NYC NOW - July 7, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: July 7, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The federal government pledges $7 billion for two new Hudson River rail tunnels, doubling train capacity to New York Penn Station. Meanwhile, the family of Ronald Anthony Smith, fatally struck by an NYPD van last year in Brooklyn, files a lawsuit against the department. Finally, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lauds the NYC Council for pushing Mayor Adams to reinstate funding for crucial city services like public libraries.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Friday, July 7th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. 75 and cloudy. Fog this morning, patchy fog, partly sunny today in 86 for a high. The federal government is committing nearly $7 billion to the massive infrastructure project that will build two new rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River,

and double the number of trains that can run in and out of New York Penn Station. Carlos Monhe is the U.S. Undersecretary of Transportation for policy. This project is a key link in our national economy. It is key not only to the New York region, but to the entire East Coast, really to the whole country. Every day, 200,000 people travel through this tunnel. The current tunnels in the Penn are more than 100 years old and need repair after damage from Hurricane Sandy.

The Gateway Development Commission says some work on the new tunnels can get started this year. They're expected to open for service in 2035. The family of a man in NYPD van hit and killed last year in Brooklyn is suing the department. WNIC's Catalina Gornaylor reports. It's been more than a year since 53-year-old Ronald Anthony Smith was struck and killed by a police vehicle on Eastern Parkway. State prosecutors say there isn't enough evidence to charge the officer. involved. Now his family is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the NYPD. They say Officer Orkon Momadov was striving recklessly and that he and his partner, Officer Evan Segal, failed to administer

CPR or first aid after the collision. The suit alleges Smith died as a result of their negligence. Smith's family is calling for both officers to be fired. And NYPD spokesperson says the department will review the lawsuit if and when it is served. The Police Benevolent Association represents both officers and did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is commending the New York City Council for pressuring Mayor Adams to restore funding in the city budget to key services like public libraries. Especially when it comes to concerns around public safety as well as many other issues, we know that in order to address those issues, we need robust investments in education,

in youth summer employment. Ocasio Cortez, the leading progressive lawmakers, spoke to WNYC after a Bronx town hall last night. 75 were clouds out there right now, some patchy fog this morning, otherwise partly sunny, in 86 on this Friday, July 7th. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC.

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