NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NYPD Seeks White House Approval to Disable Hostile Drones Over City, Commission Considers New Powers for Borough Presidents, and Lindor, Judge Named MLB All-Star Starters

Episode Date: July 3, 2025

The NYPD is asking the White House for authorization to intercept and disable potentially hostile drones flying over New York City. Meanwhile, a city commission is recommending that borough presidents get new authority over land use decisions, allowing them a decisive vote if the City Council rejects rezoning or development plans. And New York’s baseball stars shine: Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge have been named starters for this year’s MLB All-Star Game.

Welcome to NYC now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, July 3rd. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The NYPD wants permission from the White House to take down potentially hostile drones spotted over the city. WNYC's Charles Lane reports. Only federal agencies are currently allowed to disable drones. So for big events like the 4th of July, the NYPD relies on partners like the FBI, to intervene if one of the aerial vehicles poses a threat.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says that's not enough. And so we really need to be able to be nimble and have the authority to do drone mitigation ourselves. The department has been lobbying Congress on the matter for years, but Tish says a recent executive order might soon give city police that power. Privacy advocates say the tech push shows the NYPD is in a quote, paranoid bubble. New York City has fired borough presidents, but the elected officials wield little actual authority. That could change soon. A city commission wants to empower borough presidents with decisive votes on land use applications, that is, if the city council rejects rezoning or development plans. This appeal board would also include the mayor and city council speaker. Brooklyn

Borough President Antonio Ragnosa backs the idea. We're in a crisis. And I want to do everything I can to get us out of that crisis. But city council speaker, Adrian Adams, says she opposes a plan to circumvent council members. The proposal will likely appear on general election ballots this November. New York will be well represented at this year's All-Star Game. Met Shortstop Francisco Lindoor is heading to the exhibition game as a starter. Major League Baseball announced that Lindor will start at shortstop for the National League on July 15th in Atlanta. It's his fifth career All-Star nod, but his first since joining the Mets. Yankee Slugger, Aaron Judge, will also be on the lineup playing in the outfield.

This is Judge's fifth straight selection as an all-star game starter and his seventh starter appearance overall. That game is on, as we said, July 15th in Atlanta. 74 and Sunny now with a chance of mid-afternoon showers in thunderstorm, sunny and 89, So a warm one today with a calm wind. And then tomorrow Independence Day. Looking dry, sunny, 85, a light wind. And then Friday night, mostly clear 68 light north wind and a great night for fireworks. 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.