NYC NOW Evening Roundup: Street Vendors Press City Council on License Limitations, Early Voter Turnout in NJ, and Mamdani’s Push for Transit Ambassadors
Oct 29, 2025
Stephen Nesson, a WNYC reporter known for his coverage of transit mental health outreach, shares insights from his ride-along with the PATH outreach team. He discusses the complex interactions between aid workers and the NYPD during crisis situations. The conversation highlights the push for transit ambassadors and the debate over police involvement in mental health responses. Additionally, street vendors are actively seeking changes to licensing laws in NYC, while early voting trends in New Jersey show a significant turnout ahead of the gubernatorial race.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Expand Vendor Licenses To Protect Workers
- Remove license caps so vendors can obtain legal protection and avoid immigration crackdowns.
- Councilmember Shahana Hanif and vendors urge the City Council to pass the proposal to expand licenses.
Centralized Lead Pipe Replacement Is More Efficient
- Replacing lead service lines centrally would be more efficient than disjointed local efforts.
- The EPA mandates replacement by 2037 because service lines are a major source of lead contamination.
Early Voting Gives Democrats A Narrow Edge
- Early in-person voting in New Jersey shows Democrats holding a narrow early lead in key counties.
- Over 160,000 voters cast ballots early, with mail-in returns further widening Democratic advantage so far.