NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: New Yorkers Brace for Medicaid Cuts, State Budget Stalls, and Vigil Planned for Victims of Dominican Republic Nightclub Collapse

Episode Date: April 11, 2025

New York residents could be hit hard by deep federal Medicaid cuts under debate in Congress. Meanwhile, state lawmakers have left Albany without a budget deal in place. Plus, this Friday night, New Yorkers will gather in Inwood to honor victims of a deadly nightclub roof collapse in the Dominican Republic that claimed more than 220 lives.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Friday, April 11th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New York State residents have a lot on the line as Congress debates deep cuts to Medicaid, possibly totaling as much as $880 billion over a decade. WNIC's Caroline Lewis report. About 7 million people in New York are insured through Medicaid, the public health insurance program for low-income residents, including half of New York City.

It's still unclear exactly what federal cuts will look like if they come through, but under one scenario modeled by the health policy nonprofit, KFF, New York would lose about $10 billion a year. New York would have to raise taxes 7% to offset a loss of that size. State lawmakers could also respond by reducing Medicaid coverage to some extent or looking for savings elsewhere in the budget. There's still no New York state budget in place and lawmakers have left the capital for the week. WNIC's Jimmy Vialkind explains. Negotiations are still stuck over policy changes that Governor Hockel once adopted, along with her $252 billion spending plan. One would give prosecutors more leeway and how much evidence they need to turn over before a criminal trial. Another would make it easier to commit someone to mental health treatment against their will.

Hockel says she won't back down. I will not sign a budget this year that does not make New York safer and more affordable. Legislators, meanwhile, approved an emergency spending bill to keep the government running until Tuesday. Republican Assembly member Ed Ra said he hopes it's the last time. When we get back here next week, we need to finally put the pencils down and pass a budget. The budget was due April 1st. New Yorkers will gather in Inwood tonight to remember the victims of Tuesday's roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic. The vigil at Keys Cayia Plaza on Dyckman Street will start at 7.

Now, if it rains, organizers say the community will gather at Alianza Dominicana on 166 Street instead. Officials say more than 220 people have died and hundreds more were heard at the Jetset Nightclub in Santo Domingo, including Dominican politicians and athletes. 43 with light rain right now. Showers and rain likely this afternoon, a high near 48 degrees with light wind. This is WNYC. Thanks for listening.

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