NYC NOW - October 24, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: October 24, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: Lower Manhattan will be filled with seafoam green today as the city honors the WNBA champion New York Liberty. WNYC’s Sean Carlson has a preview of the parade. Meanwhile, the MTA previously claimed solid financial footing for the next few years, but a new report paints a different picture. Plus, Governor Hochul has signed a package of bills expanding red-light cameras across the state.

Welcome to NYC now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, October 24th. Here's the morning headlines from David First. Lower Manhattan will be a sea of seafone green today as the city honors the WNBA champions, the New York Liberty. WNYC, Sean Carlson, gets you ready for the parade. First of all, leave your car at home.

City officials strongly recommend taking mass transit, as much of the parking in Lower Manhattan will be suspended. But also note that R&W trains are skipping the City Hall stop. You can see the champs float down the canyon of heroes from either side of Broadway, south of Park Row. If you need an ADA accessible viewing spot, head to Zucati Park. The parade itself begins at 10, but officials recommend you're in place by 9 at the latest. After the parade, the team will be honored at a City Hall ceremony, and in the evening at a celebration on their home court at Barclay Center. The MTA said it was on solid financial footing for the next few years, but WNYC's Stephen Nesson says a new report suggests otherwise.

As recently as July, the MTA believed it was on track to stay in the black for the next two years. But state comptroller Thomas Dinappily says the agency could face a funding gap of at least $176 million next year. And in a worst case scenario, the MTA could be down more than a billion dollars. DeNapoli blames increased overtime costs and few. fewer riders returning to the transit system than expected. He also singles out Governor Hockel's pause of congestion pricing. That blew a $15 billion hole in the agency's construction budget. The decision could force the MTA to borrow more money to pay for its projects.

That could increase its debt load. The MTA says it's committed to finding more savings. Governor Hockel says people should not worry about the future of the MTA. New York City is about to get more red light cameras. Governor Hockel signed a package of bills yesterday, expanding the automated cameras across the state. When there's a camera, drivers know about it. They're less likely to dart through, try to get through a red light.

And that means they're less likely to hurt or kill someone in a vehicle or on the street. The city will soon be able to install red light cameras at 600 intersections. That is four times the current number. The legislation also allows Nassau County, White Plains, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and the town of Greenberg to install more of the cameras. 64 degrees right now, mostly cloudy skies with all of the dry weather and breezy conditions today. We do have an elevated risk for fire spread. It will stay mostly cloudy through mid-morning and then clearing with a high of 68.

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 can. get your podcasts. See you this afternoon.