NYC NOW - October 2, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: October 2, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Mayor Adams says a plume of wildfire smoke may reach New York City this morning, potentially putting some people at risk. Meanwhile, a group of New York City landlords create a new insurance initiative to help save money for building repairs. Also, the city's compost program officially expands to Brooklyn today. Plus, the New York Liberty are headed to the WNBA finals.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Monday, October 2nd. Here's the morning headlines for Michael Hill. Mayor Adams says a plume of wildfire smoke may reach New York City this morning and cause noticeably hazy skies. The mayor issued an advisory yesterday that says the State Department of Environmental Conservation expects a moderate air quality index.

that means, quote, there may be some risk to people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Smoke may become visible around sunrise this morning. In early June, you'll recall wildfire smoke painted the skyline with an orange tinge. Today is not expected to be nearly as bad. New York City landlords are paying more for insurance, leaving less money for maintenance. Now a group of affordable housing owners is taking matters into their own hands. WNYC's David Brand has more on the initiative. Affordable housing groups call it insurance redlining.

They say insurance companies are refusing to cover low-income housing or any apartments at all in places like the Bronx. The few insurers that do provide coverage are jacking up rates, leaving landlords with higher bills and less money left over to actually improve their buildings. But now a group of large landlords with around 80,000 units of affordable housing is launching a new collective to insure themselves. The companies involved say they hope to save around $30 million a year on premiums. Landlords say the savings will allow them to spend more money on repairs and upkeep. Brooklyn, it's time to start separating those apple cores and banana peels. The city's compost program is expanding to the borough today. With Brooklyn and Queens on board, half of New Yorkers will be able to keep their organic waste out of landfills.

Staten Island and the Bronx will get the service in the spring. Manhattan gets compost collection a year from now. The Department of Sanitation will collect compost on recycling days. The New York Liberty are going to the WNBA finals for the first time in 21 years. John Quelle Jones scored 25 points, including five in the final minute, and league MVP Brianna Stewart led New York with 27 points over the Connecticut Sun, the final score 8784. The Liberty will face defending champion Las Vegas game one next Sunday.

day. 65 and mostly clear right now. Widespread haze this morning after 9 o'clock, sunny and 77 for a high and breezy on the first Monday in October. Tomorrow we hit the 80s in October. We do again on Wednesday as well. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WMYC. Catch us every weekday three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you this afternoon. Thank you.