NYC NOW - Midday News: Charges in Bronx Shooting, Two People Die in NYPD Custody, and a Reflection on the Career of Representative Jerry Nadler

Episode Date: September 3, 2025

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch is sending a thousand extra officers to the Bronx after a recent spike in shootings. Plus, the NYPD is investigating the deaths of two men in police custody over the weekend. And finally, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer reflects on the career of Representative Jerry Nadler, who announced this week he will not seek reelection.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. Here's the midday news. I'm Jene Pierre. Police say four people are facing charges in connection with a shooting in the Bronx that killed one man and injured four others this week. NYPD officials say two of the suspects got out of a car and started firing onto a sidewalk in Allerton around 7.30 Monday night, killing 24-year-old resident Jamari Henry. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the NYPD is sending 1,000 extra officers to the Bronx after a recent spike in high-profile shootings. And my expectation is that those officers are going to quell some of the violence that we've seen over the past two weeks. The four people accused in Monday's shooting are charged with attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment. Two of them are also charged with manslaughter.

Their attorney information was not immediately available. Two men died in NYPD custody and separate instances over the weekend. WMYC's Charles Lane reports both had been arrested for low-level crimes. 29-year-old Musa Setton was arrested in Midtown for unpaid pedicab fines. Police say he was found hanged in his cell and died two days later at Bellevue Hospital. That same day, 46-year-old Christopher Nieves suffered what police called a medical episode at Brooklyn Criminal Court after being arrested for allegedly stealing from a whole. Whole Foods. Legal aid attorney, Ariel Reed, says the deaths reflect failed policy. Throw them in jail. Don't actually get at what is causing the underlying behavior in an attempt to solve that. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has said she's not bringing back broken windows policing,

but that more low-level arrests help make New Yorkers feel safer. Stick around. There's more to come. This is NYC now. Jerry Natler will not seek re-election next year after representing parts of New York City and Washington for more than 30 years. Natler's decision represents a changing of the guard in Manhattan politics. Here to talk Natler's legacy is someone who has known him for decades, former city controller and former candidate for mayor, Scott Stringer. Welcome to the show. It's good to be on with you.

Happy to have you with us. So I know that you worked as Natler's aide and campaign manager in his run for Congress back. in 1992 before succeeding him in the Assembly. What drew you to Nadler as a young up-and-coming politician? One of the great gifts that the Congressman, I think, will be remembered for was his ability, even 30 years ago to bring people, younger people, into the political process and nurture them and mentor them. And there is a whole group of people, not just me, but a whole group of people who got their start with Jerry Navler fighting the political wars on the Upper West Side. And he really built a group of progressive-minded people who went on to do some really good things, myself included,

and it was really because of his mentorship. So I was attracted to him at an early age because he wanted people like me to be part of the political process. And I was really grateful to play a role, running his campaign for Congress, working for him, and then working as his colleague. Yeah, what a wonderful legacy for him to have. Now, as I mentioned, you succeeded Nadler in the Assembly in 1992 when he was elected to Congress. Are you interested in running for his seat in Congress? Look, I've had this incredible career as a state legislator, as a borough president, as controller, ran for mayor. I think at this moment in time, this seat, which is so special, special needs to be somebody who can work the seniority system, meaning someone who is young,

somebody who has long-term views and purpose. Look, we got to fight Trump and we've got to defend Social Security, but I'm not sure in defending Social Security, we need somebody in Congress who is eligible for Social Security. This is about the retirement security, also of our next generation of families, people who are young coming to the city, making it vibrant. So for me, I'm looking for that next-gen candidate who can, you know, do what Jerry Nadler did a generation ago. And they're out there. And they're going to be talking about running. Yeah, yeah. You're talking about a new, a next-gen candidate. Any names in particular? You know, there's a great article by Tom Allen today in city and state listing all the candidates who could possibly run. And we haven't even

figured out the next 10 of them that will be running in the next few months. But look, I'm a fan of Michael Lacher, who in his time of the Assembly's already taken on Trump and redistricting. There's a lot of other candidates who are also very impressive, young and dynamic, and I think we should give them an opportunity to be heard. I'm not going to endorse anybody until they actually say they're running, but I expect to be involved in this race. Yeah, but it's safe to say that you foresee a crowded race, right?

Hey, this is Manhattan. If it ain't crowded, we did something wrong over 30 years. Most definitely. So Nadler said that he reached his decision after seeing the controversy surrounding President Joe Biden's short-lived re-election campaign. You recently lost the Democratic primary to Assembly member Zoroamam Dani, who's 33 years old. Do you agree politics is in need of a youth movement right now? Look, I think we have to – look, I don't think – you minimize experience and record building because long term that's going to hurt the next generation. But I do think you have to value people who have been in the trenches who are new and fresh voices. Look at the impact AOC has had, for example, on the body politic, not just in her district, not just in New York City, but across America. And who is she teaming up with? Bernie.

So sometimes, you know, sometimes a new energy coupled with experience, I think it could have an amazing impact in this country. And that's exactly what we tried to do when Jerry was running for Congress, when I ran for Borough President. You know, we were the new kids on the block. We were the people who were told to wait our turn. And because of our organizing and our politics and community work, we were able to also get a shot at governing. And I think that's important. And I think the success of a Mundani administration will not just be because of youth. It'll be because he attracts himself and surrounds himself with a government of veterans who know how to achieve those goals if he's successful.

Our guest has been Scott Stringer. Thanks so much for joining us. Thanks. Good to be on. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Check us out for updates every weekday, three times a day for the latest news headlines and occasional. on deep dives and subscribe wherever you get your podcast.