Skip to content
Artwork for NYC NOW
NewsDaily NewsPoliticsArtsPerforming Arts

NYC NOW

WNYC

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.

Play
  • 28 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 21 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • Yesterday · 18 min

    New York City Is Expanding Free Childcare. Some Providers Are Still Waiting to Get Paid

    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.

  • Friday · 21 min

    After 9/11, Two New Yorkers Told WNYC How They Felt. We Found Them 25 Years Later.

    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.

  • Wednesday · 16 min

    Why More City Dwellers Are Raising Chickens

    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.

  • September 7 · 19 min

    Why New York City Is Restricting Artificial Intelligence in Public Schools

    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.

  • September 4 · 16 min

    How Classical Music Has Changed Over the Past 30 Years of WQXR Host Jeff Spurgeon's Career

    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.

  • September 2 · 19 min

    Ahead of Labor Day, Haitian Businesses in New York City Feel the Impact of TPS Ending

    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.

  • August 31 · 18 min

    The Lawsuit Against Mayor Mamdani’s Grocery Store Plan Raises a Bigger Question: Can It Work?

    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 of personal data for advertising.

  • August 28 · 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.

  • August 26 · 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.

  • August 24 · 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

Showing 1–20 of 28 episodes