NYC NOW - June 2, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: June 2, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Albany lawmakers are wrapping up their annual session next week with no major housing policies expected, a government employee found guilty in the "Bridgegate" case is pushing for the Port Authority to cover his $4 million legal expenses, Sotheby's renowned art gallery is headed to the Museum Mile, and New York City landmarks are lighting up to celebrate Pride month and honor the city's LGBTQ+ communities.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Friday, June 2nd. Here's the morning headlines from Tiffany Hanson. Albany lawmakers are set to end their annual legislative session next week, but don't count on them to pass any major housing policies before then. WNYC's John Campbell has more. Earlier this year, Governor Hokel laid out a wide-ranging housing plan.

She says it would have created hundreds of things. thousands of units over the next decade. But it would have required local governments to increase their housing stock or give up control of their zoning decisions, which many lawmakers resisted. Now, Assembly Speaker Carl Hastie says a comprehensive plan is going to take more time. I think when you want to do transformational change, I really think that really needs to be time for a collective buy-in, and I'm just not sure that that was able to happen with the housing program. The legislative session is scheduled to end June 8th. And one of three government employees convicted in the so-called Bridgegate case is continuing his fight to get the Port Authority to pay his

$4 million legal bill. WNYC's Nancy Solomon reports. Bill Barone and Bridget Ann Kelly were both convicted in the Traffic Jamez political retribution scheme concocted to benefit Chris Christie's reelection campaign in 2013. Their convictions were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the state of New Jersey agreed to pay Kelly's $7 million legal bill. Now Baroni's lawyer has written to a judge arguing the Port Authority should pay his legal fees, citing Kelly's case. The state of New Jersey has paid nearly $26 million in outside legal costs. Christie was never charged in the case. He's expected to declare his second run for the presidency next week, nearly a decade after the scandal.

it's June, so it's Pride Month, and several New York City landmarks will be lit up in honor of LGBTQ-plus communities in the city. Starting at Sundown City Hall, the municipal building, the Spring Street Salt Shed, and the Bronx County Courthouse will all be illuminated with rainbow colors of the pride flag. But that's not all. The rainbow pride flag, as well as pink, white, and baby blue trans pride flag will also be flying at City Hall for the month of June. Quick look at the forecast. First of all, we have a national. Weather Service air quality alert for today. The New York Department of Health recommends people limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially those with pre-existing respiratory concerns. A chance for afternoon showers today on the way up to 90 degrees. 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.