NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: National Grid Rate Hike, Gov. Hochul Pushes Mask Restrictions, and Jamaica Station Housing Plan

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

Summary: National Grid customers in New York City will see their monthly bills rise by $8 to $10 starting April 1st, following a larger increase last September. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing for new restrictions on mask-wearing in public, urging lawmakers to include a partial ban in the state budget. Also, Jamaica Station in Queens is the third busiest rail hub in the city and now, it’s the focal point of a major housing plan that could bring 12,000 new homes to Southeast Queens.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, March 20th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. National grid customers in New York City will see their monthly bills go up about $8 to $10 on April 1st. That comes after September's even bigger rate hike. Bronx Congressmember Richie Torres says New York State government should do more to protect consumers from climbing utility bills. And the compounding effect of rate increase upon rate increase with no end in sight is making New York City unaffordable to working people.

Torres has been pushing for a bill to create a consumer advocate to represent rate payers. Governor Hockel has vetoed the measure several times. She says it would be redundant to. existing consumer protections. Advocates argue the existing measures like enforcement power. And national grid bills will go up once again next April. The utility and Hockel's office have not returned calls for comment. Governor Hockel wants new restrictions on wearing masks in public.

WNYC's John Campbell reports she's pushing lawmakers to include at least a partial mask ban in the state budget. Lawmakers tell WNYC that the governor has revived the issue in recent budget. negotiations. That's after she first talked about it last year. The governor says it's a matter of public safety. Think about a bank robber walks in. Their face is covered. Someone assaults someone on the subway. They can get away with it despite the fact we have cameras because they are masked. Some progressives and civil liberties advocates are opposed. They've raised issues about health concerns and discriminatory enforcement. The governor says she supports exceptions for medical and religious reasons. Here's a New York City trivia question. And what's the third busiest rail station in the

five boroughs? W&MIC's David Brand has the answer and what it means for the future of housing. It's Jamaica Station in Queens, home to the Long Island Railroad, JFK Air Train, and multiple subway lines. The station is the focal point of the Adams administration's plan to build around 12,000 new homes in and around Jamaica. The city planning department has officially started the review process for the plan, affecting about three. 300 blocks in southeast Queens. The changes would allow for 23-story apartment buildings along Jamaica and Archer avenues and more modest development along other major thoroughfares like Hillside Ave and Guy R Brewer Boulevard. The city council could vote on it as early as September.

Check your app there for MTA train delays this morning. Also the LR-Deple-R suspended service both ways on the Long Beach branch. 43 Novacasts going up to 56 with drizzle and and shower chances. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. 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.