NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Mayor Adams Defends Diversity Programs and NY Prison Strike Continues

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

Mayor Eric Adams says New York City must protect its “hard-fought gains” as federal diversity initiatives face rollbacks, highlighting city programs supporting minority-and-women-owned businesses and affordable housing reforms. Meanwhile, a state prison strike continues into its second week, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to send 3,500 National Guard troops as prison lockdowns and visitation disruptions persist.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Monday, February 24th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Mayor Eric Adams says it's important for the city to protect, quote, hard-fought gains as federal diversity initiatives are rolled back. Speaking on New York One, the mayor defended city programs such as support for minority and women-owned business and affordable housing reforms. We need to educate people while they are important,

and we need to ensure that all of the progress are that people of color, blacks specifically, but all different ethnicities, it should be acknowledged and make sure that we lift it up. A federal judge over the weekend blocked key parts of President Trump's executive orders to end government support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

The administration argues it only targeted initiatives violating civil rights laws. It's been more than a week since corrections officers that nearly all state prisons began their unsanctioned strike. WNMIC's Tiffany Hanson reports. A labor moderator appointed by Governor Kathy Hokel starts work today to end the work stoppages, which have led to lockdowns and disrupted visitation. Hokel sent 3,500 National Guard troops to prisons last week in response to the strike. A 61-year-old inmate died at Auburn correctional facility near Syracuse on Saturday. Emergency responders, including a National Guard member, attempted resuscitation before he was declared dead. The so-called wildcat strikes are not

union sanctioned, but are led by officers citing unsafe conditions. Delay is on southbound 1A and E and D trains. NJ. Transit's main Berkin County line trains to Hoboken or 25 minutes late. 36 and some clouds out there. They're mostly sunny and ear 50 today. 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. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

See you this afternoon.