NYC NOW - October 10, 2024: Midday News

Episode Date: October 10, 2024

New York City's transportation department is considering new ways to spruce up the blighted areas beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Plus, El Museo del Barrio's second Trienal opens Thursday. Also, the New York City Department of Transportation is calling on students to create public service announcements about street safety. And finally, WNYC’s Janae Pierre talks with epidemiologist Bryon Backenson about a mosquito-borne illness that’s forcing a statewide response.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, October 10th. Here's the midday news from Veronica Delilah. A new report from the New York City Transportation Department plans for a future in which the dark streets under the BQA become bright, safe spaces. WNYC's Stephen Nesson explains. After two years of collecting input from communities along the elevated expressway, the Department of Transportation has a 154-page report full of recommendations for reuniting

neighborhoods blighted by the BQE. It includes removing parking spots and adding bright lights under the overpass, along with markets, green space, and secure bike parking. The report also mentions potentially capping the sunken roadways in Williamsburg, Carroll Gardens, and Bay Ridge, with new park space. The DOT says the revamp will take years of planning and require federal funds. The report doesn't address the most dire section of the roadway, the crumbling triple-cantilever section in Brooklyn Heights, which still has no replacement plan. The Museum's second annual Trianal opens today at the museum space on Fifth Avenue.

It's a survey of contemporary art from the Latin American diaspora. Chief curator Rodrigo Mora says it's been years in the making, along with the same. his co-curators. The three of us embarked on this journey almost two years ago. We visited more than 100 artists working in different parts of the world, based in Europe, based in the Caribbean. And of course, in the U.S. The show features 33 artists, many based in New York, like Alina Perez, who has large-scale figurative drawings in the show. Right now, it's 61 outside. The New York City Department of Transportation is calling on students to create public service announcements about street safety. WMIC's Jessica Gould reports.

The contest is called We're Walking Here. Students are asked to observe what makes city streets so dangerous and offer tips for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Last year, seventh graders from the Jamaica YMCA Intermediate School, one with a video about a crash and its aftermath. Their message, don't text and drive. Street safety advocates at transportation alternatives say data shows a young person in the city is seriously injured in traffic near a school every other day.

Winners of the PSA competition get a cash prize. The deadline to register is October 15. Jessica Gould, WNYC News. To register, schools can visit nyc.gov slash walking schools. That's nyc.gov slash walking schools. Stay close. There's more after the break. NYC. It may be fall, but mosquito-borne illnesses are still circulating in the region, and in some cases can be deadly.

Last month, New York State reported the death of a resident in Ulster County from a disease called Eastern equine encephalitis, or Triple E. It's the state's first human case in nearly a decade. With mosquito season lasting until the end of the month, Governor Kathy Hockel is calling for a statewide response to the virus. I'm here with Brian Backinson, an epidemiologist with the New York State Department of Health. Now, Brian, for listeners who may not be familiar, what exactly is Triple E? And why is it considered such a significant threat in New York right now? Eastern equine encephalitis, or Tripoli, is a mosquito-borne illness that is really rare. We've only had 12 cases since we first had our first one in 1971.

But the most important part about it is how fatal it can be. Those 12 cases that we've had, eight of those have died. And in general, the typical thought about Tripoli is that it can kill 30 to 40 percent of the people that it infects. And as I mentioned, Governor Hockel is coordinating a statewide response. Talk a bit about the specific actions the state is taking in some of the high-risk areas to combat the spread of AAA. So I think one of the things that we're really trying to do is get the word out. One of the best things that can be done with regards to AAA is trying to get people to take what measures they can to protect themselves against mosquito bites. And I think that's the main effort here with the declaration of an

imminent threat to public health across the state. The thought is that that will resonate with individuals and with providers who can then share with individuals the right thing they can do to protect themselves against mosquito bites. Other things that are going on right now are getting mosquito repellents available in state parks at visitor centers and so forth, as well as state campgrounds. People who camp are at slightly higher risk because they spend so much time outdoors. And if you're anything like me, it's incredibly easy to get a mosquito caught in your tech. Yeah, for sure. I want to talk about one of the specific actions. that you mentioned, getting the word out.

I want to talk about the role that local governments and communities here in New York City can play in supporting the state's mosquito control efforts. What can we do? Basically wearing long sleeves and long pants, cover up as much skin as you can, realizing that that's not always feasible when it's very, very warm out. Using repellents following label instructions can also be really helpful with regards to preventing mosquito bites. There are four real products out there that work really well with regards to

to protect me against mosquitoes, those are DEET, pecarotin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and a chemical called IR 3535. Deed is probably the one that's most common, but all four of those will work really well to protect against mosquito bites. You want to make sure that you follow the label instructions, make sure that you only use as much as you need for that particular time that you're out there. With something like DEET, for example, more doesn't always necessarily mean better. The higher concentration of heat just means a longer period of time that you're protected. So a standard 25% eat should protect people for about four to six hours. Brian, you started our conversation off talking about the dangers of Triple E. What are the key symptoms New Yorkers should be on the lookout for and when should they seek medical help if they do suspect that they've been bitten by an infected mosquito?

Yeah, so AAA, the last E, stands for encephalitis. and encephalitis is a swelling of the brain. And that swelling of the brain typically comes with terrible headaches, confusion, neurologic impairment, not necessarily knowing where you are, things like that. Fever will also be present. There can sometimes be rash, sometimes be other flu-like illnesses. But that neurologic symptoms, that confusion, that terrible headache, is often the main signs and symptoms we see with AAA.

As Governor Hockel emphasizes public health safety during this time, and we talked about, you know, measures like mosquito, spraying. I'm curious to know what practical advice does the D.A Department of Health recommend for residents in New York City to protect themselves? New York City has a very robust mosquito surveillance and control program and has seen a lot of West Nile virus this year, West Nile virus being similar to AAA and that it's carried by mosquitoes. A lot of the messages that that particular program has put out over the course of this particular summer to protect against West Nile virus also work against AAA. So hopefully, a lot of the message is that

lot of the activities that New York City residents have heard about with regards to West Nile, if you just continue doing those with regards to AAA, you should be in good shape. That's Brian Backinson and epidemiologists with the New York State Department of Health. Brian, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you. Thanks for listening. This is NYC Now from WMYC. 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. We'll be back this evening.