NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NYPD Cleared Thousands of Homeless People from Public Spaces in 2024, Amtrak Cuts Albany Service for Repairs, and Knicks Great Dick Barnett Dies at 88

Episode Date: April 28, 2025

Newly reviewed data shows NYPD officers removed more than 27,000 homeless people from public spaces last year, mostly in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Amtrak is cutting service between Albany and New York City starting today for major tunnel repairs. Plus, Basketball Hall of Famer and Knicks legend Dick Barnett has died at 88, as the Knicks push to close out their playoff series against Detroit.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, April 28th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. NYPD officers removed more than 27,000 homeless people from public spaces last year. That's according to data WMIC's Karen Yee has reviewed. The data show police mostly removed homeless people in Manhattan, And about 40% of the time, it happened in one city council district, running from the West Village and Soho to Hell's Kitchen and Times Square.

But what the numbers don't say is whether a homeless person ended up in a shelter, the hospital, or just down the block. Under a new law, the city is required to say how many times workers clear homeless people from public spaces every quarter. Advick gets say the tactic only pushes people out of business and tourist areas. But Adam says he's committed to combating street. homelessness, and this month started a new police unit focused on quality of life issues, such as panhandling and homeless encampments. Go from Karen later this hour. Amtrak is reducing service between Albany and New York City starting the day as it begins

major repairs on the East River Tunnel. Amtrak will suspend a round trip between the two cities and adjust the schedule for other service. Bruce Becker with the Empire State Passengers Association says Amtrak should consider alternatives to lessen the impact on its riders. With the reduced service, passengers or have fewer options, and it's certainly likely that on busy periods, but every weekends, passengers were encountered more sold-out trains.

The first fully restored tunnel is expected to open in late 2026, with the full project wrapping up in 2008. Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Barnett has died. He was 88 years old. Barnett played on both New York Knicks NBA championship, teams in 1970 and 73. The Knicks announced his death yesterday but did not provide details. By now reached the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and as a member of his college teams at the historic powerhouse Tennessee State to win a national championship in basketball.

And by the way, the Knicks, they won yesterday. They lead their first round series against Detroit, three games to one now. They can knock the pistons from the playoffs tomorrow night at the Garden. 54 and sunny right now, sunny and 75 for a high today. What a spring day ahead for us. And then tomorrow, mostly sunny, warm 81 with a slim chance of showers on Tuesday night. 54 and sunny now. 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.