NYC NOW - June 4, 2024: Morning Headlines
Episode Date: June 4, 2024Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: The chief judge of New York's highest court says there is a crisis in providing free lawyers to those who can't afford th...em. In other news, more than 230,000 households have applied for a spot on the city's Section 8 wait list since it opened on Monday for the first time in 15 years. Plus, three Andean bears born this year have left their birthing den and are ready to meet visitors at the Queens Zoo.
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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 4th.
Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill.
The Chief Judge of New York's highest court says there's a crisis when it comes to providing free lawyers to people who cannot afford them.
WNYC Samantha Max reports.
Chief Judge Rowan Wilson was weighing in on an appeal from a man who says his trial attorney,
didn't represent him well enough.
Wilson then used his written decision on the case
to lay out in detail what he sees
as the issues with New York's defense system for low-income people.
Steve Zidman with CUNY Law School
says the chief judge is using his power on the bench
to show he takes the rights of people charged with crimes seriously.
So for New York's chief judge to say,
okay, I'm going to issue a rather public call for change
was long overdue but incredibly welcomed. Wilson urged the state to set aside more money for lawyers
who represent low-income people. How badly do New Yorkers want affordable housing? Here's an indication. More than
230,000 households applied for a spot on the city's Section 8 wait list in just 17 hours yesterday.
The New York City Housing Authority, or NITHA, runs the Section 8 program, which covers the
majority of the rent for low-income tenants. NICHA officials began accepting
Section 8 applications for the first time in 15 years yesterday. They say the number of
submissions swell to 230,000 by 5 p.m. The application portal is open until the stroke of midnight
on Sunday, visit the NITHA website to apply. Three Andean bears have left their birthing den and are ready
to meet visitors at the Queen Zoo after being born this year. Double B.NIC's Charles Lane
reports. Andy and Bears normally have two cubs at a time, which makes the recent births a blessing.
according to Queen Zoo Director Mike Allen.
They're still kind of figuring out like where their limbs are.
It's kind of fun to watch them sort of walking around and trying to climb for the first time
and then sort of wobble every once in a while.
Climate change and population growth are reducing the bear's natural habitat in the Andean Mountains
of Columbia and Bolivia.
The Queen Zoo breeds them as part of a special program organized by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums.
They'll be given to other zoos in the U.S. when they reach adulthood.
For now, they're available for viewing during the Zoo's Ours.
operating hours. Right now, take a look at this forecast. 67 and partly sunny, mostly sunny today
in a high of 82, then tomorrow, slim chance of afternoon showers and storms in a high of 80.
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
podcast. See you this afternoon.