NYC NOW

WNYC and Gothamist reporter Hannah Frishberg joins us with some of the best ways to celebrate Halloween across New York City. From the Great PUPkin dog costume contest and haunted attractions to a Lower East Side bookstore crawl and some truly unusual live performances. Photo: WNYC & Gothamist Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress Council OKs bill to end horse carriage industry in NYC MTA suspending bus fare enforcement teams after altercations emerge Halloween in NYC: Events and Activities Mentioned in This Episode 28th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest Saturday, October 24, noon to 1 p.m. at Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn. Free for spectators. Competing dogs must register in advance for a fee. Part of Fort Greene Park's free Halloween Festival, running from noon to 4 p.m. Halloween on the Farm at Queens County Farm Museum Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Queens. Trick-or-treating, a corn maze, hayrides, ghost stories and farm…

Some Upstate New York residents say their utility bills have more than doubled in the past year, and the cost of keeping the lights on has become one of the biggest issues in this year’s race for governor. As governor, Kathy Hochul has offered rebate checks and a new Ratepayer Protection Plan, while her Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman has pledged to cut utility bills in half. WNYC reporter Jon Campbell takes us to Lockport, New York, to hear from residents and break down what each candidate is promising, how realistic it is, and what frustrated voters make of it all in the third episode of our four part series leading up to the November 3rd election: New York State of Unaffordability. Photo: Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News via Getty Images Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Parents grumble as NYC schools chancellor dodges calls for NYC schools integration plan Join us on Thursday, October 22nd 2026 for In Conversation: The Affordability Series Hosted by…

New York City is moving closer to ending its horse carriage industry. With the City Council preparing to vote on a bill that would ban carriage rides starting in June 2028, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Liam Quigley visits a Hell’s Kitchen stable to hear from workers worried about losing their jobs and owners concerned about their investments. Photo: Liam Quigley /WNYC/Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest More on the proposed horse carriage ban NYC Council, Mayor Mamdani agree to end Central Park's carriage horse industry Teen's death in Central Park horse carriage fall has lawmakers pushing to ban industry Central Park carriage horse died after eating toxic shrub, examination finds Family says stray voltage may have contributed to fatal Central Park carriage crash. More on safety concerns on Central Park's loop…

WNYC and Gothamist arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins us to talk about Kelly Clarkson’s dispute with Brooklyn Heights shop Art of Play, a photographer trying to document every neighborhood in the city and what really makes someone a New Yorker. Plus, Citi Bike’s unlikely rise as a symbol of New York cool and some of the places opening their doors for Open House New York. Photo: Sonia Rao/ WNYC & Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE Avila Chevalier insists her beef is with NYPD Commissioner Tisch, not Mamdani A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide. The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike? Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See…

Micron, the chipmaker building a massive complex outside Syracuse, says it will bring 50,000 jobs to Central New York. In this year’s race for governor, Kathy Hochul has put billions in state subsidies behind the project, while challenger Bruce Blakeman says the state should get out of the way and let businesses come on their own. But for the people training for those jobs, the bigger question is how soon they’ll arrive and who will actually get them. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Jimmy Vielkind takes us to Syracuse to see what’s riding on Micron in part two of our four part series: New York State of Unaffordability, dropping every Wednesday in October. Photo: Micron Chip Camp / Jimmy Vielkind Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. NYC Council, Mayor Mamdani agree to end Central Park's carriage horse industry NYC's taxi union teams with Uber, private equity firm to demand healthcare after 4 driver deaths NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health…

After at least four yellow cab drivers died while working in New York City this summer, WNYC reporter Ramsey Khalife examines the financial pressures that can keep drivers behind the wheel even when they are sick. Photo: Ramsey Khalifeh - WNYC/Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Driving to death: NYC yellow taxi drivers keep dying on the job, unable to make ends meet For more on ICE shooting at Marble Hill: What we know about the ICE shooting in New York City Man shot by ICE in NYC still has bullet lodged in neck, attorneys say Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WNYC and Gothamist reporter Ben Feuerherd joins us to break down what we know about the shooting in Marble Hill, where a federal immigration agent shot 28 year old Oscar Belgal while his five year old son was inside the car. They discuss newly released NYPD body camera footage, the department’s role when federal agents operate in New York City, the public's response and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s unsuccessful effort to secure Belgal’s release from federal custody. Photo: NYPD bodycam footage Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNOW@WNYC.org. What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC Attorneys argue man shot by ICE in Marble Hill should be released Feds blame NYC's sanctuary policies for violent ICE arrest in Marble Hill Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a small daycare center in Upstate New York, families are pulling their kids out after the state assistance that made childcare affordable ran dry. It's happening in dozens of counties across New York, and it's part of a bigger fight over the cost of living that's at the center of this year's race for governor. Kathy Hochul wants to expand childcare subsidies, while challenger Bruce Blakeman argues the state should have a limited role in supporting care arrangements. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Jimmy Vielkind heads to Willsboro, New York to see what's at stake for families and daycare owners, and joins us to kick off our four part series, New York State of Unaffordability, dropping every Wednesday in October. Photo: Clubhouse Daycare Center / courtesy Taylor Loreman Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. NYC moves to spend nearly $9M of gender-affirming care fund for minors NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz…

WNYC and Gothamist reporter David Brand joins us to talk about a couple of the housing battles he’s covering right now, including the lawsuit challenging the Rent Guidelines Board’s rent freeze and a new fast-track process for certain affordable housing projects. Plus, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Walter Wuthmann looks at noise complaints surrounding rooftop parties at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the concerns from nearby residents and the debate over how gentrification fits into the dispute. Photo: Walter Wuthmann/Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Mamdani will clear 10,000 families off waitlist for low cost childcare Two Legionnaires’ disease cases appear at a Queens housing complex. Here’s what we know. Check out our latest episode on Legionnaires New apartments are coming and there’s nothing these 12 neighborhoods can do to stop it No kids and a lot of bass: Brooklyn Children's Museum draws flak for loud roof parties The latest on rent freeze…

Chef Ham El-Waylly grew up in Doha, Qatar, eating his mom's Egyptian and Bolivian cooking and dreaming about New York bagels while watching Seinfeld. Today, he's the co-owner and chef behind Strange Delight, a Creole restaurant in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. In this episode, Ham joins NYC Now host Janae Pierre to talk about the unexpected throughlines between Southern cooking and the food he grew up on, how the pandemic sent him back to his late mother's recipe book after years of avoiding his grief, and the empanadas that helped him finally process it. He also breaks down what actually separates fine dining from cooking for his own family, and how affordability shaped the recipes in his new cookbook, Hello Home Cooking. Watch Ham and Janae cook a New York inspired recipe straight from the book on Youtube! Get the cookbook: Hello Home Cooking, by Ham El-Waylly Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Lawyer challenging NYC rent freeze releases Mamdani officials’ emails and…

October 1st marks the start of heat season in New York City, when landlords are legally required to keep buildings warm... but getting a landlord to actually fix a heat problem can be its own battle. Tenants' rights attorney Leah Goodridge walks us through what tenants are entitled to and the steps she, herself, took to get the hot water back in her apartment. Then, WNYC and Gothamist housing reporter David Brand breaks down landlords' perspective on why heat repairs can take as long as they do and also what the city's new policy requiring inspectors to check every complaint individually means for New Yorkers. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders What Trump's Title IX rollback means for LGBTQ+ students in New York Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City has seen a string of deadly Legionnaires outbreaks. Daniel Thomas reflects on losing his father, retired New York State Supreme Court Justice Charles Thomas, after he contracted the disease during this summer’s Upper East Side outbreak. But death is not the only lasting consequence. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Joe Hong speaks with two survivors of the 2025 Central Harlem outbreak who are still living with serious health problems more than a year later, and looks at why Legionnaires outbreaks keep happening across the city. Photo cred: Daniel Thomas, son of The Honorable Charles J. Thomas Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. NYC childcare providers say city contract rates fall $12.6K short per child Mamdani says NYC will investigate every tenant heat complaint starting this October The NY Liberty head back to the playoffs today. Catch up on what you missed. For more on Legionnaires NYC Now - New York City Vowed Reform After Harlem’s Legionnaires’…

WNYC and Gothamist culture reporter Sonia Rao joins Matthew Schnipper to discuss the Harry Styles pop up that drew huge crowds to the East Village and a confrontation that ended with cookbook store owner Bonnie Slotnick being arrested. They also look at a new film about location scouting in New York, the growing number of creative workers going freelance and the return of Saint Vitus in Bushwick. Plus, they preview an interview with saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins ahead of his return to the Village Vanguard. Photo: Sonia Rao / WNYC & Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Judge orders NYC officials to turn over phone messages, keeps rent freeze in place - Gothamist NYC councilmember wants to ban tickets for spitting after arrest video circulates - Gothamist How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest - Gothamist NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says - Gothamist Hosted by…

As the New York Liberty head into the WNBA playoffs for a sixth straight year, the franchise is also marking its 30th season. WNYC's Morning Edition producer Amanda Rozon takes us to Liberty Legends Weekend in Brooklyn, where original team members like Teresa Weatherspoon and Crystal Robinson reflect on the franchise's early years, as rising ticket prices are reshaping who gets to be in the stands. Then, sports reporter Priya Desai breaks down the Liberty's up and down season under a new coaching staff and what it'll take for the team to make another title run. Photo: Peter Fisher for The Washington Post via Getty Images Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org DoorDash to pay $131.5 million to delivery workers, admitting it ‘screwed up’ NYC Marathon changes route for first time in 15 years NY, NJ sue Trump admin over deals to scrap offshore wind projects Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of…

Upstate New York is home to the country's last two foie gras (fatty duck liver) farms, even though New York City banned the sale of foie gras back in 2019. The ban's never actually been enforced, and now it's headed to the state's highest court. WNYC's Walter Wuthmann drove up to the Hudson Valley to see the force feeding process for himself, and talked us through the perspective of the farmers who say they've been unfairly targeted, as well as the animal rights advocates who've spent decades trying to shut them down. Photo: Walter Wuthmann Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org New York bodegas join grocery giants' push to sell wine, liquor Mamdani says NYC will investigate every tenant heat complaint starting this October Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City's parks have long doubled as free, open air gyms, and the tradition stretches back to groups like The Bartendaz, who started training on playground bars in the Bronx and Brooklyn in the early 2000s. WNYC producer James Ramsey headed to Chelsea Park to get a lesson in that scene from Brooklyn-born trainer Danny Kavadlo, and shared what he learned with us. Photo: Walter Wuthmann Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. South Bronx Legionnaires’ outbreak death toll rises to 2 NYPD expects daily UN General Assembly protests as NYC street closures begin NYC deploys robotoilets. The public bathrooms have a strict 10-minute time limit. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fifteen years after Occupy Wall Street began in Zuccotti Park, NYC Now returns to WNYC’s archives to ask what the movement changed, where it fell short and what remains today. WNYC reporter Stephen Nessen reflects on covering Occupy in real time, while City Council member Sandy Nurse looks back on her experience inside the movement and the path that eventually took her from activism into elected office. Photo: Getty/Paul McKinnon Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. NYC raises snow shoveler pay to $30 an hour this winter Park Slope rejoices after catnappers return stolen kitten to bodega Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City has launched its new 2-K program as the first major step toward universal childcare. But some providers started the school year without city funding they were counting on, leaving some to borrow money or dip into their own savings to cover payroll, rent and supplies. WNYC’s Karen Yi explains why payment and contracting delays keep happening and what they could mean for the city’s plans to expand free childcare. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Photo: Kara McCurdy / Mayoral Photography Office COVID hospitalizations are on the rise in NYC. Here's how to protect yourself. Gov. Hochul expected to send rebate checks to New Yorkers shortly before Election Day As NYC's free 2-K begins, childcare providers say they're still waiting to get paid Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Twenty five years ago, WNYC reporters fanned out across the city recording New Yorkers in the hours and days after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Today, we revisit two of those New Yorkers: a scared, pregnant 21 year old wondering if her baby would grow up to enjoy the city she loves, and a 15 year old Muslim girl bracing for the Islamophobia that followed. WNYC's Samantha Max found both women 25 years later to find out what became of those fears and joins us to discuss what both of their lives look like now. Photo: Courtesy Janelle Lewis and Nahima Ahmed Notes: Families gather at ground zero to remember 9/11 — 25 years later South Bronx Legionnaires’ cluster kills 1, sickens 5, NYC says Autonomous Tesla Cybercabs hit the streets of New York City Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Keeping chickens in city backyards is becoming more popular. WNYC’s Morning Edition producer Verónica Del Valle visits a Jersey City backyard farm to see what urban chicken keeping actually looks like and the rules to know before starting a flock of your own. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Photo cred: Verónica Del Valle/WNYC Mayor Mamdani releases 170K documents related to post-9/11 air quality New renderings of the MTA's IBX project serving Brooklyn, Queens are out Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City is restricting AI across public schools, including a one year ban for students through eighth grade and new limits on screen time for younger students. WNYC and Gothamist education reporter Jessica Gould explains why the city reversed its earlier approach, where AI will still be allowed for high school students and teachers, and the challenges schools face enforcing the rules once students leave the classroom. The episode also hears from New Yorkers about whether the city is getting the balance right. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office Notes: NYC public schools to ban AI for teaching students below 9th grade Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As WQXR morning host Jeff Spurgeon retires after a 50-year radio career, we sit down with him to reflect on his path from a Nebraska farm to three decades on New York's airwaves, and talk about classical music's surprising resurgence among Gen Z and Millennial listeners. Photo: WQXR Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. NYPD data shows decline in summer crime, as perceptions of safety shift ’I want to die': NYPD says it shot, killed knife-wielding man on Brooklyn Bridge cables Bask in the sunshine of NYC’s mild and sunny Labor Day weekend weather Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earlier this summer, the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians, upending life for tens of thousands of New Yorkers. We headed to Flatbush's Little Caribbean neighborhood to hear how the policy shift is playing out on the ground for business owners. Photo: Djon Djon executive chef Chef Wesly Jean Simon / Iru Ekpunobi Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. 'Prevailing emotion is really fear': Haitians in NY brace for loss of deportation relief NYC public schools to ban AI for teaching students below 9th grade Woman NYPD killed after Times Square stabbings had long mental health struggle, brother says NYC now has a 400-page Racial Equity Plan. Drafting it was the easy part. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A coalition representing hundreds of independent grocers is suing New York City over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five city owned grocery stores, arguing the taxpayer backed stores could put neighborhood businesses at a disadvantage. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Karen Yi looks at what the lawsuits challenge, how the city is defending the plan and whether the experiment could ultimately help lower costs for both shoppers and small grocers. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Photo by Kendall Rodriguez/Newsday RM via Getty Images Additional Notes: Mamdani’s plan for cheaper groceries could hurt minority grocers, lawsuit says⁠ TikTok is the new 311: New Yorkers tag Mayor Mamdani on social media for help⁠ Late start to school year puts NYC parents in a childcare crunch⁠ NJ, NY cosmetology schools to teach twists and turns of Black hair, to root out bias⁠ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use…

WNYC arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins Janae Pierre to talk about the US Open, rising New York Liberty ticket prices and what it costs to be a sports fan in the city right now. Also discussed are Dolly Parton’s legacy and some of the best ways to spend the final days of summer across New York City. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Episode Notes: A summer surge in ICE arrests in NYC and NJ, mostly of people with no criminal history NYC families get reprieve in fight over trans youths' medical records People in NY keep climbing into manholes. Police aren't sure why. We joined the US Open ball crew for a day. It's harder than it looks. Liberty tickets are becoming more expensive. Some longtime fans say they're paying the price. More on Dolly Parton: Celebrate Dolly Parton in New York this weekend with dancing and drag New York City works 9 to 5, then lights up pink for Dolly Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See…

WNYC’s Ryan Kost joins us to revisit some of the biggest stories NYC Now and Gothamist covered this summer, from the Knicks championship and Zohran Mamdani’s first months in office to extreme weather, major public health concerns, the World Cup and more. -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Photo: NurPhoto/Getty Episode Notes: NYC honors Dolly Parton NY counties resisting law limiting cooperation with ICE hit with subpoenas Tenants in NYC's worst buildings to be put on housing court fast track Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Recorded live at HANAC Harmony JVL Older Adult Center in Astoria, this installment of In Conversation: The Affordability Series examines New York City’s small two and three family homes, where an owner may live in one unit and rent out another. The conversation explores rising costs, limited tenant protections, basement apartment legalization, home flipping and what it would take to keep more New Yorkers in their homes. -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Photo: Carla Wills/WNYC Guests: Andrea Jerves, Director of Social Service Programs, Grants Administration and Compliance at HANAC Doreen Mohammed, member of the Astoria Tenants Union James Carr, member of the Astoria Tenants Union Oudit Beharry, homeowner Scott Kohanowski, General Counsel at the Center for NYC Neighborhoods Annetta Seecharran, Executive Director of Chhaya Community Development Corporation Troy Kingston, content creator known as Scourge Bliss Brad Greenburg, Executive Director of the NYU Furman…

A cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce has sickened hundreds and left health officials recommending cooked produce over raw salads... which is a tough sell in the middle of summer. NYC Now producer Iru Ekpunobi walks us through the ways New York City chefs Sohla El-Waylly, Ayo Balogun and Nasim Alikhani recommend to keep eating cooked vegetables safely without giving up on flavor. Photo: Caroline Lewis/Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Episode Notes: At least one tornado hits NY, damaging Long Island surf clubs Albany woman planned to bomb State Capitol, federal prosecutors say Also, Connect with the featured chefs from this episode on their official social media channels: Chef Sohla El-Waylly Dept of Culture by Chef Ayo Balugun Sofreh by Chef Nasim Alikhani Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[Heads up: technical issues affected the audio quality on this episode. Thanks for bearing with us — the conversation is still worth it.] The MTA says far fewer bus riders are paying the fare since Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office. Fare evasion has been a problem in the city for years, but MTA Chair Janno Lieber says Mamdani's campaign promise to make the city's buses free isn't helping. Mamdani has a different assessment, and blames the issue on the affordability crisis. WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse explain what may be driving the issue and what comes next as the MTA plans to step up enforcement. Photo: Stephen Nessen - WNYC/Gothamist Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. Episode Notes: Bronx man faces federal hate crime charges in Central Synagogue attack New Staten Island trash complex lets city make way for hundreds of new homes Luigi Mangione admitted to killing Brian Thompson. Why does NY still want a…

After a decade of legal battles and political fights, Elizabeth Street Garden will be preserved. The city had planned to build 123 affordable apartments for low-income seniors on the Lower East Side green space, but that proposal is now dead. We take a visit to the garden to speak with New Yorkers, then WNYC & Gothamist reporter David Brand joins us to explain how the garden became a flashpoint in New York’s debate over affordable housing and open space, and why the city is now looking to build more than 180 homes at a nearby site instead. Photo: Iru Ekpunobi Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org. The long battle over Elizabeth Street Garden is over. Mamdani touts new housing plan. Family says stray voltage may have contributed to fatal Central Park carriage crash NYC homeless shelters are falling apart. Providers say the city’s fix-it process is broken. Congestion pricing hasn’t changed much about NYC’s air quality, city report finds Hosted by Simplecast, an…

WNYC arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins Janae Pierre to talk about Public Service, the free Brooklyn dance party bringing New Yorkers of all backgrounds together. Also discussed are the last outdoor events to catch before summer ends, whether New York is really a buffet town, the fake AI ads popping up in the subway and what to expect when the Knicks return this fall. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.

Read More: Inside The So-Called "Commie Corridor": The Neighborhoods Changing New York City Politics The Democratic Socialists of America are gaining political power in New York City, and much of that support is concentrated in a string of neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. WNYC Senior Politics Reporter Brigid Bergin brings us along on her tour of the so-called “Commie Corridor” to understand who's driving the movement, and why issues of affordability, identity and community are shaping their priorities. Photo: Rhe Civitello/Gothamist illustration Read More: A people’s guide to the ‘Commie Corridor’ of Brooklyn and Queens (https://gothamist.com/news/a-peoples-guide-to-the-commie-corridor-of-brooklyn-and-queens) Michael Lange's Substack (https://www.michaellange.nyc/) -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Tags: New York City politics, Democratic Socialists of America, DSA, Zohran Mamdani, NYC politics, WNYC, Brigid Bergin, Janae Pierre, Michael Lange, housing,…

For the first time since the 1990s, Chinese immigrants have surpassed Dominicans as New York City’s largest foreign born population. CUNY Baruch College professor Kenneth Guest explains what is driving that growth, how Chinese communities are expanding beyond Manhattan’s Chinatown and what the shift could mean for services, political influence and the future of immigrant New York. -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Photo Cred: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

Description: Julian Mu, who goes by Mubereats on social media, has hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers and millions of TikTok likes, and he pays for every single meal he reviews. He joins us to talk about how he got started, why he only covers small and local businesses, and to play a game of “NYC Chow”, picking his favorite spot in each borough. Follow Julian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mubereats -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

In July 2023, O’Shae Sibley was stabbed and killed at a Brooklyn gas station after an argument broke out while he and his friends were dancing to Beyoncé. Prosecutors called it a hate crime. Nearly three years later, the man who killed him was sentenced to 20 years in prison. WNYC reporter Samantha Max covered the trial from the start, and she joins us to talk about the sentencing, what she heard from Sibley's family, and what his friends are doing to keep his memory alive. Photo: Caroline Rubinstein-Willis/Mayoral Photography Office Read More: Brooklyn jury convicts man in hate-crime killing of O'Shae Sibley Black, gay dancer was ‘living his best life’ before brutal Brooklyn murder, prosecutor says -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

The Democratic Socialists of America, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's political home, defines working class as anyone who depends on a paycheck to live. By this logic, that includes doctors, programmers, and waiters all under the umbrella. But do everyday New Yorkers agree? WNYC and Gothamist reporter Liz Kim joins us to unpack DSA's "working class" growth, and New Yorkers' answers to how they define working class themselves. Photo: Michael S. Santiago/Getty Images -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

Summer’s not over yet... if you haven’t gotten to the beach, there’s still time! WNYC arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins us with a guide of all there is to do this August in New York City: from dance parties at Moma PS1, outdoor screenings of Jurassic Park and The Warriors, to where you can find the best banana pudding in NYC. Photo: Edith Young for Gothamist -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

At least 22,000 New Yorkers and 31,000 New Jerseyans have been cut from SNAP since new federal work requirements took effect earlier this year. The numbers are expected to grow, and food pantries are already seeing surging demand. WNYC reporter Karen Yi joins Janae with the latest, and what options remain for New Yorkers who've been kicked off the rolls. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org .

Only three Black students were admitted to Stuyvesant High School's incoming ninth grade class of 777 students this past spring. That's the lowest number since the city started tracking this data in 2014. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Jessica Gould has covered this story for years, and she joins us to break down what the numbers actually show and why the specialized high school entrance exam is so hard to change. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

A Brooklyn interior designer says she believed a stack of wet rugs left outside had been discarded. Days later, her face appeared in news reports about a grand larceny investigation, and she spent seven hours at an NYPD precinct before being released without charges. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Catalina Gonella traces how the misunderstanding escalated and where the law draws the line between stooping and stealing. Photo: Jocelyn Ullman Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.

After a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on the Upper East Side, WNYC health reporter Caroline Lewis and investigative data reporter Joe Hong explain how the illness spreads, what went wrong during the 2025 Harlem outbreak and why major gaps in cooling tower testing and inspections remain. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

A few weeks after two structural columns buckled at a Midtown Manhattan high rise, WNYC and Gothamist reporter David Brand shares new details from hours spent reviewing hundreds of pages of building plans at the Department of Buildings. He explains what the plans called for, what the engineering firm says about whether required steel reinforcements were installed and what city officials are investigating now. Plus, WNYC and Gothamistreporter Arya Sundaram reflects on how the 2026 FIFA World Cup brought immigrant communities together at watch parties across New York City. Photo: New York City Department of Buildings -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

The World Cup final is this Sunday, and if you're looking for a place to watch in the city, WNYC arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper has some ideas. He also joins us with a summer reading list of New York City books and culture reporter Sonia Rao stops by to explain why jorts are peaking in popularity around the city. Photo: Jordan Bank/FIFA via Getty Images -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

In 2024, comedian Nora Fried started a monthly book club for women incarcerated at Rikers Island. What began with nine women and a copy of Tara Westover's "Educated" has grown into a nonprofit called Rosebuds Reading Collective, with actress and author Julia Fox now leading a monthly creative writing workshop inside the jail. Nora joins Janae to talk about how it all came together. Photo: Rosebuds Reading Collective

In counties along New York's Southern Tier, the number of homeless people nearly tripled between 2019 and 2025. But without all the sidewalks, subways, and shelters of a big city, it's more difficult for street outreach workers to find and help homeless people. WNYC's Jimmy Vielkind talks with us about how the state's street outreach program has adapted to rural communities. Photo: Jimmy Vielkind -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

Musician and producer Ella Bric joins Janae Pierre at The Greene Space for a live conversation and performance exploring salsa’s roots, evolution and enduring influence in New York City. She also discusses composing music for Futuro Media’s Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York and how her Venezuelan background, jazz training and Latin music traditions shape her sound. -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

New York City's flooding problem is getting worse, and it's not hitting every neighborhood equally. Furhana Husani, director of programs and climate initiatives at the Waterfront Alliance, joins us to break down why some neighborhoods flood more than others, what tools exist to track flooding, and what you should actually do the next time a flash flood warning hits your phone. Photo: Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images

Happy the Elephant lived at the Bronx Zoo for nearly 50 years, where she was beloved by generations of New Yorkers, and was also at the center of a landmark legal battle over whether an elephant could be granted the same rights as a person. WNYC reporter Walter Wuthmann joins us to trace Happy's life and investigate what comes next for Patty, the last elephant left at the Bronx Zoo. Photo: Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis News via Getty Images

WNYC & Gothamist arts editor Matthew Schnipper introduces a new series exploring the ideas, traditions and cultural touchstones that began in New York before spreading across the country. He also tells us about a dance party offering free dental screenings and recommends a few upcoming events. Photo: Edith Young for Gothamist -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org

New York City approves a $126 billion budget that scraps a planned NYPD expansion and broadens housing assistance through a new rental voucher program. Officials also prepare for a dangerous heat wave by opening cooling centers and extending pool hours. Plus, WNYC’s Karen Yi reports on why supportive housing providers are still filing eviction cases months after the city told them to use eviction only as a last resort. -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Photo Cred: Karen Yi, WNYC/Gothamist