NYC Midday News: Housing for Pregnant Shelter Residents, Police Shooting Review, and NJ Hurricane Preparedness

NYC Pilot Program for Pregnant Shelter Residents

• 💡 The Adams administration is launching a pilot program to reduce the number of babies born in homeless shelters.
• 🎯 The program will randomly assign 500 pregnant individuals at risk of homelessness into three groups: immediate housing voucher, monthly stipend for staying with family/friends, or a control group in shelter.
• ⚠️ Advocates support the goal but question the plan's logic, arguing all pregnant individuals should receive housing.

Review of Fatal Police Shooting at Jamaica Station

• ⚖️ New York's attorney general will not pursue criminal charges against MTA officers involved in the fatal shooting of Bashi McDaniel.
• 🔍 Investigators concluded officers reasonably used deadly force after McDaniel allegedly groped a teen, resisted arrest, and then drew his own gun.
• 📹 The decision was based on review of body camera footage and witness testimony.

New Jersey's Hurricane Season Preparedness

• 🌊 New Jersey DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette discusses the state's preparations for the Atlantic hurricane season.
• 📈 He highlights the inevitable impact of rising sea levels, increasing risks of tidal flooding and storm surge, with projections of 2 feet by 2050 and 5 feet by 2100.
• 🛠️ The state has doubled its shore protection fund to $50 million annually and is investing in projects like dune system replenishment and shoreline restoration.
• 🏘️ Policies include elevation programs and voluntary buyouts in vulnerable areas, regulated by the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA).
• 🏗️ Regulatory reforms like 'Resilient Environments and Landscapes' (REAL) aim to improve building safety standards and require higher elevations to account for increasing risks.
• 📊 New Jersey's proactive measures are viewed positively by financial institutions like Moody's, deeming them credit positive.

Federal Funding and State Risks

• ⚠️ Commissioner LaTourette expresses concern over the unknown impact of potential federal funding cuts, given New Jersey's significant reliance on FEMA recovery funding.
• 🌊 The state faces a mixed bag of risks, including inland flooding, tidal storm surge, and wildfires, necessitating strong federal partnerships.