health commissioner visited the bronx touring concourse plaza. the cooling tower there is one of five that tested positive. the borough president asking the state to get involved as the death toll rises. >> we need to make sure that the city and state and everybody else, federal government, willing to come in and identify the cooling systems and test them. >> reporter: in the meantime, those at risks are in fear. >> i have to be especiallily careful because it attacks people like me that have respiratory problems. >> reporter: now, the mayor points out that the vast majority of buildings do not have cooling towers. the state will do the testing statewide for free. the governor asking the cdc to get involved. the cdc is preparing a team to come to the bronx. live in the melrose section of the bronx, marcus solis, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you. we have a developing story. new jersey transit trains are running with heavy delays tonight. this is after service was suspended by a fire on the tracks.

newscopter 7 is over the newark penn station area where firefighters doused the flames. all lines are back up and running but many are delayed we are told up to 45 minutes. firefighters put out the small fire quickly. it's not clear what on the tracks was burning. it's long been a long leveled criticism. new york city has largely ignored those with mental health problems. tonight a groundbreaking campaign by city hall that will affect tens of thousands of people including homeless people. mayor de blasio now pouring millions of dollars in to try to tackle the problem. here is stacey sager. >> reporter: 10:30 this morning on east 125th and lex where an emotionally disturbed homeless man is restrained by police. they wait for medical help. ask anyone in east harlem, he is one of many that the homeless situation has exploded here in recent weeks largely because of k 2, a synthetic

marijuana causing some to lash out. this woman, a recovering addict herself explaining the problem. >> they don't want to go in the shelter because they want to smoke the k 2 constantly. >> it is making it that much worse. >> over 700 visits to emergency rooms in the city were occurring over the past several months. >> we are very focused on the k 2 problem. >> reporter: mayor de blasio and his administration a few hours later at a round table at city hall hoping to mention the homeless problem as little as possible. the mayor is unveiling a brand- new initiative called nyc safe. the purpose, to get more help and treatment for mentally ill who are inclined to turn violent. here are components of the $22 million initiative. within 30 days more peace officers in homeless shelters. within 60 days, more clinical staff to work with the mentally ill and within 90 days a central hub merging the nypd and mental health clinicians.

throughout his entire media event today, the mayor took this approach. >> some in the media tried to portray this as about homeless first and foremost. it is about people that have mental health challenges and are prone to violence. >> reporter: a plan he says targets all new yorkers with severe mental illness with their safety and the public's in mind. >> i expect that as this fully progresses, it will reduce violent crime. stands to reason. >> reporter: the administration targeted more than $300 million to mental health programs and in the fall they will unveil a larger mental health road map for new york city. live in city hall, stacey sager, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> stacey, thank you. to dig deeper on this issue, hard for most new

yorkers to ignore the growing problem of emotionally disturbed people. when it comes to quality of life in new york city, 19% say it's better now but 4% say it's worse. 32% say it's about the same. says for crime in the city, 46% say it's a serious problem, all- time high for the survey. 44% say it's somewhat serious. concerns about becoming a crime victim, 53% say it worries them. you heard stacey sager mention it, the growing problem with sin net particular marijuana -- synthetic marijuana. new york cuomo imposing emergency regulations targeting the sale of this dangerous drug. the tougher health department regulations expanding the list of banned substances. governor cuomo said there is a tenfold increase of emergencies from synthetic marijuana this summer. the 11th biker convicted of taking part in the road rage assault on the west side highway two years ago next month will serve 3 1/2 years in prison. robert sims just sentenced in

lower manhattan. he was convicted of assault and attempted assault for his role in the chase and attack on alexian lean. he will serve 2 1/2 years of probation after his release. mr. sims taken into custody immediately after the hearing. tonight the first presidential debate of the season. will donald trump, trumping in the polls right now insisting he hasn't rehearsed, will he shine when asked about what he will do. just rapping up, seven candidates with the lowest poll numbers in their own debate. >> in the big debate, donald trump will be in the middle, the best shot because he has the best poll numbers. on either side of him jeb bush and scott walker. governor christie because his numbers are not so good, the far edge of the stage. the big question, will donald trump ignore convention and keep shaking up the race? cleveland ohio is ready for the big republican show.

5,000 will watch inside the quick kens loan arena. the less of the country will see the top ten republicans duke it out for two hours. the number one target will likely be donald trump, far away the gop front-runner. >> i don't want to attack. if i am attacked i will do something back but i would like it to be civil. >> reporter: trump will likely be asked about his relationship with the clintons. trump teams confirms that he talked to bill clinton weeks before jumping in the race. so, what is his strategy tonight? trump claims he will wing it. he is not rehearsing at all. the experts say trump needs to be calm and presidential. the other nine including governor christie have to do something to try to change the race. >> if i were advising one of the other nine candidates, they have to figure out a way to get oxygen in the race. all of that is being consumed by donald trump. >> reporter: the seven candidates that did not make it into tonight's main event debated earlier today. that included former new york governor george pataki.

bring people together. overwhelmingly democratic state. i was able to get democrats to support the most conservative sweeping policy changes in any state in america. >> reporter: but even here, donald trump became a topic and whether he is qualified to be president. >> i would say this, since he has changeed his mind on amnesty, health care and abortion, i would ask what are govern. >> jeb bush has not debated in more than a decade. he may be rusty. he will l may have to explain his gaffe where he said a half billion doll layers doesn't need northbound -- dollars doesn't need to be spend on women's health. hillary clinton won't watch because she will be traveling. >> thank you. wrap up on "eyewitness news at 11:00". still to come tonight at 6:00 for this thursday night, a shock on a city bus. a manhole cover explodes then comes flying through the floor

of the bus. >> when construction work has a higher calling. the men chose ten to build the alter and chair pope francis will use.

>> big news involving new york firefighters. they have reached a labor contract deal with the city. mayor de blasio in the past hour announcing the city settled a long-standing dispute with the uniform firefighters association over disability pensions. part of the deal an agreement has been reached to withdraw a lawsuit filed by the firefighters union against city council speaker melissa mark viverito this over pension benefits. a manhole explosion under a bus that came through the floor. it happened tuesday to a bx 11 bus. we are just finding out about this now. the manhole cover broke through the floor of the bus and hit a female passenger. fortunately she was not seriously hurt. cliffside park new jersey getting back to normal after a 600,000-pound construction crane broke through a road and a water main.

natural gas and water should be back for everyone we are told within moments. the piece of equipment was moved off the water main. now the matter of cleaning up and repairing everything begins. among those doing the hard labor for pope francis u.s. visit groups that the pope supported, workers and immigrants. those building the chair and lectern for his appearances are getting a surprise. go get them, guys from cardinal jim dolan. here is tim fleischer. >> reporter: for brother salvatore san marco. >> now a good reading. >> reporter: and these three- car pen tears, no higher calling. working from this simple photograph and detailed plans they are building the chair that pope francis will use on his mass next month. >> holy and unites us.

>> reporter: the men were chosen to help brother sal in a collaboration between workers in parkchester and catholic charities. >> it's i am glad to help these guys build the chair. >> reporter: the director helped interpret. >> my family is so happy. we are very proud. we are a day laborer and build this chair for pope francis. >> to develop those skills, enhance their dignity and serve others. >> reporter: timothy cardinal dolan saw their handiwork up close. >> the simplicity that pope francis wanted with his love and care for those who have a particular burden in life. >> reporter: two other pieces, the altar are being hand crafted by students and wood

shop teacher william kelly in >> an honor. i never thought i would get the chance to do something like this. >> reporter: when the pope sits in his chair during mass, there will be, the men believe, a spiritual feeling. >> when i see the pope, he is very simple. >> like sitting at the feet of jesus. >> reporter: reporting from port chester, tim fleischer, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> we listed it all on our web site at abc7ny. stokes losing ground after more disappointed earnings report. the dow down 120. nats dach falling 83. s&p down 16 and change. as we continue, mcdonald's is upping its game or trying to with table service. do you -- you don't order from a waiter. >> meteorologist lee goldberg

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mcdonald's trying to boost revenues offering table service at some locations abroad. you order at a touch screen kiosk, wait until the worker brings it to your table. the service is popular but no plans to bring it to the u.s. >> good. >> at this time. >> just add more staffing at drive throughs. make them 24-hour drive throughs they will be good. >> and minimum wage is good. >> add more staff -- that is awesome. >> labor sensitive lee goldberg right here. >> exactly. >> you pulled off a nice forecast for the weekend. >> touch and go. we are not there yet but i like the storms continue to trend south and east. outside we go. we have a partly sunny afternoon. there are more clouds to the south. you can see the deck of cloudiness, mid-level clouds sneaking on the shore. 79 degrees.

a north wind at 7 and the high 82. we can update that to 83 degrees, one degree below the average. there are the sunrise and sunset times. a nice evening. we have a near miss the next few days as the storm slides to the south and east. minor impact. patchy clouds at times, especially right now. on the weekend at the coast and choppy seas. boaters will be impacted by a storm offshore. significant rain the next possibilities next tuesday. temperature 80 in poughkeepsie. 70 in monticello. thinner clouds to the north, upper 50s again. 75 belmar. mostly cloudy and 78 in islip. same in bridgeport. cloudy yeast time widespread will be during the first part of tonight. as we go into the morning hours, clouds are starting to thin out north and west of new york city. they will be stubborn and stay for a while across central and southern new jersey where it could be mostly cloudy tomorrow. you see the clouds streaming in.

there is an area of rainfall over southern pennsylvania. it's running into dry air close to home. we are not raining any time soon. a few of the showers may overcome the dry air into ocean county close to midnight tonight. this low is diving to the south. a lot of rain will push offshore off the carolina coast. it's far enough offshore just out of reach. not that clouds can't spray back from time to time but not a big impact from the offshore storm. watch the futurecast. first wave of showers over parts of ocean county. by 1:00 a.m. the clouds are making a push toward the coast retreating from the north and west suburbs. friday we are looking for more clouds south and more sunshine north. for the most part a dry day. it will be off and on. sun is in and out in parts of long island. better beach day south shore of long island and jersey shore. there is the edge of the storm way offshore. a nice beach day, mostly sunny, rough surf. into sunday, it should stay offshore.

then the system from the west. if there is any showers this weekend, maybe a late afternoon shower sunday in the catskills but a beautiful weekend in the mountains as well. nicer to the north. more sun, 82. there goes the storm offshore. two-pieces to the storm. kicking up the surf but safely south and east 83. boaters the waves are kicking up tomorrow afternoon. more so over the weekend. 4 to 6 feet. the rip current risk will be moderate. updated the hurricane forecast. talking about below normal season because of elfin i el nino. here is the accuweather forecast. 69, partly to mostly cloudy skies. a shower in southern new jersey tonight. tomorrow clouds and sunnier north, more clouds south. nice day. partly cloudy tomorrow night. so, we make it a dry weekend. storms offshore. surf is choppy. low to mid-80s. sunday is partly sunny. next rain chance tuesday.

hopefully i can tell you the same thing at 11:00. >> i hope so. i can't take the drama. >> by then we will have

baseball highlights. rob powers about to ask the worst question anyone could ask me. >> just you? anyone? >> me especially. >> so s do you want to feel old? >> is he still looking? eli manning is about to enter

his 12th season with the giants. 180 total games. getting ready for a new season and by all accounts manning looks great in training camp and accurate working against the giants number one defense. it's more than that. the coach staith is raving about his arm strength. off season programs boost the strength. add in the stellar receiving core, plenty of reasons to feel good about the offense but it starts with number 10's right arm. >> i feel better than i did at this time last year. i'm excited about the way -- my body feels, my health and the way everything is kind of set up, feel good about it. >> reporter: the jets hope geno smith can have a breakout year. word is that he looked good. brandon marshall joins curly and decker to give smith good targets. the defense will be good. the offense needs to step it up. >> we got to make plays on

offense and we have to execute. execute is the biggest word, be efficient. third down, red zone is the key for us to have a success. >> rubber game three-game series for the yankees and red sox. cc tries to get something going on six days rest. he failed to earn a decision in six of the eight starts. boston eked out a 2-1 win. the yankees aren't complaining. he was the first pitcher in american league history to allow two hits are fewer, no walks and seven strikeouts in his big league debut. he looked good. the yankees did lose. first place lead down to 4 1/2 games. michael good morning dire may not -- gadire may not be back with the mets until after the weekend. day off today while they watch the rest of the nl east play catch up. mets won in miami. looked good for 8 1/2 innings

then held off in the ninth to win. matt harvey had run support. he pitched 7 straight innings. mets were up 8-0, watched the marlins score six runs in the bottom of the nine but the mets shut the door and won the sixth straight game. they open in tampa tomorrow. not everything is hunky-dory in the mets world. jerry blevins most likely heading for surgery. he was struck by a line drive and this past monday he stepped off a curb, slipped and refractured the same bone. second place nationals play arizona two games behind the mets in the standings. ian desmond knocks out a home run. washington jumps out in front. the nationals lead 4-1 in the sixth inning. if they hang on and beat the diamond backs, goes the mets lead would be knocked to a game and a half. ice bucket challenge for als research is back this summer.

every year until there is a cure. i love alex. >> at least it was warm enough. >> not too cold. >> let's check in with sade for what is coming up at 11:00. >> only in new york. ground. what set the super hero off. bay news for bacon lovers. this time it has nothing to do with your heart. we will have those stories and much more on eyewitness news at 11:00 where i will see you. >> you bet you will. i will be there. that's it for now. world news with david muir is up next with a closer look at donald trump as he prepares for the first poll debate of his life. we will be back here at 11:00.