NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NJ Affordable Housing Hopes Hinge on Federal Tax Credit, Marcy Correctional Abuse Allegations, and NBA Star Victor Wembanyama Plays Chess in NYC

Episode Date: December 30, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: A federal tax credit supporting affordable housing in New Jersey is set to expire on Tuesday, jeopardizing plans for tens of thousands of homes. Meanwhile, allegations of staff abuse at Marcy Correctional Facility are under review after a handcuffed man was allegedly beaten by staff. The man died a day later. And finally, NBA star Victor Wembanyama played chess with fans in Washington Square Park despite the rain on Saturday.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, December 30th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. New Jersey officials are touting big plans to build tens of thousands of affordable homes, but the state's ability to do that depends, at least in part, on a federal tax credit program for developers that ends tomorrow. Mark McBride worked in housing finance for decades,

he says the low-income housing tax credit program has been a boon to investors in affordable housing since the 1980s. The Reagan Revolution was underway, and as part of that, the federal government pivoted toward incentivizing the private sector to develop and operate affordable housing. Now housing advocates will look to President-elect Trump to revive their program when he takes office next month. Republicans have generally supported the tax prey program in the past. Staff beating a handcuffed man this month at the Marcy Correctional Facility was not isolated. That's according to both prisoners at the facility and the monitor who oversees it. The Correctional Association of New York released a report in 2022 that outlined, quote, rampant abuse by staff.

Alvaro Hernandez spent almost three years at the prison about a decade ago. Men do commit crimes, get convicted, and have to do their prison time and pay their debt to society. But it does not mean that they need to be treated like farm animals. The state attorney general released Friday video showing correction officers punching and kicking Robert Brooks, who died a day later. The union representing the state's correction officers has condemned the officers involved. NBA star, an international star, Victor Wenbenyama, Took on fans one-on-one this weekend in a rainy Washington Square Park.

When I first heard of this, I thought maybe he was bouncing the ball. But no, San Antonio Star Center wasn't shooting hoops. He was playing chess. And the video posted to X by the NBA, he's sitting at a very wet table and tells fans he's been playing chess for many years. I just started playing when it was like seven. When Banjama had been in town with the Spurs since last week, First, they lost to the Knicks and a garden thriller, then they beat the net. But on Saturday morning, he put out a call on social media asking if anyone wanted to play chess in the park before 11.

Fans were posting photos of him playing chess in the rain. 55 and overcast clouds in clearing through mid-morning of balmy 56 for a high. 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.