NYC NOW - February 27, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: February 27, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Democratic lawmakers in Albany will redraw New York’s congressional map after the state Senate and Assembly rejected congressional boundaries proposed by a bipartisan commission. Also, the MTA says people with disabilities will be allowed to have one vehicle exempt from the congestion pricing charge. Plus, research shows that New Yorkers of color are far less likely to live within walking distance of a pedestrian plaza compared to white residents.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, February 27. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Democratic lawmakers in Albany will step in to redraw New York's congressional map themselves. Yesterday, the state of Senate and Assembly reject the congressional boundaries from a bipartisan commissioner. Michael Giannara says the Senate's deputy majority leader. It seems the will of the conferences to reject those lines and get to work with our assembly colleagues on some new proposals.

Move by Democrats to redraw the 26th congressional districts could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House of Representatives in this year's elections. The bipartisan panel approved their version of the map this month, which made modest changes to the current map, giving Democrats a slight advantage to a swing district upstate. Republicans already have threatened to sue if Democrats go ahead with their plan. The MTA says anyone with the disability will be allowed to have one vehicle exempt from the congestion pricing charge. This comes as the agency prepares to launch the tolling programs this spring. Kamala Royo is the MTA's chief accessibility officer. He says the agency will open assessment centers in each barrel 60 days before congestion pricing goes into effect.

Our goal is to get anyone who raises their hand in, through those assessment centers before congestion pricing starts. Anyone enrolled in the MTA's Accessoride program will automatically qualify for exemption from congestion pricing. Congestion pricing will toll drivers to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. The recommended base fare is $15. New research shows that New Yorkers of color are far less likely to live within walking distance of a pedestrian plaza compared to white residents.

WN.M.C.'s Julia Hayward has more. Most New Yorkers don't drive, but many people of color in the city don't have easy access to spaces where cars are banned. That's according to a new report from transportation alternatives, which shows city council districts where a majority of residents are non-white are 37% less likely to live within a half mile of a pedestrian plaza. The group's deputy executive director, Elizabeth Adams, wants to see the city address the issue. It's on us. It's incumbent on our city leaders to designers treat differently. The group points to the pedestrian plaza in Times Square as an example of success and says it's insulation, reduced pollution, and improved quality of life in the area. 42 and clear right now, a 50-50 chance of showers late afternoon, partly sunny, and a high

all the way up near 60 today. 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.