The bill has passed the Senate Transportation Committee in New Jersey and is heading now to the Senate Budget Committee. City metal fans and musicians are facing uncertainty after the shutdown of a popular Greenpoint music venue on Friday. St. Vetus Bar has been putting on metal, hardcore, and punk shows since 2011. Mick Grinsey is the vocalist for the band Death Island. He said the van was postponing a

show originally scheduled for tomorrow. It really has become like a pivotal venue for New York's underground music. It really just bumps me out to see it. I don't know if I would say attacked this way, but it does kind of feel like an attack. Staff closed the venue after months of complaints to the city department of buildings claiming the venue did not have permits to host large concerts. It's not yet clear when the bar would reopen. The bar did not return WNYC's request for comment. 28 and clear, sunny and cold today, Ohio 37, the real feel in the 20s tomorrow. Slightly warmer, mostly sunning up to the low 40s Thursday, the mid-40s under sunshine. 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.