NYC NOW - February 29, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: February 29, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: New York's brand new congressional map gives Democrats a boost in two key districts. But as WNYC's Jon Campbell reports, Republicans were fearing a tougher situation. Meanwhile, the New York City Council will hold a hearing this Thursday on a proposal to provide added protection to workers who accuse their employers of harassment or discrimination. Plus, New York State lawmakers have just a few weeks to decide whether to approve funding for a plan to close SUNY Downstate's hospital in Brooklyn, and open an outpatient clinic instead.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, February 29th. Here's the morning headlines from David Furtz. New York's brand new congressional map gives Democrats a boost in two key districts. But as WNYC's John Campbell reports, Republicans were fearing a tougher situation. Governor Hokel and state lawmakers approved the new congressional boundaries, putting an end to a years-long legal saga that saw the state's political map replaced twice.

One of the districts picking up Democrat-leaning turf is Representative Tom Swazis in Queens and Long Island, which should help his re-election chances this November. But Republicans have been bracing for a more aggressive gerrymander, especially once Democrats in Albany decided to draw the lines themselves. The GOP had been threatening a lawsuit for months, but now New York's Republican House delegation is largely on board with, the map, including Mike Lawler, whose Hudson Valley Swing District is unchanged. The New York City Council holds a hearing today on a proposal to provide added protection to

workers who accuse their employers of harassment or discrimination. Councilmember Lincoln Ressler says local laws give workers up to three years to file a claim in civil court, but he says some companies require employees to sign forms agreeing to a window of as little as six months. That's not fair. That's not right. It takes time. after incidents of discrimination or harassment to process what's happened, to recover, to find an attorney, to file a claim, and six months is quite simply not enough. Wrestler's bill would nullify any such contract provisions. He says companies employing thousands of workers would benefit from the measure. That includes workers at Northwell Health,

the state's largest private employer. A company spokesperson declined to comment. New York State lawmakers have just a few weeks to decide whether to approve funding for a plan to close SUNY Downstate's Hospital in Brooklyn and open an outpatient clinic instead. Governor Kathy Hochel is asking for $400 million for the plan in the state budget, which has to be finalized by April 1st. SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. says the hospital has no choice. The hospital has been in real financial trouble for at least 15 years, maybe longer. and has a $100 million annual deficit. But critics say there isn't enough transparency around how the plan will impact patient care. No other area hospital has yet said if it could absorb downstate's patients.

32 degrees right now, still breezy this morning with gusts up around 30 miles per hour possible. It will be mostly sunny today. We're expecting a high of 41 this afternoon. Tonight, it stays mostly clear with a low of 28. This is WNYC. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day,

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