NYC NOW - June 9, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: June 9, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The air quality in the region remains hazardous due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, some city officials criticize Mayor Eric Adams for his handling of the city's air quality crisis, and low-income New Yorkers could soon benefit from a free eye exam and glasses program.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Friday, June night. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. 60 and mostly cloudy now. We still have an air quality alert. Widespray to haze early this morning. Showers and storms today could produce small hail and gusty winds,

otherwise mostly cloudy in 72 today. Air quality in the region is largely in the moderate zone this morning, though that may change. During the day, depending on weather patterns, many parts of the area remain unhealthy for sensitive groups. Some schools are open, some are closed. Most New York City public schools close for a clerical day, but the city says students who were scheduled for school will get remote instruction today. Same for staff. New York schools are back, though, with indoor recess. Elizabeth Public Schools will also have recess inside and close at 1215 today for a half day.

Students are advised to wear masks once again. Some city officials have been criticizing Mayor Eric Adams for his response to the city's dangerously poor air quality caused by Canada wildfires. Adams dismisses the critiques and applauds his administration and himself. I wake up every day saying, thank God I'm the mayor to solve these big problems and these small problems. I am just so fit for this moment with the city going through these crises. The exchange with reporters quickly turned tense, as the mayor does. double down on the city's mask distribution plan and the decision not to mandate organizations cancel weekend events. Low-income New Yorkers may soon benefit from a program that provides free

eye exams and glasses. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim has more on a city council bill just approved yesterday. Council member Justin Brannon, who introduced the bill, says that as many as one million city residents could receive the benefit. The idea of giving poor New Yorkers free eye care and glasses arose after he struggled with an eye condition and realized that many others can't afford to look after their vision. How many New Yorkers are struggling with bad eyesight that's affecting their lives and probably affecting their work and their job, but they can't do anything about it because they can't afford it.

Mayor Eric Adams still has to sign the bill, but a spokesperson for the mayor says the administration supports ensuring all New Yorkers have access to eye care. 60 mostly cloudy now. widespread a haze this morning, a slight chance of showers and storms. Watch out for small hail and gusty winds, mostly cloudy in 72. And a reminder, we are still under an air quality alert. Wear a mask if you're going outside.

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.