NYC NOW - October 24, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: October 24, 2023

Get up and get informed: Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The New York City Council again has its eyes on new rules for e-bikes and their batteries after another blaze at a facility where hundreds of e-bikes and batteries were being stored. Also, after being hit hard during the pandemic, Elmhurst Hospital is now getting 17.5 million dollars from the City Council. Plus, The Department of Buildings is hosting a virtual hearing this morning to discuss a recent proposal from the Adams administration on how to enforce climate rules on large city buildings.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Tuesday, October 24th. Here's the morning headlines from Tiffany Hansen. The New York City Council once again has its eyes on new rules for e-bikes and their batteries. This after another blaze at a facility where hundreds of e-bikes and batteries were being stored. City Council members are weighing another slate of bills that could regulate businesses tied to the bikes. Public advocate, Jumani Williams, says it comes down to balancing workers' needs for the bikes

with everyone's safety. This council seems to be trying to find the right balance to make this available, particularly for workers who need them, that fit a demand as New Yorkers want their things quicker and quicker, and we'll try to find the service that will provide that, but we have to make sure everyone is safe. The FDNY has not yet identified the official cause of the fire at a Sunset Park Storage Center over the weekend that was full of e-bubes. bikes and lithium ion batteries. Elmhurst Hospital was hit hard in the pandemic. Now it's getting $17.5 million from the City Council. WNYC's Catalina Gunella has more. Council members that pushed for the investment say it helps address inequities in public health.

Improvements include an upgraded emergency room and a new operating room for the hospital's full-time hand surgeon. Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga Lana Verde says it's a benefit to the city. I mean, the hand surgery OR, I mean, that's amazing to get people get back to work using their hands. It's everything from an artist to a day laborer. I think it's super important. I think all the projects are important because they change lives. Other upgrades include a relocated and new NICU and expansions to the MRI suite. Today is a big day for New York City's most impactful climate rule, local law 97. It calls for the city's biggest polluters, large buildings to reduce their carbon emissions by 40% by the end of the decade and 80% by 2050.

The Department of Buildings is hosting a virtual hearing this morning at 11 to discuss a recent proposal from the Adams administration on how to enforce the law. Local environmental groups say the proposal offers landlords an extra two years to comply and a loophole to buy out of reducing emissions. The hearing will mark the end of the public comment period and begin an internal review process. If approved, these regulations could go into effect by the end of this year. Taking a look at the forecast, sunny skies today, looking for a high around 64. Same story for your Wednesday. And looking ahead to the weekend, yes, we should have a clear and sunny weekend ahead of us as well right now. A fair sky over Central Park. It's 48 degrees. A fair sky here in Soho.

It's WNYC. 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 podcasts. See you this afternoon.