NYC NOW - March 19, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: March 19, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Some homeless advocates are criticizing a deal between the Adams administration and the Legal Aid Society over the city's right to shelter, which obligates the city to provide shelter to anyone in need. Meanwhile, after a federal judge held a marathon hearing in Trenton on Monday, Senate candidate Andy Kim's request to change the unusual way ballots are laid out in New Jersey. Plus, Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a review of New York's Office of Cannabis Management, citing the slow pace of its operation process.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Tuesday, March 19. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Some homeless advocates are criticizing a deal between the Adams administration and the Legal Aid Society over the city's right to shelter, which obligates the city to provide shelter to anyone in need. WNMIC's Elizabeth Kim reports. The legal settlement carves out a...

exception that limits single migrant adults to 30-day shelter stays. It also gives the city the right to deny an extension if they don't meet certain requirements. Some advocates argue it creates a discriminatory system that appears rooted in xenophobia. Defending the deal, legal aid attorney Joshua Goldfine says city and state officials initially threatened to gut the right to shelter entirely. Deputy Mayor Anne Williams Isam says the lack of sufficient federal aid means the city needs to triage demands for shelter at a moment of unprecedented demand. It's the day after a federal judge held a marathon hearing yesterday in Trenton on Senate candidate Andy Kim's request to change the unusual way ballots are laid out in New Jersey.

Doubled when I see's Nancy Solomon reports. Witnesses testified for more than nine hours on whether the unique county line that most of New Jersey uses for primary ballots violates Kim's rights. and should be stopped before the election in June. Kim testified that he's at a disadvantage in his race against Tammy Murphy, the governor's wife, because she racked up endorsements from the state's most powerful political bosses, securing her preferential placement on many ballots. The defendants are 19 county clerks who argue they can't make a change so close to the election. All other states have the kind of ballot Kim is requesting. The judge didn't say how quickly he will rule.

Governor Kathy, Hockel is ordering a top-to-bottom review of New York's Office of Cannabis Management. The agency is tasked with processing thousands of cannabis business licenses, and Hockel says she's fed up with the pace of operations. The governor aims to reduce the time it takes for applying for a license to getting a business up and running. New York has approved about 500 dispensary licenses since late 2022. Only 83 are open statewide. Some business owners say they're opening up. are delayed by red tape even after they get licenses.

36 now and partly cloudy in the city, mostly sunny today in Ohio 49. It will be gusty as well as spring begins later today. 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.