NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Felony Assaults Rise in City, RFK Bridge Closures Overnight, and NYC Ranked Best for Walking and Biking

Episode Date: July 17, 2025

Felony assaults in New York City have jumped 45 percent since 2017, even as most other major crimes decline. Meanwhile, the RFK Bridge’s lift span over the Harlem River will close intermittently overnight Thursday from midnight to 5 a.m. Friday. Plus, a new analysis by StreetLight ranks Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx among the top U.S. counties for getting around on foot or by bike.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, July 17th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. On WNYC in New York, 78 with showers at 605, good morning, and Michael Hill. Felony assault in New York City are rising. WNYC's Charles Lane reports the uptick is driven mostly by domestic violence and attacks on older adults. These are serious attacks that cause major injury. They're up 45% since 2017, even as most other crimes fall.

And experts aren't sure why. Anastasia Temur is a criminologist at Cal State Northridge. She says stress from the pandemic could be a factor. There was an extreme stressor on them, which invokes negative emotions, anger, and people just tend to lash out. Others point to better police training and the city's growing senior population. The Triborough RFK Bridge's lift span over the Harlem River will be closed off and on from midnight

tonight till 5 in the morning tomorrow. The MTA says that's to test the spans mechanics and conduct routine maintenance. Each closure will last about 20 minutes. M60 best riders traveling to and from the Guardi Airport should expect delays. Transit officials say drivers may want to consider other routes during the closures. A new analysis from analytics firm Streetlight describes Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens as the nation's top counties for getting around by walking or biking. Michael Rep. Logel is the city's former deputy police commissioner for transportation. He says other places across the country should look to New York for guidance.

Policy and investments matter. If other parts of America aspire to become more sustainable, they need to support. walking, cycling, and public transportation to give people attractive choices. Street life found in most counties nationwide less than 10% of trips are by bike or walking, but in Manhattan, the analysis says nearly 60% of everyday trips are made on foot or by bike. 78 with showers right now in Soho, a heat advisory today. Then today, a chance of late morning and mid-afternoon showers, partly sunny and 92 for a high, but it's going to feel much warmer than that, up to 98, almost 100.

Warm winds gusting as high as 25 miles an hour. And then tomorrow we start to see a cool off, mostly sunny and 84 with the winds gusting to 20 miles an hour. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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