Episode 510: Blackouts, A Knickerbocker History

More than three times as many people have now died of 9/11-related illnesses as were killed on that terrible day — and three-quarters of the New Yorkers here now weren't here then. On the day Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a portal of documents showing city and federal officials had known since weeks after the attacks about the noxious air that people were breathing downtown, FAQ NYC hosts Harry Siegel and Christina Greer dig into that story. Plus, they discuss Mamdani’s new workers’ rights office, his new 400-page racial equity plan, a treasure map of easily searchable historical photos, and much more.

In the second episode of FAQ NYC’s new three-part special series, A Knickerbocker History of America, Katie Honan, Harry Siegel and guest cohost Asad Dandia, the Brooklyn borough historian, sat down in front of a live audience at P&T Knitwear to discuss just three of the city’s many, many “riots” — “a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd” — and how the Harlem riot of 1934, the hardhat riot of 1970 and the The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association Riot of 1992 — and how each was understood at the time and in hindsight.

Katie Honan looks back on a wild scene as the Brooklyn Democratic Party bosses changed their rules in a closed door vote after losing an open election to try and hold onto power before she, Chrissy and Harry dig into the Mamdani administration’s 2K payroll problems, the unanswered question of how the city is going to pay for the new administration's $4 billion BQE repair, and much more.

Hosts Christina Greer and Harry Siegel dig into about the mayor’s new BQE plan, his many fights with the City Council, Hakeem Jeffries’ private sit-down with Hakeem Jeffries, Jessica Ramos’ double-dipping mess on her way out of the party, AOC’s very public family planning, and much more…

Chrissy, Harry and Katie sort through a week of summer news in NYC before Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn joins Katie for an interview.

at were not plugged into walls.” Things change when the lights go out, but while the blackout of 1965 was a moment that brought the city together the one in 1977 became a signal moment in the narrative of its decline. Nearly a half century later, it remains the largest mass-arrest event in New York City history — one that helped set the city on a long journey into ever more prosperity and austerity. In the debut episode of FAQ NYC’s new limited series, A Knickerbocker History of America, Katie Honan, Harry Siegel and guest co-host Asad Dandia, the Brooklyn borough historian, sat down in front of a live audience at P&T Knitware to discuss the city’s 1965, 1977, 2003 and 2012 blackouts — and how each was understood at the time and in hindsight.  

FAQ NYC co-hosts Katie Honan and Harry Siegel dig into the state’s new effort to ferret out New Yorkers who want to live here but pay lower insurance and tax bills somewhere cheaper, a lawsuit pushing back on the NYPD's use of NYCHA's free wifi program to give officers unfettered live access to the housing authority's surveillance cameras, and much more., including a rare direct shot at President Trump from Zohran Mamdani and a bad-faith crusade targeting the mayor.

As the mayor's push to trumpet the collection of his new pied a terre tax and confront quiet money with loud politics got off to a bumpy start, he's standing his ground and playing for time to smooth things out. Christina Greer, Harry Siegel and guest co-host Alex Brook Lynn dig into that and much more, including Mamdani's slow-walk on his police reform promises from the campaign trail, his new pick to chair the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and much more.

New York Immigration Coalition CEO Murad Awawdeh joins the podcast to discuss the Supreme Court green‑lighting the Trump administration’s move to end Temporary Protected Status, and how New York State and City are building new protections as federal policy hardens. Plus, FAQ NYC hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Israel rhetoric, his emerging plans for government-owner grocery shops, and much more.

Other than the extreme heat, smoky air, flash flooding and deaths from an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, it’s remained a lovely summer in New York City — including for night fishing.. FAQ NYC hosts Christina Greer, Katie Honan and Harry Siegel discuss all that and much more, including “shark” Zohran Mamdani’s aggressive early plans for his reelection bid, an older generation of Democratic leaders flopping about like fish out of water as the tide rolls out, and much more.