NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NJ Transit Strike Shuts Down Rail Service, Resettlement Group Rejects White South African Refugee Plan, and Mets, Yankees Subway Series Showdown Kicks Off in Bronx

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

New Jersey Transit rail service has come to a halt as 450 train engineers went on strike overnight, in what could be one of the state’s largest transit disruptions in decades. Wages remain the key issue in stalled contract negotiations. Meanwhile, a New Jersey resettlement group says it will not help relocate white South Africans approved for entry under a federal policy it calls discriminatory. And in sports, the Mets and Yankees face off tonight in the Bronx for the season’s first Subway Series, with excitement building around the high-stakes matchup.

Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Friday, May 16th. Here's the morning headlines from David First. New Jersey Transit Service is at a standstill with a strike underway. Roughly 450 New Jersey Transit train operators walked off the job just after midnight, and what could end up being one of the state's biggest transportation disruptions in decades. The main sticking point for union members is wages. State officials have been warning about the possibility of the strike for days and encouraging riders to plan for alternate transit plans. There is additional bus service from key locations across the state,

and you can learn more on the New Jersey Transit website, and we will keep you updated with the latest this morning here on WNYC. A New Jersey resettlement group says it won't participate in the resettlement of white South Africans being allowed into the U.S. by the Trump administration. Seth Copperdale is the co-pastor of the Reformed Church of Highland Park and runs Interfaith Rise, a group that has resettled thousands of refugees. He disputes White House claims that white Afrikaners are a persecuted minority in need of protection. Copperdale also notes the administration has revoked authorization

for hundreds of thousands of black and brown immigrants to stay in the U.S. No way will we participate in that. It's just to participate in straight up xenophobia and racism. It feels so dirty to continue in a partnership with a government that behaves like this. So we're not doing it. President Trump claims without evidence that white Afrikaners are being brutally killed and their land is being confiscated. Hoops may be on the minds of many local sports fans right now. But in baseball, the Mets and Yankees go head to head tonight in the Bronx. It is the first subway series of the season, and WNWC's Amanda Rosone has more on one of the most anticipated cross-town matchups in recent memory.

Both teams have a strong hold on first place in their divisions, and all eyes will be on two Titans and former teammates. Fans in the Bronx are getting their voice boxes ready to boo Mets player Juan Soto, who defected to the Queen's team after spending a year with the Yanks. He's among baseball's best hitters, but Mets fans have been underwerex. so far. On the Yankees, Captain Aaron Judge is currently playing some of the best baseball of his career. The Yankees are hoping to make up for last year when they lost every single game they played against the Mets. The series runs through Sunday. And remember all New Jersey Transit train service is suspended this morning because of the historic strike among train operators. New Jersey Transit is running alternate bus service for commuters. 62 degrees. This is WNYC.

Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Check us out for updates every weekday, three times a date for the latest news headlines and occasional deep dives. And subscribe wherever you get your podcast.