NYC NOW

New York City renters have filed more than 1,100 complaints since the city’s ban on most broker fees took effect in June, many accusing landlords and brokers of ignoring the new rule. Meanwhile, Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is criticizing President Trump over the federal prosecution of state Attorney General Letitia James. Also, city contractors hired to replace a crumbling, century-old elevated stretch of Riverside Drive West in Washington Heights walked off the job last year, leaving behind an unfinished construction site and hundreds of residents stuck in a public works purgatory. And finally, we meet the guy behind those “Friend” ads at subway stations across the city.

With less than a month until Election Day, public safety remains a top concern for New York City voters. WNYC’s Brittany Kriegstein and Ben Feuerherd report on how residents across the city are responding to each candidate’s plans for policing and mental health response.

New York State’s top law enforcement official, Attorney General Letitia James, is facing federal charges of mortgage fraud. Plus, after years of protests over the Israel-Hamas war and allegations of discrimination, some Columbia University students and faculty question whether honest dialogue is possible. And finally, Gov. Kathy Hochul and mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani both want universal child care for the state but they disagree on who’s paying for it.

A long stalled plan to build nearly 900 affordable apartments at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards site is getting new life after state officials tapped a new developer. Meanwhile, the NYPD is deploying 140 new hybrid patrol cars as it works toward the city’s 2035 all-electric vehicle mandate. And on Long Island, the group behind Islip Forward, an app that lets residents report and track ICE sightings, says it will keep operating despite criticism from the Trump administration. Founder Ahmad Perez joins us to explain.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted on a federal fraud charge, accused of lying on loan papers about a Virginia property she owns. The indictment follows President Trump’s calls for the Justice Department to pursue his political opponents. Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is weighing both sides of the debate over banning Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages. Also, PATH will suspend service between Harrison and Journal Square this weekend for track work, with shuttle buses running in both directions. And in this week’s transit segment, we look at a string of tragic incidents, a woman killed by riders on a large e bike, two girls who died subway surfing, and a man beaten to death at a Brooklyn station.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says the White House is clawing back money to support patrols, security camera operations and K-9 units for the city’s transit system. Plus, the NYPD's top officer is retiring a week after Mayor Adams ended his re-election bid. And finally, Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli squared off in a fiery debate Wednesday night tackling topics like the Gateway Tunnel Project and New Jersey Transit service.

Police are charging a Bronx man with murder in the fatal beating of a Brooklyn man at the Jay Street MetroTech subway station this week. Meanwhile, New York Comic-Con begins this Thursdayat the Javits Center, drawing about 200,000 fans along with artists and actors. And as the mayor’s race enters its final stretch, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani faces growing questions about whether he’s coasting to Election Day.

Elected officials from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles held a strategy call as they prepare for possible National Guard and federal law enforcement deployments ordered by President Trump. Meanwhile, a state appeals court has ruled Nassau County cannot enforce its ban on transgender female athletes at county run facilities. Also, mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo says he’d rebuild the Rikers Island jail complex instead of closing it. And the Yankees’ season ends with a 5–2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the ALDS.

New Yorkers receiving unemployment are now eligible for a weekly payment of up to $869, up from the previous max of nearly $500. Also, Saul Zabar, the longtime owner of the iconic Upper West Side gourmet Jewish food market, has died at the age of 97. And finally, the city’s largest landlord was hit with a $3.1 million penalty for illegally charging tenants for water.

New York City’s teachers union is expanding access to its childcare “matchmaker” website, now open to all families after launching last year for members only. Meanwhile, a new mural at St. Patrick’s Cathedral honors generations of immigrants as church leaders clash over rhetoric on immigration. And in New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli enter the final stretch of a close governor’s race, with urban turnout likely to play a key role. WNYC’s Mike Hayes reports.