NYC NOW - September 14, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: September 14, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: A shocking discovery at Rikers Island as a food inspector finds live insects in 540 cases of food. Meanwhile, amid the ongoing migrant crisis, some New York officials consider local solutions like a city-based work permit program. Also, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expresses concern about private bus companies shutting down commuter service in October.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, September 14th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. A New York City Department of Correction spokesperson says a food inspector at Rikers Island found live insects in cases of dried mashed potatoes. Record show they found the bugs in 540 cases. Lucas Marquez is a lawyer at Brooklyn,

defender services. He says the contamination is part of a larger issue. We've had multiple clients report vermin in their food, at least two separate instances in the past, say, several months in which a dead rodent was found on a tray of food. The correction spokesperson says about $40,000 worth of unused potatoes had to be thrown out as a result in that they're not able to get a refund. Some New York officials are proposing some other ideas closer to home to solve the city's ongoing migraine crisis. as the mayor calls on more help from the Biden administration. One idea is a city-based work permit program. Basil Smykel directs the public policy program at Hunter College

and used to lead the state's Democratic Party. He says Adams has tremendous power to elicit creative solutions. It almost appears as though he's not sure of how much power he has to do that, but he has an amazing amount of power to bring people to the table to help himself as he does not have to do it alone. And that is really the difference between leading and not leading. Governor Hogle has also signaled state interest in a local work authorization program in coordination with the federal government. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says he's concerned about multiple private bus companies shutting down commuter service this October. But he suggested on last night's ask Governor Murphy call-in show help could be on the way.

I can't give you the exact with precision what the fix is here. I think there's a short-term fix, which is probably monetary-based. When asked if that meant cash infusions for the buzz companies, Murphy would only say that's still to be determined. Both companies that are talking about losing those riderships or losing money because of lower ridership in the pandemic and never recovered. Murphy also says a long-term solution could involve service from a public authority such as NJ Transit, but that agency is facing its own fiscal cliff when federal COVID aid dries up. I'll stay on top of that one for you. Taking a look at your forecast now, 66 and mostly cloudy, a high surf and a high risk for rip currents out there.

Those advisories posted this morning, dangerous to swim and stay out of the water according to the national weather service. Today's forecast, sunny and 75 for a high. 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