NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Newark Imam’s Shooter Search, Homeless Encampment Clearings, and Mayor Adams Weighs Independent Run

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

Police are searching for a suspect with a “distinctive walk” in the fatal shooting of Newark Imam Hassan Sharif, who was killed in January before morning prayers. Meanwhile, new data reveals that despite millions spent on clearing homeless encampments in New York City, very few people enter shelters as a result. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams is not ruling out an independent run for re-election, following reports that he may leave the Democratic Party.

NYC, how I see, Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, March 18th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Police won a man with a distinctive walk in the deadly shooting of a Newark Imam early last year. WNYC's Charles Lane, explains. Imam Hassan Sharif was the leader at the Mashid Muhammad Mask.

He was shot multiple times last January just ahead of morning prayers. New surveillance footage shows a man in the area at the time, wearing black pants and a hoodie with a unique gate that investigators hope will identify him. A $35,000 award has been offered for information leading to an arrest. Authorities say they don't believe the shooting was biased-motivated. A link to the video is on our news site, Gothamist. The Adams administration is spending millions, of dollars clearing homeless encampments from the city's streets, but WNMISC Karen Ye reports

new numbers show very few people end up in shelters as a result. The city spent $3.5 million sweeping homeless encampments between January and September last year. More than 3,000 people were displaced. But the new data shows just over 100 of those people went to a shelter. No one received permanent housing. Mayor Adams has bolstered the use of sweeps to target street homelessness. His administration says there's more work to be done, but it can take several attempts for someone to accept shelter. Advocates for the homeless say the numbers show Adams' strategy is failing and traumatizing people who need a place to live.

The data was due last May under new city council law, but the administration says it needed more time to put it together. And Mayor Adams is not ruling outrunning an independent campaign for re-election. Speaking with reporters yesterday, Adams declined to confirm or. refute a New York Post report that he's considering leaving the Democrats and mounting an independent bid. When I'm ready to roll out my, do my official reannouncement and my plan, I would do so, and I'm going to make sure all of you are invited to. Adams also says he's not bothered at his longtime supporter, Brooklyn Democratic chair,

Rodney's Beshot Herbalin, is endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo from here. Cuomo is leading several polls ahead of June's Democratic primary. The mayor says he doesn't take politics personally and that he and Peshad Hermanlund are friends and speak on a regular basis. 37 and clear right now, sunny and 60 for a high today tomorrow, just about the same. And it looks like we have shower chances, rain chances on Thursday with the high near 60. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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