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Speaker 1: Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City, from WNYC. It's Tuesday, February 18th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill.

Michael Hill: In the news this morning, Governor Kathy Hochul says the resignations of four of Mayor Adams' deputies, raise serious questions about his future. WNYC's John Campbell explains.

John Campbell: The governor has the power to remove the mayor from office and she's convening a series of meetings to discuss the mayor's fate. A source familiar with the meeting says the governor will speak one-on-one with key New York City leaders, including the Reverend Al Sharpton and House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Also on the list are Representative Gregory Meeks, City Council Speaker Adrian Adams, and Comptroller Brad Lander. City and state law lay out the steps the Governor would have to take before she could remove the mayor.

First, she'd have to provide him with a copy of his charges. Then she'd have to give him an opportunity to be heard in his defense.

Michael Hill: New York City designed its small claims courts to bring speedy resolutions to common legal disputes, from a landlord who doesn't return a security deposit to a contractor who walks off the job. As WNYC's David Brand reports, a new analysis of court data shows the small claims process is anything but speedy.

David Brand: The report from the New York Public Interest Research Group found cases are routinely taking more than a year to complete in the city's five small claims courts, far more than other parts of the state. Queens is the slowest. The average case there takes 14 months from start to finish. The report's authors say the lengthy delays are making many people give up or discouraging them from filing a lawsuit in the first place. They recommended the state hire more judges and staff to work through the backlog. The state's Office of Court Administration says it's reviewing the findings.

Michael Hill: Kids Week continues at the Intrepid Museum as New York City public school students are off all week for a mid-winter break. The museum says the break is the perfect time for discovery and creativity through an array of NASA exhibits and STEM activities, some of which are put on by local institutions like the Metropolitan Opera, Madame Tussauds, and the Brooklyn Rowboat Foundee. The next two days, 18 and 19th, will feature live performances and author meet and greet. Kids Week is free and from 10:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening, daily programming through the 22nd.

It's cold this morning, 21 and clear, going up to 27 into mostly sunny skies. It's feeling much colder than that.

Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. This is NYC Now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you this afternoon.

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