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With Election Day just days away, we unpack how gentrification, race, and identity are shaping the mayoral contest. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim reports that some Black New Yorkers are weighing the city's changing politics and what real representation means for their communities.

With Election Day coming up Tuesday in New York and New Jersey, WNYC's Brian Lehrer and Janae Pierre break down five key moments shaping the local races, from the hope versus fear dynamic guiding voters to unexpected alliances over affordable housing, a Trump era strategy unfolding in Passaic County, Curtis Sliwa's surprising choices, and what grown up campaigns could learn from middle school elections.

Mayor Eric Adams is directing $15 million to community kitchens and food pantries ahead of Saturday's cutoff for SNAP benefits, as the Trump administration halts November payments during the ongoing government shutdown. Meanwhile, City Comptroller Brad Lander says the NYPD is falling short on deadlines to release footage of police encounters. And in Harlem, the Harlem Family Institute is working to train psychoanalysts who understand how the lasting trauma of slavery continues to shape Black communities today, part of a broader conversation sparked by author Lee Hawkins at the Schomburg Center.

Food pantries across New York City are preparing for long lines as the Trump administration halts SNAP payments during the ongoing federal shutdown. Meanwhile, New York City's three mayoral candidates say they'd keep Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch in her job if elected. Plus, a last-minute deal has averted a yellow school bus shutdown, ensuring buses keep running for roughly 150,000 students, including many with disabilities and those living in shelters.

Some major disruptions are coming to the nation's food stamp program, and the results could be devastating not just for SNAP recipients but grocers too. Food retailers say more than half their sales rely on SNAP. Without those funds, they have to cut back on staff and products.

LaGuardia Airport is reporting inbound flight delays of more than an hour, with similar slowdowns at JFK and Newark, as air traffic controllers work without pay during the month-long federal shutdown. Meanwhile, the same shutdown is delaying New York State's heating assistance program until at least November 17th, leaving low-income residents waiting for help. And early voting is underway in New York City, where WNYC's David Brand breaks down a ballot proposal to digitize the city's paper map archives.

A Brooklyn developer who donated campaign cash to Mayor Eric Adams' 2021 run is getting control of a city-owned lot in Coney Island for a new housing project. Meanwhile, the federal shutdown is delaying heating assistance for low income New Yorkers until at least mid November. And New York City street vendors are urging the City Council to lift caps on vending licenses, saying current limits leave many at risk of immigration crackdowns.

New York City street vendors are calling on the city council to pass legislation that would remove limits on the number of licenses issued by the city. Meanwhile, more than 160,000 New Jerseyans have already cast their ballot in the hotly contested race for governor. And finally, mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani wants transit ambassadors to handle mental health calls instead of the NYPD.

More than 50,000 runners and a million spectators are expected at the New York City Marathon this Sunday, with police deploying thousands of officers to keep watch from the streets and the sky. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is warning of strong winds up to 40 miles per hour across the region heading into Halloween weekend. Plus, in New Jersey, voters head to the polls Tuesday to pick a new governor in a tight race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill, with transit and education expected to top the new administration's agenda. Bergen Record transportation reporter Colleen Wilson joins us to explain.

Attorney General Letitia James is suing the Trump administration to force it to continue food stamp payments despite the ongoing federal shutdown. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Albany are weighing a proposal to require graphic warning labels in city gun shops. Plus, a new report finds major disparities in affordable housing construction across New York City, with two Bronx districts producing more units than nearly 30 others combined.

Early voting is underway in New York City mayor and turnout has far exceeded previous election cycles. Meanwhile, the MTA says a major project to bring Metro North service to the East Bronx will be delayed by three years. And finally, New Yorkers get a say in the future of housing in New York City.

Governor Kathy Hochul says she's exploring whether schools can send extra meals home to students if the federal shutdown disrupts food stamp benefits. Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani's plan to freeze rents for stabilized tenants could face obstacles from the current administration. And new city data shows drug overdose deaths fell nearly 30 percent last year, with declines in every borough.

New Yorkers receiving food stamps are suing the Trump administration over changes to the program, known as SNAP. Plus, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says affordability is a key reason why he's endorsing Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City. Meanwhile, President Trump is backing Rep. Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey's governor's race, calling him the right candidate to lower energy costs in the state. And finally, voters in Manhattan will be asked to select their pick for the borough's next district attorney on Election Day.

Early voting gets underway across New York City. Plus, the legendary Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been selected. And finally, a look at the long tradition of selling counterfeit luxury items in Lower Manhattan.

Federal housing funds could be at risk due to the government shutdown. Meanwhile, NY Attorney General Letitia James pleads not guilty to federal mortgage fraud charges. Finally, the City Council holds a hearing on how the Housing Authority is handling mold and leaks in NYC housing.

Child care in New York City can cost families as much as $30,000 a year, rivaling rent and pushing some parents to leave the city. WNYC's Brigid Bergin talks with families in Brooklyn's Ditmas Park about how affordability is shaping the mayoral race.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says New York will use millions in state funds to keep Planned Parenthood clinics open to Medicaid patients after federal cuts. Meanwhile, starting this Friday, e-bike and scooter riders in New York City will have to follow a new 15 mile per hour speed limit. Plus, New Yorkers celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. Finally, pear season is in full swing.

Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty in Virginia today to federal charges brought by the Trump administration, setting up a high stakes political and legal fight between two longtime adversaries. Meanwhile, New York City voters will decide whether to move local elections to even-numbered years to coincide with presidential races and boost turnout. Also, WNYC's Ryan Kailath reports on a new museum on the Lower East Side celebrating a century old technology first unveiled in New York City.

Attorney General Letitia James heads to court in Virginia this morning to face charges brought by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Port Authority plans a weekend emergency drill at the Harrison PATH station. Also, the FDNY is using artificial intelligence to spot brush fires faster. Plus, in this week's transit segment, Mayor Eric Adams races to approve a Brooklyn Queens Expressway overhaul before leaving office.

Mayor Eric Adams, who called Andrew Cuomo a quote "snake and a liar" last month, now says he'll campaign with Cuomo in his bid for mayor. And finally, new sugar warnings are popping up on menus at chain restaurants across the five boroughs.

New York City Council leaders are condemning the Trump administration after federal agents detained several Canal Street vendors earlier this week. The Broadway musicians' union has reached a tentative deal to avert a strike. and with early voting set to begin Saturday, the three candidates for mayor faced off in their final debate Wednesday night. WNYC's Elizabeth Kim joins us for a recap.

New York City's mayoral candidates sparred over whether freezing rents for stabilized apartments is realistic policy during last night's debate, with Andrew Cuomo arguing it would hurt landlords' ability to cover costs. Meanwhile, a new report from the state comptroller shows Wall Street profits jumped to $30 billion in the first half of the year, putting the industry on track for one of its strongest years ever. And Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have required all 911 ambulances in New York City to have at least two certified responders, drawing criticism from the union representing EMTs and paramedics.

Federal immigration agents stormed Canal Street in Chinatown Tuesday, detaining several men and setting off spontaneous protests from bystanders. Homeland Security officials say the raid targeted counterfeit goods but the incident is reigniting debate over federal immigration enforcement in New York City. WNYC's Karen Yi reports. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams says there's finally a plan to fix “The Hole” a long neglected neighborhood straddling Brooklyn and Queens that's been plagued for decades by flooding and poor infrastructure. WNYC's Liam Quigley has the latest.

A Queens woman has been charged with abandoning her baby at Penn Station. Meanwhile, In the Bronx, the borough's iconic Christmas House will stay dark again this holiday season. Also, a new poll shows the New Jersey governor's race tightening between Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli. And tonight at 7 live on WNYC, the three candidates for New York City mayor , Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa, face off in their final debate before Election Day. WNYC's Brigid Bergin joins us to preview the debate.

Federal immigration agents detained several people in a dramatic morning raid on Canal Street in Chinatown, sparking confusion among vendors and bystanders. Meanwhile, WNYC co-hosts the final New York City mayoral debate Wednesday night, as Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo look to close the gap against Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. And upstate New Yorker Christopher Moynihan, who was pardoned by President Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection, has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

School bus companies are warning they may stop service for 150,000 New York City students next month if emergency contracts with the Department of Education aren't extended. Meanwhile, a new report shows a record 154,000 students in the city experienced homelessness during the last school year WNYC's Jessica Gould has the latest. Plus, Governor Katy Hochul is weighing a bill that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients end their lives. WNYC's Jon Campbell reports on the emotional debate surrounding New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act.

A new report finds expenses are climbing sharply for owners of low-income apartments across New York City even as rising rents and affordability dominate the mayor's race. Meanwhile, chain restaurants are beginning to post new labels warning customers about high-sugar items under new city health rules.  Also, a  jury has convicted one former correction officer and acquitted two others in the 2024 killing of prisoner Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Plus, with two weeks until Election Day, New Jersey's race for governor between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill remains neck and neck. Historian Kristoffer Shields, director of the Eagleton Center on the American Governor at Rutgers University, joins us for this week's Campaign Catch Up.

A fight over New York City school bus contracts is intensifying with a coalition of bus companies threatening to halt service next month unless their contracts are extended. Meanwhile, mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani is confronting questions about his age as his campaign weighs revealing key appointments before Election Day. And in New Jersey, Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli is calling for more rooftop solar panels even as his top supporter, President Trump, rolls back federal incentives for renewable energy.

MTA officials are inspecting hundreds of subway cars after a train carrying passengers decoupled and split apart Sunday night in the Bronx. Plus, a new Mexican restaurant in Jackson Heights has a name that's prompted a bit of a neighborhood backlash. And finally, the Trump administration will begin implementing new work requirements for people receiving food stamps.

With just over two months left in office, Mayor Eric Adams is urging federal officials to fast-track the long delayed reconstruction of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway's triple cantilever in Brooklyn Heights. Meanwhile, former Congressman George Santos says his 84 days in prison were “humbling” as he defends President Trump's decision to commute his sentence. And the Metropolitan Museum of Art's rooftop has closed until 2030 to make way for a new contemporary art wing.

Twenty years after a Bloomberg era rezoning transformed Greenpoint's waterfront, the neighborhood stands as a case study in both growth and displacement. As housing costs dominate the mayoral race, WNYC's David Brand reports on how the lessons from Greenpoint's boom are shaping the city's next big housing debate.

Judge Lewis Kaplan is ordering the Trump administration to release $33 million for counter-terrorism to the MTA. Plus, a pop culture historian is pushing to name part of Essex Street after Jack Kirby, the co-creator behind some of the Marvel characters we know and love. And finally, you've probably already noticed an abundance of brassicas at your local market. We'll share recipes that include kale, broccoli, bok choy and more.

New York City's three mayoral candidates, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa faced off last night in the first of two general election debates, sparring over their experience, the city's affordability crisis, and how they'd work with President Trump. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has ordered the city to halt work on a new 34th Street busway, warning it could withhold funding for other projects if New York doesn't comply. Finally, WNYC's Brigid Bergin joins us with a recap of the mayoral debate.

Attorney General Letitia James says she's ready to defend herself against fraud charges filed by President Trump's Justice Department. Meanwhile, domestic violence complaints in New York City have jumped 18 percent since 2019, with advocates warning that arrests alone aren't solving the problem. Also, the City Council is weighing the future of Hart Island, the city's public cemetery, where officials say burial space could run out in less than two decades. Plus, on this week's transit segment, WNYC's transportation team breaks down what President Trump's decision to cut funding for the Gateway Tunnel project could mean for rail service between New York and New Jersey.

President Donald Trump says the Gateway program's Hudson River train tunnel connecting New Jersey and New York is "terminated." Meanwhile, the fate of the West Village's beloved Tony Dapolito recreation center rests in the hands of the city's next mayor. And finally, how can mayoral front runner Zohran Mamdani earn the NYPD's trust?

New York's highest court has upheld a law moving town and county elections to even-numbered years, rejecting a Republican challenge that claimed the change was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, about 1,200 dogs and their owners are expected to hit the East Village this Sunday for the 35th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. And four years after New York City began requiring salary ranges in job postings, a new proposal would expand pay transparency rules to include current employees.

New York City's three mayoral candidates, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa, will take the stage tonight for their first general election debate. Meanwhile, the NYPD's gang database has shrunk by nearly 40 percent in three years, but a new oversight report finds thousands of people were kept in the system longer than allowed because of programming errors. Plus, at Belmont Park, crews have hoisted the final steel beam, marking a major step in the Long Island racetrack's full rebuild.

Migrants living at the Row Hotel in Midtown Manhattan are receiving notices to leave the shelter as the city prepares to close the facility. Plus, MGM Resorts has decided to withdraw its bid for a full casino in Yonkers. And finally, more people are struggling to afford dog and cat food, so they're turning to pantries for help.

Messages from a leaked group chat obtained by Politico show members of Young Republican groups from New York and across the country using racist, sexist, and antisemitic slurs. The outlet reports several members have since lost their jobs. Meanwhile, New York's power grid operator warns the city could face longer and more frequent outages over the next five years due to rising electricity demand and delays in new power generation. Also, officials in White Plains are urging the public to avoid the area around the Westchester shopping complex after a partial parking garage collapse forced multiple road closures. Plus, Politico reporter Jason Beeferman joins us later to discuss the fallout from the leaked messages.

Several families are without homes after an auto body shop explosion and six-alarm fire Tuesday night in Hillside, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul's office says state run New York airports will not air a Homeland Security video from Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown. Newark Airport won't air it either, according to the Port Authority. Plus, Governor Hochul says she remains committed to expanding universal childcare in New York, speaking at the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Astoria alongside Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

MTA Chair Janno Lieber called the system's billionth ride a milestone and says it's another sign of growing post-pandemic ridership. Meanwhile, Broadway musicians are one step closer to potentially walking off the job in the next few weeks. And finally, advocates for people incarcerated in New York State are pushing Gov. Hochul to sign a bill that would expand prison oversight and require more cameras.

Miss Major Griffin Gracy, a veteran of the 1969 Stonewall uprising and a longtime LGBTQ and public health activist, has died. Meanwhile, the NYPD is searching for a driver who struck an 11 year-old boy on an electric scooter in Gravesend, Brooklyn. The child remains in critical condition. Also, New York Attorney General Letitia James is speaking publicly after her federal indictment last week by the Trump administration's Justice Department. And as temperatures drop, Gothamist food writer Robert Sietsema joins us to talk about the best spots in the city for a comforting bowl of soup.

New York City's next mayor could decide whether to dramatically raise the minimum wage. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani wants to double it to $30 an hour, while independent candidate Andrew Cuomo proposes $20. Policy experts are divided on how the increases would affect workers and businesses. Meanwhile, overcrowding is worsening in the city's juvenile detention centers, with some teens reportedly sleeping in classrooms and common areas. And the City Council is holding hearings this week on the future of Hart Island, New York's public cemetery, which could reach capacity by 2030

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.