NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: ICE Arrests Target Criminals and Non-Criminals in NYC, Public School Attendance Drops, Congressman Zeldin Confirmed as EPA Chief, and MTA Releases New Congestion Pricing Data

Episode Date: January 30, 2025

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Federal law enforcement officers arrested both criminals and non-criminals in high-profile immigration raids earlier this week in New York City. Meanwhile, New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos says public school attendance has dropped three to five percent since President Trump’s inauguration, compared to last year. Also, Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency. Plus, MTA officials are sharing new data in hopes of easing backlash from drivers upset over the agency’s new $9 congestion pricing tolls.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, January 30th. Here's the morning headlines. I'm Jene Pierre. Federal law enforcement officers arrested both criminals and people with no criminal histories in high-profile immigration raids earlier this week in New York City. WMYC's Arias Sundaram has more.

There's been no official count, but the White House. Washington Post reports 20 people were arrested, eight with no criminal records. The Post was among media groups that accompanied enforcement officers on Tuesday. The Trump administration says criminals and gang members were the target, but also warned anyone without legal immigration status could be picked up. The raids come as the Immigration Enforcement Agency steps up activity nationwide. Around 1,000 people have been arrested daily since Sunday. Attendance at New York City's public schools has been lower in the week since President Trump's

inauguration. Schools Chancellor Melissa Avilles Ramos says she's seen a drop of between three and five percent compared to last year. State Senator John Liu asked her about why at a hearing on the state budget. Would it be safe to conclude that a large portion of that drop off in attendance is due to fear by immigrant families and parents? I think what we can safely say is that it is one of several factors. Ramos says other factors include cold weather. Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldon has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency. The Senate voted 56 to 42 in Zeldon's favor. Zeldon represented Long Island's East End in Congress for eight years. He declined to run for re-election in order to run against Governor Hockel in 2022, where he outperformed

expectations, but ultimately lost. MTA officials are sharing new data that they hope will ease the anger from drivers up in arms over the agency's new $9 congestion pricing tolls. Since the fees went into effect on January 5th, the agency says traffic is flowing way faster in certain areas around the city. In the Holland Tunnel, weekday travel times are down nearly 50% from last year. MTH Jan O'Leber says the impact is also being felt far outside the city. They're saving time on the Long Island Expressway as they're headed in. They're saving time on the New Jersey turnpike as they're headed in.

to the hall under the Lincoln Tunnel and big amounts of time on top of what they're saving in the actual tunnel or bridge. The agency notes travel times have slowed in a few locations. Traffic is a bit worse on 9th Avenue and the FDR drive heading south. But overall, the $9 daily toll is having its intended impact of reducing Manhattan's notorious gridlock. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day.

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