NYC NOW - May 25, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: May 25, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Several Democratic lawmakers met with state legislators yesterday to push for more aid to house migrants, The NYPD officer driving a van that hit and killed a man on Eastern Parkway last spring will not face criminal charges, and a new ranking by The Trust for Public Land puts New York City in tenth place when it comes to big city parks in the United States.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, May 25th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The New York City Council is pushing Albany for more aid to house migrants. Several Democratic lawmakers met with state legislators and members of Governor Hockel staff yesterday. Bronx Council member Althea Stevens says the visit is all about making sure

the federal government knows the state and city are on the same page. We really want to build a collaboration and united front so that we can show the federal government. This is something that they need to act on now. The council members say they're also looking for more state funding on top of the $1 billion the state set aside earlier this month. The Adams administration says more than 70,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since last spring. The NYPD officer driving a van that hit and killed the man on Eastern Parkway last spring will not face criminal charges.

As WNYC, Samantha Max reports, the Attorney General's office says there wasn't enough evidence to officer, to prove Officer Okan Modominal broke the law. Prosecutors say Mamadov was speeding when he drove onto a painted median strip where Ronald Anthony Smith was standing and hit him. But they say police are allowed to break traffic laws

during an emergency. Smith's sister, Julie Floyd, says she's angry but not surprised. Unfortunately, it was due to their own negligence. with my brother, but he paid for it, and they get to walk away, as usual. The NYPD and the city's police watchdog agency are both still investigating whether Mamadov or his partner in the passenger seat violated department policy. The police union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A new ranking puts New York City in 10 place when it comes to the best park systems in the USA. WNYC Samantha Rosen says the trust for public land scores parks on five factors. Those are access, equity, investment, acreage, and amenities like dog parks and restrooms. New York City tied with Boston. It scored high on access. The nonprofit says 99% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. But it scored below average on median park size and also lost points due to a $10 drop in funding per person since last year. Two cities in New Jersey also made the top 100 list.

Jersey City's recent population growth damaged its park per capita. the score, landing them at 45th place. And Newark at 58th place, got things for having small parks. 51 and sunny now. Today's forecast sunny and 68 and brazy, tomorrow's sunny and 73, holiday weekend, 70s, and dry. 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.