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NYC NOW

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NYC Now helps New Yorkers understand the city through original reporting and sharp analysis from WNYC and Gothamist. The show digs into the news, culture, and conversations shaping life in New York, three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, hosted by Janae Pierre.

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  • 21 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 22 min
  • English
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  • Friday · 24 min

    The High Price of Being a New York Sports Fan

    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 pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • Wednesday · 26 min

    Championships, Heat Waves and Health Scares: New York City’s Summer in Review

    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.

  • Monday · 53 min

    In Conversation: How NYC’s Housing Crisis Is Squeezing Tenants and Small Homeowners

    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 Center Sylvia Morse, Director of Research and Policy at the Pratt Center for Community Development State Senator Julia Salazar Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • August 21 · 16 min

    Avoiding Veggies Because of Cyclospora? NYC Chefs Share Creative Ways to Enjoy Them

    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.

  • August 19 · 22 min

    Did Mamdani’s Free Bus Promise Lead More Riders to Skip the Fare?

    [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 trial? Mamdani hasn't made NYC's buses free. Riders stopped paying anyway. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • August 17 · 13 min

    The Elizabeth Street Garden Fight Is Over. What Comes Next?

    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 AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • August 14 · 26 min

    The Brooklyn Dance Party Bringing Everyone Together

    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.

  • August 12 · 26 min

    Inside The So-Called "Commie Corridor": The Neighborhoods Changing New York City Politics

    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, renters, affordability, gentrification, tenant rights, progressive politics, left-wing politics, Brooklyn, Queens, Astoria, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Ridgewood, Bed-Stuy, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, political movements Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  • August 10 · 23 min

    Chinese Immigrants Are Now New York City’s Largest Foreign Born Group. Here’s What That Means.

    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

  • August 7 · 22 min

    The Best Bite in Every Borough with NYC Food Influencer Julian Mu

    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@WNY

  • August 5 · 17 min

    As O'Shae Sibley's Killer is Sentenced to 20 Years, His Community Still Mourns

    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 Rubi

  • August 3 · 18 min

    What Does "Working Class" Actually Mean in New York City?

    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

  • July 31 · 22 min

    One Last Summer Hurrah: Your August Guide to Dance Parties, Outdoor Movies and More in NYC

    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

  • July 29 · 15 min

    Food Pantries Brace for More Demand as New SNAP Work Rules Push Thousands Off Benefits

    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 .

  • July 27 · 15 min

    Only 3 Black Students Got Into Stuyvesant High School This Year. Why Does This Keep Happening?

    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,

  • July 24 · 18 min

    Stooping or Stealing? How a Late Night Street Find Landed a Brooklyn Woman in Handcuffs

    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

  • July 22 · 28 min

    New York City Vowed Reform After Harlem’s Legionnaires’ Deaths. A New Outbreak Is Exposing the Gaps

    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

  • July 20 · 16 min

    What Went Wrong at the Midtown High Rise Where Columns Buckled?

    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

  • July 17 · 28 min

    Where to Watch the World Cup Final in New York City

    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

  • July 15 · 26 min

    How a Comic and an Actress Started a Rikers Women's Book Club

    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

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