NYC NOW - July 10, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: July 10, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: New York City Mayor Adams is rejecting calls to extend lifeguard hours at New York City beaches. WNYC’s Elizabeth Kim reports pressure is mounting on City Hall after four drowning deaths just weeks into the summer. In other news, climate experts say the city is not doing enough to combat major disruptions on New York City’s public transit system due to sweltering summer heat. Also, New York State’s Consumer Protection Division is reminding drivers not to leave kids or pets inside a hot parked car due to the risk of heatstroke.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Wednesday, July 10th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Mayor Adams is rejecting calls to extend lifeguard hours at New York City beaches. Double to NIC's Elizabeth Kim reports, pressure is mounting on City Hall after four drowning deaths just weeks into the summer. Adam says the city's lifeguard shifts are similar to those of other big cities. I think it's more about education.

It's more about identifying what the flags mean when lifeguards are on duty. But Queensboro President Donovan Richards says that's not enough. He says more frequent heat waves are leading to more people cooling off in the ocean. We are ready off to four drowning this year, right? And if that's not caused for a state of emergency, I think the mayor is sorely misled. The Lifeguard Union has fought changes to staffing practices in the past, but the city extended their shifts during heat waves as recently as 2019. New Yorkers who rely on public transit, major highways and bridges might continue to see the sweltering summer heat

disrupt their dearly commutes, those in Connecticut and New Jersey as well. High temperatures during rush hour on Monday, for instance, led to the 3rd Avenue bridge in the Bronx getting stuck open. Climate experts say the city is not doing enough to prevent the chaos. Mona Hamadi is a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University's climate school. She says the high heat is already straining the city's transit systems. We should have some long-term perspective in our mind. So to better prepare for future heat-related disruptions. Hamadi says this might include installing heat-resistant materials,

expanding maintenance schedules, and real-time monitoring. And New York State's Consumer Protection Division is reminding, about some key safety tips amid the high heat and humidity. It says not to leave kids or pets inside a hot parked car because that can lead to heat stroke. The state says don't think it's okay to leave the windows cracked or even fully down. Officials say 15 children have died of vehicular heat stroke in New York State since 1990. 75 now and mostly sunny with a slight chance of showers and storms a high of 89. 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.