NYC NOW - Morning Headlines: Trump Administration Pressures MTA on Safety, Court Rules in Favor of NYC Cab Drivers, and LI Fire Departments Drop Confederate Flags

Episode Date: March 19, 2025

The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding from the MTA unless it takes steps to improve safety in New York City’s transit system. Meanwhile, thousands of NYC cab drivers are celebrating a federal court ruling that found their licenses were unfairly suspended. Plus, two Long Island volunteer fire departments have agreed to stop displaying Confederate flags on their vehicles, equipment, and apparel following public backlash.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Wednesday, March 19th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal dollars from the MTA unless the agency's leaders improve safety in New York City's mass transit system. Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is demanding a list of plans to reduce crime on the system from MTA chair, General Lieber.

The MTA already is facing a $33 billion budget gap in its upcoming five-year construction plan, even without the threatened cuts from Washington. Duffy says the MTA has until the end of this month to send a response. The MTA says the agency is happy to discuss its efforts to bring down crime with Duffy, noting that crime is down in the system. Thousands of New York City cab drivers are breathing a sigh of relief after a federal court found they had their licenses unfairly suspended. WNYC's Ramsey Caliphate reports on a record-setting settlement. Attorneys say the $140 million settlement covers nearly 20,000 taxi or

for hire vehicle drivers whose licenses were unjustly suspended over the last two decades. Drivers like Bakit Garim say they lost their livelihood because they were arrested but never convicted of a crime. He says he feels as though he was kidnapped and his life ruined when he lost his license. He was charged with harassment in 2016 after a passenger in his yellow taxi refused to pay the fare. Drivers can submit a claim for their portion of the settlement online. Two Long Island volunteer fire departments have agreed to stop displaying Confederate flags on their equipment, vehicles, and apparel. It's part of a settlement with the New York State Human Rights Division,

the Brookhaven and Levitown fire districts and departments, as well as a third department in Holbrook, have agreed to pay $28,000 in fines and undergo training to settle additional claims that made discriminatory inquiries of applicants. That included asking applicants questions barred under state law, such as about citizenship, marital status, religion, and national origin. Levitown and Holbrook declined to comment. Brookhaven did not respond. Forty-three and clear right now, sunny and 61 for a high, very spring-like again today. And then tomorrow, a chance of early morning drizzle, patchy fog in the afternoon, and a high of 56.

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.