NYC NOW - February 28, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: February 28, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Democrat Tom Suozzi is to be officially sworn in as representative of the third congressional district in eastern Queens and neighboring Nassau County. Also, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says he'll create a new tax on the state’s largest corporations. The revenue will be dedicated to NJ Transit. Meanwhile, a new audit by comptroller Brad Lander shows that New York City is wasting millions of dollars on no-bid, emergency contracts for migrant services.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Wednesday, February 28th. Here's the morning headlines from David Furts. Residents of the 3rd Congressional District in eastern Queens and neighboring Nassau County. We'll finally have a representative in Congress today. WNYC's Bridget Bergen reports on the representative replacing the ousted George Santos. In a special ceremony later this evening, House Speaker Mike Johnson will swear in Democrat Tom Swazi,

who will officially become the representative of the third congressional district. Swazi beat the Republican nominee Mazi Pillop by a wider than expected eight-point margin in a special election earlier this month. He won't need much time to get oriented. Swazi served in the House for three terms before stepping down in 2022 to run for governor. And even as he starts to get to work, The next election is not far off. Republican Greg Hack, an attorney, small business owner, and Air Force veteran plans to challenge him in the general election in November. Governor Phil Murphy says he'll create a new tax on New Jersey's largest corporations,

and the revenue will be dedicated to New Jersey Transit. WNYC's Nancy Solomon reports on the governor's annual budget address. New Jersey Transit is facing a billion-dollar deficit next year. Advocates had been urging the governor to reinstate a. a corporate tax surcharge he'd let expire and use it for the transit agency. That original surcharge taxed companies that earn more than a million dollars a year in profits. Murphy's new transit tax will only affect companies that earn more than $10 million a year. That will raise about $800 million and create a stable source of funding for the commuter rail and bus agency.

Murphy's budget now goes to the legislature they have until the end of June to work out an agreement. A new audit by Comptroller Brad Lander shows that New York City is wasting millions of dollars on no-bid emergency contracts for migrant services. Landers' office looked at four major contracts for staffing migrant emergency shelters and welcome centers. Among the findings, contractors charged, quote, exorbitant rates that varied wildly from company to company with little oversight. One example, bills for off-site managers ranged from $57 an hour to more than $200 an hour. A spokesperson for Mayor Adams' office defended the city's response to the migrants' crisis and said it would review the audit and fix what's needed. 51 degrees fog and mist this morning with some lingering rain showers, then cloudy and breezy today with a high near 60 degrees. A wind advisory kicks in at 4 o'clock this afternoon.

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.