NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Gov. Hochul’s Plan for Police on Overnight Trains Comes at a Cost, NYPD Ends Car Chases for Minor Offenses, and Lander Leads in Mayoral Campaign Funding

Episode Date: January 16, 2025

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to deploy police on overnight subway trains will come with a significant price tag. Meanwhile, the NYPD has ordered officers to stop pursuing cars for minor infractions to improve safety. Plus, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander received the largest public funds payment of any mayoral candidate so far this year, WNYC’s Brigid Bergin reports.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, January 16th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Governor Kathy Hokel's plan to put cops on overnight subway trains will come with a big price tag. WNMIC's John Campbell explains. The governor says her subway safety plan will cost about $77 million. The bulk of that will be.

will pay for officers on an estimated 150 overnight trains over the next six months. Hockel says she's focused on the late night hours because that's when more crimes are committed. There's a lot of anxiety late at night on these trains and I want to tamper that down, but also send a message that if you're trying to do something harmful to others, you will be caught. A spokesperson for the governor says about 300 officers will be stationed on overnight trains. Bronx Representative Richie Torres, who is eyeing a run for governor himself, is criticizing the governor's plan. He says the cops should be in place even during daylight hours.

The NYPD is ordering officers to stop chasing cars from minor infractions. Going forward, they may pursue a car when they suspect someone of a violent misdemeanor or felony. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says the new rule aims to keep New Yorkers safer. She says last year a quarter of police car chases ended in crashes with property damaged or someone getting hurt. That added up to 570 collisions last year or more than one and a half a day. Commissioner Tish says the new policy should reduce car chases by two-thirds. The police union endorses the change, saying it provides clarity on what's allowed. New York City controller Brightlander got a big boost to his mayoral campaign.

WNYC's Bridget Bergen reports he received the largest public funds payment of any candidate so far in this year's race for mayor. The New York City Campaign Finance Board awarded Lander more than $2.9 million in matching funds using the city's generous 8-to-1 public match program. Lander passed the thresholds to qualify last month, but a paperwork issue prevented him from receiving the money then. He's corrected it since, becoming one of the only mayoral candidates to receive matching funds so far. Former city controller Scott Stringer also received another $68,000, on top of the $2 million payment. last month. The board is withholding public matching funds from Mayor Adams because of his ongoing criminal case. Twenty-five with clouds out there. Now, we have a slim chance of some late afternoon snow showers today. Increasing clouds are high right at the freezing mark, but feeling as

cold as 20. Then tomorrow, warming up to near 40 with sunshine, but again, feeling as cold as 20. 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.