Morning Headlines: Trump Administration Sues NY Over Green Light Law, NJ Town Resists Affordable Housing Order, and Calls to Relocate Bronx Zoo Elephants

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Janae Pierre: Welcome to NYC Now, your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Thursday, February 13th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill.

Michael Hill: The Trump administration says it is suing New York state over its Green Light Law. The 2019 law allows undocumented immigrants to get a New York driver's license. US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit yesterday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi: New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today.

Michael Hill: The lawsuit was not in federal court records as of last night. Bondi says it argues the law is unconstitutional and blocks federal agents from accessing motor vehicle records. A Governor Hochul spokesperson says she supports deporting violent criminals, protecting law-abiding families, and cooperating with federal authorities with judicial warrants.

A multi-year fight over affordable housing in one of New Jersey's richest neighborhoods is heating up once again. WNYC's Mike Hayes has more.

Mike Hayes: Town officials in Millburn, New Jersey have fought a proposed 75-unit, 100% affordable development for years. Last year a judge ordered them to let the project proceed but now the company building the development says members of the town council are ignoring that order. What the builders need is a financial agreement with town officials. Affordable housing developers typically pay a portion of their rent to town coffers in lieu of paying property taxes. An attorney for Millburn says the town needs more detailed information about the project. Housing advocates say it's a stalling tactic. The developer is asking a state judge to intervene.

Michael Hill: Lawyers are calling on city officials to send the Bronx Zoo's last two elephants, Happy and Patty, to a sanctuary. The New York City Bar Association argues the city has the responsibility to act given its financial support of the zoo. Last summer, photos showed Happy lying on her side with suspected foot damage, sparking concerns about her well-being. A spokesperson for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the Bronx Zoo, says the claims about the welfare of its elephants are misleading and part of a long-running misinformation campaign by outside groups.

38 with light rain, fog, and mist. Watch out for some coastal flooding in Manhattan today. Rain before noon, mild 47 for a high and gusty. Then tomorrow sunny, 35, feeling like 20, and gusty.

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Janae Pierre: 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, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you this afternoon.

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