NYC NOW

WNYC reporter David Brand joins us to explain why Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pausing New York City’s private tax lien sale program, which allows the city to sell unpaid property tax and water debt to private investors. Brand also breaks down a court ruling that struck down a state law banning discrimination against renters who use housing vouchers. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at [email protected]

WNYC Arts & Culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins us to go behind the scenes of the stories that crossed the culture desk this week, including a tourist suing a Times Square taco restaurant over a too spicy salsa, a parody musical inspired by the steamy hockey drama Heated Rivalry, and where to eat, drink and celebrate during New York’s unpredictable “Fool’s Spring.” WNYC producer Elizabeth Shwe also joins us to talk about sober nightlife options in the city. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at [email protected]

New York City lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban retail stores from collecting customers’ biometric data, including facial and voice scans. WNYC and Gothamist reporter Liam Quigley recently reported that the grocery chain Wegmans posted signs warning shoppers their biometric data could be collected in some New York City stores. Supporters of the bill say biometric identifiers are especially sensitive because they are tied to a person’s body and cannot be changed like a password. Businesses argue the technology can help improve security and prevent theft as the use of biometric surveillance spreads faster than the laws meant to regulate it. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at [email protected]

Nearly 1.8 million New York City residents rely on SNAP to help pay for groceries. Under new federal rules, tens of thousands must prove they are working, volunteering, or in school to keep those benefits. WNYC’s Karen Yi reports the expanded requirements could push many off the program if they fail to comply, raising concerns that vulnerable New Yorkers could lose food assistance amid confusion about the new rules. Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at [email protected]

Reality show America’s Next Top Model helped launch modeling careers in the early 2000s, but two decades later many viewers say the show has not aged well. A new Netflix documentary revisits some of the controversies surrounding the series and how contestants were treated. Harlem native and season one contestant Ebony Haith joins WNYC’s Janae Pierre to reflect on her experience on the show. Haith talks about growing up in Harlem, navigating the fashion industry as a Black model, and what she hopes the next generation of artists and performers takes from her story.

New York City’s longest nurses strike is over after 41 days on the picket line. Nearly 15,000 nurses at three major hospital systems walked out over staffing, pay and working conditions. WNYC health reporter Caroline Lewis explains why the strike dragged on and what it could mean for the future of health care workers in New York City.

The Trump administration’s $130 million purchase of a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey to convert into an ICE detention center is drawing opposition from local leaders who cite infrastructure limits and question the town’s ability to handle a facility of that size. Meanwhile, many New Yorkers are seeing unusually high Con Edison bills this winter, even without using more energy. Ian Donaldson of the Public Utility Law Project explains what is driving the spike and how the state’s Energy Affordability Program could lower monthly costs for eligible households.

New Yorkers are slogging through the late winter blues, and in this week’s arts and culture check in, WNYC and Gothamist arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper joins us to talk about why February can feel especially brutal, a packed spring concert calendar including Shelter’s 35th anniversary, Mayor Mamdani’s latest cultural references, the Tin Building’s pivot to a balloon museum, and a major new digital archive project at the Center for Brooklyn History. Plus, as funeral services are held this weekend, reporter Arun Venugopal examines the life and legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his lasting impact on politics and culture.

Construction on the $16 billion Gateway tunnel project that aims to build a new set of train tunnels under the Hudson River shut down earlier this month after the Trump administration froze federal funding. More than a thousand workers were forced to walk off the job. A federal judge ordered the money released and crews are preparing to restart the work, but the case is still moving through the federal court system. WNYC transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse explain how the project became a political flashpoint, what the pause revealed about federal funding and what it means for the commuters who rely on the aging tunnels every day.

A record-breaking snowstorm hits New York City, bringing travel bans, icy streets, and the first full public school snow day since 2019. Schools reopen Tuesday, and Janae sits down with WNYC education reporter Jessica Gould to talk about how students and teachers are using AI tools like ChatGPT and what the city’s incoming guidance could mean for classrooms across the five boroughs.

Sports reporter Priya Desai joins us to discuss the Knicks’ playoff push, Team USA women’s hockey’s gold medal run with two local players, and Unrivaled bringing elite women’s basketball to Barclays Center. Plus, WNYC’s James Ramsay weighs in on the dress shoe revival and what footwear says about being a “real” New York

A state Supreme Court judge has ruled that New York’s 11th Congressional District unlawfully dilutes the political power of Black and Latino voters, triggering a high stakes redistricting battle with national implications. At the center is Staten Island’s North Shore, a denser and more diverse part of the borough that some residents say has more in common with Lower Manhattan than with the rest of Staten Island. WNYC’s Brigid Bergin reports on the lawsuit and what a potential redraw could mean for representation in Congress and for the future of the borough itself.

After a stretch of extreme cold in recent weeks, about two dozen people have died across New York City, most found outdoors and others at private residences. WNYC reporters Karen Yi and Brittany Kriegstein break down what officials know so far, including how many deaths were directly linked to hypothermia and the cases that challenge common assumptions about who is most vulnerable.

Starting on Friday, February 13, every other Friday will feature an arts & culture update from Gothamist’s culture editor Matthew Schnipper. This week’s topics include Mayor Mamdani’s ongoing cultural references, curling clubs at Prospect Park and the “ultimate NYC sandwich,” the tuna melt.

New York City is loud, expensive, crowded, and always changing, and the news often moves too fast to explain what that really means. NYC Now slows things down and focuses on the stories shaping daily life here, why it costs more to stay, who gets pushed to the edge, and how the systems New Yorkers rely on are starting to break. We also make room for the culture and neighborhoods that define this city. This show is for people trying to stay and for people deciding whether they can. NYC Now is not a quick hit. It is a clearer way to understand the city you live in, with new episodes three times a week.

Across New York City, a largely unregulated ghost fleet of tow trucks is growing after years of lax enforcement. Many of these unlicensed operators rush to crash scenes in the hopes of lucrative payouts, but also put consumers and pedestrians at risk. In this episode, WNYC’s Liam Quigley explains how the towing system works and why the city has struggled to regain control. He also tells host Janae Pierre how to spot an unlicensed truck in case you find yourself needing a tow

New Yorkers are feeling the pinch as grocery prices climb and changes to SNAP eligibility rules loom. Janae talks to WNYC reporters Karen Yi and Joe Hong about their six-month project tracking food affordability across the five boroughs, and tips for stretching your dollar at checkout.

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we take a closer look at why dating in New York City feels uniquely challenging. Janae speaks with Erika Ettin, an NYC-based dating coach, who breaks down why dating in the city is unique, and what she recommends New Yorkers do differently. Also, WNYC arts and culture reporter Hannah Frishberg shares the best Valentine’s Day activities for the lovers…and the haters.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ran on a promise to dismantle the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, a unit long criticized for its role in policing protests. But weeks into his administration, SRG officers are still being deployed, including at recent anti ICE demonstrations that led to mass arrests. In this episode, WNYC and Gothamist reporter Ben Feuerherd explains how the unit was created, how it evolved from a counterterrorism force into a protest policing squad, and why critics say its structure and training created problems from the start. We also look at what Mamdani is now saying about disbanding the unit and why, for the moment, it remains in use.

Child care costs are reshaping family life in New York City with many parents saying they pay tens of thousands of dollars a year. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to expand free child care for two year olds. In this episode, Janae talks to parents about the financial strain they're under, and WNYC’s Karen Yi explains what the plan would deliver, who would qualify, and why advocates warn that without more funding and better pay for child care workers, the system could crack instead of expand.

One month into Zohran Mamdani’s tenure as New York City mayor, his governing style is starting to take shape. From a snowstorm that tested his crisis response to early moves on child care alongside Governor Kathy Hochul, Mamdani has paired constant public visibility with a push to deliver on his affordability agenda. WNYC city politics reporters Brigid Bergin and Liz Kim assess what he has accomplished so far, where he has political leverage, and the challenges ahead as he tries to run the city while sustaining the movement politics that powered his rise.

Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue filed for bankruptcy this month. Janae and producer Iru head up to 5th Av. to check on the iconic NYC department store, and WNYC’s Ryan Kailath breaks down why this isn’t the kind of bankruptcy that leads to a liquidation sale but still flashes a warning sign for NYC businesses. Plus, where's all this snow going? Sanitation Department Deputy Joshua Commissioner gives us a peak into the system. Correction: An earlier version of this episode incorrectly stated that Saks Fifth Avenue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In fact, it was Saks Global—the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman—that filed. The episode has been updated.

In this edition of Arts & Culture Check In, WNYC’s arts and culture editor Matthew Schnipper walks through what’s landing on the culture desk right now. That includes Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s latest use of pop culture references, concerts worth attending, and the Bronx Museum’s AIM Biennial spotlighting local artists. We also look at the Gotham Book Prize finalists, how New York shows up in this year’s Grammy nominations, and where to find standout Chinese food in Long Island City.

More than 5,000 rent stabilized apartments are set to change hands after the Pinnacle Group, once one of New York City’s largest landlords, entered bankruptcy and a judge approved the sale of its buildings. The case drew unusual attention when Mayor Zohran Mamdani made the bankruptcy proceedings one of his first public fights after taking office, arguing that the sale would leave tenants worse off. This episode traces how Pinnacle’s business model unraveled, what this battle over the sale tells us about the limits of city power when big landlords unwind through bankruptcy.

Mira Nair is an acclaimed filmmaker whose documentary-inspired work often centers on identity and belonging. Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi helps us explore how Nair’s focus on empathy and way of seeing the world may have shaped the worldview of her son, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.