NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Governor Hochul Calls to Abolish Electoral College, Manhattan Man Charged with Sex Trafficking, and Report Shows Decline in NYC Chain Stores

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The New York Electoral College cast its ballots for president Tuesday, and Governor Hochul used the moment to call for abolishing the process altogether. WNYC’s Jon Campbell reports. Meanwhile, prosecutors say a Manhattan man sexually assaulted and trafficked a 16-year-old boy. WNYC’s Catalina Gonella has the details. Finally, a new report finds chain retailers are closing brick-and-mortar stores across New York City as more shoppers turn to online shopping.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, December 18th. Here's the morning headlines from David Furze. The New York Electoral College cast its ballots for president yesterday, and as WNYC's John Campbell reports, Governor Hokel made the case for abolishing the process. The Democratic governor oversaw the proceedings

where New York's 28 electors officially voted for Kamala Harris. But Hockel says if it were up to her, the electoral college wouldn't exist. I strongly believe that the people of New York State and the United States of America should and must have their votes count equally. The governor wants to amend the Constitution to abolish the electoral college process, but that's a major long shot. It would require three-fourths of states to go along with it. Prosecutors are accusing a Manhattan man of sexually assaulting and trafficking a teenage boy. WNYC's Catalina Gonella reports.

Matthew Halsted is charged in a 104-count indictment with sex trafficking, using a child in a sexual performance, and promoting that content. That's according to District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who said the allegations were, quote, horrifying. Court documents allege that child was staying. with Halstead in his Washington Heights apartment after having ran away from child protective services from March to August. That's when police were called for what appeared to be an argument between roommates. From there, authorities launched an investigation, which remains ongoing.

Halstead's attorney could not be reached for comment. Chain retailers are struggling to keep brick and mortar stores in New York City with more and more shoppers taking their business online. A new report from the Center for an Urban Future says chains shut down 109 stores over the past year. That's a 1.3% net decline. TGI Fridays and Oakley stores disappeared from the five boroughs entirely. Jonathan Bowles is a co-author of the report. Every year we seem to be seeing more clothing stores, shoe stores, store selling cosmetics and jewelry, cutting back, reducing their footprint in the city because,

it's just so hard to compete with e-commerce. Some food chains are bucking the trend. Duncan and Starbucks are still going strong. Popeyes picked up 13 locations in the city this year. 44 degrees now, going up to 51 today, mostly sunny this morning. Rain is expected this afternoon, mostly after 4 p.m. tonight, rainy and breezy overnight. This is WNYC.

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.