

FAQ NYC
FAQ NYC
A weekly dive into the big questions about this city of ours, hosted by Christina Greer, Azi Paybarah and Harry Siegel, and produced by Alex Brook Lynn.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 16, 2023 • 33min
Episode 282: The NYPD’s ‘Italian Squad’ Fought the Mob, and Mayors
Years before the NYPD targeted Muslims, Black radicals and other groups with specialized and sometimes undercover operations, the Italian Squad prompted pushback for its aggressive tactics, and from Italian-American leaders concerned about their community’s public image as immigrants sought to assimilate. Paul Moses, author of “The Italian Squad: The True Story of the Immigrant Cops Who Fought the Rise of the Mafia” recounts the NYPD’s efforts to grapple with organized criminals preying on Italian immigrants and the challenges and threats faced by the Italian-American officers trying to stop them.

Jun 13, 2023 • 41min
Episode 281: The Ex-Cops Complete Their NYPD Takeover
Hosts Christina Greer and Harry Siegel break down another jam-packed week in New York City, complete with Rikers madness, NYPD upheaval, a brand new Bronx landmark and much more.

Jun 10, 2023 • 44min
Episode 280: ‘His Art Brings Joy to a Lot of People’
When he wasn’t making ends meet as a handyman or selling lumber or heating oil around New York City, John Hedderson was making big and bold paintings about the people, places, and pets that made up his world. Since his death in front of a blank canvas in 2016, his daughter MaryAnn has been trying to go through his art and put it out into the world, including at an art show opening on Saturday, June 10, and running through the end of July at Espresso 77 in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Jun 7, 2023 • 34min
Episode 279: Gun Cops Aren’t Beat Cops, Even if Eric Adams Calls Them ‘Neighborhood Safety’ Cops
Hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel run down another jam-packed week in New York City, discussing everything from the Adams administration’s Rikers blackout and a self-policing experiment in Brownsville to the gift that the rapper Dres of Black Sheep gave to fans in the rain mourning Phife Dawg and much more.

May 30, 2023 • 36min
Episode 278: ‘This Is Why Eric Adams Makes Sense’
Hosts Christina Greer and Harry Siegel discuss a damning new federal monitor report on New York's disastrous jails system, the mayor's political appeal and much more.

May 26, 2023 • 41min
Episode 277: The Booksellers of Brooklyn Take Flight
Davi Marra and Briana Parker tell Harry Siegel about their plans for Lofty Pigeon Books, opening in Kensington at the end of the summer, and Dimitrios Fragiskatos tells Azi Paybarah about what led him to open Anyone Comics in Crown Heights — where Azi had his wedding! — and then Everyone Comics in Long island City.

May 24, 2023 • 43min
Episode 276: A Retconned Origin Story
Hosts Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss the mayor's new account of being arrested and incarcerated as a teen, City Hall’s plans for newly arrived migrants, this summer’s lifeguard shortage and much more.

May 22, 2023 • 31min
Episode 275: A Two-Trumpet Town
In the latest installment of his occasional series, Into Something, Greg Glassman and fellow trumpeter James Zollar play together, and talk about what it takes to make it a musician in the Big Apple and much more.

May 13, 2023 • 27min
Episode 274: "At Best to Be Pitied, at Worst to Be Reviled"
In this off-cycle edition, host Katie Honan and organizing and outreach specialist at the Urban Justice Center Karim Walker discuss the arduous path from being homeless to being housed, the endless need for fresh socks, and the breakdown in trust that comes with a broken system.

May 9, 2023 • 42min
Episode 273: City Stressed Out
In the wake of Jordan Neely's killing, hosts Christina Greer and Katie Honan break down subways, migrants, Black leaders, and more...