NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Tesla Faces Pressure in Buffalo, City Council Questions Rejections by Adult Protective Services, and Mamdani Maxes Out in Matching Funds

Episode Date: April 16, 2025

Some New York lawmakers want the state to penalize Tesla for failing to meet job targets at its Buffalo plant, amid CEO Elon Musk’s growing role in federal agency shutdowns. Meanwhile, City Councilmembers are demanding answers from Adult Protective Services after the agency rejected 80 percent of aid referrals last year. Plus, Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani receives the largest public matching funds payout in the 2025 mayoral primary so far, while Andrew Cuomo’s campaign blames a technical glitch for missing out.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Wednesday, April 16th. Here's the morning headlines from David First. Critics of Elon Musk are pressuring New York State lawmakers to get tough with Tesla over the electric automakers plant in Buffalo. WNYC's Jimmy Veilkind reports. Some lawmakers say the state should penalize Tesla for falling short on

job requirements related to its lease on the Buffalo plant, as its CEO, Elon Musk, takes a leading role in closing federal agencies. The company and state officials said they've worked out a side deal with the lower target while Tesla renegotiates its lease. But Assembly member Michael Lashar says he isn't buying it. They should be fined if they didn't meet the terms of their agreement. Lashir is pressuring Governor Hockel to cut a tougher deal. She says she's open to it. I'm aware that there's more interest in changing that dynamic going forward in light of Tesla. So I'm going to look at that. Tesla didn't return email seeking comment.

The agency meant to serve New York City's most vulnerable adults. Rejected four of every five people referred for aid last fiscal year. Now city council members are asking why. WNYC first revealed the rising rejection rate by the city's Adult Protective Services Program last year. Crystal Hudson is the chair of the City Council's Aging Committee. She says the reporting inspired her to question city officials. The committee will hold a hearing later today. More people are applying for Adult Protective Services and fewer are actually getting connected

to those resources and to that direct support. That's extremely concerning. Adult Protective Services staff step in to arrange medical care, housing assistance, and other support for people at risk of abuse or exploitation. An agency spokesperson says many people referred for aid don't meet eligibility criteria. Matching funds for candidates running in the mayoral primary in New York City have been paid out to dramatically different ends for the two leading Democrats. WNYC's Bridget Bergen reports. Queen's Assembly member Zoran Mamdani scored a $3.8 million payout from the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

That's the largest single payment to any candidate in the 2025 Democratic Mayoral. primary race to date. Momdani has officially raised more than $8 million. That's the max of what he can spend ahead of the June primary. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo missed out on his first public funds payment. His campaign had raised $1.5 million and expected more than $2.6 million in matching funds. His campaign is blaming an error in their fundraising software. A Cuomo spokesperson says they expect to receive their payment next month. Delays on Southbound A and F, trains L trains delayed both ways. This is WNYC. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC.

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