NYC NOW

The NYPD commissioner has cleared an officer who fatally shot an unarmed man during a 2019 traffic stop, going against a judge’s recommendation to fire him. Meanwhile, Fourth of July celebrations in Plainfield, New Jersey, are canceled after severe thunderstorms swept through the area. Plus, the Mets and Yankees square off this weekend in their second Subway Series of the season. And Congress narrowly passed a sweeping tax and spending package this week, handing President Trump a major legislative victory. WNYC’s Jimmy Vielkind breaks down what it means for New York State.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s top spokesperson is on leave after an allegation of sexual harassment. Plus, deadly car crashes are trending down in New York City, according to new data from the city's transportation department. Also, New York City officials are reminding residents to prioritize firework safety ahead of 4th of July celebrations. Meanwhile, New York City officials backed off a plan to turn the Elizabeth Street Garden in Lower Manhattan into a housing complex for low income seniors. And finally, July is the height of summer stargazing.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is losing support for a potential independent mayoral run, with Reverend Al Sharpton joining others urging him to step aside. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have hired Mike Brown as their new head coach. And in Newark, a new program is offering high school graduates contracts to return to the district as teachers.

The NYPD is asking the White House for authorization to intercept and disable potentially hostile drones flying over New York City. Meanwhile, a city commission is recommending that borough presidents get new authority over land use decisions, allowing them a decisive vote if the City Council rejects rezoning or development plans. And New York’s baseball stars shine: Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge have been named starters for this year’s MLB All-Star Game.

A New York jury has found music mogul Sean Diddy Combs not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering in a split verdict. Plus, data from New York City’s Democratic Primary shows that assemblymember Zohran Mamdani won without a majority of black voters. Also, we discuss the impact of we Bangladeshi aunties campaigning for Mamdani. And finally, homeless service providers are accusing officials in Emerson, New Jersey of hypocrisy.