NYC NOW Morning Headlines: NYC Council Presses for More Cooling Tower Tests, Hearing on Bronx Housing Plan for Formerly Incarcerated, and NYPD Says Hate Crimes Against Jewish New Yorkers Remain High
Sep 18, 2025
New York City Council is demanding more frequent testing of cooling towers in light of a recent Legionnaires' outbreak, even as experts caution it might not be enough. A hearing on a Bronx housing proposal for the formerly incarcerated faces challenges due to lost support from Mayor Adams. Additionally, while hate crimes overall have declined, the NYPD reports that antisemitic incidents remain disturbingly high, surpassing levels from before 2023. These compelling issues reflect ongoing public health and social justice concerns in the city.
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Testing Timing Can Mask Risks
- Testing alone won't prevent future Legionnaires' cases if protocols allow masking of contamination.
- Monitoring timing and frequency reveal hidden risks that occasional tests miss.
Test Cooling Towers Before Cleaning
- Require testing of cooling towers before cleaning and increase testing frequency to catch Legionella that cleaning can hide.
- Janet Stout recommends testing every 30 days and weekly monitoring to detect recurring dangerous levels.
Just Home Plan Faces Mayoral Withdrawal
- The Just Home project planned 58 apartments for people leaving Rikers with severe medical needs like late-stage cancer.
- Mayor Adams previously defended the site but has since withdrawn support, prompting council criticism.