NYC NOW - October 10, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: October 10, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed that he’s “devastated” during a vigil for victims in Israel held yesterday evening at Golda Meir Square in Midtown. Also, Republicans and Democrats remain at odds over whether New York’s twenty-six congressional districts should be redrawn. Plus, a Superior Court judge denied New Jersey’s bid to dismiss a five-year-old lawsuit that alleges the state perpetuates segregated school districts.

NYC, Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Tuesday, October 10th. Here's the morning headlines from Kerry Nolan. Mayor Adams held a vigil for victims in Israel yesterday evening at Goldemeyer Square and Midtown. Adam says he's devastated by the surprise attack from the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel over the weekend. Yes, I stand with the Jewish community, but most importantly, I stand with humanity.

I stand with human behavior that should never reach this death. Pro-Palestinian rallies were held outside the Israeli consulate in Midtown yesterday and won in Times Square on Sunday, which was endorsed by some of the Democratic Party's left flank. The rally also drew a crowd of pro-Israeli counter-protesters. Leaders including Governor Kathy Hokel and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the rally, dividing Democrats over Israel. Republicans and Democrats are still at odds over whether New York's 26 congressional districts should be redrawn. As WNYC's John Campbell reports, Democrats are now seeking input ahead of a big court battle. Democrats are asking New York's top court to force the state independent redistricting commission to draw a new congressional map.

But that hearing isn't until November 15. and the Democratic members of the Commission are already asking for public input on a new map just in case the court rules in the party's favor. Citizens Union, a good government organization, is asking the Democratic members to hold off, at least until they can get on the same page as the Republican counterparts. Republicans benefited from the existing maps, picking up four congressional seats in last year's midterms. They're hoping to keep them in place for the rest of the decade. A Superior Court judge has denied New Jersey's attempt to toss out a five-year-old lawsuit, alleging the state has perpetuated segregated school districts.

The plaintiffs include advocacy groups and nine students. They claim many New Jersey students are denied the social and academic benefits of diversity because of a state law that requires students to attend schools in their communities, which are often segregated by race and class. However, the judge also found the activists failed to prove that the state's entire school system was segregated. The ruling came late Friday night just ahead of the holiday weekend. It could bring the case closer to going to trial or a negotiated settlement. It'll be mostly sunny and breezy today with highs in the mid-60s. Right now it's 54 degrees and partly cloudy in New York City.

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