NYC NOW - September 6, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: September 6, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here’s all the local news you need to start your day: The NYPD says it’s cooperating with a federal investigation involving some of its highest-ranking members. WNYC’s Bahar Ostadan reports. Meanwhile, a New Jersey nonprofit focused on Black and African American innovation is working to open the nation’s first Black inventors museum in West Orange, New Jersey. Plus, the New York Mets aim to extend their seven-game winning streak at Citi Field this weekend, while the Yankees hope to snap a two-game losing streak against the Chicago Cubs. Finally, several of Mayor Adams’ closest aides had their homes raided by the FBI on Wednesday, marking the latest escalation in the federal investigation into the mayor. WNYC’s Elizabeth Kim has more.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Friday, September 6th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. The NYPD says it's cooperating with a federal investigation involving some of its highest members. WNMAC's Bahar Ostenon has this story. A spokesperson for the police department says they're, quote, fully cooperating with an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

The news comes a day after the FBI searched the homes of top city officials, the deputy mayor for public safety, Phil Banks, and first deputy mayor, Sheena Wright. Wright shares a home with city education chancellor David Banks, who is Phil Banks's brother. It is not clear whether the police investigation and the searches are connected. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan declined to comment. A New Jersey nonprofit dedicated to the history of black and African-American innovation is aiming to open the country's first museum for black inventors in America. James Howard is head of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame. He says the group has signed a contract to renovate a shuttered wedding venue in West Orange.

The town was once home to one of the America's most famous inventors, Thomas Edison. Howard says one of the highlights will be a model of the airship created by Charles Frederick. page. It was a black man born into slavery who received a patent for his design 42 days before the Wright brothers. We're building a full-size replica, so for the first time, the world will get a chance to see just what this ingenious man envisioned. Howard and his group still need West Arnders' approval to move forward with the museum plan. The New York Mets will try to keep their hot streak going this weekend at City Field. The Amazons have won seven in a row, and they're right on the bubble for a playoff spot.

They'll play the Cincinnati Reds tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Meanwhile, the tumbling New York Yankees are on a rare trip to Chicago's Wrigley Field this weekend to play the Chicago Cubs. One of their pitchers just had a, well, actually three of their pitchers just threw a no-hitter the other day. The bombers have slipped out at first place, thanks to their recent struggles. They have lost their last three series. 65 with clouds out there now. partly sunny and 77 today. And then tomorrow's showers and possibly a thunderstorm high near 74, gusty.

Shower's likely at night, 54 in the cities that we really cool off. Then on Sunday, sunny and 71. Right now, 65 and cloudy. Stay close. There's more after the break. It's all things considered on WDWNYC. I'm Sean Carlson. Several of Mayor Adams' closest aides had their homes rated by the FBI. It's the latest escalation by federal law enforcement officials who have been investigating the mayor. Joining us now to talk about everything going on is WNYC's Elizabeth Kim,

who covers Adams. Okay, Liz, can we start with just who the FBI rated? So here's what WNYC has learned so far. On Wednesday, federal agents searched the Harlem home of Sheena Wright. She's the first deputy mayor and her partner, David Banks, who happens to be the city's schools chancellor. They also raided the queen's home of the deputy mayor of public safety, Phil Banks, who is the school's chancellor's brother. Now, the New York Times is also reporting that investigators have also searched the homes of the police commissioner, Edward Caban, and a top senior advisor to Mayor Adams named Timothy Pearson. Do we know why? No, we don't. We know that it is related to a federal investigation.

but a source told WNYC that it's not related to the ongoing investigation into the mayor's 2021 campaign. You may remember that that has been partly focused on illegal donations from Turkish officials. That investigation has triggered multiple search warrants, including one of the mayor that happened last November. Now, the mayor being searched was major news, but targeting these high-ranking individuals, and his administration also feels pretty serious, right? It does, Sean. You know, political insiders often refer to Sheena Wright and the Banks brothers as the, quote, family. And that's because, yes, they're related by blood and, you know, a personal partnership.

But it's also because of their closeness with the mayor. Adams and Phil Banks have a relationship that stretches back decades to their days together in the NYPD. Now, Sheena Wright sits next to the mayor at his weekly press briefing, and she's often at his side at major events or announcements. And of course, the school's chancellor, David Banks, he's one of the most high-profile city officials. You know, he's someone that many New Yorkers might recognize if they see him on the street. How is City Hall responding to all this? The mayor's chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, issued a statement saying that investigators have not informed the mayor's office. that members of his team are, quote, targets of any investigation.

But what I'd say there is that there is no obligation for federal investigators to tell the mayor, you know, who they're targeting. So that's not really a persuasive or reassuring response coming from the mayor's chief counsel. Remind us, Liz, where we are regarding those other investigations into Mayor Adams political campaigns. So there is an investigation that was done by the Manhattan DA that resulted in charges. And those charges were against people who raised money for the mayor's 2021 campaign for being straw donors. Now, those are people who illegally use other people's money to make donations in order to evade contribution limits. There appears to also be an investigation conducted by the Eastern District U.S. Attorney's Office,

and that's resulted in a search of one of the mayor's aides who cultivates donors in the Chinese community. Now, the investigation that everyone has been watching is the one that's being conducted by the Southern District in which I talked about being partly focused on Turkish officials. But again, you know, it's our understanding and other outlets have reported this as well that this latest series of race has nothing to do with that investigation and that this is something entirely separate. But that bodes big trouble for the mayor. WNIC's Elizabeth Kim, Alyssa, thanks so much. Thank you, Sean. 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.