NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: NYPD Troubles Put Pressure on Mayor Adams, Trump Allies Push to Block Congestion Pricing, and NJ Towns Begin Affordable Housing Plans

Episode Date: January 13, 2025

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: Troubles at the NYPD are putting political pressure on Mayor Eric Adams, WNYC’s Elizabeth Kim reports. Meanwhile, a group of New York Republicans say President-elect Donald Trump plans to help them stop the MTA’s congestion pricing tolls. Plus, local governments in New Jersey have begun accepting affordable housing mandates under the state’s new housing law, with Barnegat Township becoming the first to approve its assignment earlier this month. Towns must act by January 31 or risk losing protections from builder lawsuits.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, January 13th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Turmoyle at the NYPD is putting pressure on former police captain Mayor Eric Adams. WNMIC's Elizabeth Kim explains. As a candidate, Adams said he'd bring discipline to the agency and cut down overtime spending in half by the first year.

But last year, overtime reached a record-breaking $1 billion. The department's also under a federal investigation over allegations that an ex-top official Jeffrey Madri traded sexual favors for overtime. Madri has denied the allegations, but he was one of several people at the department who had a direct line to Adams, and that's led to criticism from veteran NYPD members that Adams created a culture of cronyism that fostered abuses. Adam says he takes responsibility for overtime spending, but that the people he appointed were qualified. So far, nine top officials have left amid investigations. A group of New York Republicans say President-elect Trump plans to help them kill the MTA's congestion pricing tolls. Congressional Representatives Mike Lawler, Nicole Maliatakis, and Nick Lalota were among the lawmakers who met with Trump at Mar-Lago this weekend.

They all posted to social media that Trump was committed to Nick Sala. the tolls which launched last Sunday and now charged drivers a $9 daytime fee to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. It's unclear exactly how the new president could or would end the program. Congestion pricing requires sign-off from the federal transportation department, and it's unclear if Trump could revoke that approval. Local governments in New Jersey have started to formally accept new affordable housing mandates under the state's new housing law, Barnigan Township in Ocean County, which is right on the ocean, became the first to do so on January 1st,

accepting an assignment to build 71 new affordable homes and rehabilitate 38 other units. Court record showed five other towns also voted to take up their mandates. All New Jersey local governments must do the same or propose a counteroffer by the end of this month. Those that fail to act risk losing protections from the so-called builder lawsuits, which could compel the governments to allow even more development.

34 in clear right now. Mostly sunny and 43 for a high. It'll be gusty. Tonight mid-20 is on the windy side. Tomorrow mostly sunny, turning colder again, right at the freezing mark of 32, feeling, though, like the mid-teens and gusty. Wednesday looks like a repeat.

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.