NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Man Arrested in Fatal Subway Fire, Renters Struggle With Security Deposits, and 9/11 Health Program Faces Funding Crisis

Episode Date: December 23, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: The NYPD credits surveillance images for the swift arrest of a man accused of setting a sleeping woman on fire, killing her on an F train Sunday. Meanwhile, some renters in NYC face challenges recovering security deposits when moving out. WNYC’s David Brand reports. Finally, FDNY members are outraged after funding for a 9/11 health care program was left out of the federal budget, threatening financial support for 35,000 responders with 9/11-related illnesses.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, December 23rd. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The NYPD says quick action allowed them to arrest a man suspected of lighting a sleeping woman on fire, killing her on an F subway train yesterday morning. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says surveillance images taken from police body cameras and in-trained subway cameras help police disseminate images of the person of interest.

Police say that prompted three high school-age New Yorkers to alert the NYPD. We asked the media to broadcast those images far and wide so we could use the viewing public as a force multiplier. And New Yorkers came through again. Police say the arrest of the man soon after, while riding on another train in Manhattan near Harold Square yesterday, they have yet to release his name. It's a problem many New York renters face. You move out and a landlord does not return your security deposit. What do you do? WNYC's David Brand has more.

Five tenants spoke with WNYC after spending months or even years trying to force the same landlord to return their security deposits. They filed complaints with the state attorney general and sued in small claims court. Some even won their cases, but they still didn't get the cash. That is, until WNYC published the story on their experience. The landlord sent money to three of them in the following days. Thousands of other renters are dealing with a similar problem. The State Attorney General's Office has received more than 9,000 security deposit complaints from tenants over the past four years.

FDNY members are angry after money for a critical health care program for 9-11 first responders was left out of the latest federal spending plan. Advocates warned the lack of funding could leave 35,000 people battling cancer and other 9-11-related illnesses in financial uncertainty. Andrew Ansborough is president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. We all made the promise to never forget. Never forget was a promise made by the American people to look after those that answered the call that day. Union leaders say a bipartisan deal to extend funding for the World Trade Center health program. through 2040 fell apart during negotiations.

Some lawmakers have pledged to restore that funding next year. 15 and clear right now, sunny in Ohio 29. A real feel as cold as 15. Cover up out there. 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.

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