NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: City Braces for End of Emergency Rent Vouchers, Con Ed Settles Discrimination Case, and Crackdown on Sidewalk Sheds Moves Forward

Episode Date: March 26, 2025

New York City officials say they’re preparing for the end of a federal rent voucher program that currently helps more than 7,600 low-income households. The Trump administration says the program will run out of money next year. Meanwhile, Con Edison has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a workplace discrimination case involving 17 women and people of color. Plus, the City Council is voting on bills to crack down on sidewalk sheds that linger for years, with the goal of improving public space and holding property owners accountable

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Wednesday, March 26th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York City officials say they're bracing for the end of a federal program that helps thousands of low-income New Yorkers pay their rent. WNMIC's David Brand reports. About 7,600 New York City households use the emergency housing voucher program,

But the Trump administration says it's almost out of cash and ending next year. City Housing Commissioner Ahmed Teghani said his agency thought they had until 2030. The acceleration puts us in a difficult place. He said the city's seeing a voucher recipients can switch to the federal Section 8 program. We are doing a wholesale take of what the Section 8 program can do in order to help preserve options for these families if and when that's funding goes away. A Trump administration spokesperson blamed inflation. and high housing costs for the cut. Con Edison is paying $750,000 to settle a workplace discrimination case.

It involves 17 women and people of color who worked at the utility. WNIC's Julia Haywood has more on the investigation. Con Ed reached the settlement with the New York State Attorney General's office after it found women at Con Ed were referred to by sexist and derogatory names. Investigators found some male employees even refused to work with them. In another case, a supervisor who wore blackface made racially offensive comments and used slurs remained employed for two years after a formal investigation was requested. A con-edison spokesperson said the company is committed to fostering a harassment and discrimination-free workplace,

though it does not admit any wrongdoing. The days of decade-old sheds shrouding New York City sidewalks will be coming to an end. The City Council votes today on bills to lend in the time. line between inspections that requires scaffolding and penalized property owners who leave the sheds up too long. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine helped create the measures and says they'll improve the city'scape. This is a set of policy changes that people will notice. Mayor Adams and Buildings Department say they both support the bills. Forty-two and clear out there right now, slim chance of some afternoon showers today. We'll have some sunshine, high temperature

in the low 50s. Winds could become gusty, especially this afternoon. And then tomorrow's sunny, low 50s, gusty, and here we go again. Opening day in Major League Baseball in the Bronx at 305 Brewers, visit the Yankees, at least for the Yankees and the Brewers it is. We had two games last week in Japan. And then on Friday, mostly sunny and 60. 42 and clear now. Thanks for listening.

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