NYC NOW - October 19, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: October 19, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Some Muslim New Yorkers are criticizing Mayor Adams for his comments on the Israel-Hamas war. Police are also searching for nine men who were involved in an anti-Palestine, anti- Muslim hate crime assault on October 11th in Bay Ridge. Plus, some notable New Jersey political figures are expressing regret after donating to Senator Bob Mendendez's legal defense fund.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, October 19th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. Some Muslim New Yorkers are criticizing Mayor Adams for his comments on the Israel-Hamas war. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim reports on a Zoom call Adams held with some of them last Thursday. The tone was set days before when Mayor Adams described. people who attended a controversial pro-Palestinian protest as, quote, extremists.

Four people on the call say Adams became patronizing and defensive when they asked him to say more about Palestinian casualties and distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters. When a Palestinian-American lawyer told the mayor that his remarks were endangering Muslims, she says Adams cut her off, and she was muted. A spokesperson for Adams says, quote, Hamas is a terrorist organization and quote, that the mayor has made clear does not reflect the city's Muslim community or Islam worldwide. Police are now looking for nine men involved in a hate crime assault last week in Brooklyn that made headlines, says New Yorkers grapple with Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.

Officials say the large group approached three young men around 11 at night last Wednesday in Bay Ridge, near 86th Street and 4th Avenue. Police say the suspects made anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim remarks to the three young men, punching and kicking one of them badly enough for him to seek medical attention. Officials say the suspects ran away south on 4th Avenue and were waving an Israeli flag. Some notable New Jersey political figures are expressing regret. After donating to Senator Bob Menendez's legal defense fund, Camden Democratic power broker George Norcross gave the maximum $10,000 in July. That was before a grand jury indicted Menendez. A accusing him of corruption, taking bribes in helping a foreign government. Norcross says he's appalled

by the charges against the Hudson County Democrat. Longtime Norcross attorney Bill Tambuse also gave $10,000, which he says he would not have had any if he had known about the indictment. The congressional news site roll call reports the Longshoreman's Union and two Hoboken real estate developers are also among those donors. 53 and mostly clear. Mostly sunny today and a high 66. Shows tomorrow morning and a high near 65 and then on Saturday more showers likely and 64. Again, 53. 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.