NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Sen. Schumer Warns Trump Tariffs Will Raise Prices, Lawmakers Weigh In on MTA Funding Plan, Brooklyn Diocese Faces Abuse Lawsuits, and Taxi Drivers Seek Bathroom Parking Exemptions

Episode Date: February 3, 2025

Senator Chuck Schumer is criticizing President Trump’s new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, warning they will raise consumer prices in the U.S. Meanwhile, state budget hearings in Albany will address how to cover billions in funding gaps for the MTA’s proposed $65 billion transit upgrade plan. Also, four people are suing the Brooklyn Diocese, alleging they were abused as children by priests between the 1960s and 1980s. Plus, a taxi drivers’ advocacy group is urging the city to issue special parking placards, allowing drivers to stop illegally for short bathroom breaks without getting ticketed.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, February 3rd. Here's the morning headlines. I'm Jene Pierre. The Trump administration's new tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China are triggering concerns about rising prices and sharp criticism from New York Senator Chuck Schumer. Schumer warns President Trump's tariffs will ultimately hit American consumers the heart He says the tariffs have power, but if you want to go after foreign countries, don't do it at the

expense of the American consumer who's going to pay more. That's the number one thing people want prices to go down. The tariffs make prices go up. Trump signed the trade penalties over the weekend. He admits they could cause, quote, some pain, but argues they're needed to protect American industries. The tariffs go into effect on Tuesday. Stay budget hearings in Albany this week, determine funding for the MTA's construction plan. The MTA proposed a $65 billion five-year program to upgrade aging transit infrastructure back in September, and officials say state lawmakers must find a way to cover more than half the cost. Writers and Lyon spokesperson Danny Pearlstein says that will require new taxes or fees.

Experts have estimated that the program needs at least $2.2 billion in new recurring revenue in order to meet even this baseline level of needs to keep transit going into the next decade and throughout this century. The plan includes modern train cars, signal upgrades, and improved accessibility at more stations. Four people are suing the Brooklyn Diocese because they say priests abused them when they were children. They say the incidents happened between the 1960s and the 1980s and that the diocese knew its priests and staff were exploiting their positions of trust within the the church to sexually abuse children. The lawsuits add to a mountain of sexual abuse accusations against the Catholic Church, both locally and nationwide. The Diocese of Brooklyn has taken several steps in recent years to root out sexual abuse. A spokesperson for the diocese did not return

a phone call seeking comment. A taxi driver advocacy group is asking the city to stop finding drivers who park illegally to use the bathroom. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers says the city should issue special placards that would allow drivers to park in otherwise illegal spots for 10 minutes instead. They say there aren't legal spots readily available for drivers when they need to answer nature's call. The city's taxi and limousine commission did not say whether it would consider the placards but said it's looking to create more temporary taxi parking for those seeking relief. 32 degrees and cloudy. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us.

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