NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Gov. Hochul Questions Mayor Adams’ Future, NYC Small Claims Courts See Major Backlogs, and Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul says the recent resignations of four top deputies in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration raise serious concerns about his future. Meanwhile, a new analysis reveals that New York City’s small claims courts, meant for quick dispute resolutions, are facing major backlogs, delaying cases for months or even years. Plus, Kids Week continues at the Intrepid Museum, offering hands-on NASA exhibits and STEM activities for students on midwinter break.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, February 18th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. In the news this morning, Governor Kathy Hochle says the resignations of four of Mayor Adams' deputies raise serious questions about his future. WNYC's John Campbell explains. The governor has the power to remove the mayor from office,

and she's convening a series of meeting. to discuss the mayor's fate. A source familiar with the meeting says the governor will speak one-on-one with key New York city leaders, including the Reverend Al Sharpton and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Also on the list are Representative Gregory Meeks, City Council Speaker Adrian Adams, and Comptroller Brad Lander. City and state law lay out the steps the governor would have to take before she could remove the mayor. First, she'd have to provide him with a copy of his charges.

then she'd have to give him an opportunity to be heard in his defense. New York City designed its small claims courts to bring speedy resolutions to common legal disputes from a landlord who doesn't return a security deposit to a contractor who walks off the job. But as WNIC's David Brand reports, a new analysis of court data shows the small claims process is anything but speedy. The report from the New York Public Interest Research Group found cases. Cases are routinely taking more than a year to complete in the city's five small claims courts, far more than other parts of the state. Queens is the slowest. The average case there takes 14 months from start to finish. The report's authors say the lengthy delays are making many

people give up or discouraging them from filing a lawsuit in the first place. They recommended the state hire more judges and staff to work through the backlog. The state's Office of Court Administration says it's reviewing the findings. Kids, we continue that the intrepid Museum as New York City Public School students are off all week for a midwinter break. The museum says the break is the perfect time for discovery and creativity through an array of NASA exhibits and STEM activities, some of which are put on by local institutions like the Metropolitan Opera, Madame Tussauds, and the Brooklyn Robot Foundie. The next two days, 18 to 19th, will feature live performances and author Meet and Greet.

Kids Week is free, and from 10 in the morning until 5 in the evening, daily programming through the 22nd. It's cold this morning, 21 and clear, going up to 27 and the mostly sunny skies, is feeling much colder than that. 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.

Thank you.