Morning Headlines: Columbia University Wraps Commencement After Tense Year, NJ Rep LaMonica McIver Appears in Court, and Most in New Jersey Say Housing Is T...

Janae Pierre: Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City, from WNYC. It's Thursday, May 22nd. Here's the morning headlines from Tiffany Hansen.

Tiffany Hanssen: Columbia University faculty and students are reflecting on another turbulent year on campus. Interim President Claire Shipman presided over the commencement yesterday morning. Her remarks included some of her most, most pointed critiques yet of the Trump administration.

Claire Shipman: Nothing is more foundational to democracy, to American strength, than freedom of thought, the training of minds, and the unfettered creation and exploration of knowledge.

Tiffany Hanssen: The administration has moved to cut funding for the Ivy League school, citing concerns that the university failed to protect students from antisemitism. Some new graduates say her words rang hollow and walked out of the ceremony in protest. New Jersey Representative LaMonica McIver is free on her own recognizance after a virtual appearance in court yesterday morning on charges she assaulted federal officers. WNYC's Arya Sundaram has more.

Arya Sundaram: The appearance was McIver's first for charges stemming from a skirmish with US Immigration and Homeland Security officers outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center on May 9th in Newark. Prosecutors say McIver tried to intervene in the arrest of fellow Democrat, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and pushed and grabbed the federal officials. McIver denies the allegations and says the charges are an act of political intimidation. A federal judge has dismissed trespassing charges filed against Baraka at the request of local US attorneys. The judge called the dismissal request an embarrassing retraction that suggested a failure to properly investigate before charges were filed.

Tiffany Hanssen: A new Rutgers University poll shows more than half of New Jerseyans think housing is too expensive in the Garden State. A majority of respondents to the thousand person poll said they blame the lack of affordability on incomes not keeping pace with the cost of homes. As for how to fix the problem, 69% of poll takers favored offering down payment assistance to first generation home buyers, and three out of five supported a tax on home sales over $2 million to generate revenue for state housing programs and adopting statewide rent control. Commute this morning delays on 8th Avenue bound L trains after workers removed a train with a mechanical problem from service at Wilson Avenue. Some delays as well across NJ Transit, Jersey Coast, and Pascack Valley Line. Weather-wise this morning, it will be gusty and rainy for most of the day today, looking for a high right around 50 degrees, which is pretty much where we are now. 49 currently with a little light rain, fog, and mist.

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Janae Pierre: Thanks for listening. This is NYC Now from WNYC. Check us out for updates every weekday, three times a day, for the latest news headlines and occasional deep dives, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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