NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Local Bars Brace for Tariff Impact, Lawmaker Challenges Hochul’s Budget Powers, and NYPD Defends Gang Database

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

New York City business owners say they’re struggling to plan under the uncertainty caused by President Trump’s new tariffs on foreign goods. Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is pushing legislation to curb Governor Hochul’s leverage in budget negotiations, as the state budget remains overdue. Also, police credit a controversial gang database with helping to indict 16 people tied to a string of shootings in East Harlem, even as the City Council weighs shutting the tool down.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, April 9th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York City bar owners say they're feeling anxious about President Trump's new tariffs, which add cost increases to foreign goods. They say they're unsure how to plan amid so much uncertainty. John Roberts owns a popular Brooklyn bar called Bushwick Country Club.

says the news feels chaotic. So beer's going to be more expensive. Is imported beer going to be more expensive? Is Jameson going to be expensive? It's all up in the air, like everything. Other bar owners say they've been stocking up on their most popular imported booze and American-made wines. A top New York lawmaker wants to curb Governor Hokel's power in state budget talks. WNIC's John Campbell reports the move comes with the budget. more than a week late. Assembly Speaker Carl Hasty has a bill that would let lawmakers get paid when the budget is late, but only if the governor includes unrelated policy items in her budget proposal. The Bronx Democrat says the governor's priorities are what's holding things up.

This is why year after year after year budget's late. It's never late because of the numbers. Never late. Lawmakers pay is suspended by law when the budget's overdue. Hockel wants to change the state's criminal discovery laws. as part of this year's budget. Her spokesperson says lawmakers should pass the governor's proposal if they want their paychecks. Police are crediting a disputed gang database for helping to indict 16 people allegedly behind half the shootings in East Harlem last summer. W&MAC's Charles Lane reports.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said two rival groups were involved in 21 shootings between March and September, opening fire in playgrounds, lobbies, and near bus stops. NYPD chief of detectives Joseph Kenney says it is a vetted and reliable tool. You have to either self-admit. We identify you through social media or through law enforcement. We just can't, you know, just put, add people into the database because we want to. The City Council is considering abolishing the database, citing concerns over racial profiling and lack of evidence. 33 and clear right now, under a freeze warning, a pretty good indication that it is cold out there this morning.

sunny and 49 for a high today. And then tomorrow, partly sunny, low 50s for a high temperature. Friday, look for some rain in the afternoon, cloudy and a high once again of 52. Quick look at your weekend, Sunday, or actually Saturday afternoon, rain and showers, low 50s, Sunday is slim chance of showers and mid-50s. Once again, 33 and clear under a freeze warning till 9 this morning. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC.

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