Crosstown with Pat Kiernan

In many New York City neighborhoods, Russian and Ukrainian Americans are neighbors. As a war unfolds in Europe, many are trying to make clear that they do not share the same sentiment that a dictator abroad might. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Digital Reporter Anna Lucente Sterling about how these New Yorkers are grappling with the atrocious events abroad. Join the conversation using #NY1Crosstown....

After an increase in violence and robberies on the subway, Mayor Eric Adams rolled out his subway safety initiative. Pat Kiernan explores the state of the subways: is perception worse than reality? And will Eric Adams be able to crack the code that so many mayors have attempted to when it comes to making the subway safer? Kiernan speaks with NY1 reporters Courtney Gross and Dan Rivoli about how to...

Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she'd be lifting the mask mandate for most indoor businesses statewide. But for students, she said she needed more time to look into the school mandate. Her team will make an assessment in March after students return from their February break. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Education Reporter Jillian Jorgensen about how Hochul's teams will assess the mask situation....

The hotel and tourism industry dropped as much as 75% of the economic value during the pandemic. Different waves of COVID-19 and different variants have stifled proper reopening. But after omicron, perhaps there is some optimism. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 reporters Shannan Ferry, Rocco Vertuccio and Anna Lucente Sterling about how hotels are banding together to get through the tough times. Join...

The horrific fire at an apartment building in the Bronx earlier this month will be marked as one of the deadliest in New York City's history. Pat Kiernan speaks with reporters on the scene about what went wrong in this building. And he interviews a fire expert who offers legislative solutions to make sure this doesn't happen again, and shares potentially life-saving advice. Join the conversation u...

Mayor Eric Adams said that he wants his paycheck to come in the form of Bitcoin (he later clarified that he'd convert a check into the cryptocurrency). And he said he wants to make New York City the crypto capital of the country. But those dreams might hit a few roadblocks. There's restrictions in Albany and Washington. And Miami's more mature experience in this emerging field could attract talent...

Former Brooklyn borough president and NYPD officer Eric Adams is set to be sworn in as the new mayor of New York City in the new year. His campaign message resonated with many New Yorkers, but he faces multiple crises as he steps into the role. What should his priorities be? What changes should he make? And what can he learn from Mayor Bill de Blasio and other mayors past? Pat Kiernan speaks with...

It's going to be a "La Niña" winter, which means milder temperatures and (probably) lots of snow. NY1's forecasters spend the season trying to answer questions like "will it snow or rain tomorrow?" or "how much snow will this storm bring?" Pat Kiernan sits down with meteorologists John Davitt and Erick Adame to learn how they create their forecast, why a small temperature shift can mean the differ...

You might've noticed your grocery prices going up in recent weeks, as well as the cost of your online order or manicures. Then there are the warnings of shipping delays that might compromise your Black Friday purchases. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Digital Reporter Ari Ephraim Feldman about how inflation and supply chain issues are driving up prices in the city and beyond. Join the conversation usi...

NY1's Roger Clark followed New York City Councilman Justin Brannan during the final 48 hours of his reelection campaign. He got a behind-the-scenes look at last-minute campaigning, poll site jitters, and a victory speech that might have been given a bit too early — because a week after Election Day, the race is still too close to call. Pat Kiernan speaks with Roger and political director Bob Hardt...

While overdoses had been on the rise, preliminary numbers show that 2020 is likely going to be the deadliest year for overdoses in New York City. The experts say isolation, loneliness and lack of resources during the lockdown are some of the factors. But that's not all — drug dealers have been lacing batches with an exponentially more potent drug. Pat Kiernan speaks with two reporters who spent mo...

The return to the office will never be the same. Remote work has given many employees a flexibility they never imagined. But what does that mean for the office? And what about all of the industries that will rely on a Monday through Friday, 9-to-5? Even those essential workers will be impacted by the way New York City adapts to the offices of the future. Pat Kiernan speaks with advisor Rishad Toba...

The summer storms in New York City showed how the five boroughs could be impacted by extreme weather in the future. While city officials want to learn how to better adapt, some question whether the efforts are enough. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Digital Reporter Ari Ephraim Feldman about resiliency efforts in the face of climate change.   Join the conversation using #NY1Crosstown. If you like what...

One million of the city's public school students returned to the classroom this week. And this year, remote learning isn't an option. City officials are assuring parents they've implemented the protocols necessary to keep kids safe, without mandating a vaccine for students. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Education Reporter Jillian Jorgensen about how this school year is modified for the COVID-19 era....

Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul was officially sworn into office, making her the first woman to lead out of Albany. The former lieutenant governor has her priorities to tackle as she begins her term, while she also tries to distance herself from the tarnished Cuomo administration. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Political Director Bob Hardt about this historic move and whether she'll be able to keep the...

While locals may grumble at tourists, New York City's finances depend heavily on the money spent by visitors to the five boroughs each year. Although 2019 saw a record number of visitors, the pandemic brought it down to a fraction of that. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Digital Reporter Anna Lucente Sterling, who visited several of the city's hotels and spoke with industry experts about what needs to...

We all saw the videos: Commuters wading through waist-high water in a subway station. Buckets of water pouring down stairs on another platform. For years, the city's transit system has been pummeled by extreme weather. But with more extreme weather in our future, is the city doing enough to protect its infrastructure? Pat Kiernan sits down with his colleagues to discuss. Join the conversation, ask...

Ranked-choice voting was America's biggest experiment with that type of polling when New York City used it in its primaries last month. But with a botched rollout of vote counts, many are questioning if the practice was worth it and if it should stick around. Pat Kiernan speaks with the NY1 team that has been following the primaries and this new process from the beginning. Join the conversation us...

After a difficult pandemic summer, the small businesses of the Rockaways are open and ready to welcome visitors for the new season. Pat Kiernan chats with NY1 Reporter Clodagh McGowan, who spoke with shop owners along the beach about how businesses have bounced back. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Join the conversation, ask questions, or share your photos, videos, and notes using  #NY1Crosstown If you like...

The organizers of the NYC Pride March made a stunning announcement in May. They said they want to reduce the law enforcement at their events in the coming years, citing some members of the LGBTQ community who are uncomfortable with police presence. But the NYPD says they've made strides in welcoming LGBTQ New Yorkers and that they support the queer officers in their own ranks. Pat Kiernan speaks w...

2021 is on track to be the second deadliest year for traffic deaths since Mayor Bill de Blasio launched his Vision Zero initiative. A group of advocates is pushing Albany to pass eight different statewide measures so New York City can make changes to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Pat Kiernan speaks with the founder of Families for Safe Streets Amy Cohen and NY1 Transit Reporter D...

Voters this primary season will see a ballot that looks a bit different than in years past. This time, New Yorkers can rank up to five candidates for each position in the primary election. While the concept intends to give voters more of a choice, the new process can be intimidating. Pat Kiernan speaks with Managing Director of New York Politics Bob Hardt and Political Reporter Emily Ngo about the...

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo set up an ambitious date in May to reopen the city. And it's not just easing capacity restrictions. The governor wants this to become a New York Renaissance. Mayor Bill de Blasio has also declared that it will be the "summer of New York City." But what happens if New Yorkers aren't ready for what's next? Are our leaders looking at the data to make the most informed...

The mayor and the police commissioner praised the guilty verdicts against Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd as an example of justice being served. But some advocates say it's hypocritical because the same accountability hasn't been found in New York. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis and reporter Ruschell Boone about what change the Chauvin trial could bring to New...

The legalization of weed in New York has some immediate impacts, including allowing New Yorkers to smoke basically anywhere you can light a cigarette. It also creates a system to automatically expunge records for some offenses. The law makes a pathway for brick-and-mortar dispensaries around the state, and the revenue will have a social justice element to it. Pat Kiernan speaks with NY1 political...