NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NYC Region Braces for Severe Storms, City Council Considers Tenant Displacement Protections, and Yankees Start Season with Record-Breaking Offense

Episode Date: March 31, 2025

The city is preparing for strong storms and high winds, with inspections planned at construction sites and safety guidance for property owners. Meanwhile, the City Council is considering legislation to better protect tenants who are displaced by disasters or major building repairs. And the Yankees are making headlines with a historic offensive start to the season, including nine home runs in a single game and the debut of attention-grabbing “torpedo” bats.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, March 31st. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. In advance of some potentially severe thunderstorms this afternoon, the City Department of Buildings is advising property owners to take precautionary measures. The Department will perform random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the city and make sure that builders, contractors, and crane operators have secured construction sites and equipment.

If sites are not secured, the department says it'll issue a violation or stop work order if necessary. Individual property owners should bring in lawn furniture, the city says, and garbage cans, and anchor any object that would be unsafe outside in high winds, such as gas grills or propane tanks. The New York City area could see winds of up to 55 miles an hour today and into tonight. The New York City Council is looking to crack down on landlords whose tenants have been displaced by disaster or major repairs. W&MIC's Julia Hayward reports on the bills up for debate in the council. The package of bills is meant to make it easier on tenants and tougher on landlords after residents have been displaced from their homes after some kind of disaster. One of the bills would require a time frame and set a deadline for landlords to correct housing violations within 30 days of being informed of the hazard.

Another bill would establish an office for displaced residents and tasked the local fire department with setting an emergency response guide for those displaced by fires. Another bill would launch a study into the feasibility of a low-cost and city-sponsored renters insurance program to help tenants with the financial burden of certain emergencies. The hearing for that is taking place this Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. Those new torpedo bats are still making noise as the Yankees finished. a historic weekend with a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Yankees have scored 36 runs in their first three games. That's the most in franchise history. The bats shaped like a bowling pin with a lower barrel flare.

True attention after Saturday's 20 to 9 blowout when the Yankees tied a franchise record nine homers in one game. The team won 12 to 3 yesterday. Aaron Judge has homered in the season's first three games. That's the first in Yankees' history. He says, though, he's not. using those new torpedo bats. Major League Baseball says, yes, the bats are legal. Others players on other teams are using those torpedo bats as well.

48 with fog and clouds. Fog this morning, 68 for a high shower and thunderstorm chances. 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. More soon.