NYC NOW - June 18, 2024: Morning Headlines
Episode Date: June 18, 2024Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board voted to raise rents by 2.75% on new one-year leases, angering tenants who prot...ested outside the board's meeting Monday night. In other news, a WNYC analysis of immigration court data reveals that the immigration judge who hears an asylum claim in New York City can make all the difference, with approval rates ranging from 97% to 14%. Plus, a federal program run in partnership with the city Department of Social Services will give free air conditioners worth up to $800 to qualifying individuals.
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Welcome to NYC Now.
Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC.
It's Tuesday, June 18th.
Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill.
The City's Rent Guidelines Board has voted to raise rents by 2.75% on new one-year leases.
The decision-angered tenants who were protesting on the sidewalk outside the board's meeting last night.
Bronx renter Eli Boma says the rent hike will make living in the five boroughs even harder.
The increases doesn't really help anyone, especially when you see prices in terms of food going up and wages,
not really meeting that level of necessity.
There's just another hurdle and another headache of what people have to go through in the city.
But landlord groups say the board did not raise rents high enough.
They were demanding a larger increase to cover higher expenses and turn a bigger profit.
increase applies to new leases signed on or after October 1st. The immigration judge who hears an
asylum claim in New York City can make all the difference. That's according to a new WNYC analysis
of immigration court data. It shows asylum approval rates for individual judges range from a high
of 97% to a low of 14%. David Beard directs immigration studies at the Libertarian Thingtank, the Cato Institute.
There have been cases where it'll be like sibling. They'll get a different judge and they'll reach opposite conclusion.
It's to that level where it is extremely subjective to the point of being arbitrary.
Beers says differences can partly be attributed to the kinds of cases assigned to a judge or court, but ultimately judges have discretion.
Judges at the city's main immigration court okayed nearly 85% of claims last year compared to just more than half nationwide.
As New Yorkers braids for the first heat wave of the season, city officials say some people may qualify for a free air conditioner.
A federal program run in partnership with the City Department of Social Services will give anyone who qualifies a free air conditioner worth up to $800.
Some of the people who may qualify include those who make less,
than about 3,000 a month, those who get food assistance and those with health problems that can get
worse in the hot weather. The appliances will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can read more about how to apply on our new site, Gothamist.
72 with sunshine now, sunny and 88, so another warm one today.
And then June 10th tomorrow, mostly sunny and 91 as the temperatures climb toward Friday's high of 93.
72 now.
Thanks for listening.
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