NYC NOW - March 6, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: March 6, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: A new indictment charges New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and his wife with obstruction of justice after federal prosecutors allege they made "false characterizations" to law enforcement about various payments. Meanwhile, the Adams administration says its cost-cutting policies will slash New York City spending on migrants by $1.7 billion through June. Plus, legislative leaders in Albany aren’t on board with Governor Hochul's plan to get rid of a longstanding policy known as "hold harmless," which guarantees school districts at least as much state funding as the year before.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Wednesday, March 6th. Here's the morning headlines from David Furze. New Jersey's Senator Bob Menendez and his wife are facing more charges. WNYC's Nancy Solomon reports. A new indictment charges the Menendezes with obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors allege they made false characterizations to launch,

enforcement about various payments from New Jersey businessmen that the indictment says were in fact bribes. The indictment also says the senator and his wife wrote several checks to the businessmen, who prosecutors allege gave them lavish gifts, cash, and gold bullion. The Menendez's wrote on the checks that they were loan repayments, according to the indictment. One of those businessmen had pleaded guilty and could testify at the senator's trial in May. Menendez has refused to resign his Senate seat and says he's innocent of all the charges. The Adams administration says its cost-cutting policies will slash New York City spending on migrants by $1.7 billion through June. Budget officials touted the savings in appearances before the

City Council this week, their main policy tool, capping migrant stays in city shelters to 30 and 60 days. But not everybody's buying the new figures, City Comptroller Brad Lander noted in his own testimony that the city's cost estimates have been subject to wild swings. Those dramatic variations make it difficult to accept their projections with confidence. City officials say that without the new stay limits, New York City would be pressed to provide for the newest arriving migrants. Legislative leaders in Albany are not on board with Governor Hockel's school funding plan, and now a top aide to the governor says she's open to changes. Hockel wants to get rid of a long-standing policy known as hold harmless.

It guarantees school districts at least as much state funding as the year before. Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousin says any change to that is a non-starter for her. Almost half of the school districts in the state will be receiving less funding than they would have anticipated. We're very, very concerned about that. Now, Hockel's budget director, Blake Washington, says there's room for negotiation. A new state revenue forecast increased estimates by an extra $1.3 billion. Washington says that could lead to changes in Hockel's plan. 48 degrees rain today could be heavy at times this afternoon.

There's a flood watch in effect starting at 1 o'clock this afternoon. 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.