NYC NOW - March 4, 2024 : Evening Roundup

Episode Date: March 4, 2024

The Adams administration says it almost cleared the backlog of pending food stamp and cash aid applications. Plus, Mayor Adams would like to make it easier for federal immigration authorities to deport migrants accused of serious crimes. WNYC’s Sean Carlson speaks with Muzaffar Chisti of the Migration Policy Institute to learn what a sanctuary city is and what changes could look like. Finally, WNYC’s Ryan Kailath attends a local professional wrestling event in Williamsburg.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City. From WMYC, I'm Jenae Piers. The Adams administration says it's nearly eliminated the backlog of pending food stamp and cash aid applications. WMYC's Karen Yee reports the city has been under fire for its record delays in getting New Yorkers the help they need. The city's Department of Social Services says it's mostly cut through the massive pile up of food stamp and cash assistance cases that peaked at nearly 50,000 last summer. Federal and state laws mandate the city process those applications within 30 days. But for the last year, the city has failed to do so. The turnaround means New Yorkers will more quickly get

much-needed aid to supplement groceries, pay rent, or cover other basic necessities like hygiene products. City officials blamed an unprecedented spike in caseloads for the delay and say they've hired 1,000 new workers, made technology upgrades and made it easier to apply for benefits online. Last year, Mayor Eric Adams made waves after tweaking New York City's right-to-shelter rule, limiting shelter stays to 30 days for single individuals and 60 days for families. Now the mayor is looking to modify the Big Apple's sanctuary city status. That and more after the break. I don't believe people.

who are violent in our city and commit repeated crimes should have the privilege of being in our city. That's Mayor Eric Adams, who twice last week said he liked New York City to modify its sanctuary city laws and cooperate with federal immigration authorities to deport migrants accused of serious crimes. And that begs the question, what would such a change look like and what does it even mean to be a sanctuary city? To answer these questions, my colleague Sean Carlson, spoke with Muzafar Chishti, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and Director of the Office at NYU's law school. Can we start with what is a sanctuary city and how did New York City become one? Well, no, there's no dictionary meaning and there's no legal meaning of the word sanctuary.

So it has evolved over time. And I think people really have a misconception as if, if you're a sanctuary city, the mayor of the city hides unauthorized people under his desk. I mean, that's not what a city does. Sanctuary city policies in our city in New York have evolved since early 80s. They started with Mayor Koch. They were reaffirned by Mayor Dinkins, Mayor Giuliani, Mayor Bloomberg, and Mayor de Blasier, both Republican and Democratic Bears. And they were not immigration policies. They are policies about public safety that the mayors realize that in order for us to improve public safety in our city, we want to make sure that anyone, including immigrants, including unauthorized immigrants, feel safe to report crimes and being witnesses in a crime, that if the

city agency then cooperates with federal law enforcement agencies and threatens the removal, that's going to impede that. That's sort of what the foundation of sanctuary policies are. Each city makes a determination about which violent criminals. are important for them to be removed. And that changes from time to time. The problem is what our mayor is saying, that he's saying that just because someone is accused of a crime, that that should lead to deportation.

That cannot happen in our constitutional system. No matter how bad the migrant crisis is it, we cannot ignore bedrock constitutional principles. Does the city's sanctuary status mean that ICE can't make arrests in the five Burroughs? The ICE can, if it ICE has a warrant, they can make, they can make it arrest. That was the, that was the proposition even at the de Blasio issue, the administration. The issues that does the local law enforcement agency on their own handover migrants to ICE. And that's sort of where the difference is. If they have a warrant, they can arrest anyone they want.

Supporters of the sanctuary designation say it helps to drive down crime. It allows migrants or immigrants to step forward and cooperate with police. The tractors say it encourages people to enter and remain in the country without authorization. Are either of those claims borne out by data? Well, the data shows all studies from across political spectrum show that crime among immigrants, both unauthorized and authorized, is lower than among native-born population. And some of that is obvious that, you know, unauthorized people especially do not want to have a bad brush for the law because there are consequences for that. So it's logical that it's it's lower.

On the other hand, I don't think just because people think that they have constitutional right to protection if they're accused of a crime. I don't think that's the magnet for people to come to the country illegally or to stay here illegal. Now, you mentioned that the first sanctuary policy was based on an executive order signed by then. and Mayor Koch. It's been reissued by his successors, both Democrat and Republican. So what, if anything, can the mayor do in his own to change the city's laws? And does he need the city council for it at all? Exactly. So I think what happened is that the policies in the past from Mayor Koch all the way to Mayor de Blasio were said by the mayors. The man who was most aggressive about non-cooperation

between the city and the federal government was Mayor Giuliani. He actually sued the federal government after a change in the 1996 law. So there's a huge history, bipartisan history on this. I think what changed in the de Blasio administration is that the city council was allowed more leeway in deciding what levels of criminals can be handed over ties. So if the mayor wants to change that policy, he now has to involve the city council. That's my colleague, Sean Carlson, in conversation with Muzaffar Chishti of the Migration Policy Institute. Oh yeah. If you're a wrestling fan, we're talking macho man Randy Savage,

W.W.E. Sports Entertainment Wrestling. You may already know that the independent wrestling scene in New York is thriving. It's professional wrestling on a smaller scale with outrageous characters in elaborate costumes. WMYC's Ryan Kyloth was not familiar with the local wrestling scene, so he stopped by a performance in Williamsburg to take a look. Brooklyn for outlaw wrestling. Oh my goodness. In a church gymnasium in Williamsburg, a crucifix on every wall looks down on a gigantic wrestling ring. A few hundred people are milling about waiting for action.

I can't tell if you guys look like you've been here before or not. Never, and we are beyond excited. Ava Sturmgross, Leah Yasky, and Eleanor Winchell came up from Crown Heights. And by the way, who's in the crowd? Everyone you could imagine. The puns are here. The hardcore. Williamsburg, wrestling.

Bottled guide, middle-aged ladies. Different kinds of mullets. Like some ironic and some unironic. I am Bull James, one of the minds behind the magic, I guess you can say. Pro wrestler Bull James created Outlaw wrestling in 2017, after a stint in the WWE. If World Wrestling Entertainment is like the major leagues, then indie wrestling like Outlaw is the miners. Outlaw has shows once or twice a month year-round, bars and breweries in New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island.

But our lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church here in Williamsburg is home. Born and raised in Greenpoint, who was baptized at this church, so I have a lot of history here. I saw my first live sporting event in this gym when I was about four years old, sitting on my dad's shoulders.

So tonight we have about eight matches. Myself, I'm on the card. So is Tyler Breeze, an old running mate of mine. Crowbar from WCW, Offa Jr. You got this! You got this! We also have some females wrestling tonight. My name is Sunny Kiss, and I'm the Concrete Rose.

I just grew up a wrestling fan. I always loved it. I was a dancer beforehand. I was always an athlete in some sort of way. My name is Bulldog Pitman. Bulldog Pitman. It's a good name. Thank you, man.

Taxi partner, Kenny Bangles, S.E.K. Silk City Kings. What is the origin of that name? Silk City is from, we from Paterson, New Jersey. Yeah, me? Why would you describe it? Get ready for a circus. Broadway with body slams. Hair pulling, toe stomping, grand kicking.

It's not really a competition, more of a performance. A stranger who stumbled in might think this is a drag show. Every character has their own schick. The first bout tonight is a deadhead hippie guy named Man Bun Jesus, versus a villain, what wrestling fans call the he field. Making me look for me a scumbecky guy now. Now making his way to the ring.

This is Mr. Benazant, Sam, Sam. Making me look like a scumbag right now, huh? Ladies and gentlemen, here is... Smeet Pink Shorts, Sense, Blessed. That's WMYC reporter, Ryan Kylo. Thanks for listening to NYC Now, from WMYC. Catch us every weekday, three times a day.

I'm Junae Pierre. We'll be back tomorrow.