NYC NOW - July 3, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: July 3, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Some New York State lawmakers are trying to salvage the MTA’s congestion pricing plan and say they might be open to a lower toll. Meanwhile, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of the "Midtown Community Improvement Coalition" on Tuesday. The group of more than 20 city agencies, service providers, and local businesses aims to address quality of life issues in Midtown, including retail theft and unlicensed cannabis shops.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, July 3rd. Here's the morning headlines from Tiffany Hanson. Some New York state lawmakers are trying to salvage the MTA's congestion pricing plan. Governor Hokel paused the plan last month, saying the $15 daily toll for vehicles driving into parts of Manhattan is too high. but she hasn't said what the right price would be. State Senator Brad Hoyleman Siegel says lawmakers are open to a lower toll.

He's also open to a dynamic pricing, which would mean higher tolls when there's more traffic and lower tolls when there's less. Nobody's wedded to 15 bucks. We are wedded to the improvements that congestion pricing will provide for mass transit or safety on our streets for cleaner air. Hockel's pause of congestion pricing has blown a $16 billion hole in the MTA's budget. Substance use, retail theft, unlicensed cannabis shops. Those are just some of the issues in Midtown Manhattan that a new group made up of more than 20 city agencies, service providers, and local businesses hopes to address.

Mayor Adams and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced a launch of what they're calling the Midtown Community Interested. Improvement Coalition yesterday. Bragg says a similar group further uptown known as the 125th Street Hub has been successful. While Midtown doesn't typically have the kind of crime issues facing other neighborhoods, it took a hit during the pandemic as tourism slowed and offices emptied out. Your forecast for today, sunny skies, 83 degrees tonight, partly cloudy, a low of 70, and then for your 4th of July, just a small chance for an afternoon shower. It will be hot and steamy tomorrow with a high near 86 degrees. We're sitting at 69 under a fair sky. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day,

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