NYC NOW - November 26, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: November 26, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Jessica Tisch was sworn in Monday as the NYPD commissioner, becoming the second woman ever to lead the department. Meanwhile, a new report from the Department of Buildings sheds light on the collapse of a Bronx apartment complex last December. Also, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, will step down in December ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Plus, a report from Hunger Free America shows nearly two million New Yorkers weren’t getting enough to eat earlier this year, a 75% increase since 2021.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, November 26th. Here's the morning headlines. I'm Jene Pierre. New York City has a new police commissioner. Jessica Tisch took the oath of office Monday, becoming the department's second female commissioner

and the fourth person to hold a job since Mayor Eric Adams took office. She praised the mayor's leadership. You have trusted my judgment, given me incredible latitude and, yes, independence to be thoughtful and creative. Tish previously headed the city's Department of Sanitation. There she led the so-called War on Rats and the agency's efforts to clean up city streets. She takes over the agency at a difficult time, with Adams and the two previous commissioners subject to federal investigations. A new report from the city's buildings department is shedding new light on the collapse of a Bronx apartment last December.

Buildings Commissioner James Otto says just before the collapse, construction workers removed bricks from a low-bearing column. He says that caused the apartments above to crumble. No one was injured in the collapse. Otto says the workers were following a directive from a site engineer. His agency suspended the engineer for two years. They also find the construction firm $50,000. Manhattan's top prosecutor is leaving his job next month

the head of President-elect Trump's inauguration in January. WMYC's Andrew Jambrony has more. Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, says he's resigning just before midnight on December 13th. Williams, a Biden appointee, is known for prosecuting the ongoing corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams and securing the convictions of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and cryptocurrency magnate Sam Bankman-Fried. William says his departure is bittersweet. Deputy U.S. Attorney Edward Kim will take over the office until the Trump administration gets underway. Trump has tapped former securities and exchange commission chair Jay Clayton to succeed Williams. That nomination still needs the U.S. Senate's approval.

Hunger in New York State is on the rise. According to a new report from Hunger Free America, nearly two million New Yorkers say they weren't getting enough to eat as of earlier this year. That's up 75 percent from 2021. The number of people experiencing food and security also went up in the New York City metro area, which includes parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Hunger-Free America says more people may be struggling because of the rising cost of living and the expiration of some COVID-related subsidies. 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 podcast. See you this afternoon.