NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Gov. Hochul Endorses Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor, Public Defenders Demand Probes into Deaths in Police Custody, and PATH Service Resumes Between Harrison and Journal Square

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, calling him a leader who shares her urgency on affordability and safety despite their differences. Meanwhile, the Legal Aid Society is urging city watchdogs to automatically investigate deaths in custody, citing five cases this year. Plus, PATH trains are running again between Harrison and Journal Square after a weekend suspension for track work, with more shutdowns scheduled in the coming weeks.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Monday, September 15th. Here's your morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York Governor Kathy Hochle is backing Zeran Mamdani from Mayor of New York City and a surprise endorsement published in the New York Times. Governor Hockel says the two have had frank conversations and don't agree on everything, but she sees in Mamdani leader who shares her urgency on affordability and safety, she says he'll stand up and fight back against Donald Trump and calls him someone with courage, urgency, and optimism New York City needs. Mamdani praised Hockel for her focus on affordability and party unity, highlighting her efforts to stand up to Donald Trump, expand childcare, and secure free school meals. public defenders want outside agencies to automatically investigate deaths in police custody after five people died this year while detained by the NYPD.

WNICS Charles Lane reports. The Legal Aid Society sent a letter Friday to City Watchdog saying that the five deaths are, quote, unacceptable and unconscionable. They point to Christopher Nevis, who died in a Brooklyn courthouse holding cell after appearing jaundiced and requesting to go to the hospital. people who died this year were arrested for low-level offenses like drug possession and shoplifting. Legal aid wants the Department of Investigation and the Civilian Complaint Review Board to automatically probe these cases. The NYPD did not immediately respond to our request for comment. Path trains were running again between Harrison and Journal Square stations started at 5 o'clock this morning. Service to the stations had been suspended all weekend for track work, part of a six-weekend

project to install new switches and rebuild a freight bridge over the line. Free shuttle buses had been running in both directions, but delays and detours affected riders heading through Harrison. More weekend shutdowns are scheduled starting next Friday night, this Friday night, and riders can check the Port Authority's website for details. The air quality is moderate today due to some particle pollution. If you're especially sensitive to it, try to reduce the amount of time your active outdoors. If you can, there are high levels of grass pollen in the air. We're in the mid-60s right now with partly cloudy skies, mostly sunny on this Monday with a high temperature right around 79, light wind, and then cool tonight down to 62, then tomorrow partly sunny, mid-70s with shower

chances and cool at night on Tuesday night. Mid-60s now with clouds. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday, three-time. times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives and subscribe wherever you get your podcast. More soon.