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FEBRUARY 9/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 9, 1943, the World War II battle of
Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific ended with an American victory
over Japanese forces.
On Feb. 9, 1910, Jacques Monod, the French Nobel
Prize-winning biologist, was born. He died on May 31, 1976
On This Date In
1773 William Henry Harrison, the ninth president
of the United States, was born in Charles City County, Va.
1825 The House of Representatives elected John
Quincy Adams president after no candidate received a majority of
electoral votes.
1861 The Provisional Congress of the Confederate
States of America elected Jefferson Davis president and Alexander H.
Stephens vice president.
1942 Daylight-saving "war time" went into effect
in the United States, with clocks turned one hour forward.
1943 The World War II battle of Guadalcanal in
the southwest Pacific ended with an American victory over Japanese
forces.
1964
The Beatles made their first live American TV
appearance, on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
1971 Apollo 14 returned to Earth after man's
third landing on the moon.
1984 Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov died less
than 15 months after succeeding Leonid Brezhnev.
2002 Britain's Princess Margaret, the sister of
Queen Elizabeth II, died at age 71.
2009 New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez
admitted he took banned substances from 2001 to 2003.
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR CUOMO DELIVERS REGIONAL
REGIONAL EXECUTIVE BUDGET MESSAGE
Thursday, February 9
8:15 AM Matthew Driscoll, President of the
Environmental Facilities Corporation
2:00 PM Sam Hoyt, Senior Vice President for Regional
Economic Development of the Empire State Development Corporation
Palmyra Village Hall 144 East Main Street Palmyra,
NY
3:00 PM Kenneth Adams, President & CEO of the Empire
State Development Corporation Brooklyn Public Library 280 Cadman
Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11201
3:30 PM Cesar Perales, Secretary of State Suffolk
County Community College Culinary Arts Building 20 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY OPEN PRESS
6:00 PM Benjamin Lawsky, Superintendent of the
Department of Financial Services Lenox Hill Hospital's Einhorn
Auditorium 131 East 76th Street New York, NY
6:00 PM Darryl Towns, Commissioner & CEO of New York
Homes & Community Renewal Hempstead Library 115 Nichols Court
Hempstead, NY 11550
7:00 PM RoAnn Destito, Commissioner of the Office of
General Services Utica Chapter of the NYS Society of Certified
Public Accountants Annual Meeting Daniele’s at Valley View 620
Memorial Parkway Utica, New York 13501
BRONX, NY. TEENAGE SHOOTING BY NY POLICE AND THE
REACTION OF THE RESIDENTS. 2/8
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Hundreds of residents came to the monthly precinct community
council meeting with police Wednesday because of Graham's death.
They say they police don't just discriminate against them but that
officers treat them like animals. One of the residents said
that the Police considers them as dogs.The Bronx borough commander
told the audience it was two black officers who thought they saw
Graham dealing drugs with a gun last week before the other officers
went after him and entered the home. The borough commander also said
the officers didn't break in but that the downstairs tenant let them
in. That brought shouts accusing police of cover up. An officer shot
and killed the unarmed 18-year-old in the bathroom of his home.
Police say they think he may have been flushing marijuana down the
toilet. The protesters remember the killing by the police of Amadou
Diallo a couple of years ago. The Bronx residents are waiting for
some answers from the Mayor and the Commissioner of NYPD.
LIBERTY CITY, FLA. POLICE OFFICER KILLED A
FLEEING CAR DRIVER. 2/8/
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
It is reported that a police officer killed a man Wednesday
night as he fled from officers in Liberty City. Detectives from the
county Robbery Intervention Detail patrolling near Northwest Sixth
Avenue and 75th Street heard shots about 8 p.m. and then saw a car
speeding away, said Lt. Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, a Miami-Dade Police
Department spokeswoman. When police stopped the car, the driver got
out and ran away, Cordero-Stutz said. A Miami Beach officer working
with the county robbery detail chased the man and shot him,
Cordero-Stutz said. Detectives did not say whether the man was armed
or why he fled, or describe the circumstances of the shooting.
Neither the man nor the officer was identified. Cordero-Stutz said
that during the pursuit, officers recognized the fleeing vehicle as
one stolen from Palm Beach County.
ATLANTA, GA. 530 EMPLOYEES LAID OFF AFTER AIRPORT
CONCESSIONS.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
An airport concessions joint venture run by Atlanta-based
Concessions International expects to lay off about 530 employees
starting next month.Those affected in the move by the joint venture
between Concessions International and Paschal’s include servers,
bartenders, kitchen managers and others. A gradual layoff is
expected to begin in March.
The city expects some 1,600 positions to open up, as
the airport adds concessions for its new international terminal and
elsewhere. And Concessions International expects to hire hundreds of
employees through a different joint venture to open other airport
restaurants under a new contract. However, many employees will still
lose their jobs with their existing employer. “We’re hoping that
some of the people being laid off will capture some of those 1,600
jobs,” said Deborah Lum, executive director of the Atlanta Workforce
Development Agency.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SYRIA. HOMS CITY REBELS UNDER ROCKET ATTACKS BY
THE ARMY.
The Syrian army has launched fresh mortar and rocket attacks in
the city of Homs, as the government continues a push aimed at
crushing rebel forces. Activists say at least 40 people have been
killed on Thursday. Scores have died since the assault began last
week. Homs, Syria's third-largest city, has been a leading focus of
unrest in the 11-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's
rule.
In the areas of Homs that support the uprising,
buildings are close together. There's no real shelter. The place is
being pounded, the casualties are very high, and that has affected
in a personal way every single person living there. The assault on
Homs, which began late on Friday, is focused on districts that are
controlled by rebel forces. The worst shelling has been in the Baba
Amr district, where activists people say 50 people were killed on
Wednesday alone.Among those killed in the latest shelling were three
entire families, according to activists.
Syria restricts access to foreign media and casualty
figures cannot be independently verified. The army says it is
fighting foreign-backed armed groups. Army defectors have joined
rebel forces in Homs and other parts of Syria in recent months.
Government troops have also stepped up operations at Syria's borders
in an effort to stop arms reaching the rebels, reports say.
Meanwhile Germany announced it was expelling four
diplomats from the Syrian embassy in Berlin. Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle said on Thursday that the move followed the recent
arrest of two people suspected of spying on Syrian opposition
figures in Germany.
Earlier, the US rejected Russian calls for talks
between the Syrian government and the opposition. White House
spokesman Jay Carney said President Bashar al-Assad had missed the
"opportunity" for dialogue. "Rather than take that opportunity,
Assad brutally cracked down on his own people. We don't think that
that opportunity is available any more.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who visited
Damascus on Tuesday, had said that President Assad was ready to talk
with "all political forces" to end the violence. But his comments
were dismissed by opposition leaders, who want Mr Assad to stand
down. The UN resolution vetoed by China and Russia on Saturday
backed an Arab League peace plan that would have seen President
Assad hand power to a deputy to oversee a transition.
UN NEWS
ACCORDING TO THE UN RISING VIOLENCE IS
STRONG IN THE CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES.
8 February 2012 – An increasing crime rate is threatening
economies and livelihoods in Caribbean countries, states a new
United Nations report that calls for the right mix of policies and
programmes to tackle the problem. The Caribbean Human Development
Report 2012, prepared by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), says
that with the exception of Barbados and Suriname, homicide rates –
including gang-related killings – have increased substantially in
the last 12 years across the Caribbean, while they have been falling
or stabilizing in other parts of the world.
Latin America and the Caribbean are home to 8.5 per
cent of the world population, yet the region accounts for some 27
per cent of the world’s homicides, according to the report, which
was launched today in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The report
– the first UN Human Development Report focusing on the Caribbean –
is the result of extensive consultations with 450 experts,
practitioners and leaders and reflect a large-scale survey with
11,555 citizens in the seven assessed countries in region: Antigua
and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and
Trinidad and Tobago.
It found that even though the total number of
murders in Jamaica dropped after the report’s completion to 1,124 in
2011 – a seven-year low – the country has the highest homicide rate
in the Caribbean and the third-highest murder rate worldwide in
recent years, with about 60 murders per 100,000 inhabitants. Only El
Salvador and Honduras have higher rates, with 66 and 82.1 murders
respectively per 100,000 people, the report notes, citing figures
from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In Trinidad and
Tobago, the report notes, murder rates increased five-fold over a
decade, to more than 40 per 100,000 in 2008, and then declined to 36
in 2010.
“Violence limits people’s choices, threatens their
physical integrity, and disrupts their daily lives,” said UNDP
Administrator Helen Clark at the report’s launch. “This report
stresses the need to rethink our approaches to tackling crime and
violence and providing security on the ground,” said Miss Clark. “We
need to follow approaches that are centred on citizen security and
address the causes of this recent increase in violent crime,
including social, economic, and political exclusion.”
Although murder rates are exceedingly high by global
standards, Caribbean nations can reverse the trend, states the
report, which calls for governments to beef up public institutions
to tackle crime and violence while boosting preventive measures.
Among its recommendations, the report calls on Caribbean governments
to implement youth crime prevention through education, as well as
provide job opportunities that target the marginalized urban poor.
Because crime harms social cohesion, Caribbean
nations must better address youth violence and street gangs, whose
crimes are rarely prosecuted, the report adds. As for the impact on
the region’s economies, estimates by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
show that the cost of gang-related crime is between 2.8 per cent and
4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the region through
both the cost of policing and as a result of lost income from youth
incarceration and reduced tourism.
According to the report, crime costs Jamaica alone
over $529 million a year in lost income. In Trinidad and Tobago, a
one per cent reduction in youth crime would boost tourism revenue by
$35 million per year. For every additional “gang” in a community,
homicide rates increased by about 10 per cent, according to research
featured in the report.
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FEBRUARY 8/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson
outlined his 14 points for peace after World War I.
On Jan. 8, 1867, Emily Greene Balch, a leader of
the women's movement for peace during and after World War I and
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, was born. He died on Jan. 9, 1961
On This Date In
1642 Astronomer Galileo Galilei died in
Arcetri, Italy.
1815 U.S. forces led by Gen. Andrew Jackson
defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of
1812.
1912 The African National Congress was founded in
Bloemfontein, South Africa.
1918 President Woodrow Wilson outlined his
Fourteen Points for peace after World War I.
1959 Charles De Gaulle was inaugurated as
president of France's Fifth Republic.
1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war
on poverty.
1982 AT&T settled the Justice Department's
antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself of the 22
Bell System companies.
1987 The Dow Jones industrial average closed
above 2,000 for the first time, ending the day at 2,002.25.
1998 Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993
World Trade Center bombing, was sentenced in New York to life in
prison.
2007 A Moroccan man convicted of aiding three of
the four pilots who committed the 9/11 attacks was sentenced by a
German court to the maximum 15 years in prison.
2011 Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot
and critically wounded when a gunman opened fire as the
congresswoman met with constituents in Tucson; six people were
killed and 12 others were injured. (Jared Lee Loughner has pleaded
not guilty to 49 charges in connection with the shooting.)
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2012
MANHATTAN *11:00 AM Announces Record-Breaking
Collection of Child Support Payments from Fathers in 2011 with Human
Resources Administration Commissioner Doar STRIVE East Harlem
Employment Services Inc. 240 East 123rd Street at Second Avenue
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FEBRUARY 7/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 7, 1984, space
shuttle astronauts Bruce McCandless II
and Robert L. Stewart went on the first
undeterred spacewalk. Go to article »
On Feb. 7, 1817,
Frederick Douglass, the American
abolitionist leader, was born. He died
on Feb. 20, 1895
On This Date In
1944 Germany launched a
counteroffensive at Anzio, Italy, during
World War II.
1948 Gen. Dwight D.
Eisenhower resigned as Army chief of
staff and was succeeded by Gen. Omar
Bradley.
1962 President John F.
Kennedy imposed a full trade embargo on
Cuba..
1964 The Beatles arrived
in New York for their first American
tour, kicking off rock 'n' roll's
"British invasion."
1974 The island nation
of Grenada won independence from
Britain.
1984 Space shuttle
astronauts Bruce McCandless II and
Robert L. Stewart went on the first
untethered space walk.
1986 Haitian
President-for-Life Jean-Claude Duvalier
fled his country, ending 28 years of
family rule.
1990 The Soviet Union's
Communist Party gave up its monopoly on
power by agreeing to let other political
parties compete for control of the
country.
1991 Jean-Bertrand
Aristide was sworn in as Haiti's first
democratically elected president.
1992 European Community
members signed the Maastricht Treaty,
which led to creation of the euro.
1995 Ramzi Yousef, the
alleged mastermind of the 1993 World
Trade Center bombing, was arrested in
Islamabad, Pakistan.
1999 Jordan's King
Hussein died at age 63.
2011 AOL Inc. announced
the $315 million purchase of The
Huffington Post website.
NEW YORK, NY GIANTS
WITH TICKER TAPE PARADE. 2/7/
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
After their win in the
Super Bowl two days after their big win
in Super Bowl XLVI, the New York Giants
are being honored with a ticker-tape
parade in anhattan. Just like they did
after their last Super Bowl win in 2008,
the team will ride up the Canyon of
Heroes starting at 11 a.m.
The route starts at
Battery Place and Washington Street and
makes its way up Broadway to Worth
Street, then down Worth to Lafayette and
Duane Streets. The city expects several
tons of recycled confetti will be tossed
from at least 20 downtown office
buildings. Crews have also been
preparing for the City Hall ceremony
that will follow. Mayor Michael
Bloomberg will present the Giants with
keys to the city. After the team is
honored in the city they will head to
MetLife Stadium for a 3 p.m. rally
hosted by Governor Chris Christie.
Starting at 10 a.m. subway trains will
bypass some stations downtown to prevent
overcrowding. Several local and express
buses will also be rerouted.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SYRIA. RUSSIA WANTS
ARAB LEAGUE ROLE
|Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
has called for a solution to the crisis
in Syria based on initiatives put
forward by the Arab League.
Visiting Syria, Mr
Lavrov said Damascus was ready for a
larger Arab mission to monitor peace
efforts, and would set a date for a
constitutional referendum. His visit
comes after Russia and China vetoed a UN
resolution. Gulf states say they are
expelling Syria's ambassadors.
Government forces are continuing a
fierce assault on rebels in Homs.
Hundreds are reported to have died since
shelling of the city began on Friday. At
least 95 people were killed on Monday
alone, activists say.
But after meeting Syrian
leaders, Mr Lavrov said President Bashar
al-Assad was "fully committed" to ending
bloodshed and ready for dialogue with
all political forces. Mr Assad would
soon announce a date for a referendum on
a new constitution, he added. "We
confirmed our readiness to act for a
rapid solution to the crisis based on
the plan put forward by the Arab
League," Mr Lavrov said, though Syrian
officials later clarified that he was
was not referring to the current Arab
League plan which calls for Mr Assad to
step down in favor of his
vice-president. "Syria is informing the
Arab League it is interested in the
League's mission continuing its work and
being increased in terms of quantity,"
he added.
The league deployed an
observer mission to Syria in December
but suspended it in late January amid
worsening violence. In a separate
development, Gulf Arab states said they
were expelling Syria's ambassadors in
the region and recall their own
ambassadors in Syria over what they
described as the "mass slaughter" of
civilians. The decision comes a day
after the US closed its embassy in
Damascus and pulled out all remaining
staff. The UK, France, Spain and Italy
have also recalled their ambassadors.
Turkey, France, the UK, the Arab League
are all promising action.
The Arab League may
appoint a special envoy for Syria.
Momentum is building for a much broader
group of countries - perhaps styled as
"the Friends of Syria" - to co-ordinate
activities and keep the Syria issue in
the spotlight. For now though this is
all entirely in the realm of diplomacy.
Some may already be filtering arms to
Syrian rebel fighters but the
international consensus is that external
military intervention has no role in
this crisis.
Thousands of President
Assad's supporters lined the streets of
Damascus and waved flags as Mr Lavrov's
motorcade drove through the city ahead
of his meeting with Mr Assad, in what
correspondents described as a hero's
welcome. Mr Lavrov has said Western
reaction condemning Russia's veto of the
UN Security Council resolution on
Saturday bordered on "hysteria". Moscow
has said the draft - which backed an
Arab League peace plan calling for
President Assad to hand over power -
would have forced regime change on
Syria.
US State Department
spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged Mr
Lavrov to "use this opportunity to make
absolutely clear to the Assad regime how
isolated it is and to encourage Assad
and his people to make use of the Arab
League plan and provide for a
transition". Russia is the main supplier
of arms to Damascus. The Syrian port of
Tartus is home to Russia's only
Mediterranean naval base. The Syrian
government, which has been fighting an
uprising against President Assad's rule
since March, says it is fighting
foreign-backed armed gangs. Thousands of
former army soldiers have defected to
the rebel side, forming the Free Syrian
Army. Syria's interior ministry said
operations against "terrorist groups"
would continue until "security and order
are restored" in Homs.
Human rights groups and
activists say more than 7,000 people
have been killed by Syrian security
forces since the uprising began last
March. The UN stopped estimating the
death toll in Syria after it passed
5,400 in January, saying it was too
difficult to confirm. President Assad's
government says at least 2,000 members
of the security forces have been killed.
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FEBRUARY 6/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 6, 1952, Britain's King George VI died;
he was succeeded by his daughter, Elizabeth II.
On Feb. 6, 1895, George Herman 'Babe' Ruth,
baseball's great star, was born. He died on FAug. 16, 1948
On This Date IN
1756 Aaron Burr, America's third vice president,
was born in Newark, N.J.
1788 Massachusetts became the sixth state to
ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1895 Baseball Hall of Famer George Herman "Babe"
Ruth was born in Baltimore.
1899 A peace treaty between the United States and
Spain was ratified by the U.S. Senate.
1911 Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of
the United States, was born in Tampico, Ill.
1933 The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was
declared in effect. It moved the start of presidential,
vice-presidential and congressional terms from March to January.
1945 Reggae musician Bob Marley was born in St.
Ann parish in Jamaica.
1993 Tennis Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe, who had
conracted HIV through a tainted blood transfusion, died at age 49.
1999 Excerpts of former White House intern Monica
Lewinsky's videotaped testimony were shown at President Bill
Clinton's impeachment trial in the Senate.
2000 First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton launched
her successful candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
2001 Ariel Sharon was elected Israeli prime
minister in a landslide over Ehud Barak.
2004 An explosion ripped through a Moscow subway
car during rush hour, killing 41 people in a terrorist attack blamed
on Chechen separatists.
SUPER BOWL, JASON PIERRE PAUL OF HAITI SHINES AT
THE SUPERBOWL.2/5/12
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
It was a pleasure to watch this young native of
Haiti shining at the game. We did call several friends from Haiti to
watch the game just to see his performance. Members of his family
were at the stadium. For those who may not know, we are releasing
the names of different native of Haiti playing for different US
clubs:
1-JPP "Jason Pierre–Paul" NYGiants’ defensive end |
2-Stanley Arnoux -New Orleans Saints, linebacker
3-Cliff AvriL -Detroit Lions, defensive end
4-D'anthony Batiste -Denver Broncos, offensive tackle
5-Jacques Cesaire -San Diego Chargers, defensive end
6-Junior Galette -New Orleans Saints, defensive end
7-Gosder Cherilus -Detroit Lions, offensive tackle
8-Antonio Cromartie -New York Jets, corner back
9-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie- Arizona Cardinals, cornerback.
10-Louis Delmas -Detroit Lions, safety
|11-Vladimir Ducasse -New York Jets
12-Elvis DumerviL -Denver Broncos, outside linebacker
13-Pierre Garçon -Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver
|14-Ricky Jean-Francois-San Francisco 49ers, defensive lineman
15-Max Jean-Gilles -Philadelphia Eagles, offensive guard
16-Rashad Jeanty -Cincinnati Bengals, outside linebacker
17-Carlos Joseph -NFL player
18-Davin Joseph -Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offensive guard
19-William Joseph -Oakland Raiders, defensive tackle
20-Vernand Morency -NFL player
21- Steve Octavien -Dallas Cowboys, linebacker
22-Jonal Saint-Dic -NFL player
23-Jonathan Vilma -New Orleans Saints linebacker
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FEBRUARY 5/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 5, 1937, President Roosevelt proposed
increasing the number of Supreme Court justices; critics charged
Roosevelt was attempting to "pack" the court.
On Feb. 5, 1900, Adlai Ewing Stevenson, the
American politician and diplomat, was born. He died on July
14, 1965
On This Date In
1881 Phoenix, Ariz., was incorporated.
1917 Congress passed, over President Woodrow
Wilson's veto, a law severely curtailing the immigration of Asians.
1937 President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed
increasing the number of Supreme Court justices. Critics charged
that he was attempting to "pack" the court.
1958 Gamel Abdel Nasser was nominated to become
the first president of the new United Arab Republic, a short-lived
union of Syria and Egypt.
1988 The Arizona House of Representatives
impeached Gov. Evan Mecham, who was later convicted in the state
Senate and removed from office.
1988 Panamanian military leader Gen. Manuel
Noriega was indicted on bribery and drug trafficking charges in
Florida.
1994 White separatist Byron De La Beckwith was
convicted in Jackson, Miss., of murdering civil rights leader Medgar
Evers in 1963. He was sentenced to life in prison.
1997 Investment bank Morgan Stanley announced a
$10 billion merger with Dean Witter.
2001 Four disciples of Osama bin Laden went on
trial in New York in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in
Africa.
2002 A federal grand jury indicted John Walker
Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban," alleging that he was
trained by Osama bin Laden's network and that he conspired with the
Taliban to kill Americans.
UN NEWS
UN VETO. THE WEST DEPLORES SYRIA DRAFT UN VETO.
The US said the veto was "shameful", while Britain said it "lets
the Syrian people down". France also condemned the block at the UN
Security Council. Russia and China said the proposed draft was "unbalanced".
The document was rejected just hours after activists accused Syrian
troops of killing at least 55 people in Homs
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, described
the veto on Saturday as "shameful". The scale of the defeat was
registered in the gloom on the faces of Western and Arab envoys, and
in the bitter exchanges in the council after the vote. The
disappointment was all the deeper because this was the second double
veto on Syria, and because this time agreement had seemed possible.
The resolution had the support of the 13 other
Council members and of the group representing the region, the Arab
League. In intense negotiations diplomats seem to have met many of
the Russian objections: they took out reference to anything that
might have suggested support for sanctions or an arms embargo, and
added assurances that the resolution could not be used to authorise
military intervention or regime change.
They removed explicit reference to the elements of
the Arab peace plan - particularly a time table spelling out a
process for Mr Assad to hand powers to a deputy who would oversee
preparations for new elections. Although they insisted that support
for the plan itself was a red line. Despite all of this the Russians
vetoed.
It seems the next stage of diplomatic intervention
may shift to Russian attempts to play peacemaker, with the visit to
Damascus on Tuesday by the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and
Russia's head of the foreign intelligence service. UN Syria plan in
tatters It showed, she said, how Russia and China aimed to "sell out
the Syrian people and shield a craven tyrant". "Any further
bloodshed that flows will be on their hands," Ms Rice added.
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said the
approach by Moscow and Beijing "lets the Syrian people down, and
will only encourage President (Bashar) Assad's brutal regime to
increase the killing". In Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy
said in a statement that he "strongly deplores" the veto. But he
added that his country would not give up seeking a solution. "The
Syrian tragedy must stop," he said.
Mohammed Loulichki, Morocco's ambassador to the UN
and the sole Arab member of the current council, voiced "great
regret and disappointment" that Moscow and Beijing had struck it
down.
The Arab draft resolution, supported by all 13 other
members of the Security Council, had adopted an Arab League call for
a "Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political
system".
However, Russia said it singled out the government
of President Assad, and did not contain measures against armed
opposition groups. Russia's Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin,
said the draft had lacked balance. "Some influential members of the
international community unfortunately... have been undermining the
opportunity for political settlement, calling for a regime change,
pushing the oppositionists to power," he said. Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to have talks with Mr Assad in
Damascus on Tuesday.
Beijing's ambassador to the UN, Li Baodong, said the
resolution would have been counter-productive. "China maintains that,
under the current circumstances, to put undue emphasis on pressuring
the Syrian government... or impose any solution will not help
resolve the Syrian issue," he said. Pro-Assad residents in the
Syrian capital Damascus welcomed the Sino-Russian stance.
======================================================================================
FEBRUARY 4/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 4, 1962, St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital was founded in Memphis, Tenn., by entertainer Danny Thomas.
On this date:
In 1783, Britain's King George III proclaimed a
formal cessation of hostilities in the American Revolutionary War.
In 1789, electors chose George Washington to be the
first president of the United States.
In 1861, delegates from six southern states that had
recently seceded from the Union met in Montgomery, Ala., to form the
Confederate States of America.
.In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt opened
the Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid.
In 1941, the United Service Organizations (USO) came
into existence.
In 1962, a rare conjunction of the Sun, Moon,
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn occurred.
In 1972, Mariner 9, orbiting Mars, transmitted
images of the red planet.
In 1974, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was
kidnapped in Berkeley, Calif., by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
In 1976, more than 23,000 people died when a severe
earthquake struck Guatemala with a magnitude of 7.5, according to
the U.S. Geological Survey.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan announced a plan to
eliminate all medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe.
==================================================================
FEBRUARY 3/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 3, 1917, the United States broke off
diplomatic relations with Germany, which had announced a policy of
unrestricted submarine warfare.
On Feb. 3, 1874, Gertrude Stein, American author
and literary stylist, was born. She died on July 27, 1946
On This Date In
1809 The territory of Illinois was created.
1913 The 16th Amendment to the Constitution,
providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.
1917 The United States broke off diplomatic
relations with Germany, which had announced a policy of unrestricted
submarine warfare.
1924 Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the
United States, died in Washington, D.C., at age 67.
1959 Rock 'n' roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie
Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash
near Clear Lake, Iowa.
1971 Apollo 14 astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr. and
Edgar D. Mitchell landed on the lunar surface during the third
successful manned mission to the moon.
1988 The U.S. House of Representatives
rejected President Ronald Reagan's request for more than $36 million
in aid to the Nicaraguan Contras.
1994 The space shuttle Discovery blasted off with
a woman, Air Force Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, in the pilot's seat for
the first time.
1998 Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker for the
pickax killings of two people in 1983
.2006 An Egyptian passenger ferry sank in the Red
Sea during bad weather, killing more than 1,000 passengers.
2011 Tens of thousands of protesters staged
unprecedented demonstrations against Yemen's autocratic president,
Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key U.S. ally in battling Islamic militants.
BRONX, NY. RAMARLEY GRAHAM, 18, SHOT AND KILLED
BY NYPD COPS. 2/3/
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
According to report from NYPD, the unarmed young man was
killed inside his house by narcotic cops after after a chase. He was
shot dead in front of his grandmother. He was taken to Montefiore
Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This is scary. It is alleged
that Ramarley Graham fled from the cops on White Plains Road going
back home. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. released a
statement saying that the young man was unarmed when police shot at
him. No weapon was found from the scene. His father, his mother and
grand mother were in shock A 6 year-old in the house saw
everything. as stated by the mother Constance Graham. Members
of the community came out to support the family, saying they want
answers to plenty of questions from the authority about what
happened.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG PRESENTS FY 2013
PRELIMINARY BUDGET Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented a Fiscal
Year (FY) 2013 Preliminary Budget and an updated four-year financial
plan. The Mayor outlined a plan that achieves a balanced budget –
closing a $2 billion budget gap without tax increases – which is
made possible by the City’s years of prudent planning and spending
restraint. The Preliminary Budget reduces year-over-year
controllable City expenditures, but expenses that are not fully
controlled by the City – primarily pensions – continue to rise and
continue to make less funding available for City services. The
Preliminary Budget relies on $6 billion in savings for FY 2013
generated though eleven rounds of deficit closing actions taken by
City agencies since 2007.
“Cities across the country have struggled to keep
their heads above water – laying off teachers, police officers, or
firefighters, with a few even having to declare bankruptcy,” said
Mayor Bloomberg. “We’ve avoided those painful steps, because we
spent years planning ahead, made government more efficient and saved
for a rainy day. The budget we are presenting today is a balanced
budget – with no tax increases, no layoffs of teachers or uniformed
workers and no walking away from our long-term investments. It is a
responsible budget that continues to make responsible spending cuts,
while protecting the core services and investments that have helped
our city to weather the national recession better than most other
places. But we face a ticking time bomb in rising pension costs. The
only way we will be able to continue to pay for top-quality public
schools, fire and police protection, and other services New Yorkers
need, and also to protect the very financial security of the pension
system City workers rely on, is to adopt real pension reform.”
The Preliminary Budget is a $68.7 billion plan, with
a City-funded portion of $50.7 million. The Preliminary Budget
reduces year-over-year controllable City expenditures by $437
million, a 1.9 percent decline from FY 2012. Expenses not fully
controlled by the City – primarily pensions, health care, Medicaid
and debt service – rise by $2 billion, a 7.5 percent increase from
FY 2012. The City will spend less in virtually every major area of
controllable spending except for education, where City funding will
again increase.
The City’s Improving Economy
Tax revenues continue to rebound as the city’s
economy continues a gradual recovery. New York City has regained 65
percent of the private sector jobs lost during the recession, while
the rest of the country has only gained back 36 percent. The city
now is expected to recover all jobs lost during the recession by the
end of 2013, one year sooner than the rest of the country.
Pensions
The Preliminary Budget assumes the City’s
Independent Actuary will make a series of changes to the actuarial
assumptions that determine the City’s pension bill, including an
expected change in the assumed rate of return from 8.0 percent to
7.0 percent. The Preliminary Budget estimates the changes will
increase the City’s pension costs by $575 million in FY 2012 and FY
2013 – bringing the City total pension costs to $7.8 billion in FY
2012 and $8.0 billion in FY 2013. The Preliminary Budget funds these
increased costs by utilizing dollars the City specifically reserved
over the last two years in anticipation of the actuary’s actions and
the increased costs. The City had reserved $1 billion in FY 2012 and
$1 billion in FY 2013 in anticipation of the actuary’s changes and
the City will use the reminder of the reserve funding to help close
the budget gap.
Since FY 2002, City funded pension costs have now
increased by nearly 500 percent, rising from $1.3 billion to $8.0
billion in FY 2013.
The City’s pension funds have produced an average
return of 5.6 percent over the last ten years and pensions systems
across the country have reduced their assumed rate of return in
recent years. Pensions systems in Delaware, the District of
Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Wisconsin and more have
recently reduced their assumed rate of return.
Capital Spending
The Preliminary Budget increases the City’s
five-year capital construction program to $39.4 billion, up nearly
$700 million.
Headcount
The City’s full-time and full-time equivalent
headcount in FY 2013 Preliminary Budget is 291,326, a reduction of
20,478 positions (6.6 percent) since the start of the Bloomberg
Administration. The City’s December 31, 2001 full-time and full-time
equivalent headcount was 311,804.
Out-Year Gaps
The Mayor also announced today that while the
Preliminary Budget for FY 2013 presents a balanced budget, New York
City will still face budget gaps of approximately $3.0 billion in FY
2014, $3.5 billion in FY 2015 and $3.4 billion FY 2016.
THALLASSEE, FLA. THREE CASINO BILL MAY BE
DEFEATED IN THE HOUSE
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
If the bill fails to get out of the committee, it “is
dead,’’ said Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, the bill’s House sponsor in
the House, leaving casino supporters to have to wait until next year
to get it approved by the Legislature. As lawmakers met in an
eight-hour floor session on Thursday, Fresen spent the time
button-holing members of the Business and Consumer Affairs
Subcommittee, which will hear the bill for the first time this
Friday. “I actually don’t think the policy of this is as huge as the
politics of it,” Fresen said. “Do the politics outweigh the policy?
Maybe. I’ll know what’s going to happen on Friday.” As proponents
counted the votes Thursday, the anxiety among lawmakers was
palpable. Lobbyists on both sides kept a constant count, comparing
notes after they met with committee members, many of whom refused to
publicly commit. Throughout the day the count swung from 8 to 7 in
favor of the bill, to 8 to 7 against it. Unlike nearly every
controversial bill that has moved through the House, the chamber’s
Republican leaders have not taken a caucus position and are allowing
members to vote as they please, leaving many members unsettled.
Adding to the anxiety is the fact that the House redistricting maps
have pitted at least 38 legislators into districts with another
incumbent forcing them into uncertain terrain come November.
Fresen’s challenge has been to persuade committee members of the
that by allowing three bids for the $2 billion resort casinos, South
Florida’s economy will be helped, the state’s revenue stream will
rise, and other areas of the state will not be harmed.
ATLANTA, GA. US REP PHIL GINGREY AND THE ANNUAL
OBAMA'S ADDRESS.
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey confirmed this
afternoon that the Marietta Republican walked out of President
Barack Obama’s address at the annual National Prayer Breakfast,
offended by what the congressman said was an injection of political
rhetoric into an occasion of non-partisan reflection.
Blending politics and religion, President Barack Obama said his Christian
faith is a driving force behind his economic policies, from Wall
Street reform to his calls for the wealthy to pay higher taxes.
Obama’s remarks Thursday at the National Prayer
Breakfast were his most explicit account of how his personal
religious beliefs factor into his decision-making on the nation’s
pressing problems. The comments came amid election-year criticism
from Catholic groups and some Republicans that the president is
waging a war on religion following his decision to require
church-affiliated institutions to cover free birth control for
employees.
Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the annual
breakfast, Obama said “faith and values” should play as much as role
in tackling the nation’s challenges as sound decision-making and
smart policies.
“[Gingrey] said he was disappointed, because he
wanted to know what was in the president’s heart, and not just
rhetoric,” the spokeswoman said. “So he said that he decided to
quietly get up and leave because he felt that it wasn’t the time or
the place, and that the president didn’t seem to be aware of the
meaning of the breakfast or why so many people came to hear him
speak. He was offended by the very tone of the speech.”
Talaber said she didn’t know whether any other
members of Congress who followed Gingrey’s example. “He wasn’t
trying to rally the troops,” she said.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EGYPT, CAIRO. 74 SOCCER FANS DEATH CAUSED MORE
CLASHES WITH POLICE.
Police fired tear gas at stone-throwing crowds outside the
interior ministry. A soldier died from injuries received in
Thursday's clashes in Cairo, state media said. Two people were shot
dead in unrest in Suez, also on Thursday. Many Egyptians blame the
authorities for failing to protect fans at a stadium in the city of
Port Said. Hundreds were injured in fighting between security forces
and protesters across the country on Thursday. Most of the dead were
believed to be supporters of Cairo's al-Ahly team, who were attacked
after losing a match to Port Said side al-Masry. A group of
hard-core al-Ahly fans known as the "ultras" have accused the
authorities of allowing the killings to happen. Hundreds of al-Ahly
football fans carried flags and wore their scarves for Friday
prayers outside the club, but this was a sombre occasion to remember
Wednesday's dead. Afterwards, they marched to Tahrir Square - where
they have been joined by supporters of their arch-rivals, Zamalek.
There are several thousand young men at the latest
protests in central Cairo. It appears families have stayed away for
fear of violence. On the side streets behind the interior ministry,
clouds of tear gas can be seen. There is a constant din from the
sirens of ambulances heading to the scene to remove the injured.
Anger is directed at the ruling generals. Cries go
up of "the people demand the removal of the marshal" - a reference
to Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads the ruling military
council. Demonstrators want a faster transfer to civilian rule.
Wider Egyptian society worries about the continuing state of
insecurity and some people believe that protests like this one are
not helping.
P-AU-P HAITI. HAITIAN PRESIDENT MARTELLY VISITING
VENEZUELAAND PANAMA.
Reports from the Haitian Palace confirmed that Président
Martelly is visiting Venezuela and Panama from the 3rd to the 7th of
February. He was expecting to meet the Haitian press at the
International Airport. Martelly will discuss regulations about
Haitian commercial activities in those countries. Haitians have to
wait 2 to 3 months before obtaining visas to travel to these
countries. He will also address the treatments given to some of
Haitian visitors in those countries. During his trip Martelly will
promote his country for the businesses opportunities offered to
investors from these countries. A sort of PR trip for the Haitian
President.
UNITED NATIONS
UN AND THE NEW ATROCITIES IN THE CONGO.
3 February 2012 – The United Nations refugee agency said today it is
alarmed by recent reports that displaced people have been tortured
and killed in their camps by armed elements in eastern Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC). “Displaced Congolese are constantly
threatened by various groups and militias who accuse them of
collaborating with one armed group or another,” said Adrian Edwards,
the spokesperson in Geneva of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR).
The agency reported that since the last quarter of
2011, armed groups have been intruding on camps for internally
displaced persons (IDPs) in North Kivu province, violating their
civilian character. The main affected camps are in Nyanzale, Mweso
and Birambizo in the Masisi territory, about 90 kilometres
north-west of the provincial capital of Goma.
Mr. Edwards said that seven IDPs were beaten to
death on 13 December because they had refused to take part in forced
labour imposed by the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR).
UNHCR has also received reports of IDPs being tortured, he added.
The ongoing violence is also hindering humanitarian access to the
camps and preventing aid workers from protecting and assisting the
displaced people. Currently, only eight IDP camps out of 31 are
accessible to humanitarian workers without military escort, said Mr.
Edwards.
“UNHCR calls on all parties to respect the civilian
character of IDP sites in North Kivu. We are appealing to provincial
authorities to increase security in and around the camps,” he
stated. The agency is also liaising with the UN peacekeeping mission
in DRC, known as MONUSCO, to increase the presence of security
forces in areas most in need of protection and to ensure the safety
of civilians living in the IDP sites. There are almost 79,000
displaced Congolese currently living in 31 IDP camps in North Kivu.
Many of them cannot go home due to continued insecurity and renewed
fighting between armed groups and the military in their villages.
North Kivu is home to more than 600,000 IDPs, over one third of the
1.7 million displaced across the country.
==============================================================
FEBRUARY 2/1/2012
IN HISTORY
On Feb. 1, 1960, four black college students
began a sit-in protest at a lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., where
they'd been refused service.
On Feb. 1, 1902, Langston Hughes, the American
poet and prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance , was born. He
died on May 22 , 1967.
On This Date In
1896 Puccini's opera "La Boheme" premiered in Turin, Italy.
1920 The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was
established.
1946 Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie was chosen to
be the first secretary-general of the United Nations.
1960 Four black college students began a sit-in
protest at a lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., where they'd been
refused service.
1968 During the Vietnam War, Saigon's police
chief, Nguyen Ngoc Loan, executed a Viet Cong officer with a pistol
shot to the head.
1979 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini received a
tumultuous welcome in Tehran as he ended nearly 15 years of exile.
1982 "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered
on NBC.
1999 Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky
gave a deposition that was videotaped for senators weighing
impeachment charges against President Bill Clinton.
2004 Singer Janet Jackson's breast was briefly
exposed during a duet with Justin Timberlake during the Super Bowl
halftime show. Timberlake later referred to the incident as a
"wardrobe malfunction."
2009 The Pittsburgh Steelers won their record
sixth Super Bowl with a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in
Super Bowl XLIII.
2011 Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced
he would not run for a new term but rejected protesters' demands he
step down immediately.
CITY HALL NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
E. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2012
MANHATTAN 6:00 PM Hosts Reception in
Honor of Black History Month Gracie Mansion 88th Street and East End
Avenue
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW
YORKERS ON THE SHOOTING OF POLICE OFFICER KEVIN BRENNAN .
I’m joined by Commissioner Kelly, Chief of Brooklyn North Gerald Nelson,
Dr. Eli Kleinman, the NYPD’s Chief Medical Officer, Chief of Patrol
James Hall, and Pat Lynch from the PBA. “We’re here tonight at
Bellevue Hospital because one of our City’s Finest, Officer Kevin
Brennan, was shot tonight in the head in the Bushwick Houses public
housing development in Brooklyn when he and his partners responded
to a report of shots fired. The doctors here at Bellevue
successfully removed the bullet from the right base of Officer
Brennan’s skull. He is in critical but stable condition.
Commissioner Kelly and I have met with him a short while ago, and
with his parents and wife.
“The 29-year-old Officer Brennan has been a member
of the NYPD since July of 2005, winning many commendations and
awards for his service. Just six weeks ago, he and his wife Janet
welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Maeve into the world. And
thankfully tonight I think there’s no reason to think her daddy
won’t be there to see her crawl for the first time – and in good
time, dance at her wedding. “Commissioner Kelly will fill you in on
the details of what transpired and how our search for the suspect
that we think committed the crime, the shooting, is going. But
tonight, we have someone who’s dedicated his life to protecting all
of us, who has had a much too close brush with death tonight because
of what appears to be an illegal gun.
“I have said this many times before – and I wish I
never had a reason to stand in a hospital and say it again – but
since Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were killed in
1968, there have been more than 400,000 people killed with illegal
guns here in America, more than the number of Americans that were
killed in World War II. “The news tonight is thankfully not tragic.
But until our nation gets serious about taking guns off our streets,
we can only hope that the news is as good the next time.
Commissioner?”
BROOKLYN, NY. NYPD ARRESTED LUIS ORTIZ IN P. O.
KEVIN BRENNAN SHOOTING
2/1/
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Luis Ortiz, 21, was arrested for the shooting of 29 year-old
P.O. Kevin Brennan in Brooklyn. At about
9 p.m., Brennan and his two partners responded to a call of an armed
man at 370 Bushwick Avenue. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the
officers saw three people running, recognized Ortiz from previous
arrests, and followed Ortiz to the rear of the building. It is
reported that Ortiz turned and fired one shot, hitting Brennan in
the right base of the skull. Brennan fired back. Brennan was taken
to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where doctors successfully
removed the bullet from his skull.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray
Kelly visited Brennan in Bellevue shortly after the surgery late
Tuesday, and the mayor said the officer was able to converse with
them about his baby daughter.
The Mayor said that "Tonight we have someone who have someone who
has dedicated his life to protecting all of us, who has had a much
too close brush with death." Kelly said that he wants to join with
the mayor in thanking the staff of Bellevue Hospital for doing a
phenomenal job. It was really remarkable, the work that they did."
Doctors at Bellevue said that Brennan was expected to recover
from his injury. The Mayor and the Police Commissioner held a news
conference Tuesday night regarding the matter.
BRONX. ABOUT 600 MARIJUANA PLANTS FOUND BY NYPD
IN BRONX BUILDING.
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
Police raided a five-floor commercial building in the Bronx
Tuesday afternoon that was filled with marijuana plants located at
Morris Park Avenue. NYPD called the operation a sophisticated pot
factory that was making millions of dollars. Police had the tip from
a neighbor. They said they checked the building’s electric bill and
found it to be sky high. So after weeks of surveillance, officers
moved in with a search warrant, arresting three adult males and
shutting down a 50-pound a month operation that netted $250,000
every 30 days.
Brian Munoz, 24, Victor Reyes, 23, and Diego Reyes,
25, were arrested. They are charged with one count of criminal
possession of marijuana, one count of criminal use of drug
paraphernalia in the first degree and criminal use of drug
paraphernalia in the second degree.
TAMPA. FLA. MITT ROMNEY WON IN FLORIDA.
Romney’s Florida win also showed Republicans he can run
the kind of national campaign that can defeat President Obama in
November. “Mr. President, you were elected to lead, you chose to
follow, and now it’s time to get out of the way,” he declared at his
victory party Tuesday night in Tampa. A defiant Gingrich gave a
sharply worded concession speech in Orlando, mocking Romney for
singing America the Beautiful the previous day. “I’m not running to
be Entertainer-in-Chief,’’ he said. Earlier in the day, Romney said
that “doing well in Florida is a pretty good indication of your
prospects nationally." That’s because Florida is more like the
nation than any of the other three early states. North Florida is
the Deep South. Southwest Florida is like the Midwest. Latin America
meets New York in Southeast Florida. And it all mixes together along
the I-4 corridor from Tampa Bay through Central Florida. Romney
walloped Gingrich in South Florida — where he led Gingrich by at
least 72,000 votes — and among Hispanics statewide, exit polls
showed. He won the state’s crucial senior vote, and he carried women
voters by a big margin. Romney also fought Gingrich to a statistical
tie with conservative, evangelical and tea party voters. Early
results indicated he lost to Gingrich in North Florida but was
handily winning everywhere else in the state that ended his
presidential campaign four years ago. “Florida is the nation’s
reflecting pool,” said Alex Castellanos, a Republican consultant who
worked for Romney in 2008 and George W. Bush in 2004. “It is what
New York and Ellis Island used to be, the gateway to the country’s
future.” Before the first ballot was even cast on Election Day,
Romney had a cushion of early votes that could have exceeded 60,000.
While the other campaigns were silent in early January, Romney
advertised on radio and television and aggressively called and
mailed early voters, who cast more than 632,000 ballots. With the
big results in from Florida, Castellanos said, the Republican race
is almost history, although Gingrich has vowed to fight all the way
to the national convention in Tampa this summer. “This race won’t
end tonight, but it will be over,” Castellanos said. “Romney will
have done something no other non-incumbent Republican candidate has
ever done: He really only lost one of the first four contests.
That’s remarkable.” Technically, Romney lost Iowa, which initially
declared him the winner —only to hand it to Rick Santorum. But
Santorum has little chance if Florida’s vote is any indication. Same
with Ron Paul, who didn’t campaign in Florida so he could go to
smaller states with caucuses. All the candidates lack Romney’s money
and organization. On Saturday, Nevada holds its caucus. Romney is
expected to win in this state, which has a heavy population of
fellow Mormons. Gingrich is already lowering expectations there.
There are also no debates until Feb. 22. Until Florida, Gingrich was
viewed as the great debater. But Romney edged him in Florida’s two
debates. That had an effect. The debates made a difference to
two-thirds of voters, 42 percent of whom chose Romney, exit polls
showed.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
LONDON. FOUR MEN ADMITTED BOMB PLOT AT LONDON
STOCK EXCHANGE. Mohammed Chowdhury, Shah Rahman, Gurukanth Desai
and Abdul Miah pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation
for acts of terrorism. The men, from London and Cardiff, were
arrested in December 2010 and were set to stand trial at Woolwich
Crown Court. Five other men have pleaded guilty to other terrorism
offences and all nine will be sentenced next week. The men, who are
all British nationals, had been inspired by the preachings of the
recently-killed radical extremist Anwar Al-Awlaki.
At the end of 2010 two of them scouted high-profile
targets in London and discussed with others the possibility of
blowing up the London Stock Exchange. Others talked about putting
bombs in the post, even suggesting one be hidden in a toy doll. The
men from Stoke got as far as pondering the logistical problems of
religiously observant Muslims planting bombs in pub toilets. And
they were surveillance-aware too, warning each other about the
possibility of bugs in their cars, and meeting outdoors in secluded
places like country parks.
A hand-written target list discovered at the home of
one of the men listed the names and addresses of London Mayor Boris
Johnson, two rabbis, the US embassy and the Stock Exchange. The
conspiracy was stopped by undercover anti-terror police before firm
dates could be set for attacks. The terrorists met because of their
membership of various radical groups and stayed in touch over the
internet, through mobile phones and at specially arranged meetings.
"Their intention was to cause terror and economic
harm and disruption. But their chosen method meant there was a risk
people would be maimed or killed," he said. The men admitted the
offences after a special hearing which allows a defendant to hear
from the judge what sentence they may receive if they plead guilty
on the eve of a trial.
Chowdhury was told by judge Mr Justice Wilkie
indicated that he would receive 18-and-a-half years and Rahman was
told he would receive a maximum of 17 years. Brothers Gurukanth
Desai, 30, of Albert Street, Cardiff, and Abdul Miah, 25, of Ninian
Park Road, Cardiff, also admitted the same count, namely preparing
for acts of terrorism by planning to plant an improvised explosive
device in the toilets of the London Stock Exchange. Omar Latif, 28,
of Neville Street, Cardiff, admitted attending meetings with the
intention of assisting others to prepare or commit acts of
terrorism. Four of the nine-man group are from Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire. The quartet talked about leaving homemade bombs in
the toilets of their city's pubs and discussed travelling abroad for
terror training. The fourth Stoke defendant, Mohibur Rahman, 27, of
North Road, admitted possessing two editions of al-Qaeda magazine
Inspire for terrorist purposes.
UNITED
NATIONS NEWS
SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATES BSITUATION IN SYRIA.
31 January 2012 – The Security Council this afternoon began debate
on the situation in Syria, where thousands of people have been
killed over the past 10 months in a Government crackdown against a
popular uprising. Nabil El Araby, the Secretary-General of the
League of Arab States (LAS), briefed the Council on the work of the
League’s human rights monitors inside Syria, after which senior
representatives of Member States began addressing the 15-member body
on the situation in the Middle East country.
Mr. El Araby urged members of the Council to back a
draft resolution prepared by Morocco and based the LAS plan of
action on Syria, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence
by all parties, and progress towards national dialogue that leads to
a peaceful political resolution of the crisis.The UN has repeatedly
urged the Syrian leadership to end the violence, with
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging President Bashar al-Assad “stop
killing his own people” and embark on a path to greater democracy.
“We are attempting to avoid any foreign intervention, especially
military intervention,” said Mr. El Araby, adding that the draft
resolution also calls for the full respect of Syria’s territorial
integrity and unity of the country’s people.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, told the Council that
LAS initiatives to end the violence in Syria “have been in vain”
because the Government had failed to make any sincere effort to
cooperate.
“The reality on the ground bears witness that
bloodshed has not stopped, that the killing machine is still at
work, and that the violence is spreading,” said Mr. Al-Thani,
speaking in his capacity as chair of the Arab ministerial committee
on Syria. “Today we come to the Council asking that you assume your
responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations to address
the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Syria, by adopting a clear
resolution that supports the latest Arab initiative that was adopted
in the resolution of LAS Ministerial Council in Cairo on 22
January,” he added.
“We also call on the Security Council to take all
measures based on the resolutions adopted by LAS and notably the
economic resolutions and travel ban on Syria. We are not calling for
a military intervention. We are advocating the exertion of a
concrete economic pressure so that the Syrian regime might realize
that it is imperative to meet the demands of its people. We are not
after regime change neither, for this is a matter that is up to the
Syrian people to decide,” he added.
The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
urged the international community to put aside differences and send
a clear message of support to the people of Syria. “Syria is a
unique situation that requires its own approach, tailored to the
specific circumstances occurring there. And that is exactly what the
Arab League has proposed – a path for a political transition that
would preserve Syria’s unity and institutions,” she said. United
Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
William Hague, urged the council to unite behind the LAS plan to
facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
“To fail to do so would be to undermine the
credibility of this institution, betray the Syrian people, snub the
Arab League and fail in this Council’s responsibilities,” said Mr.
Hague.
Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Bashar Ja’afari said
his country rejected “international intervention,” adding that
“homelands are built by their own citizens.” His country, he said,
would continue to protect its own people against armed elements. He
denounced what he termed “feverish attempts” to interfere in Syria’s
internal affairs by misleading world public opinion. Russia’s
Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, urged both the Syrian
Government and all opposition groups to send their representatives
to Moscow on an agreed upon timeline to conduct informal contacts
without preconditions.
“This would allow for the Syrian parties to discuss
many issues on the national agenda without any limitation, in
particular the task of preparing inter-Syrian dialogue. Today it is
more important than ever to engage in dialogue which would lead to
the realization of the necessary agreements on the political future
of the country.” He urged the Council to play “a constructive role”
in the process. The UN has repeatedly urged the Syrian leadership to
end the violence, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging
President Bashar al-Assad “stop killing his own people” and embark
on a path to greater democracy and heed the people’s call for
representation and respect of human rights.
During his visit to Jordan today, Mr. Ban stated
that “it is more urgent than ever to put an end to this bloodshed
and violence, to start a credible political solution that addresses
the legitimate aspiration of the Syrian people and to protect their
fundamental freedoms.”
==================================================================
JANUARY
1/31
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 31, 1865, the House of Representatives
passed a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery.
On Jan. 31, 1919, Jackie Robinson, who made
history in 1947 by becoming the first black baseball player in the
major leagues, was born. He died on Oct. 24, 1972,
On This Date In
1797 Composer Franz Schubert was born in Vienna,
Austria.
1865 Robert E. Lee was named general-in-chief of
the Confederate armies.
1917 Germany announced a policy of unrestricted
submarine warfare.
1919 Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, who
broke the sport's color barrier in 1947, was born in Cairo, Ga.
1944 U.S. forces invaded the Japanese-held
Marshall Islands during World War II.
1945 Private Eddie Slovik became the only U.S.
soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion.
1949 The first TV daytime soap opera, "These Are
My Children," was broadcast by the NBC station in Chicago.
1950 President Harry S. Truman announced that he
had ordered development of the hydrogen bomb.
1971 Astronauts Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D.
Mitchell and Stuart A. Roosa blasted off aboard Apollo 14 on the
third successful manned mission to the moon
1990 McDonald's Corp. opened its first
fast-food restaurant in Moscow.
2000 An Alaska Airlines jet plunged into the
ocean off Southern California on a flight from Mexico to San
Francisco, killing all 88 people on board.
2001 A Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands
convicted one Libyan and acquitted a second in the 1988 bombing of
Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
2006 Samuel Alito was confirmed by the Senate and
sworn in as a Supreme Court justice.
2006 The Senate approved Ben Bernanke as chairman
of the Federal Reserve.
2011 Egypt's military promised not to fire on
peaceful protests and recognized "the legitimacy of the people's
demands."
2011 Myanmar opened its first parliament in more
than two decades.
================================================
1/30
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 30, 1948, Indian political and spiritual
leader Mahatma Gandhi was murdered by a Hindu extremist.
On Jan. 30, 1882, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the
32nd president of the United States, was born. He died on April 12,
1945
On This Date In
1882 Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd
president of the United States, was born in Hyde Park, N.Y.
1883 James Ritty and John Birch received a U.S.
patent for the first cash register. .
1948 Indian political and spiritual leader
Mahatma Gandhi was murdered by a Hindu extremist.
1968 The Tet offensive began as Communist forces
launched surprise attacks against South Vietnamese provincial
capitals.
1969 The Beatles performed in public for the last
time in a 45-minute gig on the roof of their Apple Records
headquarters in London.
1972 Thirteen Roman Catholic civil rights
marchers were shot to death by British soldiers in Northern Ireland
on what became known as "Bloody Sunday."
2003 Richard Reid, a British citizen and al-Qaida
follower, was sentenced to life in prison by a federal judge in
Boston for trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic jetliner with
explosives hidden in his shoes.
2005 Iraqis voted in their country's first free
election in a half-century.
2006 Coretta Scott King, the widow of the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr., died at age 78.
2007 Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system
went on sale.
========================================================
01/29
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 29, 1963, poet Robert Frost died in
Boston.
On Jan. 29, 1843, William McKinley, the 25th
president of the United States, was born. He died assassinated on
Sept. 6, 1901.»
On This Date In
1820 Britain's King George III died insane at
Windsor Castle.
1843 William McKinley, the 25th president of the
United States, was born in Niles, Ohio.
1845 Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" was first
published, in the New York Evening Mirror.
1850 Henry Clay introduced in the Senate a
compromise bill on slavery that included the admission of California
into the Union as a free state.
1860 Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov
was born in the port city of Taganrog.
1861 Kansas became the 34th state of the Union.
1900 The American League, consisting of eight
baseball teams, was organized in Philadelphia.
1936 The first five members of baseball's Hall of
Fame, including Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, were named in Cooperstown,
N.Y.
1958 Actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were
married.
1963 Poet Robert Frost died at age 88.
1979 President Jimmy Carter welcomed Chinese Vice
Premier Deng Xiaoping to the White House following the establishment
of diplomatic relations.
1995 The San Francisco 49ers became the first
team to win five Super Bowl titles when they beat the San Diego
Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX.
1998 A bomb exploded at an abortion clinic in
Birmingham, Ala., killing an off-duty policeman and severely
wounding a nurse. (The bomber, Eric Rudolph, was captured in May
2003 and is serving a life sentence.)
2006 ABC "World News Tonight" co-anchor Bob
Woodruff and a cameraman were seriously injured in a roadside
bombing in Iraq.
2009 The Illinois Senate voted to remove Gov. Rod
Blagojevich from office.
2010 Abortion opponent Scott Roeder was convicted
of murder by a jury in Wichita, Kan., in the shooting death of Dr.
George Tiller, one of the only doctors to offer late-term abortions
in the U.S.
2011 With protests raging, Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak named his intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, as his
first-ever vice president as chaos engulfed Cairo.
==========================================================================
01/28
IN HISTORY
On this day In
Jan. 28, 1986, space shuttle Challenger
exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all
seven crew members.
On Jan. 28 , 1887, Arthur Rubinstein, the
Polish-American virtuoso pianist, was born. He died on Dec.
20, 1982
On This In
853 Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti was born in Havana.
1871 France surrendered in the Franco-Prussian
War.
1909 The United States ended direct control over
Cuba.
1915 The Coast Guard was created by an act of
Congress.
1916 Louis D. Brandeis was appointed by President
Woodrow Wilson to the Supreme Court, becoming its first Jewish
member.
1945 During World War II, Allied supplies began
reaching China over the newly reopened Burma Road.
1959 Vince Lombardi was named head coach of the
NFL's Green Bay Packers.
1973 A cease-fire officially went into effect in
the Vietnam War.
1999 Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, honoring a
personal request for mercy from Pope John Paul II, spared a triple
murderer from execution
2003 President George W. Bush said in his
State of the Union address that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had
sought uranium from Africa. The claim was later disputed by former
ambassador Joseph Wilson, who had been asked by the CIA to
investigate)
2009 In a swift victory for President Barack
Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a huge $819 billion
stimulus bill 244-188 with Republicans unanimous in opposition.
2010 Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke won
Senate confirmation for a second term.
===========================================================
01/27
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 27, 1967, Astronauts Virgil I. ''Gus''
Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire
during a test aboard their Apollo I spacecraft at Cape Kennedy, Fla.
On Jan. 27, 1885, Jerome (David) Kern, one of
America's foremost composers of music for the theatre and screen,
was born. He died on Nov. 11, 1945
On This Date In
1756 Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria.
1832 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, who wrote "Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland" under the pen name Lewis Carroll, was born
in Cheshire, England.
1880 Thomas Edison received a patent for his
electric incandescent lamp.
1885 Broadway composer Jerome Kern was born in
New York City.
1944 The Soviet Union announced the end of the
deadly German siege of Leningrad, which had lasted for more than two
years.
1951 The era of atomic testing in the Nevada
desert began.
1967 Astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward
H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test
aboard their Apollo 1 spacecraft at Cape Kennedy, Fla.
1967 More than 60 nations signed a treaty banning
the orbiting of nuclear weapons.
1973 The Vietnam peace accords were signed in
Paris.
1998 First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, appearing
on NBC's "Today" show, said that allegations against her husband
were the work of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."
2006 Western Union delivered its last telegram.
2010 Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad
tablet computer during a presentation in San Francisco.
2010 J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of "The
Catcher in the Rye," died in Cornish, N.H. at age 91.
NEW YORK. GREG KELLY, NYPD COMMISSIONER'S SON, IN
RAPE INVESTIGATION
1/27/
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
A stupid case. The Manhattan DA e is investigating a rape
allegation against the son of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. Greg
Kelly is working for Channel 5 in New York. He is accused by a woman
claiming that she was raped by the young Kelly last October and had
an abortion. The woman's boyfriend reported the incident. According
to Mayor Bloomberg, what happens to Ray Kelly happens to him all the
time. People are always, while you're walking through a crowd,
saying things. When you get to be my age, you can't hear most of
them, so half the time I don't know what they're talking about. And
the answer is, if you have a complaint, to write it, and we take
every complaint seriously. In this case, I thought the police
department did exactly what they should do. They right away turned
over the investigation to the district attorney," said Bloomberg. In
a statement, a lawyer for Greg Kelly said, "Mr. Kelly strenuously
denies any wrongdoing of any kind, and is cooperating fully with the
district attorney's investigation.”
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. FINAL DEBATE OF ROMNEY AND
GINGRICH. 1/27
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS.
Republican presidential candidates, former House Speaker
Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney participate
in the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville,
Fla..
Newt Gingrich was expected to take it to Mitt Romney on Thursday
night, after savaging Romney’s ties to Goldman Sachs and his bank
accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. But Romney
unexpectedly struck first when it came to one of the most
treacherous of Florida political issues: immigration The following
day, the morning of the debate, Rubio praised Gingrich. The
crowd was back Thursday. But now, the people in the hall were with
Romney in Jacksonville, a stronghold for the Republican where the
GOP establishment has rallied behind him. On the campaign trail,
though, away from the air-conditioned comfort of the University of
North Florida’s debate hall, Gingrich had the crowds.
Hundreds showed up to hear the former House Speaker speak. Romney
had smaller, more made-for-TV events. Thursday night’s debate was
supposed to be the debate that would prove critical in Tuesday’s
Republican primary.
ATLANTA, GA. FORMER UGA COACH ACCUSED OF DUPING
KENDRELL BELL.1/27
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
Lawyers for former University of Georgia star Kendrell Bell
said former UGA football coach Jim Donnan duped him into investing
$2 million in a Ponzi scheme.
“James Donnan guaranteed Bell that his investment
was safe and that James Donnan would protect him,” according to
legal documents filed by Bell’s lawyers and obtained by the Athens
Banner-Herald. “James Donnan was a father-figure to Bell, and Bell
trusted him implicitly.” Donnan was a key figure in fund-raising for
the company, GLC Limited, which filed for bankruptcy last year.
“James Donnan, as one of the two architects of the
Ponzi scheme, was the prime salesman and largest beneficiary of the
scheme,” Bell’s attorneys said. “In short, James Donnan duped Bell
into investing $2 million, and then diverted his money from GLC to
(Jim and his wife Mary Donnan) or other investors,” according to the
Banner-Herald's report. Donnan's lawyers say he acted in good faith,
and believed GLC was a good investment opportunity.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SYRIA. PRESIDENT ASSAD'S ARMY ATTACKS PROTESTERS
IN HPMS AND HAMA.
The Syrian army has launched renewed assaults on the restive
central cities of Homs and Hama, killing about 40 people, activists
say. They also allege that a massacre took place in Homs on
Thursday. The Arab League says there has been a "high escalation" of
violence in recent days. The UN Security Council is due to discuss a
possible resolution on Syria. President Bashar al-Assad's forces
still operate in these areas, but they do not appear to be able to
maintain control.Thousands of people attended the funeral of an
anti-government protester killed on Thursday in Saqba.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman, Qatar and the UAE - have decided to withdraw their observers
in protests at the continuing crackdown.
UNITED NATIONS
SOMALIA. RETURN OF UN TO MOGADISHU
26 January 2012 – The re-establishment of the United Nations
political presence in Mogadishu will allow the world body to work
more closely with Somalia during a crucial period in its peace
process, the UN envoy to the country said today. On Tuesday
Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative,
moved to the capital of the Horn of Africa nation from Nairobi along
with a number of his core staff from the UN Political Office for
Somalia (UNPOS). The move comes one and half months after
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced during his visit to
Mogadishu that the UN office will relocate to the city to provide
further assistance at what he called a “critical juncture” for the
future of the Somali people. It is now up to us to make up for lost
time. “This is a historic step,” Mr. Mahiga wrote in a letter to the
Somali people today. “It is now up to us to make up for lost time.”
COCAINE SHIPMENT FOUND INSIDE UN MAILROOM
It is reported that NYPD is investigating after more than
35 pounds of cocaine was sent to the United Nations' mail center
earlier this month. Police say tests revealed a shipment received at
the UN was in fact cocaine. The drugs, which were discovered on
January 16, arrived in a suspicious looking package with a poor copy
of the UN logo on it. There was no name or address on the shipment
sent from Mexico City through Cincinnati.A UN spokesman says the
shipment wasn't meant for anyone there. Several Diplomats are
asking what the the New York Police had to do inside the UN for
investigation, the UN being an International Organization.
==================================================================
01/26
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 26, 1950, India proclaimed itself a
republic.
On Jan. 26, 1880, Douglas MacArthur, the American
general who achieved acclaim as a grand strategist in World War II
and in Korea, was born. He died on April 5, 1964.
On This Date In
1802 Congress passed an act calling for a library
to be established within the U.S. Capitol.
1837 Michigan became the 26th state.
1861 Louisiana seceded from the Union.
1870 Virginia rejoined the Union.
1925 Actor Paul Newman was born in Cleveland,
Ohio.
1950 India proclaimed itself a republic.
1979 Former Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller
died at age 70.
1988 The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Phantom of
the Opera," the longest-running show in Broadway history, opened at
the Majestic Theater in New York.
1993 Former Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel
was elected president of the new Czech Republic.
1996 First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
testified before a grand jury connected to the Whitewater probe.
2001 An earthquake hit the Indian subcontinent,
killing more than 13,000 people.
2005 Condoleezza Rice was sworn in as secretary
of state.
2006 Confronted by Oprah Winfrey on her
syndicated talk show, author James Frey acknowledged lies in his
addiction memoir "A Million Little Pieces."
2009 "Octomom" Nadya Suleman of Whittier, Calif.,
gave birth to octuplets conceived by in vitro fertilization. Suleman
was already a mother of six.
================================================================
01/25
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 25, 1915, the inventor of the telephone,
Alexander Graham Bell, inaugurated U.S. transcontinental telephone
service.
On Jan. 25, 1882, Virginia Woolf, the British
novelist, was born. She died on n March 28, 1941
On This Date In
1533 England's King Henry VIII secretly married
Anne Boleyn, his second wife.
1787 Shays' Rebellion suffered a setback when
debt-ridden farmers led by Capt. Daniel Shays failed to capture an
arsenal at Springfield, Mass.
1890 The United Mine Workers of America was
founded in Columbus, Ohio.
1915 The inventor of the telephone, Alexander
Graham Bell, inaugurated transcontinental telephone service in the
United States.
1947 Gangster Al Capone died at age 48.
1959 American Airlines opened the jet age in the
United States with the first scheduled transcontinental flight of a
Boeing 707.
1971 Charles Manson and three female followers
were convicted in Los Angeles of murder and conspiracy in the 1969
slayings of seven people, including actress Sharon Tate.
1995 The defense gave its opening statement in
the O.J. Simpson trial in Los Angeles, saying Simpson was the victim
of a "rush to judgment" by authorities.
2006 The Islamic militant group Hamas won a large
majority of seats in Palestinian parliamentary elections.
2007 Ford Motor Co. said it had lost a staggering
$12.7 billion in 2006, the worst loss in the company's 103-year
history.
2011 A federal judge in New York sentenced Ahmed
Ghailani, the first Guantanamo detainee to have a U.S. civilian
trial, to life in prison for conspiring in the bombing of two U.S.
embassies in Africa in 1998.
====================================================================
01/24
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 24, 1965, Winston Churchill died in
London at age 90.
On Jan. 24 , 1862, Edith Wharton, the American
novelist, was born. She died on Aug. 11, 1937
On This Date In
1908 The first Boy Scout troop was organized in England by Robert
Baden-Powell.
1924 The Russian city of St. Petersburg was
renamed Leningrad in honor of late revolutionary leader Vladimir
Lenin.
1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill concluded a wartime conference in
Casablanca, Morocco.
1965 Former British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill died in London at age 90.
1972 The Supreme Court struck down laws that
denied welfare benefits to people who had resided in a state for
less than a year.
1986 The Voyager 2 space probe swept past Uranus,
coming within 50,679 miles of the seventh planet from the sun.
1987 Gunmen in Lebanon kidnapped educators Alann
Steen, Jesse Turner, Robert Polhill and Mitheleshwar Singh. All were
later released.
1989 Confessed serial killer Ted Bundy was
executed in Florida's electric chair.
1993 Retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood
Marshall died at age 84.
1995 The prosecution gave its opening statement
in the O.J. Simpson murder trial.
2003 The new federal Department of Homeland
Security officially opened as Tom Ridge was sworn in as secretary.
2004 NASA's Opportunity rover landed on Mars
three weeks after its identical twin, Spirit.
2008 French bank Societe Generale announced
it had uncovered a $7.14 billion fraud by a single futures trader.
2011 Jared Lee Loughner pleaded not guilty in
Phoenix to federal charges he'd tried to kill U.S. Rep. Gabrielle
Giffords and two of her aides in a Tucson shooting rampage that had
claimed six lives.
================================================================
01/23
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 23, 1973, President Richard Nixon
announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War.
On Jan. 23, 1898, Sergei Eisenstein, the Russian
film director and innovator, was born. He died on Feb. 11, 1948
On This Date In
1789 Georgetown University was established in present-day
Washington, D.C.
1849 English-born Elizabeth Blackwell became the
first woman in America to receive a medical degree, from the Medical
Institution of Geneva, N.Y.
1932 New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt
announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1937 Seventeen people went on trial in Moscow
during Soviet leader Josef Stalin's Great Purge.
1950 The Israeli Knesset approved a
resolution proclaiming Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
1964 The 24th amendment to the Constitution,
eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified.
1968 North Korea seized the U.S. Navy ship the
USS Pueblo, charging it had intruded into the communist nation's
territorial waters on a spying mission. The crew was held for 11
months.
1977 The TV mini-series "Roots," based on the
Alex Haley novel, began airing on ABC.
1989 Surrealist painter Salvador Dali died in his
native Spain at age 84.
1991 Allied forces in the Persian Gulf War
announced that they had achieved air superiority after some 12,000
sorties.
1997 A judge in Fairfax, Va., sentenced a
Pakistani man to death for an assault rifle attack outside CIA
headquarters in 1993 that killed two people and wounded three.
2002 Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl
was abducted in Karachi, Pakistan, by a group demanding the return
of prisoners from the Afghan campaign. He was later killed.
2005 Former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson
died at age 79.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012
MANHATTAN *2:15 PM Speaks at Chinese New Year
Celebration Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association 62
Mott Street between Canal and Bayard Streets
QUEENS *3:00 PM Announces Decrease in
Construction-Related Accidents and Injuries in 2011, Even As Permits
Increased, with Buildings Commissioner LiMandri End of Center
Boulevard past 47th Avenue
BRONX. KILLING IN A BRONX SHOOTING 1/23
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
An investigation is on the way by authorities for the double
shooting in the Morris Park section of the Bronx yesterday Sunday as
the two victims were found in the Morris Park. The two were found
with gunshot wounds outside a building on Hone Avenue. According to
witnesses, Pellumb Fusha, a 39-year-old Eastchester resident, was
shot several times in the chest and a 35-year-old man was shot in
both arms. Fusha was pronounced dead, but the other man was
hospitalized and expected to recover. That section of the Bronx is
known as a hangout for gangs and drug dealers. No arrests had been
made so far. Anyone with information on the case should contact the
Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
MIAMI, FLA. KESLER DUFRESNE OF HAITI, A CONVICTED
THIEF, RELEASED FROM JAIL THEN KILLED 3 AND CANNOT BE SENT BACK TO
HAITI BY INS SERVICE.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
We had been receiving calls from Florida and Haiti about
Kesler Dufresne. In 2006, a Bradenton judge shipped him to prison
for five years. And because of his convictions, an immigration judge
ordered Dufrene deported to Haiti. That never happened. Instead,
when Dufrene’s state prison term was up, Miami immigration
authorities in October 2010 released him from custody. Two months
later, North Miami police say, he slaughtered three people,
including a 15-year-old girl in a murder case that remains as
baffling today as it did the afternoon the bodies were discovered.
DNA on a rifle found inside the house and cellphone tracking
technology later linked Dufrene to the Jan. 2, 2011, slayings.
North Miami detectives never got to interrogate him. Just 18 days
after the murders, Dufrene shot and killed himself when he was
cornered by Manatee County sheriff’s deputies in Bradenton after an
unrelated break-in and shooting there. The episode is a black eye
for U.S. authorities, who by law could not detain Dufrene
indefinitely after the Obama administration ordered a temporary halt
of deportations to the island nation. The deportations were halted
because of the carnage wrought by Haiti’s January 2010 earthquake.
INTERNATIONAL
KENYA. TRIAL IN THE HAGUE FOR KENYATTA AND RUTO.
Two presidential candidates in Kenya are to stand trial over
crimes against humanity following post-poll violence in 2007, the
International Criminal Court has ruled. Finance Minister Uhuru
Kenyatta and former minister William Ruto will both face charges.
They are among four prominent Kenyans - all of whom deny the
accusations - who will stand trial. Charges against a further two
officials were not confirmed by the Hague court.
Mr Kenyatta will stand trial with cabinet secretary
Francis Mutaura. The pair are accused of crimes against humanity,
including murder and persecution.
Former Education Minister William Ruto and radio
presenter Joshua arap Sang will stand trial in a separate case, as
they were on opposite sides during the 2007 election. More than
1,200 people were killed in weeks of unrest and some 600,000 people
were forced to flee their homes. Many still remain homeless.
This decision will have a great bearing on the future of Kenyan
politics.
Mr Kibaki was eventually declared the winner of the
2007 election, and is serving his second and final term as
president. Mr Odinga was installed as prime minister under a
power-sharing deal brokered by Kofi Annan to end the violence. Mr
Ruto and Mr Odinga have since fallen out and are expected to face
each in the elections.
UNITED
NATIONS
UN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT FAILURE TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO
JAIL.
23 January 2012 – The United Nations human rights chief today
spoke out against the failure by the United States to close the
Guantanamo Bay detention facility and to ensure accountability for
serious violations – including torture – that took place there. “It
is 10 years since the US Government opened the prison at Guantanamo,
and now three years since 22 January 2009, when the President
ordered its closure within 12 months,” High Commissioner for Human
Rights Navi Pillay stated in a news release.
“Where credible evidence exists against Guantanamo
detainees, they should be charged and prosecuted. Otherwise, they
must be released.” Ms. Pillay also stressed that individuals found
to have perpetrated, ordered, tolerated or condoned torture and
ill-treatment should be brought to justice, and urged the
Government, so long as Guantanamo remains open, to ensure that
conditions of detention comply fully with human rights standards
under international law. She said she was disturbed by the
Government’s failure to allow independent human rights monitoring of
the detention conditions at Guantanamo.
========================================================================
01/22
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 22, 1973, the Supreme Court handed down
its Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalized abortion.
On Jan. 22, 1890, Fred M. Vinson, 13th Chief
Justice of the United States, was born. He died on Sept. 8, 1953
On This Date In
1901 Queen Victoria died at age 81 after 63 years
on the British throne. 1905 Russian troops opened fired on marching
workers in St. Petersburg, killing more than 100 in what became
known as "Bloody Sunday."
1922 Pope Benedict XV died. 1938 Thornton
Wilder's play "Our Town" premiered in Princeton, N.J.
1944 Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy,
during World War II.
1970 The Boeing 747 went on its first
regularly scheduled commercial flight, from New York to London.
1973 Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of
the United States, died at his ranch in Johnson City, Texas, at age
64.
1995 Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the mother of
President John F. Kennedy, died in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 104.
1997 The Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as
the nation's first female secretary of state.
1998 Theodore Kaczynski pleaded guilty in
Sacramento, Calif., to being the Unabomber in return for a sentence
of life in prison without parole.
2006 Evo Morales, Bolivia's first Indian
president, took office.
2008 Actor Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead of an
accidental prescription drug overdose.
2008 Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with
al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced by a
U.S. federal judge in Miami to more than 17 years in prison on
terrorism conspiracy charges.
2009 President Barack Obama ordered the terrorist
detention center at Guantanamo Bay closed within a year and banned
harsh interrogation of terror suspects.
2010 Conan O'Brien ended his brief tenure on "The
Tonight Show" after accepting a $45 million buyout from NBC to leave
the show after only seven months.
SOUTH CAROLINA. NEWT GINGRICH MADE IT OVER ROMNEY
1/22.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
We were glued to the TV watching the primary results of the
Republican party in the deep south.The former Speaker of the House
routed Romney.
The results threw the 2012 Republican presidential race into
chaos. It is the first time a Republican has won the S.C. Primary
without winning either of the first two election in Iowa and New
Hampshire. With his wife Callista by his side, Newt Gingrich
addresses his supporters in a packed house at the Hilton Hotel. Romey promised to deliver his 2010
tax return by this coming Tuesday.
Now we must wait and see what's going to happen in Florida.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL FLIGHT ATTENDANTS INJURED
ON FLIGHT TO FLORIDA.
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
It is reported that three crew members were injured Sunday
on an American Airlines flight from Brazil to Miami. Flight 980
apparently encountered turbulence on its way to Miami International
Airport from the Recife Airport in Brazil. The flight landed at MIA
shortly after 6:30 p.m. On board, three flight attendants had been
injured “to some degree” due to the rough weather, airline
spokeswoman Mary Frances Fagan said. The flight had 136 passengers
and nine crew members on board, she said. Miami airport spokeswoman
Maria Levrant said the injured were being taken to local hospitals
for treatment. The passengers and other crew members were being
examined at the gate by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue workers as a
precaution..No other information about the severity of the injuries
was released. Fire rescue only said that, so far, none of those
injured had been declared “trauma alerts.”
ATLANTA, GA. DISK JOCKEY STEPHON EDGERTON OF WGOV
RADIO KILLED 1/22
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
The Sheriff office reports that Stepphon Edgerton of radio
station WGOV was shot dead three times by an assailant outside the
the station.Stephon Edgerton, who used the name Juan Gatti while on
the air for station WGOV, died after being shot three times outside
the station's door just after midnight Saturday. Edgerton
managed to call 911 and told emergency responders a man in a mask
had shot him. He died after being rushed to a hospital. Sheriff's
investigators have not arrested any suspects.
NEW YORK. GIANTS FANS ARE WAITING FOR THE GIANTS
TO WIN. 1/22
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
Fans in New York are watching the NFC Championship game at
home or in the bars around the city. Some plan to fly out to watch
the game on the scene. These die-hard Giants fans say they’re not
about to let some snow keep them from being in San Francisco
tomorrow to see Big Blue take on the 49ers. There will be extra
security to keep them safe along the way. Complaints of hostile fans
at Candlestick Park last week have prompted the 49ers organization
and the NFL to bring in extra undercover officers for the NFC
Championship. Officers dressed as Giants fans will keep an eye out
for trouble makers. Extra cameras will also be in use to make sure
the fight stays on the field. The Giants won the game.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SYRIA. ARAB LEAGUE URGES ASSAD TO REFORM.
After a meeting in Cairo, the league called on the Syrian
authorities to form a national unity government to include the
opposition in two months. The league also reiterated its demands
that both sides end the bloodshed. Earlier, Saudi Arabia said it was
pulling out of the league's monitoring mission in Syria because
Damascus had broken promises on peace initiatives.
While the Arab League ministers said they were
extending the controversial mission for another month, analysts say
the Saudi decision has thrown its longer-term future into serious
doubt. Saudi Arabia is one of the key funders of the league's
projects, but the monitors have been criticized for failing to stop
the violence. Activists say almost 1,000 people have been killed
since the monitoring mission began in December. .
UNITED
NATIONS
KANO, NIGERIA. UN CONDEMNS DEADLY ATTACKS IN KANO.
21 January 2012 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned
today the multiple attacks across the northern Nigerian city of Kano,
which resulted in large-scale casualties and massive destruction to
property. According to media reports, an estimated 150 people were
killed on Friday during a series of explosions targeting police
buildings and immigration centers around the city. In a message
issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he was “appalled at the
frequency and intensity of recent attacks in Nigeria, which
demonstrate a wanton and unacceptable disregard for human life.” Mr.
Ban voiced his solidarity with the Government and people of Nigeria,
and expressed his hope for swift and transparent investigations into
the attacks to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. Mr. Ban
also extended his sincere condolences to the people of Nigeria and
to the bereaved families.
===================================================================
01/21
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 21, 1924, Russian revolutionary Vladimir
Ilyich Lenin died at age 54.
On Jan. 21, 1905, Christian Dior , French fashion
designer and creator of the ''New Look'' in 1947, was born. He died
on Oct. 24, 1957.
On This Date In
1861 Five Southerners resigned from the U.S.
Senate, including Jefferson Davis of Mississippi, the future
president of the Confederacy.
1915 The first Kiwanis Club was founded, in
Detroit. 1924 Russian revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Lenin died of a
stroke at age 53.
1950 A federal jury in New York City found former
State Department official Alger Hiss guilty of perjury.
1954 The first atomic submarine, the USS
Nautilus, was launched at Groton, Conn.
1976 The supersonic Concorde jet was put into
service by Britain and France.
1977 President Jimmy Carter pardoned almost all
Vietnam War draft evaders.
1994 A jury in Manassas, Va., acquitted Lorena
Bobbitt by reason of temporary insanity of maliciously wounding her
husband, John, whom she'd accused of sexually assaulting her.
1997 Speaker Newt Gingrich was reprimanded and
fined as the House voted for first time in history to discipline its
leader for ethical misconduct.
1998 Pope John Paul II began his first visit to
Cuba.
2003 The Census Bureau announced that Hispanics
had surpassed blacks as America's largest minority group.
2004 The recording industry sued 532 computer
users it said were illegally distributing songs over the Internet.
2010 A bitterly divided Supreme Court, in
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, vastly increased the
power of big business and labor unions to influence government
decisions by freeing them to spend their millions directly to sway
elections for president and Congress.
2010 Former Democratic presidential candidate
John Edwards finally admitted fathering a child during an affair
before his second White House bid.
==========================================================
01/20
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 20, 1981, Iran released 52 Americans held
hostage for 444 days, minutes after the presidency had passed from
Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan.
On Jan. 20 , 1920, Federico Fellini, the Italian
film director, was born. He died on Oct. 31, 1993 »
On This Date In
1801 John Marshall was appointed chief justice of the United States.
1841 Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain.
1936 Britain's King George V died.
1961 John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th
president of the United States.
1981 Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th
president of the United States.
1981 Iran released 52 Americans held hostage for
444 days.
1986 The United States observed the first federal
holiday in honor of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
1987 Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite
disappeared in Beirut, Lebanon, while attempting to negotiate the
release of Western hostages.
2001 Bill Clinton pardoned 140 people in one of
his final acts as president. The list included fugitive financier
Marc Rich, whose wife was a major Democratic donor.
2001 George W. Bush took the oath of office as
the 43rd president of the United States.
2001 Hundreds of thousands of protesting
Filipinos forced President Joseph Estrada to step down; Vice
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was sworn in as the new president.
2009 Barack Obama was sworn in as the first
African-American president of the United States.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012
MANHATTAN. 7:40 AM Calls in to the John Gambling
Show WOR Radio - 710 AM,
WASHINGTON, D.C. Capital Hilton Hotel 10:00 AM 1001
16th Street NW at K Street
Announces Mayors for Freedom to Marry Campaign with Boston Mayor
Thomas Menino, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Tacoma Mayor
Marilyn Strickland, Tom Cochran, CEO & Executive Director of the
U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Marc Solomon, National Campaign
Director for Freedom to Marry
11:00 AM Speaks about Education Reform at the U.S.
Conference of Mayors 80th Winter Meeting Capital Hilton Hotel Second
Floor 1001 16th Street NW at K Street
CITY HALL, NY. STATEMENTS OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG AND OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONER JOSEPH F.
BRUNO ON THE PASSING OF RICHARD J. SHEIRER
“Today, it was with great sadness that we learned of
the passing of one of our own – Richie Sheirer, who served as our
administration’s Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency
Management and also served in that role under Mayor Giuliani.
Throughout his distinguished career, Richie defined the notion of
service, dedicating more than thirty years of his life to our City
and to improving and safeguarding the lives of others. “At the
Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, Richie oversaw all of the
agency’s emergency response, preparedness and recovery protocols and
was responsible for coordinating plans for major events across the
five boroughs. When the office made the transition to its own
full-fledged agency, Richie was an integral part of the transition
team, offering invaluable advice and assistance every step of the
way. “A graduate of Saint Francis College, Richie began his 20-year
career in the Fire Department as a Fire Alarm Dispatcher. Always one
to understand that anything is possible, he worked his way up the
ranks, ultimately becoming Deputy Commissioner in 1994 and earning
the Chief Thomas P. O'Brien Award in the process.
Statement of Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno:
“Richard Sheirer served the City of New York for
more than 30 years and led the Office of Emergency Management
through one of its most trying times after the 9/11 attacks. Even
after leaving City government, Richie maintained close ties to OEM.
In 2006, he helped celebrate the opening of the agency’s new
headquarters which replaced OEM’s former offices at 7 World Trade
Center. And last September he joined many of his former colleagues
and current OEM staff at a gathering to commemorate the 10th
anniversary of 9/11. Richie was a true member of the OEM family and
will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife,
Barbara, and his five sons, Matthew, Joseph, Christopher, Andrew and
Paul.”
FLUSHING, QUEENS. QUEENS RESIDENTS AND THEIR
PROBLEMS WITH THE 7 TRAIN
1/20/
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Starting this weekend, commuters from Flushing must find a
way to go to Manhattan because the No. 7 will be part as a big
subway maintenance project is set to begin this Saturday as reported
by the MTA. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is making
station, track and tunnel improvements to the Flushing line for the
next 11 weekends. From 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday, 7
trains won't run between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza. Service
east of Queensboro Plaza will not be affected. Shuttle buses will
run between Queensboro and the Vernon-Jackson stations. The MTA says
it is installing a state-of-the-art signal system along the line.
Some of us, residents of Flushing and the Corona sections will have
to use the Long Island Railroad from the Main street station to be
in the Manhattan in a speedy fashion. It will cost more money, but
it will worth it.
NEW YORK. PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SUCCESS VISIT IN THE
CITY. 1/19
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
All of us Democrats were satisfied with the New York visit
Thursday of President Barack Obama. He took part in four fundraisers
activities toward his re-election. A few million do9llars were
raised during the vents. “If you keep on believing, we’ll finish
what we started in 2008. Change will come. If you fight with me and
press on with me, I promise you change will come,” said Obama. In
Harlem, the biggest event took place at t the Apollo Theater where
he said “I am here tonight not just because I need your help, I’m
here because your country needs your help” The president spoke to
three upper East Side audiences, the last at director Spike
Lee's home with singer Mariah Carey and Allan Houston at the $36,000
ticket event. At the Apollo, actor Lin Manuel Miranda, singers Al
Green and India Arie were there to welcome the president.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. NEWT GINGRICH AND THE
MEDIA
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
''I am appalled that you would begin a presidential
debate on a topic like that'' Newt Gingrich has angrily denied a
report that he once wanted an "open marriage", strongly criticizing
the US media at the start of a key debate. He called the US media
"destructive, vicious and negative". The four remaining candidates
appeared in a last-ditch debate before Saturday's South Carolina
primary. Mr Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum
debated in Charleston after a dramatic day.
As Gingrich gained on Mr Romney in the polls, an ex-wife revealed in
an interview he wanted an "open marriage". Texas Governor Rick
Perry pulled out of the race and Iowa said a vote mix-up meant Mr
Romney had not won its caucuses. Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts
governor, is the front-runner in the state-by-state race for the
Republican Party's nomination to challenge Democratic President
Barack Obama for the White House this November. He is ahead of Mr
Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives,
Christian conservative former Senator Rick Santorum and Texas
Congressman Ron Paul.
The former Pennsylvania senator said he had never
supported the individual mandate, while Mr Gingrich and Mr Romney
"played footsie with the left" on healthcare.
INTERNATIONAL
AFGHANISTAN. FRENCH SOLDIERS KILLED IN HAQQANI.
Four French soldiers die in Afghanistan shooting Pakistan
on the brink 'Taliban' villages Haqqani militant network Four French
soldiers have been killed in northern Afghanistan after a serviceman
from the Afghan National Army opened fire, officials say. Another 16
French soldiers were injured, some seriously, in the incident in
Kapisa province. .
President Nicolas Sarkozy said France was suspending
its training programs in Afghanistan following the attack. He was
sending his defense minister, Gerard Longuet, to the country
immediately, he said. President Sarkozy used very tough
language to condemn the attack. French soldiers, he said, were in
Afghanistan to help their allies. "We cannot accept that a single
one of our troops should be killed or wounded by those allies," he
said. The president said that Defense Minister Gerard Longuet will
on his return from Afghanistan deliver a report on security
conditions there for French troops. If these are not satisfactory,
he said, then the question of an early withdrawal of French troops
from Afghanistan will be on the table. It brings to 82 the total
number of French personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001. An
Afghan official said "This is a tragic incident, a sad and
tragic day for us and for Nato." The Afghan soldier was arrested by
the French, he said. Nato confirmed in a statement that four of its
personnel had been killed, and that a suspect had been apprehended,
but gave no further details. Afghan President Hamid Karzai released
a statement conveying "his deepest condolences and sympathy to the
French president, families of the victims and to the French
people".The relationship between the two countries was "historic"
and "honest," and a source of happiness, he said. President Karzai
is due to meet Mr Sarkozy in Paris next week. The Afghan government
has failed to come up with a solution or a strategy to prevent such
attacks, he says.
UNITED NATIONS
UNESCO CALLS FOR PROBE INTO MURDER OF THAI
NEWSPAPER OWNER.
20 January 2012 – The head of the United Nations agency with a
mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom today
condemned the murder of a Thai newspaper owner, editor and political
organizer and called for an investigation into his killing. Wisut
Tangwitthayaporn was shot by a gunman on a motorcycle while driving
with his wife on a major street in the resort island of Phuket on 12
January. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died of his wounds.
His wife was unharmed.
==============================================================
01/18
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 18, 1912, English explorer Robert F.
Scott and his expedition reached the South Pole, only to discover
that Roald Amundsen had gotten there first.
On Jan. 18, 1854, Thomas Watson, the American
telephone pioneer and shipbuilder, was born. He died on Dec. 13,
1934,
On This Date In
1778 English navigator Captain James Cook became the first European
to reach the Hawaiian Islands.
1782 Lawyer and statesman Daniel Webster was born
in Salisbury, N.H.
1788 The first English settlers arrived in
Australia's Botany Bay to establish a penal colony.
1862 John Tyler, the 10th president of the United
States, died in Richmond, Va., at age 71.
1871 William I of Prussia was proclaimed German
emperor in Versailles, France.
1892 Oliver Hardy of the comedy team Laurel and
Hardy was born Norvell Hardy in Harlem, Ga.
1904 Actor Cary Grant was born Archibald
Leach in Bristol, England.
1911 The first landing of an aircraft on a ship
took place as pilot Eugene B. Ely flew onto the deck of the USS
Pennsylvania in San Francisco harbor.
1943 The Soviets announced that they had broken
the long Nazi siege of Leningrad.
1990 Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was
arrested for drug possession in an FBI sting.
1991 Financially strapped Eastern Airlines
shut down after more than six decades in business.
1993 The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was
observed in all 50 states for the first time.
2005 The world's largest commercial jet, an
Airbus A380 that can carry 800 passengers, was unveiled in Toulouse,
France
2011 The first director of the Peace Corps,
R. Sargent Shriver, died at age 95.
CITY HALL, NY.STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG AND REVEREND AL SHARPTON ON GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO'S
JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM PLAN
“In December 2010, we traveled together to the
Finger Lakes Residential Center in Tompkins County to highlight the
broken status quo that is New York State's juvenile justice system.
Today, Governor Cuomo has answered the call with a bold proposal to
fix it and New Yorkers should rally around his plan. “The current
juvenile justice system is defined by an 81 percent recidivism rate
and annual per-child costs that top $250,000. Too many of our young
men are sent to prison and lost to the system. We can and must do
better.
“The Governor has proposed a sweeping, progressive
reform that will transfer primary responsibility for all but the
most seriously delinquent youth from the State to the City, allowing
our young people to remain closer to their families and receive the
individualized services, supports and opportunities they need to
successfully transition into productive lives in their communities.
“The plan is the result of months of collaboration between State and
City officials who are determined to shut the revolving door of
incarceration. We are also grateful to three members of the State
Assembly who have made this their cause: Karim Camara, Joseph R.
Lentol and Amy Paulin. We hope that all members of the Legislature
will join them to pass the Governor's proposal into law.”
HAITI. TRAGEDY IN PORT-AU-PRINCE. TRUCK ACCIDENT
KILLED OVER 30. 1/17/12
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
A tragic accident in Delmas occured this week A truck with
lost brakes killed over 30 poor resident of this section before
stopping at the yard of the National TV. The National Police
as well as the soldiers of the UN were on the scene to help the
victims. It is a sad situation in the Haitian Capital.
MIAMI BECH, FLA. FIRE REPORTED AT HIGH RISE ON
PINE TREE DRIVE 1/18/12
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
There was a fire at the Miami Beach high-rise condo The fire started
this morning at the Miami Beach high-rise condo before 8 along the
busy 41st Streetr. Firefighters were on the scene at 4101 Pine Tree
Dr., where the fire reportedly began in a mechanical room on the
18th floor. The building is not being evacuated.
ATLANTA, GA. JUDGE ORDERS ATLANTA TO TURN OVER
MORE DOCUMENTS. 1/18
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
A Fulton County Superior Court judge Tuesday ordered the
city of Atlanta to provide more information to unsuccessful bidders
for potentially lucrative contracts to run shops and restaurants at
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Edward Matthews, a
managing partner in a current airport concession, lost a bid to open
another restaurant at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The
City of Atlanta released two million pages of documents Tuesday
related to the concessions bids. .
The losing companies wanted to stop the city from officially
awarding the contracts until they received more documents under
Georgia's open records law. Those documents could serve as
ammunition for formal protests. At stake are millions of dollars in
potential sales for contracts slated to last a decade.
SOUTH CAROLINA. EVANGELICAL VOTERS AND MIT ROMNEY
1/18/
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
More than two-thirds of South Carolina’s evangelical voters
do not want Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney to
become the GOP’s nominee for president, according to a new poll from
Monmouth University. But they cannot decide who they want instead.
Instead, those evangelical voters are divided among the
faith-and-values trinity of the 2012 S.C. GOP primary, supporting
Newt Gingrich or Rick Perry or Rick Santorum. That division has
evangelical voters and the non-Romney candidates – frustrated and
expressing fears that, after Saturday’s primary, it may be too late
to stop the former Massachusetts governor’s inexorable march toward
the GOP nomination. GOP candidates Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and
Rick Santorum speak Tuesday night at the South Carolina Chamber of
Commerce Business Speaks event at the Marriott in Columbia.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
NIGERIA. BOMB SUSPECT BOKO HARAM ESCAPES FROM
POLICE.
UN
NEWS
EUROPEAN DEBT CRISIS AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT TO SLOW
DOWN GLOBAL ECONOMY.
17 January 2012 –
===============================================================
01/17
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 17, 1893, Hawaii's monarchy was
overthrown as a group of businessmen and sugar planters forced Queen
Liliuokalani to abdicate.
On Jan. 17, 1899, Al Capone, the American
gangster and prohibition era crime leader , was born. He died on
Jan. 25, 1947
On This Date In
1806 Thomas Jefferson's daughter, Martha, gave
birth to James Madison Randolph, the first child born in the White
House.
1893 Hawaii's monarchy was overthrown.
1893 Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of
the United States, died in Fremont, Ohio, at age 70.
1899 Gangster Al Capone was born in Brooklyn,
N.Y.
1945 Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw
during World War II.
1945 Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited
with saving tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, was
taken into Soviet custody in Budapest, Hungary. His fate has never
been determined.
1946 The United Nations Security Council
held its first meeting.
1977 Convicted murderer Gary Gilmore was shot by
a firing squad at Utah State Prison in the first U.S. execution in a
decade.
1994 A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Southern
California, killing at least 61 people and causing $20 billion worth
of damage.
1995 A magnitude 7.2 earthquake devastated the
city of Kobe, Japan; more than 6,000 people were killed.
1997 A court in Ireland granted the first divorce
in the Roman Catholic country's history.
1998 President Bill Clinton became the first U.S.
president to testify as a defendant in a criminal or civil suit when
he answered questions from lawyers for Paula Jones, who had accused
Clinton of sexual harassment.
2001 Faced with an electricity crisis, California
used rolling blackouts to cut off power to hundreds of thousands of
people.
================================================================
01/16
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 16, 1991, the White House announced the
start of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
On Jan. 16, 1908, Ethel Merman, the
musical-comedy star whose belting voice and brassy style entertained
Broadway and movie audiences for 50 years, was born. She died on
Feb. 15, 1984
On This Date In
1547 Ivan the Terrible was crowned Czar of
Russia.
1920 Prohibition began as the 18th Amendment to
the U.S. Constitution took effect.
1942 Actress Carole Lombard, 33, died in a plane
crash near Las Vegas.
1944 Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower took command of
the Allied invasion force in London.
1964 The musical "Hello, Dolly!" starring Carol
Channing opened on Broadway, beginning a run of 2,844 performances.
1969 Two manned Soviet Soyuz spaceships became
the first vehicles to dock in space and transfer personnel.
1973 The final first-run episode of the
long-running western "Bonanza" aired on NBC.
1989 Three days of rioting erupted in Miami when
a police officer fatally shot a black motorcyclist, causing a crash
that also claimed the life of a passenger.
1992 The government of El Salvador and rebel
leaders signed a pact in Mexico City ending 12 years of civil war
that had killed at least 75,000 people.
2003 The space shuttle Columbia and its crew of
seven blasted off from Cape Canaveral. The shuttle broke up during
its return descent on Feb. 1, killing everyone on board.
2004 Pop star Michael Jackson pleaded innocent to
child molestation charges in Santa Maria, Calif. Charges were later
re-filed and Jackson was acquitted.
2006 Africa's first elected female head of state,
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was sworn in as Liberia's president.
2007 Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., launched his
successful bid for the White House.
================================================================
01/15/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 15, 1967, the first Super Bowl was played
as the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League defeated
the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League, 35-10.
On Jan. 15, 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the
black Baptist minister who led the American Civil Rights Movement in
the 1950's and '60's with his doctrine of nonviolent resistance, was
born. He died on April 4, 1968
On This Date In
1844 The University of Notre Dame received its
charter from the state of Indiana.
1947 The mutilated remains of 22-year-old
Elizabeth Short, who came to be known as the "Black Dahlia," were
found in a vacant Los Angeles lot; her slaying remains unsolved.
1967 The Green Bay Packers of the National
Football League defeated the Kansas City Chiefs of the American
Football League 35-10 in the first Super Bowl.
1973 President Richard Nixon announced the
suspension of all U.S. offensive action in North Vietnam, citing
progress in peace negotiations.
1978 Serial killer Ted Bundy murdered two
students in a sorority house at Florida State University in
Tallahassee.
1992 The Yugoslav federation effectively
collapsed as the European Community recognized the republics of
Croatia and Slovenia.
2001 Wikipedia, a web-based encyclopedia, made
its debut. 2004 The NASA Spirit rover rolled onto the surface of
Mars.
2005 A military court sentenced Army Specialist
Charles Graner Jr. to 10 years behind bars for physically and
sexually mistreating Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison.
2009 US Airways Capt Chelsey Sullenberger guided
a jetliner disabled by a bird strike just after takeoff from New
York's LaGuardia Airport to a safe landing in the Hudson River. All
155 people aboard survived.
=========================================
01/14/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 14, 1943, President Roosevelt and British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill opened a wartime conference in
Casablanca.
On Jan. 14, 1875, Albert Schweitzer, the
Alsatian-German doctor who received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize , was
born. He died on Sept. 4, 1965
On This Date In
1639 Connecticut's first constitution, the
Fundamental Orders, was adopted.
1784 The United States ratified a peace treaty
with England ending the Revolutionary War.
1898 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, who wrote "Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland" under the pen name Lewis Carroll, died in
Guildford, England, at age 65.
1952 NBC's "Today" show premiered.
1953 Josip Broz Tito was elected president of
Yugoslavia by the country's Parliament.
1954 Baseball player Joe Dimaggio and actress
Marilyn Monroe were married at San Francisco City Hall.
1963 George C. Wallace was sworn in as governor
of Alabama with a pledge of "segregation forever."
1970 Diana Ross and the Supremes performed their
last concert together, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.
1993 Late-night TV talk show host David Letterman
announced he was moving from NBC to CBS.
1994 President Bill Clinton and Russian President
Boris Yeltsin signed accords in Moscow to stop aiming missiles at
any nation and to dismantle the nuclear arsenal of Ukraine.
2004 Former Enron finance chief Andrew Fastow
pleaded guilty to conspiracy as he accepted a 10-year prison
sentence.
2004 J.P. Morgan Chase and Co. struck a deal to
buy Bank One Corp. for $58 billion.
2004 President George W. Bush unveiled a plan to
send astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond.
2005 Army Specialist Charles Graner Jr., the
reputed ringleader of a band of rogue guards at the Abu Ghraib
prison, was convicted at Fort Hood, Texas, of abusing Iraqi
detainees. He was later sentenced to 10 years in prison.
2005 A European space probe sent back the first
detailed pictures of the frozen surface of Saturn's moon, Titan.
2008 Republican Bobby Jindal, the first elected
Indian-American governor in the United States, took office in
Louisiana.
==========================================
01/13/2012
IN HISTORY
On This Day In
Jan. 13, 1990, Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation's first
elected black governor as he took the oath of office in Richmond.
On Jan. 13, 1870, Ross Granville Harrison , the
American zoologist and pioneer in embryonic transplantation , was
born. He died on Sept. 30, 1959
On This Date In
1794 President George Washington approved a
measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag,
following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the union.
1808 Salmon P. Chase, U.S. senator, secretary of
the treasury and chief justice of the Supreme Court, was born in
Cornish, N.H.
1893 Britain's Independent Labor Party, a
precursor to the Labor Party, first met.
1898 Novelist Emile Zola's "J'accuse" - a defense
of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a French Jew falsely convicted of treason
- was published in a Paris newspaper.
1964 Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II,
was appointed archbishop of Krakow, Poland, by Pope Paul VI.
1966 Robert C. Weaver became the first black
Cabinet member as he was appointed Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
1968 Country musician Johnny Cash recorded a live
concert at Folsom Prison in California.
1982 An Air Florida 737 crashed into the 14th
Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., after takeoff and fell into the
Potomac River, killing 78 people.
1989 New York City subway gunman Bernhard H.
Goetz was sentenced to one year in prison for possessing an
unlicensed gun that he used to shoot four youths he said were about
to rob him.
1990 L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, the nation's
first elected black governor, took the oath of office in Richmond.
2000 Microsoft chairman Bill Gates stepped aside
as chief executive.
=================================
01/12/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 12, 1915, the United States House of
Representatives rejected a proposal to give women the right to vote.
On Jan. 12 , 1876, Jack London , the American
author best known for his novel "The Call of the Wild", was born. He
died on Nov. 22, 1916
On This Date In
1519 Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I died. 1773 The first public
museum in America was established, in Charleston, S.C.
1932 Hattie W. Caraway, a Democrat from Arkansas,
became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
1944 Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier was
born in Beaufort, S.C.
1945 Soviet forces began a huge offensive against
the Germans in Eastern Europe during World War II.
1948 The Supreme Court ruled that states could
not discriminate against law-school applicants because of race.
1959 Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records
(originally Tamla Records) in Detroit.
1969 Led Zeppelin's self-titled first album was
released.
1969 The New York Jets defeated the Baltimore
Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III at the Orange Bo1wl in Miami.
1991 A deeply divided Congress gave President
George H.W. Bush the authority to use force to expel Iraq from
Kuwait. The Senate vote was 52-47; the House followed suit 250-183.
1998 Linda Tripp provided Independent Counsel
Kenneth Starr's office with taped conversations between herself and
former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
2000 The Supreme Court gave police broad
authority to stop and question people who run at the sight of an
officer.
2005 Britain's Prince Harry apologized after a
newspaper published a photograph of the young royal wearing a Nazi
uniform to a costume party.
2010. Haiti was hit by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake
killing more than 200.00 persons.
================================================================
01/11/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 11, 1935, aviator Amelia Earhart began a
trip from Honolulu to Oakland, Calif., becoming the first woman to
fly solo across the Pacific Ocean.
On Jan. 11, 1842, William James, the American
psychologist and exponent of pragmatism, was born. He died on Aug.
26, 1910
On This Date In
1757 American founding father Alexander Hamilton was born in the
West Indies.
1805 The Michigan Territory was created.
1861 Alabama seceded from the Union.
1973 Owners of American League baseball teams
voted to adopt the designated-hitter rule.
1977 France set off an international uproar by
releasing Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the
massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
2002 The first planeload of al-Qaida prisoners
from Afghanistan arrived at a U.S. military detention camp in
Guantanamo, Cuba.
2003 Calling the death penalty process "arbitrary
and capricious, and therefore immoral," Illinois Gov. George Ryan
commuted the sentences of 167 condemned inmates, clearing his
state's death row two days before leaving office.
2007 English soccer player David Beckham
announced a five-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
2008 Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person
to conquer Mount Everest, died at age 88.
2010 Mark McGwire admitted to The Associated
Press that he'd used steroids and human growth hormone when he broke
baseball's home run record in 1998.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2012
BROOKLYN 10:00 AM Swears In New Class of
Sanitation Workers with Commissioner Doherty Aviator Sports Complex
- Hangar 5 Floyd Bennett Field 3159 Flatbush Avenue at Aviation Road
MANHATTAN 7:15 PM Speaks at Asia Society New
York Awards Dinner Waldorf=Astoria 301 Park Avenue between 49th and
50th Streets
BRONX. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND HIS STATE OF THE CITY
ADDRESS THURSDAY.
Mayor Bloomberg will deliver his annual State of the City
address on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the Morris High School
Campus in the Bronx. The first public high school in the Bronx,
today the Morris Educational Campus is home to four successful small
high schools: Bronx International High School, Morris Academy for
Collaborative Studies, the High School for Violin and Dance, and
School for Excellence High School.
======================================================
01/10/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 10, 1946, the first General Assembly of
the United Nations convened in London.
On Jan. 10, 1910, Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova, one
of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century, was born. She
died on Mar. 21, 1998
On This Date In
1776 Thomas Paine published the pamphlet "Common Sense."
1861 Florida seceded from the Union.
1863 London's Metropolitan, the world's first
underground passenger railway, opened to the public.
1870 John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard
Oil.
1920 The League of Nations was established as the
Treaty of Versailles went into effect.
1957 Harold Macmillan became prime minister of
Great Britain following the resignation of Anthony Eden.
1967 Republican Edward W. Brooke of
Massachusetts, the first black elected to the U.S. Senate by popular
vote, took his seat.
1984 The United States and the Vatican
established full diplomatic relations.
2000 America Online agreed to buy Time-Warner for
$162 billion. Time-Warner decided to spin off AOL in 2009.
2003 North Korea withdrew from a global treaty
barring it from making nuclear weapons.
2005 CBS issued a damning independent review of
mistakes related to a "60 Minutes Wednesday" report on President
George W. Bush's National Guard service.
2007 President George W. Bush announced he would
send a "surge" of 21,500 U.S. forces to Iraq.
2011 A judge ordered former U.S. House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay to serve three years in prison for his role in a
scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in
2002. DeLay remains free on bond as he appeals.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2012
MANHATTAN*12:30 PM Opens New Headquarters of
Seamless, Digital Service for Ordering Food
111 West 40th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
QUEENS 2:00 PM Swears in New NYPD Recruits
with Police Commissioner Kelly Queens College
65-30 Kissena Boulevard at Melbourne Avenue
NEW YORK. WARNING FROM NATIONAL EDUCATION TO NEW
YORK SCHOOL. 1/10 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
National education officials is warning teachers and state
officials that nearly $700 million in federal school aid may
be in jeopardy. Hawaii, Florida and New York are all in danger of
failing to implement their reform plans, and as a consequence could
miss out on the money. In particular, officials point to the failure
to agree on a statewide teacher evaluation system as well as the
lack of progress on a new student data system. In the report,
Federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan says, "New York has a chance
to be a national leader or a laggard and we are only interested in
supporting real courage and bold leadership." In response to the
report, State Education Commissioner John King and Regents
Chancellor Merryl Tisch maintain the state is making progress but
admit improvement is necessary.
HAITI-FLORIDA. MIAMI HERALD RAISES SOME QUESTIONS
DONATIONS TO HAITI.
Two years after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, many
complain that they haven’t seen where billions in donations were
spent.
Two years after a devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, seeds of
progress are starting to take root. But the troubled country still
has a long way to go. Martelly wants Haitian parliament
to work with him Haiti earthquake anniversary events
The U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti will have a private ceremony with
members of families of lost colleagues and representative of the
mission.
Half the money world governments pledged to Haiti
never showed up. Half the money American private donors raised for
Haiti hasn’t been spent. And many millions went to things like
gasoline, car rentals and salaries. Two years after the ground shook
in Haiti, more than 500,000 people remain on the street, many of
them wondering why all that assistance did not lift them out of dire
straits. In a nation where the minimum wage is $5 a day,
international aid groups say seven-figure donations aimed at
rebuilding the health care, housing and school systems were just not
enough to alleviate a country mired in poverty. So while families
continue to live in plastic tents, some organizations are running
dry and major reconstruction projects are taking years longer than
anticipated. Even after the billions were spent and billions more
promised, experts say it will be another 10 years of spending before
people see serious results.
============================================================
01/09/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 9, 1968, the Surveyor 7 space probe made
a soft landing on the moon, marking the end of the American series
of unmanned explorations of the lunar surface.
On Jan. 9, 1913, Richard Milhous Nixon, the first
American president to resign from office following his involvement
in the Watergate scandal, was born. He died on April 22, 1994
On This Date In
1788 Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1861 Mississippi seceded from the Union. 1968 The
Surveyor 7 space probe made a soft landing on the moon. It was the
last of America's unmanned explorations of the lunar surface.
1972 Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes said a
purported authorized biography of him by Clifford Irving was a fake.
1987 The White House released a memorandum
prepared for President Ronald Reagan in January
1986 that showed a definite link between U.S.
arms sales to Iran and the release of American hostages in Lebanon.
2001 Apple Computer Inc. introduced its iTunes
music management software at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco .
2005 Mahmoud Abbas was elected Palestinian
Authority president by a landslide.
2006 "The Phantom of the Opera" became the
longest-running show in Broadway history, surpassing "Cats," which
ran for 7,485 performances.
2007 Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone.
2009
The Illinois House voted to impeach Gov. Rod
Blagojevich. The Democratic governor was removed from office by the
state Senate later in the month.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012
BRONX *12:00 NOON Announces the Opening of
the First City-Sponsored Small-Business Incubator in the Bronx with
Speaker Quinn The Sunshine Bronx Incubator The Bank Note Building
890 Garrison Avenue between Tiffany and Barretto Streets
MANHATTAN 6:30 PM Speaks at NYC Community
Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Graduation Ceremony Federal Reserve
33 Liberty Street between Nassau and Williams Street
NW YORK. SUBWAYS RIDERS AND THE MTA FAST TRACK
SERVICE. 1/9/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Lexington Avenue lines riders will feel the heat during the
next four evenings starting today. It's part of the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new "FastTrack" program
which shuts down entire lines overnight so work can be done faster.
The 4, 5 and 6 lines will be shut down in both directions between 10
p.m. and 5 a.m. between Grand Central Station and Atlantic Avenue in
Brooklyn. 15 stations will be affected by the closure. MTA
workers will be performing some 300 maintenance tasks in stations
and tunnels along the track, including signal inspections and power
washing.
MIAMI, FLA. MILLIONS STOLE BY FORMER CEO OF
COMPUSA. 1/9/11
By Elizabeth Morris NTS NEWS
In a lawsuit filed by CompUSA’s parent company in
Miami-Dade Circuit Court, it is alleged that a classic tale of
executives feeding at the corporate trough. The allegations include
stealing electronics worth millions of dollars, taking family and
friends on company-sponsored trips, negotiating kickbacks from
vendors, and using employees for personal errands on company time.
Their employees and vendors eventually grew tired of the games and
turned them in. A whistleblower investigation disclosed last March
launched the demise of the Fiorentino brothers. Carl and Patrick
were fired; Gilbert signed an agreement that separated him from the
company. The lawsuit accuses Carl and Patrick Fiorentino of unjust
enrichment, civil conspiracy and breach of fiduciary duty. Also
accused in the suit are several others who allegedly aided them in
their crimes: three low-level former Tiger.A report filed by CompUSA
with the Miami-Dade Police Department in July estimated $17 million
in electronics had been stolen. No criminal charges have been filed
in the case.
=================================================
01/08/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson
outlined his 14 points for peace after World War I.
On Jan. 8, 1867, Emily Greene Balch, a leader of
the women's movement for peace during and after World War I and
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, was born. She died on Jan. 9, 1961
On This Date In
1912 The African National Congress was founded in Bloemfontein,
South Africa.
1918 President Woodrow Wilson outlined his
Fourteen Points for peace after World War I.
1959 Charles De Gaulle was inaugurated as
president of France's Fifth Republic.
1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war
on poverty.
1982 AT&T settled the Justice Department's
antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself of the 22
Bell System companies.
1987 The Dow Jones industrial average closed
above 2,000 for the first time, ending the day at 2,002.25.
1998 Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993
World Trade Center bombing, was sentenced in New York to life in
prison.
2007 A Moroccan man convicted of aiding three of
the four pilots who committed the 9/11 attacks was sentenced by a
German court to the maximum 15 years in prison.
2011 Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot
and critically wounded when a gunman opened fire as the
congresswoman met with constituents in Tucson; six people were
killed and 12 others were injured. Jared Lee Loughner has pleaded
not guilty to 49 charges in connection with the shooting.
===================================================
01/07/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 7, 1979, Vietnamese forces captured the
Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing the Khmer Rouge
government.
On Jan. 7, 1873, Adolph Zukor, the American
entrepreneur who built the Paramount movie empire, was born. He died
on June 10, 1976
On This Date In
1800 Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States, was
born in Summerhill, N.Y.
1927 Commercial transatlantic telephone service
was inaugurated between New York and London.
1942 The World War II siege of Bataan
began.
1953 President Harry S. Truman announced in his
State of the Union address that the United States had developed a
hydrogen bomb.
1955 Singer Marian Anderson made her debut with
the Metropolitan Opera in New York, becoming the first black person
to perform there as a member.
1959 The United States recognized Fidel Castro's
new government in Cuba.
1972 Lewis F. Powell Jr. and William H. Rehnquist
were sworn in as the 99th and 100th members of the Supreme Court.
1979 Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian
capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing the Khmer Rouge government.
1989 Japanese Emperor Hirohito died at age 87.
1996 A major blizzard paralyzed the eastern
United States, claiming more than 100 lives.
1997 Newt Gingrich became the first Republican
re-elected House speaker in 68 years.
1999 President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial
began in the Senate.
2005 Actor Brad Pitt and actress Jennifer Aniston
announced they were separating after four years of marriage.
2006 American journalist Jill Carroll was
abducted in Iraq and a translator was killed. Carroll was released
unharmed after 82 days.
2006 Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, facing
corruption charges, stepped down as House majority leader.
======================================================
01/06/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 6, 1919, the 26th president of the United
States, Theodore Roosevelt, died in Oyster Bay, N.Y., at age 60.
On Jan. 6, 1882, Sam Rayburn, who served for more
than 48 years in the U.S. House of Representatives (1913-61), was
born. He died on Nov. 16, 1961
On This Date In
1912 New Mexico became the 47th state.
1919 Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of
the United States, died in Oyster Bay, N.Y., at age 60.
1945 George H.W. Bush married Barbara Pierce in
Rye, N.Y.
1993 Jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie died at age
75.
1994 Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on
the right leg in an assault planned by the ex-husband of her rival,
Tonya Harding.
2001 With the vanquished Vice President Al Gore
presiding, Congress certified Republican George W. Bush the winner
of the close and bitterly contested 2000 presidential election.
2005 Former Ku Klux Klan leader Edgar Ray Killen
was arrested 41 years after three civil rights workers were slain in
Mississippi. Killen was later convicted of manslaughter and
sentenced to 60 years in prison.
==================================================
01/05/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 5, 1914, Henry Ford, head of the Ford
Motor Company, introduced a minimum wage scale of $5 per day.
On Jan. 5, 1863, Constantin Sergeyevich
Stanislavsky, one of the greatest masters of Russian drama and a
founder of the Moscow Art Theatre, was born. He died on Aug. 7, 1938
On This Date In
1781 A British naval expedition led by Benedict
Arnold burned Richmond, Va.
1896 The Austrian newspaper Wiener Press reported
the discovery by German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen of a type of
radiation that came to be known as an X-ray.
1933 Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the
United States, died in Northampton, Mass., at age 60.
1949 In his State of the Union address, President
Harry S. Truman labeled his domestic program the "Fair Deal."
1972 President Richard Nixon ordered development
of the space shuttle.
1973 Bruce Springsteen's debut album, "Greetings
From Asbury Park, N.J.," was released.
1981 Police in England arrested Peter Sutcliffe,
a truck driver later convicted of the "Yorkshire Ripper" murders of
13 women.
1994 Former House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill
died in Boston at age 81.
2004 After 14 years of denials, Pete Rose
publicly admitted that he'd bet on baseball while manager of the
Cincinnati Reds.
2011 Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was elected
speaker as Republicans regained control of the House of
Representatives on the first day of the new Congress.
HIGHLAND BEACH, FLA. CLIFF POPPER, MORTGAGE
BROKER, KILLED HIMSELF. 1/5/12
By Patricia Faurelus NTS NEWS
Cliff Popper, the charismatic South Florida trader, who rode
the crest of the housing boom by popularizing risky investments in
mortgage pools, defended himself at his federal civil fraud trial in
November in West Palm Beach. But before the judge could give his
decision, Popper killed himself this week, his body found on Tuesday
in his oceanfront condo in Highland Beach. The death of the flashy
broker who symbolized the nation’s mortgage craze is the latest
chapter in the government’s case against him and others accused of
wiping out the finances of people in investments that defined the
country's economic crisis: speculative mortgage-backed securities.
Lawyers for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission argued
Popper was the architect of a program that misled people into
pouring their life savings in investments that collapsed with the
home market. In all, 1,000 people lost more than $100 million. “It
was a horror show,” said Scott Silver, a Coral Springs lawyer for
more than 30 families in Broward County and Miami-Dade. “People lost
homes, retirements, life savings. .” The case was made more
prominent because of Popper, a well-known trader with expensive
tastes who drove a BMW Z8, entertained clients in a sky box at Sun
Life Stadium and owned a $2.4 million condo on South Beach.
. Two years later, the SEC charged
him and nine others with civil fraud, saying he and others lied and
misrepresented the nature of the investments to convince people to
turn over their money. In July 2009, he filed for bankruptcy.
==========================================================
01/04/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 4, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson
outlined the goals of his ''Great Society'' in his State of the
Union address.
On Jan. 4, 1896, Everett McKinley Dirksen,
Republican leader of the Senate from 1959-1969, was born. He died on
Sept. 7, 1969
On This Date in
1896 Utah was admitted to the Union as the
45th state.
1948 Britain granted independence to Burma.
1951 North Korean and Communist Chinese forces
captured the city of Seoul during the Korean War.
1960 Nobel Prize-winning French author Albert
Camus died in a car accident at age 46.
1965 Poet T.S. Eliot died at age 76.
1974 President Richard Nixon refused to hand over
tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate
Committee.
1995 The 104th Congress convened, the first
entirely under Republican control since the Eisenhower era; Newt
Gingrich was elected speaker of the House.
1999 Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura
was sworn in as governor of Minnesota.
2004 Afghans approved a new constitution.
2006 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered
a stroke and his powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert.
2007 Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., became the
first female speaker of the House.
2010 Dubai opened the world's tallest skyscraper,
the 2,717-foot gleaming glass-and-metal tower Burj Khalifa.
====================================================
01/03/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 3, 1959, President Eisenhower signed a
proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state.
On Jan. 3, 1793, Lucretia Mott, an early
proponent of the women's rights movement in America, was born. She
died on Nov. 11, 1880
On This Date in
1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated from the
Roman Catholic Church.
1777 Gen. George Washington's army routed the
British in the Battle of Princeton, N.J.
1868 The Meiji Restoration re-established the
authority of Japan's emperor and heralded the fall of the military
rulers known as shoguns.
1892 J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the "Lord of the
Rings" trilogy, was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
1938 The March of Dimes campaign to fight polio
was organized.
1961 The United States severed diplomatic
relations with Cuba.
1967 Jack Ruby, the man who fatally shot accused
presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, died in a Dallas hospital.
1990 Ousted Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega
surrendered to U.S. forces, 10 days after taking refuge in the
Vatican's diplomatic mission in Panama City.
2000 The last new daily "Peanuts" comic strip by
Charles Schulz ran in 2,600 newspapers.
2004 NASA's Mars rover, Spirit, touched down on
the red planet.
2006 Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to
conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion and agreed to cooperate in
investigations of corruption in Congress.
2009 After seven days of pummeling the Gaza Strip
from the air, Israel launched a ground offensive.
NEW YORK. OCCUPY WALL STREET ON 3RD AVENUE,
ROCKFELLER CENTER AND GRAND CENTRAL 1/3/12
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
More than 200 Occupy Wall Street protesters were first at
780 3rd Avenue, in a section were several Private Bankers have
offices dealing on behalf of private investors. They spent about an
hour 30 minutes there before walking to Rockefeller Plaza at 49th
street and Fifth Avenue. We receive a flyer criticizing President
Obama for signing the National Defense Authorization Act into law.
Then, from Rockefeller Plaza, the protesters went to the Grand
Central Terminal main concourse to continue their criticism of the
US President . From the frigid weather in the street, they found
some good heat in Grand Central.. Three of them were arrested for
disorderly conduct, according to MTA cops on the scene.
==================================================
01/02/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 2, 1905, Japanese Gen. Nogi received from
Russian Gen. Stoessel at 9 o'clock P.M. a letter formally offering
to surrender, ending the Russo-Japanese War.
On Jan. 2, 1920, Isaac Asimov, the immensely
popular science fiction writer, was born. He died on April 6, 1992
On This Date in
1492 The leader of the last Arab stronghold in Spain surrendered to
Spanish forces loyal to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.
1788 Georgia became the fourth state to ratify
the U.S. Constitution.
1900 Secretary of State John Hay announced the
Open Door Policy to prompt trade with China.
1935 Bruno Hauptmann went on trial in
Flemington, N.J., on charges of kidnapping and murdering the infant
son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. He was found guilty and executed.
1965 The New York Jets signed University of
Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.
1974 President Richard Nixon signed legislation
requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 mph.
1981 Police in Sheffield, England, arrested Peter
Sutcliffe, who confessed to being the "Yorkshire Ripper," the serial
killer of 13 women.
1991 Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as mayor of
Washington, D.C., becoming the first African-American woman to head
a city of Washington's size and prominence.
2006 A methane gas explosion at the Sago Mine in
West Virginia trapped 13 miners underground for more than 40 hours;
only one survived.
2008 Oil prices soared to $100 a barrel for the
first time.
===================================================================
01/01/2012
IN HISTORY
On Jan. 1, 1959, Fidel Castro led Cuban
revolutionaries to victory over Fulgencio Batista.
On Jan. 1, 1895, J. Edgar Hoover, the director of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1924-1972, was born. He
died on May 2, 1972
On This Date in
1808 A law prohibiting the importation of slaves into the United
States went into effect.
1892 The Ellis Island Immigrant Station in New
York opened. 1898 New York City was consolidated into five boroughs.
1901 The Commonwealth of Australia was
proclaimed.
1919 J.D. Salinger, author of "The Catcher in the
Rye," was born in New York City.
1953 Country singer Hank Williams Sr., 29, died
of a drug and alcohol overdose.
1958 Treaties establishing the European Economic
Community went into effect.
1959 Fidel Castro led Cuban revolutionaries to
victory over Fulgencio Batista.
1979 The United States and China established
diplomatic relations.
1984 AT&T was divested of its 22 Bell System
companies under terms of an antitrust agreement.
1990 David Dinkins was sworn in as New York
City's first African-American mayor.
1993 Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two new
countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 1994 The North American
Free Trade Agreement went into effect.
1999 The euro became the official currency of 11
European countries. 2011 Oprah Winfrey launched the OWN cable TV
network.
===========================================================
12/31/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 31, 1946, President Harry S. Truman
officially proclaimed the end of hostilities in World War II.
On Dec. 31, 1869, Henri Matisse, one of the
foremost painters of 20th century French art, was born. He died on
Nov. 3, 1954
On This Date in
1857 Britain's Queen Victoria decided to make Ottawa the capital of
Canada.
1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed an act
admitting West Virginia to the Union.
1951 The Marshall Plan expired after distributing
more than $12 billion in foreign aid.
1974 Private U.S. citizens were allowed to buy
and own gold for the first time in more than 40 years.
1985 Rock singer Rick Nelson, 45, and six other
people were killed when fire broke out aboard a DC-3 that was taking
the group to a New Year's Eve performance in Dallas.
1993 Entertainer Barbra Streisand performed her
first paid concert in 22 years, singing to a sellout crowd at the
MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
1997 Michael Kennedy, 39-year-old son of the late
Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in a skiing accident on Aspen
Mountain in Colorado.
2006 The death toll for Americans killed in
the Iraq war reached 3,000.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011
MANHATTAN 11:30 PM Live Interview Airs on
ABC’s New Year's Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest
ABC Television
11:45 PM Live Interview Airs on NBC’s New Year’s Eve
with Carson Daly NBC Television
11:59 PM Lowers 2012 New Year’s Eve Ball with Lady
Gaga Times Square The Countdown Stage Broadway and 46th Street
SPRING VALLEY, NY. FUNERAL OF HERVE GILLES, THE
HAITIAN IMMIGRANT KILLED BY A COP ON DECEMBER 14, 2011.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This Saturday at 10:00 a.m., the funeral of Hervé Gilles,
the Haitian resident of Spring Valley, took place at 10:00
a.m. in the presence of a great number of Haitian immigrants at the
French Baptist Church Herve Gilles was fatally shot by a
Spring Valley Village police officer on December 14, 2011. A
procession of the members of the community march from the
location of the place that Herve Gilles was shot and killed, the
parking lot of Mount Zion Sanctuary of Rockland County Church of God
seventh Day located at Franklin Street and East Furman Place in
spring Valley New York to the French Baptiste Church for the viewing
and funeral. The march was led by Attorney Sanford Rubenstein,
Spring Valley Trustees Demeza Delhomme and Anthony Leon and
community leaders. An investigation of the killing is on the way and
a Grand Jury will determine if any charges will be brought against
the police officer involved in that tragic killing.
=================================================================
12/30/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 30, 1972, the United States halted its
heavy bombing of North Vietnam.
On Dec. 30, 1873, Alfred Smith, the four-time
governor of New York State and 1928 presidential candidate, was
born. He died on Oct. 4, 1944
On This Date in
1813 The British burned Buffalo, N.Y., during the War of 1812.
1865 Author Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay,
India.
1903 About 600 people died when fire broke out at
the Iroquois Theater in Chicago.
1911 Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president
of the Republic of China.
1928 Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley was born
Ellas Bates in McComb, Miss.
1940 California's first freeway, the Arroyo Seco
Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, was officially opened.
1972 The United States halted its heavy bombing
of North Vietnam.
1978 Ohio State University fired Woody Hayes as
its football coach, one day after Hayes punched a Clemson University
player during a game.
1993 Israel and the Vatican agreed to recognize
one another.
2003 The federal government announced it would
ban the sale of ephedrine, an herbal stimulant linked to 155 deaths
and dozens of heart attacks and strokes.
2006 Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was
hanged.
2010 Top-ranked Connecticut's record 90-game
winning streak in women's basketball ended with a 71-59 loss to No.
9 Stanford.
==========================================================
12/29/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 29, On Dec. 29, 1940, during World War
II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London.
On Dec. 29, 1808, Andrew Johnson, the 17th
president of the United States and the first American president to
be impeached, was born. Following his death on July 31, 1875,
On This Date in
1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered
in Canterbury Cathedral in England.
1808 Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the
United States, was born in Raleigh, N.C.
1845 Texas was admitted to the union as the 28th
state.
1851 The first American Young Men's Christian
Association was organized, in Boston.
1890 U.S. troops killed as many as 400 Sioux
Indians at Wounded Knee, S.D.
1916 Gregory Rasputin, the monk who had wielded
powerful influence over the Russian court, was murdered by a group
of noblemen.
1940 Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on
London during World War II.
1996 War-weary guerrilla and government leaders
in Guatemala signed an accord ending 36 years of civil conflict.
1998 Khmer Rouge leaders apologized for the 1970s
genocide in Cambodia that claimed 1 million lives. 1
999 The Nasdaq composite index closed above 4,000
for the first time, ending the day at 4,041.46.
2007 The New England Patriots became the
first NFL team in 35 years to finish the regular season undefeated
when they beat the New York Giants 38-35 to go 16-0.
============================================================
12/28/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 28, 1981, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the
first American test-tube baby, was born in Norfolk, Va.
On Dec. 28, 1905, Earl "Fatha" Hines, the father
of modern jazz piano, was born. He died on April 22, 1983,
On This Date in
1694 Queen Mary II of England died after five years of joint rule
with her husband, King William III.
1832 John C. Calhoun became the first vice
president of the United States to resign, stepping down over
differences with President Andrew Jackson.
1846 Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted to
the Union.
1897 "Cyrano de Bergerac," a play by Edmond
Rostand, premiered in Paris.
1905 The forerunner of the NCAA, the
Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States, was
founded in New York City.
1945 Congress officially recognized the Pledge of
Allegiance.
1958 The Baltimore Colts won the NFL
championship, defeating the New York Giants 23-17 in overtime at
Yankee Stadium, in what has been dubbed the greatest football game
ever played.
1973 Alexander Solzhenitsyn published
"Gulag Archipelago," an expose of the Soviet prison system.
1982 A black man was mortally wounded by a police
officer in a Miami video arcade, setting off three days of
race-related disturbances that left another man dead.
2005 Former top Enron Corp. accountant Richard
Causey pleaded guilty to securities fraud and agreed to help pursue
convictions against Enron founder Kenneth Lay and former CEO Jeffrey
Skilling.
2008 The Detroit Lions completed an 0-16 season,
the NFL's worst ever, with a 31-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
==========================================================
12/27/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 27, 1979, Soviet forces seized control of
Afghanistan. President Hafizullah Amin, who was overthrown and
executed, was replaced by Babrak Karmal.
On Dec. 27, 1901, Marlene Dietrich, the magnetic
movie star and singer who was considered an international symbol of
glamour, was born. She died on May 6, 1992
On This Date in
1831 British naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a voyage to the
Pacific Ocean aboard the HMS Beagle. Darwin's discoveries during the
nearly five-year journey helped form the basis of his theories on
evolution.
1927 The musical "Show Boat," with music by
Jerome Kern and libretto by Oscar Hammerstein II, opened at the
Ziegfeld Theater in New York City.
1932 Radio City Music Hall opened in New York
City.
1945 The World Bank was created with an agreement
signed by 28 nations.
1949 Queen Juliana of the Netherlands granted
sovereignty to Indonesia after more than 300 years of Dutch rule.
1968 Apollo 8, the first spaceflight to orbit the
moon, returned to Earth.
1970 "Hello, Dolly!" closed on Broadway after a
run of 2,844 performances.
1979 Soviet forces seized control of Afghanistan.
Babrak Karmal succeeded President Hafizullah Amin, who was
overthrown and executed.
1985 Naturalist Dian Fossey, who had studied
gorillas in the wild, was found hacked to death at a research
station in Rwanda.
2001 U.S. officials announced that Taliban and
al-Qaida prisoners would be held at the U.S. naval base at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
2004 Viktor Yushchenko won a runoff in Ukraine's
presidential election, completing the country's "Orange Revolution."
2005 Indonesia's Aceh rebels formally abolished
their 30-year armed struggle for independence under a peace deal
born out of the 2004 tsunami.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2011
BRONX*11:00 AM Makes Major Health
Announcement Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center
234 East 149th Street between Morris & Park Avenues
MANHATTAN *2:00 PM Presides Over Bill Signing
Ceremony City Hall
*Bills to be considered: Int. 563-A - in relation to the
notification of information related to polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) in schools.
Int. 566-A - in relation to requiring the reporting of information
related to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).Int. 576-A - in relation
to the regulation of concrete washout water.
Int. 578-A - in relation to the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement.
Int. 592-A - in relation to filtering soot from incoming air in
buildings.
Int. 643-A - in relation to authorizing the taxi and limousine
commission to collect the commercial motor vehicle tax imposed on
medallion taxicabs and on certain motor vehicles for the
transportation of passengers.
Int. 720-A - in relation to bicycle parking in garages and parking
lots.
Int. 746 - in relation to carbon monoxide alarms.
5:15 PM Lights Candle on the World’s Largest Menorah on the 7th
Night of Hanukkah
Grand Army Plaza Fifth Avenue at 59th Street
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG HIGHLIGHTS THE
MANY FREE AND LOW-COST ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CULTURAL EXHIBITS,
PERFORMANCES AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO NEW YORKERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES THIS WINTER SEASON
New York City Offers Countless Free Exhibits,
Performances, Outdoor Activities and Family-Oriented Volunteer
Opportunities
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D.
Levin, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Small Business
Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh and NYC & Company CEO George
Fertitta today outlined a few of the hundreds of free and low-cost,
family-friendly cultural activities occurring across the City and
invited New Yorkers in all five boroughs to take full advantage of
them. New York City offers countless attractions at museums,
theaters, parks, recreation centers, public libraries, Business
Improvement Districts and other venues, including special holiday
events, with a free or suggested admission cost. Because of the
City’s continued partnership with the cultural community, New
Yorkers can experience all that makes New York the greatest city in
the world for free or a cost that is often lower than the price of a
movie ticket. Mayor Bloomberg also encouraged New Yorkers to help
make a difference in their community by participating in some of the
many volunteer opportunities available through NYC Service, the
City’s comprehensive initiative to promote a new era of service and
direct volunteers toward the areas of greatest need.
NEW YORK. CITY'S COMPTROLLER OFFICE REPORTS THAT
LAST YEAR'S BLIZZARD COST ABOUT 2 MILLIONS DOLLARS.,
The city is still paying the price for its sluggish response to
the major blizzard from exactly one year ago, in the form of
liability claims. The City Comptroller's office says it has paid out
nearly $2 million in liability claims so far, and there may be more
to come. The biggest settlement so far was $150,000 for a man who
fell in an icy parking lot that was not shoveled properly by the
city. Another $100,000 thousand went to a Brooklyn cemetery where
headstones were damaged by a falling fence after snow had been
dumped against it. In total, nearly 1,200 claims were filed.
"Whether it was a communication infrastructure
communication problem, or whether it was sheer incompetence, it's a
little difficult to tell," said a third. "Clearly we haven't had a
chance to see if the city's learned from its lessons last year."
Last year, mass transit came to a grinding halt and travelers trying
to return from holiday trips were left stranded for days. Garbage
piled up around the city for a week as the Sanitation Department
focused on the massive cleanup effort.
MIAMI, FLA. 3 KILLED IN HELICOPER CRASH. 12/27/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Three people were killed when a helicopter on its way to
retrieve a heart for transplant crashed in northern Florida, leaving
the patient to wait for another organ to become available. FAA:
Helicopter carrying 3 crashes in north Fla FAA: Helicopter carrying
3 crashes in north Fla Two Mayo Clinic employees flying to the
University of Florida to harvest organs have been killed in a
helicopter crash in north Florida. Search on for bodies of dead in
Everglades plane crash Search on for bodies of dead in Everglades
plane crash Federal authorities have confirmed that the plane that
crashed on Sunday evening belonged to a company registered in
Central Florida. Baby born to liver transplant couple believed to be
the first Baby born to liver transplant couple believed to be the
first Trine Engebretsen, Florida’s first liver transplant recipient,
celebrates another first: the birth of a child with a husband who
also is a liver transplant recipient. The helicopter crashed
at 5:53 a.m. Monday, according to Federal Aviation Administration
spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. Bergen said no flight plan was filed
for the helicopter, which was headed to a Gainesville hospital,
Shands at the University of Florida. Clay County Sheriff's Office
spokesman Russ Burke told The Florida Times-Union the helicopter
originally left the St. Augustine airport. The helicopter was
carrying heart surgeon Dr. Luis Bonilla and procurement technician
David Hines of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Sheriff's officials
say the name of the pilot has not been released.
ATLANTA, GA.YOUNG VITO, THE KILLER OF
ATLANTA SURRENDERS TO POLICE. 12/27/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
The man accused of killing Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin turned
himself in to police yesterday.Fulton County Sheriff's Office Vinson
Hardimon, also known as rapper Young Vito, turned himself in to
police Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. According to witnesses, while at a
video shoot in a Memorial Drive studio, Slim Dunkin, whose real name
was Mario Hamilton, was shot in the chest on the evening of Dec. 16
during a fight that allegedly started over a piece of candy, police
said.
Investigators believe Hardimon was the man who
argued with Slim Dunkin, eventually pulling out a pistol and firing
at the young rapper. Atlanta police put out a lookout for Hardimon,
and through the media advised Hardimon to turn himself in, warning
that his life might be in danger. "I got a call today from his
attorney," Atlanta police homicide Det. David Quinn told the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution on Monday. "He said he wished to turn himself
in."
Each arrest included charges for carrying a gun,
whether illegally concealing weapons or using a firearm while
committing a felony, according to jail records. Slim Dunkin was
considered an up-and-comer in local rap star Waka Flaka Flame's
Brick Squad Monopoly hip hop collective. Investigators are still
trying to piece together the facts behind the shooting, Quinn said.
"There were at least 30 people in the studio at the time of the
shooting," he said. "They should get in touch with me. We want the
facts. It's the right thing to do."
===================================================================
12/26/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 26, 1941, Winston Churchill became the
first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the
United States Congress.
On Dec. 26, 1893, Mao Tse-tung, the Chinese
statesman who led the communist revolution in China and became its
first communist leader, was born. He died on Sept. 9, 1976
On This Date
In 1799 George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as "first
in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."
1865 James H. Nason of Franklin, Mass., received
a patent for a coffee percolator.
1893 Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong was born
in Hunan province.
1908 Jack Johhnson became the first black
heavyweight boxing champion when he knocked out Tommy Burns in
Sydney, Australia.
1917 The U.S. government took over operation of
the nation's railroads.
1944 Tennessee Williams' play "The Glass
Menagerie" premiered at the Civic Theatre in Chicago.
1947 Heavy snow blanketed the Northeast, burying
New York City under 25.8 inches of snow in 16 hours; the severe
weather was blamed for some 80 deaths.
1972 Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the
United States, died in Kansas City, Mo., at age 88.
1996 Six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey
was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home
in Boulder, Colo. The slaying remains unsolved.
2004 Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts
broke Dan Marino's single-season touchdown pass record when he threw
his 48th and 49th of the season in a victory over San Diego.
2006 Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of the
United States, died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 93.
===================================================================
12/25/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 25, 1991, Soviet President Mikhail S.
Gorbachev went on TV to announce his resignation as the eighth and
final leader of a Communist superpower that had already gone out of
existence.
On Dec. 25, 1918, Anwar el-Sadat, the Egyptian
president who won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating a peace
treaty with Israel, was born. He died on Oct. 6, 1981
On This Date on
1776 Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware
River for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, N.J.
1818 "Silent Night" was performed for the first
time, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorff, Austria.
1821 Clara Barton, the founder of the American
Red Cross, was born in Oxford, Mass.
1868 President Andrew Johnson granted an
unconditional pardon to everyone involved in the Southern rebellion
that resulted in the Civil War.
1926 Hirohito became emperor of Japan, succeeding
his father, Emperor Yoshihito.
1977 Comedian Charlie Chaplin died at age 88.
1989 Ousted Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu
and his wife, Elena, were executed.
1989 Former New York Yankees player and manager
Billy Martin, 61, died when the pickup truck he was riding in
crashed.
1991 Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev went
on TV to announce his resignation as the eighth and final leader of
a Communist superpower that had already gone out of existence.
1995 Singer Dean Martin died at age 78.
2006 Soul singer James Brown died at age 73.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES HOW
CORNELL UNIVERSITY’S WINNING PROPOSAL FOR A SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
CAMPUS AND THE NEW LANDMARK TAXI LAW WILL TRANSFORM THE CITY,
CREATING JOBS AND GENERATING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WEEKLY RADIO
ADDRESS “
Merry Christmas, and happy holidays! This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
“Earlier this morning, parents across our city were
roused out of bed by children who had been awake for hours, waiting
to unwrap their new toys. It’s truly a time of joy in a season of
hope and reflection. And even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, this
past week has been full of glad tidings for all New Yorkers. “The
first piece of good news puts us firmly on track to becoming the
world’s capital of technological innovation. On Monday, we selected
a bold proposal from Cornell University and the Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology to build a cutting-edge science and
engineering campus here in our city. As part of the agreement, we
are giving them a prime but under-utilized piece of real estate on
Roosevelt Island and $100 million in City funding for infrastructure
there to realize their bold proposal. Their world-class program will
begin admitting students as soon as next year.
“We remain in negotiations to realize other
proposals from NYU, Columbia, and Carnegie Mellon – because we’ve
seen the power of universities to be magnets for talent and engines
for economic innovation and growth. Cornell and the Technion’s new
campus will certainly achieve that. In fact, according to our
conservative predictions, it will spawn 600 startups over the next
three decades, creating 30,000 new jobs. And that doesn’t even
include the tens of thousands of new jobs required to build the
campus and operate it. Bottom line: it’s going to be a game-changer
for our economic future. “The second piece of good news will also
transform our city – in an even more immediate way. It’s historic
legislation that will create more legal taxi service for seven
million New Yorkers. How? By creating a new class of licenses that
allow livery cars to pick up passengers on the street in Northern
Manhattan and the other four boroughs. This will give 40,000 honest,
hard-working livery drivers the chance to earn a legal salary in
safer conditions. The agreement also authorizes the sale of 2,000
new yellow cab medallions – all of which will be accessible to
wheelchairs. Even if you never hail a cab, the sale of these new
medallions is good news because it will generate a billion dollars
in tax revenue for the City – especially welcome during these times
of tight budgets.
“This is Mayor Bloomberg. Merry Christmas, and I
hope everyone has safe and happy holidays.”
NEW YORK. CHRISTMAS MASS DEDICATED TO
FIREFIGHTERS BY BISHOP DOLAN
12/25/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Archbishop Timothy Dolan brought a special mass to some
those who couldn't quite make it to church this Christmas eve,
holding a service at FDNY Engine Company 8 and Ladder 2 in Turtle
Bay. "I just want to thank everybody for all the prayers for Robby,"
said Wiedmann's brother Doug. "He had his first surgery and
yesterday and he's doing well." "It reminds us of this baby whose
birth we celebrate," Dolan said. "It calls to selfless love and
sacrifice, and that's what these men and women in uniform do all the
time."
Meanwhile, in Morningside Heights, more than a
thousand people gathered at Riverside Church for what it called an
interdenominational, interracial service for an international
congregation. A Christmas service for children and families at
Trinity Church on Wall Street included story telling and child
participation.
Trinity Church traces its roots back to 1697, but
that's not long at all compared with St. Peter's Basilica in Rome,
where Pope Benedict XVI rode down the basilica's central aisle on a
moving platform to spare him the long walk.
The 84-year-old pontiff gave midnight mass a little
early at 10 p.m. Vatican time, to allow him time to rest. He
urged the faithful to look beyond the holiday's "superficial
glitter'' to discover its true meaning.
Father Brian Jordan of the St. Francis of Assisi
Church has held Christmas mass at the World Trace Center site since
the terror attacks of 9/11. Those who attend include family members
who lost loved ones, first responders, and recovery workers. Father
Jordan says this year's mass here will be his last.
"It's not to end perpetual prayer," Jordan said.
"This place is sacred ground and will always be sacred ground.
Whether I come here this year, next year or any other year, it's
still sacred ground and I'll always be in prayer for this. But I
think it's time to move on."
========================================================
12/24/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 24, 1992, President Bush pardoned former
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the
Iran-Contra scandal.
On Dec. 24, 1907, I. F. Stone, the American
journalist famous for his witty commentary in his newsletter, "I.F.
Stone's Weekly", was born. He died on June 18, 1989
On This Date in
1814 The War of 1812 officially ended as the United States and
Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium.
1851 Fire devastated the Library of Congress in
Washington, D.C., destroying about 35,000 volumes.
1865 The Ku Klux Klan was founded as a private
social club by several Confederate Army veterans in Pulaski, Tenn.
1871 Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Aida" had its world
premiere in Cairo, Egypt, to celebrate the opening of the Suez
Canal.
1906 Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden
became the first person to broadcast a music program over radio,
from Brant Rock, Mass.
1920 Enrico Caruso gave his last public
performance, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt
appointed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied
forces during World War II.
1992 President George H.W. Bush pardoned former
Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the
Iran-Contra scandal.
2002 Laci Peterson was reported missing
from her Modesto, Calif., home, by her husband, Scott, who was later
convicted of murdering her and their unborn son.
2009 The Senate passed health care legislation,
60-39, in the chamber's first Christmas Eve vote since 1895.
2009 A woman jumped barriers in St. Peter's
Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he was walking down
the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass; the pope was unhurt.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011
NEW JERSEY*1:00 PM Attends New York Giants at
New York Jets Game MetLife Stadium 1 MetLife Stadium Drive
EAST RUTHERFORD *The game will be broadcast live on FOX.
MANHATTAN *11:59 PM Attends Midnight Mass at
St. Patrick’s Cathedral Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st
Street
NEW YORK. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TO NEW MEDALLIONS
TAXIS: JUDGE RULES
11/23/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
A Federal Judge ruled this Friday that the city can
only issue new medallions to drivers with wheelchair-accessible
cabs. The city failed to take into account people with disabilities
when selecting the design for the "taxi of tomorrow." The
advocates claim that the design violates the Act of the Americans
with disabilities. Julia Pinover, attorney for Disability Rights
Advocates convinced the Judge to block the City's action..
The plaintiff's attorney said it's a huge victory
because it’s the first case in the country that will require a taxi
system to be accessible to people with disabilities. The attorney
said that ""Transportation is really fundamental to everybody's
civil rights and everybody's ability to live as an independent
person and to make choices about their day. And now my clients and
people with disabilities in New York City will be able to do that.”
The judge ruled the city must come up with a comprehensive plan, and
until then, they can only issue medallions for wheelchair-accessible
cabs. A disappointment for the NYCity officials.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. A CRACKDOWN ON COUNTERFEIT
BY FEDS.
ByElizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
An international crackdown on counterfeit merchandise on
sale for the holidays, from fake Louis Vuitton purses to phony Dora
the Explorer wristwatches, brought federal agents to the Fort
Lauderdale Swap Shop, where a raid resulted in thousands of items
being seized and clues that investigators hope will lead them to the
illegal manufacturers.
"This is all part of major organized crime," said Camen Pino, head
of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in South Florida. "It's
not just one person with a suitcase in a corner selling fake
watches. Every time you buy one of these items, you are helping
organized crime." Globally, the six-week campaign, made public
Thursday, targeted flea markets, retail stores, seaports and land
ports of entry between Nov. 1 and Dec. 9 in 66 cities in the United
States, 55 cities in Mexico and Seoul, South Korea. U.S. agents
rounded up a total of about 327,000 bogus items with a genuine
retail price of about $76 million.
About 90 percent of the counterfeit goods confiscated in South
Florida were collected during a Dec. 13 raid at the popular
Lauderhill flea market, Pino told a news conference in Miami-Dade
County. Those items would've sold for $300,000 had they been the
real thing, he said. The phony goods included designer sneakers,
sunglasses, blouses, purses and shoes, a Hello Kitty shirt and a
Miami Dolphins jersey with the name and number of wide receiver
Brandon Marshall.
But with about 5,000 vendors hawking thousands of different items
each day, it would be impossible to patrol for counterfeits, he
said. "Can you spot a fake Omega watch?" Henn said. "I sure can't."
Vendors of the fake items were not arrested, but investigators hope
the street-level peddlers will lead them to higher-level
counterfeiters, smugglers and manufacturers.
ATLANTA, GA. BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR FIREARMS
BUYERS.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
FBI personal background checks, which are required before an
individual can buy guns, hit an all-time high of 129,166 on Black
Friday. In Georgia, FBI personal background checks recorded during
the month of November are at a three-year high of 33,484.
Jeremy Powell, general manager at the Bulls-Eye
Indoor Range & Gun Shop in Lawrenceville, said his store has seen
sales climb every year since it opened in 1991. And this Christmas
season sales are up about 10 percent over last year. Previous spikes
in sales came in 1999 during the Y2K scare and in 2008, after the
election of President Barack Obama, when many would-be gun owners
feared that the Democratic leader would usher in tough anti-gun
laws, Powell said. The majority of Bulls-Eye’s business this year
has been in handguns and firearms used more for personal protection.
Powell said compact guns that fit in a pocket or a purse are
especially hot sellers. At the Sandy Springs Gun Club and Range,
every space in the parking lot was taken before the business even
opened its doors Wednesday morning. Robyn Marzullo, who owns the
shop with her sister, Cara Workman, said their sales in the first
part of December eclipsed last year’s sales by about 25 percent.
Particularly popular are gift cards redeemable for guns, time on the
range or training classes.
Firearms are making a comeback among the
35-and-under crowd, said Andrew Molchan, director of the
Professional Gun Retailers Association. He speculates part of the
reason is a shift in attitudes brought on by a generation’s desire
to rebel against the last generation. “Everybody is having
record-breaking sales at these shows,” Steverson said. “A lot of
people are getting their permits and carrying because it’s a scary
world out there.”
SOUTH CAROLINA. VOTER ID LAW BLOCKED BY THE US
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. 12/23/11
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
The U.S. Justice Department has blocked South
Carolina’s controversial voter ID law, saying it would prevent black
people from voting. It was the first voter ID law to be refused by
the federal agency in nearly 20 years. The decision means voters
will not have to show a Department of Motor Vehicles-issued driver’s
license or photo ID card, a U.S. military ID or a U.S. passport.
And it means the state, which says it plans to appeal the decision
in court, will spend time and taxpayer dollars on the second such
lawsuit during Gov. Nikki Haley’s term.
But Haley released a statement Friday taking pride
in her defiance, saying she is trying to “move South Carolina
forward, and whether it be illegal immigration reform, creating jobs
despite the (National Labor Relations Board), or now Voter ID, the
President and his administration are fighting us every step of the
way.” “It is outrageous, and we plan to look at every possible
option to get this terrible, clearly political decision overturned
so we can protect the integrity of our electoral process and our
10th Amendment rights,” Haley said. Democrats cheered the decision,
however, with state Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, calling it
“the best Christmas gift I have gotten in a long time.” “It is a
message to those that are the proponents to tell them to pause.
Let’s don’t trample on people’s rights,” Malloy said.
“There are hundreds of years gone into this process,
and we don’t need to roll it back.” It is the first time the federal
government has blocked a state’s voter ID law since 1994, when the
Justice Department objected to a Louisiana law that would have
required first-time voters to show a photo ID at the polls.
INTERNATIONAL
RUSSIA, MOSCOW. PROTEST AGAINST VLADIMIR PUTIN.
UNITED NATION
SOMALIA. UN DEPLORES MURDER OF 3 UN AID WORKERS.
=========================================================
12/23/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 23, 1986, the experimental airplane
Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completed the first
non-stop, around-the-world flight without refueling as it landed
safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
On Dec. 23, 1867, Sarah Breedlove Walker, the
American businesswoman and philanthropist considered to be the first
black female millionaire , was born. She died on May 25, 1919
On This Date in
1783 George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Army
and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Va.
1788 Maryland passed an act to cede a parcel of
land for the seat of the national government, part of which later
became the District of Columbia. .
1941 American forces on Wake Island surrendered
to the Japanese during World War II.
1948 Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six
other Japanese war leaders were executed in Tokyo.
1995 A fire in Dabwali, India, killed 540 people,
including 170 children, during a year-end party being held near the
children's school.
1997 A federal jury in Denver convicted Terry
Nichols of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy for his role in
the Oklahoma City bombing.
2003 The government announced the first suspected
case of mad cow disease in United States.
2003 A jury in Chesapeake, Va., sentenced teen
sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to life in prison, sparing him the death
penalty.
2004 Former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland
pleaded guilty to a corruption charge. He served 10 months in
prison.
2009 The parents who pulled the "balloon boy"
hoax in hopes of landing a reality TV show, were sentenced to jail
by a judge in Fort Collins, Colo.
NEW YORK. 1500 NEW COPS TO STAR THEIR DUTIES IN
THE CITY TODAY. 12/23/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
NYPD new academy graduates are hitting the streets today.
More than 34,000 cops are now part of the Police force. Mayor
Bloomberg said to them that "Now it will be up to you to build on
our record of success to protect the next generation of New
Yorkers,” According to Ray Kelly, the NYPD Commissioner "The city is
much safer than it was 10 years ago, 20, 30 years ago, but it brings
danger with it,” The city is much safer than it was 10 years ago,
20, 30 years ago, but it brings danger with it,”
In another development, Figoski's partner and commanding officer are
set to get promotions for their efforts during and after the
shooting that took the father of four's life.Officer Glenn Estrada
on Friday will be promoted to detective for chasing down and
arresting accused gunman Lamont Pride. Inspector Jeffrey Maddrey who
heads the 75th precinct will also be named Deputy Chief in
recognition of his work supporting the station house after Figoski's
murder.
NEW YORK. ON JANUARY 3, ABOUT A 1,000 NURSES AT
ST. LUKE MAY STRIKE.
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
No contract, no work. 1,000 Nurses at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt
Hospital Center in Manhattan voted Thursday to go on strike in
January if they don’t reach an agreement on a new contract with the
hospital that includes better health care benefits and higher wages.
They’re asking for lower health care costs and higher wages, and
1,300 nurses at the 114th and 58th Street campuses are set to go on
strike. The nurses have been working a year without a contract, and
their last salary increase was a three percent raise two years ago.
The nurses want the hospital to offset some of their rising health
care costs and increase their salaries and staffing. After an
18-hour bargaining session, however, talks broke down.
The hospital issued a statement, saying “In our
negotiations with our nurses, we have made a concerted effort to
offer them a fair and equitable benefits plan as part of a new
collective bargaining agreement... While we are being thoughtful and
respectful of our nurses, we also are asking them for reasonable
terms in a new contract.” The New York State Nursing Association
says both sides are not far apart, but it's hopeful a deal will be
reached before the strike date.
The association is also in contract negotiations with Montefiore and
Mount Sinai Hospitals. Hoping to avoid a strike, St Luke's-Roosevelt
Hospital and their nurses are scheduled to go back to the bargaining
table at noon on Monday.
MIAMI, FLA. 112 ARRESTED BY POLICE FOR NARCOTIC
OPERATION.12/23/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
Police arrested 112 people Thursday with hopes of keeping
the streets of Northwest Miami-Dade safe for when Santa comes to
town. The Miami-Dade Police Department Narcotics Bureau conducted
“Operation Santa’s Helper,” an annual project aimed at relieving
crime areas that experience homicides, robberies, burglaries and
thefts. “If these people are in jail, they are not out there causing
trouble,” said Javier Baez, Miami-Dade police spokesman. “Through
our persistent police work, we were able to locate these individuals
and put them in jail. This included vehicle stops, surveillances,
patrolling known drug areas— your basic police work .” During the
operation, confiscated was: 6.6 grams of crack cocaine, 10.2 grams
of powder cocaine, 214.4 grams of Marijuana, 3 pipes of narcotic
paraphernalia, more than $2,600 and three firearms, police say.
After the arrest, police say they run background checks on the
individuals. They found that they had arrested people with histories
of homicide, sexual battery, robbery, grand theft auto, theft,
burglary, drug possession, possession of fire arms, assault also
people on probation. Part two of the operation will consist of
police going into the same area and giving away toys to the children.
INTERNATIONAL
SYRIA. 40 KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBINGS.
T
. UNITED
NATIONS
UN-CHINA. DENOUNCES DETENTION OF
CHINESE HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
======================================================
12/22/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 22, 1864, during the Civil War, Union
Gen. William T. Sherman sent a message to President Lincoln from
Georgia, saying, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city
of Savannah."
On Dec. 22, 1907, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, the
British stage actress , was born. She died on June 14, 1991
On This Date in
1858 Opera composer Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy.
1864 During the Civil War, Union Gen. William T.
Sherman sent a message to President Abraham Lincoln from Georgia,
saying, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of
Savannah."
1894 French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was
convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide
charges of anti-Semitism. He was eventually vindicated.
1912 Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President
Lyndon B. Johnson, was born Claudio Alta Taylor in Karnack, Texas .
1941 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
arrived in Washington, D.C., for a wartime conference with President
Franklin D. Roosevelt.
1944 During the Battle of the Bulge, Germany
demanded the surrender of American troops at Bastogne, Belgium;
Brigadier Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe reportedly replied: "Nuts!"
1984 New York City resident Bernhard Goetz shot
four black youths on a Manhattan subway, claiming they were about to
rob him.
1990 Lech Walesa took the oath of office as
Poland's first popularly elected president.
2000 Pop singer Madonna married film director Guy
Ritchie in Scotland. The couple divorced in 2008.
2001 Richard C. Reid, a passenger on an American
Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, tried to ignite explosives in
his shoes, but was subdued by flight attendants and fellow
passengers.
2005 Astronomers announced the discovery of two
more rings encircling the planet Uranus.
2010 President Barack Obama signed a law allowing
gays for the first time in history to serve openly in America's
military.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011
MANHATTAN 11:00 AM Speaks at NYPD Graduation
Ceremony Madison Square Garden 8 Penn Plaza
31st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues
NEW YORK. SENATOR SCHUMER AND THE BREATHABLE
CAFFEINE PRODUCT.
The New York Democrat said Thursday that the product called AeroShot
Pure Energy should be reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. He said he fears it will be used as a club drug so
that people can drink until they drop. The AeroShot is a Chapstick-sized
canister that lets users inhale caffeine in powdered form. Its
manufacturer, Breathable Foods, says each AeroShot contains as much
caffeine as a cup of coffee plus B vitamins. However the company
says AeroShot is safe but is not intended for children under 12.
Schumer says Breathable Foods should provide evidence to
substantiate its health and safety claims.
MIAMI. FLA.RODOBALDO SANCHEZ ARRESTED IN LITTLE
HAVANA FOR ASSAULT.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
Three days after the brutal attack against the owner of a
convenience store in Little Havana, Miami police arrested Rodobaldo
Sanchez Thursday. Sanchez, 50, was charged with one count of
attempted first-degree murder, one count of armed occupied burglary
with assault, one count of armed robbery with weapon, and one count
of armed false imprisonment, police said. Detectives said they found
Sanchez near Southwest Eighth Street and 35th Avenue, about three
miles from where Yue Kui "Alex" Cen was struck six times over the
head with a heavy hammer-like tool on Sunday. The attack was
captured on surveillance video. After leaving Cen unconscious on the
floor, the attacker is seen on video stealing two cartons of
Marlboro Reds. He then rode away on a bicycle. Police said they had
found packs of Marlboro cigarettes in the man’s bag and a bottle
similar to the one used to throw irritant in Cen’s eyes. Meanwhile,
Cen, 44, remained in critical condition at Jackson Memorial
Hospital. Friends said he had been operated on twice and remained
unconscious.
ATLANTA, GA. CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES CANCELLED AT
SOME CHURCHES.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS,
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday and Bridges’ church, First Baptist
of Atlanta, will hold its weekly church services on Saturday,
Christmas Eve, instead of Sunday, a practice that is becoming more
common here and across the country. The reason? So the church’s
hundreds of volunteers and teachers can spend Christmas morning with
their families, said Marcus Ryan, director of communications at
First Baptist Church of Atlanta.
Although there’s no way to estimate the number the
churches that have canceled Christmas Day services this year, First
Baptist of Atlanta, North Metro Church in Marietta and the North
Point Community Church in Alpharetta are among local congregations
scheduled to hold Christmas Eve services only. Ryan estimates it
takes more than 500 volunteers to facilitate everything from parking
and ushering to teaching Sunday school at First Baptist of Atlanta,
where more than 15,000 people attend services. There are no rules
guiding churches on when to hold services, said the Rev. Bryant
Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and president of the
Southern Baptist Convention, which represents 45,000 churches across
the country.
INTERNATIONAL
ANKARA. TURKEY VS. FRANCE. TURKEY RECALLING ITS
AMBASSADOR AND MORE.
The Turkish prime minister has announced measures against
France after MPs passed a bill criminalising
UNITED NATIONS
PHILIPPINES. ADDITIONAL $28 MILLION NEEDED TO
HELP STORM VICTIMS.
==================================================
12/21/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 21, 1988, a terrorist bomb exploded
aboard a Pan Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270
people. Go to
On Dec. 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin, the Soviet
statesman who was leader of the Communist Party and dictator of the
Soviet Union for 25 years , was born. He died on March 5, 1953, his
obituary
On This Date in 1879 Soviet dictator Josef Stalin
was born Josef Dzhugashvili in Gori, Georgia.
1898 Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie
discovered the radioactive element radium.
1948 Ireland became an independent republic.
1958 Charles de Gaulle was elected the first
president of France's Fifth Republic.
1968 Apollo 8 was launched on a mission to orbit
the moon.
1970 Elvis Presley met with President Richard M.
Nixon in the Oval Office to discuss fighting drugs.
1971 The U.N. Security Council chose Kurt
Waldheim to succeed U Thant as secretary-general.
1978 Police in Des Plaines, Ill., arrested
John W. Gacy Jr. and began unearthing the remains of 33 men and boys
he was later convicted of murdering.
1991 Eleven of the 12 former Soviet republics
proclaimed the birth of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
1995 The city of Bethlehem passed from Israeli to
Palestinian control. 1996 After two years of denials, House Speaker
Newt Gingrich admitted violating House ethics rules.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011
MANHATTAN 9:00 AM Live Interview on Record
Tourism Airs on Today Show NBC Television
11:00 AM Delivers Remarks at the Hundred Year
Association Annual Scholarship Awards 1 Police Plaza
*2:00 PM Meets with Livery Drivers and Thanks
Supporters of City’s Five Borough Taxi Legislation
Seaman Car Service 4020 Tenth Avenue between 214th
and 215th Streets
BROOKLYN
6:00 PM Delivers Remarks at a Reception in Honor of
Hanukkah The Museum of Jewish Heritage 36 Battery Place
NEW YORK. HAITI CONSULATE CLOSING FOR HOLIDAYS
12/24 and 12/26
The Consulate General of Haiti in New York sends us the information
regarding the closing of the Madison Avenue office during the
Christmas festivities. Therefore, during December 24 and 26 the
Consul General Hon. Forbin and his staff will not be available to
the general public.
CITY HALL. REMARKS OF MAYOR BLOOMBERG ON HISTORIC
FIVE-BOROUGH TAXI LEGISLATION
“David, thank you. Mylan, thank you. Let me first
start out by saying I want to thank the Governor for signing this
bill that will benefit millions of New York City residents and
people that come to visit our city.
“I think no one thought we’d ever get this done, but
I kept saying and the Governor kept saying this is going to happen.
We never gave up. We never stop working and making the case. The
Assembly and the Senate and the Governor’s Office and the City
Administration all working together. So I just wanted to thank
everyone that helped get us across the finish line.
“As David said, this process really began last
January when we announced that our Administration would seek to
achieve a goal that really has eluded the City for three decades –
bringing legal taxi service to the seven million New Yorkers who
live outside Manhattan’s central business district.
“And today, together the City and the State, we have
achieved that landmark goal. And it’s a huge victory for all New
Yorkers who ever sought to hail a cab outside Manhattan and in
northern Manhattan.
“The new law will make getting around town easier,
safer and less costly for millions of New Yorkers. It will make an
enormous improvement in the getting of service for people with
disabilities that need to have the ability to get around. Mass
transit is a basic of any big city, and this will make it much more
available to everybody.
“And I think, in all fairness, it is a testament to
Matt Sapolin, former late Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for
People with Disabilities. This is part of his life’s work, and I got
to believe that Matt is looking down right now with a big smile on
his face.
“It will also bring thousands of hard-working livery
drivers – many of them immigrants – out of the shadows and into the
legal economy. This will benefit both drivers, but also taxpayers
and subway riders, because the new taxis – like all current taxis –
will generate revenue that is dedicated to the MTA.
“The new law and the agreement reached today will
also generate a much needed billion-odd dollars in revenue for the
City through the sale of 2,000 new yellow medallions, all of which,
as David or as Mylan said, will be wheelchair accessible. In fact,
today’s agreement, by increasing the number of medallions sold by
500, will provide even more revenue for the City than the original
bill passed in June.
NEW YORK. DEATH OF MANHATTAN SOLDIER. EIGHT
CHARGED BY THE ARMY.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
The U.S. Army announced eight soldiers are facing
charges in connection with the death of a soldier from
Manhattan. Private Danny Chen, 19, died in October in Afghanistan.
The Army has said he died of non-combat related injuries. "It's of
some comfort and relief to learn that the Army is taking this
seriously, and she hopes that the truth will come out and what
happened will not be repeated again," said Chen's mother, Su Zhen
Chen. Five of the eight soldiers are charged with involuntary
manslaughter and negligent homicide. Other charges include assault,
battery, and reckless endangerment. Chen's family and supporters are
also demanding various military reforms, including improved
diversity training and more focused screening for racially
insensitive recruits.
GEORGIA. DEFENSE OFFICIAL DEANDRE WADE PLEADS GUILTY TO
BRIBES.
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
A high-ranking Defense Department official with influence over federal
contracts pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting bribes. Wade was arrested Aug.
24 at an Atlanta hotel after accepting $95,000 in cash from a contractor working
undercover for the FBI and the Defense Criminal Investigative Services.
Afghan-based investigators were tipped off about Wade in July
after he took a $4,000 bribe in exchange for facilitating the awarding of a
federal contract. That led to the sting operation in Atlanta, which coincided
with an international fire safety convention. According to Assistant U.S.
Attorney Robert McBurney, the 40-year-old Gulf War veteran wanted 5 percent of
the profits generated from a $4.5 million contract and finally agreed to accept
$95,000. "We have the defendant's own words on tape," said McBurney, along with
Wade's confession. "It was just wrong in so many ways," Wade told U.S. District
Judge Willis Hunt. Wade, of Climax, Ga., faces up to 15 years in prison but,
because he has no criminal record, will likely receive a much lighter sentence,
said his attorney, Ebony Ameen. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 29.
Wade's lawyers cited economic hardship as a factor behind his influence peddling.
Wade has been on leave with the Defense Department since his arrest in August.
INTERNATIONAL
SYRIA. MASSACRE IN SYRIA.
=====================================================================
12/19/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 19, 1984, Britain and China signed an
accord returning Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.
On Dec. 19, 1906, Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet
statesman who was the leader of the Soviet Union for 18 years, was
born. He died on Nov. 10, 1982
On This Date in 1777 Gen. George Washington
led his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pa., to camp for
the winter.
1907 A coal mine explosion in Jacobs Creek, Pa.,
killed 239 workers.
1946 War broke out in Indochina as troops under
Ho Chi Minh launched widespread attacks against the French.
1972 Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific,
ending the Apollo program of manned lunar landings.
1974 Nelson A. Rockefeller was sworn in as vice
president, replacing Gerald R. Ford, who became president when
Richard M. Nixon resigned.
1984 Britain and China signed an accord returning
Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
1986 The Soviet Union announced it had freed
dissident Andrei Sakharov from internal exile and pardoned his wife,
Yelena Bonner.
2000 The U.N. Security Council voted to
impose broad sanctions on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless they
closed terrorist training camps and surrendered U.S. embassy bombing
suspect Osama bin Laden.
2003 Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi agreed to halt
his nation's drive to develop nuclear and chemical weapons.
2005 Afghanistan's first democratically elected
parliament in more than three decades convened.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011
BABYLON, NEW YORK *11:00 AM Attends Funeral
for Police Officer Peter Figoski Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic
Church 39 North Carll Avenue at Grove Place
BABYLON, NY. SUNDAY'S TRIBUTE TO NYPD PETER
FIGOSKI KILLED IN BROOKLYN
12/18/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Family members, friends and politicians attended
the wake, this Sunday, in Babylon New York, for the police officer
PETER FIGOSKI killed last week in Brooklyn while on duty.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, lot
of cops, joined the mass of mourners paying tribute to the
slain Officer Peter Figoski. He was 47 years old when shot in
the Cypress Hill section of Brooklyn. He left behind
his wife and four daughters. Hw was assigned at the 75th
precinct in Brooklyn. Five suspects were arrested in connection with
the shooting. Funeral Mass will be held Monday morning at 11:00 a.m.
at St. Josephs Church, 39 North Carll Avenue, Babylon, NY.
FOLEY SQUARE, NY. OCCUPY WALL STREET IN SUPPORT
OF IMMIGRANTS. 12/18/11.
By Jacqus Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Occupy Wall street protesters were joined this Sunday by
immigrants and workers' rights groups to support
immigrants across the U, S. This Monday, the U.S. Supreme
Court will hear Arizona's appeal of a decision blocking much
of that state's immigrant law. The demonstrators protested
what they call anti-immigrant laws across the country. Working
Group of Occupy Wall Street, immigrants and allies marched from
Foley Square, featuring music, dance, and street theater and
culminating in a multi-lingual General Assembly at Zuccotti Park.
NEW YORK. NEW YORK PRESS CLUB NEWS. INCIDENTS OF
PRESS SUPPRESSION BY NYPD PERSIST 12/19/11
Despite Commissioner Kelly's pre-Thanksgiving reminder to the
rank-and-file that NYPD is obligated to "cooperate with media
representatives acting in a news-gathering capacity at the scene of
police incidents," there have been a number of recent instances of
police officers inexplicably impeding working journalists at police
lines.
Among the latest are the forceful ejection from the
World Financial Center plaza of a credentialed photographer who was
shooting the December 13th arrests there of an "Occupy Wall Street"
contingent. Earlier in the month, officers from the 40th Precinct in
the Bronx surrounded and arrested a young writer who was questioning
them for a story about the "Occupy" movement in boroughs outside
Manhattan.
Details of those incidents and reports of numerous
similar incidents of suppressive police behavior are being collected
and posted on the New York Press Club's website. The page is
intended as a reference resource of local and national reporting on
what many view as an escalating disregard of First Amendment
guarantees by police agencies locally and around the nation.
Public Information Office Unresponsive
In addition to problems in the field, the New York Press Club is
receiving an increasing number of complaints from working
journalists that NYPD and its Office of Public Information are not
honoring the terms of a 2010 agreement to systemitize the press
credentialing process. In settlement of a lawsuit filed on
constitutional grounds, NYPD formally agreed last year to replace
its often arbitrary credentialing process with one that is codified.
But last week, GOTHAMIST, one of the City's oldest hyperlocal news
and commentary sites published a well-documented story about its
four year struggle to obtain NYPD credentials for several reporters,
so far unsuccessfully, despite scrupulously following NYPD's
published procedures. Gothamist, the Press Club is hearing, is not
alone in failing to get the full-attention and timely cooperation of
NYPD's credentialing staff.
The New York Press Club and a number of other
organizations representing journalists in New York City have formed
the Coalition for the First Amendment to monitor police-press
relations and to document and protest tactics and behavior that
contravene First Amendment protections. The Coalition now numbers 13
press organizations with the recent additions of the New York
Association of Black Journalists and the National Writers Union/UAW
Local 1981.
MIAMI, FLA. TOW TRACK COMPANY TO REFUND
MOTORISTS. 12/19/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
Nu-Way Towing, of 2343 NW Seventh Ave. in Miami.
has agreed to pay $20,000 to Miami-Dade County’s consumer advocate
to settle charges that it illegally preyed upon stranded motorists,
talking them into accepting a tow, then demanding hundreds of
dollars in cash to give the car back. The county will distribute at
least $3,300 of that money to five customers allegedly ripped off by
Nu-Way Towing, of 2343 NW Seventh Ave. in Miami.
According to William V. Lopez, a driver and sometime
manager for Nu-Way, would solicit distressed drivers on the highway
and say he was a Road Ranger or that he was sent by the police,
anything to hook up their car. When customers couldn’t pay bills as
high as $765 cash for a tow, Lopez would drive away with their cars
and tack on extra mileage and storage fees, the complaint said.
Meanwhile, county Consumer Advocate Leonard Elias also has filed
suit against Lopez personally, as well as two Cutler Bay-based
towing companies, Persistent Towing and South Bay Wreckers, owned by
Yoel Alfonso.
“This is so awesome. I am ecstatic,” said Berriz who
watched Lopez drive off with her blue 2007 Toyota Corolla over a
year ago after she couldn’t pay $300 cash for a 16 mile tow from the
395 inlet at Interstate 95 southbound to her home in Kendall. Under
the agreement, Salazar is reimbursing $3,300 to five customers that
Lopez victimized.
ATLANTA, GA. SHERIFF DEPUTY RONNIE EUGENE KILLED
IN CRASH.12/19/11/
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Butts County Sheriff's Office Deputy Ronnie Eugene Smith
died after the car he was driving went off the road and hit two
trees this past Saturday about10:30 p.m., Saturday, Deputy Ronnie
Eugene Smith, 49, was en route to a report of a fight when his car
went off Biles Road near Four Points Road and hit two trees. Smith,
who’s been with the Sheriff’s department four years, died at the
scene. The County Sheriff's Office is investigating the cause
of the accident. "There was a hill with a little bit of a turn,"
Pope said. "But officers have to multitask when responding to a
call. You have to talk on the radio, watch your speed, look out for
deer. Anything could've happened in that car to cause him to drop
off the shoulder."
INTERNATIONAL
NORTH KOREA. KIM JONG, NORTH KOREAN LEADER DIES
AT 69.
UNITED NATIONS
SRI LANKA. HOPE THAT GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE STEPS
ON ACCOUNTABILITY
===========================================================
12/17/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made
the first successful man-powered airplane flight, near Kitty Hawk,
N.C.
On Dec. 17, 1894, Arthur Fiedler, the American
conductor who conducted the Boston Pops Orchestra , was born. He
died on July 10, 1979
On This Date
In 1933 In the first NFL championship game, the Chicago Bears
defeated the New York Giants 23-21 at Wrigley Field.
1944 The U.S. Army announced the end of its
policy of excluding Japanese-Americans from the West Coast.
1957 The United States successfully test-fired
the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.
1969 The U.S. Air Force closed its Project "Blue
Book" by concluding there was no evidence of extraterrestrial
spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings.
1975 Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was sentenced to
life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Gerald R.
Ford. She was paroled in 2009.
1992 President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime
Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de
Gortari signed the North American Free Trade Agreement in separate
ceremonies.
1996 Kofi Annan of Ghana became United Nations
secretary-general.
2004 President George W. Bush signed into law the
largest overhaul of U.S. intelligence-gathering in 50 years.
2005 President George W. Bush acknowledged he'd
personally authorized a secret eavesdropping program in the U.S.
following Sept. 11.
2010 Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old fruit vendor
frustrated with harassment by local officials, set himself on fire
in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. His act of defiance set off nationwide
protests that brought down longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben
Ali and soon spread to the rest of the Arab world.
NEW YORK. NYPD ARRESTED 141 INVOLVED IN I-PHONE
STING OPERATION 12/17/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Investigators say the suspects knowingly bought the stolen
goods from undercover officers for as little as $50.The operation
targeted places, including barbershops, delis, and newsstands, where
police suspected people had bought stolen property in the past.
According to Kelly, "It's part of a two-pronged approach that we're
using to address the theft of handheld electronic equipment. We're
certainly trying to reduce the demand for stolen property by going
after the purchasers, but we're also running decoy operations
specifically in our transit system, and we'll be continuing to do
that." The suspects are charged with criminal possession of stolen
property.
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. $ 6 MILLION PONZI SCHEME. VICTOR
BROWN AND ROGER GREEN ARRESTED. 12/17/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Victor Brown, 54, of Hollywood, and Roger Green, 78, of
Stuart, were taken into custody this wek on charges of racketeering
and conspiracy to commit first-degree racketeering, authorities
said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began investigating
the men and their Fort Lauderdale company, Military Air Parts
International, after people claiming to have been victimized stepped
forward with complaints, a probable-cause affidavit states.
From 2004 to 2007, Brown and Green raised millions
of dollars by promising 18 percent returns on the resale of parts
for military transport aircraft. But the pair, in control of company
bank accounts, made out checks to themselves to withdraw a total of
$1.7 million, and used debit cards to make other “extensive cash
withdrawals,” FDLE said.
The pair promised returns on investments generally
within three to six months, and showed investors statements to gain
their trust, the affidavit states. The pair would stall investors by
persuading them to roll their investments into new deals, officials
said.
ATLANTA, GA. EX-POLICE CHIEF JEFFREY BAKER LOSING
POLICE CERTIFICATION
12/17/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
Former Morrow Police Chief Jeffery Baker has no chance of
ever being a cop in Georgia again. .That is what the director of the
statewide organization that certifies policeman said Friday
following a vote to revoke Baker’s certification. “Without the
certification, he can’t be a sworn police officer in Georgia,”
Kenneth Vance, executive director of the Georgia Peace Officer
Standards and Training Council said. “Most places that hire chiefs
and things like that, part of their job description is to be
certified by P.O.S.T. in Georgia,” Vance said.
Last week, in a unanimous decision, the P.O.S.T.
council voted to revoke Baker’s police certification for a second
time. This decision followed Baker’s arrest and subsequent firing
for allegedly driving drunk in his City of Morrow police car last
month. He was found asleep at the wheel at a traffic light, less
than a mile from the police station, with eight empty beer cans in
the back of the car, police said. Baker was charged with multiple
offenses including driving under the influence, violating the open
beverage laws and failing to obey a police officer – one of his own.
INTERNATIONAL
PHILIPPINES. DEADLY FLASH FLOODS IN THE COUNTRY.
UNTED NATIONS
YEMEN. UN ENVOY SPECIAL ENVOY SAID
GOVERNMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO RESTORE PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE
COUNTRY.
===================================================================
12/16/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 16, 1950, President Truman proclaimed a
national state of emergency in order to fight "Communist
imperialism."
On Dec. 16, 1901, Margaret Mead, the American
anthropologist who authored 44 books and over 1000 articles , was
born. She died on Nov. 15, 1978
On This Date in
1773 The Boston Tea Party took place as American colonists boarded a
British ship and dumped more than 300 chests of tea overboard to
protest tea taxes.
1809 Napoleon Bonaparte was divorced from the
Empress Josephine by an act of the French Senate.
1811 The first of the powerful New Madrid
earthquakes, with an estimated magnitude of 7.7, struck the central
Mississippi Valley.
1916 Gregory Rasputin, the monk who had wielded
powerful influence over the Russian court, was murdered by a group
of noblemen.
1944 The Battle of the Bulge during World War II began as German
forces launched a surprise counterattack against Allied forces in
Belgium.
1985 Reputed organized-crime chief Paul
Castellano was shot to death outside a New York City restaurant.
1990 Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president
of Haiti in the country's first democratic elections.
1991 The U.N. General Assembly rescinded its 1975
resolution equating Zionism with racism.
1998 President Bill Clinton ordered a sustained
series of air strikes against Iraq by American and British forces in
response to Saddam Hussein's continued defiance of U.N. weapons
inspectors.
2000 President-elect George W. Bush
selected Colin Powell to become the first African-American secretary
of state.
2007 British forces formally handed over to
Iraq responsibility for Basra, the last Iraqi region under their
control.
2009 Iran test-fired a missile capable of hitting
Israel and parts of Europe.
2010 Larry King concluded his CNN talk show after
25 years.
NEW YORK. FIVE SUSPECTS INDICTED IN THE SHOOTING
OF P O PETER FIGOSKY 12/16/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This Friday, in the Brooklyn Criminal Court 5 men have been
indicted on murder charges in connection with the shooting death of
NYPD Officer Peter Figoski. Each defendant has been charged with
second-degree murder in the killing of Officer Peter Figoski. They
are held without bail. According to NYPD all of them had criminal
records prior to the robbery they planned and then carried out early
Monday morning. NYPD say the defendants planned to rob a marijuana
dealer in Cypress Hills. They pistol-whipped him, stealing cash and
a watch. Lamont Pride and Kevin Santos were in another room when
police arrived. Investigators said that Pride shot Figoski
during an escape attempt. Pat Lynch, the president of the
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association said that "Whether you were
holding that gun or you were helping the person that did, they
decided they wanted to get away and they would kill a New York City
police officer to do it.” Funeral arrangements have been made for
Monday.
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. FORMER ATTORNEY SALLY SAWH
ACQUITTED. 12/16/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Jurors this week acquitted a former Miami Beach lawyer
accused of pilfering more than $2 million from a French businessman.
Sally Sawh, a disbarred attorney, had been accused in December 2008
of stealing the money of Jean Dahan and investing it into a high-end
kitchen building company owned by her husband. Jurors on Monday
night found her not guilty of first-degree grand theft.
“We believe we had a strong case and moved forward
with the prosecution,” said State Attorney’s Office spokeswoman
Terry Gonzalez-Chavez. “This was a very difficult case and we
respect the jury’s verdict. That is why we have courts and why we
have juries.”
ATLANTA, GA. VERLAINE LAGUERRE ACCUSED OF KILLING
MATTHEW HARDEMAN
11/16/11 By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
Verlaine Laguerre accused of killing former Avondale High
School football standout Matthew Hardeman was arrested by the
Police.Fulton County Sheriff's Office Verlaine LaGuerre is charged
with murder, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a
firearm during the commission of a felony and aggravated assault.
Verlaine LaGuerre, 20, was arrested in Hallandale, Fla., north of
Miami, and brought back to Atlanta on Tuesday. He is being held
without bond in the Fulton County jail on accusations he fatally
shot Matthew Hardeman with an illegal sawed-off shotgun.
Police were called on Oct. 25 to a home in the 1800
block of Lakewood Terrace, where 19-year-old Hardeman was found shot
multiple times and lying in the yard, police said. He died on the
scene, Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said. Witnesses told
police several men drove up to Hardeman, got out and spoke with him
before shooting him and driving away, Jones said. LaGuerre is
charged with murder, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession
of a firearm during the commission of a felony and aggravated
assault.
INTERNATIONAL
LIBYA. UN LIFTS SANCTIONS ON LIBYA'S KEY BANKS.
UNITED NATIONS
DONORS GIVE NEARLY $375
MILLIONS TO UN EMERGENCY FUND
1=============================================================
12/15/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 15, 1916, the French defeated the Germans
in the World War I Battle of Verdun.
On Dec. 15, 1892, J. Paul Getty, the American
businessman and oil tycoon who controlled the Getty Oil Company, was
born. He died on June 6, 1976
On This Date
In 1890 Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members
were killed in Grand River, S.D., during a clash with Indian police.
1916 The French defeated the Germans in the World
War I Battle of Verdun.
1938 Ground was broken for the Jefferson Memorial
in Washington, D.C.
1939 The movie "Gone With the Wind" had its world
premiere in Atlanta.
1944 Bandleader Glenn Miller's U.S. Army plane
disappeared over the English Channel.
1961 Former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was
sentenced to death by an Israeli court.
1966 Movie producer Walt Disney died at age 65.
1989 A popular uprising that led to the downfall
of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu began in Romania.
2003 The late Sen. Strom Thurmond's family
acknowledged Essie Mae Washington-Williams' claim that she was
Thurmond's illegitimate mixed-race daughter.
2004 American telecommunications giants Sprint
Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc. announced they would merge in a
$35 billion deal.
2005 Millions of Iraqis turned out to choose a
parliament in a mostly peaceful election.
2009 The Washington, D.C. City Council voted to
legalize same-sex marriage.
2010 The U.N. Security Council gave a unanimous
vote of confidence to the government of Iraq by lifting 19-year-old
sanctions on weapons and civilian nuclear power.
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES THAT GENERAL
MILLS WILL DONATE THOUSANDS OF BOXES OF CEREAL AND CANS OF SOUP TO
FOOD BANKS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that General
Mills has signed on to the "Help Your Neighbor" initiative, pledging
to donate thousands of boxes of cereal and cans of soup to regional
food banks in New York State this holiday season. General Mills will
donate 15,000 boxes of Big G cereals to the Food Bank of Western New
York in Buffalo, and a total of 3,000 cans of Progresso soup to be
divided between the Food Bank for Westchester and the Food Bank for
New York City. "With shortages at food banks across the state, the
'Help Your Neighbor' campaign is bringing together businesses and
organizations to serve those in need," Governor Cuomo said. "I thank
General Mills for its leadership in being one of the first companies
to join this initiative and for helping to make sure vulnerable New
Yorkers do not go hungry this holiday season."
." This donation continues General Mills' commitment
to nourishing communities across the country, and around the world.
General Mills is one of the largest corporate givers in the United
States and last year the company contributed more than $118 million
to strengthen families and communities through a focus on hunger and
nutrition wellness initiatives. Additionally, General Mills is one
of the top contributors of food in the United States. Last year, it
donated more than $28 million in products to Feeding America, the
country's largest hunger relief organization whose network consists
of more than 200 food banks. Over the past five years, General Mills
has donated more than 4.7 million pounds of food to food banks
across New York State through its partnership with Feeding America.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011
BRONX *2:15 PM Makes Announcement About New York
City Child Obesity Rates with Deputy Mayor Gibbs, Health
Commissioner Farley and Schools Chancellor Walcott P.S. 218 1220
Gerard Avenue between 167th and 168th Streets
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES RESULTS
OF FIRST EVER NATIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO ILLEGAL ONLINE GUN SALES
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
and Chief Policy Advisor John Feinblatt announced the results
of an investigation into internet gun sales, which found a vast and
largely unregulated market for illegal guns, with 62 percent of
private sellers willing to commit a felony by selling firearms to
people who likely could not pass a background check. The
investigation probed 10 websites that had 25,000 guns available for
purchase and investigators contacted 125 private online gun sellers
located in 14 states. The investigation included sellers on
Craigslist, which prohibits the sale of firearms in its site
according to its posted policies. The investigators clearly noted
they probably could not pass a background check during each
interaction with a seller. Videos of the illegal sales, including
where the investigator meets the seller and the weapon and cash is
exchanged, and a report on online gun sales – “Point, Click, Fire” –
are available at www.nyc.gov. The Mayor unveiled the videos and the
results of the investigation at City Hall, where some of the
illegally purchased guns were displayed, including an illegally sold
Ruger P95 9mm handgun – the exact make and model of the weapon a
career criminal used to murder New York City Police Officer Peter
Figoski earlier this week.
The Results A clear majority of the sellers – 77 of
125 private sellers – failed the integrity test by agreeing to sell
to a purchaser who said he probably couldn’t pass a background
check.
Private sellers on Craigslist failed the integrity
test at the highest rate, despite the fact that the site says that
it prohibits the listing of weapons on its server. On the five
websites where investigators contacted the most sellers, an illegal
sale was agreed to:
NEW YORK. INVESTIGATION ABOUT ELEVATOR ACCIDENT
IN MIDTOWN NY.
An employee of advertising agency Young & Rubicam was killed in
an abrupt elevator accident in her Midtown office building
Wednesday, and investigators continue to look into what caused the
incident. Officials at the New York City Fire Department said the
accident happened around 10:30 a.m. inside the building located at
285 Madison Avenue in Midtown. Investigators say, Suzanne Hart, 41,
of Manhattan was getting on the elevator at the first floor when it
suddenly shot up, trapping her in a blind shaft between the first
and second floors. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other
people who were also riding in the elevator were taken to New York
University Hospital and treated for trauma.
The 28-story building is owned by Wire & Plastic
Products, the parent company of advertising agency Young & Rubicam,
where Hart worked. “We are deeply, deeply saddened to confirm one of
our employees has died. Our focus at this moment is the wellbeing of
our employee’s family and our larger Young & Rubicam family,” said
Peter Stringham, CEO of Young & Rubicam. “As you can imagine this is
a great emotional shock to all of us. We ask for your cooperation
and understanding as the proper authorities look into this terrible
accident.” Several agencies, including the city's fire and police
departments, Office of Emergency Management and Department of
Buildings, are investigating the incident.
INTERNATIONAL
IRAQ. END OF US OPERATIONS IN IRAQ.
The US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, told troops the mission
had been worth the cost in blood and dollars. He said the years of
war in Iraq had yielded to an era of opportunity in which the US was
a committed partner. Only about 4,000 US soldiers now remain in
Iraq, but they are due to leave in the next two weeks. At the peak
of the operation, US forces there numbered 170,000. -
For 40 years, Iraq has been one of the most damaged countries on
earth. The American-led invasion and overthrow of Saddam led to a
savage civil war which is still not finished.
PARIS, FRANCE. EX-PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC GUILTY
OF CORRUPTION.
Mr. Chirac did not attend the trial because he suffers from
memory lapses Continue reading the main story A French court
has given former President Jacques Chirac a two-year suspended
prison sentence for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.
Mr Chirac, 79, was not in court to hear the verdict
because of ill-health but denied wrongdoing. President from 1995 to
2007, he was put on trial on charges that dated back to his time as
mayor of Paris. He was accused of paying members of his Rally for
the Republic (RPR) party for municipal jobs that did not exist.
==================================================================
12/13/2011
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 13, 1981, authorities in Poland imposed
martial law in a crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement. Martial
law formally ended in 1983.
On Dec. 13, 1903, Carlos Montoya, the
Spanish-American guitarist who popularized flamenco guitar music,
was born. He died on March 3, 1993
On This Date in 1981 Authorities in Poland
imposed martial law in a crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement.
1988 PLO chairman Yasser Arafat addressed the
U.N. General Assembly in Geneva, where it had reconvened after the
United States refused to grant Arafat a visa to visit New York.
1989 South African President F.W. de Klerk met
for the first time with imprisoned African National Congress leader
Nelson Mandela, at de Klerk's office in Cape Town.
1996 The U.N. Security Council chose Kofi Annan
of Ghana to be the world body's seventh secretary-general.
2000 Republican George W. Bush claimed the
presidency 36 days after Election Day.
2001 The Pentagon released a captured videotape
of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and
destruction achieved by the Sept. 11 attacks exceeded his "most
optimistic" expectations.
2001 Five suspected Islamic militants killed nine
people in an attack on India's parliament before being killed
themselves.
2001 President George W. Bush served formal
notice that the United States was pulling out of the
1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia.
2002 Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Boston
archbishop because of the priest sex abuse scandal.
2003 Ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was
captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in
Adwar, near his hometown of Tikrit.
2007 Shareholders of Dow Jones & Co.,
publisher of The Wall Street Journal, approved a takeover by Rupert
Murdoch's News Corp.
2007 The Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing
drugs in baseball was released, implicating seven MVPs and 31
All-Stars.
CITY HALL. NY. MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER PETER FIGOSKI
Flags on all City buildings will be lowered in
memory of Officer Figoski, of the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn, who
died in the line of duty
The Mayor’s remarks at LaGuardia Community College,
where he delivered remarks at the Workforce 1 Healthcare Career
Center, follow.
“Before we take any questions, let me just say that
earlier this morning had a terrible reminder of the dangers that our
men and women in law enforcement face every single day to keep us
safe. Police Officer Peter Figoski – a 22-year veteran of the NYPD –
was shot in the face after responding to a robbery in progress.
“He was taken to Jamaica Medical Center, where I’m
very sorry to announce that he has died. Police Commissioner Kelly
and I went there a few hours ago and met with some of his family.
These conversations, as you might imagine, are the hardest that we
have to do, and the worst part of being Mayor. It just does not get
easier.
==============================================================
DECEMBER 12
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 12, 1963, Kenya gained its independence
from Britain.
On Dec. 12, 1915, Frank Sinatra, the American
singer and actor who elevated popular song into an art, was born. He
died on May 14, 1998
On This Date in 1787 Pennsylvania became the
second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1870 Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina took his
seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first black
congressman.
1914 The New York Stock Exchange re-opened for
the first time since July 30. The market had shut down when World
War I broke out.
1915 Singer Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken,
N.J.
1917 Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town
outside Omaha, Neb.
1947 The United Mine Workers union withdrew from
the American Federation of Labor.
1963 Kenya gained its independence from Britain.
1975 Sara Jane Moore pleaded guilty to trying to
kill President Gerald R. Ford.
1998 The House Judiciary Committee approved a
fourth article of impeachment against President Bill Clinton and
submitted the case to the full House.
2003 Keiko, the killer whale made famous by
the "Free Willy" movies, died in a Norwegian fjord.
2009 Houston became the largest U.S. city to
elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to
City Controller Annise Parker.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011
QUEENS *9:30 AM Joins Health and Human
Services Secretary Sebelius for Tour and Discussion on Job Creation
at LaGuardia Community College Workforce1 Healthcare Career Center
30-10 Thomson Avenue at 31st Street
MANHATTAN 5:30 PM Attends Christmas Tree
Lighting at West Harlem Piers Park Henry Hudson Parkway between St.
Clair Place and West 135th Street
7:30 PM Speaks at 32nd Annual Legacy Awards Gala for
Museum of Chinese in America Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall Street
between William and Hanover Streets
ALBANY, NY. Governor Cuomo Signs Law to Approve
$50 Million in Additional Relief for Areas Devestated by Flooding
Printer-friendly version In Broome County, Governor Also Announces
$1.3 Million in Additional Disaster Aid for Farms, $1 Million to
Main Street Businesses; $3 Million to Hire Unemployed New Yorkers to
Help with Flood Recovery in Southern Tier
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo traveled to Johnson City,
Broome County, to sign into law $50 million in additional relief for
areas devastated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
"The new law leverages tens of millions of dollars
in funding for communities that are still recovering from the
devastation of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee," Governor
Cuomo said. "We must continue to work to make sure all those who
were hit hard by these storms have the resources they need. I thank
the members of the legislature for coming together to support this
bill that will provide critical assistance to communities here in
the Southern Tier and in other areas still rebuilding after the
flooding."
Flood Recovery Grant Program This week, the state
legislature passed Governor Cuomo's $50 million flood recovery grant
program to continue recovery efforts in regions of the state hit
hard by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
The Governor also announced that the fourth
component of the ACRF, the On Farm Capital Program, will begin
accepting applications. This program will help pay for capital
losses. Eligible costs include certain minor structural repairs,
permanent fixtures and equipment. This program will be administered
jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and NYS Homes
and Community Renewal. Farmers interested in receiving funding
should contact the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
NEW YORK. RALLY BY LIVERY DRIVERS FOR LEGAL
STREET HAILS. 12/11/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS..
On this Sunday, we were watching a group of Livery cab drivers
rallied Sunday for a taxi bill allowing them to pick up street hails
in upper Manhattan and the other boroughs. Drivers and base owners
gathered outside Governor Cuomo's Midtown office building on Third
Avenue, for the first in a series of demonstrations scheduled for
the next 10 days. That's how long the governor has to sign a revised
version of the Five Borough Taxi Plan, which was presented to him
Friday. "There are more than150,000 illegal pickups every single day
in our communities. This bill will legitimize and legalize that so
that we can provide safe and reliable service to the people in the
outer boroughs," said Cira Angeles of the New York State Association
of Independent Taxi Drivers. The bill would also add 2,000 new
yellow cab medallions to the current fleet. Governor Cuomo refused
to sign the original legislation if changes were not made to add
more wheelchair accessible taxis.
BROOKLYN, NY. COP SHOT IN CYPRESS HILLS. 12/12/11
It is reported by NYPD that a cop was shot in Brooklyn at around
12:15 a.m this Monday while responding to a robbery in
Brooklyn. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition.
The shooting takes place
inside a home in Pine Street in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn.
Police arrested one suspect at the scene, but officers continued to
search for at least one more suspect. That man was described as
Hispanic, 5'9" to 5'10" tall, wearing grey sweatpants, white
sneakers. He fled on foot north on Pine Street, investigators said.
A gun was recovered at the scene. Mayor Bloomberg and Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly went to the hospital to check on the
officer. Officer Peter Figoski, 47, who was at the bottom of a
stairwell leading from the street to the apartment. Police say one
of the suspects, Lamont Pride, 27, shot Figoski in the face.
Figoski was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he died. Figoski's
partner, Officer Glenn Estrada, chased down Pride, who is now facing
murder charges. The second suspect got away and cops are still
searching for him. Figoski was a 22-year veteran of the force who
made more than 200 arrests in his career.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. BIGGER ROLE FOR FLA. LT.
GOVERNOR JENNIFER CARROLL
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Sandra Carroll was born in Port
of Spain, Trinidad on August 27, 1952.She had been Lieutenant
Governor since January 4. She expects a bigger role in 2012
according to reports.
Experience: Lieutenant governor of Florida since
Jan. 4; Florida House member, 2003-10; 3 N.&J.C. Corp./Carroll &
Carroll Consulting, president, 2001-10; Great Clips, franchise
owner, 2004-09; Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission, 2004-07;
White House Presidential Scholars Commission member, 2001-04;
Department of Veterans Affairs, executive director, 2001-02; U.S.
House candidate, 2000, 2002; served in U.S. Navy, 1979-99..
Carroll, who accepted the job after it was declined
by former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and Gulf Power CEO Susan Story, was
the Tallahassee veteran in a band of outsiders Scott brought to the
executive suites of the Capitol. Scott said he picked Carroll to
help direct policy, but she was rarely seen in the House or Senate
during the 2011 session as Scott struggled to shepherd his agenda
through the web of political relationships in the Legislature and
lobby corps.
MARIETTA. GA. FIRE DISPLACED SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN
APPARTMENT. 12/12/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
An overnight fire destroyed nearly a dozen units of a
Marietta apartment complex where more than 40 residents were
displaced by the blaze which broke out just before midnight Sunday
night at the Ridge Pointe complex on Franklin Road. First responding
units found fire coming from a second-floor apartment, according to
Marietta police spokesman David Baldwin. Baldwin said investigators
have determined that the fire started in a second-floor bedroom, and
that the tenant attempted to extinguish the fire, but was
unsuccessful. The fire destroyed all 10 apartments in the building.
The American Red Cross was on the scene early Monday to assist the
45 displaced residents.
INTERNATIONAL
THE ARAB LEAGUE CONDEMNS CANDIDATE NEWT
GINGRICH'S REMARKS.
YEMEN. JAIL BREAK BY AL-QAEDA IN YEMEN CITY OF
ADEN..
UNITED NATIONS
IVORY COAST ELECTIONS IN CALM ATMOSPHERE.
1
===================================================================
DECEMBER 11
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war
on the United States; the U.S. responded in kind.
On Dec. 11, 1882, Fiorello H. La Guardia, the
former mayor of New York City for three consecutive terms, was born.
He died on Sept. 20, 1947
On This Date in 1816 Indiana became the 19th
state.
1936 Britain's King Edward VIII abdicated the
throne in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson.
1941 Germany and Italy declared war on the United
States, which responded in kind.
1946 UNICEF (the United Nations International
Children's Emergency Fund) was established.
1972 Man landed on the moon for the last time
during the Apollo 17 mission.
1981 The U.N. Security Council chose Javier Perez
de Cuellar of Peru to be its fifth secretary-general.
1994 Russian troops rolled into breakaway
republic of Chechnya in a failed bid to restore Moscow's control
over the region.
1997 More than 150 countries agreed at a global
warming conference in Kyoto, Japan, to take steps to control
greenhouse gas emissions.
1998 The House Judiciary Committee approved three
articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton.
2000 Shortstop Alex Rodriguez agreed to a $252
million 10-year deal with the Texas Rangers, the most lucrative
sports contract in history to date.
2002 A congressional report found that
intelligence agencies before Sept. 11, 2001, were poorly organized,
poorly equipped and slow to pursue clues that might have prevented
that day's terrorist attacks.
2008 Financial manager Bernard Madoff was
arrested, accused of running a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that
destroyed thousands of people's life savings and wrecked charities.
Madoff later pleaded guilty and is serving150 years in federal
prison.
2009 Tiger Woods announced on his website that he
was taking an indefinite leave from golf to try to save his marriage
to Elin Nordegren. The couple divorced in August 2010.
CITY HALL NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES LATEST
INITIATIVES TO GROW CITY’S ALREADY EXPANDING RETAIL INDUSTRY, HELP
BUSINESSES CREATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND CONNECT STRUGGLING NEW
YORKERS WITH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
“The holiday season is in full swing now, and New
Yorkers and out-of-towners are thronging shopping districts and
shopping centers across the five boroughs. It’s the busiest time of
year for our city’s key $78 billion-a-year retailing industry – one
that, with some 300,000 jobs, accounts for roughly 10 percent of the
private sector jobs in our city. And with more stores expanding and
moving here, that job total is bound to grow – not just during the
holidays, but all year round.
“We’re also taking steps to ensure that all New
Yorkers – even those who’ve traditionally been among the hardest to
employ – get a shot at jobs in our city. In Brownsville last week,
we opened our first ‘Neighborhood Opportunity Network,’ or ‘NeON’
office. An element of our trailblazing Young Men’s Initiative, it’s
kicking off a new push to take City probation officers away from
downtown courthouses, put them in our communities, and directly link
them and their probationers to local groups providing social
services, education, and job training. By helping probationers get
on the right path to jobs and self-sufficiency instead of the wrong
path back to jail, we’re going to make our neighborhoods safer and
economically sounder – and that’s good news for us all.
MIAMI, FLA. MIAMI BEACH POLICE CHARITY UNDER SCRUTINY
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
The Police Athletic League uses its tax-deductible dollars
to buy turkeys, veggies and canned goods that members pack into
baskets and distribute to poor families before Thanksgiving. But a
couple of years ago, PAL also popped for 24 fatter birds, weighing
16 to 24 pounds, six eight- to 10- pound turkey breasts, seven racks
of lamb, 14 pounds of skirt steaks, 15 pounds of flank steaks, nine
pounds of ground Angus, two packages of smoked salmon with cracked
pepper, 22 pork tenderloins and six boxes of shrimp.
That feast, however, didn’t go to the poor. Most of
the $1,000 bounty ended up on the tables of PAL board members, city
employees and Miami Beach police officers, according to a city
audit. The Miami Beach Police Athletic League has a history, city
auditors and police internal affairs investigators say, of sloppy
accounting and questionable business deals and using the nonprofit’s
coffers for the benefit of the police administration, police
officers and their friends.
About a week after Gonzalez contacted the office of
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Cohen’s attorney, Abe
Laeser, a well-regarded retired Miami-Dade criminal prosecutor,
wrote a letter to his former boss. He implored Rundle to ensure that
a second investigation into whether PAL money was misused be more
aggressive than the first, calling the police department’s Internal
Affairs probe “a laughable joke.”
ATLANTA, GA. SHOOTING IN THE CITY. ONE
DEAD, 3 SHOT.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
Atlanta police were investigating a shooting Saturday that
left a man at an apartment complex dead and two women with him
wounded. The dead unidentified man and two unidentified women were
sitting on the front steps of the apartment complex at 514 Parkway
when an argument may have began between the man and another person.
According to the Police, they do have some information to suggest
that the victim may have been arguing with the suspect over possibly
one of the females. At least six shots were fired, leaving the man
who was with the women with a wound to the chest. He later died at
Atlanta Medical Center, police said. Victims were also taken to
Grady Memorial Hospital. One of the women was shot in the stomach
and the other was shot in the leg, police said. Police did not have
a motive for the shootings.
INTERNATIONAL
PAKISTAN. BLOCKAGE OF NATO CONVOYS.
UNITED NATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY EVERYWHERE.
==============================================================
DECEMBER 10
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 10, 1948, the U.N. General Assembly adopted
its Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
On Dec. 10, 1851, Melvil Dewey, the American
librarian famous for creating the Dewey Decimal Classification
system , was born. He died on Dec. 26, 1931
On This Date in 1817 Mississippi was admitted to
the union as the 20th state.
1948 The U.N. General Assembly adopted its
Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
1965 The Grateful Dead played their first
concert, at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
1980 Rep. John W. Jenrette, D-S.C., resigned to avoid being expelled
from the House following his conviction on charges related to the
FBI's Abscam investigation.
1984 South African Bishop Desmond Tutu received
the Nobel Peace Prize.
1994 Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak
Rabin received the Nobel Peace Prize. 1998 Six astronauts opened the
doors to the new international space station.
1998 The Palestinian leadership scrapped
constitutional clauses rejecting Israel's right to exist.
2002 Former President Jimmy Carter accepted
the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomacy in the Middle East in the
1970s.
2007 Former Vice President Al Gore accepted the
Nobel Peace Prize with a call for humanity to rise up against a
looming climate crisis.
2007 NFL star Michael Vick was sentenced to 23
months in prison for bankrolling a dogfighting operation and killing
dogs that underperformed.
2007 Cristina Fernandez was sworn in as
Argentina's first elected female president.
2009 President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel
Peace Prize with a humble acknowledgment of his scant
accomplishments and a robust defense of the U.S. at war.
NEW YORK. CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST PROTESTED AT 47TH
ST. BY THE UN.12/10/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
At 3:00 pm, we decided to cover the protest by some
Hundreds of civil rights activists this Saturday in the park on
47th street and 1st Avenue, near the UN. It was very cold, but the
protesters made their voices heard against the stricter voting laws
against election fraud. On the stage, Representative Charles Rangel
addressed the crowd saying that “You can’t accomplish anything if
you’re not prepared to fight.” Otherl labor leaders and
politicians said they wanted to roll back new voting rules passed in
several states, around the country include requiring photo IDs at
the ballot box and restricting voting by former felons. The laws
will have a negative effect on blacks, Latinos, students and the
elderly. Diane Sanders an organizer with 1199SEIU, the service
employees international union and one of the nation’s largest unions
declares that “Voting rights are being challenged all across the
United States,” “People have died for the right to vote. We can’t
just sit by and let our rights be taken from us.” There were
about a 1,000 marchers present in the freezing cold at the plaza.
NYPD cars and cops were all over on 1st and Second avenues for the
event.
The march started on the upper East Side buildings where Koch
Industries has New York offices. According to the protesters, Koch
is directly responsible because it funded the political lobbying
group that helped pass the laws as the billionaire brothers David
and Charles Koch, is one of the nation’s largest privately held
companies with business interests that include refining, chemicals
and commodities trading.
INTERNATIONAL
EUROPEAN VETO BAD FOR BRITAIN.
UNITED NATIONS
UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN DURBAN.
========================================================
DECEMBER 9
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 9, 1992, Britain's Prince Charles and
Princess Diana announced their separation.
On Dec. 9, 1912, Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, the
American politician who was the Speaker of the U.S House of
Representatives for 11 years , was born. He died on Jan. 5,
1994
On This Date in 1608 Poet John Milton was born in
London.
1854 The poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was published in England.
1907 Christmas seals went on sale for the first
time, at the Wilmington, Del., post office. The proceeds went to
fight tuberculosis.
1940 British troops opened their first major
offensive in North Africa during World War II.
1941 China declared war on Japan, Germany and
Italy. 1958 The anti-Communist John Birch Society was formed in
Indianapolis.
1975 President Gerald R. Ford signed a $2.3
billion seasonal loan authorization to prevent New York City from
having to default.
1992 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana
announced their separation.
1993 The Air Force destroyed the first of 500
Minuteman II missile silos marked for elimination under an arms
control treaty.
1995 Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., was chosen to head
the NAACP.
2000 The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a temporary
halt in the Florida presidential vote count.
2002 United Airlines filed the biggest bankruptcy
in aviation history after losing $4 billion in the previous two
years.
2004 Canada's Supreme Court ruled that gay
marriage was constitutional.
2008 Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested
on suspicion of scheming to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat
for cash or a job for himself in the new administration. Blagojevich
was convicted of lying to the FBI; he awaits re-trial on 23 other
charges.
NEW YORK. BIG MARCH. THIS SATURDAY
THOUSANDS SET TO MARCH TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS
DAY -OVER 150 CIVIL RIGHTS, LABOR, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS &
COMMUNITY GROUPS FIGHT TO STOP NATIONWIDE VOTER SUPPRESSION EFFORTS
12/9/11
By Jacques Dusseck, NTS NEWS-
Harry Belafonte, Wyclef Jean, Benjamin Jealous,
President and CEO, National NAACP and Thousands will take to the
streets in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday, December 10thUnited
Nations Human Rights Day—to Stand for Freedom, a campaign to fight
attacks on voting rights, which could affect millions of Americans
in 2012 and beyond.
The march will begin at 61st Street and Madison Avenue. Protestors
will be led by a coalition of union, civil rights, and community
leaders, including Ben Jealous, NAACP President; George Gresham,
1199SEIU President; Anthony Romero, Executive Director, American
Civil Liberties Union; Michael Mulgrew, United Federation of
Teachers President; Marc Morial, National Urban League President;
U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel; Civil Rights Activist, Rev. Al Sharpton;
Lillian Rodríguez López, Executive Director, Hispanic Federation;
and Margaret Fung, Executive Director, Asian American Legal Defense
and Education Fund, among others.
Busloads of protestors from Maryland,
Rochester, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut,
Buffalo and several other places will join in the march, culminating
in a rally across from the United Nations.
The march comes on the heels of a joint report
released by the NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, titled,
Defending Democracy: Ending 21st Century barriers to voting rights
in America, which examines scores of legislative proposals,
detailing a plethora of voter suppression initiatives, such as
requiring voters to obtain and present an official photo ID in order
to cast a ballot and cutting early voting and Sunday voting
opportunities. According to the report, most of these new laws are
being pushed in states with large ethnic and minority populations
where voting turnout has surged.
Other participants in the Stand for Freedom
coalition who will take part in the march and rally include John
Payton, President of the NAACP LDF; Dr. Hazel Dukes, President of
the NAACP New York State Conference; Judith A. Browne Dianis,
Co-Director of The Advancement Project; Barbara R. Arnwine,
Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights; and
Melanie Campbell of the National Coalition on Black Civic
Participation (NCBCP). (FOR THE FULL LIST, SEE BELOW.)
MARCH: Kick off at 11:30 am RALLY: 12:30pm at
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 47th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues
Participants: Benjamin Jealous, President and CEO,
National NAACP -George Gresham, President, 1199SEIU -Harry
Belafonte, Human Rights Activist -U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel -Rev. Al
Sharpton, Civil Rights Activist/Founder of National Action Network
-John Payton, President, NAACP LDF -Michael Mulgrew, President,
United Federation of Teachers -Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, President of the
NAACP New York State Conference -Marc Morial, President, National
Urban League -Donna Lieberman, Executive Director, New York Civil
Liberties Union -Judith A. Browne Dianis, Co-Director, The
Advancement Project -Anthony Romero, Executive Director, ACLU
-Barbara Arnwine, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
-Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change
-Margaret Fung, Executive Director, Asian American Legal Defense &
Ed Fund -Lillian Rodríguez López, Executive Director, Hispanic
Federation -Bob Edgar, President, Common Cause -Melanie Campbell,
the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation -Chung-Wha Hong,
Exec. Director, The New York Immigration Coalition -Phaedra Lampkin-Ellis,
Green for All -Wanda Williams, DC 37 -Terry O'Neil, President NOW
-Dr. Brenda Williams, South Carolina -Wade Henderson, Esq.,
Leadership Council on Civil Rights -Anthony Papa, former felon -Imam
Talib Abdur-Rashid, Religious Leader -Rafael Collazo, National
Council of La Raza -Mark Thompson, Sirius Radio -Wyclef Jean,
Singer/Rap Artist — *performing*
MORE SCHOOLS CLOSURES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION 12/9/11
By Jacques Dussec\k NTS NEWS
The Department of Education today will announce another set
of schools slated for closure later today. Several schools will see
their middle school grades phased out entirely. They include P.S.
161 The Crown in Brooklyn, Academy For Scholarship And
Entrepreneurship in the Bronx, and Brooklyn Collegiate: A College
Board School in Brooklyn. The city has already placed 47 schools on
notice for poor performance. Among the high schools on the closing
list is Jane Addams in the South Bronx which is under investigation
over allegations students received credits for classes they did not
take. Mayor Bloomberg said "These aren't marginally bad schools or
nonperforming schools, they just don't do the job, this is no
question they're not doing the job"
"This is not a popularity contest. And we don't
expect it to be a popularity contest," said Schools Chancellor
Dennis Walcott. "This is about student performance, student outcome,
making sure we improve our schools and making sure students are
college ready and career ready." The head of the teacher's union
called the announcement another stunning failure of education
department management.
The New York French American Charter School on the
Upper West Side was added to the list because of educational,
financial and safety concerns. Seven charter schools are now on the
list, up from six.
Schools Set For Closure:
Bronx • Gateway School For Environmental Research and Technology (High
school) • Jane Addams High School For Academic Careers
Brooklyn • P.S. 019 Roberto Clemente (Elementary) • General D.
Chappie James Elementary School of Science (Elementary) •
International Arts Business School (High school) • Satellite Three
(Middle school) • Middle School For The Arts • J.H.S. 296 The Anna
Gonzalez Community School (Middle school) • Academy Of Business And
Community Development (Secondary school)
Manhattan • Legacy School For Integrated Studies (High school) •
Manhattan Theatre Lab High School Staten Island • P.S. 014 Cornelius
Vanderbilt (Elementary)
NEW YORK. CARNEGIE HALL HAITIAN TENOR ISAACSON IN
CONCERT 12/22, 2011.
For the first time in its 120-year history, an operatic soloist
from Haiti will take center stage at Carnegie Hall. On Thursday,
December 22nd at 8PM, lyrical tenor and Haitian native Isaacson
Buteau will be making his Carnegie Hall debut to benefit the orphans
of Haiti. Joined by conductor Barbara Leifer and the Sifodec
Orchestra, with members of the United Nations Orchestra, Mr. Buteau
will perform a selection of arias from Puccini’s Tosca, Turandot,
and La Boheme; Verdi; and Massenet. Proceeds from the evening’s
performance will be donated to Sifodec, Inc., a New York State-based
relief organization for children in Haiti.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Isaacson Buteau, Tenor Born in Cayes, Haiti, Mr. Buteau left his native
country for political reasons in 1993 and developed his talent as a
singer while studying medicine in Florida. He studied with Pamela
Ascroft, Dr. David Malis at University of Miami, and Hilda Del
Castillo. He has been a soloist with many different choirs in
Florida, won several TV competitions and has sung concerts in
Baltimore, Atlanta, Boston, and New York. He donates a share of the
proceeds from all of his performances to orphans in Haiti. Mr.
Buteau’s CD is available on iTunes and Amazon.com..
TICKETS: $50 to $125.
PROGRAM
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 8PM Stern Auditorium,
Carnegie Hall 881 7th Avenue New York, NY
ROSSINI Barber of Seville Overture PUCCINI
Ch'ella mi creda libero from La Fanciulla del West Recondita Armonia
and E lucevan le Stelle from Tosca Nessun Dorma from Turandot BIZET
Carmen Suites Aragonaise Prelude Intermezzo Danse Boheme Habanera
Les Toreadors
VERDI Overture to Nabucco MASSENET Pourquoi me
reveiller from Werther FLOTOW M' appari tutto amor from Martha
INTERNATIONAL
IRAN. MISSING FORMER FBI AGENT ROBERT LEVINSON
STILL ALIVE.
UNITED
NATIONS
LEBANON. UN DEPLORES TARGETED EXPLOSION INJURING
PEACEKEEPERS.
===================================================================
DECEMBER
8
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 8, 1941, the United States entered World
War II as Congress declared war against Japan one day after the
attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Dec. 8, 1925, Sammy Davis Jr., the American
performer famous for his singing, dancing and comedy routines, was
born. He died on May 16, 1990.
On This Date in 1776 George Washington's
retreating army crossed the Delaware River from New Jersey to
Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War.
1854 Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Catholic dogma
of the Immaculate Conception, which holds that Mary, the mother of
Jesus, was free of original sin from the moment of her own
conception.
1863 President Abraham Lincoln announced his plan
for the Reconstruction of the South.
1886 The American Federation of Labor was founded
in Columbus, Ohio.
1980 Rock musician John Lennon was shot to death
outside his New York City apartment building by Mark David Chapman.
The former Beatle was 40.
1987 Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied
territories began an interface, or uprising.
1987 President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader
Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed a treaty calling for destruction of
intermediate-range nuclear missiles.
1991 Russia, Belarus and Ukraine declared the
Soviet national government dead, forming a new Commonwealth of
Independent States.
1991 Kimberly Bergalis, who had contracted AIDS
from her dentist, died in Florida at age 23.
1992 Americans saw live TV coverage of U.S.
troops landing on the beaches of Somalia as Operation Restore Hope
began.
1993 President Bill Clinton signed into law the
North American Free Trade Agreement.
1995 The Grateful Dead announced they were
breaking up after 30 years of making music. The news came four
months after the death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia.
2008 Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told the Guantanamo
war crimes tribunal he would confess to masterminding the Sept. 11
attacks; four other men also abandoned their defenses.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2011
MANHATTAN 7:40 AM Live Interview and Visit to
New WCBS 880 Studios WCBS Radio - 880 AM and www.wcbs880.com
BROOKLYN *11:30 AM Announces Launch of New
Component of Young Men’s Initiative with Department of Probation
Commissioner Schiraldi Brownsville Multi-Service Center 444 Thomas
Boyland Street between East New York and Pitkin
ALBANY, NY. SENATE APPROVES CLASS TAX BRAKE FOR
MIDDLE CLASS. 12/7/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
New York State Senators on Wednesday passed a major overhaul
of the state's tax code that will mean higher taxes for the
wealthiest New Yorkers and a tax break for millions of residents,
pending the approval of the State Assembly. If passed by the
Assembly, the legislation will give the average middle class
household a tax break of about $300 to $400 a year. However, New
Yorkers earning $2 million a year will see their base tax rates
jump. The measure was expected to be approved by the Assembly during
an early Thursday morning vote.
The new tax rate would actually be lower than what
many wealthy New Yorkers currently pay because of a surcharge on the
state's highest earners that is due to expire at the end of the
year. The measure represents an about-face from Governor Andrew
Cuomo, who earlier this year said he thought that raising taxes
would be "counterproductive for the state." He said the new plan is
a balanced way to address the state's projected $3.5 billion
deficit.
"New Yorkers know we are in difficult times, but
they want us to be fair in how we handle it, our tax code today is
just not fair," Cuomo said. "The additional revenue generated will
make a significant difference to our state to help close the
deficit. I think this is fair. I think it will benefit all New
Yorkers in the long-term." Included in the bill is about $50 million
for upstate flood relief and an inner city jobs program.
Lawmakers will not be voting on an expansion of a
livery cab medallion bill. That measure was declared dead by
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in a closed door conference.
BROOKLYN, NY. A 25 YEAR-OLD WOMAN FATALLY STRUCK
BY SANITATION TRUCK
NYPD say that a 25-year-old woman was struck and killed by
a city sanitation truck while crossing a street in Brooklyn. Police
say it happened just after 7 p.m. Wednesday on Broadway near Driggs
Avenue in the Williamsburg section. The woman, identified as
Katherine Yun, of Syosset, was taken to a hospital where she was
pronounced dead. Police say no crime is suspected. The investigation
is continuing.
INTERNATIONAL
MOSCOW. PUTIN HAS ACCUSED US SECRETARY OF STATE
CLINTON.
UNITED NATIONS
UNEMPLOYMENT IN GAZA REMAINS HIGH DESPITE
IMPROVED ECONOMY.
===================================================================
DECEMBER
7
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked the
home base of the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii,
drawing the United States into World War II. More than 2,300
Americans were killed.
On Dec. 7, 1873, Willa Cather, the American
novelist famous for her descriptions of life on the American
frontier, was born. She died on April 24, 1947
On This Date in 1787 Delaware became the first
state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1796 Electors chose John Adams to be the second
president of the United States.
1836 Martin Van Buren was elected the eighth
president of the United States.
1842 The New York Philharmonic gave its first
concert.
1963 Videotaped instant replay was used for the
first time in a live sports telecast during the Army-Navy football
game on CBS.
1972 America's last moon mission was launched as
Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral.
1982 A U.S. prisoner was executed by injection
for the first time, in Huntsville, Texas.
1985 Retired Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart
died at age 70.
1988 An earthquake in northern Armenia claimed an
estimated 25,000 lives.
1993 A gunman opened fire on a Long Island Rail
Road commuter train, killing six people and wounding 17. Colin
Ferguson was later sentenced to a minimum of 200 years in prison.
1995 A 746-pound probe from the Galileo
spacecraft hurtled into Jupiter's atmosphere, sending back data to
the mother ship before it was destroyed.
2001 Taliban forces abandoned their last bastion
in Afghanistan, fleeing the southern city of Kandahar.
2002 Iraq denied it had weapons of mass
destruction in a declaration to the United Nations.
2004 Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's
first popularly elected president.
2007 Baseball home run king Barry Bonds pleaded
not guilty in San Francisco to charges he'd lied to federal
investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011
MANHATTAN *12:30 PM Courtesy Visit with the
Honorable Susana Villarán de la Puente, Mayor of Lima, Peru City
Hall
*1:15 PM Joins Buildings Commissioner LiMandri to
Unveil First New Sidewalk Shed Prototype 100 Broadway between Pine
and Rector Streets
NEW YORK. EUROMONEY CONFERENCES AT THE PIERRE
HOTEL 12/7/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Today at the Pierre Hotel of New York, The Euromoney
Conferences will take place in New York. Featured Event The Canadian
Debt Capital Markets Investor Forum The Euromoney
Institutional Investor PLC, is the world's leading organizer of
conferences for cross-border investment and capital markets for
portfolio and direct investors, financial intermediaries,
corporations, governments and financial institutions. Their purpose
is to offer our audience of business leaders and decision makers the
opportunity to exchange ideas, develop new contacts and participate
in informed, impartial and leading edge discussions. The highest
profile delegates meet the highest profile speakers at a Euromoney
Conference. Featured Event The Canadian Debt Capital Markets
Investor Forum
MIAMI, FLA. NEW OWNWR FOR MIDTOWN MIAMI. 12/7/12
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Midtown Equities of Manhattan sold most of its holdings in
the 56-acre development to Midtown Opportunities, a private
investment group. The sale comes as Midtown Miami overcame the
challenges of the recession and the real estate market to become one
of area’s more successful examples of an integrated urban mixed-use
project, where people can live, work and play. It was a vision that
the Cayre family of Midtown Equities has spent nearly a decade
cultivating.
The Midtown site that Vadia’s group purchased is
between Notheast 36th and 29th Streets, then bordered by East Coast
Avenue to the east and Buena Vista Avenue to the west. The adjacent
parcel, the old Chiquita Banana distribution site used as Midtown
sales center, is located on the other side of the railroad tracks at
Northeast 29th Street and Second Avenue.
ATLANTA, GA. HENRY LEE JOHNSON AND EBANGA ASUAMAH
ARRESTED. 12/7/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
It is reported by the Police that two men have been arrested
and charged with a series of bank robberies in Gwinnett, DeKalb and
North Fulton counties, police said Wednesday. Henry Lee
Johnson, 20, has been arrested and charged in connection with the
armed robberies of a Wells Fargo Bank in unincorporated Lilburn and
a SunTrust Bank in unincorporated Norcross. Ebanga Asuamah, 27, has
been arrested in connection with the armed robberies of a Wells
Fargo Bank in unincorporated Lilburn and a SunTrust Bank in
unincorporated Norcross. The pair faces additional charges in
connection with bank heists in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, police
said.
According to police, a man entered the Wells Fargo at 1028 Killian
Hill Road in unincorporated Lilburn on Aug. 5, pointed a gun at
tellers and got away with $10,000. In September, a Regions Bank in
Dunwoody and a Wells Fargo in Sandy Springs were robbed in a similar
manner. Gwinnett County detectives began coordinating their
investigation with detectives from Dunwoody and Sandy Springs and
agents of the FBI, Gwinnett police said. That investigation
allegedly led them to Johnson.
Gwinnett police said they obtained a warrant for
Johnson shortly after the SunTrust robbery, and the Gwinnett County
Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit tracked him down and arrested him
Sunday. Later that day, Gwinnett detectives obtained a warrant for
Asuamah, and Sandy Springs officers and FBI agents located the man
and arrested him. The suspects were being held without bond
Wednesday in the Gwinnett County Detention Center.
INTERNATIONAL.
PANAMA. EX-PRESIDENT NORIEGA IS EXPECTED SUNDAY
IN PANAMA.
UNITED NATIONS.
BETTER PROTECTION FOR WORLD'S FORCIBLY DISPLACED
AND STATELESS.
===============================================
DECEMBER 6
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 6, 1923, a presidential address was
broadcast on radio for the first time as President Calvin Coolidge
spoke to a joint session of Congress.
On Dec. 6, 1898, Alfred Eisenstaedt, the
German-born photographer whose pioneering images for Life magazine
helped define American photojournalism, was born. He died on Aug.
23, 1995,
On This Date in 1790 Congress moved from New York
City to Philadelphia.
1907 The worst mining disaster in U.S. history
occurred as 362 men and boys died in a coal mine explosion in
Monongah, W.Va.
1923 A presidential address was broadcast on
radio for the first time as President Calvin Coolidge spoke to a
joint session of Congress.
1947 Everglades National Park in Florida was
dedicated.
1957 The AFL-CIO expelled the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters.
1957 America's first attempt at putting a
satellite into orbit blew up on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral,
Fla.
1969 A free concert by the Rolling Stones at
Altamont Speedway in Livermore, Calif., was marred by the deaths of
four people, including a man who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel.
1973 House minority leader Gerald R. Ford was
sworn in as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew, who had
resigned after pleading no contest to income tax evasion.
1992 Thousands of Hindu extremists destroyed a
mosque in India, setting off two months of Hindu-Muslim rioting that
claimed at least 2,000 lives.
1994 Orange County, Calif., filed for bankruptcy
protection due to investment losses of about $2 billion.
2003 Army became the first team to finish 0-13 in
major college football history after a 34-6 loss to Navy.
2004 Al-Qaida struck the U.S. Consulate in Jiddah,
Saudi Arabia, with explosives and machine guns, killing nine people.
2006 The bipartisan Iraq Study Group concluded
that President George W. Bush's war policies had failed in almost
every regard, and said the situation in Iraq was "grave and
deteriorating
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR TO VETO LIVERY CAB BILL BY
BLOOMBERG. 12/6/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
The Governor is threatening to strike down a livery
cab bill backed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in an effort to provide
more cabs for the disabled. Cuomo will veto the bill that
would allow livery cabs to pick up street hails unless it is amended
to require that an entire new set of yellow cab medallions go
specifically to taxis accessible to the disabled. The bill currently
calls for for up to 1,500 new yellow cab medallions, but only 569 of
those would be accessible to disabled riders. . Yellow cab drivers
say they're against any plan that would allow livery cabs to pick up
street hails. A civil court filing by the U.S. Attorney's office in
October charged the city was not in compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act when it comes to providing taxis for the
disabled.
MIAMI, FLA. POLICE OFFICER FIRED ON
ACCUSATION TO CAST SPELL. 12/5/11
By Elizabeth Menos, NTS NEWS
The North Miami Beach police officer accused of trying to
cast a Santeria spell over the city manager’s office to stop him
from slashing police jobs was fired Monday. City Manager Lyndon
Bonner, the target of Officer Edith Torres’ allegedly magical plot,
fired the 24-year veteran for conduct unbecoming of an officer. Her
attorney insisted the officer was simply behaving in a “lighthearted
nature” and argued the publicity surrounding the Santeria escapade
would hurt the veteran officer’s chances of getting another job.
According to an internal affairs report, Torres
tried to recruit the help of a janitor to sprinkle birdseed in the
manger’s office. Torres believed the birdseed held mystical powers
which would make the city manager “go away.” The janitor refused to
carry out the birdseed plot and reported Torres to her boss. An
office manager with the police department was also fired after the
janitor told city officials she was involved in the birdseed plot.
As is customary, unionized employees can plead their case before
their termination is finalized. Torres did not show up to a
scheduled appeals hearing with Bonner Monday. Instead, union
attorney Aaron Nisenson sent a two-page letter to Bonner in her
defense. Nisenson called Bonner’s decision to fire Torres
“excessive” and “bias” noting Torres was superstitious but she was
not an actual practitioner of what he called “black magic”. Bonner,
who previously worked in Okeechobee County, refuted claims of bias
and said in an interview Monday that Torres’ firing was justified.
He said he based his decision on the findings of the internal
affairs report which concluded Torres’ actions were unbecoming of an
officer. “When I weighed it all out this morning it was
substantiated that she engaged in conduct unbecoming of an officer.
I think the termination was justified,” Bonner said.
ATLANTA, GA. ATTORNEY WAYNE WILLIAMS PLEADS
GUILTY OF STEALING. 12/5/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
Attorney Wayne Williams has to write a letter of apology,
surrender his law license and spend some time behind bars after
pleading guilty to taking $145,000 from his employer, officials
said. Wayne Williams, 50, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft by
taking and 19 counts of forgery, Fulton County District Attorney
Paul L. Howard Jr. announced Monday. Between 2004 and 2007, Williams
took approximately 24 checks paid to the personal injury law firm of
Joel & Associates, where he worked as a managing attorney in charge
of daily business operations, the DA's office said. He deposited the
checks into his personal checking account, authorities said, and the
theft was discovered during a review of the company's books. illiams
will serve 18 months in prison and the rest of his 20-year sentence
on probation. He also must repay the stolen money and perform 500
hours of community service.
=======================================================
DECEMBER 5
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 5, 1933, national Prohibition came to an
end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to
the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.
On Dec. 5, 1901, Walt Disney, the pioneer of
animated cartoon films and founder of the Disney theme parks, was
born. He died on Dec. 15, 1966
On This Date in 1776 The first scholastic
fraternity in America, Phi Beta Kappa, was organized at the College
of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
1782 Martin Van Buren, the eighth U.S. president
and the first to be born after the country was formed, was born in
Kinderhook, N.Y.
1791 Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in
Vienna at age 35.
1792 George Washington was re-elected president
and John Adams was re-elected vice president.
1831 Former President John Quincy Adams took his
seat as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
1848 President James K. Polk triggered the Gold
Rush of '49 by confirming that gold had been discovered in
California.
1901 Movie producer Walt Disney was born in
Chicago.
1955 The American Federation of Labor and the
Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO.
1994 Republicans chose Newt Gingrich to be the
first GOP speaker of the House in four decades.
1996 Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan
questioned whether the stock market was overvalued, saying in a
speech in Washington, "How do we know when irrational exuberance has
unduly inflated asset values?"
2002 Senate Republican leader Trent Lott praised
Strom Thurmond's pro-segregation
1948 presidential campaign. The ensuing uproar
led to Lott's resignation from the Senate leadership.
2006 New York became the first city in the nation
to ban artery-clogging trans fats at restaurants.
2008 A judge in Las Vegas sentenced O.J. Simpson
to 33 years in prison with eligibility for parole after nine for an
armed robbery at a hotel room.
UNITED NATIONS, NY. 12/2/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY
ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2011 FORUM ON DIASPORA ECONOMY.
A STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELIVERED
BY AMBASSADOR MUTLAQ M. AL-QAHTANI, CHEF DE CABINET.
Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
The President of the United Nations General
Assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, regrets that he could
not join you for today’s event. As Chef de Cabinet of the President
of the General Assembly, I am pleased to make the following remarks
on his behalf.
As President of the United Nations General Assembly,
it is an honor for me to co-host the 2011 Forum on the Diaspora
Economy. I welcome you all to this important event. I have
undertaken to focus the General Assembly’s work on strengthening a
global united partnership, based on open dialogue and mutual
understanding. Such partnership is essential for tackling the
challenges of an interconnected, globalized world.
Effective collective action is needed to ensure
sustainable development and global prosperity. Diasporas are at the
forefront of economic globalization. In recent years, there has been
a rise in international awareness of diaspora’s important economic
contributions, both to their countries of origin and of destination.
Our collective action must be directed towards supporting diasporas,
so that their contributions to development might achieve their full
potential. This Forum takes place in the run-up to the 2011 United
Nations General Assembly High-Level Dialogue on Financing for
Development, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday next week, that
is, on 7 and 8 December.
Many of you may know that “Financing for
Development” is the title of a process that takes place within the
United Nations system and that seeks to improve the economic
environment, both domestic and international, in which developing
countries carry out their development efforts.
In the context of “Financing for Development”, it is important to
discuss how diasporas foster development through:
One: the mobilization of domestic resources. For example, by means
of remittances that are used to set up businesses.
Two: the mobilization of international resources. For example, when
diasporas facilitate foreign direct investments by means of their
knowledge of local cultures and business practices.
Three: international trade; such as speeding up the flow of
information, fostering business trust and creating personal
connections across borders.
And four: international financial and technical cooperation. For
example, when foreign-trained professionals and scientists from
developing countries take part in formal or informal information
exchanges with colleagues from their countries of origin.
The positive contributions of the diasporas are evident, but they
have not yet achieved their full potential. I hope that this timely
event will help shed light on the challenges posed, and the
opportunities offered by, this untapped potential.
We must also urgently address the plight of migrant workers in the
current global financial and economic crisis. Many members of the
diasporas are among the most vulnerable to economic shocks. Their
remittances, as I have mentioned before, are an important source of
private funding for many development activities. They have been
negatively affected by rising unemployment and weak earnings growth
in some host countries.
Before ending, I would like to express my appreciation to those who
have made it possible that we meet today:
First, to my fellow co-hosts, the Permanent Mission of Benin and the
Office of the Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Africa.
Then to the distinguished Permanent Representatives and officials
that have accepted to co-chair this event’s working sessions.
Also to Mr. Harvey Dupiton and his colleagues at Xen Pi
Company & Associates, who are acting as the event’s
facilitators.
And, finally, to all attendees for their participation in today’s
discussions. I wish you success in your deliberations. You may count
on my full support.
Thank you very much.
CITY HALL. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2011
MANHATTAN *9:30 AM Speaks At International
Council of Shopping Centers Annual National Conference and Deal
Making Hilton New York Sixth Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets
*6:45 PM Speaks At NYC & Company Foundation
Leadership Awards Gala New York Marriott Marquis 1535 Broadway
between 45th and 46th Streets
BRONX. ANDREW ANDERSON CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING
BUS DRIVER 12/5/11
IBy Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Andrew Anderson, 20, from the Bronx man is facing felony
assault charges after allegedly hitting a bus driver in the face.
NYPD say Andrew Anderson, 20, punched the driver around 12:40
a.m. Sunday on the BX-22 bus in Fordham. The driver fought back and
helped hold Anderson down until officers arrived. Police say
Anderson has three prior arrests.
THE POSTAL SERVICE AND SERVICE CUT.
The U.S. Postal Service is set to announce a series of
unprecedented cuts today. The estimated $3 billion in reductions
will affect first class mail and likely eliminate the possibility of
next day delivery for the first time in 40 years. Under the plan,
around half of the nation's mail processing centers would close,
lengthening the time it takes for mail to travel from the collection
box to the processing center. The cuts are also expected to slow
down the pace of service overall and could pose a problem for
businesses that send check payments, prescription drugs, time
sensitive magazines or even DVDs by mail. The changes are expected
to take effect next spring and come in addition to the planned
closings of 3,700 local post offices. In total, 100,000 postal
employees are expected to lose their jobs. The Postmaster General
says the agency has to act because Congress has not yet granted it
the authority to take other cost cutting measures, including getting
rid of Saturday delivery, raising stamp prices and reducing health
care and labor costs.
MIAMI, FLA. CRASH ON I-195, SR-286 AND I-95.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
This Monday morning traffic may be busier than usual
as residents head to work and Art Basel goers trickle out of town.
The left lane is blocked by an accident westbound on Interstate 195
west of Biscayne Boulevard. The southbound lane is blocked at
Interstate 95 and Miami Gardens Drive due to a crash. A fender
bender involving a white pick up truck and a school bus is blocking
the right lane eastbound on Northeast 127th Street at Interstate 95.
An accident is blocking a lane on northbound Interstate 95 at
Stirling Road. An accident on State Road 826 at Red Road is causing
delays. No injuries were reported. A vehicle crash with injuries is
causing unknown roadblocks eastbound at Southwest 152nd Street at
Southwest 93rd Avenue. In Broward, accidents have been cleared.
Drivers may experience slight delays in those areas. A crash
southbound on Interstate 95 at Northwest 151st Street has been
cleared. Another accident eastbound on Kendall Drive at Southwest
162nd Avenue is also clear.
ATLANTA, GA . SEARCH FOR 7 YEAR OLD JORELYS
RIVERA. OF CANTON. 12/5/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
The disappearance is being investigated as a child abduction, police
said. Anyone with information as to the child's whereabouts is urged
to call 911 immediately. Georgia State Patrol troopers,
Department of Natural Resources rangers and other state officers,
was helping look for Jorelys Rivera, last seen at an apartment
complex in Canton. Cherokee County sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker said late
Monday morning that the search, which also involved federal and
local authorities, was being concentrated within a one-mile radius
of that apartment complex. Police and other searchers were using the
parking lot of Carmike Cinemas Riverstone as a staging area, said
Canton police Det. Candy Worthy.
The disappearance of Jorelys is being investigated
as a child abduction, police said. The girl was last seen around 5
p.m. Friday at the River Ridge apartment complex on River Ridge
Drive in Canton. Search crews Sunday were focusing on two nearby
apartment complexes and surrounding wooded areas. "Here we are
getting into the 48-hour mark and we've got to get something
and that's why we're out here now and we'll be out here as long as
it takes," Jeff Hall with Canton police said. Probation officers and
deputies were also questioning sex offenders in the area, Worthy
said. “We are also working with the school system and the family to
learn more about the child's friends,” Worthy said.
Jorelys is described as a Hispanic female who is
approximately 3 to 4 feet tall and 80 pounds. She was last seen
wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and black boots. Anyone with
information as to the child’s whereabouts is urged to call 911
immediately. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling 770-345-4189.
INTERNATIONAL.
LAURENT GBAGBO APPEARS AT ICC.
=======================================================================
DECEMBER 3
IN HISTORY
On This Date in Dec. 3, 1984, more than 4,000 people died
after a cloud of gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by a
Union Carbide subsidiary in Bhopal, India.
On Dec. 3, 1895, Anna Freud, the Austrian-born
psychologist who pioneered the field of child psychoanalysis, was
born. She died on Oct. 9, 1982
On This Date in 1818 Illinois was admitted to the
union as the 21st state.
1828 Andrew Jackson was elected the seventh
president of the United States.
1947 "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams opened on
Broadway.
1948 The House Un-American Activities Committee
announced that former Communist spy Whittaker Chambers had produced
microfilm of secret documents hidden inside a pumpkin on his
Maryland farm.
1964 Police arrested some 800 students at the
University of California at Berkeley who had stormed the
administration buildingthe previous day and staged a massive sit-in.
1965 The album "Rubber Soul" by the Beatles was
released.
1967 Surgeons in Cape Town, South Africa, led by
Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant.
1967 The 20th Century Limited, the famed luxury
train, completed its final run from New York City to Chicago.
1979 Eleven people were killed in a crush of fans
at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum before a rock concert by the
Who.
1989 East German Communist leader Egon
Krenz, the ruling Politburo and the party's Central Committee
resigned.
1997 South Korea struck a deal with the
International Monetary Fund for a $55 billion bailout of its
foundering economy.
1999 Scientists failed to make contact with the
Mars Polar Lander after it began its fiery descent toward the red
planet; the spacecraft was presumed destroyed.
2009 Comcast and GE announced joint venture
plans, with Comcast owning a 51 percent controlling stake in NBC
Universal.
ATLANTA, GA. HERMAN CAIN'S PRESIDENTIAL IS OVER.
PROBABLY THE FEMALE ACCUSERS ARE NOW HAPPY. 12/3/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Herman Cain suspended his bid for the Republican presidential
nomination on this Saturday. He planned to continue his efforts to
influence Washington and announced "Plan B" what he called a
grassroots effort to return government to the people. He denounced
the accusations of impropriety against him as "false and unproven"
but said that they had been hurtful to his family, particularly his
wife, Gloria. "So as of today, with a lot of prayer and
soul-searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign. I am
suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued
distractions and the continued hurt caused on me and my family." "I
am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at
peace with me."
The female accusers are now happy as declared a beautiful white New
York lady after the announcement.
We are not going to waist our times and energy to give publicity to
the female accusers.
NEW YORK. MC DONALD CASE. GRAND JURY DROPS
CHARGES AGAINST EMPLOYEE
12/3/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Charges have been dropped against a McDonald's employee who
beat two customers with a metal rod. According to reports, on
October 13, Rachel Edwards and Denise Darbeau climbing over
the counter to get at Rayon McIntosh, 31. McIntosh claimed
self-defense, even though video shows him hitting the women while
they were on the floor at the Greenwich Village restaurant. A grand
jury voted not to indict him. It is still weighing trespassing
charges against the two women, one of whom suffered a fractured
skull.
INTERNATIONAL
FRANCE, IRAN. FRANCE WITHDRAWS THE EMBASSY STAFF
IN TEHERAN.
UNITED NATIONS
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CONDEMNS
ABUSES BY SYRIA.
=================================================================
DECEMBER 2
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 2, 1954, the Senate voted to condemn Sen.
Joseph R. McCarthy, R Wis., for "conduct that tends to bring the
Senate into dishonor and disrepute."
On Dec. 2, 1923, Maria Callas, the legendary
American soprano opera singer, was born. She dies on Sept. 16, 1977
On This Date in 1804 Napoleon was crowned emperor
of France.
1823 President James Monroe outlined his doctrine
opposing European expansion in the Western Hemisphere.
1954 The Senate voted to condemn Sen. Joseph R.
McCarthy, R Wis., for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into
dishonor and disrepute."
1961 Cuban leader Fidel Castro declared himself a
Marxist-Leninist who would lead Cuba to Communism.
1969 The Boeing 747 jumbo jet debuted.
1980 Four American churchwomen were raped,
murdered and buried in El Salvador. Five national guardsmen were
later convicted of murder.
1982 Doctors at the University of Utah Medical
Center performed the first implant of a permanent artificial heart
in a human. Barney Clark lived 112 days with the device.
1990 Chancellor Helmut Kohl's center-right
coalition easily won the first free all-German elections since 1932.
1990 Composer Aaron Copland died at age 90.
1993 Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar was shot
to death by security forces in Medellin.
1999 A power-sharing cabinet of Protestants and
Catholics sat down together for the first time in Northern Ireland.
2001 Enron filed for Chapter 11 protection in one
of the largest corporate bankruptcies in U.S. history.
2010 The House voted to censure Rep. Charles
Rangel, D-N.Y., for financial and fundraising misconduct.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011
MANHATTAN 8:05 AM The John Gambling Show with
Mayor Mike Airs WOR Radio - 710 AM,
*10:00 AM Speaks at Funeral Service for Mayor’s
Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Matthew P. Sapolin
St. Patrick’s Cathedral Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets
NEW YORK. SEAN BELL'S FAMILY ASKS KELLY TO
FIRE DT. GISCARD ISNORA. 12//2
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Sean Bell's family members are calling on Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly to fire the detective who started the
shooting that led to his death. Bell's mother and fiancée said
Thursday that they’re happy a departmental hearing found Detective
Gescard Isnora broke the rules when he opened fire on the car Bell
and two friends were riding in, but they want Isnora and the other
officers involved in the shooting to be fired and lose their
pensions. "None of these men should be working out deals,” said
Nicole Paultre Bell, Sean’s fiancée. “There has been so much pain
that's not only been caused to my family, but to this nation, to New
York City. New York City deserves for these men to be off the
force." It's up to Kelly to dedide.
MIAMI, FLA. DONATION OF $ 35 MILLION BY DEVELOPER
JORGE PEREZ 12/2/
By Elizxabeth Menos NTS NEWS
Jorge Pérez has agreed to donate $35 million in cash and art
from his collection to the Miami Art Museum in a deal that will see
the museum renamed the the Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade
County. The gift, to be paid over the next 10 years, brings the
fundraising total to $167 million for the museum’s new home next to
Biscayne Bay, including $100 million in county bond money. The new
museum, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, is set to open in 2013.
“We are done raising money now for this physical
building,” said museum director Thom Collins. “That means we’re
going to move in on time and probably a little under budget and that
is an amazing thing.” Pérez declined to comment on the donation
Thursday, but released a statement in collaboration with the museum.
“Miami Art Museum’s commitment to assembling one of
the world’s leading collections of contemporary art reflects my own
desire for Miami to continue to grow as an international cultural
destination,” he said. “My hope is that the collection I am donating
to the museum, along with the gift for the museum’s new building
campaign, will enhance its role as a place where locals and visitors
come together to experience an expansive collection of contemporary
art, including our community’s finest works, and become educated in
the global visual arts.” The deal has drawn criticism from a handful
of board members, three of whom have resigned in protest over the
name change. Mary Frank, a longtime member and past president of
MAM's board, said she was “disappointed” by Thursday’s announcement.
ATLANTA, GA. DEATH OF MARTINA DAVIS, TROY DAVIS
SISTER. 12/2/11
Martina Davis Correia, older sister of Troy Davis, who was executed in
September for killing a police officer, died Thursday. She stood by
her brother, who maintained his innocence in the death of off-duty
Savannah police officer Mark Allen MacPhail in 1989. MacPhail was
moonlighting on a security detail when he was shot three times.
After Davis' trial, a number of key witnesses recanted their
testimony. Davis' case was known around the world and fueled the
debate over eyewitness testimony. This year, the Davis family also
lost their mother, Virginia Davis, who died in April, the Associated
Press reported.
INTERNATIONAL
IRAN SANCTIONS. US SENATE PASSES SANCTIONS ON
IRAN CENTRAL BANK.
UNITED
NATIONS.
WORLD AIDS DAY.
============================================================
DECEMBER 1
IN HISTORY
On Dec. 1, 1959, representatives of 12 countries,
including the United States, signed a treaty in Washington setting
aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, free from military
activity.
On Dec. 1, 1872, Gerard Swope, the president of
the General Electric Company for 20 years, was born. He died on Nov.
20, 1957
On This Date By The Associated Press 1824 The
House of Representatives convened to decide the presidential
election because no candidate had received a majority in the
Electoral College. John Quincy Adams was eventually chosen the
winner over Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay.
1913 The first drive-in automobile service
station opened, in Pittsburgh.
1919 Lady Astor was sworn in as the first female
member of the British Parliament.
1934 Sergei M. Kirov, the head of the Communist
Party in Leningrad, was assassinated as Soviet leader Josef Stalin
began a massive purge that would claim tens of millions of lives.
1969 The U.S. government held its first draft
lottery since World War II.
1973 David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime
minister, died at age 87.
1991 Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for
independence from the Soviet Union.
1992 "Long Island Lolita" Amy Fisher was
sentenced to prison for shooting and seriously wounding Mary Jo
Buttafuoco, the wife of her lover, Joey Buttafuoco. Fisher served
seven years.
2000 Vicente Fox was sworn in as president
of Mexico, ending 71 years of ruling-party domination.
2004 Tom Brokaw signed off for the last time as
anchor of the "NBC Nightly News."
2008 President-elect Barack Obama announced his
national security team, including Hillary Rodham Clinton as
secretary of state.
2009 President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 more
U.S. troops into the war in Afghanistan but promised to begin
withdrawal in 18 months.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011
MANHATTAN *7:30 AM Courtesy Visit with the
Honorable Sérgio Cabral Filho, Governor of the State of Rio de
Janeiro Gracie Mansion 88th Street at East End Avenue
8:15 AM Hosts Breakfast Reception in Observance of
World AIDS Day Gracie Mansion 88th Street at East End Avenue
QUEENS *10:30 AM Breaks Ground on $50 Million
in Infrastructure Improvements at Willets Points Parking Lot at the
World's Fair Marina at Flushing Bay Promenade
NEW YORK. SEAN BELL'S KILLING. DETECTIVE GESCARD
ISNORA TO BE FIRED. 12/1
By Jacqques Dusseck NTS NEWS/
It is reported that Detective Gescard Isnora may be fired from
the NYPD after being found guilty of violating New York City Police
Department rules. That decision is being left up to Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly.Sean Bell was killed and two of his friends
were wounded when officers fired at the group as they were leaving
Bell's bachelor party at the Kalua strip club. During the trial,
Detective Isnora testified that he thought Bell's friend, who was in
the passenger seat, was reaching for a weapon. The NYPD trial
determined Isnora acted recklessly when he fired the first shot at
the car. Five officers fired 50 bullets. Isnora shot 11 times.
Another officer, Michael Carey, opened fire after Isnora did, but he
was acquitted of all charges in the NYPD trial. The disciplinary
proceeding follows a 2008 trial where Isnora and two other officers
were acquitted of criminal charges. Carey was never charged
criminally.
NEW YORK. HOMELAND SECURITY ARRESTED ILLEGAL
STRIP CLUBS WORKERS.
Several illegal Russian women were arrested this week for
working illegally in several strip clubs in Queens and Manhattan
operated by the mobs from the Bonanno and Gambino crimes family.
About 25 were arrested in Queens and Manhattan. Russian mobsters
were involved in these prostitution rings, according to federal
agents. These illegal women were brought from Eastern Europe and
Russia to work in those clubs in New York City as waitresses and
dancers involved in prostitution. Some of the accused also allegedly
extorted the dancers and other clubs for money. Five men from
Albany, Binghamton, and New Jersey who are accused of illegally
marrying some of the women so that those women could apply for green
cards to stay in the country. Homeland security is continuing the
investigation about all the clubs operating in New York.
MIAMI, FLA. GINGRICH MOVES AHEAD IN FLORIDA
POLLS. 12/1/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Gingrich’s support looks strong, with 41 to 47 percent of
voters favoring the former House speaker, according to surveys. “The
biggest reason for Newt Gingrich’s rise is that he’s picked up the
voters of Herman Cain and Rick Perry as their campaigns have fallen
apart,”
Romney has lost 13 percentage points since the last
survey, conducted in September by Public Policy Polling, which
typically surveys for Democrats. The two polls also indicate that
Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum are stuck
in single digits in Florida. Florida is a closed primary state,only
Republicans can vote for their nominee. The primary is Jan. 31. The
state carries bragging rights, major media attention and a good load
of delegates that can help the winner secure the party’s nomination
at the Republican National Convention, which will be held in Tampa.
In the general election, Florida is key for Republicans. Because
Democrats usually win the big states of California and New York,
Republicans need the Electoral College votes of Florida and strongly
conservative Texas to have a shot at winning the White House.
The Public Policy Polling analysis shows Gingrich
appeals to Tea Party conservatives, moderates and seniors, the
most crucial segment of the electorate in a state like Florida.
“Florida has one of the oldest Republican electorates in the country
and with voters over 65, he’s at 54%,” Jensen wrote in an analysis.
“That sort of support from seniors has become the rule for Newt in
our polls.”
ATLANTA, GA. CAIN'S AFFAIR. WHITE PHONE RECORDS
SOUTH.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Just days before coming forward with allegations of a
13-year affair with Herman Cain, Ginger White was repeatedly having
contact with the presidential candidate, according to her cell phone
records.
Lin Wood, Cain’s attorney, said on Wednesday that he
thinks most of the messages were asking for money, which Cain has
admitted to providing the Dunwoody woman who has repeatedly faced
eviction. Cain has denied a physical relationship with White. Wood
said in an interview. “Mr. Cain was extremely busy in his campaign.
He didn’t have time to send a lot of texts.”
On Wednesday, Wood sent a letter to White’s
attorney, Edward Buckley, asking for her phone records to “test her
credibility and motive” for coming forward to the media. Wood, in
the letter, said he wanted to “ascertain whether the decision to
grant interviews was politically motivated and to determine whether
she has received or been promised money for participating.”
White, 46, first disclosed her relationship with
Cain on Tuesday in an interview with Fox 5 Atlanta, where she
produced months of phone records detailing 60 calls and text
messages between her and Cain. White has given two more television
interviews this week talking about the alleged affair, the latest
coming Wednesday on national television. During an interview on
“Good Morning America,” White said she knew Cain, 65, was married.
She claims the retired McDonough executive lavished her with gifts
and flew her around the country to meet him at places where he was
speaking, or on one occasion, to Las Vegas to watch a Mike Tyson-Evander
Holyfield boxing match. Cain denies that trip happened.
White’s attorney, Buckley, said his client had
nothing to gain from revealing the alleged relationship and came
forward only because a former friend was pitching the story to the
media. He said White did not seek money to keep the relationship
secret and wants only to tell her story on her terms.
Critics of White, including Cain supporters, said
they think money is at the root of her allegations. Both White and
Cain acknowledged that Cain has helped her financially, but White
said in the GMA interview the relationship was not “sex for cash.”
White’s cash flow problems have followed her for
years. In 2001, she filed for bankruptcy, and she has been sued
numerous times for allegedly failing to pay rent, including nine
times this year, most of them by Ashford Park Apartments in
Dunwoody.
INTERNATIONAL
IRAN. EUROPEAN UNION PUT NEW SANCTIONS ON IRAN.
UNITED NATIONS
FORMER PRESIDENT OF IVORY COAST LAURENT GBAGBO
ARRIVES AT ICC.
========================================================
NOVEMBER 30
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 30, 1995, President Clinton became the
first U.S. chief executive to visit Northern Ireland.
On Nov. 30, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill, the
British statesman, orator and author who served as prime minister
during World War II, was born. He died on Jan. 24, 1965
On This Date in 1782 The United States and
Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris, ending the
Revolutionary War.
1804 Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase went on
trial, accused of political bias. He was acquitted by the Senate.
1835 Author Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne
Clemens in Florida, Mo.
1962 U Thant of Burma was elected
secretary-general of the United Nations, succeeding the late Dag
Hammarskjold.
1966 The former British colony of Barbados became
independent.
1993 President Bill Clinton signed into law the
Brady bill, which requires a five-day waiting period for handgun
purchases and background checks of prospective buyers.
1993 Authorities in California arrested Richard
Allen Davis, who confessed to abducting and killing 12 year-old
Polly Klaas of Petaluma.
1995 President Bill Clinton became the first U.S.
chief executive to visit Northern Ireland.
1999 The opening of a 135-nation trade gathering
in Seattle was disrupted by at least 40,000 demonstrators, some of
whom clashed with police.
2010 Pentagon leaders called for scrapping the
17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" ban after releasing a survey
about the prospect of openly gay troops.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2011
QUEENS *10:00 AM Opens 200th
“Schoolyard to Playground” as Part of PlaNYC Initiative to Ensure
All New Yorkers Live Within a Ten Minute Walk of a Park or
Playground P.S. 69 77-02 37th Avenue between 77th and 78th Streets
MANHATTAN 12:00 Noon Meets with Former
British Prime Minister Tony Blair City Hall
*8:00 PM Attends ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’
Tree Lighting Ceremony Rockefeller Center between 49th and
50th Streets
*The ceremony will be televised live on NBC TV.
Media check-in is at 610 Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets
from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
NEW YORK. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WIL BE IN NY
TODAY FROM 5 TO 11 PM.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
President Obama and his suite is expecting to be in
Manhattan today at 5:00 pm to attend some fundraisers in the City.
He is expected to be at the upcoming lighting of the Rockefeller
Center Christmas tree around 9:00 pm. There will be some major
gridlock in the midtown traffic. Street closures will take
effect in the area of Rockefeller Center around 4 p.m. The
president heads back to Washington around 11 p.m.
MIAMI, FLA. ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF VELDORA ARTHUR
CHARGED AND PAID. 11/30
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
The city of Miami paid assistant fire Chief Veldora Arthur more than
$120,000 to stay home after she’d been federally indicted on
mortgage fraud charges despite a policy stating that non-union
employees charged criminally should be placed on unpaid leave or
reassigned. For seven months, Arthur’s only work responsibilities
were to be in her house 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with an hour
lunch break, and to call the office twice a day. he city’s fire
union chief says he doesn’t understand why the city didn’t reassign
Arthur while she awaited trial.
On Feb. 3, 2011, federal prosecutors charged Arthur and four others
with conspiring to commit mortgage fraud in an $11 million scheme
involving luxury condominiums in Aventura. Arthur was arrested eight
days later and released the same day on a $120,000 bond. According
to a city administrative policy last updated in 2002, employees
charged criminally are to be placed on unpaid leave. Similar to
another policy in Miami-Dade County, employees who are found not
guilty receive back pay when they return to work. The policy also
allows the city manager to transfer the employee to duties pending
the conclusion of the case. Miami fire chief Maurice Kemp said
Arthur could have rolled back to her civil service position and
benefit from the contractual rights.
ATLANTA. GINGER WHITE STIKS BY HER STORY OF
CASUAL AFFAIR WITH CAIN.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
The accuser of GOP candidate Herman Cain took her story on
national TV. She was a guest for 5 minutes over Good Morning
America. " White said she was disappointed that Cain has now labeled
her as “troubled,” and said she does not think he would be a good
president, although she hedged on whether he should end his
campaign. “That is something that he has to look himself in the
mirror and ask himself,” White said. “Last night, I slept very well
telling the truth. I am not sure what is going on in his head right
now, but it is unfortunate that any of this is going on.” White came
out Monday with allegations that for 13 years, she and the married
Cain maintained a “casual” affair. It was the latest blow to Cain’s
campaign that was already reeling from claims of sexual harassment
by several women. Cain has denied all of the charges, including the
ones from White, whom he admits to knowing and helping financially.
"I have done nothing wrong," “It is very disappointing that he would
call me troubled,” White said. “I am not here to say anything
negative about Mr. Cain. I am only here to state the truth about
what happened in the past.”
INTERNATIONAL
ENGLAND TO EXPEL ALL IRANIAN DIPLOMATS.
BURMA. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON IN
BURMA.
UNITED NATIONS
PEACEFUL PALESTINIAN STATE NEXT TO ISRAEL.
========================================================
NOVEMBER 29
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 29, 1947, the U.N. General Assembly
passed a resolution calling for Palestine to be partitioned between
Arabs and Jews.
On Nov. 29, 1832, Louisa May Alcott, the American
author of the classic "Little Women", was born. Following her death
on March 6, 1888, her obituary appeared in The Times.
On This Date in 1890 Navy won the first Army-Navy
football game 24-0 at West Point, N.Y.
1924 Italian composer Giacomo Puccini died in
Brussels.
1947 The U.N. General Assembly passed a
resolution calling for Palestine to be partitioned between Arabs and
Jews.
1952 President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower kept
his campaign promise to visit Korea to assess the conflict.
1961 Enos the chimp was launched from Cape
Canaveral aboard the Mercury-Atlas 5 spacecraft, which orbited Earth
twice before returning.
1963 President Lyndon B. Johnson named a
commission headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate the
assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
1967 Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara
announced he was leaving the Johnson administration to become
president of the World Bank.
1981 Actress Natalie Wood drowned in a boating
accident at age 43.
1986 Actor Cary Grant died at age 82.
1989 In response to a growing pro-democracy
movement in Czechoslovakia, the Communist-run parliament ended the
party's 40-year monopoly on power.
1990 The U.N. Security Council voted 12-2 to
authorize military action if Iraq did not withdraw its troops from
Kuwait and release all foreign hostages by Jan. 15, 1991.
1996 A U.N. court sentenced Bosnian Serb army
soldier Drazen Erdemovic to 10 years in prison for his role in the
massacre of 1,200 Muslims - the first international war crimes
sentence since World War II.
1999 Protestant and Catholic adversaries formed a
Northern Ireland government.
2001 Rock musician George Harrison of the Beatles
died at age 58 following a battle with cancer.
2009 Iran approved plans to build 10 industrial
scale uranium enrichment facilities in defiance of U.N. demands it
halt enrichment.
2009 Swiss voters approved a constitutional ban
on minarets, barring construction of the iconic mosque towers.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2011
MANHATTAN *10:00 AM Attends Funeral Service for
Theodore J. Fortsmann Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Fifth Avenue between
50th and 51st Streets
CAMBRIDGE, MA 3:00 PM Delivers Keynote Address at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Collaborative Initiative
Conference Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab Building
E14, 75 Amherst Street
MANHATTAN 6:00 PM Hosts Reception in Honor of
National Adoption Month Gracie Mansion East End Avenue at 88th
Street
CITY HALL. SUIT AGAINST BLOOMBERG'S
ADMINISTRATION BY CITY COUNCIL 11/29/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
News from the City Council revealed that members will file a
lawsuit against the Bloomberg's administration, to stop a new rule
about homeless shelter. Next week, by Tuesday, the City Council will
vote on the resolution. The Department of Homeless Services
announced a new procedure about those who need shelter, and those
who could stay elsewhere. City Council President Quinn says the
policy was imposed without enough legally-required notice. Quinn
would argue it hasn't happened because it's a bad policy. However,
according to But according to Seth Diamond, the Homeless Services
commissioner it's about focusing resources for those who
really need it. For homeless advocates Patrick Markee of the
Coalition for the Homeless, it's penny pinching on the backs of the
vulnerable. Commissioner Diamond said that "Our policy shouldn't be
frozen in time; they should reflect the realities of today. And the
realities are that many people have other options." The matter will
be discussed at the City Council weekly meeting.
NEW YORK. AMERICAN AIRLINES FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY.
11/29/11
With the filing, American became the final large U.S.
full- fare airline to seek court protection from creditors. The Fort
Worth, Texas-based company, which traces its roots to 1920s air-
mail operations in the Midwest, listed $24.7 billion in assets and
$29.6 billion in debt in Chapter 11 papers filed today in U.S.
Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gerard Arpey, 53, will retire and be replaced by Thomas Horton, AMR
said. Normal flight schedules will continue on American and its
American Eagle regional unit, along with the airline’s
frequent-flier program, the company said.
AMR was determined to avoid Chapter 11 in the years
after the 2001 terrorist attacks, as peers used bankruptcy to shed
costly pension and retiree benefit plans and restructure debt.
American later watched as rival carriers combined, giving them
larger route networks that were more attractive to lucrative
corporate travel customers.
American was embroiled in negotiations with unions
for all of its major work groups as far back as 2006, seeking to
boost employee productivity and erase part of what it said was an
$800 million labor-cost disadvantage to other carriers. The airline
and leaders of its pilots’ union were scheduled to meet with federal
mediators on Dec. 6 to provide an update on contract talks that
stalled two weeks ago. The two sides hadn’t set a date to resume
negotiations since Allied Pilots Association leaders declined to
send a Nov. 14 contract offer to union members for a vote, saying it
“clearly” would be rejected.
American’s pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and
baggage handlers wanted to use the contract talks to regain some of
the $1.6 billion in annual concessions they gave in 2003 to help the
company avoid bankruptcy. AMR shares have plunged 79 percent this
year and analysts including Philip Baggaley of Standard & Poor’s
have warned the company could face a cash crisis during the next 12
months without new labor agreements. AMR on Sept. 27 sold $725.7
million of 10-year bonds backed by aircraft to refinance maturing
debt. The company paid the highest interest rates since 2009 to
raise the cash. American had blamed higher labor costs, as well as
benefits that have increased more slowly than expected from business
ventures with partners across the Atlantic and Pacific, in part for
its failure to return to profit. The airline also has a fleet of
older, less fuel-efficient planes that put it at a disadvantage when
fuel prices rise.
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. PLAYING BINGO, MARY FERRONE, 81,
WON $53,367.00 11/28/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
Mary Ferrone, 81 of Sunrise, grandmother of 15 of Sunrise,
a regular at the nearby Seminole Casino Hollywood "Classic" years
ago, hit the 11 a.m. matinee game for old times’ sake on Nov. 21,
with a friend of hers. The casino, located just south of the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on State Road 7, has run bingo
games for more than 30 years. Grandma Ferron won the $53,367.00
jackpot with with just 47 numbers called. According to the marketing
Robert Dearstine, explaining that there are only 24 numbers on each
bingo card and Ferrone had more than every other number called of
the 48 on her card. She told casino officials: “My grandchildren
will have a great Christmas now.” Seminole Casino Hollywood
pioneered Indian gaming when it opened as the country’s first large
stakes bingo hall in 1979, eventually expanding with gaming machines
and poker. There are four high stakes sessions offered daily and
each bingo session has its own progressive jackpot, which regularly
exceeds $100,000. The Seminole Casino Hollywood is located one block
south of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood at 4150 North
State Road in Hollywood, Florida.
AATLANTA, GA. GINGER WHITE CLAIMED SHE HAD A 13
YEAR AFFAIR WITH CAIN.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Ginger White, a divorced mother of two with a long history
of financial troubles, said in a TV interview that she and Cain had
an off-and-on physical relationship that ended shortly before he
declared his candidacy in May. She said the relationship began in
the 1990s. Cain denies the allegation and says he was trying
to help her financially.” White has had numerous financial issues,
including a bankruptcy and numerous evictions in DeKalb County. She
was also once successfully sued for libel by a former business
partner. According to Ginger White, they met in Louisville, Ky.,
when Cain was the head of the National Restaurant Association. They
had drinks and he invited her to his hotel, she claims. Cain, a
Stockbridge resident, would fly her around the country to cities
where he was speaking, she said in the interview. Cain said that
White’s allegations, like those who previously accused him of sexual
harassment, “were baseless because they couldn’t come up with any
documentation or anything that was credible.” Lin Wood, an Atlanta
attorney Cain hired to help him respond to a string of sexual
harassment allegations, said accusations such these should be
handled privately. Media interest in Cain’s personal life has
intensified in recent months along with his once-soaring poll
numbers and the string of sexual harassment claims that have dogged
his campaign. Cain was first hit with charges of sexual harassment
in October, just as he was positioning himself as a front-runner for
the GOP nomination. The news outlet Politico first reported that two
women accused Cain of harassment in 1999 while he was at the
National Restaurant Association. Cain acknowledged that one of those
women filed a sexual harassment complaint with the association; Cain
later confirmed the woman was given a financial settlement. Cain
said the allegations will not drive him from the race for the White
House unless it proves too difficult for his wife.“The thing I’m
worried about is the impact it’s going to have on my wife and my
family,” he said. “They should not be subjected to false
accusations.”
White’s credibility will be up for inspection in the
coming days.White was married to former University of Southern
Mississippi basketball star John White for five years before
divorcing in 1998, other than her financial struggles. Court records
found that White has been sued numerous times for allegedly not
paying rent, including nine times this year in DeKalb County court,
most of them by Ashford Park Apartments in Dunwoody.
INTERNATIONAL
IRAN. TEHERAN. IRAN PROTESTERS STORM UK EMBASSY.
UNITED NATIONS.
CONGO. MILLIONS OF CONGOLESE ARE VOTING
PEACEFULLY.
==========================================================
NOVEMBER 28
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 28, 1943, President Roosevelt, British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin met
in Tehran during World War II.
On Nov. 28, 1904, Nancy Mitford, the British
satiric novelist and essayist, was born. She died on June 30, 1973
CITY HALL. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
CHICAGO, IL *10:30 AM Attends Funeral Service for
Margaret Daley Old St. Patrick’s Church
=====================================================
NOVEMBER 27
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 27, 1973, the Senate voted 92-3 to
confirm Gerald R. Ford as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew,
who'd resigned.
On Nov. 27, 1874, Chaim Weizmann, the Zionist
leader and first president of the state of Israel, was born. He died
on Sept. 9, 1952»
On This Date in 1901 The Army War College was
established in Washington, D.C.
1910 New York's Pennsylvania Station opened.
1942 The French navy at Toulon scuttled its ships
and submarines to keep them out of the hands of the Nazis.
1953 Playwright Eugene O'Neill died at age 65.
1970 Pope Paul VI, visiting the Philippines, was
slightly wounded at the Manila airport by a dagger-wielding Bolivian
painter disguised as a priest.
1973 The Senate voted 92-3 to confirm Gerald R.
Ford as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew, who had resigned.
1985 The British House of Commons approved the
Anglo-Irish accord, giving Dublin a consultative role in the
governing of British-ruled Northern Ireland.
2002 U.N. specialists began a new round of
weapons inspections in Iraq.
2008 Iraq's parliament approved a pact requiring
all U.S. troops to be out of the country by Jan. 1, 2012.
2009 Golfer Tiger Woods crashed his SUV outside
his Florida mansion, sparking widespread attention to reports of
marital infidelity.
2009 Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced daughter Chelsea's
engagement to longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky.
NEW YORK. EGYPTIAN PROTESTERS JOINED BY OCCUPY
WALL STREET EAST 45th ST
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
At the corner of East 45th Street and 2nd Avenue, in midtown
Manhattan, near the Mission of Egypt to the UN, a large group of
Egyptian-American was protesting against the Army still in charge in
Cairo. The New York Egyptian were joined by some Occupy Wall Street
protesters supporting their cause. Among the speakers at the rally,
Salah Anwar, a young activist from Egypt was at the podium calling
for the Egyptian Generals to leave the power before the coming
elections.. NYPD cops were present at the scene, but it was an
orderly demonstration near the landscape of that residential section
of the East side.
CITY HALL, NY. CREATING JOBS AND BRINGING HEALTHY
FOOD OPTIONS TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LACK THEM IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
“The Thanksgiving holiday is winding down, and like
many of you, I’m still working off Thursday’s turkey dinner,
Friday’s turkey sandwich and Saturday’s turkey soup. Feasting is a
beloved part of nearly every celebration – but if we want to keep
healthy, it’s important to eat right the rest of the year. And
here’s how we’re making that easier for every community.
“Three years ago, we identified neighborhoods across
our city that lacked something many New Yorkers take for granted:
Grocery stores that stock fresh produce and other nutritious foods.
Those same neighborhoods also showed a high prevalence of obesity,
diabetes, and other diet-related diseases. That was clearly no
coincidence. So, working with the City Council, we decided to do
something about this serious problem. Using a combination of zoning
and financial incentives, we’re bringing down the costs of opening,
expanding, and operating grocery stores, which is also creating jobs
in these communities.
“Last week, I was in Staten Island for the
groundbreaking of one of these new supermarkets – a Key Food store
in South Beach. For the neighborhood, this new supermarket won’t
just make for healthier eating; it also will produce a healthier
economy. That’s because the new Key Food, set to open next year, is
expected to create 33 new permanent jobs over the next three years.
And the owner has committed to a strong effort to hire local
residents for those jobs – good news in a community where
unemployment is higher than average.
“This Key Food in Staten Island is the 10th
supermarket project underway. The first supermarket already opened
its doors in the South Bronx in August. And approval of another four
store projects is pending. That’s a total of 14 stores – and
together they represent more than $50 million in new private
investment throughout the city. They’ll create 450 new fulltime
jobs, and retain more than 550 existing jobs, which, during this
week of Thanksgiving, is something we should all give thanks for.
“Our supermarket initiative is just one of the steps
we’ve taken to increase access to healthier food, especially in
communities plagued by poor nutrition. For instance, we’ve licensed
more than 500 ‘Green Cart’ produce vendors in communities where
opportunities to buy fresh produce have been lacking. We’ve set up
gardens in our public schools to help students understand more about
where their food comes from. And this year alone, we’ve distributed
about $200,000 worth of free Health Bucks coupons to Food Stamp
recipients to buy fruit and vegetables at 65 farmers markets across
town.
“So while we’re thankful for the blessings and meals
of the past week, the greatest gift of all is a long, healthy life.
And by increasing the number of options to buy nutritious food,
we’re helping make this gift a reality for more New Yorkers than
ever before.
“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening,
and have a happy Thanksgiving Sunday.”
POLICE AND THE PRESS. NY TIMES EDITORIAL 11/25/11
In many countries, using a camera or taking notes can get you
into trouble. That is not supposed to happen in New York City. Yet
as police cleared Occupy Wall Street protesters from Zuccotti Park
in Lower Manhattan on Nov. 15, a number of journalists were roughed
up and arrested. Many were prevented by police from documenting what
happened that night.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly should take a hard
look at how officers ignored the department’s guidelines for dealing
with the news media, which prohibit interfering with news-gathering
activity. In a letter on Monday to Paul Browne, the deputy police
commissioner, The New York Times and 12 other news organizations
said the police was “more hostile to the press” covering these
protests than at “any other event in recent memory.”
Before clearing tents and other structures from
Zuccotti Park, for example, a police representative asked
journalists in the area for press credentials. Reporters and
photographers do not need credentials to be in a public area. The
passes are supposed to give them better access, but those who
admitted having passes were instead herded to a penned area blocks
away from the police action.
At another spot closer to the park, police were
carrying a protester covered with blood when a photographer raised
his camera. When two police officers spotted the camera, they shoved
a barricade into the photographer, screaming that he was not
permitted to take pictures even though he was on the sidewalk.
The letter from the news media says extra training
“may have helped avoid the numerous inappropriate, if not
unconstitutional actions” by officers. A place to start would be a
review of the 1999 reforms and policy statement issued by Police
Commissioner Howard Safir that year.
That policy stated clearly that unless there are
“exceptional circumstances,” those with press credentials will not
be restricted to press areas, and that, “under no circumstances
should the press be provided less access than that afforded the
general public.” It is time that Commissioner Kelly made a serious
effort to enforce the department’s own code.
BRONX. TWO SUSPECTS SOUGHT BY NYPD IN BRONX
ROBBING.
Police say the suspects entered an apartment in the Bedford Park
section of the Bronx by kicking in the door The suspects then
removed an undetermined amount of money and fled the scene. One
suspect is approximately 26-years-old, weighs 180 pounds and was
last wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a black hat. The other
suspect is approximately 30-years-old, 5'8" tall, muscular build
with a goatee wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Anyone with
information in regards to this robbery is asked to call the NYPD's
Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
BROOKLYN. ESCAPED ROBBERY SUSPECT CAPTURED BY
NYPD.
NYPD have captured a Brooklyn woman who allegedly escaped
from a police car on Thanksgiving, as well as the man they say
helped her. Janine Power and Anthony D'Angelo were found Saturday at
a gas station on the corner of Avenue P and Coney Island Avenue in
Midwood. Investigators say Power jumped out of a police car at the
intersection of Stillwell and Neptune Avenues in Coney Island
Thursday. She had been arrested earlier in the day on charges of
robbing a cab driver of $30 and a cell phone. Charges in connection
with the escape are pending against both Power and D'Angelo.
MIAMI, FLA. CYBER ATTACK OF PHONES AND ADDRESSES
OF CUBAN OFFICIALS
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
A Miami-based website is publishing those and myriad other
details on the private lives of top Cuban officials, saying it wants
to warn “the darlings of the dictatorship” that they will face a
dark future if the government collapses. Also obtained from inside
Cuba are digital lists of the cell phone numbers for tens of
thousands of security and intelligence officers, and the street
addresses of virtually every single military base on the island,
contributors to the site say.
The leak of such personal details, out of a
communist-ruled country where secrecy has long been paramount,
reflects the Castro government’s growing inability to control the
flow of information in the age of the Internet. The site already has
published what it says are the home addresses, phone numbers and
other personal information of more than 20 top Cubans since it
started posting those kinds of details about six weeks ago.
They include Machado Ventura, Castro’s No. 2 in the
ruling Council of State and the Communist Party; former Defense
Minister Julio Casas, who died Sept. 3; and Valdés, a former
Interior Minister, widely viewed as one of Cuba’s most powerful
officials. It also published the address and home phone of Castro’s
daughter Deborah and her husband, Luis Alberto Rodriguez López
Callejas, an army colonel who runs military-owned businesses that
account for an estimated 60 percent of the island’s economy.
The addresses and phone numbers for Angela and
Agustina Castro Ruz, sisters to Raúl and Fidel Castro, and for Sonia
and Jose Alejandro Espin, sister and brother of Raúl Castro’s late
wife, Vilma Espin, also appeared on the page. “We also want to try
to push these people to ease the repression against dissidents in
Cuba, and we believe there should be some record for the future, so
that crimes do not go unpunished,” Rosado added. “We’re talking
about justice, not vengeance.”
GEORGIA. COBB POLICE INVESTIGATING FATAL SHOOTING
NEAR MACY. 11/26/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
A shooting outside of Cumberland Mall Saturday night left
one man dead and has triggered a homicide investigation by Cobb
County police. .George Tabetando, 29, of Powder Springs was shot
multiple times after getting into a fight with another man in the
Macy’s parking lot near a Cobb Community Transit station, police
said. Tabetando died from his injuries after he was taken to
Emory-Adventist Hospital in Smyrna. The shooter, described as a
black male with dreadlocks, fled in a brown, charcoal or gray BMW,
police said. Lee Tharp, the mall’s general manager, said the mall
has “enhanced” security because of the holiday shopping season. And
that security, he said, includes off-duty Cobb police officers
employed by the mall.
INTERNATIONAL
EGYPT. ELECTIONS. WARNING BY THE MILITARY.
=====================================================
NOVEMBER 26
IN HISTORY
On Nov.26, 1942, President Roosevelt ordered
nationwide gasoline rationing, for December 1.
On Nov. 26, 1922, Charles Schulz, American
cartoonist and creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, was born.
Following his death on Feb. 12, 2000, his obituary appeared in The
Times.
On This Date in 1789 A day of thanksgiving was
set aside by President George Washington to observe the adoption of
the U.S. Constitution.
1940 The half million Jews of Warsaw,
Poland, were forced by the Nazis to live within a walled ghetto.
1942 "Casablanca," starring Humphrey Bogart and
Ingrid Bergman, had its world premiere at the Hollywood Theater in
New York.
1942 President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered
nationwide gasoline rationing.
1949 India adopted a constitution as a republic
within the British Commonwealth.
1973 President Richard Nixon's personal
secretary, Rose Mary Woods, told a federal court that she'd
accidentally caused part of the 18 1/2-minute gap in a key Watergate
tape.
1975 A federal jury found Lynette "Squeaky"
Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, guilty of trying to
assassinate President Gerald R. Ford.
1992 Britain announced that Queen Elizabeth II
had volunteered to start paying taxes on her personal income, and
would take her children off the public payroll.
2000 Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris
certified Republican George W. Bush the winner over Democrat Al Gore
in the state's presidential balloting by 537 votes.
2008 Terrorists launched commando-style attacks
on two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a crowded train station in
Mumbai, India, killing 166 people.
2009 An investigation ordered by Ireland's
government found that Roman Catholic Church leaders in Dublin had
spent decades sheltering child-abusing priests from the law and that
most fellow clerics turned a blind eye.
2010 Nineteen-year-old Somali-born Mohamed Osman
Mohamud was arrested by federal agents during a sting in Portland,
Ore., accused of planning to detonate van of explosives during
Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
CITY HALL. NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG SUPPORTING BOOMING
INDUSTRIES AND CREATING JOBS FOR NEW YORKERS
Safe streets; beautiful parks; clean neighborhoods; exciting
cultural opportunities: these are the kinds of things that not only
make New York City a great place to live and work, but also the most
popular destination in the country for visitors. By every measure,
our tourism industry is booming. Last year, we welcomed an
all-time-high 48.8 million visitors. This year, we’re on track to
top that. And by the end of the year, we will also be home to a
total of 90,000 hotel rooms. That’s a record high – and a 50 percent
increase from a decade ago.
What’s especially remarkable about our new hotels is
that they aren’t all opening where you’d expect – in Midtown or
Lower Manhattan. No, they are open opening all across the city. In
fact, last week, I was in Long Island City to officially cut the
ribbon on the Z NYC. This 100-room hotel is the eighth hotel to open
in this Queens neighborhood over the past two years. And the reason
is as clear and compelling as the revival that’s taking place in
Long Island City: world-class museums, flourishing film and
television studios, easy access to mass transit, and a burgeoning
commercial district of its own that will soon be home to Jet Blue’s
corporate headquarters.
But make no mistake: our growing tourism industry
isn’t only a byproduct of our city’s excellent quality of life; it’s
also producing real benefits for the people in all five boroughs.
Thousands of New Yorkers work in our hotels – part of a leisure and
hospitality industry that employs more than 320,000 New Yorkers. And
the money that tourists spend when they come here ripples through
our local economy to support hundreds of thousands of more jobs.
Jobs were also on the menu at the new Fairway Market
that opened last week in Douglaston, Queens. The new Fairway – a
first for the borough – created more than 400 jobs for New Yorkers.
That’s in addition to the nearly 500 new jobs created by the
recently opened Fairway on the Upper East Side. And our Department
of Small Business Services has been working with the supermarket
chain to recruit and train local residents, including veterans, for
many of these new jobs.
Fairway’s new locations are one more sign that
businesses big and small have confidence in New York City’s future.
They’re opening. They’re expanding. And most importantly, they’re
hiring. This growth is a big part of the reason why New York City
entered the national recession later and emerged from it faster than
the rest of the country. It’s also a reason why we’ve been able to
regain some 78 percent of the jobs lost during the recession – while
the rest of the country has regained only 21 percent.
Keeping this job growth going is our top priority.
Every day we wake up focused on creating more jobs, putting more New
Yorkers to work, giving our economy a boost when it needs it, and
building our city’s future for generations to come.
HERALD SQUARE. NY. OCCUPY WALL STREET PROTESTERS
TAKE STAND AGAINST FUR PRODUCTS SALE AT MACY. 11/25/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This Friday, there was a protest near Macy/s store by a
group of protesters against the use and sale of Fur. Occupy Wall
Street protesters were there to join the activists. They gathered
outside Macy's Herald Square for a rally and march protesting the
furs and furry clothing sold at Macy's department stores. Roberto
Bonelli of Caring Activists Against Fur said that "We're objecting
to the slaughter of millions of animals, the horrible, painful
slaughter without anesthetics. Many of these animals are skinned
alive, all to create a disgusting luxury item, which is unnecessary
because none of us are wearing fur coats and we're quite warm,” The
demonstration was part of the international Fur Free Friday
campaign. Occupy Wall Street protesters could be seen all over
Herald Square.
NEW YORK. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINED STUDENTS
RALLY TO PROTEST ARRESTS OF CUNY STUDENTS. 11/25/11
This Friday, some City Council members were with the CUNY
students protesting the arrests of 15 protesters at a CUNY Board of
Trustees public hearing earlier in the week. They gathered on the
steps of City Hall and demanded the district attorney's office drop
the charges. It happened on Monday,when more than 100 people
gathered at Baruch College to demonstrate against the proposed CUNY
tuition hikes. According to the students, NYPD cops kicked them out.
City Councilman Charles Barron said ""There is evidence of your
security totally out of control, brutalizing young people and you've
got a nerve to say you don't see any evidence? Well, you're blind to
justice,” “You should be ashamed that the students have to be
beaten, struggle, have to fight to ensure a quality education," said
Maria Reyes of Students United for a Free CUNY.
MIAMI, FLA. REPRESENTATIVE ILEANA ROSS LEHTINEN
OF MIAMI WANTS ALLIANZ ADS PULLS FROM CNBC AND NPR TV STATIONS.
11/25/11
ByElizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is pushing
legislation that would allow Holocaust survivors to sue Allianz AG,
has launched a letter-writing campaign aimed at blocking the insurer
from advertising with any U.S. media until it pays off all Holocaust
survivors’ life insurance claims. During World War II, Allianz
insured concentration camp facilities and sent money to the Nazis
instead of rightful Jewish beneficiaries. “Allianz is no ordinary
insurance conglomerate,” Ros-Lehtinen recently wrote to the media
companies. “This company was involved in one of the greatest
atrocities in recent history and has gone to great lengths to dodge
acceptance of responsibility for its actions. “It is far past time
for Allianz to repay its debt to the survivors and families that
suffered as a result of the Holocaust,” wrote Ros-Lehtinen, the
Republican lawmaker who heads the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
Her letter campaign has caught the attention of CNBC
and American Public Media Group, the Minnesota-based company that
distributes Garrison Keillor’s popular radio program, A Prairie Home
Companion, and the business program Marketplace. CNBC and American
Public Media officials said that they are reviewing her
request but have not made a decision on Allianz’s advertising.
The congresswoman’s media campaign is yet another
sign of the simmering controversy over reparations to Holocaust
victims, following her committee hearing this month on legislation
that would allow potentially thousands of survivors with life
insurance claims to sue Allianz and other European insurers for
damages in U.S. courts. Her political move reflects the moral
stamina of a Miami-based survivors’ group that has not only sought
the right to sue, but also put pressure on the same TV and radio
stations to stop accepting Allianz’s advertising and money.
Ros-Lehtinen, whose survivors’ legislation has more
than 50 House sponsors, said her media campaign is not a “personal
vendetta” against Allianz. “If they can spend money on advertising,
surely they can repay insurance policies to Holocaust survivors,”
she said. “I hope at the very least the media companies rethink
their relationships with Allianz.
ATLANTA, GA. GEORGIA IMMIGRATION LAW UNDER REVIEW
BY CIVI RIGHTS COMMISSION.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announced this week that
it will look into how new immigration laws in Georgia and several
other states are affecting people's civil rights. " The commission
plans to review whether enforcement of the laws has fostered or
contributed to an increase in hate crimes, compromised public
safety, elevated racial and ethnic profiling or affected students
rights to a public education, according to a news release. Chairman
Martin Castro said enactment of the laws "presents a pressing
national civil rights issue that affects immigrants and U.S.
citizens alike."
Georgia lawmakers this year passed House Bill 87, a
sweeping anti-illegal immigration law that proponents said will
deter illegal immigrants from coming to Georgia and burdening the
state's taxpayer-funded public schools, hospitals and jails. Modeled
after Arizona's law, Georgia's measure allows police to investigate
the immigration status of certain suspects and punishes people who
transport or harbor illegal immigrants. Georgia is No. 6 in the
country for "unauthorized" immigrants, with an estimated 480,000
living in the state, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
INTERNATIONAL
PAKISTAN. NATO ATTAKS KILLED SOLDIERS. PAKISTAN
OUTRAGE.
UNITED NATIONS.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF KOREA. A UN REPORT.
=====================================================================
NOVEMBER 25
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 25, 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted
as President Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that
profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to
Nicaraguan rebels.
On Nov. 25, 1835, Andrew Carnegie, the
industrialist and philanthropist who led the expansion of the
American steel industry, was born. He died on Aug. 11, 1919
On This Date in 1914 Baseball Hall of Famer Joe
DiMaggio was born in Martinez, Calif.
1947 Movie studio executives agreed to blacklist
the Hollywood 10, who were jailed a day earlier for contempt of
Congress for failing to cooperate with the House Un-American
Activities Committee.
1963 The body of slain President John F. Kennedy
was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
1973 Greek President George Papadopoulos was
ousted in a bloodless military coup.
1987 Chicago Mayor Harold Washington died after
suffering a heart attack in his City Hall office.
1999 Six-year-old Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez
was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida.
2002 President George W. Bush signed legislation
creating the Department of Homeland Security and appointed Tom Ridge
to be its head.
2003 The Senate gave final congressional approval
to Medicare legislation combining a new prescription drug benefit
with measures to control costs before the baby boom generation
reaches retirement age.
2003 Yemen arrested Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal, a
top al-Qaida member suspected of masterminding the 2000 bombing of
the USS Cole and the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker off Yemen's
coast.
2006 New York City police officers shot an
unarmed man to death outside a bar in Queens in the early morning
hours of his wedding day. Sean Bell killing in Queens, NY
2006 Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a
cease-fire to end a five-month Israeli military offensive in the
Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into
the Jewish state.
2008 Football player Michael Vick pleaded guilty
to a Virginia dogfighting charge and received a three-year suspended
sentence.
2009 Toyota said it would replace the gas pedals
on 4 million vehicles in the United States because the pedals could
get stuck in the floor mats and cause sudden acceleration.
2010 Incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
cemented his grip on power, bringing an end to nearly nine months of
political deadlock after he was asked to form the next government.
NEW YORK. COCAINE SEIZED AT JFK AIRPORT FROM THE
DOMINICAN REP. 11/24
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Davanet Rodriguez, 32, arriving from the Dominican Republic,
was arrested at JFK airport with 22 pounds of cocaine, valued at $
700,000.00. According to investigators at the airport, the cocaine
was found by trained dogs at the airport. The passenger was turned
over to the Homeland Security agents at JFK airport. and will be
charged with narcotics smuggling.
FLUSHING, NY. CITY COMPTROLLER JOHN LIU'S
CAMPAIGN RETURN MONEY. 11/25
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
$20,000.00 in campaign funds were refunded to donors by
Comptroller Liu's Campaign, after federal authorities began
investigating the fundraising. Earlier this month, someone who
raised money for Liu surrendered to face charges he conspired to
funnel illegal contributions. Liu has said that if the charges are
true, the “conduct was clearly wrong.” John Liu is considered a
possible candidate for mayor in 2013.
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. COREY ALEXANDER ARRESTED FOR
UNLICENSED PRACTICE
By Elizabeth Menos, NTS NEWS.
Miami Gardens police revealed that a second person has been
arrested in South Florida’s notorious “toxic tush” case, charged
with assisting a fake doctor accused of leaving patients with
life-threatening injuries from a buttocks-enhancement procedure that
involved injecting a toxic stew of household and automotive
chemicals into their bodies. Corey Alexander Eubank, 40, of
Hollywood, was charged with two counts of unlicensed practice of a
healthcare professional with serious injury and two counts of acting
as a principal. Eubank is accused of aiding Oneal Ron Morris, 30.
Morris’ clients believed they were getting a backside enhancement.
What they really got, according to police, were injections of
cement, mineral oil, Fix-a-Flat and Super Glue. The injections left
the victims ill, sending them to hospitals.
Miami Gardens police said that both Eubank and Morris were in jail
Wednesday night. Morris, a man who identifies as a woman, was
arrested last week on charges of practicing healthcare without a
license, causing serious bodily injury, and bonded out. He was
rearrested Wednesday after a second victim came forward.
In the case that brought the scheme to light last
week, Morris is accused of duping a Miami Gardens woman into paying
for six injections of what, in her case, was a near-lethal formula
of chemicals administered through a tube hooked to a cooler,
according to police and state investigators. The new charges are
based on information provided by a second woman who went about the
same time as the first, in May 2010, for the procedure at a home at
1114 NW 206th Terrace. Police suspect that Morris is part of a
network of scam artists who prey on people who want to change their
appearance but can’t afford to pay for traditional cosmetic surgery.
ATLANTA, GA. HEAD-ON COLLISION. 1 KILLED 4
INJURED. 11/24/11
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS.
A 57-year-old Douglasville woman was killed and four others
including a toddler were injured Wednesday afternoon in a head-on
collision in Douglas County, authorities said. Parks was
driving a Ford Focus that was hit head-on by a 2005 Chevrolet
Malibu.
The Malibu, driven by Theo Roberts, 23, of Mableton,
was heading east on Bankhead when it crossed the centerline,
sideswiped a Ford pickup truck and crashed into the Ford, Wright
said. Roberts was taken to Wellstar Douglas Hospital in
Douglasville. Charges against Roberts were pending the completion of
an investigation by the GSP Specialized Reconstruction Team, Wright
said. Two adults and a child in Parks’ car also were injured. A
19-month-old, Akyeryah Mattox, of Mableton, was taken to Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, Wright said. Esther Ruth
Mattox, 35, also of Mableton, was flown by helicopter to Atlanta
Medical Center. A third passenger, Tynesha Marshay Chatman, 18, of
Mableton went to Wellstar Douglas, where she was treated and
released. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
INTERNATIONAL
EGYPT, CAIRO. THOUSANDS IN MASS RALLY AT THARIR
SQUARE
UNITED NATIONS.
SYRIA. UN PANEL VOICES ALARM AT TORTURE OF
CHILDREN PROTESTERS.
============================================================
NOVEMBER 24
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 24, 1963, Jack Ruby shot and mortally
wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President
Kennedy.
On Nov. 24, 1888, Dale Carnegie, the author of
"How to Win Friends and Influence People", was born. He died on Nov.
1, 1955
On This Date in 1784 Zachary Taylor, the 12th
president of the United States, was born in Orange County, Va.
1871 The National Rifle Association was
incorporated.
1947 A group of writers, producers and directors
that became known as the "Hollywood 10" was cited for contempt of
Congress for refusing to answer questions about alleged Communist
influence in the movie industry.
1963 Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and
mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of
President John F. Kennedy.
1969 Apollo 12 returned to Earth after the second
manned mission to the moon.
1971 Hijacker D.B. Cooper parachuted from a
Northwest Airlines 727 over Washington state with $200,000 in
ransom. His fate remains unknown.
1987 The United States and the Soviet Union
agreed to scrap shorter and medium-range missiles in the first
superpower treaty to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons.
1989 Czechoslovakia's hard-line party leadership
resigned after more than a week of protests against its policies.
1991 Rock singer Freddie Mercury of Queen died at
age 45 of pneumonia brought on by AIDS.
2000 The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider
George W. Bush's appeal against the hand recounting of presidential
ballots in Florida.
2003 A jury in Virginia Beach, Va., sentenced
John Allen Muhammad to death for the Washington-area sniper
shootings. Muhammad was executed in 2009.
2010 A jury in Austin convicted former House
Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, on charges he'd illegally
funneled corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. DeLay was
later sentenced to three years in prison; he is free on bond while
he appeals.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
MANHATTAN *8:00 AM Brings Cookies from Gracie
Mansion to Firefighters Covering Thanksgiving Day Shift FDNY Engine
Company 10, Ladder Company 10 124 Liberty Street between Greenwich
and Church Streets
*8:15 AM Brings Cookies from Gracie Mansion to
Police Officers and National September 11th Memorial Volunteers
Working on Thanksgiving Day Visitors Entrance of National September
11th Memorial Albany Street at Greenwich Street
9:20 AM Live Interview Airs During 'Thanksgiving Day
Parade on CBS” CBS Television
QUEENS 10:00 AM Prepares Thanksgiving Meals
at Peter Cardella Senior Center with Actress Kathleen Turner 68-52
Fresh Pond Road at Catalpa Avenue
NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK PRESS CLUB 11/24/11
NYPD RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS BY MEDIA, JOURNALIST GROUPS AND THE NEW
YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ABOUT REPRESSIVE TACTICS USED BY NYPD
AGAINST JOURNALISTS DURING THE CLEARING OF ZUCCOTTI PARK OF OCCUPY
WALL STREET ON NOVEMBER 15th.
Commissioner Kelly Orders NYPD Not to Interfere With
Press
By Colleen Long, Associated Press
23 November, 2011 — The New York Police Department's
commissioner on Wednesday sent an internal message to officers
ordering them not to unreasonably interfere with media access during
news coverage and warning those who do will be subject to
disciplinary action, after several journalists were arrested
covering Occupy Wall Street demonstrations last week. The message by
Commissioner Raymond Kelly was being read at police precincts
citywide.
A reporter and a photographer with The Associated
Press were among those arrested while on private property covering a
rally by protesters Nov. 15 in Manhattan. Police made the arrests
after the demonstrators clipped a chain-link fence and entered a
vacant lot owned by a nearby church. The police department message
notes that officers should not restrict media access on private
property "to the extent it is feasible to do so."
"When incidents spill over or occur on private
property, members of the media will not be arrested for criminal
trespass, unless an owner or representative expressly indicates that
the press is not to be permitted," according to the section of the
Patrol Guide sent to officers.
A coalition of media outlets, including the AP, sent
police a letter protesting the treatment after at least half a dozen
journalists were arrested. The media also argued police wrongly
blocked reporters from seeing when authorities cleared out the
Occupy camp in lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park. The letter suggested
the police roughed up some journalists.
"The police actions...have been more hostile to the
press than any other event in recent memory," read the media letter
to the police department.
[Separately, the New York Press Club won support
from other organizations representing journalists to form a
"Coalition For the First Amendment." The coalition sent an open
letter to the mayor and police commissioner calling the police
tactics at Zuccotti Park "intolerable." The groups called for an
investigation into the incidents and announced that police actions
against reporters would be monitored.]
Wednesday's internal message to the nation's largest
police department, which has about 35,000 officers, was welcomed by
members of the press.
"This is a welcome step to assure that journalists
can do their jobs," said Michael Oreskes, senior managing editor for
the AP. "If followed, these instructions should prevent a recurrence
of at least some of the unfortunate interference that journalists
experienced as they covered the Occupy Wall Street events last
week."
The arrested AP reporter, Karen Matthews, and
photographer, Seth Wenig, were released a few hours after they were
detained, and their arrests were voided.
The police commissioner's letter makes clear that
journalists are entitled to cross police and fire lines, unless it
is unsafe or a live crime scene, and officers have a duty to provide
access and information to the extent they can.
"Supervisors may restrict access to an incident
scene only in those exceptional circumstances where it is absolutely
necessary for law enforcement or public order purposes," Kelly's
message says.
A copy of the letter was provided to the AP. The AP
and representatives of The New York Times, the Daily News, the New
York Post and the National Press Photographers Association met with
Kelly and chief police spokesman Paul Browne on Wednesday at the
request of the media outlets.
The Patrol Guide sections on dealing with the press
"reflect the commitment of the Department to upholding the
principles of a free press and informed citizenry," the police
letter says.
NEW YORK. PLANNED RETURN TO ZUCCOTTI PARK BY
OCCUPY WALL STREET.11/24
According to information from the PR group of Occupy Wall
Street, 3,000 protesters are expecting to return to Zuccotti Park on
Thanksgiving day to receive meals there. The food is being donated
by restaurants and individual supporters. They say they will be
abiding by state Health Department code by wrapping all the plates
of food individually. There will also be a canned food drive, with
donations going to local food banks and pantries. Meanwhile, Occupy
Wall Street protesters say the city's raid of Zuccotti Park
destroyed, damaged or lost more than 3,000 books. They presented
some of the roughly 1,200 books recovered from the Sanitation
Department but said two thirds of their collection cannot be found
at the facility. Demonstrators say last week's raid left them no
time to save the 4,000 books in the "people's library," which were
donated from the start of the occupation and then catalogued in
Zuccotti Park. They want an apology and a promise from Mayor Michael
Bloomberg that it won't happen again.
The mayor's office responded by saying, “The
protestors were given ample opportunity take their possessions with
them... The City is making an extraordinary effort to make sure all
property left behind is available to be retrieved... In fact, the
City has made arrangements for the property to be available for
pickup for the next 90 days.”
Police Commissioner Issues Warning On Media
Interference Police officers are being ordered to back off
the media after several journalists were arrested at Zuccotti Park.
In a letter to station houses, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says
officers should not unreasonably interfere with media access during
the Occupy Wall Street protests. He says those who do not follow the
rule will face disciplinary action. The police department came under
fire for arresting several journalists and blocking others from
gaining access to the park when it was being cleaned out.
HILEAH, FLA. SEVERAL SUSPECTS SOUGHT FOR ASSAULT
OF POLICE OFFICER 11/24
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Police are looking for several suspects who assaulted a
Medley officer before giving chase and crashing into a car full of
children. Hialeah Police spokesperson Eddie Rodriguez says the
suspects assaulted a Medley Police officer and fled the scene in a
car. Police chased the car, which crossed into Hialeah city limits.
Hialeah Police officers assisted in the chase, which came to a
crashing end at Northwest 79th Street and Northwest 21st Avenue
after the suspect’s car collided with a car carrying seven children.
The suspects bailed out of the car after the crash. Police set up a
perimeter surrounding the scene but have not located the suspects.
ATLANTA, GA. OCCUPY ATLANTA APPEALING JUDGE'S
DECISION. 11/24/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
A federal appeals court could soon review a judge's decision
to block Occupy Atlanta's request to stay in Woodruff Park. The
organizers of Occupy Atlanta said in a court filing Wednesday they
would ask the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider the
case. It comes weeks after a federal judge refused to block Atlanta
police from evicting the protesters from the park while the lawsuit
was pending. Occupy Atlanta said in the lawsuit that Atlanta Mayor
Kasim Reed's decision to revoke his executive order allowing
protesters to stay in the park was unconstitutional. Police on Oct.
26 arrested more than 50 people who stayed in the park after Reed
revoked the order. Reed has said the decision was a necessary
response to mounting safety concerns
INTERNATIONAL
CAIRO. MILITARY APOLOGIZES FOR PROTEST DEATHS.
UNITED NATIONS
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN.
=====================================================
NOVEMBER 23
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 23, 1943, during World War II, United
States forces seized control of the Tarawa and Makin atolls from the
Japanese.
On Nov. 23, 1892, Erte, the French fashion and
stage designer, was born. Following his death on April 21, 1990, his
obituary appeared in The Times.
On This Date in 1804 Franklin Pierce, the 14th
president of the United States, was born in Hillsboro, N.H.
1903 Singer Enrico Caruso made his American
debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, appearing in "Rigoletto."
1954 The Dow Jones industrial average finally
surpassed it's pre-crash high - 25 years after Black Tuesday - when
it closed at 382.74.
1971 The People's Republic of China was seated in
the U.N. Security Council.
1980 A series of earthquakes devastated southern
Italy, killing some 2,600 people.
2001 An Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at
a van in the West Bank, killing Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, a leading member
of the Islamic militant Hamas group.
2003 Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as president of
Georgia in the face of protests.
2004 Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko declared
himself the winner of Ukraine's disputed presidential election and
took a symbolic oath of office.
2006 Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko died in
London from radiation poisoning after making a deathbed statement
blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin.
2010 North Korea bombarded South Korea's
Yeonpyeong Island with artillery fire, killing four people and
raising tensions between the two countries.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011
MANHATTAN 6:30 PM Attends the Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade Balloon Inflation West 77th Street at Central Park West
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG, DEPUTY MAYOR
STEEL, HOUSING COMMISSIONER WAMBUA ANNOUNCE $14.4 MILLION IN TAX
CREDITS AWARDED TO 13 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WHICH WILL
GENERATE 1,400 NEW JOBS
Low Income Housing Tax Credit Funds Will Help Create
1,400 Construction-Related Jobs and Finance Nearly 740 Units Of
Affordable Housing
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Robert K.
Steel, and Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua today announced that the City has
allocated $14.4 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits to 13
affordable housing projects. The tax credits were provided by New
York State and serve as a critical source of funding for low-income
affordable housing developments. New York City worked closely with
the Cuomo Administration to complete these financing deals, which
will support a total of 737 affordable units. It is expected that
the work being done on these 10 new construction projects and three
preservation projects will create approximately 1,400 new
construction and related industry jobs throughout the course of
their construction period. “The creation and preservation of
affordable housing is an economic engine for the City, strengthening
our neighborhoods and providing housing for New Yorkers with a range
of incomes,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “These tax credits allow us to
leverage private sector investment to fund 737 units in 13 projects,
creating nearly 1,400 construction and construction-related jobs.”
“The Mayor’s plan to create and preserve affordable
housing for New Yorkers is a critical component of strengthening and
expanding our economy,” said Deputy Mayor Steel. “These tax credits
will allow New York City and its partners to continue to invest for
the benefit of residents across the five boroughs.” The 737 units of
affordable housing supported by the Low Income Housing Tax Credits
awards will be developed under Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing
Marketplace Plan (NHMP), an multi- billion dollar initiative to
finance 165,000 units of affordable housing for half a million New
Yorkers by the close of the 2014 fiscal year. To date, the plan has
funded the creation or preservation of over 125,700 units of
affordable housing across the five boroughs.
“We are grateful to New York State Homes and
Community Renewal for their collaboration in this sub-allocation of
Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The tax credit program is extremely
successful as a direct means of helping developers of affordable
housing gain access to private capital. Every year the number of
applicants significantly outstrips the supply. We rely on these
credits and tax-exempt bonds to provide a steady and reliable stream
of private investment to fund our affordable housing efforts, which
in turn create jobs,” said HPD Commissioner Wambua. “It is essential
that these tools be preserved so that they may continue to help us
secure private equity and forge important partnerships among private
investors, local government and non-profit organizations.”
The Low Income Housing Tax Credits Program is an
indirect Federal subsidy used to finance the development of
affordable rental housing for low-income households. Each year, the
IRS allocates housing tax credits to designated state agencies, who
in turn allocate the credits through a competitive process to
projects throughout their state. New York City receives its
allocation of Tax Credits from New York State Homes and Community
Renewal, the amount of which is determined and sub-allocated
annually by the State. Tax Credits are awarded by HPD to qualified
low-income housing projects in New York City. HPD is the only City
agency that has the ability to award these credits. To be eligible,
developments must be substantial rehabilitation or new construction
with at least 20 percent of apartments reserved for low-income
households. Low-income is defined as a household with an annual
income not more than 60 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), or what
would be equal to a family of four earning not more than
approximately $49,000 per year.
“The State of New York is pleased and proud to
provide these resources to support New York City's efforts to
provide affordable housing opportunities to hundreds of our
families,” said Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO of New York State
Homes and Community Renewal. During annual funding rounds,
developers apply competitively to HPD for allocations of tax
credits. Once tax credits are allocated to a project, the developer
may sell the credits to corporate investors to generate private
equity to cover a portion of development costs. This reduces the
need for public subsidy. Because the debt is lower, a tax credit
property can in turn offer lower, more affordable rents. The
investors receive credits that reduce their corporate federal income
tax bills for ten years.
New York City Affordable Housing Projects Receiving
Tax Credits: Truxton Residence: A new construction supportive
housing project being developed in partnership with Services for the
Underserved Inc. in Brooklyn Community Board 16 that will provide 48
units of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is
approximately $643,000, and the overall project will support
approximately 71 construction-related jobs in each of the two years
of the construction period.
329 Lincoln Road: A new construction supportive
housing project being developed in partnership with Providence House
and Alembic Development in Brooklyn Community Board 9 that will
provide 22 units of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation
is approximately $473,000, and the overall project will support
approximately 42 construction-related jobs in each of the two years
of the construction period.
2142 Amsterdam Avenue: A new construction supportive
housing project being developed in partnership with Community League
For The Heights in Manhattan Community Board 12 that will provide 42
units of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is
approximately $679,000, and the overall project will support
approximately 72 construction-related jobs in each of the two years
of the construction period.
Clinton Avenue Houses: A new construction supportive
housing project being developed in partnership with Urban Pathways
Inc, in Bronx Community Board 3 that will provide 80 units of
affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is approximately
$1.3 million, and the overall project will support approximately 129
construction-related jobs in each of the two years of the
construction period.
Garden House: A new construction supportive housing
project being developed in partnership with Lower East Side Peoples
Mutual Housing Association Inc, in Manhattan Community Board 3 that
will provide 46 units of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC
allocation is approximately $509,000, and the overall project will
support approximately 61 construction-related jobs in each of the
two years of the construction period.
Promesa Court: A substantial rehabilitation project
being developed in partnership with Promesa HDFC in Bronx Community
Boards 1, 3 and 4 that will provide 48 units of affordable housing.
The annual LIHTC allocation is approximately $827,000 and the
overall project will support approximately 71 construction-related
jobs in each of the two years of the construction period.
Harlem 117: A new construction rental project being
developed by L+M in partnership with West 116 Residential LLC in
Manhattan Community Board 10 that will provide 100 units of
affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is approximately
$2.7 million, and the overall project will support approximately 235
construction-related jobs in each of the two years of the
construction period.
St. Nicholas Park Apartments: A new construction
rental project being developed in partnership with the Richman Group
Development Corporation in Manhattan Community Board 10 that will
provide 30 units of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation
is approximately $700,000, and the overall project will support
approximately 65 construction-related jobs in each of the two years
of the construction period.
1070 Washington Avenue: A new construction rental
project being developed in partnership with Bronx Pro Real Estate
Management in Bronx Community Board 3 that will provide 49 units of
affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is approximately
$1.25 million, and the overall project will support approximately
126 construction-related jobs in each of the two years of the
construction period.
Cypress Village: A new construction rental project
being developed in partnership with Cypress Hills Local Development
Corporation in Brooklyn Community Board 5 that will provide 29 units
of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is approximately
$188,000, and the overall project will support approximately 26
construction-related jobs in each of the two years of the
construction period.
El Barrio’s ArtSpace (PS 109): A new construction
rental project being developed in partnership with ArtSpace Projects
and El Barrio’s Operation Fightback in Manhattan Community Board 11
that will provide 90 units of affordable housing. The annual LIHTC
allocation is approximately $2.4 million, and the overall project
will support approximately 311 construction-related jobs in each of
the two years of the construction period.
552 Academy: A substantial rehabilitation project in
a low-income rental building which is being developed in partnership
with Community League For The Heights in Manhattan Community Board
12 that will provide 72 units of affordable housing. The annual
LIHTC allocation is approximately $1.75 million, and the overall
project will support approximately 108 construction-related jobs in
each of the two years of the construction period.
Kelly Street Restoration: A substantial
rehabilitation project in a low-income rental building which is
being developed in partnership with Workforce Housing Advisors in
Bronx Community Board 2 that will provide 79 units of affordable
housing. The annual LIHTC allocation is approximately $957,000, and
the overall project will support approximately 81
construction-related jobs in each of the two years of the
construction period.
MIAMI, FLA. THE FBI IS SEEKING SUSPECT IN
PLANTATION BANK ROBBERY.11/23/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
The FBI is looking for the man who robbed a Community Bank
in Plantation. It happened around 9 a.m., at the Community Bank, in
the 500 block of North Pine Island Road, agents said. The robber
entered the bank, implied there was a weapon and demanded money from
an employee, investigators said. No customers were in the bank at
the time. No one was injured. Money was taken, but the amount was
not disclosed by agents or bank officials. Surveillance pictures
show a man in a gray pullover wearing a red baseball cap standing at
a teller’s station with a black bag and talking on a phone. No
weapon was seen, according to the FBI. Agents urge anyone who
recognizes the robber or has information about his identity to call
the FBI at 305-944-9101 or Crimestoppers at 954-493-8477.
ATLANTA, GA. DURRELL TURNER 21, ARRESTED IN
NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING.11/23/11
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS.
Gwinnett County Sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday arrested the
man wanted for allegedly shooting someone in the stomach Aug. 27 at
The Valley nightclub on Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross. .Durrell
Turner, 21, was taken into custody after deputies saw him leaving an
apartment complex on Noble Forest Drive in Norcross that he was
known to frequent. He is being held without bond at the Gwinnett
jail on charges of aggravated assault, obstruction of a law
enforcement officer, probation violation and failure to appear.
NEW YORK. CLOSING 47 CITY SCHOOLS BY DOE.
PARENTS PROTEST 11/23/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This is a serious matter of concern. On Tuesday, outside the
DOE headquarters in Downtown Manhattan, protesting parents said
education officials have failed the struggling schools. The parents
said the 47 schools named in late September for being in danger of
closing for poor performance deserve a second chance.
Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took control of the
schools, 117 have been closed for poor performance and 528 new
schools have replaced them. The practice draws controversy every
year, but in the end, the final decision is up to the Panel for
Educational Policy, which is also controlled by the mayor. Parents
are protesting before the final list comes out, to try to stop the
process before it officially starts.
In a statement, DOE official Marc Sternberg said the
department has been holding meetings to try to understand why each
of the 47 schools is struggling. Sternberg said, "Ultimately, a new
school environment may be the best option for some communities, and
we won’t hesitate to pursue a strategy that has raised graduation
rates and changed thousands of lives over the past nine years.”
Parents argue the best strategy would be for the DOE to help the
existing schools, and not replace them.
Public Schools At Risk Of Closing Manhattan: 9
Schools Legacy School For Integrated Studies (High school)
Washington Irving High School High School Of Graphic Communication
Arts Manhattan Theatre Lab High School Wadleigh Secondary School For
The Performing & Visual Arts Frederick Douglass Academy II Secondary
School (Middle school) Future Leaders Institute Charter School
(Charter) Opportunity Charter School (Charter) P.S. 137 John L.
Bernstein* (Elementary school)
Bronx: 13 Schools Samuel Gompers Career And
Technical Education High School Gateway School For Environment
Research and Technology (High school) Herbert H. Lehman High School
Jane Addams High School For Academic Careers Fordham Leadership
Academy For Business and Technology (High school) Grace Dodge Career
And Technical Education High School Academy For Scholarship And
Entrepreneurship (Secondary school) P.S. 277* (Elementary school)
New Millennium Business Academy Middle School* M.S. 142 John Philip
Sousa* Aspire Preparatory Middle School* Academic Leadership Charter
School (Charter) Bronx Academy of Promise
Brooklyn: 20 Schools Academy Of Business And
Community Development (Secondary school) Freedom Academy High School
Juan Morel Campos Secondary School Frederick Douglass Academy IV
(Secondary school) International Arts Business School (High school)
Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School (High school) Brooklyn
Collegiate: A College Board School (Secondary school) Satellite
Three* (Middle school) P.S. 256 Benjamin Banneker* (Elementary
school) Knowledge And Power Preparatory Academy VII* (Middle school)
P.S. 019 Roberto Clemente* (Elementary school) P.S. 022* (Elementary
school) P.S. 161 The Crown School for Law and Journalism* (K-8)
Middle School For The Arts* I.S. 171 Abraham Lincoln* (Middle
school) P.S. 298 Dr. Betty Shabazz* (K-8) General D. Chappie James
Elementary* General D. Chappie James Middle School* J.H.S. 296 The
Halsey School* (Middle school) Williamsburg Charter School (Charter)
Queens: 4 Schools Law, Government And Community
Service High School P.S. 215 Lucretia Mott* (Elementary school) P.S.
181 Brookfield* (Elementary school) Peninsula Preparatory Academy
(Charter)
Staten Island: 1 School P.S. 014 Cornelius
Vanderbilt*
NEW YORK. OCCUPY WALL STREET STILL ON THE MOVE
WITH NO CAMPSITE.
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
So far, the protesters have no place to continue their
protests. Zuccotti park, owned by Brookfield Properties. They
have moved to different places, like public parks, houses of worship
and schools. They are using communicate. Zuccotti Park gets cleaned
Those who have been involved in the movement from the beginning
admit they now face big challenges. Brookfield Properties had a man
charged with trespassing for lying down and not following the rules
of the private park. It keeps out some of those who say they dream
of a better democracy, just in time for the holiday season.
INTERNATIONAL
UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF NAVI PILLAY CONDEMNS CAIRO DEATHS
UNITED NATIONS.
SECRETARY GENERAL PRAISES CAMEROON AND NIGERIA.
==============================================================
NOVEMBER 22
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was
assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas. Suspected gunman
Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was
sworn in as the 36th president of the United States.
On Nov. 22, 1890, Charles de Gaulle, the leader
of Free France during World War II and the chief architect of
France's Fifth Republic, was born. He died on Nov. 9, 1970
1890 Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille, France.
1906 The SOS distress signal was adopted at the
International Radio Telegraphic Convention in Berlin. 1928 "
Bolero" by Maurice Ravel debuted in Paris.
1967 The U.N. Security Council approved
Resolution 242, which called for Israel to withdraw from territories
it captured in 1967, and implicitly called on adversaries to
recognize Israel's right to exist.
1975 Juan Carlos was proclaimed king of Spain.
1990 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher,
having failed to win re-election to the Conservative Party
leadership on the first ballot, announced her resignation.
2004 Tens of thousands of demonstrators jammed
downtown Kiev, denouncing Ukraine's presidential runoff election as
fraudulent and chanting the name of reform candidate Viktor
Yushchenko.
2005 Jose Padilla, an American once accused of
plotting with al-Qaida to detonate a radioactive "dirty bomb," was
charged with supporting terrorism.
2005 Ted Koppel hosted his final edition of ABC
News' "Nightline."
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2011
MANHATTAN 1:00 PM Live Interview on How Failure of
Super Committee Will Hinder Job Creation Airs on Andrea Mitchell
Reports MSNBC
*3:30 PM Presides Over Bill Signing Ceremony City
Hall
*Bills to be considered: Intro. 412-A – In relation
to requiring the Department of Transportation to hold hearings with
affected community boards before a bicycle lane is constructed or
removed.
Intro. 656-A – In relation to immigration detainers
at Rikers Island.
CITY HALL. NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES SUIT AGAINST
“ROLL-YOUR-OWN” CIGARETTE BUSINESSES EVADING TAXES
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced today the filing of a
lawsuit against Island Smokes LLC and Island Smokes III LLC,
businesses that evade cigarette taxes by providing customers with
loose tobacco, tubes of cigarette paper and access to machinery that
instantly produces finished cigarettes for the customer onsite.
These “roll-your-own” businesses sell cigarettes in disregard of tax
and other regulatory statutes applicable to cigarettes, claiming
that the business owners do not sell cigarettes, but merely
“facilitate” the customers’ assembly of the cigarettes themselves.
The City’s suit, filed in the Federal District Court for the
Southern District of New York, charges that Island Smokes’
businesses in Manhattan and Staten Island, along with their owners
and employees, violate the Federal Contraband Cigarette Trafficking
Act and the New York State Cigarette Marketing Standards Act by
selling cigarettes on which the required taxes have not been paid.
The suit also alleges that the defendants cause a public nuisance
by, among other things, selling cigarettes that have not been
certified as “fire-safe” as required by New York State law.
“They are trying to get around the law by claiming
they’re not in the business of selling cigarettes when they clearly
are,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Most businesses abide by the law, play
by the rules and pay their taxes. We are not going to allow some
businesses to skirt the law and we will ensure the playing field is
level. They are cheating other businesses out of customers and
attempting to illegally dilute one of our strongest smoking
deterrents.”
“This suit is a powerful means to halt illegal
cigarette production – and an important step in letting businesses
know they can’t invent loopholes to skirt New York City’s tough
laws,” said Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo.
“Although we are making great progress against
smoking, bringing our smoking rate to an all-time low of 14 percent,
it’s still the leading cause of premature death in our city,” said
Department of Mental Health and Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Thomas
Farley. “Those who sell and those who buy tobacco products must
follow the laws that protect the health of New Yorkers.”
“The Department of Finance and its Sheriff’s Office
Division of Tax Enforcement is committed to coming after anyone
violating cigarette tax regulations,” said Department of Finance
Commissioner David M. Frankel. “This is making those who knowingly
flout the law nervous. Here, Island Smokes has attempted to find
loopholes in the law to operate below the radar, and we will not
tolerate it.”
As described by Fraud Investigators with the
Sheriff’s Office, Division of Tax Enforcement, customers at Island
Smokes’ two locations purchase loose tobacco and packages of
cigarette paper tubes with attached filters. Store employees then
assist customers in making cigarettes on machines located in and
owned or leased by the store. The machines fill the paper tubes with
compacted tobacco to produce completed cigarettes, which the
customers then pay for by the pack or the carton. Despite claiming
that it neither manufactures nor sells cigarettes, Island Smokes
advertises itself as “the first full-service natural and discount
cigarette shop in the tri-state area,” offering “cartons of
all-natural cigarettes.”
Sales of non-taxed cigarettes deprive the City of
millions of dollars in lost cigarette tax revenues, hurt law-abiding
small businesses and undercut public health measures designed to
discourage smoking. The City’s lawsuit against Island Smokes seeks
an injunction to stop the defendants from continuing their illegal
sale, distribution, and advertising of non-taxed cigarettes, as well
as compensation for the tax revenue lost by the City as a result of
Island Smokes’ unlawful activities. The City’s action was taken as
Island Smokes’ owners have made public statement s that they
intended to open ten more locations throughout the city
“imminently.”
In addition, earlier this week, the U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed a challenge to
the City’s law prohibiting flavored smokeless tobacco. The City’s
law prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products throughout the
five boroughs, except in tobacco bars. The City Council was
instrumental in efforts involving the flavored tobacco ban, and
Judge Colleen McMahon upheld the City’s ban. The plaintiffs,
manufacturers and distributors of smokeless tobacco products,
claimed that because federal law regulates various aspects of the
sale and use of tobacco products, the City was “pre-empted” from
adopting its restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco. However,
in a comprehensive decision Tuesday, the Court rejected that
argument, finding that “[w]ith respect to regulations relating to,
or even prohibiting sales of tobacco products, local governments are
free to go above any federal floor set by either the [federal
statute] or by the FDA acting pursuant to it.”
NEW YORK. CUNY TUITION HIKES FACING OCCUPY WALL
STREET PROTESTERS.
11/21/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Students and Occupy Wall Street protesters took a stand
against schools' rising tuition on Monday, first at CUNY's Baruch
College and then at the New School. More than 100 students from the
City University of New York, New York University and the New School
and Occupy Wall Street activists protested by Baruch College to
express objections to CUNY's proposed tuition hikes. CUNY students
will have to pay an additional $300 a year, over the next four
years.
The demonstrators said they were kicked out of a
public meeting of the CUNY board of trustees, but CUNY officials
said only the 95 people who signed up in advance could speak at the
hearing. According to university officials, protesters were asked
twice to leave the lobby or go to an overflow room with video of the
hearing, and when they refused it created a public safety hazard. 15
protesters were arrested.
CUNY officials said their schools have cheaper
tuition than SUNY schools, and that six out of 10 full-time CUNY
students get need-based free tuition. The demonstrators then moved
to a New School building on Fifth Avenue near 14th Street by the
early evening, and hung banners from the building's windows. New
School officials said that they support free expression and the
right to protest.
LAW SUIT AGAINST THE CITY BY A COUPLE OF OCCUPY
WALL STREET.
A couple arrested at a Greenwich Village bank where an Occupy
Wall Street protest was taking place last month has filed a civil
rights lawsuit against the city. The lawyer for the couple, Ron Kuby,
said 23-year-old Heather Carpenter was handcuffed at a Citibank
branch on October 15 after she had closed her account. Kuby said
Carpenter's fiance, Julio Jose Jimenez-Artunduaga, was also dragged
into the vestibule of the bank, where he was choked, assaulted and
arrested. The two said they had been marching with others to protest
against big banks. Charges against Jimenez-Artunduaga have been
dismissed and Carpenter's charges are expected to be dismissed. Kuby
said his clients' Fourth Amendment rights were violated. "I
recognize that Citibank wants to do everything it can to keep its
customers, but arresting people who close their accounts strikes me
as a bit much, said Kuby. "My intent was just to close my account
and leave, and that's what I did. And I got arrested anyway," said
Carpenter. The city's Law Department says it will review the case.
THIS TUESDAY IS THE DEADLINE TO PICK UP PROPERTY
TAKEN AT ZUCCOTTI PARK.
Occupy Wall Street protesters have through thisTuesday to pick
up belongings that were taken away by police during last week's
cleanup of Zuccotti Park. Property pickup will be available at the
Sanitation Department garage on West 56th Street between 11th and
12th Avenues from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today Those claiming items
will need valid photo ID and will have to provide proof of
ownership. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the items that are not
picked up will be thrown out because the city does not have a place
to store them.
MIAMI, FLA. FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AND
THE CONDO SALES.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
There were 1,202 condo sales in Miami-Dade County in
October, up 63 percent from the same month last year, but down about
8 percent compared to September. In Broward, condo sales reached
1,150 up 7 percent year-over-year, but down 10 percent
month-to-month. In Miami-Dade, single-family homes sales reached
769, up 41 percent year-over-year but down 9 percent from September.
In Broward, single-family home sales increased 16 percent to 992,
but the monthly change was an 8 percent decline. Home sales for 2011
are on pace to set a new record, but transactions have fallen for
three consecutive months on the heels of the summer buying rush.
Home prices showed a mixed bag, with the single-family market
continuing to decline, while condo prices began to improve. In
Miami-Dade, the median priced single-family home sold for $174,600,
down 12 percent from last year. In Broward, median single-family
prices fell 7 percent to $181,300. Median condo prices in Miami-Dade
rose 8 percent to $117,900. In Broward, they rose 25 percent, from
last year’s trough of $62,300 to $78,100.
ATLANTA, GA. HOME SALES PRICES FALL IN ATLANTA.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
According to the National Association of Realtors monthly
estimates, October sales of existing homes in metro Atlanta rose
significantly compared to October last year, but median prices
slipped 20 percent. Homes under $100,000 were selling briskly in
metro Atlanta, which helped push down the median price from $109,900
in October 2010 to $87,800 last month. The most recent national
median was $165,600. Though prices have been trending down, the
steep drop in Georgia was an anomaly.The good news in the NAR's
report was that sales were up 33 percent in the state. The numbers
were not adjusted to account for normal seasonal up-and-down
movements. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, said the market
nationally has been steady but low. “Home sales have been stuck in a
narrow range despite several improving factors that generally lead
to higher home sales such as job creation, rising rents and high
affordability conditions. Many people who are attempting to buy
homes are thwarted in the process,” he said. The NAR says
constriction of credit is a significant factor in keeping home sales
depressed.
INTERNATIONAL
EGYPT. CAIRO. ACTIVISTS CALL FOR MASS
DEMONSTRATION IN THE CAPITAL.
UNITED NATIONS.
EGYPT. CAIRO. UN CONCERN AFTER DEADLY CRACKDOWN.
==========================================================
NOVEMBER 21
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 21, 1964 New York's Verrazano Narrows
Bridge opened.
On Nov. 21, 1904, Coleman Hawkins, the pioneering
American jazz saxophonist, was born. He died on May 19, 1969
On This Date in 1789 North Carolina became the
12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1922 Rebecca L. Felton of Georgia was sworn in as
the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate.
1969 The Senate voted down the Supreme Court
nomination of Clement F. Haynsworth.
1973 President Richard Nixon's attorney, J. Fred
Buzhardt, revealed the existence of an 18 1/2-minute gap in one of
the White House tape recordings related to Watergate.
1980 A fire at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino in Las
Vegas killed 87 people.
1985 Former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst
Jonathan Jay Pollard was arrested, accused of spying for Israel. He
later pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence.
1989 The proceedings of Britain's House of
Commons were televised live for the first time.
1991 The U.N. Security Council chose Boutros
Boutros-Ghali of Egypt to be secretary-general.
1995 The Dow Jones industrial average closed
above 5,000 for the first time.
2000 The Florida Supreme Court granted Democrat
Al Gore's request to keep the presidential election recount going.
2001 A 94-year-old Connecticut woman died of
inhalation anthrax, the last of five people killed in the anthrax
attacks.
2002 NATO invited seven former communist
countries to join the alliance: Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria.
2004 The NBA suspended Indiana's Ron Artest for
the rest of the season following a brawl in the stands during a game
against the Detroit Pistons.
2005 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon broke
away from the hard-line Likud with the intention of forming a new
party.
2007 Officials announced the recall of more than
a half-million pieces of Chinese-made children's jewelry
contaminated with lead.
2010 Debt-struck Ireland formally applied for a
massive EU-IMF loan to stem the flight of capital from its banks.
CITY HALL. NY.MAYOR BLOOMBERG, POLICE
COMMISSIONER KELLY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY VANCE UPDATE NEW YORKERS ON
ARREST OF SUSPECT IN TERROR CASE
The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s
remarks as delivered at City Hall.:
“Good evening. I’m joined by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance. “Yesterday afternoon, New
York City police officers arrested a 27-year-old Al Qaeda
sympathizer who was plotting to bomb police patrol cars and also
postal facilities, as well as target members of our Armed Forces
returning from abroad.
“Jose Pimentel of Washington Heights, which is in
the northern end of Manhattan, faces terrorism-related charges that
District Attorney Vance will discuss in a moment. “Earlier today, I
also described this case to U.S. Congressman Pete King, the chair of
the House Committee on Homeland Security, who has long been a
champion of Federal support for the NYPD’s counter-terrorism
efforts.
“The NYPD Intelligence Division did outstanding work
in tracking this individual and containing the threat he posed to
the city. The police also constructed a duplicate of an explosive
device that the suspect built, and then detonated it in a way that
he intended to use his weapon. We wanted to show you a video about
the resulting damage.
“I should point out that our staff briefed the
Governor’s staff on this earlier this evening, and I’ve asked
Commissioner Kelly to discuss this case in greater detail. But
first, let me make these observations. “The suspect was a so-called
lone wolf, motivated by his own resentment of the presence of
American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as inspired by Al
Qaeda propaganda. He was not part of a larger conspiracy emanating
from abroad. He represents exactly the kind of threat FBI Director
Robert Mueller and his experts have warned about, as American
military and intelligence agencies have eroded Al Qaeda's ability to
launch large-scale attacks.
“This case is also reminiscent of another lone wolf
plot in 2004 in which two New Yorkers angry over the treatment of
prisoners in Iraq plotted to bomb the Herald Square subway station.
Like the current case, the Herald Square plot was uncovered by the
NYPD Intelligence Division.
“And as with still another case earlier this year in
which a lone wolf plotted to attack a large synagogue, the NYPD
teamed-up with the Manhattan District Attorney's office to prosecute
Pimentel under State terrorism-related statutes. “Whether launched
by lone wolves, Al Qaeda, or Al Qaeda affiliates, there have been at
least 13 previous terrorist plots since 9/11 targeting New York
City. This would be the fourteenth.
“Because of such repeated threats, the NYPD remains
focused on preventing another terrorist attack. We assign a thousand
officers to counter-terrorism duties every single day. This is just
another case where our precautions paid off.
NEW YORK. DEMONSTRATORS AT MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S
RESIDENCE. 11/20/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Immediately after leaving the Dogs and Cat show at the Jacob
Jarvis Center, this Sunday, we went to 79th street and 5th Avenue to
see the demonstration of Occupy Wall Street by Mayor Bloomberg's
residence.
Several hundred protestors were there to demonstrate near
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Upper East Side home. scheduled for 2:00
pm. NYPD had blocked access to 79th Street between Fifth and
Madison Avenues.
The protesters took their musical instruments and
colorful signs to the outskirts of Central Park'. Some Upper East
Side residents were not pleased at the possibility of the boisterous
demonstration lasting well into the night. We have learned that no
protesters had been arrested.
At Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, the
former campsite of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, to criticize
how the city handled Tuesday's cleanup of the area. State Senator
Eric Adams and civil rights attorney Norman Siegel said the New York
City Police Department violated its own policies by not issuing
receipts to protestors after their property was taken away. They
said that city officials violated a court order by cleaning out
Zuccotti Park and should be penalized.
"The question becomes, should the Bloomberg
administration be held in contempt of court for not following the
judge's order?" said Siegel. "If there are rules and regulations
that are put in place that the occupation individuals must follow,
then the City of New York must follow the same rules just as well,"
said Adams.
Adams and Siegel also demanded to know why several
members of the media were arrested or otherwise prevented from
entering the park. According to City Hall, the property was
not seized but abandoned in public space. City Hall emphasized that
protesters were given 45 minutes to take their belongings and that
more than 500 items have been picked up from a Department of
Sanitation garage on West 57th Street. Protesters have until this
coming Tuesday to pick up their belongings from the garage.
NEW YORK. JOSE PIMENTEL, A US DOMINICAN CITIZEN
ARRESTED IN BOMB PLOT.
11/20/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
In Washington Heights, the bastion of Dominican residents,
Jose Pimentel, 27, was arrested Saturdy evening by NYPD for
conspiring to build a bomb for terror purposes and possessing a
weapon with the intent of waging a campaign of violence in the name
of al-Qaeda. According NYPD Intelligence, Jose Pimentel was
working on this bomb device at the time of his arrest. He planned to
kill U.S. military personnel returning from active duty in Iraq and
Afghanistan. He had also allegedly expressed a desire to bomb police
patrol cars and postal facilities. NYPD Police Commissioner Ray
Kelly says Pimentel, a convert to Islam, was apparently motivated by
the killing on September 30 of al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki in
Yemen by a U.S. drone strike
District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., says that
Pimentel discussed the duty of every Muslim to wage war against the
West. Police had been monitoring him since he first expressed
hostilities toward the U.S. in 2009.
"The suspect was a so-called lone wolf, motivated by his own
resentment of the presence of American troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan, as well as inspired by al-Qaeda propaganda," Mayor
Michael Bloomberg said in Sunday's announcement. Investigators from
NYPD say they found statements made by Pimentel on his website his
support for al-Qaeda and the cause of violent jihad. He was formally
charged Sunday evening in a Court appearance. No Federal
investigators were involved in this NY matter.
According to the charges, Pimentel allegedly got instructions on how
to build a pipe bomb from al-Qaeda's Inspire magazine, published by
radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed by a US drone attack
in Yemen in September.
MIAMI. ADDY VILLANUEVA, FIRST HISPANIC WOMAN IN
AS FLA SPECIAL AGENT.
By Elizabeth Menos
Addy Villanueva has been named the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement’s Special Agent in Charge of the Miami field office, the
first Hispanic woman to hold such a post. Villanueva, 44, oversees a
field office of 52 field agents in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe
counties. In May, she succeeded Amos Rojas Jr., who retired after
eight years in the post.
In South Florida, FDLE investigates crime across the
board, specializing in major crimes such as money laundering, drugs
and public corruption, while working with other police investigators
probing violent crime. In recent months, FDLE has joined a task
force cracking down on “pill mills” — clinics hawking highly
addictive and easily abused prescription medications.
Villanueva, who was raised in Miami, did not
consider a job in law enforcement until she ran into a former
Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco agent in the
career center at Florida International University. She struck up a
friendship with the agent, Jack Dodson, who persuaded her to provide
intelligence on nightclubs and bars that served alcohol to underage
patrons. In 1989, Dodson convinced a skeptical Villanueva to apply
to the police academy.
Mostly, she bought drugs in South Florida bars and
South Beach nightclubs. Occasionally, she posed as a prostitute to
nab johns. She was part of the undercover team that took down
Wynwood’s 34th Street Players gang in an eight-month racketeering
probe. In 1994, Villanueva posed as an underage adult entertainer to
buy fake IDs from a Sweetwater City Council member who ran a photo
shop. He was arrested on felony charges.
“She has the ability to handle whatever situation
came up without getting flustered,” said Dodson, now 69 and retired.
“And if she had a question, she wasn’t afraid to ask for advice.”
Villanueva moved to FDLE soon after, switching to violent crimes,
money laundering and a wave of “crash-and-grab” burglaries in which
young men smashed cars into retail stores. As she rose through the
ranks, Villanueva became a supervisor over narcotics and domestic
security.
INTERNATIONAL
CAIRO, EGYPT. CLASHES IN CAIRO SQUARE.
UNITED NATIONS
SECRETARY GENERAL AND THE AFFORDABLE ENERGY IN
AFRICA.
=================================================================
NOVEMBER 20
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 20, 1945, 24 Nazi leaders went on trial
before an international war crimes tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany.
On Nov. 20, 1925, Robert F. Kennedy, the United
States attorney general and senator from New York assassinated
during his 1968 campaign for president , was born. He died on June
6, 1968
On This Date in 1789 New Jersey became the first
state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
1910 Revolution broke out in Mexico.
1917 Robert C. Byrd, the longest-serving senator
in U.S. history, was born Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. in North
Wilkesboro, N.C. Before he was 1, his mother died and his father
sent him to Stotesbury, W.Va., to live with an aunt and uncle who
renamed him.
1945 Twenty-four Nazi leaders went on trial
before an international war crimes tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany.
1947 Britain's future queen, Princess Elizabeth,
married Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, in Westminster Abbey
in London.
1969 The Nixon administration announced a halt to
residential use of the pesticide DDT as part of a total phase-out.
1975 Spain's Gen. Francisco Franco died after
nearly four decades of absolute rule.
1977 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the
first Arab leader to address Israel's parliament.
1985 The first version of Microsoft's Windows
operating system, Windows 1.0, was released.
1995 Princess Diana admitted during an interview
broadcast on BBC TV that she had been unfaithful to Prince Charles.
2001 Federal health officials approved sale of
the world's first contraceptive patch, Ortho-Evra.
2003 Singer Michael Jackson was booked on
suspicion of child molestation in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was later
acquited.
2009 Oprah Winfrey announced she would end her TV
talk show after its 25th season in September 2011.
CITY HALL, NY. DEPUTY MAYOR STEEL AND NEW YORK
CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ANNOUNCE THE SALE OF THE
STATEN ISLAND HOMEPORT SITE
Demolition to Begin on Major Redevelopment Project
to Create 900 Units of Residential Housing, 30,000 Square Feet of
Retail Space, 600 Parking Spaces and Public Plaza; Will Create 1,100
Construction Jobs and 150 Permanent Jobs
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K.
Steel and New York City Economic Development Corporation President
Seth W. Pinsky, Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro,
and Ironstate Development President David Barry today announced the
completion of the sale of approximately seven acres of the former
Homeport site in Stapleton, Staten Island to Ironstate Development
Company and the start of demolition necessary for redevelopment. As
part of the community-driven New Stapleton Waterfront Development
Plan conceived by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s Homeport Task Force
to transform the decommissioned U.S. Naval Base site, Ironstate will
invest $150 million to construct approximately 900 units of
residential housing, 30,000 square feet of ground floor retail, 600
parking spaces and a public plaza. The City plans to invest $32
million for infrastructure improvements and construction of six
acres of a new waterfront esplanade that will provide public
waterfront access. The Staten Island Borough President has also
committed $1 million in improvements to the Staten Island Rail Road
Stapleton station. This project will create more than 1,100
construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs. The sale of the City-owned
property to Ironstate Development Company closed on November 1, 2011
for $11 million.
“Ironstate’s decision to invest in Homeport is a
significant statement of confidence in the future of Staten Island,”
Deputy Mayor Steel said. “When this development is completed, it
will add 900 new rental units to a neighborhood that is increasingly
becoming a magnet for young people.”
“The reactivation of the Homeport, turning it into
an exemplary green community, with public access to the waterfront,
modern infrastructure, and rental housing options for young Staten
Island professionals and others, will create positive momentum for
Stapleton and other North Shore neighborhoods,” said Economic
Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “We thank
Ironstate Development for their commitment to the future of this
community.”
“The development of the former Homeport site is a
great stride forward for Staten Island’s waterfront renaissance.
It’s obvious that this site could not be developed without housing.
I would like to compliment David Barry and Ironstate for coming
forward and having the courage and confidence to develop this site,”
said Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro.
“We’re delighted to have completed the land purchase
which now paves the way for development to commence,” notes David
Barry, President of Hoboken, NJ-based Ironstate Development Company.
“This is a uniquely-positioned site and we’re looking forward to
unlocking its intrinsic value by introducing an exciting mix of
shops, restaurants and apartments alongside a new waterfront
esplanade that will enliven the area and benefit the community at
large.”
Ironstate’s two residential buildings will be four
and five stories tall, in compliance with current zoning and
designed to complement the surrounding community. The new
development will feature a much-needed new selection of rental
apartments with ground floor retail and a public plaza to further
encourage connections with adjacent neighborhoods. The new
development will have multiple mass transportation options, as it is
located adjacent to the Stapleton station of the Staten Island Rail
Road, multiple bus routes and within walking distance of the St.
George Ferry Terminal.
The City is funding major road reconstruction,
including critical upgrades to Front Street, and public access
improvements that will be ready at the completion of Ironstate’s
first building. The approved design of the much anticipated
waterfront public open space, which is to be located adjacent to
Ironstate’s developments, includes innovative protection measures to
reduce storm damage and prevent further shoreline erosion. In
keeping with the Bloomberg Administration’s commitment to
environmental sustainability, the City’s design for the public
improvements has achieved Silver certification in the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Neighborhood Development
program administered by the U.S Green Building Council.
Demolition of three existing buildings is underway.
Ironstate estimates that its first stage of development will begin
in 2012 and is expected to take 15 months. This portion of the
project will consist of approximately 340,000 square feet of
residential housing, 25,000 square feet of retail and accessory
parking. The second stage includes 260,000 square feet of
residential housing, 5,000 square feet of retail space and accessory
parking. Construction on the second building is expected to begin
following completion of the first. The Ironstate project will seek
LEED for New Construction certification.
In 2007, NYCEDC issued three separate Requests for
Proposals for a residential and ground-floor retail development, a
hotel with a banquet hall and restaurant, and a sports complex, but
responses were limited and ultimately deemed unsatisfactory.
Ironstate Development Company was subsequently selected as the
developer for a residential and ground-floor retail development
based on its proposal, which is in compliance with the approved
zoning and development framework for the area and met the goals set
forth by the Homeport Task Force.
Ironstate Development has a history of developing
and revitalizing established urban centers. Some recent projects
include Pier Village, a mixed-use community which currently features
536 rental residences, more than 100,000 square feet of retail space
and the boutique Bungalow Hotel which has revitalized the Long
Branch, NJ oceanfront; The Shipyard, 1,160 residences, 65,000 square
feet of street-level retail space and a waterfront park on Hoboken,
NJ’s Hudson River waterfront, and The W Hoboken Hotel. The developer
also recently launched the first phase of Harrison Station which
when completed will feature 2,600 luxury residences, 80,000 square
feet of retail space and a hotel with a retail concourse on a
27-acre site adjacent to the Harrison PATH Station.
The development of this site will greatly contribute
to economic growth on Staten Island, as outlined in comprehensive
planning efforts such as the Waterfront Vision and Enhancement
Strategy (WAVES). Launched in March 2011, WAVES is a citywide
initiative launched by Mayor Bloomberg which will create a new
sustainable blueprint for the City’s more than 500 miles of
shoreline. WAVES has two core components: Vision 2020: The New York
City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, which will establish long-term
goals for the next decade and beyond, and the New York City
Waterfront Action Agenda, which will set forth priority initiatives
to be implemented within three years. Together, the initiatives will
provide a blueprint for the City’s waterfront and waterways, and
focus on the following categories: open space and recreation, the
working waterfront, housing and economic development, natural
habitats, climate change adaptation and waterborne transportation.
Ironstate Development is a privately held real
estate development company based in Hoboken, New Jersey. The Company
engages in the development of large-scale residential and hotel
projects in the Northeast United States. The company currently owns
and manages over 6000 residential units and currently has
approximately $1 billion in the development pipeline.
www.ironstatedevelopment.net
BRONX. IT IS REPORTED BY NYPD THAT A SUSPECT
ATTACKED 6 WOMEN .11/20/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
According to NYPD, 6 women had been attacked in the Bronx
within 6 hours. The man is accused of groping the six women in the
Bronx area. of Baychester and Soundview A surveillance video of the
suspect
had been release in order to locate him. According to NYPD the
attacks took place between 6:00 am and noon last Thursday. According
to Police, he approached the women from behind and assaulted them.
The victims range in age from 28 to 51.The man is said to be in his
20s, about 5-feet 10-inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing a
blue hooded sweatshirt and gray sweat pants. Anyone with information
on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at
1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit
www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
MIAMI, FLA. OCCUPY MIAMI MOVEMENT IS STILL IN
ACTION. 11/20/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
As witnessed, the population of Occupy Miami’s downtown
campsite peered blearily around Saturday morning at a scene of
shredded garbage bags and scattered metal poles, the shattered
superstructure of makeshift tents torn to bits by Friday night’s
wind and rain. Occupy Miami has burgeoned into about 50 tents
housing between 80 and 100 people each night. Each day they stage
small but noisy demonstrations at downtown banks and businesses, and
formed the nucleus of crowd of about 1,000 marchers who snaked
through blocked-off streets from Little Havana to Brickell Thursday,
protesting big corporations, income inequality and unemployment.
ATLANTA GA. ATLANTA IS GEARING UP FOR ICE AS
REPORTED. 11/20/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Leaders in metro Atlanta say they are better prepared for
ice and snow than they were in January, when a coating of ice
brought much of the region to a skidding halt and pointed out the
deficiencies of planning at the state, county and city levels. The
goal is to “respond, get the city opened for business and get access
to everybody’s driveway,” Richard Mendoza, Atlanta’s commissioner of
public works, told members of the City Council this month.
The storm shut down most of metro Atlanta’s road
grid for five days, causing some of the region’s businesses to
measure their losses in the millions. But while the region’s
municipalities and counties have called for greater cooperation in
event of another storm, they have split in terms of approach. An era
of tighter budgets has left several local governments gun-shy about
spending too much on new equipment in response to a storm far more
intense than normally hits the area. Atlanta’s Department of
Public Works is betting it will need more equipment. It is adding 23
sand spreaders, raising the total to 31. The city also will have 40
snowplows on hand this time around, including new garbage trucks
equipped with snowplows, according to a recent presentation to City
Council members. It also has contracted with experts from Richmond
to train snowplow operators. Two dry runs have been scheduled.
Atlanta’s new plan involves better coordination
between city departments such as Public Works, Parks and Recreation,
Police, and Fire Rescue, as well with Fulton County and the Georgia
Department of Transportation.
INTERNATIONAL
SYRIA. THE ARAB LEAGUE REJECTS SYRIAN DEMAND.
UNITED
NATIONS
SECRETARY GENERAL URGES ACTION TO IMPROVE SAFETY
IN HONOR OF ACCIDENT VICTIMS.
===============================================================
NOVEMBER 19
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln
delivered the Gettysburg Address as he dedicated a national cemetery
at the site of the Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania.
On Nov. 19, 1917, Indira Gandhi, the former prime
minister of India who served four terms over 15 years, was born. She
died on Oct. 31, 1984
On This Date 1831 James A. Garfield, the 20th
president of the United States, was born in Orange, Ohio.
1917 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was born
in Allahabad.
1919 The Senate rejected the Treaty of
Versailles.
1942 Russian forces launched a winter offensive
against the Germans along the Don front during World War II.
1959 Ford Motor Co. announced it was halting
production of the unpopular Edsel.
1969 Apollo 12 astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad
and Alan Bean made man's second landing on the moon.
1977 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the
first Arab leader to visit Israel.
1985 President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader
Mikhail S. Gorbachev met for the first time as they began a summit
in Geneva.
1990 The pop duo Milli Vanilli was stripped of
its Grammy Award after it was revealed that neither performer sang
on the group's records.
1998 Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr laid out
his evidence against President Bill Clinton during a daylong
appearance before the House Judiciary Committee.
2001 President George W. Bush signed legislation
to put airport baggage screeners on the federal payroll.
2001 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants
became the first baseball player to win four Most Valuable Player
awards.
2006 The Wii, the Nintendo Co.'s game
console, first went on sale. 2007 Amazon.com Inc. introduced the
Kindle, an electronic book-reading device.
CITY HALL. NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG BRIEFS NEW YORKERS
ON POTENTIAL SCHOOL BUS STRIKE
The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s remarks as
delivered at City Hall today.
“Well, good morning. I am here with Schools
Chancellor Dennis Walcott, Chief Philip Banks from the NYPD,
Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, and Taxi and
Limousine Commissioner David Yassky because the City has been
threatened with what we believe would be an illegal strike by school
bus drivers. It would affect more than 152,000 public school
students from pre-kindergarten through high school, including more
than 13,600 children in pre-kindergarten special education classes.
“The union representing school bus drivers is seeking something that
we are not legally allowed to offer: Job guarantees for certain
current drivers. The highest court in New York State has ruled
unambiguously that the law doesn’t allow that. The law mandates that
we seek bids from bus companies in a competitive fashion; it
prohibits us from doing what the union wants. So the union is
threatening an illegal strike that would harm the education of more
than 152,000 students if it doesn’t get its way. And that’s just
outrageous. “And that is why the City has asked the National Labor
Relations Board for an ‘unfair labor practice’ ruling against the
union. We’ve also asked the Board to seek an injunction in federal
court.
“Now the reason for this possible strike is that the
Department of Education’s contract for bus services for special
education pre-k students and ‘early intervention’ pre-k students
expires next June. And DOE has put out a bid for a new contract;
this needs to go forward now so that bus service is in place in time
for the 2012 school year. “The drivers’ union, Local 1181 of the
Amalgamated Transit Union, wants the bid proposal to include
employee protection provisions for current drivers – something that
has never been included in pre-K bus contracts, and something the
State Court of Appeals has ruled we cannot do. Without this
provision, the union has said it is prepared to call a system-wide
strike.
“If and when a strike should happen, we are going to
do everything possible to help parents who rely on school buses to
get their children to school safely. The steps we are taking are
described in a letter that is going home with students today. There
are copies available for the reporters here, and for those watching
on television or online, it’s also available on the city’s web site
“Let me run through its main elements now. First all
schools will remain open, and any information we have about
disruptions to bus service will be posted on our website We
urge parents and guardians whose children rely on yellow bus service
– for pre-K or K-12 service –to regularly check the website for
updates. The information will also be provided to the media and to
311. “In the event that a strike occurs, the following protocols
will take effect for families of students who currently receive
yellow bus service. For all students who are currently receiving
yellow bus service from a designated school bus stop to school, we
will be issuing MetroCards. And I am happy to say that the MTA
Chairman Joe Lhota has made 300,000 MetroCards available to us. They
are being made available at schools and should be requested through
the school’s general office. Each card is good for a ride to and
from, about $4.50 if I remember correctly, and each day you can get
one for the following day. We have already informed the MTA that it
may need to accommodate additional riders because of the extra usage
of their system.
“We also ask families to consider alternative means
of transportation to school in case of a disruption to bus service.
“Parents of pre-school and school-age children with individualized
education plans, or what we call IEPs, requiring transportation from
their homes directly to their school, as well as parents of children
in grades K-2, may request a MetroCard for a parent or guardian to
act as the child’s escort to school. For these pre-school and
school-age children who have an IEP requiring transportation from
their homes directly to their school, we are also offering a
reimbursement system for transportation costs.
“Finally, field trips using yellow bus service will
be cancelled if there is a bus service disruption. After school
programs will remain open, but no busing will be provided. “Now we
know this is a very difficult situation for all of us and we
understand that it may be very upsetting to our students and our
families. Every parent or guardian must evaluate the needs of his or
her child in terms of making the best arrangement to transport the
child to school.
“Students who arrive at school late because of
disruptions to yellow bus service will be excused for up to two
hours. Children who are unable to attend school because of
disruptions to yellow bus service will be marked absent with an
explanation code that will ensure their attendance record is not
negatively affected.
“We recognize a strike could be a major disturbance
in the lives of students and their families, and we continue to hope
that the bus driver and escort union will not take such unwarranted
action in response to what is the proper, legal course for the
Department of Education to take on behalf of our students and the
City’s taxpayers.”
NEW YORK. LOWER MANHATTAN ZUCCOTTI PARK FOLLOWING
DAY OF ACTION
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
It was quiet in lower Manhattan after the "Day of
Action" that attracted tens of thousands of protesters,
clogging the streets and mass transit.There were those who stayed
away from Thursday's fray for personal reasons. They said the police
reaction and the hundreds of arrests did dampen any desire to join
in, until the dust settled. Occupy Wall Street protestors have
extra time to pick up their belongings lost during Tuesday morning's
clearing of Zuccotti Park. Property pick up will be available at the
District 7 garage on West 57th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues
until Tuesday. Valid photo ID and proof of ownership will be
required from those looking for their belongings..
ATLANTA, GA. POLICE DISCOVERED MARIJUANA
GROW IN SOUTHEAST ATLANTA 11/19/11 By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Fulton County police say they discovered a marijuana grow
house Friday in an upscale neighborhood in southwest Atlanta. .Few
details were provided on the raid in the 2400 block of Wyncreek
Place, which occurred around 3 p.m. Friday in the Wyncreek Estates
subdivision just north of Camp Creek Parkway. Three men and one
woman at the home were taken into custody, according to police
spokesman Sgt. Scott McBride. Their identities were not immediately
provided nor were the specific charges. "At this time it appears
that this was not a new operation," McBride said without
elaborating. Fulton County property records show the home is 3,221
square feet with four bedrooms, three full baths and a full
basement. It sold for $418,000 in 2007 but is currently appraised by
the county at $222,400.
According to neighbor Eric Chubb, the last resident
moved out about six months ago and the home appeared to be vacant.
Regularly, however, vehicles were seen arriving at the home in the
middle of the night, with the garage door opening without a light.
Chubb also said the home, where the surrounding lawn was always kept
up, always had one interior light on. Chubb, who has lived in
Wyncreek Estates for five years, said he was “very, very
disappointed” that this happened in his neighborhood. He said he and
other neighbors were suspicious of activity at the home even though
it was supposed to be vacant. He said some even told him they’d
reported their suspicions to the police.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. FINANCIER JOHN MATTERA
ARRESTED. 11/19/11
By Elizabewth Menos NTS NEWS.
Investor John Mattera was arrested in his Fort Lauderdale
home Thursday on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and money
laundering. .
Mattera, already accused in a federal lawsuit of
fraudulently selling $4.5 million worth of fictitious shares in a
cutting-edge electric car company,according to a criminal complaint
unsealed in federal court Thursday, a document that also states
Mattera blew at least $4 million of his victims’ money on expensive
jewelry, interior decorating and luxury cars. Mattera surrendered to
federal authorities in his Fort Lauderdale home Thursday morning,
charged with securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. .
The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission is also
involved, filing an emergency enforcement action to stop what the
agency called “a fraudulent scheme targeting investors seeking
coveted stock in Internet and technology companies like Facebook
before they go public.”
While neither of the complaints named Mattera’s
alleged victims, Miami attorney Isaac Mitrani believes his clients
are among the wronged. Mitrani represents a group of investors who
sued Mattera in September over what appears to be a related failed
transaction.
The suit claims Mattera “sold” those associates $4.5
million worth of Fisker Automotive’s Series A-1 preferred stock,
which he claimed was held in a shell company named the Praetorian
Fund. But Mattera never owned those shares, he later admitted that
he used Praetorian as a front for his Facebook and Groupon sales
pitches, according to the criminal complaint.
All together, Mattera,who in 2003 pleaded guilty to
seven counts of grand theft in three separate Florida criminal
cases, raised at least $12 million from business partners across the
country during the past 15 months, the SEC said. Expenditures
included $825,000 at local car dealership, $330,000 at jewelry
stores, and $245,000 for home furnishing services. Mattera also is
said to have written $1.8 million in checks to himself, mother Ann
Mattera, and wife Lan Phan, a Broward-based osteopathic physician
Mattera also had served on the American Red Cross of Southern
Florida’s Broward County board but was asked to leave following a
report on his alleged improprieties.
INTERNATIONAL
SYRIA. ARAB LEAGUE DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR
ENDING CRACKDOWN.
.
UNITED NATIONS
GA CONDEMNS PLOT TO KILL SAUDI ARABIAN DIPLOMAT.
============================================================
NOVEMBER 18
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 18, 1976, Spain's parliament approved a
bill to establish a democracy after 37 years of dictatorship.
On Nov. 18, 1923, Alan B. Shepard, the first
American astronaut to travel in space, was born. He died on July 21,
1998
1883 The United States and Canada adopted a system of standard time
zones.
1886 Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the
United States, died in New York at age 56.
1923 Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr., the first
American in space, was born in East Derry, N.H.
1928 The first successful sound-synchronized
animated cartoon, Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie" starring Mickey
Mouse, premiered in New York.
1936 Germany and Italy recognized the Spanish
government of Francisco Franco.
1966 U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with
the rule against eating meat on Fridays.
1969 Financier and diplomat Joseph P. Kennedy
died in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 81.
1976 Spain's parliament approved a bill to
establish a democracy after 37 years of dictatorship.
1987 The congressional Iran-Contra committees
issued their final report, saying President Ronald Reagan bore
"ultimate responsibility" for wrongdoing by his aides.
1988 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation
creating a Cabinet-level drug czar and providing the death penalty
for drug traffickers who kill.
2002 U.N. arms inspectors returned to Iraq after
a four-year hiatus, calling on Saddam Hussein's government to
cooperate with their search for weapons of mass destruction.
2003 The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
ruled 4-3 that the state constitution guarantees gay couples the
right to marry. 2006 Actor Tom Cruise and actress Katie Holmes were
married in Italy.
2008 Big Three automakers pleaded with Congress
for a $25 billion lifeline, warning of a national economic
catastrophe should they collapse.
2009 Two days before turning 92, Sen. Robert C.
Byrd, D-W.Va., became the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional
history, at 56 years, 320 days.
2010 General Motors stock resumed trading on Wall
Street, signaling the rebirth of an American corporate icon that had
collapsed into bankruptcy and was rescued with a $50 billion
infusion from taxpayers.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011
MANHATTAN 8:05 AM Calls into the John Gambling Show
with Mayor Mike WOR Radio - 710 AM,
9:00 AM Live Appearance on Final “Live with Regis
and Kelly” Show Featuring Regis Philbin Airs
ABC Television
NEW YORK. OCCUPY WALL STREET. ABOUT 240 ARRESTED.
11/17/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
About 200 arrests were made by the NYPD,including some 25
News Reporters, this Thursday. At a distance, we feel that was
horrible. According to Police some cops were injured in the brawl At
a 4 p.m. press conference, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said 177 people
were arrested, five of which were linked to assault. The estimate
has since increased to 242.
It all started when several hundred protesters made their way from
Zuccotti Park to the New York Stock Exchange before the 9:30 a.m.
opening bell. Barricades were set up by the New York City Police
Department to control the crowds, and only people with stock
exchange IDs were being let past a certain point. Police said five
officers were taken to an area hospital when a demonstrator threw an
unknown liquid at them, possibly vinegar. It happened near Broadway
and Wall Street. Police said two additional officers were injured
later in the day when protesters at Zuccotti Park tried to remove
barriers that have been set up since Tuesday's sweep. A cop suffered
irritation to his face after a demonstrator threw an unknown liquid,
similar to an incident earlier in the day. He was treated at
Bellevue Hospital. The mayor and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly went
to Bellevue.Mayor Bloomberg said there were also reports of
protesters flicking lit cigarettes at NYPD officers assigned to
Zuccotti Park, which may have added to the scuffle.
"Police confiscated about a dozen mental devices
comprising of metal sleeves wielded together and designed to
accommodate individuals who planned to lock themselves to the
entrances of Wall Street businesses this morning," the mayor said.
"Some of these devices were found along the route of the protest
march. Others were confiscated in a truck stop early this morning.
None were actually used."
Despite the incidents, Bloomberg said the expected
turnout for the protest was much lower than expected and that the
city was more than prepared. At one point, the protesters' presence
wreaked havoc on many living in and around Wall Street as well as
those trying to get to work. There was a series of run-ins between
Occupy Wall Street protesters and police in Zuccotti Park Thursday,
and at least one protester was left bleeding. It happened after
someone flicked the hat off a police officer and was chased into the
crowd.
INTERNATIONAL
ITALY. MONTI GOVERNMENT WINS CONFIDENCE VOTE.
UNITED NATIONS
CAMBODIA. COURT RULES THAT FORMER KHMER ROUGE
LEADER UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL.
==============================================================
NOVEMBER 17
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Nixon told an
Associated Press managing editors meeting in Orlando, Fla., that
``people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.
Well, I'm not a crook.''
On Nov. 17, 1901, Lee Strasberg, the director who
pioneered the technique of "method acting", was born. He died on
Feb. 17, 1982
On This Date in 1800 Congress held its
first session in Washington, D.C., in the partially completed
Capitol building.
1869 The Suez Canal opened in Egypt, linking the
Mediterranean and the Red seas.
1934 Lyndon B. Johnson married Claudia Alta
Taylor, better known as "Lady Bird."
1962 Dulles International Airport in Washington,
D.C., was dedicated.
1968 NBC outraged football fans by cutting away
from the final minutes of a game to air a TV special, "Heidi," on
schedule.
1970 The Soviet Union landed an unmanned,
remote-controlled vehicle on the moon.
1973 President Richard M. Nixon told an
Associated Press managing editors meeting in Orlando, Fla., "I'm not
a crook."
1997 Six militants opened fire at the Temple of
Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt, killing 62 people, most of them foreign
tourists. The attackers were killed by police.
1998 Israel's parliament overwhelmingly approved
the Wye River land-for-peace accord with the Palestinians.
2000 The Florida Supreme Court froze the state's
presidential tally, forbidding Secretary of State Katherine Harris
to certify results of the marathon vote count.
2003 John Allen Muhammad was convicted of two
counts of capital murder in the Washington-area sniper shootings. He
was later sentenced to death and executed.
2003 Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as
governor of California.
2005 A jury in Sarasota, Fla., convicted mechanic
Joseph Smith of kidnapping, raping and strangling 11-year-old Carlie
Brucia, whose abduction had been captured by a car-wash security
camera.
2008 The vampire romance movie "Twilight"
premiered in Los Angeles.
2010 A hand-count of votes affirmed the
re-election of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the first Senate
candidate in over 50 years to win a write-in campaign.
2010 The first Guantanamo detainee to face
civilian trial, Ahmed Ghailani, was convicted by federal jury in New
York on just one charge of conspiracy, among over 280 counts related
to 1998 bombings
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011
STATEN ISLAND 1:15 PM Speaks at the 50th Annual
Staten Island Advance Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon with
Surgeon, Author and Talk Show Host Dr. Mehmet Oz Hilton Garden Inn
1100 South Avenue between Fahy Avenue and Lois Lane
BROOKLYN 6:30 PM Speaks at the Cobble Hill
Health Center Gala Stage 6 Steiner Studios 15 Washington Avenue at
Flushing Avenue
CITY HALL.NY. STATEMENT OF MAYORS AGAINST ILLEGAL
GUNS ON HOUSE APPROVAL OF BILL TO OVERRIDE STATE LAWS THAT RESTRICT
CONCEALED CARRYING OF GUNS
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino, co-chairs of the bipartisan Mayors Against
Illegal Guns coalition, issued the following statement after House
passage of H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act.
The Senate defeated a similar provision in 2009 and is expected to
consider the issue again soon.
“Ten months after a disturbed man carried a
concealed weapon to shoot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18
others, six fatally, the House voted today to gut state laws on who
can carry concealed, loaded guns in public. This was an absolutely
embarrassing display of putting special interests and fund raising
ahead of public safety.
“A majority of the House ignored the advice of
police, prosecutors, domestic violence experts, faith leaders and
more than 600 mayors who made clear that this measure will put
police and communities at greater risk. Many members also cast aside
their usual respect for the authority of states to decide how to
protect public safety in their communities.
“With unemployment over nine percent and Congress
taking no action to create jobs, it is astonishing that catering to
the Washington gun lobby is the top priority for the House
Republican leadership. The vast majority of actual gun-owning
Americans oppose this bill: 82 percent of them want states, not
Washington, to decide who can carry concealed, loaded guns in
public.
“We applaud the Democratic leadership, particularly
Chairman Conyers, for waging a principled fight against this bill,
and offer thanks to Republican members who stood up for police and
public safety, including Representatives Peter King, Michael Grimm,
Bob Turner, Dan Lungren, Robert Dold and others.
“The debate now moves to the Senate, which had the
sense to reject this measure in 2009. We urge them to do so again.”
About Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Since its inception in April 2006, Mayors Against
Illegal Guns has grown from 15 mayors to more than 600 mayors from
across the country. The bipartisan coalition has united the nation’s
mayors around these common goals: protecting their communities by
holding gun offenders and irresponsible gun dealers accountable;
demanding access to trace data that is critical to law enforcement
efforts to combat illegal gun trafficking; and working with
legislators to fix gaps, weaknesses and loopholes in the law that
make it far too easy for criminals and other prohibited purchasers
to get guns.
HARLEM, NY. FEDS BUST MEXICAN GANG MEMBERS
11/16/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
Moving around the East Harlem area, everybody knows that for
years, a drug cartel was having a good time conducting the business
of drug selling in the area of 116th and 124th street. It was in the
open air and several sellers of coke and marijuana were mostly of
Hispanic origin, mainly Mexican.
Finally on this Wednesday Homeland Security agents
took down more than two dozen alleged members of a gang with ties to
Mexico and Colombia. Los Vargos gang terrorized residents of
East Harlem, Queens and the Bronx. The Feds arrested about 25 gang
members. If NYPD did not about the problem, the Feds knew about it.
some residents of these neighborhood think it will be safer in their
areas. Some were surprised that it takes so long for some actions.
MIAMI, FLA. OCCUPY MIAMI WILL BE MARCHING IN
LITTLE HAVANA. 11/17/11
By Elizabeth Menos, NTS NEWS
Occupy Miami will march this Thursday afternoon in Little
Havana. They will gather at José Martí Park beginning at 4 p.m. for
the march toward Brickell. The group plans to head east on Calle
Ocho to Brickell Park by 5 p.m. Musicians LaGuardia Cross will
joining the “Stand Up” rally and perform We are the 99% - HipRock
Anthem..
The day of action had been planned before New York
cracked down on the encampment in Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan,
but took on added importance to the protesters after tents, tarps
and sleeping bags were cleared out early Tuesday and the granite
plaza was cleaned for the first time since the group arrived more
than two months ago. "We will get boots on the ground again," said
Rory Simpson, 29, who described himself as an itinerant activist as
he made signs Wednesday evening. "This is not over yet." Miami
organizers expect more than 2,000 people to participate.
INTERNATIONAL
KENYA. KENYA OFFERS TROOPS TO SOMALIA.
ACTIVE TOLERANCE VITAL DURING TIMES OF
EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE.
================================================================
NOVEMBER 16
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 16, 1933, the United States and the
Soviet Union established diplomatic relations. President Roosevelt
sent a telegram to Soviet leader Maxim Litvinov, expressing hope
that United States-Soviet relations would "forever remain normal and
friendly.''
On Nov. 16, 1873, W. C. Handy, the American
composer known as the "father of the blues", was born. He died on
March 28, 1958
On This Date 1907 Oklahoma became the 46th state.
1933 The United States and the Soviet Union
established diplomatic relations.
1959 The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The
Sound of Music" opened on Broadway.
1961 House Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, died at
age 79.
1966 Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard was acquitted in his
second trial on charges of murdering his pregnant wife, Marilyn, in
1954.
1973 Skylab 4, carrying a crew of three
astronauts, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on an 84-day
mission.
1973 President Richard M. Nixon signed the Alaska
Pipeline measure into law.
1982 An agreement was announced in the 57th day
of a strike by National Football League players.
1988 Estonia's parliament declared the Baltic
republic sovereign.
1995 Attorney General Janet Reno disclosed that
she had Parkinson's disease.
2001 Congress passed an aviation security bill
mandating that airport screeners be federal employees.
2001 Investigators found a letter addressed to
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., containing anthrax.
2004 President George W. Bush picked National
Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to be secretary of state,
succeeding Colin Powell.
2006 Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton
Friedman died at age 94.
2008 Iraq's Cabinet overwhelmingly approved a
security pact with the United States calling for American forces to
remain in the country until 2012.
CITY HALLL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
QUEENS 10:15 AM Speaks at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
for Grand Opening of Fairway Market that Will Create Over 400 Jobs,
Including for Veterans Returning Home 242-02 61st Avenue at
Douglaston Parkway
MANHATTAN *1:00 PM Speaks at Johns Hopkins Malaria
Research Institute’s 10th Anniversary Symposium New York Academy of
Science 7 World Trade Center, 40th Floor
STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON
CLEARING AND RE-OPENING OF ZUCCOTTI PARK
“At one o’clock this morning, the New York City
Police Department and the owners of Zuccotti Park notified
protestors in the park that they had to immediately remove tents,
sleeping bags and other belongings, and must follow the park rules
if they wished to continue to use it to protest. Many protestors
peacefully complied and left. At Brookfield’s request, members of
the NYPD and Sanitation Department assisted in removing any
remaining tents and sleeping bags. This action was taken at this
time of day to reduce the risk of confrontation in the park, and to
minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood.
“Protestors were asked to temporarily leave the park
while this occurred, and have been told that they will be free to
return to the park once Brookfield finishes cleaning it later
morning. Protestors – and the general public – are welcome there to
exercise their First Amendment rights, and otherwise enjoy the park,
but will not be allowed to use tents, sleeping bags, or tarps and,
going forward, must follow all park rules.
“The law that created Zuccotti Park required that it
be open for the public to enjoy for passive recreation 24 hours a
day. Ever since the occupation began, that law has not been complied
with, as the park has been taken over by protestors, making it
unavailable to anyone else. “From the beginning, I have said that
the City had two principal goals: guaranteeing public health and
safety, and guaranteeing the protestors’ First Amendment rights.
“But when those two goals clash, the health and safety of the public
and our first responders must be the priority. “That is why, several
weeks ago the City acted to remove generators and fuel that posed a
fire hazard from the park.
“I have become increasingly concerned – as had the
park’s owner, Brookfield Properties – that the occupation was coming
to pose a health and fire safety hazard to the protestors and to the
surrounding community. We have been in constant contact with
Brookfield and yesterday they requested that the City assist it in
enforcing the no sleeping and camping rules in the park. But make no
mistake – the final decision to act was mine. “The park had become
covered in tents and tarps, making it next to impossible to safely
navigate for the public, and for first responders who are
responsible for guaranteeing public safety. The dangers posed were
evident last week when an EMT was injured as protestors attempted to
prevent him and several police officers from helping a mentally ill
man who was menacing others. As an increasing number of large tents
and other structures have been erected, these dangers have
increased. It has become increasingly difficult even to monitor
activity in the park to protect the protestors and the public, and
the proliferation of tents and other obstructions has created an
increasing fire hazard that had to be addressed.
“Some have argued to allow the protestors to stay in
the park indefinitely – others have suggested we just wait for
winter and hope the cold weather drove the protestors away – but
inaction was not an option. I could not wait for someone in the park
to get killed or to injure another first responder before acting.
Others have cautioned against action because enforcing our laws
might be used by some protestors as a pretext for violence – but we
must never be afraid to insist on compliance with our laws.
“Unfortunately, the park was becoming a place where people came not
to protest, but rather to break laws, and in some cases, to harm
others. There have been reports of businesses being threatened and
complaints about noise and unsanitary conditions that have seriously
impacted the quality of life for residents and businesses in this
now-thriving neighborhood. The majority of protestors have been
peaceful and responsible. But an unfortunate minority have not been
– and as the number of protestors has grown, this has created an
intolerable situation.
“No right is absolute and with every right comes
responsibilities. The First Amendment gives every New Yorker the
right to speak out – but it does not give anyone the right to sleep
in a park or otherwise take it over to the exclusion of others – nor
does it permit anyone in our society to live outside the law. There
is no ambiguity in the law here – the First Amendment protects
speech – it does not protect the use of tents and sleeping bags to
take over a public space. “Protestors have had two months to occupy
the park with tents and sleeping bags. Now they will have to occupy
the space with the power of their arguments. “Let me conclude by
thanking the NYPD, FDNY, and the Department of Sanitation for their
professionalism earlier this morning. Thank you.”
NEW YORK. OCCUPY WALL STREET APPLICATION FOR
RESTRAINING ORDER DENIED BY THE COURT. 11/15/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
At a hearing held Tuesday following the
early morning eviction of Occupy Wall Street protesters from
Zuccotti Park, New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Stallman
ruled that protesters were wrongfully removed from the space by
police. They also said that the sleeping bags and tents
demonstrators used prior to their eviction from Zuccotti Park were
tools to help them exercise their First Amendment rights.
However, lawyers representing the city and
Brookfield Properties, the owner of Zuccotti Park, argued that those
tents were a safety hazard and turned the space into a fire trap.
The judge ruled that though the protesters can stage demonstrations
in the park, they may not bring in their tents. Attorneys Alan
Levine and Yetta Kurland were frustrated by the decision. “That
right has along with it the attendant right to be protected from the
elements. And since the city has no real reason to prevent people
from bringing in sleeping bags and tents, constitutional rights
ought to prevail,” said Levine. “Unfortunately, the judge
disagreed.”
“This has not stopped the movement. As we said
earlier, win, lose or draw, the 99 percent will continue to show up,
will continue to express themselves, and will continue to move
forward in social change,” said Kurland. Douglas Flaum, an attorney
for Brookfield Properties, said Zuccotti Park is open to the public
but privately owned and applauded the judge’s decision. “We
recognize that the rules Brookfield has put in place are ones that
are necessary to ensure a clean, sanitary and publicly accessible
Zuccotti Park for all,” said Flaum. Attorneys for Occupy Wall Street
said they will regroup and plan for their next move while protesters
continue to voice their disapproval.
BROOKLYN, NY. JOHN KATELIS, 15, CONVICTED OF
STABBING RADIO REPORTER GEORGE WEBER OF CHANNEL 7. 11/15/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
John Cattelis ,19, was convicted of stabbing George Weber
about 50 times in March 2009 in the older man's Henry Street
apartment, according to the Brooklyn district attorney. This was the
second trial for Katehis. A jury was unable to reach a verdict last
year. Prosecutors said Weber responded to an ad offering sex for
money posted by Katehis, who was 16 years old at the time. The
defense claimed Weber preyed on an underage, money-desperate boy and
that Katehis was defending himself after a struggle. Weber was
working as a freelancer for ABC News Radio in New York. Katehis
faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 7.
MIAMI, FLA. PROTEST AGAINST TARGET STORES BY
THOUSANDS EMPLOYEES
By Elizabeth Menos, NTS NEWS.
Target is trying to get a hop on Black Friday madness by
requiring many employees to clock in at 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night
for a midnight opening. Last year, Target stores opened at 5 a.m.
Black Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving that has become a
national retail holiday on what is considered the busiest shopping
day of the year. More than 75,000 Target employees and supporters
have signed an online petition to protest the company’s assignment.
The online campaign asking Target to change the decision was started
by Target employee Anthony Hardwick, who works as a parking lot
attendant for Target in Omaha, Neb. In a statement given by
spokeswoman for Target Corp., all hourly employees working on Black
Friday will receive holiday pay.
INTERNATIONAL
ITALY. MONTU CABINET UNVEILED.
HAITI. HAITI PRESIDENT MARTELLY IN CUBA.
======================================================.
UNITED NATIONS.
SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE ATTACKS AGAINST
EMBASSIES IN SYRIA.
========================================================
NOVEMBER 15
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 15, 1969, a quarter of a million
protesters staged a peaceful demonstration in Washington, D.C.,
against the Vietnam War.
On Nov. 15, 1887, Georgia O'Keeffe, one of
America's foremost 20th-century painters, was born. She died on
March 6, 1986,
On This Date 1777 The Second Continental Congress
approved the Articles of Confederation, a precursor to the
Constitution of the United States.
1926 The National Broadcasting Co. debuted with a
radio network of 24 stations.
1939 The cornerstone for the Jefferson Memorial
was laid in Washington, D.C.
1940 The first 75,000 men were called to armed
forces duty under peacetime conscription.
1959 A farmer, his wife and two of their children
were found murdered in their home in Holcomb, Kansas – a crime that
was the subject of Truman Capote's non-fiction novel "In Cold
Blood."
1984 An infant who had received a baboon's heart
to replace her own congenitally deformed one died at a California
medical center three weeks after the transplant.
1985 Britain and Ireland signed an accord giving
Dublin an official consultative role in governing Northern Ireland.
1988 The Palestine National Council, the
legislative body of the PLO, proclaimed the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state.
1993 A judge in Mineola, N.Y., sentenced Joey
Buttafuoco to six months in jail for the statutory rape of Amy
Fisher, who shot and wounded Buttafuoco's wife, Mary Jo.
2002 Hu Jintao replaced Jiang Zemin as China's
Communist Party leader.
2005 Baseball players and owners agreed on a
tougher steroids-testing policy.
2007 Baseball home run king Barry Bonds was
indicted on charges related to grand jury testimony during which he
denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds has
pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011
CITY HALL, NY.*8:00 AM Holds Media Availability with
Police Commissioner Kelly, Fire Commissioner Cassano and Sanitation
Commissioner Doherty
9::15 AM Speaks at “Zoning the City” Conference on
50th Anniversary of Current Zoning Law McGraw Hill Conference Center
49th Street Entrance at Sixth Avenue
WASHINGTON, DC. *1:45 PM Speaks at Inaugural
Bipartisan Congressional Conference on Innovation in Giving and
Philanthropy Library of Congress First Street between East Capitol
Street and Independence Avenue SE
*2:30 PM Testifies Before Senate Subcommittee on
Crime and Terrorism on the Urgent Need to Reform the National Gun
Background Check System Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226
First Street NE at Constitution Avenue NW
*4:00 PM Speaks at Press Conference in Support of
the “Fix Gun Checks Act” with Senator Schumer, Boston Mayor Menino
and More Than 50 Survivors of Gun Violence Dirksen Senate Office
Building, Alcove Outside Room 212 First Street NE at
Constitution Avenue NW
NEW YORK. OCCUPY WALL STREET: NYPD CLEARED
ZUCCOTTI PARK 11/15/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
At about 1:30 a.m., we were in downtown Manhattan , after
learning that the NYPD was about to remove protesters from Zuccotti
Park. We could not afford to stay too long to cover the story. We
need to go to sleep. While there, we witness the New York City
police clashing with some protesters and about 60 protesters
were arrested. Sanitation workers started to clean the the park. The
Mayor gave the instructions to remove the protesters. We had seen
some protesters move to Foley Square as mentioned by one of them.
Talking to several of them about about their next move, they say
they were going toward Canal street and Avenue of the Americas. We
decided to leave when we learned that there will be a Press
Conference at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall.
========================================================================
NOVEMBER 14
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 14, 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial
Average closed above 1,000 for the first time, ending the day at
1,003.16.
On Nov. 14, 1935, Hussein, the king of Jordan
from 1953 to 1999, was born. He died on Feb. 7, 1999
On This Date 1851 Herman Melville's novel "Moby
Dick" was published.
1881 Charles J. Guiteau went on trial for
assassinating President James A. Garfield. He was convicted and
hanged.
1922 The British Broadcasting Corp. began its
domestic radio service.
1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed
the Philippine Islands a free commonwealth.
1969 Apollo 12 was launched on the second manned
mission to the moon.
1972 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed
above 1,000 for the first time.
1973 Britain's Princess Anne married Capt. Mark
Phillips in Westminster Abbey.
1986 The SEC fined Ivan F. Boesky $100 million
for insider stock trading.
1995 The U.S. government instituted a partial
shutdown, closing national parks and museums while government
offices operated with skeleton crews.
1999 The United Nations imposed sanctions on
Afghanistan for refusing to hand over terrorist suspect Osama bin
Laden.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011
MANHATTAN *7:30 AM Greets Commuters Using New
Curbside Fare Payment for 34th Street Select Bus Service with
Transportation Commissioner Sadik-Khan and NYC Transit President
Prendergast 34th Street at Eight Avenue Southeast Corner
QUEENS *11:30 AM Attends Funeral Service for Evelyn
Lauder, Founder of Breast Cancer Research Foundation Central
Synagogue 123 East 55th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues
*The Mayor does not address the media at funeral services.
*2:00 PM Announces Record Number of Hotel Rooms in
New York City, As Tourism Industry Continues to Expand and Create
Jobs Z NYC Hotel 11-01 43rd Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets
====================================================================
NOVEMBER 12
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 12, 1942, the World War II naval Battle
of Guadalcanal began. The Americans eventually won a major victory
over the Japanese.
On Nov. 12, 1815, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the
pioneering American women's rights leader and social reformer, was
born. She died on Oct. 26, 1902
On This Date 1920 Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis
was elected baseball's first commissioner.
1942 The World War II naval Battle of Guadalcanal
began.
1948 Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and
several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death
by a war crimes tribunal.
1954 Ellis Island closed after processing more
than 20 million immigrants since opening in New York Harbor in 1892.
1982 Yuri V. Andropov was elected to succeed the
late Leonid I. Brezhnev as general secretary of the Soviet Communist
Party's Central Committee.
1985 Xavier Suarez was elected Miami's first
Cuban-American mayor.
1990 Japanese Emperor Akihito formally assumed
the Chrysanthemum Throne.
1997 Ramzi Yousef was found guilty of
masterminding the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
1999 President Bill Clinton signed a sweeping
measure knocking down Depression-era barriers and allowing banks,
investment firms and insurance companies to sell each other's
products.
2001 An American Airlines flight crashed near New
York's Kennedy airport, killing 265 people.
2004 A jury in Redwood City, Calif., convicted
Scott Peterson of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and dumping her
body in San Francisco Bay. Peterson was later sentenced to death.
2006 Gerald R. Ford surpassed Ronald Reagan as
the longest-lived U.S. president at 93 years and 121 days. Ford died
the following month.
2008 Same-sex marriages began in Connecticut, a
month after the state Supreme Court ruled that gays had the right to
wed.
2009 Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was
charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder in the Fort Hood,
Texas, massacre.
CITY HALL. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
QUEENS *9:00 AM Speaks at Flight 587 10th
Anniversary Memorial Service Beach 116th Street at Rockaway Beach
Boulevard
8:00 PM Speaks at Congress of Italian American
Organizations Dinner Terrace on the Park 52-11 111th Street at 52nd
Avenue
CITY HALL, NY. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG ON ANTI-SEMITIC PROPERTY CRIMES IN BROOKLYN
“New York City is home to more than 8 million of the
most open and tolerant people in the world. But even here, there are
occasional incidents involving actions that are hateful or vicious
or both. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is actively investigating
the twisted person or people who attacked cars, benches, and a
sidewalk on a block of Ocean Parkway early this morning. The Hate
Crimes Task Force, like so many other teams at our Police
Department, is the world’s best, as today’s arrest for swastikas
painted in Queens during October and early November shows. In fact,
hate crimes are down nearly 30 percent citywide so far this year and
are down roughly 33 percent in Brooklyn’s 66th Precinct.
“The fact that this most recent attack came on the
heels of the 73rd anniversary of Kristalnacht may or may not be a
coincidence. Either way, this kind of hateful act has no place in
the freest city in the freest country in the world.”
QUEENS, NY. DOMINICANS AND THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
OF FLIGHT 587 CRASH
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
We drove this Saturday morning with some friends from the
Dominican Republic, residents of Morningside in New York, on the
occasion of the 10th Anniversary Of Flight 587 Crash. We went to
Rockaway Beach Boulevard to pray for the 265 victims on their way to
the Dominican Republic. A moment of silence was held and the
relatives read the names of the victims. Mayor Bloomberg was there
to pay his respects. The seaside ceremony was held in front of the
memorial on Beach 116th Street at Rockaway Beach Boulevard not too
far from St. Johns Hospital In addition to musical performances, a
bell tolled and a moment of silence was held. "We honor them each
day in countless ways and countless personal ways. Today, publicly,
as a people, we also thank those who loved them for keeping their
memories alive, for raising their children, and for finding the
strength to go on with your own lives," said the Mayor Bloomberg. We
may go tonight at the mass at St. Patrick's cathedral in Manhattan.
After 10 years, Dominicans still remember that sad day in American
history.
==============================================================
NOVEMBER 11
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I came to
an end with the signing of an armistice between the Allies and
Germany.
On Nov. 11, 1885, George Patton, the famous World
War II American military officer, was born. he died on Dec. 21, 1945
On This Date 1620 Forty-one Pilgrims aboard the
Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed a compact calling for
a "body politick."
1831 Former slave Nat Turner, who had led a
violent insurrection, was executed in Jerusalem, Va.
1889 Washington became the 42nd state.
1921 President Warren G. Harding dedicated the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
1965 Rhodesia proclaimed its independence from
Britain.
1972 The U.S. Army turned over its base at Long
Binh to the South Vietnamese army, symbolizing the end of direct
U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.
1992 The Church of England voted to ordain women
as priests.
1998 Israel's Cabinet narrowly ratified a
land-for-peace agreement with the Palestinians.
2000 Republicans went to court seeking an order
to block manual recounts from continuing in Florida's presidential
election.
2000 A cable car crammed with skiers and
snowboarders caught fire while being pulled through an Alpine tunnel
in Austria, killing 155 people.
2004 Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in
Paris at age 75.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011
MANHATTAN 8:05 AM Calls in to the John
Gambling Show with Mayor Mike Airs WOR Radio - 710 AM,
8:30 AM Hosts Breakfast Reception in Honor of
Veterans Day with CIA Director General David Petraeus
Gracie Mansion 88th Street and East End Avenue
10:30 AM Speaks and Lays Wreath at Eternal Light
Monument Ceremony Madison Square Park 24th Street and 5th Avenue
11:00 AM Marches in 2011 Veterans Day Parade Parade
Starts: 26th Street at Fifth Avenue Parade Ends: 56th Street at
Fifth Avenue
VETERANS DAY PARADE ON 5TH AVENUE 11/11/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS,
It is always a pleasure to be on Fifth Avenue, for the
celebration of Veterans Day. It is always excited to see the
Marching Bands and Performance Groups for the NYC Veterans Day
Parade. It was cold, but we enjoyed seeing old buddies marching. The
crowd of thousands was very excited. All the New York politicians
were there as usual on the avenue. They were cheered by the
enthusiastic crowd of thousands. It’s an extraordinary performance
opportunity to honor some the men and women of our armed forces who
have given so much to serve our country. This is the heart-thumping,
high-stepping music of patriotic pride, as New York City pauses to
honor America’s most gallant heroes. Some students were
marching along Fifth Avenue on this Veteran’s Day and enjoy a
fun-filled visit to New York City.
BASEBALL PLAYER WILSON RAMOS FREED IN VENEZUELA
FROM ABDUCTORS.
Venezuelan baseball star abducted Venezuela passes anti-kidnap
law Th e Venezuelan government says that the US Major League
baseball player, Wilson Ramos, who was kidnapped by armed men, has
been found alive. Information Minister Andres Izarra said security
forces had located Ramos in the Montalban mountains near to where he
was seized on Wednesday. Ramos, 24, is a catcher for the Washington
Nationals team.
Mr Izarra said it was "a rescue operation by air",
which was authorized earlier in the day by Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez. He said three men were arrested, including a Colombian
"linked to paramilitary groups and to kidnapping groups". Justice
Minister Tareck El Aissami said on TV that Ramos was "safe and
sound". "It was a very organized kidnapping and had been planned for
some time" Ramos' mother celebrated, exclaiming on television:
"Thanks to God!" She said she had spoken to her son by telephone,
saying: "He's fine." There are so far no details of how Ramos was
located. He was seized at his mother's home in Valencia, west of the
capital Caracas, after going to Venezuela to play games during the
US close season. Sports figures have found themselves the target of
violent crime in Venezuela in the past, but this is thought to be
the first case targeting a baseball player in the US Major League.
Most kidnappings in Venezuela are carried out to extort a ransom,
but there have been no reports of any ransom demand in this case.
The rising rate of violent crime has become a major
source of public concern in Venezuela in recent years, with many
accusing President Chavez's government of not doing enough to combat
the problem.
UNITED
NATIONS
UN CALLS FOR PROBE INTO SUDANESE BOMBING OF
REFUGEE CAMP.
===========================================================
NOVEMBER 10
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 10, 1982, the newly finished Vietnam
Veterans Memorial was opened to its first visitors in Washington,
D.C.
On Nov. 10, 1925, Richard Burton, British stage
and film actor, was born. He died on Aug. 5, 1984,
On This Date 1483 Martin Luther, leader of the
Protestant Reformation, was born in Eisleben, Germany.
1775 The U.S. Marines were organized under
authority of the Continental Congress.
1871 Journalist-explorer Henry M. Stanley found
missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone in central Africa and
delivered his famous greeting: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
1928 Hirohito was enthroned as Emperor of Japan.
.
1942 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill,
discussing the recent victory over Rommel at El Alamein, Egypt, said
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
1951 Direct-dial, coast-to-coast telephone
service began as Mayor M. Leslie Denning of Englewood, N.J., called
his counterpart in Alameda, Calif.
1954 The U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, depicting
the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945, was dedicated
in Arlington, Va.
1961 The satirical anti-war novel "Catch-22" by
Joseph Heller was published.
1969 "Sesame Street" debuted on PBS.
1975 The U.N. General Assembly approved a
resolution equating Zionism with racism.
1982 Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev died at age
75.
1997 A judge in Cambridge, Mass., reduced Louise
Woodward's murder conviction to manslaughter and sentenced the
English au pair to time served in the death of 8-month-old Matthew
Eappen.
1997 WorldCom Inc. and MCI Communications Corp.
agreed to a $37 billion merger.
2001 The World Trade Organization approved
China's membership.
2007 Author Norman Mailer died at age 84. 2009
John Allen Muhammad, mastermind of the 2002
sniper attacks that killed 10 in the Washington, D.C. region, was
executed.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
BROOKLYN *11:00 AM Cuts Ribbon on Opening of
Brooklyn Navy Yard’s BLDG 92 and Announces New Local Hiring
Commitments to Create Jobs for Over 300 Local Residents Brooklyn
Navy Yard Building 92 63 Flushing Avenue at Carlton Avenue
MANHATTAN *2:30 PM Meets with Mayor-Elect Nancy
McFarlane of Raleigh, North Carolina City Hall
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CHIEF POLICY
ADVISOR FEINBLATT CONVENE FIRST EVER WORKING GROUP ON USE OF DATA
ANALYTICS IN CITY GOVERNMENTS
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Chief Advisor John
Feinblatt today convened representative from major cities to share
information and techniques used in employing data analysis to solve
urban challenges. Representatives from Boston, Philadelphia, Newark,
and Chicago joined members of the Mayor’s Policy and Strategic
Planning Analytics Team in the first session of a new working group
that will discuss the various technologies and methods each city is
developing to enhance data analytics driven towards maximizing the
return on taxpayer dollars.
“I’ve long said that my time in business and
government has taught me that if you can’t measure it, you can’t
manage it,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our Administration has made usage
of data a hallmark of our problem-solving strategies. Like us, other
cities across the country are also working to come up with
innovative ways to use data – particularly in these times of fiscal
discipline – and we should all be learning from each other’s
experiences.”
“The City’s Policy and Strategic Planning Analytics
Team – led by Michael Flowers – has been leading the charge on data
analytics and is sure to continue its strong work as the cornerstone
of this new working group,” said John Feinblatt. “Analytics programs
increase efficiency, create cross-agency transparency, tailors
responses to problems that are rare but catastrophic, and enables
innovation all while reducing the cost to the taxpayers. It’s the
future of government.”
Data-driven analytics is the systematic use of
information to find patterns of interest. For cities, this means
looking inwards at the detailed data that city agencies continually
collect – citizen complaints, licenses and permits, transactions,
violations – and identifying new areas of high risk and high cost.
Cities can then respond to these findings by
prioritizing the high impact areas appropriately. In the past,
individual agencies have been limited in their ability to conduct
large-scale analytics by mandate, scope, and organizational
structure. City agencies across the country, which each already have
a prescribed list of duties they must fulfill to keep the city
running smoothly, often do not share data with one another, nor are
they equipped analyze it. In an era of shrinking budgets, however,
many cities, including New York, have made new efforts to solve this
problem by creating teams existing specifically for the purpose of
data investigation that can cross agency boundaries, with promising
results.
In the past year, Mayor Bloomberg’s Policy and
Strategic Planning Analytics Team has launched successful analytics
programs in three areas: fire risk, prescription drug abuse and
mortgage fraud.
To identify properties with a higher-risk of fire
death, the Analytics Team combined FDNY data with data on illegal
conversion complaints, foreclosures, tax liens, and neighborhood
demographics. They found that certain factors strongly correlate
with fire risk, including multiple illegal conversion complaints,
the owner’s financial condition, the year of construction, and
socioeconomic factors of the neighborhood. The Team then used this
analysis to create a risk assessment model, which it is now using to
give enforcement agencies a weekly list of the highest risk
properties with illegal conversion complaints, which are then
inspected jointly by the Department of Buildings and FDNY.
The improvement in resource allocation from this
project has been dramatic. From 2008-2010, the City had found
seriously hazardous conditions in less than 15 percent of all of its
illegal conversion inspections. However, using the risk assessment
model over the past six months to target high-risk properties, the
joint inspection teams have found and eliminated seriously hazardous
living conditions in more than 75 percent of their inspections, a
rise of over 400 percent.
Similarly, the Team is using data-based targeting
over property transactions to detect and respond to incidents of
mortgage fraud.
Today, representatives from each of the five cities
participating gave presentations of their cities’ work to date.
Issues discussed included 311 logs, housing and foreclosure issues,
mapping public transportation, and benefits allocation and
distribution.
· In Chicago, Mayor Emanuel’s technology and data
team is using advanced analytics to identify progressions among 311
events within neighborhoods, allowing the City to develop tailored,
proactive strategies to reduce costs and improve service delivery.
· In Boston, Mayor Menino’s analytics team has been
using citizen complaints, land use data, code violations, crimes,
and tax records to predict where absentee landlords may be plaguing
neighborhoods with unmaintained properties. Once identified, the
city levies severe financial penalties on absentee landlords until
problems are corrected.
· In Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter launched PhillyStat,
which leverages 311 and other performance data for accountability
and problem-solving. PhillyStat encourages cross-agency transparency
and coordination throughout Philadelphia’s government and breaks
down barriers to serving Philadelphians.
· In Newark, Mayor Booker's technology staff is
beginning to leverage analytics to benefit all aspects of Newark
government, particularly within the area of education reform.”
During the working session, representatives of
Kroll, a risk consulting company, gave a presentation on open source
data mining and analysis. Going forward, the cities will participate
in a monthly call, and the working group will create a joint website
where members will share methodologies, challenges and successes in
implementing analytics programs in their respective cities.
=============================================
NOVEMBER 9
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 9, 1965, the great Northeast blackout
occurred as several states and parts of Canada were hit by a series
of power failures lasting up to 13 1/2 hours.
On Nov. 9, 1934, Carl Sagan, the astronomer whose
books and television show informed millions of Americans, was born.
He died on Dec. 20, 1996
On This Date 1918 Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II
announced that he would abdicate.
1935 United Mine Workers president John L. Lewis
and other labor leaders formed the Committee for Industrial
Organization.
1938 Nazis looted and burned synagogues and
Jewish-owned stores and houses in Germany and Austria on
Kristallnacht, the "night of broken glass."
1965 Several northeastern states and parts of
Canada were hit by a series of power failures lasting up to 13 1/2
hours.
1970 Former French president Charles De Gaulle
died at age 79.
1976 The United Nations General Assembly approved
10 resolutions condemning apartheid in South Africa.
2001 The northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif
fell to the northern alliance in the first major territorial advance
for the rebels against the ruling Taliban.
2004 Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens won his
record seventh Cy Young award.
2005 Three suicide bombers carried out nearly
simultaneous attacks on three U.S.-based hotels in Amman, Jordan,
killing 60 victims and wounding hundreds.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011
7:00 AM Live Interview on Eliminating the Federal
Deficit to Drive Economic Growth Airs on Morning Joe MSNBC
BRONX *2:00 PM Announces Results of Truancy Campaign
and Expansion of the Program with Chief Policy Advisor Feinblatt and
Schools Chancellor Walcott High School for Teaching and The
Professions 2780 Reservoir Avenue between Strong and West 195th
Streets
MANHATTAN 3:30 PM Meets with General Martin Dempsey,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
5:45 PM Presents Stephen Smith Medal for Distinguished Contributions
in Public Health at New York Academy of Medicine’s 164th Anniversary
Discourse & Awards New York Academy of Medicine 1216 Fifth Avenue at
103rd Street
6:45 PM Speaks at Grand Re-Opening of New York
Historical Society Museum and Library Following Three-Year
Renovation New York Historical Society Museum & Library 170 Central
Park West at West 77th Street
CITY HALL, NY MAYOR BLOOMBERG, SPEAKER QUINN,
HOUSING COMMISSIONER WAMBUA AND GOTHAM ORGANIZATION BREAK GROUND ON
LARGEST NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN MANHATTAN UNDER CITY’S HOUSING
PLAN
Project On Manhattan’s Far West Side, Where Hudson
Yards Development Is Also Making Progress, Will Create Approximately
2,900 Construction-Related Jobs,
550 West 45th Street Project Will Encompass Nearly
an Entire City Block and Provide More Than 1,200 New Apartments with
Over 600 Designated As Permanently Affordable, New Retail Space, New
School and Open Green Space
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker
Christine Quinn, Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua and President of Gotham Organization
David L. Picket broke ground today on the largest new construction
project in Manhattan under the Mayor’s New Housing Marketplace Plan.
The project received significant state support of $520 million in
bond financing and Low Income Housing Tax Credits through New York
State Homes and Community Renewal. The 550 West 45th Street project,
which encompasses nearly the entire city block on Manhattan’s Far
West Side between West 44th & West 45th Streets and 10th & 11th
Avenues, will create 1,238 new apartments with 600 of those units
expected to be permanently affordable to low-, moderate- and
middle-income New Yorkers. The residential portion of the project
which is slated to be completed in 2014 will also include
approximately 15,000 square feet of new retail space, 17,000 square
feet of open landscaped space and a below-ground parking facility
for residents. It is estimated that the construction of the 550 West
45th Street development will facilitate the creation of
approximately 2,900 construction and related jobs. The overall plan
for the project will also include a new elementary school to replace
PS 51, which currently sits on the site. Mayor Bloomberg was also
joined at the announcement, which took place at the development
site, by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, New York State Homes and
Community Renewal Chief Operating Officer Michael Skrebutenas and
Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York
President Gary LaBarbera.
“We’ve always believed that the Far West Side of
Manhattan has tremendous potential for providing what our growing
city needs: more jobs for New Yorkers, and more affordable housing
for them to live in,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “In the near future,
this development will provide homes for some 2,500 New Yorkers, but
in the meantime it will grow our economy by creating 2,900
construction-related jobs.”
550 West 45th Street is the largest affordable new
construction housing development project in Manhattan to be created
under the Bloomberg Administration’s New Housing Marketplace Plan.
The plan, launched by Mayor Bloomberg in 2003, is a multibillion
dollar initiative to finance 165,000 units of affordable housing for
half a million New Yorkers by the close of the 2014 fiscal year. To
date, the plan has funded the creation or preservation of more than
125,700 units of affordable housing across the five boroughs. More
than 43,200 units have been financed in Manhattan with more than
6,860 units in Community Board 4 where the 550 West 45th Street site
is located.
“This is an absolute West Side success story,” said
Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “In 1975, the City condemned
most of this square block, and now, some 30 years later, this land
is coming to life. I’m delighted that the district I represent will
be home to one of the largest residential developments to be built
in Manhattan in years. Today, we’re proving that it’s not impossible
to create affordable housing in New York City despite the state of
the economy, and I’m very optimistic that this groundbreaking will
spark a domino effect, attracting new tenants to this site and to
our city.”
“Jobs. Affordable Housing. Community Development.
This project hits the trifecta,” New York State Homes and Community
Renewal Commissioner/CEO Darryl C. Towns said. “Governor Cuomo is
proud to support a project that will create jobs and maximize
affordability. In Manhattan, where such real estate is scarce, this
project will invigorate an entire underused square block of the city
with a sustainable community, complete with a new elementary school,
682 units of affordable housing, and 15,000 square feet of retail
space.”
“The groundbreaking for this development is the
latest sign that the Far West Side will soon be Manhattan’s next
great neighborhood,” Deputy Mayor Steel said. “This project is also
the latest evidence of the jobs, investment and community
development impact that Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace
Plan is having in neighborhoods in all five boroughs.”
“The prospect of developing nearly an entire city
block in one of the Manhattan’s fastest growing neighborhoods is
exceptional. That we are using it to create more than 600 new,
affordable homes for hardworking New Yorkers representing a
diversity of incomes makes this even more extraordinary,” said HPD
Commissioner Wambua. “Anywhere else, 1,200 total units of housing,
thousands of jobs, a school, green space and new retail space could
be considered a separate downtown, a new neighborhood, or a suburb.
In a city the size of New York, we may forget what a herculean
undertaking this is, but we should be in awe of what the scope and
scale of the long-term gains will mean to the stability, growth, and
economic health of this community and the people who will call it
home.”
“Through an innovative partnership with the City of
New York, Gotham Organization is proud to take the lead on a
development that will change the face of Midtown West,” said Gotham
Organization’s president, David L. Picket. “This bold investment in
our City’s future will create hundreds of new jobs, generate
millions of dollars in revenue for the construction industry,
contribute towards the building of a new primary school, and provide
homes to thousands of New Yorkers.”
The residential portion of the project will be
comprised of three separate buildings. Building A will be a 31-story
tower with 698 total units with 141 affordable units (60 units being
permanently affordable) and will contain the retail space at the
ground floor level. Building B will be a 14-story building with 297
permanently affordable units. Building C will be a 14-story building
with north and south segments located over the Amtrak train tracks
with a combined 243 permanently affordable units. Throughout all
three buildings there will be 476 studio units, 419 one-bedroom
units, 262 two-bedroom units and 81 three-bedroom units. The
combined 600 permanently affordable units will be targeted to
families with household incomes at ranges between 40 percent and 165
percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) or the equivalent of $32,720
to $134,970 for a family of four. The design by architect Schuman
Lichtenstein Claman and Efron (SLCE) respects the scale of Clinton’s
streetscapes by organizing the buildings into segments, each with a
distinct exterior.
The residential development will be financed with
$520 million primarily tax-exempt bonds issued by the New York State
Housing Finance Agency , a subsidiary agency of New York State Homes
and Community Renewal. These bonds are credit enhanced by a
syndicate of lenders led by Wells Fargo Bank. The project also
leverages $35.5 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
“Wells Fargo stepped up to lead this financing
early-on due to our commitment to the Mayor’s New Housing
Marketplace Plan and the development’s solid fundamentals,” said
Alan Wiener, Group Head, Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital. “We also
like to back developers, like Gotham, who have strong track-records
and the known ability to deliver on large scale developments.”
A Gotham affiliate, in connection with the nonprofit
Housing Partnership, purchased the land for this development from
the City of New York. As part of the deal’s structure, Gotham will
contribute $20 million to affordable housing needs elsewhere in the
city, and $15 million split between the City’s General Fund and
funding to aid in the construction of the new PS 51 elementary
school. The new PS 51 will have approximately 630 seats and will
replace the old PS 51 which currently has 276 seats. Construction
has already begun and is being overseen by the City’s School
Construction Authority.
ATLANTA, GA. POLITICS. HERMAN CAIN SAYS HE WON'T
DROP OF GOP RACE. 11/9/11
Under rising pressure from fellow Republicans, presidential
hopeful Herman Cain sought to muddy the reputation of one accuser,
forcefully denied any and all allegations of sexual impropriety and
vowed Tuesday the growing controversy would not drive him from the
race for the White House.
Cain flashed defiance one day after a woman publicly
accused the candidate of groping her more than a decade ago, adding
her voice to three other accusers with allegations that presidential
rival Mitt Romney called "particularly disturbing." Speaking
at a news conference, Cain vowed, "we'll get through this," as he
sought to steady a campaign that has made him the leader in an
unofficial race to emerge as Romney's principal conservative rival.
At one point he said he would be willing to take a lie detector
test, but then appeared to hedge his answer seconds later.
The Georgia businessman was in the midst of his
second week trying to curtail the furor surrounding his unorthodox
campaign. There were signs his political trouble was far from over
less than two months before the leadoff contests of the GOP
nomination fight. Romney joined other GOP opponents in urging Cain
to answer the allegations. Prominent Republicans pressed for a full
accounting.
Another name confronted Cain, as well, when one of
his two original accusers gave an interview to The New York Times.
When asked about Kraushaar, Cain said he recalled her accusation of
sexual harassment but insisted "it was found to be baseless."
Her lawyer Joel Bennett, said she has agreed to hold a joint
news conference with as many of Cain's accusers as will appear.
An upstart in the presidential race, Cain shot to
the top of opinion polls and emerged in recent weeks as Romney's
main opponent, with tea party activists and other conservatives
flocking to the former pizza company executive's tell-it-like-it-is
style and outsider image. But, since Oct. 30, he's been dogged by
accusations from women that he acted inappropriately toward them
while he headed the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.
And in recent days, the women have started to step forward publicly.
At least two women who worked at the restaurant association the same
time as Cain filed sexual harassment complaints with the trade group
and received financial settlements.
Kraushaar and her attorney previously had attempted
to keep her name out of the public discussion, but they issued an
anonymous statement last week that confirmed she had complained of
sexual harassment and received a financial payout from the trade
group. Kraushaar later confirmed to news organizations that she had
filed the complaint. And she spoke publicly on Tuesday to the Times,
saying she had decided to speak out since her name was public.
"When you are being sexually harassed in the
workplace, you are extremely vulnerable," she said. "You do whatever
you can to quickly get yourself into a job some place safe, and that
is what I thought I had achieved when I left." Kraushaar, 55,
previously worked as a news reporter, and she has held other U.S.
government jobs since she left the restaurant association after she
settled her complaint against Cain. She also has written a
children's book with her mother-in-law, "Gas Station Charley," about
a dog. Her husband, Kevin, has worked as a lobbyist on
environmental, municipal and health issues. He has donated money to
both Democrats and Republicans. They live in suburban Maryland.
A third woman said last week that she
considered filing a workplace complaint against Cain over what she
deemed sexually suggestive remarks and gestures that included an
invitation to his corporate apartment. And a former pollster for the
restaurant association has said he witnessed yet another episode
involving a different woman. Sharon Bialek came forward Monday
to say that Cain, an acquaintance, groped her in car in July 1997
after they'd had dinner in Washington. Cain led the association at
the time, and the unemployed Bialek was seeking job advice. She said
she had been fired from her job raising money for the trade group's
education arm - told, she said, that she had not raised enough
money.
Early Tuesday, Cain's campaign sought to undercut
her credibility. It issued a tough statement about Bialek including
references to civil lawsuits in the Cook County Court system in
Illinois allegedly relating to her and cited news reports of her
involvement in a paternity case and a bankruptcy filing. "In stark
contrast to Mr. Cain's four decades spent climbing the corporate
ladder rising to the level of CEO at multiple successful business
enterprises, Ms. Bialek has taken a far different path," the
campaign said. It also questioned whether Bialek had a financial
interest in stepping forward. "Who is financing her legal team, have
any media agreed to pay for her story, and has she been offered
employment for taking these actions?" In a round of media
interviews, Bialek was asked repeatedly about her motives in
speaking out after staying quiet for 14 years.
"I'm just doing this because it's the right thing to
do," she said. She said she was neither paid nor offered a job to go
public with her allegations. She said she waited so long to come
forward because "I was embarrassed .. and I just kind of wanted it
to go away." She said she wasn't paying a fee to Gloria Allred, the
attorney whose name has become synonymous with women's rights
issues.
Cain said he called the news conference because he
wanted to speak directly to the public, accusing the media of
distorting his response to the allegations. He said he had never
seen Bialek until she called her news conference on Monday in New
York, alongside attorney Allred.
"I don't even know who this woman is," he said of
Bialek. "I tried to remember if I recognized her and I didn't." Cain
said it was "a remote possibility" when asked if it were possible he
would recall Bialek's alleged incident in the future. "I seriously
doubt I'm going to have an `a-ha' moment later," he said. Cain
contended that "the Democratic machine" was pushing the allegations
but said he could not point to anyone in particular. He also
suggested his accusers were lying.
"We are not going to allow Washington or politics to
deny me the opportunity to represent this great nation," he said.
"As far as these accusations causing me to back off and maybe
withdraw from this presidential primary race? Ain't gonna happen.
Because I'm doing this for the American people, and the children and
the grandchildren."
INTERNATIONAL
IRAN. IRAN INSISTS ITS NUCLEAR SITES ARE ENGAGED
IN NON-MILITARY WORK.
UNITED NATIONS
LIBERIA. UN URGES PEACEFUL AND CREDIBLE ELECTION.
===========================================================
NOVEMBER 8
IN HISTORY
On November 8, 1960, Massachusetts Senator John
F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the
presidency.
On Nov. 8, 1900, Margaret Mitchell, the American
author of "Gone With The Wind", was born. She died on Aug. 16, 1949
On This Date 1889 Montana became the 41st state.
1892 Former President Grover Cleveland beat
incumbent Benjamin Harrison, becoming the only president to win
non-consecutive terms in the White House.
1923 Adolf Hitler launched his first attempt to
seize power with a failed coup in Munich, Germany.
1932 New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt was
elected president over incumbent Herbert Hoover.
1966 Ronald Reagan was elected governor of
California.
1987 A bomb planted by the Irish Republican
Army exploded as crowds gathered in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland,
for a ceremony honoring Britain's war dead, killing 11 people.
1988 Vice President George H.W. Bush won the
presidential election, beating Democrat Michael Dukakis.
1994 Republicans gained control of the House of
Representatives for the first time in 40 years.
1997 Chinese engineers diverted the Yangtze River
to make way for the Three Gorges Dam.
2000 A statewide recount of presidential election
ballots began in Florida.
2004 Thousands of U.S. troops attacked
strongholds of Sunni insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq.
2010 n engine fire aboard the Carnival Splendor
cruise ship left nearly 4,500 aboard without electricity during a
three-day tow to San Diego.
CITY HALL. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC *10:00 AM Outlines Actions to Balance
the Federal Budget to Spur Economic Growth at Forum Co-Hosted by the
Center for American Progress and the American Action Forum Center
for American Progress 1333 H Street, NW at 13th Street
MANHATTAN 1:30 PM Votes in General Election P.S. 6
45 East 81st Street between Madison and Park Avenues
*2:30 PM Speaks at Club de Madrid’s Annual
Conference on Digital Technologies & the Future of Governance in the
21st Century Waldorf=Astoria Hotel 301 Park Avenue between East 49th
and 50th Streets
PHILADELPHIA. JOE FRAZER, FORMER HEAVY WEIGHT
CHAMP DIED AT 67. 11/7/11
The boxing world is mourning the death of former heavyweight
champion Joe Frazier. Frazier died Monday in Philadelphia after a
brief battle with liver cancer. Smokin' Joe won the heavyweight
title in 1970 by beating Jimmy Ellis at Madison Square Garden. He
held on to the title until 1973. Frazier was the first man to beat
Muhammed Ali, dropping him with his devastating left hook in the
15th round to win a unanimous decision in the so-called Fight of the
Century in 1971. Frazier and Ali would go on to fight twice more
including the epic Thrilla in Manila, won by Ali in 1975. Frazier
had been undergoing Hospice care after being diagnosed with cancer
last month.
NEW YORK. OCCUPY WALL STREET GROUP WAITING FOR
CROSBY AND NASH
11/8/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Rrockers David Crosby and Graham Nash will be
descending on Manhattan's Zuccotti Park this afternoon, today, as
members of the Occupy Wall Street continue to show their intentions
of staying by setting up military grade tents. The two rockers are
heading to Zuccotti Park this afternoon to show their support for
the Occupy Wall Street movement. An acoustic performance by David
Crosby and Graham Nash is scheduled to begin around 3 p.m. Meantime,
protestors seem to be planning ahead for what's sure to be cooler
days. They began setting up sturdier tents in the park yesterday.
The tents are described as military grade and can withstand frigid
temperatures. No tents are allowed in the privately owned park, but
the rule hasn't been enforced. The tents are being paid for through
donations made to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Later today,
protestors will also head to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office on 3rd
Avenue, to deliver petitions concerning extending the state's
"millionaire's tax."
MIAMI, FLA. PORT OF MIAMI TUNNEL TO BEGIN
WEDNESDAY. 11/8/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Overcoming a last-minute hitch, the Port of Miami tunnel
concessionaire received the final environmental permit from state
environmental regulators late Monday and will begin drilling the $1
billion project on Wednesday, just two days later than originally
planned. But to get going, Miami Access Tunnel (MAT), environmental
regulators and city of Miami officials set aside one controversial
question — whether tons of soil excavated for the tunnel from Watson
Island to the port can be deposited on ecologically fragile Virginia
Key. Instead, the first 30,000 cubic yards of soil from the dig,
about two months’ worth, will go to a local landfill already
approved for that use by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection. There, the soil will be tested to ensure it is
sufficiently free of contaminants to meet standards for use in
residential development, city of Miami officials said.
The start of drilling, scheduled for Monday, was
delayed at the last minute after attorneys for Key Biscayne sent
state environmental regulators a letter suggesting the village was
considering a legal challenge. Village leaders later withdrew the
letter, saying it was issued erroneously at the behest of a
councilman acting on his own.
With the permit in hand Monday evening, MAT
officials say that as early as Wednesday they can start up the
massive tunnel-boring machine that has been assembled in the center
of Watson Island.
INTERNATIONAL
ITALY. BERLUSCONI LOSES MAJORITY. CRISIS
GREECE. TALKS ON A NEW GOVERNMENT. MORE CRISIS.
UNITED NATIONS
SYRIA. DEATH TOLL PASSES 3,500 ACCORDING TO UN
HUMAN RIGHTS.
================================================================
NOVEMBER 7
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 7, 1917, Russia's Bolshevik Revolution
took place as forces led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin overthrew the
provisional government of Alexander Kerensky.
On Nov. 7, 1867, Marie Curie, the Polish-born
French physicist twice awarded the Nobel Prize for her work on
radioactivity, was born. She died on July 4, 1934
On This Date 1893 Passage of a referendum made
Colorado the first state to grant women the right to vote.
1911 Marie Curie became the first multiple Nobel
Prize winner when she was given the award for chemistry eight years
after garnering the physics prize with her late husband, Pierre.She
remains the only woman with multiple Nobels and the only person to
receive the award in two science categories.
1916 Republican Jeannette Rankin of Montana
became the first woman elected to Congress.
1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt won an
unprecedented fourth term in office, defeating Thomas E. Dewey.
1962 Richard M. Nixon, who failed in a bid to
become governor of California, held what he called his last press
conference, telling reporters, "You won't have Nixon to kick around
anymore."
1962 Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt died at
age 78.
1972 President Richard M. Nixon was re-elected in
a landslide over Democrat George McGovern.
1973 Congress over-rode President Richard M.
Nixon's veto of the War Powers Act.
1991 Basketball star Magic Johnson announced that
he had tested positive for the AIDS virus and was retiring.
1998 House Speaker Newt Gingrich resigned
following an election in which the Republican House majority shrunk
from 22 to 12.
2000 Republican George W. Bush was elected
president over incumbent Democratic Vice President Al Gore, though
Gore won the popular vote by a narrow margin. The winner was not
known for more than a month because of a dispute over the results in
Florida.
2000 Hillary Rodham Clinton was elected to the
U.S. Senate from New York, becoming the first first lady to win
public office.
2006 Keith Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota,
became the first Muslim elected to Congress.
2009 The Democratic-controlled House
narrowly passed, 220-215, landmark health care legislation to expand
coverage to tens of millions who lacked it and placed tough new
restrictions on the insurance industry.
=========================================================================
NOVEMBER 6
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 6, 1860, former Illinois congressman
Abraham Lincoln defeated three other candidates for the U.S.
presidency.
On Nov. 6, 1854, John Philip Sousa, the American
band conductor and composer of popular marches, was born. He died on
March 6, 1932, his obituary appeared in The Times.
On This Date 1854 John Philip Sousa, the king of
American march music, was born in Washington, D.C.
1861 Jefferson Davis was elected president of the
Confederacy.
1861 James Naismith, the inventor of basketball,
was born in Ontario, Canada.
1887 Baseball Hall of Famer Walter Johnson was
born in Humboldt, Kansas. 1888 Republican Benjamin Harrison was
elected president, beating incumbent Grover Cleveland in the
Electoral College, even though Cleveland led in the popular vote.
1893 Composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky died in
St. Petersburg, Russia.
1900 President William B. McKinley was returned
to office, defeating Democrat William Jennings Bryan.
1913 Mohandas K. Gandhi was arrested as he led a
march of Indian miners in South Africa.
1928 Republican Herbert Hoover was elected
president over Democrat Alfred E. Smith.
1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower won a second
term by besting Democrat Adlai E. Stevenson at the polls.
1995 Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell announced
plans to move the team to Baltimore.
2001 Billionaire Republican Michael Bloomberg was
elected New York City mayor.
2009 The government reported that unemployment
rose to 10.2 percent in the U.S. in October, the first time the
jobless rate had hit double digits since 1983.
========================================================================
NOVEMBER 5
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 5, 1968, Republican Richard M. Nixon won
the presidency, defeating Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and
third-party candidate George C. Wallace.
On Nov. 5, 1857, Ida Tarbell, the American
journalist best known for her study of the Standard Oil Company, was
born. She died on Jan. 6, 1944
On This Date 1605 The Gunpowder Plot failed when
Guy Fawkes was seized before he could blow up the English
Parliament.
1872 Suffragist Susan B. Anthony was fined $100
for attempting to vote in a presidential election.
1912 Woodrow Wilson was elected president,
defeating incumbent William Howard Taft and former President
Theodore Roosevelt.
1935 Parker Brothers began marketing the board
game "Monopoly."
1956 Britain and France landed troops in Egypt
during fighting between Egyptian and Israeli forces around the Suez
Canal.
1968 Republican Richard M. Nixon won the
presidency, defeating Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and
third-party candidate George C. Wallace.
1974 Ella Grasso of Connecticut became the first
woman elected governor in the United States without succeeding her
husband.
1994 Former President Ronald Reagan disclosed he
had Alzheimer's disease.
1994 George Foreman became boxing oldest
heavyweight champion at age 45 by knocking out Michael Moorer in the
10th round of their WBA fight in Las Vegas.
1996 President Bill Clinton won a second term
over former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. 1999 A federal judge
declared Microsoft Corp. a monopoly.
2006 Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced
by the Iraqi High Tribunal to hang for crimes against humanity.
2009 A shooting rampage at the Fort Hood
Army post in Texas left 13 people dead; Maj. Nidal Hasan, an Army
psychiatrist, was charged in the worst mass killing on a U.S.
military base.
ALBANY, NY.STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR CUOMO THE TAXI
SUMMIT 11/4/11 "Since the City's taxi plan was introduced in
June, groups have voiced strong feelings and opinions on all sides
of the issue. Today my administration held a summit that brought
these varying groups and views together around one table to work
toward a resolution. I have said from the start our shared goal must
be designing a plan that provides taxi access to the outer boroughs,
access to the disabled, revenue for the City, and a plan that
respects the medallion franchise. Today was an important step
towards achieving this goal and discussions will continue."
NEW YORK. ANDY ROONEY OF CBS 60 MINUTES DIED AT
92. 11/5/11
Andy Rooney so dreaded the day he had to end his signature
"60 Minutes" commentaries about life's large and small absurdities
that he kept going until he was 92 years old. Rooney had gone to the
hospital for an undisclosed surgery, but major complications
developed and he never recovered.
Rooney talked on "60 Minutes" about what was in the
news, and his opinions occasionally got him in trouble. But he was
just as likely to discuss the old clothes in his closet, why air
travel had become unpleasant and why banks needed to have important
sounding names.
He won one of his three Emmy Awards for a piece on
whether there was a real Mrs. Smith who made Mrs. Smith's Pies. As
it turned out, there was no Mrs. Smith. "I obviously have a knack
for getting on paper what a lot of people have thought and didn't
realize they thought," Rooney once said. "And they say, 'Hey, yeah!'
And they like that." Looking for something new to punctuate its
weekly broadcast, "60 Minutes" aired its first Rooney commentary on
July 2, 1987. He complained about people who keep track of how many
people die in car accidents on holiday weekends. In fact, he said,
the Fourth of July is "one of the safest weekends of the year to be
going someplace." More than three decades later, he was railing
about how unpleasant air travel had become. "Let's make a statement
to the airlines just to get their attention," he said. "We'll pick a
week next year and we'll all agree not to go anywhere for seven
days." In early 2009, as he was about to turn 90, Rooney looked
ahead to President Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration with a look
at past inaugurations. He told viewers that Calvin Coolidge's 1925
swearing-in was the first to be broadcast on radio, adding, "That
may have been the most interesting thing Coolidge ever did." For his
final essay, Rooney said that he'd live a life luckier than most. "I
wish I could do this forever. I can't, though," he said.
He said he probably hadn't said anything on "60
Minutes" that most of his viewers didn't already know or hadn't
thought. "That's what a writer does," he said. "A writer's job is to
tell the truth." True to his occasional crotchety nature, though, he
complained about being famous or bothered by fans. His last wish
from fans: If you see him in a restaurant, just let him eat his
dinner.
Rooney wrote for CBS stars such as Arthur Godfrey
and Garry Moore during the 1950s and early 1960s, before settling
into a partnership with newsman Harry Reasoner. With Rooney as the
writer, they collaborated on several news specials, including an
Emmy-winning report on misrepresentations of black people in movies
and history books. He wrote "An Essay on Doors" in 1964, and
continued with contemplations on bridges, chairs and women.
"The best work I ever did," Rooney said. "But nobody
knows I can do it or ever did it. Nobody knows that I'm a writer and
producer. They think I'm this guy on television." He became such a
part of the culture that comic Joe Piscopo satirized Rooney's
squeaky voice with the refrain, "Did you ever wonder ..." For many
years, "60 Minutes" improbably was the most popular program on
television and a dose of Rooney was what people came to expect for a
knowing smile on the night before they had to go back to work.
Rooney left CBS in 1970 when it refused to air his
angry essay about the Vietnam War. He went on TV for the first time,
reading the essay on PBS and winning a Writers Guild of America
award for it. He returned to CBS three years later as a writer and
producer of specials. Notable among them was the 1975 "Mr. Rooney
Goes to Washington," whose lighthearted but serious look at
government won him a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting.
His words sometimes landed Rooney in hot water. CBS
suspended him for three months in 1990 for making racist remarks in
an interview, which he denied. Gay rights groups were mad, during
the AIDS epidemic, when Rooney mentioned homosexual unions in saying
"many of the ills which kill us are self-induced." Indians protested
when Rooney suggested Native Americans who made money from casinos
weren't doing enough to help their own people.
"I'm in a position of feeling secure enough so that
I can say what I think is right and if so many people think it's
wrong that I get fired, well, I've got enough to eat," Rooney said
at the time.
Andrew Aitken Rooney was born on Jan. 14, 1919, in
Albany, N.Y., and worked as a copy boy on the Albany Knickerbocker
News while in high school. College at Colgate University was cut
short by World War II, when Rooney worked for Stars and Stripes.
Rooney and his wife, Marguerite, were married for 62
years before she died of heart failure in 2004. They had four
children and lived in Rowayton, Conn. Daughter Emily Rooney is a
former executive producer of ABC's "World News Tonight."
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. ARMED MAN SHOT BY THE POLICE.
11/5/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
The incident began around 3 p.m. near the corner of
16th St. and Washington Ave. after at least two witnesses called
police about a disturbance involving the man, giving his
description. When officers arrived, the man was walking down the
street, Officer Deborah Doty said. They ordered him to stop and hold
up his hands, she said, but the man ran away.
Officers began firing at him near the corner of 16th
St. and Collins Ave., where he reached for his waistband for a
reported weapon, Doty said. It’s unclear how many officers fired or
how many rounds were released. The man, who was not struck, ran into
a nearby parking garage and hid. Officers with the K-9 unit found
and arrested him. They also found a gun and in his pocket, a bullet,
which he apparently had removed from the weapon, Doty said. The
incident is under investigation. Friday, as tourists and onlookers
gawked at the police cars and yellow tape, Doty said it was
fortunate no one had been injured. “Lincoln Road is a busy area,”
she said. “There’s a lot of people walking around.”
INTERNATIONAL
COLOMBIA. DEATH OF ALFONSO CANO, TOP COLOMBIA
REBEL OF FARC.
===============================================================
NOVEMBER 4
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama was elected
the 44th president of the United States, as the country chose him as
its first black chief executive.
On Nov. 4, 1879, Will Rogers, the American actor
and comedian, was born. He died on Aug. 15, 1935
On This Date 1842 Abraham Lincoln married Mary
Todd in Springfield, Ill.
1879 Humorist Will Rogers was born in Oologah,
Okla.
1880 The first cash register was patented by
James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio.
1922 The entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb was
discovered in Egypt.
1924 Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming was elected the
nation's first woman governor.
1939 The United States modified its neutrality
stance in World War II to allow "cash and carry" purchases of arms
by belligerents, a policy favoring Britain and France.
1942 During World War II, Axis forces retreated
from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British
forces commanded by Lt. Gen. Bernard Montgomery.
1952 Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected
president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.
1955 Baseball Hall of Famer Cy Young died at age
88. 1956 Soviet troops moved in to crush a revolt in Hungary.
1979 The Iranian hostage crisis began as
militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
1980 Ronald Reagan won the White House, defeating
President Jimmy Carter.
1995 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was
assassinated by a Jewish extremist after speaking at a peace rally
in Tel Aviv.
2001 The first movie based on the best-selling
"Harry Potter" books by J.K. Rowling has its world premiere in
London.
2008 California voters approved Proposition 8, a
constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage.
2010 . Hall of Fame baseball manager Sparky
Anderson died at age 76.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011
MANHATTAN* 7:15 PM Speaks at the 7th Annual East
River Development Alliance Gala Angel Orsensanz Foundation 172
Norfolk Street between East Houston and Stanton Streets
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG CONVENES
INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT ON BUSINESS INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND
JOB CREATION SPONSORED BY NEW YORK CITY GLOBAL PARTNERS AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY 11/3/11
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg addressed delegates
representing 23 international cities during the New York City Global
Partners Summit “Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship: City
Strategies.” The Mayor and Jeff Immelt, the Chair of President
Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and CEO of GE, discussed
how global cities can spur innovation and create new employment
opportunities. Their conversation was part of a three-day
international meeting of government officials and private sector
representatives showcasing best practices, such as promoting
entrepreneurship through access to capital and affordable incubator
space; facilitating business creation by reducing government red
tape; supporting infrastructure for energy efficient business
development; and creating public-private partnerships which
diversify the local economy and develop the workforce. The summit
was developed by New York City Global Partners, Inc. in cooperation
with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and
co-sponsored by Columbia University and the World Bank. The Mayor
was joined at the summit by Marjorie B. Tiven, Commissioner, New
York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and
Protocol and Treasurer, New York City Global Partners, Inc.; Robert
Kasdin, Senior Executive Vice President, Columbia University in the
City of New York; Professor Meyer Feldberg, President, New York City
Global Partners, Inc., Senior Advisor at Morgan Stanley and Dean
Emeritus at Columbia’s Business School; and Ester R. Fuchs,
Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science, Columbia
University.
“Throughout history, cities in every corner of the
globe have always been magnets for talented, ambitious people, and
that’s made us the birthplace for the new ideas and new products
that spur human progress and fuel economic growth,” said Mayor
Bloomberg. “Here in New York City, we are focused on doing all we
can to encourage that growth and create jobs, and that’s why we are
coming out of the recession faster than the rest of the country.”
The summit was attended by delegations from
Bangalore, Barcelona, Berlin, Bucharest, Budapest, Buenos Aires,
Cape Town, Geneva, Ho Chi Minh City, Istanbul, Johannesburg,
Karachi, Kiev, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Lyon, Montréal, Munich, New York
City, Panama City, Stockholm, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. During the summit,
attendees also heard from World Bank Institute Vice President,
Sanjay Pradhan; New York City tech entrepreneur Kevin P. Ryan,
Founder and CEO, Gilt Groupe; and public and private leaders in
economic development from Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cape
Town, Lyon Stockholm and Tel Aviv. The summit is underwritten by GE.
“Innovation will be a critical driver of economic
development in the 21st century and beyond,” said Seth W. Pinsky,
President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. “By
bringing together leaders from around the world, and allowing them
to share their ideas, this summit will encourage the type of
creative thinking necessary to strengthen the global innovation
economy, and will showcase New York City as an emerging leader and
model for other cities near and far.”
“New York City Global Partners’ summits demonstrate
the continuing relevance to the global economy of the world’s great
cities,” said Professor Feldberg. “During this summit, Global
Partners has created a superb opportunity for participants to share
their experiences and learn about innovative programs from 23 global
cities in 18 countries.”
“This summit has tested the leadership of global
cities to share their most creative ideas about job creation and how
cities are contributing to the economic recovery,” said Commissioner
Marjorie Tiven. “Implementing public policies that foster
entrepreneurship and job creation is undeniably one of the most
important challenges facing cities today.”
New York City Global Partners, Inc. represents the
Bloomberg administration’s international approach, connecting the
City of New York with dozens of other world cities in active and
substantive ways through innovative policy exchanges. Its programs
include international summits, an online resource bank, and an
online children’s program. Global Partners has convened nine
international summits on the most important public policy issues
facing global cities. The Innovation Exchange, Global Partners
online resource bank of best practices, features more than 100
reports from New York City and 31 international cities. Global
Partners Junior, the project-based education program, connects New
York City middle school children to their peers in cities around the
globe through the internet. This year, they are working together on
a curriculum focused on the global marketplace. Located in the
office of the New York City Commission for the United Nations,
Consular Corps and Protocol, New York City Global Partners is a
not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
====================================================================
NOVEMBER 3,
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 3, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
was re-elected in a landslide over Republican Alfred M. ''Alf''
Landon.
On Nov. 3, 1903, Walker Evans, the American
photographer best known for his portrayal of America during the
Great Depression, was born. He died on April 10, 1975
On This Date 1839 The first Opium War between
China and Britain broke out.
1903 Panama proclaimed its independence from
Colombia.
1908 Republican William Howard Taft was elected
president, outpolling William Jennings Bryan.
1911 The Chevrolet Motor Car Co. was founded in
Detroit by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant.
1957 The Soviet Union launched into orbit Sputnik
2, the second manmade satellite; a dog on board named Laika was
sacrificed in the experiment.
1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson soundly defeated
Republican challenger Barry Goldwater to win a White House term in
his own right.
1970 Salvador Allende was inaugurated as
president of Chile.
1986 A Lebanese magazine broke the story of U.S.
arms sales to Iran, a revelation that escalated into the Iran-Contra
affair.
1992 Democrat Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd
president of the United States, defeating President George H.W.
Bush.
1992 Illinois Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun became
the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
1994 Susan Smith of Union, S.C., was arrested for
drowning her two young sons, nine days after claiming the children
had been abducted by a black man. Smith is serving life in prison.
2004 Hamid Karzai was declared the winner of
Afghanistan's first-ever presidential election.
2005 Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of
staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, pleaded not guilty to a five-count
felony indictment in the CIA leak case. Libby was convicted, but
President George W. Bush commuted his 30-month prison sentence.
2009 Maine residents narrowly voted down a
same-sex marriage law.
2010 The Federal Reserve announced a plan to buy
$600 billion in Treasury bonds over the next eight months in an
attempt to boost lending and stimulate economy.
CITY HALL, NY.PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011
MANHATTAN *8:00 AM Courtesy Visit with the Honorable
Mayors of Bangalore, Bucharest, Budapest, Cape Town, Geneva, Ho Chi
Minh City and Johannesburg Columbia University Low Memorial Library
- King’s College Room Broadway at 116th Street
*8:30 AM Speaks at the New York City Global Partners
Summit and Participates in Discussion with GE Chairman & CEO Jeff
Immelt Columbia University Low Memorial Library - King’s College
Room Broadway at 116th Street
3:15 PM Meets with Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode
Island City Hall
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLUMBERG HELPING SMALL
BUSINESS.
When Ken Rothman’s father passed away in 1985, Ken came down
from Boston to close up the clothing store his father owned on Fifth
Avenue. But when he arrived here, he had second thoughts and instead
poured his heart into reviving the family business. He moved the
store into a former bank building on Union Square, which at the time
was racked with abandonment and crime. Ken then teamed up with his
brother, Jim, and together they got to work rebranding the business
and, in the process, helping turn the neighborhood around.
Today, Union Square is one of the most vibrant,
dynamic areas of our city – and the Rothman’s store has done so well
that it’s moving into a larger location up the block. Rothman’s is a
great example of how our city’s retailers can revive neighborhoods,
galvanize investment, attract visitors, and create jobs for New
Yorkers. Helping more retailers achieve these goals will give our
economy the kind of boost it needs during these tough times. And
that’s why last week, in partnership with the City Council, we
unveiled a package of initiatives to support neighborhood retailing
corridors.
They include, for example, a training program for
local economic development leaders to sharpen their skills in
promoting and strengthening their retail districts. We’ll also work
with community organizations to determine the retail needs of their
neighborhoods and then to attract the kinds of businesses that are
currently lacking. We will create a competition to fill temporarily
vacant spaces around the city with ‘pop-up stores,’ which are a
great way for generating buzz for neighborhoods and bringing in more
shoppers. And we will set up a new online portal for the retail
industry, which will contain a database of vacant properties,
marketing and demographic information about neighborhoods, and a
list of the City’s programs to help retailers.
To put more New Yorkers to work and to keep our
economic recovery on track, we’re also investing in growing
industries that have a bright future in our city – like food
manufacturing. Even in these difficult economic times, we’ve seen a
14% increase in the number of food manufacturing businesses in our
city over the past three years alone. That’s great news, especially
for our immigrant communities – because our research shows that 70%
of New Yorkers who hold jobs in food manufacturing are immigrants.
To help more of these businesses get off the ground,
we’ve opened two kitchen ‘incubators’ in Long Island City and East
Harlem, where startup manufacturers, caterers, and bakers can access
space and equipment at below-market rates. And last week, we held
our first food expo, where we connected more than 100 immigrant food
manufacturers with brokers, buyers, and wholesalers who can help
their businesses grow.
Efforts like these are keeping our economy moving in
the right direction. More entrepreneurs are launching their ideas
here. More established businesses like Rothman’s are expanding here.
And when we foster that kind of innovation and enterprise, it helps
create the new jobs that New Yorkers need
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR CUOMO LAUNCHES INCENTIVE
PROGRAM IN STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of the School
District Performance Improvement Awards program that is designed to
transform New York State's education system by student
achievement and encouraging school districts to implement innovative
reforms to improve student performance.
The performance awards will be granted to school
districts in the state that have demonstrated the most success in
increasing student performance, narrowing the achievement gap, and
increasing academic performance among students with the greatest
educational needs. The awards will also be available to school
districts that exhibit the greatest potential for continued
improvements in student performance. Up to $75 million in grants
will be distributed over the next three years, with additional
awards to be distributed in future years. Districts that do not
receive awards are eligible to reapply.
Currently, education aid is primarily distributed
through formula-based grants without performance incentives or
requirements. To transform the state's education system, Governor
Cuomo created in his first Executive Budget two performance-based
competitive award programs to incentivize student performance and
management efficiency.
"New York must be the leader when it comes to
education reform and this begins with improving performance on all
levels," Governor Cuomo said. "For too many years, our state has
spent more and more money on education, without producing the
results our students deserve. This competitive award program will
incentive innovative reforms in school districts across the state
that will benefit students and help educate the workforce of
tomorrow. New York's commitment to its students is second to none,
and we will continue to build our state's education system so every
child can receive a top quality education."
New York's public schools spend more money per pupil
than those in any other state. Yet, in measures of student
performance, New York ranks 40th nationally in graduation rates and
34th nationally in the percentage of adults who have a high school
diploma or the equivalent.
Today's announcement launches the program for
incentive student performance. The management efficiency program
will be launched in the coming weeks.
Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said, "Over
the past year, I have worked together with Governor Cuomo to find
ways to improve New York's educational system while keeping in mind
the tough demands of the current fiscal climate. As we continue to
work on much-needed education reforms, our students will always be
the top priority."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "Our children
deserve a high quality education and more resources will help narrow
the achievement gap and improve student performance. I have always
been a strong advocate for educational programs that benefit our
students, and I am pleased that Governor Cuomo shares our goals and
knows that our children deserve a high quality education."
Grants will be awarded pursuant to a competitive
process and applications will be reviewed and scored by a peer
review panel. School districts will be graded based on increases in
student performance and success in implementing innovative programs
to increase student performance including, models to improve and
expand middle school student performance, college level or early
college programs, college admission, and career and technical
education training programs.
School districts must submit applications to the
State Education Department by January 17, 2012, and the first round
of awards will be announced and awarded during the 2011-2012 school
year.
NEW YORK. 47 SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED BY DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION.11/3/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
About 47 schools are listed for possible closure. The Department
of Education has just added 28 new names to the list, including 15
additional high schools, six additional middle schools and seven
charter schools. That number comes on top of the 20 struggling
elementary and middle schools that were slated for closure in
September.
Last school year, DOE officials also considered
closing 47 schools. Of those schools, one in the Bronx and four in
Brooklyn are once again on the chopping block this year.
47 Schools Facing Closure Manhattan: 9 Schools
Legacy School For Integrated Studies (High school) Washington Irving
High School High School Of Graphic Communication Arts Manhattan
Theatre Lab High School Wadleigh Secondary School For The Performing
& Visual Arts Frederick Douglass Academy II Secondary School (Middle
school) Future Leaders Institute Charter School (Charter)
Opportunity Charter School (Charter) P.S. 137 John L. Bernstein*
(Elementary school)
Bronx: 13 Schools Samuel Gompers Career And
Technical Education High School Gateway School For Environment
Research and Technology (High school) Herbert H. Lehman High School
Jane Addams High School For Academic Careers Fordham Leadership
Academy For Business and Technology (High school) Grace Dodge Career
And Technical Education High School Academy For Scholarship And
Entrepreneurship (Secondary school) P.S. 277* (Elementary school)
New Millennium Business Academy Middle School* M.S. 142 John Philip
Sousa* Aspire Preparatory Middle School* Academic Leadership Charter
School (Charter) Bronx Academy of Promise (Charter)
Brooklyn: 20 Schools Academy Of Business And
Community Development (Secondary school) Freedom Academy High School
Juan Morel Campos Secondary School Frederick Douglass Academy IV
(Secondary school) International Arts Business School (High school)
Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School (High school) Brooklyn
Collegiate: A College Board School (Secondary school) Satellite
Three* (Middle school) P.S. 256 Benjamin Banneker* (Elementary
school) Knowledge And Power Preparatory Academy VII* (Middle school)
P.S. 019 Roberto Clemente* (Elementary school) P.S. 022* (Elementary
school) P.S. 161 The Crown School for Law and Journalism* (K-8)
Middle School For The Arts* I.S. 171 Abraham Lincoln* (Middle
school) P.S. 298 Dr. Betty Shabazz* (K-8) General D. Chappie James
Elementary* General D. Chappie James Middle School* J.H.S. 296 The
Halsey School* (Middle school) Williamsburg Charter School (Charter)
Queens: 4 Schools Law, Government And Community
Service High School P.S. 215 Lucretia Mott* (Elementary school) P.S.
181 Brookfield* (Elementary school) Peninsula Preparatory Academy
(Charter) Staten Island: 1 School P.S. 014 Cornelius Vanderbilt*
(Elementary school)
MIAMI, FLA. SHOOTING AT BUNCHE PARK IN MIAMI
GARDENS 11/3/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
A drive-by shooting at a busy Miami Gardens park, packed with
children playing youth football, ended with four people wounded,
including an 11-year-old boy, police said Wednesday night. About
7:30 p.m., an officer near Bunche park heard gunshots, then saw
people run screaming from the park, police Capt. Ralph Suarez said.
The officer went to the park and found four people shot near the
basketball courts: three adults and an 11-year-old boy, Suarez said.
All four were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma
Center, and were expected to survive, Suarez said. Police believe
the shooter or shooters came up to the edge of the park, on West
Bunche Park Drive, possibly in a black Chevrolet Impala and fired 10
to 12 shots into the basketball courts before leaving. Police were
trying to determine who was targeted and why. Police did not release
the names of the people who were shot. It was a busy night at the
park, with parents saying there were more than 100 kids there for
football and cheerleading practice on fields separate from the
targeted basketball courts but close enough for people to hear the
shots.
ATLANTA, GA. FIRE AT FEDERAL PRISON IN ATLANTA.
11/3/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
Atlanta fire crews were working a fire late in a building on
the grounds of the Federal Penitentiary in southeast Atlanta.
Light smoke could be seen coming from the three-story brick building
at 11 a.m. It was not immediately clear what is housed in the
building, but the fire did not appear to be impacting the main
prison building that houses inmates.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
ATHENS. GREECE TURMOIL. CALLS FOR RESIGNATION
PRIME MINISTER.
POLAND. WARSAW AIRPORT REOPENS TODAY NOVEMBER
3RD.
UNITED NATIONS
TRIPOLI. BAN KI MOON IN LIBYA.
==================================================================
NOVEMBER 2,
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 2, 1976, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter
defeated Republican incumbent Gerald R. Ford, becoming the first
U.S. president from the Deep South since the Civil War.
On Nov. 2, 1865, Warren G. Harding, the 29th
president of the United States, was born. He died on Aug. 2,
1923.
On This Date 1783 Gen. George Washington issued
his farewell address to the Army near Princeton, N.J.
1795 James K. Polk, the 11th president of the
United States, was born in Mecklenburg County, N.C.
1865 Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the
United States, was born near Corsica, Ohio.
1889 North Dakota and South Dakota became the
39th and 40th states.
1917 British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour
expressed support for a national home for the Jews of Palestine in
what became known as the Balfour Declaration.
1947 Howard Hughes piloted his huge wooden
airplane, the Spruce Goose, on its only flight, which lasted about a
minute over Long Beach Harbor in California.
1959 Charles Van Doren admitted to a House
subcommittee that he had the questions and answers in advance of his
appearances on the TV game show "Twenty-One."
1963 South Vietnamese President Ngo Dihn Diem was
assassinated in a military coup.
1976 Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter defeated
Republican incumbent Gerald R. Ford, becoming the first U.S.
president from the Deep South since the Civil War.
1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill
establishing a federal holiday on the third Monday of January in
honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
2004 President George W. Bush was elected to a
second term.
2006 The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president
of the National Association of Evangelicals after a man said they
had had sexual trysts together.
2009 Afghanistan's election commission proclaimed
President Hamid Karzai the victor of the country's tumultuous
ballot, canceling a planned runoff.
2010 Republicans won control of the House of
Representatives, picking up 63 seats in midterm elections, while
Democrats retained a majority in the Senate; Republican governors
outnumbered Democrats after gaining six states.
2010 Californians rejected a ballot measure that
would have made their state the first to legalize marijuana for
recreational use.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011
MANHATTAN 9:15 AM Joins New York Road Runners, ING
and City Officials to Paint the New York City Marathon’s Official
Finish Line and Discuss Marathon’s Economic Impact NYC Marathon
Finish Line Central Park West at 67th Street
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND ALEC BALDWIN
PRESENT 2011 MAYOR’S AWARDS FOR ARTS & CULTURE AT ALICE TULLY HALL
Mayor Presents Composer and Lyricist Stephen
Sondheim with the 2011 Handel Medallion, the City’s Highest Award
for Achievement in the Arts
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Emmy Award-winner
Alec Baldwin today presented the 2011 Mayor’s Awards for Arts &
Culture to six individuals and organizations in celebration of their
outstanding contributions to New York City’s cultural life. The
Mayor also presented the 2011 NYC Handel Medallion, New York City’s
highest award for achievement in the arts, to composer and lyricist
Stephen Sondheim. Recipients of the Mayor’s Awards were Mikhail
Baryshnikov, Alice Diamond, Jimmy Heath, Maya Lin, P.S. 94 Principal
Ronnie Shuster, and the Theatre Development Fund. The event was held
at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The
Mayor was joined at the awards ceremony by Cultural Affairs
Commissioner Kate D. Levin and Cultural Advisory Commission Chair
Agnes Gund. The event featured performances and appearances by
special guest artists.
“New York City’s artists and cultural groups help
make the City a great place to live, learn and work, and a
destination for ambitious and creative people from across the
world,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Tonight’s awards give us a chance to
recognize the achievements of some of the people who work hard every
day to ensure that New York City remains the place to be for artists
and audiences from the five boroughs and beyond. I’m thrilled to
present the Handel Medallion to Stephen Sondheim, one of the
consummate artists of our time who embodies the City’s energy,
creativity and passion.”
“New York City’s tremendous public support for
culture helps ensure that the City continues to serve as a
destination to experience the very best,” said Alec Baldwin. “It was
a privilege to co-host the Mayor’s Awards with Mayor Bloomberg, and
to celebrate some of the individuals and organizations whose
contributions to the arts enrich so many lives each year.”
“New York City’s world-class arts organizations and
the visitors they bring to New York generate more than $11 billion
in annual economic activity,” said First Deputy Mayor Patricia E.
Harris. “The Bloomberg Administration continues to invest in the
City’s cultural community because we recognize its importance to our
economy and New Yorkers’ quality of life. The Mayor’s Awards for Art
and Culture give us an opportunity to celebrate the entire industry
and recognize the achievements of some of its most dynamic members.”
The NYC Handel Medallion was established in 1959 by
Mayor Robert F. Wagner to honor outstanding achievement in the
fields of art and music. Named for the composer George Frideric
Handel (1685-1759), the award was first presented at the Handel
Festival, a series of 32 concerts held in New York City in 1959 to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of Handel’s death. Past NYC Handel
Medallion recipients have included Alvin Ailey, Benny Goodman,
Richard Rodgers, Charlie Chaplin, Dizzy Gillespie, Lena Horne, Merce
Cunningham and Neil Simon.
Stephen Sondheim was born in New York City and has
written the music and lyrics for Saturday Night, A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company,
Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney
Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into
the Woods, Assassins, Passion and Road Show as well as lyrics for
West Side Story, Gypsy, Do I Hear A Waltz? and additional lyrics for
Candide. Anthologies of his work include Side by Side by Sondheim,
Marry Me A Little, You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow, Putting It Together
and Sondheim on Sondheim. For films, he composed the scores of
Stavisky, co-composed Red and wrote songs for Dick Tracy and the
television production of Evening Primrose. He co-authored the film
The Last of Sheila and the play Getting Away With Murder. Mr.
Sondheim is on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, having served as
its President from 1973 to 1981. His collected lyrics with attendant
essays are published in two volumes: Finishing the Hat (2010) and
Look, I Made A Hat (2011). In 1981, Mr. Sondheim founded Young
Playwrights Inc. to develop and promote the work of American
playwrights aged 18 years and younger.
The Mayor’s Awards for Arts and Culture were created
in 1976, when the Department of Cultural Affairs was founded, and
given annually until 1994. Mayor Bloomberg revived the awards in
2004 with the assistance of the Cultural Affairs Advisory
Commission, whose members are a diverse and distinguished group of
advocates for the City’s non-profit cultural community. The Awards
acknowledge and celebrate the role individual artists, arts
educators, cultural organizations, corporations and philanthropists
play in the public-private partnerships that sustain the City’s
creative vitality and economic well-being.
“Tonight’s event reminds us of how lucky we are to
have the highest-caliber artists, educators and organizations
dedicated to serving New York City’s audiences,” said Ms. Gund. “The
Commission is proud to work with Mayor Bloomberg on the Mayor’s
Awards for Arts and Culture, and build on the strides Commissioner
Levin and her staff have made in supporting and sustaining our
City’s cultural community.”
“The Mayor’s Awards ceremony allows us to celebrate
artists, administrators, philanthropists and cultural organizations
across the five boroughs who make essential contributions to New
York’s economy and quality of life,” said Cultural Affairs
Commissioner Levin. “We are particularly grateful to Agnes Gund and
the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission for their committed
leadership as we work to serve and support the City's extraordinary
creative community.”
The ceremony featured live performances by dancers
from Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, the Charanams, the Xylopholks,
the New York All-City High School Chorus and the Frank Sinatra
School of the Arts Concert Choir. Special guests included actors
Michael Cerveris, Liz Callaway, Susie Essman and Patti LuPone,
Grandma from the Big Apple Circus, and theater critic Frank Rich.
Musical Director Phil Reno and the house band, Michael Kuennen and
Tom Murray, performed throughout the ceremony. The reception
featured wines donated by Red Hook Winery. Flowers were donated by
Shair Tertner and Shiraz Events. Generous support was provided by
Bank of America, with additional support from The Estée Lauder
Companies Inc., Alan and Judith Fishman, Agnes Gund, Lincoln Center
for the Performing Arts, Michael Lynne, and Jeanette Wagner.
2011 Mayor’s Awards Recipients
Mikhail Baryshnikov
For his prolific and hugely influential career as
dancer and choreographer, and his visionary leadership of the
Baryshnikov Arts Center. In addition to his breathtaking
performances with major ballet companies around the world, he
co-created the White Oak Dance project to expand the repertoire and
visibility of American modern dance. In 2005 he founded the
Baryshnikov Arts Center in Hell’s Kitchen which serves as a
nurturing home for local and international artists to develop and
present contemporary, innovative work across the spectrum of dance,
theater, music, and film. Thanks to his commitment to promoting high
quality art at affordable prices, the Center welcomes visitors from
across the City and around the world to engage with cutting-edge
work all year round.
Alice Diamond
For 50 years of service as arts advocate for Staten
Island’s vibrant cultural community. Ms. Diamond’s commitment to
enhancing the presence of arts and culture on Staten Island has
included the founding of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the
creation of the Lynne Robbins Steinman Foundation, and stewardship
as a trustee of the Staten Island Foundation and the Historic House
Trust among other prestigious organizations. She is a driving force
behind New York City’s vitality as a world-class cultural center.
Jimmy Heath
For his outstanding career as an internationally
celebrated saxophonist, composer, arranger, teacher, and author. In
addition to his exceptional contribution to the canon of American
jazz, Mr. Heath’s service as professor at the Aaron Copland School
of Music at the City University of New York was instrumental to the
creation of the Jazz Program at Queens College, which continues to
nurture younger generations of musicians.
Maya Lin
For her tremendous contributions to art and
architecture, creating a dynamic portfolio of work ranging from
intimate studio art, to large-scale installations, museums, and
memorials. Ms. Lin’s involvement on the design selection jury for
the National September 11 Memorial and her extraordinary redesign of
the Museum of the Chinese in America have permanently enhanced Lower
Manhattan. Her work continues to captivate New Yorkers and audiences
around the world.
Ronnie Shuster
For her extraordinary leadership as Principal of
P94M, a public school made more dynamic by integrating theater arts
into the academic experience of students with autism as well as
other disabilities. Through her outstanding contribution to
education and her commitment to the arts, Ms. Shuster has been an
unwavering champion for arts education and its importance to all
aspects of learning.
Theatre Development Fund
For serving as the largest nonprofit performing arts
service organization in the United States, dedicated to encouraging
diverse audiences for live theater and dance, and strengthening the
performing arts community in New York City. Through its three TKTS
discount ticket booths in Manhattan and Brooklyn, services for
audiences with special needs, and thoughtful and thought provoking
education programs, TDF has provided over 80 million people with
access to performances at affordable prices. And the glowing red
steps which house its Times Square TKTS booth have become an icon at
the crossroads of the world.
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs is
the largest funder of the arts in the United States. The agency
supports and sustains New York City's cultural life by investing in
programs, operations and capital improvements at nonprofit cultural
organizations throughout the five boroughs. The agency also supports
the City’s cultural community through extensive technical assistance
and advocacy, working closely with the field to articulate the
profound impact of culture on New York City’s quality of life and
economy.
NEW YORK. CLOSING ARGUMENT IN SEAN BELL KILLING
BY NYPD 11/2/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS-
It seems that there are new developments in the departmental trial
of two NYPD officers involved in the shooting and killing of Sean
Bell. Closing arguments are expected this Wednesday November 2.
Officers Michael Carey and Gescard Isnora testified they acted in
self-defense when they and three other policemen fired at Bell
outside a Queens strip club in 2006. Departmental trials start in
Sean Bell shooting Bell was unarmed and died in a hail of more
than 50 bullets. His friends, Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman,
were wounded but survived.
LIBERTY CITY, FLA. LIBERTY SEVEN LOST THEIR
APPEAL. 11/2/11
By Elizabwth Menos, NTS NEWS
A federal appeals court ruled that U.S. District Judge
Joan Lenard did not make a mistake when she removed a main juror and
replaced her with an alternate juror during trial deliberations that
led to the men’s convictions. The judge removed the unidentified
woman, known only as Juror No. 4, in late April 2009 because the
other 11 jurors said she refused to deliberate about the five
remaining defendants in a group originally dubbed the “Liberty City
Seven.”
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals in Atlanta had to find a “clear error” by the trial judge
to overrule Lenard’s decision to eject Juror No. 4. “In light of the
consistent answers given by eleven of the jurors, and the vague and
evasive answers given by Juror No. 4, we cannot say that the
district court clearly erred in finding that Juror No. 4 was not
willing to follow the court’s instructions,” the panel ruled
unanimously.
The trial judge’s decision led to the juror’s
replacement by the alternate juror, a man, and the eventual
conviction of the five defendants on material-support conspiracy
charges. One other defendant was acquitted and another defendant had
been found not guilty in an earlier trial. The removal of Juror No.
4 from the 12-person panel carried great consequences at the trial,
the third in the case after two previous mistrials. Had she been
allowed to hold out as the minority juror, prompting a third
mistrial in the controversial FBI case, the five defendants could
have walked out of the courtroom because the U.S. Attorney’s Office
had already said it would not try them a fourth time.
The men were accused of conspiring to aid al-Qaida
to blow up Chicago’s Sears Tower and FBI offices in Miami and other
cities. In late 2009, Lenard sentenced Narseal Batiste, 37, the
ringleader, to 13½ years; his self-described “No. 1 soldier,”
Patrick Abraham, 32, to just over nine years; Stanley Phanor, 36, to
eight years; Burson Augustin, 26, to six years; and Rotschild
Augustine, 27, to seven years.
============================================================
NOVEMBER 1,
IN HISTORY
On Nov. 1, 1952, the United States exploded the
first hydrogen bomb, in a test at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands.
On Nov. 1, 1871, Stephen Crane, the American
writer best known for his novel "The Red Badge of Courage," was
born. He died on June 5, 1900
On This Date 1512 Michelangelo's paintings on the
ceiling of the Sistine Chapel were first exhibited to the public.
1604 William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" was
first performed, at Whitehall Palace in London.
1765 The Stamp Act went into effect, prompting
stiff resistance from American colonists.
1861 Gen. George B. McClellan was made
general-in-chief of the Union armies.
1936 In a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito
Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi
Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin.
1946 Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II,
was ordained as a priest in Poland.
1950 Two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to force
their way into Blair House in Washington to assassinate President
Harry S. Truman. One of the assailants was killed.
1954 Algeria began a successful rebellion against
French rule.
1979 Former first lady Mamie Eisenhower died in
Washington, D.C., at age 82.
1991 Clarence Thomas took his place as a justice
on the Supreme Court.
1995 Bosnia peace talks opened in Dayton, Ohio.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011
MANHATTAN *8:30 AM Joins Mayors Dinkins and Koch for
a Panel Discussion at the Association for a Better New York’s 40th
Anniversary Celebration Breakfast Hilton New York 1335 Avenue of the
Americas between 53rd and 54th Street
*11:00 AM Joins Related Companies and Oxford
Properties Group to Announce Deal for Coach Inc. to Anchor Hudson
Yards 30th Street at 11th Avenue North East Corner
2:30 PM Presides Over Bill Signing Ceremony City
Hall
*Bills to be considered: Intro 155-A – In relation
to requiring the City Schools Chancellor to submit to the City
Council an annual report concerning school capacity and utilization.
6:15 PM Hosts 2011 Mayor’s Awards for Arts and
Culture with Co-Host Alec Baldwin Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
West 65th Street and Broadway
NEW YORK. NEW CONSUL OF HAITI AT 271
MADISON AVENUE
According to information from the Foreign Ministry of Haiti,
Charles Forbin had been designated as the new Consul General in New
York, replacing Felix Augustin at this post. President Martelly of
Haiti is in the United States for health check-up in Florida and is
expected to be in Washington this Tuesday and will be in New York on
November 3, for a fund-raising before going back to Haiti on
November 6. Mr. Martelly deplores the killing of the Police officer
Luckner Sylvain in Port-au-Prince on Monday by bandits on a
motorcycle in Port-au-Prince at Caravelle street.
=========================================================
OCTOBER
31
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 31, 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi was assassinated near her residence by two Sikh security
guards.
On Oct. 31, 1887, Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese
general and president whose regime collapsed to the Communists in
1949, was born. He die on April 5, 1975
On This Date 1795 Poet John Keats was born in
London.
1864 Nevada became the 36th state.
1926 Magician Harry Houdini died of complications
from a ruptured appendix.
1938 The day after his "War of the Worlds"
broadcast had panicked radio listeners, Orson Welles expressed "deep
regret" but also bewilderment that anyone had thought the show was
real.
1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a halt
to all U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, saying he hoped for fruitful
peace negotiations.
1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was
assassinated near her residence by two Sikh security guards.
1991 Theatrical producer Joseph Papp died at age
70.
1992 It was announced that five American nuns in
Liberia had been shot to death near the capital Monrovia; the
killings were blamed on rebels loyal to Charles Taylor.
1999 EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed off the
Massachusetts coast, killing all 217 people aboard.
2001 A 61-year-old New York hospital worker died
from inhalation anthrax.
2001 Microsoft and the Justice Department reached
a tentative agreement to settle the historic antitrust case against
the software giant.
2005 President George W. Bush nominated Judge
Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
2006 P.W. Botha, South Africa's apartheid-era
president, died at age 90.
2007 Three lead defendants in the 2004 Madrid
train bombings that killed 191 people were found guilty of mass
murder and other charges.
2010 Theodore C. Sorensen, President John F.
Kennedy's aide and speechwriter, died in New York at age 82.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
MANHATTAN *2:00 PM Updates New Yorkers on
Groundbreaking Initiative to Build New Applied Sciences Campus in
New York City 261 Fifth Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets
QUEENS 5:00 PM Marches in 22nd Annual Jackson
Heights Halloween Parade Parade Start: 89th Street and 37th Avenue
Parade End: 76th Street and 37th Avenue
NEW YORK. IN ZUCCOTTI PARK, PROTESTERS HAD CASES
OF HYPOTHERMIA.
10/31/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Acc0rding to medical reports, there were cases of
hypothermia among the Occupy Wall Street protesters. The rare
October snow wasn't enough to get Occupy Wall Street protesters to
pack up this weekend. They remained in Zuccotti Park as the sixth
week of demonstrations began. Protesters said the chilly weather
makes living in the park a challenge.
"With the police coming in, taking down shelter
quite often, it makes it very difficult for people to stay safe.
Shelter's a basic need for folks out here and we haven't been able
to reliably get that," said some demonstrator. On Friday, the
fire department conducted a surprise inspection and confiscated
power generators and gas cans.
NEW YORK. AFTER SNOW STORM, OUTAGES AND DOWN
TREES REMAIN. 10/31/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
About 1500 Con Ed customers in the city remain without power
following this weekend's seasonably early snow storm that toppled
trees and power lines throughout the northeast. In Queens as in
other parts of the City, New Yorkers are still feeling the effects
of Saturday's snow storm. Consolidated Edison says nearly 1,500
customers remain without power, most of which are located in the
Bronx and Queens Con Ed says some customers may not have their power
restored until Wednesday due to the extent of the damage from downed
trees and wires in the boroughs. They hope to have power restored to
the majority of New York City customers by the end of this Monday.
In Central Park there are about 1,000 trees which fell after
the wet snow weighed down branches that still had their leaves. The
storm is blamed for the death of a Bronx woman after a power
outage caused her oxygen machine to stop working. Khewola Ramprasad
died Saturday at her home on Heath Avenue in the Bronx. Her nurse
found the 77-year-old and realized the oxygen had stopped flowing.
Emergency crews were unable to revive her. States of Emergency have
been declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of
New York.
MIAMI, FLA. IN CORAL GABLES, COURTHOUSE CLOSED
UNTIL TUESDAY. 10/31/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
The Courthouse that dozens of people were evacuated from on
October 20th remains closed into another week. While the actual
cause for the continued closing is uncertain, the decision was
prompted when several employees fell ill not long after the building
was fumigated in early October. The courthouse will remain closed
until at least Tuesday. Until the courthouse is cleared to return to
business as usual all operations are being re-scheduled at alternate
locations.
ATLANTA, GA. 5 FAMILIES DISPLACED IN CONDO FIRE.
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS
A two-alarm fire heavily damaged a Midtown Atlanta
condominium complex. Fire officials said the 2 a.m. blaze apparently
started as a car fire, then spread to a two-story home and a nearby
three-story condo building. Witnesses told Channel 2 Action News
that flames shot 30 to 40 feet into air at the height of the fire.
Residents from other nearby buildings were also evacuated into the
chilly, 40-degree morning temperatures as authorities feared that
the fire would spread beyond the two buildings damaged.“We started
running around to all the neighbors and getting them out of their
houses and out of their condos,” resident Michael Jarvis told
Channel 2. “We were just going house to house, door to door, getting
everybody out.”
INTERNATIONAL
BOGOTA COLOMBIA. FORMER REBEL GUSTAVO
PETRO:ELECTED MAYOR.
PALESTINE GET UNESCO SEAT.
UNITED NATIONS
THREE UN REFUGEE AGENCY KILLED IN AFGHAN SUICIDE
ATTACK
=========================================================
OCTOBER
30
IN HISTORY
Oct. 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George
Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire,
to regain his world heavyweight title.
On Oct. 30, 1915, Fred Friendly, the pioneering
American broadcast journalist , was born. He died on March 3, 1998
On This Date 1735 John Adams, the second
president of the United States, was born in Braintree, Mass.
1885 Poet Ezra Pound was born in Hailey, Idaho.
1953 George C. Marshall, who, as secretary of
state following World War II, engineered a massive economic aid
program for Europe, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
1961 The Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb.
1974 Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in
the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, to regain
his world heavyweight title.
1975 The New York Daily News ran the headline
"Ford to City: Drop Dead" a day after President Gerald R. Ford said
he would veto any proposed federal bailout of New York City.
1997 A jury in Cambridge, Mass., convicted
British au pair Louise Woodward of second-degree murder in the death
of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen. The judge later reduced the verdict
to manslaughter and set Woodward free.
2003 Lebron James made his NBA debut with the
Cleveland Cavaliers. 2005 Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks became the
first woman to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
===================================================
OCTOBER
29
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 29, 1929, stock prices collapsed on the
New York Stock Exchange amid panic selling. Thousands of investors
were wiped out.
On Oct. 29, 1891, Fanny Brice, the American comic
singer, was born. She died on May 29, 1951.
On This Date 1618 Sir Walter Raleigh, the English
courtier, military adventurer and poet, was executed in London.
1682 The founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn,
landed at what is now Chester, Pa.
1891 Broadway star Fanny Brice was born Fanny
Borach in Newark, N.J.
1901 President William McKinley's assassin, Leon
Czolgosz, was electrocuted.
1923 The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed.
1929 Stock prices collapsed on the New York Stock
Exchange amid panic selling. Thousands of investors were wiped out.
1940 The United States America began its first
peacetime military draft.
1947 Frances Cleveland Preston, the widow of
President Grover Cleveland, died at age 83.
1956 Israel invaded Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
during the Suez Canal crisis.
1962 The Beach Boys' debut album, "Surfin'
Safari," was released. 1966 The National Organization for Women was
founded.
2004 Osama bin Laden, in a videotaped
statement, directly admitted for the first time that he had ordered
the Sept. 11 attacks.
2004 European Union leaders signed the EU's first
constitution.
2010 Authorities on three continents said they
had thwarted multiple terrorist attacks aimed at the United States,
seizing two explosive packages addressed to Chicago-area synagogues
and packed aboard cargo jets from Yemen.
CITY HALL. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2011
BRONX *10:30 AM Receives Flu Shot with Health
Commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley Duane Reade
3225 Third Avenue at 163rd Street
BRONX, NY. TICKET-FIXING CASE. 21 PLEAS NOT
GUILTY. 10/28/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
On this Friday, the Bronx court was packed with cops and
supporters of the Sixteen NYPD officers and five civilians who
pleaded not guilty in ticket-fixing-tickets cases.
More than a dozen members of the New York City
Police Department pleaded not guilty in a Bronx courtroom Friday in
connection with a massive ticket-fixing investigation that many
supporters argue is a professional courtesy stretching back decades.
Eleven of those charged are delegates or former delegates and one
trustee of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson said as much
as $2 million in revenue to the city was lost as a result of the
alleged scandal. “They would either remove the actual tickets, the
property off the New York City Police Department from the precinct
or they would alter the ticket in a manner that would cause it to be
dismissible,” said Johnson. It was also revealed Friday that
Lieutenant Jennara Cobb of the NYPD's internal affairs bureau was
charged with tipping off the officers about the investigation.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly admitted that it was difficult to have
to announce for the second time in a week that officers are being
charged with misconduct. "Those actions are crimes under the law and
can’t be glossed over as 'courtesies' or as part of an acceptable
culture. They are not," said Kelly. "Those who try to rationalize
them as such are kidding themselves, especially if they think the
public finds it acceptable."
Kelly added that since the case came to light, the
NYPD instituted a number of changes to prevent ticket-fixing in the
future. Hundreds of other police officers face departmental
punishment for allegedly fixing tickets. “The total universe of
cases, there were about 300. We are in the process of handling the
majority of those administratively,” said Kelly. Several supporters
gathered outside the courtroom with signs blasting the proceedings
while others voiced their support saying it's unfair to those who
have to pay up. According to PBA President Pat Lynch said the issue
could have and should have been addressed differently. He said that
"Taking care of your family, taking care of your friends, taking
care of those that support New York City police officers and law
enforcement is not a crime," said Lynch.
The investigation started in 2009 with an internal
probe of Officer Jose Ramos, who faces the most serious charges.
Drugs were allegedly being sold out of barbershops that he or his
family owned, and he’s accused of robbing undercover police officers
posing as drug dealers. Ramos, who is assigned to the 40th precinct,
has pled not guilty to drug dealing, robbery and insurance fraud
charges relating to the initial case. He is being held on $500,000
bail.
MIAMI, FLA. A MIAMI COP ARRESTED AND ACCUSED OF
DRIVING 120 MPH.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Fausto Lopez, a Miami police officer was arrested at
gunpoint and charged with reckless driving after going 120 mph on
Florida’s Turnpike in Broward County earlier this month while on his
way to his second job, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A
spokesman for the FHP in Broward, Sgt. Mark Wysocky identified Lopez
as a Miami police officer.
The incident, first reported by Univision 23,
started at 6:28 a.m. last Oct. 11 on the southbound turnpike at
Commercial Boulevard, when a trooper, identified as D.J. Watts, saw
a Miami patrol car switching lanes in a dangerous manner, according
to the report. Watts turned on her lights and siren but couldn't
reach Lopez, who was driving more than 120 mph, the report said.
At about 6:33 a.m., Watts caught up to Lopez. When
she pulled in back of Lopez's car, she once again activated her
lights and siren, but Lopez ignored the warnings, according to the
report, and kept going.
Finally, at 6:35 a.m., seven minutes after the start
of the high-speed chase, Lopez stopped his car near Hollywood. An
FHP video given to Univision shows how Watts approaches Lopez's car
with her gun drawn. "She drew her gun for her own safety based on
the actions of the driver," Wysocky said. Watts ordered Lopez to
step out of the vehicle, handcuffed and detained him. As he was
getting out of his vehicle, Lopez explained to Watts that he was
driving so quickly because he was late to his off-duty job, which
started at 7 a.m. Lopez was released, but was criminally charged
with reckless driving, which is considered a second-degree
misdemeanor.
INTERNATIONAL
AFGHANISTAN. SUICIDE ATTACK BY TALIBAN
UNITED NATIONS.
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT WITH QADHAFI'S SON
SURRENDER.
===========================================================
OCTOBER
28
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift
from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by
President Grover Cleveland.
On Oct. 28, 1914, Dr. Jonas Edward Salk, the
American medical researcher who developed the first vaccine against
polio, was born. He died on June 23, 1995
On This Date 1636 Harvard College was founded.
1793 Eli Whitney applied for a patent for the
cotton gin.
1919 Congress enacted the Volstead Act, which
provided for enforcement of Prohibition, over President Woodrow
Wilson's veto.
1922 Fascism came to Italy as Benito Mussolini
took control of the government.
1958 The Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice,
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected pope, taking the name John
XXIII.
1962 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the
United States that he had ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile
bases in Cuba.
1965 Pope Paul VI issued a decree absolving Jews
of collective guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
1980 Republican nominee Ronald Reagan asked
voters during a debate with President Jimmy Carter in Cleveland "are
you better off than you were four years ago?"
2005 Vice President Dick Cheney's top
adviser, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, resigned after he was indicted on
charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false
statements in the CIA leak investigation. (Libby was convicted and
sentenced to 30 months in prison. President George W. Bush commuted
his sentence.)
2006 Hall of Fame basketball coach Red Auerbach
died at age 89.
2007 Cristina Fernandez was elected Argentina's
first woman president.
2009 Angela Merkel was sworn in for a
second term as German chancellor.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2011
MANHATTAN 8:05 AM The John Gambling Show
with Mayor Mike Airs
*10:30 AM Speaks at the 125th Anniversary Celebration
of the Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island
12:00 Noon Speaks at and Presents Proclamation in Honor of the
75th Anniversary of Consumer Reports Grand Central
Terminal 42nd Street at Lexington Avenue
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG, COMPTROLLER LIU
AND LABOR LEADERS ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO REFORM PENSION
INVESTMENT GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Proposal Delegates Investment Authority for All Five
Pension Funds to One Newly Created Body Authorized to Hire an
Independent Professional Manager
First Major Reform of Pension Investment Structure
in 70 Years
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Comptroller John C.
Liu and organized labor leaders today announced an agreement in
principle to reform and professionalize the investment governance
and management of the City’s pension funds. The proposal would place
investment advisory authority for all five of the currently
independent City pension funds under one new pension board,
supported by an independent, full-time staff led by a Chief
Investment Officer, who would be appointed to a fixed term. The
proposal is intended to insulate management of pension assets from
any political office, further professionalize it and make it more
consistent with industry best practices. The proposal aims to
increase investment returns, lower the City’s pension costs, protect
and strengthen pensions for current and future retirees, enhance
accountability and guard against the possibility of fraud and
corruption. The City’s five pension funds currently have 58
trustees, each with a different weighted vote, who decide investment
policy. No two systems are governed, managed or operated in the same
manner, resulting in complexity, inconsistency and inefficiency. The
Mayor and Comptroller made the announcement at City Hall, where they
were joined by District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian
Roberts, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew,
Uniformed Firefighters Association President Stephen Cassidy,
Patrolman’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch,
Detectives Endowment Association President Michael Palladino,
Captains’ Endowment Association President Roy Richter and Pension
Board Trustees.
“In Washington these days, government seems to be
hopelessly gridlocked, with each party stressing only what keeps
them apart,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “But in New York City, we
thankfully act differently – bridging differences and bringing
people together to find common ground on the toughest issues and
working together for the good of all New Yorkers. We’re overhauling
an antiquated pension management system that has needed
restructuring for generations – depoliticizing the process, further
professionalizing the staff and implementing industry best
practices. While these reforms should make a big difference in the
management of City pension assets, we still desperately need pension
benefit reforms to significantly reduce the pension costs that are
siphoning dollars away from City services.”
“The City’s pension system dates back more than
one-hundred and fifty years,” said Comptroller Liu. “This new
paradigm will enable us to achieve better results in today’s more
complex financial markets. Depoliticizing, professionalizing, and
streamlining the management of our pension funds will enhance
investment returns and reduce pension costs. Our labor leaders and
trustees have delivered a huge win for taxpayers and City workers
alike with this game-changer.”
The investment reform proposal will simplify a
complex, outdated investment structure to ensure the $120 billion
New York City Pension System is best-in-class among peer
institutional investors worldwide. Investment expense savings will
be realized, primarily by developing in-house investment expertise
for certain asset classes. Over the long term, superior returns
would generate significant taxpayer savings through consistent
long-term investment direction, strategic risk management, increased
accountability and authority, first-mover advantage and a
high-caliber, specialized staff.
The major provisions of the investment reform
proposal are:
The five New York City Pension Funds would delegate
investment authority to a newly created pension investment board
composed of City and labor representatives. The board would set
strategic objectives and policy for the funds.
The Bureau of Asset Management would be moved out of
the Comptroller’s Office and be re-established as an independent
investment entity that will determine consultant and asset manager
pools and manage certain asset classes in-house. The proposal calls
for the investment entity to be staffed by experienced industry
professionals and for compensation packages to attract those
investment professionals.
A Chief Investment Officer will lead the new
investment management entity. The Chief Investment Officer will
report to the new pension investment board – not to any individual
elected official – and will be appointed to a fixed term that will
not coincide with citywide election cycles.
The new pension investment board and new investment
staff will adopt best-in-class ethics, governance, training, and
code of conduct policies and procedures to protect against fraud,
waste and abuse.
The assets of the five pension funds will remain
separate under the proposal and each fund will continue to
administer benefits and make disability determinations
independently.
“We strongly support these efforts to bolster the
pension investment returns for New York City Firefighter pensions,”
said Steve Cassidy, UFA President. “We’ve been encouraging the city
to develop a strategic plan for the pension investments that allows
it to enhance investment returns for beneficiaries and be much more
responsive to changes occurring in the global financial
marketplace.”
“The proposal to create an investment board is a
win-win situation for the taxpayers and the participants of the
retirement system,” said District Council 37 Executive Director
Lillian Roberts. “District Council 37 members receive an average
annual pension of $17,000. Therefore, a proposal that would help
secure the pension of the workers without reducing what is already a
small pension is welcome. We applaud Comptroller John Liu for
thinking outside the box and for bringing all affected parties to
reach consensus on moving forward with this proposal.”
“It sounds like an innovative approach to providing
relief to taxpayers while maintaining pension guarantees to our past
and present employees,” said Detectives’ Endowment Association
President Michael Palladino. “The details are critical to any deal
but it is certainly worth listening to.”
“The world of finance has changed dramatically over
the last few decades,” said Roy T. Richter, President of Captains
Endowment Association. “Any modification to our current pension
system that enables it to adapt quickly to shifting market
conditions and preserving pension assets needs careful review and
consideration. In difficult economic times, our leaders must examine
unconventional partnership to carry us through. Vision, coupled with
outside the box thinking is the brand of resilience that makes New
York City great.”
“New York’s business leadership has long advocated
for efficiencies in the City’s pension systems,” said Bill Rudin,
Chairman of the Association for a Better New York. “Today’s
innovative agreement is a step toward reducing taxpayer burdens
while protecting current and future municipal employee pensions.
Congratulations to Mayor Bloomberg, Comptroller Liu and labor
leaders for this historic initiative.”
“The New York City Pension System has now adopted a
world-class public pension governance model,” said Andrew Ang, Ann
F. Kaplan Professor of Business at Columbia Business School. “The
reforms should allow the new entity to significantly impact returns
– by actions as simple as bringing in-house and managing cheaply
what had been previously outsourced at much higher costs.”
“The newly proposed changes would move New York City
Pension Funds to the front of the class of public pension
organizations not just in the USA, but internationally as well,”
said Keith P. Ambachtsheer, Director of the Rotman International
Centre for Pension Management at the University of Toronto and
President and Founder of KPA Advisory Services.
The New York City Pension Systems consist of five
separate funds: The New York City Police Pension Fund, the New York
City Fire Department Pension Fund, the New York City Teachers’
Retirement System, the New York City Employees’ Retirement System,
and the Board of Education Retirement System.
Full implementation of the investment reform
proposal requires State legislative approval. Representatives from
the Mayor’s Office, the Comptroller’s Office and organized labor
will work together to finalize the proposal and work with elected
officials to implement the plan.
========================================================
OCTOBER
27
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 27, 1904, the first rapid transit subway,
the IRT, opened in New York City.
On Oct. 27, 1932, Sylvia Plath, the American poet
known for an intense, confessional quality of writing, was born.
1880 Theodore Roosevelt married Alice Lee.
1904 The first rapid transit subway opened, in
New York City.
1914 Author-poet Dylan Thomas was born in
Swansea, Wales. .
1978 Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli
Prime Minister Menachem Begin won the Nobel Peace Prize.
1997 The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled
554.26 points, forcing the stock market to shut down for the first
time since the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald
Reagan.
2002 Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith
broke the NFL career rushing yardage record of 16,726 held by Walter
Payton.
2002 Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected
president of Brazil in a runoff, becoming the country's first
elected leftist leader.
2004 The Boston Red Sox won their first World
Series since 1918, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 in Game 4.
2005 White House counsel Harriet1 Miers withdrew
her nomination to the Supreme Court after three weeks of criticism
from fellow conservatives.
2005 Surgeons in France performed the world's
first partial face transplant on a woman who was mauled by a dog.
2008 Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, was convicted of
seven corruption charges for lying about free home renovations and
other gifts from a wealthy oil contractor. A judge later dismissed
the case, saying prosecutors had withheld evidence.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
MANHATTAN *10:00 AM Joins American Express CEO Ken
Chenault and Speaker Quinn to Announce Second Annual Small Business
Saturday and New Initiatives to Support City’s Retail Corridors 200
Park Avenue South at 17th Street
12:00 Noon Joins Comptroller Liu and Labor Leaders
to Announce Major Pension Investment Governance and Management
Reforms Governor’s Room City Hall
BROOKLYN 2:00 PM Announces New Agreements to
Improve Parks and Water Quality at Jamaica Bay with Department of
the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, EPA Region 2 Administrator
Judith Enck and Other Officials The Salt Marsh Nature Center –
Marine Park East 33rd Street at Avenue U
CITY HALL. NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SPEAKER QUINN
OPEN EAST COAST HEADQUARTERS OF YELP, ONLINE SERVICE THAT CONNECTS
USERS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES
Yelp Joins Growing List of Tech Companies Opening
New York City Offices, In Addition to Homegrown Start-Ups 65 New
Employees Located at Union Square Headquarters; Company Is Still
Hiring
Mayor Bloomberg today joined online review company
Yelp to announce the opening of their new office in New York City.
The new Yelp East Coast headquarters, located at 104 Fifth Avenue
between 15th and 16th Streets, is already home to over 65 full-time
employees – 20 of whom joined Yelp just this past month – and
includes local and brand sales executives and a marketing team. The
Mayor and Yelp CEO and co-founder Jeremy Stoppelman were joined by
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York City Chief Digital
Officer Rachel Sterne, Mayor’s Media & Entertainment Commissioner
Katherine Oliver and Economic Development Corporation President Seth
Pinsky.
“Yelp’s new office is the latest proof that New York
gets five stars as a home of growing and innovative tech companies,”
said Mayor Bloomberg. “But we’re working hard to create jobs not
only in the tech sector, but also among the small businesses – from
restaurants to hardware stores to auto shops – that Yelp users
review.”
“For a company that relies on opinions and lots of
businesses, there is no better place to have an office than New York
City,” said NYC Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Using
technology, Yelp is encouraging New Yorkers to help each other to
find that new restaurant or that new gym and get out and experience
what the city has to offer. With the addition of Yelp to our city’s
growing list of tech companies, we are well on our way to making New
York City the tech capital of the world.”
“New York City is the very embodiment of
opportunity,” said Yelp co-founder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman. “We
look forward to not only continuing to expand our own presence here
but to further help New Yorkers and those visiting discover and
support the amazing independent businesses throughout the five
boroughs.”
“Businesses are continuing to show confidence in New
York City by making investments and jobs to the five boroughs,”
Deputy Mayor Steel said. “We’re thrilled to welcome Yelp and its
East Coast headquarters to the growing and vibrant tech scene in New
York City.”
“This announcement is a vote of confidence in our
City’s future, and once again confirms that New York City is
emerging as a critical hub within the global innovation economy,”
said New York City Economic Development President Pinsky. “Yelp
joins an already impressive roster of high-tech companies that have
recently established or expanded their presence in the City, and we
now look forward to working with them as they continue to prosper
right here in the five boroughs.”
“New York City is the media capital of the world and
we are doing everything we can to meet Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of
being the world’s premier digital City,” said Commissioner Katherine
Oliver. “We continue to see terrific companies like Yelp, Twitter,
and so many others opening up major New York operations and that is
a testament to the idea that you have to make it in New York.”
“Yelp is helping tens of thousands of New York City
businesses to grow and build deeper relationships with their
customers,” said Chief Digital Officer Rachel Sterne. “It is a
pleasure to welcome Yelp to New York City, and to celebrate the over
100 digital jobs they are bringing to New Yorkers. As the most
active digital consumer market in America, it’s no surprise that the
smart folks at Yelp recognize the importance of expanding their
company in New York City.”
Yelp is an online service that connects residents
with great local businesses, like restaurants, grocery stores and
pharmacies. Fueled by more than 63 million users, known as Yelpers,
and over 22 million reviews, the website provides visitors with
compressive listings of businesses and events, as well as a
five-point rating from Yelpers and useful information such as menus,
business hours and parking accessibility.
Thousands of New York businesses have already taken
advantage of Yelp’s free business tools via biz.yelp.com to engage
with customers in a more interactive way. Beyond being an important
real estate location for Yelp, one of the most frequently visited
websites on the internet, New York City is also among the most
heavily trafficked cities on Yelp, as measured by unique monthly
visitors. Millions of New Yorkers visit the site to share and view
information about local businesses and inform others about their own
experiences there.
Yelp was founded in San Francisco in July 2004.
Since then, Yelp communities have taken root in major cities across
the world, including in Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France,
Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, making it
the leading local guide for real word-of-mouth on everything from
boutiques and mechanics to restaurants and dentists. Yelp’s
award-winning mobile applications can be downloaded via yelp.com/mobile
to connect with great local businesses on the go.
This past May, Mayor Bloomberg and Chief Digital
Officer Sterne unveiled the City’s digital roadmap, a compressive
strategy that laid the ground work for tech companies to come to the
City, hire New Yorkers and thrive. The report, created in
collaboration with numerous City agencies, stakeholders in both the
public and private sector and citizens from all five boroughs,
unveiled partnerships with a range of social media companies
including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Tumblr that would allow
the City to engage with residents in a more efficient and unified
manner and provide New Yorkers the opportunity to connect with their
government using the latest advances in digital communication.
With the addition of technological giants like
Twitter and now Yelp, New York State is home to the second largest
developer population in the nation – only behind Silicon Valley in
California. Last year, the City passed Boston in the volume of
venture capital investment, and high-tech jobs have grown by 30% in
the past five years. Recently, publishing companies like Pearson and
major retailers like Uniqlo have also opened new offices and
locations within New York City. In the process, these companies –
along with Yelp – have created additional jobs for New Yorkers
across a wide range of related industries, including construction,
architecture, media and marketing.
=====================================================
OCTOBER
26
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 26, 1994, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of
Israel and Prime Minister Abdel Salam Majali of Jordan signed a
peace treaty in a ceremony attended by President Clinton.
On Oct. 26, 1911, Mahalia Jackson, the American
known as the queen of gospel singing, was born. She died Following
her death on Jan. 27, 1972.
1774 The First Continental Congress adjourned in
Philadelphia.
1825 The Erie Canal opened, connecting Lake Erie
and the Hudson River in upstate New York.
1881 Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and "Doc"
Holliday confronted Ike Clanton's gang in a gunfight at the OK
Corral in Tombstone, Ariz. Three members of Clanton's gang were
killed; Earp's brothers were wounded.
1911 Singer and civil rights activist Mahalia
Jackson, was born in New Orleans.
1962 In one of the most dramatic verbal
confrontations of the Cold War, American U.N. Ambassador Adlai
Stevenson asked his Soviet counterpart during a Security Council
debate whether the USSR had placed missiles in Cuba.
1972 National security adviser Henry Kissinger
declared "peace is at hand" in Vietnam.
1984 A newborn with a severe heart defect was
given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant in Loma
Linda, Calif. She lived for 21 more days.
1994 Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty.
2002 A hostage siege by Chechen rebels at a Moscow theater ended
with 129 of the 800-plus captives dead, most from a knockout gas
used by Russian special forces who stormed the theater.
2004 The final vote count in the Afghan
presidential election gave a resounding victory to interim leader
Hamid Karzai.
2005 The Chicago White Sox won their first World
Series since 1917 by defeating the Houston Astros 1-0 in Game 4.
2010 Mount Merapi in Indonesia began erupting,
one day after an earthquake sparked a deadly tsunami in the region.
=========================================================
OCTOBER
25
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 25, 1971, the United Nations General
Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan.
On Oct. 25, 1881, Pablo Ruiz Picasso, the
Spanish-born painter and sculptor considered the most influential
artist of the 20th century, was born. He died on April 8, 1973.
1648 The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty
Years' War and, effectively, the Holy Roman Empire.
1861 The first transcontinental telegraph message
was sent from California to President Abraham Lincoln.
1931 The George Washington Bridge, connecting New
York and New Jersey, was dedicated.
1940 The 40-hour work week went into effect in
the United States.
1945 The United Nations charter took effect.
1952 Republican presidential candidate Dwight D.
Eisenhower declared, "I shall go to Korea" as he promised to end the
conflict.
1992 The Toronto Blue Jays became the first team
outside the United States to win a World Series as they defeated the
Atlanta Braves 4-3 in Game 6.
2002 Authorities arrested Army veteran John Allen
Muhammad and teenager Lee Boyd Malvo in connection with the
Washington-area sniper attacks. Muhammad was later sentenced to
death, Malvo to life in prison.
2003 The era of supersonic jet travel came to an
end as three British Airways Concordes landed at London's Heathrow
Airport.
2005 Civil rights activist Rosa Parks died at age
92.
2007 Facebook Inc. sold a 1.6 percent stake to
Microsoft Corp. for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from
Google Inc.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011
MANHATTAN *6:45 PM Conducts Orchestra at New
York City Center’s Reopening Gala Following Historic $75 Million
Renovation New York City Center West 55th Street between Sixth and
Seventh Avenues
CITY HALL, NY.MAYOR BLOOMBERG, DEPUTY MAYOR
GIBBS, COMMISSIONERS FARLEY AND DOAR, FOOD POLICY COORDINATOR
KESSLER CELEBRATE FIRST ANNUAL FOOD DAY
City Launches NYC Food Website, Distributes
Thousands of Apples in Nationwide Celebration of Eating Real and
Healthy Food Mayor Joins Chef Mario Batali on “The Chew” to Cook
Saltimbocca alla New Yorkese
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Health
and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs, Department of Health Commissioner
Thomas A. Farley, Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert
Doar, President of the New York Apple Association Jim Allen, and
Food Policy Coordinator Kim Kessler today launched New York City’s
participation in the first annual Food Day, a nationwide celebration
of eating real and healthy food, by distributing New York State
apples to New Yorkers. Standing at the Steinway subway station in
Queens with a cart full of apples, the Mayor declared today “Eat an
Apple” Day, telling New Yorkers that eating an apple is an easy,
inexpensive way to eat healthy. In honor of the day, the New York
Apple Association donated over three thousand apples, which will be
handed out at five locations throughout New York City by NYC & Co
Street Teams. Restaurants throughout the City are also participating
with apple-themed recipes and the Department of Education is making
apples available in city public schools. To keep New Yorkers
informed about New York City programs, resources, and policies
relating to healthy eating, food systems, and food businesses the
Office of the Food Policy Coordinator also announced the new NYC
Food website.
“New Yorkers are an opinionated bunch and everyone
has a favorite way to celebrate food in our city: by enjoying a
delicious, healthy meal in one of our many restaurants, shopping for
tasty and nutritious fruits and vegetables at a farmers market, or
preparing a home-cooked meal with friends or family," said Mayor
Bloomberg. “But I think we should all agree that one easy,
affordable, and healthy step we can all take today – and every day –
is to grab a crisp New York apple. We are the Big Apple after all!”
“The City is committed to making New Yorkers
increasingly aware of how diet and exercise choices impact health,”
said Deputy Mayor Gibbs. “The new NYC Food website, which launched
today, is a critical resource that will help everyone find
information about City programs and healthy recipes – I especially
recommend my submission, a broiled salmon dish.”
`“Food Day presents an opportunity for all New
Yorkers to consider how food affects health,” said Commissioner
Farley. “Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits – like apples – and
vegetables instead of junk food like chips and soda can help keep
the doctor away. Eating healthy is an important component of
maintaining a healthy weight and keeping illness and disease at
bay.”
“The primary goal of the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program is to supplement a daily diet with nutritious
foods,” said HRA Commissioner Robert Doar. “We encourage low-income
individuals and families receiving food stamps to use their benefit
to make healthier choices. An apple, as well as other fruits and
vegetables, are especially good nutritious and economical choices.”
“Food Day is an opportunity to talk about what we
can all do to improve the health of our diets and our food system,”
said Food Policy Coordinator Kessler. “We developed the NYC Food
website to help New Yorkers learn about the resources available and
as a one stop shop where people can learn more about City food
programs and policies.”
“Apple growers in New York State are pleased to
provide these delicious home grown Empire apples to the Big Apple,”
said Jim Allen, President of the New York Apple Association. “NY
State produces 30 million bushels a year in nearby upstate orchards.
Apples are healthy, portable and tasty, offering apple lovers a
satisfying experience every time they crunch into one. New York is
Apple country with millions of local branches near you!”
Under Mayor Bloomberg, New York City has been a
leader in helping to make healthful eating easier for everyone by
implementing policies like calorie labeling and the transfat ban.
Additionally, many City programs provide healthy eating resources
for low-income New Yorkers.
These include: the Food Stamp Program (also known as
the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program); the Health Bucks
program, which provides a financial incentive for SNAP beneficiaries
to purchase fruits and vegetables in farmers markets; and nutrition
requirements for publicly financed meals in schools, after school
programs, daycare centers and senior centers.
The Health Department is also actively working
within various areas of food retail to increase access to fresh
fruits and vegetables, which can help New Yorkers maintain a healthy
weight and help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke.
In 2008, the Health Department worked with the Mayor’s Office and
the City Council to introduce a new permit for food cart vendors to
sell fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhoods,
resulting in more than 500 Green Carts operating in all five
boroughs.
In addition, the City’s Food Retail Expansion to
Support Health (FRESH) program aims to bring nutritious, affordable
fresh food to neighborhoods that do not have easy access to grocery
stores. FRESH provides zoning and financial incentives to attract
grocery store operators to set up shops in underserved communities
across the city.
And, in 2006, Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council
provided funding for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) scanners,
which were installed at numerous Greenmarkets around the City so
that SNAP recipients may use their benefit card to purchase fresh
fruits and vegetables throughout the city.
New York City has also taken steps in recent years
to reduce consumption of sugary drinks and encourage better
nutrition. The “Pouring on the Pounds” media campaign has educated
New Yorkers with subway posters, TV spots, and YouTube videos about
the adverse health effects of sugary drinks. In addition, the Health
Department has worked with over 400 community organizations,
faith-based organizations, and businesses to adopt policies and
educational campaigns, which create healthy environments by reducing
sugary drink consumption at their sites.
As a result of New York City’s focus on healthy
eating and promoting access, New Yorkers are exhibiting healthier
eating habits; the Health Department’s 2010 annual survey shows that
New Yorkers are drinking fewer sugary drinks and eating more fruits
and vegetables.
In connection with the announcement of the City’s
new food website, the Mayor’s Office is also asking New Yorkers to
share their best healthy recipes with other New Yorkers on its
Tumblr blog . The blog will have recipes from chefs like Mario
Batali and Bill Telepan, as well as New York City commissioners,
school and community cooking programs and many other New Yorkers.
To find out more about New York City’s food policies
and programs, visit www.nyc.gov. And for the latest NYC Food news,
follow @nycfood on Twitter. To support public programs promoting
nutrition and healthy eating, such as Grow to Learn: the Citywide
School Gardens Initiative and NYC Salad Bar Initiatives, contact the
Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City by calling 311.
Mayor Bloomberg and Mario Batali’s Saltimbocca alla
New Yorkese:
INGREDIENTS New York State Apple Sauce: 4 Cortland
or Empire Apples, peeled and cored 1/4 Cup Sugar 1 shot Grappa 1
pinch Cinnamon 1 Tspn Salt Juice and zest of 1 Lemon 1/4 Cup Chives,
freshly chopped
Saltimbocca alla New Yorkese: 8 Pork Cutlets, about
2 ounces each 8 Fresh Sage Leaves 8 slices Prosciutto di Parma
Flour, for dusting Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper 4 Tblspn Unsalted
Butter 1/2 Cup Dry White Wine Lemon Wedges
STEPS Quarter apples and place them in a saucepan
over medium heat with the sugar, grappa, cinnamon, salt and lemon
juice. Cook until soft and broken down, about 5-7 minutes. Remove
from heat, cover with foil and set aside. Using a meat mallet, pound
each veal slice to about 1/8-inch thick. Place 1 sage leaf and 1
slice of prosciutto on each pork cutlet and fold over to form a
sandwich, with the meat inside the prosciutto. Pound lightly with
the meat mallet, then secure with toothpicks.
In a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of
butter over high heat until it foams and subsides. Season the flour
with salt and pepper, and dredge the cutlets lightly in the flour.
Add to the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a
platter and keep warm.
Pour the wine into the pan and bring to a boil,
stirring with wooden spoon to dislodge the browned bits on the
bottom of the pan. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and
season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Return the cutlets to the pan just to reheat, place
apple sauce on a platter sprinkle with chives and then transfer the
cutlets to platter over the apple sauce, pour the sauce over, and
serve immediately, with lemon wedges.
NEW YORK. GUN TRAFFIC BUST. 5 NYPD COPS CAUGHT IN
THAT MATTER. 10/25/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
Five members of the New York City Police Department are
among a dozen people busted as part of a gun trafficking
investigation. In all, a dozen people were arrested after a
year-long sting operation. Also arrested are three retired NYPD
officers and a corrections officer from New Jersey. They're accused
of trafficking automatic rifles, illegal handguns, and slot
machines. A news conference is scheduled today to reveal the names
of all involved in this scandal.
====================================================================
OCTOBER
24
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 24, 1945, the United Nations charter took
effect.
On Oct. 24, 1915, Bob Kane, the American
cartoonist best known for creating 'Batman,' was born. He died on
Nov. 3, 1998
1861 The first transcontinental telegraph message
was sent from California to President Abraham Lincoln.
1931 The George Washington Bridge, connecting New
York and New Jersey, was dedicated.
1940 The 40-hour work week went into effect
in the United States.
1945 The United Nations charter took effect.
1952 Republican presidential candidate Dwight D.
Eisenhower declared, "I shall go to Korea" as he promised to end the
conflict.
1992 The Toronto Blue Jays became the first team
outside the United States to win a World Series as they defeated the
Atlanta Braves 4-3 in Game 6.
2002 Authorities arrested Army veteran John Allen
Muhammad and teenager Lee Boyd Malvo in connection with the
Washington-area sniper attacks. (Muhammad was later sentenced to
death, Malvo to life in prison.)
2003 The era of supersonic jet travel came to an
end as three British Airways Concordes landed at London's Heathrow
Airport.
2005 Civil rights activist Rosa Parks died at age
92.
2007 Facebook Inc. sold a 1.6 percent stake to
Microsoft Corp. for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from
Google Inc.
===============================================================
OCTOBER
23
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 23, 1983, a suicide truck-bombing at
Beirut International Airport in Lebanon killed 220 U.S. Marines, 18
sailors and 3 Army soldiers; a near-simultaneous attack on French
forces killed 58 paratroopers.
On Oct. 23, 1869, John William Heisman, the coach
who revolutionized the game of college football, was born. He died
on Oct. 3, 1936
1707 The Parliament of Great Britain, created by
the Acts of Union between England and Scotland, held its first
meeting.
1925 Comedian and talk show host Johnny Carson
was born in Corning, Iowa.
1942 Britain launched a major offensive against
Axis forces at El Alamein in Egypt during World War II.
1956 An anti-Stalinist revolt began in Hungary.
1973 President Richard M. Nixon agreed to turn
White House tape recordings requested by the Watergate special
prosecutor over to Judge John J. Sirica.
1987 The U.S. Senate rejected the Supreme Court
nomination of Robert H. Bork, 58-42.
1993 Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter
became the second player to end a World Series with a home run in an
8-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6.
1998 Dr. Barnett Slepian, a doctor who performed
abortions, was killed at his home in suburban Buffalo, N.Y., when a
sniper fired through his kitchen window.
1998 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signed a land-for-peace
agreement at the White House, following nine days of talks at Wye
River, Md.
2001 Apple Computer Inc. introduced the iPod
portable digital music player.
2002 Gunmen seized a crowded Moscow theater,
taking hundreds hostage and threatening to kill them unless the
Russian army pulled out of Chechnya.
2003 Madame Chiang Kai-shek, widow of the Chinese
nationalist leader, died in New York at age 105.
2006 Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was
sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for his role in the
company's collapse.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG’S TRIP TO ISRAEL
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL *6:30 PM Speaks at
Dedication of the William Bloomberg Jerusalem MDA Station Rehov
HaMem Gimel 7
*There will be a brief media availability.
High-resolution, downloadable photos will be available on the
Mayor’s Office Flickr page:
*8:30 PM Joins Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for
Dinner Beit Aghion 9 Smolenskin Street
*There will be a brief media availability prior to
the dinner. High-resolution, downloadable photos will be available
on the Mayor’s Office Flickr page:
============================================================
OCTOBER
22
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy
announced an air and naval blockade of Cuba, following the discovery
of Soviet missile bases on the island.
On Oct. 22, 1920, Dr. Timothy Francis Leary, the
American psychologist and writer who advocated the use psychedelic
drugs, was born. He died on May 31, 1996,
1934 Bank robber Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd was
shot to death by federal agents at a farm in East Liverpool, Ohio.
1954 West Germany joined the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
1968 Apollo 7, with astronauts Wally Schirra,
Donn Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard, returned to
Earth.
1979 The U.S. government allowed the deposed Shah
of Iran to travel to New York for medical treatment.
1981 The Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Organization was decertified by the federal government for its
strike the previous August.
2002 A bus driver was shot to death in Aspen
Hill, Md., in the 13th and final attack by the Washington-area
sniper.
2007 China's Communist Party gave President
Hu Jintao a second five-year term. 2009 Microsoft released its
Windows 7 operating system for the PC.
2010 WikiLeaks released 391,831 purported Iraq
war logs that suggested more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians had died
in the conflict.
=============================================================
OCTOBER
21
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 21, 1879, Thomas Edison invented a
workable electric light at his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J.
On Oct. 21, 1917, Dizzy Gillespie, the American
jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, was born. He died on Jan.
6, 1993
1805 A British fleet commanded by Adm. Horatio
Nelson defeated a French and Spanish fleet in the Battle of
Trafalgar; Nelson was killed in the battle.
1917 American soldiers first saw action in World
War I on the front lines in France. 1967 Tens of thousands of
Vietnam War protesters marched in Washington, D.C.
1971 President Richard M. Nixon nominated Lewis
F. Powell and William H. Rehnquist to the U.S. Supreme Court.
1975 Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk hit a
ball that struck the left field foul pole in Boston's Fenway Park
for a home run, giving the Red Sox a 7-6 victory in 12 innings over
the Cincinnati Reds in Game 6 of the World Series.
1988 Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
and his wife, Imelda, were indicted in New York on charges of fraud
and racketeering.
2002 A car packed with explosives blew up next to
a bus in northern Israel during rush hour; 14 people were killed in
addition to two suicide attackers.
2003 Invoking a hastily-passed law, Florida Gov.
Jeb Bush ordered a feeding tube reinserted into Terry Schiavo, a
brain-damaged woman at the center of a bitter right-to-die battle.
2003 The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly
approved a resolution demanding that Israel tear down a barrier
jutting into the West Bank.
NEW YORK. WALMART AND OCCUPY WALL STREET
PROTESTERS. 10/20/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This afternoon, in downtown Manhattan, hundred of opponents
to Walmart stores in the boroughs
were among the protesters of Occupy Wall Street. Workers from
Walmart joined the protesters and local elected officials to say
that the company contributes to the economic inequality that spurred
the original demonstration more than a month ago. Walmart
officials said in a statement that the company donated $730 million
to U.S. charities in 2011 and that 75 percent of Walmart managers
started as hourly workers. According to residents living in the
area,they have spent about a month dealing with the noise, smells
and other issues stemming from the demonstrations.
Demonstrators organized to clean up Zuccotti Park this morning,
saying the fall weather is making it harder for protestors to keep
their camp clean.
Demonstrators organized to clean
up Zuccotti Park this morning, saying the fall weather is making it
harder for protestors to keep their camp clean.
INTERNATIONAL
LIBYA. GADDAFI WAS KILLED IN CROSSFIRE.
=================================================================
OCTOBER
20
IN HISTORY
On This Day: October 20
On Oct. 20, 1973, in the so-called Saturday Night
Massacre, President Nixon abolished the office of special Watergate
prosecutor Archibald Cox, accepted the resignation of Attorney
General Elliot L. Richardson and fired Deputy Attorney General
William B. Ruckelshaus.
On Oct. 20, 1859, John Dewey, the influential
American philosopher, was born. He died on June 1, 1952
1803 The U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana
Purchase.
1944 Gen. Douglas MacArthur stepped ashore
at Leyte in the Philippines, 2 1/2 years after he'd said, "I shall
return."
1947 The House Un-American Activities Committee
opened hearings into alleged Communist influence in the motion
picture industry.
1964 Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the
United States, died at age 90 in New York City.
1968 Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy married
Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
1973 Special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox
and Deputy Attorney General William B. Ruckelshaus were fired and
Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson resigned in the so-called
Saturday Night Massacre.
1977 Three members of the rock band Lynyrd
Skynyrd were killed in the crash of a chartered plane near McComb,
Miss.
1979 The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and
Museum was dedicated in Boston.
1992 The host Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta
Braves 3-2 in the first World Series game played outside the United
States.
2000 Egyptian-born Ali Mohamed, a U.S. citizen
who'd served in the Army, pleaded guilty in New York to helping plan
the U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in 1998 that killed 224 people.
2009 Afghanistan's election commission ordered a
runoff in the disputed presidential poll. The runoff was later
canceled, and President Hamid Karzai proclaimed the winner.
CIY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011
BROOKLYN *10:30 AM Breaks Ground on Conversion of
Federal Building #2 Into State-of-the-Art Industrial Center 850
Third Avenue at 31st Street
MANHATTAN*12:00 Noon Presents Carnegie Medal at 2011
Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Ceremony New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
6:30 PM Attends the 66th Annual Alfred E. Smith
Memorial Foundation Dinner (FYI Only) Waldorf Astoria 301 Park
Avenue at 49th Street
ALBANY, NY. Governor Cuomo Puts Forth Port
Authority Appointments and Reorganization Plans
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that he has recommended
Patrick J. Foye to serve as Executive Director of the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and will nominate James Rubin
and Rossana Rosado to the Port Authority Board. Additionally, the
Governor is calling for the board to approve the consolidation of
the Moynihan Station Development Corporation and Lower Manhattan
Development Corporations operations into the Authority. There is no
fiscal impact to the Port Authority as a result of these changes.
Mr. Foye's recommendation is subject to the approval
of the PANYNJ Board. Current Executive Director Christopher Ward
will remain in his position until the end of October and then serve
as an advisor to the Port Authority for a transitional period
through the end of the year.
"The Port Authority must meet its potential as a
major economic engine that plans for the region and attracts
business on an international scale," Governor Cuomo said. "We must
also improve its operations and maximize the value out of every
dollar spent so that it is financially responsible and respects the
tax and toll payers."
Pat Foye said "I am honored to be recommended for
Executive Director of the Port Authority. Under Governor Cuomo's
leadership, we have begun to re-energize New York's economy and pave
the way for job growth in the state. I thank Governor Cuomo for this
opportunity and look forward to working closely with him and the
Board of Directors at the Port Authority on maintaining and
improving the New York metropolitan region's vital transportation,
infrastructure and economic development assets".
Governor Cuomo also announced the reorganization of
the operations of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation and
the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation into the Port Authority.
"Too many different agencies doing the same or
closely related work makes little sense," Governor Cuomo said. "The
Port Authority is best situated to oversee the development at
Moynihan Station and the orderly wind down of the LMDC and these
changes will consolidate responsibility within the Authority."
There is no fiscal impact to the Port Authority from
these changes. David Emil will become the Deputy Executive Director
of the PANYNJ.
Governor Cuomo also intends to nominate Rossana
Rosado and James Rubin to the Board of Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey, and Mr. Rubin's appointment as Senior Advisor for
International Competiveness at the Empire State Development
Corporation.
"With decades of work in government, finance and the
media, James Rubin is a true national leader in international
economic affairs," Governor Cuomo said. "He will bring a
knowledgeable and experienced voice to designing a program that
enhances New York's role as the gateway for global commerce, and a
center for the international business community."
"Rossana Rosado has served the people of New York,
and particularly our Latino communities, with a dedication and
vision," Governor Cuomo said. "Her 13 years of experience as
Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of El Diaro La Prensa have
highlighted her ability to communicate effectively with all New
Yorkers. These skills will serve the Port Authority well as it
continues to improve the lives of New Yorkers and our neighbors."
James Rubin said, "The Port Authority can and should
serve as an engine of international trade for the New York region.
The state needs a renewed effort to grow jobs and increase global
investment in New York and that will be my project."
Rossana Rosado said "I am thrilled by the
opportunity Governor Cuomo has given me to serve our communities in
this new role. The Port Authority can have a positive impact in the
lives of our residents, and it will be my pleasure to further the
significant benefits that it provides, both now and in the future."
Mr. Foye is currently the Governor's Deputy
Secretary of Economic Development, a role in which he manages the
state's initiatives for economic recovery, investment, and job
creation, and oversees the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC).
Previously, Mr. Foye was Deputy County Executive for Nassau County
Executive Edward Mangano. Mr. Foye has also served as a board member
of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), representing
Nassau County. Mr. Foye was one of only two MTA board members who in
2010 voted against fare increases- the third in three years. Prior
to working for Nassau County, Mr. Foye was the downstate chief of
ESDC for former Governor Eliot Spitzer as well as Vice Chair of the
Long Island Power Authority. Mr. Foye was a partner at Skadden Arps
and practiced law in New York, Brussels, Budapest, and Moscow and
was a senior member of the management team of a S&P 500 REIT for six
years. Mr. Foye also served as President and CEO of the United Way
of Long Island for three years.
Mr. Rubin is currently President of the Atlantic
Partnership. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Rubin served as Executive Editor
of Bloomberg View, the opinion section of Bloomberg News, and
adjunct professor of international affairs at Columbia University's
School of International and Public Affairs. Mr. Rubin served under
President Clinton as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
and Chief Spokesman for the State Department from 1997 to May 2000.
He was also a top policy adviser to Secretary of State Madeleine K.
Albright and acted as a special negotiator during the Kosovo war to
secure the demobilization of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Mr. Rubin
was also a Visiting Professor of International Relations at the
London School of Economics from 2001-2004; a partner in the
Brunswick Group – a financial advisory firm – from 2001-2004; and in
2002 and 2003, the host of the PBS series Wide Angle, a primetime,
weekly international affairs program.
Ms. Rosado has over twenty five years in the New
York media industry. Since 1999 she has served as the Publisher and
Chief Executive Officer of El Diario La Prensa - the nation's oldest
Spanish-language newspaper. She is also the first woman to serve in
this position. Prior to joining El Diario in 1995 as
Editor-in-Chief, Ms. Rosado was the Vice President for Public
Affairs at the Health & Hospitals Corporation for the City of New
York and continued to serve there under both the Dinkins and
Giuliani administrations. She was also chosen to assist the
transition teams for the Bloomberg and Spitzer transitions. From
1988 to 1995, Ms. Rosado was a public affairs programming producer
at WPIX, where she became sole producer of daily program "Best Talk
in Town." In 1992, Ms. Rosado won an Emmy for her public service
campaign "Care for Kids." Ms. Rosado first joined El Diario in 1983
as a City Hall Reporter upon graduating from Pace University with a
degree in Journalism. She is currently a member of the Pace
University Board of Trustees.
Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of Partnership for
New York City said, "Governor Cuomo's choice of Pat, James and
Rossana, demonstrates his administration's commitment to improving
New York's infrastructure and economic development. Having worked
with Pat on a number of projects, I have had the opportunity to
witness the experience and knowledge he brings to the table. I am
confident that these appointments will help lead the Port Authority
into a new era of fiscal responsibility and efficiency. This group's
management skills are exactly what we need to put New York on the
path to economic recovery."
Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and
Construction Trades Council of Greater New York said "On behalf of
the affiliated unions of the Building and Construction Trades
Council of Greater New York and the 100,000 working men and women we
represent, we commend Governor Cuomo for his appointment of Pat Foye
to serve as executive director of The Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey. We and others in the business community have worked with
Pat and are confident that he will bring competent and practical
management to The Port Authority's vital role in maintaining and
expanding our regional transportation assets and completing the
rebuilding of the World Trade Center site. We look forward to
continuing to work with Pat to keep critical projects on track and
assure that public resources are invested to maximize economic
growth and job creation."
Robert Yaro, President of Regional Plan Association
said, "I commend Governor Cuomo on nominating Pat to the Port
Authority. He will bring public and private sector experience to the
Port Authority, increasing its efficiency and productivity. An
agency as complex as the Authority requires experienced managers who
will balance the needs of the organization with the fiscal situation
in New York. Pat and his team have the necessary credentials to
ensure that the Port Authority will become a driving force in New
York's economic development."
Steve Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of
New York said, "The Governor has made it clear that creating jobs is
his top priority. The Port Authority plays an essential role in New
York's economic development and infrastructure, and Governor Cuomo
is making sure that it will be able to produce the best results for
the people of this state. Pat Foye and the rest of the team are
excellent additions to the Authority's team. Pat's extensive
management experience and keen knowledge of New York's fiscal make
him especially suited for transforming the Port Authority into an
economic engine."
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, "Today's
nomination of Pat Foye to lead the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey comes at a critical time in New York's history. There are
many important projects throughout the region that can be advanced
through strong leadership, and Senate Republicans stand ready to
work with Governor Cuomo's team to promote regional economic
development throughout New York. Pat Foye has worked for county
executives and Governors, and has decades of public and private
sector experience. I wish him great success in this new role."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "The Port
Authority is an integral part of the redevelopment of downtown, and
I look forward to working with Pat Foye as we continue the progress
we have made in rebuilding my lower Manhattan community. Pat has a
strong economic development record and I know we will work well
together to complete the redevelopment of the World Trade Center
site."
NEW YORK. INVESTIGATION OF NYPD STOP AND FRISK
POLICY. 10/20/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This policy had been criticized a lot by Blacks and
Hispanics civilian living or visiting New York. Following the arrest
of NYPD cop Michael Daragjati charged with falsely arresting a
black man on Staten Island after a stop-and-frisk, leading officials
to rally Wednesday against the NYPD's policy, Federal prosecutors
charge Daragjati with falsely arresting a black man on Staten Island
after a stop-and-frisk. He allegedly used a racial slur in a phone
conversation that was wiretapped. The case has city leaders at odds
over whether abuses of stop-and-frisk are few and far between or
widespread. According to City Councilman Jumaane Williams, ""This is
more than one apple. How many bad apples does it take to make a
bushel?"
Some leaders are calling on the Department of
Justice to investigate the New York City Police Department's
stop-and-frisk policy, but the mayor said that's not necessary.
"You can get tired of everybody finding something
wrong with everything," said Bloomberg. "We’ve got to help the
police department keep the city safe, rather than just say oh, well,
I don’t like the look that guy gave me or whatever the minor
complaint is."
The federal complaint says Officer Daragjati
violated the civil rights of the man he arrested. The complaint also
says the officer lied by saying the man had resisted arrest. He
wound up behind bars for more than a day. According to NYPD records,
more than 360,000 people were stopped and frisked by officers during
the first six months of this year. Eighty-four percent of them were
black or Latino. Nearly 90 percent of all people stopped were let go
without being arrested or ticketed. "That’s one of the techniques
they use to bring down crime. We go to every effort possible to make
sure we comply with all the laws," said Bloomberg.
"Mayor Bloomberg is showing no leadership on this
issue. The commissioner is showing no leadership on this issue,"
said Williams. "We must demand reform. It cannot just be the
African-American and Hispanic brothers and sisters in this city who
will join with us,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
“People who look like me must join as a real coalition." In 2000,
the U.S. Civil Rights Commission said racial profiling did play a
role in stop-and-frisk procedures.
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. ADMINISTRATORS CLEARED OF
EXTORTION.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
.A criminal probe has cleared two top Miami Beach administrators
of trying to pressure the New World Symphony for free tickets.
The public corruption unit of the Miami-Dade State
Attorney’s Office closed a months-long investigation Tuesday,
declining to pursue charges of extortion, unlawful compensation,
exploitation of official position or illegal solicitation of a gift
against City Manager Jorge Gonzalez and Assistant City Manager Hilda
Fernandez. The two longtime Beach administrators were accused early
this year of withholding a $15 million reimbursement grant owed to
the symphony while demanding tickets to every performance at the
symphony’s new, state-of-the-art South Beach headquarters..
In a three-page closeout memo, Chief Assistant State
Attorney Jose J. Arrojo wrote that it is possible Gonzalez and
Fernandez violated a county law prohibiting public officials from
“soliciting or demanding any gift” by requesting symphony tickets
for themselves, legal staff and commissioners as part of a public
benefits package linked to the city’s investment in the project. But
he said that a long-standing city of Miami Beach policy of
negotiating tickets from companies that run city facilities or
venues that receive city dollars would make a criminal case
difficult to prove. The policy was condoned in 1992 by the Florida
Commission on Ethics, and a city resolution passed the following
year said the tickets were intended to filter down to the needy.
“Certainly, this reliance on past practice,
commission policy, and the state ethics opinion make it highly
improbable that the prosecution could assess or establish proof of
criminal intent on the part of any of the city participants to these
ticket solicitation or receipt transactions,” Arrojo explained.
Gonzalez and Fernandez said the result of the case “is exactly what
we expected.”
“We’ve always maintained that there was no
wrongdoing, whether direct, indirect or perceived,” Gonzalez said.
“We were just pursuing the policies of the city of Miami Beach.”
The allegations against Gonzalez and Fernandez
surfaced after the January opening of the symphony’s critically
acclaimed, Frank Gehry-designed South Beach concert hall and
headquarters, which was built with the help of public land and
financing. In 2007, after costs of the project spiked from $40
million to $150 million, Miami Beach commissioners promised a $15
million grant to be paid after the completion of the symphony’s
building. In return for the city’s help, the symphony committed to
providing a public benefit, such as discounts for city residents and
the free Wallcasts of symphony performances on the New World
Center’s facade.
According to Arrojo, the probe was launched after
Neisen Kasdin, chairman of the symphony’s board of directors and a
former Miami Beach mayor, alleged that Fernandez and Gonzalez
demanded 26 tickets to every event at the New World Center and four
tickets to the symphony’s gala fundraising event, worth $2,500 a
piece. Kasdin said the demands came from Fernandez during a Jan. 26
conversation outside the New World Center. Gonzalez and Fernandez
remain adamant that the request for tickets was simply a part of
standard negotiations supported by a state ethics opinion, though
Arrojo had questions about the policy even while closing the case.
“The opinion,” he wrote, “does not address the
question of whether tickets may be demanded by officials as a
condition of releasing city funds on an existing city project.”
Miami Beach released the $15 million grant to the symphony in March
without receiving any promise of tickets. “We worked out our issue
with the city,” said Kasdin, who declined to discuss the
investigation.
Arrojo suggested the city review its ticket policy,
and the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics continues to review the
case. But Gonzalez said his understanding is that their efforts are
now focused on the city’s ticket policy rather than himself or
Fernandez. “The matter, as far as I’m concerned, is over,” he said.
INTERNATIONAL BREAKING NEWS
LYBYA'S MUAMMAR GADDAFI REPORTED DEAD IN
SIRTE
GREECE. CLASHES AT MASS RALLY OVER GREECE
AUSTERITY.
===========================================================
OCTOBER
19
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 19, 1987, the stock market crashed as the
Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6 percent in
value - its second biggest percentage drop.
On Oct. 19, 1885, Charles E. Merrill, the
American investment banker who helped create the largest brokerage
firm in the United States, was born. He died on Oct. 6, 1956,
1812 French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte began
a retreat from Moscow.
1944 The Navy announced that black women would be
allowed into the WAVES Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency
Service.
1950 United Nations forces entered the North
Korean capital of Pyongyang.
1960 The United States imposed an embargo on
exports to Cuba.
1969 Vice President Spiro T. Agnew referred to
anti-Vietnam War protesters "an effete corps of impudent snobs."
2003 Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa
during a ceremony in St. Peter's Square.
2004 Insurgents in Iraq abducted Margaret Hassan,
the local director of CARE International, from her car in Baghdad.
Hassan was later slain by her captors.
2005 A defiant Saddam Hussein pleaded innocent to
charges of premeditated murder and torture at his trial in Baghdad.
2006 The Dow Jones industrial average closed
above 12,000 for the first time, finishing the day at 12,011.73.
2008 Retired Gen. Colin Powell, a Republican who
was President George W. Bush's first secretary of state, broke with
the party and endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2011
STATEN ISLAND *1:30 PM Announces Selection of the
City’s First ‘Innovative Senior Centers’ with Deputy Mayor Gibbs and
Aging Commissioner Lilliam Barrios-Paoli Joan and Alan Bernikow
Jewish Community Center of Staten Island 1466 Manor Road between
Brielle and Rockland Avenues
ALBANY, NY. Governor Cuomo Announces $39 Million
Investment by InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Printer-friendly version
Expansion of Suffolk County Pharmaceutical Company Will Create and
Retain Nearly 700 Jobs October 18, 2011
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that
InvaGen Pharmaceuticals Inc., will invest $39 million to expand its
operations in Suffolk County, creating 350 new jobs and retaining
330 current employees over the next five years.
InvaGen will utilize $1.8 million in Excelsior Jobs
Program tax credits from Empire State Development (ESD) to offset
some of the cost of their planned investment in a new facility in
Central Islip. The Town of Islip Industrial Development Agency is
also providing $3,529,280 in property tax abatements and $105,000 in
mortgage recording tax savings and $172,500 in sales tax exemptions
for a total of $3.8 million in assistance over the next 9 years. The
new 250,000 square foot location will accommodate the company’s
growing need for expanded manufacturing and research and development
space.
"Creating 350 new jobs on Long Island is a real
victory for the local economy and a clear sign New York is rapidly
becoming a place for business growth and success," Governor Cuomo
said.
President of InvaGen, Sudhakar Rao Vidiyala, Ph.D.,
said, “Invagen Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a dynamic company with great
prospects for development and success. It has experienced
significant growth on Long Island, and it is pleased that its
partnership with Empire State Development and the Town of Islip
Industrial Development Agency will permit it to acquire a new
facility and expand its research and production of pharmaceutical
products here. The company believes that there are no limits to what
it will accomplish once the new building becomes fully operational.”
InvaGen, a manufacturer of generic prescription
pharmaceuticals which currently operates out of three locations in
Suffolk County, will expand its Long Island presence, outfitting its
newest facility with state-of-the-art machinery and equipment. This
investment will allow the company to enhance and expedite its
production and distribution to retail suppliers, including Camber
Pharma and West-Ward Pharma. In addition to retaining 330 good
paying jobs, InvaGen will create 350 new jobs over a period of five
years.
Empire State Development President, CEO &
Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership,
we are creating a better business environment that will result in
more jobs for New Yorkers. This project represents another key
building block in the foundation of a stronger economy that works
for New Yorkers.”
Senator Lee M. Zeldin said, “This welcomed
investment by InvaGen Pharmaceuticals will create much needed jobs
here on Long Island. In this difficult economy, creating jobs and
keeping them here in our local communities is precisely the way to
put this state back on the path to prosperity. These new jobs will
be a major benefit to the Central Islip community and I am very
pleased that InvaGen chose this location to open its new facility. I
also would like to applaud Ken Adams of the Empire State Development
Corp. for his continued leadership and sharp business minded focus.”
Assemblyman Philip Ramos said, “In our current
economy, we need all the good economic development news we can get.
Today’s announcement that 350 new jobs are coming to Central Islip
is proof that our efforts to improve our community and attract new
opportunities are paying off. My focus is on jobs, and I’ll keep
working to help companies like InvaGen Pharmaceuticals create the
type of good-paying jobs Central Islip working families need and
deserve.”
Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan said, “This project
is an outstanding success for the Town of Islip, as it will retain
and create nearly 700 jobs. I am proud that we were able to work so
quickly with InvaGen and Empire State Development to ensure that in
these tough times, a high-tech company, with good-paying jobs, chose
to build their facility right here in our community. I am
particularly happy to welcome InvaGen to Central Islip, which is
known to have a high-quality workforce.”
Before accepting the incentive package developed by
ESD to maintain and expand its operations in New York State, InvaGen
was offered an incentive package to relocate to New Jersey, but the
package from ESD and the Islip IDA spurred the company to remain on
Long Island. InvaGen’s investment maintains and grows jobs in a
strategic location and shows confidence in the area’s highly skilled
workforce.
Under the terms of the Excelsior Jobs Program, tax
credits are only extended after job creation requirements are met,
and if the company falls short of their agreed-upon employment goal,
the tax credits will not be extended. ESD expects to extend tax
benefits for ten years, beginning with the groundbreaking of the
project in 2012 or 2013 and to be completed by 2022.
InvaGen is only the latest in a string of
pharmaceutical companies choosing to invest in the area. The
pharmaceutical sector is a part of the larger biomedical industry,
which is more robust on Long Island than elsewhere in New York State
and consistently growing. According to information from the New York
State Department of Labor (DOL) as of the second quarter of 2010,
employment in Pharmaceutical Preparation manufacturing was up 42%,
compared with the second quarter of 2000. In terms of research and
development in the physical, engineering and life sciences, as of
the second quarter of 2010, there were 96 firms on Long Island,
employing 8,000 people with an average weekly wage of $1452.
BROOKLYN, NY. NYPD ANNOUNCED SECOND ARREST IN SEX
ASSAULT. 10/18/11
By Jacques Duseck NTS NEWS
NYPD announced Tuesday that a second man was charged in
connection with a highly publicized string of sexual assaults across
Brooklyn. A certain Joshua Flecha, 32, of Astoria, Queens is facing
forcible touching and sexual abuse charges. He was later picked out
of a lineup at the Brooklyn Special Victims Unit by an alleged
victim who said she was groped outside the Ninth Street subway
station in Park Slope back on May 7.Another suspect, Adolfo
Martinez, 26, was arrested last week and charged with forcible
touching and sexual abuse.His arrest stems from an incident on
October 10 on 39th Street. Police say they believe several different
suspects are responsible. They are distributing wanted posters
around the borough and offer a $12,000 reward for information.
HARLEM, NY. INDICTMENT IN KILLING OF BASKETBALL
STAR MURPHY 10/18/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
On Tuesday, three men were indicted in Manhattan court in
connection with last month's shooting death of a high school
basketball star in Harlem Tyshawn Brockington, 21 and Robert
Cartagena, 20, are charged with second-degree murder in the shooting
of Tayshana Murphy. A third defendant, Terique Collins, 24, is
charged with giving them the gun. NYPD say Murphy was hanging out
with a group of people in front of the Grant Houses early in the
morning on September 11 when the defendants began chasing them and
shot her. The 18-year-old victim was ranked as one of the top female
point guards in the country.
MIAMI, FLA. MURDER CONVICT DEXTER DAVIS RELEASED
BY MISTAKE. 10/18/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
Detective Henry Payoute happened to be driving past
the Miami jail and noticed a man resembling Davis walking down the
street.The detective called the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Minutes later they all realized DexterDavis, 36, had been released
from jail in error, prosecutors said. A judge issued an arrest
warrant on an escape charge. Davis’ sentencing on the
attempted-murder conviction had been set for Dec. 9 in front of
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Daryl Trawick. A corrections spokeswoman,
Janelle Hall, said Tuesday that an internal affairs investigation
will determine how jailers accidentally released him from the
facility.
Another embarrassment came in December 2005, when a serial rapist
escaped from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center by
shimmying down a rope of bed sheets.
Miami-Dade Corrections Director Tim Ryan noted Tuesday that the
department correctly releases tens of thousands of inmates each year
with no incident. Still, he said: “Our apologies to the court and to
the community.”
Davis’ accidental release may stem from separate
notations on his jail card, a record kept for each inmate. The card
notes that Davis was convicted of burglary with assault and
attempted murder, with his sentencing court date due in December.
“We are looking at how the jail card was interpreted and we are
going to give a very serious look during our investigation,”
Director Ryan said.
ATLANTA, GA. FORMER COP DONALD BRISTOL SENTENCED
FOR CORRUPTION.
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS
Donald Bristol,41, pleaded guilty in July to charges
of helping others hide a stolen vehicle, unlawfully accessing a
government database and lying to federal agents. During
Bristol’s tenure as a police officer, he violated the laws that he
had sworn to enforce. This sentence should serve as a stark reminder
that no one is above the law," U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates
said in a news release. In April 2010, Bristol used his
position as a police officer to help two defendants conceal the fact
that they possessed a stolen car, authorities said. Bristol also
illegally accessed a law enforcement database to provide his
associates information about criminal histories and existing
warrants, federal prosecutors said. Bristol also made false
statements to federal agents when asked about his involvement in the
case, according to a 10-count federal indictment handed up May 25.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL
DEBATE ON CNN.
Republican presidential hopefuls have clashed sharply in their
latest televised debate in the state of Nevada. Former pizza
magnate Herman Cain - who has jumped in the polls despite having
never won an election - came under heavy fire for his 9-9-9 tax
plan.
The fiercest exchange was between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry on
immigration. All are vying for the Republican nomination to
challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in 2012. Tuesday night's
CNN debate took place in Las Vegas, in a repossession-wracked state
with an unemployment rate of 13.4%, the highest in the US.
Mr Cain's signature proposal for a 9% personal income tax, a 9%
corporate tax and a 9% national sales tax immediately came under
attack from all sides.
It was Perry that Romney may have bruised the
most - Perry over-stretched himself in his accusations and the
audience didn't like it ” Ex-Massachusetts Governor Romney,
who has found himself in a dead-heat with Mr Cain in recent opinion
polls, told him "middle-income people see higher taxes under your
plan".
Long-shot candidate Rick Santorum, a former
Pennsylvania senator, cited one analysis suggesting that 84% of
Americans would pay more taxes under Mr Cain's plan. Mr Cain said
the proposal was only being criticized because lobbyists,
accountants and others benefited from the current tax code.
The contenders next took aim at the healthcare
scheme Mr Romney implemented as governor of Massachusetts. President
Obama has said Mr Romney's plan was a model for his 2010 healthcare
overhaul - which conservatives are determined to repeal.
Texas Governor Perry and Mr Santorum both took aim
at Mr Romney on healthcare, with Mr Santorum saying: "You just don't
have credibility, Mitt." With Nevada having the highest
unemployment rate and largest number of house repossessions in
country, a debate here was always going to focus on the economy.
Herman Cain has led some recent polls, and with all
the attention he's had on his simple if unproven plan for tax
reform, everyone was gunning for him in Las Vegas. "You're mixing up
your apples and your oranges," was the rather confusing way he
defended his plan as the other six candidates picked holes in his
argument.
Mitt Romney and previous frontrunner Rick Perry got
into a shouting contest, talking over each other. Michelle Bachmann
promised to build a double-wall along the length of the Mexico
border and demand that Iraq and Libya pay back America for
liberating them.
While the candidates battled it out between them,
Las Vegas did what it does - people kept on trying to win their way
out of recession. Whether they put everything on red and vote
Republican next year still depends on who the party chooses, and
that's still a lottery. Newt Gingrich, a former Speaker of the House
of Representatives, also piled into Mr Romney, saying: "There's a
lot of big government behind Romneycare."
Mr Santorum and Mr Romney shouted over each other,
with the latter repeating that he wanted to repeal the Obama plan.
But the most heated clash was between Mr Perry and Mr Romney over
immigration.
Mr Perry said: "Mitt, you lose all of your standing,
from my perspective, because you hired illegals in your home and you
knew about it for a year." He charged Mr Romney with "the height of
hypocrisy".
The Texas governor was referring to a Boston Globe
story from 2007 reporting that a gardening firm hired by Mr Romney
had employed illegal immigrants.
Mr Romney - who has struggled to energise the
party's conservative base despite polls showing he is the Republican
with the best chance of beating President Obama - strongly denied
the allegation. A ruffled Mr Romney appealed to debate moderator
Anderson Cooper to stop Mr Perry interrupting, telling his rival:
"You have a problem with letting other people speak." "It's been a
tough couple of debates for Rick, and I understand that," Mr Romney
said of Mr Perry, who has suffered from patchy performances at the
podium and on the campaign trail.
"Texas has had a 60% increase in illegal immigrants.
If there's someone who has a record as governor with regards to
illegal immigration that doesn't stand up to muster, it's you, not
me," said Mr Romney.
Meanwhile, Representative Michele Bachmann launched
a personal attack on President Obama over immigration. Herman Cain
was forced to defend his 9-9-9 tax reform plan from heavy attack She
said it was the president who had the immigration problem because of
"his uncle and his aunt, who have been allowed to stay in this
country despite the fact that they're illegal".
Mr Romney then put Mr Perry on the defensive over an
evangelical pastor with ties to the Texas governor who criticized
Mormonism. "The idea that we should choose people, based on their
religion, for public office is what I find to be most troubling,"
said Mr Romney, a Mormon. Mr Perry replied that he did not agree
with what the preacher had said. The Texas governor also suggested
the US should consider "defending" the United Nations, citing its
recent acceptance of a Palestinian application for membership.
Texas Representative Ron Paul meanwhile urged
slashing defence spending, suggesting not just that the US should
have fewer overseas military bases, but that it ought to cut all
foreign aid, including to Israel.
Ex-Utah Governor Jon Huntsman boycotted the debate
after Nevada defied national Republicans by rescheduling its contest
to pick the party's nominee, creating a logjam in next year's
campaign calendar.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
SOMALIA. HOSTAGE MARIE DEDIEU DIES IN SOMALIA.
TURKEY. 26 TURKISH SOLDIERS KILLE BY KURDISH
REBELS.
UNITED NATIONS
KOREA. NEW UN FACILITY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OPENS.
=============================================================
OCTOBER
18
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 18, 1968, the United States Olympic
Committee suspended two black athletes, Tommie Smith and John
Carlos, for giving a "black power" salute as a protest during a
victory ceremony in Mexico City.
On Oct. 18, 1919, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the
prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984,
was born. He died on Sept. 28, 2000
On Oct. 18, 1968, the United States Olympic
Committee suspended two black athletes, Tommie Smith and John
Carlos, for giving a "black power" salute as a protest during a
victory ceremony in Mexico City. Go to article » On Oct. 18, 1919,
Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada from 1968 to
1979 and from 1980 to 1984, was born.
1685 King Louis XIV of France revoked the Edict
of Nantes, which had established the legal toleration the Protestant
Huguenots.
1867 The United States took possession of Alaska
from Russia.
1892 The first long distance telephone line
between Chicago and New York was opened.
1898 The American flag was raised in Puerto Rico
shortly before Spain formally relinquished control of the island to
the United States.
1931 Inventor Thomas Alva Edison died at age 84.
1968 The U.S. Olympic Committee suspended two
black athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, for giving a "black
power" salute as a protest during a victory ceremony in Mexico City.
1977 Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees hit
three home runs to lead New York to an 8-4 victory over the Los
Angeles Dodgers in the deciding Game 6 of the World Series.
1982 Former first lady Bess Truman died in
Independence, Mo., at age 97.
1989 Erich Honecker was ousted as leader of East
Germany.
2001 Four defendants were convicted in New York
for the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa.
2007 Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
returned to Pakistan, ending eight years of self-imposed exile.
PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2011
MANHATTAN *10:30 AM Speaks at the TechStars NYC Demo
Day Cedar Lake 547 West 26th Street between 10th and 11th Avenue
11:30 AM Speaks at Planting of 500,000th Tree in
Million Trees NYC Saint Nicholas Park 135th Street at Saint Nicholas
Avenue
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSIONER SADIK-KHAN ANNOUNCE NEW DIGITAL SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE
IMPACT OF CONSTRUCTION ON CITY ROADS
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Transportation
Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today announced a new digital
program to reduce the impact of construction on city roads by better
coordinating utility and private construction company work. The
online program – called the Street Works Manual – is the City’s most
far-reaching effort to improve coordination among utility companies,
contractors and agencies to minimize the number of times streets are
dug up, reducing congestion and extending the life of resurfacing
projects. The Department of Transportation has already enhanced its
permit and inspection procedures and now can issue 90 percent of all
permits electronically, with most permits issued within just one or
two days of an application. In Fiscal Year 2011, the department
issued nearly 265,000 permits for work in city streets by utilities,
construction companies and contractors. The Mayor made the
announcement on Skillman Avenue in Queens, where recent Con Edison
work was coordinated with a City road resurfacing project, combining
the two projects and eliminating the need for the road to be dug up
twice. The Mayor was joined at the announcement by State Senator
Michael Gianaris, City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Con Edison
Vice President for Government Relations John Banks and National Grid
New York President Ken Daly.
“We’re going to improve something that’s aggravated
New Yorkers since we’ve had paved roads – streets getting torn up,
repaved, and then sometimes getting torn up all over again for
another project,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’ve designed a new online
program to improve coordination of street projects, keeping more
streets open for traffic and cutting costs. Utility companies and
contractors will coordinate their work with the City, to ensure, for
example, that non-emergency repair work does not start a month after
a road was resurfaced or a month after another utility was working
in the same location.”
“Many New Yorkers have experienced the frustration
of watching work crews tear up a street that’s just been repaved,”
said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “The streets are the foundation for
the city’s infrastructure and this landmark agreement will help
reduce the toll of construction on our streets and keep them open
for business.”
“Creating jobs means removing impediments to
economic growth like congestion,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic
Development Robert K. Steel. “By getting our utility and
construction companies on the same page, we can reduce road work and
move people and goods through the city move efficiently, helping to
ensure New York remains the world’s premier city to conduct
business.”
“For too long, New Yorkers have been plagued with
excessive roadwork, congestion and noise due to a lack of
coordination between utilities, city agencies and construction
companies,” said Senator Michael Gianaris. “This new process will
improve quality of life by streamlining work so that several
projects are completed at once, reducing the many aggravations
resulting from redundant and seemingly endless street construction.”
“I commend the Mayor and the Department of
Transportation for working to better coordinate milling and repaving
with other necessary street work,” said Council Member Van Bramer.
“We need our roads paved and clear of potholes and we should do all
we can to mitigate the number of times a street is ripped up for
work by other agencies.”
“All of our 14,000 employees work hard every day to
deliver reliable electric, gas and steam service to New Yorkers,”
said Marc Huestis, Con Edison vice president for construction. “This
information exchange initiative promises to be a valuable tool for
improving how we coordinate and deliver better service to our
customers and the communities in which they live.”
“National Grid is happy to be a part of the Street
Works Manual initiative,” said Ken Daly, President National Grid for
New York. “National Grid is focused on delivering low cost service
to our customers, while investing and modernizing our gas
infrastructure and supporting the growth of our local communities.
We always strive to work closely with other utilities and agencies
to coordinate our infrastructure improvement projects to minimize
the cost and impact to our communities and customers. The new Street
Works manual is a useful tool to help us work even more efficiently
through smart planning to improve the quality of our city streets.”
The manual formalizes agreements made with the
utility industry to share information on which streets are scheduled
to be dug up for construction or utility work, giving other
utilities the opportunity to make repairs to their infrastructure
before the street is resurfaced. Street excavation permits,
resurfacing schedules and utilities’ project schedules will now be
shared and updated regularly on www.nyc.gov, including online maps
showing which streets are scheduled for upcoming work.
The City has started posting information about
capital projects underway or in planning across all City agencies
via the online NYCityMap on www.nyc.gov. Utility and other companies
can now see if other projects are planned and, under the new
agreement, contact the City to coordinate street-related work either
at the same time or in tandem, rather than re-excavating and
re-surfacing streets. The maps also display “Protected Streets” –
roads that have been recently resurfaced and require both a higher
permitting fee and stricter restoration requirements if a utility
plans to do work there.
The new protocol also includes increased fines for
digging up or closing streets without a permit and stronger
incentives for collaboration and coordination. The fine for opening
a non-protected street without a permit was nearly doubled to
$1,500, while the fine for opening a Protected Street without a
permit was increased by nearly to $1,800. These steps will reduce
unauthorized street work and offer stronger incentives for
coordination between City government and the private sector.
ALBANY, NY GOVERNOR CUOMO APPOINTED CARL MC CALL
CHAIRMAN OF SUNY BOARD OF TRUST.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the appointment of H. Carl
McCall to serve as chairman of the State University of New York (SUNY)
Board of Trustees.
"Carl McCall will bring decades of experience in
public service to the helm of the SUNY Board of Trustees," Governor
Cuomo said. "His extensive financial background makes him the
perfect leader for the Board as SUNY helps drive New York's economic
development. I look forward to working with Carl and the SUNY
trustees to maintain the access and affordability of our public
universities, while building these schools into national leaders in
research and innovation, which attract high-paying jobs to the
Empire State."
Carl McCall has served on the SUNY Board of Trustees
since 2007 and currently chairs both the SUNY Finance and
Administration Committee and the State University Construction Fund.
From 1993 to 2002 Mr. McCall served as Comptroller of the State of
New York, where as Chief Fiscal Officer of the state, he was
responsible for governmental and financial oversight and pension
fund management.
Previously, Mr. McCall served three terms as a New
York State Senator representing the upper Manhattan district of New
York City. He has also served as an Ambassador to the United
Nations, Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, and as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human
Rights. From 1985 to 1993, Mr. McCall served as a Vice President of
Citibank. He also served as President of the New York City Board of
Education from 1991 to 1993, where he set policy for the largest
school system in the nation. Mr. McCall was educated at Dartmouth
College, Andover Newton Theological Seminary and the University of
Edinburgh. He is the recipient of nine honorary degrees.
Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said: "Our
state university system is at the heart of our efforts to build a
new, high-tech economy and create new jobs in every region of the
state. Carl McCall has the experience and leadership abilities to
help us expand SUNY's mission as an economic engine for the state,
while it provides first-class higher education. I commend Governor
Cuomo on this outstanding appointment."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "I have worked
with Carl McCall for many years and can attest to his commitment and
dedication to seeing SUNY provide a top quality education to our
students while also serving as an engine in the State's economic
recovery. He succeeds Carl Hayden, someone I have long admired and
who championed the state university system during tough fiscal times
but who still recognized the value of our higher educational system.
Maintaining SUNY's affordability and status as a leading institution
of public education has always been among my top priorities and I
thank Governor Cuomo for selecting Carl as chairman of the SUNY
Board of Trustees."
SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said, "I commend
Governor Cuomo for selecting Carl McCall to lead the SUNY Board of
Trustees. I have worked closely with Carl over the past years to
make SUNY a driver of economic growth in New York State. He has the
experience needed to continue forging bonds in the private and
public sector that bring together economic development and higher
education to create jobs across the state. Governor Cuomo has worked
hard to make sure SUNY will become a global leader in research and
innovation, and I look forward to our continued work together."
SUNY Student Assembly President Kaitlyn Beachner
said, "As a dedicated public servant and as a member of the SUNY
Board, Carl McCall has been a leading advocate to keep our
university system accessible and affordable to all. Governor Cuomo
has made reforming and strengthening the SUNY system a top priority
of his administration, and we are pleased that he has chosen Mr.
McCall, who has the experience and vision needed to build SUNY into
a national leader in higher education. We look forward to working
with this new chairman in his efforts to improve higher education on
behalf of all SUNY students."
Senator Kenneth LaValle, Chair of the Senate Higher
Education Committee, said, "I am pleased that Governor Cuomo has
selected Carl McCall, who I have known and worked with for many
years, to lead the SUNY Board of Trustees. Carl's decades of
experience in public service and understanding of public education
will be invaluable in this position. His work was key to the
development and passage of SUNY 2020 and I know he will work to
develop and improve SUNY for students, local communities, and the
entire state, while ensuring it remains affordable and accessible to
all. I look forward to working with Carl and commend Governor Cuomo
for this appointment. Together, we will continue to build SUNY into
a leading driver of New York's economic growth."
Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Chair of the Assembly
Higher Education Committee, said, "I've long respected the full
breadth of Carl McCall's capabilities and am thrilled that we will
have his attention focused on the State university system. I look
forward to working more closely with him than I have in the past."
Assemblyman Karim Camara, Chairman of the New York
State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus,
said, "H. Carl McCall has a distinguished career with a long held
commitment to education. His service as head of the New York City
Board of Education is well complemented by his record during his
tenure as New York State Comptroller. Governor Cuomo has made the
right decision to place him at the helm of the SUNY Board of
Trustees. We look forward to working with Trustee McCall to maintain
a SUNY that is accessible and affordable for all New Yorkers. This
is an ample demonstration that Governor Cuomo intends to see that
SUNY continues in the positive direction of keeping a quality higher
public education for all New York families."
The SUNY Board of Trustees is the governing body of
the State University of New York. The Board consists of 18 members,
15 of whom are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent
of the Senate. In addition, the President of the Student Assembly of
the State University serves as an ex-officio voting Trustee, and the
President of the University Faculty Senate and the President of the
Faculty Council of Community Colleges serve as ex-officio non-voting
Trustees.
The Board's responsibilities include appointing and
approving University leadership including the Chancellor and senior
system staff and campus presidents, regulating the tuition and fees
charged by SUNY campuses, and granting the degrees, diplomas,
certificates and honorary degrees that SUNY issues every year. The
Board meets nearly every month of the year, and meetings are open to
the public and webcast live to give New Yorkers a front-row seat to
University operations. The Board also holds public open forums twice
a year to give the public the opportunity to interact with the board
and provide input.
The State University of New York is the largest
comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more
than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate
programs on 64 campuses with more than 2.5 million alumni around the
globe.
NEW YORK. SECOND MONTH RALLY FOR "OCCUPY WALL
STREET" MOVEMENT.
10/18/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
"Occupy Wall Street" organizers have no intention of
leaving Lower Manhattan that has cost the city $3.5 million in
security and related costs, according to City Hall. The mayor said
the occupiers are "misguided," but stressed they can stay in
Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, so long as they follow city laws.
The mayor said that city costs for policing the protests would be
taken from other city agencies down the line. "If we didn't spend
that $3.5 million, that would be $3.5 million we wouldn't have to
cut from elsewhere at the second half of the [fiscal] year or next
year. It's real money," said Bloomberg. According to NYPD, about 100
people were arrested over the weekend during various "Occupy Wall
Street" demonstrations throughout the city.
"Occupy Wall Street" organizers said they are
protesting about corporate greed, even if at times their message
gets lost in what they call a "democracy of different opinions."
Protesters are mentioning a variety of other issues, including
financial inequality in the country, the influence of Wall Street
over Washington, the war in Afghanistan, etc. According to organizer
Patrick Bruner. "I don't think it's a disadvantage at all, I think
it's part of the nature of our conversation, the fact that we're
having a very serious conversation. Many different topics will come
up." Some demonstrators did not expect to remain in Lower Manhattan
this long, especially since Brookfield Properties, the owner of
Zuccotti Park, had originally planned to move the protesters on
Friday so the space could be cleaned. Instead, Brookfield Properties
postponed the cleaning, and protesters said they are staying
indefinitely.
A media liaison for the movement said it has
received $300,000 in donations through its website and by people who
give money in person at Zuccotti Park. The organizers also have a
Downtown Manhattan storage space lent by the United Federation of
Teachers, where protesters can store supplies for the upcoming cold
months. This movement is a problem for a lot of people including the
NYPD and some members of the media.
NEW YORK. MICHAEL DARAGJIATI OF NYPD CHARGED WITH
MAKING FALSE ARREST IN STOP AND FRISK IN THE CITY. 10/18/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Veteran of NYPD Michael Daragjat is accused of lying on police
report and used a racial slur while describing what he had done. He
is considered as one of the bad apple of the NYPD.
According to court papers filed Monday, Police Officer Michael
Daragjati stopped and frisked an African-American man on Targee
Street in Stapleton, Staten Island on April 15, but did not find
anything. Theasked for the officer's badge and name, he was arrested
without probable cause. Daragjati, who is white, was also caught on
tape talking about the arrest, allegedly saying he "fried another
nigger," and repeatedly used the slur to talk about black people.
The officer was also charged with wire fraud, extortion and
insurance fraud, related to a construction and snow removal business
he operated on the side.
Prosecutors said in January he intentionally damaged
one of his snow removal business' trucks and falsely filed for
damages.The officer also allegedly made several people beat up a
Staten Island man who was accused of stealing a snow plow from his
business. Daragjati was heard on a wire tap saying he was going to
"take care of it from the Albanian point of view" and that he was
"not going to handle it the cop way." Prosecutors said when
Daragjati learned federal agents were investigating the assault, he
was wiretapped saying if he lost his job, "If something happens,
these guys are dead."
NYPD officials said they started to investigate
Daragjati in January on allegations he was associating with a drug
dealer. The judge ordered Daragjati jailed, saying his words show
that he is a danger to society. Daragjati is represented by lawyer,
Michael Martinez. The accused cop is scheduled to return to federal
court this Wednesday, when Martinez will try to convince the judge
to set the officer free on bail.
.MIAMI, FLA. TODAY MIAMI DADE POLICE UNION TO
NEGOTIATE WITH COUNTY IN PUBLIC 10/18/11
By Elizabeth Menos, NTS NEWS
The meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. at County Hall, is
expected to be attended by scores of police officers and their
supporters. Earlier this month, Mayor Carlos Gimenez had said he
would issue layoff notices to 90 officers if a cost-cutting contract
was not reached by Monday.
But after the county struck a tentative deal with
firefighters last week, administrators agreed as a “show of good
faith” to hold off on issuing the pink slips. The county is seeking
a cut of 21 percent in police salary and benefits.
ATLANTA, GA. CREDIT CARD RING BUSTED IN ATLANTA.
10/18/11.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Steven Michael Jackson, 27, was charged yesterday Monday
with conspiracy, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft,
the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. He was released
on a $25,000 bond.11 defendants charged are from Atlanta, Lilburn,
Lawrenceville, Stockbridge and Columbus. From June 2009 to November
2010, the alleged co-conspirators are accused of using electronic
devices known as "skimmers" to copy and store debit and credit card
information from customers without their knowledge' They then
allegedly transferred the stolen information to the magnetic strips
of blank cards using "encoders" before using the altered cards for
purchases.
Some of the defendants worked at the businesses
where the skimming allegedly took place, including a McDonald's in
Atlanta, a Polished Nail Salon in Lawrenceville, and a Krystal and a
Shogun Japanese Steakhouse in Columbus. Two of the defendants, Sean
Carlos Deloatch, 25, and Antonio Escobal, 33, from Columbus, pleaded
guilty to some of the charges in September. The previous indictment
included 16 counts of conspiracy, access device fraud and aggravated
theft, but not all of the defendants are charged with each offense,
the U.S. Attorney's Office said
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ISRAEL-PALESTINE. PRISONERS SWAP BETWEEN THE TWO
ENEMIES.
MILAN, ITALY. PM BERLUSCONI CLEARED IN FRAUD
TRIAL.
HAITI. PRESIDENT MARTELLY PROMISES 80.000
OF FERTILIZERS TO PEASANTS.
UNITED
NATIONS
YEMEN. 18 October 2011 – The
United Nations human rights office today strongly condemned the
reported killing of a number of largely peaceful protesters in Yemen
===========================================================
OCTOBER
17
IN HISTORY
On October 17, 1806, Haiti's Emperor Jean-Jacques
Dessalines was killed at the Red Bridge in Port-au-Prince, making
that date a National hollyday..
On Oct. 17, 1931, mobster Al Capone was convicted
of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was
released in 1939.
On Oct. 17, 1918, Rita Hayworth, the legendary
Hollywood beauty, was born. She died on May 14, 1987
1610 French King Louis XIII, age 9, was crowned
at Reims, five months after the assassination of his father, Henry
IV.
1777 British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne
surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, N.Y., in a turning point
of the Revolutionary War.
1915 Playwright Arthur Miller was born in New
York City.
1919 The Radio Corporation of America was
created.
1931 Mobster Al Capone was convicted of income
tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
1933 Physicist Albert Einstein arrived in the
United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany.
1945 Col. Juan Peron staged a coup, becoming
absolute ruler of Argentina.
1957 French author Albert Camus was awarded the
Nobel Prize in literature.
1973 Arab oil-producing nations announced they
would cut back oil exports to Western nations and Japan; the result
was a total embargo that lasted until March 1974.
1979 Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize for her work on behalf of the destitute in Calcutta.
1987 First lady Nancy Reagan underwent a modified
radical mastectomy at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.
=====================================================
OCTOBER
16
IN HISTORY
===========================================================
OCTOBER
15
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 15, 1964, it was announced that Soviet
leader Nikita S. Khrushchev had been removed from office. He was
succeeded as premier by Alexei N. Kosygin and as Communist Party
secretary by Leonid I. Brezhnev.
On Oct. 15, 1844, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche,
the influential German philosopher, was born. He died on Aug. 25,
1900
1946 Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering fatally
poisoned himself hours before he was to have been executed.
1964 It was announced that Soviet leader Nikita
S. Khrushchev had been removed from office.
1976 Democrat Walter F. Mondale and Republican
Bob Dole faced off in the first debate between vice-presidential
nominees.
1990 Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev was
named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1990 South Africa's Separate Amenities Act, which
had barred blacks from public facilities for decades, was scrapped.
1991 The Senate narrowly confirmed the nomination
of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, 52-48.
1993 Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were named
winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end apartheid
in South Africa.
2002 ImClone Systems founder Sam Waksal pleaded
guilty in New York in the biotech company's insider trading scandal.
2005 Iraqis voted to approve a constitution.
2007 The New York Yankees and third baseman Alex
Rodriguez agreed on a record 10-year, $275 million contract, the
richest in sports history.
2009 A false report that a 6-year-old boy was
aboard a runaway balloon in Colorado captivated a global TV
audience. The boy's parents later pleaded guilty to charges they
made up the story.
NEW YORK. "OCCUPY WALL STREET": NYPD MADE SEVERAL
ARRESTS. 10/15/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS BUREAU
It is reported by the NYPD that 24 protesters had been
arrested for trespassing at Citibank ”Occupy Wall Street”
protesters moved beyond Zuccotti Park throughout the day, gathering
in locations across the five boroughs and staging demonstrations
outside of banks.During the day, hundred of them gathered in front a
Chase Manhattan Bank as they were joined by some union members.
This Saturday morning, in Zuccotti Park, some of them were dressed
in suitsas observed by some spectators. On Friday, there were
confrontations between some NYPD cops and a group of protesters as a
high ranking officer was seen punching a protester in the face. On
this Saturday, the protesters planned to march in Times Square
coming from Washington Square Park and the police were out in full
force. They plan to continue their march on Sunday, according to
some of them while marching on 42nd street and 7th Avenue.Police say
more than 70 people have been arrested during demonstrations against
corporate greed, including 45 in Times Square.
MIAMI, FLA. OCCUPY MIAMI DEMONSTRATION. MORE THAN
1,000 THERE.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
Protests against big business and income inequality moved
from New York’s financial district to downtown Miami this Saturday,
as the Occupy Wall Street movement began to spread across the nation
and world. At about 1:30 pm, more than 1,000 people showed up for
the Miami’s, according to police estimate. Tthe demonstrators
marched from their permitted protest site in Bayfront Park to the
plaza in front of the Miami-Dade County Government Center.
Protesters held signs with slogans like “Forgive student debt” and
“Stop corporate greed.” “The cops were very cooperative” during the
march.
They decided that they were going to occupy the plaza in front of
the government building for as long as they could..”
GEORGIA. CLOSING OF A SMALL BANK BY THE
FEDS.
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS.
Gray-based Piedmont Community Bank was seized and sold to
State Bank & Trust Co. Piedmont’s two branches will reopen Saturday
as branches of State Bank. State Bank agreed to acquire all of
Piedmont Community’s $181.4 million in total deposits and the bulk
of the failed bank’s $201.7 million in total assets in a loss-share
agreement with the FDIC. The FDIC estimates the failure will result
in a $71.6 million loss to its deposit insurance fund, which
protects depositors. Piedmont Community was founded in 2002 and
focused most of its lending on construction and land development and
commercial real estate, FDIC data show. The bank lost more than $18
million since the start of 2009 as its loan portfolio soured,
according to FDIC data. State Bank is based in Macon. Its parent
company, State Bank Financial, is based in Buckhead. The institution
has now acquired 11 banks through FDIC-assisted transactions,
including the six bank subsidiaries of Macon-based Security Bank
Corp. in 2009.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
HAITI. THE PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE NEW
GOVERNMENT.
LIBERIA. OPPOSITION CLAIMED POLL FRAUDULENT.
================================================================
OCTOBER
14
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 14, 1964, civil rights leader Martin
Luther King Jr. was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
On Oct. 14, 1890, Dwight David Eisenhower, the
34th United States president and highly respected American general,
was born. He died on March 28, 1969
1890 Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of
the United States, was born in Denison, Texas.
1910 Hall of Fame UCLA basketball coach John
Wooden was born near Martinsville, Ind.
1933 Nazi Germany announced it was withdrawing
from the League of Nations.
1944 German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel committed
suicide rather than face execution for allegedly conspiring against
Adolf Hitler.
1947 Air Force test pilot Charles E. Yeager
became the first person to break the sound barrier when he flew the
experimental Bell X-1 rocket plane over Edwards Air Force Base in
California.
1960 Democratic presidential candidate John F.
Kennedy suggested formation of a Peace Corps during a talk at the
University of Michigan.
1964 Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1968 The first live telecast from a manned U.S.
spacecraft was transmitted from Apollo 7.
1977 Singer Bing Crosby died at age 73.
1979 Hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky of the
Edmonton Oilers scored the first of his record 894 goals in a home
game against the Vancouver Cancucks.
1986 Holocaust survivor and human rights advocate
Elie Wiesel was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. 1990
Composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein died at age 72.
1991 Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
2006 The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously
to impose punishing sanctions on North Korea for carrying out a
nuclear test
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES CONTEST
TO NAME NEW OPEN SPACE IN QUEENS PLAZA
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City Economic Development
Corporation, the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Department
of City Planning today launched a contest that will give New Yorkers
the opportunity to leave a mark on a piece of the city by proposing
a name for the new open space at Queens Plaza in Long Island City.
Thanks to more than $45 million in roadway, pedestrian and bicycle
improvements, Queens Plaza now offers a refuge for commuters,
workers, residents, and cyclists. The plaza’s eastern end, at the
site of the former John F. Kennedy commuter parking lot, has been
transformed into a new, sustainably designed 1.5 acre open space –
including wetlands, plantings, millstones and artist-designed
benches – but the space lacks a name. New Yorkers should consider
names that reflect the site history, local neighborhood, natural
environment, and location and submit their suggestions by October
26. The new name will be unveiled on a permanent sign during an
official ribbon-cutting event when the Queens Plaza project is
completed.
“Everyone knows that New Yorkers are full of
opinions, so who better to ask to come up with a great name for the
greatest new open space in Queens?” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The
improvements we’ve made to Queens Plaza are making it into a
welcoming entrance to the borough for visitors, residents and local
businesses.”
“We believe that the new recreational elements,
bikeways and pedestrian improvements made to Queens Plaza in our
recent streetscape project will not only make this important hub a
more desirable place in which to live and do business, but will also
complement the many developments planned and underway in the area,”
said Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “As
we move to completion, we invite New Yorkers to help us with one
critical remaining element: Choosing an appropriate name for the
1.5-acre open space that will be the heart of the Plaza. This is a
rare opportunity for New Yorkers to leave a permanent mark on the
map of their City and we look forward to benefiting from their
creativity.”
“Long Island City is a unique, dynamic neighborhood
with enormous potential,” City Planning Commissioner Amanda M.
Burden said. “The transformation of Queens Plaza into a lush and
welcoming oasis will give residents and workers a gorgeous new
public open space for respite and enjoyment. I look forward to
learning the unique names New Yorkers come up with for this vibrant
new park.”
“Queens Plaza is an unofficial landmark in the city
as thousands of cars and hundreds of runners, cyclists and
pedestrians cross over the bridge daily to get to work, visit parks
and enjoy the view,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “This
newly landscaped public space epitomizes the movement toward a
greener, greater New York City that has been at the heart of this
administration’s PlaNYC program. We look forward to see the creative
suggestions New Yorkers have for renaming this important location in
Queens.”
“I’m delighted that the City is soliciting
suggestions from the public for the name of the new park in Queens
Plaza,” said Representative Carolyn B. Maloney. “This park will
serve the community and should be named by the community.”
“The transformation of Queens Plaza, once dominated
by an unsightly parking structure, will gain more momentum when a
new park with lots of green space opens soon. This landscape sea
change is a reflection of the local community’s demand for positive
changes. Thousands of new employees work in the area and new
residents move into the neighborhood every day. I am pleased to seek
input from the community as we decide on an appropriate name for
this space. Including the community in this decision helps develop a
sense of ownership and pride among the people who will use it most,”
said Council Member Van Bramer.
“This is a great opportunity to be creative,
inspired and remembered for naming this living and green space at
the gateway to Queens. Let the nominations begin!” said Queens
Borough President Helen Marshall.
“The new Queens Plaza Park will be a tranquil oasis
for office workers, residents and visitors alike. The park, along
with the other capital improvements underway, will contribute to the
quality of life of the neighborhood while raising property values
and encouraging private and public sector investment in services and
facilities. Participation in the naming of the park will allow New
York City residents to take ownership and brand the park as theirs,”
said Gayle Baron, President, Long Island City Partnership.
Queens Community Board 2 Chair Joe Conley said,
“This is a much needed improvement to Queens Plaza that will improve
the quality of life in and around the area. We are looking forward
to a new name to the area that celebrates the pedestrian and
landscape improvements in the new plaza.”
Starting with the rezoning of the district in 2001
to enable high-density, mixed-use development in the business core,
there has been a number of initiatives focused on realizing Long
Island City’s full potential as a major central business district
and City neighborhood, leveraging its transit assets and proximity
to midtown. To revitalize the face of the district’s main boulevard,
Jackson Avenue, NYCEDC completed a full $17 million streetscape
project in fall 2010 that features a tree-lined median, new lighting
and a series of new and enhanced open spaces. At the critical
intersection of Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue, an unsightly
municipal garage building was turned into an attractive LEED-certified,
21-story mixed-use tower and new home for the City’s Department of
Health. The building was completed in 2010 and is the first phase of
a larger Gotham Center development. Queens Plaza is also the new
address for the corporate headquarters of JetBlue - the company will
be moving some 950 employees into the historic Brewster building at
27-01 Queens Plaza North (shared with MetLife) in 2012.
For a complete list of rules and details on entering
the naming contest, please go to www.nyc.gov. Online submissions
will be accepted until Tuesday, October 26 at 5:00 PM. The winning
name will be selected by a committee comprised of City
representatives and members of the local community.
MIAMI, FLA. SHOOTING AT DOLPHIN MALL. NO INJURED.
10/14/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
At about 8:00 p.m., shots were fired at mall's parking lot
while shoppers were still at the mall. Confronted by police in the
parking lot after leaving the store, a couple tried to flee,
striking the officer and throwing him to the ground. A second police
officer then opened fire on the fleeing car. With police in pursuit,
the female driver took off alone in a black Expedition as units gave
chase. Her male accomplice ran into the mall and then nearby
Courtyard Marriott Hotel.
According to Police, the woman sped out of the mall
at a high rate of speed, weaving in an out of traffic. She was
finally run off the road near the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement headquarters at 9105 NW 25th St., several miles from the
mall, which is near Florida’s Turnpike. Her male accomplice, who ran
when the shooting began, hid at the hotel near the mall, Fulgueria
said. “He went inside and asked employees to call him a cab, then he
waited outside hiding in the bushes for it to arrive,’’ Fulgueira
said. A cab picked him up, but the taxi cab driver became suspicious.
The cab was stopped by police on State Road 836, as it
approached northbound Interstate 95.The suspects' names have not
been released. The man and woman face a slew of charges. The
outdoor mall boasts outlets such as the Banana Republic and Ralph
Lauren factory stores.
MIAMI, FLA. CITY COMMISSION TO PAY $ 500.000 TO
WOMAN RAPE BY COP.
The Miami City Commission agreed Thursday to pay a
$550,000 settlement to a former South Beach waitress who was raped
by a uniformed Miami police officer. The former officer, Michael
Ragusa, who is serving 10 years in prison for a string of sexual
assaults, attacked the woman in March 2007 as she was walking home
from a bus stop in Miami Beach, prosecutors said. The commission
approved the settlement unanimously, without debate.
The woman sued the city, claiming the police
department failed to spot “red flags” when it hired Ragusa in March
2004. In his application to become a police officer, according to
the federal lawsuit, Ragusa admitted that in the past, he had paid
for sex with strippers and prostitutes, and stolen cash from
restaurants where he worked as a waiter. The former boxer and
weightlifter, who was rejected for employment by six other police
agencies, also admitted to having to a fiery temper, the lawsuit
said. “Despite the obvious red flags concerning his qualifications
to be a police officer, [the department] engaged in only the most
cursory scrutiny of his background and employment history,” the suit
reads.
Authorities said Ragusa, in uniform and prowling in
his patrol car while off duty, sexually assaulted three women over
several weeks. The last victim escaped by frantically suggesting she
had a sexually transmitted disease, police said. Nonetheless, Ragusa
forced the woman to give him her phone number, and later sent her a
text message, evidence that helped Miami Beach police pinpoint the
attacker.
Ragusa, 36, was arrested in March 2007. In 2008, he
pleaded guilty to a slew of rape charges involving the three women.
Ragusa, who will carry the “sexual predator” designation when he is
released from prison, will also serve 10 years probation.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
HAITI. SENATE APPROVES GARRY CONILLE AS PRIME
MINISTER. Haiti’s Senate approved Garry Conille as prime
minister on Tuesday, endorsing President Michel Martelly’s third
nominee for the post in a move many hope will boost reconstruction
efforts in the earthquake-ravaged nation. The Senate’s confirmation
of Conille, 45, a medical doctor and U.N. development expert,
followed approval from the lower house of parliament last month.
It was Martelly’s third attempt to install a new
head of government. His first two nominees were rejected by
lawmakers in June and August. This had raised concerns among
diplomats and donors who said the poor Caribbean state desperately
needed a working government to rebuild from a devastating 2010
earthquake. Both houses of Haiti’s parliament are dominated by
senators and deputies whose parties fielded rival candidates to Martelly in a turbulent two-round presidential election that he
finally won in a March run-off vote.
Conille’s approval in the Senate, after a prolonged
debate, came by a 17-3 vote. Nine lawmakers abstained, according to
Senate President Rodolphe Joazile. Haiti, known for decades of
dictatorship, corruption and instability, faces a huge
reconstruction task after last year’s earthquake, which killed tens
of thousands of people, and a lingering cholera epidemic that has
claimed more than 6,000 lives.
Conille, who has a long career with the United
Nations specializing in development and health issues, brings useful
recent experience to the post, having worked as chief of staff to
former U.S. President Bill Clinton in the latter’s role as special
U.N. Haiti envoy. This role had involved helping to coordinate the
huge international humanitarian response to the Haitian quake and
working with donors on the delivery of aid.
Haitian authorities estimate the January 2010
earthquake killed more than 300,000 people and wrecked much of the
capital, Port-au-Prince. Pressing tasks for the new government
include effectively fighting the cholera epidemic. It must also try
to provide shelter for tens of thousands of earthquake survivors who
are still living in makeshift tent camps vulnerable to hurricanes
and floods.
“The country needs a government,” said Senator
Wencesclass Lambert, a member of the majority Inite party, who cast
his vote in support of Conille on Tuesday night and called his
approval “an important step” toward national recovery. “There are so
many people suffering,” Lambert said. “International donors are
reluctant to release funds if a new government is not in place.” In
a final hurdle toward confirmation in his post, both houses of
parliament will have to approve Conille’s proposed plan for
government.
But that is viewed largely as a formality,
parliamentary sources said. They said Conille was now expected to be
sworn into office swiftly, after addressing the Senate and the House
separately to outline his plan as early as sometime later this week.
At the request of several of our readers, we are
submitting herewith the names of all the Haitian Government Cabinet
members:
Dr Conille was accompanied to the Senate Chamber by the 17 members
of his Cabinet, as per the presidential decree as follows written in
French:
Thierry Mayard-Paul (Intérieur, Collectivités Territoriales et
Défense Nationale),
Josué Pierre Louis (Justice et Sécurité Publique),
Laurent Lamothe (Affaires Etrangeres et Cultes),
André Lemercier Georges (Economie et Finances).
Réginald Paul (Education et Formation Professionnelle),
Ebert Docteur (Agriculture, Ressources Naturelles et Développement
Rural),
Florence Duperval Guillaume (Santé Publique et Population).
Stephane Balmir Vildouin (Tourisme),
Jacques Rousseau (Transport, Energie et Communication),
Choiseul Henriquez (Culture), Francois Richel Lafaille (Affaires
Sociales et Travail).
Joseph Ronald Toussaint, ministre de l'environnement,
Marie Yanick Mézile a la condition féminine et aux droits des
femmes,
Wilson Laleau au commerce
René Jean Roosvelt à la jeunesse, aux sports et à l'action civique,
Ralph Ricardo Théano a été nommés ministre délégué aupres du premier
ministre et chargé des relations avec le parlement,
Daniel Supplice Ministre à la présidence et chargé des Haitiens
vivant à l'étranger
Le premier Ministre garde le Ministère de la Planification et de la
Coopération externe.
ROME, ITALY. PREMIER BULOSCONI WINS CONFIDENCE
VOTE.
UNITED NATIONS
HAITI, MINUSTAH. SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED
ONE-YEAR EXTENSION
===================================================================
OCTOBER
13
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 13, 1943, Italy declared war on Germany,
its one-time Axis partner.
On Oct. 13, 1925, Lenny Bruce, the controversial
American comedian, was born. He died on Aug. 3, 1966
1943 Italy declared war on Germany, its one-time
Axis partner.
1960 Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy
participated in the third televised debate of the presidential
campaign, with Nixon in Hollywood, Calif., and Kennedy in New York.
1960 The World Series ended with a home run for
the first time as Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit a
round-tripper in the ninth inning of Game 7 against the New York
Yankees.
1962 "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward
Albee opened on Broadway.
1981 Egyptians voted in a referendum to elect
Vice President Hosni Mubarak the new president, one week after the
assassination of Anwar Sadat.
1998 The NBA canceled the first two weeks of its
regular season because of a lockout.
1999 The JonBenet Ramsey grand jury was dismissed
after 13 months; prosecutors said there wasn't enough evidence to
charge anyone in the 6-year-old's strangulation.
2005 British playwright Harold Pinter won the
Nobel Prize in literature.
2006 The United Nations General Assembly
appointed South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon the next U.N.
secretary-general.
2008 The Dow Jones industrial average soared
936.42 points – it's largest one-day increase – ending eight
consecutive days of stock market declines.
2010 Rescuers in Chile pulled 33 men one by one
to freedom 69 days after they were trapped in a collapsed mine a
half-mile underground.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
BROOKLYN *9:45 AM Speaks at BRIC and Urban Glass
Groundbreaking Ceremony Brooklyn Strand Theatre 647 Fulton Street at
Rockwell Place
MANHATTAN 11:00 AM Speaks at 2011 NYPD Memorial
Ceremony New York City Police Memorial Wall Battery Park Liberty
Street and South End Avenue
7:00 PM Speaks at Opening of 2011 NYC Food Film
Festival Tribeca Cinemas 54 Varick Street between Ericsson Place and
Laight Street
*7:45 PM Speaks at New York Downtown Hospital’s 18th
Annual Dinner Gala Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall Street between
Hanover and William Streets
CITY HALL, NY. STATEMENT OF DEPUTY MAYOR FOR
OPERATIONS CAS HOLLOWAY
“Earlier this evening, Mayor Bloomberg went to Zuccotti Park to
talk with the protesters himself and inform them that on Friday
morning Brookfield Properties will clean the park. “Brookfield
Properties owns Zuccotti Park, and built it as an amenity for the
general public. As the protest has continued, Brookfield has
expressed concern about its inability to clean the park and maintain
it in a condition fit for public use. Brookfield conveyed these
concerns in a letter they sent to the City. “The Mayor is a strong
believer in the First Amendment and believes that the protesters
have a right to continue to protest. At the same time, the last
three weeks have created unsanitary conditions and considerable wear
and tear on the park. This situation is not in the best interests of
the protesters, residents or the City. “The cleaning will be done in
stages and the protesters will be able to return to the areas that
have been cleaned, provided they abide by the rules that Brookfield
has established for the park.”
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES STEPS TO CUT
WASTE AND IMPROVE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY EXPECTED TO MSAVE $600
MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. 10/12/11
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced transformative steps that
his administration is taking to change the way state government does
business in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
The reforms will focus on five specific areas,
including transforming the procurement process by harnessing the
state's full buying power to reduce costs, eliminating costly empty
space leased by the state, modernizing information technology
systems, improving customer service, and streamlining business
services. These reforms are expected to save taxpayers $600 million
in all funds over five years including $100 million in all funds
over the next fiscal year.
"State government must be reinvented from top to
bottom to cut inefficiencies and reduce waste," Governor Cuomo said.
"We can no longer accept the status quo where the excess of
government falls on the backs of taxpayers, who receive little in
return. It is a new day in Albany, and these steps will transform
government to work better for the people at a lower cost."
The series of projects directed by the Governor are
designed to make state government more responsive and nimble. Under
the new approach to state operations, current procedures will be
compared to best practices to identify ways to save money and find
efficiencies. Performance metrics will be used to measure results,
increase accountability, and evaluate effectiveness. The steps are
designed to produce budget savings over a multi-year period while
improving the delivery of public services.
Steps taken by the Cuomo Administration include:
Procurement Transformation : Governor Cuomo has
initiated sweeping changes to the state government procurement
process that focus on implementing best practices and identifying
opportunities for savings. The new procurement process, called
strategic sourcing, will leverage the state's buying power and
balance the needs of achieving savings with the administration's
policy goals of encouraging small businesses and MWBEs.
In June, Director of State Operations Howard Glaser
and Budget Director Robert Megna asked all state agencies to suspend
individual contract renewals and purchases in 15 categories,
including food, IT services, software, and office supplies, and
instead use the strategic sourcing method for procurement. Strategic
sourcing uses a structured, market-based process to gather data and
use the state's substantial buying power to secure the best value in
purchasing. The initial purchases under strategic sourcing are
targeted to save $100 million in FY 2012-13, and could produce
almost $600 million in cumulative savings over 5 years.
Using strategic sourcing, the Office of General
Services modified the road salt bidding process to generate $2.4
million in savings for the state and $7.1 million in savings for
local governments. The contract had not been bid on competitively
for nearly ten years and under the new process the state paid less
per ton.
Real Estate Optimization :For years, New York
State's real estate portfolio has been poorly managed, leading to
vacancy rates greater than 25%, poor construction and building
management, and misplaced investments in aging facilities. Upon
taking office, Governor Cuomo ordered an extensive analysis to
ensure government-paid-for space is fully-utilized. Efforts are now
underway to move agencies in leased locations into state-owned
buildings as leases expire.
A major restacking initiative has been launched to
fill vacated state-owned office space in the Albany metropolitan
region. The project will be conducted in 3 phases over the next 18
months and is projected to save $9 million in FY 2012-2013 and
eliminate 3,000 empty desks. Plans are currently under review for a
centralized real estate office that will coordinate management to
drive efficiency, ensure proper financial stewardship, and improve
customer service. Governor Cuomo's administration is continuing to
review consolidation options for state-owned space in New York City.
Technology Transformation: Governor Cuomo has
launched five initiatives to consolidate information technology (IT)
processes and infrastructure that will save hundreds of millions of
dollars, implement uniform standards, and improve reliability and
service. The Governor's actions are in response to reports that
showed the old approaches to IT management led to inefficient and
redundant delivery of services, hampering statewide technology
initiatives and wasting taxpayer dollars. A recent audit revealed
that although many of the state's thousands of computer servers
operate at less than half-capacity, agencies continue to purchase
new servers for data storage.
Five foundational projects have been launched: data
center consolidation, enterprise identity and access management,
email consolidation, help desk consolidation, and
voice-over-internet protocol telecommunications. The projects are
estimated to be completed within three years. Governor Cuomo has
also directed state agencies to conduct a comprehensive software and
hardware scan of department networks to create for the first time a
statewide inventory of IT assets. This scan will form the basis for
data center consolidation, elimination of duplicative software
applications, and standardization of IT platforms.
MIAMI, FLA. DONALD TRUMP BUYING DORAL GULF RESORT
FOR 170 MILLION.
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS
As reported , Donald Trump is about to buy the 693-room
Doral Golf Resort and Spa for about $ 170 Million, after the
property was put into bankruptcy last February. The agreement with
Trump will be filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York next
week and there still will be an auction for the Doral resort to seek
better offers. There aren’t any other bidders so far. Trump has
acquired at least nine golf properties in the U.S. after mostly
steering clear of using his own money to buy real estate since 2005.
He has visited Doral in the past but not for many years, he said.
The sale includes four of the resort’s five golf courses; the Great
White course is not part of the deal. The annual tournament is held
on the Blue Monster.
INTERNATIONAL
KENYA. SPANISH DOCTORS KIDNAPPED AT SOMALIA
BORDER.
===============================================================
OCTOBER
12
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 12, 1870, Gen. Robert E. Lee died in
Lexington, Va., at age 63.
On Oct. 12, 1860, Elmer Sperry, the American
inventor best known for perfecting the use of gyroscopes, was born.
He died on June 16, 1930
1960 Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev disrupted a
U.N. General Assembly session by pounding a shoe on his desk.
1971 "Jesus Christ Superstar," a rock opera by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, opened on Broadway.
1973 President Richard Nixon nominated House
Minority Leader Gerald R. Ford, R-Mich., to succeed Spiro T. Agnew
as vice president.
1984 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
escaped an attempt on her life when an Irish Republican Army bomb
exploded at a hotel in Brighton, England, killing five people.
1986 Superpower talks between President Ronald
Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland,
ended in stalemate.
1998 Matthew Shepard, a gay student at University
of Wyoming, died five days after he was beaten, robbed and left tied
to a wooden fence post outside of Laramie.
1999 Pakistan's military overthrew the
democratically-elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
2000 Two al-Qaida suicide bombers in an
explosives-laden boat rammed into the destroyer the USS Cole in
Yemen, killing 17 sailors.
2002 A bomb destroyed a nightclub on the
Indonesian island of Bali, killing 202 people. Islamic militants
linked to al-Qaida were blamed.
2007 Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the Nobel Peace Prize
for sounding the alarm over global warming.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011
MANHATTAN 11:00 AM Speaks at 104th Annual Fire
Memorial Service Firemen's Memorial Monument West 100th Street at
Riverside Drive
*1:00 PM Makes Announcement 80 Centre Street, Third
Floor, between Worth and Leonard Streets
ALBANY, NY. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. GOVERNOR'S
REQUEST FOR TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE APPROVED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that President Barack
Obama has approved New York State's request to expedite the review
and approval process to allow work to begin on the Tappan Zee Bridge
project. The Tappan Zee project represents a multi-billion dollar
investment that will create tens of thousands of jobs and restore a
critical part of the Northeast's transportation infrastructure.
President Obama launched a competition where states
could submit their high priority, job-creating projects in order to
win expedited federal approvals, and New York submitted the Tappan
Zee project in to the competition. With this expedited federal
review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the
processing of certain permits, the Tappan Zee project could begin as
early as next year, potentially creating more jobs than any other
infrastructure project in the country.
"I want to thank President Obama, U.S.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and the U.S. Department of
Transportation, including the Federal Highway Administration, for
selecting the Tappan Zee Bridge project and recognizing that moving
forward with the project is key to New York's economic future,"
Governor Cuomo said. "This is a shot in the arm for the project and
a major step forward to restoring this key piece of our
infrastructure and putting tens of thousands of New Yorkers back to
work." Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, "I
applaud the federal government for expediting approval of this
important project, which will create tens of thousands of jobs and
protect thousands of commuters as they make their way across the
Tappan Zee every day. As Senator Fuschillo and I have made clear
since we toured the Tappan Zee Bridge with County Executive Astorino
in July, rebuilding this bridge and investing in our infrastructure
must continue to be a priority. I commend Governor Cuomo and Senator
Fuschillo, the Chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee,
for their leadership on this critical project, and look forward to
working together with all parties until it is complete."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "I am pleased
that President Obama has agreed to fast track review of this
critical project. Investments of this size have the potential to
transform the region’s economy, create jobs, and renew confidence in
our state’s economic revitalization. I commend Governor Cuomo for
taking the lead and reaching out to the White House so that we can
move forward with the Tappan Zee project and ensure this vital
transportation link."
Built in the 1950s, the Tappan Zee Bridge is a
critical link in the regional transportation network carrying
Interstate routes I-87/I-287 across the Hudson River, connecting
Rockland and Westchester Counties in southeastern New York,
approximately 15 miles north of midtown Manhattan. This bridge
connects I-287 in New Jersey to I-95 in Connecticut for access to
the Northeast, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and carries a high
percentage of trucks. Approximately 135,000 vehicles cross the
bridge daily with upwards of 160,000 vehicles on some weekends, with
a total of approximately 45 million vehicles in 2010. Over the last
twenty years, the Tappan Zee has shown significant deterioration.
Further, with seven narrow lanes and no safety shoulders, the Tappan
Zee has an accident rate double the rest of the New York Thruway
system. The bridge also has serious vulnerabilities to extreme
events such as severe storms, ship collision and earthquakes. The
loss of the Tappan Zee, or reduction in lanes or load limits, would
over-tax alternate routes and have a catastrophic economic impact on
the region.
The Tappan Zee project has the potential to generate
more jobs than any other infrastructure project in the nation.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
transportation infrastructure accounts for 11 percent of the
nation's economic activity. For every dollar invested in highway
construction, the overall economy receives $4.87 in economic
benefits – nearly five times the return on investment. Highway
construction also supports thousands of jobs. FHWA estimates that
every $1 billion in highway construction supports over 30,000
employment opportunities. The Associated General Contractors of
America estimates that $1 billion invested in non-residential
construction will create or sustain 28,500 jobs: one third of those
jobs will be on-site construction jobs, one sixth will be indirect
jobs from suppliers of construction materials and services and about
half of the jobs would be created when construction and supplier
workers and owners spend their additional incomes.
NEW YORK. CITY COMPTROLLER LIU'S OFFICE DENIES
CHARGES BY NY TIMES
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
Comptroller Liu's office had denied a report by the New York
Times that some donations to his campaign are in violations of
campaign finance laws. His office said the number of donors
questioned by the Times is relatively small and Liu does not want
any inappropriate contribution.
Comptroller Liu may be a candidate for Mayor in 2013 and he already
raised more than a million dollars in six months.
ATLANTA, GA. PROTESTERS OF OCCUPATION CAN STAY IN
PARK. 10/12/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS
.Police maintained only a low-key presence, both at the park
and during a late afternoon march to the Midtown offices of the Bank
of America, which drew about 50 people from the park and perhaps 100
who joined en route. By 5:30 p.m., the marchers had dispersed, with
some heading back to the park trailed by about six police officers
on motorcycles.
Meanwhile, Mayor Kasim Reed told members of the City
Council’s public safety committee that, while the city wants to
respect the demonstrators’ right to express their views, they cannot
be allowed to camp in the park indefinitely. “This has got to got to
come to a close at some point,” Reed said. “At some point, we have
to act.” Reed said the group calling itself Occupy Atlanta is
damaging the public park and violating Atlanta’s laws, and to ignore
it opens the door to more law-breaking in the future. “I do worry
that we are setting precedents,” Reed said. Giving exemptions to the
law “is creating a real problem for us.” Meanwhile, a spokesman for
Reed said the city will not immediately try to break up the
protesters’ encampment, which on Tuesday afternoon numbered about 30
tents. “As long as they’re there peacefully, for the time time
being, we’re going to allow them to stay,” said Reese McCranie, the
mayor’s deputy director of communications. “That may change in the
future or may not change.”
MIAMI, FLA. RECOVERING MILLIONS IN PONZI SCHEME
BY NEVIN SHAPIRO
By Elizabeth Menos, NTS NEWS
So far, trustee Joel Tabas has recovered about $19 million,
but he has struggled to collect from one particular party: the
lawyers who once defended Shapiro, the rogue University of Miami
booster who reportedly gave cash and other gifts to Hurricane
athletes. Nevin Shapiro took them for $83
million.
A real sore point in the bankruptcy battle has been
Tabas’ claim to recover the value of a 58-foot Riviera yacht that
Shapiro used not only to party with UM football players, but also to
pay his lawyers, Guy Lewis and Michael Tein, when he ran short of
money in 2008. The trustee has sued Lewis, a one-time U.S. attorney,
and Tein, a former federal prosecutor, claiming they should return
their legal fees totaling $912,536 because their firm was only
representing Shapiro -- not his bankrupt company, Capitol
Investments USA, which Tabas now controls. Tabas claims Shapiro
improperly used the company’s money to pay his personal legal bills.
Capitol Investments was not charged as part of Shapiro’s $930
million Ponzi scheme, though it was the business vehicle he used to
swindle roughly 60 investors in Florida, the Midwest and Northeast.
At his plea hearing last fall, Shapiro admitted he ripped off new
investors to pay back earlier ones, pocketing at least $35 million
himself. His crime, one of the biggest financial frauds in Florida,
left Tabas with the challenge of recovering and redistributing any
left over money to his victims. But the conflict now drawing the
most attention in the federal bankruptcy court is between the
trustee and the Lewis Tein law firm.
“There is no allegation that Lewis and Tein engaged
in any fraudulent or improper conduct in this lawsuit,” said their
attorney, Chuck Throckmorton. “The issue in the case is whether
Capitol paid Lewis and Tein’s legal bills without receiving the
benefit of their legal services. The evidence will show Lewis and
Tein represented and benefited both Shapiro and Capitol.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
BAGHDAD. CAR BOMB KILLED 28 INCLUDING SOME POLICE
OFFICERS.
==================================================================
OCTOBER
11
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 11, 1968, Apollo 7, the first manned
Apollo mission, was launched with astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn
Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard.
On Oct. 11, 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt, the American
first lady, social reformer, diplomat and author, was born. She died
on Nov. 7, 1962
1958 The lunar probe Pioneer 1 was launched; it
failed to go as far as planned, fell back to Earth and burned up in
the atmosphere.
1962 Pope John XXIII convened the first session
of the Roman Catholic Church's 21st Ecumenical Council, better known
as Vatican II.
1968 Apollo 7 was launched with astronauts Wally
Schirra, Donn Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard.
1986 President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader
Mikhail S. Gorbachev opened two days of talks on arms control and
human rights in Reykjavik, Iceland.
1991 Testifying before the Senate Judiciary
Committee, law professor Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee
Clarence Thomas of sexually harassing her; Thomas reappeared before
the panel to denounce the proceedings as a "high-tech lynching."
1998 Pope John Paul II canonized the first
Jewish-born saint of the modern era: Edith Stein, a Catholic nun
killed at Auschwitz.
2001 Trinidad-born writer V.S. Naipaul won the
Nobel Prize in literature.
2002 The Senate joined the House in approving the
use of America's military might against Iraq.
2002 Former President Jimmy Carter won the Nobel
Peace Prize for his 1970s Middle East diplomacy.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
MANHATTAN 11:00 AM* Submits Photo to Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Fund & The History Channel’s Call for Photos
Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets
5:30 PM Speaks at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for
National Dance Institute’s Center for Learning and the Arts 217 West
147th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Frederick
Douglass Boulevard
7:45 PM Speaks at New York Stem Cell Foundation
Sixth Annual Gala and Science Fair Jazz at Lincoln Center 33 West
60th Street at Broadway
BRONX 12:00 Noon* Announces First Program of Young
Men’s Initiative Bronx Library Center 310 East Kingsbridge Road at
Briggs Avenue
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR CUOMO REQUESTS EXPEDITE
FEDERAL APPROVAL OF TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE PROJECT
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday announced that he has asked
the federal government to expedite the review and approval process
to allow work to begin on the Tappan Zee Bridge project. The Tappan
Zee project represents a multi-billion dollar investment that will
create tens of thousands of jobs and restore a critical part of the
Northeast’s transportation infrastructure.
President Barack Obama launched a competition where
states could submit their high priority, job-creating projects in
order to win expedited federal approvals, and New York submitted the
Tappan Zee project in to the competition. With an expedited federal
review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the
processing of certain permits, the Tappan Zee project could begin as
early as next year, potentially creating more jobs than any other
infrastructure project in the country.
“The Tappan Zee Bridge is a vital part of our state
and region’s infrastructure,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Tappan Zee
Bridge project improves a key component of our state and nation’s
infrastructure, and at the same time puts tens of thousands of New
Yorkers back to work.” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said, “I
urge the federal government to expedite approval for this important
project which will create tens of thousands of jobs. Major
investments in infrastructure are exactly what New York needs to
jumpstart our economy and restore safety to heavily traveled bridges
and other arteries. I commend Governor Cuomo and Senator Fuschillo,
the Chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee, for their
leadership on this critical project.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “With support
from the federal government, New York State will be able to begin
work on the Tappan Zee Bridge, ensuring this critical part of the
Northeast’s infrastructure remains safe and reliable. Investments of
this size have the potential to transform the region’s economy,
create jobs, and renew confidence in our state’s economic
revitalization. Governor Cuomo has shown true leadership in
rebuilding New York’s economy and I look forward to continuing to
work together on critical infrastructure projects and creating jobs
in our state.”
Built in the 1950s, the Tappan Zee Bridge is a
critical link in the regional transportation network carrying
Interstate routes I-87/I-287 across the Hudson River, connecting
Rockland and Westchester Counties in southeastern New York,
approximately 15 miles north of midtown Manhattan. This bridge
connects I-287 in New Jersey to I-95 in Connecticut for access to
the Northeast, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and carries a high
percentage of trucks. Approximately 135,000 vehicles cross the
bridge daily with upwards of 160,000 vehicles on some weekends, with
a total of approximately 45 million vehicles in 2010.
Over the last twenty years, the Tappan Zee has shown
significant deterioration. Further, with seven narrow lanes and no
safety shoulders, the Tappan Zee has an accident rate double the
rest of the New York Thruway system. The bridge also has serious
vulnerabilities to extreme events such as severe storms, ship
collision and earthquakes. The loss of the Tappan Zee, or reduction
in lanes or load limits, would over-tax alternate routes and have a
catastrophic economic impact on the region.
The Tappan Zee project has the potential to generate
more jobs than any other infrastructure project in the nation.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
transportation infrastructure accounts for 11 percent of the
nation's economic activity. For every dollar invested in highway
construction, the overall economy receives $4.87 in economic
benefits – nearly five times the return on investment. Highway
construction also supports thousands of jobs. FHWA estimates that
every $1 billion in highway construction supports over 30,000
employment opportunities. The Associated General Contractors of
America estimates that $1 billion invested in non-residential
construction will create or sustain 28,500 jobs: one third of those
jobs will be on-site construction jobs, one sixth will be indirect
jobs from suppliers of construction materials and services and about
half of the jobs would be created when construction and supplier
workers and owners spend their additional incomes.
NEW YORK. FROM WALL STREET PROTEST TO
MILLIONAIRE'S MARCH 10/11/11 This Tuesday "Occupy Wall
Street" is moving to a "Millionaires March" where they will visit
the homes of a number of the city's wealthiest residents including
News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and,
conservative billionaire David Koch. They plan to present them with
oversize checks to show how much less they will pay when the state's
two percent tax on millionaires expires in December. Mayor
Bloomberg, himself a millionaire has given the okay for
protesters to stay in Zuccotti Park indefinitely to voice their
opinions as long as they do it lawfully. He said "The bottom line is
that if people want to express themselves, as long as they obey the
laws we'll allow them to," said Bloomberg. "If they break the laws
we're going to do what we're supposed to do and enforce the laws."
On Monday, while we had a beautiful Columbus Day Parade on Fifth
Avenue, Hip-hop Russell Simmons and Kanye West visited
yesterday. During the Monday's march, NYPD blocked the group from
marching on a bridge and snarling traffic.
MIAMI, FLA. MIAMI CARNIVAL WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT TO SOME. 10/10/11
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS.
The Miami Carnival organizers had a lot of complaints from
fans and artists for the disorganization of the affair at Sun Life
Stadium in Miami Gardens. Several top artists from the Caribbean
such as Hinds, the Queen of Soca music, Calypso Rose, a legend in
Caribbean music did not perform due to a bad organization by the
promoters. That was a bad Sunday's experience for all. Anyway the
promoters promised to honor patron's tickets at5 the next year's
show.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
EGYPT. MINI8TER HAZEM EL-BEBLAWN RESIGNED.
He was appointed by the ruling military council. Mr Beblawi, who
was also deputy PM, quit over the government's handling of a
Christian Coptic protest on Sunday, they said. It ended in clashes
between the army and protesters in which 25 were killed. The ruling
military council has ordered a swift inquiry into the violence.
"Despite the fact that there might not be direct responsibility on
the government's part, responsibility lies, ultimately, with the
government," state news agency Mena quoted Mr Beblawi as saying.
"The current circumstances are very difficult and require a new and
different way of thinking and working," he said. The ruling military
council, which was handed the power to govern by President Hosni
Mubarak before he was ousted in the popular revolt, is in temporary
charge of the country while elections are organized.
The Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt's 85
million population, have a number of grievances against the interim
administration. They say the authorities have been slow to punish
radical Islamists who have attacked their churches. Sunday's protest
was sparked by the burning down of a church in the southern Aswan
province last month. About 2,000 people gathered in Cairo for an
initially peaceful rally to protest against its destruction. But
fighting soon broke out, involving protesters, residents and troops.
UNITED NATIONS
UN READY TO HELP LIBERIA DURING TODAY'S ELCTIONS
1
===================================================================
OCTOBER
10
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 10, 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
pleaded no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion and
resigned his office.
On Oct. 10, 1917, Thelonious Monk, the
world-renowned American jazz pianist and composer, was born. He died
on Feb. 17, 1982
1886 The tuxedo dinner jacket made its American
debut at the autumn ball in Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
1911 Revolutionaries under Sun Yat-sen overthrew
China's Manchu dynasty.
1935 George Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess"
opened on Broadway.
1943 Chiang Kai-shek took the oath of office as
president of China.
1964 The 18th Summer Olympic Games opened in Tokyo.
1970 Fiji became independent after nearly a
century of British rule.
1973 Vice President Spiro T. Agnew pleaded no
contest to one count of federal income tax evasion and resigned.
1979 Hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky made his
NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers.
1985 U.S. fighter jets forced an Egyptian plane
carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro to
land in Italy, where the gunmen were taken into custody.
2002 The House voted 296-133 to give President
George W. Bush broad authority to use military force against Iraq.
The Senate followed suit the next day.
2003 Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh
announced during his syndicated radio show that he was addicted to
painkillers and was checking into a rehab center.
2004 Actor Christopher Reeve, who became a
quadriplegic after a May 1995 horse riding accident, died at age 52.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011
MANHATTAN 11:00 AM Marches in 67th Annual Columbus
Day Parade
Parade Start: Fifth Avenue at 47th Street Parade
End: Fifth Avenue at 72nd Street
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
6:00 PM Speaks at Chicago Ideas Week Mayoral Panel
Discussion The Oriental Theater
24 West Randolph Street between North Dearborn
Street and North State Street
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES HOW THE
NEW LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO COMPLETE THE MANHATTAN GREENWAY AND OTHER
QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS ARE ATTRACTING EMPLOYERS LIKE TWITTER
AND NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
“Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
“Creating a greenway encircling Manhattan’s 32-mile
waterfront has been a dream that’s bedeviled New York City for more
than two decades. But we believe in dreaming big, and in finding
innovative solutions where others just see obstacles. Under our
Administration, we’ve been able to stitch together – piece-by-piece,
block-by-block – a succession of parks and promenades from Inwood to
the Battery. And last week, we reached an agreement that allows us
to bridge the biggest gap in the greenway, and overcome the biggest
obstacle to completing a ribbon of green around Manhattan.
“The agreement centers on a potential deal with the
United Nations that would create substantial proceeds for the City
to build a mile-long esplanade along the East River between 38th and
60th streets. The residents of that neighborhood have some of the
lowest access to parks and public space in the entire city. But now,
they’re going to get a spectacular waterfront park right on their
doorstep – and one that significantly advances our efforts to
reclaim our precious waterfront for the benefit of all.
“Besides improving our health and quality of life,
reviving New York City’s 578 miles of waterfront goes to the heart
of our strategy of creating jobs and growing our economy. That’s
because in today’s world, the most dynamic businesses gravitate to
wherever they can find the most talented people – and the most
talented people are more mobile than ever. That ramps up the
pressure on us to do everything we can to make our city an even
better place to live and work – and enhancing our neighborhoods and
public spaces is a big part of that.
“We’re seeing a lot of evidence that this strategy
for creating jobs is paying off. Last week for instance, I joined
Twitter, one of the world’s most innovative companies, in opening
their East Coast headquarters in our city. By establishing its
presence in New York, Twitter joins a tech community that’s growing
by leaps and bounds. And because innovation is a great engine for
job growth, we continue to increase our support for the tech
industry by investing in start-ups and providing discounted office
space to help get their ideas off the ground. New tech jobs, in
turn, also support and help create jobs in other industries – from
retail to restaurants to small businesses of every kind.
“Last week, another major company signaled that New
York City is the place to be. Norwegian Cruise Line announced that
it’s making our city the year-round home port for its newest
passenger ship – the “Norwegian Breakaway” – which will be the
largest ship ever to be based in our city. That will mean more
tourists spending money in our city, supporting hundreds of
thousands of jobs up and down the economic ladder, and moving us
closer to our goal of attracting 50 million visitors a year by 2012.
“Of course, tourism wouldn’t be booming – and our
cruise ship industry wouldn’t be so healthy – if New York wasn’t the
world’s most exciting port of call. Our restaurants, our hotels, our
historic sites and tourist attractions, the diversity of our
neighborhoods, are unparalleled. And with the completion of the
Manhattan Greenway now visible on the horizon, our city’s future
looks brighter than ever.
“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for
listening.”
NEW YORK. "OCCUPY WALL STREET" MARCH JOINED BY
THE CLERGY. 10/9/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
For the past 3 weeks, we have been in the middle of the
protesters of Occupy Wall Street, in downtown Manhattan. We have
observed some union members joining the march. This Sunday another
group n is giving support to the causes. Members of the Clergy took
part in the march. They were not there during the Brooklyn Bridge
confrontation with NYPD. On this Sunday, members of the clergy
joined the march in Washington Square Park for the so-called General
Assembly. This weekend there were no arrests for the blaming of Wall
street for the unfair distribution of wealth. Lower Manhattan
residents are not against the marches, but they are concerned about
the noise, pollution and sanitary conditions around Zuccotti park.
While Nancy Pelosi of the House Democratic gave her support to the
marchers, some Republicans who previously supported the Tea Party
demonstrations said the latest gatherings are just unorganized and
Eric Cantor the House Majority Leader, criticizing the protesters,
said that condoning the demonstrators amount to pitting Americans
against Americans.
We, in the news, are following the events until we find out what the
marchers are really willing to accomplish.
FLUSHING. MORNING FIRE AT AT 162ND STREET. TWO
INJURED 10/10/11
By Jacques Dusseck, NTS NEWS.
Not too far from our residence, a fire broke out in the
morning at 162nd Street at about 8:00 a.m. The firemen were on the
scene to investigate the fire on the 4th floor of that building..
We went on the scene to see what was happening in this quiet section
of Flushing. The fourth floor was engulfed with flames. According to
a fireman, only two residents suffered minor injuries and were taken
to Flushing Hospital for treatment after the fire was brought under
control . The Fire Department is investigating the cause of that
fire. We were told by some spectators that mostly Korean residents
occupy the building.
NEW YORK. COLUMBUS DAY PARADE ON FIFTH AVENUE
10/10/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
It is always fun to watch thousands of Italian New Yorkers
celebrating the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan, on 5th Avenue. The
crowd is estimated at about 40 to 50,000 onlookers from New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut. From 45th street to 72nd Street, more
than 100 floats participated in the events.
As usual Mayor Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Kelly were leading
the parade. Other politicians were also presented for the 67th
annual affairs. The weather was good. Several NYPD police cruisers
and motorcycles were seen blowing their sirens on Fifth Avenue.
The kids enjoyed the festivities, carrying proudly their Italian
flags. The Columbus Citizens Foundation, organizers of the parade,
had members in the crowd passing flyers asking for donations for its
$2 million annual commitment to scholarship for deserving students.
The Sanitation Department did a good job cleaning 5th Avenue in a
speedy fashion.
MIAMI, FLA. SHOOTING AND POLICE CHASE IN NORTH
EAST MIAMI
By Elizabeth Menos NTS NEWS Miami, Fla..
On Northwest 81st Street, there was a Police chase, after a
fatal crash between a car and a taxi. When the Police confronted the
car's driver, by Interstate 95, he stole the police car. He was shot
at Northwest 91st street. The taxi driver was killed in the accident
this Monday morning. That was a mess in the neighborhood. Two people
were sent to the Jackson Memorial Hospital Investigators were on the
scene.
According to Police, the crash involved an SUV taxi and a sedan
vehicle. The crash was related to the theft of a Miami Police
cruiser leading to the Police chase and shooting. The suspect died
on the scene several blocks away from the crash.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EGYPT, CAIRO. PEOPLE SHOT AND RUN OVER BY
MILITARY VEHICLES.
===========================================================
OCTOBER
9
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 9, 1967, Latin American guerrilla leader
Che Guevara was executed in Bolivia while attempting to incite
revolution.
On Oct. 9, 1899, Bruce Catton, the American
writer and historian known for his books about the Civil War, was
born. He died on Aug. 28, 1978
1930 Laura Ingalls became the first woman to fly
across the United States as she completed a nine-stop journey from
Roosevelt Field in New York to Glendale, Calif.
1936 The first generator at Boulder (later
Hoover) Dam began transmitting electricity to Los Angeles.
1946 The Eugene O'Neill drama "The Iceman Cometh"
opened on Broadway.
1958 Pope Pius XII died at age 82.
1967 Guerrilla leader Che Guevara was executed in
Bolivia while attempting to incite revolution.
1975 Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize.
1985 The hijackers of the Achille Lauro cruise
liner surrendered after the ship arrived in Port Said, Egypt.
1990 David Souter was sworn in as an associate
justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
2001 Letters postmarked in Trenton, N.J., that
later tested positive for anthrax spores were mailed to Sens. Tom
Daschle, D-S.D., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
2006 North Korea announced that it had conducted
its first nuclear weapons test.
2006 Google Inc. announced it was snapping up
YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion in a stock deal.
2007 The Dow Jones industrial average closed at
an all-time high of 14,164.53.
2008 The Dow Jones industrials fell below 9,000 –
to 8,579.19 – for the first time in five years.
2009 President Barack Obama was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize.
2010 Chile's 33 trapped miners cheered and
embraced each other as a drill punched into their underground
chamber where they had been stuck for an agonizing 66 days.
================================================================
OCTOBER
8
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 8, 1982, all labor organizations in
Poland, including Solidarity, were banned.
On Oct. 8, 1890, Edward V. Rickenbacker, the
World War I flying ace who went on to lead Eastern Airlines for
thirty years, was born. He died on July 23, 1973
1869 Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the
United States, died in Concord, N.H., at age 64.
1918 American Army Sgt. Alvin York almost
single-handedly killed 25 German soldiers and captured 132 in the
Argonne Forest in France.
1945 President Harry S. Truman announced that the secret of the
atomic bomb would be shared only with Britain and Canada.
1956 Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in
a World Series as the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0
in Game 5.
1959 Margaret Thatcher was first elected to the
British Parliament as a Conservative representing the north London
suburb of Finchley.
1970 Soviet author Alexander Solzhenitsyn was
named winner of the Nobel Prize for literature.
1982 Poland banned all labor organizations,
including Solidarity.
1985 The hijackers of the Italian cruise ship
Achille Lauro killed American passenger Leon Klinghoffer and dumped
his body and wheelchair overboard.
2001 Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge was sworn
in as director of the new Office of Homeland Security.
2004 Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart reported to
prison to begin serving a sentence for lying about a stock sale.
2005 A major earthquake flattened villages on the
Pakistan-India border, killing an estimated 86,000 people.
CITY HALL, NY. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG ON GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO’S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPROVE
ACCESS TO STATE SERVICES FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS
“Today, New York State took an historic step toward better serving
limited English proficient New Yorkers and immigrant communities,
and I applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership on this issue. Our
Administration was glad to lend our support and guidance to the
Governor's team as they drafted the Executive Order, drawing on our
own experience in developing our City’s first-ever Language Access
Executive Order, which I signed in 2008. Our Administration is
committed to making New York City the most-immigrant friendly city
in the world, and we have made tremendous strides in making that a
reality. By issuing today’s executive order on language access, our
State government is ensuring that all New Yorkers have the same
access to the same services and the same opportunities.”
NEW YORK. SCHOOL WORKERS PROTEST AGAINST LAY OFF.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Protesters booed Mayor Michael Bloomberg Friday in response
to more than 670 layoffs at the Department of Education. Ninety-five
percent of the cuts target members of the city's largest municipal
labor union, a frequent foe of Bloomberg’s. "They then say that we
were the ones in bad faith. No. They were the ones in bad faith.
From the beginning, this was politics,” said Santos Crespo,
president of Local 372. School aides like Cliftonia Johnson took the
hardest hit. "It makes me angry that now I have to go ask for
services from the City of New York. I don't think so. Why not allow
me to continue to be a citizen that pays taxes with pride, that pays
her bills?" said Johnson. The layoffs were part of the council and
the mayor's budget agreement in June, but now some council members
say they were blindsided.
"You say the union did not come to you and put good
faith offers on the table not once, not twice, but three times and
you rejected it. You lied," said City Councilwoman Letitia James.
However, representatives from the mayor's office say it was District
Council 37 that wouldn't come to the table when the city wanted to
use a special, multi-union health care fund to stave off the cuts.
"We cannot afford as much as we're doing now, plain and simple,"
said Bloomberg. Union and some council officials say the layoffs
disproportionately affect schools in low-income and minority
neighborhoods, like at PS 153 in Harlem. Parents and officials hoped
for a last minute deal between DC 37 and City Hall. Now they are
mourning the loss. Bloomberg has ordered agencies to slice their
budgets another two percent this fiscal year and another six percent
next, so this battle is far from over.
FLUSHING . 7 TRAIN SERVICE DISRUPTION IS A
PROBLEM FOR COMMUTERS.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
Subway riders can expect a strained commute between Queens
and Manhattan this weekend, as service between Times Square and
Queensboro Plaza will be out of service. More than 200,000
subway riders
are affected. According to the MTA, the shutdown is necessary to
begin installing wiring on the Flushing line for a new
computer-based train control system or “CBTC.” The $550 million
system being installed on the 7 line is the same one the MTA
installed a couple of years ago on the L, another subway line that
doesn't share track. “The line itself has been operating at capacity
for an extended period of time. CBTC really is the wave of the
future. It enables us to be able to service our customers better, to
enable them to possibly get a seat down the line,” said Demetrius
Circhlow, assistant manager for the 7 line. This time, MTA officials
say they’re right on track. They say the new signal system should be
working on the 7 in five years. Until then, riders should expect
disruptions during some weekends and evenings, but MTA officials say
they will give the public plenty of notice.
NEW YORK. BUSINESS OWNERS NOT HAPPY WITH
"OCCUPY WALL STREET".
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS, NY
The "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrators protest, hang out and
sleep in Zuccotti Park, where they’ve lived for three weeks. While
their presence is heard around the world, this occupation, which
might also be considered a commune or even a party, has a local
impact. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the protests have cost
the department nearly $2 million in overtime, for example. On the
other hand, some neighborhood food stands are benefiting. "People
here, the business a little up,” said one food stand worker. Others
businesses aren't so happy. Stacey Tzortzas, the owner of Panini
Company Café, said the protest is driving away her regulars. That
business dropped 30 percent, and there are more basic problems.
"Protesters come in demanding to use the facilities
to bathe. They spend hours in there just bathing. They destroyed the
bathrooms," said Tzortzas. Some residents have been upset over the
noise, but the community board finds the protesters responsive.
"They were absolutely willing to have this noise policy where they
basically stop any music or loud noise at 10 at night," said Julie
Menin, Community Board 1 chair. "We support their right to
demonstrate,” said City Councilwoman Margaret Chin. “But we just
want the protesters also be mindful that in that area we also have a
lot of residents." In a statement, a Brookfield rep wrote, "Many of
the protesters refuse to cooperate by adhering to the rules… the
park has not been cleaned since Friday, September 16, and as a
result, sanitary conditions have reached unacceptable levels."
Protesters said they're staying. Opponents, if they want them to
leave, may have to wait until winter to freeze them out. That’s not
about to happen, though, as pleasant weather is expected all weekend
long.
====================================================
OCTOBER
7
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 7, 1985 Palestinian gunmen hijacked the
Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean with more
than 400 people aboard.
On Oct. 7, 1897, Elijah Muhammad, the American
leader of the Black Muslim movement from the 1930s to the 1970s, was
born. He died on Feb. 25, 1975
1868 Cornell University was inaugurated in
Ithaca, N.Y.
1879 Communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky was
born Lev Davidovich Bronshtein in Yanovka, Ukraine.
1949 The Republic of East Germany was formed.
1954 Marian Anderson became the first black
singer hired by New York's Metropolitan Opera.
1963 President John F. Kennedy signed the
documents of ratification for a nuclear test ban treaty with Britain
and the Soviet Union.
1968 The Motion Picture Association of America
adopted a film-rating system.
1981 Egypt's parliament named Vice President
Hosni Mubarak to succeed the assassinated Anwar Sadat.
1982 The musical "Cats" opened on Broadway,
beginning its record run of 7,485 performances.
1985 Palestinian gunmen hijacked the Italian
cruise ship Achille Lauro in the Mediterranean with more than 400
people aboard.
1996 Fox News Channel made its debut.
1998 Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was
beaten, robbed and left tied to a wooden fence post outside Laramie,
Wyo.; he died five days later.
2001 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants
wrapped up his record-breaking season with his 73rd home run.
2003 California voters recalled Gov. Gray Davis
and elected actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to replace him.
2006 Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who had
chronicled Russian military abuses against civilians in Chechnya,
was found shot to death in Moscow.
2008 The Federal Reserve announced a radical plan
to buy massive amounts of short-term debt, known as commercial
paper, to get credit markets moving again.
ALABAMA. IMMIGRATION LAW OF ALABAMA CHALLENGED BY
US GOV.
The US government has asked an appeals court to block a tough
new immigration law in Alabama, saying it could cause discrimination
against legal citizens. The justice department filed a challenge
which also argued that the law would merely displace illegal
immigrants into neighboring states. A federal judge last week upheld
controversial provisions of the state law, considered the toughest
in the US. There are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in
the US.
Alabama's law requires schools to check pupils'
legal residency and bars illegal immigrants from getting drivers' or
business licenses. It also allows police to detain people suspected
of being in the country illegally if they cannot show proper
documentation. Those provisions have been upheld by a federal judge
and will stay in place while the appeals court considers the justice
department's request.
The legal motion said Alabama's new law was "highly
likely to expose persons lawfully in the United States, including
school children, to new difficulties in routine dealings". Alabama
Governor Robert Bentley said in a statement: "I remain committed to
seeing that this law is fully implemented. We will continue to
defend this law against any and all challenges."
If wholly enforced, the measures would make it a
crime to knowingly give a lift or rent a room to an undocumented
worker. Education officials in Alabama have said that immigrant
families have begun keeping their children home from school or
withdrawing them entirely from their classes.
The justice department said in its emergency stay
request filed in the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta,
Georgia, that "news accounts confirm that the law is having its
intended but impermissible consequences of driving aliens from the
state".
Similar laws passed this year and last in Utah,
Indiana, Georgia and Arizona have been blocked in whole or in part
after challenges by the Obama administration. It argues that only
the federal government has the constitutional authority to set
immigration policy.
CITY HALL.NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG, IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS
COMMISSIONER SHAMA AND CITYWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMISSIONER
HANDY LAUNCH NY CITIZENSHIP
City Agencies, CUNY Citizenship Now! and The Legal
Aid Society join to help qualified City employees and their families
apply for U.S. Citizenship
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor’s Office of
Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Fatima Shama and Department of
Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Edna Handy today
announced they are teaming up with CUNY Citizenship Now, the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services, NYC Service and the
Legal Aid Society to launch the NYCitizenship Initiative, a free
service for eligible City employees and members of their family who
are seeking to apply for U.S. citizenship. NYCitizenship will
provide free immigration information and assistance to eligible City
employees and members of their family who are lawful permanent
residents and seeking information on the application process to
become U.S. citizens. Experienced volunteer lawyers will be on hand
to provide no-cost legal information and assistance to help
individuals navigate through the naturalization process. Individuals
will be invited to a special swearing-in ceremony upon successful
completion of the naturalization process. Mayor Bloomberg announced
this initiative on his weekly radio show “The John Gambling Show
with Mayor Mike” on WOR AM
“Our City’s workforce is made up of many talented
immigrants who came to this country in search of opportunities and a
better life for their families,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Lengthy
government applications can seem daunting so we want to help all
city employees who are ready to become naturalized citizens. Thanks
to our partners offering this free and voluntary service, we can
help more New Yorkers realize their American dreams and fully
participate in our country’s democratic process.”
“The NYCitizenship initiative will help support our
City’s immigrant workforce by connecting eligible lawful permanent
residents to the information and services they need to successfully
pursue citizenship,” said Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Fatima
Shama. “There are so many benefits to becoming a naturalized
citizen, so if you are an eligible city employee and are looking to
start the process – we can help.”
“DCAS is pleased to work with Commissioner Shama on
supporting this important initiative,” said Commissioner
Wells-Handy. “We are always aiming to deliver services better,
faster, cheaper and greener.” “Making New York City a place of
inclusion that embraces those who are a committed to making our City
vibrant is a Mayoral priority,” said Chief Service Officer Diahann
Billings-Burford. “NYC Service is committed to engaging New Yorkers
to help accomplish this task and strengthen our communities.” “CUNY
is very pleased to partner with the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant
Affairs and the Legal Aid Society to provide free citizenship
assistance to New York City employees,” said CUNY Vice Chancellor
Jay Hershenson. “This public service partnership will help the
workforce navigate a frequently daunting maze of federal regulations
so they may more fully realize their hopes and dreams.”
“Our goal is to provide top quality legal assistance
at no cost to city employees,” said Allan Wernick, Director of CUNY
Citizenship Now! “It is our way of saying "thank you" to New York
City’s civil servants.”
“The Legal Aid Society is proud to be part of this
unique collaboration to provide critical application assistance and
representation to New York City employees and their families,” said
Steve Banks, Attorney-in-Chief. “This initiative will no doubt have
a positive impact on immigrant families and New York City
communities and further demonstrate NYC’s continued commitment to
its vibrant immigrant residents.”
The first informational session will take place on
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at the Surrogates Court. To register,
visit MOIA’s website at www.nyc.gov/immigrants by October 14th. To
learn more about how to register, you can call 311.
What to Bring: · Green Card , · List of home
addresses and dates from past five years · List of employers (names
and addresses) and dates worked from past five years · Dates and
itineraries of trips outside of U.S. since becoming a permanent
resident · Children's complete names, birthdates, and A#'s, if
applicable - Marriage certificates and divorce judgments
· If you have ever been arrested, cited or detained,
or if you appeared in court for any reason, before or after you
obtained your green card, bring ALL certified court and police
documents
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
HAITI-UN-MINUSTAH. NEWS FROM GUYANA
SWEDEN. OSLO. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR 3 WOMEN
RIGHTS ACTIVIST.
===================================================
OCTOBER
6
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 6, 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
was shot to death by Islamic militants while reviewing a military
parade.
On Oct. 6, 1905, Helen Wills Moody, the world's
top female tennis player for nearly a decade, was born. She died on
Jan. 1, 1998
1949 American-born Iva Toguri D'Aquino, convicted
as Japanese wartime broadcaster Tokyo Rose, was sentenced to 10
years in prison.
1973 Egypt and Syria attacked Israel during the
Yom Kippur holiday.
1976 In a debate with Democratic candidate Jimmy
Carter, President Gerald R. Ford asserted there was "no Soviet
domination of eastern Europe." Ford later conceded that he had
misspoken.
1979 Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff
to visit the White House, where he was received by President Jimmy
Carter.
1987 The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-5
against the nomination of Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court.
2004 The top U.S. arms inspector in Iraq, Charles
Duelfer, reported finding no evidence Saddam Hussein's regime had
produced weapons of mass destruction after
1991. 2008 The Dow Jones industrial average
closed below 10,000 for the first time since 2004
. 2010 Roy Halladay pitched the second no-hitter
in postseason history, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the
Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in Game 1 of the NL division series..
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2011
MANHATTAN *10:30 AM Makes Announcement 340
Madison Avenue Between 43rd and 44th Streets
2:00 PM Makes Announcement Pier 88 West Side Highway at 48th Street
*6:30 PM Hosts City Parks Foundation Annual Gala Honoring David
Moore and David Rivel Gracie Mansion East End Avenue at 88th Street
BRONX 7:15 PM Delivers Remarks at the Bronx
Chamber of Commerce 9th Annual Banquet Marina Del Rey 1 Marina Drive
at Schurz Avenue
8:00 PM Attends New York Yankees American League Division Series
Game 5 Yankee Stadium
CITY HALL STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
ON THE DEATH OF STEVE JOBS
“Tonight, America lost a genius who will be
remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the
world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four
decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long
before most people could even see the horizon. And Steve’s
passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we
live brought us more than smart phones and iPads: it brought
knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization. In
New York City’s government, everyone from street construction
inspectors to NYPD detectives have harnessed Apple’s products to do
their jobs more efficiently and intuitively. Tonight our City – a
city that has always had such respect and admiration for creative
genius – joins with people around the planet in remembering a great
man and keeping Laurene and the rest of the Jobs family in our
thoughts and prayers.”
==========================================================
OCTOBER 2O11
OCTOBER
5
IN HISTORY
On October 5, 1947, in the first televised White
House address, President Truman asked Americans to refrain from
eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help stockpile
grain for starving people in Europe.
On Oct. 5, 1902, Ray A. Kroc, the American
businessman who built the McDonald's fast food empire, was born. He
died on Jan. 14, 1984.
1941 Former Supreme Court Justice Louis D.
Brandeis, the first Jewish member of the nation's highest court,
died at age 84.
1947 President Harry S. Truman delivered the
first televised address from the White House.
1962 The Beatles' first hit, "Love Me Do,"
was released in the United Kingdom.
1983 Solidarity founder Lech Walesa was named
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1986 American Eugene Hasenfus was captured by
Sandinista soldiers after the Contra supply plane he was riding in
was shot down over Nicaragua.
1988 Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican
Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle,
"Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
1989 A jury in Charlotte, N.C., convicted former
PTL evangelist Jim Bakker of using his TV show to defraud followers.
1990 A jury in Cincinnati acquitted an art
gallery and its director of obscenity charges stemming from an
exhibit of sexually graphic photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.
2000 Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, who had
refused to accept defeat in the country's presidential election, was
ousted when huge mobs rampaged through Belgrade.
2005 Defying the White House, the Senate voted
90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of "cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S.
government custody.
2007 American track star Marion Jones
pleaded guilty to lying when she said that she hadn't taken
steroids.
BREAKING NEWS. STEVE JOBS APPLE CO-FOUNDER AND
CEO HAS DIED AT 56.
10/5/11 6:00 pm
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world
has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate
enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an
inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could
have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
Steve Jobs' family also released the following
statement: Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family. In
his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private
life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people
who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of
Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to
offer tributes and memories. We are grateful for the support and
kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of
you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy
during our time of grief.
Apple released the statement current CEO Tim Cook
delivered to employees:
Team, I have some very sad news to share with all of
you. Steve passed away earlier today. Apple has lost a visionary and
creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with
Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves
behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will
forever be the foundation of Apple.
We are planning a celebration of Steve's
extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. No
words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our
gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his
memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so
much.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011
MANHATTAN 12:30 PM Unveils Custom-Made
Motorcycle Commemorating 9/11 Memorial
9/11 Memorial Preview Site 20 Vesey Street between
Church Street and Broadway
*4:30 PM Makes Announcement City Hall
*7:00 PM Attends First Tee Metropolitan New York
10th Anniversary Gala American Museum of Natural History Central
Park West at 79th Street
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON
HELICOPTER CRASH
The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s
remarks as delivered today at 34th Street and the FDR Drive.
“Good afternoon. I’m here with Police Commissioner
Ray Kelly, Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano, Office of Emergency
Management Commissioner Joe Bruno, Dan Garodnick, the City
Councilman from this district, First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris, and
Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway.
“About 3:30 this afternoon, a privately-owned
helicopter with five people on board, including the pilot, crashed
into the East River just after taking off from the 34th Street
Heliport here on Manhattan’s East Side. It is a terrible accident
that has left one person dead, one in very serious condition, and
two more in critical condition. Our understanding is that all of the
passengers were visiting our city from outside the country, and that
the pilot came from Linden, New Jersey – or at least the helicopter
that he was flying came from Linden, New Jersey.
“We pride ourselves on being the most welcoming city
in the world, and we are, and to have a family come here to see and
experience the best of our city and end up in a tragic accident like
this just breaks your heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with them
all and their families, and we are hoping that the three people in
the hospital will pull through.
“From what we know so far, the pilot reported having
trouble keeping aloft, and he tried to turn back but crashed into
the water just north of the landing pad. There was a very quick
response by NYPD and FDNY. NYPD emergency service officers and
Office of Emergency Management personnel who were in the immediate
vicinity drove onto the landing pad and saw the helicopter inverted
in the water with only its skids showing on the surface.
“The police officers dove into the water and rescued
three of the four passengers. Their status, as I said before, one
very critical and two serious. One young woman I’m sorry to say did
not make it. She was gotten out later on by the Fire Department from
the helicopter and her body was recovered as roughly at 4:40 this
afternoon. The pilot was rescued very quickly and brought ashore.
“We’re not going to be making any passengers’ names
public until the families have been notified, but it is our
understanding that the passengers knew the pilot. They were all
friends.
“The City has already begun what will be a full
investigation into how this happened – but right now, again, our
thoughts and prayers are with those who were in the accident and
their families. And the bottom line is we don’t really have any
details on what happened. The National Transportation Safety Board
is a Federal agency that investigates all airplane and helicopter
accidents. They are here, and they will release data when they get
it.
“The bottom line is the helicopter went in and we
have no idea whether it was mechanical, whether it was an accident
caused by human error, or anything else. The passengers apparently-
a couple were Brits that lived in Portugal we think, and two had
lived in Australia. One may have been British, but it’s not clear
whether they were both Australian or not. Other than that we really
have nothing else that we can tell.”
NEW YORK. HELICOPTER CRASH IN EAST RIVER ON
TUESDAY 10/5/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
An investigation is underway to find out out why a
helicopter crashed into the East River shortly after takeoff on
Tuesday after 3:30 pm. killing one woman.
At an evening press conference with the mayor and New York City
Police and Fire Departments on the latest developments from the East
River crash.
A private Bell 206 chopper from New Jersey was attempting to take
off from the heliport and crashed just north of the landing pad off
East 34th Street around 3:30 p.m. The body of Sonia Marra, a
40-year-old British woman, was recovered from inside the helicopter.
The surviving pilot, Paul Dudley, is the director of the airport at
Linden, N.J. and owns the company.
The pilot, the only conscious crash victim, was
clinging to the skids of the helicopter, holding the two female
survivors and trying to keep their heads above water. Dudley was
treated on the shore. The helicopter flipped over and plunged into
the East River. Rescue workers were able to respond within minutes,
because they were conducting a counter-terrorism patrol nearby.
Commenting on the rescue effort, Mayor Michael
Bloomberg said, "It's a sad day, but I think one of the comforting
things is the way the police department, the fire department and the
Office of Emergency Management came together, worked together and
did whatever was humanly possible to reduce the loss of life."
ALBANY, NY. GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCED AID FOR
COUNTIES AFFECTED BY TROPICAL STORM LEE.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that federal disaster
assistance is now available for homeowners, renters, small
businesses, and municipalities in additional counties as a result of
damages incurred by Tropical Storm Lee. Today's additions include:
•Public Assistance: Ulster County •Individual
Assistance: Oneida, Orange, Ulster Counties The Public Assistance
declaration makes federal funding available to State and eligible
local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a
cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement
of facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Lee.
The Individual Assistance declaration allows
homeowners, renters and small businesses to apply for the following
federal aid: the Individuals and Households Program, Crisis
Counseling, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, USDA food coupons and
distribution, USDA food commodities, Disaster Legal Services, the
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Small
Business Administration disaster loans. The counties currently
eligible for assistance from Tropical Storm Lee are as follows:
•Individual Assistance (Assistance to individuals
and households): Broome, Chenango, Chemung, Delaware, Oneida,
Orange, Otsego, Schenectady, Tioga and Ulster counties. •Public
Assistance (Assistance for debris removal, emergency protective
actions and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged
facilities): Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Orange,
Tioga, Tompkins and Ulster counties. •The counties currently
eligible for assistance from Hurricane Irene are as follows:
•Individual Assistance (Assistance to individuals and households):
Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Clinton, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene,
Herkimer, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens,
Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie,
Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington and Westchester
counties. •Public Assistance (Assistance for debris removal,
emergency protective actions and the repair or replacement of
disaster-damaged facilities): Albany, Bronx, Clinton, Columbia,
Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer,
Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens,
Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie,
Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington and Westchester
counties. Direct federal assistance is authorized.
All counties in the State of New York are eligible
to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated
counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online.
Additional counties may be made eligible for federal assistance as
ongoing damage assessments are completed
MIAMI, FLA. MIAMI INCLUDED IN 4 US AIRPORTS FOR
PRE-SCREEN FLYERS.
By Mona Arcelin, NTS NEWS.
Flying within the United States becomes slightly easier for
American and Delta fliers at four airports, including Miami, who can
now skip through security without taking off their shoes or belt or
removing their laptop from its carrier.
The program, which kicked off this Tuesday, is part
of a TSA security measures for a small pool of pre-approved
passengers. More than 500 million travelers fly domestically each
year, officials said, noting the “vast majority” aren’t a security
risk. Now, under TSA’s PreCheck, an estimated 70,000 travelers have
signed up to skip some of the flying annoyances in Miami,
Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Detroit. “This will strengthen our
security while significantly enhancing the travel experience,” said
Robin Kane, TSA’s assistant administrator. TSA’s latest effort is a
sort of compromise, and if successful, officials say they hope to
expand the program across the country and to other airlines. The
fliers — mostly business travelers — who are eligible for this
program will pass through security about twice as fast as regular
passengers. Beyond the limited American and Delta frequent fliers
invited to join, U.S. citizens who are members of the Customs and
Border Protection’s Trusted Traveler programs are also eligible.
Those passengers already pass more quickly through U.S. immigration
after paying a $100 fee and going through the agency’s extensive
background check.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
HAITI. FINALLY HAITI HAS A PRIME MINISTER. GARRY
CONILLE CONFIRMED.
AFGHANISTAN. KARZAN ASSASSINATION PLOT FOILED.
UNITED NATIONS
UN GOAL FOR UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION: 6
MILLION NEW TEACHERS.
=================================================
OCTOBER
3
IN HISTORY
On Oct. 3, 1990, West Germany and East Germany
ended 45 years of postwar division, declaring the creation of a new
unified country.
On Oct. 3, 1873, Emily Post, the American
authority on proper etiquette, was born. She died on Sept. 25, 1960
1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared the last
Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day.
1929 The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and
Slovenes changed its name to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
1941 Adolf Hitler declared in a speech in Berlin
that Russia had been "broken" and would "never rise again."
1951 Bobby Thomson hit the "shot heard 'round the
world" – a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a
playoff game at the Polo Grounds – to send the New York Giants into
the World Series.
1974 The Cleveland Indians hired Frank Robinson
as major league baseball's first black manager.
1981 Irish nationalists at the Maze Prison near
Belfast, Northern Ireland, ended seven months of hunger strikes that
had claimed 10 lives.
1990 West Germany and East Germany ended 45 years
of postwar division, declaring the creation of a new unified
country.
1995 A jury found ex-football player O.J. Simpson
innocent of murder in the 1994 slayings of his former wife, Nicole
Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman.
2002 Five people were killed in random shootings
in the Washington, D.C., area within a 14-hour period. Authorities
began to search for the "Beltway Sniper."
2003 A tiger attacked magician Roy Horn of the
duo "Siegfried & Roy" during a performance in Las Vegas, leaving him
partially paralyzed.
2005 President George W. Bush nominated White
House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Miers withdrew
three weeks later.
2009 Maine voters voted to repeal a state law
that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry.
=====================================================
OCTOBER 1
IN HISTORY
On October 1, 1961, Roger Maris of the New York
Yankees hit his 61st home run of the season, breaking Babe Ruth's
record of 60 set in 1927.
On Oct. 1, 1903, Vladimir Horowitz, the
Russian-born pianist considered one of the most accomplished players
of the 20th century, was born. He died on Nov. 5, 1989
1908 Henry Ford introduced the Model T automobile
to the market; each car cost $825.
1924 William Rehnquist, the 16th chief justice of
the United States, was born in Milwaukee, Wis.
1936 General Francisco Franco was proclaimed the
head of an insurgent Spanish state.
1939 Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union
as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" during a radio
broadcast.
1961 Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his
61st home run of the season, breaking the record Babe Ruth set in
1927.
1962 Johnny Carson debuted as regular host of
NBC's "Tonight" show. 1964
The Free Speech Movement was launched at
the University of California at Berkeley.
1971 Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Fla.
1993 Polly Klaas, 12, was abducted from her
Petaluma, Calif., home during a slumber party and murdered. Her case
inspired California's three-strikes law.
2001 The world's first third-generation (3G)
high-speed cellular phone service was launched in Japan..
2007 The summer melt of Arctic sea ice in 2007
was the greatest on record, the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data
Center reported.
2008 A $700 billion financial industry bailout
won lopsided passage in the Senate, 74-25, after it was loaded with
tax breaks and other sweeteners.
2009 "Late Show" host David Letterman
acknowledged having sexual relationships with some female staffers
as a former CBS producer was charged in a blackmail plot.
BRONX, NY. 81 YEAR 0LD MAN ATTACKED AND ROBBED.
9/29/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
This past Thursday, an 81year old resident was brutally
attacked and robbed by a young man in the lobby of his apartment
building in the Bronx. This incident took place on Unionport road in
the Parkchester area at about 4 in the afternoon. The attack was
recorded and we can see the suspect grabbed the victim from
behind and placed him into a chokehold. Then, he threw the elderly
man to the ground and repeatedly choked and kicked him while going
through his pockets for money. The suspect, a young black man, got
away with some jewelry and cash. His victim suffered only minor
injuries. This is such a despicable scene, all the neighbors are
enraged about this incident. Anyone with information is asked to
call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
MIAMI, FLA. NEW LAWS ARE TAKING EFFECT IN THE
STATE. 10/1
By Mona Arcelin NTS NEWS
As of this Saturday, 29 new laws go on the books:
• Abortion: A new law makes a number of changes to
the current laws requiring parental notification when minor girls
seek an abortion. Among the changes, the bill lengthens the time a
judge has to act on request for a judicial bypass. The measure also
requires minors seeking a judicial waiver from the requirement to
seek a judge within their judicial circuit. Minors can now seek a
judge residing within their appellate district, a much larger
geographic area.
• Sexting: The law creates the crime of "sexting",
the transmission of sexually explicit pictures, often by cell phone.
But it reduces the penalties from what they would be for teens
charged with doing that now, which would brand them a sex offender
for many years. Under the new law, a first time offense would not
result in a sex offender label.
• Malpractice: The law bolsters requirements for
expert witnesses in medical malpractice lawsuits. The legislation
makes it harder for some doctors from out of state to serve as
expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases. The bill also gives
medical and dentistry boards the authority to discipline witnesses
who provide "deceptive" or fraudulent testimony in a malpractice
case. Another feature of the bill creates a standard informed
consent form for cataract surgery patients, and says that incidents
resulting from certain specific risks aren’t considered adverse
incidents.
• Commercial insurance: The law allows companies
providing five types of commercial insurance coverage to raise rates
without first seeking approval by the Office of Insurance
Regulation. The provision still allows the agency to reject rates
that are excessive, inadequate or unnecessarily discriminating. The
bill continues a move begun last year when Gov. Charlie Crist
approved an insurance package that deregulated other lines of
commercial coverage. The changes were supported by the insurance
industry and employer groups. "The bill pretty much completes
changes begun last year," said Sam Miller, executive vice president
for the Florida Insurance Council.
• Beastiality: The law makes it a crime to have sex
with animals or know about someone having sex with animals, or
making it possible to have sex with animal. Apparently, existing
Florida law does not allow for easy prosecution. The law makes it a
first degree misdemeanor, punishable by p to a year in jail.
• Credit card fraud: The law is aimed at reducing
credit card fraud by toughening penalties for possession of stolen
credit or debit cards by someone who knows or should know the card
was stolen.
Now null and void: A Miami Gardens law prohibiting
guns in parks; a Miramar law restricting firearms from cars parked
on city property; and a law in Dania Beach making it illegal to
bring guns to the beach or into the ocean.
“It’s the new bring-your-gun-to-the park law,’’ said
Weston Mayor Eric Hersh during a recent commission meeting in which
the city law was dissolved.
The state has had complete control over gun laws
since 1987, although until now lawmakers looked the other way when
local municipalities enacted their own public safety ordinances.
That changed in the most recent Legislative session, when the state
law was amended to allow penalties.
“If you do not follow that regulation, you are
exposed to things unheard of,” City Attorney Jamie Cole warned at a
recent Miramar commission meeting.
Now the state has the power to punish local
government officials who continue enforcing their own firearm laws.
That means if a city commissioner, city manager or even a police
chief upholds a gun restriction law that differs from the state’s,
they can be fined personally up to $5,000 and be fired or removed
from office. Since June, local governments have been scrambling
during their commission meetings to repeal their own gun laws.
INTERNAL NEWS
AFGHANISTAN. AFGHANISTAN MILITANT CAPTURED.
UNITED NATIONS NEWS
SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR INCREASE IN AFRICAN
PEACE FORCE IN SOMALIA TO 12,000 AFRICAN UNION IN SOMALIA TROOPS.
==================================================
SEPTEMBER 30
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 30, 1938, British, French, German and
Italian leaders agreed at a meeting in Munich that Nazi Germany
would be allowed to annex Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland.
On Sept. 30, 1924, Truman Capote, the American
author of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "In Cold Blood", was born. He
died on Aug. 25, 1984
1927 Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees hit his
60th home run of the season to break his own major-league record.
1946 An international military tribunal in
Nuremberg, Germany, found 22 top Nazi leaders guilty of war crimes.
1955 Actor James Dean was killed in a car
accident at age 24.
1962 Black student James Meredith succeeded on
his fourth try in registering for classes at the University of
Mississippi.
1966 The Republic of Botswana declared its
independence from Britain. .
1991 The military in Haiti overthrew
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the country's first freely-elected
president.
1992 George Brett of the Kansas City Royals
reached 3,000 career hits during a game against the California
Angels.
1993 A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southern
India, killing an estimated 10,000 people.
1997 France's Roman Catholic Church apologized
for its silence during the systematic persecution and deportation of
Jews by the pro-Nazi Vichy regime.
2004 Merck & Co. pulled Vioxx, its heavily
promoted arthritis drug, from the market after a study found it
doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
2005 Cartoons featuring the Prophet Muhammad were
published in a Danish newspaper, offending many Muslims worldwide.
2007 Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre
completed his 421st career touchdown pass, breaking Dan Marino's NFL
record.
WALL STREET, NY. OCCUPY WALL STREET PROTEST
JOINED BY TWU GROUP 9/30
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
Since September 17, demonstrators took over the Wall street
area, protesting the influence of corporations in politics. They say
they’re working towards structural economic reform and that they’ll
be in the Financial District for “as long as it takes.” The TWU
members claimed that New York State's wealthiest residents should
pay higher taxes. Some of the Wall Street protestors have faced off
with NYPD cops on the scene. According to reports, incidents
involving some police officers are currently under investigation.
QUEENS, NY. YENNY VALERO IS SUING THE CITY FOR 10
MILLION. 9/30/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS
Ms. Valero claimed that her son was sexually assaulted at
school, Public School 112 in Queens.. So she is suing the city of
New York for a whooping $10 million. Four other kindergartners were
involved in the case. The case was dropped by investigators due to
the ages of the children. No comments yet on the pending
lit6igation. .
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
AFGHANISTAN. KARZAI ABANDONS PEACE TALK WITH
TALIBAN.
========================================================
SEPTEMBER 29
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 29, 1991, the Supreme Soviet, the
parliament of the U.S.S.R., suspended all activities of the
Communist Party, bringing an end to the institution.
On Aug. 29, 1915, Ingrid Bergman, the Swedish
international film star, was born. She died on Aug. 29, 1982
1877 Brigham Young, the second president of the
Mormon Church, died in Salt Lake City at age 76.
1944 American troops marched down the Champs
Elysees in Paris as the French capital continued to celebrate its
liberation from the Nazis.
1957 Sen. Strom Thurmond, D-S.C., ended the
longest filibuster in Senate history after talking for 24 hours, 18
minutes against a civil rights bill.
1958 Pop singer Michael Jackson was born in Gary,
Ind.
1965 Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper
and Charles "Pete" Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after eight
days in space.
1966 The Beatles performed their last concert, at
Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
1996 President Bill Clinton's chief political
strategist, Dick Morris, resigned amid a scandal over his
relationship with a prostitute.
2000 Pope John Paul II endorsed organ donation
and adult stem cell study but condemned human cloning and embryo
experiments.
2008 Republican John McCain picked Alaska Gov.
Sarah Palin to be his vice-presidential running mate.
2009 Funeral services were held in Boston for
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was eulogized by President Barack Obama;
hours later, Kennedy's remains were buried at Arlington National
Cemetery outside Washington.
ALBANY, NY. Governor Cuomo Announces Federal
Disaster Aid Approved for Additional Counties Affected by Tropical
Storm Lee Printer-friendly version Public Assistance for Chemung and
Orange Counties 9/28/11
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that federal
disaster assistance is now available for municipalities in eight
counties as a result of damages incurred by Tropical Storm Lee.
Today's additions include: •Public Assistance:
Chemung and Orange Counties
The Public Assistance declaration makes federal
funding available to State and eligible local governments and
certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for
emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged
by Tropical Storm Lee.
The counties currently eligible for assistance from
Tropical Storm Lee are as follows:
•Individual Assistance (Assistance to individuals
and households): Broome, Chenango, Chemung, Delaware, Otsego,
Schenectady and Tioga counties. •Public Assistance (Assistance for
debris removal, emergency protective actions and the repair or
replacement of disaster-damaged facilities): Broome, Chemung,
Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Orange, Tioga and Tompkins counties.
The counties currently eligible for assistance from
Hurricane Irene are as follows:
•Individual Assistance (Assistance to individuals
and households): Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Clinton, Delaware,
Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Herkimer, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau,
Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland,
Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren,
Washington and Westchester counties. •Public Assistance (Assistance
for debris removal, emergency protective actions and the repair or
replacement of disaster-damaged facilities): Albany, Bronx, Clinton,
Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton,
Herkimer, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Orange, Otsego,
Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga,
Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren,
Washington and Westchester counties. Direct federal assistance is
authorized.
All counties in the State of New York are eligible
to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
(Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to
life and property from natural hazards). Residents and business
owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin
applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov
or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants, who
have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call
1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay
Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers
will operate from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM (local time) seven days a week
until further notice.
Additional counties may be made eligible for federal
assistance as ongoing damage assessments are completed.
BROOKLYN, NY. BROOKLYN COLLEGE, SCENE OF
SHOOTING.
A gunman opened fire near Brooklyn College last Tuesday
afternoon, leaving one man in critical condition and sending
panicked pedestrians running for their lives. According to police,
the victim had just had an argument with a man who was already
inside of the restaurant. The suspect, dressed in a red jacket and
light colored pants, can be seen bursting out of the McDonalds as
the victim attempts to enter, firing multiple shots with a .32
caliber Smith and Wesson revolver. One bullet grazed the young man's
head and then he can be seen falling to the ground and rolling after
being hit in the groin, leg and torso. The bustling sidewalk clears
quickly and an NYPD van can be seen pulling up seconds after the
shooting. The shooter, with two accomplices who had passed him the
gun, ran back into the McDonalds and may have exited through doors
on the other side of the restaurant onto Flatbush Ave. The victim is
now in critical but stable condition at Kings County Hospital
according to EMS officials. Police are now looking for the three
suspects, all black males.
WALL STREET. INVESTIGATING PEPPER SPRAYING BY
NYPD.
The New York City Police Department and the Civilian Complaint
Review Board are investigating the pepper spraying of demonstrators
involved in the "Occupy Wall Street" protests over the weekend, as a
second video of the alleged spraying emerged. The video, posted on
YouTube on Wednesday, shows an officer waving a canister he appears
to spray into the crowd.
The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau was already
looking into whether a deputy inspector acted excessively during
Saturday's protest. The first video, which appeared on Saturday,
showed some people screaming after being sprayed. So far, at least
80 people have been arrested in connection with the protests. Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly said Wednesday that the video only shows one
side of the story.
"Proponents of a certain position will show you just
what they want to show you," said Kelly. "As I said, the crowd, the
group left the park on 14th Street. They were blocking traffic on
University Place. We don't see any of that." Some of the same groups
from the Wall Street protests are planning to hold a march near NYPD
headquarters on Friday. Kelly said the department plans to make sure
it goes off without incident, even though the marchers do not have a
permit.
=========================================================
SEPTEMBER 28
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 28, 1963, 200,000 people participated in
a peaceful civil rights rally in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in front of
the Lincoln Memorial.
On Aug. 28, 1828, Leo Tolstoy, the Russian author
considered one of history's greatest novelists was born. He died oon
Nov. 7, 1910
1922 The first radio commercial aired on WEAF in
New York City.
1955 Emmett Till, an African-American teenager
from Chicago, was abducted from his uncle's home in Money, Miss., by
two white men after he was accused of whistling at a white woman. He
was found murdered three days later.
1968 Police and anti-war demonstrators clashed in
the streets of Chicago as the Democratic National Convention
nominated Hubert H. Humphrey for president.
1981 John W. Hinckley Jr. pleaded innocent to
charges of attempting to kill President Ronald Reagan.
1996 Democrats nominated President Bill Clinton
for a second term at their national convention in Chicago.
1996 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana
were divorced after 15 years of marriage.
2005 New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered
everyone in the city to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Katrina.
2008 Barack Obama accepted the Democratic
presidential nomination with a speech at Invesco Field in Denver.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
WASHINGTON. *8:45 AM Delivers Keynote Address at
“Immigration & Competitiveness” Conference Sponsored by the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for a New American Economy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1615 H Street NW between 16th and 17th
Streets
*10:30 AM Meets with Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent
Gray City Hall 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 13th and 14th
Streets
ALBANY, GOVERNOR CUOMO STATEMENT ON PEF VOTE.
"The members of the Public Employee Federation (PEF) have made
their decision on a contract that would have protected them against
the state needing to lay off their workers in order to achieve the
required workforce savings passed as part of this year's budget.
In this economic reality, rising state workforce
costs are unsustainable, as the members of the Civil Service
Employees Association (CSEA), the state's largest union, recognized
when they overwhelmingly passed an identical contract. The
Legislature passed a budget that made clear that reducing these
costs would be achieved either through the collective bargaining
process or through layoffs. I urge them to reconsider."
========================================================
SEPTEMBER 27
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 27, 1962, the United States launched the
Mariner 2 space probe, which flew past Venus the following December.
On Aug. 27, 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th
president of the United States, was born. He died on Jan. 22,
1973,
1883 The island volcano Krakatoa erupted and the
resulting tidal waves claimed some 36,000 lives on the Indonesian
islands of Java and Sumatra.
1928 The Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in Paris,
outlawing war and providing for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
1945 American troops began landing in Japan
following the surrender of the Japanese government in World War II.
1962 The United States launched the Mariner 2
space probe, which flew past Venus the following December.
1967 The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, was
found dead from an overdose of sleeping pills.
1975 Haile Selassie, the last emperor of
Ethiopia's 3,000-year-old monarchy, died in Addis Ababa almost a
year after being overthrown.
1979 British war hero Lord Louis Mountbatten was
killed off the coast of Ireland in a boat explosion; the Irish
Republican Army claimed responsibility.
2007 Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick
pleaded guilty in Richmond, Va., to a federal dogfighting charge.
2008 Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was nominated
for president by the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
MANHATTAN *5:00 PM Presides Over Bill Signing
Ceremony City Hall
*Bills to be considered: Intro. 53-A – In relation to creating a
clean waterfront plan. Intro 518 – In relation to the establishment
of the Atlantic Avenue business improvement district. Intro 531-A –
In relation to the installation of window guards. Int. 569 – In
relation to the establishment of the Chinatown business improvement
district. Int. 655-A – In relation to animal shelters in the City of
New York, to repeal section 17-801 in relation thereto, and to
repeal and re-enact section 17-809.
ALBANY, GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES ERIE CANAL
TO OPEN FOR 2 WEEKS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yestreday announced
that the Erie Canal will reopen to commercial and recreational
traffic for a two-week navigation period that begins Thanksgiving
Day. The canal has been closed in the Mohawk Valley since major
flooding damaged several canal structures late last month.
The canal is projected to re-open on Nov. 24 and
close on Dec. 8 to allow transient marine traffic to reach their
destinations this season. Two large tour boats are among the many
vessels that have been stranded on the Great Lakes since Hurricane
Irene and Tropical Storm Lee devastated parts of the state. Those
boats will now be able to complete their journeys.
“This is welcome news to boaters and commercial
vessels with no other reasonable alternative to returning to their
home ports,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are pleased to be able to
continue the important storm recovery efforts that will rebuild New
York and restore our transportation infrastructure.”
In the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm
Lee, catastrophic flooding overwhelmed locks on the Erie Canal
between Fort Plain and Schenectady, causing widespread damage. Steel
uprights which hold the dam gates in place were twisted and
displaced and lock and power houses were swept away in the flooding.
Machinery used to operate the locks and dams were inundated with
flood water and at three locations the flood waters carved new
channels for the Mohawk River around the lock and dam structures.
Over the next two months, crews will conduct
extensive repair efforts, including fixing damaged truss structures,
adding new hardware, restoration of electricity and other utilities,
debris removal, installation of safety features, and the
reinstallation of temporary modular lock houses and other machinery.
The canal will also be dredged where new refill deposited during the
flooding has blocked the river.
Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said,
"The 2011 season is the 187th year of continuous inland navigation
in New York, and we are pleased to be able to give our customers the
ability to complete their planned itineraries."
The Canal Corporation’s Erie Canal reconstruction
plans are based on current damage assessments and the required
repairs are part of an aggressive construction schedule that is
weather dependent. As of today, September 26, the Erie Canal remains
closed between Locks 8 in Schenectady and Lock 17 in Little Falls.
The Canal is open from Lock 2 in Waterford through Lock 7 in
Niskayuna. All areas west of Lock 17 in Little Falls are operating.
Typically the navigation season of the New York
canal system is May 1 through November 15. To accommodate vessels
stranded because of the damage to the Erie Canal, Governor Cuomo has
requested that Canada extend the season for the Chambly Canal which
connects Canada to Lake Champlain. Normally the Chambly Canal season
would end October 10.
ALBANY, NY. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON TO DELIVER
KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT NEW YORK OPEN FOR BUSINESS STATE WIDE CONFERENCE.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 TIME: 10:00 AM –
Program begins with presentations by Governor Cuomo and others Hart
Theater, The Egg, Center for the Performing Arts 279 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12224
TIME: 12:00 PM – Presentation by President Bill
Clinton Empire State Plaza Convention Center Concourse Level,
beneath the Egg Center for the Performing Arts Albany, NY 12224
===============================================================
SEPTEMBER 26
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 26, 1960, the first televised debate
between presidential candidates took place in Chicago as Republican
Richard M. Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy squared off.
On Sept. 26, 1897, Paul VI, Pope of the Roman
Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978, was born. He died on Aug. 6, 1978
1914 The Federal Trade Commission was
established.
1950 United Nations troops recaptured the South
Korean capital of Seoul from the North Koreans.
1986 William H. Rehnquist was sworn in as the
16th chief justice of the United States, while Antonin Scalia joined
the Supreme Court as an associate justice.
2000 Slobodan Milosevic conceded that his
challenger, Vojislav Kostunica, had finished first in Yugoslavia's
presidential election. Milosevic declared a runoff, a move that
prompted mass protests leading to his ouster.
2005 Army Pfc. Lynndie England was convicted by a
military jury on six counts stemming from the Abu Ghraib prison
abuse scandal.
2005 International weapons inspectors announced
the Irish Republican Army's full disarmament.
2006 Former Enron chief financial officer Andrew
Fastow was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the
fallen energy company's bankruptcy.
2008 Actor Paul Newman died at age 83.
2009 Director Roman Polanski was arrested in
Zurich on a warrant related to charges of having sex with a
13-year-old girl in the U.S. in the 1970s.
NEW YORK. ON SUNDAY'S 60 MINUTES RAY KELLY SAID
NYPD CAN TAKE DOWN AN AIRPLANE. 9/26/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
Watching 60 Minutes on CBS News, on Sunday, it was a
surprise to hear Commissioner Ray Kelly, during an interview, saying
that the New York Police Department can take down a plane if
it has to. He said he didn't want to get into details but says
NYPDt have the training and the equipment for what he called an
"extreme situation." He also said that snipers, divers, a network of
surveillance cameras and radiation detecting choppers are all part
of their arsenal. He calls the Big Apple the country's "number one
target" and says the message to anyone who wants to do the city harm
is "stay away."
The question raised from this interview is " Is the NYPD has the
Federal authority over the FBI, the CIA and the Defense Department
to carry out the taking down of a plane?
BRONX, NY. NYPD INDICTED COPS IN TICKET FIXING SAID NO TO PLEA
DEAL
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS NY.
Cops involved in the ticket-fixing would not accept a plea
bargain from prosecutors in order to save , a their pension,
if acquitted. According to reports, the Bronx prosecutors and
defense attorneys engaged in negotiations to hammer out misdemeanors
plea deals, before things fell apart. The accused cops decided to
take their chances at trial, after finding out that making a deal
with prosecutors would not guarantee the collection of their
pensions. A Bronx grand jury handed up indictments Saturday against
17 officers; charges include bribery, perjury and official
misconduct. The cops are expected to turn themselves in and be
arraigned some time this week, the result of a two-year probe that
began with a tip from a Bronx officer. Investigators focused on the
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, but according to several
sources, beat cops weren't the only ones involved, adding a couple
of supervisors may also be in trouble
MIAMI, FL. THE CASE STORY OF CARLOS RAMON ZAPATA
By Mona Arcelin NTS NEWS Fl.
Ramon Zapata was arrested for running an extensive
South Florida mortgage fraud racket, an enterprise whose total take
exceeded $16 million. The state’s attorney general alleges that
Ramón’s paper-pushing crew bilked lenders, using fraudulent
documents. Zapata was doing nicely as a worldly, daring drug
snitch, until he was ratted out by pals involved in a plan to scam
lenders. According to reports, he took up arms against Pablo
Escobar’s bloody cartel and survived. He helped facilitate a
cross-oceanic cocaine deal with a Saudi prince that brought
international shame to the Royal Family. “El Médico” the
nickname given to Ramón Zapata, a trained plastic surgeon in
Colombia, he acted as a high-value drug informant for the feds.
Arrested earlier this month, Ramón, 45, stands accused of running an
extensive South Florida mortgage fraud racket, an enterprise whose
total take exceeded $16 million. The state’s attorney general
alleges that Ramón’s paper-pushing crew bilked lenders, using
fraudulent documents. “The arrest of Mr. Zapata and his colleagues
shows that we are serious about targeting criminals committing
mortgage fraud in our state,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Police records depict Ramón, through his I&L
Investment Group, Inc., and longtime friend Ayadie Carmen Londono as
the rip-off’s ringleaders, claiming they set up “straw buyers” and
provided funding for the intricate operation. In all, 12 have been
charged, with the accused hailing either from South Florida or Latin
America.
After Ramón’s arrest on charges of racketeering,
conspiracy, organized fraud and money laundering, the Department of
Homeland Security wanted to deport him immediately, but prosecutors
successfully petitioned the court to intercede to protect the
state’s interests in the case.That could be a blessing. Ramón is
probably safer in federal custody than back home, where his life
would be in danger because word has spread of his cozy relationship
with the U.S. government, sources say.
In 2000, he pleaded guilty to cocaine conspiracy charges, only to receive
a 72-month sentence, of which he served four years. To win early
release, he agreed to be an informant for Justice Department and DEA
officials, setting up undercover drug stings that resulted in
multiple arrests. Then, he allegedly began to freelance. Ramón’s
involvement in mortgage fraud started a scant two years after his
release from federal custody, according to the report.
MORROW, GA. MURDER OF A WOMAN IN CLAYTON COUNTY.
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS
.Clayton County police spokesman John Schneller said a woman
was dead and a man was taken to the hospital with an apparent
self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shootings occurred at a house in
the 2500 block of Daley Court in Morrow. Neighbor Harry Toney said
police told him the shootings were the result of a domestic dispute.
Toney said a woman, man and three children lived at the house and
had lived there since around the first of the year.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
AFGHANISTAN. A CIA AGENT KILLED BY AFGHAN
EMPLOYEE.
LONDON. 787 BOEING DREAMLINER SOON TO BE
DELIVERED TO JAPAN.
UN
NEWS
YEMEN. SECURITY COUNCIL URGES END OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST CIVILIAN.
=======================================================
SEPTEMBER 25
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 25, 1957, with 300 United States Army
troops standing guard, nine black children were escorted to Central
High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, days after unruly white crowds
had forced them to withdraw.
On Sept. 25, 1897, William Faulkner, the Nobel
Prize-winning author of the American South, was born. He died
on July 6, 1962
1919 President Woodrow Wilson collapsed after a
speech in Pueblo, Colo., during a tour in support of the Treaty of
Versailles.
1956 The first trans-Atlantic telephone cable
went into service.
1957 Nine black children who had been forced to
withdraw from Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., because of
unruly white crowds were escorted to class by members of the U.S.
Army's 101st Airborne Division.
1980 Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, 32, choked
to death on his own vomit after a drinking binge.
2001 Saudi Arabia cut its relations with
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban.
2001 Michael Jordan announced he was returning to
basketball with the NBA's Washington Wizards.
2003 France reported a death toll of 14,802 from
a heat wave.
2006 The Louisiana Superdome, a symbol of misery
during Hurricane Katrina, reopened for a New Orleans Saints football
game.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES THREE
COMPANIES THAT ANNOUNCED SIGNIFICANT EXPANSIONS THIS WEEK CREATING
NEW JOBS IN NEW YORK CITY IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
“Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
“One of the primary reasons why New York City
emerged from the recession faster than the rest of the nation is
because people have confidence in our city. More and more businesses
are opening their doors or expanding here – and that’s because they
believe in New York. They believe in our future.
“Businesses always gravitate to the places where
they can find the best talent. And the most talented people always
gravitate to where they can find safe streets, good schools,
beautiful parks and exciting cultural activities. There is no other
place in the country that is delivering as much in all of these
areas as New York City. That’s why, even during the worst economic
downturn that Americans have faced in generations, businesses are
continuing to move in and invest in our city.
“Case in point is Pearson PLC – one of the largest
education and publishing companies in the world. Last week, this
London-based firm announced that it will expand its presence here,
bringing some 600 high-paying media and technology jobs to our city.
At the same time, Pearson is relocating all of its New York City
operations to new space in the burgeoning neighborhood of Hudson
Square, which has emerged over the past decade as an exciting
commercial hub for a range of creative and innovative companies.
Pearson’s expansion and relocation will only further enhance our
city’s reputation as a capital for media, publishing, and
technology.
“Another major business that’s signaled its
confidence in New York City’s future is Century 21. The legendary
retailer, famous for its great discounts and beloved by generations
of New Yorkers – not to mention visitors from around the world –
opened a new store on the Upper West Side last week. It is also
planning to expand its flagship location in Lower Manhattan with
three new floors of retail space. Together, these moves are creating
some 700 new jobs – jobs that our Department of Small Business
Services has been working closely with Century 21 to fill.
“And for one more example demonstrating the
confidence that businesses have in New York City, just take a look
at 7 World Trade Center. When the 52-story tower was rebuilt five
years ago, many predicted that it would be difficult, maybe even
impossible, to fill it with tenants. But last week, the building
announced that it had leased out its final three floors. The tenant
is the financial firm MSCI, which joins a range of companies at 7
World Trade, including law firms, publishing companies and the New
York Academy of Sciences.
“While many New Yorkers are still without work, it’s
clear that businesses are increasingly confident that our economy is
headed in the right direction. And we’re making sure that faith is
not misplaced – by continuing to enhance our quality of life,
diversify our economy, invest in small businesses, support
innovation, and steer our city towards a brighter future.
=============================================================
SEPTEMBER 24
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 24, 1996, the United States and the
world's other major nuclear powers signed a treaty to end all
testing and development of nuclear weapons.
On Sept. 24, 1896, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the famed
American novelist of the Jazz Age, was born. He died on Dec. 21,
1940,
1957 The Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game
at Ebbets Field before moving to Los Angeles for the next season.
1968 "60 Minutes" premiered on CBS.
1969 A trial began for the "Chicago Eight," who
were accused of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic national
convention.
1976 Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was
sentenced to seven years in prison for her part in a 1974 bank
robbery.
1991 The album "Nevermind" by Nirvana was
released. 1996 The world's major nuclear powers signed a treaty to
end all testing and development of nuclear weapons.
1998 Redesigned $20 bills meant to be harder to
counterfeit went into circulation.
2007 United Auto Workers walked off the job at GM
plants in the first nationwide strike during auto contract
negotiations since 1976. A tentative pact ended the walkout two days
later.
UNITED NATIONS, NY. MEMBERSHIP OF PALESTINIAN
STATE FACES VETO 9/24/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
President Abbas of Palestine asked the United Nations for
recognition and membership this Friday as expected. He said in his
speech "I do not believe anyone that with a shred of conscience can
reject our application for a full membership in the United Nations
and our admission as an independent state." "To say after 63 years
of suffering of an ongoing tragedy and Nakba, enough, enough,
enough,” He called Israel an occupying power imposing racial
discrimination and ethnic cleansing. He received lot of applauses.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the same audience he
would be first in line to ask for a Palestinian statehood, but only
after a negotiated peace. "The truth is that Israel wants peace with
a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians want a state without
peace,” said Netanyahu. Israelis claim that would compromise their
security, making them vulnerable to rocket attacks. "It's not merely
the West Bank, it's the West Bank mountains — just dominates the
coastal plain where most of Israel’s population sits below," said
Netanyahu.
The US has promised to veto the recognition request in the Security
Council, but the Palestinian Authority could still turn to the
General Assembly for a change in status from an entity to
recognition as a non-member state. As a non-member state, the
Palestinians could not vote but would have access to certain
treaties, which may include the International Criminal Court.
Both sides called for peace and negotiations. Abbas
wants to negotiate after Israel stops building settlements in
disputed territories. Netanyahu said negotiations should start
immediately at the UN without preconditions.
NEW YORK. PRESIDENT MARTELLY AGAINST REDUCTION OF MINUSTAH.
9/23/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS, NY.
The President of Haiti Michel Martelly was at UN podium this
Friday in the late afternoon. He received lot of applauses from the
member nations and some Haitians guests .During his interview with
the New York Times, he reiterated his position not to reduce the
number of the MINUSTAH members in Haiti. because the Haiti National
Police is not yet ready to replace the UN group.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had recommanded
that the Minustah shoul be present in Haiti for another year. During
his stay in New York, Martelly met with the Haitian community,
Thursday night
at the York College in Queens for more than 2 hours, He was well
received by all the guests at this affair. Martelly is expected in
Haiti by this Sunday. His presence in New York was a success
according to several observers.
BRONX, NY. TICKET FIXING CASE. 17 COPS INDICTED BY GRAND JURY.
9/23/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS, NY..
As expected, a grand jury indicted 17 police officers in in
connection with an alleged ticket-fixing scandal. The Bronx district
attorney's office and the New York City Police Department are
looking into whether dozens of cops may have worked with police
union delegates to make parking tickets and other violations
disappear. One officer spoke about the indictments saying "I
don't know what he's talking about because I don't know how many
officers on this job. More than half of us have at some point called
in a favor to another officer. So, this is why we're saying they're
indicting 10, 12, 15, 40. It doesn't make sense. If you're indicting
10, 12, 15, 40 or whatever it is, you might have to indict half this
department, and it's a widespread epidemic,” said the officer.
There's word the officers will turn themselves in next week. They
could be suspended for 30 days and be placed on modified duty as the
case progresses.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
YEMEN. 17 DEAD IN SANAA ATTACK.
MOSCOW. PUTIN TO BE PRESIDENT AGAIN IN 2012.
UN NEWS.
PALESTINIAN APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP SENT
TO SECURITY COUNCIL.
=================================================================
SEPTEMBER 23
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 23, 1952, Republican vice-presidential
candidate Richard M. Nixon went on television to deliver what came
to be known as the ``Checkers'' speech as he denied allegations of
improper campaign financing.
On Sept. 23, 1838, Victoria Clafin Woodhull
Martin, who ran for United States president in 1872, was born. He
died on June 9, 1927.
1846 The planet Neptune was discovered by German
astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle.
1926 Jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane
was born in Hamlet, N.C.
1939 Sigmund Freud, the founder of
psychoanalysis, died at age 83.
1952 Republican vice-presidential candidate
Richard M. Nixon went on TV to deliver what came to be known as the
"Checkers" speech as he defended himself against allegations of
improper campaign financing.
1957 Nine black students who had entered Little
Rock Central High School in Arkansas were forced to withdraw because
of a white mob outside.
1987 Choreographer-director Bob Fosse died at age
60.
1990 Iraq threatened to destroy Middle East oil
fields and attack Israel if other nations tried to force it from
Kuwait.
1999 The Mars Climate Observer apparently burned
up as it was about to go into orbit around the Red Planet.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011
BROOKLYN *10:00 AM Speaks at Funeral Service for
Police Cadet Sherman Abrams First Baptist Church 450 Eastern Parkway
between Rogers & Bedford Avenue
*The funeral service is closed to the press. The
Mayor does not address the media at funeral services.
MANHATTAN 1:30 PM Presents the Lasker-Bloomberg
Public Service Award at 2011 Lasker Awards Pierre Hotel 61st
Street at Fifth Avenue
CITY HALL. DEPUTY MAYOR STEEL, CENTRAL PARK
BOATHOUSE AND NEW YORK HOTEL TRADES COUNCIL ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT
ENDING 44-DAY STRIKE
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K.
Steel, Central Park Boathouse and the New York Hotel Trades Council
today announced that the Boathouse and the Council have reached a
4-year contract agreement on the ongoing operation of the Central
Park restaurant. The agreement ends a 44-day employee strike and
follows weeks of discussions between the two sides at Gracie
Mansion. The agreement, which formally recognizes the union at the
Boathouse, includes a wage increase for employees, as well as health
benefits for staff and their families.
“The Boathouse is a one-of-a-kind destination for
New Yorkers and visitors, and throughout this process we were
committed to its continued success for years to come,” said Deputy
Mayor Steel. “I want to congratulate Dean Poll and the New York
Hotel Trades Council for reconciling their differences and coming to
an agreement that is good news for the Boathouse, its employees and
the City. Not only does the restaurant add to the vibrancy of the
City in one of its most stunning settings, it also provides
important City revenue, and this agreement will allow it to continue
to thrive.”
“The New York Hotel Trades Council is delighted
that the strike at the Boathouse is over," said Peter Ward, the
Union’s President. “We are equally happy to say that our Union and
the Boathouse employees accomplished our goals. We thank Bob Steel
and the City for its assistance in resolving this dispute and we are
encouraging people to come back to the Boathouse and enjoy its
lovely ambience and the unique dining experience. Boathouse
employees look forward to serving New Yorkers and visitors alike.”
This agreement is good for our staff, and will allow us to grow and
prosper in the years ahead,” said Dean Poll, Boathouse
concessionaire. “I am grateful to Deputy Mayor Steel for his efforts
in assisting to bring all parties together and develop a fair
solution. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with
the members of the Hotel Trades Council.”
“The historic Loeb Boathouse restaurant is one of
the joys of Central Park and an asset to the City,” said Parks
Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “I'm delighted the union and Dean Poll
have come to terms so that New Yorkers and visitors have this gem
back in full operation, better than ever, with its wonderful food
and unsurpassed views.”
The contract agreement is subject to a
ratification vote today by the Boathouse workers. The Union expects
that the contract will be ratified overwhelmingly. Once the
agreement is ratified, the City will review the existing Boathouse
contract in order to ensure its continued vitality for both the City
and its operator in light of these changed circumstances,
potentially through financial adjustments and additional capital
improvements.
NEW YORK. AT THE UN TODAY THE PALESTINIANS WILL
REQUEST STATEHOOD Palestinians prepare to submit UN statehood
bid, two decades after embarking on historic peace talks with
Israel, Palestinians prepared to sidestep that troubled route on
Friday to seek U.N. recognition of an independent state. Earlier in
the week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rebuffed an intense,
U.S.-led effort to sway him from the statehood bid, saying he would
submit the application to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon as planned. A top
aide, Mohammed Ishtayeh, said Thursday that Abbas asked Ban and the
Council's Lebanese president this month to process the application
without delay.
Yesterday, Thursday, the US walks out as Iran president delivers
anti-US speech
After the Israeli and Palestinian speeches, the new President of
Haiti Michel Martelly will address the UN Assembly at about 3:00
pm. Last night Martelly had fun in the auditorium of the York
College, in Jamaica, where about 300 Haitians of the Diaspora were
there to welcome him with members of his staff.
==========================================================
SEPTEMBER 22
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln
issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all
slaves in rebel states should be free as of Jan. 1, 1863.
On Sept. 22, 1902, John Houseman, the director,
producer and actor of American stage, film and radio, was born. He
died on October 31, 1998
1776 Nathan Hale was hanged as a spy by the
British during the Revolutionary War.
1792 The first French Republic was proclaimed.
1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the
preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel
states free as of Jan. 1, 1863.
1927 Gene Tunney successfully defended his
heavyweight boxing title against Jack Dempsey in the "long count"
fight in Chicago.
1949 The Soviet Union exploded its first atomic
bomb.
1969 Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hit
his 600th career home run during a game in San Diego.
1975 Sara Jane Moore failed in an attempt to shoot President Gerald
R. Ford outside a San Francisco hotel.
1989 Songwriter Irving Berlin died at age 101.
1995 Time Warner struck a $7.5 billion deal to
buy Turner Broadcasting System Inc.
2005 John Roberts' nomination as chief justice
cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 13-5 vote.
2008 The U.S. Mint unveiled the first changes to
the penny in 50 years, with Abraham Lincoln's portrait still on the
front, but new designs replacing the Lincoln Memorial on the back.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011
MANHATTAN *9:30 AM Celebrates 125 Years of
Friendship Between France and New York City with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy Liberty Island
11:30 AM Joins New York Public Library and Other
Officials to Announce Fine Forgiveness Program for Children and
Teens Seward Park Library 192 East Broadway at Jefferson Street
*5:30 PM Visits with His Excellency Sebastian Piñera,
President of the Republic of Chile Gracie Mansion 88th Street and
East End Avenue
BRONX *7:45 PM Delivers Remarks at Bronx Republican
Party Dinner Villa Barone Manor 737 Throggs Neck Expressway between
Philip and Randall Avenues
CITY HALL, NY MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO DELIVER REMARKS
ON LIBERTY ISLAND IN ANTICIPATION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
STATUE OF LIBERTY WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY
On September 22, 2011, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and President
of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy will deliver remarks on
Liberty Island to celebrate the 125 years of friendship between New
York City and France, in anticipation of the 125th Anniversary of
the Statue of Liberty. The Mayor and President will be joined by
leaders from Tribeca Enterprises including Robert DeNiro, Jane
Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff.
MIAMI. FEE CHANGES IN NEW BUDGET 9/22/11
By Mona K. Arcelin, NTS NEWS, FL.
.Meeting this Thursday, Miami-Dade County commissioners,
will vote on a new $6.11 billion budget for the coming fiscal year
Miami-Dade County is planning to adopt a variety of new or higher
fees in the proposed budget, which will be examined and voted on by
commissioners following a public hearing.The proposed fee changes
range from the addition of a $500 fine for having a dangerous dog at
a park or beach to the elimination of a discount for county
residents visiting Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The license fee for a
dog that has not been neutered would rise to $55 from $50, and the
county wants to begin charging $100 fees to owners of pets that are
caught not wearing license tags. Miami-Dade also plans to charge a
new $3 fee to cover the cost of pet ID tags, a service it hadn’t
previously offered. The county also plans to increase the fees for
various fire-rescue services.These changes willneed commission
approval. The fee changes are a relatively minor aspect of the
County Hall debate, which will include hefty decisions such as
whether to move forward with Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s plan to slash
the number of government departments to 25 from 42 in a bid to
streamline the county bureaucracy. The county budget closes a $400
million revenue shortfall, largely through substantial employee
concessions that have yet to be agreed to by the various labor
unions representing county workers.
ATLANTA, GA. TROY ANTHONY DAVIS EXECUTED AFTER
APPEALS FAIL 9/22/11
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS, GA.
Troy Anthony Daviswas executed late Wednesday night after the
nation’s highest court rejected his final appeal. Troy Davis,
42, was put to death for the 1989 murder of off-duty Savannah Police
Officer Mark Allen MacPhail. He was declared dead at 11:08 p.m..
This death-penalty case was one of the most bitterly contested and
controversial in Georgia history.
To the MacPhail family, he said, "The incident that night was not my
fault, I did not have a gun.. I did not personally kill your son,
father and brother. I am innocent." He then said for "those about to
take my life, may God have mercy on your souls, may God bless your
souls."
When Davis addressed members of the MacPhail family
who witnessed the execution, they said nothing, but did not look
away. "I'm not joyous," MacPhail's mother, Anneliese MacPhail, said.
"I'm feeling a little bit relieved. It has been a long, long battle.
I'd like to close the book." Brian Kammer, one of Davis' lawyers,
said the state may have executed an innocent man. "I think Georgia
has shamed itself in a very profound way by failing to err on the
side of life when there is meaningful, significant doubt," he said.
The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously declined to
stop the execution about two hours before it was to be carried out.
Davis' scheduled 7 p.m. execution was put on hold for more than
three hours as the U.S. Supreme Court considered his final bid. The
scene outside the state prison in Jackson was unlike any other in
past executions. Television satellite trucks and media cars parked
bumper to bumper..
MacPhail, 27, was moonlighting on a security detail
shortly after midnight on Aug. 19, 1989, when he rushed to help a
homeless man who had cried out while he was pistol-whipped in a
Burger King parking lot. MacPhail was shot three times before he
could draw his gun. One witness said the killer wore a “smirky-like
smile” and stood over the fallen officer, firing again and again,
including once in MacPhail’s face. Davis was tried, convicted and
sentenced to death during a 1991 trial. In ensuing years, however,
several key prosecution witnesses renounced or backed off their
trial testimony, while others issued sworn statements that said
Coles had told them he was the actual trigger man.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
GERMANY. POPE BENEDICT IN FIRST VISIT IN GERMANY,
HIS OWN COUNTRY
===================================================
SEPTEMBER 21
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 21, 1938, a hurricane struck parts of
New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming
more than 600 lives.
On Sept. 21, 1867, Henry Stimson, United States
Secretary of War during World War II, was born. He died on Oct. 20,
1938 A hurricane struck parts of New York and New
England, causing widespread damage and claiming more than 600 lives.
1948 Milton Berle debuted as permanent host of
"The Texaco Star Theater" on NBC.
1957 "Perry Mason," starring Raymond Burr,
premiered on CBS.
1964 Malta gained independence from Britain.
1982 National Football League players began a
57-day strike.
1983 Interior Secretary James G. Watt described a
special advisory panel as consisting of "a black, a woman, two
Jews and a cripple." Watt later apologized and resigned.
1996 The board of Virginia Military Institute
voted to admit women.
1998 President Bill Clinton's videotaped grand
jury testimony in the Monica Lewinsky scandal was publicly
broadcast, showing him answering one question from prosecutors by
saying, "It depends on what the meaning of 'is' is."
1998 Olympic gold medal track star Florence
Griffith Joyner, 38, died in her sleep after suffering an epileptic
seizure.
2001 Congress approved $15 billion to help an
airline industry reeling from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
2003 NASA's Galileo spacecraft plunged into
Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere, bringing a fiery conclusion to a
14-year exploration of the solar system's largest planet and its
moons.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
MANHATTAN 9:30 AM Speaks at Ribbon-Cutting
Ceremony for Century 21’s New Location 1972 Broadway between West
66th and 67th Streets
CITY HALL-UN. MAYOR BLUMBERG AT THE UNITED
NATIONS.9/20/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS, NY.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was at the UN, addressing UN General
Assembly and called on governments to do more to prevent chronic
diseases, noting his own efforts in the city to curb smoking and
improve nutrition. He called on the governments to do more to
prevent chronic diseases. The mayor noted his efforts in the city to
curb smoking and improve nutrition. He urged other leaders to take
up broad, low-cost measures, such as tobacco taxes and bans on trans
fats, rather than rely on individual change. "To halt the worldwide
epidemic of non-communicable diseases, governments at all levels
must make healthy solutions the default social option," said
Bloomberg. The mayor also said citywide policies to improve public
health in recent years helped increase New Yorkers' life expectancy
by more than 1.5 years.
This Wednesday, President Barack Obama will address the General
Assembly and will meet Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestine
and several others Heads of States.
NYPD have been beefing up security around the UN and recommend
taking public transportation if possible.
FOREST HILLS, QUEENS. SEARCH FOR WOMAN IN
ABDUCTION OF 6 KIDS.9/21/11
By Jacques Dusseck, NTS NEWS, NY.
A source familiar with the family says that the mother took at
least one of the children out of state in May or June without
permission. They still let her have the supervised visits once she
returned. ACS sources say Forestdale is well known to be lax in
issues of supervision of parental visits. Forestdale is a
not-for-profit family agency based in Forest Hills, Queens. They
have four main programs: Foster Care, support for pregnant and
parenting teens, family crisis intervention and a Fathering
Initiative.
The suspect may be traveling in the company of the
children's biological father, also identified as Nephra Payne, in a
black 1996 Chevrolet Suburban, New York plate #EXZ5896.
ACS released the following statement: "ACS and our
foster care agency began working with the NYPD immediately after the
mother absconded with the children from a visit at the foster care
agency yesterday. Earlier today, we sought and received active
warrants from the Manhattan Family Court for the arrest of both
parents and for them to produce the children to the Court. We ask
for the public's assistance in locating the children, and appreciate
any assistance that they can provide the NYPD."
ACS declined to reveal why the children were in
their custody or how Nadal was able to walk off with the children
during the visit. The secure facility has an electronic gate that
requires an access card.
==============================================================
SEPTEMBER 20
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 20, 1973, Billie Jean King defeated
Bobby Riggs in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a $100,000
winner-take-all tennis match.
On Sept. 20, 1878, Upton Sinclair, author of "The
Jungle" and passionate crusader for social reform, was born. He died
on Nov. 25, 1968.
1881 Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as the 21st
president of the United States, succeeding James A. Garfield, who
had been assassinated.
1962 James Meredith, a black man, was blocked
from enrolling at the University of Mississippi by Gov. Ross R.
Barnett.
1973 In their so-called "battle of the sexes" on
the tennis court, Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 at
the Houston Astrodome.
1973 Singer-songwriter Jim Croce, 30, died in a
plane crash in Louisiana.
1977 The first wave of Southeast Asian "boat
people" arrived in San Francisco under a U.S. resettlement program.
1984 A suicide car bomber attacked the U.S.
Embassy annex in north Beirut, killing a dozen people.
1998 After playing in a record 2,632 consecutive
games over 16 seasons, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles sat
out a game against the New York Yankees.
1999 Lawrence Russell Brewer was convicted in the
dragging death of an African-American man, James Byrd Jr., in
Jasper, Texas.
2001 President George W. Bush named Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Ridge to head the new Office of Homeland Security.
2005 Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Simon
Wiesenthal died at age 96.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
MANHATTAN*10:00 AM Welcomes First Responders to
National September 11th Memorial & Museum West Street at Liberty
Street
*3:00 PM Delivers Remarks at the United Nations
General Assembly High Level Meeting on Prevention and Control of
Non-Communicable Diseases United Nations General Assembly Hall 44th
Street at First Avenue
4:00 PM Speaks at IBM’s THINK: A forum on the Future
of Leadership Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Square at West
66th Street
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES PEARSON
PLC WILL ADD 600 JOBS IN NEW YORK CITY THROUGH RELOCATION AND
CREATION OF NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY JOBS
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Pearson North America Chief
Executive Will Ethridge today announced that Pearson PLC will add
600 jobs in New York City by the summer of 2014 through relocation
and the creation of new media and technology jobs. The global
learning company will expand its presence in Manhattan’s burgeoning
Hudson Square neighborhood, where a portion of Pearson’s operations
are already headquartered. The expansion includes the relocation of
professionals from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey and White Plains,
New York to 270,000 square feet of newly renovated space at 330
Hudson Street. The relocated jobs have an average annual salary of
$72,000. New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and
Empire State Development (ESD) worked closely with Pearson to
provide benefits and additional savings for its new location. Mayor
Bloomberg and Pearson Executive Will Ethridge were joined for the
announcement at 330 Hudson Street by State Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, NYCEDC President
Seth W. Pinsky, ESD Executive Director Peter W. Davidson, Beacon
Capital Partners Founder and Chairman Alan Leventhal, Trinity Real
Estate President Jason Pizer and Hudson Square Connection President
Ellen Baer.
“To expand and create jobs, businesses need to have
confidence in the future. Pearson’s relocation to and expansion at
Hudson Square and its long-term investment in New York City is the
latest example of the private sector’s confidence in the direction
of our City and future growth of our local economy,” said Mayor
Bloomberg. “It’s a smart move. We’ve worked to continue to grow New
York City as a vibrant center for media, technology and innovation,
and together with Trinity Real Estate and other partners, we’ve
worked to promote Hudson Square as a prime commercial destination.
Add to that a developer willing to invest more than $100 million in
the area and a global company willing to bet on its future and the
results are clear: hundreds of new jobs for New Yorkers.”
“Pearson and New York City share a passion for
innovation. We believe that the Hudson Square area is precisely the
type of vibrant, stimulating center for media, education, and
digital services for businesses like ours,” said Pearson North
America Chief Executive Will Ethridge. “Toward this goal we are
consolidating our New York workforce at 330 Hudson Street,
relocating professional employees from New Jersey and Westchester as
well as expanding our workforce, especially in areas such as
learning technologies, and as a result, setting up a new future
technologies center in the City.”
“The arrival of Pearson PLC is more proof that Lower
Manhattan is fast becoming the media and new media capital of the
world,” said Speaker Silver. “Whether you’re a young innovator
starting new business, or an established firm looking to be where
the action is, it is clear that Lower Manhattan is the place to be.”
“I am thrilled that Pearson PLC has decided to move
over 600 jobs to New York City, and especially to my own Council
District,” said Speaker Quinn. “We are working continuously to bring
more jobs to the city, and this is a testament to that effort.
Today’s announcement illustrates that Hudson Square continues to be
a haven for good paying, creative, highly sought after jobs.”
“One of the main reasons New York has continued to
outperform the national economy is that more people want to live in
New York, more people want to work in New York, and more people want
to visit New York,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development
Robert K. Steel. “Today’s announcement by Pearson is the latest
example of a growing trend of companies ‘voting with their feet’ by
choosing to do business in New York City.”
“Today’s announcement is a great win for our City,”
said NYCEDC President Pinsky. “By adding hundreds of well-paying
jobs right here in New York, Pearson is making a significant
contribution to the Bloomberg Administration's ongoing efforts to
ensure long-term economic growth across the five boroughs. I would
like to thank Pearson for this major investment in the future of our
economy. I would also like to thank our partners in the City and
State for their work, and congratulate them on this important
achievement.”
“Bringing Pearson PLC to Manhattan demonstrates the
strong efforts New York State has taken to attract private sector
investment and job growth,” said Empire State Development President,
CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “ESD’s Excelsior Program was the
ideal tool to offer a maximum incentive package to the company while
guaranteeing a great return on our investment with the more than 600
high-paying full-time jobs the company will bring to the state.”
Pearson, whose US businesses include Pearson
Education, The Financial Times Group, and Penguin Group US, will
lease 270,000 square feet in a newly-renovated 440,000-square-foot
building at 330 Hudson Street in Manhattan. The new facility, taken
together with space Penguin occupies in 345 and 375 Hudson Street,
will increase Pearson’s Hudson Square footprint to some 706,000
square feet. The long-term investment in New York City’s economy is
expected to be complete by the summer of 2014. The lease on
Pearson’s new Hudson Square space will be held with Beacon Capital
Partners, which earlier this year acquired a 99 year land lease on
the property from Trinity Church. Beacon Capital Partners is leading
the redevelopment of the building and will invest $113 million to
refurbish the existing eight-story structure, add an additional
eight stories, and partially fund the renovation of the floors
Pearson will occupy. Pearson will invest an additional $21 million
in the renovation. In addition to Hudson Square, the company will
also relocate jobs to Hoboken, NJ.
NYCEDC offered Pearson $4.5 million in Business
Incentive Rate energy savings for both the 330 Hudson Street space
and the other spaces within their growing Hudson Square campus. New
York State, through ESD, offered Pearson $9 million in Excelsior
Jobs Program tax credits over 10 years for the new positions
relocating from New Jersey. These benefits and energy savings are in
addition to benefits Pearson is expected to apply for through the
Lower Manhattan Relocation and Employment Assistance Program, an
as-of-right program administered by the New York City Department of
Finance. In addition, the building’s developer, Beacon Capital
Partners, is presently pursuing benefits through the Industrial and
Commercial Incentive Program, also administered through the
Department of Finance.
Hudson Square is fast becoming one of New York
City’s most dynamic and creative business districts. Located between
the Hudson River on the west, Avenue of the Americas on the east,
Houston Street on the north and Canal Street on the south, the
former industrial warehouse and loft district, is now home to a
diverse roster of companies, including MTV, New York Magazine,
Omnicom, Saatchi & Saatchi, the Guggenheim Foundation, and Edelman,
among others. According to the Hudson Square Connection, the area’s
Business Improvement District, more than 30,000 professionals
presently work in Hudson Square. Hudson Square is also home to the
160 Varick Street incubator, the first in the City’s network of nine
incubators designed to provide affordable space to start-up
businesses and to spur entrepreneurship throughout a variety of
sectors.
“We are thrilled that Pearson is bringing 600 jobs
to the district and is further evidence that Hudson Square is the
city’s home to creative sector companies in fields such as
publishing, multimedia, architecture and design,” said Ellen Baer,
President of the Hudson Square Connection Business Improvement
District. “In the past year, more than 400,000 square feet of space
in Hudson Square was leased by creative businesses that came to the
district to be close to peers in the industry.”
UNITED NATIONS. NY. HAITI-RECONSTRUCTION.
HAITI PRESIDENT MARTELLY SURPRISED HIS AUDIENCE. 9/19/11
By Jacques Dusseck, NTS NEWS, NY.
There was a meeting with Haiti's Partners at the UN and
President Bill Clinton said that after 30 years that's the first
time Haïti stood up like this. That was at the occasion of the
meeting of the Foreign Ministers partners of Haiti during the 66th
General Assembly of the UN. Present at this meeting were Mr. Luis
Alberto Moreno of the BID, Bill Clinton, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the
Foreign Minister of Venezuela, OAS Secretary General and the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of France, Canada and the Dominican
Republic.
During that meeting, Martelly spoke of the priorities of Haiti such
as Education, Reconstruction and Employment. During that meeting,
the president of Haiti took the opportunity to request from the
partners to keep the promise of funds to Haiti never received from
them. Michel Martelly will take the podium this Friday to address
the General Assembly.
BRONX, NY. TICKET-FIXING SCANDAL. INDICTMENTS OF
NYPD COPS. 9/20/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS, NY.
According to information from the Bronx DA office, a
grand jury in the Bronx is expected to start voting this Tuesday on
indictments for police officers caught up in a ticket-fixing
scandal. There are reports that up to 17 officers could face
criminal charges, including a lieutenant and two sergeants. The
charges could range from grand larceny to tampering with public
records. The indictments would come after months of testimony from
officers and police union officials and a two-year investigation
into ticket fixing.
MIAMI. MIAMI THERAPIST SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS IN
PRISON. 9/19/11
By Mona K. Arcelin, NTS NEWS, FL.
Marrianella Valera,40, was sentenced to 35 years in prison
for the nation’s biggest mental-health fraud case. The sentencing of
Marianella Valera, 40, came only days after the same judge sent her
49-year-old boyfriend, Lawrence Duran, to prison for 50 years. The
pair ran Miami-based American Therapeutic Corp, which prosecutors
say defrauded the taxpayer-funded Medicare program of more than $200
million. Duran and Valera pleaded guilty to a variety of conspiracy,
fraud and money-laundering charges after they failed to reach plea
deals with the Justice Department.
In both criminal cases, U.S. District Judge James
Lawrence King gave out the longest prison sentences ever for a
Medicare-fraud offender. Previously, the longest sentence was a
30-year term imposed in 2008 on a Miami physician convicted in an
HIV-therapy scam. Justice Department lawyer Jennifer Saulino argued
that Valera abused her “position of trust” as the licensed owner of
American Therapeutic. Duran had registered the company in her name
to disguise his past ownership of a similar mental-health company,
which had carried a $2 million debt.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
JAPAN. MITSUBISHI UNDER HEAVY CYBER ATTACK.
UN NEWS
PERU. UN CONCERN AT ATTACKS OF JOURNALISTS IN
PERU.
========================================================
SEPTEMBER 19
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 19, 1881, the 20th president of the
United States, James A. Garfield, died of wounds inflicted by an
assassin.
On Sept. 19, 1911, Sir William Golding, author of
the novel "Lord of the Flies", was born. He died on June 19,
1993.
1881 President James A. Garfield died of wounds
inflicted by an assassin more than two months earlier.
1934 Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in New York and
charged with the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby.
1955 President Juan Peron of Argentina was ousted
after a revolt by the military.
1957 The United States conducted its first
underground nuclear test, in the Nevada desert.
1985 The Mexico City area was struck by the
first of two devastating earthquakes that claimed some 6,000 lives.
1994 U.S. troops entered Haiti to enforce the
return of exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
1995 The New York Times and The Washington Post
published the Unabomber's manifesto.
2001 The Pentagon ordered combat aircraft
to the Persian Gulf in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
2002 President George W. Bush asked Congress for
authority to use military force if necessary to disarm and overthrow
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if he did not abandon weapons of mass
destruction.
2004 Hu Jintao became the undisputed leader of
China with the departure of former President Jiang Zemin from his
top military post.
2005 Al-Qaida deputy Ayman al-Zawahri said his
terror network had carried out the July 7 London bombings that
killed 52 people.
2008 AMC's "Mad Men" became the first basic-cable
show to win a top series Emmy award.
2010 The BP oil well at the bottom of the
Gulf of Mexico was declared "effectively dead" after it was sealed
with a permanent cement plug.
CITY HALL, NY.PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
QUEENS *8:00 AM Meets with Newly Elected Congressman
Robert Turner
Cross Bay Diner 160-31 Cross Bay Boulevard between
160th and 161st Avenues
MANHATTAN 10:00 AM Speaks at Climate Week NYC 2011
Opening Ceremony New York Academy of Sciences 7 World Trade Center,
40th Floor 250 Greenwich Street at Barclay Street
*11:00 AM Announces Global Learning Company Pearson
PLC Will Relocate and Create 600 Jobs in Newly Renovated Space at
Hudson Square 330 Hudson Street between Vandam and Charlton Streets
*3:30 PM Meets with Medal of Honor Recipient US
Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer City Hall
7:30 PM Hosts Welcome Reception and Screening for
LIVESTRONG’s short film, Delivering Hope: Cancer Care in the
Developing World with Lance Armstrong Gracie Mansion 88th Street and
East End Avenue
JAMAICA, NY. HAITIAN KILLED IN QUEENS BY
GUNMAN.:LUCIEN BROWN 25.
9/19/11.
By Jacques Dusseck, NTS NEWS, NY.
Witnesses have confirmed the killing of a young Haitian
citizen at about 4:30 a.m. this Monday. Lucien Brown, 25, was
shot several times by an assailant on 107th Avenue near Sutphin
Boulevard. According to his girlfriend, Lucien was attending a party
and was called to meet someone outside the residence. He was shot 9
times by the assailant who fled the scene. He was transported to
Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead. No arrest has been
made while the investigation is going on to find the killer. That
section of Jamaica is considered a jungle by the residents of that
community. An investigation is underway after
that deadly shooting. as no arrests have been made.
====================================================
SEPTEMBER 18
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 18, 1947, the National Security Act,
which unified the Army, Navy and newly formed Air Force, went into
effect.
On Sept. 18, 1905, Greta Garbo, the Swedish-born
American film icon, was born. She died Fon April 15, 1990
1947 The National Security Act, which unified the
Army, Navy and newly formed Air Force into a national military
establishment, went into effect.
1970 Rock musician Jimi Hendrix died of a drug
overdose at age 27.
1975 Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was
captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being
kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
1997 Coopers & Lybrand and Price Waterhouse
agreed to merge to create the world's biggest accounting firm.
1999 Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs became the
first player in major league baseball history to hit 60 home runs in
a season twice.
2001 Letters postmarked Trenton, N.J., that later
tested positive for anthrax were sent to the New York Post and NBC
anchorman Tom Brokaw.
2003 Hurricane Isabel plowed into North
Carolina's Outer Banks with 100-mph winds and pushed its way up the
Eastern Seaboard; the storm claimed 40 lives.
2009 Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in
defiance of Iran's Islamic leadership, clashing with police and
confronting state-run anti-Israel rallies.
NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY. TOLLS INCREASED FOR
THE TWO STATES. 9/18/11
By acques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
This Sunday at 3:00 am. the Port Authority bridges and
tunnels tolls hike takes effects for crossing the George Washington
Bridge, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne
Bridge. It is costing $12.00 by car and $13.00 for trucks per axle.
The triple A did not like the increases. The Port Authority
originally proposed steeper toll increases and was forced to scale
back as the Governors of New York and New Jersey were ready to
veto such actions.
The Port Authority have been hit hard by security-related projects
following the 9/11 attacks, a drop in revenue caused by the global
economic slump, and the $11 billion World Trade Center complex.
MIAMI, FL. IN LITTLE HAITI, DAVID COOPER WAS SHOT
DEAD 9/18/11
By Mona K. Arcelin, NTS NEWS Miami.
According to Miami Dade County Police, before
1:00 am, this Sunday, David Cooper, 43, was shot dead in front
of his house at 6338 NW 4th Avenue, by someone driving a Dodge
Charger. The motive of the killing is not known and the residents
think this may be some kind of revenge, because Cooper was hit
several times.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
YEMEN. SECURITY FORCES OPEN FIRE ON PROTESTERS.
Security forces open fire on protesters Witnesses said
anti-aircraft guns and automatic weapons were used against the
protesters, killing 26 people and injuring hundred of marchers in
the Capital. Tens of thousands of protesters calling for President
Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down were marching on the presidential
palace. The clashes are the deadliest in Yemen for several months.
The defense ministry said the trouble began when protesters threw
petrol bombs at the security forces. In a statement, the ministry
said an Islamist group had opened fire on the protesters. Witnesses
said the security forces opened fire on the protesters after they
left an encampment in Sanaa and marched towards the presidential
palace. There are reports that automatic weapons and even
anti-aircraft guns were turned on the crowd. Tear gas and water
cannons were also deployed, said witnesses. The confrontation then
developed into running street battles. Doctors at hospitals in the
capital said 26 people were killed. Hundreds of people were being
treated for gunshot wounds and teargas inhalation.
The violence marks a sharp escalation in the
standoff between protesters calling for President Saleh to step
down, and security forces loyal to the president. Some units of the
military have gone over to the opposition. There were reports of
exchanges of gunfire between the two forces although a spokesman for
Maj Gen Ali al-Ahmar, who defected several months ago, denied it.
President Saleh is in Saudi Arabia recovering from a bomb attack on
him in June. There have been widespread protests against his 30-year
rule.
UN NEWS
SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED UN SUPPORT MISSION
FOR LIBYA.
==========================================================
SEPTEMBER 17
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 17, 1862, Union forces hurled back a
Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Civil War battle of Antietam.
With 23,100 killed, wounded or captured, it remains the bloodiest
day in U.S. military history.
On Sept. 17, 1934, Maureen Connolly, the first
woman to win the tennis Grand Slam, was born. He died on June 21,
1969,
1787 The U.S. Constitution was completed and
signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia.
1907 Warren Burger, the 15th chief justice of the
U.S. Supreme Court, was born in St. Paul, Minn.
1920 The American Professional Football
Association - a precursor of the National Football League - was
formed in Canton, Ohio. 1939 The Soviet Union invaded Poland during
World War II.
1947 James V. Forrestal was sworn in as the first
U.S. secretary of defense.
1980 Former Nicaraguan president Anastasio Somoza
was assassinated in Paraguay.
1986 The Senate confirmed the nomination of
William H. Rehnquist as the 16th chief justice of the United States.
1996 Former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew died at
age 77.
2001 Wall Street trading resumed for the first
time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - its longest shutdown
since the Depression; the Dow lost 684.81 points, its worst one-day
point drop to date. 2001 Pro sporting events resumed after a six-day
hiatus following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG RELEASES FISCAL
YEAR 2011 MAYOR’S MANAGEMENT REPORT
Despite Fiscal Constraints, City Maintaining or Improving
Performance in a Majority of Areas Compared to Last Year 65 Percent
of Indicators Tracked Since the Beginning of the Bloomberg
Administration Maintained or Improved
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today released the
Mayor’s Management Report for Fiscal Year 2011, which provides an
overview of the performance of City agencies. The Fiscal Year 2011
MMR shows that City government continues to effectively deliver key
services to New Yorkers. Fifty-six percent of all key indicators are
at or above 2010 levels, and nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of the
indicators that have been tracked since the beginning of the
Administration meet or exceed their Fiscal Year 2003 performance
levels. “Even as New York City is emerging from the most difficult
fiscal crisis in a generation, the data show that City agencies
continue to provide the high-quality services that New Yorkers have
rightly come to expect,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Across the board,
the overall trends are strongly positive – which is why people
continue to come here in unprecedented numbers to live, work, and
visit. The 2011 data clearly show that tight budgets don’t have to
mean fewer or worse services.”
For key indicators classified as results-focused –
crime, cleanliness, public health and others – trends are even more
positive, with approximately 70 percent of all of these indicators
stable or trending positively over time. Indicators related to the
timeliness of service show similarly positive results with
approximately 60 percent of indicators stable or trending positively
over the past four years or more. For example, thanks to reforms
made by the Administration, the median processing time for consumer
complaints has gone from 90 days in Fiscal Year 2007 to just 15 days
in Fiscal Year 2011, and the average time from Environmental Control
Board hearing assignment to decision has gone from 90 days to 20
days in the same timeframe.
The report shows year-over-year performance for the
past five years. Long-term and short-term trends for key performance
indicators included in the Fiscal Year 2011 Mayor’s Management
Report are listed below. Where data is available, results are
presented for fiscal years 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011. The Fiscal
Year 2007 data shows the mid-point for many of the indicators and,
for those indicators created since Fiscal Year 2003, a starting
point.
Highlights By Issue Area: The City provides services
in seven key areas: Public Safety, Public Health, Quality of Life,
Economic Development, Education, Human Services, and Administrative
Services. Below is a summary of short- and long-term progress in
each of these key areas based on 145 indicators chosen because they
represent important trends in the issue area, and data was available
for at least five years. In the tables below, a green symbol means
that the indicator has been stable or has improved, and a red symbol
means that performance has declined. Note that even the slightest
drop in an indicator – for example, a one-minute increase in the
length of a physician visit – will be shown as a decline. Change
over time was determined by comparing the beginning point of each
indicator with its end point. For the column titled “One Year
Change,” the assessment compares the Fiscal Year 2011 level (unless
otherwise noted) with Fiscal Year 2010. If Fiscal Year 2011
performance is at or better than Fiscal Year 2010, the indicator is
green; if performance declined from its 2010 level, the indicator is
red. The same conventions are used to show long-term trends.
Public Safety Highlights Long-term trends for public
safety remain strongly positive in nearly all categories, though the
2011 results show an up tick in some crimes compared to 2010. School
safety incidents, including major felonies in schools, continue to
fall sharply, and traffic fatalities are also down significantly
over both the long and short term. After significant increases in
construction-related incidents and accidents in recent years, both
dropped considerably in Fiscal Year 2011.
RENO NEVADA. AIR SHOW TRAGEDY. 3 DEAD, 56
INJURED 9/17/11
A vintage World War II-era fighter plane plunged into the
grandstands Friday during a popular annual air show, killing at
least three people, injuring more than 50 spectators and creating a
horrific scene strewn with body parts and smoking debris.
The plane, flown by a renowned 74-year-old air racer
and movie stunt pilot, spiraled suddenly out of control and appeared
to disintegrate upon impact. Bloodied bodies were spread across the
area as people tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the
scene. Among the dead was pilot Jimmy Leeward, 80, of Ocala, Fla., a
veteran airman and stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter
plane the "Galloping Ghost," according to Mike Houghton, president
and CEO of Reno Air Races.
Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional
Emergency Medical Service Authority, said that emergency crews took
a total of 56 injury victims to three hospitals. She said they also
observed a number of people being transported by private vehicle,
which they are not including in their count. Kruse said of the total
56, at the time of transport, 15 were considered in critical
condition, 13 were serious condition with potentially
life-threatening injuries and 28 were non-serious or non-life
threatening.
The National Championship Air Races draws thousands
of people to Reno every year in September to watch various military
and civilian planes race. They also have attracted scrutiny in the
past over safety concerns, including four pilots killed in 2007 and
2008. It was such a concern that local school officials once
considered whether they should not allow student field trips at the
event. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., issued a statement saying he was
"deeply saddened" about the crash. "My thoughts are with the
families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were
wounded in this horrific tragedy," he said. "I am so grateful to our
first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor
this situation as it develops."
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
P-AU-P. HAITI. DESIGNATED PRIME MINISTER GARRY
CONILLE'S VOTE.
LONDON. UBS TRADER CHARGED WITH FRAUD IN $2bn
UNAUTHORIZED TRADING.
UN NEWS
SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE UN SUPPORT MISSION IN
LIBYA.
========================================================
SEPTEMBER 16
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 16, 1974, President Ford announced a
conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft
evaders.
On Sept. 16, 1838, James Jerome Hill, who built a
railroad empire in the American northwest, was born. He died
on May 29, 1916
1940 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into
law the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history.
1966 The Metropolitan Opera opened its new home
at New York City's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
1974 President Gerald R. Ford announced a
conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and
draft-evaders.
2002 U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced
that Iraq had unconditionally accepted the return of U.N. weapons
inspectors.
2004 Hurricane Ivan plowed into the Gulf Coast
with 130 mph wind and a major storm surge; Ivan was blamed for at
least 115 deaths, 43 in the United States.
2007 A deadly shooting in Baghdad involving the
U.S. security firm Blackwater USA left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
2008 The federal government announced an
emergency $85 billion loan to rescue AIG, the world's largest
insurance company.
HARLEM, NY. RALLY AT GRANT HOUSES FOR AN END TO
GUN VIOLENCE.9/15/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
After the shooting death of the young basketball star
Tayshana Murphy, the Harlem community members held a rally
last night at the Grant Houses for an end to gun violence. On Sunday
morning, young Murphy was chased by a group of men and shot on the
fourth floor of her building. A meeting was held a day earlier
between the victim's family and one of the men who may have been
involved in the shooting. NYPD cops are looking for Robert Cartagena
and Tyshawn Brockington wanted for questioning after they were seen
in surveillance video with guns. A third suspect had been arrested
on weapons charges.
MIAMI, FL. NEW PROPOSED CASINO IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
9/16/11
By Mona K. Arcelin NTS NEWS
The Genting Group is proposing the building of another
casino on the waterfront of downtown Miami.
The site for that casino was bought for $236 million for the
proposed gambling operation to attract big money players. A whole
new high stakes players would be lured in that part of South Florida
by the Resorts World Miami. The Genting’s plans include more than
100 restaurants and luxury shops and an outdoor lagoon and beach.
That will be a good source of employments for the residents of South
Florida.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
LIBYA. FIGHTERS MOVE SOUTH OF TRIPOLI.
UN
NEWS
UN PROMOTING SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS OF
GUINEA-BISSAU.
================================================================
SEPTEMBER 15
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 15, 1963, four black girls were killed
when a bomb went off during Sunday services at a Baptist church in
Birmingham, Alabama, in the deadliest act of the civil rights era.
On Sept. 15, 1857, William Howard Taft, the only
person to serve as both United States president and chief justice of
the United States Supreme Court, was born. He died on March 8, 1930
1821 Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
and El Salvador became independent from Spain.
1857 William Howard Taft, the 27th president who
later served as chief justice, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1917 Russia was proclaimed a republic by
Alexander Kerensky, the head of a provisional government.
1935 The Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of
their citizenship and made the swastika the official symbol of Nazi
Germany.
1940 The Royal Air Force inflicted heavy losses
on the Luftwaffe as the tide turned in the Battle of Britain during
World War II.
1950 During the Korean War, United Nations forces
landed at Inchon in the south and began their drive toward Seoul.
2000 The Summer Olympics opened in Sydney,
Australia.
2001 President George W. Bush identified Osama
bin Laden as the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
and told Americans to prepare for a long, difficult war against
terrorism.
2004 National Hockey League owners agreed to lock
out the players. The 2004-05 season was eventually canceled.
2005 President George W. Bush, addressing the
nation from storm-ravaged New Orleans, acknowledged the government
failed to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina and urged Congress
to approve a massive reconstruction program.
2008 Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for
bankruptcy protection – the largest in U.S. history.
CITY HALL, NY.PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
QUEENS *10:00 AM Announces New York City’s
Smoking Rate Has Reached an All-Time Low with Health Commissioner
Farley Gotham Center 42-09 28th Street between Queens Plaza South
and Queensboro Plaza
BROOKLYN 4:15 PM Speaks at Ribbon-Cutting for
Jane’s Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park Brooklyn Bridge Park Old
Dock Street at Water Street
5:00 PM Speaks at Grand Opening Ceremony for
Sheraton & Aloft Hotels Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel 228
Duffield Street between Willoughby and Fulton Streets
MANHATTAN 6:15 PM Attends Andrea Bocelli
Concert in Central Park Great Lawn Central Park
8:15 PM Speaks at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Reception for Medal of Honor Recipients
Intrepid West 46th Street at 12th Avenue
NEW YORK. FIRE COMMISSIONER SALVATORE CASSANO IN
VISIT OF HARLEM
Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano speaks with individuals at a
recruitment event in Harlem who were signing up for the firefighter
exam. As the time left to apply for the firefighter exam comes to a
close, Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano stopped by a filing
location in Harlem on Sept. 13, to encourage people to sign up.
"This is the greatest job in the world," Commissioner Cassano said
after shaking hands with several people who were filing. "It's a
difficult job, but the rewards are tremendous." The filing period
for the FDNY Open Competitive Firefighter Exam began on July 15,
2011, and ends on Sept. 15, 2011. The test will be held in January
and February 2012. FDNY firefighters have been to more than 6,500
locations throughout the city in the last year, encouraging young
men and women to apply. The Commissioner noted that the job has a
competitive salary, great health benefits and a flexible schedule.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
LONDON UBS TRADER KWEKU ADOBOLI ARRESTED IN UK.
LIBYA. SARKOZY AND CAMERON VISIT TRIPOLI.
HAITI. US. ACCORDING TO REPORTS PRESIDENT OF
HAITI IS EXPECTED IN NEW YORK MONDAY 19..
UN NEWS,
UN HONORS THOSE WHO DIED IN NIGERIAN ATTACK. 15
SEPTEMBER
===============================================================
SEPTEMBER 14
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 14, 1959, the Soviet space probe Luna 2
became the first man-made object to reach the moon as it crashed
onto the lunar surface.
On Sept. 14, 1879, Margaret Sanger, the outspoken
early twentieth-century advocate of birth control, was born. She
died on Sept. 6, 1966.
1814 Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to "The
Star-Spangled Banner" after witnessing the British bombardment of
Fort McHenry in Maryland during the War of 1812.
1901 President William B. McKinley died in
Buffalo, N.Y., of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin eight days
earlier. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, 42, was sworn in,
becoming the youngest president in U.S. history.
1940 Congress passed the Selective Training and
Service Act, providing for the first peacetime draft in U.S.
history.
1959 The Soviet space probe Luna 2 became the
first man-made object to reach the moon as it crashed onto the lunar
surface.
1975 Pope Paul VI declared Mother Elizabeth Ann
Bayley Seton the first U.S.-born saint.
1982 Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly actress
Grace Kelly, died at age 52 of injuries suffered in a car crash.
1983 Singer Amy Winehouse was born in London.
1994 The rest of the major league baseball season
was cancelled on the 34th day of a strike by players.
2010 Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers
detained by Iran, was freed on $500,000 bail after 410 days in
prison.
2010 Reggie Bush announced he was forfeiting his
2005 Heisman title, citing a scandal over improper benefits while he
was a star running back at Southern California.
CITY HALL, NY. SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
QUEENS*10:00 AM Makes Announcement Gotham
Center 42-09 28th Street between Queens Plaza South and Queensboro
Plaza
BROOKLYN 4:15 PM Speaks at
Ribbon-Cutting for Jane’s Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park Old Dock Street at Water Street
5:00 PM Speaks at Grand Opening Ceremony for
Sheraton & Aloft Hotels Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel 228
Duffield Street between Willoughby and Fulton Streets
MANHATTAN 6:15 PM Attends Andrea
Bocelli Concert in Central Park Great Lawn Central Park
8:15 PM Speaks at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Reception for Medal of Honor Recipients Intrepid West 46th Street at
12th Avenue
QUEENS, NY. ELECTIONS. GOP BOB
TURNER WINS IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS
He defeated David Weprin, a Democratic assemblyman .The
surprising results in the Brooklyn and Queens is a shock to New York
Democrats. "We've been asked by the people of this district to send
a message to Washington," Turner told supporters after the landmark
win. "I hope they hear it loud and clear. We've been told this is a
referendum. Mr. President, we are on the wrong track. We have had it
with an irresponsible fiscal policy which endangers the entire
economy." The heavily Democratic district had never sent a
Republican to the House. But frustration with the continued weak
national economy gave Republicans the edge. Turner has vowed to
bring business practicality to Washington and push back on spending
and taxes. The race was supposed to be an easy win for Democrats,
who have a 3-1 ratio registration advantage in the district. Weprin,
a 56-year-old Orthodox Jew and member of a prominent Queens
political family, seemed a good fit for the largely white,
working-class district, which is nearly 40 percent Jewish.
Turner, a 70-year-old Catholic, vowed to push back
on Obama's policies if elected. He received help from prominent
Republicans including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose much-praised
stewardship of the city after Sept. 11 was recalled last weekend
during the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks. Weprin became
embroiled in New York-centric disputes over Israel and gay marriage,
which cost him some support among Jewish voters. Orthodox Jews, who
tend to be conservative on social issues, expressed anger over
Weprin's vote in the Assembly to legalize gay marriage. In July, New
York became one of six states to recognize same-sex nuptials.
Weprin was challenged on his support of a proposed Islamic center
and mosque near the World Trade Center site, in lower Manhattan.
Democrats relied on organized labor and other affiliated groups to
bring voters to the polls. Weiner was pushed by party leaders
to resign after sending sexually provocative tweets and text
messages to women he met online.
The state replaced outdated lever-operated voting
machines last year in favor of paper ballots and optical scanners,
which take more time to close and process. Polls closed at 9 p.m.
Tuesday, and results trickled in slowly, but a Board of Elections
spokeswoman said the vote-tallying system ran smoothly and there
were no problems to report. The 70-year-old Republican Bob Turner
won an upset victory in front of hundreds of his supporters at his
headquarters in Howard Beach, Queens who were thrilled with the
historic outcome. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district
three to one. That was a big surprise.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
THE PALESTINIAN BID FOR UN MEMBERSHIP IS MEETING
OPPOSITION.
Haitian National Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours
said that he hadn't received any reports of injuries.
UN NEWS
UN IS CAPITALIZING ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH 7
BILLION ACTION.
=======================================================
SEPTEMBER 13
IN HISTORY
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman
Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited
Palestinian autonomy.
On Sept. 13, 1860, John J. Pershing, American
commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, was
born. He died on July 15, 1948
1996 Rapper Tupac Shakur, 25, died at a Las Vegas
hospital six days after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting.
1999 A bomb blamed by authorities on Chechen
rebels devastated an eight-story apartment building in Moscow,
killing at least 124 people.
2000 Chase Manhattan agreed to buy J.P. Morgan
for more than $35 billion, creating the third largest financial
company in the U.S.
2001 Secretary of State Colin Powell named Osama
bin Laden as the prime suspect in the terror attacks on the United
States; limited commercial flights resumed for the first time in two
days.
2006 Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards died at age
73.
2010 Rafael Nadal of Spain won his first U.S.
Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, beating Novak Djokovic
6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
NEW YORK. ELECTIONS FOR THE 9TH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT 9/13/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
Republican Bob Turner and Democrat David Weprin geared up Monday
for the special election in the 9th Congressional District, and
politicians ranging from former Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Governor
Andrew Cuomo lent support to their candidates of choice. Giuliani
campaigned with Turner, who has been endorsed by former Mayor Ed
Koch, the Daily News and the New York Post. Governor Cuomo is
supporting Weprin. as well as Bill Clinton.,
MIAMI. DRUG LORD DANIEL BARRERA CHARGED IN
MIAMI. 9/13/11
By Mona K. Arcelin, NTS NEWS, FLORIDA.
One of Colombia’s most-wanted drug traffickers with alleged
ties to a narco-terrorist organization has been charged in Miami
along with two other “high-level” partners.Daniel Barrera-Barrera,
indicted in Miami on cocaine-smuggling conspiracy charges, operates
mainly in the eastern part of Colombia between Bogota and the
Venezuelan border. There, he maintains a partnership with the
U.S.-designated terrorist group known as the FARC, composed of
leftist guerrillas who allegedly play a major part in Colombia’s
drug trade.
The Colombian government has offered a $2.7 million
reward for information leading to the capture of the defendant, aka
“Loco Barrera,” who remains at large. In March, the Treasury
Department designated Barrera-Barrera, 42, as a “specially
designated narcotics trafficker,” because of his significant role in
the international drug trade.
In Miami, Barrera-Barrerra was charged with two
brothers, Javier Fernandez-Barrero, 43, and Orlando Fernandez-Barrero,
45, who are known as “Los Gorditos.” They are in custody awaiting
extradition to Miami. FBI Special Agent in Charge John Gillies said
their “criminal enterprise is responsible for distributing tons of
cocaine into the U.S and other countries.”
A new team of prosecutors has joined the FBI, Drug
Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement
agents, in an alliance with Colombian investigators, to go after
criminal groups. So far, the U.S. has indicted more than 150
defendants in Miami as a result of that initiative, U.S. Attorney
Wifredo Ferrer said.
Earlier this month, Ferrer, his office’s chief of
narcotics, George Karavetsos, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark
Trouville flew to Colombia for an unprecedented meeting with that
country’s president and attorney general to announce U.S.
indictments filed against more than 50 leaders and associates of the
bandas criminales.
Operation Under the Sea targeted 22 defendants
charged with building and submersible and semi-submersible vessels
to transport thousands of kilos of cocaine from Colombia to Central
America, with the final destination being the United States.
In Operation Seven Trumpets, a total of 34
defendants were charged in five separate cases with using airplanes
to haul loads of cocaine from clandestine airstrips in Venezuela to
Central America, mostly Honduras. Colombian leaders have sought
President Hugo Chávez’s assistance in targeting the drug flights
from Apure, a state in Venezuela.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
HAITI. OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MET
PRESIDENT MARTELLY.
The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American
States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin met with Haiti’s President
Michel Martelly in Port au Prince, Haiti last week as part of an
official visit by the high ranking OAS diplomat to the Caribbean
country.
During the meeting which lasted for more than an
hour, President Martelly updated Assistant Secretary General Ramdin
on the current political situation in Haiti. Discussions were also
held on areas of OAS co-operation and support to Haitian development
programs. According to Assistant Secretary General Ramdin, “the OAS
will continue to provide whatever support is required by the people
of Haiti and the President. There is work to be done. We are looking
forward to the establishment of a complete government in the near
future, so that projects and discussions can move forward with
relevant counterparts working in different government agencies.”
During his visit to Haiti, Assistant Secretary
General Ramdin also held meetings with Haitian civil society
representatives, and members of the International community. The
high ranking OAS official also officially launched the OAS Emergency
Scholarship Program for Haiti. The scholarships have been
facilitated through partnerships with OAS member and observer states
and accredited educational institutions to offer distance education
scholarships. The distance education scholarships prioritorise
vocational and teacher training, professional development training
and academic studies. The fields of study range from Agronomy and
Environmental Studies, to Computer Science, Development Studies,
Economics, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Education and other areas.
“The goal is to help Haitian students improve their
prospects, assist their country and help their families at the same
time. This project we believe, is timely and relevant, and we will
work to continue and expand it," said Ramdin.
IRAN. US HIKERS JAILED FOR SPYING WILL BE
RELEASED IN TWO DAYS.
Two Americans jailed for spying in Iran will be released in two
days, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has told US media. Shane
Bauer and Joshua Fattal were imprisoned for eight years last month.
The pair, in custody since their arrest in July 2009, had claimed
they strayed into Iran accidentally while hiking near the border.
An Iranian judge said he would release the men
on payment of $500,000 bail each. Mr Ahmadinejad revealed the
news in an interview. Mr Ahmadinejad has previously stressed the
independence of Iran's judiciary. He added that the men would be
"free to choose" how they returned to the US.
The case had heightened tensions between the US and
Iran, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying she was
"deeply disappointed" by the sentences. Sarah Shourd was released
from Iran on humanitarian and medical grounds US President Barack
Obama had denied the men had any link to the country's intelligence
organizations. Their expected release comes ahead of Mr
Ahmadinejad's expected trip to New York for a meeting of the UN
General Assembly on 22 September.
US officials said they were working with Swiss
envoys, who represent US interests in Iran, to confirm the men's
status, having had no independent confirmation of the release terms.
The bail sum is the same as set for the release of Mr Bauer's
fiancee, Sarah Shourd, 32, who was arrested with the two men.
Ms Shourd, a teacher, writer and women's rights
activist, was freed in September 2010 on humanitarian and medical
grounds. She did not return to face trial, saying she had suffered
post-traumatic stress and would find going back to Iran "too
traumatic". While out walking they were stopped and arrested by
Iranian troops who told them they were in Iranian territory.
===================================================================
SEPTEMBER 12
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 12, 1977, South African black student
leader Steven Biko died while in police custody, triggering an
international outcry.
On Sept. 12, 1913, Jesse Owens, the American
black man who caused a sensation at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin by
winning four gold medals, was born. He died on March 31, 1980,
1974 Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by
Ethiopia's military after ruling for 58 years.
1977 South African black student leader Steven
Biko died while in police custody, triggering an international
outcry.
2000 Dutch lawmakers gave same-sex couples the
right to marry and adopt children.
2002 President George W. Bush told the United
Nations to confront the "grave and gathering danger" of Saddam
Hussein's Iraq or stand aside as the United States acted.
2003 Country musician Johnny Cash died at age 71.
2005 Federal Emergency Management Agency director
Michael Brown resigned, three days after losing his onsite command
of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
2006 In a speech in his native Germany, Pope
Benedict XVI quoted from an obscure medieval text that characterized
some teachings of Islam's founder as "evil and inhuman," unleashing
a torrent of rage across the Islamic world.
2008 A commuter train engineer ran a red light
while text messaging on his cell phone and struck a freight train
head-on in Los Angeles, killing himself and 24 other people.
PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
MANHATTAN 7:00 AM Votes in 73rd Assembly District
Special Election P.S. 6 45 East 81st Street between Madison and Park
Avenue
11:00 AM Speaks at NYPD High Holy Days Briefing with
Police Commissioner Kelly One Police Plaza
QUEENS *10:00 AM Speaks at Prayer Breakfast to Honor
Reverend Floyd Flake’s Anniversaries in the Ministry LaGuardia Crown
Plaza Hotel 104-04 Ditmars Boulevard between 23rd Road and 25th
Avenue
11:00 AM Speaks at NYPD High Holy Days Briefing with
Police Commissioner Kelly One Police Plaza
BROOKLYN *12:00 Noon Announces Workforce Training
Grants to Help Small Businesses Expand and Create Jobs in All Five
Boroughs Terrafina 204 28th Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues
CITY HALL, NY.MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND POLICE
COMMISSIONER KELLY ANNOUNCE DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER SHERMAN ABRAMS
Statement of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
“Earlier today, Police Officer Sherman Abrams, who
entered the Police Academy this July, collapsed after completing a
run with his academy class and passed away shortly afterwards. He
was only 28 years old. Sherman made the decision to dedicate his
life to protecting New Yorkers, serving as a correction officer for
four years until he got the call to join the NYPD. Commissioner
Kelly and I met with his mother tonight at Beth Israel Hospital,
where we offered our deepest condolences and the thanks of an entire
city grateful for his willingness to serve and help keep us all safe.
My thoughts and prayers will be with all of Sherman’s family and
friends.”
Statement of Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
“Sherman’s dedication as a New York City police
officer began when he took the oath of office and started his
training in the Police Academy. He made a commitment to public
service first as a correction officer and then as a police officer
with a seriousness few are prepared to make so early in their
careers. On behalf of all the members of the New York City Police
Department, I extend my deepest condolences to Sherman’s family and
friends at this difficult time.”
US OPEN. FLUSHING, N.Y. DJOKOVIC BEATS NADAL.
9/12/11
Djokovic has now won four Grand Slam titles in his career Novak
Djokovic confirmed his status as the world's best player with a
stunning victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal to lift his
first US Open title. The top seed from Serbia gave a display of
breathtaking quality to triumph 6-2 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 in four hours
and 10 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Nadal, who was bidding to win his 11th Grand Slam
title, has now lost all six of his meetings with Djokovic in 2011.
Djokovic holds the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles.
And he becomes only the sixth man in the Open Era to win three of
the four majors in the same year.
"It's an incredible feeling," said the 24-year-old,
who has lost only two of his 66 matches in 2011. "I've had an
amazing year and it keeps going. Every time I play Rafa it's a big
challenge. I'm disappointed but Novak is doing unbelievable
things. What he did this year is probably impossible to repeat
Rafael Nadal "He's had a great tournament and I wish we have many
more tough matches in the coming years."
Djokovic was beaten by Nadal at the same stage 12
months ago, but he turned the tables on the Spaniard this time
around - and how. The crowd were treated to several pulsating
baseline rallies in the opening stages, Nadal breaking serve for 2-0
only to surrender his advantage immediately. Djokovic showed
brilliant skill in windy conditions to save three break points for
2-2 and constructed a couple of stunning combinations to strike in
game five. The top seed was dictating the tempo and he broke again
when Nadal netted a backhand under pressure before serving out the
53-minute opener to love. Nadal enjoyed a relatively comfortable
service game to start the second set and then managed to break his
opponent with a trademark forehand down the line. But the errors
returned in a truly incredible game three, which saw Djokovic
squander five break points before converting a sixth when Nadal
netted a routine smash.
US OPEN. FLUSHING, NY. STOSUR STUNS SERENA
WILLIAMS. 9/12/11
Australian Samantha Stosur shocked 13-time Grand Slam champion
Serena Williams, 6-2, 6-3, to win her first major title. In a gutsy
and powerful performance in Ashe Stadium, Stosur overwhelmed
Williams with her serve and forehand from the outset of the match,
and even after the contest briefly fell into the chaos early in the
second set when Serena was hotly arguing with the chair umpire, the
27-year-old Aussie managed to recompose herself and stick with her
game plan.
Somewhat amazingly after a spotty year, Stosur found
herself at this US Open and finally brought to the forefront two
areas that she has been diligently working to improve: her backhand
and her volley. While she didn't manage to nail a backhand winner
against Serena, she mixed up the strokes, kept it deep with her
two-hander and low with her slice. She didn't charge the net a ton
but did convert seven of her 11 approaches.
Williams had not lost a set coming into the final,
taking out the likes of No. 4 Victoria Azarenka, former No. 1 Ana
Ivanovic, up-and-comer Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and No. 1 Caroline
Wozniacki. She had not lost a match in the summer hard-court season,
winning Stanford and Toronto and winning the most points during the
Olympus US Open Series. But unlike some of the younger players
Serena faced in Flushing Meadows, 2010 Roland Garros finalist Stosur
did not get nervous and began to execute from the moment she stepped
on court.
Serena had trouble handling her kick and slice
serves and could not contend with the Aussie's hard forehand, which
she hit to every angle of the court. Stosur also jumped on Serena's
second serves, the only player able to do so during the event, and
Williams was only able to win 33 percent of her second-serve points.
She broke Serena to 2-1 in the first set when the American erred on
a backhand and broke her again to 5-2 when Williams missed another
backhand. Stosur then won the first set by stinging a forehand
down-the-line winner. The match spun about out of control at the
start of the second set, when on break point, Serena screamed right
after she hit a forehand down the line and before Stosur was able to
get her racket on the ball. Chair umpire Eva Asderaki then awarded
the point to Stosur, stating that Grand Slam rules dictated that
decision. Serena badly lost her temper and eventually received a
code violation.
However, Serena seemed to gain momentum from the
incident and broke Stosur back to 1-1 with a whizzing backhand down
the line. She held two break points on Stosur's serve at 2-1, but
the Aussie responded with an ace and then forced her into a backhand
error and eventually held. Stosur's confidence was then clearly
back, and she broke Williams to 4-3 after Serena committed another
backhand error. The Australian held to 5-3 with a cracking forehand
winner and then broke Williams to win the match when Serena erred on
a forehand. Williams ended the match with 19 winners and 25 unforced
errors, while Stosur clocked 20 winners -- 12 off her forehand side
-- and committed only 12 unforced errors.
After Serena's final groundstroke flew wide, the
quiet Stosur then smiled in joy and knelt to the ground, as she
became the first Australian woman to win a major since Evonne
Goolagong at 1980 Wimbledon. “To go out and play the way I did is an
unbelievable feeling,” Stosur said.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
LIBIA ABUSES BY REBELS FORCES.
In its latest report, the group says that while the bulk of
violations were carried out by loyalist forces, anti-Gaddafi
fighters have also been involved in torture and killings. Earlier,
Col Muammar Gaddafi vowed in a TV message to fight "until victory".
The whereabouts of the 69-year-old fugitive leader remain unknown.
In another development, NTC leader Mustafa Abdul
Jalil has delivered his first public speech in Tripoli since the
ousting of Col Gaddafi, urging a modern democratic state based on
"moderate" Islam. Anti-Gaddafi forces have halted their assault on
the town of Bani Walid which remains in loyalist hands.
Correspondents say they have been met with more resistance than they
had expected.
In its report, Amnesty International concludes that
the majority of abuses during the conflict have been committed by
forces loyal to Col Gaddafi. They include deliberate attacks on
civilians, a widescale campaign of enforced disappearances, and
arbitrary detention and torture - atrocities which could amount to
war crimes, it says. But, it says, those fighting Col Gaddafi have
also been complicit in serious violations.
The report refers to the lynching of black Africans
suspected of being mercenaries hired by Col Gaddafi, as well as
revenge killings and the torture of some captured pro-Gaddafi
soldiers. Amnesty said a full picture had yet to emerge, but said it
had asked Libya's opposition leadership to take steps to rein in its
supporters and investigate any abuses, and to combat xenophobia and
racism. Mohammed al-Alagi, a justice minister for Libya's
transitional authorities, said that describing the rebels actions as
war crimes was wrong.
"They are not the military, they are only ordinary
people," Mr al-Alagi told the Associated Press news agency. He said
the rebels had made mistakes, but said these could not be described
as "war crimes at all".
Earlier, Col Gaddafi vowed to fight "until victory",
in a statement read out by a presenter on a loyalist television
station. "All that remains for us is the struggle until victory and
the defeat of the coup," Col Gaddafi was cited as saying on
Syrian-based Arrai TV.
However, whereas previous messages were audio
recordings of Col Gaddafi, this was a statement read out on air.
Arrai's owner, Mishan Jabouri, said Col Gaddafi was still "leading
the struggle from Libyan lands, and not from Venezuela, Niger or
anywhere else," but that security reasons meant he could not read
the message himself, Reuters reports.
In Tripoli, thousands packed Martyrs' Square to hear
Mr Jalil outline his plans for the country. The NTC leader said
Libya would be governed as a moderate Muslim democracy and the new
leadership would not accept any extremist ideology. He also said
women would play an active role in the new government.
"We are a Muslim nation, with a moderate Islam, and
we will maintain that. You are with us and support us - you are our
weapon against whoever tries to hijack the revolution," he said.
The Gaddafi family tree Gaddafi: African
asylum seeker? Darfur rebel leader flees Libya In a separate
development, Niger's government has said Col Gaddafi's son Saadi is
under surveillance but has not been detained, after he crossed the
border into Niger.
"Nothing has changed in the government's position.
There is no international search for him. Like the others he is just
under surveillance," the spokesman said.
The comments came after the US state department said
Niger had confirmed they would detain Saadi Gaddafi in Niamey, the
capital. Saadi is among 32 members of Col Gaddafi's inner circle -
including three generals - who have crossed the lengthy desert
border into the central African nation since 2 September, Niger's
Prime Minister Brigi Rafini told diplomats on Monday.
Mr Rafini said the Libyans had been taken in by
Niger for "humanitarian reasons" and said none of those known to
have crossed the border were being sought by the International
Criminal Court.
On Monday, anti-Gaddafi fighters said they lost
seven men fighting for Bani Walid after they were betrayed by local
people who led them into an ambush. Fighting in Bani Walid was
halted on Monday, with one commander telling the BBC they were
waiting for Nato warplanes to continue their airstrikes, which are
targeting the heavy weapons being used by Col Gaddafi's men inside
the town.
Families fleeing the town say the streets are
deserted with people either staying inside their homes or leaving.
The shops are all closed and there is a shortage of food, they say.
Fifteen guards were also killed when pro-Gaddafi forces attacked an
oil refinery near the town of Ras Lanuf.
UN NEWS
TO PROBE SYRIAN VIOLENCE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
APPOINTS EXPERTS. 12 September 2011 – The United Nations Human
Rights Council today appointed three experts to probe alleged abuses
in Syria, where the number of people killed since the start of the
Syrian Government’s crackdown on protesters earlier this year has
now reportedly reached at least 2,600. Sergio Pinheiro of Brazil
will chair the independent commission of inquiry to investigate all
alleged violations of international human rights law in Syria since
March, when the pro-democracy protests began. Mr. Pinheiro, a former
professor and human rights expert for the Council, will be joined by
Yakin Ertürk of Turkey, who is currently a professor of sociology
and former UN official dealing with women’s issues, and Karen
AbuZayd of the United States, who most recently served as head of
the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees.
The Geneva-based Council decided three weeks ago to
dispatch a commission of inquiry after considering the report of a
fact-finding mission by the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR). The report outlined a litany of Government
abuses ranging from murder, enforced disappearances, deprivation of
liberty and the torture even of children to an apparent
“shoot-to-kill” policy against protesters with snipers posted on
rooftops.
As the Council opened its 18th session today, UN
High Commissioner Navi Pillay told the 47-member body that,
according to reliable sources on the ground, the number of those
killed since the onset of the unrest in mid-March has now reached at
least 2,600. In addition to investigating the alleged human rights
violations, the commission is tasked with establishing the facts and
circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes
perpetrated and, where possible, identifying those responsible to
ensure that perpetrators of violations, including those that may
constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The
commission is due to make public its findings to the Council as soon
as possible, but no later than the end of November.
===============================================================
SEPTEMBER 11
IN HISTORY
causing the 110-story twin towers to collapse.
Another hijacked airliner hit the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in a
field in Pennsylvania. On Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackers crashed
two airliners into the World Trade Center in New York,
On Sept. 11, 1917, Ferdinand Marcos, the Filipino
president whose corrupt government was overthrown in 1986, was born.
He died on Sept. 28, 1989
1941 Charles A. Lindbergh sparked charges of
anti-Semitism with a speech in which he blamed "the British, the
Jewish and the Roosevelt administration" for trying to draw the
United States into World War II.
1962 The Beatles recorded their first single,
"Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You," at EMI studios in London.
1971 Former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev died
at age 77.
1973 Chilean President Salvador Allende died in a
violent military coup.
1985 Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds recorded
his 4,192nd hit, breaking Ty Cobb's career record.
1997 Scots voted to create their own Parliament
after 290 years of union with England.
1998 Congress released Kenneth Starr's report,
which offered graphic details of President Bill Clinton's alleged
sexual misconduct and leveled accusations of perjury and obstruction
of justice.
2002 Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas died at
age 69.
2007 China signed an agreement to prohibit
the use of lead paint on toys exported to the United States.
2009 Michael Jordan was enshrined in the
basketball Hall of Fame.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011
MANHATTAN *8:35 AM Attends September 11th
Commemoration Ceremony West Street between Liberty and Vesey Streets
y.
10:30 AM Pre-taped Interview about Lower Manhattan
Recovery Airs on Face the Nation CBS News
2:00 PM Speaks at Port Authority of NY & NJ
September 11th Remembrance Service St. Peter’s Church Barclay Street
at Church Street
STATEN ISLAND 6:30 PM Speaks at Staten Island
September 11th Memorial Ceremony Staten Island September 11th
“Postcards” Memorial St. George Esplanade
10:00 PM Appears in Season Finale of Curb Your
Enthusiasm HBO
CITY HALL, NY STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG ON THE DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER HORTON
“Today I received the terrible news that Christopher
Horton, a young man who worked on my reelection campaign in 2005,
was killed in Afghanistan while serving for the Oklahoma National
Guard. His death is a terrible loss for his family and his many
friends in New York City and beyond. I spoke to his wife Jane this
morning, and she told me about how they met while Chris was working
on the campaign. His death is another tragic reminder that we can
never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. We owe
eternal gratitude to the men and women who have fought, and are
still fighting today, to protect our liberty. My deepest condolences
go out to everyone who was close to Chris, and I will keep them in
my thoughts and prayers this weekend.”
NEW YORK. UNDER HEAVY GUARD, NEW YORK MARKS
ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11/
9/11/11
Security all across the city remains tight as this morning's
ceremony to commemorate the nearly 3,000 lives lost on the tenth
anniversary of the September 11th attacks gets underway. Extra
officers with the New York City Police Department and Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey have converged on the World Trade Center
site and surrounding area. .
The NYPD is monitoring the entire city for any
suspicious activity from its new Joint Operations Center. City,
state, and federal agencies are sitting side-by-side inside the $49
million center, using the latest technology in an effort to protect
the city from any possible terrorist threat.
In the hours leading up to the ceremony, police
rapid response teams have blanketed the city with thousands of
officers in Lower Manhattan. Authorities remain on high alert as
investigators continue to look for proof of a plot to possibly
disrupt events planned in New York or Washington. Counterterrorism
officials have been chasing a tip that al-Qaida may have sent three
men to the U.S. to detonate a car bomb.
In addition to security measures being taken in and
around the World Trade center site, police have set up checkpoints
at major transit hubs, bridges, tunnels, landmarks, and houses of
worship. The program for today's ceremony will be similar to
previous September 11th anniversaries.
The event begins at 8:35 a.m. at the National
September 11th Memorial, where family members will find victims'
names inscribed in bronze panels and reflecting pools set in the
footprints of the Twin Towers.
The memorial includes the names of those who died at
the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93, as well as
the six victims of the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. The
ceremony will mark the memorial's official opening.
At 8:46 a.m., a moment of silence will be observed
to mark the time the first plane hit the north tower. Houses of
worship will also toll bells throughout the city. Families of
victims from both the 2001 and 1993 attacks will then begin reading
the victims' names.
Moments of silence will also be observed at 9:03
a.m. when the second plane struck the South Tower; 9:37 a.m. when a
plane hit the Pentagon; 9:59 a.m. when the South Tower fell; 10:03
a.m. when Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and
10:28 a.m. when the North Tower fell. The reading of names will
continue, along with readings from dignitaries including President
Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
LONDON. UNITED KINGDOM SERVICES MARK TERROR
ATTACKS ON 9/11
A service of remembrance was held at the Grosvenor Chapel in
London Continue reading the main story 9/11: Ten years on Live
coverage Remembering Pentagon attack Remembrance services for
those who died 10 years ago in the 9/11 attacks on the US are taking
place across the UK.
In London, families of some of the 67 British
victims gathered for a service at Grosvenor Chapel and a ceremony
was held at St Paul's Cathedral. Wreaths are to be laid at the
September 11 Memorial Garden near the US embassy.
Foreign Secretary William Hague paid tribute to the
"courage and dignity" of the US and victims of other attacks,
including the 2005 London bombings. The UK commemorations got under
way just after 08:00 BST at Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair, close to
the US embassy in central London, a church where US servicemen
worshipped during World War II. The centerpiece of the service was
the lighting of a single candle by deputy American ambassador
Barbara Stephenson, in memory of those who died on 9/11
Canon Jim Rosenthal, who led the service said the
attacks knew "no race, creed, gender, age or status".He told the
congregation: "The violence which took place in New York,
Pennsylvania and Washington took its toll as nearly 3,000 people
were killed in less than one hour. is not static, it's a constantly
growing and evolving action which gives us the opportunity to take
hold of the past and transform it to reach out with grace,
understanding and healing."
US cleric Dr Courtney Cowart said that in the
aftermath of the terror attacks the atmosphere was "so thick with
love that it was like touching the face of God. Extreme acts of love
drove the darkness out".
US ambassador to the UK, Louis Susman, said
Americans had reacted with strength to the terror attacks. "The big
thing that we've seen is the incredible resiliency of the American
people and people around the world. We don't live in fear, our
societies move forward, our businesses work.
"So we'll never forget this day, it's a moment which
we feel confident that, whatever we did, we protected America and in
some places the world." A service of remembrance for the British
victims of 9/11 started at about 11:00 BST at St Paul's Cathedral.
The families have been joined by representatives from the fire,
police and ambulance services. It is affectionately known as
the American Church. Just a few hundred yards from the US embassy,
the Grosvenor Chapel is the centre of worship for Americans in
Britain. A fitting place, then, for the first of the 9/11 memorial
services.
One of the clerics who addressed the congregation
was Dr Courtney Cowart. She was at a church just a block away when
the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. She recalled
being enveloped in the dust cloud and thinking she would die. The
second Sunday after the attack she stood at Ground Zero to serve as
a chaplain at a service. She said she remembered thinking it would
take 10 years to clear up all the destruction.
The centerpiece of this service was the lighting of
a single candle by the American deputy ambassador, Barbara
Stephenson. It was an intimate and low-key service - just one of
many taking place across the UK today.
Wreaths will later be laid at the memorial garden in
Grosvenor Square and family members will be invited to read the name
of their loved ones and to lay a rose in their memory. In the
evening, there will a service at Westminster Abbey. Members of the
UK's Firefighters Memorial Trust will lay a wreath in memory of the
343 members of New York's fire department killed while responding to
9/11.
Services are planned at Birmingham Cathedral and
there will be events in Plymouth and at Truro Cathedral and Exeter
Cathedral. A minute's silence will also take place at the Rick
Rescorla memorial in Hayle, Cornwall. Mr Rescorla, 62, who grew up
in the town and was a security manager for a firm in the Twin
Towers, died after leading more than 2,000 people to safety.
Faith leaders and politicians will take part in a
peace walk in Edinburgh, and there will be services in Glasgow and
Aberdeen. At Belfast City Hall, there will be a flower-laying
ceremony and a minute's silence at 13:46 BST will mark the time
American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center.
The Dean of St Paul's, the Rt Rev Graeme Knowles,
gave an opening address Kevin Dennis, who was working as a
stockbroker for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st floor of the North
Tower, was one of the Britons killed in the attacks.
His mother, Patricia Bingley,said that 9/11
was the most horrific day of her life. She said: "I watched it live
on the television. I saw the two towers and one was belching with
smoke, and my heart went in my mouth, my stomach seemed to drop, I
shook and I just stood there and watched. "And I saw the plane hit
the second tower and I thought 'oh my God, my Kevin, where is he?'.
And then when the second tower went down I knew I'd lost him, I just
knew. "I just want to keep his memory alive, and with Grosvenor
Square with the anniversary I lay a rose for him and then I call his
name and that's his day." - On a bright sunny day at St Paul's
Cathedral a guard of honor from UK firefighters greeted the 2,000
members of the congregation as they arrived for the service.
The hour-long memorial service, titled Remembering
with Hope, was led by the Dean of St Paul's, the Right Reverend
Graeme Knowles.
There were moments of silence as three candles were
lit - one for those who died on 11 September 2001, one for
firefighters who have died in the line of duty and a third to
remember those who have died in terror attacks around the world. The
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was in Manhattan
just two blocks away from the World Trade Center when the South
Tower collapsed..
He said: "I don't think anybody at that moment
started thinking 'maybe I've got my faith wrong', the question was
what do I do with my faith? And I think that was one of the deep
moments, that everybody just wanted to pray together. And we did
that as we heard the unforgettable noise of the first tower coming
down."
In the US, commemorations will be held at the
British embassy in Washington, while in New York the consul general
will be among those attending a memorial concert at the British
Garden in Hanover Square where the 67 UK victims are commemorated.
HAITI. BILL CLINTON INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN
HAITI-
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton Thursday became head of an
advisory panel on investment and development issues to Haitian
President Michel Martelly, according to reports reaching here.
Clinton, who is also co-president of the Interim Haiti Recovery
Commission (IHRC) together with Haiti's outgoing Prime Minister
Jean-Max Bellerive, was named head of the Presidential Advisory
Council for Economic Development and Investment. In a statement,
Martelly's press office said he had established the advisory council
to boost Haiti's economy and promote job creation. The council,
which grouped former heads of state from Haiti's friendly countries,
important businessmen, eminent figures and technicians, sought to
boost investments in the country to accelerate its economic
development, the statement said. Clinton first became involved with
Haiti shortly after taking office in 1993. In October 1994, he
authorized to send 20,000 marines to the Caribbean island to restore
Jean-Bertrand Aristide as president after a military coup. Clinton
was also appointed as the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti
following the massive earthquake in January 2010 which killed at
least 230,000 people and devastated the impoverished island.
UN NEWS
UN MARKING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF TERRORIST
ATTACK.
The United Nations today marked the 10th anniversary of the 11
September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States with a solemn
commemoration in the General Assembly Hall, music, poetry and a vow
to intensify the battle against terror wherever it is perpetrated in
the world. “11 September will mark our collective memory forever. We
all remember what we were doing when we heard what was happening.
Our shock and disbelief at this horror are indescribable,” Assembly
President Joseph Deiss said in an opening speech.
“We also want to be here to express our compassion
and solidarity for all the victims of terrorist acts who are
attacked randomly and without respite throughout the world. We are
here to express our indignation at the cowardice of terrorism,
condemn it firmly and categorically, combat it and see that the
guilty are punished.”
Mr. Deiss stressed that global action is crucial in
responding to international terrorism, which he called an
“intolerable violation” of the purposes and principles of the UN and
its ideals of peace, security and friendship among peoples.
“Given the proliferation of terrorist threats and
actions, we must intensify our efforts without delay,” he declared.
“It is urgent that we adopt the necessary complements to the
existing instruments.”
Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said “the
attacks targeted more than one single country; they were an assault
on humanity itself, and on the universal values of peace and dignity
the United Nations was created to promote and defend.” Ms. Migiro
recalled that both the General Assembly and Security Council “joined
their voices in a chorus” to rapidly condemn the attacks and demand
justice.
Since 2001, she noted, the UN has adopted a Global
Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the UN Alliance of Civilizations has
been established to build bridges of trust and understanding between
peoples and cultures, and the world body has pushed for countries to
adhere to global treaties that seek to cut off funding and support
for terrorists.
“At the same time, we continue our long-standing
work for peace, efforts that encompass preventive diplomacy,
supporting democracy and working to keep falling States from
descending into chaos.” During today’s ceremony the New York City
Symphony orchestra played music and soloists Mzuri Moyo and David
D’Or respectively sang Still I Rise and Amazing Grace. Inter-faith
leaders read a poem by Maya Angelou, after which they lit a candle
together, followed by a minute of silence.
Separately today, in a presidential statement, the
Security Council “reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace
and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and
unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever and by
whomsoever committed.” In his own message, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
noted that “to truly honour the memory of those who died – and the
sacrifice of the brave responders who rushed to the scenes of the
attacks – all people must stand against terrorism.”
He said the UN was determined to play its part “by
galvanizing all countries in this necessary fight to seek justice,
promote peace and build a better and more secure future for
generations to come.”
====================================================
SEPTEMBER 10
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 10, 1919, New York City welcomed home
Gen. John J. Pershing and 25,000 soldiers who had served in the
United States 1st Division during World War I.
On Sept. 10, 1934, Roger Maris, the professional
baseball player who held the record for home runs in a single season
from 1961 to 1998, was born. He died on Dec. 14, 1985
1919 New York City welcomed home Gen. John J.
Pershing and 25,000 soldiers who had served in the U.S. 1st Division
during World War I.
1924 A judge in Chicago sentenced Nathan Leopold
Jr. and Richard Loeb to life in prison for the murder of 14-year-old
Bobby Franks - a "thrill killing" that had shocked the nation.
1935 Sen. Huey P. Long, the "Kingfish" of
Louisiana politics, died two days after being shot in Baton Rouge.
1948 American-born Mildred Gillars, the Nazi
wartime radio broadcaster known as "Axis Sally," was indicted in
Washington, D.C., for treason.
1955 "Gunsmoke" premiered on CBS.
1963 Twenty black students entered public schools
in Birmingham, Tuskegee and Mobile, Ala., following a standoff
between federal authorities and Gov. George C. Wallace.
1977 A convicted murderer became the last person
to be executed by the guillotine in France.
1988 Steffi Graf of West Germany achieved
tennis' Grand Slam - winning all four major tournaments in a
calendar year - by taking the U.S. Open women's title.
2000 The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats"
closed after 7,485 performances over nearly 18 years as the
longest-running show in Broadway history.
2000 NBC's "The West Wing" won a record nine Emmy
awards, including best drama series.
2002 Switzerland became the 190th member of
the United Nations.
2003 Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, 46, was
stabbed in a Stockholm department store; she died the next day.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011
MANHATTAN 10:00 AM Marches in 129th
Annual New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Labor Day Parade
Fifth Avenue at 44th Street
10:00 AM Pre-taped Interview about Lower Manhattan
Recovery Airs on Your World with Neil Cavuto FOX News
*3:00 PM Speaks at FDNY 10th Anniversary Memorial
Service St. Patrick’s Cathedral 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st
Streets
QUEENS 7:00 PM Attends the US Open USTA Billie Jean
King National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows – Corona Park
NEW YORK. INVESTIGATION ABOUT POTENTIAL AL-QAIDA
ATTACK. 9/10/11
By Jacques Dusseck, NTS NEWS, NY.
According to Counterterrorism officials, at least two of the
three men they are looking for could be U.S. citizens or have U.S.
travel documents, and their primary mission is to detonate a car
bomb in either New York or Washington. A CIA informant told
intelligence officials the men had been ordered by new al-Qaida
leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to mark the 10th anniversary with an
attack. The tipster says the would-be attackers are of Arab descent
and may speak Arabic as well as English. Investigators are looking
for certain names associated with the threat, but it is unclear
whether the names are real or fake.
Major transit hubs, bridges, tunnels, landmarks and
houses of worship are all seeing an increased police presence, but
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said there is a lot more going on
behind the scenes. "We're doing a lot of things, most of them can be
seen, but some quite frankly can't be seen to put in additional
lines of protection to keep the city safe," Kelly said.
Homeland Security officials have said information
gathered during the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound showed al-Qaida
was looking into attacking the U-S again. Meanwhile, Governor Andrew
Cuomo said New Yorkers should not allow the threat of an attack to
stop them from remembering the victims of September 11th. The
governor has ordered additional state troopers and national guard
members to be deployed this weekend, especially at key transit hubs
in the city and the state.
"We'll do the preparation. We're doing more
preparation, but we should not allow them to tarnish the spirit of
what this anniversary celebration is all about, right?" said Cuomo.
"Because that would be an infringement on the freedom we seek to
celebrate on Sunday."
State police officials have been in close contact
with both local and federal authorities, including Homeland Security
Secretary Janet Napolitano.
===========================================================
SEPTEMBER 9
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 9, 1976, Communist Chinese leader Mao
Tse-tung died in Beijing at age 82.
On Sept. 9, 1887, Alfred Landon, the American
politician who ran against Franklin Roosevelt for United States
president in 1936, was born. He died on Oct. 12, 1987,
1957 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into
law the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since
Reconstruction.
1965 Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers
pitched a perfect game in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
1971 Prisoners seized control of the
maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, N.Y.,
beginning a four-day siege that claimed 43 lives.
1976 Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong died in
Beijing at age 82.
1993 The Palestine Liberation Organization agreed
to recognize Israel's right to exist, and Israel agreed to recognize
the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.
1997 Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican Army's
political ally, formally renounced violence as it took its place in
talks on Northern Ireland's future.
2001 Afghanistan's military opposition leader
Ahmed Shah Massood was fatally wounded in a suicide attack by
assassins posing as journalists.
2003 The Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese agreed
to pay $85 million to 552 people to settle clergy sex abuse cases.
2009 Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted "You lie!"
during President Barack Obama's speech to Congress on health care.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
MANHATTAN. 7:00 AM Pre-taped Interview about the
Rebirth of Lower Manhattan and the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 Airs on
Good Morning America ABC Television
7:40 AM Live Interview about the Rebirth of Lower
Manhattan and the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 Airs on the Early Show
CBS Television
8:05 AM The John Gambling Show with Mayor Mike Airs
WOR Radio - 710 AM
NEW YORK. TERROR THREAT IN NEW YORK. HIGHER
SECURITY 9/9/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
Federal officials announced Thursday night that they are
investigating a detailed al-Qaida car bomb plot aimed at bridges or
tunnels in New York or Washington..
The Department of Homeland Security says the
"credible" terror threat against the city is timed to coincide with
the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. In a news
conference, the mayor stressed that even though the threat was
credible, it has not been corroborated, and that the September 11th
anniversary ceremonies will be held as scheduled.
Security has been increased at the city's major
transit hubs, bridges, tunnels, landmarks and houses of worship,
although much of those precautions were being taken anyway ahead of
Sunday's anniversary. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said he has
increased surveillance of bridges and tunnels and set up vehicle
checkpoints and doing bomb sweeps of parking garages.
Counter-terrorism, transit and highway officers will
work 12-hour shifts for several days, bag inspections are increasing
on the subways and there are more police cars with plate readers,
bomb-sniffing dogs and radiation-detecting equipment being used.
Police are also towing illegally park cars.
Homeland Security officials have said that
information gathered during the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound
in Pakistan showed al-Qaida was looking into attack the United
States again, and was considering an attack on the anniversary of
September 11th.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
LIBYA. GENERAL ALI KAMA FLEES TO NIGER.
Officials in the Niger town of Agadez named the commander as
General Ali Kana, a Tuareg in charge of Col Gaddafi's southern
troops. Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Col Gaddafi, his
son Saif al-Islam and spy chief Abdullah al-Sanussi, whose
whereabouts are still unknown. Gaddafi loyalists still fighting face
an ultimatum to surrender on Saturday.
The National Transitional Council (NTC) has been
trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution to stand-offs in a handful
of areas, including Bani Walid, Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi's
birthplace of Sirte.
NTC forces last week warned loyalists that they must
surrender by Saturday, or face a military onslaught. There have been
further clashes there ahead of the Saturday deadline, with Grad
rockets being fired by pro-Gaddafi forces holding out in the town.
There are also reports of clashes near Sirte.
Col Gaddafi has said he will not leave Libya - and
has urged his supporters to fight. But in recent days several
convoys of formerly loyal fighters have streamed over the border
with Niger.
Officials in Agadez said the latest convoy consisted
of at least three vehicles carrying a dozen people - among them at
least two senior generals and four top officials. Sources in Agadez
said that the convoy members have checked into a hotel built by Col
Gaddafi. The central government has not yet commented on the latest
claims.
Col Gaddafi helped to fund rebellions by nomadic
Tuareg fighters against the governments of Mali and Niger during the
1970s and 80s. Many of the rebels went on to serve in Gaddafi's
armies. Officials in Niger, which recently installed democracy after
decades of authoritarianism, said they were letting in many
sub-Saharan Africans from Libya on humanitarian grounds.
UN NEWS
UN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS ON NIGERIA TO ADDRESS
VIOLENCE IN RELIGION
The United Nations human rights office today called on
authorities in Nigeria to address the renewed ethnic and religious
violence in the country, including by curbing hate speech and
encouraging reconciliation among various communities. “We are
concerned about the renewed violence, which has flared up in
Nigeria’s ‘Middle Belt’ in recent weeks causing death, injury and
destruction,” said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights.
Up to 70 people have reportedly been killed since
the beginning of August in ethnic and religious violence in the
area, the High Commissioner’s office (OHCHR) said in a news release.
This includes the killing of 10 people in clashes between Christian
and Muslim youths and the military in Jos from early to mid-August.
At least two more were hacked to death, and four others seriously
wounded in a village near Jos. “We encourage the authorities at
national and local levels to take effective preventative measures
against such violence, including by curbing hate-speech and working
with civil society, including human rights NGOs [non-governmental
organizations], religious leaders and academic institutions, to
attempt reconciliation between the various communities,” Mr.
Colville told reporters in Geneva.
“It is of utmost importance that justice is done and
is seen to be done by prosecuting the alleged perpetrators of
violence and ensuring remedies for victims and their families,” he
added. In addition, Mr. Colville stressed that security forces must
“act in full compliance with the law, in an even-handed manner,”
when responding to outbreaks of violence in the country to avoid
possible making the situation worse. He also voiced concern about
the activities of the extremist Islamist group known as Boko Haram,
which has claimed responsibility for the recent bombing of the UN
offices in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
==============================================================
SEPTEMBER 8
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon
announced he would resign following damaging revelations in the
Watergate scandal.
On Aug. 8, 1896, Marjorie Rawlings, the American
author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning book "The Yearling", was born.
She died on Dec. 14, 1953
1945 President Harry S. Truman signed the United
Nations Charter.
1945 The Soviet Union declared war against Japan
during World War II.
1963 Britain's "Great Train Robbery" took place
as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes from a
train they stopped north of London.
1968 Richard M. Nixon was nominated for president
at the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach and chose
Maryland Gov. Spiro T. Agnew to be his running mate.
1988 U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de
Cuellar announced a cease-fire between Iran and Iraq.
2005 Iran resumed work at a uranium conversion
facility after suspending activities for nine months to avoid U.N.
sanctions.
2006 Sen. Joseph Lieberman lost the Connecticut
Democratic primary to political newcomer Ned Lamont. Lieberman won
re-election as an independent.
2008 The Summer Olympic Games opened in Beijing.
2008 Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards
admitted having had an extramarital affair.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
MANHATTAN *8:15 AM Joins Chancellor Walcott,
Speaker Silver and Other Officials to Greet Students on First Day of
School Spruce Street Educational Campus 12 Spruce Street
between William and Nassau Streets *The Spruce Street Educational
Campus is located in the New York by Gehry building, which is now
the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere and was
built as part of the transformation of Lower Manhattan into a
vibrant, 24/7 community.
*10:30 AM Speaks at NYPD 10th Anniversary 9/11
Commemoration Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center Columbus Avenue at
65th Street
4:00 PM Speaks at Courthouse Community 10th
Anniversary 9/11 Commemoration Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States
Courthouse 500 Pearl Street
6:00 PM Presents Proclamation Celebrating 40th
Anniversaries of J&R Music and Earth Wind & Fire Pier 17 at the
South Street Seaport South Street at Fulton Street
7:00 PM Speaks at Celebration of Joan Rosenbaum’s
Career as Director of Jewish Museum Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue
at 92nd Street
CITY HALL. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG ON FEDERAL COURT RULING UPHOLDING STATE LAW ON CONCEALED
HANDGUNS
Attorney General Schneiderman Wins Case in Southern District of
New York Today to Uphold New York State’s Restrictions on Concealed
Handguns
“Today’s ruling affirms what the Supreme Court has
already decided: governments at all levels can enact reasonable laws
to keep the public safe by keeping guns out of the hands of
dangerous people. Common-sense restrictions like the one the court
upheld today do nothing to infringe on the rights of law-abiding
Americans, but are essential to fighting gun crime on our streets.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman scored an important victory for
New Yorkers in this case. We strongly supported his efforts by
documenting for the court that the elimination of these reasonable
restrictions would mean more danger on our streets. The tragic
shootings we have seen in recent days underscore the responsibility
we have to keep fighting to protect our police officers and
citizens, which can be done while respecting the Second Amendment.”
INWOOD. NYPD DETECTIVE SHOT AND KILLED JOHN
COLLADO 43. 9/8/11
By Jacques Dussecki NTS NEWS, NY.
There was a drug bust in the area of Post avenue in Inwood
this past Wednesday night. 43 year-old John Collado, thinking that
was an attack on a neighbor, during a scuffle between the detective
and a Carlos Tejeda, known to be running a drug business, he got
involved trying to help Tejeda. with the detective.
He did not know he was attacking a policeman. He was shot in
the abdomen during the struggle and taken to the hospital where he
died. The family and the ne4ighbour are very upset about the matter.
Funeral arrangements are being made to burry John Collazo, a father
of five children,. while NYPD is investigating the incident.
ATLANTA, GA. DOT COMMISSIONER VANCE SMITH
RESIGNED 9/8/11
By Jackie Powell, NTS NEWS, GA.
Effective December 31, the Commissioner of the State
Department of Transportation has resigned yesterday under pressure.
The move followed a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door board meeting,
and months of frustration from board members who feared critical
personnel decisions were not being made as key posts at the top went
unfilled. Board Chairman Rudy Bowen said that the board felt it was
time "to go in a different direction." Chief Engineer Gerald Ross
will continue to serve as the director of the toll program, also
known as the P3 program. Until Wednesday Ross was serving as the
deputy commissioner as well. The new deputy commissioner,
Keith Golden, was plucked from the ranks Wednesday by Smith at the
behest of the board, and will also serve as acting commissioner
while the board looks for a permanent replacement. The DOT
Commissioner leads the department's 4,600 employees and oversees its
$2 billion budget. The board elected Smith, a 17-year Republican
state representative from Pine Mountain, as DOT commissioner in June
2009.
MIAMI, FLORIDA. SUSPENDED MIAMI POLICE CHIEF
MIGUEL ESPOSITO IN COURT.
9/8/11
By Mona K. Arcelin NTS NEWS, FL.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Barbara Areces dismissed Exposito's
injunction petition, saying there is no legal precedent to force
elected officials to sit out a vote because they have expressed an
opinion. Suspended Miami police chief fights back, sues two
commissioners Miami has long list of applicants for police chief’s
job The judge on Thursday morning threw out a request by the
suspended Miami Police Chief Miguel Exposito to disqualify two of
five city commissioners from deciding the Exposito's fate because
they have previously said he should go. Judge Areces dismissed the
complaint from the bench after a 40-minute hearing where Exposito's
lawyer argued that Commissioners Wifredo "Willy" Gort and Francis
Suarez were biased against the suspended chief.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
LIBYA. GADDAFI DENIES BEING IN NIGER.
Earlier, Niger said it was considering what to do if he sought
refuge there. Officials say the central bank sold 29 tones of gold,
netting $1.4bn; , while it was still under Col Gaddafi's control.
The reserves were sold to local merchants in April or May, and the
money used to cover salaries, said officials from the interim
authorities, the National Transitional Council (NTC). The sales
represented about 20% of Libya's gold reserves, interim bank
governor Qassim Azzuz told reporters in the capital Tripoli. None of
the bank's assets were "missing or were stolen" during the six-month
uprising which overthrew Col Gaddafi, Mr Azzuz said, but his figures
did not include assets held privately by the Gaddafi family.
Niger's foreign minister says the [former Gaddafi aides] are in the
capital Niamey. That would be the logical thing for them to do: the
authorities want to assure security, insofar as they can in this
vast and mainly desert nation.
Niamey would be the place where they have most of
their security operatives to do that. If anyone wanted to hide or
melt away into the desert, it would be relatively easy for them to
do so without the Niger authorities knowing where. The fact is that
Niger really is in a dilemma. It is a poor country, relative to
Libya, and for many years now, a whole tissue of relationships have
built up with Col Gaddafi's Libya. His organizations and agencies
have been investing here, in terms of business and aid operations
and so on. Hundreds of thousands of Niger citizens are seeking work
in Libya. The NTC says eyewitnesses in Niger reported seeing some
gold and money in armed convoys which crossed the Libyan border a
few days ago.
"If that happened, we want that money back," NTC
official Fathi Badja said, as quoted by the AFP news agency. Niger
would decide later whether to accept Col Gaddafi or hand him to the
International Criminal Court (ICC). There has been speculation that
Col Gaddafi may go to Niger after groups of loyalists fled there in
recent days. Libya's transitional authorities have asked Niger not
to take him in.
Col Gaddafi told the Al-Rai channel, which is based
in the Syrian capital Damascus, that there was nothing unusual about
convoys going to Niger. Regarding the recent Libyan refugees, Mr
Bazoum said: "We told them that we can accept them to stay for
humanitarian reasons, but they have to respect what the
international law allows them to do or not allow them to do."
Gaddafi denied he had fled to Niger in a telephone
call to a pro-Gaddafi TV channel in Syria The foreign minister also
stressed that Niger simply had "no means to close the border" with
Libya, describing it as "too big". Niger has belatedly recognized
Libya's interim authorities, the NTC,. But the government in the
capital Niamey clearly feels it cannot just abandon Col Gaddafi
completely, a man with whom it has had a long relationship, our
correspondent adds.
Officials in Niger have said Col Gaddafi's security
chief, Mansour Daw, was among those who entered the country in the
convoys over the weekend or on Monday. Mr Bazoum added that those
who had arrived from Libya - of whom there were fewer than 20 - were
free to stay in Niamey, or to continue to Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso
- which borders Niger to the south-west - has denied reports that it
had offered to welcome Col Gaddafi. Col Gaddafi's wife, two of his
sons and his daughter fled to Algeria last week.
His own whereabouts remain the subject of
speculation - though the NTC say they believe he is still in Libya.
Senior Western officials say they have no information about where
Col Gaddafi may be, but have no indication he has left the country.
Stockpiles of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, grenades
and rockets have been found in unguarded warehouses around Tripoli.
"There are all these unguarded munitions facilities, and anyone can
go in with a pickup or an 18-wheeler and take whatever they want,"
said Peter Bouckaert from HRW, who has recorded multiple weapons
caches around the Libyan capital.
Mr Bouckaert said he found 100,000 anti-tank and
anti-personnel mines at one unguarded site. Elsewhere, he found
weapons caches hidden under fruit trees.The NTC has been trying to
negotiate a peaceful resolution to stand-offs in a handful of Libyan
towns or cities still controlled by Gaddafi loyalistsThese include
Bani Walid, Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi's birthplace of Sirte. The
NTC has positioned forces outside Bani Walid, and says talks will
continue there until a deadline on Saturday. But in his phone
message, Col Gaddafi said he would still be able to defeat his
opponents.
"The youths are now ready to escalate the resistance
against the 'rats' in Tripoli and to finish off the mercenaries," he
said.
UNITED NATIONS NEWS,
THE UN AND RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES.
Persons with disabilities must enjoy full human rights and
fundamental freedoms and enabling them to do so benefits society as
a whole, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said today at the
opening of a United Nations forum that is seeking to improve their
lives. “You and I and millions of others know, that when we respect
the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities, we enrich our
human family,” she stated in her remarks to the fourth session of
the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. The conference, which runs through
Friday, brings together over 500 participants around the overall
theme of “Enabling development: realizing the rights of persons with
disabilities.”
There are 103 States that are party to the
Convention, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2006 in an
effort to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the same human
rights as everyone else. Ms. Migiro said that the large number of
countries that have ratified the treaty is a testament to the
growing global understanding of how important it is to redress the
many challenges facing persons with disabilities.
“Now we have to take this understanding to the next
level,” she stated. “That means giving this issue the attention it
deserves far beyond this conference room. You can tell the world –
and many of you can show the world – that persons with disabilities
can make an enormous contribution to progress.” The Deputy
Secretary-General also noted that even today, almost five years
after the adoption of the Convention, too many persons with
disabilities do not even know that this historic instrument exists.
“Far too many are denied the rights it is supposed to guarantee. As
long as they are denied those rights, we cannot rest,” she stated.
Delegates to the conference include representatives
of government, the UN system, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
academic institutions, information and communications technology
groups and media organizations. Among the issues that will be
considered during the meeting are employment challenges faced by
people with disabilities and international cooperation in the
present global economic situation.
======================================================
SEPTEMBER 7
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of
Tonkin resolution, giving President Johnson broad powers in dealing
with reported North Vietnamese attacks on United States forces.
On Aug. 7, 1904, Ralph Bunche, the American
diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950, was born. He died on
Dec. 9, 1971
1971 Apollo 15 returned to Earth after a manned
mission to the moon.
1974 French stuntman Philippe Petit walked a
tightrope strung between the twin towers of New York's World Trade
Center.
1990 President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S.
troops and warplanes to Saudi Arabia to guard the oil-rich desert
kingdom against a possible invasion by Iraq.
2000 Democratic presidential candidate Al
Gore chose Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate,
making him the first Jewish candidate on a major party ticket.
2002 Major league baseball players and owners
agreed on the sport's first tests for steroids.
2007 Barry Bonds became baseball's career
home run leader when he hit No. 756 during a home game in San
Francisco, passing Hank Aaron's mark.
2008 Georgia shelled the capital of
breakaway republic South Ossetia. Russia responded by occupying much
of Georgia in a five-day war.
2009 Former Republican vice presidential
candidate Sarah Palin accused President Barack Obama of proposing a
"death panel" that would decide who receives treatment in his health
care plan.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
MANHATTAN 7:00 AM Live Interview about the Rebirth
of Lower Manhattan Since 9/11 Airs on the Today Show NBC Television
*11:00 AM Joins Speaker Silver, Larry Silverstein,
Chris Ward and Other Officials to Outline Progress of the Rebuilding
of the World Trade Center Site and Creation of the National
September 11 Memorial & Museum 7 World Trade Center, 10th Floor 250
Greenwich Street at Barclay Street
*7:00 PM Hosts the 4th Annual Benefit Dinner for the
National September 11 Memorial & Museum with Billy Crystal Cipriani
Wall Street 55 Wall Street
=============================================================
SEPTEMBER 6
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 6, 1901, President William B. McKinley
was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the
Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y.
On Sept. 6, 1860, Jane Addams, the famed American
social worker, reform activist and proponent of world peace, was
born. She died on May 21, 1935,
CITY HALL,. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
MANHATTAN *8:30 AM Delivers Major Address on the
Rebirth of Lower Manhattan Since 9/11 at a Breakfast Sponsored by
the Association for a Better New York Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall
Street *This event will be carried live on nyc.gov, available
on iPhones and iPads, and NYC-TV Channel 74.
11:00 AM Live Interview About the Rebirth of Lower
Manhattan Since 9/11 Airs on The View ABC Television
MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON THE
SHOOTINGS OF POLICE OFFICERS OMAR MEDINA AND AVICHAIM DICKEN
The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s
remarks as delivered at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical
Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday morning
“Good evening, or good morning I guess. I am here
with Police Commissioner Kelly; Chief of Department Joe Esposito;
Chief of Brooklyn North, Assistant Chief Gerald Nelson; Deputy
Inspector Michael Kemper, the Commanding Officer of the 90th
Precinct, where one of the responding officers who was shot worked,
Assistant Chief Thomas Chan, Chief of Brooklyn South, who I was with
this morning at the parade; Chief Philip Banks, Chief of Community
Affairs; Chief Charles Campisi, Chief of Internal Affairs; Chief of
Patrol James Hall; and Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway and Patrick Lynch,
President of the PBA.
“Earlier tonight, about 9:00 PM, an exchange of
gunfire between two men erupted on the corner of Franklin Avenue and
Park Place in Crown Heights. Uniformed officers from a variety of
police precincts who were assigned to special duties surrounding the
West Indian Parade and Carnival – as thousands of others were –
responded to the scene. The officers were fired upon and returned
fire, but not before Officer Omar Medina, a 36-year-old officer who
has been a member of the NYPD for almost eight years, was hit by
bullet fragments in his left arm and chest.
“A second officer, Avichaim Dicken from the 79
Precinct, who has been a police officer for just over eight years,
is at Methodist Hospital with a graze wound above his left elbow.
The Police Commissioner and I will be visiting him there after we
finish speaking to you.
“Officer Medina is in stable condition here at
Brookdale Hospital, where he actually needed relatively little of
the excellent care provided here. Commissioner Kelly and I met with
him a little while ago, and he is expected to make a full recovery.
The first criminal shooter is dead. The second died at Kings County
Hospital soon after arriving there.
“Now, I wish I could say nothing more than that, I
wish I could stand here as Mayor tonight and say that that’s where
the story ended.
“But I cannot because, tragically, one of the
criminals – a man with an extensive criminal history – fired shots
that struck an innocent 56-year-old woman sitting on a stoop two
doors down.
“Her name was Denise Gay, and she died immediately
with her daughter sitting next to her. It was a senseless murder,
and another painful reminder I think of what happens when elected
officials in Washington are fail to take the problem of illegal guns
seriously. It is a matter of life and death, and in this case the
death was an innocent New Yorker.
“Just this morning, Police Commissioner Kelly and I
were in Lincoln Terrace Park discussing the problem of illegal guns
and the urgent need for Federal action. Here in New York City, the
last four years have been the four safest in the City’s history, in
part because we have taken unprecedented steps to stem the flow of
illegal guns onto our streets. But we cannot do it alone.
“This is a national problem requiring national
leadership, but at the moment neither end of Pennsylvania Avenue has
had the courage to take basic steps that would save lives. I wish
Federal representatives from around the country were here with me
here tonight to speak with Officer Medina and Officer Dicken, and
hear about the dangers they and all of the other New York Finest
have to confront every single day. And I wish they would visit the
family of Denise Gay, and explain why they didn’t want to press for
common sense reforms – like closing the gun show loophole. That
would save a lot of lives all across this country.
“Police Commissioner Kelly will fill in some of the
details of tonight’s shooting.”
===========================================================
SEPTEMBER 5
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists attacked
the Israeli Olympic team at the summer games in Munich; 11 Israeli
athletes and coaches, five terrorists and a police officer were
killed.
On Sept. 5, 1912, John Milton Cage, the
experimental American composer, was born. He died on Aug. 12,
1992
1882 The nation's first Labor Day parade was held
in New York City.
1905 The Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the
Russo-Japanese War, was signed in New Hampshire.
1914 The First Battle of the Marne began during
World War I.
1939 The United States proclaimed its neutrality
in World War II.
1957 "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, the defining
novel of the Beat Generation, was published.
1958 "Doctor Zhivago" by Russian author Boris
Pasternak was published in the United States.
1975 President Gerald R. Ford escaped an attempt
on his life in Sacramento, Calif., by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a
follower of Charles Manson.
1997 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa died
in Calcutta, India, at age 87.
2005 President George W. Bush nominated John
Roberts to be chief justice.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2011
BROOKLYN
10:30 AM Speaks at 44th Annual West Indian-American
Day Parade Breakfast Carlos Lezama Netball Courts Buffalo Avenue at
East New York Avenue
11:00 AM Marches in 44th Annual West Indian-American
Day Parade Parade Start: Eastern Parkway and Schenectady Avenue
Parade End: Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Parkway
BROOKLYN, NY. ON EASTERN PARKWAY, BIG CROWD FOR
THE CARNIVAL 9/5/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
We always witnessed troubles on the West Indian Labor Day
Carnival. The crowd could be estimated at more than One Million
onlookers. The parade on Eastern Parkway showed bright colors and
great costumes designed by West Indian artists It was a loud
atmosphere with many partying all over Eastern Parkway. There were
some gunshots by the closing time of the festivities. According to
some NYPD cops, there were some arrests. For years we have been
attending this parade and it was not a surprise to hear some
gunshots and some some killed. This is part of the customs for this
type of festivities by West Indians and Africans.
=================================================================
SEPTEMBER 4
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 4, 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus
called out the National Guard to prevent nine black students from
entering Central High School in Little Rock.
On Sept. 4, 1908, Richard Wright, whose books
"Native Son" and "Black Boy" exposed the harsh effects of American
racism, was born. He died on Nov. 28, 1960
1951 In the first live coast-to-coast TV
broadcast, President Harry S. Truman addressed the nation from the
Japanese peace treaty conference in San Francisco.
1957 Ford Motor Co. began selling its ill-fated
Edsel line.
1972 Swimmer Mark Spitz became the first person
to win seven gold medals at a single Olympic Games when the United
States won the 400-meter relay in Munich.
2002 Singer Kelly Clarkson was voted the first
"American Idol" on the Fox TV series.
2006 "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, 44, died
after a stingray's barb pierced his chest.
2007 Toy maker Mattel Inc. recalled 800,000
lead-tainted, Chinese-made toys worldwide, a third major recall in
just over a month.
2008 Sen. John McCain accepted the Republican
presidential nomination at the party's convention in St. Paul, Minn.
2008 Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded
guilty to obstruction of justice in a sex scandal, forcing the
Democrat out of office.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2011
BROOKLYN *8:30 AM Speaks at the Christian
Cultural Center Morning Service Christian Cultural Center 120-20
Flatlands Avenue at Louisiana Avenue
10:05 AM Weekly Radio Address Airs WINS – 1010 AM
Radio and www.1010wins.com
PATTERSON, N J. PRESIDENT OBAMA IN NEW JERSEY
AFTER IRENE. 9/4/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
After Hurricane Irene caused flooding the East
Coast, President Barack Obama is coming to northern New Jersey
for a first-hand look at the damage. The president is visiting
Paterson, where the Passaic River swept through the once-booming
factory town of more than 150,000, flooded its downtown and forced
hundreds to evacuate. President Obama's visit comes as
officials were keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Lee down south.
The storm was unleashing heavy rain and wind on Gulf
Coast states, including Louisiana, which is still recovering from
Hurricane Katrina six years ago. Lee was expected to dump more than
a foot of rain on the region. Republican Gov. Chris Christie will
lead the president on a tour of Paterson's flood damage. Governor
Christie, who has criticized president Obama for not showing
decisive enough leadership, has had nothing but praise for the
president's handling of Hurricane Irene.
WESTCHESTER, NY. HUGE FIRE AT TIRE SHOP IN
PLEASANTVILLE. 9/4/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS, NY.
In Weschester County, investigators are working to determine
the cause of a big fire at the tire shop. More than 80 firefighters
battle the blaze last night. Saturday, at the Mavis Discount tire
shop. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the huge
fire at the shop. There are no reports of injuries, according to
several spectators.
ATLANTA, GA. CELEBRATION OF THE LABOR WEEKEND.
9/4/11
By Jackie Powell NTS NEWS, GA.
Ten of tens of thousands of sports fans participants in Atlanta
Black Gay Pride weekend was sailing smoothly so far, according to
officials. .“No problems to report,” said Officer Kim Jones, Atlanta
police spokeswoman, of the crowds amassing around the Georgia Dome,
Turner Field and convention hotels in downtown and Midtown. The
crowds have come to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game,
Atlanta Braves baseball, the DragonCon science fiction convention
and Black Gay Pride. State Department of Transportation online
traffic maps showed main arteries are mostly clear throughout metro
Atlanta, with some traffic congestion along the Downtown Connector.
DOT has suspended roadwork for the Labor Day weekend in anticipation
of the heavy crowds. The forecast for Saturday calls for highs in
the low-to mid-90s.
This Sunday should be cooler, with clouds preceding
the arrival of Tropical Storm Lee. Highs will be in the mid-80s.
Heavy tropical rains are expected Monday and Tuesday. The Georgia
Bulldogs and Boise State Broncos will kick off around 8 p.m. before
a sellout crowd of more than 70,000 mostly Georgia fans. The annual
DragonCon science fiction convention, being held at various downtown
hotels through Monday. The Atlanta Black Gay Pride weekend runs
through Monday, with most events taking place at the Meliá Hotel.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PARIS, FRANCE. DOMINIQUE
STRAUSS KHAN BACK NHOME TO PARIS.
tDominique Strauss-Kahn was greeted by the press on his arrival at
Charles de Gaulle airport Strauss-Kahn got his passport back
Strauss as his sex case was dismissed
Strauss-Kahn and his wife Anne Sinclair landed at Charles de Gaulle
airport at 07:05 on board an Air France flight. They have been in
New York since his arrest in May on sex assault charges, which were
dropped last month.
The 62-year-old, once seen as a possible French
presidential contender, denied the allegations. Strauss-Kahn,
who resigned in the days after his arrest, had his passport returned
last month. Hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, who accused Mr
Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her in his hotel room, is pressing
her claims in a civil lawsuit.
Strauss-Kahn and his wife smiled and waved as they arrived at
Charles de Gaulle airport, but made no comment to waiting
journalists and passed rapidly through the terminal to a waiting
car. Strauss-Kahn arrested on 14 May in New York, accused of
sexually assaulting a hotel maid 16 May: They had boarded the
same scheduled Saturday night Air France flight for Paris that he
was about to take when he was arrested on 14 May. The couple and
their daughter were mobbed by photographers as they left their
rented home in Manhattan for JFK airport on Saturday afternoon.
The case against Mr Strauss-Kahn was dropped late
last month at the request of prosecutors who had concerns about Ms
Diallo's credibility. With DNA evidence indicating a sexual
encounter did occur between the two in a suite at the Sofitel Hotel
in May, Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers maintain it was consensual and
prosecutors were unable to determine whether force had been used.
The former IMF chief had been considered the
Socialist Party's front-runner to take on French President Nicolas
Sarkozy in presidential elections next year. But his political hopes
are now dead or dormant, our correspondent says. Although Mr
Strauss-Kahn is legally innocent, he has been hugely damaged in the
eyes of the French voters. It is not clear if the other candidates
for the Socialist nomination for next year's presidential election
even want his endorsement, our correspondent adds.
He also faces another sexual assault allegation in
France, after novelist Tristane Banon accused him of trying to rape
her during an interview in 2003. Ms Banon made the allegation after
he was arrested in the Diallo case, saying that she feared no-one
would have believed her beforehand. Mr Strauss-Kahn's reputation has
been further damaged by stories about his womanising and vast
wealth.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI. Haiti —Haitian President
Michel Martelly picked Garry Conille as his third nominee for
Haiti's head of governmen Conille is a recent top aide to
former U.S. President Bill Clinton in his work as the U.N. special
envoy for Haiti The decision comes more than three months after
Martelly took office. The entertainer-turned-president has struggled
to install a government because parliament has rejected his first
two nominees for prime minister. Martelly's first pick, an
entrepreneur, was turned down because of questions over his
citizenship and taxes. The second pick, a former justice minister,
angered some lawmakers because he was accused of prosecuting
supporters of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide when he
oversaw the judiciary in the middle of the last decade.
The failure to install a prime minister has put
reconstruction efforts from last year's devastating earthquake on
hold. Conille, 45, could meet opposition as he goes before
parliament for approval. Lawmakers are almost certain to raise
questions over his eligibility because he has not lived in Haiti for
five consecutive years, a constitutional requirement for the post.
The Martelly administration will likely argue that he is exempt from
the residency requirement because he has been working for the United
Nations.
.Conille is a seasoned development worker.
With a master's degree from the University of North Carolina and a
doctorate from the State University of Haiti, he began his career
with the U.N. in 1999 and served in Ethiopia and, until June, in
Niger. After last year's earthquake, Conille worked as chief of
staff for Clinton in his position as U.N. special envoy. The former
U.S. leader also is co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery
Commission, which is in charge of coordinating earthquake
reconstruction efforts.
If approved as prime minister, Conille would assume
responsibilities as the other co-chairman on the reconstruction
panel, which has drawn heavy criticism for making little visible
progress since the January 2010 disaster.
LIBYA. REVELATION OF LIBYA REGIME US-UK SPY LINKS
US and UK spy agencies built close ties with their Libyan
counterparts during the so-called War on Terror, according to
documents discovered at the office of Col Gaddafi's former spy
chief. The papers suggest the CIA abducted several suspected
militants from 2002 to 2004 and handed them to Tripoli. The UK's MI6
also apparently gave the Gaddafi regime details of dissidents.
The documents were found by Human Rights Watch
workers.
Meanwhile, the head of Libya's interim governing body, the National
Transitional Council, said its soldiers were laying siege to towns
still held by Col Gaddafi's forces. Mustafa Abdel Jalil said Sirte,
Bani Walid, Jufra and Sabha were being given humanitarian aid, but
had one week to surrender.
Witnesses on the edge of Bani Walid say the opposition fighters are
still on the outskirts although our correspondent adds that it
appears as if Gaddafi loyalists have abandoned many of their
outlying positions.
Thousands of pieces of correspondence from US and UK
officials were uncovered by reporters and activists in an office
apparently used by Moussa Koussa, who served for years as Col
Gaddafi's spy chief before becoming foreign minister. UK officials
were apparently keen for Tony Blair to meet Col Gaddafi in a tent He
defected in the early part of the rebellion, flying to the UK and
then on to Qatar. Rights groups have long accused him of involvement
in atrocities, and had called on the UK to arrest him at the time.
The documents illuminate a short period when the
Libyan intelligence agency was a trusted and valued ally of both MI6
and the CIA, with the tone of exchanges between agents breezy and
bordering on the chummy. Human Rights Watch accused the CIA of
condoning torture.
"It wasn't just abducting suspected Islamic
militants and handing them over to the Libyan intelligence. The CIA
also sent the questions they wanted Libyan intelligence to ask and,
from the files, it's very clear they were present in some of the
interrogations themselves," said Peter Bouckaert of HRW.
The papers outline the rendition of several
suspects, including one that Human Rights Watch has identified as
Abdel Hakim Belhaj, known in the documents as Abdullah al-Sadiq, who
is now the military commander of the anti-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli.
The CIA would not comment on the specifics of the
allegations. Spokeswoman Jennifer Youngblood said: "It can't come as
a surprise that the Central Intelligence Agency works with foreign
governments to help protect our country from terrorism and other
deadly threats."
The documents also reveal details about the UK's
relationship with the Gaddafi regime. The UK intelligence agency
apparently helped to write a speech for Col Gaddafi in 2004, when
the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair was encouraging the
colonel to give up his weapons program. And British officials also
insisted that Mr Blair's famous 2004 meeting with Col Gaddafi should
be in his Bedouin tent, according to the UK's Independent newspaper,
whose journalists also discovered the documents.
Col Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unconfirmed. It was
believed that two sons, Saadi and Saif al-Islam, had been in Bani
Walid recently. The NTC is stepping up its efforts at
reconstruction, setting up a supreme security council to protect
Tripoli. Ian Martin, a special adviser to the UN secretary general,
arrived in Libya's capital on Saturday to try to boost international
efforts in the country's redevelopment. The NTC has also said its
leadership will not now move from Benghazi to Tripoli until next
week, with Mr Jalil the last to go.
=================================================================
SEPTEMBER 1st
IN HISTORY
On Sept. 1, 1939, World War II began as Nazi
Germany invaded Poland.
On Sept. 1, 1907, Walter Reuther, the powerful
president of the United Automobile Workers Union from 1946 to 1970,
was born. He died on May 9, 1970.
1969 A coup in Libya brought Moammar Gadhafi to
power.
1972 American Bobby Fischer won the international
chess crown in Reykjavik, Iceland, defeating Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union.
1981 Albert Speer, a close associate of Adolf
Hitler who ran the Nazi war machine, died at a London hospital at
age 76.
1983 A Korean Air Lines Boeing 747 was shot down
by a Soviet jet fighter after the airliner entered Soviet airspace;
269 people were killed.
2004 More than 1,100 people were taken hostage by
heavily armed Chechen militants at a school in Beslan in southern
Russia; more than 330 people, most of them children, were killed
during the three-day ordeal.
2009 A law allowing gay marriage took effect in
Vermont.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
MANHATTAN *12:00 Noon Meets with FEMA Administrator
W. Craig Fugate City Hall
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO DELIVER MAJOR
ADDRESS ON THE REBIRTH OF LOWER MANHATTAN SINCE 9/11
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will look back at the
City’s response to the attacks of 9/11 and discuss the decade of
rebuilding and renewal that followed at a breakfast meeting
sponsored by the Association for a Better New York (ABNY). The Mayor
will present an update of the Lower Manhattan vision speech he
presented in 2002, and discuss the state of Lower Manhattan in 2011.
DATE: Tuesday, September 6, 2011 8:30 AM: Program
begins LOCATION: Cipriani Wall Street 55 Wall Street
NEW YORK. STOP AND FRISK BY NYPD IN LEGAL
TROUBLE. 9/1/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
The NYPD's key crime-fighting tactic known as Stop and Frisk
appears to be in trouble.
A federal judge in an 86-page decision ruled that a lawsuit by
several plaintiffs raises serious questions about quotas, racial
profiling, and constitutional rights that should be heard by a jury:
"It confirms what we and the plaintiffs in the case as well as
thousands of New Yorkers have been saying for years, there are
serious questions about the legalities and fairness of NYPD's Stop
and Frisk program," said Darius Charney, Center for Constitutional
Rights. David Ourlicht, a SUNY Albany college student, is one
of the plaintiffs. "It's thousands of people like me who deal with
this on an everyday basis and it's good that it's not being thrown
away and it's being heard," Ourlicht said. Ourlicht explained how he
filed the suit after being stopped and searched numerous times
without reason. He says the Judge's decision not to throw out the
case moves the lawsuit toward an ultimate goal. "That people don't
have to be living in fear of those supposed to protect us," Ourlicht
said.
In her decision the Judge cited "smoking gun roll
call recordings" as sufficient evidence to move forward on the claim
of quotas. "I want a ghost town; I want to hear an echo from one end
of the street to the other. You understand that's what I want in a
perfect world. So that's your mission. You guys need collars, you
need activity, there you go they've got to be removed," said
Rollcall video recording.
The judge did rule that officers "were justified in
their reasonable suspicion" that led to one Stop and Frisk. But the
claims by three other plaintiffs will move forward based in part on
testimony before the Judge by Officer Adil Polanco who first blew
the whistle on Stop and Frisk quotas last year."I'm not going to
keep arresting innocent people, I'm not going to keep searching
people for no reason, I'm not going to keep writing people for no
reason, I'm tired of this," Polanco said.
In response to the Judge's ruling, NYPD Deputy
Commissioner Paul Browne said, "Stops save lives, the NYPD is
lawfully engaging in doing just that with the lives of over 2,500
young men of color having been spared over the last decade because
of stops and other programs focused on reducing shootings and
murders in those neighborhoods where they occur most."
NEW JERSEY. GOVERNOR CHRISTIE AND THE NJ DISASTER
AFTER IRENE.
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS NY.
New Jersey was declared a federal disaster area Wednesday, a
designation that hardly could have surprised residents already
engaged in a massive and costly cleanup in the wake of Hurricane
Irene's record-setting path of destruction.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate were
visiting flood-damaged areas late Wednesday afternoon, and President
Barack Obama was scheduled to tour hard-hit Paterson on Sunday. Late
Wednesday afternoon, the president signed a disaster declaration
that makes federal funding available to people in Bergen, Essex,
Morris, Passaic and Somerset counties. The declaration came against
the backdrop of a brewing budget debate in Washington over whether
hurricane disaster aid should be offset by federal spending cuts.
Gov. Chris Christie, visiting Lincoln Park in Morris County on
Wednesday with Fugate and Napolitano, expressed anger at the
standoff and noted that no such debate ensued after a deadly tornado
hit Joplin, Mo., earlier this year.
State climatologist David Robinson said the rainfall
that fell during Irene, averaging 7 inches statewide, was the worst
since the Great Flood of 1903. The flooding statewide was the most
extensive on record, he said, though for the Passaic and Raritan
rivers the floods were the second worst ever measured.
State officials said Wednesday it was too early to
determine the scope of the damage across New Jersey, particularly
since not all the floodwaters have receded. Teams were expected to
be out in a day or two to perform preliminary damage assessments.
WASHINGTON. FEMA INFORMATION
By Tamerat Shataye NTS NEWS. NTS NEWS
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid
programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under
President Obama's major disaster declaration issued for the State of
New Jersey.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can
Include as Required: - Rental payments for temporary housing for
those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided
for two months for homeowners and renters. Assistance may be
extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of
individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and
administered.) - Grants for home repairs and replacement of
essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged
dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and
administered.) - Grants to replace personal property and help meet
medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious
disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal,
state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75
percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.) -
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks from the date of the disaster
declaration for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the
disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as
self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state
administered.) - Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not
fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for
primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter
losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property
losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small
Business Administration.) - Loans up to $2 million for small
businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private,
non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered
disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working
capital to recover from the disaster's adverse economic impact. This
loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total
of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.) - Loans
up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to
cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence.
(Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.) - Other
relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the
disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory
assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
Assistance for the State and Affected Tribal and
Local Governments Can Include: - Payment of not less than 75 percent
of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public
facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools,
recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as
certain private non-profit organizations that provide essential
governmental services. (Source of funding: FEMA funded, state
administered.) - Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible
costs for removing debris and for emergency measures taken to save
lives and protect property and public health. (Source of funding:
FEMA funded, state administered.) - Payment of not more than 75
percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects
undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce
long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological
disasters. (Source of funding: FEMA funded, state administered.)
How to Apply for Assistance: - Those in the counties
designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners
can begin the disaster application process by registering online at
www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or
hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for
those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
- The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 8 a.m. to 10
p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday until further notice.
Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic
information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone
number), insurance coverage and any other information to help
substantiate losses. - Application procedures for local governments
will be explained at a series of applicant briefings with locations
to be announced in the affected area by State recovery officials.
Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from
funding provided by FEMA.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first
responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build,
sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against,
respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
FLUSHING, NY. US OPEN. VENUS WILLIAMS PULLS OUT
OF GAMES. 9/1/11
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS NY.
Venus Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open shortly before
her second-round match yesterday, saying she was diagnosed with
Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and
joint pain.
Williams had cited a virus when withdrawing from
hard-court tune-up tournaments between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
“I enjoyed playing my first match here, and wish I could continue
but right now I am unable to,” Williams said in a statement released
by the tournament. “I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am
now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.”
According to the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation , the disease is a
chronic autoimmune illness in which people’s white blood cells
attack their moisture-producing glands. Common symptoms include dry
eyes and dry mouth. As many as 4 million Americans have the disease.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
CANADA. OTTAWA. YUKON SIGNS MULTIMILLION DOLLARS
FOR HOUSING.
The federal and Yukon governments signed a multimillion-dollar
agreement Wednesday to extend the territory’s affordable housing
program for three more years. As many as 40 tents were set up in
front of the Yukon legislature to protest the lack of affordable
housing. CBCThe move comes after a lengthy protest earlier this
summer where as many as 40 tents were set up next to the territorial
legislature building in Whitehorse. Around 10 are still there. The
territory will match almost $3 million provided by the Harper
government, part of a $1 billion federal program for housing and
homeless programs. Steve Nordick, Yukon’s housing minister, said his
government has built more than 200 units and renovated another 200
and the money will further that development. “This fund allows us to
look at other projects into the future,” he said. “And we are
currently looking at some of the proposals in Yukon housing.” In
June, the “tent city” sprung up outside the legislature with people
protesting the lack of affordable housing in Yukon. Protesters said
there were enough employment prospects but few places to live. The
government said it was able to find homes for many but some still
remain. As of March, the vacancy rate in Whitehorse was just one per
cent according to the territory's Economic Development Department.
The department's economic indicators also show that the median rent
in Whitehorse was $775 a month in March, and the average selling
price of a house was $404,800 in late 2010.
LIBYA-FRANCE. PARIS SUMMIT MEETING ABOUT LIBYA
CONFLICT.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and UK leader David Cameron are
hosting the meeting, to be attended by officials from the US, Russia
and China. Delegates from Libya's rebel government will also be
there, and are expected to ask for help on security and democracy.
Meanwhile, rebel forces say they will give Gaddafi loyalists in the
city of Sirte another week to surrender
Tribal elders have been negotiating with rebels to
avoid bloodshed in the city, the birthplace of fugitive ex-leader
Col Muammar Gaddafi. Rebel leaders had given a deadline of Saturday
for loyalists to surrender, but local official Hasan Banai said that
they would give the talks another week. The rebels have still not
captured Col Gaddafi, whose son Saif al-Islam again vowed a fight to
the death in an audio message on Wednesday.
Meanwhile in Paris, world leaders are expected to
try to hone plans for the transition to democracy, for
reconstruction and issues such as enhancing the training of police.
The rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) is expected to press
for a further unfreezing of assets, but its delegates will also
stress that it does not want any lessening of Nato support as it
tries to quell the remaining loyalist pockets.
Libya, with its potential oil revenues and a
relatively small population, is no basket case. It is going to need
a lot of assistance to rebuild. But there are lots of willing
players. Britain and France, which pushed for the air campaign and
headed up the Nato coalition, are eager to play a significant role
in rebuilding Libya. So, too, is Libya's traditional economic
partner in Europe - Italy. Even representatives from Russia and
China, who opposed Nato's air campaign, are turning up in Paris.
In due course, there may be a good deal of
commercial jostling. Behind the scenes, it may already have begun.
But for the moment the emphasis is upon a diplomatic common purpose.
Libya: Western diplomats step up a gear The EU announced on Thursday
that it had lifted sanctions on 28 entities - including oil firms
and port authorities - to help the NTC get the economy moving again.
The decision will take effect on Friday.
About 60 countries are to attend the "Friends of
Libya" forum in Paris on Thursday afternoon, along with UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The meeting comes on the 42nd
anniversary of Col Gaddafi's emergence as the leader of the coup
that overthrew King Idris. Delegates will hear a report from the NTC
on security, governance, reconstruction and the economy. The most
urgent need is the restoration of services such as fuel, electricity
and water in key cities, along with food supplies and the payment of
workers. The US has said the credibility of the NTC will initially
rest on addressing such issues.
On Wednesday, £140m in Libyan banknotes ($227m; 280m
Libyan dinars) was flown by the British air force to the NTC
stronghold of Benghazi, the first tranche of £950m that will be
handed to Libya's Central Bank. And on Thursday, France announced it
had now received approval to release 1.5bn euros ($2.16bn) of Libyan
assets to the NTC. The NTC received a further diplomatic boost on
Thursday when Russia formally recognized its authority.
China, which has criticized the extent of the
NATO-led air campaign in Libya and has been an enormous investor in
the country, said it would send a vice-minister to the Paris
meeting. It stopped short of recognizing the NTC, although foreign
ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Beijing accepted its "significant
position and role".
South Africa has refused to attend the meeting in
Paris. President Jacob Zuma said he was "not happy" that the UN
resolution authorizing a no-fly zone "became the bombing cover for
the other group to advance".
Algeria, which drew strong criticism from the NTC
for giving sanctuary to four key members of the Gaddafi family this
week, on Thursday said it was ready to recognize the NTC once a
government had been formed and that it had never considered taking
in Col Gaddafi. Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci told Europe 1 radio:
"The hypothesis that Mr Gaddafi could come knocking on our door was
never considered." : "An opportunity for the NTC to set out their
own plans" The NTC still faces a loyalist threat in a number of
areas, including Bani Walid, south-east of Tripoli, Sabha in the
south, and Sirte. There have been conflicting messages from the
Gaddafi family about its intentions. Saif al-Islam said that
claims by his brother Saadi that he had the family's authority to
negotiate with the NTC to end the fighting were false and had been
coerced.
HAITI. P-AU-P. NEW CHOICE FOR PRIME MINISTER:
GARY CONILLE 45.
According to reports from Haiti, President Martelly will designate
Gary Conillee as the new Prime Minister after more than 3 months of
his presidency. Gary Connille had been the Bill Clinton's cabinet
chief,.during the past 18 months. In the political circle, it is
said that the former US President is behind this nomination. Gary
Conille is a medical doctor. His father was the Health Minister of
Jean Claude Duvalier Since the past two months, Gary Conille has
been the resident Coordinator of the UN System in Haiti and the
resident Representative of the Niger PNUD in Haiti..
BRAZIL. RATE CUT TO 12%
Brazil's central bank has unexpectedly cut the country's
key interest rate to 12% from 12.5%, citing a "substantial
deterioration" in the outlook for the global economy. The bank's
rate-setting committee voted five to two in favor of the cut. It had
raised rates five times this year in order to combat rising prices.
The surprise cut has raised questions about the independence of the
central bank, after a number of politicians called for a rate cut in
recent days. These included President Dilma Rousseff, who took
office in January. A number of analysts were baffled by its decision
to cut rates. Brazil's boom attracts Americans "I think it's a huge
mistake," said Tony Volpon at Nomura Securities.
"They gave in to political pressure. The costs will
likely be much higher inflation and a deterioration of central bank
credibility... It has damaged the inflation-targeting regime."
Mauricio Rosal at Raymond Jones called the cut "a bit premature".
Inflation in Brazil is currently running at 6.9%.
Neil Shearing, senior emerging markets economist at
Capital Economics, said that while his firm had not seen the rate
cut coming, it was now predicting further interest rate reductions
by the end of the year. "After all, with the world's highest real
interest rates, Brazilian policymakers have plenty of room for
maneuver," he added. This year had seen a number of moves by the
government designed to prevent the economy from overheating. Other
anti-inflation measures have included a big increase in banks'
reserve requirements to hold back lending. The Brazilian economy,
Latin America's largest, grew more than 7% in 2010 and is expected
to grow by about 5% this year.
UNITED
NATIONS NEWS
UN AND THE LIBYA ATROCIOUS ABUSES BY QADHAFI.
The United Nations voiced “extreme alarm” today at reports
of “atrocious human rights violations” in Libya, including mass
summary executions apparently carried out by Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi’s
forces in the last few days before they lost Tripoli, the capital.
“We are also deeply concerned about reports that there are still
thousands of people unaccounted for who were arrested or taken
prisoner by Qadhafi security forces either earlier in the conflict,
or before it even started,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
spokesperson Rupert Colville told a news briefing in Geneva.
“Given the gruesome discoveries that have taken
place over the past few days, there is good reason to be extremely
concerned for their safety. We urge any members of the former regime
in a position to reveal where prisoners have been held to do so,
before more lives are lost.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed
to the Security Council for quick decisive action now that the
National Transition Council (NTC) appears to be largely in control
of Tripoli and other cities, affording hope for a quick conclusion
to the conflict and an end to the suffering of Libya’s people.
“My aim is to get UN personnel on the ground
absolutely as quickly as possible, under a robust Security Council
mandate,” he said in a briefing to the 15-member body, referring to
his plans to speedily set up a UN mission in Libya to help the new
authorities deliver immediate emergency aid and provide a democratic
transition. “I cannot overstate the urgency of this moment. Time is
of the essence. The people of Libya are looking to the international
community for help,” he added, noting that water supplies are
critically short, with 60 per cent of Tripoli’s 3-million-strong
population without water and sanitation, and stressing the urgent
need to provide sufficient fuel and spare parts to avoid further
shutdowns of the water system.
“I appeal to the Council to continue to be
responsive to the requests of the transitional authorities for
funding,” he said. “Our most important job will be to ensure that
multilateral, regional and bilateral efforts are complementary and
correspond to Libyan wishes. In turn, this will require Libya’s
transitional authorities to provide clear priorities – short term
and longer term.” Mr. Ban also referred to the growing evidence of
summary executions, torture and human rights violations. “These will
be looked into by the International Commission of Inquiry on Libya,
which is expected to submit its first oral update to the Human
Rights Council on 19 September,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is
scaling up its logistical support for the humanitarian relief effort
in the strife-torn North African country, sending in urgent supplies
of food, water, medicine and fuel to Tripoli, the coastal areas and
the Nafusa mountain region where rebels, recognized by much of the
international community, have ousted pro-Qadhafi forces. The aid
includes 600 tons of staple food commodities – including wheat
flour, pasta, vegetable oil and tomato paste – for distribution by
the Libyan Red Crescent for more than 35,500 conflict-affected and
displaced people for one month.
A WFP vessel is carrying 500,000 liters of water on
behalf of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from Malta to Tripoli and,
at the request of the NTC, is looking to procure 250,000 tons of
petrol to cover immediate life-saving needs for one month. Fuel
supplies have been disrupted by the fighting, and water and
electricity depend on fuel-run generators. Fuel is also required for
hospitals, ambulances and vehicles to distribute critically needed
medicines, food, water, and other supplies.
Last week WFP delivered 500 tons of food to the
Gheryan area in north-western Libya, where an estimated 200,000
people are in need of food, and has completed delivery of another
495 tons of mixed food to the Zliten region, enough to feed 15,000
people for one month. On Thursday Mr. Ban will attend the
International Conference for Support of Libya convened in Paris,
accompanied by his Special Advisor for Post-Conflict Planning for
Libya, Ian Martin, and his Special Envoy, Abdel Elah Al-Khatib, as
well as Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn
Pascoe.
Speaking to reporters after the Council’s
closed-door session on Libya, Mr. Martin said there was a strong
wish in the Council and within the NTC that the UN should play the
key role in supporting overall international assistance to Libya. “I
am very pleased to say there was a very strong endorsement in the
Council of the approach, that was reflected in the
Secretary-General’s statement, that we are taking to planning the
support of the United Nations to Libya as the conflict comes to an
end,” he said.
The Council also welcomed “the fact that the United
Nations system had engaged in preparatory work that puts us in a
strong position now to be ready to respond to Libyan requests,” he
added.
======================================================
AUGUST 31
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 31, 1997, Britain's Princess Diana died
in a car crash in Paris at age 36.
On Aug. 31, 1907, William Shawn, editor of The
New Yorker magazine for 35 years, was born. He died on Dec. 8, 1992
1962 The Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago
became independent within the British Commonwealth.
1985 California's "Night Stalker" killer Richard
Ramirez was captured by residents of an East Los Angeles
neighborhood.
1992 White separatist Randy Weaver surrendered to
authorities in Naples, Idaho, ending an 11-day siege by federal
agents that claimed the lives of Weaver's wife and son and a deputy
U.S. marshal.
1994 Russia officially ended its military
presence in the former East Germany and the Baltics after half a
century.
1997 Britain's Princess Diana died in a car crash
in Paris at age 36.
2005 Some 1,000 people were killed when a
religious procession across a Baghdad bridge was engulfed in panic
over rumors of a suicide bomber.
2006 Iran defied a U.N. deadline to stop
enriching uranium.
2009 Walt Disney Co. announced it was acquiring
comic book giant Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion.
2010 President Barack Obama ended the U.S. combat
mission in Iraq, declaring no victory after seven years of
bloodshed.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG ASKING NEW YORKERS
TO GIVE BLOOD
By Stu Loeser and Samantha Levine C.H.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today encouraged New Yorkers to
donate blood as part of the City’s Hurricane Irene response and
recovery efforts. This blood drive follows the Mayor’s emergency
appeal this weekend for blood donors after shutdowns and power
outages resulted in the loss of more than 2,000 units of blood. The
supply of several blood types, including O-negative (“universal
donor”) blood, which is normally maintained at a three-to-five day
inventory level, has dropped below the two day minimum level. About
one in seven people entering a hospital needs blood. The Mayor made
the announcement at New York Blood Center’s (NYBC) MetLife Donor
Center in Manhattan where he donated blood and was joined by Health
and Hospitals Corporation President Alan D. Aviles
“New Yorkers went above and beyond to help each
other during Hurricane Irene this weekend, and now we are asking for
donations to potentially save lives,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “As a
result of the storm, blood supply in the city is very low, so I hope
all New Yorkers who can take the time to make a donation do so.
Giving blood is easy and it can help save a life.”
“Ample blood supplies are especially vital to the
six Level 1 Trauma Centers operated by the public hospital system,”
said HHC President Aviles. “I urge HHC public hospital and health
center employees and all New Yorkers to help relieve this critical
shortage by taking time out to donate blood.”
“We are grateful for Mayor Bloomberg’s support as he
regularly rolls up his own sleeve to donate blood,” said NYBC Vice
President Rob Purvis. “With Labor Day right around the corner, we
hope New Yorkers will follow his lead as we need the help of our
community to replenish the blood supply.”
The six Level 1 Trauma Centers in New York City are:
Harlem and Bellevue hospitals in Manhattan, Lincoln and Jacobi
hospitals in the Bronx, Elmhurst Hospital in Queens and Kings County
Hospital in Brooklyn.
New York Blood Center is one of the nation’s largest
non-profit, community-based blood centers. It has been providing
safe, adequate and reliable blood supply to almost 200 hospitals,
serving 20 million people, in greater New York since 1964. New
Yorkers who would like to donate blood to the New York Blood Center
should call 311 or 1-800-933-BLOOD (2566).
WASHINGTON, NEW YORK. US PRESIDENT DECLARED
DISASTER IN NEW YORK. 8/3/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
US President Obama has declared a major disaster in New York
after Irene, freeing up federal recovery funds. The storm deluged
some areas, triggering devastating flash floods that knocked
buildings off their foundations, washed away roads and bridges,
swamped farmland and cut power to almost a million people in New
York alone. Assistance may include grants for temporary
housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property
losses. State and eligible local governments and some private
nonprofits in 19 counties are also eligible for funding.
LONG ISLAND, NY . MORE THAN 240.000 STILL WAITING
FOR ELECTRICITY
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS
More than 240,000 customers are still waiting for the
lights to be turned back on Long Island. In Brookhaven, about 50,000
customers are still without power. Generators are humming and people
are growing more frustrated with the Long Island Power Authority.
LIPA officials say more than 3000 significant damage locations here on the
island, twice as much as expected. LIPA admits, it may take a week
or more to fully repair the system, during which some customers will
not have power. Brookhaven town supervisor Mark Lesko is furious
with LIPA, today was the first time he had direct contact with the
power company. "They have some questions they have to answer. They
seemed to have had the crews available. We just don't know why they
weren't out on the streets without guys," Lesko said. "Things are
slightly improving, but we still need to hold people's feet to the
fire." The Long Island Power Authority says it has been focused on
restoring power to nursing homes affected by Tropical Storm Irene.
LIPA has restored power to all 11 hospitals that lost power over the
weekend. Suffolk County health commissioner has some food safety
guidelines for people who lost power due to Tropical Storm Irene.
The commissioner says safe temperatures can be maintained for about
four hours in a refrigerator, and at least 24 hours in a freezer.
Keep the doors closed. Thawed food is usually safe if it's still
"refrigerator cold." If the food still contains ice crystals, it is
safe to refreeze or cook. Throw away any perishable food that's been
above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more. If a food
container touched flood water, it's best to get rid of it. The
Health Department has instructions for disinfecting an undamaged
commercial can. And, by all means, if it looks or smells funny,
throw it out. For thousands of residents, the situation is very
critical in the Long Island area.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
TRIPOLI, LIBYA. INTERIM LIBYAN LEADERS DON'T WANT
UN MILITARY.
Ian Martin said the UN had considered the deployment of military
observers. But the chairman of the National Transitional
Council (NTC) said the country do not need outside help to maintain
security. The news came as fighters loyal to the council approached
the pro-Gaddafi stronghold of Sirte from east and west. The city's
defenders have been given until Saturday to surrender. The fugitive
ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, rejected
the ultimatum. "No dignified honorable nation would accept an
ultimatum from armed gangs," he said in a telephone call to the AP
on Monday night. Mr Ibrahim reiterated Col Gaddafi's offer to send
his son Saadi to negotiate with rebels and form a transitional
government, the agency said. Libya's deputy representative to the
UN, Ibrahim Dabbashi, said that the situation in Libya was unique.
"They the UN put the possibility of deploying peacekeepers on the
ground but in fact the Libyan crisis is a special case. "It is not a
civil war, it is not a conflict between two parties, it is the
people who are defending themselves against the dictatorship."
However, Mr Martin said the UN did expect to be asked to help
establish a police force. "We don't now expect military observers to
be requested," he said after a meeting of the UN Security Council.
"It's very clear that the Libyans want to avoid any kind of military
deployment of the UN or others," he said.
Martin added that one of the greatest challenges for
the UN would be helping the country prepare for democratic
elections. "Let's remember... there's essentially no living memory
of elections, there's no electoral machinery, there's no electoral
commission, no history of political parties, no independent civil
society, independent media are only beginning to emerge in the east
in recent times. "That's going to be quite a challenge, sort of
organizationally, and it's clear that the NTC wish the UN to play a
major role in that process."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that
growing humanitarian shortages in Libya demand urgent action and
appealed to the security council to be "responsive" to requests from
the transitional authority for funding. Though stockpiles of medical
supplies and food stashed away by the government were found over the
weekend, water supplies are short. "An estimated 60% of Tripoli's
population is without water and sanitation," he said. The EU's
humanitarian office says that pro-Gaddafi forces are responsible for
cutting supplies.
On Tuesday, the UN Security Council let Britain
release 1.86bn dinars $1.55bn; in frozen assets to buy aid for Libya
but an attempt by France and Germany to release an additional $8.6bn
remains blocked. Diplomats said that Russia was holding up Germany's
request to release about $1.4bn in seized assets and France's move
to unfreeze about five billion euros to buy humanitarian aid..
As anti-Gaddafi fighters converge on his birthplace
of Sirte, interim leaders gave the city's defenders an ultimatum,
telling them that they had until Saturday to surrender or face
military force. It has also emerged that Col Gaddafi's wife and
three of his adult children fled to neighboring Algeria in the early
hours of Monday morning.
Col Gaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown, with
suggestions he may be in Sabha, Sirte or Bani Walid. However, the
deputy head of the NTC, Ali Tarhouni, said they had a good idea of
where he was and were confident that they would catch him.
SYRIA. REPORTS OF SEVERAL PRISONERS BEING KILLED
AND TORTURED.
According to Amnesty International says the use of torture in
Syria has been "widespread" over many years Who are the shabiha?
Deadlock as pressure builds Amnesty International has said it
believes that at least 88 people have died in detention in Syria
during the past five months. It says those who died, including 10
children, were subjected to beatings, burns, electric shocks and
other abuse. The group says it believes all of those who died were
arrested after taking part in anti-government protests.
Foreign journalists have been blocked from entering
Syria and the reports could not immediately be verified. The
allegations, published in a report, come shortly after the Syrian
government denied persistent reports of at least one mass grave
being uncovered in the restive southern city of Deraa.
"These deaths behind bars are reaching massive
proportions, and appear to be an extension of the same brutal
disdain for life that we are seeing daily on the streets of Syria".
They have the names of at least 3,000 people who are currently in
detention. "There are said to be 12 to15,000 people detained in the
country at the moment. We know that torture has been widespread over
many years and it has got much much worse. Most people are held in
incommunicado detention."
Amnesty International said the volume of abuses,
many of which had been documented on video and occurred near the
cities of Homs and Deraa, had returned almost to levels not seen
since the 1980s. Deraa was the first Syrian city to see
pro-democracy protests, in mid-March, and became an epicentre of the
unrest after security forces launched a major operation to crush any
dissent there. Dozens of people are believed to have been killed and
hundreds arrested.
In its report, Amnesty said that the victims were
all men or boys and, in at least 52 of the cases, there was evidence
that torture or ill-treatment caused or contributed to the deaths.
Deaths in detention have also been reported in five other
governorates - Damascus and Rif Damashq, Idlib, Hama and Aleppo,
Amnesty said. Amnesty International says it has compiled the names
of more than 1,800 people reported to have died since pro-reform
protests began. Thousands of others have been arrested, with many
held incommunicado at unknown locations, according to the group.
Residents said that in the early hours of Wednesday
morning Syrian troops backed by tanks raided houses looking for
activists in two main districts of Hama. A local activist said that
several tanks were parked at a bridge at the eastern entrance to the
city and then hundreds of troops entered two neighborhoods on foot.
On Tuesday, as people streamed out of mosques after
prayers to mark the end of Ramadan and renewed protests against
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, security forces shot dead four
demonstrators. Those who died, including a 13-year-old boy, were
killed in the towns of al-Hara and Inkhil in the southern province
of Deraa.
UNITED NATIONS
NEWS
About the UN complex in Nigeria.
Calling Friday’s deadly attack against the United Nations complex in
the Nigerian capital “morally reprehensible,” the Deputy
Secretary-General has met with survivors of the bombing and pledged
that the world body will not be deterred from continuing its work.
Asha-Rose Migiro travelled to Abuja this weekend – along with
Gregory Starr, the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security,
to see first-hand the devastation caused by the apparent suicide
bombing, which has killed or injured scores of people.
Speaking to the press yesterday after visiting the
damaged UN House and meeting with the injured at a hospital in
Abuja, Ms. Migiro stressed that “this was an attack on a working
community that was helping the people of Nigeria.” Such attacks will
neither deter us in our work, nor win any new sympathizers to
whatever cause might be the motivation. She noted that the dead and
wounded included cleaners and security guards, humanitarian workers
and national Government officials.
“Targeting such people is outrageous and morally
reprehensible,” Ms. Migiro said. “Amongst the UN colleagues I saw
today in hospital there was a very clear message. They wanted their
vital work to continue. For one woman who is a cleaner there is an
obvious desire that she will be able to continue her work for her
family. “Such attacks will neither deter us in our work, nor win any
new sympathizers to whatever cause might be the motivation.” The
Deputy Secretary-General, who met with Nigerian President Goodluck
Jonathan to discuss the attack, said the perpetrators must be
brought to justice. “We all want to know exactly what happened, and
what can be done in the period ahead to strengthen security.”
She said UN emergency response personnel were
providing assistance, working with medical teams and
search-and-rescue experts from Nigeria and other countries. At a
meeting with UN staff in Abuja, Ms. Migiro said she felt “absolutely
shattered by what I see: the debris, the destruction, the signs of
ordinary life devastated by terrorists.”
A UN investigation is under way into the
circumstances of the bombing, which has been condemned by both
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of the Security Council.
“Nothing in the world is more important than your lives – the lives
of our staff members,” Ms. Migiro said. “Protecting you is our first
job – our most serious responsibility.” Hundreds of personnel from
26 different UN agencies and entities were in UN House when the
bomber struck on Friday at about 11 a.m. local time.
====================================================
AUGUST 30
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 30, 1963, the hot-line communications
link between Washington, D.C., and Moscow went into operation.
On Aug. 30, 1898, Shirley Booth, American stage,
screen, radio and television actress, was born. She died on October
16, 1992
1945 Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrived in Japan and
set up Allied occupation headquarters.
1963 A hot-line communications link between
Washington, D.C., and Moscow went into operation.
1965 The album "Highway 61 Revisited" by Bob
Dylan was released.
1967 The Senate confirmed the appointment of
Thurgood Marshall as the first African-American justice on the
Supreme Court.
1983 Guion S. Bluford Jr. became the first
African-American astronaut to travel in space when he blasted off
aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
1989 A federal jury in New York found "hotel
queen" Leona Helmsley guilty of income tax evasion but acquitted her
of extortion.
1990 President George H.W. Bush told a news
conference that a "new world order" could emerge from the Persian
Gulf crisis.
1993 "The Late Show with David Letterman"
premiered on CBS.
1999 Residents of East Timor voted for
independence from Indonesia in a U.N.-sponsored ballot.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2011
MANHATTAN *10:30 AM Presides Over Bill Signing
Ceremony City Hall
*Bills to be considered: Intro 541-A – Prohibiting
the sale of expired over the counter medication.
Intro 632-A – In relation to unlawful discriminatory
practices.
*12:30 PM Donates Blood at New York Blood Center’s
Emergency Blood Drive MetLife Donor Center 200 Park Avenue at East
44th Street
NEW JERSEY. IRENE KEEPS RECORD FLOODING IN
NEW JERSEY. 8/30/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
Hundred of Thousands of New Jersey are out of their homes
after Irene storms. Hundreds of thousands more remained without
power as utility crews labored to replace downed lines and repair
flood-damaged substations."We're not out of the woods yet regarding
this storm," Gov. Chris Christie told a news conference Monday night
in Manville, the scene of major flooding. Christie said waters had
reached or passed record levels at nine river locations, and he
warned that the Passaic River had not yet crested. Longtime
residents of Little Falls, a flood-prone community along the Passaic
River, said this was the worst flooding they'd ever seen. And the
water was not expected to stop rising until this Tuesday.
The flooding was all over the state. Homes were
evacuated from Hoboken, across the Hudson River from New York City,
to Vineland, on the Maurice River in far southern New Jersey. In
several places, the National Guard used 5-ton watertight trucks to
get people out. Roads large and small were submerged by floodwaters
or suffered washouts, including parts of heavily traveled Interstate
287 and the Garden State Parkway. Authorities say at least six
deaths may be linked to the storm. Most were caught in fast-moving
floodwaters. The Jersey shore suffered little property damage form
Irene, but business owners worried about losing tourist dollars
during the normally busy lead-in to the Labor Day weekend. Christie,
who on Saturday urged people ignoring his mandatory evacuation order
to "get the hell off the beach in Asbury Park," on Monday urged them
to go back. He said he'd toured the shore area and found minimal
damage and the beaches in good shape. "Get in your cars and go to
the Jersey shore," he said. "There's no reason not to."
Tracks at the Trenton train station remained covered
by floodwaters, a prime reason Amtrak officials did not know when
they would be able to restore service between Philadelphia and New
York City. New Jersey Transit said it planned to restore most of its
commuter rail service Tuesday, though service between New Brunswick
and Trenton would remain suspended. Detours were set up on hundreds
of roads big and small because of high waters and fallen trees. More
than 600,000 homes and businesses were still without electricity
Monday afternoon, even as utility companies brought hundreds of
thousands of others back on line.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
CANADA. IRENE IN CANADA. RESIDENT OF QUEBEC SWEPT
AWAY.
The remnants of hurricane Irene buffeted the province of Quebec
with high winds and rain. The post-tropical cyclone that was once
Hurricane Irene tore a destructive path through Quebec and the
Maritimes, leaving tens of thousands in darkness as police continued
the search for a driver whose car was caught in raging flood waters
north of Montreal.
The Sûreté du Québec was searching the Yamaska River
for a man who was in his vehicle when it was swept away following
the collapse of a culvert. Neither the motorist nor his car has been
found, but two others escaped the collapse.
Quebec police were also looking for an 81-year-old
man who vanished Sunday after going for a walk near his cottage in
Shawinigan, just as the remnants of the powerful storm were moving
north towards Canada from the U.S. Irene churned further northeast
Monday to blast Atlantic Canada, after smacking southern Quebec on
Sunday with heavy rain and howling winds. Roads were flooded, trees
snapped and power lines downed. All in all, though, Canada appeared
to emerge relatively unscathed from the remnants of the powerful
hurricane that killed at least 40 people in the U.S. and left
millions of Americans without power. "Heavy seas, pounding surf and
higher than normal water levels are expected along the Fundy coast
of New Brunswick near noon today," the Canadian Hurricane Centre
said early Monday. Elevated water levels and heavy surf were also
expected for the northeastern Gulf of St. Lawrence Monday night.
More than 30 trees were knocked down overnight and officials had to
block off a washed-out road after water surged over the breakwater.
Wind warnings have ended for the Maritimes, but were still in effect
for parts of the Gaspé Peninsula and along the northeast Gulf of St.
Lawrence Monday evening. The rainfall warnings for Quebec were also
lifted. At one point Sunday night, about 250,000 homes were without
power in Quebec. As of Monday morning, about 215,000 homes had no
power. Most of the outages were in the Montreal area, according to
Hydro-Québec, as Irene's outer bands lashed at the area and hovered
over New England. Hydro-Québec has sent 54 emergency teams to New
Hampshire to help Irene relief efforts south of the border.
ALGERIA. GADHAFI'S FAMILY WELCOME IN ALGERIA.
Libyans demand Algeria return Gadhafi family Algeria defends
decision to harbour Gadhafi family members Tuesday. Gadhafi's
wife and three of his children fled Libya to neighboring Algeria on
Monday, firm evidence that the longtime leader has lost his grip on
the country. A spokesman for the new interim government said Algeria
has committed an "aggressive act against the Libyan people's wish."
"We are determined to arrest and try the whole
Gadhafi family, including Gadhafi himself," Mahmoud Shammam, the
information minister in the new National Transitional Council
government said late Monday night. "We'd like to see those people
coming back to Libya." The official Algeria Press Service said that
Gadhafi's wife Safia, daughter Aisha, as well as sons Mohammed and
Hannibal, had fled to Algeria early Monday morning. Algeria defends
decision In defending its decision to harbour Gadhafi's family
members, Algeria's UN envoy Mourad Benmehidi said there is a "holy
rule of hospitality" in the desert region. Algeria has been slow to
recognize the NTC as Libya's official government, and it is thought
the country would harbor Gadhafi.
VENEZUELA. HUGO CHAVEZ UNDERGOES MORE
CHEMOTHERAPY.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has stressed that he will beat
cancer after having a third round of chemotherapy. He was treated at
a hospital in the capital, Caracas, in contrast to two previous
treatments and initial surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in Cuba.
"I'm doing well, being well taken care of," he told state
television, VTV. His illness has caused political uncertainty in
Venezuela, casting some doubt on whether he will be able to stand
for re-election next year. Chavez, 57, was admitted to the Dr Carlos
Arvelo Military Hospital on Saturday. Speaking to VTV by phone on
Monday, he said he finished up "what I call the bomb...the
chemotherapy's bombing". Earlier, he used his Twitter account to say
medical tests ahead of the chemotherapy had gone well. President
Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba in June to remove a tumour from his
pelvic region. However, he has not disclosed the exact nature of the
cancer.
UN NEWS
After deadly attack in Nigeria, top official vows UN
will not be deterred from its work Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose
Migiro
Calling Friday’s deadly attack against the United Nations complex in
the Nigerian capital “morally reprehensible,” the Deputy
Secretary-General has met with survivors of the bombing and pledged
that the world body will not be deterred from continuing its work.
Asha-Rose Migiro travelled to Abuja this weekend – along with
Gregory Starr, the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security –
to see first-hand the devastation caused by the apparent suicide
bombing, which has killed or injured scores of people. Speaking to
the press yesterday after visiting the damaged UN House and meeting
with the injured at a hospital in Abuja, Ms. Migiro stressed that
“this was an attack on a working community that was helping the
people of Nigeria.” Such attacks will neither deter us in our work,
nor win any new sympathizers to whatever cause might be the
motivation. She noted that the dead and wounded included cleaners
and security guards, humanitarian workers and national Government
officials.
“Targeting such people is outrageous and morally
reprehensible,” Ms. Migiro said. “Amongst the UN colleagues I saw
today in hospital there was a very clear message. They wanted their
vital work to continue. For one woman who is a cleaner there is an
obvious desire that she will be able to continue her work for her
family. “Such attacks will neither deter us in our work, nor win any
new sympathizers to whatever cause might be the motivation.” The
Deputy Secretary-General, who met with Nigerian President Goodluck
Jonathan to discuss the attack, said the perpetrators must be
brought to justice. “We all want to know exactly what happened, and
what can be done in the period ahead to strengthen security.”
She said UN emergency response personnel were
providing assistance, working with medical teams and
search-and-rescue experts from Nigeria and other countries. At a
meeting with UN staff in Abuja, Ms. Migiro said she felt “absolutely
shattered by what I see: the debris, the destruction, the signs of
ordinary life devastated by terrorists.” A UN investigation is under
way into the circumstances of the bombing, which has been condemned
by both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of the Security
Council.
“Nothing in the world is more important than your
lives – the lives of our staff members,” Ms. Migiro said.
“Protecting you is our first job, our most serious responsibility.”
Hundreds of personnel from 26 different UN agencies and entities
were in UN House when the bomber struck on Friday at about 11 a.m.
local time.
============================================================-
AUGUST 29
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 29, 1991, the Supreme Soviet, the
parliament of the U.S.S.R., suspended all activities of the
Communist Party, bringing an end to the institution.
On Aug. 29, 1915, Ingrid Bergman, the Swedish
international film star, was born. She died on Aug. 29, 1982
1958 Pop singer Michael Jackson was born in Gary,
Ind.
1965 Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper
and Charles "Pete" Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after eight
days in space.
1966 The Beatles performed their last concert, at
Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
1996 President Bill Clinton's chief political
strategist, Dick Morris, resigned amid a scandal over his
relationship with a prostitute.
2000 Pope John Paul II endorsed organ donation
and adult stem cell study but condemned human cloning and embryo
experiments.
2008 Republican John McCain picked Alaska Gov.
Sarah Palin to be his vice-presidential running mate.
2009 Funeral services were held in Boston for
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was eulogized by President Barack Obama;
hours later, Kennedy's remains were buried at Arlington National
Cemetery outside Washington.
FLUSHING, NY. THIS MONDAY ARTHUR ASH STADIUM THE
US OPEN. 8/29/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
The US Open will resume at the Arthur Ash Stadium in
Flushing, as announced by the U.S. Tennis Association.. The Billie
Jean King National Tennis Center will also be open to the public.
There was no damage at the sites of the Stadium. The Flushing train
No. 7 will be busy for the US Open.
Some schools will be closed this Monday.such as:
Manhattan St. HOPE Leadership Academy in Harlem The Chapin School,
Brooklyn Achievement First Apollo Elementary School Achievement
First Brooklyn High School Achievement First Brownsville Elementary
School Achievement First Bushwick Elementary School Achievement
First Bushwick Middle School Achievement First Crown Heights
Elementary School Achievement First Crown Heights Middle School
Achievement First East New York Elementary School Achievement First
East New York Middle School Achievement First Endeavor Middle School
Achievement First Endeavor Elementary School North Side Charter High
School South Side Charter High School
==============================================================
AUGUST 28
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 28, 1963, 200,000 people participated in
a peaceful civil rights rally in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in front of
the Lincoln Memorial.
On Aug. 28, 1828, Leo Tolstoy, the Russian author
considered one of history's greatest novelists was born. He died on
Nov. 7, 1910,
Emmett Till, an African-American teenager from
Chicago, was abducted from his uncle's home in Money, Miss., by two
white men after he was accused of whistling at a white woman. He was
found murdered three days later.
1968 Police and anti-war demonstrators clashed in
the streets of Chicago as the Democratic National Convention
nominated Hubert H. Humphrey for president.
1981 John W. Hinckley Jr. pleaded innocent to
charges of attempting to kill President Ronald Reagan.
1996 Democrats nominated President Bill Clinton
for a second term at their national convention in Chicago.
1996 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana
were divorced after 15 years of marriage.
2005 New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered
everyone in the city to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Katrina.
2008 Barack Obama accepted the Democratic
presidential nomination with a speech at Invesco Field in Denver.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011
STATEN ISLAND *11:00 AM Thanks the FDNY
Personnel Who Rescued 61 Adults and Three Babies in the Bulls Head
Area of Staten Island after the Lake in Willowbrook Park Overflowed
Engine 166/Ladder 86 Fire Company 1400 Richmond Avenue between
Christopher Lane and Lander Avenue
QUEENS *6:00 PM Speaks at the US Open 2011
Opening Night Ceremony Arthur Ashe Stadium USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center Flushing Meadows – Corona Park 1400 Richmond
Avenue between Christopher Lane and Lander Avenue *The event will be
broadcast live on USA Network.
NEW YORK. MASS TRANSIT BEING RESTORED BY MTA
8/28/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
It was 5:00 pm in Flushing, when some of the buses started
operating to the satisfaction of thousands residents of the Queens
area. According to some employees, Monday morning the No. 7 traiin
may be in operation. That will be a relief to all the commuters. The
storm, a category 1 hurricane did some damages to several parts of
Queens before heading for Canada.
During an afternoon press briefing, the mayor said members of the
city fire and buildings departments were assessing all "Zone A"
properties, including those owned and operated by the New York City
Housing Authority. The mayor said while it was still too early to
know the full extent of the damage, the city's preparations paid off
and that there were no reports of any deaths or serious injuries.
"Ultimately I think it's fair to say we were just unwilling to risk
the life of a single New Yorker," . "I don't know whether because of
our decisions nobody died, at least there's no reports of people
dying because of the storm, or maybe it was just luck. But bottom
line is, I would make the same decisions again without hesitation."
Crews from the Sanitation Department will begin trash and
recycling collection on Monday morning.
================================================
AUGUST 27
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 27, 1962, the United States launched the
Mariner 2 space probe, which flew past Venus the following December.
On Aug. 27, 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th
president of the United States, was born. He died on Jan. 22, 1973
1945 American troops began landing in Japan
following the surrender of the Japanese government in World War II.
1962 The United States launched the Mariner 2
space probe, which flew past Venus the following December.
1967 The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, was
found dead from an overdose of sleeping pills. 1975 Haile Selassie,
the last emperor of Ethiopia's 3,000-year-old monarchy, died in
Addis Ababa almost a year after being overthrown.
1979 British war hero Lord Louis Mountbatten was
killed off the coast of Ireland in a boat explosion; the Irish
Republican Army claimed responsibility.
2007 Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick
pleaded guilty in Richmond, Va., to a federal dogfighting charge.
2008 Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was nominated
for president by the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
NEW YORK. HURRICANE IRENE EXPECTATION AND THE MTA
SERVICES. 8/27/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
The clientele of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is
asking where the MTA got the idea to shut down the bus services in
the Metropolitan area this Saturday, expecting the Hurricane Irene
to hit the City. This action had created problems for several
thousands of affected riders from all over New York City area
as well as Long Island. According to several victims of
this action, it was a stupid move. Yellow cabs and car services
operators had enjoyed a good business day. Manhattan was all yellow.
Talking to pedestrians from 14th street to Times Square, one can
feel that it was a stupid move. Those who cannot afford the taxi
fares had to walk several blocks to get home. And this is no fun.
WASHINGTON. PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARES EMERGENCY
FOR NEW YORK 8/27/11
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal
aid has been made available to New York to supplement the state and
local response efforts in the area due to the emergency conditions
resulting from Hurricane Irene beginning on August 25, 2011, and
continuing.
The President's action authorizes the Department of
Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to
coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of
alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on
the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for
required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the
Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public
health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a
catastrophe in the counties of Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens,
Richmond, Nassau, and Suffolk.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify,
mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources
necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency
protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be
provided at 75 percent federal funding. Philip E. Parr has been
named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery
operations in the affected area.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW YORKERS
ON CITY RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IRENE
“Good afternoon. We are here in the City’s Emergency Command
Center and will be staffed around the clock throughout the storm as
we direct the City’s response to this emergency.
“This afternoon’s update will first focus on the
ongoing evacuation of residents of New York City Housing Authority
facilities and then we’ll talk about some other issues. But I did
want to first say all of the forecasts are basically the same. The
storm is headed in this direction – slightly east, slightly west,
slightly stronger, slightly weaker – but this is a storm where if
you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, it can be fatal. There
will be very high winds, no matter whether they’re categorized as a
tropical storm or a Category 1, 2, 3, 37 hurricane – whatever it is.
There’s a lot of blowing debris. Tree limbs come down and water gets
into places that can cause electrical shorts. It is dangerous out
there, and the thing that makes the most sense for everybody is to
first comply with the mandatory evacuation – it’s done because you
may be in danger, but as importantly, if God forbid you needed some
emergency services, our first responders would have to put their
lives in jeopardy to get to you and to provide the service. And
we’re worried that in some cases we just may not be able to get
there. And you never know when you are going to need a doctor or
something like that.
“So, the storm continues on track. We don’t have any
other updates. Winds will pick up as you go through the afternoon.
The reason that you have rain and then no rain, rain and then no
rain is the way a hurricane works. There are these bands of rain
that surround it, and when you’re between them you think there’s no
storm, and when you’re under one of them you get a lot of rain. But
we’re nowhere near yet the really heavy winds. Those will come in
something about nine tonight. The place or the time when you’re
likely to have flood damage of just literally water all of a sudden
pouring over the side of the bulkhead is something like eight
tomorrow morning. The winds are scheduled to subside late tomorrow
afternoon, and then we’re going to have a whole separate set of
issues of how we clean up and mass transit tries to get back, which
probably is not going to happen until well into the day on Monday.
So Monday morning is going to be a mess in terms of a commute.
“But our concern is saving lives. Our concern is
making sure that the only thing that comes out of this is
inconvenience and maybe a little bit of property damage. We don’t
need people to die. Unfortunately I was told about somebody who fell
of a ladder earlier when they were trying to board up their house.
They haven’t died yet, but seriously injured and may in fact be
fatal. Now things happen all the time, but we can take some steps to
try to minimize the damage and prevent as many as we can.
“We also are going to talk a little bit about power
and the possibility of electricity being shut off in some areas.
Kevin Burke from Con Ed is going to help us with that. But remember,
we’re asking buildings to shut off their elevators, certainly doing
that in NYCHA. We just don’t need people stuck in elevators. And if
the power goes out while you’re in the elevator, we’re going to have
to find out about it, which sometimes is hard to do, and then get
the Fire Department there. The Fire Department should be standing by
for real emergencies.
“And so, if you haven’t evacuated yet, you still
have time to do it. There is no mass transit available, but we have
buses at NYCHA facilities. You can hail a cop car. Some of the taxis
are working, maybe some friendly motorist will give you a ride, or
you can just walk. But just because you say I’m living on the 10th
floor and water’s not going to get here, that’s true, but that
doesn’t mean we could get to you or you could get out if you had to.
It doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be flying glass. The higher you
go up, the strong the winds are. So we should heed the warnings and
follow what the law says. Please, evacuate the A areas, the
low-lying areas, and all of the Rockaways.
“As a programming note, when we finish talking about
what’s happening here, we will have a press conference in Spanish
and take some questions for our Spanish speaking audience. Margarita
Lopez, a NYCHA board member who used to represent the Lower East
Side on the City Council and has been out in the field encouraging
residents to evacuate, will conduct that.
“Let’s first talk about NYCHA. If you are a resident
of a NYCHA facility in the Rockaways, Coney Island, the Lower East
Side, or any other of the low-lying Zone A areas, you must evacuate
now. It is a mandatory evacuation. Your buildings are shutting down.
Your elevators are shutting down. Your boilers are shutting down.
And it will be much too dangerous to stay.
“Now, for the last five hours we have been running
bus service from NYCHA developments to nearby evacuation centers. We
hope NYCHA residents and other New Yorkers who need to evacuate have
places to stay with family or friends who live in safer areas. But
in case you do not have family or friends close by, we have
evacuation centers fully staffed and ready to go. There are 78
hurricane shelters and 8 special medical centers across the city.
There is plenty of room. No one will be turned away. If NYCHA
residents don’t want to use one of our free buses to evacuate, which
we have outside the NYCHA facilities that need to be evacuated, you
could use a private car or a cab.
“Our GPS data does show us that the number of taxis
on the streets right now is just below the average for a Saturday
afternoon. We have moved to a zone fare system to encourage ride
sharing and increase the capacity of each cab. We’ve also directed
cabs to go to the evacuation areas. Liveries and commuter vans have
also been authorized to pick up street hails anywhere in the city.
But the essential point is even if you have to walk, evacuate now.
And as I said, this is for all of the Zone A areas, the low-lying
areas, but also the Rockaways, even for the areas that are higher up
because there if you were to God forbid have a medical emergency,
for example, it’s not clear that we could get to you. As the winds
build up, the bridges may very well close down. It may not be
possible to get off Staten Island or to get off the Rockaways, and
so it’s a good time right now to say, ‘Okay, better to be safe than
sorry.’
“We’ve been saying this all day, the time is running
out. It’s going to get dark in a little while and the rains will
start getting heavier, and then the winds will make it very
difficult and dangerous to be outside.
“The airports are basically all closed. The Staten
Island Ferry is still running, it’s running on a one-hour schedule
simply because there is no demand. Nobody’s showing up at the ferry.
We will continue to do that into later in the day, but as soon as
the winds start to build and it gets to be something like 40 knots,
at that point we think it’s not safe to run them and so we will shut
those down.
“The storm is coming, and the few things that are
still working, the few stores that are still open, you would expect
to all close in the very near future.
“Since this morning, we have seen a marked increase
in the number of people evacuating. Most are getting the message.
But for some reason, some people have yet to leave. So let me just
one more time – I hate to sound like a broken record, but it is
exactly what we are trying to do – if you haven’t left yet, you
should leave now. Not later this evening. Not later this afternoon.
But immediately.
“Let me repeat that very briefly in Spanish. Lo
repito por que es vital: si usted esta en una de las zonas de
evacuacion y no se han ido, tiene que salir inmediatamente. No ponga
su vida en peligro es urgente salir en este momento.
“The latest forecast has the epicenter of the
hurricane hitting east of the five boroughs. Tropical storm winds of
40 miles an hour and higher will start about 9 o’clock tonight,
continue to increase to hurricane strength through the morning.
“Most of the storm is going to take place during the
night when you’re asleep, or when you get up early Sunday morning.
And the most important thing to do is to stay inside. No beaches –
it’s just much too dangerous. No parks – branches come down, we just
don’t need people getting killed. There’s so much flying debris, no
matter how careful we are, be sure that you stay inside. In the
morning, look out the window. It may be fun to say, ‘I walked around
in a hurricane,’ but it wouldn’t be fun if you have to say it from
your hospital bed.
“If you live in a high-rise, especially on the 10th
floor or above, stay away from the windows in case they break and
shatter. If you have a yard, or a porch, or a balcony, or any
outdoor space, make sure everything, including outdoor furniture, is
tied down or secured properly. And you should know, as a preventive
measure, because people have asked me as they’ve driven down the
streets and they see what the Sanitation Department has done, the
Sanitation Department has spent the day emptying all the litter
baskets, turning them upside down so that nothing goes into them,
and placing them next to buildings to reduce the risk of them
blowing around. We have reports of some people thinking they’re
helping by putting the baskets back on the corner. Please, do not.
If you see a litter basket next to a building, leave it there. Our
Sanitation Department knows what they’re doing.
“If you encounter an emergency, call 911. If it's
not an emergency, please call 311 instead so you can keep 911 open
for the most urgent calls. And nyc.gov, I’m told, is working fine
now so you can use that as well.
“National Grid is fully prepared. There is a chance
that Con Ed will be forced to shut down parts of its grid if there
is severe flooding. So besides having a Go Bag, you should also be
prepared for the possibility of losing power in your home. That
means consider filling your sinks and bathtubs with potable water,
particularly if you live in an upper floor of an apartment building.
A lot of the water gets pumped up, and if the electricity is not
there, the pumps don’t work. So fill a bathtub or fill some sinks
with water. Make sure you know where your flashlights are. It’s a
good time to take them out, put them on the kitchen counter or some
place where it’s easy to get. Make sure that they work. If not,
stores may not be open for you to buy new batteries, but look around
you probably have some. Charge your cell phones right now.
“With that said, let me just do a couple things. I
want to assure you that our city is safe, we will get through this.
We are New Yorkers. We’ve always risen to the challenge. And by
sticking together, we’re going to be able to do that again. We have
been blessed by having plenty of people offer to help. We have Ted
Monette, Senior Advisor at FEMA, here. I talked to Janet Napolitano
yesterday I think it was. And I was on a conference call that the
President has. Federal government has offered us anything we need. I
think we’re in good shape, but it’s nice to know that they’re there.
And the State, the same thing. I’ve talked to the Governor yesterday
at length. Today we had Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy here for a
good part of the day. And from the Governor’s senior staff Larry
Schwartz and Liz Glazer. Liz has been with us every day for the last
few days, and Larry has been here all day long. And Nirav Shah, who
is the State Health Commissioner, has been with us, and anything we
need from the State they’ve offered. So nice to know that if we need
something it is there.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NIGERIA. AFTER UN ATTACK, NIGERIAN LEADER WILL FIGHT
TERRORISM. Goodluck
CANADA. STATE FUNERAL FOR NDP LEADER JACK LAYTON.
=====================================================
AUGUST 26
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in
effect.
On Aug. 26, 1906, Albert Sabin, the
Polish-American doctor who developed the polio vaccine, was born. He
died on March 3, 1993
1957 The Soviet Union announced that it had
successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile.
1961 The Hockey Hall of Fame opened in Toronto.
1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated
for a term of office in his own right at the Democratic National
Convention in Atlantic City, N.J.
1974 Aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh died at
age 72.
1978 Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice was
elected the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and took the
name John Paul I.
1986 In the so-called "preppie murder case,"
18-year-old Jennifer Levin was found strangled in New York's Central
Park. Robert Chambers later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and
served 15 years in prison.
2003 Investigators concluded that NASA's
overconfident management and inattention to safety doomed the space
shuttle Columbia as much as damage to the craft did.
CITY HALL. NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011
BROOKLYN *1:30 PM Visits Evacuation Center and
Updates New Yorkers on Preparations for Hurricane Irene 1171
65th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues
MANHATTAN *3:00 PM Speaks at Opening Ceremony of
World Police and Fire Games These games take place throughout the
week and participants are from around the world.
CITY HALL, NY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG UPDATES NEW
YORKERS ON CITY PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE IRENE AND STEPS NEW
YORKERS SHOULD TAKE TO PREPARE
The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s
remarks as delivered at City Hall::
“Good afternoon. I wanted to bring New Yorkers up to date on the
City’s ongoing preparations concerning Hurricane Irene.
“As I’m sure you all know, Irene remains on course
to reach the coast of North Carolina early on Saturday. That will
make it the first hurricane to strike the East Coast in seven years,
and the first to hit anywhere in the United States since Hurricane
Ike came ashore in Texas in 2008.
“The National Weather Service is now predicting that
New Yorkers will begin to feel the effects of Irene in the early
hours of Sunday morning, and based on the latest forecast it will be
a Category 1 storm. Let me remind you that this kind of forecast is
very imprecise, and we’re talking about something that is a long
time in meteorological terms. So what we have to do is assume the
worst, prepare for that, and hope for the best.
“Irene’s exact course, strength and time of arrival
remain difficult to be predicted with precision because this is a
very large and also very slow moving hurricane. However, as has
widely been reported, the hurricane cone – that is the area that
might be impacted by Irene – has shifted west over the course of the
day. That means that instead of going across the eastern portion of
Long Island it now appears that it will reach our area closer to
eastern Queens.
“We don’t know yet whether that will happen, but
obviously we have to be prepared. That’s why today we announced that
we activated the Command Center at the City’s Office of Emergency
Management and put significant elements of our Coastal Storm Plan
into effect.
“Now we are taking some additional steps. And before
I tell you about these, let me just stress whenever the City has
faced a difficult, tough situation, New Yorkers have always shown
courage, compassion, presence of mind, and have been innovative in
dealing with whatever is thrown at them. And I have confidence that
they will do that again.
“Our published Coastal Storm Plan – available at
nyc.gov – systematically addresses what to do to prepare for a major
storm, and what to do when we’re hit by one, and what to do to
recover from a storm once it has passed. Right now, we are still
largely in the preparation stage, although we’re also taking some
concrete steps tonight consistent with our Coastal Storm Plan that
is comprehensive and that we have drilled with and practiced with
all participating agencies over the years.
“Our first obligation I want to talk about is to
protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers – hospital patients; those
in nursing homes and homes for aged; and also New Yorkers who
because of age or infirmity are homebound.
“Earlier today, I mentioned the low-lying areas of
our city that are most at risk for flooding and other damage from a
hurricane and have been designated as Zone A low-lying areas in our
Coastal Storm Plan. These Zone A low-lying areas include Coney
Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, Far Rockaway and Broad
Channel in Queens, South Beach, Midland Beach, and other low-lying
areas on Staten Island, and Battery Park City in Manhattan.
“Included in these Zone A low-lying areas there are
five hospitals. These hospitals are now in the process of reducing
their patient caseload in order to be ready for any increased
emergency care that might arise. They are, for example, cancelling
and re-scheduling elective surgeries.
“In addition, tonight Coney Island Hospital will,
under the direction of State health authorities, begin placing
patients in vacant beds in other hospitals in other parts of the
city.
“We’re also notifying the other hospitals in these
Zone A low-lying areas, as well as nursing homes and senior centers
in these low-lying Zone A areas that they must – I repeat the word
must – evacuate beginning tomorrow and complete the process by 8:00
PM tomorrow night, unless they get permission to stay in place based
on the ability of the particular facility to keep operating during
hurricane conditions. If any of these facilities need help moving
patients, we’ll be able to provide it.
“That decision – not to evacuate – should they want
to make it, will have to be made in conjunction with City Health
Commissioner Tom Farley and his staff, and in consultation with the
State Department of Health. As many of you know, Dr. Farley is a
veteran of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans where he headed
community health services at Tulane University, and Dr. Farley will
draw on a wealth of experience that he has in making those
decisions.
“So let me just repeat that one more time – seniors
homes and nursing homes and these hospitals must evacuate unless in
conjunction with Tom Farley and the State Health Commissioner
determine that – because of the particular facility’s location,
their ability for backup power, access to them – that it is
permissible for them to not evacuate.
“We expect the weather, incidentally, on Friday,
tomorrow, to be very good, and that is certainly going to help
everybody in carrying out this process in a safe and orderly
fashion. Let me repeat, what we’re trying to do is to take
precautions for the most vulnerable. And as we get closer to the
actual arrival of the hurricane, for the general public we can
decide what is appropriate.
“However, among the general public living at home
there are homebound people living in all of these Zone A low-lying
areas. If you have a homebound relative or acquaintance in these
low-lying areas, I strongly urge you to take some steps now to move
them to a safer location – in your own home, or in the home of
another relative or friend. That will be the best course of action
for all involved, and we’re confident that in most cases that is
what people will do. New Yorkers are big-hearted people, and always
come through when the chips are down. And anyone who intends to use
Access-a-Ride to temporarily leave their homes until the storm
passes would be well advised to do that tomorrow, Friday, because
capacity to do it on Saturday is limited by the number of
Access-A-Ride vehicles.
“If you want to go to a shelter, the shelters will
be open by 4:00 PM tomorrow afternoon. The staffs will start opening
them early in the morning and work all day to make sure that they
are ready to take anybody that needs shelter tomorrow night from
4:00 PM on.
“As regards to the general public, we will make a
decision about whether to order a mandatory evacuation of Zone A
low-lying areas by 8:00 AM Saturday, the day after tomorrow.
However, we recommend that people start going to alternative
locations if they have them because of potential traffic jams and
mass transit limitations on Saturday that Jay Walder is going to
discuss in a couple of minutes. So if you live in one of these
communities and have a relative or friend you can stay with in a
safer, less vulnerable areas, you should think about arranging to
stay there until the storm passes.
“Let me say something about outdoor activities
planned in the city. This weekend, more than 300 outdoor activities
– street fairs, block parties, and so forth – have been planned.
These activities, unfortunately, will have to be curtailed
throughout the entire city, not just in the Zone A areas as we want
to make sure that streets are available for emergency vehicles and
busses throughout the entire city that may be needed in evacuation
plans. We are revoking – and I have just signed an Executive Order
to do so – all permits for events to take place in the city on
Sunday, and in low-lying Zone A areas on Saturday as well. If you
are not in a Zone A low-lying area, you can have your activity
continue on Saturday, but we have amended the permits that require
you to stop serving the public by 2:00 PM so you can use the rest of
the afternoon to clean up.
“The Mayor’s Office of Citywide Events is in the
process of contacting every organization holding a permitted street
fair, block party, or similar outdoor event this weekend about these
changes, and you will obviously have some information out about the
Dave Matthews concert that is supposed to take place both Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, and a myriad other events.
“Because of the high winds that will accompany the
storm, we are also urging all New Yorkers for their own safety to
stay out of parks where the high winds will increase the danger of
down trees and limbs. And incidentally, it’s a good idea to stay out
of your own backyard if you have trees there.
“Before taking questions, let me once again stress
some other precautions that City people should take. First, find out
if you live in one of the Zone A areas, the low-lying areas that
we’ve talking about. You can do this simply by going on the City’s
website, nyc.gov and typing in your address, or by calling 311 and
giving your address to the call-taker and they’ll tell you right
away whether you are in one of these areas.
“And second, New Yorkers should prepare themselves
by stocking up on some basic supplies and making what’s called a ‘Go
Bag,’ a bag that you could take with you at a moment’s notice if you
have to leave home, and it should include things like drinking
water, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, any important medications that
you take, essential documents, such as passports or other forms of
ID, and an extra set of car keys and house keys.
“I should point out that Janet Napolitano from
Homeland Security called to offer any assistance that she could.
Elizabeth Glazer from the Governor’s Cabinet, who has been involved
in all of the meetings – and we’ve been working well with the
Governor’s Office keeping them posted on what we’re doing here – and
we will continue that process to reach out to elected officials and
other government entities, both in the city and the surrounding
areas, as well as at the State level.”
NEW YORK. STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR NEW
YORK CITY: MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO. 8/26/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said his top priority is to evacuate the
city's most vulnerable, including hospital patients and nursing home
and senior home residents, from low-lying areas in the five boroughs
by Friday night.
There are five hospitals and eight nursing
home facilities in the so-called "Zone A" evacuation areas , the
patches of the city that are most likely to be significantly
impacted by Hurricane Irene — that need to have all patients moved
to higher ground by 8 p.m. Friday. The city fire department will aid
with the evacuations.
Exceptions will only be provided by city and state
health officials if the facility can maintain power, staffing and
supplies with a flooded first floor, and if it appears that patients
will be safer staying put than being transported, according to the
city Department of Health.
Under the current state of emergency, city agencies
will be allowed to "undertake whatever activities and measures are
needed" to protect lives and property in the five boroughs.
City officials will decide by 8 a.m. Saturday
whether evacuations are needed for residents of the city's low-lyings
areas, such as Battery Park City in Manhattan, Coney Island in
Brooklyn, the Rockaways in Queens and some parts of Staten Island.
“It is a long time away in meteorological terms,”
said Bloomberg, but he said that current predictions show that Irene
will be a Category 1 hurricane when it passes over eastern Queens.
Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency
Thursday afternoon, in advance of Hurricane Irene's arrival. A state
of emergency makes New York State resources available to local
governments and enables New York to access key federal resources in
anticipation of an emergency.
"They have a number of models on the path of the
storm. Several of the models suggest the storm could go through New
York, particularly the Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, Long Island
area," said Cuomo.
The mayor recommends people living in flood prone
areas to check in on elderly neighbors and to make a plan with
friends or relatives in case evacuations are necessary. He also
urged New Yorkers to stay out of the water, citing the increased
risk of heavy surf and rip tides. New Yorkers are urged to call 311
for the latest storm information.
In the midst of the warnings, federal officials
spoke directly to New Yorkers. “One of the things that people all
along the coast, and especially in the Northeast, New York, Long
Island, is pay attention to what’s going on,” said Richard Serino,
deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Con Edison officials also released a statement
saying that the utility is on "high alert," meaning it is working to
be prepared for extensive gas, electric and steam outages.
The mayor says crews with the city Departments of
Sanitation, Transportation and Environmental Protection are clearing
storm drains to help alleviate flooding concerns. Chairman Jay
Walder of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority predicted that
the hurricane would knock MTA service out of commission and the
mayor cautioned that service interruptions could last into Monday
and beyond.
“Our yards may well be underwater,” said Walder.
“It’s impossible to predict the damage that’ll be there.” The MTA
has been actively working with OEM, the governor and the mayor.
Workers are checking drains and pumps while also securing equipment
against high winds.
This weekend, the MTA will have emergency
staffing levels and managers are working 12-hour shifts. If an
evacuation is called, the MTA will work for a period of time before
service is shut down.
For their part, officials at the Port Authority said
that at the authority's five airports, including John F. Kennedy,
hundreds of heavy-duty vehicles have been readied and are available,
along with dozens of police vehicles, including mobile command
centers and heavy-duty rescue equipment.
The airports also stock hundreds of cases of bottled
water, diapers, cots, blankets and pillows to provide to stranded
passengers if necessary, and under terms of the agency’s concession
contracts, at least one food vendor in every passenger terminal must
remain open 24 hours so that food is available at any time of day or
night.
On the PATH interstate rail system, crews are
prepared to combat potential flooding with sandbags and the use of
pumps throughout the system, including the deployment of a
1,000-gallon-per-minute, trailer-mounted portable diesel pump that
can be used inside PATH tunnels if necessary. By late Thursday, the
Department of Transportation had not altered Staten Island Ferry
service.
Amtrak officials said that most trains operating
south of Washington, D.C. were canceled in anticipation of the
hurricane. Bloomberg said that more than 300 activities planned for
this weekend will be curtailed throughout the entire city so that
emergency vehicles and buses can move through the streets. These
include block parties and street fairs.
All permits for events to take place in the city on
Sunday have been revoked. Additionally, permits have been revoked
for events scheduled in the low-lying “zone A” regions on Saturday.
Those who are not in Zone A may hold their events on
Saturday, but Bloomberg said they should be done by 2:00 p.m. to
assist with the clean-up effort. Residents are cautioned to stay out
of parks and backyards, where winds could down trees and branches.
Meanwhile, Columbia University, New York University
and Fordham have rescheduled their move-in days from Sunday to
Monday, when the weather calms down, for new students to move into
their dorm rooms. Columbia has also canceled its Sunday orientation
events.
Residents of "Zone A" areas — the patches of the
city that are most likely to be significantly impacted by Hurricane
Irene — will know about any mandatory evacuations by 8:00 a.m.
Saturday. However, the mayor strongly recommended that residents
make arrangements on Friday. “We want to take an abundance of
caution here. This storm really is predicted to be very dangerous,”
said Bloomberg. “Go and have a nice dinner with friends Friday
night.”
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that there would
be “a robust presence” of additional officers in these areas.
Further, police are stationing 50 small boats to station houses in
low-lying areas. Residents living in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn say
even though their homes are near the water, they are adopting a wait
and see approach.
Hurricane watches and warnings have already been
issued for the North Carolina coast, where effects of the storm
could be felt as early as tomorrow night. Evacuations are currently
underway along some of the state's coastal towns. Once the storm
hits the Carolina shore, it is expected to move up a 700-mile
stretch of the Atlantic Seaboard.
Already, at least eight people have been injured in
rough waters off of Florida on Thursday, according to local
authorities. On Thursday, federal officials also canceled
"indefinitely" the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Monument
in Washington, D.C. The storm battered parts of the Bahamas
overnight with heavy winds and rains, after already leaving a
million people without power in Puerto Rico.
Officials say residents should prepare a supply kit
with basic essentials as a precaution. It should include bottled
water, non-perishable food items, copies of important documents,
flashlights, batteries and a portable radio.
NEW YORK. WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES 2011 IN NEW
YORK. 8/25/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
We were at Jacob Javits Center this Thursday for the opening
of the World Police & Fire Games Expo. It is an amazing events. The
first floor of the Center contained more than 400 boots for the
events and the crowd of visitors enjoyed every moment of it. The
main speaker for the show was Ms. Cyd, the acclaimed psychic,
profiler and clairvoyant. Cyd is frequently sought by the media and
law enforcement agencies for her prophetic visions. According to
reports, she has been consulted by the Colorado Bureau of
Investigation for several puzzling crimes. For the believers
in psychic affairs, it was a joy to listen to Cyd. We had the
opportunity to meet with cops from several countries such Ireland,
the Bahamas and Brazil. This is a show to be seen. until August 28,
weather permitting, with the hurricane Irene to advance in the City.
The World Police and Fire Games 2011 is not a confusing show like
the last International Gifts Fair with over 5,000 exhibitors from
the US and foreign countries last week. Mayor Blumberg is expected
to be in the show this Friday.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
LIBYA. GADDAFI'S HOMETOWN BUNKER BOMBED BY
ENGLISH JETS.
NIGERIA. UN BUILDING BOMB ATTACK IN ABUJA.
MEXICO. DOZENS KILLED IN CASINO ROYALE ATTACK IN
MONTERREY.
===========================================================
AUGUST 25
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 25, 1944, Paris was liberated by Allied
forces after four years of Nazi occupation.
On Aug. 25, 1918, Leonard Bernstein, American
conductor, composer and pianist, was born. He died on Oct. 14, 1990,
1984 Author Truman Capote was found dead at age
59.
1985 Samantha Smith, the schoolgirl whose letter
to Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov resulted in her peace tour of the
communist country, was killed with her father in an airplane crash
in Maine.
1997 The tobacco industry agreed to an $11.3
billion settlement with the state of Florida.
1998 Former Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell
died at age 90.
2003 Tennis champion Pete Sampras announced his
retirement during a news conference at the U.S. Open in New York.
2009 South Korea's first rocket blasted off into
space.
2009 Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., died at age
77.
==========================================================
AUGUST 24
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew smashed into
Florida, causing record damage; 55 deaths in Florida, Louisiana and
the Bahamas were blamed on the storm.
On Aug. 24, 1899, Jorge Luis Borges, the
Argentinian writer of poems, essays and short stories, was born. He
died on June 14, 1986,
1981 Mark David Chapman was sentenced in New York
to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of rock musician John
Lennon.
1989 Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti
banned Pete Rose from the game for gambling.
2006 The International Astronomical Union
declared that Pluto was no longer a planet, demoting it to the
status of a "dwarf planet."
2007 A judge in Inverness, Fla., sentenced John
Evander Couey to death for kidnapping 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford,
raping her and burying her alive.
2007 James Ford Seale, a reputed Ku Klux
Klansman, was sentenced to three life terms for his role in the 1964
abduction and murder of two black teenagers in Mississippi.
2007 The NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons
quarterback Michael Vick for his involvement in dogfighting.
====================================================
AUGUST 23
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 23, 1927, Italian-born anarchists Nicola
Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Boston for the
murders of two men during a 1920 robbery.
On Aug. 23, 1912, Gene Kelly, the American dancer
and choreographer, was born. ahe died on Feb. 2, 1996
1979 Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defected
while the Bolshoi Ballet was on tour in New York.
1989 Yusuf Hawkins, an African-American teenager,
was shot dead by white youths in Brooklyn.
2000 The first season finale of the reality show
"Survivor" aired on CBS, with contestant Richard Hatch winning the
$1 million prize.
2003 Former Roman Catholic priest John Geoghan, a
convicted child molester, was killed by a fellow inmate in a
Massachusetts prison.
2005 Israeli forces evicted militant holdouts
from two Jewish settlements, completing a historic withdrawal from
the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank.
2008 Democratic presidential candidate Barack
Obama introduced his choice of running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of
Delaware.
2010 Golfer Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin
Nordegren, divorced.
NEW YORK. STRAUSS KHAN AND NAFISSATOU DIALLO:
CASE CLOSED 8/23/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
Prosecutors seek dismissal of Strauss-Kahn sex charges
Prosecutors file to drop charges in Strauss-Kahn case When they
moved Monday to drop the biggest case on their docket, Nafitassou
Diallo was portrayed as its fatal weakness. She "has not been
truthful on matters great and small" and has an ability to present
"fiction as fact with complete conviction," and medical and DNA
evidence is "simply inconclusive" as proof of a forced sexual
encounter. "Our grave concerns about her reliability make it
impossible to resolve the question of what exactly happened" between
the hotel maid and the former International Monetary Fund leader,
they wrote. This Tuesday, the formal dismissal is expected, clearing
Strauss-Kahn of all charges of the May 14 affair at the Sofitel
Hotel on West 44th Street in Manhattan.
According to the prosecution, Diallo repeatedly gave false
information to investigators and grand jurors about her life, her
past and her actions following her encounter with Strauss Khan. She
also was evasive about nearly $60,000 that other people had moved
through her bank account and insisted she had no interest in getting
money from Strauss-Kahn Prosecutors met briefly Monday with
Diallo and her attorney, Kenneth Thompson
Strauss-Kahn lawyers William Taylor and Benjamin Brafman said he and
his family were grateful for prosecutors' decision. "We have
maintained from the beginning of this case that our client is
innocent." "We also maintained that there were many reasons to
believe that Mr. Strauss-Kahn's accuser was not credible."
Strauss-Kahn, 62, is free to return to France while Diallo,
32, will not be living comfortably in the big apple.
NEW YORK NICK ASHFORD OF ASHFORD AND SIMPSON DIED
AT 70. 9/23/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS NY.
Nick Ashford of the legendary Motown songwriting duo
Ashford & Simpson died this past Monday at age 70.Ashford, who along
with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown's biggest hits, died
in a New York City hospital, . He had been suffering from throat
cancer and had undergone radiation treatment. Ashford and Simpson's
relationship stretched more than four decades. They met in 1964 in a
New York City church. Ashford, a South Carolina native, had come to
the city to pursue a dance career. Simpson was a music student, and
after connecting with her, they decided to start to write songs
together. In 2002, Ashford & Simpson were inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame. Ashford is survived by his wife and two
daughters.
NEW YORK. 5.9 EARTHQUAKE IN NEW YORK 8/23/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
A few blocks away from the UN, on East 43rd Street and
Lexington Avenue, this Thursday, at about 1:52 pm, several
pedestrians felt the earthquake for a few seconds. Reports from
residents of Brooklyn and Queens confirmed the same feeling. Some
buildings were briefly evacuated. There were no reports of damages
or injuries to report. There were no disruption of services of the
MTA buses and subways. Mayor
Bloomberg said the city received numerous calls for buildings
shaking. Haitian residents living in Brooklyn and Queens felt the
tremor that was nothing compared with what happened in their country
on January 12 2010 killing thousands of their countrymen.
According to the U.S Geological Survey, the earthquake centered
northwest of Richmond, Virginia. It was felt as far away as Georgia
and Maine.
NEW YORK-ZURICH, GENEVA. UBS COST REDUCTION
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011
BROOKLYN
11:00 AM Speaks at Orientation for NYC Service’s New
Civic Corps Members FDNY Headquarters
9 Metrotech Center between Tech Place and Myrtle Avenue
FAR ROCKAWAY, QUEENS. THE CLOSING OF PENINSULA
HOSPITAL 9/23/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS NY.
Peninsula Hospital has been on the brink of bankruptcy. If
it shuts down, it leaves only St. John's Hospital to serve the
Rockaways, something residents say could mean the difference between
life and death. According to recent information, there are three
people who are interested in taking over the administration, and
with the hospital in danger of shutting down, community members are
hoping for a last minute deal. The board is doing their best
to keep this hospital open. However, the final call is up to the
state Department of Health, and there are still concerns over money
for supplies and staff. The next step is for the Department of
Health to meet again with board members and decide whether they'll
choose someone else to take over or shut Peninsula down.
LIBYA. TRIPOLI UNDER FIRE. WHERE IS GADDAFI?
========================================================
AUGUST 24
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew smashed into
Florida, causing record damage; 55 deaths in Florida, Louisiana and
the Bahamas were blamed on the storm.
On Aug. 24, 1899, Jorge Luis Borges, the
Argentinian writer of poems, essays and short stories, was born. He
died on June 14, 1986,
1932 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly
nonstop across the United States, traveling from Los Angeles to
Newark, N.J., in just over 19 hours.
1949 The North Atlantic Treaty went into effect.
1954 The Communist Control Act went into effect,
virtually outlawing the Communist Party in the United States.
1968 France became the world's fifth
thermonuclear power as it exploded a hydrogen bomb in the South
Pacific.
1970 A bomb planted by anti-war extremists
exploded at the University of Wisconsin's Army Math Research Center
in Madison, killing a researcher.
1981 Mark David Chapman was sentenced in New York
to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of rock musician John
Lennon.
1989 Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti
banned Pete Rose from the game for gambling.
2006 The International Astronomical Union
declared that Pluto was no longer a planet, demoting it to the
status of a "dwarf planet."
2007 A judge in Inverness, Fla., sentenced John
Evander Couey to death for kidnapping 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford,
raping her and burying her alive.
2007 James Ford Seale, a reputed Ku Klux
Klansman, was sentenced to three life terms for his role in the 1964
abduction and murder of two black teenagers in Mississippi.
2007 The NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons
quarterback Michael Vick for his involvement in dog fighting.
CITY HALL, NY. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG ON EARTHQUAKE IN VIRGINIA
“Like people up and down the East Coast, New Yorkers across the
five boroughs felt the effect of this afternoon’s earthquake in
Virginia. I’ve spoken with our Police and Fire Commissioners, and
we’ve activated the Office of Emergency Management’s Situation Room
and spoken to other city agencies, including the Department of
Buildings. Thankfully, there are no reports of significant damage or
injuries in New York City at this time. As ever, we urge New Yorkers
to call 911 only in cases of actual emergencies.
“Shortly before 2:00 PM, we evacuated City Hall
briefly, but quickly returned to work. As we await more news from
Virginia and elsewhere, our thoughts in New York are with those who
were more directly affected by this natural disaster.”
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY. STABBING OF 4 IN UPPER
MANHATTAN. 8/24/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.-
NYPD reported that 4 people were stabbed in Upper Manhattan
yesterday. The victims were rushed to Harlem and Saint Luke's
Roosevelt Hospitals. Police sources say the suspect, 23-year-old
Christian Falero, lives on the 5th floor of 870 Riverside Drive.
Around 4 Tuesday afternoon he started knocking on doors on the 2nd
floor then allegedly stabbed those who opened up. His mother
couldn't stop crying as she talked to investigators at this bloody
crime scene. Police caught him running down the street naked with a
10-inch kitchen knife. They handcuffed him. He had blood on
his hands. He wasn't making sense," a security guard said. Police
say the emotionally disturbed person stabbed four elderly people and
punched a 22-year-old woman in the face. 81-year-old Ignacio Reyes
was pronounced dead at the hospital. A 60-year-old woman is in
critical condition, while a 75-year-old woman and an 85-year-old
woman are both in stable condition.
LIBYA. LOYALISTS TO GADDAFI HOLD OUT IN TRIPOLI.
======================================================================
AUGUST 22
IN HISTORY
On August 22, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt
became the first United States chief executive to ride in an
automobile in public.
On Aug. 22, 1904, Deng Xiaoping, the powerful
leader of the People's Republic of China from the late 1970's until
his death in 1997, was born. He died on Feb. 19, 1997
1902 President Theodore Roosevelt became the
first U.S. chief executive to ride in an automobile, in Hartford,
Conn.
1904 Chinese communist leader Deng Xiaoping was
born in Sichuan province.
1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice
President Richard M. Nixon were nominated for second terms by the
Republican National Convention in San Francisco.
1986 Kerr-McGee Corp. agreed to pay the estate of
Karen Silkwood $1.38 million, settling a 10-year-old nuclear
contamination lawsuit.
2003 Alabama's chief justice, Roy Moore, was
suspended for his refusal to obey a federal court order to remove
his Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of his courthouse.
2005 The last Jewish settlers left the Gaza
Strip, ending decades of Israel's turbulent occupation.
2010 Chilean President Sebastian Pinera confirmed
that all the miners trapped deep underground for 17 days were still
alive after a probe came back with a handwritten note, "All 33 of us
are fine in the shelter." The miners were rescued in October.
NEW YORK. STRAUSS-KHAN- DIALLO CASE. MEETING WITH
PROSECUTORS. 8/22/11
By Jacques Duaaeck NTS NEWS NY.
Everybody is preoccupied with the Libyan breaking news but
it's worth mentioning the development in the matter of Diallo vs.
Strauss Khan in New York. Diallo must be at the Prosecutor's office
today to hear a decision regarding the scheduled trial for Tuesday.
According to reports, attorney for the plaintiff, Kenneth
Thompson, said that prosecutors may be planning to drop the charges
against the former IMF Chief. Diallo says she was attacked by the
former IMF head in a room at the Sofitel hotel in Manhattan. Diallo
publicly revealed her identity after her credibility was questioned.
Strauss-Kahn's defense team claims any sexual act that happened was
consensual.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
TRIPOLI, LIBYA. FINAL HOURS
FOR GADDAFI ARE COMING AS TRIPOLI FALLS.
===================================================
AUGUST 21
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 21, 1959, President Eisenhower signed an
executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union.
On Aug. 21, 1904, Count Basie, who was one of the
leading big-band leaders of American jazz was born. He died on April
26, 1984,
1959 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an
executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union.
1983 Philippine opposition leader Benigno S.
Aquino Jr., ending a self-imposed exile in the United States, was
shot dead moments after stepping off a plane at Manila International
Airport.
1987 Sgt. Clayton Lonetree, the first Marine ever
court-martialed for spying, was convicted in Quantico, Va., of
passing secrets to the KGB.
1991 A hard-line coup against Soviet President
Mikhail S. Gorbachev collapsed in the face of a popular uprising led
by Russian federation President Boris Yeltsin.
2002 A jury in San Diego convicted David
Westerfield of kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.
He was later sentenced to death.
2006 British prosecutors announced that 11 people
had been charged in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic
jetliners bound for the United States.
2009 Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America voted to lift a ban that prohibited sexually active gays
and lesbians from serving as ministers.
CITY HALL, NY. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG ON USDA’S DENIAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
(SNAP) WAIVER
New York City Asked the United States Department of Agriculture to
Exclude Sugar-Sweetened Soda from Food Stamp-Eligibility in the Five
Boroughs “We think our innovative pilot would have done more to
protect people from the crippling effects of preventable illnesses
like diabetes and obesity than anything being proposed anywhere else
in this country – and at little or no cost to taxpayers. We’re
disappointed that the Federal Government didn’t agree and sorry that
families and children may suffer from their unwillingness to explore
our proposal. New York City will continue to pursue new and
unconventional ways to combat the health problems that affect New
Yorkers and all Americans.”
NEW YORK. AFFAIR STRAUSS KHAN- HAFITASSOU DIALLO.
DA'S TO DECIDE 8/21/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
This coming Monday August 22, the District Attorney's office may
have to make a decision regarding the sexual attack case against
Dominique Strauss Khan as provided by the Guinean hotel maid
Hafitassou Diallo. In its last page of the Saturday edition, the New
York Times claimed that the Prosecutor's office may decide to drop
the case against Khan. Kenneth Thompson, the lawyer for the woman
who accused former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault
said Saturday that he believes prosecutors plan to dismiss some or
all of the charges. Attorney Kenneth Thompson said that he got a
letter from an assistant district attorney offering to meet with his
client Monday, the day before Strauss-Kahn's next scheduled court
appearance. The letter said the purpose was to discuss what
would happen in court the next day. It said prosecutors would only
meet the woman at 3 p.m.
"Should she not be available or should she fail to
attend, I will assume that she does not wish to take advantage of
this opportunity," wrote the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney
Artie McConnell. Thompson said that he thinks prosecutors wouldn't
have asked for the meeting unless they planned to give her bad news
about the case. "If they were not going to dismiss the charges,",
"there would be no need to meet with her. They would just go to
court the next day to say, `We're going to proceed with the case."'
Strauss-Kahn was arrested during a May visit to New York City after
a housekeeper at a Manhattan hotel told police he attacked her when
she arrived to clean his suite. The woman, Nafissatou Diallo, told
police that he forced her to perform oral sex and then left the
hotel. The arrest prompted Strauss-Kahn to resign from the
International Monetary Fund, and disrupted his political career in
France, where he was seen as a probable candidate for president.
But in July, prosecutors said publicly that Diallo
had lied to them about her personal history and some critical
details of the case. She also admitted lying to U.S. immigration
officials about her life in Guinea, her native country, when she
applied for political asylum in 2003. In addition, a law enforcement
official said prosecutors discovered that, a day after the alleged
attack, Diallo had called a friend to talk about the incident, and
that during that call she had mentioned Strauss-Kahn's wealth. The
district attorney's office then agreed to relax the conditions of
Strauss-Kahn's bail, allowing him to be freed from house arrest.
NEW YORK. ANOTHER NYPD COP IN TROUBLE: MICHAEL
PENA ACCUSED OF RAPE 8/21/11
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS NY.
An off-duty New York City police officer accused of
raping a teacher is being held on $500,000 bail. He was engaged to
be married and building a life his family was proud of; how, his
aunt wonders, could Michael Pena be accused of rape? Baffled
relatives gathered in court on Saturday to watch as the 27-year-old
faced a judge for the first time. One day after a 25-year old
teacher told police he forced her into the back yard of an apartment
building in Inwood as she walked to work. She says he threw her
phone on a roof so she couldn't call 911, then raped her. Witnesses
watching the alleged attack called police for her and when officers
arrived the victim reportedly told them quote, "He raped me. Be
careful. He has a gun." Officers recovered the weapon and the badge
belonging to the off-duty cop and put him behind bars. His bail was
set at $500-thousand. Michael Pena is charged with first-degree
rape, criminal sexual act and predatory sexual assault. His defense
attorney could not immediately be reached by telephone. Pena has
been suspended without pay. He is an officer in the 33rd Precinct in
Washington Heights.
NEW YORK. THREE NOYERS DIED IN SO. CAROLINA CAR
CRASH. 8/21/11
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS NY.
They were returning from a visit to Disney World in Florida.
They died last night when their car crashed in North Carolina.
Police in North Carolina say 22-year-old Rosanny Marte, her
46-year-old mother Angela Marte and her 71-year-old grandmother Rosa
Marte were all killed when the family's sports utility vehicle blew
a tire on Interstate 95. The driver lost control and the car
overturned. Five other family members in the vehicle are in the
hospital but are expected to be well. According to Police the two
older women were not wearing seatbelts and were thrown from the car.
MIAMI, FL MIAMI POLICE IS OVERSPENDING ON
OVERTIME. 8/21/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS NY.
Being understaffed, the Police Department of this City has
to spend big on overtime. It is expected, this year, to reach its
overtime budget by $3.7 million this year as high turnover and slow
hiring have forced patrol officers to take on expensive extra
shifts. At the core of the discussion is basic crime-fighting
philosophy: Is the public better served with more officers working
on street patrol, or in less-visible but important tactical units?
Over the past two years, Police Chief Miguel
Exposito has transferred between 130 and 140 patrol officers to
specialized units that target more-sophisticated criminals: robbers,
drug dealers and gang members among them. The chief says the move
has made Miami safer, as hardened criminals have been sent to prison
and more than 1,000 guns have been confiscated. Keeping more
officers in patrol units would “put presence in the street and save
money, but it’s not going to get the job done,” the chief told city
commissioners last month. “All we have are officers writing reports
all day, and there’s nothing being done to get the criminals off the
street.’’ Still, there are down sides to beefing up the tactical
units at the expense of patrol.
City Manager Johnny Martinez points to a
less-visible police presence, which residents frequently complain
about. And because supervisors must shuffle patrol officers to fill
24-hour shifts, the department is projected to spend $6.2 million in
overtime this year, more than twice as much as the $2.5 million that
had been budgeted. Martinez said, “I think that they should
have a better balance and move some back to patrol, recounting
conversations he has had with Exposito. “Right now he’s standing by
the way he has it set up.” Overall, the department will meet its
budget mark for 2011, but that’s because of savings from not filling
dozens of open positions, police and city administrators say. Over
the years, the department’s size has fluctuated between 990 and
1,137 officers, according to the city. Currently it has 1,086.
Though the city recently authorized hiring 19
officers, those new hires won’t be enough to fill the department’s
needs. At the end of July, the department had 143 empty positions,
110 for sworn officers and 33 for civilian personnel. Those
vacancies amount to nearly 10 percent of the department’s authorized
strength.
ATANTA, GA. 23-YEAR OLD MOTHER SHOT DEAD
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
A 23-year-old woman was killed in a drive-by shooting Friday
night, according to Police. .Julian Jones was walking on the
2900 block of Macon Drive in southeast Atlanta at about 9:50 p.m.
when she was hit by gunfire emanating from a dark-colored SUV,
Atlanta police said. The mother of three was struck in the hip and
later died during surgery. Two men walking with Jones fled and were
not injured. Police believe one of the men walking with Jones may
have been the intended target.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
LIBYA. TRIPOLI. GADDAFI SEEMS TO BE IN TROUBLE IN
THE CAPITAL.
COLOMBIA-HONDURAS. A DRUG PLANE SEIZED.
HAITI. P-AU-P. SHOOTING REPORT ON THE
MINISTRY OF FINANCES
==============================================================
AUGUST 20
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 20, 1968, the Soviet Union and other
Warsaw Pact nations invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the ''Prague
Spring'' liberalization drive of Alexander Dubcek's regime.
On Aug. 20, 1833, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd
president of the United States, was born. He died Following on March
13, 1901,
1955 Hundreds of people were killed in
anti-French rioting in Morocco and Algeria.
1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a nearly
$1 billion anti-poverty measure.
1977 The United States launched Voyager 2, an
unmanned spacecraft carrying a 12-inch copper phonograph record
containing greetings in dozens of languages, samples of music and
sounds of nature.
1992 The Republican National Convention in
Houston nominated President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan
Quayle for a second term.
1998 Retaliating for deadly embassy bombings in
East Africa, the United States launched cruise missile strikes
against al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan and what was
described as a chemical plant in Sudan.
2006 Former Associated Press photographer Joe
Rosenthal, who took the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising picture during
World War II, died at age 94.
2009 Voting in Afghanistan's presidential
election was marred by rampant ballot-box stuffing. Hamid Karzai was
declared the winner in November
2009 The only man convicted of the bombing of Pan
Am Flight 103 returned home to Libya after his release from a
Scottish prison on compassionate grounds.
=-=-====================================================
AUGUST 19
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 19, 1934, a plebiscite in Germany
approved the vesting of sole executive power in Adolf Hitler as
Fuhrer.
On Aug. 19, 1883, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the
influential French fashion designer, was born. She died on
Jan. 10, 1971,
1994 President Bill Clinton halted the nation's
three-decade open-door policy for Cuban refugees.
1996 A judge sentenced former Arkansas Gov. Jim
Guy Tucker to four years' probation for his Whitewater crimes.
2004 The Internet search engine Google went
public.
2005 A Texas jury found pharmaceutical giant
Merck & Co. liable for the death of a man who'd taken the
once-popular painkiller Vioxx.
2010 A federal grand jury indicted retired
baseball player Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress about
steroid use. Clemens' trial this year ended in a mistrial.
2010 The last American combat brigade exited
Iraq, seven years and five months after the U.S.-led invasion began.
CITY HALL. N Y.PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2011
7:00 AM Live Interview on The Early Show Airs on How
New York City is Supporting Entrepreneurs Who are Creating Jobs CBS
Television
8:05 AM The John Gambling Show with Mayor Mike Airs
WOR Radio - 710 AM and www.wor710.com
CITY HALL, N Y MAYOR BLOOMBERG APPOINTS CARTER H.
STRICKLAND, JR. COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION Contact: Stu Loeser and/ Marc La Vorgna C.H. NYC
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today appointed Carter H.
Strickland, Jr. as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Protection. Commissioner Strickland has nearly two decades of
experience in environmental policy and law in the New York
metropolitan region, most recently serving as Deputy Commissioner
for Sustainability at the Department of Environmental Protection and
previously as Senior Policy Advisor for Air and Water in the Mayor’s
Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. In the Mayor’s
Office and at the Department of Environmental Protection,
Commissioner Strickland has been instrumental in the development and
implementation of the water, air and natural resource initiatives in
PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s comprehensive sustainability plan, and was
a principal architect of the City’s Green Infrastructure Plan to
capture more rain water to reduce combined sewer overflows and
flooding through the installation blue roofs and green roofs,
permeable concrete, tree pits and other green infrastructure. He
also has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the New York
State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau where he
prosecuted violations of Federal and State environmental statutes.
Commissioner Strickland’s appointment is effective immediately. The
Mayor announced the appointment at the Department of Environmental
Protection headquarters in Lefrak City, Queens, where he was joined
by Deputy Mayor for Operations and former Environmental Protection
Commissioner Cas Holloway.
“Over the last two years, DEP has risen to new
heights – cutting costs while becoming a more efficient and
effective agency and helping to drive the Administration’s ambitious
sustainability agenda,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Carter Strickland has
been a key part of that success, and has been a highly effective
leader in our efforts to create a greener, greater city since he
joined our Administration four years ago. He has the right
experience and qualities to be an extremely successful commissioner,
with great vision and understanding of the challenges of delivering
a vital public service to nine million New Yorkers every day, while
protecting their environment and quality of life.”
“It is an honor to be selected to lead this talented
and dedicated agency and to be able give back to our city,” said
Commissioner Strickland. “The work that DEP does on a day to day
basis is remarkable. Our often unheralded workforce of nearly 6,000
employees is part of the backbone of our city, supplying more than
one billion gallons of the world’s best drinking water every day and
ensuring the city’s surrounding water bodies like Jamaica Bay
continue their resurgence. I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for his
confidence in my ability and for this tremendous opportunity. With
PlaNYC and our strategic plan as a roadmap, and with continued
partnerships with environmental and community groups and Federal and
agencies, we can and will accomplish more great things.”
While serving as Deputy Commissioner for
Sustainability at the Department of Environmental Protection,
Commissioner Strickland helped lead the Administration’s efforts to
eliminate the use of the dirtiest grade of heating oil. As a part of
the Department’s leadership team, he was instrumental in
implementing reforms over the last two years that have cut costs and
reduced water rate increases. He also helped draft the Department’s
new strategic plan, which aims to make the agency the safest, most
efficient, cost-effective and transparent water utility in the
nation.
Prior to joining the Bloomberg Administration in
2007, Commissioner Strickland served as Associate Clinical Professor
and Acting Director of the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic, where
he advocated before Federal and State courts on behalf of dozens of
national, state and local environmental and civic groups, while
teaching environmental law and managing an environmental law clinic.
He also has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham Law
School.
Throughout the course of his career, Commissioner
Strickland has argued or litigated environmental cases in front of
nearly every level of the judiciary, up to the U.S. Court of Appeals
in three districts and a state Supreme Court. He has given lectures
before dozens of professional, international, academic, and lay
audiences on sustainability, environmental policy and environmental
law and governance issues. He serves as the Board Director of the
National Association of Clean Water Agencies and is a member of the
bar in three states. He is a former Board Member of the Tri-State
Transportation Campaign and was a member of the environmental
transition team for then Mayor-elect Cory Booker of Newark, New
Jersey.
The Department of Environmental Protection’s nearly
6,000-person staff is responsible for the City’s air and water
quality, for the safety and operation of a water supply system that
serves more than nine million people daily, for collecting and
processing wastewater, and for enforcing compliance in the handling
and disposal of hazardous materials. The department’s operating
budget is approximately $1 billion annually.
Commissioner Strickland graduated from Dartmouth
College, cum laude, and earned his law degree from the Columbia
University School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the
Columbia Journal of Environmental Law. He served as a Law Clerk to
the Honorable Joseph H. Young, U.S. District Judge in Baltimore,
Maryland and he worked as an Associate at Latham & Watkins LLP and
at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP. He lives in Brooklyn Heights with
his wife, Nicole, and their two children.
The replacement search was led by Nathan Leventhal,
Chairman of the Mayor’s Committee on Appointments, and Andrea
Shapiro Davis, Special Advisor to the Mayor.
NEW YORK. ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11th WITH
BLOOMBERG, CUOMO AND CHRISTIE.
With the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks drawing
closer, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday that no politicians
should take the stage for a lengthy speech at a memorial ceremony,
though Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
feel otherwise. At issue is face time. Cuomo has reportedly pushed
the Bloomberg administration to allow the governor to make extended
remarks instead of the poetry politicians typically recite. The
mayor's office denies the governor's office has reached out.
Meanwhile, Christie blasted Bloomberg for sidestepping former New
Jersey Governor Donald DiFrancesco for a speaking slot. DiFrancesco
was the Garden State's chief executive at the time of the attacks.
Bloomberg said the city would comply with Christie's request, but he
hasn't heard anything else from the governor. "He's not a shrinking
violet. If he had something to say, I am sure he'd pick up the
phone," said Bloomberg. In New Jersey, Christie took to the podium.
"If we allowed New York to make every one of these decisions with
just New York, no one from New Jersey would be there," said
Christie. Both governors are considered rising stars in national
politics who could potentially benefit from the September 11th
spotlight. Rumors of their presidential prospects have circulated
for months. For Cuomo, it's even more personal. His first run for
governor was set back after he criticized Governor George Pataki's
role in the attack's aftermath, saying he merely held Mayor
Giuliani's coat.
On Thursday, the mayor said the anniversary's
speaking schedule was set in stone. "Nobody is going to give a
political speech. This is too much of a solemn event, and I am sure
Governor Cuomo and Governor Christie understand that,” said
Bloomberg.
MIAMI. 2 YEAR-PLD GIRL'S DEATH. NO FOUL PLAY
ACCORDING TO POLICE.
Broward sheriff’s detectives do not suspect foul play was
involved in the death of a 2-year-old Oakland Park girl, according
to a report released on Thursday. Destiny Taylor died at Plantation
General Hospital on Wednesday, said Mike Jachles, spokesman for the
Broward Sheriff’s Office. About 5 p.m., Broward deputies and Oakland
Park Fire Rescue responded to emergency calls about an unresponsive
girl at a home in the 3000 block of Northwest 30th Avenue. Deputies
were told the girl had gone swimming earlier in the day under adult
supervision. When she came home, she became lethargic and then
unresponsive, BSO said.
ATLANTA. OFFICIALS THREATEN BY JUDGE IN THE SALE
OF JAIL SALE.
As reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a federal judge
on Thursday ordered Fulton County and Atlanta officials to
facilitate the sale of the city jail to the county and warned he
would lock up any elected official who blocks these efforts. .U.S.
District Judge Marvin Shoob delivered this edict while meeting with
political officials and attorneys from both sides of a 2004 federal
lawsuit involving overcrowding at Fulton County jail that was
settled. However, sale negotiations for the city jail have been
alternately stonewalled by the city and county, preventing the
county jail from obtaining inmate population relief and Shoob had
seen enough and decided to get tough.
“I am prepared to do something,” Shoob said. “I’ve
talked to the warden at the Atlanta Penitentiary and he’s got room
for everybody I send over. And they won’t have cell phones.” The
county has failed to meet mandates of the negotiated settlement that
set population caps and minimum staffing levels at the county jail,
which sends hundreds of inmates to rented cells in other counties.
Overcrowding continues to force inmates to sleep on the floor, which
violates the agreement. “The city wants to sell its jail to the
county,” Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Peter Aman said.
The city jail, which is west of downtown, currently
houses 900 immigration detainees and 200 city ordinance violators.
Atlanta would lease 200 beds in the jail if Fulton County bought and
operated it, Aman said. Two years ago, the proposed jail sale price
was $33 million, the balance of the debt at that time. Aman said the
price would be less now. “We were ready to go and had the deal all
laid out,” Aman said. County Attorney David Ware told Shoob that
money was the problem, that the county expects a $35 million
shortfall this year.
The judge said he would issue his order once he
receives a report in two weeks from his jail expert, Calvin
Lightfoot. “We’re running a jail like a Third World country,” Shoob
said. “I don’t care where they get the money.” The county
already has spent $60 million to renovate the jail, one of the
mandates in the 2006 settlement of the lawsuit that complained of
dirty and dangerous conditions. Yet the county continues to spend
millions of dollars a year to house inmates in rented cells in other
counties and cities, and Fulton does this instead of “addressing
this problem head-on,” Shoob said.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
AFGHANISTAN. IN KABUL ATTACK ON BRITISH COMPOUND
KILLS 9.
AUSTRALIA. THREE MEMBERS OF AUSTRALIAN TV
BELIEVED KILLED IN CRASH
UN NEWS
SYRIAN CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS MAY AMOUNT TO
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
===========================================================
AUGUST 18
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 18, 1963, James Meredith became the first
black to graduate from the University of Mississippi.
On Aug. 18, 1934, Roberto Clemente, one of major
league baseball's top outfielders was born. He died Fon Dec. 31,
1972,
1963 James Meredith became the first
African-American to graduate from the University of Mississippi.
1969 The Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel,
N.Y., concluded with a mid-morning set by Jimi Hendrix.
1983 Hurricane Alicia slammed into the Texas
coast, leaving 22 dead and causing more than $1 billion damage.
1988 Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle was nominated as
George H.W. Bush's running mate during the Republican National
Convention in New Orleans.
1991 Soviet hard-liners launched a coup aimed at
toppling President Mikhail S. Gorbachev, who was vacationing in the
Crimea.
1997 Virginia Military Institute admitted a
female student for the first time in its 158-year history.
2005 A judge in Wichita, Kan., sentenced BTK
serial killer Dennis Rader to 10 consecutive life terms.
2008 Pervez Musharraf resigned as the president
of Pakistan amid efforts by opposition lawmakers to seek his
impeachment.
NEW YORK. GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO LOWER TOLL FARE HIKE
TO BE VOTED BY PA
8/17/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS N.Y.
This Friday, the board of the Port Authority will vote
tomorrow on a proposal by Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey
Governor Chris Christie that will raise the authority's bridge and
tunnel tolls by $1.50. The two governors also want the authority to
lower the proposed fare increase for the PATH train and undergo a
"comprehensive audit." Following the initial $1.50 increase, the
governors' proposal would have E-ZPass tolls increase by 75 cents
every December from 2012 to 2015. Cash tolls for drivers would also
pay an additional $2 on top of the increases. PATH fares will
increase by 25 cents every year for four years.Port Authority
Chairman David Samson and Vice Chairman Stanley Grayson said they
had been working with the governors on the proposed hikes. The Port
Authority insists the increases are necessary to pay for crucial
infrastructure improvements. The Port Authority board will meet in
an executive session and then hold their public meeting at 3 p.m.
tomorrow at 225 Park Avenue South in Manhattan. Members of the
public will be allowed to speak for three minutes each.
MENDHAM, N.J. VERIZON EXECUTIVE IN HOT WATER WITH
WORKERS. 8/17/11
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS N.Y.
Striking Verizon workers protest at CEO Lowell Mc Adams
mansion in New Jersey. They were more than 150 in candlelight
vigil this past Thursday protesting the benefit cuts.and they were
carrying American flags, chanting What's Disgusting. That was a
peaceful protest by Verizon workers from New York, Massachusetts,
Virginia and other states where more than 45,000 Verizon workers are
on strike since August 7.The Communications Workers of America and
the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are fighting
Verizon's call for a pension freeze and for contributions to health
insurance premiums, among other things. Verizon Communications
Inc.The company has obtained court injunctions in New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania and Delaware to limit picketing.
ATLANTA, GA. THOUSANDS IN ATLANTA JOB FAIR.
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS N.Y.
Over 3,000 people were in line for this Job Fair It was very hot.
Emergency crews responded to several calls for heat-related illness
until school officials opened an overflow room and let everyone
inside between 2:30 and 3 p.m. "A total of nine people were treated,
and seven were transported" to Grady Memorial and Emory Crawford
Long hospitals, Bundrige said. "Several did lose consciousness at
some point." As reported by the Atlanta Journal, most of the
incidents were heat-related, though in one case, a person complained
of chest pains, he said. The victims' conditions were not
immediately available. Traffic was at a standstill on University
Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway prior to the event, held from 9 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. Ninety employers, all of them with job openings, a
requirement for participating, met with job hopefuls, organizers
said.
Employers on hand were Atlanta Workforce
Development, the Gwinnett County school system and a number of
federal agencies including the General Services Administration,
Securities and Exchange Commission and Agriculture, Labor, Housing
and Urban Development and Transportation departments. Private
employers included Coca-Cola, Sprint, Comcast, Google, NCR,
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Microsoft, General Electric,
Starbucks, Waffle House and Pepsi. The crowds, lines and heat took
their toll on people in line, both mentally and physically.Around
noon, a woman who had been waiting in line for several hours
collapsed and appeared to lose consciousness for a few seconds until
people gave her water and revived her. An EMS crew that was on the
site carried the woman into the shade and tended to her there. Radio
dispatchers reported "multiple patients down" and said EMTs and fire
engines were on the scene to provide assistance. Some participants
were very frustrated for standing on line for hours in the heat.
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., urged job-seekers not to give up hope and
called for a federal solution to unemployment. "It is my hope that
some of the people here today will be promised a job -- at least an
interview. We have to do something." Lewis said there must be a
"massive effort on the part of this administration and on the part
of all of us" in Congress to fund public works jobs similar to those
created during the Great Depression. Lewis said he would push for
more federal spending, "millions and billions of dollars to create
jobs, to put people back to work" but he offered no specific
proposals other than a summer jobs program that failed to pass
Congress.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA. JOSE BAEZ, ATTORNEY FOR CASEY
ANTHONY BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FLORIDA BAR.
The Florida Bar said this past Wednesday said that it is
investigating defense attorney Jose Baez again, the latest probe
related to Casey Anthony's probation issue.Earlier this month,
Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry heard arguments from
Anthony's defense team on whether or not she should be required to
serve probation.
At issue: Anthony pleaded guilty to 13 charges in a
check fraud case in January 2010. Judge Stan Strickland sentenced
her to time-served in jail, and a year of probation after her jail
release. But last month, when Anthony was acquitted of murder and
released from the Orange County Jail, she wasn't put on probation.
The Department of Corrections said Anthony served that probation in
jail while she was awaiting the murder trial. Soon after her
release, Strickland amended his original order clarifying his
intentions, which were clear in video and transcripts from the
January 2010 sentencing. Anthony's defense team objected, and Perry
heard arguments from attorneys earlier this month. Perry asked the
defense team if they knew Anthony was serving her probation while
she was in jail. One of Anthony's attorneys admitted that they did,
but didn't think it was their burden to notify the court. Perry
eventually issued an order stating Anthony does have to report to
probation.
In that order, Perry took up the issue with the
attorneys too, saying that, "the failure to abide by that order and
the failure to notify the court of a known scrivener's error in the
order may be a violation of an attorney's duty of candor." "No
attorney should conduct himself or herself in a way that impedes an
order of the court. ... Our system of justice should never be in the
position of rewarding someone who willfully hides the ball."
A spokeswoman with the Bar said no other information
about the investigation into Baez is public. It's unclear if the Bar
initiated the inquiry on its own, or if someone filed a complaint
against Baez. Baez did not respond to requests for comment. Baez has
been the target of several other Bar inquiries since taking on
Anthony's case in the summer of 2008. Anthony was acquitted last
month on charges of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee Marie.
*In September 2009, the Bar cleared Baez of an
ethical complaint accusing him of getting paid inappropriately in
the case. *That same month, the Bar cleared Baez of ethics
allegations made by private investigator Dominic Casey, who claimed
Baez never paid him. He also said the attorney told him to walk away
from Caylee's remains if he ever found them and contact Baez. Both
complaints were dismissed based on insufficient evidence. .
*The Bar initiated its own investigation into Baez
after the State Attorney's Office faxed news releases that seemed to
be generated on his behalf by his former spokesman that were
critical of State Attorney Lawson Lamar. The Bar found no
disciplinary proceedings against Baez were appropriate. *The Bar
confirmed a separate complaint against Baez in early February.
Specific details about that complaint have not been released.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CHILE. 9,800 MORE VICTIMS DURING
PINOCHET'S RULE 1973 TO 1990
========================================================
AUGUST 17
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 17, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art
Fair concluded near Bethel, N.Y.
Go to article » On Aug. 17, 1887, Marcus Garvey,
the Jamaican-born founder of the Universal Negro Improvement
Association, was born. He died on June 10, 1940
1969 Hurricane Camille slammed into the Gulf Coast, killing 248
people.
1987 Rudolf Hess, the last member of Adolf
Hitler's inner circle, died at Spandau prison in West Berlin at age
93, apparently a suicide. He had been the only inmate at Spandau for
21 years.
1992 Actor-director Woody Allen admitted being
romantically involved with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of
his longtime companion, actress Mia Farrow.
1998 President Bill Clinton underwent grand jury
questioning in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. 1998 Russia devalued the
ruble.
2002 Pope John Paul II arrived in Krakow, Poland,
for the ninth and final visit to his native country during his
papacy.
2005 Israeli security forces began the forcible
removal of Jews from four settlements in the Gaza Strip.
2008 American swimmer Michael Phelps and three
teammates won the 400-meter medley relay for Phelps' record-breaking
eighth gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
2010 A mistrial was declared on 23 corruption
charges against ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He was
convicted of 17 counts of corruption in a retrial.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR CITY HALL.
MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011
MANHATTAN
*10:00 AM Presides Over Bill Signing Ceremony City Hall
*Bills to be considered: Intro. 248-A – in relation to establishing
reporting requirements for the department of citywide administrative
services on the status of City-owned real property. Intro. 338-A –
in relation to greenhouses. Intro. 452-A – in relation to the
purchase of New York State food. Intro. 461-A – in relation to
establishing packaging reduction guidelines for contractors with
City agencies. Intro. 615-A – in relation to establishing reporting
requirements regarding the production, processing, distribution and
consumption of food in and for the City, and to repeal Section
17-325.2 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York,
relating to reports on green carts.
12:30 PM Joins William of The Black Eyed Peas,
Chase, Robin Hood Foundation, New York City Parks & Recreation and
the Central Park Conservancy to Make Announcement Central Park
Arsenal Roof 830 5th Avenue at 64th Street
QUEENS
*2:30 PM Plays Mini Golf with Crew Members of the Space Shuttle
Atlantis Rocket Park Mini Golf New York Hall of Science 47-01 111th
Street near 47th Avenue Flushing Meadows Corona Park
NEW YORK. PASTOR ZACHERY TIMS FOUND DEAD IN TIMES
SQUARE HOTEL 8/17/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
It is reported that NYPD cops are investigating if drugs
were involved in death of a Florida church pastor who was found dead
in his Times Square hotel room. An envelope filled with white powder
was inside the shorts of the Rev. Zachery Tims Jr, 42. Tims,
who leads the 8,000-member New Destiny Christian Center near Orlando
was found lying face up on the floor of his room in the W Hotel by
workers on Friday. Tims was in town for a meeting and was scheduled
to fly next to Texas, the Daily News said. An autopsy performed over
the weekend was inconclusive while toxicology tests will take weeks
to complete. Drugs have had a role in Tims' life before he founded
the church with his then-wife Riva in 1996.
"After Dr. Tims was miraculously saved, instantly delivered from
drug addiction, and called into ministry, he determined to make his
young life count by simultaneously earning two Bachelor’s degrees."
Tims has four children from his marriage with Riva that ended in
2009 after he admitted to having an affair with a stripper.
A prayer service on Monday at New Destiny Christian
Center drew 2,000 people. Tims' ex-wife Riva spoke and told the
audience that he'd vacationed in Puerto Rico with his family a week
before he died. "We lost one of our leaders," said the Rev. Willie
Barnes, a Baptist pastor who spoke at the service. ""His ministry
was very, very powerful, especially to young people. He brought a
different style of ministry, and it reached a lot of the younger
generation because it wasn't so traditional," Barnes said, according
to the Sentinel.
PARAMUS, NJ. RHIAN STOUTE A BROOKLYN RAPPER FOUND
DEAD IN SUV.8/17/11
By Jerry Bloomberg NTS NEWS NY..
New Jersey Detectives are looking into what caused the death of
this young 33 year-old Brooklyn rapper. His body was found
inside a burning SUV along Village Circle West in Paramus. NJ Police
are investigating the matter as a homicide. Police believe he died
somewhere else and was left at the Jersey location. The Bergen
County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
INDIA. PRIME MINISTER AND ANTI-GRAFT ANNA HAZARE.
CHINA. US VP JOE BIDEN IN CHINA FOR ECONOMC
TALKS.
CANADA. HACKER REPORTS DEATH OF PM JEAN CHAREST.
A FUNNY JOKE.
====================================================
AUGUST 2O11
AUGUST 16
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 16, 1977, singer Elvis Presley died at
Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tenn., at age 42.
On Aug. 16, 1913, Menachem Begin, the prime
minister of Israel from 1977 to 1983, was born.He died on March 9,
1992,
1960 Britain granted independence to Cyprus. 1987
Thousands of people worldwide began a two-day
celebration of the "harmonic convergence," which believers called
the start of a new, purer age of humankind.
1988 Vice President George H.W. Bush tapped
Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle to be his running mate on the Republican
ticket.
2000 Delegates to the Democratic National
Convention in Los Angeles nominated Vice President Al Gore for
president.
2003 Idi Amin, the former dictator of
Uganda, died in Saudi Arabia.
2007 Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen held for 3-1/2
years as an enemy combatant, was convicted in Miami of helping
Islamic extremists and plotting overseas attacks. He was sentenced
to 17 years, four months in prison.
2008 Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly
by a hundredth of a second for his seventh gold medal of the Beijing
Olympics, tying Mark Spitz's 1972 record.
2008 Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and
actress Portia de Rossi were married at their Beverly Hills, Calif.,
home.
2010 China eclipsed Japan as the world's second
biggest economy after three decades of blistering growth.
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND BOROUGH PRESIDENT
MARKOWITZ ANNOUNCE DEVELOPER TO TRANSFORM PART OF BROOKLYN MUNICIPAL
BUILDING INTO RETAIL DESTINATION, CREATING MORE THAN 100 NEW JOBS
By Stu Loeser and Andrew Brent C. H.
New Development Will Add a Full-Service Restaurant
and Other Tenants to Already Vibrant Retail Corridor in Booming
Neighborhood
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough
President Marty Markowitz today announced that United American Land
will develop 49,000 square feet of retail space in the City-owned
Brooklyn Municipal Building at 210 Joralemon Street in Downtown
Brooklyn. United American Land will transform the western portion of
the first, second, and below-grade floors of the space; creating a
lively, pedestrian-friendly, and unique retail space that will serve
as an anchor for the Court Street retail corridor in the City’s
third largest Central Business District. While tenants have not yet
been selected, there will be multiple retail tenants in the space
and one of them will be a full-service restaurant. Construction is
expected to begin in 2012, and the project will create 64 full-time
construction jobs and 114 permanent jobs. The space is currently
being occupied by the Department of Finance, which will relocate and
consolidate within the building and to other City-owned space. This
development will build upon the City’s efforts to revitalize
Downtown Brooklyn and is a product of a City initiative, announced
in the 2010 State of the City Speech, to use space it owns and
leases more efficiently. Mayor Bloomberg and Borough President
Markowitz made the announcement at the Brooklyn Municipal Building
and were joined by Councilmember Stephen Levin, Deputy Mayor for
Economic Development Robert K. Steel, Economic Development
Corporation Chief Operating Officer Josh Wallack, Department of
Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Edna Wells-Handy,
Department of Finance Commissioner David Frankel, Chairman of the
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership Alan Fishman, and Albert Laboz of
United American Land.
“Downtown Brooklyn’s resurgence is just one of New
York City’s success stories,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “New York City
has lost fewer jobs and is bouncing back from the downturn faster
than the rest of the country, and that is no accident – it is
because of our commitment to investing in neighborhoods and helping
entrepreneurs create jobs across all five boroughs.”
“As borough president, I like to think of all of
Brooklyn as my own backyard, but it’s not often that I can actually
look out of my office window and see a future economic powerhouse
right across the street,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty
Markowitz. “Now, thanks to United American Land and Al Laboz, that
future is now. Let this be a message to all developers and
businesses that there are underutilized City-owned buildings that
would be perfect sites for economic development. Kudos to Mayor
Bloomberg and his staff, the EDC and Seth Pinsky, the Downtown
Brooklyn Partnership and Joe Chan, and especially to my tireless
chief of staff, Carlo Scissura, whose laser-sharp focus and tenacity
helped turn this idea into reality.”
“The selection of United American Land LLC to
develop the retail space at the Municipal Building is an exciting
step forward for the continued revitalization of Downtown Brooklyn,”
said Council Member Stephen Levin. “I would like to thank Mayor
Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Steel and EDC President Seth Pinsky for
their commitment to bringing innovative retail opportunities to
Brooklyn and Borough President Marty Markowitz for championing this
project for many years.”
“A redeveloped Municipal Building will continue to
make Downtown Brooklyn a destination for all New Yorkers,” said
Senator Daniel Squadron. “By bringing in new businesses and new
jobs, this is one more piece of a downtown revival – and an
important step for this community and for the city as a whole. I’d
like to thank Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President Markowitz, EDC
President Pinsky, and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership for their
work to make this a reality.”
“The Bloomberg Administration is committed to
fostering economic development in all five boroughs, and Downtown
Brooklyn is one the City’s great success stories,” said Deputy Mayor
Steel. “This redevelopment project will bring more businesses,
visitors and – most importantly – jobs to this vibrant and dynamic
economic engine for Brooklyn and the entire City.”
“With this project, United American Land will bring
vibrancy and activity to the streetscape, expand job opportunities
for local residents, and enhance and diversify the Downtown Brooklyn
retail base in a manner that will meet the everyday needs of the
diverse population of workers, residents and visitors to the area,”
said NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky.
“210 Joralemon is a wonderful example of DCAS’
creative collaborations with sister City agencies, yielding valuable
revenue and space savings,” said Edna Wells Handy, Commissioner of
the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. “The DCAS Asset
Management Line of Service was engaged in every step of the process
– from the analysis of the space, creation of the RFP, shepherding
the ULURP process to assisting with the developer selection
procedure. The creative multi-use of this space furthers our mission
of leveraging city-owned real estate more efficiently, and we
continue to look for more opportunities like 210 Joralemon.”
“The Department of Finance is looking forward to
offering improved service for customers in our rebuilt Brooklyn
space,” said Department of Finance Commissioner David M. Frankel.
“In the meantime, we encourage all of our Brooklyn customers to take
advantage of our recently revamped online services, or visit one of
our four other locations.”
“Downtown Brooklyn today is a diversified, 24-7 live
work community, having benefitted from a surge of investment in
excess of $3 billion during the past five years,” said Alan Fishman,
Co-Chair of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “As a result, hundreds of
new retail jobs have been created, the area’s residential population
has boomed, new cultural facilities and parks have been created and
the area is well positioned to really surge once the global
recession subsides. Redevelopment of the Municipal Building is more
good news for the area.”
“We are thrilled to continue our involvement in the
Downtown Brooklyn renaissance by developing this unique property
into a thriving retail location that will enhance the ongoing retail
revival in this downtown district,” said Albert Laboz of United
American Land.
The Economic Development Corporation positioned this
project to attract proposals from some of the City’s leading retail
developers and negotiated an agreement that enables the City to
maximize proceeds from this transaction while also ensuring that
future uses in this building will complement the City’s development
objectives for the area. United American Land is buying the 49,000
square feet parcel for $10 million. They were chosen through a
public request for proposals and are a family-owned real estate
development, investment and management company founded in 1985 and
based in New York City. The company manages and owns over forty
properties in Manhattan and Brooklyn and is already an active and
dedicated participant in the Downtown Brooklyn community, owning and
undertaking several projects within the area.
The Brooklyn Municipal Building is a 13-story,
383,000 square foot structure erected in 1925 and designed by
architects Mckenzie, Voorhees & Gmelin. Adjacent to the iconic
Brooklyn Borough Hall, the site has excellent transit access and is
served by 14 subway lines, 16 buses, and yields over 1,800
pedestrians per midday hour. The area around the building is a
vibrant mix of cultural and community organizations, civic and
academic institutions, commercial and residential buildings, all
interspersed with open space.
Since its rezoning in 2004, Downtown Brooklyn has
been undergoing a dynamic transformation as a result of billions of
dollars in public and private investments, and has become a shopping
and dining destination attracting more than 150,000 shoppers daily.
Already one of the city’s most active central business districts,
Downtown Brooklyn is home to one of the busiest retail corridors in
the nation and more than 100,000 office workers, over 40 arts and
cultural organizations, as well as eight universities and colleges
educating some 57,000 students. Since 2006, Downtown Brooklyn has
experienced some 7.8 million square feet of development including
over 590,000 square feet of retail space and 236,000 square feet of
office space. This space will complement and add to the growing
retail landscape in Downtown Brooklyn. Major retailers have opened
nearby and many more projects are underway. The first phase of the
nearby CityPoint development includes 50,000 square feet of retail
and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012. DeKalb
Market, an open-air market occupies the space where future phases of
the CityPoint development will occur.
In his 2010 State of the City speech, Mayor
Bloomberg committed to reducing the City’s office space by 1.2
million square feet by the end of 2014, saving $36 million annually.
As part of the effort, the City will sell or lease vacated space
where appropriate to generate jobs, revenue and economic activity.
So far, the City has reduced office space by 325,000 square feet,
saving $12.8 million in annual savings. Currently, the NYC
Department of Finance Business Center occupies approximately 19,000
square feet on the ground floor of the Brooklyn Municipal Building
site and the NYC Department of Finance Property Assessment Division
occupies roughly 18,000 square feet on the second floor. The
Business Center renovation will begin in 2012 following the
relocation of the finance center. The Department of Citywide
Administration Services is working with the Department of Finance to
accommodate its space needs both in the building and in other
facilities with the goal of more efficient but quality business
center and office space using the City’s open plan space guidelines.
NEW YORK. PORT AUTHORITY OF NY AND NJ MEETINGS
ABOUT FARE HIKES.
By Jacques Dusseck NT5S NEWS NY
Representatives from the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey are holding the public hearings across northern New Jersey
and in New York City to solicit comments. Under plans announced two
weeks ago, tolls would rise by $4 for E-ZPass customers and $7 for
cash-payers as soon as September at the Outerbridge Crossing,
Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and George Washington Bridge and the
Holland Tunnel and Lincoln Tunnel. An additional $2 increase would
happen in 2014. The plan would also hike fares on PATH trains by $1.
The Port Authority will vote on the plan Friday,
though either New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or New York Gov. Andrew
Cuomo could veto it within 10 days. "You're kidding, right? That was
my response," Christie said. "And I think, listen, this is
unfortunately a testimony to the mismanagement of the Port
[Authority] for years." "The knee-jerk response of government needs
more money, go to the taxpayer, put your hand in the taxpayer's
pocket, take out more money and fund it, that doesn't work for me,"
Cuomo said.
Of the eight hearings scheduled, some are at
commuter-friendly locations like the Port Authority Bus Terminal and
the George Washington Bridge bus station. The Port Authority
plans to try to limit comments to three minutes.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
OSLO, ZURICH AND GENEVA MOST EXPENSIVE CITY IN THE
WORLD.
LIBYA. SCUD MISSILE USED BY LIBYAN FORCES.
INDIA. HUNDREDS ARRESTED OVER PROTESTS AGAINST
CORRUPTION.
UN NEWS
UN REFUGEE AGENCY. REPORT ABOUT LIBYAN AND
TUNISIAN REFUGEES.
======================================================
AUGUST 15
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 15, 1947, India and Pakistan became
independent after some 200 years of British rule.
On Aug. 15, 1879, Ethel Barrymore, who was
considered the "first lady" of the American theatre, was born. She
died on June 18, 1959,
1944 Allied forces landed in southern France
during World War II.
1945 The Allies proclaimed V-J Day, one day after
Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally.
1947 India became independent after some 200
years of British rule.
1948 The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was
proclaimed.
1960 The Republic of the Congo became independent
of French rule.
1971 President Richard M. Nixon announced a
90-day freeze on wages, prices and rents.
1998 A car bomb in Omagh killed 29 people and
injured 370, making it the single deadliest act of violence in 30
years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.
2000 One hundred people from North Korea
arrived in South Korea for temporary reunions with relatives they
had not seen for half a century; 100 South Koreans visited the
North.
2001 Astronomers announced the discovery of the
first solar system outside our own - two planets orbiting a star in
the Big Dipper.
2006 Israel began withdrawing its forces from
southern Lebanon.
CITY HALL, NY PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2010
BROOKLYN *12:00 PM Announces Latest Steps to Further
Revitalize Downtown Brooklyn Retail Corridor and Create Jobs
Brooklyn Municipal Building 210 Joralemon Street between Adams and
Court Streets
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES NEW STATE
TEST RESULTS SHOWING DRAMATIC GAINS AMONG NEW YORK CITY STUDENTS IN
WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS
By Stu Loeser C.H
“Since winning control of our school system, we’ve
pursued ambitious reforms to establish accountability, raise
standards and invest in our teachers. All of these efforts have been
carried out with one goal in mind: to help all of our students learn
the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s economy. Last week, we
received more indications that this work is paying off: State test
scores were released, and New York City’s students posted
considerable gains – especially when compared to students in the
rest of the state.
“What makes that news even more encouraging is that
the State implemented wholesale changes to this year’s tests to make
them more challenging. In some cases, the tests contained almost
twice as many questions as the year before. They were more
comprehensive, they covered more material, and they were more
difficult. This was the case for all grades, three through eight.
“Despite these changes, New York City’s students
outperformed students in the rest of the state – all of whom take
the same test. Equally heartening, of the five biggest cities in the
state, New York City was the only one to make gains on both the Math
and English tests.
“So a round of congratulations are in order. This
year’s test results are a tribute to the cooperative hard work of so
many. They include: our students – who continue to achieve at higher
levels, no matter where the State sets the bar for proficiency, our
teachers – who are working harder than ever to help students
succeed, our principals – who are showing incredible leadership and
dedication and our parents and families – who spent many hours
reinforcing the lessons their children learned in the classroom.
“Of course, we still have a long way to go. No doubt
about it. But we’re headed in the right direction and as committed
as ever to building on our progress. In today’s increasing
competitive global economy, employers are looking for more and more
qualifications in their workforce. That’s why the most important
thing we can do for our children is making sure they’re graduating
from high school and ready to go to college – even those who might
not be thinking about college right now. And we’re determined to
give all our students the resources and support they need to reach
the high standards necessary to thrive in today’s world.
“It’s what our children need and what they
deserve.
NEW YORK. DOMINICAN DAY PARADE WAS ABEAUTIFUL
SHOW UNDER THE RAIN. 4/14/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY. .
The rain did not stop the Dominican fiesta in New York. Before going
to the Javits Center , Thousands of Dominicans and other Latinos
were on the Avenue of the Americas to be part of the Dominican Day
Parade onlookers having fun. Before going to the Javits Center for
the New York International Gift Fair, we were in the street watching
the politicians taking part in that special affair. The Governor,
the Mayor as well as John Liu participated in the show.. There was a
delay for the start, but the large crowd enjoyed the celebration of
the annual Dominican Day Parade as it made its way up Sixth Avenue.
State Senator Adriano Espaillat, the first Dominican-American
elected to the State Assembly received some very big ovations for
the ocasion.
NEW YORK. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
ON THE DEATH OF POLICE OFFICER PATRICK LUCA
“The NYPD and the entire city suffered a tragic loss today with the
death of one of our finest, Police Officer Patrick Luca. My heart
and prayers go out to Officer Luca’s wife and children, loved ones
and friends, and I want to offer condolences on behalf of a city
grateful for his service and dedication to protecting New Yorkers.
We thank the Suffolk County police for their help in the search and
we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the boaters who rescued
Officer Luca’s son.”
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EGYPT. NO TV COVERAGE FOR MUBARAK TRIAL ORDERED
BY TRIAL JUDGE.
===================================================
AUGUST 13
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 13, 1961, Berlin was divided as East
Germany sealed off the border between the city's eastern and western
sectors in order to halt the flight of refugees.
On Aug. 13, 1899, Alfred Hitchcock, the English
movie director of suspense film, was born. He died on April 29,
1980,
1960 The first two-way telephone conversation by
satellite took place with the help of Echo 1, a balloon satellite.
1981 President Ronald Reagan signed a historic
package of tax and budget reductions.
1995 Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle died of
liver cancer at age 63.
2003 Libya agreed to set up a $2.7 billion
fund for families of 270 people killed in the 1988 Pan Am bombing.
2004 The 28th summer Olympic games opened in
Athens.
2008 American Michael Phelps swam into history as
the winningest Olympic athlete ever with his 10th and 11th career
gold medals.
2009 Musician and electric guitar pioneer Les
Paul died at age 94.
NEW YORK. THE DOMINICAN DAY PARADE ON 6TH AVENUE
WILL BE A GOOD SHOW.
8/13/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
Thousands of Dominicans and the Hispanic community will take
over Manhattan this coming Sunday to celebrate. The NYPD cops will
be there to control the crowd. According to Dominican leaders
they don't want at replay of the chaos from last year with people
taking over St. Nicholas Avenue to have a huge block party.
Officials are asking liquor stores to close early and for all stores
to make sure they don't sell alcohol to minors. There's also a
problem with illegal mixed alcoholic drinks being sold on the
street. A command center will be in place at 181st street and St.
Nicholas avenue, the center of Dominican residents and other
Hispanic families. The parade will start from 36th street on Avenue
of the Americas for 20 blocks to 56th Street All the local
politicians will be there. As a routine we will be there to
support the show and admire the colorful decor.
MIAMI. REPORTS FROM FLORIDA CONFIRM A BLOODY WEEK
IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS NY.
• On Sunday, 17-year-old Jaykia Pitts died from injuries in
a July 17 drive-by shooting. Police said she appeared to be an
innocent bystander and was the third person to die from the gunfire.
• On Monday night, a drive-by shooting in Overtown
left Calvin Milton, Jr., 27 and another man dead Monday night.
Friends mourned Milton, known for his smile, personality and love of
dance. He was the head cheerleader at Booker T. Washington Senior
High and taught the tumbling moves to younger kids. “Who would want
to hurt him?” friend Rashel Clemons, 26, said the day after Milton
died.
• Early Tuesday morning, Cedric Mack, 25, was
discovered dead in a Lauderhill home.
• Later Tuesday morning, Clairemathe Geffrard, 25,
showed up for her shift at a check-cashing store on Sunrise
Boulevard near Fort Lauderdale. But a convicted felon with a long
rap sheet showed up to steal some cash. He killed Geffrard, a mom
with a 1-year-old son, in the process. Broward Sherriff deputies and
a SWAT team were summoned. But Stanley Beasley, 33, put a gun to her
head, shot her execution-style, ran outside the door with a backpack
with about $3,300 in cash and opened fire on the deputies. Five
deputies shot back. A bullet struck an innocent bystander, Jorge
Aguilar, 36, across the street at a tire shop.
• Thursday morning, Shahid Mahmood, 58, was sitting
in his car outside the Amerika Gas Station he owned in Miami Gardens
when someone approached him and shot him several times, killing him.
Mahmood came to live in South Florida more than 20 years ago from
Pakistan. He was married and had a daughter and a son.
• Also Thursday, Catawaba Howard, 32, drove up to
Derek Nicholson on a Liberty City street. She had a gun and asked
him to kill her for $1,600. “She wanted to get killed,’’ he said.
Instead, he drove her to a hospital . Later Friday, police was
called to an address and she fired at them, striking one officer.
Police fired back, killing her.
• On Thursday night, Barry Sneed, 25, was shot
multiple times and killed in a car parked at a Lauderhill apartment
complex.
ATLANTA, GA. ERNIE JOHNSON OF THE ATLANTA
BRAVES DIED AT 87.
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS, NY
A native of Vermont, and a Braves pitcher when the team was
based in Boston and Milwaukee, Johnson became an Atlanta icon as a
Braves broadcaster from the 1960s through the 1990s. In a career
that spanned from transistor radios to wide-screen televisions,
Johnson called more than 4,000 Braves games, exuding a love of
baseball and a gentle good humor in each one. Ernest Thorwald
Johnson Sr., a member of the Braves Hall of Fame, died Friday at the
age of 87.
Johnson came to Atlanta in 1965, one year before the
Braves moved here from Milwaukee, to do advance public relations
work and set up a radio network. Over the next three decades, he
became - even in the estimation of his fellow broadcasters - the
voice of the Braves, although the humble Johnson always resisted
that singular designation.
A member of the organization for more than 50 years,
Johnson was inducted into the Braves hall in 2001. Etched on his
plaque: a microphone. At the induction ceremony, long-time colleague
Pete Van Wieren called Johnson "the man who set the standard for
broadcasting baseball in Atlanta."
Johnson combined his knowledge of the game with a
soothing, folksy style to introduce major-league baseball to Atlanta
and the South. He said he approached broadcasts as if he had been
invited into fans' living rooms. He mixed storytelling with
play-by-play.
BROOKLYN. TWO SUSPECTS SOUGHT IN THE KILLING OF
YONG SIU FUNG SZE.
8/13/11 By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS NY
Police released a surveillance video of the two teenagers
believed to be responsible for the attack. The first suspect is
between 14 and 18 years old, 5-feet 11-inches and 180 pounds. He was
last seen wearing a white hooded jacket, dark pants, and dark shoes.
The second is also between 14 and 18 years old, 5-feet 2-inches and
150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts,
black shoes with white socks and a backpack. The attack happened
just a few blocks from their home in Sheepshead Bay. Siu Fung was
picked up at summer camp by his grandmother at about 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday. Family members said the attack happened underneath
scaffolding at a construction site. Two teenage boys charged at the
boy.
"The two attackers were standing here, they were
leaning against the poles," "Basically, they came out of nowhere and
stabbed her grandson." The grandmother attempted to fight them off
with her umbrella. "She was screaming. She wanted to chase the two
boys down, but they ran away so she stopped and went back to her
grandson. She chased two steps then turned around because he was
obviously injured," said the translator.
=====================================================
AUGUST 12
IN HISTORY
On July 12, 1984, Democratic presidential
candidate Walter F. Mondale named New York Congresswoman Geraldine
A. Ferraro his running mate, making her the first woman to run on a
major party ticket.
On July 12, 1865, George Washington Carver, the
African-American scientist whose discoveries helped to improve
agriculture in the South, was born. He died on Jan. 5, 1943
1972 George McGovern won the Democratic
presidential nomination at the party's convention in Miami Beach.
1993 A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck northern
Japan, killing 196 people.
1998 Three young brothers who had been asleep in
their beds burned to death in a sectarian attack in Ballymoney,
Northern Ireland.
2001 Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant tortured
in a New York City police station, agreed to an $8.7 million
settlement.
2005 Prince Albert II of Monaco acceded to the
throne.
2006 Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli
soldiers and killed eight others in a cross-border raid; Israel sent
ground troops into Lebanon in response.
2010 Roman Polanski was declared a free man, no
longer confined to house arrest in his Alpine villa, after Swiss
authorities rejected a U.S. request for the Oscar-winning director's
extradition because of a 32-year-old sex conviction.
NEW YORK. $100.000.00 PIECE OF ART STOLEN BY A
COOL THIEF 8/12/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY.
NYPD cops are looking for a thief who made off with a
$100,000 piece of art by artist Kaws.at the Marc Ecko gallery
on West 23rd Street last Wednesday, August 4th. According to person
familiar with the matter, the thief rolled up the piece, put it into
a tube and walked out. The artwork titled "Untitled - Calvin Klein"
was done by Brooklyn-based graphic artist Kaws. It features acrylic
over a Calvin Klein poster. The suspect is described as being a
white male with a thin build and a mustache. He was wearing a dark
green hood, blue jeans, a tan baseball hat with dark sunglasses and
running sneakers. Police say he was also carrying a dark backpack at
the time.
NEW YORK. NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK PRESS CLUB.
8/12/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
Wednesday, August 24th 10:30AM 7 World Trade Center
In one of the first events to take place surrounding the 10th
anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the New York Press Club
will host a briefing for working press by developer Larry
Silverstein on the progress of reconstruction at the World Trade
Center and an update on the National September 11 Memorial & Museum
by its president and CEO, Joe Daniels. A tour of the WTC
reconstruction site will follow the development briefings. The tour
is limited to a group of manageable size. A safety dress code will
apply (work boots/sturdy shoes, no loose clothing, dresses/skirts).
Hard hats will be provided.
FRONT PAGE AWARDS GALA BY THE NEWSWOMEN CLUB OF
NEW YORK ON 11/10
The Newswomen's Club of New York is now accepting entries for
the 2011 Front Page Awards. Each year, our awards honor the best
journalism by women in the New York Metropolitan area for their work
in print, wires, broadcast and online media. Categories --
Contest Rules -- Entry Form -- Past Winners Entries must be
postmarked no later than September 6, 2011. Entries submitted by
email will not be accepted. Segments of winning entries will be
shown at the Front Page Awards dinner on November 10, 2011.
Direct queries to newswomensclub@verizon.net. Please
include FRONT PAGE AWARDS QUERY in the subject line of your email.
Buy your tickets now for the Front Page Awards black-tie gala at the
Downtown Association, 60 Pine Street, Manhattan. Cocktails: 6:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dinner and Awards: 7:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.
TAMPA, GA. THOUSANDS LINE UP FOR FREE DENTAL CARE
SERVICE4.
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS, NY
Hundreds of people lined up overnight to receive free dental
service. Woodstock First Baptist Church teamed with Georgia Mission
of Mercy to begin a two-day FREE, dental clinic for low- or
no-income adults who cannot pay for dental care. .The two-day clinic
at First Baptist Church of Woodstock on Hwy. 92 is being sponsored
by the Georgia Dental Association and its Foundation for Oral Health.
"The line went around the building, all the way through the parking
lot and around a warehouse," said Dr. Richard Smith, who practices
in Atlanta. He estimated the line at 2,000 yards and said that at
its peak, 4,000 people were in line.
"A lot of these people are in pain, they have
infections, they're missing front teeth ... there's a huge need just
to get people back to work. Mothers can't take care of their
children, fathers can't earn a living ... we've got to help them."
He said there were 100 dental chairs set up at the church and more
than 1,600 volunteers, including 300 dentists. "We've got hygienists
we've got dental assistants working, there's oral surgeons
extracting teeth, we have endodontists doing root canals ... we've
got people here to feed them; it takes an army and this church has
just been absolutely incredible." He said it is the first such event
in Georgia on this scale. Smith said the people are in line who do
not get treated Friday can return on Saturday. Police were not
allowing any more people to get in line Friday. Dr. Michael Vernon
of Augusta said he was moved by the patients' response to the
massive effort.
"Two the first three patients that I saw actually
sat in the chair and cried because they were so appreciative of what
we're doing here and it just made me feel good about being here," he
said.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
MONTREAL. IN TENNIS J-WILFRIED TSONGA ELIMINATES
ROGER FEDERER.
WASHINGTON-HAITI. CLINTON BUSH HAITI FUND
RECEIVED $2 MILLION GRANT
NASSAU-BAHAMAS 115 HAITIAN MIGRANTS
DEPORTED TO HAITI.
CHINA. 22 FAKE APPLE STORES FOUND.
====================================================
AUGUST 11
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 11, 1965, deadly rioting and looting
broke out in the predominantly black Watts section of Los Angeles.
On Aug. 11, 1921, Alex Haley, who chronicled
generations of struggles and accomplishments of American blacks, was
born. He died on Feb. 10, 1992
1965 Deadly rioting and looting broke out in the
predominantly black Watts section of Los Angeles.
1998 British Petroleum purchased Amoco for $49
billion.
2000 Pat Buchanan won the Reform Party
presidential nomination.
2002 US Airways filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection.
2003 NATO took command of the 5,000-strong
peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.
2003 Charles Taylor resigned as Liberia's
president and went into exile in Nigeria.
2006 The Transportation Security Administration
banned all liquids, gels and aerosols from passenger cabins on
airliners one day after a thwarted terrorist attack.
2009 Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President
John F. Kennedy and founder of the Special Olympics, died at age 88.
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG SUBMITS CITY’S FORMAL
CHALLENGE TO 2010 CENSUS RESULTS
Stu Loeser and Marc La Vorgna
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today unveiled New York
City’s formal challenge to the results of the 2010 U.S. Census,
citing the large number of housing units mistakenly classified as
vacant by the Census Bureau in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst
neighborhoods and Queens’ Astoria and Jackson Heights neighborhoods
– which are among the most vibrant areas in New York City. While
adjustments to the city’s population will not affect Congressional
reapportionment or local redistricting, changes would be
incorporated into the baseline annual Federal estimates of the
city’s population that shape how much money New York City receives
through Federal aid programs. The letter the Mayor sent yesterday to
Dr. Robert Groves, Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, is below. To
see the City’s full submission to the U.S. Census Bureauv.
August 9, 2011
Dr. Robert Groves
Director
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20233
Dear Dr. Groves:
Enclosed is New York City’s initial submission under
the Census Bureau’s Count Question Resolution program.
As we discussed in our telephone conversation
earlier in the year, I recognize that enumerating the population of
New York City is a herculean and unenviable challenge, given the
city’s large, diverse and dense population, which lives primarily in
difficult to count housing arrangements. The Department of City
Planning and the NYC 2010 Census Office, has worked closely with the
Census Bureau and established a very productive partnership. We view
this submission as an extension of our partnership and I appreciate
your commitment to thoroughly investigate the issues we have
documented in the 2010 census count.
While we believe errors occurred in the enumeration
of neighborhoods throughout the city, our supporting documents focus
on two specific areas where these errors were concentrated. The
Bureau’s enumeration erroneously classified large numbers of housing
units as vacant within two Local Census Office boundaries: Local
Census Office 2227, which counted Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst in
Brooklyn, and Local Census Office 2235, which counted Astoria and
Jackson Heights in Queens. Numerous data sources cited in our
submission refute the prevalence of widespread vacant housing units
in those areas, which are and continue to be among our most stable,
growing and vibrant neighborhoods. This disproportionate
concentration of vacancy suggests that some aspect of the census
enumeration went awry in these two offices, with likely processing
errors that may have hindered the proper reporting, compilation, and
tabulation of census results. As such, we believe the Count Question
Resolution program is an appropriate mechanism to investigate the
problems documented in this submission and to take corrective action
regarding New York City’s 2010 final count. It should also serve to
inform more effective and collaborative census practices going
forward.
It is our expectation that the City’s population
could increase by tens of thousands of New Yorkers if the errors
from those two Census offices alone were corrected. We will continue
to work with you to address the other areas of error throughout the
rest of the city, but today we are providing detailed data about the
two specific areas where we believe the most significant errors
occurred.
Please direct any communications regarding our
submission to the City’s chief demographer, Joseph Salvo as provided
in our application. I look forward to hearing from the Bureau
following your consideration of our application.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Bloomberg Mayor New York City
BROOKLYN. ASSEMBLYMAN WILLIAM BOYLAND AND SON
ESCAPED SHOOTING
8/11/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
Assemblyman Boyland and his 7-year old son were lucky last
night when some jerks open fire on his car in the Brownsville
section of Brooklyn last night Wednesday at about 7 p.m. According
to reports, the Assemblyman's car windows were hit while driving by
Sutter avenue. No arrests were made. The Assemblyman has a
court date regarding an accusation of a corruption charge involving
State Senator Carl Kruger. He is accused of being paid $ 177,000.00
illegally.
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
============================================================
AUGUST 10
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 10, 1977, David Berkowitz, the suspect in
the "Son of Sam" murders, was arrested.
On Aug. 10, 1874, Herbert Hoover, 31st president
of the United States, was born. He died on Oct. 20, 1964
1921 Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with
polio at his summer home on the Canadian island of Campobello.
1944 American forces overcame Japanese resistance
on Guam during World War II.
1949 The National Military Establishment was
renamed the Department of Defense.
1969 Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in
their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson's cult, one day
after actress Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.
1988 President Ronald Reagan signed a measure
providing $20,000 payments to Japanese-Americans interred by the
U.S. government during World War II.
1993 Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the
second female Supreme Court justice.
2006 British authorities announced they had
thwarted a terrorist plot to simultaneously blow up 10 aircraft
heading to the United States.
2008 American swimmer Michael Phelps won the
first of a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics by
smashing his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley.
WASHINGTON. PRESIDENT OBAMA REGAINS LEAD OVER
GENERIC GOP. 8/10/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS NY.
As reported by the Political Bulletin,President Obama
Regains Lead Over Generic GOP Foe In Gallup Survey The Hill reported
in its "Blog Briefing Room" that President Obama has "jumped ahead
of a nameless Republican challenger in Gallup's monthly survey of
the generic ballot. Registered voters shifted toward Obama over the
last month, erasing the advantage a generic Republican challenger to
the president had enjoyed over the two previous months." In the
latest survey , 45% "of registered voters said they would pick Obama,"
while 39% "would favor 'the Republican Party's candidate.' The
generic GOP candidate had led Obama 47-39 percent in mid-July, and
44-39 percent in mid-June."
ATLANTA, GA. POLICE OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED THIEF
AT BURGER KING 9/10/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
An Atlanta police officer shot and killed a robber Wednesday
morning at a Burger King in Buckhead, police said. Police are
investigating similarities between the robber and a man who has
robbed dozens of Burger Kings, Taco Bells and KFC restaurants in
recent weeks.
ATLANTA. A WOMAN WINS A: $577,000
SCRATCT0-OFF 9/10/11
By Scott Strong NTS NEWS
Restaurant supervisor Sharel Allen won the $577,000
she won in the Georgia Lottery’s Power 7’s instant game. .“I plan to
pay off my mortgage, my car note and my credit card bills,” said
Allen as she accepted the winnings from lottery officials Tuesday.
And she'll save some of the winnings. Allen, who has won smaller
amounts before, bought the scratch-off Saturday at the Cascade Food
Mart on Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta. “I couldn’t believe it,
so I showed the clerk,” the 40-year-old mother said. Allen was one
of two big-dollar metro Atlanta winners announced Tuesday. Jennifer
Desai, 24, of Fayetteville, a mom-to-be, won $225,000 playing the
Cash Crop instant game. Desai, who works at a car dealership,
described her and husband, Tyrone, as "a hard-working, young
family." They'll use some of the money to finish fixing up their new
home and getting ready for their second child in November. Desai
said she bought the winning ticket at the Texaco Food Mart on W.
Fayetteville Road in College Park.
Allen won the maximum on the Power 7’s ticket. A
player scratches off the entire play area of the ticket and if a
black “7” is found the player wins what’s shown. In Allen’s case,
the figure $577,000. Allen said she was born in Columbus but moved
to Atlanta about 25 years ago. She said she’s been playing
scratch-offs for six years, and has had a $2,500 winning ticket, a
$1,600 ticket, and several $1,000 tickets. In addition to paying off
bills, Allen says she also plans to buy her 21-year-old and
18-year-old new cars. And despite the winnings, Allen said she’ll
keep her day job, and “I believe I’ll keep scratching.” A nice story
from the southern state.
NEW YORK. WALL STREET IN GOOD HEALTH AFTER THE
HOOPLA. 9/10/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Tuesday with a
429-point rally. The Federal Reserve announced Tuesday afternoon it
will keep interest rates near zero for two more years to boost the
struggling economy and ease investor fears after the U.S. credit
downgrade. It was the largest point gain since March 2009, just one
day after its biggest one-day drop since 2008.
The S&P rose by 53 points and Nasdaq gained 124
points and Asian markets had higher Wednesday opening figures.
Demand also grew for three-year U.S. treasuries. They sold at a
record low interest rate in the first government debt auction since
the credit downgrade, making some traders cautiously optimistic.
Nevertheless, other analysts say the S&P downgrade, coupled with
fears of a slowing economy and Europe's debt problems, are making
investors nervous. Many investors hoped that enough people will see
the potential for good investment opportunities that typically
follow a huge sell-off.
"Instead of reacting all of the time, they need to
get ahead of it. It may be a simple as bringing Congress back from
vacation and putting them to work on this problem. They just need to
show some positive initiative and send a message to the American
public that they are serious about dealing with these issues," said
stock broker Ted Weisberg. Meantime, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said
S&P was right to downgrade the U.S. credit rating, and blamed the
bitter debt ceiling debate in Washington for the current crisis.
"We've just gotten a two-month civics lesson on how
to talk to economy down, how to undermine investor and consumer
confidence, and how to destabilize the stock market," said the
mayor. "Washington couldn't have done any of those things better.
They have done much more to harm the economy over the past three
months, two months, than to help it. And that's just got to change."
Bloomberg also pointed out that the city's credit rating is at an
all-time high.
ASTORIA, NY. NYPD COP SHOT AN ARMED MAN NEAR
ASTORIA BOULEVARD. 9/10/11 By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
According to report from NYPD, a cop responding to a call
for a domestic dispute early this Wednesday morning, shot a man who
refused to drop his weapons. It happened around 1:30 a.m. outside an
apartment building located on 21st Street near Astoria Boulevard in
Astoria. Police say a woman called 911 to report a domestic dispute.
Officers arrived to find a man armed with two box cutters. Police
say when the man refused to drop the box cutters, they hit him with
pepper spray but he still refused to drop the weapons. When he
lunged at an officer, another officer fired once, hitting the man in
the stomach. He was taken to Elmhurst hospital. His condition is
described as stable.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ENGLAND. LONDON IS STILL BURNING BUT THERE IS A
FIGHTBACK COMING.
==============================================================
AUGUST 9
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 9, 1945, the United States exploded a
nuclear device over Nagasaki, Japan, instantly killing an estimated
39,000 people. The explosion came three days after the atomic
bombing of Hiroshima.
On Aug. 9, 1896, Jean Piaget, the Swiss
psychologist famous for his studies of cognitive development in
children, was born. He died on Sept. 17, 1980
1969 Actress Sharon Tate and four other people
were found murdered in Los Angeles; cult leader Charles Manson and a
group of his followers were later convicted of the crime.
1974 Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the 38th
president of the United States following the resignation of Richard
M. Nixon.
1985 A federal judge in Norfolk, Va., found
retired Navy officer Arthur J. Walker guilty of seven counts of
spying for the Soviet Union.
1995 Rock musician Jerry Garcia of the Grateful
Dead died at age 53.
2001 President George W. Bush approved federal
funding for existing lines of embryonic stem cells.
2002 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit
his 600th home run, becoming the fourth major leaguer to reach the
mark.
2004 Terry Nichols was sentenced to 161
consecutive life sentences on state murder charges in the Oklahoma
City bombing.
2010 Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, 86,
the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate, was killed in a
plane crash in southwestern Alaska.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011
MANHATTAN 5:30 PM Hosts Award Reception in
Honor of the 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Gracie Mansion East End Avenue at 88th Street
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG CELEBRATES GRADUATION
OF 2011 CLASS OF NYC LADDERS FOR LEADERS YOUTH
Stu Loeser and/ Evelyn Erskine C.H.
216 New York City Youth Complete Professional
Internships with 72 High-Profile Organizations American Airlines
Awards Eight Interns with Round-Trip Airfare for College Tours
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today recognized the 2011
class of NYC Ladders for Leaders, a program that provides
professional internships to New York City high school and college
students, at a graduation reception at Gracie Mansion. Launched in
2006 by Mayor Bloomberg, the program is a joint initiative between
the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues and the NYC Department of Youth
and Community Development to empower highly motivated New York City
youth from diverse populations with the tools, resources, and
professional experience to pursue a college education and explore
future career opportunities. The 216 students participating in the
2011 class of Ladders for Leaders were given the opportunity to
complete professional internships with 72 partnering organizations.
The Mayor also announced the winners of the American Airlines
College Tour Competition, which provides awardees round-trip airfare
to visit the prospective colleges of their choice outside of the New
York metropolitan area. Mayor Bloomberg was joined at Gracie Mansion
by Commission on Women’s Issues Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs and
Executive Director Briana Collins, Department of Youth and Community
Development Commissioner Jeanne B. Mullgrav, American Airlines- New
York Vice President Art Torno, and program graduates Jessamine Fazli
and Matthew Delfino.
“Our City’s future depends on how well we prepare
our next generation of leaders,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “By ensuring
that young people have access to high quality employment
opportunities, Ladders for Leaders is helping New York City build a
brighter future.”
“After six years, Ladders for Leaders has continued
to successfully benefit the motivated and talented youth of New York
City,” said Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs. “These internships are
once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will serve as a building block
for our graduates as they go through college, their careers, and the
rest of their lives. We thank our many partners and American
Airlines for opening the path toward higher education, through which
opportunities are endless.”
“Today is a significant day for our Ladders for
Leaders participants,” said Commissioner Jeanne B. Mullgrav. “They
are not only graduating from our program, they also are taking their
place among the ranks of our distinguished alumni. These motivated
young people work at the highest levels of the public and private
sectors throughout NYC. They excelled in every task, embraced every
challenge and learned the new skills and confidence they will need
for tomorrow.”
At the graduation reception, the Mayor also
announced the eight winners of the American Airlines College Tour
Competition, which provides round-trip airfare to select NYC Ladders
for Leaders participants to visit colleges throughout the
continental United States. The 2011 winners, each of whom received a
round-trip ticket for themselves and for an accompanying
parent/guardian, are Natalia Bikowski, Bernice Chan, Jessamine Fazli,
Yan Jun Lu, Daniel Pena, Marisch Perera, Tamara Taylor McDonald, and
Jieying Wu.
“American Airlines is proud to be a part of the
Mayor’s Ladders for Leaders program for the fifth consecutive year,
supporting a new generation of leaders among New York City high
school students,” said Art Torno, American Airlines Vice President –
New York. “As usual, this year’s pool of candidates was impressive
and made the decision extremely difficult. We hope the visits will
inspire these students to relentlessly pursue scholarship,
innovation, leadership and community service during their time in
college, and we look forward to hearing about their future
achievements.”
The recipients of the American Airlines College Tour
Competition are: ·
Natalia Bikowski, a 16 year old Brooklyn resident entering her senior year
at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Natalia is interning at Macy’s and
will be visiting the University of Chicago and Northwestern
University, where she hopes to pursue her interest in social
sciences.
· Bernice Chan, a 17 year old Brooklyn resident
entering her senior at Stuyvesant High School. Bernice is interning
at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and will be
pursuing a liberal arts education at Williams College.
· Jessamine Fazli, a 17 year old Brooklyn resident
entering her senior year at Friends Seminary. Jessamine is interning
at Kaplan and looks forward to exploring the pre-med and foreign
language opportunities at Harvard University or Middlebury College.
· Yan Jun (Daisy) Lu, a 16 year old Brooklyn
resident entering her senior year at Brooklyn Technical High School.
Daisy is interning at Draftfcb, and is excited to pursue creative
writing at Reed College, Williams College, or Stanford University
· Daniel Pena, a 17 year old Queens resident
entering his senior year at Forest Hills High School. Daniel is
interning in the Legal Department with the New York City Transit
Authority, and looks forward to exploring the law and science
programs at Cornell University, Western New England College,
Georgetown University, or Middlebury College.
· Marisch Perera, a 17 year old Staten Island
resident and graduate of the CSI High School for International
Studies. Marisch is interning with the New York City Bar Association
and looks forward to visiting Stanford University.
· Tamara Taylor McDonald, a 16 year old Brooklyn
resident entering her senior year at Catherine McAuley High School.
Tamara is interning at NY Law School, and plans to visit Anderson
University, Spellman College, or Texas Southern University.
· Jieying Wu, a 16 year old Brooklyn resident
entering her senior year at Brooklyn Technical High School. Jieying
is interning at the Catholic Medical Mission Board and is interested
in pursuing medicine at California Institute of Technology or
Stanford University.
NYC Ladders for Leaders interns completed a
pre-employment training program over the course of six-months before
being selected by partnering companies who also donate funds in
support of participant salaries, workshops, and scholarships towards
college. Participants also have the option of enrolling in free
Kaplan SAT preparation courses. Throughout the summer, interns
attend workshops on topics such as financial literacy, leadership,
health and gender issues, peer pressure, and career exploration.
NEW YORK. SINGER GAVIN DEGRAW ASSAULTED IN
LOWER EAST SIDE.8/9/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS.
The singer was assaulted by a group of men on 5th Street at
1st Avenue in Manhattan at about 4 a. m. . The pop star was brutally
beating after he was out drinking with a group of friends. Then, the
34 year old was hit by a cab while walking on 19th street.
Paramedics took DeGraw to Bellevue Hospital where he remains under
observation. He suffered a broken nose and cuts to his face. DeGraw
has been touring with Train and Maroon 5, but due to his injuries he
had to cancel his Tuesday concert in Saratoga Springs.
OZONE PARK, QUEENS. NYPD LOOKING FOR A MAN
ROBBING WOMEN IN SUBWAY
By Jerry Blumberg, NTS NEWS 8/9/11
It is nothing new. Two women had been robbed at subway
stations in Queens South Ozone Park stations. According to
eyewitnesses, the suspect approached the victim's, verbally abused
them, grabbed their cell phones, and fled on foot. The suspect is
described as a black man, age 30-40-years-old, 6'0", is of slim
build, and was wearing a white T-shirt, khaki shorts, and reading
glasses. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at
(800) 577-TIPS (8477).
MIAMI BEACH. STANDOFF IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH. 7
ARRESTED. 8/9/11
By Scott Strong, NTS NEWS
About 10 p.m. Miami-Dade detectives were investigating an
anonymous gun bounty tip in the area of the Northeast 14th
Court, said Javier Baez, spokesman for Miami-Dade police. When
officers approached a residence, several people shot at them and
barricaded themselves inside the home. After a short standoff, the
suspects came out from the home, and police took them into custody.
Officers were not injured during the shooting.
MARIETTA, GA. WINNING KENO TICKETS IN CHURCH
COLLECTION PLATE. 8/9/11
By Jerry Blumberg, NTS NEWS
A Marietta church wants to thank the person who dropped three
winning Keno tickets worth more than $4,000 total into a collection
plate. The Georgia Lottery reported the donation to the Unity North
Atlanta Church in a news release issued Monday. An anonymous person
donated the tickets, worth $4,069 total, during a recent Sunday
service. “This is a first for us,” church office manager Wendy Beck
said. Two of the tickets were purchased at a Quick Trip on North
Cobb Parkway, while the third was bought at a Chevron Food Mart on
Sandy Plains Road, both in Marietta, lottery officials said. The
prize was claimed Aug. 1. Beck said the church plans to apply the
winnings toward its mortgage and monthly bills.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
===============================================
AUGUST 8
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon
announced he would resign following damaging revelations in the
Watergate scandal.
On Aug. 8, 1896, Marjorie Rawlings, the American
author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning book "The Yearling", was born.
She died on Dec. 14, 1953,
1945 The Soviet Union declared war against Japan
during World War II.
1963 Britain's "Great Train Robbery" took place
as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes from a
train they stopped north of London.
1968 Richard M. Nixon was nominated for president
at the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach and chose
Maryland Gov. Spiro T. Agnew to be his running mate.
1988 U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de
Cuellar announced a cease-fire between Iran and Iraq.
2005 Iran resumed work at a uranium conversion
facility after suspending activities for nine months to avoid U.N.
sanctions.
2006 Sen. Joseph Lieberman lost the Connecticut
Democratic primary to political newcomer Ned Lamont. Lieberman won
re-election as an independent.
2008 The Summer Olympic Games opened in
Beijing.
2008 Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee
John Edwards admitted having had an extramarital affair.
CITY HALL, NY. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL
R. BLOOMBERG
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2011
7:30 AM Live Interview with Building America’s
Future Co-Chair Edward Rendell Airs on Morning Joe
MSNBC
MANHATTAN *12:30 PM Discusses New York City
Students’ State Test Results Tweed Building – Room 105 52 Chambers
Street between Elk Street and Broadway
5:30 PM Hosts Reception in Honor of the 2011
Graduates of the Ladders for Leaders Program Gracie Mansion East End
Avenue at 88th Street
CITY HAL. STATEMENT OF MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
ON THE PASSING OF FORMER GOVERNOR HUGH L. CAREY
“It was with extraordinary sadness that I learned of
the death of my friend and mentor in public service, Governor Hugh
Carey, this morning. When I first considered running for office,
Hugh was one of the first people I spent a lot of time with. His
strong and determined leadership, and his ability to bring people
together to fix the most difficult problems, saved New York City
during one of the toughest times in our history, and set the stage
for the City’s incredible rebirth in the years and decades that
followed. Mayors Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani, and I have all stood on
the shoulders of this son of Brooklyn, whose political fortitude was
matched only by his personal integrity. “As I often say about our
work in New York City, success is not inevitable - it takes hard
work, difficult choices, and a willingness to put aside ideological
differences. That's how Hugh Carey governed our State and saved our
City - and, given the national events of the past week, his loss is
a poignant reminder of how badly we need more elected leaders with
the character and courage of Hugh Carey. “I will always be grateful
for what Governor Carey did for me, our City, and our State. I ask
all New Yorkers to keep him and the entire Carey family in their
thoughts and prayers.”
Flags at New York City buildings have already been
lowered to half staff in honor of the members of our Armed Forces
who died yesterday in Afghanistan, and they will remain lowered as a
measure of respect for Governor Carey’s memory.
NEW YORK. S&P DOWNGRADE US CREDIT RATING AND
STOCKS TUMBLE. 8/8/11
By Jerry Blumberg NTS NEWS.
After Standard and Poor downgraded the US
credit rating for the first time, last Friday, Stocks tumble. S&P
cut the long-term debt rating for the U.S. by one notch late Friday.
The downgrade wasn't unexpected, but it comes when investors are
already nervous about a weak U.S. economy, European debt problems
and Japan's recovery from its March earthquake. At the opening of
trading, the Dow Jones industrial average is down 192, or 1.7
percent, to 11,252. The S&P 500 is down 23, or 2 percent to 1,176.
The Nasdaq is down 64, or 2.5 percent, to 2,468. Gold topped $1,700
per ounce for the first time.
ATLANTA. MOTHER OF 3 FUGITIVE FLORIDA BROTHERS
ASKED THEM TO SURRENDER. 8/8/11
By Jacques Dusseck NTS NEWS
"Only Mom knows what good people you are inside," Bell
told Tampa television station WFTS. "Please prove me right and
everybody wrong by doing the right thing now and turning yourselves
in. "Your lives are not over. You've made some bad mistakes, but so
far no one has been physically harmed," Bell said. "The only safe
thing, the only right thing, the only good thing to do is to turn
yourselves in."
The three armed suspects, all dressed in black,
entered a Valdosta bank last Tuesday, fired shots into the ceiling
and demanded money, the FBI said. At least two of the robbers showed
weapons, including one described as being an AK-47 type assault
rifle and the other appearing to be an automatic pistol, the FBI
said. The other robber grabbed an undisclosed amount of money. The
trio left the bank in a white 2006 Subaru Impreza with New York
license plate FBE-5900.
Earlier that morning, a police officer in
Zephyrhills, Fla., about 200 miles south of Valdosta, tried to pull
the group over for speeding, the FBI said. A patrol officer was
chasing the car when one of the suspects began shooting at his
police cruiser, disabling it. The officer was not injured and the
siblings got away, the FBI said. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office
also is investigating whether the siblings are connected to gun
parts found at Tampa International Airport Wednesday morning.
According to informed sources, the siblings have lived in Lacoochee
in Pasco County for the last three years.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
LONDON. LONDON RIOTS. HOME SECRETARY THERESA MAY
TO MEET POLICE.
=====================================================
AUGUST
4
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany
while the United States proclaimed its neutrality.
On Aug. 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong, the influential
American jazz trumpeter, was born. He died on July 6, 1971
1987 The Federal Communications Commission voted
to rescind the Fairness Doctrine, which required radio and TV
stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues.
1994 Serb-dominated Yugoslavia withdrew its
support for Bosnian Serbs, sealing the 300-mile border between
Yugoslavia and Serb-held Bosnia.
2002 A Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a bus
in northern Israel during rush hour, killing nine passengers.
2005 A mini-submarine carrying seven Russians
became caught on an underwater antenna 600 feet below the surface of
the Pacific Ocean; the men were rescued three days later with help
from a British vessel.
2007 Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants tied
Hank Aaron's 755 career home runs.
2007 Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees
became at age 32 the youngest player in major league history to hit
his 500th career home run.
2009 North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pardoned
American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee for entering the
country illegally and ordered their release during a surprise visit
by former President Bill Clinton.
2010 New York Yankees third basemen Alex
Rodriguez, 35, became the youngest player to hit his 600th career
home run.
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG APPOINTS DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSIONER CASWELL F. HOLLOWAY DEPUTY
MAYOR FOR OPERATIONS, REPLACING STEPHEN GOLDSMITH
By Stu Loeser and Marc La Vorgna C.H.
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today appointed Caswell
F. Holloway, who has served as the City’s Commissioner of the
Department of Environmental Protection since 2010, Deputy Mayor for
Operations. Holloway replaces Stephen Goldsmith, who is leaving to
pursue private-sector opportunities in infrastructure finance.
“As New Yorkers, we were extraordinarily lucky to
have Steve Goldsmith make our City government more innovative and
efficient,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Just as he did at DEP, Cas
Holloway is going to jump right in, and build on everything that
Steve has been able to accomplish and continue the progress he has
made in reforming our government and making it work better.”
“This week, I informed the Mayor of my decision to
resign my job as Deputy Mayor of Operations,” said Deputy Mayor
Goldsmith. “This job has been a special opportunity to contribute to
the City of New York and further the substantial accomplishments of
Mayor Bloomberg. I am proud of the work we have done over the last
year to pass an aggressive budget, and put in place the foundation
and plans for dozens of initiatives and best practices that will
dramatically further customer service and cost savings in the City.
Over the last month, I received important overtures in an area with
which I have long been associated – infrastructure finance.
“After thirty years of long hours in public service,
the change will provide me, at age 64, with more flexibility for me
and my family and a secure foundation for our future. In addition, I
intend to continue my academic work and the school year is about to
start. Now that we have the ball rolling on our initiatives, I am
comfortable that the person taking over for me will do an
exceptional job moving things forward. Cas is not just a colleague,
but a friend and a person who I trust to take over for me, and whose
talents are among the most exceptional I have seen in my public
career. He has developed a career in New York, and will accelerate
the agenda and build on the progress we have made. It has been a
unique honor to be part of the high performing Bloomberg team. City
Hall and the agencies are truly alive with the spirit of service and
innovation.”
“I am proud of everything we have done at DEP to
advance Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to strengthen our infrastructure,
protect our world-renowned drinking water, and make New York City a
model for new sustainability approaches, like green infrastructure,”
said Deputy Mayor Holloway. “I’m thrilled and honored at the
opportunity to come back to City Hall and work even more closely
with Mayor Bloomberg on the issues that are so important to the
daily lives of New Yorkers. Building on the foundation Steve
Goldsmith has built, we will continue to transform City services to
ensure that government is doing all it can to work efficiently and
effectively for the millions of people who live and work in New York
City.”
As Deputy Mayor for Operations, Stephen Goldsmith
spearheaded the creation of Mayor Bloomberg’s “NYC Simplicity”
agenda, which seeks to transform New York City government to make it
more customer-focused, innovative and efficient. As part of NYC
Simplicity, Goldsmith launched the City’s shared services
initiative, which will save the City $500 million by 2013 through
the consolidation of back-office operations such as fleet, real
estate and information technology. He developed new programs to
improve customer service, such as “Get It Done. Together,” in which
the Department of Buildings consolidated approvals and extended
hours of operation to speed the approval process, as well as the NYC
Business Acceleration team, which will create true one-stop shopping
and coordinated inspections for small business owners.
Under Deputy Mayor Goldsmith, the City created new
methods to interact with the public and its employees, including
“Change By Us” – the City’s new online platform that will enable New
Yorkers to team up to transform their own communities. Goldsmith
oversaw the development of the update to PlaNYC, including the
creation of the City’s Clean Heat program, which will eliminate the
use of the most polluting grade of heating oil – No. 6 fuel oil – in
the city and accelerate the deployment of new natural gas
infrastructure. Goldsmith also was tasked with piloting some of the
City’s most complex technology projects.
He also took the reins of CityTime, the City’s
automated payroll system, which has now been successfully deployed
to nearly the entire targeted workforce. Similarly, Goldsmith
created the City’s Office of Emergency Communications, which has
made significant strides in implementing the City’s Emergency
Communications Transformation Project and reduced the cost of the
construction of the City’s Public Safety Answering Center in Bronx
by more than $100 million.
As Commissioner, Cas Holloway has significantly cut
costs at DEP while improving customer service, reduced planned water
rate increases to their lowest levels in years, developed a
ground-breaking green infrastructure plan to capture rain water,
reduce sewer overflows and save the City $2 billion over 20 years
and he ended 15 year-old labor disputes that were hampering the
city’s ability to conduct operations effectively.
Prior to serving as DEP Commissioner, Holloway
served as Chief of Staff to Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward
Skyler and as Special Advisor to Mayor Bloomberg. Holloway took a
leading role in the writing and implementation of the
Administration’s report on the health impacts of September 11th and
led negotiations on 9/11 health legislation that was signed by
President Obama. Following the tragic fire at 130 Liberty Street, he
led a comprehensive review of abatement and demolition operations
that resulted in an overhaul of the asbestos abatement process. He
also played a lead role in developing the City’s comprehensive
cleanup plan for the Gowanus Canal, and in the passage and
implementation of the City’s Solid Waste Management Plan.
Deputy Mayor Holloway graduated cum laude with a
Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and graduated with honors from
University of Chicago Law School. Prior to joining the Mayor’s
Office, Deputy Mayor Holloway was an associate at Debevoise &
Plimpton LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and served as law clerk
to Judge Dennis G. Jacobs, now Chief Judge of the United States
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Prior to Law School, Deputy
Mayor Holloway also served as Chief of Staff at the New York City
Department of Parks and Recreation. He lives in Brooklyn Heights
with his wife, Jessica.
=======================================================
AUGUST 3
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 3, 1958, the nuclear-powered submarine
Nautilus became the first vessel to cross the North Pole underwater.
On Aug. 3, 1900, Ernie Pyle, the famous World War
II American war correspondent, was born. He died on April 18, 1945,
1914 Germany declared war on France. 1923
Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th
president of the United States, one day after President Warren G.
Harding died of a heart attack.
1943 Gen. George S. Patton slapped a private at
an army hospital in Sicily, accusing him of cowardice.
1948 Whittaker Chambers, a former Communist,
publicly accused former State Department official Alger Hiss of
having been part of a Communist underground, a charge Hiss denied.
1949 The National Basketball Association was
formed.
1981 U.S. air traffic controllers went on strike,
despite a warning from President Ronald Reagan that they would be
fired.
1994 Stephen G. Breyer was sworn in as a Supreme
Court justice.
2003 Golfer Annika Sorenstam completed a career
Grand Slam by winning the Women's British Open.
2008 Nobel Prize-winning Russian author Alexander
Solzhenitsyn died at age 89.
2009 Iran's supreme leader formally endorsed
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a second term as president.
CITY HALL. PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR MAYOR MICHAEL R.
BLOOMBERG
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2011
MANHATTAN *10:00 AM Makes Announcement Tweed
Courthouse – Room 105 52 Chambers Street between Elk Street and
Broadway
CITY HALL. MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR
WALCOTT ANNOUNCE THAT JANUARY REGENTS EXAMS WILL TAKE PLACE, THANKS
TO PRIVATE DONOR FUNDING
By Stu Loeser / Julie Wood
City’s Fundraising Efforts Resulted in $1.5 Million
in Private Donations
January 2012 Exams Will Ensure That Thousands of
Students Across New York State Can Graduate On Time, But Longer-Term
Solution Still Needed
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor
Dennis M. Walcott today announced that they have secured $1.5
million in private funding that will allow students across the state
to take the New York State Education Department Regents Exams in
January 2012. Previously, the New York State Education Department
said that it would not offer the January exams for high school
students beginning in 2012, after the Board of Regents voted to
eliminate them due to budget cuts.
“For thousands of our students, taking the Regents
Exams in January will mean the difference between graduating and not
graduating,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “When the State announced it
didn’t have the money for the January exams, I knew we had to do
something, or we would be letting our kids down. I’ve always
believed that you can either complain about your problems or do
something to fix them – in New York City, we choose the latter.”
“Thousands of high-school students rely on the
January Regents Exams to graduate on time and move on to college and
careers,” said Chancellor Walcott. “These generous donations give
these students the opportunity for an uninterrupted transition to a
successful future. We will continue to work with the state
legislature and the State Education Department to find a long-term
solution so that our students, especially the most vulnerable, have
the best chance to succeed.”
In June, NYSED announced that, due to State budget
cuts, they would no long administer the January Regents Exams.
Nearly 2,400 of the 3,454 students who graduated in New York City
between January and March of 2011 relied on the January exams to
earn their diplomas. Of these students, approximately 80 percent
were black and Hispanic, higher than their representation in New
York City’s student population. In addition, the January test-takers
represent some of the City’s most vulnerable populations, including
students who have returned to school after dropping out, students
with disabilities, English language learners and overage and
under-credited students. Schools have already set their students’
plans for the upcoming year, and changes would be difficult now.
They would be forced to engage students for another full term,
risking having students close to completion drop out.
After fundraising efforts by Mayor Bloomberg and
Chancellor Walcott, six New Yorkers each made donations of $250,000,
for a total of $1.5 million, which was accepted by the Mayor’s Fund
to Advance New York City and the Fund for Public Schools.
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AUGUST 2
IN HISTORY
On Aug. 2, 1923, the 29th president of the United
States, Warren G. Harding, died in San Francisco. Calvin Coolidge
took the oath of office as President of the United States.
On Aug. 2, 1924, James Baldwin, the American
essayist, novelist and playwright whose work explored racial issues,
was born. He died on Dec. 1, 1987
1934 German President Paul von Hindenburg died,
paving the w
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