NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Judge Rejects City's Request for FEMA Shelter Funds, House Democrats Grill Mayor Adams, and Manhattan’s 6th Avenue Bike Lane Completed

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

A federal judge has rejected New York City’s request to force FEMA to immediately restore more than $80 million in migrant shelter funds. The city sued after the Trump administration pulled back the grant, citing gang activity at a shelter. The case will move forward, but for now, the funds remain withheld. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers went after Mayor Adams during a House Oversight hearing on sanctuary cities. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned whether the Justice Department’s decision to drop Adams’ corruption charges was part of a quid pro quo with the White House. Also, New York City’s Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez says the protected bike lane on 6th Avenue in Manhattan is now complete, extending four miles through Midtown.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, March 6th. Here's the morning headlines from Tiffany Hanson. A federal judge is rejecting New York City's request to force FEMA to immediately return more than $80 million in migrant shelter funds. The city sued after the agency pulled back the grant money last month, citing concerns. over gang activity at a shelter. But city officials say the move was politically motivated by the Trump administration. A judge ruled yesterday that the city failed to prove it would suffer irreparable harm. The case is allowed to move forward, but the funds will not be restored for now.

Democratic members of Congress hammered Mayor Adams in a House oversight hearing on sanctuary cities yesterday. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez raised concerns about allegations of a quid pro-quo arrangement between the mayor and the Trump administration after the Justice Department moved to dismiss Adams' corruption charges. This right here is the four-alarm fire that everyone must be paying attention to, because if it's not just in the mayor's office of New York City, what other city, what other individual, what other municipality leader can be next. Adams told lawmakers there was no quid pro quo and no agreement. Adams also told, lawmakers, he's willing to work with federal officials on immigration.

The Democratic mayors of Chicago, Denver, and Boston also testified defending their city's sanctuary policies. City Transportation Commissioner, Udanaus Rodriguez, says the four-mile protected bike lane up 6th Avenue in Manhattan is done. Cyclists can now ride from the village to Central Park without leaving a parking-protected bike lane. It's part of a larger effort. by the Department of Transportation to make city streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The 6th Avenue redesign also includes shorter crosswalks and better visibility for turning onto the roadway.

The DOT says they will be implementing two-way bike lanes in Midtown Manhattan along 6th Avenue this year by removing a car lane. And there are high winds projected for this afternoon on local bridges. Starting at 10 this morning, empty truck and tandem trailers are banned from some crossings as a result. And yes, we do have that wind advisory in effect from 6 p.m. this evening until 4 p.m. tomorrow. Just a slight chance for an early morning shower right now, 53 and overcast. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day.

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