newyorkpost--2020-05-01--Five keys to safely reopening NYC during coronavirus crisis

New York City has been through hell .
Now we need a clear strategy for what we do next .
There is growing consensus that the way forward is through “ containment ” : confronting a pandemic using four key tactics : widespread testing , contact tracing , social distancing and isolation/quarantine of confirmed cases and their contacts .
It will take a massive effort and unprecedented coordination among the city , state the region .
Containment must be our new mantra .
Testing : We need sufficient supplies of both PCR tests , which diagnose active infections , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that we should have 100,000 PCR tests per week soon .
This is good news ; we need to be able to PCR-test everyone who wants a test , regardless of symptoms .
That means dozens of temporary testing sites throughout the city available to everyone , regardless of immigration status or insurance .
New Yorkers also need clear guidance on how , when and where to get tested .
Meanwhile , Gov .
Cuomo and the state Department of Health ’ s work on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to build on this by running clinical trials on antibody tests to determine their sensitivity , what percentage of cases are asymptomatic , whether people develop immunity from infection and , if so , for how long .
Contact tracing : Once someone tests positive for COVID-19 , we have to be able to trace all of that person ’ s recent close contacts .
This is labor-intensive and specialized work .
Before COVID-19 , the city had only 50 contact tracers for all five boroughs .
We need to immediately bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about containment .
Technology can help .
Apple and Google are teaming up to create a system to let iPhones and Androids ping one another within six feet for a period of time .
Using anonymized coding to protect privacy , these phones will remember one another , and if the owner of one tests positive for COVID-19 , the owner of the other will be notified .
This can ’ t replace the essential shoe-leather work of contact tracers , but it may complement it .
Of course , we must set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberties , and Apple and Google have committed to strict limits .
Social Distancing : While our heroic essential workers — health care , grocery and food workers , pharmacists , police , firefighters , sanitation workers , MTA workers , delivery workers , nonprofit staff — have been showing up on the front lines every day , millions of us have spent the past five to six weeks largely indoors .
This has been key to flattening the curve .
We adapted , because we know the stakes .
We must keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our city .
Protecting fellow New Yorkers means doing your part by maintaining social distancing .
That will be easier for some than for others .
The pandemic has exposed the inequity that runs deep in our city , and it has had deadly consequences .
Black and brown communities have been hit hardest , by far .
We need targeted policies that factor in race and socioeconomic status to make social distancing possible for everyone .
Isolation/Quarantine : We need to ensure that someone who ’ s COVID-19-positive doesn ’ t spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community spread occurs within households , Drs .
Harvey Fineberg , Jim Yong Kim and Jordan Shlain recently wrote in The New York Times of one approach , “ smart quarantine ” : creating a tiered framework where people who test positive are isolated ( at no expense to themselves ) and those in their household are quarantined and quickly tested themselves .
If they test positive , they will also be isolated .
In addition to slowing the spread of COVID-19 , this would help relieve the massive pressure on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entails sacrifice .
Families might be disrupted and endure separation for weeks .
But we know New Yorkers are willing to sacrifice to protect one another ; we ’ ve done it time and time again .
None of these tactics alone will work .
But if we do them all together , with a sense of purpose and shared sacrifice , we ’ ll be able to safely reopen the city , slowly and responsibly .
The next outbreak will come .
Transmission of COVID-19 will resume , and we know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clear strategy and preparation now , we can contain the next outbreak .
We have to : The future of our city depends on it .
Stephen Levin is a member of the City Council .
Corey Johnson is speaker .

New York City has been through hell. Now we need a clear strategy for what we do next.
There is growing consensus that the way forward is through “containment”: confronting a pandemic using four key tactics: widespread testing, contact tracing, social distancing and isolation/quarantine of confirmed cases and their contacts. It will take a massive effort and unprecedented coordination among the city, state the region. Containment must be our new mantra.
Testing: We need sufficient supplies of both PCR tests, which diagnose active infections, and antibody tests, which screen for prior infections.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that we should have 100,000 PCR tests per week soon. This is good news; we need to be able to PCR-test everyone who wants a test, regardless of symptoms. That means dozens of temporary testing sites throughout the city available to everyone, regardless of immigration status or insurance. New Yorkers also need clear guidance on how, when and where to get tested.
Meanwhile, Gov. Cuomo and the state Department of Health’s work on antibody testing has been extraordinary. We need to build on this by running clinical trials on antibody tests to determine their sensitivity, what percentage of cases are asymptomatic, whether people develop immunity from infection and, if so, for how long.
Contact tracing: Once someone tests positive for COVID-19, we have to be able to trace all of that person’s recent close contacts. This is labor-intensive and specialized work. Before COVID-19, the city had only 50 contact tracers for all five boroughs. We need to immediately bring on thousands if we’re serious about containment.
Technology can help. Apple and Google are teaming up to create a system to let iPhones and Androids ping one another within six feet for a period of time. Using anonymized coding to protect privacy, these phones will remember one another, and if the owner of one tests positive for COVID-19, the owner of the other will be notified.
This can’t replace the essential shoe-leather work of contact tracers, but it may complement it. Of course, we must set checks on any encroachment on our civil liberties, and Apple and Google have committed to strict limits.
Social Distancing: While our heroic essential workers — health care, grocery and food workers, pharmacists, police, firefighters, sanitation workers, MTA workers, delivery workers, nonprofit staff — have been showing up on the front lines every day, millions of us have spent the past five to six weeks largely indoors. This has been key to flattening the curve.
We adapted, because we know the stakes. We must keep it up, even as we reopen our city. Protecting fellow New Yorkers means doing your part by maintaining social distancing.
That will be easier for some than for others. The pandemic has exposed the inequity that runs deep in our city, and it has had deadly consequences. Black and brown communities have been hit hardest, by far. We need targeted policies that factor in race and socioeconomic status to make social distancing possible for everyone.
Isolation/Quarantine: We need to ensure that someone who’s COVID-19-positive doesn’t spread the infection further. Because much of the community spread occurs within households, Drs. Harvey Fineberg, Jim Yong Kim and Jordan Shlain recently wrote in The New York Times of one approach, “smart quarantine”: creating a tiered framework where people who test positive are isolated (at no expense to themselves) and those in their household are quarantined and quickly tested themselves.
If they test positive, they will also be isolated. In addition to slowing the spread of COVID-19, this would help relieve the massive pressure on our health-care heroes.
Of course, this entails sacrifice. Families might be disrupted and endure separation for weeks. But we know New Yorkers are willing to sacrifice to protect one another; we’ve done it time and time again.
None of these tactics alone will work. But if we do them all together, with a sense of purpose and shared sacrifice, we’ll be able to safely reopen the city, slowly and responsibly.
The next outbreak will come. Transmission of COVID-19 will resume, and we know how fierce it will be. But with a clear strategy and preparation now, we can contain the next outbreak. We have to: The future of our city depends on it.
Stephen Levin is a member of the City Council. Corey Johnson is speaker.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--Even ritzy Gramercy Park not immune from mask order, trustees say

Trustees of tony Gramercy Park have sent a terse e-mail to those lucky enough to have keys to the city ’ s only private park , ordering them to wear masks during spring strolls since it ’ s impossible to socially distance along its paths .
Masks or no , some embarrassed residents are buzzing that the park should drop the private shtick and open up to the public during the coronavirus pandemic , and beyond , because it ’ s “ deflating ” to the neighborhood .
An e-mail went out to residents of the 39 buildings around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the heading “ Why wearing a mask or face covering is mandatory in Gramercy Park , since social distancing can not be maintained.
” The message , from veteran park warden Arlene Harrison , added , “ More people than usual are using the Park paths .
People sitting on the benches are only approximately 2 feet away from people using the paths .
People trying to pass each other are not able to maintain the 6 feet required for social distancing.
” The e-mail also said , “ While front-line workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … the least we can do to slow the spread of this virus is wear a mandatory mask or face covering in Gramercy Park.
” But a resident with a key said some locals have been angling to open up the park for years , and now ’ s the time .
“ Seeing firsthand the effect it has on the neighborhood is deflating .
Everyone deserves access to this space , ” the source said .
“ Anyone with a heart would open the park during this crisis .
Apparently social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are necessary , so open the gates and remove the ‘ Keep off the grass ’ signs so there is more space for everyone.
” The park habitué said others also want the “ small-minded and exclusive behavior ” to be “ a thing of the past.
” Residents have been known to include Julia Roberts , Jimmy Fallon , Richard Gere , Ric Ocasek and WeWork ’ s Adam Neumann .
A Gramercy townhouse in 2017 sold for $ 23 million .

Trustees of tony Gramercy Park have sent a terse e-mail to those lucky enough to have keys to the city’s only private park, ordering them to wear masks during spring strolls since it’s impossible to socially distance along its paths.
Masks or no, some embarrassed residents are buzzing that the park should drop the private shtick and open up to the public during the coronavirus pandemic, and beyond, because it’s “deflating” to the neighborhood.
An e-mail went out to residents of the 39 buildings around the park that are allowed inside its gates with the heading “Why wearing a mask or face covering is mandatory in Gramercy Park, since social distancing cannot be maintained.”
The message, from veteran park warden Arlene Harrison, added, “More people than usual are using the Park paths. People sitting on the benches are only approximately 2 feet away from people using the paths. People trying to pass each other are not able to maintain the 6 feet required for social distancing.”
The e-mail also said, “While front-line workers are sacrificing their own lives for us … the least we can do to slow the spread of this virus is wear a mandatory mask or face covering in Gramercy Park.”
But a resident with a key said some locals have been angling to open up the park for years, and now’s the time. “Seeing firsthand the effect it has on the neighborhood is deflating. Everyone deserves access to this space,” the source said. “Anyone with a heart would open the park during this crisis. Apparently social distancing is already not possible, and masks are necessary, so open the gates and remove the ‘Keep off the grass’ signs so there is more space for everyone.” The park habitué said others also want the “small-minded and exclusive behavior” to be “a thing of the past.”
Residents have been known to include Julia Roberts, Jimmy Fallon, Richard Gere, Ric Ocasek and WeWork’s Adam Neumann. A Gramercy townhouse in 2017 sold for $23 million.
Trustees did not immediately comment.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--One-size-fits-all doesn’t work for reopening America amid coronavirus

The city ’ s seen a sharp decline in coronavirus hospitalizations and ...

Time for reopening? Let’s reframe the question. Time for what to reopen? With what precautions? In which states and counties?
And who really decides? Governors, mayors, the president? Business owners or consumers?
Any effort to address questions yields the lesson that one-size-fits-all answers are ill-suited for a nation of 329 million people, half in million-plus metropolitan areas and the other half thinly spread out over a continent-sized landmass.
Nonetheless, much of the public debate assumes, Twitter-style, that there is just one decision to be made, presumably by President Trump. And partisan affiliation shapes many Americans’ responses.
Democrats, usually boastful of respecting alternative lifestyles, tend to insist that lockdowns stay in place. Republicans, sometimes depicted as deferential to traditional authority, tend to favor reopening.
Both sides operate from a position of massive and unavoidable ignorance. So do even the most respected experts. Epidemiologists’ projections of mass deaths have been far off; speculation about modes of virus transmission has been largely discredited; ventilators, initially considered vital, now seem ill-suited to the virus.
Lockdowns ordered by state governors and encouraged by Trump were premised on a need to avoid overwhelming hospitals and caregivers. But outside New York City, hospitals are half-empty and caregivers are being laid off.
They’ve joined the 22 million who had filed for unemployment by mid-April — Great Depression levels. Low-skill workers, whose wages have finally been rising more than average in the Trump years, have been hit hardest.
Polling shows majorities favor continued restrictions on reopening, especially if the question mentions the possibility of a second wave of infection. But there is also increasing evidence of people going out in public and chafing at restrictions.
The partisan tilt of responses reflects the incidence of the virus. It has struck hardest in New York and, though much less, in other large metro areas, and those able to continue working for pay tend to be white college graduates: mostly Democratic voters. Outside million-plus metros, it has caused few deaths, and those losing paychecks tend to be non-college grads: mostly Republican voters.
One-half of US coronavirus deaths have been in New York and New Jersey. Nearly a third have been in New York City, which, perhaps not coincidentally, has more than half of the nation’s rail-transit riders. In contrast, only 2 percent of US deaths have been in Florida, whose lockdown was less stringent and imposed later but whose concentration was put on isolating the elderly.
COVID-19 has primarily killed the elderly, mostly those with aggravating medical conditions. For children, it’s been no more deadly than the seasonal flu. This points toward reopening schools and colleges and universities. As Purdue University President Mitch Daniels points out, COVID-19 “poses close to zero lethal threat” to young people.
It points toward Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ policy of isolating and providing masks for senior citizens, and away from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s policy of sending COVID-19-infected patients back to nursing homes.
And COVID-19 isn’t the only threat to American lives. As Heather Mac Donald points out in The Spectator, “Lives are being lost to the overreaction,” including those of cardiac and cancer patients who have been avoiding hospitals, needed tests, chemotherapy and organ transplants. Job losses have probably led to suicides and opioid abuse.
No one knows, or can know, how high these losses are. Weighing the risks of the virus and the lockdown is a job for private-sector leaders and elected officials.
Officials — plural. Trump detractors have suddenly come to appreciate that the Constitution leaves the police power to impose quarantines and lockdowns in the hands of state governors, not the federal government.
Cuomo, facing a grim situation in New York, seems unready to reopen. DeSantis in Florida and Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas, both with more people and far fewer COVID-19 deaths than New York, are moving ahead to launch a reopening.
The final say, however, goes to the American people. They may avoid restaurants but throng to churches and gyms, weighing risks against rewards. Sensible people will presumably factor in experts’ recommendations. But in a self-governing republic, they’re likely to come to their own conclusions.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--Why the feds need to bail out the MTA

Why the feds need to bail out the MTA

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and the MTA must set specific benchmarks ...

The New York City region’s transit system is facing its worst crisis since the 1970s. As the recovery begins, reliable and safe public transit must be front and center.
Because of the COVID-19 crisis, ridership has plunged by 93 percent on the subways and even more on the LIRR and Metro-North. For the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, this will result in an estimated $8.5 billion shortfall in 2020 — about half its annual operating budget.
Losses can be expected to grow in 2021. Even after the economy reopens, it is likely to take some time to fully recover. Both ridership and revenues will remain depressed, and these will be far worse if there are subsequent waves of the pandemic, as many epidemiologists predict.
The MTA received nearly $4 billion in emergency relief in the CARES Act and has requested an additional $3.9 billion in the next federal rescue bill to keep it solvent through the rest of 2020.
Without this desperately needed federal revenue, the agency has limited options. Clearly, the MTA needs to accelerate all the efficiency improvements that it can, but these will take time and won’t come close to making up the shortfall.
To bring in more revenue, the MTA can raise fares or borrow more money. It could ask for more from tax revenue, but the state and city have their own fiscal crises.
To cut expenses, it can either reduce service, delay capital projects or default on bond payments. All of these are bad choices at a time when the region faces a deep recession and the future viability of the transit system is at risk.
With ridership so low, raising fares would bring in little revenue in the short term and further delay the return to anything approaching normal passenger volumes.
It would also be an unjust burden to place on the essential, usually low-paid workers who have no choice but to take the subway or bus when their more fortunate fellow New Yorkers can stay at home or take a car.
With the agency’s credit rating dropping, borrowing more money would be costly and exacerbate an already unsustainable level of debt.
Debt payments already account for 16 percent of operating expenses and were projected to rise to 21 percent by 2023 even before the COVID crisis. Further increases could put the authority in a deeper hole.
Cutting more service might seem like an appropriate response since ridership has dipped, but the pandemic has created a unique dilemma. It is even more critical to maintain adequate service so that essential and frontline workers have a means to get to work.
And reduced service would hinder physical distancing and make it even harder for the economy to get back up and running.
Some reprioritization of capital projects is inevitable. But any large-scale delay of essential work like track repairs or signal upgrades risks creating a vicious cycle of decay similar to what the transit system experienced in the 1970s, and contributes to job losses.
Defaulting on bond payments is a nonstarter. It would wreck the MTA’s credit and send a terrible signal to the rest of the world. Capital markets would likely shut off access to credit, making the capital program — including essential state-of-good-repair investments — grind to a halt.
Any deterioration of transit will land hardest on the most vulnerable. The majority of households in New York City don’t own cars, meaning they have to use trains and buses to get to jobs, health care and school.
The path is clear. We need immediate federal support for transit operations to get us through this year and beyond. Even with these funds, the MTA will need to make tough choices on which services are most critical to maintain.
City government could also help by dedicating more street space for buses, for example. And longer term, we need a unified push for a broader infrastructure program that puts people to work. Providing safe and reliable public transit will be a crucial part of a just and fair recovery.
Chris Jones is senior vice president and chief planner, and Kate Slevin the senior vice president of state programs and advocacy, at the Regional Plan Association.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--NHL firmly focused on four-arena plan to restart play

The only question the NHL and NHLPA must answer when ...

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The NHL’s focus has returned squarely on its four-arena plan following a flirtation with the concept of resuming the 2019-20 season in teams’ home cities, sources have told The Post.
The notion of playing in each team’s home rink, albeit without fans in attendance, was considered in the aftermath of Wednesday’s virtual meeting of the joint NHL/NHLPA Return to Play Committee but has been abandoned.
The union, represented by five players in addition to union executives, raised numerous questions about the plan under which the athletes would be subject to quarantine in their hotels in assigned centralized locations and thus separated from their families for up to three or four months.
It is believed up to a dozen NHL cities are under consideration to act as hubs if and when the NHL reopens. The league has extended its stay-at-home guideline for an indefinite period that we are told will not end before May 15. If conditions allow, it is expected the NHL would then initiate small-group informal workouts at teams’ respective training facilities at that time.
Those workouts would be followed by a formal training camp of up to three weeks if authorized by local governing bodies and health agencies. No decision has been reached on whether training camps would be held at local team facilities or at the centralized locations.
The NHL wants all teams to be able to operate under the same guidelines even as divergent guidelines and rules will be in place across the states and provinces.
Testing, though, remains a major universal stumbling block to a reopening in any form as the league and union grapple with matters including availability and procurement of test kits, cost, reliability and speed of results.
If the idea is to test every player every day — and every member of teams’ traveling parties plus league officials and attendant personnel necessary to stage the games — that would mean running a couple of thousand tests per day.
It is believed that an effort is underway for the four major sports leagues — including MLB, the NFL and the NBA — to coordinate responses on these testing issues. All of these leagues face a potential backlash if tests are scarce among the general public and across more essential industries while funneled to pro sports entities.
We are told that the league has yet to settle on whether to resume/complete the regular season or whether to move directly to an expanded 24-team playoff format following perhaps a couple of exhibition games per club.
Teams have been pressing to complete the regular season in order to satisfy their local television commitments but another look is being taken at the wisdom of bringing clubs back to play out the schedule when they have no realistic chance of making the playoffs.
A proposed playoff plan has reportedly been floated under which the top six teams in each division — rather than the top 12 teams in each conference — would gain entry to the tournament, but that does not make the slightest bit of sense.
Under the divisional plan, the Rangers (79 points in 70 games, .564 pct) would be bumped by the Sabres (68 points in 69 games, .493) in the East while the Blackhawks (72 points in 70 games, .514) would be replaced by the Ducks (67 points in 71 games, .472) in the West.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--‘Scrubs’ actor Sam Lloyd dead at 56 from brain tumor

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Sam Lloyd , best known for playing the iconic hangdog lawyer Ted Buckland on “ Scrubs , ” has died , TMZ is reporting .
He was 56 .
Lloyd was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in January 2019 after suffering headaches in the wake of the birth of his first child , Weston , with wife Vanessa .
Doctors determined that the tumor was too far intertwined to operate and that it had metastasized from his lungs and spread to his liver , spine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him helped raise nearly $ 160K towards the actor ’ s medical expenses as of this writing , with notable contributions coming in from both “ Scrubs ” creator Bill Lawrence and star Zach Braff .
“ Lloyd made me crack up and break character every single time we did a scene together , ” Braff wrote on Twitter Friday evening .
“ He could not have been a kinder man.
” The nephew of “ Back to the Future ” and “ Taxi ” star Christopher Lloyd , Sam notched appearances on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” like “ The West Wing , ” “ Malcolm in the Middle , ” and “ Desperate Housewives.
” He also reprised the role of “ Ted ” on Lawrence ’ s other popular comedy , “ Cougar Town.
” Lloyd was also an accomplished singer and musician : His a cappella group “ The Blanks ” made several appearances on “ Scrubs ” and he played bass in a Beatles tribute group called The Butties .
At the time of his diagnosis , a musical he had been working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Gil , ” had been accepted into a “ prestigious theatre accelerator program , ” according to the GoFundme .
One of its songs was titled “ Make Music Along The Way .
”

Sam Lloyd, best known for playing the iconic hangdog lawyer Ted Buckland on “Scrubs,” has died, TMZ is reporting. He was 56.
Lloyd was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in January 2019 after suffering headaches in the wake of the birth of his first child, Weston, with wife Vanessa. Doctors determined that the tumor was too far intertwined to operate and that it had metastasized from his lungs and spread to his liver, spine and jaw.
A GoFundMe set up for him helped raise nearly $160K towards the actor’s medical expenses as of this writing, with notable contributions coming in from both “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence and star Zach Braff.
“Lloyd made me crack up and break character every single time we did a scene together,” Braff wrote on Twitter Friday evening. “He could not have been a kinder man.”
The nephew of “Back to the Future” and “Taxi” star Christopher Lloyd, Sam notched appearances on other network mainstays aside from “Scrubs,” like “The West Wing,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” and “Desperate Housewives.” He also reprised the role of “Ted” on Lawrence’s other popular comedy, “Cougar Town.”
Lloyd was also an accomplished singer and musician: His a cappella group “The Blanks” made several appearances on “Scrubs” and he played bass in a Beatles tribute group called The Butties. At the time of his diagnosis, a musical he had been working on for a decade, “With Pam & Gil,” had been accepted into a “prestigious theatre accelerator program,” according to the GoFundme. One of its songs was titled “Make Music Along The Way.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--Coronavirus will cost sports at least $12 billion

It was April 6 , when NBA commissioner Adam Silver declared ...

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On March 12, the sports world stopped. The NCAA Tournament was canceled. The NBA, NHL, MLS and PGA all suspended play. MLB pushed back Opening Day indefinitely.
The unthinkable occurrence in sports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a loss of at least $12 billion across the country — and more than double if college football and the NFL are canceled, too — according to an ESPN analysis. The staggering figure represents the impact on everyone from owners to stadium employees to parents traveling for youth sports.
According to the analysis, about 3 million jobs in the country are reliant on sports.
“As an economist, you stand back, you look at the carnage that’s taking place — dumbfounded, awestruck, mind-numbing,” Patrick Rishe, who directs the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis, told ESPN.com. “All of those phrases, they’re all relevant because we just have never seen anything on this scale.”
The analysis estimates that fans’ purchases on professional sports accounts for $3.25 billion and more than $370 million in wages have been lost by arena employees, many of whom are now unemployed. While $2.2 billion in TV revenue is lost, the study found tourism related to youth sports represents even more money that will evaporate ($2.4 billion).
The ultimate total figure will likely be even higher since the analysis did not include projected losses from NASCAR, golf, tennis and sports gambling, as well as various minor leagues.
Unlike Wimbledon (canceled) and the Olympics (postponed), major professional American leagues do not have comprehensive insurance policies for the pandemic, reportedly because such a situation was unfathomable.
“It’s like hell began freezing over,” one sports executive told ESPN.
Football maintains hope it won’t be disrupted later in the calendar, but no sport is safe. Unlike uber-profitable NFL teams, college athletic departments are in a precarious position. Since football accounts for nearly half of all athletic department budgets — the Power 5 teams bring in almost $4 billion in revenue — several lower-profile sports teams will certainly be eliminated from every campus in the country.
“If [college] football goes down, that’s just a killer,” said Rick Gentile, who works in Big East broadcasting. “I don’t know how schools recover from that, God only knows.You could make a prediction, go crazy. The Pac-12 disbands? I’m making it up, but who knows?”
Youth sports face a similar problem. This week, the Little League World Series was canceled. Countless other organizations and facilities may struggle to stay afloat without receiving any revenue.
“Youth sports will not be the same following this pandemic,” the letter stated.
“It’s potentially pretty devastating if [the pandemic] keeps going on,” said National Sports Center executive director Todd Johnson, who planned on running the country’s largest amateur soccer tournament. “My goal is to get us through the summer.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--How Joe Douglas turned 7 Jets’ picks into 13 players in one year

The first Jets draft of the Joe Douglas era is ...

The Jets exited the 2019 NFL Draft with just their own seven picks. Over the course of a year, the Jets, led by general manager Joe Douglas, would turn those seven picks, plus a 2021 pick, into 13 players through seven trades.
Douglas (with an assist from head coach Adam Gase) managed to acquire more picks and address multiple needs for a roster with more questions than answers. The Jets traded two former first-round picks, acquired one pick that they then traded twice and even managed to get back a 2021 pick that was part of an earlier trade with their longtime rival.
“When we look at these draft picks as a whole, we hope this can be a draft that can springboard us,” Douglas said on “The Michael Kay Show.”
Here is a look at how the Jets turned those seven picks into 13 players, 12 whom are still on the roster:
Jets CEO Christopher Johnson fired general manager Mike Maccagnan on a Wednesday morning last May just under three weeks after the draft. One of the reasons was Maccagnan’s indecisiveness, which was evident to Johnson during the draft.
Johnson named Gase as the interim GM. Gase did not wait long to make his first move. He traded linebacker Darron Lee to the Chiefs a few hours after Maccagnan was fired on May 15. Lee had been the team’s first-round pick in 2016 and a favorite of former coach Todd Bowles. But Lee had underachieved and finished the 2018 season with a four-game suspension for a substance-abuse violation.
The Jets acquired a sixth-round pick for Lee, a pick that ended up being No. 211 overall. It would be a pick that the Jets would trade away twice … to the same team. Lee won the Super Bowl with Kansas City, but was inactive for their playoff games. He is currently a free agent.
The next move came early in training camp. Douglas had been hired in June and had enough time to evaluate the roster to see where the biggest issue was — the offensive line. He swung a deal on Aug. 5 with the Baltimore Ravens, where he had worked for 15 years, for guard Alex Lewis. He sent them a conditional seventh-round pick, which ended up being No. 225 overall. Lewis became the starting left guard in Week 5 and started 12 games for the Jets, who re-signed him in March. Baltimore traded the pick to the Vikings, who selected Michigan State defensive lineman Kenny Willekes.
A few weeks after the deal for Lewis, Douglas was looking to acquire another player. He traded the pick acquired in the Lee trade (No. 211 overall) to the Colts for cornerback Nate Hairston. The trade had conditions on it and if Hairston was not on the active roster for a certain number of games, the pick would be returned to the Jets. It is unclear what the exact number was, but Hairston ended up in 11 games, meaning the condition was not met and the Jets got their pick back … for now.
Douglas made a move that would not affect the 2020 draft, but still came into play during it when he traded a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Patriots for wide receiver Demaryius Thomas in September, the first trade between the teams since Bill Belichick became the Patriots coach.
The big move by Douglas came the day before the trade deadline in October. He sent Leonard Williams, the team’s 2015 first-round pick, to the Giants for a third-round pick in this draft and what ended up being a fifth-rounder in 2021. Williams was scheduled to hit free agency after the year and the Jets were not planning on re-signing him. It was a stunning haul for Williams.
That gets us to this year’s draft. Douglas stayed put at No. 11 overall and took Mekhi Becton. But in the second round, Douglas began making his moves. He traded out of No. 48 overall, sending it to the Seahawks for the No. 59 pick (second round) and No. 101 (third round). Denzel Mims, a wide receiver from Baylor, surprisingly slid all the way to 59 and the Jets grabbed him.
“When we were getting closer to 48 we had a strong group of players, not only wide receivers but other positions,” Douglas said. “We just felt like with the amount of players we had, moving back to 59 and realizing you may lose a few but there’s still going to be enough players that you’re excited about. We felt that wasn’t too far to move back and we were able to get it done with [GM] John [Schneider] and Seattle.”
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The Jets then had the No. 68 overall pick from the Giants thanks to the Williams deal. They took versatile Cal safety Ashtyn Davis with the pick. After making another pick in the third round, Douglas ended Day 2 of the draft by swinging a deal to load up for Day 3. He traded pick No. 101, which he had acquired from Seattle, to the Patriots for two fourth-round picks (Nos. 125 and 129) and the sixth-round pick in 2021 that he had traded to them in September for Thomas.
After nearly 20 years of the Border War meaning no trades between the two teams, Douglas had now made two trades with the Patriots in the span of seven months.
“For us, we had several calls regarding 101 and when New England called it happened to be the best offer we had on the table,” Douglas said. “It was an opportunity to add two picks in the fourth round and get our sixth-round pick back that we traded for Demaryius last year. It was a good opportunity for bolstering the picks we had for [Saturday].”
Douglas took FIU quarterback James Morgan and Charlotte tackle Cameron Clark with the picks from New England.
After making one selection in the sixth round, Douglas had one pick left — No. 211. This is the pick the Jets originally received from the Chiefs for Lee, traded to the Colts for Hairston and then got back when the conditions of the trade were not met. Douglas sent the pick to the Colts again, trading it to end the Jets’ 2020 draft in return for cornerback Quincy Wilson, a former second-round pick who can compete for a starting spot with the Jets.
In the end, the Jets drafted nine players and added veterans Lewis, Hairston, Wilson and Thomas through Douglas’ wheeling and dealing. Only Thomas is not currently on the roster. He remains a free agent and the Jets have not ruled out bringing him back.
Douglas performed a math trick for the Jets — turning those seven picks into 13 players. We won’t know for a few years how all these moves will work out, but the Jets hope this draft is the foundation for what they are building.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--Dismiss the case vs. Michael Flynn and other commentary

Legal take : Dismiss the Case vs. Michael Flynn “ Previously undisclosed documents ” in the case against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn offer a “ chilling blueprint ” on how top FBI officials tried to “ entrap ” him on “ blatantly unconstitutional and manufactured grounds , ” fumes law professor Jonathan Turley at The Hill .
For starters , the Justice Department dredged up “ the Logan Act , ” a 1799 law that bans citizens from playing diplomat but is “ widely viewed ” as unconstitutional .
And it was “ utterly absurd ” to claim a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s meeting with the Russian ambassador .
Worse , while pressuring Flynn to plead guilty , prosecutors didn ’ t inform him of exonerating evidence ; instead , they drained Flynn financially and threatened to charge his son .
“ Justice demands a dismissal of his prosecution , ” agues Turley .
Whatever the goals here , “ justice was not one of them.
” Tara Reade ’ s “ explosive ” allegations against Joe Biden create a “ complicated ” situation for Biden ’ s running mate , notes New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vowed to tap a woman — but while many female Democrats would love to be “ the successor to a 77-year-old man whose ambitions don ’ t seem to reach too far beyond November , ” his choice will have to “ answer — over and over again — for Biden ’ s treatment of other women.
” That ’ s a major problem for VP hopeful Kamala Harris , for one : She used Christine Blasey Ford ’ s sexual-assault charges against Brett Kavanaugh as “ a springboard to her own presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in fact , that “ some veep prospects ” will probably turn Biden down if he makes the offer .
While the establishment media trumpet “ the alleged failures of President Donald Trump , ” they ’ ve let Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s decisions escape “ close scrutiny , ” likely because his “ performance seemed to charm many , ” notes Jonathan S. Tobin at The Federalist .
But it ’ s shameful , since Cuomo ’ s policies have been “ lethal.
” His Department of Health barred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and “ the results of this blunder were as brutal as they were predictable ” : 3,500 nursing-home patients have died .
Yet Cuomo has “ refused to acknowledge the problem , ” even “ doubling down on the order at an April 26 press conference.
” The press should ’ ve “ gone after Cuomo ” on his “ fatal ” policy — but they ’ ve remained focused on “ criticizing every statement by Trump ” instead .
Foreign desk : An Asterisk Next to ‘ China ’ At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chart President Trump displayed “ had an asterisk next to China ’ s name , ” reflecting his skepticism of the country ’ s “ COVID-19 death-rate claims.
” No surprise , Michael Auslin observes at The Spectator USA : That “ distrust ” is “ now the norm , ” as it should be .
Because China ’ s Communist regime “ assured the World Health Organization ” that humans could not transmit COVID-19 and spent months publishing a “ suspiciously low ” death total , the world was “ unprepared ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus claims are just part of “ a decades-long trend ” in which the world accepted Beijing ’ s false statements “ at face value.
” In return , alas , China “ gained unprecedented global influence.
” Let ’ s hope the pandemic has destroyed that “ global dynamic , perhaps permanently.
” “ Mia , ” the Native American maiden used for years on the Land O ’ Lakes butter box , “ was never a stereotype , ” insists Robert DesJarlait at The Washington Post .
Yet she devolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s minds , ” including some public officials , and now the company has dropped her .
DesJarlait knows better : He and his father , who worked on the logo , are from the Ojibwe Nation culture , and he wrote a book about stereotypes .
Mia “ didn ’ t fit the parameters of a stereotype , ” he says , and “ many Native American women on social media have made it clear that they didn ’ t agree with those who viewed her as a romanticized and/or sexually objectified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have stirred a sense of remembrance and place , one that they found reassuring about their existence as Native American women.
” Sadly , “ Mia , the stereotype that wasn ’ t , leaves behind a landscape voided of identity and history .
”

Legal take: Dismiss the Case vs. Michael Flynn
“Previously undisclosed documents” in the case against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn offer a “chilling blueprint” on how top FBI officials tried to “entrap” him on “blatantly unconstitutional and manufactured grounds,” fumes law professor Jonathan Turley at The Hill. For starters, the Justice Department dredged up “the Logan Act,” a 1799 law that bans citizens from playing diplomat but is “widely viewed” as unconstitutional. And it was “utterly absurd” to claim a violation in the incoming national security adviser’s meeting with the Russian ambassador. Worse, while pressuring Flynn to plead guilty, prosecutors didn’t inform him of exonerating evidence; instead, they drained Flynn financially and threatened to charge his son. “Justice demands a dismissal of his prosecution,” agues Turley. Whatever the goals here, “justice was not one of them.”
Campaign beat: #MeToo Challenge for Joe’s VP
Tara Reade’s “explosive” allegations against Joe Biden create a “complicated” situation for Biden’s running mate, notes New York’s Ed Kilgore. Biden has vowed to tap a woman — but while many female Democrats would love to be “the successor to a 77-year-old man whose ambitions don’t seem to reach too far beyond November,” his choice will have to “answer — over and over again — for Biden’s treatment of other women.” That’s a major problem for VP hopeful Kamala Harris, for one: She used Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual-assault charges against Brett Kavanaugh as “a springboard to her own presidential campaign.” The situation is so perilous, in fact, that “some veep prospects” will probably turn Biden down if he makes the offer.
Media watch: Ignoring Cuomo’s ‘Lethal’ Mistake
While the establishment media trumpet “the alleged failures of President Donald Trump,” they’ve let Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decisions escape “close scrutiny,” likely because his “performance seemed to charm many,” notes Jonathan S. Tobin at The Federalist. But it’s shameful, since Cuomo’s policies have been “lethal.” His Department of Health barred nursing homes from turning away COVID-19 patients, and “the results of this blunder were as brutal as they were predictable”: 3,500 nursing-home patients have died. Yet Cuomo has “refused to acknowledge the problem,” even “doubling down on the order at an April 26 press conference.” The press should’ve “gone after Cuomo” on his “fatal” policy — but they’ve remained focused on “criticizing every statement by Trump” instead.
Foreign desk: An Asterisk Next to ‘China’
At a recent White House press conference, a chart President Trump displayed “had an asterisk next to China’s name,” reflecting his skepticism of the country’s “COVID-19 death-rate claims.” No surprise, Michael Auslin observes at The Spectator USA: That “distrust” is “now the norm,” as it should be. Because China’s Communist regime “assured the World Health Organization” that humans could not transmit COVID-19 and spent months publishing a “suspiciously low” death total, the world was “unprepared” for the virus. Yet China’s coronavirus claims are just part of “a decades-long trend” in which the world accepted Beijing’s false statements “at face value.” In return, alas, China “gained unprecedented global influence.” Let’s hope the pandemic has destroyed that “global dynamic, perhaps permanently.”
Culture beat: Mia Was No Indian Stereotype
“Mia,” the Native American maiden used for years on the Land O’Lakes butter box, “was never a stereotype,” insists Robert DesJarlait at The Washington Post. Yet she devolved into one “in many people’s minds,” including some public officials, and now the company has dropped her. DesJarlait knows better: He and his father, who worked on the logo, are from the Ojibwe Nation culture, and he wrote a book about stereotypes. Mia “didn’t fit the parameters of a stereotype,” he says, and “many Native American women on social media have made it clear that they didn’t agree with those who viewed her as a romanticized and/or sexually objectified stereotype.” Indeed, “Mia seems to have stirred a sense of remembrance and place, one that they found reassuring about their existence as Native American women.” Sadly, “Mia, the stereotype that wasn’t, leaves behind a landscape voided of identity and history.”
— Compiled by Karl Salzmann & Adam Brodsky


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--‘Partisan pursuit’ of Mike Flynn is ‘scary’: WH Press Sec. Kayleigh McEnany

President Trump said Thursday that his former White House aide ...

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Friday implored reporters to cover revelations about the FBI’s “partisan pursuit” of Mike Flynn.
McEnany said the FBI’s targeting of President Trump’s former national security adviser is a “very scary story” and a “case of injustice.”
“What we’ve all learned from that should scare every American citizen,” McEnany said during her first formal briefing with reporters. “There was an unfair target on the back of Gen. Michael Flynn and it should concern every American any time there’s a partisan pursuit of an individual.”
McEnany raised Flynn’s case on her own and urged reporters to give it more coverage after the release this week of FBI documents.
“I’m asking back that all of you in your coverage endeavor to report what is a very scary story, when the FBI is saying, ‘Let us get someone to lie.’ I’ve seen very scant coverage of that. It’s a story worth reporting,” she said.
On Thursday, President Trump amplified a Justice Department document release that included a handwritten note from former FBI counterintelligence director Bill Priestap. After he met with then-FBI Director James Comey and then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Priestap wrote: “What’s our goal? Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”
“He’s in the process of being exonerated if you looked at those notes,” Trump said. “These were dirty, filthy cops at the top of the FBI.”
A different document indicates that the FBI was prepared to close an investigation into Flynn before Trump took office in January 2017.
About two weeks before Trump’s inauguration, anti-Trump former FBI official Peter Strzok wrote: “Hey, don’t close RAZOR,” using the codeword for a probe into whether Flynn was a Russian agent. Strzok wrote that “7th floor involved,” referring to FBI leadership.
Trump routinely charges that Strzok, McCabe and Comey treated him and his associates unfairly in the FBI’s Russia investigation.
In late 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about two contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn is attempting to withdraw his guilty plea ahead of sentencing. He says he did not intentionally lie.
McEnany said that the latest Flynn news follows a year of developments in the case, pointing to Comey’s December statement that sending FBI agents to interview Flynn without negotiation with the White House counsel was something he “wouldn’t have done or gotten away with” in a different administration.
Flynn was fired by Trump in early 2017, less than one month into his administration, with an initial justification that he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his talks with Russia’s ambassador.
According to a plea document, Flynn lied to the FBI in January 2017 about two contacts — on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, 2016 — with Kislyak. Both contacts were made during Trump’s presidential transition with the knowledge of other aides.
Prosecutors said one contact occurred after Flynn “called a senior official of the presidential transition team” to discuss sanctions and that the other contact occurred after a “very senior member of the transition team” directed an outreach effort regarding a United Nations vote.
At the time, the FBI was investigating whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to undermine Hillary Clinton. Flynn agreed to cooperate with investigators in pleading guilty. In accepting a plea, he also avoided charges for working as an unregistered lobbyist for Turkey.
A subsequent investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of Trump-Russia collusion.
Lying to the FBI is a crime but isn’t always prosecuted. In what Flynn defenders see as a double standard, prosecutors recently decided not to prosecute McCabe, who was fired after an inspector general report identified multiple alleged lies to FBI officials about his role authorizing a leak to the media.
McEnany pointed reporters to Pence’s Thursday statement about Flynn’s alleged lie, that “I’m more inclined to believe it was unintentional than ever before.” She said Flynn, a former Army general, is “an honorable man who served his country.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--Protesters gather to demand the opening of California beaches

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Some 3,000 people held a raucus May Day demonstration at Huntington Beach Friday , protesting the closure of California beaches and the state ’ s stay-at-home mandate .
The protesters — many wearing no masks and some carrying surfboards and American flags — massed in throngs despite Gov .
Gavin Newsom directing all state and local beaches to close Friday to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Newsom ’ s mandate quickly sparked backlash from local government officials in Huntington Beach and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which last week had opened up the beaches only to see the governor close them again .
Huntington Beach resident Mike Murray slammed the governor and previous reports that 40,000 people had packed beaches last weekend .
“ I didn ’ t see 40,000 there and the people who were down there were all spaced out , so I think [ the governor ] is nuts , ” Murray told the Los Angeles Times .
Friday ’ s protest included people carrying banners that read , “ All Jobs are essential ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wore backwards Trump 2020 caps while lining up to confront cops on horseback .
One photo shows a modified Gadsden flag depicting the popular QAnon mantra “ When We Go One We Go All ” instead of “ Don ’ t Tread on Me.
” Some protesters wore face coverings — but most ignored proper social distancing guidelines of standing six feet apart , the outlet reported .
The Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a statement that it didn ’ t plan to make arrests at its local beaches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing and doing what they ’ re expected to do , the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach , ” sheriff ’ s spokeswoman Carrie Braun told the outlet .
The number of confirmed cases in Orange County grew to more than 2,500 on Friday .

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Some 3,000 people held a raucus May Day demonstration at Huntington Beach Friday, protesting the closure of California beaches and the state’s stay-at-home mandate.
The protesters — many wearing no masks and some carrying surfboards and American flags — massed in throngs despite Gov. Gavin Newsom directing all state and local beaches to close Friday to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Newsom’s mandate quickly sparked backlash from local government officials in Huntington Beach and elsewhere on the Orange County coast, which last week had opened up the beaches only to see the governor close them again.
Huntington Beach resident Mike Murray slammed the governor and previous reports that 40,000 people had packed beaches last weekend.
“I didn’t see 40,000 there and the people who were down there were all spaced out, so I think [the governor] is nuts,” Murray told the Los Angeles Times.
Friday’s protest included people carrying banners that read, “All Jobs are essential” and “Recall Gavin Newsom.”
Some protesters wore backwards Trump 2020 caps while lining up to confront cops on horseback.
One photo shows a modified Gadsden flag depicting the popular QAnon mantra “When We Go One We Go All” instead of “Don’t Tread on Me.”
Some protesters wore face coverings — but most ignored proper social distancing guidelines of standing six feet apart, the outlet reported.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that it didn’t plan to make arrests at its local beaches.
“As long as people are social distancing and doing what they’re expected to do, the sheriff does not have interest in criminalizing people enjoying the beach,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun told the outlet.
The number of confirmed cases in Orange County grew to more than 2,500 on Friday.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--American Airlines keeps NYC crews grounded amid coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus is bringing even more pain to the nation ’ s hobbled airlines as American Airlines informed its New York-based flight crews they will be grounded for at least another month as the carrier slashes its June schedule .
“ We ’ re announcing the difficult decision to extend temporary pause done by LGA-based [ LaGuardia Airport ] flight attendants .
While we see a very slight increase to flights operating from our three airports , they will continue to be operated as ‘ turn only ’ – meaning no aircraft or crews will be scheduled to remain overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice sent to flight attendants obtained by The Post .
The AA flight crews will continue to receive a base salary while grounded .
But one veteran Queens flight attendant told The Post the money he makes in OT is what keeps him afloat and he will be unable able to pay his rent just on regular salary in high-cost New York .
“ I have to work OT just to pay the bills .
Not making OT is a major hardship , ” said the flight attendant , adding that being grounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crazy .
The move comes as the airline slashes its domestic schedule for June by 70 percent compared to last year and makes even steeper cuts to its international service , operating just one in five flights scheduled the year before .
New York City ’ s three airports have been among the hardest hit by the cutbacks as the feds urge travelers to avoid the nation ’ s worst coronavirus hotspot .
As the memo to its local flight staff indicated , the situation is dreadful for AA ’ s NY-based service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in service to New York ’ s airports ( LGA , JFK and EWR ) , which will be extended through June 4 , ” the statement said .
From May 6 through June 4 , American will only operate up to 15 daily flights combined from all three New York-area airports .
American ’ s also slashing service by 85 percent at its Miami hub as the economic shutdown and government restrictions international travel have evaporated demand for flights to the Caribbean and Latin America .
The pandemic has delivered a beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include some $ 50 billion in aid for passenger carriers in the $ 2 trillion stimulus bill passed in March .

The coronavirus is bringing even more pain to the nation’s hobbled airlines as American Airlines informed its New York-based flight crews they will be grounded for at least another month as the carrier slashes its June schedule.
“We’re announcing the difficult decision to extend temporary pause done by LGA-based [LaGuardia Airport] flight attendants. While we see a very slight increase to flights operating from our three airports, they will continue to be operated as ‘turn only’ – meaning no aircraft or crews will be scheduled to remain overnight,” AA officials said in a notice sent to flight attendants obtained by The Post.
The AA flight crews will continue to receive a base salary while grounded. But one veteran Queens flight attendant told The Post the money he makes in OT is what keeps him afloat and he will be unable able to pay his rent just on regular salary in high-cost New York.
“I have to work OT just to pay the bills. Not making OT is a major hardship,” said the flight attendant, adding that being grounded for so long is making him stir crazy.
The move comes as the airline slashes its domestic schedule for June by 70 percent compared to last year and makes even steeper cuts to its international service, operating just one in five flights scheduled the year before.
New York City’s three airports have been among the hardest hit by the cutbacks as the feds urge travelers to avoid the nation’s worst coronavirus hotspot.
As the memo to its local flight staff indicated, the situation is dreadful for AA’s NY-based service.
“American also made additional reductions in service to New York’s airports (LGA, JFK and EWR), which will be extended through June 4,” the statement said.
From May 6 through June 4, American will only operate up to 15 daily flights combined from all three New York-area airports.
American’s also slashing service by 85 percent at its Miami hub as the economic shutdown and government restrictions international travel have evaporated demand for flights to the Caribbean and Latin America.
The pandemic has delivered a beating to the airline industry, prompting Congress to include some $50 billion in aid for passenger carriers in the $2 trillion stimulus bill passed in March.


newyorkpost--2020-05-01--New York quietly conducting coronavirus tests at grocery stores

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Gov .
Cuomo has quietly begun recruiting grocery stores in a bid to widen the state ’ s coronavirus testing program , The Post has learned .
Tests for the deadly bug — a key tool for pinpointing infection hotspots as officials look to ease lockdowns — are now being administered at an undisclosed number of supermarkets statewide as officials look to reach a larger swath of the Empire State ’ s population , officials confirmed .
Among those participating are several Fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , each of which has administered upwards of 200 antibody tests a day inside the stores , said Rudy Fuertes , president of Fteley Food Corp. , which operates 10 Fine Fare locations in the Big Apple .
The supermarket tests have been conducted quietly , with no announcement by the governor ’ s office , Fuertes told The Post .
“ They don ’ t tell anyone they are doing that — otherwise we ’ d have lines through the kazoo , ” said Fuertes , who says he tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The antibody tests — first launched last month at hospitals for first responders , health care workers and hospital patients — started rolling out at Big Apple urgent-care clinics earlier this week .
The governor has likewise cut red tape to begin testing at more than 5,000 independent drugstores statewide this weekend .
In the meantime , however , the state ’ s Department of Health also has been focusing on a random sampling of the population : people who shop and work at supermarkets .
State health workers are setting up shop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administering tests that draw blood from five fingers .
The results are sent directly to participants via e-mail or a phone call .
Other supermarkets across the state are also participating in the program , though a health official declined to identify those companies or the specific stores .
“ The governor has talked about testing as one of the keys to reopening the state , ” a department of health official said .
“ The supermarkets are the random testing piece ” of this effort .
State officials said they have tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , including 3,000 random samples from the general population .
Fine Fare ’ s Fuertes believes about 30 percent of his employees tested positive for coronavirus based on the fact that nearly 100 percent of his managers in each store tested positive .
His stores in the Bronx at 1221 Fteley Avenue and at 459 E. 149th St. were testing sites last week .
Testing sites also were set up at the Key Food in Williamsburg this week , also owned by Fteley .
Cuomo said this week that nearly a quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Infection rates in Westchester and Rockland counties have run at 15.1 percent as of this week .
Long Island had a 14.4 percent infection rate .
Outside of those regions , the state average is 3.2 percent , officials said .
“ The tests are bringing hope to our community , ” Fuertes said .

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Gov. Cuomo has quietly begun recruiting grocery stores in a bid to widen the state’s coronavirus testing program, The Post has learned.
Tests for the deadly bug — a key tool for pinpointing infection hotspots as officials look to ease lockdowns — are now being administered at an undisclosed number of supermarkets statewide as officials look to reach a larger swath of the Empire State’s population, officials confirmed.
Among those participating are several Fine Fare supermarkets in the Bronx and Brooklyn, each of which has administered upwards of 200 antibody tests a day inside the stores, said Rudy Fuertes, president of Fteley Food Corp., which operates 10 Fine Fare locations in the Big Apple.
The supermarket tests have been conducted quietly, with no announcement by the governor’s office, Fuertes told The Post.
“They don’t tell anyone they are doing that — otherwise we’d have lines through the kazoo,” said Fuertes, who says he tested positive for the virus but had no symptoms.
The antibody tests — first launched last month at hospitals for first responders, health care workers and hospital patients — started rolling out at Big Apple urgent-care clinics earlier this week. The governor has likewise cut red tape to begin testing at more than 5,000 independent drugstores statewide this weekend.
In the meantime, however, the state’s Department of Health also has been focusing on a random sampling of the population: people who shop and work at supermarkets.
State health workers are setting up shop at long tables inside the stores, administering tests that draw blood from five fingers. The results are sent directly to participants via e-mail or a phone call.
Other supermarkets across the state are also participating in the program, though a health official declined to identify those companies or the specific stores.
“The governor has talked about testing as one of the keys to reopening the state,” a department of health official said. “The supermarkets are the random testing piece” of this effort.
State officials said they have tested some 8,000 people over the past two weeks, including 3,000 random samples from the general population.
Fine Fare’s Fuertes believes about 30 percent of his employees tested positive for coronavirus based on the fact that nearly 100 percent of his managers in each store tested positive.
His stores in the Bronx at 1221 Fteley Avenue and at 459 E. 149th St. were testing sites last week. Testing sites also were set up at the Key Food in Williamsburg this week, also owned by Fteley.
Cuomo said this week that nearly a quarter of New York City residents have had coronavirus. Infection rates in Westchester and Rockland counties have run at 15.1 percent as of this week. Long Island had a 14.4 percent infection rate. Outside of those regions, the state average is 3.2 percent, officials said.
“The tests are bringing hope to our community,” Fuertes said.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Nick Cordero taken off ventilator in coronavirus fight, wife says

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Broadway star Nick Cordero has been taken off a ventilator , marking a milestone for the actor in his battle with the coronavirus , his elated wife revealed .
“ He is on the trach !
They did it , and he ’ s OK , and he is free of the ventilator , ” Kloots announced Friday on Instagram stories .
Cordero , 41 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him from the cumbersome ventilator , Kloots said .
A “ trach ” involves creating a hole in a person ’ s windpipe to insert an oxygen tube .
Doctors had been waiting for Cordero ’ s health to improve before performing the procedure , Kloots said .
“ We have been trying to do this for Nick for so many weeks now , and it just kept getting stalled and pushed back because of his health , ” the fitness trainer told her followers .
Cordero has been in intensive care at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early April , and has lost his leg due to complications from coronavirus .
By April 24 , test results showed the virus was out of his system , Kloots said .
“ This is just amazing news guys , because we really needed this to happen , to get him off that ventilator , ” Kloots said Friday .
“ This is a lot more comfortable for Nick , I think he will be feeling , even subconsciously , feeling better , and I hope this is a great sign for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39 , has been chronicling Cordero ’ s health batter on her Instagram account .

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Broadway star Nick Cordero has been taken off a ventilator, marking a milestone for the actor in his battle with the coronavirus, his elated wife revealed.
“He is on the trach! They did it, and he’s OK, and he is free of the ventilator,” Amanda Kloots announced Friday on Instagram stories.
Cordero, 41, had a tracheostomy to help remove him from the cumbersome ventilator, Kloots said. A “trach” involves creating a hole in a person’s windpipe to insert an oxygen tube.
Doctors had been waiting for Cordero’s health to improve before performing the procedure, Kloots said.
“We have been trying to do this for Nick for so many weeks now, and it just kept getting stalled and pushed back because of his health,” the fitness trainer told her followers.
Cordero has been in intensive care at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles since early April, and has lost his leg due to complications from coronavirus.
By April 24, test results showed the virus was out of his system, Kloots said.
“This is just amazing news guys, because we really needed this to happen, to get him off that ventilator,” Kloots said Friday. “This is a lot more comfortable for Nick, I think he will be feeling, even subconsciously, feeling better, and I hope this is a great sign for some good recovery days ahead.”
Kloots, 39, has been chronicling Cordero’s health batter on her Instagram account.
The couple share a 10-month-old son, Elvis.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ series to end while tying up loose ends

The Clone War is over .
The animated television show that started back in 2008 is set to end May 4th — or as some Star Wars fans call it , Star Wars Day .
Set between Episode II and Episode III , the animated television show started as a reboot of the 2003 show of the same title .
It follows the galaxy-wide conflict between the Galatic Republic and its Jedi protectors and the Separatist Alliance .
“ I like to have some kind of end goal in sight , and frankly , it ’ s where the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dave Filoni told CNN .
“ You get to see some events you know really well from a different point of view.
” By focusing on an undeveloped time period in the Star Wars universe , Filoni managed to create a series that fans new and old could really enjoy .
First airing on Cartoon Network , the show was canceled when George Lucas sold the franchise to Disney in 2012 .
In the summer of 2018 , Disney announced it would all six seasons available for streaming as well as create twelve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many fans were excited by the news as it would tie the Prequel Trilogy up nicely .
The season primarily focused on Ahsoka Tano ( voiced by Ashley Eckstein ) , the failed apprentice of Anakin Skywalker , and her journey after leaving the Jedi Order .
It also gives fans the return of Darth Maul ( voiced by Sam Witwer ) , who survived his supposed death in “ The Phantom Menace.
” And it also highlights a few moments from “ Revenge of the Sith , ” culminating in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evil Chancellor Palpatine uses to eradicate the Jedi Order .
While Ahsoka does live to fight another day , as rumors continue to swirl about Rosario Dawson playing the ex-jedi in season two of “ The Mandalorian , ” it is unclear how .
Only time will tell .
The final episode of “ The Clone Wars ” will air Monday , May 4th on Disney+ .

The Clone War is over.
The animated television show that started back in 2008 is set to end May 4th — or as some Star Wars fans call it, Star Wars Day.
Set between Episode II and Episode III, the animated television show started as a reboot of the 2003 show of the same title. It follows the galaxy-wide conflict between the Galatic Republic and its Jedi protectors and the Separatist Alliance.
“I like to have some kind of end goal in sight, and frankly, it’s where the story has to end,” executive producer Dave Filoni told CNN.
“You get to see some events you know really well from a different point of view.”
By focusing on an undeveloped time period in the Star Wars universe, Filoni managed to create a series that fans new and old could really enjoy. First airing on Cartoon Network, the show was canceled when George Lucas sold the franchise to Disney in 2012.
In the summer of 2018, Disney announced it would make all six seasons available for streaming as well as create twelve new episodes to round off the series. Many fans were excited by the news as it would tie the Prequel Trilogy up nicely.
The season primarily focused on Ahsoka Tano (voiced by Ashley Eckstein), the failed apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, and her journey after leaving the Jedi Order.
It also gives fans the return of Darth Maul (voiced by Sam Witwer), who survived his supposed death in “The Phantom Menace.”
And it also highlights a few moments from “Revenge of the Sith,” culminating in the infamous “Order 66” which the evil Chancellor Palpatine uses to eradicate the Jedi Order.
While Ahsoka does live to fight another day, as rumors continue to swirl about Rosario Dawson playing the ex-jedi in season two of “The Mandalorian,” it is unclear how. Only time will tell.
The final episode of “The Clone Wars” will air Monday, May 4th on Disney+.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Christopher Meloni to return to ‘Law and Order: SVU’

Christopher Meloni , known for his role as Elliot Stabler , will return to Dick Wolf ’ s Law and Order SVU for its 22nd season , according to showrunner Warren Leight .
Leight confirmed on the SVU podcast on Wednesday that Stabler will at the least appear in the season opener .
“ It ’ s pretty clear that Elliot will be in the SVU season opener .
I think that much I know.
” The news of Christopher Meloni ’ s return comes a month after it was announced that his character would be getting his own show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No air date has been announced as of yet .
After starring alongside Mariska Hargitay , who plays Elliot ’ s former partner Olivia Benson , Meloni left the SVU squad following season 12 .
Stabler went into retirement , citing the emotional toll of the job .
Leight also said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic , it is unclear when filming of the 22nd season will begin .
It is still unclear if the entire Stabler family will be in the new season ’ s opening episode .
“ Whether we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well remains to be seen , ” says Leight .
Stabler and his family were slated to appear at the end of the show ’ s 21st season , however , this idea was eventually cut when the pandemic curtailed shooting .

Christopher Meloni, known for his role as Elliot Stabler, will return to Dick Wolf’s Law and Order SVU for its 22nd season, according to showrunner Warren Leight.
Leight confirmed on the SVU podcast on Wednesday that Stabler will at the least appear in the season opener.
“It’s pretty clear that Elliot will be in the SVU season opener. I think that much I know.”
The news of Christopher Meloni’s return comes a month after it was announced that his character would be getting his own show about leading his own crime unit.
No air date has been announced as of yet.
After starring alongside Mariska Hargitay, who plays Elliot’s former partner Olivia Benson, Meloni left the SVU squad following season 12.
Stabler went into retirement, citing the emotional toll of the job.
Leight also said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear when filming of the 22nd season will begin.
It is still unclear if the entire Stabler family will be in the new season’s opening episode.
“Whether we’ll get to see his family as well remains to be seen,” says Leight.
Stabler and his family were slated to appear at the end of the show’s 21st season, however, this idea was eventually cut when the pandemic curtailed shooting.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Judge tosses NY nurses’ suit over inadequate PPE supplies

A federal judge has tossed out a New York nurse association ’ s lawsuit seeking protective equipment as they help fight the coronavirus .
The New York State Nurses Association had sued the state Health Department and two hospitals over a lack of PPE protection , but on Friday a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the case , explaining that the parties were in a better position to settle the matter among themselves .
The hospitals sued by the nurses are Montefiore Medical Center and the parent company of Westchester Medical Center .
“ Both sides presumably share the ultimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front lines of the battle against a vicious disease without compromising patient care , ” said Manhattan U.S. District Judge Jesse Fruman .
“ The parties are plainly in a better position than either the Court or an arbitrator to find the best ways to achieve that goal despite limited resources and ever-changing circumstances , ” Fruman said .
The judge did ask the health department and the two hospitals to address the nurses ’ concerns quickly — and said that if the two sides fail to reach an agreement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A federal judge has tossed out a New York nurse association’s lawsuit seeking protective equipment as they help fight the coronavirus.
The New York State Nurses Association had sued the state Health Department and two hospitals over a lack of PPE protection, but on Friday a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the case, explaining that the parties were in a better position to settle the matter among themselves.
The hospitals sued by the nurses are Montefiore Medical Center and the parent company of Westchester Medical Center.
“Both sides presumably share the ultimate goal of maximizing protections for healthcare workers on the front lines of the battle against a vicious disease without compromising patient care,” said Manhattan U.S. District Judge Jesse Fruman.
“The parties are plainly in a better position than either the Court or an arbitrator to find the best ways to achieve that goal despite limited resources and ever-changing circumstances,” Fruman said.
The judge did ask the health department and the two hospitals to address the nurses’ concerns quickly — and said that if the two sides fail to reach an agreement, a court proceeding could be expedited.
With Post Wire services


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Kroger to limit meat purchases in some stores for panicked shoppers

Kroger will reportedly limit meat purchases in some stores to preserve supplies as panicked shoppers look to hoard protein .
As the coronavirus threatens the nation ’ s meat suppliers , the grocery chain told CNN it would place purchasing limits on ground beef and fresh pork in some stores .
“ We feel good about our ability to maintain a broad assortment of meat and seafood for our customers because we purchase protein from a diverse network of suppliers , ” a Kroger representative told CNN .
“ There is plenty of protein in the supply chain .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meat suppliers have had to close down in recent weeks as COVID-19 outbreaks flared in their facilities .
Last week , the largest U.S. meat-packing union said more than 5,000 US meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to the coronavirus , while at least another 20 have died , their union said .
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union ( UFCW ) warned that the nation ’ s meat supply could be jeopardized by the pandemic unless the federal government took measures to improve safety at crowded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 25 percent drop in pork slaughter capacity and a 10 percent reduction in beef slaughter capacity , the union said .
President Trump on Tuesday invoked the Defense Production Act to mandate that meat plants stay open during the pandemic and signed an order to protect companies from liability should workers fall ill .
But even under the order plants have struggled to keep open , CNN reported .
UFCW International President Marc Perrone penned a letter to every state ’ s governor Wednesday desperately pleading they enforce CDC guidelines at production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue has nothing to do with politics , or whether these workers are union or non-union , but reflects our sincere fear that urgent and mandatory action is needed to protect these workers , the communities they serve , and our nation ’ s food supply , ” Perrone wrote .

Kroger will reportedly limit meat purchases in some stores to preserve supplies as panicked shoppers look to hoard protein.
As the coronavirus threatens the nation’s meat suppliers, the grocery chain told CNN it would place purchasing limits on ground beef and fresh pork in some stores.
“We feel good about our ability to maintain a broad assortment of meat and seafood for our customers because we purchase protein from a diverse network of suppliers,” a Kroger representative told CNN. “There is plenty of protein in the supply chain. However, some processors are experiencing challenges.”
Meat suppliers have had to close down in recent weeks as COVID-19 outbreaks flared in their facilities.
Last week, the largest U.S. meat-packing union said more than 5,000 US meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to the coronavirus, while at least another 20 have died, their union said.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) warned that the nation’s meat supply could be jeopardized by the pandemic unless the federal government took measures to improve safety at crowded facilities.
The outbreaks have resulted in a 25 percent drop in pork slaughter capacity and a 10 percent reduction in beef slaughter capacity, the union said.
President Trump on Tuesday invoked the Defense Production Act to mandate that meat plants stay open during the pandemic and signed an order to protect companies from liability should workers fall ill.
But even under the order plants have struggled to keep open, CNN reported.
UFCW International President Marc Perrone penned a letter to every state’s governor Wednesday desperately pleading they enforce CDC guidelines at production factories.
“For us, this issue has nothing to do with politics, or whether these workers are union or non-union, but reflects our sincere fear that urgent and mandatory action is needed to protect these workers, the communities they serve, and our nation’s food supply,” Perrone wrote.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Mets clubhouse manager Tony Carullo retires after 51 years with team

This was going to be relatively simple for Michael Conforto ... .

There is no bigger compliment a person can receive than the one Joe Torre paid Tony Carullo on Friday.
“You could trust him with your life,’’ Torre said of Carullo, who retired Thursday as the Mets’ visiting clubhouse manager after 51 years working for the team. “That to me is hugely important.’’
Unable to be together for a normal retirement ceremony, it was held via Zoom and more than 60 friends and members of the front office said goodbye. Among those joining Torre on the call were Jeff Wilpon, Luis Rojas, David Wright, Todd Frazier, longtime Braves clubhouse manager John Holland and Lou Cucuzza — who heads the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium.
“He has been around forever. I see him every year. He has the biggest heart I have ever been around. He cares very deeply about what he does and how he does it,’’ said Torre, who had served as MLB’s chief baseball officer since 2011 before becoming a special assistant to the commissioner in February. “He is a great personality.’’
Carullo, a Queens native who grew up in Astoria, was a Mater Christi High School student when he was hired as a bat boy in 1969. At 21, he took over the visiting clubhouse position in 1976.
“Tony is a Mets icon. He is beloved by every member of our organization. I never have heard anyone say a bad word about him,’’ Wilpon said in a statement. “Fifty-one years of dedicated service is just amazing. Retirement aside, Tony Carullo will be a Met for life.”
A 1977 graduate of Baruch College, Carullo is thankful for the support Wilpon provided.
“Jeff always looked out for me,’’ said Carullo, who will fill retirement’s idle hours by fishing, golfing, traveling and attending the Metropolitan Opera. “We can talk about wine for hours.’’
And he expects there will be a big void.
“Over the years I have met so many good people. That will be the hardest part. I am not talking about the players. The players are there for three days and they are gone,’’ Carullo said. “The traveling secretaries, the clubhouse guys, those are the guys I am going to miss the most. I am going to miss Joe coming to my office and talking about wines and talking about cigars. That is going to be the hard part, not having friends around. If you are good to people they are good back to you.’’
Carullo’s office was his, but to others it was theirs.
“You would sit in his office and it is open to you, it’s your office,’’ said Torre, who met Carullo in 1969 when he was playing for the Cardinals and of course got to know him as the Mets manager and later as a visiting manager with the Braves, Cardinals, Yankees and Dodgers. “On those days you come in and lose a tough ballgame, he is a sense of friendship and that really helped.’’
Carullo, who will be replaced by Dave Berni, the Mets’ home clubhouse assistant, knows exactly how he lasted so long.
“Keep my mouth shut and do my job and you can stick around for 51 years,’’ Carullo said.
And that was long enough.
“It’s bittersweet but it was time to hand the reins over to a younger guy,’’ the 66-year-old Carullo said, “I had a great run and I am thankful for all the friends I met. It’s been real fun and I am going to miss it. I am going to miss it a lot but it was time.’’


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Indians’ Emmanuel Clase banned 80 games for PED violation

CLEVELAND — Whenever the Cleveland Indians finally get to start their season they won ’ t have reliever Emmanuel Clase .
The hard-throwing right-hander was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug .
Clase was the biggest acquisition by Cleveland in the big offseason trade that sent two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers .
The commissioner ’ s office said the 22-year-old Clase tested positive for Boldenone , an anabolic steroid .
Clase was expected to have a major role at the back end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspension will not begin until the start of the 2020 regular season , which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
If the season doesn ’ t cover 80 games , MLB and the players ’ association are still working out if any carry over will apply for 2021 .
The regular season was scheduled to open March 26 .
The Indians said they were “ disappointed ” by Clase ’ s suspension .
“ We fully support Major League Baseball ’ s policy and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ We have been in contact with Emmanuel , and we will welcome him back after the discipline has been served .
” The Indians sent Kluber , the ace of their staff for the past five years , to Texas in December for outfielder Delino DeShields and Clase , whose fastball has been clocked at over 100 mph .
Clase strained a shoulder muscle in spring training and didn ’ t appear in an exhibition game before the virus outbreak shut baseball down .
Clase returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put on hold .
He made his debut with the Rangers in August .
Clase appeared in 21 games , going 2-3 with a 2.31 ERA .
He struck out 21 in 23 1-3 innings .
Clase is scheduled to make $ 564,800 this season .

CLEVELAND — Whenever the Cleveland Indians finally get to start their season they won’t have reliever Emmanuel Clase.
The hard-throwing right-hander was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.
Clase was the biggest acquisition by Cleveland in the big offseason trade that sent two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers. The commissioner’s office said the 22-year-old Clase tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.
Clase was expected to have a major role at the back end of the Indians’ bullpen this season.
His suspension will not begin until the start of the 2020 regular season, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If the season doesn’t cover 80 games, MLB and the players’ association are still working out if any carry over will apply for 2021.
The regular season was scheduled to open March 26.
The Indians said they were “disappointed” by Clase’s suspension.
“We fully support Major League Baseball’s policy and its efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing drugs from our game,” the team said in a statement. “We have been in contact with Emmanuel, and we will welcome him back after the discipline has been served. ”
The Indians sent Kluber, the ace of their staff for the past five years, to Texas in December for outfielder Delino DeShields and Clase, whose fastball has been clocked at over 100 mph. Clase strained a shoulder muscle in spring training and didn’t appear in an exhibition game before the virus outbreak shut baseball down.
Clase returned to the Dominican Republic once the season was put on hold.
He made his debut with the Rangers in August. Clase appeared in 21 games, going 2-3 with a 2.31 ERA. He struck out 21 in 23 1-3 innings.
Clase is scheduled to make $564,800 this season.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--St. John’s interim baseball coach adjusting to coronavirus tests

Nineteen years later , Mike Hampton had his own program .
Nearly two decades after arriving at St. John ’ s , he was calling the shots , finally the man in charge after Ed Blankmeyer left to join the Mets as their extended spring training coordinator and manager of the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones .
But just 14 games into his tenure as interim head coach , he was sidelined .
The novel coronavirus pandemic ended his first season — a campaign that was going to go a long way toward determining whether he could land the full-time job — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the beginning of the Big East season neared , on March 12 .
“ To be honest with you , I just want to get back out there and get back on the field , ” Hampton said in a phone interview .
“ I ’ ve never had a true spring break , where you ’ re going on vacation .
Having some [ free ] time is not easy.
” Hampton gets it .
He ’ s not complaining .
Not having a full season pales in comparison to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going through as this pandemic terrorizes the area .
His focus has been on the well-being of his players , helping them get home , communicating with them and making sure they are staying on top of their classwork .
He rarely referred to his own situation , but instead harped on the impact it has had on them , and his job is to communicate with his players .
The toughest part of the cancellation was meeting with his team , not being able to tell his eight seniors what would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played their last game .
He promised to do everything in his power to make the transition as easy as possible .
The NCAA eventually announced all spring athletes would be gaining an extra year of eligibility , providing much-needed relief .
“ Most important , right now he understands baseball is not the top priority and he ’ s focused on our health and well-being , ” ace Nick Mondak said .
“ That says a lot about him and St. John ’ s as a program.
” Before the virus cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s had won two straight games — its first two home contests of the year — to improve to 5-9 .
Like most northeast programs , the Red Storm spend the better part of the season ’ s first month on the road due to weather concerns .
They started well , topping then-No .
19 Georgia Tech and taking a road series at California , before dropping seven in a row .
Hampton , 48 , was encouraged by how the team had responded in tough times , and felt it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of home games coming up .
“ Then this happened , ” said Hampton , a Seaford , Long Island native who was a fourth-round pick out of Clemson in 1994 and reached high Single-A before retiring because of injury .
It remains uncertain if he will wind up the full-time coach in Queens , though athletic director Mike Cragg was complimentary of the job Hampton had done on the field and off it during these trying times , describing his performance as “ impressive.
” Mondak called it a “ smooth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The two worked closely together for 18 years , and Hampton didn ’ t try to change much after taking over .
His aim was to continue what Blankmeyer had done in making St. John ’ s into a northeast power , leading it to five Big East Tournament titles , six regular-season crowns and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in 24 years .
“ I ’ ll tell you , it ’ s frustrating , but things are always happening , ” Hampton said .
“ The one thing I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything can happen .
I feel that I ’ ve learned from the best , from Ed Blankmeyer .
You ’ re always making adjustments .
Would I have liked to have a perfect season ?
Yeah , sure , I would have , but that never happens .
Whatever challenges that come up , you have to deal with them , and move on , and learn from them , too.
” There ’ s been plenty of learning and adjusting this year for him .
It ’ s been a wild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was named interim coach , less then five weeks before the season opener .
Nearly a month later , the season was over .
“ I ’ m sure when he writes the book on 2020 , ” Cragg said , “ he ’ s going to have a whole lot of experiences that no one will ever be able to say they had .
”

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Nineteen years later, Mike Hampton had his own program.
Nearly two decades after arriving at St. John’s, he was calling the shots, finally the man in charge after Ed Blankmeyer left to join the Mets as their extended spring training coordinator and manager of the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones. But just 14 games into his tenure as interim head coach, he was sidelined.
The novel coronavirus pandemic ended his first season — a campaign that was going to go a long way toward determining whether he could land the full-time job — just as it was really getting started, as the beginning of the Big East season neared, on March 12.
“To be honest with you, I just want to get back out there and get back on the field,” Hampton said in a phone interview. “I’ve never had a true spring break, where you’re going on vacation. Having some [free] time is not easy.”
Hampton gets it. He’s not complaining. Not having a full season pales in comparison to the struggles others in New York City are going through as this pandemic terrorizes the area. His focus has been on the well-being of his players, helping them get home, communicating with them and making sure they are staying on top of their classwork. He rarely referred to his own situation, but instead harped on the impact it has had on them, and his job is to communicate with his players.
The toughest part of the cancellation was meeting with his team, not being able to tell his eight seniors what would happen to them, whether they had played their last game. He promised to do everything in his power to make the transition as easy as possible. The NCAA eventually announced all spring athletes would be gaining an extra year of eligibility, providing much-needed relief.
“Most important, right now he understands baseball is not the top priority and he’s focused on our health and well-being,” ace Nick Mondak said. “That says a lot about him and St. John’s as a program.”
Before the virus cut short the season, St. John’s had won two straight games — its first two home contests of the year — to improve to 5-9. Like most northeast programs, the Red Storm spend the better part of the season’s first month on the road due to weather concerns. They started well, topping then-No. 19 Georgia Tech and taking a road series at California, before dropping seven in a row. Hampton, 48, was encouraged by how the team had responded in tough times, and felt it was ready to take off, with a number of home games coming up.
“Then this happened,” said Hampton, a Seaford, Long Island native who was a fourth-round pick out of Clemson in 1994 and reached high Single-A before retiring because of injury.
It remains uncertain if he will wind up the full-time coach in Queens, though athletic director Mike Cragg was complimentary of the job Hampton had done on the field and off it during these trying times, describing his performance as “impressive.” Mondak called it a “smooth” transition going from Blankmeyer to Hampton. The two worked closely together for 18 years, and Hampton didn’t try to change much after taking over. His aim was to continue what Blankmeyer had done in making St. John’s into a northeast power, leading it to five Big East Tournament titles, six regular-season crowns and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in 24 years.
“I’ll tell you, it’s frustrating, but things are always happening,” Hampton said. “The one thing I’ve learned is never say never, and anything can happen. I feel that I’ve learned from the best, from Ed Blankmeyer. You’re always making adjustments. Would I have liked to have a perfect season? Yeah, sure, I would have, but that never happens. Whatever challenges that come up, you have to deal with them, and move on, and learn from them, too.”
There’s been plenty of learning and adjusting this year for him. It’s been a wild 2020. On Jan. 9, he was named interim coach, less then five weeks before the season opener. Nearly a month later, the season was over.
“I’m sure when he writes the book on 2020,” Cragg said, “he’s going to have a whole lot of experiences that no one will ever be able to say they had.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Princess Charlotte turns 5 in style

Princess Charlotte turns 5 in style

He already was serving two life sentences .

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It’s Princess Charlotte‘s fifth birthday — and Kensington Palace has released four photos of the adorable royal to mark the happy occasion.
The shots, taken by her mum, the Duchess of Cambridge, show the photogenic girl in a blue, houndstooth-checked dress as she helped her parents in delivering food packages for the elderly.
The daughter of Kate and Prince William was photographed at the Sandringham Estate in eastern England.
Her little brother, Prince Louis — who is also partial to blue checks — celebrated his second birthday last Thursday. Kate, 38, also took the official photographs for that birthday.
The couple’s eldest child, Prince George, is 6.