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. MOMThank you son.CHRIS VOand just being happy. CHRISAlright, bye. CHRIS VOThat's what I do it for.MOMBye bye.
Finalists in Columbia Journalism's School 2026 Radio Race Transcript: AUTOMATED SELF-CHECK-OUT MACHINE:Thank you for shopping at Wegmans.[COLD WIND]TOMÁS:El invierno es donde más se gana.Winter is when you earn the most.[DOORDASHER BIKE ZIPS THROUGH THE WINDY STREETS]Ganamos por entrega.We earn by delivery.Estamos en contra del tiempo.We are racing against time.Mi nombre es Tomás. Soy de Guatemala. Trabajo de DoorDash de semanas y trabajo en‘warehouse’ de lunes a viernes.My name is Tomás. I'm from Guatemala. On the weekends, I’m a Doordasher. And fromMonday to Friday, I work in a warehouse.¿Cómo lidiar con el cansancio? Ah, a mí me lidiana mucho el vino, pero Mi futuro es esto:trabajar duro.How do I cope with exhaustion? Uh. Well, wine helps me cope, but this is my future:working hard.Hay que andar con casco, las luces, y respetar las señales.Wear a helmet, use lights, and respect the signs.[SOUNDS OF TRAFFIC]Si usted respeta eso, no pasa nada.If you follow that, you’ll be safe.[CAR BEEP]Me la paso más en Manhattan. Mi área es bajo por la World Trade Center.I work mostly in Manhattan. My area is near the World Trade Center.Lo que más me gusta es que me distraigo bastante. En las calles. Entro en diferentesrestaurantes [y] supermercados.My favorite part of this job is that I entertain myself a lot. I’m outside in the streets. I gointo many different restaurants and supermarkets.[MONTAGE OF DELIVERIES][BIKECHAIN LOCKS]Y lo malo es que los clientes no contestan, no abren la puerta, te toca llamar al servicio alcliente. Entonces ahí perdemos mucho tiempo. Eso es lo malo.And my least favorite part is when customers don't answer, or they don't open the door,and you have to call the App’s customer service. That’s where a lot of time is wasted.That's the bad part.[APARTMENT BUZZ]Muchos edificios así, viejos, toca subir, caminar seis [o] cinco pisos, [y] bajar.Many buildings like this, old, you have to go up, walk six or five floors, and then comedown.Entre más hacemos, más ganamos, pero hace como dos años, ya no dan tips. Raro que te den$2, $3. Ya no. Ya nadie quiere dar tips.The more we do, the more we earn. But, it's been about two years since they stoppedgiving tips. Rarely do they give you $2 or $3. Nobody wants to tip anymore.[FOOTSTEPS WALKING UP FLIGHTS OF STAIRS]Hi.[DOOR OPENS]May I have your ID please?[HEAVY BREATHING]
This piece was a finalist in Columbia Journalism's School 2026 Radio Race.[Birds]VO:We’re in Grădinari, just outside Bucharest, in the courtyard of a ruined boyar mansion.Around 1900, this place would fill with guests spending their summers here.Marius:The parties they hosted here in Grădinari always had elaborate menus.These were exclusive gatherings.It wasn’t easy to get on the guest list.Parties here lasted a long time and were very lavish.VO:This is Marius Tudosiei. He bought the place and wants to give it a new life.He loves the cuisine of southern Romania and says that, especially during spring, you should start at the market to find its flavors.Marius:You should always look for seasonal ingredients, because they’re the freshest and the most nutritious.[Obor market ambiance]Vendor (RO):“Ten for you — I’ll give them for fifteen lei so you still have money for a coffee.And you should know — sorrel is more expensive.”Marius:For example, in spring you’ll find sorrel.Sorrel with rice is divine.It surprises you — you don’t expect such depth of flavor from a simple leaf that grows wild in the fields.Market seller:I’m from the countryside, but I don’t know how to cook sorrel with rice.You boil the rice, onion, and sorrel… right?[Phone playing archival TV audio]“This house of death…”VO:But this place has had another life.It used to be a hospital-orphanage for abandoned children.For a long time, their meals consisted mostly of porridge.[Museum team rummaging]Museum of Abandonment team:“There are more objects here…What you found in the archives comes back to life.”VO:Marius didn’t throw anything away from that chapter.Instead, he invited the Museum of Abandonment to gather what remains —and preserve the story.Marius:A toy… a ball… a doll’s head…VO:Soon, the mansion will fill again with old recipes, music, and life.But it will also mark the memory of the children who lived — and suffered — here.
Market henhouse wonder what it's like outside the coop, across the road, on the other side. Winner of the Judge's Award in Columbia Journalism's School 2026 Radio Race.
Finalist in Columbia Journalism's School 2026 Radio Race.Translated from Swedish to English:My baby has learned to babble.It's so damn cute.2-year-old: You’re supposed to bite like a crocodile!We have breakfast.And put on clothes.I pack the diaper bag.I'm headed to the gym.My body is different now. Now that I've given birth to two children. I have to go tomamafit-classes.The trainer says our bodies start to deteriorate when we turn 30.I'm about to turn forty.The sky is clear blue and the sun is shining. Life really comes back in this city whenthe sun shines in March.Everything that is ugly becomes beautiful.The tower cranes at Slussen gleam in the sunlight.The Katarina Elevator looks small in comparison.Almost everyone at the gym is retired.And then there's us. The moms with our babies.We who are trying to wake up those inner abdominal musclesthat apparently are still in there.It's just the neural connections that are missing, says the trainer.Outside the gym my dad is waiting, leaning against a tree.We’re meeting up to choose a picture for my mother’s casket today. She died twoweeks ago.My dad looks younger than he is. He is retired too, like the people at the gym.My baby is not retired. She is brand new.Then we buy milk.And I forget to pay for the diapers.Tomorrow is Wednesday.Then it will be two weeks until my mother's funeral.
First came the token. Then the MetroCard. Now, a new chapter in New York City transit history is about to begin. The MTA plans to retire the MetroCard at the end of this year, replacing it with OMNY, a contactless payment system. Shirin Hakim checks in with New Yorkers to see how they feel about saying goodbye to a city icon.
The Delacorte Theater just reopened. It’s been closed for two years for renovations, and New Yorkers are anxious to get a seat at this summer’s iteration of Shakespeare in the Park. People have been lining up at all hours of the morning for their chance at one of the hottest tickets in the city. And as Katherine Weyback finds, the line has taken on a life of its own.
It’s May. Students in New York are putting on their caps and gowns to graduate. But the job market is tight. And the economy is going through uncertainty. The administration is continuously changing the line on tariffs, the stock market is in flux and there’s talk of a recession. Oona Milliken headed to Yankee Stadium where NYU’s graduation is being held to check-in with students to see how they’re feeling about their job prospects.
Rent Guidelines board increases stabilized rents for a million apartments - what does this mean for New Yorkers? by Uptown Radio
The Early Stages of a Park Development for Woodside's Filipino Community by Uptown Radio
This piece is one of five finalists in Columbia Journalism School's 2025 Radio Race, an audio storytelling competition. The parameters are announced on a Friday afternoon, and local producers in New York City— working independently or in teams have until midnight on Sunday to complete their piece.
This piece is one of five finalists in Columbia Journalism School's 2025 Radio Race, an audio storytelling competition. The parameters are announced on a Friday afternoon, and local producers in New York City— working independently or in teams have until midnight on Sunday to complete their piece.
This piece is one of five finalists in Columbia Journalism School's 2025 Radio Race, an audio storytelling competition. The parameters are announced on a Friday afternoon, and local producers in New York City— working independently or in teams have until midnight on Sunday to complete their piece.
This piece is one of five finalists in Columbia Journalism School's 2025 Radio Race, an audio storytelling competition. The parameters are announced on a Friday afternoon, and local producers in New York City— working independently or in teams have until midnight on Sunday to complete their piece.
New York City Council passed new legislation to prohibit excessive helicopter noise. The bill only applies to non-essential flights like luxury transportation and tourism and will go into effect late 2029.
Theatre Artists Against Trump host Flashmob Protest in Washington Square Park by Uptown Radio
INTRO: Student absences are on the rise. Nationally, the number of students missing school, all the way from K to 12 has doubled since the pandemic began. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Education. There can be a lot of contributing factors for absences, but as Fahima Degia (Day-gi-ya) reports, some New York City public school students are choosing other pathways to develop their careers. Degia 1 46th Street in Flatbush is a long block. In the middle is a brown house. walk into the backyard there and the first thing you see is a white shed. And… It's filled with birds.Malik 1 This is a yellow headed Amazon. This comes from the Amazon Rainforest. They cost about $2,500 and they live up to like 50 to 60 years.Degia 2 That's Kizir Malik, he’s18 years old and a senior at Clinton High School, in the Bronx. But, He has other things on his mind besides school. He’s the co-owner of a small business selling exotic animals - like these birds. Degia 3 Omg a bird just landed on my head.Degia 4 Do you prefer you small business over school?Malik 2 laughing, That’s a hard question ? That uhh it dependsDegia 3 Malik started his business out of boredom when he was stuck at home during COVID. Now he has a business partner, a grownup.That’s who owns the property here. And they breed cats, like Persians, in the basement. Degia 6 When I asked Malik how much he makes, he won’t tell me, but he says they sell a couple of birds every day. The types of birds he sells can go for up to twenty thousand dollars. And they have an instagram account with ten thousand followers. But he has an hour commute from his home in the Bronx to his partner’s house here in Brooklyn And all of this means he misses a lot of days of school.Malik 3 You know, sometimes school is not everything. But yeah, there are some days that you have to sacrifice either school or work, because work work will give you money now, you know, school will give you money later. So a couple of days won't do any harm.Degia 7 In my reporting I’ve seen a lot of high school students like Malik who run their own businesses - selling fake eyelashes, doing nails - some even have their own clothing brands. In NYC, just over a third of students all the way from K to grade 12 were absent in 2022. Of course they don’t all have their own small businesses, but they did miss 10% of the school year. And students' prioritizing work can lead them to miss a lot of school. So how do schools fix this? Nat Malkus researches education policy at the American Enterprise Institute - a conservative leaning think tank. Malkus 1 What can schools do, I mean, schools can do a number of things, Degia 8 Malkus 2 they can provide supports, they can share transportation has met, they can actually have consequences. If students don't come back, like they could not get credits, if they don't attend enough in high school, they could have some consequences for students who don't show upDegia 9 Malkus says Chronic absenteeism harms student’s ability to stay engaged and learn. He says schools should work closely with parents to ensure their kids get to school.Malkus 3 you could argue about the moral obligation, but there's a legal obligation to get your kids to school and all 50 states up to a certain age. He says students are already behind from the pandemic. So Malkus says There is substantial learning loss from the pandemic, and to catch up they have to learn faster. Being absent Won’t help. Malik who has school tomorrow will definitely be present. Degia 10 He says students having businesses is okay. But he says chronic absenteeism is the most pressing post-pandemic problem in public schools. Because students are already behind after COVID. Fahima Degia, Uptown Radio.
How Dance Theatre Workshop Launched Some of Today’s Most Renowned Choreographers? by Uptown Radio
The president’s tariff plans have been changing quickly, and it’s been hard for many small businesses that depend on imports to keep up. Uptown radio’s Zhuoya Ma checks in with one Manhattan business owner to see how he’s coping.
The public matching funds program in NYC has been around since 1988. This year, Mayor Eric Adams is only the second mayoral candidate in that entire history to be denied from the public matching funds program. But what exactly is the public matching funds program?
Extreme flooding has disrupted subway services, left residents stranded in their neighborhoods, and even resulted in fatalities. The New York City Council has introduced a bill to amend the city’s administrative code regarding flash flood preparedness outreach and evacuation guidance. Our reporter, Madeline Reilly, has the story of how this legislation will impact New York City residents.
Dumplings are a traditional food for family reunions in Chinese culture. Zhuoya Ma has been missing this delectable meal since she left home.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced recently that if these visa holder are involved in activities that are counter to our national interests…their visas could be revoked. And that’s exactly what’s happened to a number of international students recently who’ve been detained by ICE. Sudhanshu Kaushik [Sa-dun-shoe Kaw-sh-ick} is Executive Director of the North American Association of Indian Students. He’s a student himself and I want to be clear - an American citizen. I asked him with all that's going on right now, do international students want to come to the US right now to study?
New York City began its most recent composting rollout three years ago. It became a citywide mandate this past fall. But six months later, only five percent of the city composts. Now, the sanitation department is cracking down, if you don’t compost, you might risk a 25 dollar fine. Oona Milliken asks, will that be enough to get New Yorkers to compost?
Alioune Diagne’s Paintings Uncover the Hidden Connections Between Basketball and Wrestling. by Uptown Radio
How will the Trump administration's cuts to state health services affect the nation? by Uptown Radio
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced a wave of new tariffs on imports of foreign alcohol products. He said If the European Union doesn't drop its planned 50% tariff on whiskey, the U.S. will retaliate with a 200% tariff on European wines, champagne, and other alcoholic products. Zhuoya Ma reports on what these tariffs could mean for consumers and the industry in New York City.
Interview with Martin Redish on Trump's threat to revoke funding for universities who allow protests by Uptown Radio
Zellnor Myrie is one of the mayor candidates running for election in 2025. He showed up at 96 St. subway station later yesterday and asked New Yorkers to help get him on the primary ballot; he needs to get at least 3,750 signatures by April 3rd to run for the mayoral election. Uptown radio day reporter Zhuoya Ma talked with Myrie and New Yorkers about the upcoming election.
A recent one-day economic blackout targeted large brands like Amazon, Walmart, and Whole Foods. The People’s Union USA was behind the event. It said one purpose was to highlight growing financial inequality in the U.S. And, it’s planning to hold a series of additional boycotts. Maurice Schweitzer is a professor at Wharton. He’s researched the effectiveness of boycotts. I asked him — do economic boycotts work?
Andrew Cuomo recently announced his run for mayor. How are New Yorkers feeling about their former governor? Reporter Oona Milliken has more.
You may have seen posts on social media calling for an economic boycott tomorrow. If you haven’t, activists are targeting large brands, such as Walmart, Amazon, and Wholefoods asking consumers not to spend money for 24 hours because they’re not happy with growing financial inequality. They say if you do have to shop, support a local business. People’s Union USA is the group behind the action. According to its website, it’s not a political party but a movement of people. Maurice Schweitzer is a professor at Wharton who researched the effectiveness of economic boycotts. I asked him, do they work?
NYU Students Protest Trump’s Executive Order Prohibiting Gender-Affirming Surgeries for Minors by Uptown Radio
U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks to Stop New York City Congestion Pricing by Uptown Radio
This is a weekly Uptown radio broadcast from the Columbia University Graduates School of Journalism.
Activists Call for Prison Reform Following Corrections Officer Indictment by Uptown Radio
Similar to this recent sanctuary lawsuit, New York City continues its legal battles with the federal government in relation to President Trump’s executive orders. The president has signed over 60 since his return to office, more than any other in American history. Uptown Radio’s Oona Milliken spoke with law and policy makers about how they’re challenging orders they see as unconstitutional.
This is a weekly Uptown Radio broadcast from the Columbia University Graduates School of Journalism.
May 2 2024 - We’re in the midst of this historic third week of the first ever criminal trial of a former President - Donald Trump. He’s been accused of falsifying business documents to hide a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 leading up to a presidential election. Uptown Radio’s Pascal Hogue was in the courthouse this morning and gives us an update on the proceedings.
New York City is now one of the only cities in the country to pay food delivery drivers a minimum wage. As of December, delivery apps like GrubHub and DoorDash must pay workers a minimum of $18 per hour, plus tips. But as Iryna Humenyuk reports, some delivery app drivers say loopholes make it hard to understand their pay.
Governor Hochul announced yesterday that she will launch a climate action plan for hospitals to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But where can hospitals safely make cuts without affecting the care they provide?
The U.S. is experiencing a growing OBGYN shortage. Physicians are getting older and abortion laws can make it harder for some obgyns to do their jobs, discouraging new doctors for picking a new specialty. At the same time, the number of men entering the field is also decreasing.
Red Hook Brooklyn is going through a bit of its own Field of Dreams “build it and he will come” moment… A group of community members has started a Sunday morning baseball clinic in hopes of getting neighborhood kids to come out and play ball on their own fields. Desiree Nikfardjam reports.
HOST, KLARA BAUTERS: The US is dealing with an opioid epidemic that’s killing more than 70 thousand people each year. And in an effort to diminish overdose deaths the government has placed heavy restrictions on the prescription of controlled substances.But public health experts say pharmacies, and national chains in particular, have also contributed to the epidemic. As Giulia Leo reports, critics say that while prescribing a controlled substance gets harder and harder, the process of purchasing it is still not properly regulated.
There are just weeks left to pass the Fashion Workers Act, a new bill hoping to regulate New York’s fashion industry. Its focus is on models. They may seem to be living enviable lives, but many models aspire to the same labor rights as the rest of us. This bill has been in the works for three years. Currently, there’s no union for models. No real HR protections. Its authors say that as some of the most exploited employees in the business, the bill would offer workplace protections and financial transparency. Marine Saint asks those who've seen the less than glamorous reality of the fashion industry what would change with the new law
One of the Few Remaining Synagogues on the Lower East Side is Closing its Doors by Uptown Radio
Campus Chronicles: Inside the Pro-Palestine Encampment at Columbia with Professor Joseph Howley by Uptown Radio
By: Claire Davenport, Giulia LeoHOST, CLAIRE DAVENPORT:Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place on college campuses across the country, including on our own, Columbia University. There's a long history of student protest on college campuses, from anti-Vietnam War demonstrations in the 60s to anti-apartheid protests in the 80s. But how effective are these protest movements, and how are they often remembered? I spoke to Donna Fisher, the author of "Saving Ourselves From Climate Shock to Climate Action," a book about the effectiveness of civil disobedience with regard to the climate crisis. We spoke about how protests, like the ones going on at Columbia can spark social change.
According to the Biden Administration last April, the COVID-19 public health emergency is over. But a year since that announcement, the virus is still with us. According to a study released last month by the Pew (P-yoo) Research Center, COVID cases have been spiking since last fall. At the same time, the number of New Yorkers getting the vaccine is dropping. Our reporter Cecilia Blotto, tells us why, four years into the pandemic, even those who opted for the first shots are becoming increasingly hesitant about the vaccine.
The jury selection for Trump’s trial continues today in the city. Jurors play a critical role in the outcome of the case and forming an unbiased jury for America’s most controversial president, is proving to be a difficult task. Professor Ronald Sullivan, from Harvard Law School, tells us what jury selection in a blue city like New York, will look like.(Photo credit: Boston Globe)
Inside the Trump Hush-Money Trial: Jury Selection Drama and Legal Maneuvers by Uptown Radio
The New York State budget is being finalized. And a crucial part of Governor Hochul’s 200 million dollar deal is a new housing package. Which includes the good cause eviction notice, stirring controversy for both renters and landlords.NYU Law Professor Vicki L Been tells Marine Saint how this bill works and what this means for eviction notices.
LEO: For Columbia Radio News, I’m Giulia Leo.U.S. and Israeli officials are set to meet virtually today to discuss a future Israeli operation in Rafah. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in person, but it was moved online after Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles on Israel this past weekend.Leading today’s meeting on the US side will be National security adviser Jake Sullivan. His Israeli counterpart will be Tzachi Hanegbi. The White House has approved Israel’s Rafah plan in exchange for the state’s limited response to Iran’s attack. In the meantime, the US and UK have imposed sanctions on Iran’s drone manufacturers and steel industry as a consequence of the attack on Saturday. The European Union is set to take similar measures on Iran’s drone and missile programs.Dubai is still trying to recover from yesterday’s rainfall, the heaviest ever recorded in the territory. The rain is still flooding the streets and airport runways. So far, more than 500 flights have been delayed and about 30 canceled. Videos from stuck passengers show the terminals packed with travelers who are waiting for updates on their flights. Kanish Kumar Deb Barman: I’m flying from Paris and Dubai is our layover. There are hundreds and thousands of other passengers just like me in this airport who have been waiting for 10 hours, 16 hours. Some, even for 24 to 30 hoursThe Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, released a statement in the early afternoon saying that the airport will return to normal operations in less than 24 hours.The 12th most-wanted New York fugitive was arrested last week in Rome, Italy.54 year old Moises Tejada, was carrying three knives on Wednesday April 10 while in St Peter's Square. The square was particularly busy that day, with tourists and pilgrims waiting for Pope Francis’ general audience. Tejada was previously convicted for robbery and kidnapping. It is still not clear if he planned to attack the Pope. Italy is waiting to learn if US authorities want to extradite [EXTRA-DYTE] him.A volcanic eruption is still occurring in Indonesia. Mt. Ruang has erupted at least five times since Tuesday, the latest eruption happened earlier today. Today’s eruption also came with an earthquake and The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation just raised the alert status of Mount Ruang to the highest level possible. More than 800 locals are being evacuated.This is Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News.
It's autistic acceptance month and some nonprofits are offering new leadership programs for autistic adults. One organization is even changing its name to be more inclusive.
There’s a shortage of volunteer firefighters across New York state. This week, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) called on Albany to help with recruitment. The association says volunteer firefighters respond to 75 to 80 percent of all emergency and fire calls in the state. And volunteers save taxpayers 3.8 billion dollars per year. Host Pascal Hogue spoke with John D’Alessandro, the Secretary of the FASNY and an active firefighter in Saratoga county, about what the state can do to address the shortage.
Before New York there was New Amsterdam. Dutch ships first arrived in the city’s port four hundred years ago in 1624. There are a number of events over the next two years commemorating this moment - most sponsored by the Dutch consulate. But as Marine Saint reports, an exhibition at the New York Historical Society, is struggling to acknowledge the ways the Dutch displaced the Lenape people.
HOST: Sometimes we think about those we look up to as gods. Giulia Leo always saw her Italian grandmother as one. But what happens when your gods turn out not to be perfect?LEO 1:The gods of ancient Greece feasted on two heavenly victuals, ambrosia –their food, and nectar –their drink.I was born and raised in Southern Italy, where we have our own version. Our ambrosia is panzerotti, deep-fried half-moons of dough stuffed with all kinds of fillings. Our nectar is Peroni beer, preferably one that’s sudata, or “sweaty.” I wholeheartedly believed panzerotti had a divine quality to them. Perhaps because the person who’s always made them for me, my grandma –nonna Gianna –, was a god in my eyes. I remember almost worshiping her skilled hands as she worked the dough. Once she had what looked like a thousand circles displayed in front of her, she would place the mozzarella and tomato sauce filling in their center with the precision of a surgeon. Then, she would wet her index finger with some water and gently press it along the edge of the dough. When she folded the dough into half moons, she inched her face toward the wooden working surface to make sure the two ends matched perfectly. She took particular pride in her sealing technique. It worked like magic, and it never, ever failed. Every time I ate panzerotti, it tasted like home.Nonna Gianna was just as infallible as her panzerotti. Her short, dark-blonde hair was always flawlessly displayed in tight, hair-roller curls. Her house was spotless, the fancy and sparkly silverware showcased in large glass cabinets. But the most god-like thing about her was her calm and forgiving character. She didn’t scream at me if I broke one of her ceramic plates, or if I lost my monthly pocket money.As I grew older, my life drifted further and further away from Southern Italy– first to Rome and then to New York City. Somewhere along the way, I realized my grandma isn’t as infinitely perfect as I once thought.I would love to tell you there was one particular moment when the spell broke. But that wasn’t the case. It could have been the time I told her I found a boyfriend in the States, when her face turned pale and she asked with fear in her voice about the color of his skin. Or when I broke the news I would go to graduate school and she told me that if I was going all the way to New York, I might just as well be dead. The thing is, ever since then, I became afraid that recognizing my nonna’s imperfections, turning her from god to human, would mean losing my special connection with her.Lately, it’s become even harder not to see her as a mere mortal. Her health has been declining. Her vision has gotten blurry because of cataracts. She has carpal tunnel, and her hands have gotten numb and clumsy. And now, her panzerotti sealing technique, once infallible, has failed her. When she makes panzerotti now, they don’t taste the same. Those once perfect half-moons now look more like shapeless blobs, the burned tomato sauce and mozzarella like black polka dots on their once-golden, once-spotless surface… But I’d eat them any day if I could. I’ve realized I don’t need a god. Having the mortal love of my nonna is really all I need. Sometimes, I still like to play pretend. I’ll sit down at the dining table and she’ll bring out a full tray of panzerotti just for me. And right then, it still feels like I’m about to take part in the feast of gods.HOST: Giulia Leo has now mastered her grandma’s special technique.
HOST, CLAIRE DAVENPORT: Flaco, the owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo last year, died in February. In Flaco’s 13 months of freedom, his story of survival captivated a lot of people. Since Flaco’s death, New Yorkers have come up with all sorts of ways to commemorate the bird. HOST, PASCAL HOGUE: Some are so devoted to keeping the memory of Flaco alive they decided to get a reminder of him permanently inked on their skin. Giulia Leo attended the hottest — and arguably cutest — tattoo event of the season.LEO 1:A long line of people stretches between Freeman St. and Manhattan Ave despite the rain this morning. The line begins right outside East River Tattoo, a tattoo studio located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. And everybody is here for the same reason.CONNELL 1:Flaco the owl.MITCHELL 1:Flaco.HOLLINGSWORTH 1:Flaco.LEO 2:More specifically, they want to get Flaco permanently inked on their skin. East River tattoo offers flash tattoo days every once in a while – they’re days where customers can pick between a limited selection of pre-made designs and get them tattooed for a discounted price.And people are making all kinds of sacrifices to get inked from East River Tattoo artist Duke Riley. LEO 3You got here early, skipping work…ANONYMOUS 1Yeah I think for me I really appreciate Duke Riley as an artist. And I think it’s a really unique opportunity to get one of his designs on my body.LEO 4:Tattoos like this usually cost several hundreds dollars, but today, Flaco devotees pay 150 dollars. There is an option to get a tattoo of Flaco’s name, of his face, or of his full figure. When Charlie Connell looked at the designs available, he had no doubt.CONNELL 2:I want the chubby guy. I’m going with the chubby one, he’s all puffed out and looks somewhat angry.LEO 5:His reason for getting the tattoo?CONNELL 3:I like howls and Flaco was cool.LEO 6:To others, Flaco is not just a cool bird. What many find inspirational about his story is that Flaco, who lived in captivity at the zoo for a dozen years, was able to survive on his own for a full year outside of captivity. And although he could have gone back to the zoo because owls have the ability to orient themselves through mental maps, he chose to be on his own.HOLLINGSWORTH 2:I think it’s a sort of cultural phenomenon because people are looking at this story and applying it to their own life, trying to find ways that they can break free from their own kind of restraints and live the kind of life they want even if it means, as it was the case for Flaco, having some degree of compromise.LEO 7:That’s Jonathan Hollingsworth, and he came to the tattooing event to conduct his own research about Flaco. He is not getting a tattoo today, but he is a firm believer in the power of Flaco’s story.LEO 8:And so Flaco is both a human symbol but also a New York symbol?HOLLINGSWORTH 3:I think he’s a universal symbol. We New Yorkers cling to him as one of our own but, when we lost Flaco, his death wasn’t just here in the city but it was something that was felt around the world. People have been following this story for a year.LEO 9:Megan Mitchell agrees. She is from Glasgow, Scotland and she heard about the Flaco-themed event on the radio. She is only visiting New York, but she is no stranger to the story of Flaco.MITCHELL 2:I think the sparrow of Flaco flew across the whole of the world, straight to Scotland. And he was such a fater, and even toward the end of his days. He was just really raddled with it so much, but he just kept going.LEO 10:And where are you getting Flaco on your body, do you know?MITCHELL 3:I think I’ll get him on my arm so everyone can see him in the summer.LEO 11:And so Flaco will get to see another summer.Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News
For a lot of us, ChatGPT has been our first introduction to the seeming magic of artificial intelligence. For news organizations, ChatGPT is only the tip of the iceberg. Big outlets like Bloomberg, the Washington Post and Reuters all have created their own AI tools, including ones that turn massive amounts of data into information in their reporting. But as Pascal Hogue reports, journalists are grappling with the ethics of using these new tools.
The 2024 election cycle is unique in at least one sense: it will be the first in the era of mainstream AI. That means uncharted waters, especially with the emergence of audio deepfakes that seem to be getting ever more sophisticated. Pascal Hogue reports on managing the perils of AI during a Presidential election.
Desiree Nikfardjam tells us the story about how she tried to prove herself to everyone only to discover no one cared as much as her
A recent study from The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film shows that women are still underrepresented behind the camera. Just over 20% of box office hits had women in lead production roles. But The Justice Film Festival at FIT is aiming to change that. It’s just opened. And more than 60% of the films it’s showing have women in key roles.
Nine new public schools are set to open next fall in New York City. That’s according to Schools Chancellor David Banks. Each school will have its own focus, from architecture in middle school to Film in high school.
The eternal war between pedestrians, cyclists and cars in New York City continues. Since the pandemic, the number of e-bikes on the street has grown dramatically. Indeed, now 70,000 delivery drivers use the streets as their workplace. In an attempt to keep the peace - and reduce fatalities for cyclists - the city has introduced a new education campaign to encourage street safety. But as Cecilia Blotto reports, some advocates say it doesn’t go far enough.
HOST:The State Budget is on the way… or so we hope. Negotiations are ongoing. Among the proposals –a new plan from New York State Democrats to revamp the Mitchell-Lama program. The plan was established in the '50s and it allowed middle class families to move into buildings and pay a rent proportionate to their income. They could also buy their homes.But, one of the biggest changes in the new plan would be to stop those sales. The idea is that it would keep apartments affordable.Author Jennifer Baun just published "Just City: Growing Up on the Upper West Side When Housing Was a Human Right." She grew up in Mitchell-Lama housing and she is a fan of the new proposal…BAUM 1I don't think in Mitchell-Lama 2.0 privatization provision should be allowed. If you move into a building with the expectation it's going to be affordable, it should stay affordable. You know, and it's also creating it's creating a lot of division because there are those who want to privatize and then flip their apartments and make millions. And there are those who believe in keeping it public and affordable.LEO 1For listeners that don't know, this program is going to be using $250 million to expedite and build more long term affordable housing on state owned land throughout New York State. So, what are your thoughts on this program? BAUM 2It's a good thing because the Mitchell-Lama model has really worked. LEO 2And I'm going to play a little bit of devil's advocate here. So instead of spending $250 million on the construction of new houses, we know that New York State has tens of thousands of houses that currently can't be renovated because there's no money to renovate them from the land owners. And so they're vacant. Wouldn't it be better to spend that budget on renovating houses that are already existing?BAUM 3Um, can't we do both? Things are always presented as an either or situation, you know, and so it can be room to do both. I think so LEO 3So, we're waiting for the state budget to be released. And housing is a focal point of that. And it's also a very debated point. Governor Hochul wants to develop new housing. And then there's state lawmakers who are like, well, but we have an overcrowding problem.BAUM 4It's kind of I think it's false to say there's no room to build buildings for working people. There seems to be room to build upscale buildings. We need to build more affordable housing. LEO 4And in the book you talk about New York City as a just city. That's what titles your book. You also call it the embodiment of the dream of equality through architecture. What does that mean, exactly? BAUM 5Well, postwar, the government really supported people in a way that it doesn't support people now. New York City built more public housing per capita than any other city in the country. So in that way, it was a just city. There was a sense that housing was a human right. LEO 5So in the book, New York was a just city. Is that true today? Is that utopia, as you call it in the book, still working or not? BAUM 6No, no, I mean, it's a very different city today than it was when I was growing up. There's really an affordable housing crisis in New York. The homeless population is is, you know, almost at depression levels. It's a real crisis.LEO 6Jennifer Baum, thank you. BAUM 7Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
The things we leave behind can send echoes through generations… Marine Saint discovered a rare portal into her grandmother’s life.
Driving Change: New Yorkers React to the Implementation of Congestion Pricing by Uptown Radio
Underpaid and Overworked: The Fight to End 24-Hour Shifts for Home Care Workers in New York City by Uptown Radio
The New York Civil Liberties Union came to a landmark settlement on Tuesday. They found that Jefferson County jail was not providing necessary medical care for incarcerated people with opioid addiction. And this treatment is supposed to be guaranteed under federal and New York state law. Our host Marine Saint spoke with one of the case attorneys at the NYCLU Terry Ding who explained more.
Tonight Democrats are holding a fundraiser for President Biden and the event is right here in the big apple. Former Presidents Obama and Clinton will be there to support. Stars including Anna Wintour and Lizzo who will also be making appearances. The campaign says the event is expected to raise a whopping $25 million, and will be the "most successful political fundraiser in American history". So we sent our reporter Cecilia Blotto to see if New Yorkers are willing to pay to support the president, but she found they’d rather support his opponent instead.
Earlier today, the man accused of fatally shooting an NYPD officer in Queens on Monday was charged with first-degree murder. Officer Jonathan Diller was shot by Guy Rivera, from Queens, when the policeman approached his illegally-parked car. This is not Rivera’s first interaction with the justice system. His record includes 21 prior arrests for charges including assault, robbery, and possession of a controlled substance. To commemorate officer Diller, Governor Hochul has directed flags on all state buildings to be flown at half-staff. Diller’s wake took place this afternoon on Long Island, and hundreds attended including Donald Trump Three presidents will be in town this evening when the Democratic party holds a fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall for President Biden. The NYPD says to expect street closures, with 49th, 50th and 51st streets shut down to traffic. Pedestrian traffic is also limited as of 3 p.m …in the same places.We’ll have more on the President’s fundraising later on today’s show.Right before the kickoff of the 2024 Auto Show at the Javits Center tomorrow, Governor Hochol has announced over 100 new chargers for electric vehicles will be built in New York City. This is part of the city’s 1-billion-dollar investment aimed at making transportation electric and reducing emissions.The initiative is born from a partnership between the New York City Department of Transportation and the New York Power Authority. The great majority of charging stations will be located at 13 new E-Volve New York hubs. Others will be at LaGuardia Airport. They are scheduled to be completed and ready to use between 2025 and 2026.Baseball fans, time to step up to the plate… Today is opening day for Major League Baseball. First pitch for the Yankees is scheduled for just a few minutes from now in Houston. The Mets will host the Brewers tomorrow afternoon in Queens. The Mets game was originally planned for today but it got postponed due to weather. And speaking of weather, it’s cloudy with a chance of rain in New York City. Temperatures are around 40 degrees.For Columbia Radio News, I’m Giulia Leo.
In about 10 days, New Yorkers will look up as the moon swallows the sun in a total solar eclipse. They’ll wear their funky special glasses, and maybe get some popcorn. But these are markers of modern life. And eclipses come with centuries-old traditions. Giulia Leo brings us an ancient story, from the Haudenosaunee people, and shares other early accounts from across the globe.
Whole Foods is set to open several compact stores around NYC. The first smaller store will open on East 69th street. Just around the corner, a local store has the same gourmet offerings. How does it prepare for the upcoming competition?
HOST, CRISTINA MACAYA: This morning, the city council debated the 2025 budget for health, mental health, disability, and addiction. An hour before the hearing, protestors gathered on Chambers Street to rally against what they say is the criminalization of mental illness. Giulia Leo was there.LEO 1From the age of 17 until her early 40s Helen “Skip” Skipper says she cycled in and out of jail SKIPPER 1Every year I was locked up or getting released. But every year I came in with unchecked mental illness, with substance abuse problems. I was never given treatment. I was never given support LEO 2Skip says she was an addict who sold drugs. And because she didn’t get the support she needed, she continued to break the law… and to get arrested. SKIPPER 2Mental illness, behavioral health as a whole has always been criminalized. Instead of providing us treatment and support, they throw us up under the jail.LEO 3Today, Skip is joined by a crowd of dozens rallying outside City Hall.[FADE IN “CHANTING” AND RUN UNDER LEO 3]They are asking the City to invest in community support for people with mental illnesses - rather than spending money on more beds for jails. Jay Edidin is with The Women’s Community Justice Association. He says the city’s justice system is broken and women are the most impacted. EDIDIN 1So this is happening at a time when the incarceration of women is increasing at double the rate of the incarceration of men, where it's just taken off exponentially over the last decade. Nationwide, 70% of women involved in the criminal legal system have mental health diagnosis. At Rikers Island that’s actually 80%.LEO 4As an alternative to incarceration, Edidin would like to see more programs offering peer support. Skip agrees. She’s working towards a phD in criminology. SKIPPER 3Peer support is an evidence based practice. It has been empirically researched to work. Use us, allow us to have a seat at the table. Your recidivism problems and costs problems of those with behavioral health will be mitigated.LEO 5 Skipper says she got help. Not from the city. But she did manage to get clean.SKIPPER 4And I haven’t looked back ever since then. LEO 6Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News
Today on the show, do voters really care about sexual misconduct accusations against politicians? And do they really influence the way people vote? Whole Foods is starting to open smaller branches throughout the city. As a new one opens in the Upper East Side, there are fears they will take business away from local grocery stores. A new Broadway show “Suffs” tells the story of the Suffrage movement and how American women got the vote. And we start our new series of reflections from our reporters.
A new Broadway show called “Suffs” opens next week. The musical- written by Shaina Taub and supported by producers Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai - tells the story of how American women got the vote. It was supposed to debut in 2020 for the 100th anniversary of American women’s suffrage. Like many productions… it got delayed due to the pandemic. As our reporter Marine Saint finds, that delay means the show’s focus on women’s rights is timelier than ever.
Quick Decision From Judge Merchan at Trump Hearing, NYC Trial to Begin March 25th. by Uptown Radio
Restaurant owners who want to keep the outdoor dining sheds they built during COVID are soon going to have to apply to keep them…and, if they’re approved, they’ll face a bunch of new rules, starting next winter. Among the biggest changes? Well, structures that extend into the street will have to be fully removed from November to April. Then, when those sheds come back next spring…they’ll look really different ... they'll have canopies instead of hard roofs, barriers to keep out rats, and they must be wheelchair accessible. As Cecilia Blotto reports, some restaurant owners are not sure it’ll be worth the trouble.
DOMINIC HALL-THOMAS, HOSTEarly this morning, a subway conductor was attacked at the Rockaway Avenue stop in Bed-Stye. He was slashed in the neck as he stuck his head out of the window of the train. We’re 2 months into the year, and there have been 2 murders and more than 50 assaults in subway stations and on trains. But, just last year, Mayor Adams announced crime rates in the city had significantly decreased. So, what’s going on? Uptown Radio’s Giulia Leo has been following the story. Can you break down what happened?LEOSure. Around 3.40 a.m. this morning, conductor Alton Scott was on a southbound A train that had just reached the Rockaway Avenue station. As conductors usually do, he stuck his head out to make sure the train was ready to pull away. That’s when he was attacked by a man with a sharp object. Police don’t know what it was –possibly a box cutter. He’s in stable condition now, and authorities believe it was a random attack.HALL-THOMASIn January, Mayor Adams called New York the “safest big city in America.” Is that statement still true? Considering the amount of transit attacks we’ve seen lately.LEOSo, we did see a decline in overall crimes last year. But transit incidents actually skyrocketed. According to the NYPD, there were 570 reports of assault on trains or in stations. That was the highest number in more than two decades. As for this year, so far, transit crime is up 18% compared to the same time last year. The city says it’s working on solutions, including additional officers and surveillance cameras. And just a few days ago, the MTA installed conductors safety barriers at the 125th St. station to protect workers from attacks like the one that happened today. HALL-THOMASSo what exactly is a safety barrier?LEOBasically, they’re rubber poles. They’re 4 feet tall, bright orange, and they’re right on the platform next to the conductor's car. They’re hard to miss… but I have to say, they don’t seem that hard to cross.HALL-THOMASSo do people just ignore them?LEOFor the most part, yes. Apparently, riders have been crossing the poles to get close to ask the conductor questions. So it seems they’re not as effective as the MTA was hoping.HALL-THOMASThe mayor also plans to add more police officers in stations, is that right?LEOYes, that’s correct. He’s following DeBlasio’s footsteps, trying to increase police presence. Adams asked for state funds to pay police officers for longer hours. Last week, Governor Hochul said she plans to meet with Adams to discuss his plan. But it is unclear when this conversation will happen.HALL-THOMASWell, thank you for catching us up, GiuliaLEOThank you.
In today's AT&T service disruption, tens of thousands of users across the US experienced outages, attributed to software update faults according to analysts. Roger Entner highlighted the commonplace nature of such glitches, likening wireless networks to computers susceptible to occasional malfunctions. While the outage affected communication abilities, including limited 911 access, AT&T assured users of ongoing fixes. Entner emphasized that while frustrating, these incidents are not uncommon across carriers, with minimal long-term impacts on customer loyalty. Despite user annoyance, trust in the network remains largely intact, drawing a humorous comparison to dropping a box of eggs – an inconvenience, but not a relationship breaker.
Pharmacists are pushing for stronger regulations around pharmacy benefit managers. Since the pandemic, the number of New York students missing school has doubled. There’s one unlikely culprit: student entrepreneurship. A new study proved an online test to diagnose autism is actually effective. And how much would you pay for an Elton John ticket? All that and more on Uptown Radio.
HOST, TOMMASO BARONIO:Who doesn’t love online tests? We’ve seen them all, from ‘what’s your personality type’ to ‘which shape of pasta represents you best.’ But what happens when a new viral multiple choice quiz can diagnose you with autism? Giulia Leo reports.LEO 1Katie Bowen never thought she was autistic… until, in 2021, she started posting TikTok videos about making her home ADHD friendly.((FADE UP “KATIE TIKTOK” AND RUN UNDER THROUGH LEO 1))And the comments started coming in.BOWEN 1 And they were like, Dude, you're not just ADHD. And I was like, Am I autistic? Who's to say?LEO 2Usually, the first step to confirm suspicions of autism is to visit a psychologist. But now, a decades-old test to self-diagnose autistic behaviors is getting a new life.It’s called RAADS-R – quite a mouthful, I know– And it’s available online for free. It takes a half-hour to answer the 80 multiple-choice questions. Then, the test spits out a score between 0 and 240. And if you score above 65, well –like Katie Bowen – you might be autistic.BOWEN 2I think I was like 160s, maybe 180s, really high up there.LEO 3The credit for the test’s newfound popularity goes to autism researcher Alexandra Sturm. She asked almost 900 adults –some who self-identify as autistic and others with an official diagnosis– to take the test. And all of their scores put them on the autism spectrum. But Sturm acknowledges there’s a difference between socially identifying as autistic and having a medical diagnosis.STURM 1You also have to meet this threshold for what the medical community would term impairment. LEO 4And impairment is not that easy to measure on a scale. Jennifer Bain teaches neurology at Columbia. She says you can’t measure autism the way you do something like blood pressure. She also says on one hand the test is great if it helps reduce the stigma around autism but…BAIN 1On the other hand, you certainly don't want to be swayed by, yeah, I have a little bit of that and a little bit of this and therefore I'm diagnosing myself with autism. LEO 5But Ali Carbone says people only want to be a certain kind of autistic.CARBONE 1The RAADS thing is glamorous and it's sexy. LEO 6Carbone just wrote a book about living with her three autistic siblings.CARBONE 2People love to learn about my brother Anthony because he's social, you can have a conversation with him, he loves to perform, he loves to be around people. LEO 7These kinds of autism traits are very well accepted, even liked… but the ones her other brother Michael has… Well, not so much.CARBONE 3Like, can't see, can't speak. Got nothing. Nobody wants to hear about Michael's story because it's depressing, it sucks.LEO 8So Columbia neurologist Jennifer Bain says the test has limitations. But it can offer some clues.BAIN 2It just kind of gives you a likelihood for, yes, we should keep pursuing the autism question or no.LEO 9So, treat this test like most internet quizzes; be curious but skeptical.Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News.
There are plans to reduce long-term scaffolding on the Upper West Side, and residents say it’s about time. More on the skepticism beat, New Yorkers remain uneasy about the economy. And city council members try to “press the gas” on improved bus services. AI is popping up in everything these days, but does it have a role to play in creating rap music? All that and more on Uptown Radio.
Another New York Fashion Week just ended. This year’s edition was special because it featured an entirely new way of showing clothes: via hologram. The technology, called Real Live Motion, is part of a wave of new innovations being embraced by fashion designers.
HOST INTRODUCTION:How do you want to be cared for when your life is ending? We have a tendency to think there’s plenty of time. And to put off difficult conversations about end of life. But life is uncertain. More than 80,000 New Yorkers lost their lives due to COVID since 2020. While research suggests that most people in the US want to die at home less than 35 percent actually do. People die at hospitals, surrounded by doctors,and machines, getting life prolonging treatments they potentially didn’t want. And hospice care, that prioritizes comfort and quality tend to be underutilized. In fact, in New York, the rate of hospice utilization is only 25 percent. The lowest in the country. Subeksha Poudel [paw-o͞o-dell] reports. SUBEKSHA POUDEL: It was Sajay Deshpande’s first day at Harvard. He’d come all the way from India to his dream college. Right when he finished unpacking his luggage in the dorm, he recalls freezing and falling down, hitting his head hard on the floor. He woke up 48 hours later, at a hospital, to the news that he had brain cancer. SANJAY DESHPANDE: I was being wheeled into the operation theater for my surgery. And the doctor did not know how I would emerge at the end of the surgery. Imagine being a 29 year old person thinking about ok so what’s going to happen once I die. SUBEKSHA POUDEL: Some of us die suddenly, with no time to think of our end of life. And some of us die slowly. Either way it can be really hard to contemplate our own end of life care.MANDY ZUCKER: Some of the things we want to think about is what matters to us, as far as our values go. Would you want to live as long as possible, even if that means you’re in pain, or would you want to live less if it meant that you would not be in pain? SUBEKSHA POUDEL: Mandy Zucker. Executive Director of End of Life Choices New York. She says there are no right or wrong answers. It’s our preferences that ensure our lives are as good as possible until the end.MANDY ZUCKER: This not only helps by the way the patients but it helps the family. Because when you die on a table getting aggressive treatments and family members are left to wonder is that what they wanted and are they in pain and that’s an awful feeling for the people who are left to grieve.SUBEKSHA POUDEL: Zucker says New Yorkers are far behind in using end of life services. MANDY ZUCKER: So NY has one of the lowest rates of hospice utilization at about 25 percent. And if you compare that to like Nevada, they have the highest rate of hospice utilization at about 60 percent. So there’s a huge gap.SUBEKSHA POUDEL: She attributes the low uptake to people not knowing about their options and doctors who are trained to save lives not discussing hospice options. Zucker recommends making an end of life care plan early on, without having an emotionally charged reason to do it.When Sanjay Deshpande went into his surgery, he says he mustered all his courage to share his wishes. SANJAY DESHPANDE: I basically told my father, that in the middle of the surgery, if they come out and say, ok here’s the problem, we can get the whole tumor out but in the process, he might lose his ability to do X, Y, Z and hence it might affect his quality of life. And I told my father very clearly, that I'm willing to take my chances at chemo and radiation aa but I would want better quality of life. Rather than like you know focusing on like you know longer life span. SUBEKSHA POUDEL: Deshpande’s cancer is in remission. Right now, he’s where he wants to be - back studying Learning Design, Innovation and Technology at Harvard. But he also knows where he wants to be EVERY five years - revisiting his end of life care plan. Subeksha Poudel, Columbia Radio News
Dean J. Condoleo - Attorney Heather Cucolo on New York City’s Lawsuit Against Social Media Companies by Uptown Radio
(Day Story) Today is the first ever official “Black Girl Magic” Day in New York City. The event was created to celebrate and empower Black women.
New York City has three Chinatowns, but not one has a traditional red Chinese archway. That’s about to change. As the city celebrates Lunar New Year, an almost $60 million dollar renovation will bring the first of these iconic arches to the city. Marine Saint joined the festivities.
Dean J. Condoleo - Manhattan Borough President Pushing for Affordable Housing in NYC by Uptown Radio
After four years of delays, congestion pricing has been given the green light, but now some city lawmakers say more money is needed to improve public transport. Today state legislators launched the “Get Congestion Pricing Right” campaign, which aims to cut down traffic and bring in more buses to an ailing system. Our reporter Marine Saint went along for the ride.
It’s been one year since Manhattan Borough President, Mark Levine, announced a plan to reduce long-term scaffolding. The Upper West Side is one of the neighborhoods that has the most scaffolding in New York City, but residents say they haven’t seen much improvement. Cecilia Blotto reports.
This evening marks a very special - and dangerous - performance at St John Cathedral. At six o’clock, famous man on the wire Philippe Petit once again defied gravity. Marine Saint went to see the preparations for tonight’s show.
The West Park Presbyterian Church on 86th Street is one of the most iconic historic buildings of the Upper West Side. But it’s been caught in the middle of a dramatic conflict and faces an uncertain future. Cecilia Blotto reports.
The Ripped Bodice is a romance-only bookshop that opened its New York chapter only four months ago. Giulia Leo heads to Brooklyn to check it out.---TRANSCRIPT---LEO 1 Everyone enters The Ripped Bodice for a different reason. Gabbi Philoips and John Lawson are here to check out the hyper-instagrammable location.LAWSON 1She just got this camera and I was like, ‘oh you might want to take pictures in here.’LEO 2A few shelves down, Chelsea Siegenfeid is browsing the endless shelves of romance books.SIEGENFEID 1There's LGBTQI+, there's young adult, there is erotica. LEO 3And then, right by a huge LGBTQ flag made entirely of flowers, there’s Paige Getty and Amanda Poppei. They traveled all the way from Washington DC just to check out the shop.POPPEI 1We did not come for this event. We came to the bookstore, and I looked to see what was happening when we were here.LEO 4Amanda is referring to the launch of Emmett happening tonight at The Ripped Bodice.Emmett is a queer retelling of Emma. Like Jane Austen’s heroine, Emmett is entitled, preppy, and quite unlikable. At least according to author Lev A.C. Rosen.ROSEN 1I’ve taken the negative stereotypes about gay men and made them human. LEO 6Reclaiming narratives. Reclaiming the pleasure of reading romance. That’s what the Ripped Bodice is about. Whatever the reason for your visit, it is a truth universally acknowledged that you’ll exit the shop with a longer reading list.Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News.
Have you thought about your last wishes? How do you want to be cared for when your life is ending? We have a tendency to think there’s plenty of time. And we put off difficult conversations about end of life. Research suggests that most people in the US want to die at home but less than 35 percent actually do so. People die at hospitals, surrounded by doctors, in machines, getting life prolonging treatments they potentially didn’t want. So why do we need to think about our end of life care? And when is the best time to plan for it?Subeksha Poudel reports.
On Halloween, protesters gathered outside Grand Central Station to vocalize support for Palestinians suffering in the Israel-Hamas war. After the October 7th attack on Israel, the war has led to outcry against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Genevieve Charles reports.
NYC Comptroller Brad Landers recently released a report on Citi Bike, the largest bike share company in the country. Citi Bike began 10 years ago, and it has spread across the city. Despite its popularity, maintenance is an ongoing issue for riders. Genevieve Charles reports.
Downloads of apps like Quinn and Dipsea [dip-see] are skyrocketing. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re audio erotica platforms. Giulia Leo takes us inside this world of sweet… and spicy whispers and explains how audio erotica gets made.---TRANSCRIPT---LEO 1You just listened to The Siren’s Song by Wicked Faerie, an audio erotica creator.Rachel Lotus listens to audio erotica all the time. She is the founder and director of The Talk NYC, a sex-ed initiative for youth, parents, and schools.LOTUS 1Because there is such an absence of quality sex education for so many young people, there is this gap to fill and porn often fills it.LEO 2Lotus says Mainstream porn very often provides a limited and curated snapshot of what sex in real life is like. It’s unrealistic. And, sometimes, even dangerous.LOTUS 2A huge percentage of mainstream porn includes violent and aggressive acts. There's not a lot of body hair. There's not a lot of diversity in types of body size, ability, color, race, ethnicity. So, yes, it does mislead young people quite dramatically in many cases, and it sort of sets people up to have unrealistic expectations and the sort of fantasy of what sex should be.LEO 3But Lotus says audio erotica is much different. LOTUS 3So for example, I was listening to something the other day that was between, like, a hetero couple and there was a moment where they paused and one partner asked the other for a condom. Don't see a lot of that in mainstream porn. LEO 3Many of the creators of audio erotica are anonymous. Why? Well, creators say one reason has to do with privacy and distancing who they really are from the characters they play.ELI 1For me it is acting. It is sound design. It's work. So, for me, it's all about, sort of, performing. I'm not trying personally to, to get intimate with, you know, whoever is listening to my content.LEO 4That was Eli, an anonymous creator known as This Guy Eli on the audio erotica platform Quinn. He says the choice to remain anonymous also allows him to be whoever his listeners want him to be.ELI 2I make as much of my content as possible M For A, male for anybody. I do as much as I can to remove gender and body descriptors so that as many people as possible can appreciate the content.LEO 5Wicked Faerie takes a similar approach.WICKED 1They know that I'm caucasian, that I’m obviously Australian, and that I have long hair, long red hair, that's it. So from there on I can be anybody that they want. LEO 6And listeners love having that blank slate. I mean, Eli has almost four times as many listeners as some of the most popular voice actors on Quinn who chose to disclose their identity.So, why do listeners prefer anonymous creators? Psychologist and NYU Professor Arthur Fox has a theory.FOX 1A certain kind of anonymity might be necessary for people to be able to trust in letting another person's voice carry them along into an experience of sexuality. You don't have to worry about the spell being broken. There's no reality like knocking on the door and saying, Hey, recognize me?LEO 8Headphones can be the keys that open doors to new worlds. Audiobooks, music, and… well… radio stand as proof. Perhaps it’s time to add audio erotica to the list. Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News.
Just because Taylor Swift sings about “feeling 22,” it doesn’t mean all her fans know what it means to be in their twenties…. As Giulia Leo reports when you’re a Swiftie age is just a number.---TRANSCRIPT---LEO 1Willa Himmelsbash is rocking a black sparkly outfit complete with a green bag to reference the colors of the Reputation album. HIMMELSBACH 1Taylor Swift has been a real life changer, and her Eras tour can change a lot of people’s lives.LEO 2How? She’s not exactly sure… But, she’s only 9. And she’s among the crowd of other young Swifties at The Cutting Room in Manhattan, where Broadway stars are covering Swift songs. LEO 3The majority of Taylor Swift fans might be millennials, but younger ones are just as into the 1989 singer as their moms. Some, like 10-year-old Nina, also have core childhood memories featuring Swift… Like, you know, from when they were reeeally young.NINA 1When I was like 2, my parents would put “Shake it Off” onto the TV, and I tried to follow the lyrics. Like, I tried to sing along and dance along. And it’s just so funny because we have all these videos of me trying to dance.LEO 440-year-olds Brooke Lewis and Cara Levy are at a Harry Styles cover show for kids at the Brooklyn Bowl.They love Harry, but they love Taylor more. They have been Swifties since they were in their 20s, and now they share their love with their young daughters.LEWIS 1She sings about these really big feelings. Grown-ups and kids have those big feelings.LEO 5Adam Roberts knows it. He is music director at The Rock and Roll Playhouse, a series of concerts dedicated to kids.ROBERTS 1Normally the concept is for the parents to get the kids into the music that they dig. But the Taylor Swift shows have been a whole other thing. LEO 6Roberts planned a Taylor Swift cover show later this month. He says tickets sold out so quickly they had to schedule a second date.ROBERTS 2They already come here as huge Taylor Swift fans and they just want to hear the music.LEO 7There’s one big difference between putting on a show for young fans and adult ones: attention spans. Roberts says they make shows fun for kids by interrupting performances with games like freeze dance, or a limbo competition.ROBERTS 3The Taylor Swift show is the only show where that sometimes throws off the people. Because they’re singing along, and we stop, and the kids just keep singing and singing. It’s just amazing how much they know that music.LEO 8No matter if you’re 10 or 40You can dance to Taylor’s beat forevermore.Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News.
The images coming out of the Israel-Hamas conflict has been triggering. How are people coping? by Uptown Radio
Last week, Coney Island’s Luna Park announced that it will be staying open this winter for the first time in its history. The amusement park’s “Frost Fest” will start on November 18th and run through the holiday season, ending on January 7th. But, will anyone be interested in rides and boardwalk fun when it’s cold outside? We sent our reporter Tricia Stortz to the scene for a temperature check.
Today in Brooklyn was the Dolce e Salato fest, a celebration of Italy’s culinary art. But one big problem had everyone at the event worried. Gulia Leo has more.---TRANSCRIPT---LEO 1In a small room in an unassuming Brooklyn building, 20 or so vendors are selling everything from handmade pasta, to gelato to panettone. By the entrance, Fabio de Nadai is making coffee after coffee, and if you keep walking you’ll get to the oven station to find Massimo La Veglia of L’Industrie pizzeria making pizza.LA VEGLIA 1 [In Italian] Farina, acqua, sale, due percento di olio, lievito, e tanto amore.LEO 2Flour, water, salt, yeast, much love… and olive oil, of course. These are the ingredients of an authentic Italian pizza according to La Veglia. The organizer of Dolce e Salato, Sabrina Mancin, says the fest has one clear objective.MANCIN 1I want entrepreneurs, I want people who are restaurant owners to find solutions for their shops.LEO 3There is one problem in particular that retailers of made in Italy products are looking to solve.SUERI 1There’s no olives.LEO 4No olives. That was Marco Sueri of Prime Line, an American distributor of Italian products. He says because of the droughts and heatwaves that affected Europe last summer, there is a lower supply of olives. And fewer olives means less olive oil.SUERI 2The trend is to look for cheaper oil because it really costs a lot now.LEO 5A tin of high-quality extra virgin olive oil that Sueri would have sold for 70 Dollars last year now costs about 120. And because restaurants cannot afford to double their budget on oil, they go for a lower quality product.LEO 6Some producers got creative. Giovanni Marchetto is here with Italian wheat company Petra. He explained Petra produces a special flour from wheat germ.MARCHETTO 1The wheat germ has natural oil inside, which guarantees more taste and flavor. LEO 7This flour is so moist and flavorful on its own that there is no need to add oil to the final preparation.LEO 8Now that olive oil has become like liquid gold, will Italians like me stop drizzling it on our pasta or on our ùbruschetta? Yeah, I’ll let you know about that one.Giulia Leo, Columbia Radio News.
November 14th Extinction Rebellion Meditation in front of BlackRock Headquarters in Hudson Yards
Throughout the city there are eight youth drop-in centers. They serve homeless youth from 18 to 24 years old providing hot meals, showers, clean clothes and referrals to other programs and before the mandate, they were a safe place to close your eyes, maybe take a nap. But now, the city says that homeless youth aren’t allowed to sleep in the drop-in centers. Jamie Powlvich, the Executive Director of Coalition for HomelessYouth says the new mandate is already creating problems.
In a city of 8 million people, you’d think finding someone to date would be easy. There are dating apps, dating events, you can even hire a professional wingman… But what if those strategies aren't working for you?
In the Wake of Protests, NYC Rabbis Tackle Complex Conversations About Israel by Uptown Radio
Phantom of the Opera's Longest Employees Say Goodbye to the Show of a Lifetime by Uptown Radio
Master barber students prepare for state board by offering free haircuts to asylum seekers in Astoria.
West Nile Virus cases predicted to increase in NY due to climate change by Uptown Radio
How will the Good Cause Eviction Bill Impact the Affordable Housing Crisis in New York City by Uptown Radio
The New York International Auto Show runs this weekend through next.
In the wake of Covid, global warming, and gas prices, how are car makers responding?
Our reporter, Mark Gilchrist, visited the show to find out.
Experiencing back-to-back deaths of a friend and a family member at the age of seven - and then being told that he could potentially soon die himself after testing positive for TB - caused our reporter, Mark Gilchrist, to want to travel the world and experience life to the fullest, as quickly as possible. He tells his story.
New alternatives to the stock market are popping up in New York City like mushrooms after a spring rain. One new exchange offers shares in commercial buildings. Another lets investors bet on the outcome of events - like who will win an election. But Investing is almost always risky. Mark Gilchrist investigates why so many of these new markets have been appearing, and if they increase investor risk.
There's a black hole in the center of our galaxy. It’s called sagaterias A* It’s 14 million miles across. But we’ve never gotten a good look at it…until now. Astronomers announced today that we’ve finally managed to take a picture of that black hole. Jordy Dalevaar worked on the project. He’s an astronomer at Columbia University and the Flatiron Institute in New York.
It’s been said that in New York City, you’re always looking for either a job or an apartment. After some residents left the city during covid lockdown, the people who stayed were offered lower rents by landlords eager to fill their apartments. But while the pandemic hasn’t ended, the brief era of slightly cheaper New York City rent is now over for most renters. Reporter Sarah Yokubaitis has more on the renters desperately searching for a deal.
I have accidentally been engaged for a decade. Ten long years. It’s not what my fiance and I planned to do when we got engaged after two years of dating, but it’s what happened. We had every intention of getting married within a year or two when we got engaged in 2012. But later that same year, after I started graduate school, my plans were changed by a freak accident.
A worker advocacy group is accusing the parent company of Applebee's and IHOP of discrimination.
Organized labor is making a comeback. Starbucks employees are at the forefront, and New York City is one of the epicenters. But can this reinvigorated movement find the same success in the conservative Long Island suburbs?
With the Supreme Court almost certain to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion bans could be on the horizon in several states. New bills in the New York state legislature aim to protect those from out of state seeking abortion here. Uptown Radio spoke with Columbia Law professor Carol Sanger discusses how they might work in practice.
With rents so high, it’s never been tougher to start a small business in NYC. That can be especially true for new businesses with limited access to capital. Rebekah Robinson has this story on one black and queer barber who has found a solution by giving the salon a creative spin.
Mayor Eric Adams has doubled down on his campaign promise to lead New York City through a digital transformation. In a speech in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the mayor reiterated his commitment to expanding cyber wallets for New Yorkers. David Yermack is a Professor of Finance at NYU Stern School of Business. He says cyber wallets and crypto-currencies can be used to broaden access to the financial system.
New York's Rent Guidelines Board is proposing a hike of up to 9% for those who live in rent stabilized apartments.
There’s a new project in the works that will allow people to own digital artworks made in prison.
An online gallery based in Brooklyn is turning those artworks into N-F-T’s, which allows anyone to buy and sell digitized drawings and paintings.
Some of the money would go to the artists in prison.
But victims' advocates want a say in deciding who profits off this.
Reporter Clara-Sophia Daly has been following this project for months and delves into some of the ethical issues this project raises.
The Impact of President Biden's Ghost Guns Plan on the Gun Violence Crisis in NY by Uptown Radio
Street performers in New York City say they've seen an increase in police harassment. Photo: Toronto Star
When it comes to COVID, people aren’t sure exactly what to call this moment we’re in. Earlier this week, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the US has moved out of the pandemic phase. A day later, he said NO, the pandemic ISN’T over… we’re just… transitioning.
Reporter Rebekah Robinson asked residents of Harlem and Morningside Heights what they would call this strange and uncertain moment.
New Yorkers are eagerly awaiting the day when the state's first recreational marijuana dispensaries open. But could legal weed put the health of their furry friends at risk?
As Earth Day Approaches, Checking in on Mayor Adams's Environmental Plans by Uptown Radio
Advocates, city council members, and community leaders gathered today at City Hall to encourage funding for a plan for more protected bike lanes and bus lanes, and for stricter enforcement of traffic laws. Mayor Adams declined to find the plan in his preliminary 2023 budget. Advocates say the 3.1 billion dollar plan could significantly improve safety on New York streets.
After the mass shooting in the subway on Tuesday morning, New Yorkers’ phones started buzzing, alerting New Yorkers to the unfolding situation. Corey Jones is a security consultant and former SWAT team member based in Philadelphia.
New Yorkers have become increasingly frustrated by the amount of noise in the city that never sleeps. According to city data, noise complaints skyrocketed by one hundred and six percent at the start of the pandemic. So last summer, the city quietly began a year-long pilot program of sound meters that can catch noisy drivers and issue tickets. Our tech reporter Sarah Yokubaitis has more.
The alleged shooter in Tuesday’s Brooklyn subway attack was ordered to be held without bail at his arraignment hearing at the Brooklyn Federal Court today. Lucy Grindon reported on the scene at the courthouse.
Mahogany Brown is Lincoln Center’s first-ever poet in residence. She believes poetry is a tool for transformation.
But Browne does much more than write poetry. She’s also the executive director of Just Media, a media literacy organization.
And she has authored several books including Black Girl Magic, Chlorine Sky, and “I Remember Death by Its Proximity to What I Love.”
A key part of her residency at Lincoln Center is putting on poetry and art events – Including the Woke Baby Book Fair – a celebration of social justice children’s books.
Through her work as a curator, she’s focused on giving voice to underrepresented poets – including children and artists from black and brown communities many of whom were first-time performers at Lincoln Center.
This summer will mark a year into her residency. So I spoke with her today about her practice as a poet and curator and asked her what it means to her to be the first-ever poet in residence.
This is a weekly Uptown Radio broadcast from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Nearly 8 hundred thousand New Yorkers a year bike regularly, and research shows that biking once a day instead of taking a car could reduce a person’s carbon footprint by almost 70%. More bikes sounds like a simple fix to our carbon emission problem. But, how do you encourage more cyclists to get started, especially children, when safety is often a huge concern? Rebekah Robinson reports
New York City is relocating some of its agencies to outer boroughs in an effort to boost economies outside the city center. The program is called the CARE initiative… for City Agencies Revitalizing the Economy, and yesterday the city broke ground at Broadway Junction in East New York in Brooklyn on a new building to house the Department of Social Services Human Resources Administration, and over a thousand employees. The building will also include 80 thousand square feet of private commercial space.
Bill Wilkins is Director of Economic Development and Housing at the non-profit Local Development Corporation of East New York. He says he approves of the city plan to move some agencies out of high rent districts.
The Mayor's decision to keep school mask mandates in place for small children has sparked disagreement among parents.
Hunter College says its experienced years of under-funding. That means its buildings have fallen into disrepair.
With midterm elections approaching in New York, Black female voters are organizing to have their voices heard.
And a new way for New York City’s models and photographers to collaborate is taking off thanks to TikTok.
All that and more on Uptown Radio.
Rebekah Robinson shares how her relationship with volleyball helped her navigate life when things go wrong.
Students and faculty at CUNY's Hunter College are concerned about what they call a state of disrepair. As Julian Abraham reports, it's not all CUNY's fault.
Changes in Masking-Guidelines Leave Parents of Young Children Uncertain by Uptown Radio
Tom Speaker from nonprofit Reinvent Albany shares his concerns about what he calls secrecy in NY budget negotiations. Julian Abraham reports.
Tomorrow is New York State’s budget deadline and many organizations want a piece of the pie. One group of restaurant owners is pushing for 25 million dollars to restart the state’s Restaurant Resiliency Program. The program was set up last year to pay restaurants to provide meals to those in food crisis during Covid.
It was created with $25 million dollars meant to last four months, but the money quickly ran out in six weeks. Mark Gilchrist reports on the push to get more money.
Gentrification has moved through many Brooklyn neighborhoods–raising rents and changing the character of communities. Now, new building developments are popping up in Bushwick, and many look just like projects in other transitioning neighborhoods. Uptown Radio’s David Marques took a look at these cookie-cutter apartments and the phenomenon of the “gentrification building”.
The fate of Amazon Warehouse Workers' vote to unionize on Staten Island remains up in the air. Over the last week, current and former employees have cast their ballots to decide if the Amazon Labor Union should represent the thousands of workers in New York. Key items they want to address? Pay and working conditions. If workers vote to organize, the union would be the first of its kind for Amazon. Rebekah Robinson heads to Midtown to see how Amazon customers feel about the vote.
One billion dollars. That’s how much it will cost you if you want to get a casino liscene in New York state. The potential new casino licenses are being debated by the state legislature as they work to pass next year’s budget. I spoke with a gambling addiction expert to learn more.
Brian Daurelle, a Harlem musician, demonstrates a computer program he uses to make some interesting sounds.
Apple Lobbies the State for Digital Driver’s Licenses Despite Privacy Drawbacks by Uptown Radio
Uptown Radio's David Marques spoke with Maria Shust, director of the Ukrainian Museum in the East Village, about the perils facing Ukraine's priceless artworks and artifacts amidst the Russian invasion.
Uptown Radio's Intellectual Life correspondent David Marques shares how two pups helped him brave the grim winter of 2020
Uptown Radio's Julian Abraham explores the nuances of deaths on NYC's subway tracks, and the city's plan to address them.
Starting on Monday, New Yorkers will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination at restaurants and other entertainment venues. Uptown Radio’s Sarah Yokubaitis found that some New Yorkers are wary about the coming changes.
Remember how much fun science museums were when you were a kid? Touching things and learning cool facts were a blast! But thanks to two years of Covid, many kids haven’t been able to hold turtle shells or meet real-life scientists. Museums have been closed or at limited capacity. But now, things are finally changing. After virtual events last year, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is back for an in-person Kids Week. Do kids still remember how to have fun learning science, art and engineering? David Newtown reports.
For Ukrainians around the world, watching Russia’s attack unfold from a distance has been especially difficult. Clara-Sophia Daly headed to the East Village to check in with New York’s Ukrainian community.
Last week a coalition of housing groups issued a report confirming what many homeless families living in city shelters have been saying for decades–although the city has a program to pay rent for the unhoused, more often than not landlords won’t rent to them.
Natasha Bryant is 29-years-old and lives in the Palladia Women's Shelter in Harlem. For over a year and a half, she’s been hoping to move into her own apartment.
Reported by Clara-Sophia Daly for Columbia Radio News.
Joe Favorito, a sports media consultant and professor at Columbia, joins Julian Abraham on Uptown Radio for his take on the MLB lockout.
As COVID-19 vaccines are approved for kids 5-11, one community in NYC is not enthusiastic.
The vote to make outdoor dining permanent will hit the desk of the city council soon. Against the backdrop of lawsuits against de Blasio's Open Restaurants program and vocal community boards, how do local residents and workers really feel?
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree made its way to Manhattan this week, along with throngs of tourists. U.S. borders opened up to international travel on Monday, for the first time since 2020. Between new waves of foreign and domestic travelers, the Rockefeller Tree had plenty of fans to watch as it made its home in the famous plaza this morning, and everyone just seemed happy to be back in the Big Apple. For Columbia Radio News, Kate Hinsche reports.
Kate Stockrahm goes on a quest to learn the origin of "National Zipper Day" on April 29th. Along the journey, she finds that her seemingly simple ask isn't so simple.
Kate Stockrahm reflects on getting over a break up via takeout, tears, and a cat named Bruce.
Leaving home and being an immigrant is not easy for anyone. And for many, their accents can present particular challenges.
In this piece from our commentary series, Leyla Doss talks about navigating the spaces between home and abroad.
Free Stuff for a Vaccine? Will Incentives work to improve New York's Vaccine Rate? by Uptown Radio
De Blasio's Safe Summer NYC Plan Seeks to Curb Gun Violence - Jack Stone Truitt by Uptown Radio
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced that it will be an early voting site for the upcoming New York State primary elections. The announcement came earlier this week and it marks the first time in 151 years that the Met will host voters, joining institutions like Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Museum of the Moving Image facilitating early voters in previous years.
Kym Rice is Interim Director of Corcoran School of Arts and Design in Washington DC. We discuss the potential significance of the Met’s decision, and how it may influence how other cultural institutions engage with political happenings moving forward.
Seaweed has been harvested for thousands of years by indigenous communities. Now there’s renewed interest in growing these coastal crops on a larger scale. As Arcelia Martin reports, Long Island ocean farmers and entrepreneurs are turning to kelp in an effort to combat climate change.
Special courtesy to Michael Doall.
New Metro North train stops are opening in the Bronx, a Times Square shooting suspect is apprehended, and the mayor eats a burger on live TV.
The CDC announced this afternoon that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask – indoors or outdoors. There are some exceptions, including public transportation, nursing homes, and homeless shelters. Katie Anastas hit the streets to ask New Yorkers: what are they most looking forward to doing mask free?
For many blind and visually impaired people, guide dogs bring a new level of independence. But during the last year, few trained guide dogs are available for placement with owners. In New Jersey, at an organization called The Seeing Eye, just 170 people received guide dogs -- a third fewer than normal. As Katie Anastas reports, the pandemic has put much of the training process on hold.
New York City’s democratic candidates for mayor will have their first official debate tonight. Andrew Yang and Eric Adams, the two frontrunners in that race, have both drawn criticism over their comments on the incidents unfolding between Israel and Palestine.
Neil Kwatra, a democratic political strategist, joined Leyla Doss on Uptown Radio. He’s here to discuss the political calculus that happens when local candidates weigh in on international issues.
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona from a Sheikh Jarrah Pro-Palestine protest in London.
The Whitney Museum of American Art recently debuted an outdoor permanent exhibit titled “Day’s End” by the artist David Hammon. Fei Lu reports.
Fei Lu reports on how art fairs are returning and adapting a very in-person experience into a pandemic-friendly event.
The odds are stacked against Black-owned businesses from the beginning. A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York says they’re almost twice as likely to fail than others. They face hurdles like increasing gentrification, which causes higher rents, and a lack of access to financing.
The pandemic made the situation even worse. But now, as the city reopens, a group of Black-owned businesses in Crown Heights is bucking that trend. And as Leyla Doss reports, this isn’t just about economics. It’s about the social and cultural fabric of a neighborhood.
Hosts: Nicole McNulty & Jack Stone Truitt Executive Producer: Katie Anastas Senior Producer: Kate Stockrahm General Producer: Leyla Doss Assistant Producer: Karen Maniraho Senior Editor: Cat Smith Assistant Editor: Arcelia Martin Web Manager: Megan Zerez Reporters: Fei Lu, Hayley Zhao, and Renée Roden Advisors: Sally Herships, Paddy Hirsch, and Ben Shapiro
Uptown Radio is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and UptownRadio.org on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.
Queensboro FC is building a stadium in Queens, hoping to be a beacon of hope for a neighborhood hit hard by COVID. Sports economists say the facility will be great for morale, but likely not an economic boon.
Indian Point, the nuclear power plant just north of New York City, is set to shut down its last reactor by tomorrow. The plant generates around one thousand megawatts, enough to power up to 1,000,000 homes. In the first of our two part series, Kate Stockrahm reported on why the plant’s fission energy may one day be replaced by fusion in New York’s pursuit of carbon-free power. Today, she covers the scientific, regulatory, and political hurdles nuclear fusion faces.
Welcome to the Metaverse: A Glimpse into the Web's Possible Future - Nicole McNulty by Uptown Radio
Open Streets were so popular, the city is making them permanent. But a debate is raging over how exactly to do that.
Twelfth Night was speaking to a part of me I didn’t have words for yet. Every time I see it on stage or watch the movie, I think about my 12-year-old self, confronted with the idea that gender and sexuality was a lot more complicated than I thought.
New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control say that, if you’re fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask outdoors. Unless you’re in a crowd, that is...like at a Yankees game or a concert. But after 13 months of the pandemic, and reports of variants circulating around the US, are New Yorkers really ready to go maskless? Arcelia Martin went to Morningside Park to find out.
Last night in his joint address to congress, President Biden announced his plan to make community college tuition free. But even without the cost of tuition, a degree may still be out of reach for many low income New Yorkers. Eli Dvorkin is the editorial and Policy Director at the Center for an urban future. In this conversation with Uptown Radio host Megan Zerez, Dvorkin says that there’s a lot at stake for the thousands of New Yorkers without a college degree.
Recently, the New York Foundation for the Arts announced a $1,000 emergency grant for disabled artists based in New York City. The grant is meant to support artists spanning multiple disciplines who’ve been financially impacted by the pandemic.
Fei Lu speaks with Christopher Nunez the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Movement Research to speak about the challenges artists with disabilities face professionally and throughout COVID-19.
You’re listening to Uptown Radio from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. This is an original podcast from the class of 2021.
Meet your hosts: Lucy Soucek and Marta Biino.
They’ll bring you all the news from Manhattan, including the latest on the university’s graduate workers’ strike as well as New York City’s eviction moratorium.
Plus, a new treatment for cystic fibrosis is being hailed as a miracle cure, local businesses are rediscovering the ancient art of bartering, and we’ll take a closer look at the Lincoln Center’s exciting summer plans.
Finally, you may have noticed the city’s feral cats are in the midst of a baby boom – we can tell you why.
It’s all the conversations important to Columbia University in one place.
Our special guests include Sateesh Nori, Attorney in Charge at The Legal Aid Society, and Clive Chang, Lincoln Center's Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer.
The team of reporters is led by Executive Producer Joanna Robin, Senior Editor Martha Guerrero, and Senior Producer Chloe Wynne with help from Lily Lopate, Anna Gordon and Jon Edelman.
Camille Bond brought us the national news headlines and Nico Picciuto covered all things local. The feature stories you heard, in order of appearance, were by Jon Edelman, Anna Gordon, M. Skye Holly, Marta Biino, and Lucy Soucek.
Our instructors Ellen Horne and Camille Peterson advised our staff. Blue Dot Sessions and Orange Free Sounds provided some of the music for today’s show.
See you next time.
Arcelia Martin delivers New York City News for the afternoon of Thursday, April 22, 2021.
Kate Stockrahm reports on the closure of New York's Indian Point Power Plant and what's next in nuclear.
Owners and patrons frustrated as NYC extends curfew for restaurants and bars - Jack Stone Truitt by Uptown Radio
The population of those in ICE detention is dropping. But the death rate is rising. Between 2019 to 2020, while the number of those in ICE custody decreased by a third, as Arcelia Martin reports, the death rate grew sevenfold.
New York City will roll out the largest tourism ad campaign in its history. But will it be enough to lure visitors back?
On Tuesday, Derek Chauvin became one of the few police officers to ever be convicted in the killing of an unarmed citizen. Since George Floyd's death last summer, New York has seen a range of efforts to reform policing. Advocates say one of the keys to accountability is access to internal police documents. Rachel Moran is an associate professor of law at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. She recently authored a study on the release of police misconduct records.
Last week, the city broke ground on a coastal resiliency plan to protect lower Manhattan from future storms. The project will level and completely rebuild East River Park, a popular green space on the Lower East Side. Many residents disagree with the plan.
You’re listening to Uptown Radio from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. This is an original podcast from the class of 2021.
Meet your hosts: Jon Edelman and Joanna Robin
In this edition: Get all the news and what it means for your weekend right here. You’ll listen to several journalist stories from inside New York communities. Meet preppers who are planning ahead for the world’s disasters, as well as taxi drivers and undocumented workers on strike. Also: the truth about kids’ mental health during the pandemic; and travels along the city’s changing waterfront, from East River Park to Pier 76.
It’s all the conversations important to Columbia University in one place.
SNEAK PEAK: INSIDE THIS EPISODE
News & More National and local headlines plus conversations on a pandemic newsletter that’s got New Yorkers hooked, and a group of cyclists demanding justice for Daunte Wright.
Special guests include Mitra Kalita, CEO of Epicenter NYC, and Peter Kerre, founder of StreetRiders NYC.
Economics A first-in-the-nation $2.1 billion relief fund for undocumented workers ends a hunger strike. And a promise of financial aid by Mayor DeBlasio that thousands of taxi drivers say doesn’t go far enough to relieve their debts.
Remote Learning An inside look at the psychological chaos student’s have endured during this year of remote and hybrid learning. Find out how to effectively teach in times of crisis.
Environment A construction project to turn East River Park into a flood barrier divides a community; meanwhile, Pier 76’s former NYPD tow pound is being converted into an open park.
Prepping for Disaster COVID-19 brought doomsday realities into mainstream consciousness. Meet the prepping folks planning for disasters way before they hit—not just for themselves, but for their communities.
When Americans fill out the census, they are asked their race or origin: the list of 15 options includes white, African American, Korean and Filipino. This data guides everything from education and healthcare resources, to what language ballots are printed in. President Biden recently promised to introduce a new category in the next census: Middle Eastern and North African. Meanwhile, many in the MENA community say collecting this information can be critical for providing resources in New York City. Leyla Doss reports.
As vaccination rates rise in the U.S., many Americans are planning long-awaited reunions with family and friends.
In this piece from our commentary series, Megan Zerez reflects on the mixed feelings about her own homecoming.
This is a weekly Uptown Radio broadcast from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Uptown Radio is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and UptownRadio.org on Thursday evenings.
And now, a story from our commentary series. Arcelia Martin reflects on when she started to fear forgetting.
Snippets of New York City news on the afternoon of Thursday, April 15th, 2021.
Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante
Cryptocurrency's Coming Out Party: Interview with John Ladyzinski on Coinbase IPO by Uptown Radio
This is a weekly Uptown Radio broadcast from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Uptown Radio is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and UptownRadio.org on Thursday evenings.
Fei Lu reports on the challenges facing New York City’s gay bar scene, and the impact on the LGBTQ community.
The Hudson River tow pound, known as Pier 76, in West Side Manhattan has a gritty reputation. But now, it's being converted into an airy, public park on the pier. It's a sign of new life as NYC recovers from COVID-19. Learn about the funding, project design and the how re-imagining this land fits into the waterfront's larger, adaptive history.
As spring charges full speed ahead, the cat lovers of New York City are panicking. The pandemic has complicated spay/neuter efforts, and springtime is the season when many kittens are born. As Lucy Soucek reports, rescuers are already seeing more kittens than usual.
Preppers have long been scoffed at and stigmatized. But in 2020 while most of us were scrambling for the last rolls of toilet paper, the prepared were grabbing their go-bags. After such a dastardly year, doomsday doesn’t feel so far off. And, as Joanna Robin reports, preppers are having a moment in New York City.
As Ramadan approaches, faith leaders call for expanded 24/7 vaccine sites by Uptown Radio
Cornell University is the latest to join a growing list of American colleges planning to mandate COVID vaccinations for their students. It’s a sticky subject for schools, which have to weigh the benefits of increased vaccination against potential burdens on individuals and their freedoms.
Photo Credit: Daniel Schludi, Unsplash
As New York reopens, Harlem musicians are keeping jazz traditions alive at one of the city's most cherished venues, Minton's Playhouse.
Coney Island Island’s famous amusement parks will start to welcome back visitors for the first time in more than a year and a half tomorrow. Our reporter Hayley Zhao went down to Luna Park and found that after being shut up by the pandemic New Yorkers are already excited to start their summer with roller coaster rides and hot dogs -- at least most of them.
The New York state legislature just passed next year’s fiscal budget last night. In that bill, there’s some 2.4 billion allocated for the COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program. This is New York’s second attempt to provide pandemic rental assistance after initiating the program last year.
Uptown Radio is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and UptownRadio.org on Thursday evenings.
President Biden’s new infrastructure plan is taking on the environment including almost $200 billion dollars aimed at getting Americans to switch over to electric vehicles. In New York State transportation is the largest source of greenhouse emissions. More than those from home and commercial buildings combined. Last year Gov. Cuomo also announced an ambitious environmental initiative - to increase the number of electric vehicles in New York State. As Hayley Zhao reports, experts say the governor’s goal is reachable with some policy changes.
We're down to the Final Four of March Madness 2021. If your bracket isn't faring well, you aren't alone. The odds were against you from the start. However, something called "bracketology" might help improve your winnings next year, and it can teach us something about online search algorithms in the process.
As more vaccines roll out, many countries - including the US and the European Union - are looking into digital vaccine passports. New York state recently created a vaccine passport in the form of a smartphone app, called Excelsior. Vaccine passports could make international travel and public indoor gatherings more secure. But there are concerns over privacy and fairness. I spoke to Dr. Arthur Caplan, Medical Ethics expert at NYU’s School of Medicine and asked him first what exactly is a vaccine passport.
Congestion pricing is coming to New York City...eventually. Here's how other cities have done it, and what New York needs to watch out for.
In New York City Public Schools more than one in ten students are trying to learn English. They’re called English Language Learners, or ELLs. But nearly a quarter of ELL students, drop out of school. Arcelia Martin reports on why ELLs struggle to succeed.
At the beginning of the pandemic last April, New York City reduced its jail population by 30 percent to try and curb the spread of COVID-19. At 3,809 inmates, it was the lowest daily jail population since the 1940s.
But even as the number of incarcerated people has gone down, the rate of violence inside city jails has gone up.
Our worlds have felt much smaller recently and many New Yorkers have missed the 150-year-old Hayden Planetarium, which closed in March 2020 due to Covid-19. Joanna Robin reports from Manhattan.
Live coverage of a neighborhood protest in Gowanus Canal, Brooklyn over the ongoing contentious rezoning issue that has residents at odds with developers.
Taxi Medallion Owners Protest Mayor de Blasio Latest Relief Plan at City Hall by Uptown Radio
If you visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on a Saturday morning in March, you’d probably expect to hear chirping birds, rustling leaves, and maybe an occasional siren or airplane. But this spring, you’ll hear something different. Reporter Lucy Soucek has the story.
Featuring: Michael Gordon’s loved., performed by David Cossin © 2021 Cantaloupe Music
New Yorkers Honor 110th Anniversary of Triangle Shirtwaist Fire - Jack Stone Truitt by Uptown Radio
An interview with Alyson Martin, co-founder of Cannabis Wire, about the implications of proposed legislation for legalizing recreational marijuana in New York.
Photo credit: Esteban Lopez
The recent passage of the $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package was widely celebrated by Democrats. But one key Democratic policy was not included: a $15 an hour federal minimum wage. Workers across the country are pushing for change. But the fight for the minimum wage started long ago, and close to home. AS Leyla Doss reports, New York City paved the way.
Federal and state governments have tried to support unemployed Americans since the start of the pandemic. The CARES Act sent out stimulus checks, expanded unemployment eligibility, and gave workers extra money. But undocumented workers were excluded.
Now in New York, as lawmakers finalize the state’s budget for the year, those workers are demanding relief.
During the pandemic, birding, which involves finding and identifying birds outdoors, has soared in popularity. It’s safe, solitary, and you may even spot a celebrity. Joanna Robin reports from Manhattan.
An interview with an Italian-American Brooklynite who gardened through the pandemic and is getting back into it come spring 2021
The tradition of Langar is important to Sikh communities all over the world. Langar is the community meal, offered daily. The Sikh Cultural Society in Queens gave reporter Lucy Soucek a look at the inner workings of their Langar kitchen.
Many New Yorkers have been eagerly awaiting the rollout of new vaccines. One of them - the Johnson & Johnson one - is set to begin shots soon. But controversy over the vaccine using fetal cell lines aborted decades ago for testing and manufacturing has lead to mixed responses from the Catholic community. Leyla Doss reports.
Uptown Radio is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and UptownRadio.org on Thursday evenings.
Additional Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
New York has a long history of trying to place restrictions on bars. And New Yorkers have always found creative ways to break those rules. It happened in the 1890s, it happened during Prohibition, it's happening during Covid.
New City Council Bills Question Police's Role in Public Schools - Nicole McNulty by Uptown Radio
New York City’s movie theaters are opening tomorrow for the first time in nearly a year--operating with limited capacity and other covid-protocols in place. The reopening will provide some financial relief to the industry. But as Jack Stone Truitt reports--for the city’s small independent cinemas--it also comes with continuing challenges.
The U.S. Capitol police announced yesterday that they were aware of possible plans of far-right groups to attack the capitol, today, March 4th. The attack may have been inspired by the online group QAnon--some members believe this is the day former President Trump will be inaugurated for a second term. Arcelia Martin reports.
The auction house, Christie's, is auctioning a purely digital piece by Beeple. Fei Lu reports.
The pandemic completely changed the rituals we rely on for grieving. In this personal essay, Cat Smith reflects on coming to terms with death during quarantine.
Back in 2019, the state legislature passed a ban on plastic bags in grocery and retail stores. The ban was supposed to go into effect last March. But as Reporter Hayley Zhao reports, just like with so many other parts of our lives the pandemic slowed it down.
New pilot: Harlem tests no-police in mental health emergencies - Karen Maniraho by Uptown Radio
Innovation rarely happens overnight. The wheel was invented around 3500 BC. But the wheelbarrow? That took another 3,700 years. It takes time to understand a problem and find a fix. But in 2020, when the pandemic caused an international medical swab shortage, innovation had to speed up a bit. Kate Stockrahm reports.
As more infectious Covid strains take hold in New York, a virologist explains how the city is testing for the variants.
On Thursday morning, public middle schools opened for in-person learning. With 30% of students returning, experts say more is needed from the DOE
Retired studio engineer Dave Lund has collected aquariums and tropical fish for over 50 years. Lund reflects on his childhood job with a fish importer in Brooklyn.
Gucci has renewed their lease at Trump Tower, as some fashion and business insiders question the decision.
Immigrant New Yorkers are at higher risk of contracting COVID. Many have had to work in person throughout the pandemic. But 400,000 don’t qualify for any federal or state-funded health care. A new bill, currently in the senate's health committee, would change that. It would temporarily give some immigrants access to health coverage.
Photo credit: Steve Cadman
Last spring, Governor Cuomo issued an executive order requiring every city in the state to develop new policies addressing police misconduct.He said it was a response to the Black Lives Matter protests happening at the time. He set a deadline of April 1st of this year. Mayor De Blasio’s office, the NYPD, and the City Council are each responding with their own proposals. Katie Anastas reports.
Will the COVID-19 pandemic be enough to reform New York’s parole violation system? - Karen Maniraho by Uptown Radio
Every year, the state legislature and the governor have to negotiate next year’s budget by the end of March. That’s in just six weeks.
But this year New York state is desperate for money. In total, it’s facing an estimated $50 billion deficit. The federal government has promised New York state and local governments some $23 billion in funds. Still, as Megan Zerez reports, with the pandemic, budgeting has gotten even more complicated.
How the Pandemic is Challenging the Fashion Industry: Talking with Christina Moon - Arcelia Martin by Uptown Radio
NY State Education Dept. Issues New Guidance on Mandatory Covid Testing. Interview. by Uptown Radio
New York's Florists Adapt as COVID Hits Bottom Line - Jack Stone Truitt by Uptown Radio
Senior Services Reaching Immigrant Elders During Pandemic - Katie Anastas by Uptown Radio
The Met Considers Deaccessioning Art to Raise Maintenance Funds - Fei Lu by Uptown Radio
Thousands of New Yorkers will celebrate the Lunar New Year tomorrow. For many in the city’s Asian communities, the holiday would normally be one of the biggest celebrations of the year… often with multiple generations of the family gathered under the same roof.
But as Megan Zerez reports, though this year’s celebration is different, it doesn't mean that business is all bad.
Class Action Lawsuit Says Kids With Disabilities Are Segregated in New York City - Nicole McNulty by Uptown Radio
Across the U.S, performance artists worry about the future of dance. With in-person performances being impractical and dangerous due to COVID-19, dancers are anxiously waiting for companies to reopen and shows to be booked. That is, if the companies survive the pandemic.
I interviewed the Mayor of Utica, New York, Robert Palmieri, on the day that certain regions of Upstate New York began their first phase of opening businesses back up.
For the next installment in our commentary series, reporter Sarah Gelbard wonders why we worry.
Just a Girl, Standing in Front of a Theater, Hoping for Tickets to Hamilton by Uptown Radio
Voices of the City: A Surgeon Overseeing Ventilator Patients At New York Presbyterian Hospital by Uptown Radio
After an executive order from Governor Cuomo, elections for New York State school boards are going remote. That means school districts have to make sure every eligible voter gets a mail-in ballot. But many school districts say they haven’t received any additional funding or much guidance on how to meet these new requirements. And the deadline for these ballots to be returned is in less than a month. Aaron Pallas teaches education policy at Columbia University Teachers College. I asked him what it’s like to be a school district representative trying to get this done.
When the COVID pandemic began, most people stopped flying - airline passenger travel in the past 2 months has dropped 96 percent. Airports are quiet, and many of the workers have been laid off. The pandemic is also bringing other changes to terminals, as airports seek ways to keep both passengers and staff safe from the virus. Reporter Tay Glass looks at how airports are looking to automation for their comeback, and what that technology means for the future of airport employment.
There are over 1 million senior citizens living in New York City today. Already vulnerable to COVID-19, the elderly are also affected by the city shut down in unique ways. Many seniors rely on city services for recreation, health monitoring, and free meals. But volunteer organizations are filling the gaps. Megan Cattel reports.
The latest installment in our series, Voices of the City. Louise Lingat, an attorney intern with the Administration for Children Services in Elmhurst, Queens. This month, she was sworn in virtually to the NY State Bar.
Shelter in place orders have a lot of New Yorkers wondering what their summer vacations will look like. One option being considered - a roadtrip in an RV or a campervan. Typically, traveling in a mini-hotel on wheels would be considered socially distant But, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, many potential travelers are wary. Tay Glass hears from one campervan company about what it’s doing to try and win them over.
First-Gen Problems: How One Group of Students Are Struggling During Covid by Uptown Radio
In our ongoing commentary series, Tay Glass asks why we tell stories over and over, by telling one of his stories again.
During COVID-19, Should NYC Schools Reevaluate How They Evaluate Students? by Uptown Radio
No lights. No camera. No action. Tribeca Film Fest postponement means big loss for filmmakers. by Uptown Radio
This week, Massachusetts and San Francisco are increasing efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19 through something called… contact tracing. It’s a method to track everyone who was in contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. But could it be effective in New York City?
The outbreak of the coronavirus has hit New York City’s businesses hard. And that includes street vendors. According to city council members, street vendors have lost up to 90% of business in recent weeks. But as Megan Cattel reports. unlike their brick and mortar neighbors, many of them do not qualify for government aid.
A Look at the Risks Facing LGBTQ Seniors Under The Coronavirus Pandemic by Uptown Radio
We're all waiting for signs of when life in New York might even begin to get back to normal. The way things used to be, when we can emerge from isolation, go back to school and to work, end and social distancing. Sarah Gelbard looks at how people are managing while we wait.
Forty-two states are now under shelter in place orders. Everyone is, or should be, taking extreme measures to avoid getting sick with coronavirus. But the stakes are extra high for the 25 million Americans with asthma. According to the CDC.... their asthma puts them at higher risk for “severe illness” if they contract the virus. Tay Glass looks at one New Yorker with the condition who is trying to stay healthy.
Reporter Megan Cattel talks about being a former figure skater and what the sport taught her.
It’s New York Rare Book Week, and over 200 independent booksellers have gathered for the New York Antiquarian Bookfair. In the age of online book buying, dealers are finding renewed interest in local, specialized books. Sarah Gelbard has the story.
I interviewed Charles McNally, Director of External Affairs at NYU's Furman Center, about the new Sunnyside Yards Master Plan to build a deck over a massive Amtrak yard in Queens. Photo is courtesy of the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism
During the 1980s, churches began offering shelter to Central American refugees. Today the sanctuary movement focuses on assisting undocumented immigrants, especially accompanying them to deportation hearings. In recent weeks, the sanctuary churches in New York City have seen a dramatic increase in requests for help. Megan Cattel reports.
City College Students Work to Include Afro-Latinos During Black History Month by Uptown Radio
When you visit a New York City grocery store or a deli, your purchases will probably come in a thin plastic bag. More than 27 million of the bags are given out daily in the city. But as of March 1, stores will no longer be allowed to give out free plastic bags--instead customers will pay for paper, or bring their own reusable bags. Sarah Gelbard explores the impacts of this change.
Image Credit: Juan Pablo Serrano
A New York state bill is gaining momentum. If passed it would protect the rights of parents who have their children with the help of third-party reproduction technology. That includes sperm, egg and embryo donation. But the bill would also legalize paid surrogacy, when a woman is paid to carry a baby for somebody else-- and that’s been controversial. Lauren Peace reports.
Interview with John Edwin Mason by Emily Pisacreta.
Photo by: Jenny Walker via the Library of Congress.
Megan Cattel reports on the New York Public Transit President's last day on the job. New Yorkers express disappointment that #TrainDaddy is no longer working for the MTA.
This is a story about food insecurity among college students in New York City. Changing requirements to SNAP (formerly food stamps) may allow for greater participation in the program for college students, a population vulnerable to hunger.
The Lockport School District in New York says it’s the first in the state to use facial recognition technology to protect its students. The technology works by scanning people’s faces and if that scan matches someone in a database who is known to be a threat, school administrators will be alerted. But the use of the new technology has created a sharp divide between the Lockport administrators and the parents who oppose it. Cecily Mauran has the story.
I attended and covered a new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. I discussed New York's relationship with basketball with exhibit designers and museum patrons. I pitched, reported, and produced this story in one day. The story aired on Uptown Radio on February 14.
City College Students Work to Include Afro-Latinos During Black History Month Celebrations by Uptown Radio
Tens of thousands of commuters live in places beyond the reaches of the subway in Brooklyn and Queens. There are buses, but advocacy groups rate them poorly for speed and reliability. So instead, many of these commuters turn to private services known as dollar vans. These vans are often cheaper and faster than taking the bus. But as Tay Glass reports, new regulations that increase insurance costs could drive the dollar van industry to a grinding halt.
I covered a press conference dedicated to HIV/AIDS Awareness day on February 7. The story was written and produced for an afternoon broadcast that day on Uptown Radio
A new holiday street plan is in effect in Midtown Manhattan. Cars, trucks, and buses are now banned during the afternoons and evenings on 49th and 50th Street around Rockefeller Center. This gives pedestrians more space to wander around sights like the towering Christmas Tree and sparkling ice skating rink. But according to Susan Dooha, director of a local advocacy organization, restricting access for vehicles can also restrict access for people with disabilities. Anmargaret Warner reports.
An event on Columbia's campus featured students discussing political echo chambers and the importance of hearing diverse viewpoints.
Midtown Manhattan brings to mind things like Hudson Yards, corporate restaurants, and sky high condos. But in some areas those changes are recent and jolting. That’s especially true for small businesses. Ariana Lee reports on why a Black hair salon survives while many of their neighbors are getting edged out.
Central Brooklyn Residents Demand City Intervention to Curb Rat Infestation by Uptown Radio
This is a story about the potential development of a Harlem apartment complex. The photo rendering is courtesy of the Olnick Organization.
This is a story about the potential development of a Harlem apartment complex. The photo rendering is courtesy of the Olnick Organization.
The New York State Senate is considering a bill to protect the rights of intersex people by preventing nonconsensual surgeries. Hasham Nusrat talks with intersex advocates who are fighting for the bill, and one psychologist who opposes it. A heads up for listeners. This story contains explicit references to genital anatomy.
In the coming months, the Supreme Court will decide whether the some 700,000 immigrants can legally remain in the United States. They have temporary status under a program known as DACA. It allows individuals who were brought to the U.S. as minors to work legally and defer deportation for renewable two year periods. As Ciara Long reports, decision could have consequences for public education.
New York City Representative Jose Serrano is retiring from Congress after three decades. Community organizer Samelys López is one of more than a dozen Democrats vying to replace him. Lopez was recently endorsed by the New York City Chapter of the Democrati Socialists of America. She’s also part of the wave of progressive women of color who are running for state and local office.
When visitors walk around Columbia University’s Morningside Campus, they see proud marble buildings designed in the Greco-Roman style, and expanses of manicured lawns. But as Maggie Donahue reports, the university’ richest history can be found underground.
Columbia University has one of the oldest and richest Yiddish programs in the United States. The major was reinstated at Columbia in 2003, with two seniors graduating with Yiddish degrees that year. Today, Yiddish at Columbia has flourished. Khaya Himmelman finds out how the study of a language that many would classify as “dying” is thriving on Columbia’s campus.
Even after six months, protests in Hong Kong are showing no signs of slowing down. Uptown Radio’s Yoonji Han reports on how New Yorkers are showing their support for protestors, even from halfway around the world.
The New York State Senate is considering a bill that aims to protect the rights of intersex people by preventing surgeries without their consent. The bill neither specifies the age limit for approval, nor it clarifies the type of medical surgeries that are inevitably needed. Reporter Hasham Nusrat talked to relevant people for a better understanding of this issue.
New York City is frequently called the city of dreams. Stars to be born, money to be made. But making these dreams a reality can be tough, and now, at the turn of the decade, New Yorkers seem to be a little more reasonable about their goals. Kata Stevens goes to Bryant Park to investigate.
14% of the nation’s homeless live on the streets of New York City, and this month, temperatures have begun to drop into the 20s.
Project Renewal is one of dozens of New York City organizations that coordinate to help fight homelessness. McCaffrey Blauner met with Project Renewal board member Lee Stringer, whose life experience gives him a unique insight into the experience of many of the city’s homeless.
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program allows family members to get paid to care for their chronically ill relatives at home.
Food corps member Abby Cunniff teaches second grade to bake pumpkin pie, just in time for the holidays.
A rite of passage for New York kids is spending the night at the Museum of Natural History. Now, adults have their own sleepover. For the past 5 years, the Rubin Museum has hosted a “dream-over.” Astrid Landon attended, and filed this report.
Under the Trump administration, the United States has drastically reduced the number of refugees allowed into the country. The RDJ Shelter provides long term housing for those who did make it through. Inés Rénique reports on their Thanksgiving celebration this past week.
Eleven states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. When an effort to make New York the twelfth stalled over the summer, the state adopted a watered-down version: decriminalization. Jack Rossiter-Munley reports on how that plays out in practice.
In the United States, Black, American Indian and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lauren Mascarenhas reports from New York City, where doula care is being used to combat some of these disparities.
The New York City Council will vote this Tuesday to require bird safe glass on windows of tall buildings. Almost a billion birds die each year crashing into buildings in the United States. Anya Schultz visited a non-profit that rehabilitates wild animals to release them into the wild.
Lately, democratic presidential candidates have started to question the funding and expansion of Charter Schools. This summer, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state won’t raise the number of charters that are allowed to open up. Kara Grant reports from Brooklyn on one charter that has struggled to succeed.
Even after six months, protests in Hong Kong are showing no signs of slowing down. Uptown Radio’s Yoonji Han reports on how New Yorkers are showing their support for protestors, even from halfway around the world.
Photo: A flash mob hosted by NY4HK in Grand Central. / Courtesy of NY4HK
Governor Andrew Cuomo recently called for 500 additional officers to police the subways. He says it’s important to crackdown on crime and fare evasion. But some say the police presence is costly, unnecessary, and even detrimental. Tay Glass reports on a “subway therapist” who has seen the crackdown firsthand.
Image from #subwaytherapy on Instagram.
New York City is home to a wide range of cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities. One neighborhood in Brooklyn - Greenpoint - has been an enclave for much of the city’s Polish population for over a century. The neighborhood is also one of many that has seen an increase in hate crimes, according to New York City Police Department data. One specific category that looms above the rest? Hate crimes where the bias motivation - or reason - is anti-Jewish. Anmargaret Warner reports.
New York City bodegas and vape stores struggle under the weight of the state's flavored JUUL pod ban.
When scientists try to demonstrate the impact of global warming, they often point to arctic ice. The northern glaciers are disappearing, but what’s happening on the ice that’s here? Rebecca Clark-Callender went all the way to New Jersey to find out.
HOST INTRO: For New York’s immigrant communities, cooperatives provide domestic violence survivors with a lifeline: not just a path to financial independence, but community. Ciara Long has the story.
This is a story about a potential helicopter ban proposed by New York City lawmakers. Photo is courtesy of the Associated Press.
The Bronx got its first gaming lounge last week. Elize Manoukian went to the opening of the Bronx Battlegrounds in Hunts Point, where local gamers are helping close the digital divide.
More than A million Chileans have taken to the streets in recent weeks. A hike in the subway fare started the protests. But the marches have become about something much bigger: income inequality. Cecily Mauran reports on Chileans in New York City trying to help the protesters--from thousands of miles away..
For millennials, sustainability is in and fast fashion is out - Inés Rénique by Uptown Radio
Reiki used to be an obscure spiritual practice people were talking about in cocktail parties. But, the number of practitioners has sky rocketed. This energy healing treatment is even offered in hospitals across the US. What is it like to be a Reiki Master?
Sports bars are a neighborhood fixture. Famously replicated in shows like Cheers, people in cities across America have made a tradition of becoming regulars in local watering holes, “where everybody knows your name.”
But the business model has to acknowledge the cyclical sports calendar. Fall and winter--football season--is when they make their money. Kata Stevens reports on one Upper East Side bar that was struck by catastrophe at the least auspicious moment.
A lot of people of color get tired of explaining things to white people. From answering questions about your packed lunch, the texture of your hair, or where you are “really from”, people of color sometimes find themselves stuck in a set of expectations where white people are normal and everyone else is not. Uptown Radio’s Ariana Lee reports on how one artist is flipping that script.
Image courtesy of danadav.com
Meat may have met its match. As American consumers become more mindful of their health and their impact on the environment, they’re eating less red meat. As Yoonji Han of Uptown Radio News reports, even fast food restaurants are taking notice.
Host Intro: New Yorkers with disabilities can schedule transportation a day in advance through the Access-A-Ride program. But, it’s hard to predict emergencies — even spontaneous trips — in advance. As part of a pilot program launched a few years ago, some Access-A-Ride users can call a ride on-demand. Advocates gathered at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Headquarters to call for an expansion in on-demand services. They want all Access-A-Ride users to have an unlimited number of rides. But the MTA can only do so much when it faces funding shortages. As a result, the MTA is considering cutting on-demand services for riders with disabilities. Hibah Ansari reports.
Protestors speak against new phase in "on demand" MTA ride hailing system for people with disabilities. The new phase will include number of ride and ride length caps.
Men and women are running through the streets of New York in their underwear to raise money for men’s health. That’s right. An organization called Movember is fundraising to fight mental and physical health problems, like prostate and testicular cancers. Ariana Lee, fully clothed, reports on why runners are undressing for the cause.
Bank of America has committed to a new two-year initiative with Theatre Forward to award multiple five-figure grants to nonprofit theatres across America promoting community accessibility and engagement. Reported by Kata Stevens.
Young or old, New Yorker or not, Halloween has something for everyone. So for this October 31st, Rebecca Clark-Callender headed to a spooky karaoke on the Upper West Side to see what Halloween means to those who no longer trick or treat.
In our commentary series, Shannon Lin tells us how growing up she juggled two different worlds: one in America and one in Taiwan.