NYC NOW - March 11, 2024: Evening Roundup

Episode Date: March 11, 2024

Law enforcement experts question Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to deploy National Guardsmen into subway stations. Meanwhile, one of New York City’s most notorious landlords may be heading to jail after ignoring a judge’s orders to make repairs at 2 Washington Heights properties. Plus, for local news history fans, you can now access the archives of the influential East Village Eye newspaper at the New York Public Library. Finally, WNYC’s Stephen Nessen looks into an uptick in large dogs on the subway.

Welcome to NYC now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNMIC. I'm Sean Carlson. Governor Cathy Hockel's plan to deploy National Guard soldiers into the subway to assist with bag checks is coming under scrutiny. Some law enforcement experts say soldiers are ill-equipped to respond to everyday subway crime. Here's WNYC's MacCats. Experts say National Guardsmen don't have arrest powers. They're not required to video-record encounters or write reports about interactions with the public. and they're not trained in local laws or even handcuffing techniques.

Former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton says random bag chucks, which can easily be eluded, aren't the best way to stop crime underground. When you put one of these programs together in a hurry, you've got to be careful that you cover all the bases. The governor says the intention is to make people feel safer while still protecting civil liberties. One of New York City's most notorious landlords may be heading to jail after a judge ordered his arrest

for putting off hundreds of court-ordered repairs at two Washington Heights properties. On Friday, a judge found Daniel O'Hib Shalom in contempt of court after failing to remove lead paint, fix crumbled ceilings, and get rid of the mice and roaches roaming the buildings for more than a year. Manhattan Legal Aid Services Attorney Ashley Vierrette says tenants are enduring a terrible situation. The building is still in shambles, just dilapidated conditions that have never been repaired in any kind of lasting way. O'Hab Shalom's attorney did not respond to request for comment. The city's sheriff's office who is responsible for making the arrest has not responded to request to comment either. If you're interested in learning more about local news history, you can now access the archives of the influential East Village Eye newspaper at the New York Public Library.

The Iran from 1979 to 1987, it was founded by Leonard Abrams, who edited the paper. At its peak, it had a monthly circulation of roughly 10,000 copies and a global reach. It covered art and culture, including punk and hip-hop, as well as social issues like gentrification and HIV-AIDS. The archives include all 72 issues of the paper plus administrative records. They can be accessed at NYPL's main branch. Up next, the MTA has clear policies about dogs on the subway, but as it turns out, they're rarely enforced. That story after the break. Over the past year, WNIC's transportation reporter Stephen Nesson noticed more large dogs on the subway.

So he went searching for answers. Here's his story. On a half-empty Uptown Q-Train, a chocolate Labrador retriever named Baby calmly sits next to its owner near the front of the train car. While Jojo, a Siberian husky, lies in front of him, creating a small pool of drool on the subway floor. Baby is the most well-behaved city dog in all of New York. Jojo, you can see, you know, maybe a little anxious. Baby's totally cool.

I bring them everywhere. That's dog daddy Derek Newman. He says he doesn't want to break the MTA's rule requiring dogs be kept in bags or crates, but in this case, he just doesn't agree with it. The no dogs on subway rule is ridiculous because there will behave and people love them and there's just no reason not to have them here.

And they need transportation too. They are New Yorkers, right? That's exactly right. Like, we like subways here in New York. I don't want to take an Uber. Like, that's a pain. He says he's never had an issue with police, not even a warning. Most cops see the dogs and smile.

But he's still breaking the rules. The MTA's dog policy dates back to 2004. It states they can't come on trains, unless it's a service animal, or if they're enclosed in a contained, and carried in a manner which would not annoy other passengers. This has led to a genre of photos online of creative bags New Yorkers have shoved their dogs in, like the cut-up IKEA bag. At the dog run in Washington Square Park, 19-year-old Easy Martinez is tossing a ball for her shaggy white poodle named Blue.

Blue's got a goofy smile and looks like he's been slurping muddy water. Martinez says she brings Blue everywhere, including on the subway. I've never had an issue. Nobody's ever questioned or asked us anything. I think there should not be any limitations as to bringing a large dog onto the subway because I think that's the primary mode of transportation for New Yorkers. But not everyone agrees. 54-year-old Sharon Jordan has a smaller lap dog and says she still won't bring him on the train.

If there's a crazy person or something, I would feel bad if he got upset and then he could get stepped on. He could get trampled. It's kind of a free-for-all nowadays, I guess, people just doing what they want. Police do appear to be letting this particular violation slide. Reporting from 2019 shows there were more than 50 tickets issued in the first half of that year. Police issue just 10 tickets last year. MTA board member Andrew Albert says he's a self-professed cat man. But he says if bringing a dog on the train makes people happy, maybe it could boost ridership, too.

If it means more riders are using the trains because they feel funny about putting their dogs in a taxi or something, I think that's great. The MTA declined to comment on the lack of enforcement. Another board member, Norman Brown, speculates no one wants to be labeled anti-dog. That's transportation reporter Stephen Nesson. Thanks for listening to NYC now from WNYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day. I'm Sean Carlson. We'll be back tomorrow.