NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Judge Blocks Hoboken Luxury Rentals Without Affordable Units, Hochul Defends Vaccine Access, and Queens Residents Fight Proposed Rochdale Village Fee Hike

Episode Date: September 8, 2025

A Hudson County judge has barred the owners of three Hoboken luxury buildings from renting more high-priced units until they add affordable housing. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is defending New York’s vaccine access and criticizing President Trump’s federal health policies, saying they are dividing families. Plus, residents of Rochdale Village in Queens are opposing a proposed fee hike of up to 57 percent, arguing years of mismanagement are putting their affordable housing at risk.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, September 8th. Here's your morning headlines from Michael Hill. A Hudson County, New Jersey judge says the owners of three luxury apartments in Hoboken cannot rent out any more high-priced apartments until they add affordable housing. WMIC's Mike Hayes reports. Granite Countertop. pool decks and terraces overlooking Manhattan.

Even a dog grooming station. That's what you'll find if you're willing to pay up to $6,000 a month for an apartment at Vine Hoboken, Park and Garden, or Artisan on Clinton. What you won't find is affordable housing. A judge says that's a violation of city law. Judge Joseph Terula ordered the owners not to rent any more market rate units until they collectively add 40 apartments reserved for lower income people. The developer's legal team tells WNYC they'll appeal the decision.

New York Governor Kathy Hokel is defending New York's COVID-19 vaccine access and taking aim at President Trump over federal health policy. She told the Buffalo Church limiting vaccine eligibility and funding for public programs are hurting families and dividing the country. I have to stand up as the governor and say, I'm not letting the heel of my state crash out. You're not going to divide us. We will be stronger in the face of what you are doing to us, Mr. President. Governor Hokel has signed an executive order allowing pharmacists to prescribe COVID shots.

That's to counter new federal restrictions and get more people vaccinated. Residents of the Rochdale Village Development and Queens are pushing back against a proposed Fee-Hig saying it would make their affordable housing complex unaffordable. The co-op complex is a Mitchell Lama development where low and middle-income residents can buy below-rate apartments, but it's facing millions and unpaid bills and a backlog of maintenance. The development's board has proposed a 22% increase

in monthly costs as a result. State housing regulators have floated a fee hike of up to 57%, so its management company can pay off its bills. 45-year-long resident and shareholder Rodney Reed says it comes after years of mismanagement. The sentiment is total anxiety, total frustration, and a whole lot of anger because this is of no fault of any of the shareholders. Reid held a rally outside of the development yesterday protesting the price increase. Sixty went in clear right now, sunny and 73. and then tomorrow's sunny and 74 with a light wind, a chilly at night,

and then Wednesday partly sunny and 72. Thursday, we will hit the 80-degree mark. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. More soon.