NYC NOW - Morning News: New Report Shows Most NYC Seniors Lack Retirement Savings, NJ Transit Strike Looms, and Extended Sunsets

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

A new report shows more than half of New Yorkers over 70 have no retirement income, with a growing share of seniors living in poverty. Meanwhile, NJ Transit engineers could strike as early as Friday after rejecting a contract offer, and officials are urging commuters to prepare for major disruptions. Plus, New York City sunsets now fall after 8 p.m., ushering in longer daylight hours through mid-August.

Welcome to NYC now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, May 12th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. A majority of New York City's oldest residents say they don't have any retirement funds. WNYC's Karen Ye reports an increasingly number are living in poverty. More than half of New Yorkers 70 years or older aren't reporting any retirement income. That's according to the think tank, the Center for an Urban Future. The group found poverty rates among seniors are climbing at a much faster rate than the overall older adult population.

Michelle Bathia is 69 years old. She lives in Manhattan and worked 30 years as a legal assistant before retiring. I always look forward to retirement. That was a sick part. I said, I can't wait to retire. And then I said, oh, my God. She says she doesn't know how she would survive without her daughter bringing her. her groceries and a city-funded program that delivers hot meals to her door.

A potential NJ Transit Rail Strike could hit this Friday in officials or asking riders to get ahead of the chaos starting today. Double in my seat. Catalina Gonella has more. The union representing engineers rejected a contract offer and a strike would halt service for more than 350,000 daily commuters. Starting Monday, Metro North conductors will be cross-honoring west of Hudson tickets on the Hudson and Harlem lines. The Port Authority is planning extra buses and staff at the Midtown Terminal,

along with a free airport shuttle from Newark-Pen Station to the air train. Officials are strongly encouraging customers to stay home, if possible, or start planning their alternate routes before Friday. Hey, Sun-Lover, New York City has officially crossed the APM sunset mark. That means from now through mid-August, the Sunville said after 8.8. at night. The National Weather Service says our days will keep getting longer with the summer solstice bringing sunsets as late as 8.31 on June 21st. But don't let the breezy temps full you. Meteorologists warn that the sun's UV rays are already strong enough to burn. Felt that this weekend. So enjoy the light, but remember the sunscreen. We're at 58 right now.

We have some sunshine, sunny and 74 for a high today with a light wind, and then tomorrow, cloudy and 72, but we begin a stretch of day and night shower chances all the way through Saturday. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Check us out for updates every weekday, three times a date for the latest news headlines and occasional deep dots. And subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.