newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Strat-O-Matic baseball simulation resurging during coronavirus

Some things remain unchanged ; all along 126th Street , the chop-shop ...

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Life gets in the way, in a good way, for a couple of buddies who bond through simulated baseball.
Then life largely stops, in a very bad way. And suddenly, there’s plenty of time for simulated baseball.
Just like that, simulated baseball turns into a salve.
“We might play five or six times a year, if we’re lucky,” Pete Hoffman, a TV producer who lives in Brooklyn, said of him and his friend Aaron Romanello. “Since we’ve been quarantined, we’ve played every weekend.”
“It’s been a great way to stay connected,” Romanello said. “It’s fun to play, and it’s so carefree. To have that as an outlet is pretty great.”
Hoffman and Romanello, an attorney who also lives in Brooklyn, play Strat-O-Matic, the gold standard for simulated baseball that, writing from firsthand memories of 30-plus years ago, also produces pretty good football, basketball and hockey games. The company, founded by Hal Richman in 1961, already had adapted with the times prior to the coronavirus pandemic, adding an app and Windows-friendly game in addition to maintaining its beloved player-cards and dice, not to mention a Baseball Daily feature that simulates the currently suspended 2020 season for public consumption. No joke: In the S-O-M Opening Day, the Mets lost to the Nationals when Edwin Diaz surrendered a ninth-inning, tiebreaking home run to Howie Kendrick, and Gary Sanchez started at catcher for the Yankees, only to depart with an injury in the third inning.
Adam Richman, Hal’s son and a co-owner of S-O-M — Hal Richman, 83, still is involved, too — said that the company set sales records last year and is on course to do so again — in part due to the worldwide shutdown.
“The takeaway for us is right now, especially because people have time, people are looking for a little bit of joy,” said Len Schwartz, who performs research and development for S-O-M. “They’re looking to match with sports in a way because professional sports aren’t being played. That’s what we’re seeing.”
Hoffman, 46, and Romanello, 43, who have switched from in-person get-togethers to FaceTime in the name of social distancing and trust each other to report accurate dice rolls, personify this phenomenon. Friends for nearly 20 years, both fathers of two school-age children who keep them mighty busy in better times, neither man fell in love with Strat-O-Matic as teenagers. Instead, they started playing it together due to a love of actual baseball — Hoffman grew up outside of Washington, rooting for the Orioles, and has adopted the Mets as his National League favorites, whereas Romanello is a Yankees fan all the way — and its advanced statistics. By replaying older seasons with the player cards available, “We can make lineups that never existed,” Romanello said, citing information like platoons and on-base percentage that weren’t widely utilized in the past. “You use bullpens in the way they never did.”
Rather than drafting individual players, Hoffman and Romanello choose entire teams and replay seasons in what Hoffman called “a March Madness-style tournament.” For instance, they’re currently playing the 1982 season and rank the teams, 1 through 26, based on their Pythagorean record — their expected record based on runs scored and runs allowed. Then 1 (the Brewers) plays 26 (Rangers) and so on in five-game series, followed by seven-game series for the subsequent rounds.
Their selection of 1982 — they also have played the 1934, 1954, 1975, 1984 and 2014 seasons in similar fashion — provide Hoffman and Romanello with a conversation topic for a better known Strat-O-Matic enthusiast.
“I’ve replayed ’82 twice,” Keith Hernandez said, “and the Cardinals didn’t win the [NL] East either time.”
Hernandez, who won World Series rings with those Cardinals as well as with the 1986 Mets and of course works nowadays as a game analyst for SNY’s Mets telecasts, said he first became enamored with Strat-O-Matic in 1971.
“I kept my own stats, which now you can do with the computer,” he said. “I would mark off in Roman numerals the at-bats and runs. That was the beauty of Strat-O-Matic. The players’ performances were usually right on.”
(By the way, since you’re wondering, Hernandez’s ’82 Cardinals fell short once to Mike Schmidt’s Phillies and once to his future teammate Gary Carter’s Expos in his replays.)
“If he wants to play ’82, we’ll set it up,” Romanello said of Hernandez. Ironically, while the 40-somethings Romanello and Hoffman prefer the old-school dice and cards — “You can’t talk trash over a computer,” Romanello pointed out — the 66-year-old Hernandez uses the computerized version. Except that he recently switched laptops, from a Dell to a Mac, and S-O-M doesn’t yet have a Mac-compatible game.
“I haven’t played, and I’ve missed it,” said Hernandez, who added that he’s instead working on a 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
The S-O-M folks hardly are reveling in the turn of events that has brought more attention to their product. “This is a horrible situation for our country and the world,” Adam Richman said. Yet in these highly uncomfortable times, such mental comfort food enables us to cope.
“It’s great,” Romanello said. “You can kind of recapture that feeling of staying up all night, drinking Cokes and playing board games. It’s good, clean fun.”
Given what life has dealt us, we need as much of that as we can get.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Four women dead after fire rips through Bronx apartment building

Four women were killed in a fire that ripped through the top floor of a Bronx apartment building Tuesday night , law-enforcement sources said .
The blaze erupted at about 7:20 p.m. in a sixth-floor unit of the building on Grand Concourse near East Mount Eden Avenue in the Claremont section , officials said .
After igniting in Apt .
603 , the blaze quickly escalated to three alarms and ripped through the roof .
In all , 140 firefighters responded to the scene , the FDNY said .
“ I was in the kitchen and the [ fire alarm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resident Joy Murdoch , who lives in the apartment that caught fire with her 99-year-old mother , Victoria McDonald .
Murdoch was in the kitchen and her mother was in the living when she noticed the fire coming from her mom ’ s bedroom .
She said the fire was likely caused by a space heater her mother had turned on earlier .
“ I walked over and I see the flame was coming up , ” Murdoch said .
“ The flame was red hot .
The heat penetrated [ everything ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t want to go !
She didn ’ t take it seriously !
” The four critically burned victims were transported to the nearby Bronx Lebanon Hospital , where they were pronounced dead , a police spokesman said .
They were found inside neighboring six-floor apartments — two in each unit , according to the sources .
Their identities were not immediately revealed .
A fifth person suffered minor injuries , an FDNY spokesman said .
Murdoch , was finally able to escort her mother out , then ran back upstairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t afraid .
I was just trying to get my mother out !
She was stubborn and didn ’ t want to get out !
” said Murdoch .
Her mother was taken to Bronx Lebanon Hospital , where she was in stable condition .
Video posted to social media showed flames raging through the windows of the corner apartment , with firefighters ’ hook-and-ladder rigs out front .
The blaze was declared under control at around 9 p.m. Bronx City Councilman Ritchie Torres offered his condolences to the victims and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families in your prayers , ” Torres tweeted He also thanked the firefighters “ for their valiant acts of public service.
” The proximity of the fire to Bronx Lebanon Hospital had some fearing online that the blaze was there .
“ Damn Lebanon hospital in the Bronx is on fire .
.
.
prayers up , ” one man wrote .
The fire is still under investigation , although sources confirmed to The Post that probers were eyeing the space heater as the cause .

Joe Marino, Larry Celona, Vincent Barone

Four women were killed in a fire that ripped through the top floor of a Bronx apartment building Tuesday night, law-enforcement sources said.
The blaze erupted at about 7:20 p.m. in a sixth-floor unit of the building on Grand Concourse near East Mount Eden Avenue in the Claremont section, officials said.
After igniting in Apt. 603, the blaze quickly escalated to three alarms and ripped through the roof.
In all, 140 firefighters responded to the scene, the FDNY said.
“I was in the kitchen and the [fire alarm] was going off,” said resident Joy Murdoch, who lives in the apartment that caught fire with her 99-year-old mother, Victoria McDonald.
Murdoch was in the kitchen and her mother was in the living when she noticed the fire coming from her mom’s bedroom. She said the fire was likely caused by a space heater her mother had turned on earlier.
“I walked over and I see the flame was coming up,” Murdoch said. “The flame was red hot. The heat penetrated [everything].”
Murdoch said her mother “didn’t want to go! She didn’t take it seriously!”
The four critically burned victims were transported to the nearby Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, a police spokesman said.
They were found inside neighboring six-floor apartments — two in each unit, according to the sources. Their identities were not immediately revealed.
A fifth person suffered minor injuries, an FDNY spokesman said.
Murdoch, was finally able to escort her mother out, then ran back upstairs to fetch their dog.
“I wasn’t afraid. I was just trying to get my mother out! She was stubborn and didn’t want to get out!” said Murdoch.
Her mother was taken to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where she was in stable condition.
Video posted to social media showed flames raging through the windows of the corner apartment, with firefighters’ hook-and-ladder rigs out front.
The blaze was declared under control at around 9 p.m.
Bronx City Councilman Ritchie Torres offered his condolences to the victims and their families.
“Please keep their families in your prayers,” Torres tweeted He also thanked the firefighters “for their valiant acts of public service.”
The proximity of the fire to Bronx Lebanon Hospital had some fearing online that the blaze was there.
“Damn Lebanon hospital in the Bronx is on fire . . . prayers up,” one man wrote.
The fire is still under investigation, although sources confirmed to The Post that probers were eyeing the space heater as the cause.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Kevin Durant, Trae Young headline NBA 2K20 tourney on ESPN

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Kevin Durant and Trae Young will lead a 16-player field of NBA players in an NBA 2K20 tournament airing on ESPN .
The NBA , its Players Association and 2K announced the NBA 2K Players Tournament on Tuesday .
Play begins Friday , and the winner of the week-long competition will receive a $ 100,000 donation to a coronavirus-related relief effort of his choice .
Player have been seeded according to their NBA 2K player rating — from Durant ’ s 96 down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and tenure .
Durant , the Nets star who has sat out this NBA season due to injury , will face Jones in the first game Friday night .
Other matches will air on ESPN2 .
The championship is set for April 11 .
Participants will each select a pool of eight teams prior to the tournament and can only play with each club once throughout the tournament .
Rounds one and two will be single elimination , and the semifinals and finals will be best-of-three .
The other matchups include Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrick Beverley , Donovan Mitchell vs. Rui Hachimura , Devin Booker vs. Michael Porter Jr. , Andre Drummond vs. DeMarcus Cousins , Zach LaVine vs. Deandre Ayton , and Montrezl Harrell vs. Domantas Sabonis .
The NBA has been shut down since March 11 , the night that Utah center Rudy Gobert became the first player in the league to have a positive diagnosis for the virus revealed .
The league is still discussing scenarios for resuming play once allowed .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Kevin Durant and Trae Young will lead a 16-player field of NBA players in an NBA 2K20 tournament airing on ESPN.
The NBA, its Players Association and 2K announced the NBA 2K Players Tournament on Tuesday. Play begins Friday, and the winner of the week-long competition will receive a $100,000 donation to a coronavirus-related relief effort of his choice.
Player have been seeded according to their NBA 2K player rating — from Durant’s 96 down to Derrick Jones Jr.’s 78 — and tenure. Durant, the Nets star who has sat out this NBA season due to injury, will face Jones in the first game Friday night. Other matches will air on ESPN2. The championship is set for April 11.
Participants will each select a pool of eight teams prior to the tournament and can only play with each club once throughout the tournament. Rounds one and two will be single elimination, and the semifinals and finals will be best-of-three.
The other matchups include Young vs. Harrison Barnes, Hassan Whiteside vs. Patrick Beverley, Donovan Mitchell vs. Rui Hachimura, Devin Booker vs. Michael Porter Jr., Andre Drummond vs. DeMarcus Cousins, Zach LaVine vs. Deandre Ayton, and Montrezl Harrell vs. Domantas Sabonis.
The NBA has been shut down since March 11, the night that Utah center Rudy Gobert became the first player in the league to have a positive diagnosis for the virus revealed. The league is still discussing scenarios for resuming play once allowed.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Larry David has some choice words for ‘idiots’ ignoring CA’s coronavirus lockdown

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 ) 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 ) 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 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Larry David is urging all the “ idiots ” in California ignoring the state ’ s stay-at-home order to take advantage of a “ once in a lifetime opportunity ” to sit at home and watch TV .
The 72-year-old “ Curb Your Enthusiasm ” creator delivered the advice in a public service announcement released through the California governor ’ s office Tuesday .
“ I basically want to address the idiots out there , and you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going out , ” says David , “ you ’ re socializing too close , it ’ s not good.
” “ You ’ re hurting old people like me , ” the Brooklyn native says , before clarifying , “ well not me , I have nothing to do with you , I ’ ll never see you.
” David notes the state public health order aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus has presented a golden opportunity to lounge on the couch and watch some tube .
“ I mean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re passing that up , ” he says in the message , which the governor ’ s office tweeted out .
“ Well , maybe because you ’ re not that bright , ” David says , drawing his own conclusion .
“ But , here it is — go home !
Watch TV !
That ’ s my advice to you .
”

Click to email a link 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)
Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Larry David is urging all the “idiots” in California ignoring the state’s stay-at-home order to take advantage of a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to sit at home and watch TV.
The 72-year-old “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator delivered the advice in a public service announcement released through the California governor’s office Tuesday.
“I basically want to address the idiots out there, and you know who you are, you’re going out,” says David, “you’re socializing too close, it’s not good.”
“You’re hurting old people like me,” the Brooklyn native says, before clarifying, “well not me, I have nothing to do with you, I’ll never see you.”
David notes the state public health order aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus has presented a golden opportunity to lounge on the couch and watch some tube.
“I mean, I don’t know how you’re passing that up,” he says in the message, which the governor’s office tweeted out.
“Well, maybe because you’re not that bright,” David says, drawing his own conclusion.
“But, here it is — go home! Watch TV! That’s my advice to you.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Eric Adams wants to unify city agency cops under NYPD during coronavirus lockdown

More than 15 percent of the NYPD — or roughly ...

Calling all cops.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams wants to unify cops serving other city agencies under the New York Police Department as more and more NYPD officers fall ill during the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the proposal from Adams, a former cop himself, the NYPD would make up staffing shortages with officers from other city agencies — from the Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Corrections, to the Parks and Sanitation departments.
Adams, a 2021 mayoral hopeful, plans to announce the idea Wednesday as more than 15 percent of NYPD officers — or roughly 5,600 cops — are out sick during the coronavirus outbreak.
So far 1,048 uniformed officers and 145 civilian members of the NYPD have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the department. Police detectives have been warned to dust off their uniforms in case they would have to fill in for infected beat cops.
The plan would also tap officers currently under the CUNY system, FDNY Fire Marshalls, the Department of Homeless Services, Human Resources and Environmental Protection, a spokesperson for Adams told The Post.
It would also create “special patrolmen” at the NYPD, a title that could be given to retired police looking to rejoin the force during the pandemic.
It’s not immediately clear how many cops would fall under NYPD command through the proposal.
City Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said Tuesday that social distancing measures under the state’s lockdown have helped his depleted workforce get by for now.
“Some things that are helping us is nobody’s on the street,” Shea said, noting that there are no parades or protests happening amid the epidemic.
“That’s a huge positive,” said Shea, who added, “Our radio calls are actually down — the ones that get funneled to the NYPD.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, meanwhile, has his own plans, saying Tuesday that he would dispatch state police to backfill sick NYPD cops.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Tua Tagovailoa pushes back against growing NFL Draft 2020 doubts

The Dow Jones and S & P 500 don ’ t have the only ...

Tua Tagovailoa has heard plenty of questions pertaining to the health of his surgically repaired hip leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, but the former Alabama star quarterback has made it clear he is ready to return to the football field.
Perhaps in a bid to stem some of the talk that he might not be one of the top two quarterbacks chosen on April 23, Tagovailoa told NFL Network on Wednesday he is fully healed from the surgery that occurred in November and ended what turned out to be his final college football season.
“I feel 100 percent,” Tagovailoa said. “I feel like if there was a game today, I’d be able to go out and perform the same way I was able to perform in previous years. I feel as mobile as possible. I feel 100 percent.”
Heisman Trophy winner and former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is expected to be selected by the Bengals with the top pick. Some mock draft experts have said Tagovailoa will be picked either at No. 3 by the Lions or by the Dolphins at No. 5, and Oregon’s Justin Herbert could also be chosen within the first five selections.
Tagovailoa’s stock appeared to take a hit on Tuesday, when Bleacher Report’s NFL draft analyst Matt Miller said “multiple teams” now prefer Herbert over Tagovailoa “because of injuries and the unknown.”
Tagovailoa shrugged that off a day later.
“I have no control over the circumstance or situation,” Tagovailoa said. “If I was healthy, if I wasn’t, I would have no control, so the best thing I can do is continue to work. Whatever team decides to choose me, I would be grateful.”
Tagovailoa was on pace to become a Heisman Trophy finalist, along with possibly securing the top pick in the NFL Draft before he suffered the season-ending injury against Mississippi State on Nov. 16. The 22-year-old threw for 2,840 yards in his junior season with 33 touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games.
NFL teams likely are still concerned Tagovailoa may not be at full strength, and they haven’t been able to visit with the quarterback because of quarantine conditions set by the league due by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tagovailoa is trying to address those concerns in a few ways.
The quarterback’s agent, Chris Cabott of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment, said earlier in the week Tagovailoa has been cleared by doctors to return without restrictions. Clips of Tagoivailoa’s workouts have been all over social media, and he currently is being tutored by former Super Bowl winner Trent Dilfer.
Tagovailoa said he has set up virtual meetings with several undisclosed teams.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Little League’s message: Teams will play ball — eventually

Today I come to you as Knothole Pete , former star ...

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Attention all Little League baseball and softball players, your time at-bat still may come in 2020. There remains hope for some type of season.
That’s the word from Little League president and CEO Stephen Keener.
“I’m going into my 41st season here and have never been through anything like this,’’ Keener told The Post on Wednesday from Williamsport, Pa., home of the Little League World Series.
“We’ve advised all our programs based on the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommendations that they should suspend all their activities until May 11 and at that point we will give further direction once we know what we can and can’t do,’’ Keener said. “One of my colleagues put it best the other day, saying, ‘You know, right now we are in an extended rain delay.’ ’’
Little League, like the major leagues, is shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re holding up OK, right now, our secondary concern is having a tournament that concludes with the World Series,’’ Keener said. “Our primary concern right now is there are two to three million kids that aren’t playing locally in their Little League programs.
“Our highest priority is that when we get the green light to go ahead, to get all those kids back out and playing and try to salvage whatever we can of a season for them. If that allows us — it’s a big if — but if we are able to do that, it also allows us to have some semblance of a tournament season then we’ll consider it. But right now our focus is on keeping in communication with out affiliate programs to give them the best guidance and direction we can based on everything from the World Health Organization to CDC and of course the federal, state and local health officials.
“It’s very frustrating and disappointing all at the same time that the kids can’t be playing, but right now there is not much more we can do. Baseball and softball are quite unimportant at the moment, but we’ll get back to it as soon as we can.’’
This is usually a wonderful time of year with Little League parades and ceremonial first pitches throughout the world to kick off the season. Little League is played in 84 countries with 2.5 million participants.
To boost the spirits of the kids, Little League has started a campaign called Little League Pep Talk with the likes of Todd Frazier, Bert Blyleven, Curtis Granderson and many others, offering encouraging words at LittleLeague.org.
Little League has never been stopped by anything like this before in its 81-year history. The players desperately want to have a season and an All-Star season, not to mention the parents.
“For a lot of kids who are 12 it is their last year in Little League, so our goal is to get them back on the field playing in their local community program and then if we can, if it is safe to do so, then hopefully provide them with a tournament experience too,’’ Keener said.
It all concludes in late August at the Little League World Series in Williamsport and on ESPN with 16 teams, eight U.S, eight international teams.
“Those teams have the experience of their lives,’’ Keener said.
Frazier was on one of those teams, Toms River East American LL that won the hearts of America in 1998, and that’s why his message to the players resonates.
“This will pass,’’ the ex-Yankee, ex-Met and current Rangers third baseman said. “This virus is very serious. I know we are not playing baseball right now and I know you guys are chomping at the bit to get out. Be very patient. We are going to get out there eventually and baseball still will be played. Keep thinking good thoughts … eventually we’ll get out there and hear the ping of that bat again.’’
At some point, this extended rain delay will end, and skies above Little League fields all around the world will shine bright again.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Cruise bookings are on the rise for 2021 despite coronavirus

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
It seems travelers are prepared to batten down the hatches and sail close to the wind , as cruise bookings for 2021 are on the rise .
Analysts at UBS say booking volume for 2021 cruises has “ gone up 9 percent in the last 30 days versus the same time last year , ” despite many cruise ships currently quarantined amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ That includes people applying their future cruise credits from sailings that were cancelled this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to book a cruise , ” UBS equity analysts wrote in a March 31 report on cruise lines .
The analysis doesn ’ t show how much of the reported increase is actually people just optimistically re-booking their canceled cruise for next year , though .
Voyages to Asia and Alaska are seeing the highest numbers , according to the report .
The unlikely plot twist comes as numerous ships have been quarantined over the last couple of months as COVID-19 rapidly spread .
Banished to the seas , cruises are without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimlessly along the coasts looking for someone , anyone , to take them in .
One such ship , Holland America ’ s Zaandam , which is scheduled to arrive in Florida this week with more than 200 sick passengers , has already been denied port in Chile , Peru and Argentina .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , meanwhile , told Fox News on Monday that his state “ can not afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources.
” The Zaandam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , picked up passengers without symptoms to separate the guests , NBC reports .
Now , both boats are headed for Florida , still stuck in limbo , hoping for a place to park .
There are more than 300 Americans on board the ships and more than 1,200 total people .
“ We started getting turned away by everyone , ” Emily Spindler Brazell , a passenger from Tappahannock , Va. , who was on the Zaandam but was later transferred to the Rotterdam , told NBC .
“ The world was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
It seems travelers are prepared to batten down the hatches and sail close to the wind, as cruise bookings for 2021 are on the rise.
Analysts at UBS say booking volume for 2021 cruises has “gone up 9 percent in the last 30 days versus the same time last year,” despite many cruise ships currently quarantined amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“That includes people applying their future cruise credits from sailings that were cancelled this year, but still shows a surprising resilience in desire to book a cruise,” UBS equity analysts wrote in a March 31 report on cruise lines.
The analysis doesn’t show how much of the reported increase is actually people just optimistically re-booking their canceled cruise for next year, though.
Voyages to Asia and Alaska are seeing the highest numbers, according to the report.
The unlikely plot twist comes as numerous ships have been quarantined over the last couple of months as COVID-19 rapidly spread.
Banished to the seas, cruises are without ports, unwanted and forgotten, meandering aimlessly along the coasts looking for someone, anyone, to take them in.
One such ship, Holland America’s Zaandam, which is scheduled to arrive in Florida this week with more than 200 sick passengers, has already been denied port in Chile, Peru and Argentina. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, told Fox News on Monday that his state “cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources.”
The Zaandam’s sister ship, the Rotterdam, picked up passengers without symptoms to separate the guests, NBC reports. Now, both boats are headed for Florida, still stuck in limbo, hoping for a place to park. There are more than 300 Americans on board the ships and more than 1,200 total people.
“We started getting turned away by everyone,” Emily Spindler Brazell, a passenger from Tappahannock, Va., who was on the Zaandam but was later transferred to the Rotterdam, told NBC. “The world was closing its doors as we sat there waiting.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Italian nurse strangles doctor girlfriend, claims she gave him coronavirus

An Italian nurse who claimed his doctor girlfriend gave him the coronavirus strangled her in a fit of rage , according to a report .
Antonio De Pace , 28 , called the police Tuesday and confessed that he had killed his partner , Lorena Quaranta , over the infection , The Sun and local media reported .
Police arrived at their apartment and found Quaranta , 27 , dead and De Pace on the floor with his wrists cut .
“ I killed her because she gave me coronavirus , ” De Pace told investigators after being taken into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Quaranta had tested negative for the virus and called De Pace ’ s claims “ nonsense , ” according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos .
The couple worked together in a Sicilian hospital fighting the pandemic in one of the worst-hit countries , where more than 13,000 people have died due to COVID-19 .
De Pace was rushed to the hospital where they had worked , with their colleagues managing to treat him and save his life , according to The Sun .
In the days before her death , Quaranta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commenting on the challenges facing medical personnel in Italy .
“ Now more than ever we need to demonstrate responsibility and love for life .
You must show respect for yourselves , your families and the country , ” she reportedly wrote .
” You must think and remember those that dedicate their lives daily to looking after our sick .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
An Italian nurse who claimed his doctor girlfriend gave him the coronavirus strangled her in a fit of rage, according to a report.
Antonio De Pace, 28, called the police Tuesday and confessed that he had killed his partner, Lorena Quaranta, over the infection, The Sun and local media reported.
Police arrived at their apartment and found Quaranta, 27, dead and De Pace on the floor with his wrists cut.
“I killed her because she gave me coronavirus,” De Pace told investigators after being taken into custody.
Prosecutors found both De Pace and Quaranta had tested negative for the virus and called De Pace’s claims “nonsense,” according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.
The couple worked together in a Sicilian hospital fighting the pandemic in one of the worst-hit countries, where more than 13,000 people have died due to COVID-19.
De Pace was rushed to the hospital where they had worked, with their colleagues managing to treat him and save his life, according to The Sun.
In the days before her death, Quaranta had been active on her Facebook page commenting on the challenges facing medical personnel in Italy.
“Now more than ever we need to demonstrate responsibility and love for life. You must show respect for yourselves, your families and the country,” she reportedly wrote.
”You must think and remember those that dedicate their lives daily to looking after our sick.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Michael Rapaport will F-bomb you into social distancing

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Michael Rapaport wants you to stay home .
To be more accurate , he wants you to STAY THE F HOME .
The comic actor and director ( “ Atypical , ” “ The War at Home ” ) , who ’ s hosted a podcast called “ I Am Rapaport ” since 2015 , blew up YouTube and Instagram recently with a series of hilariously profane quasi-public service announcements about COVID-19 safety .
The Post caught up with him — at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus rants get started ?
I got asked to do a public-service announcement by a very prominent person who ’ s done a series of PSAs , and it was a very generic script .
I didn ’ t do it .
If I was gon na do a PSA , it wouldn ’ t just be , “ Hey , guys , we need you to do this … “ This is beyond that , whether we want to accept it or not .
This is where we ’ re at .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even with serious things .
Why do you think people continue to go out ?
I don ’ t f - - king know .
Especially in New York City .
I saw footage of people taking pictures of that [ hospital ] ship .
You ’ d be lucky not to end up on that f - -kin ’ ship !
Get in the f - - kin ’ house !
Leave the f - - kin ’ ship alone !
You can watch TV , and you ’ ll see plenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t understand it .
You need a picture ?
You ’ re not f - - kin ’ Annie Leibovitz .
Go home .
Are you still in New York ?
My family and I are in LA .
I ’ m glad I left , but I ’ m concerned about my friends and family .
My dad ’ s 86 , and lives right in the middle of Manhattan , by himself .
He ’ s about as New York as it gets .
The idea of something happening to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s scary for the people who work in the shops , the policemen , the firemen , everyone else , top to bottom .
It ’ s a crazy f - - kin ’ time .
Are there New York public spaces you miss particularly ?
For me , it would be riding on the train and being in the crowded streets .
Being in my favorite coffee place .
Being able to , you know , not be afraid to ride a f - - king bus .
That would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the really simple things .
I was looking at these photographs from the 1980s , with people on the train — it looks miserable , but I would love to be on a crowded train .
What are you binge-watching ?
Like everybody , I watched “ Tiger King.
” I re-watched “ The Shining , ” which is a very good isolation film .
And old Knicks games on NBA TV .
They still bring back the same feelings , at the end , as if you ’ re expecting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get you out of your head a little bit .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Michael Rapaport wants you to stay home. To be more accurate, he wants you to STAY THE F HOME. The comic actor and director (“Atypical,” “The War at Home”), who’s hosted a podcast called “I Am Rapaport” since 2015, blew up YouTube and Instagram recently with a series of hilariously profane quasi-public service announcements about COVID-19 safety. The Post caught up with him — at home, of course.
How did your coronavirus rants get started?
I got asked to do a public-service announcement by a very prominent person who’s done a series of PSAs, and it was a very generic script. I didn’t do it. If I was gonna do a PSA, it wouldn’t just be, “Hey, guys, we need you to do this … “This is beyond that, whether we want to accept it or not. This is where we’re at. Hopefully I can make people laugh, even with serious things.
Why do you think people continue to go out?
I don’t f - - king know. Especially in New York City. I saw footage of people taking pictures of that [hospital] ship. You’d be lucky not to end up on that f - -kin’ ship! Get in the f - - kin’ house! Leave the f - - kin’ ship alone! You can watch TV, and you’ll see plenty about the ship. I don’t understand it. You need a picture? You’re not f - - kin’ Annie Leibovitz. Go home.
Are you still in New York?
My family and I are in LA. I’m glad I left, but I’m concerned about my friends and family. My dad’s 86, and lives right in the middle of Manhattan, by himself. He’s about as New York as it gets. The idea of something happening to him — it’s scary. It’s scary for the people who work in the shops, the policemen, the firemen, everyone else, top to bottom. It’s a crazy f - - kin’ time.
Are there New York public spaces you miss particularly?
For me, it would be riding on the train and being in the crowded streets. Being in my favorite coffee place. Being able to, you know, not be afraid to ride a f - - king bus. That would be nice. I’ve been thinking about the really simple things. I was looking at these photographs from the 1980s, with people on the train — it looks miserable, but I would love to be on a crowded train.
What are you binge-watching?
Like everybody, I watched “Tiger King.” I re-watched “The Shining,” which is a very good isolation film. And old Knicks games on NBA TV. They still bring back the same feelings, at the end, as if you’re expecting a different ending. Some of those games can get you out of your head a little bit.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--NYC’s domestic violence website sees rise in visitors amid coronavirus

Family Court went wholly virtual on Thursday and staffing has ...

Spouses and partners being cramped up together because of the coronavirus pandemic is creating a huge surge in visits to New York City’s website for domestic violence survivors.
NYC Hope, which serves as the city’s online domestic violence resource, had 1,240 visits over a 13-day period from March 18 through March 30, according to data by the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
Many visit the website to quietly address their problems rather than going straight to the NYPD.
That’s an average of 95 visits a day – more than double the 45 visits NYC Hope had per day this year before March 18.
From March 18 through March 30, NYC Hope also saw 354 new visitors access the website, an average of 27 daily. The 2020 daily average before that was nine new visitors.
The flurry of activity coincides with the city closing Family Justice Centers on March 17 over concerns they would help spread the virus.
The centers provide resources for families impacted by domestic violence, including legal and mental-health help. They are still providing some assistance, including connecting callers with organizations that can help with provide safe shelter.
The increase in New Yorkers inquiring about domestic violence assistance was reported first by Politico.
“Survivors need us now more than ever in these extraordinary times, and our top priority remains to ensure continuity of services and unwavering support…” said Cecile Noel, commissioner of the domestic violence agency.
“The city is here for survivors during this crisis and beyond, and will continue to work to identify best practices and innovative approaches to enhance its services.”
When asked Sunday whether required isolation to combat the virus puts more women and children at risk of abusers, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said his department hadn’t seen any increase but conceded some domestic violence crimes are likely not getting reported, according to Politico.
“We have not seen it manifest in across-the-board increases yet, but it’s certainly something that concerns us for the possibility,” he added.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Coronavirus in NY: Upstate woman accused of stealing face masks from hospital

A hospital worker in upstate New York has been accused of stealing a box of face masks and alcohol prep @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
Josie Wright , 33 , allegedly swiped the personal protective equipment @ @ @ @ @ Cooperstown and shipped the items to another person , Otsego County Sheriff ’ s deputies @ @ @ @ @ continuing to look into allegations that other staffers also took personal protective equipment from the @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Wright , of Morris , was charged with petit larceny and is due @ @ @ @ @ Otsego Court on May 20 .
Her arrest came amid a shortage of personal protective @ @ @ @ @ country , especially in virus hot spots like New York .

A hospital worker in upstate New York has been accused of stealing a box of face masks and alcohol prep pads from the facility amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Josie Wright, 33, allegedly swiped the personal protective equipment from Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown and shipped the items to another person, Otsego County Sheriff’s deputies said Monday.
Investigators are continuing to look into allegations that other staffers also took personal protective equipment from the medical center, local outlets reported.
Wright, of Morris, was charged with petit larceny and is due to appear in Town of Otsego Court on May 20.
Her arrest came amid a shortage of personal protective equipment at hospitals across the country, especially in virus hot spots like New York.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Heroes of the Day: Brooklyn couple keep ventilators running for coronavirus patients

Instead of hanging on metal stands next to the patients ' ...

It is one thing to get enough ventilators — it is quite another to have enough dedicated staff trained to run the life-saving breathing machines.
That’s why respiratory therapists like eight-months-pregnant Jennifer Cubero and her husband Bryan Zabala are the unsung heroes in the city’s battle against the coronavirus.
“Given the circumstances, it’s crazier than usual for us. So then, being pregnant, it’s a challenge — we are running over 120 vents,” Cubero, a 31-year-old respiratory therapist at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn‘s Borough Park neighborhood, told The Post.
Zabala does the same job at nearby NYU Langone-Brooklyn in Sunset Park and their expertise in the respiratory system has never been more critical as doctors struggle to keep patients stricken with COVID-19 alive on ventilators. The machines help patients breathe when their lungs are failing, which is a hallmark of the oft-deadly bug.
“I spent two years living and breathing respiratory so I’m specialized in these machines,” Zabala, 31, told The Post.
“We understand the physiology of their lungs and how we can manipulate the vents to help kind of correct their numbers as best as we can while keeping the patient comfortable. Some people can get a little aggressive and be like, ‘Oh, no, you just turn this and that’ and it doesn’t work,” Cubero said.
The couple have 1- and 3-year-old children at home, and since both see only the most critical of patients coming off shift is also stressful, knowing they have a high risk of getting infected and bringing the virus to their Borough Park home.
“We both work in the hospital, we both work in a high-risk situation where we could get infected, we go to long lengths just to not bring this home, that way we don’t get our kids infected. We don’t get our mothers infected,” Zabala said. “Both of our kids are really young. Our mothers are both in their 60s, if not older, both of them with respiratory issues like asthma. So it is a stressful situation to try not to bring this home.”
“This virus is vicious, when it hits it’s like a sledgehammer,” he said.
“We have lost some patients and it’s frustrating because we’re working our hardest here to try to keep them alive … there’s only so much we can actually do.”
Zabala and Cubero are two out of 7,713 licensed respiratory therapists in all of New York state right now, which has more than 2,000 patients on ventilators, but those numbers are dwindling as more and more hospital workers get sick from treating patients.
“Unfortunately there aren’t enough respiratory therapists in hospitals right now. We need a lot more,” Zabala said.
“We are the ones who are dealing with all these COVID patients and unfortunately, we are at a high risk of getting infected, so a couple of us have gotten infected,” he added.
“We’re going down.”
On a good day, NYU Langone-Brooklyn has seven or eight respiratory therapists but last Friday, he said they were down to six.
“We’re worn down, and some people just can’t come in after being exhausted. We start the day with energy but at the end of the day, we’re like a sack of potatoes.” He’s been working between 50 and 65 hours a week so he can help as possible.
Cubero has mostly been working with pediatric patients to limit her exposure to the virus but hasn’t been able to avoid it entirely.
“Running this large amount of vents, the more people on deck you get, the better,” the mom said.
“I feel like if I were to leave, I would kind of be leaving the staff one person down. And even if I wouldn’t be able to help them in a room, at least if I can just bring them supplies, save them those steps, It’s something.”
She said the work has been “taking a toll” on her but as long as she can keep helping her coworkers, she’s “content.”
Do you have a nominee for The Post’s Hero of the Day? Email heroes@nypost.com.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Lindsay Lohan teases new song, ‘Back to Me,’ on social media

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 ) 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 ) A post shared by Lindsay Lohan ( @ lindsaylohan ) on Apr 1 , 2020 at 2:29pm PDT Lohan , 33 , dropped another snippet of new music — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — on social media Wednesday , announcing that the full song would be out Friday .
“ The song is about rediscovering and accepting oneself , shutting out the noise and moving forward and letting the past go .
Living in the now , ” she captioned an Instagram video .
The tease of “ Back to Me ” comes one day after her “ comeback ” announcement Tuesday , which contained a best-of montage capped with the proclamation “ I ’ m back , ” from Lohan .
Last we heard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out at the “ end of February , ” as she wrote on Instagram mid-January and back in August 2019 , she previewed a new song , “ Xanax , ” on Virgin Radio Dubai ’ s “ The Kris Fade Show , ” promising to drop the full song “ very , very soon .
”

Click to email a link 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)
Lindsay Lohan’s back.
Lohan, 33, dropped another snippet of new music — a song called “Back to Me” — on social media Wednesday, announcing that the full song would be out Friday.
“The song is about rediscovering and accepting oneself, shutting out the noise and moving forward and letting the past go. Living in the now,” she captioned an Instagram video.
The tease of “Back to Me” comes one day after her “comeback” announcement Tuesday, which contained a best-of montage capped with the proclamation “I’m back,” from Lohan.
Last we heard, Lohan’s full-length album was coming out at the “end of February,” as she wrote on Instagram mid-January and back in August 2019, she previewed a new song, “Xanax,” on Virgin Radio Dubai’s “The Kris Fade Show,” promising to drop the full song “very, very soon.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--City health department urges medical workers to reuse and ration masks

Nurses at Jacobi hospital in the Bronx are rebelling against ...

The city Health Department put out an urgent alert Wednesday telling medical workers to “conserve all personal protective equipment” by reusing masks, goggles, gowns and other items as the worst of the coronavirus crisis approaches.
“We have entered an unprecedented moment in what will be an extended period of challenges. . . These conditions will persist for weeks, if not months,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the health department’s deputy commissioner of disease control, said in the advisory sent to hospitals and other medical service providers.
“It is imperative for every member of New York City’s comprehensive health care delivery system to conserve all available personal protective equipment (PPE) right now,” he said. “The growing surge of COVID-19 patients means that healthcare facilities MUST ask all healthcare workers who require PPE to IMMEDIATELY implement these measures to slow the burn rate of these important supplies.”
The edict is sure to provoke more outcry from nurses and other medical workers who’ve complained about rationing and being forced to reuse PPE.
At Mount Sinai West hospital, nurses resorted to wearing trash bags over their uniforms after being made to re-use gowns — and tied the shortage of PPE to the death of assistant nursing manager Kious Kelly from COVID-19. Mt. Sinai officials insisted there was no shortage of PPE and denied the issue had any connection to Kelly’s death.
Nurses at Jacobi hospital also protested guidelines calling on them to reuse N95 masks for up to 5 days.
Demetre said the department has distributed over one million N95 respiratory masks, millions of other facemasks, and tens of thousands of gloves, gowns, and goggles to hospitals, nursing homes, visiting nurses and other medical professionals. The PPE came from city, state and federal stockpiles as well as private donations.
More PPE are on the way but he’s still concerned about shortages and urged medical workers to comply with conservation measures established by the city Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control as the city braces for a wave of additional seriously ill COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks.
The recommendations say N95 respirators can be reused “if they remain functional” — with another face mask put over over them to limit contamination. They must be used primarily in intensive care units during “a period of short supply.”
The guidelines also call for reusing PPE during “multiple encounters” with patients, but removing them between each of the encounters.
The rules said disposable face shields and non-disposable goggles “should be decontaminated and reused whenever possible provided that the integrity of the equipment remains intact and visibility is not compromised.”
The goggles should be cleaned with hospital disinfectant and “allow for drying before re-donning.”
The guidelines also call for using washable or cloth gowns instead of “single use isolation gowns” whose ties rip easily.
“If single use gowns must be reused, care should be taken to minimize contact with the outside of the gown to limit self-contamination,” the department said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Man uses cherry picker to visit quarantined mom amid coronavirus

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
An Ohio man found a very creative way to spend time with his elderly mother during a coronavirus lockdown .
Charley Adams had been unable to see his 80-year-old mom Julia Adams since her assisted living home in New Middletown was placed on lockdown with no visitors allowed — so he used a cherry picker to check on her in her third-floor room , News5 Cleveland reported .
“ [ My mother ] kept calling me and saying she wanted to go out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who typically takes his mother out for a meal twice a week .
“ I kept explaining to her , ‘ Mom , that ’ s not possible … you can ’ t do that right now.
’ She was getting a little bit frustrated and disappointed.
” So Adams , an arborist , came up with the creative idea to use his company ’ s bucket truck to say hi to his mom .
The truck ’ s boom was just high enough to reach her third-floor window .
When she saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Oh , my awesome kid , what are you doing ?
, ” Adams said .
And since the story started grabbing the public ’ s attention , Adams says his mom no longer feels lonely .
“ [ Friends and family ] are calling her .
It ’ s been really great because all of the phone calls really cheer her up , ” he said .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
An Ohio man found a very creative way to spend time with his elderly mother during a coronavirus lockdown.
Charley Adams had been unable to see his 80-year-old mom Julia Adams since her assisted living home in New Middletown was placed on lockdown with no visitors allowed — so he used a cherry picker to check on her in her third-floor room, News5 Cleveland reported.
“[My mother] kept calling me and saying she wanted to go out to dinner,” said Adams, who typically takes his mother out for a meal twice a week.
“I kept explaining to her, ‘Mom, that’s not possible … you can’t do that right now.’ She was getting a little bit frustrated and disappointed.”
So Adams, an arborist, came up with the creative idea to use his company’s bucket truck to say hi to his mom.
The truck’s boom was just high enough to reach her third-floor window.
When she saw him, “She [said], ‘Oh, my awesome kid, what are you doing?,” Adams said.
And since the story started grabbing the public’s attention, Adams says his mom no longer feels lonely.
“[Friends and family] are calling her. It’s been really great because all of the phone calls really cheer her up,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Attorney asks judge to free accused drug dealer to avoid coronavirus

The lawyer for a 460-pound gangbanger awaiting sentencing is asking for his client to be moved from federal lock-up to home confinement , arguing that his weight and high blood pressure put him at high risk for catching coronavirus .
Terrill Latney , 40 , who goes by name “ Motis , ” is locked up in Brooklyn ’ s Metropolitan Detention Center and could face a maximum sentence of life in prison , after copping to racketeering and cocaine distribution charges .
Latney ’ s attorney is asking for his client to be able to wait for his sentencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riverhead while COVID-19 spreads through New York City jails — and assured Central Islip federal Judge Joanna Seybert in court papers that his hefty defendant is not a flight risk .
“ It is not a matter of whether the COVID-19 virus will be transmitted to inmates in his unit , but when , ” attorney Neil Checkman wrote .
According to the BOP ’ s latest numbers posted on its website , one inmate at MDC and three at Manhattan ’ s Metropolitan Correctional Center have tested positive for coronavirus .
Checkman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another inmate say that 10 prisoners and eight staff at MDC either have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of having the deadly bug .
Latney was charged alongside nine fellow purported members of the Suffolk County-based Red Stone Gorilla set of the Bloods gang .
On Nov. 17 , 2015 , Latney drove three members of the gang on a search to find a rival gang member .
The group pulled alongside a 2005 Mercedes and fired 39 shots into the vehicle , erroneously thinking the rival was inside .
Instead they killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their target .
Prosecutors oppose Latney ’ s release from MDC , citing a lengthy rap sheet of drug convictions going back 20 years .
“ Latney has made a career of selling poison on the streets of Suffolk County , ” prosecutors argue .
Seybert is holding a hearing on Thursday on Latney ’ s request .

The lawyer for a 460-pound gangbanger awaiting sentencing is asking for his client to be moved from federal lock-up to home confinement, arguing that his weight and high blood pressure put him at high risk for catching coronavirus.
Terrill Latney, 40, who goes by name “Motis,” is locked up in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center and could face a maximum sentence of life in prison, after copping to racketeering and cocaine distribution charges.
Latney’s attorney is asking for his client to be able to wait for his sentencing at his mother’s house in Riverhead while COVID-19 spreads through New York City jails — and assured Central Islip federal Judge Joanna Seybert in court papers that his hefty defendant is not a flight risk.
“It is not a matter of whether the COVID-19 virus will be transmitted to inmates in his unit, but when,” attorney Neil Checkman wrote.
According to the BOP’s latest numbers posted on its website, one inmate at MDC and three at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center have tested positive for coronavirus.
Checkman said in the filing that Latney and another inmate say that 10 prisoners and eight staff at MDC either have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of having the deadly bug.
Latney was charged alongside nine fellow purported members of the Suffolk County-based Red Stone Gorilla set of the Bloods gang.
On Nov. 17, 2015, Latney drove three members of the gang on a search to find a rival gang member.
The group pulled alongside a 2005 Mercedes and fired 39 shots into the vehicle, erroneously thinking the rival was inside. Instead they killed 27-year-old Thomas Lacolla, a friend of their target.
Prosecutors oppose Latney’s release from MDC, citing a lengthy rap sheet of drug convictions going back 20 years.
“Latney has made a career of selling poison on the streets of Suffolk County,” prosecutors argue.
Seybert is holding a hearing on Thursday on Latney’s request.


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Adam Schlesinger dies of coronavirus complications at 52

Adam Schlesinger , a musician and songwriter highly regarded for his work as a member of Fountains of Wayne and an Emmy-winning songwriter for TV ’ s “ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , ” has died as a result of coronavirus complications , “ Variety ” has confirmed .
He was 52 .
Schlesinger passed away Wednesday morning .
He was divorced and is survived by two daughters .
More details will be reported shortly .
Schlesinger had previously been reported Tuesday morning as “ very sick and heavily sedated ” by his attorney of 25 years , Josh Grier .
Schlesinger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital for more than a week at that time , Grier said .
An EGOT contender , Schlesinger has been nominated for Oscars , Tonys , Grammys and Emmys and won the latter two awards .
At the 2018 Emmys , he was up for two trophies for his “ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ” work and picked up one , winning in the outstanding original music and lyrics category for the song “ Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal ” ( shared with the show ’ s star , Rachel Bloom , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-time Emmy nominee in all , five of those for “ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , ” for which he served as executive music producer .
Five more nominations came for his contributions to the Tony Awards , “ Sesame Street ” and a Stephen Colbert Christmas special .
His Oscar nomination in 1997 was for co-writing the theme song for the Tom Hanks-directed film “ That Thing You Do !
, ” one of his first successful forays outside the realm of his own music-making with Fountains of Wayne .
He was also nominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fountains of Wayne , the band he co-founded with Chris Collingwood , earned two Grammy nominations in 2003 , for best new artist ( many years after the band ’ s actual recording debut ) and for best pop performance by a group for the Top 40 single “ Stacy ’ s Mom , ” a cheeky MTV staple that became the band ’ s biggest hit .
His lone Grammy win , though , came for best comedy album for his work on “ A Stephen Colbert Christmas.
” His two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Cry-Baby , ” an adaptation of the John Waters film , in 2008 .
He had recently collaborated with Sarah Silverman on his first full stage score since then , for an off-Broadway musical , “ The Bedwetter , ” which had been scheduled to open at the Atlantic Theater Company this spring .
Tony winners Linda Lavin and Stephanie J .
Block had been set to star in the limited-run production from April 25 through May 20 before pandemic-related shutdowns put a halt to New York theater efforts .
Although he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Windows and Ivy , he is best regarded among rock fans for the five albums he recorded with Fountains of Wayne between 1996 and 2011 .
Dissent between him and Collingwood during the recording of “ Sky Full of Holes ” led to that being their apparent swan song , although reviews for that final album were , typically for the group , raves .
“ Welcome Interstate Managers ” in 2003 , the album that generated “ Stacey ’ s Mom ” ( and its Rachel Hunter-starring video ) , remained their @ @ @ @

Click to email a link 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)
Adam Schlesinger, a native of New Jersey who fronted the band Fountains of Wayne, died on Wednesday due to complications from the coronavirus. He was 51.
Schlesinger, a singer-songwriter for the acclaimed 90s group, died at a hospital in upstate New York, his lawyer Josh Grier said.
The artist, a 51-year-old father of two, received three Grammy awards for his songwriting credit on several television shows.
Schlesinger was also nominated for an Academy Award for penning the song behind the 1997 movie “That Thing You Do,” about a fictional one-hit wonder band from the 1960s.
Tom Hanks, who directed the movie, tweeted about the musician.
“Lost him to Covid-19,” Hanks wrote on Twitter. “Terribly sad today.”
Schlesinger had been in an upstate New York hospital for more than a week at that time.
Grier had said on Tuesday that Schlesinger was “very sick and heavily sedated.”
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Don’t ‘Run’ to watch this new HBO series

The new HBO comedy “ Run ” is one of those high concept , “ What if ?
” shows that doesn ’ t quite hang together .
It ’ s not that the talent isn ’ t there .
Boldface names — several Emmy award winners — abound , but the energy they bring to the screen doesn ’ t stop the show from running out of steam by Episode 3 .
Imagine the pitch meeting in Hollywood : “ We ’ ve got this guy and this girl who made a bond when they were in college that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ to the other , they would drop everything they were doing , meet and run off together .
And then what ?
So nearly two decades after college , when life has soured on them , they do it !
Yeah !
And the guy , let ’ s call him Billy ( Domhnall Gleeson ) , he ’ s a writer of self-help books but basically a fake , texts his college girlfriend , Ruby ( Merritt Wever ) , while she ’ s sitting in her car , parked at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
She texts him back and they ’ re off !
” “ Run ” creator Vicky Davis and executive producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge ( “ Fleabag ” ) are hoping that the frenetic activity of their leads deflects from the lack of plotting .
Billy and Ruby run through airport terminals , scamper through train cars and whirl around in train stations , wondering if they can go back to being 18 again .
We all know the answer to that question .
Part of Ruby ’ s fantasy is thinking she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old boyfriend , but the abundance of verbal foreplay and not sex finally drives Ruby to ask some unpleasant questions .
From the looks of it , her undergraduate honey is a fraud fleeing a spurned girlfriend ( Fiona , played by Archie Panjabi ) and a terrible business decision .
It doesn ’ t honor an actress of Wever ’ s intelligence to have Ruby be such a feckless creature .
Waller-Bridge apparently likes female characters who dither about , creating problems and being drawn to something they really can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That worked when the impossible object was the Hot Priest on “ Fleabag.
” Andrew Scott ’ s charisma would make anyone invent sins just to stay longer in the confessional booth .
Poor Billy comes across , instead , as a ne ’ er-do-well who destroyed his life –and more .
Perhaps the writers think this makes him more sympathetic , vulnerable and desirable , but if your goal in life is to sound like the last song on a Joni Mitchell album , have at it .
Otherwise , with all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on “ Run , ” keep going .
There are redeeming moments .
Wever has a hilarious scene with Panjabi where she literally falls out of a department store fitting room with a cocktail dress pulled over her head .
Writhing on the floor in a fuschia tube of fabric until Panjabi comes to the rescue gives Wever a chance to display her considerable comic gifts .
Questions arise throughout the viewing of the show .
Why do these two characters still have each other ’ s phone numbers 20 years after college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
After her husband freezes her credit cards post-escape , would she really continue with this charade , especially as there is still no sex .
You can feel the writers coming up with new ideas to keep Billy and Ruby together — Let ’ s have them book a hotel room they can ’ t afford !
Let ’ s have them shop for fancy clothing !
— but it ’ s pretty obvious that they don ’ t have much in common anymore .
Wever is having a great year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a homicide detective in Netflix series “ Unbelievable , ” but this does not add to her luster .
Panjabi has been out of circulation for too long following her mysterious exit from “ The Good Wife.
” Waller-Bridge needs to exercise better judgment before she attaches her name to another project .
Or they might take back one of those awards she won for “ Fleabag .
”

The new HBO comedy “Run” is one of those high concept, “What if?” shows that doesn’t quite hang together.
It’s not that the talent isn’t there. Boldface names — several Emmy award winners — abound, but the energy they bring to the screen doesn’t stop the show from running out of steam by Episode 3.
Imagine the pitch meeting in Hollywood: “We’ve got this guy and this girl who made a bond when they were in college that whenever they texted the word ‘Run’ to the other, they would drop everything they were doing, meet and run off together. And then what? So nearly two decades after college, when life has soured on them, they do it! Yeah! And the guy, let’s call him Billy (Domhnall Gleeson), he’s a writer of self-help books but basically a fake, texts his college girlfriend, Ruby (Merritt Wever), while she’s sitting in her car, parked at a mall in California, bored to death. She texts him back and they’re off!”
“Run” creator Vicky Davis and executive producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) are hoping that the frenetic activity of their leads deflects from the lack of plotting. Billy and Ruby run through airport terminals, scamper through train cars and whirl around in train stations, wondering if they can go back to being 18 again. We all know the answer to that question. Part of Ruby’s fantasy is thinking she’ll have torrid sex with her old boyfriend, but the abundance of verbal foreplay and not sex finally drives Ruby to ask some unpleasant questions.
From the looks of it, her undergraduate honey is a fraud fleeing a spurned girlfriend (Fiona, played by Archie Panjabi) and a terrible business decision. It doesn’t honor an actress of Wever’s intelligence to have Ruby be such a feckless creature. Waller-Bridge apparently likes female characters who dither about, creating problems and being drawn to something they really can’t have (i.e., happiness). That worked when the impossible object was the Hot Priest on “Fleabag.” Andrew Scott’s charisma would make anyone invent sins just to stay longer in the confessional booth.
Poor Billy comes across, instead, as a ne’er-do-well who destroyed his life –and more. Perhaps the writers think this makes him more sympathetic, vulnerable and desirable, but if your goal in life is to sound like the last song on a Joni Mitchell album, have at it. Otherwise, with all the trains, planes and automobiles available on “Run,” keep going.
There are redeeming moments. Wever has a hilarious scene with Panjabi where she literally falls out of a department store fitting room with a cocktail dress pulled over her head. Writhing on the floor in a fuschia tube of fabric until Panjabi comes to the rescue gives Wever a chance to display her considerable comic gifts.
Questions arise throughout the viewing of the show. Why do these two characters still have each other’s phone numbers 20 years after college? Would Ruby really be texting Billy? After her husband freezes her credit cards post-escape, would she really continue with this charade, especially as there is still no sex. You can feel the writers coming up with new ideas to keep Billy and Ruby together — Let’s have them book a hotel room they can’t afford! Let’s have them shop for fancy clothing! — but it’s pretty obvious that they don’t have much in common anymore.
Wever is having a great year, having aced her first lead role as a homicide detective in Netflix series “Unbelievable,” but this does not add to her luster. Panjabi has been out of circulation for too long following her mysterious exit from “The Good Wife.” Waller-Bridge needs to exercise better judgment before she attaches her name to another project. Or they might take back one of those awards she won for “Fleabag.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Don’t expect Carlos Beltran back in baseball anytime soon: Ron Darling

Don ’ t expect to hear from Carlos Beltran anytime , sooner or later .
At least that ’ s what Ron Darling thinks .
Speaking on WFAN ’ s “ Moose & Maggie ” show on Wednesday , the Mets ’ announcer and one-time All-Star said Beltran , who was implicated in the Astros sign-stealing scandal , will likely stay out of the public eye after losing his job as manager of the Mets before his first spring training had even started .
Asked by host Marc Malusis if the sports world would “ be hearing from Beltran at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ My first quick answer would be no and I think it ’ s on both sides .
I think that ’ s because of the lack of any kind of connection , whether it ’ s through the media or statements or anything else .
Carlos , one of the great players to ever play the game has gone through what all of us would go through , and that is an incredibly embarrassing experience that has put him in a place that very few players have been in.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darling ’ s mind , is very much in doubt .
“ I think baseball would be very hesitant to hire Carlos , ” the 59-year-old Hawaiian said .
“ I think Carlos would be very hesitant to come back to the game.
” He didn ’ t see the same fate for the coaches implicated in the Astros ’ scheme , however .
“ I think [ Red Sox manager Alex ] Cora ’ s gon na have a very difficult time too .
I think A.J .
Hinch , the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get another shot .
Those are just opinions with no science , no facts .
But that ’ s how it feels.
” Because Beltran is likely to have a tenuous relationship with MLB going forward , Darling thinks the Mets ’ one-time MVP candidate and postseason goat will stay mum for the foreseeable future .
“ I ’ m thinking maybe someday down the road , ” Darling said , “ there might be a book or something — that Carlos tries to talk about the experience , try to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through if you ’ re seeing a psychologist or something — maybe that will happen for Carlos .
But I don ’ t think we ’ re going to hear a barnstorming tour of Carlos speaking .
“ My feel for it … He ’ s embarrassed by what has happened , the sport is embarrassed by what has happened and this is going to be kind of like Philip Nolan , a man without a country , for a long time .

Don’t expect to hear from Carlos Beltran anytime, sooner or later. At least that’s what Ron Darling thinks.
Speaking on WFAN’s “Moose & Maggie” show on Wednesday, the Mets announcer and one-time All-Star said Beltran, who was implicated in the Astros sign-stealing scandal, will likely stay out of the public eye after losing his job as manager of the Mets before his first spring training had even started.
Asked by host Marc Malusis if the sports world would “be hearing from Beltran at some point in time,” Darling said, “My first quick answer would be no, and I think it’s on both sides. I think that’s because of the lack of any kind of connection, whether it’s through the media or statements or anything else. Carlos, one of the great players to ever play the game, has gone through what all of us would go through, and that is an incredibly embarrassing experience that has put him in a place that very few players have been in.”
Beltran’s baseball future, in Darling’s mind, is very much in doubt.
“I think baseball would be very hesitant to hire Carlos,” the 59-year-old Hawaiian said. “I think Carlos would be very hesitant to come back to the game.”
He didn’t see the same fate for the coaches implicated in the Astros’ scheme, however.
“I think [Red Sox manager Alex] Cora’s gonna have a very difficult time, too. I think A.J. Hinch, the way he came out of this, is going to get another shot. Those are just opinions with no science, no facts. But that’s how it feels.”
Because Beltran is likely to have a tenuous relationship with MLB going forward, Darling thinks the Mets’ one-time MVP candidate and postseason goat will stay mum for the foreseeable future.
“I’m thinking maybe someday down the road,” Darling said, “there might be a book or something — that Carlos tries to talk about the experience, try to work it like you’d work it through if you’re seeing a psychologist or something — maybe that will happen for Carlos. But I don’t think we’re going to hear a barnstorming tour of Carlos speaking.
“My feel for it … He’s embarrassed by what has happened, the sport is embarrassed by what has happened and this is going to be kind of like Philip Nolan, a man without a country, for a long time.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Moving in NYC during coronavirus is more nightmarish than usual

Robert Sosin gave his 8-year-old son Lyric the middle name Woolworth after Sosin ’ s favorite building in the city , a choice he calls “ the cheapest way to get NYC real estate.
” But Sosin was finally close to the real thing : home ownership .
The 44-year-old creative director closed on a three-bedroom , 1½ bath apartment in Southbridge Towers , a complex at 80 Beekman St. in the Financial District .
For a purchase price of $ 1.27 million , he would finally have enough space for his wife and two kids , plus windows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s trying to put down deeper roots in the neighborhood where he ’ s spent his whole life : His grandmother , Natalie Sosinsky , lives on the same floor of Southbridge Towers as his new co-op .
“ I love this city , ” Sosin says .
“ I want to have a part of it .
This house represents a lot to us.
” The family started packing boxes and plotting renovations while awaiting final mortgage approval from the bank for an expected April 1 closing .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freezing the gears of the economy .
People like Sosin — in the middle of scheduling moves , that most arduous of New York tasks — were thrown into uncertainty .
Some are still scrambling to figure out backup plans .
New York ’ s stay-at-home order is hitting the market at the worst time : The city ’ s busiest moving day is traditionally May 1 .
Sosin ’ s closing is still on hold , but his family is fortunate .
They ’ re able to stay in their current apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Yorkers are caught in the vice between an expiring lease and an uncertain new one .
Complicating things , many buildings are limiting visits from non-residents , making it harder to show , view , clean or paint apartments ; some are prohibiting moves entirely .
Daniel , a 34-year-old who works in advertising , was mid-move when the quarantine hit — and it might cost him as much as $ 17,500 .
Daniel — who asked that his last name not be used because he is still negotiating with his old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Jersey City on March 19 .
Their two-bedroom apartment in a new high-rise near the Grove Street PATH station is an upgrade for the growing family .
But a couple from San Diego , who was supposed to take over their old lease in Downtown Brooklyn , fell through ; one of them lost a job thanks to the coronavirus , then both of them were feeling sick , so a cross-country move seemed like a bad idea .
Daniel is now scrambling to find a new renter or face paying out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3,500/month through August .
Days after his move , the Downtown Brooklyn building put a ban on outsiders , which means no visits from painters , cleaning crews or prospective renters .
In the meantime , he ’ s repainting the apartment himself , taking Ubers between Jersey City and Brooklyn to avoid public transit .
“ The building is making it very difficult for me to make the apartment presentable to somebody , ” Daniel says .
“ They ’ re not answering calls , all they did was reply ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lease.
’ ” While Daniel and his wife do have savings , they ’ d rather spend it on the new baby .
Others in the city have less financial stability .
Jay Martin , executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program , which represents the owners and managers of more than 400,000 rent-stabilized properties , estimates that as many as 2,000 tenants have already asked to break leases to move in with other family members because they can ’ t afford to keep their apartments .
The move comes as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , affecting many in the service industry and other professions with no work-from-home option .
Thousands more , Martin adds , are asking for lease extensions or delays in rent payment .
If the quarantine continues past April , he ’ s bracing for a much grimmer scenario for the 2 million people in rent-stabilized apartments — and the buildings that rely on their rent payments for outbreak-boosted cleaning , maintenance and security costs .
“ Without being hyperbolic , I can tell you the cascading effect of literally 2 million renters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent , ” he says .
“ It ’ s going to be a catastrophe.
” It is technically possible to move now : The state has deemed moving companies “ essential ” businesses , allowing them to stay open during the lockdown .
In fact , it ’ s been full steam ahead for companies like Manhattan-based Imperial Movers , where most of the office staffers are working from home , but crews are still being sent out to jobs .
They ’ re required to wear booties , gloves and face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company was slammed around March 15 when Barnard College ordered students to evacuate residence halls as soon as possible — right in the middle of spring break .
Imperial communicated with students over FaceTime , signing contracts remotely in some cases .
Rates are usually between $ 500 to $ 650 for an in-city move or more than $ 1,000 to ship across the country , Thakur says , but the company gave some students discounts , particularly those paying without parental help .
“ It was mass chaos for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Beasley , 26 , was planning to splurge on movers for the first time as he relocated from one Greenpoint apartment to another on April 1 .
But as recommendations for distancing and isolation grew more strict , he worried about interacting with movers and exposing his new roommates , whom he found on Craigslist , to strangers coming in and out .
He didn ’ t want to enlist friends to help lug boxes for the same reason .
So he canceled the movers and booked a U-Haul van he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U-Haul only cost about $ 40 , compared to $ 200 for movers , but he expects to spend hours schlepping all his boxes and furniture up to his new place , which is a third-floor walk-up .
“ I ’ m trying to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible letting me move in , ” says Beasley , who works for a political firm .
Plus , he ’ s trying to find someone to take over his old room .
A prospective tenant came by on March 24 wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
Adds Beasley , “ He walked in and took a look at the room , and didn ’ t touch anything , and left.
” The 392-unit luxury rental building at 525 W. 52nd St. , where prices range from $ 3,100 for a studio to $ 6,806 for a three-bedroom , is extending leases and being flexible on move-in dates , according to leasing manager Teresa Chavin .
Some residents , she adds , asked to end leases early to flee to the Catskills or Hamptons .
Meanwhile , Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere to go .
The 24-year-old and his current roommate were set to move from Midtown East to a $ 4,000/month West Village pad on April 1 .
But the apartment ’ s current tenants extended their lease due to the lockdown , and the pair ’ s current landlord would only offer a six-month extension .
So instead , he ’ s decamping to his roommate ’ s family ’ s house on the Jersey Shore until they can figure out a game plan .
“ It ’ s just crazy because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Truglio says , “ and we can ’ t renew our lease.
” For Truglio , like most people caught in relocation limbo , there ’ s nothing to do but wait .
“ The uncertainty is really hard right now , ” says Sosin , whose closing hasn ’ t yet been rescheduled .
“ No one said , ‘ It ’ s off ’ [ or ] ‘ It ’ s still on.
’ We just know there could be a big shoe that drops any minute now .
@

Robert Sosin gave his 8-year-old son Lyric the middle name Woolworth after Sosin’s favorite building in the city, a choice he calls “the cheapest way to get NYC real estate.” But Sosin was finally close to the real thing: home ownership.
The 44-year-old creative director closed on a three-bedroom, 1½ bath apartment in Southbridge Towers, a complex at 80 Beekman St. in the Financial District.
For a purchase price of $1.27 million, he would finally have enough space for his wife and two kids, plus windows that looked out on the actual Woolworth Building.
He’s trying to put down deeper roots in the neighborhood where he’s spent his whole life: His grandmother, Natalie Sosinsky, lives on the same floor of Southbridge Towers as his new co-op.
“I love this city,” Sosin says. “I want to have a part of it. This house represents a lot to us.”
The family started packing boxes and plotting renovations while awaiting final mortgage approval from the bank for an expected April 1 closing. Then the coronavirus pandemic gripped New York, freezing the gears of the economy. People like Sosin — in the middle of scheduling moves, that most arduous of New York tasks — were thrown into uncertainty. Some are still scrambling to figure out backup plans.
New York’s stay-at-home order is hitting the market at the worst time: The city’s busiest moving day is traditionally May 1.
Sosin’s closing is still on hold, but his family is fortunate. They’re able to stay in their current apartment until the lockdown is over.
Other New Yorkers are caught in the vice between an expiring lease and an uncertain new one. Complicating things, many buildings are limiting visits from non-residents, making it harder to show, view, clean or paint apartments; some are prohibiting moves entirely.
Daniel, a 34-year-old who works in advertising, was mid-move when the quarantine hit — and it might cost him as much as $17,500. Daniel — who asked that his last name not be used because he is still negotiating with his old building — and his six-months-pregnant wife moved to Jersey City on March 19. Their two-bedroom apartment in a new high-rise near the Grove Street PATH station is an upgrade for the growing family. But a couple from San Diego, who was supposed to take over their old lease in Downtown Brooklyn, fell through; one of them lost a job thanks to the coronavirus, then both of them were feeling sick, so a cross-country move seemed like a bad idea. Daniel is now scrambling to find a new renter or face paying out his old lease, which would be $3,500/month through August.
Days after his move, the Downtown Brooklyn building put a ban on outsiders, which means no visits from painters, cleaning crews or prospective renters. In the meantime, he’s repainting the apartment himself, taking Ubers between Jersey City and Brooklyn to avoid public transit.
New York’s stay-at-home order is hitting the market at the worst time: The city’s busiest moving day is traditionally May 1.
“The building is making it very difficult for me to make the apartment presentable to somebody,” Daniel says. “They’re not answering calls, all they did was reply ‘You are still liable for paying your lease.’ ”
While Daniel and his wife do have savings, they’d rather spend it on the new baby. Others in the city have less financial stability.
Jay Martin, executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, which represents the owners and managers of more than 400,000 rent-stabilized properties, estimates that as many as 2,000 tenants have already asked to break leases to move in with other family members because they can’t afford to keep their apartments. The move comes as a wave of historic unemployment hit the state, affecting many in the service industry and other professions with no work-from-home option.
Thousands more, Martin adds, are asking for lease extensions or delays in rent payment. If the quarantine continues past April, he’s bracing for a much grimmer scenario for the 2 million people in rent-stabilized apartments — and the buildings that rely on their rent payments for outbreak-boosted cleaning, maintenance and security costs.
“Without being hyperbolic, I can tell you the cascading effect of literally 2 million renters in this city who cannot pay their rent,” he says. “It’s going to be a catastrophe.”
It is technically possible to move now: The state has deemed moving companies “essential” businesses, allowing them to stay open during the lockdown. In fact, it’s been full steam ahead for companies like Manhattan-based Imperial Movers, where most of the office staffers are working from home, but crews are still being sent out to jobs. They’re required to wear booties, gloves and face masks, sales manager Adit Thakur says.
The company was slammed around March 15 when Barnard College ordered students to evacuate residence halls as soon as possible — right in the middle of spring break. Imperial communicated with students over FaceTime, signing contracts remotely in some cases. Rates are usually between $500 to $650 for an in-city move or more than $1,000 to ship across the country, Thakur says, but the company gave some students discounts, particularly those paying without parental help.
“It was mass chaos for the most part,” Thakur recalls.
Andrew Beasley, 26, was planning to splurge on movers for the first time as he relocated from one Greenpoint apartment to another on April 1. But as recommendations for distancing and isolation grew more strict, he worried about interacting with movers and exposing his new roommates, whom he found on Craigslist, to strangers coming in and out. He didn’t want to enlist friends to help lug boxes for the same reason.
So he canceled the movers and booked a U-Haul van he can unlock contactlessly with his phone. The U-Haul only cost about $40, compared to $200 for movers, but he expects to spend hours schlepping all his boxes and furniture up to his new place, which is a third-floor walk-up.
“I’m trying to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible letting me move in,” says Beasley, who works for a political firm.
Plus, he’s trying to find someone to take over his old room. A prospective tenant came by on March 24 wearing a full-body blue lab suit and a mask. Adds Beasley, “He walked in and took a look at the room, and didn’t touch anything, and left.”
The 392-unit luxury rental building at 525 W. 52nd St., where prices range from $3,100 for a studio to $6,806 for a three-bedroom, is extending leases and being flexible on move-in dates, according to leasing manager Teresa Chavin. Some residents, she adds, asked to end leases early to flee to the Catskills or Hamptons.
Meanwhile, Justin Truglio got pinched by the quarantine with nowhere to go. The 24-year-old and his current roommate were set to move from Midtown East to a $4,000/month West Village pad on April 1. But the apartment’s current tenants extended their lease due to the lockdown, and the pair’s current landlord would only offer a six-month extension. So instead, he’s decamping to his roommate’s family’s house on the Jersey Shore until they can figure out a game plan.
“It’s just crazy because we can’t move in anywhere,” Truglio says, “and we can’t renew our lease.”
For Truglio, like most people caught in relocation limbo, there’s nothing to do but wait.
“The uncertainty is really hard right now,” says Sosin, whose closing hasn’t yet been rescheduled. “No one said, ‘It’s off’ [or] ‘It’s still on.’ We just know there could be a big shoe that drops any minute now.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--Helmet ventilators by Texas mom-and-pop business widely ordered for coronavirus

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
A spacesuit-like helmet ventilation device manufactured by a Texas mom-and-pop business is in high demand as doctors across the world request it to treat COVID-19 patients , according to a new report .
Sea-Long Medical Systems Inc. in the small town of Waxahachie , run by Chris Austin , previously fielded a few dozen orders a week for the device , originally designed to supply oxygen to patients being treated in hyperbaric chambers , NBC News reported .
Now , Austin says “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surface ” as thousands of orders pour in each day , from top hospitals in the US and even as far as the United Arab Emirates .
“ We really look at where is the need , ” Austin told the network .
“ We know New York has a stronger need .
We know Boston .
We know Chicago .
… But we also know that we have to get what we can to Italy.
” The devices , which only cost $ 162 apiece , could help free up ventilators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most critically ill COVID-19 patients , the network reported .
The helmets were originally designed to run through ventilators , but with the help of Dr. Bhakti Patel , a pulmonologist at the University of Chicago and her mentor , Dr. John Kress , the company has modified them to be hooked up to a hospital ’ s regular oxygen supply .
The team also added a viral filter to avoid exposing others to COVID-19 .
“ I would love for there to be a silver bullet for this pandemic , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope is that the way it changes the game is that maybe it shaves off the number of patients who need a ventilator — even if it ’ s 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 5.
” This week , the helmet has already been used on an 81-year-old man with COVID-19 at the University of Chicago Medical Center , producing “ encouraging results , ” Kress told the outlet .
Doctors in Italy also found that it helped some coronavirus patients .
Back in 2016 , Patel tested the Sea-Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of 83 intensive care patients suffering from acute respiratory distress , the outlet reported .
The results clearly swung in the helmet ’ s favor — with patients who used them requiring ventilation 18.2 percent of the time , compared to 61.5 percent who wore the masks .
Helmet-using patients also had a better 90-day survival rate , according to the study , published in the Journal of the American Medical Association .
In the US , Massachusetts General Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have ordered the helmets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has seen droves of volunteers offering to help — has also received orders from Canada , Mexico and across Europe , Austin said .
Amid the surging demand , the cost of the device will not rise , he added .
“ This probably sounds sappy , ” he said .
“ But we think of what if that was our son or daughter or grandfather sitting there in that bed gasping for air and we have to explain to him : ‘ I ’ m sorry .
We don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A spacesuit-like helmet ventilation device manufactured by a Texas mom-and-pop business is in high demand as doctors across the world request it to treat COVID-19 patients, according to a new report.
Sea-Long Medical Systems Inc. in the small town of Waxahachie, run by Chris Austin, previously fielded a few dozen orders a week for the device, originally designed to supply oxygen to patients being treated in hyperbaric chambers, NBC News reported.
Now, Austin says “‘overwhelmed’ doesn’t scratch the surface” as thousands of orders pour in each day, from top hospitals in the US and even as far as the United Arab Emirates.
“We really look at where is the need,” Austin told the network. “We know New York has a stronger need. We know Boston. We know Chicago. … But we also know that we have to get what we can to Italy.”
The devices, which only cost $162 apiece, could help free up ventilators — which cost five figures — for the most critically ill COVID-19 patients, the network reported.
The helmets were originally designed to run through ventilators, but with the help of Dr. Bhakti Patel, a pulmonologist at the University of Chicago and her mentor, Dr. John Kress, the company has modified them to be hooked up to a hospital’s regular oxygen supply.
The team also added a viral filter to avoid exposing others to COVID-19.
“I would love for there to be a silver bullet for this pandemic,” Patel told NBC. “My best hope is that the way it changes the game is that maybe it shaves off the number of patients who need a ventilator — even if it’s 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 5.”
This week, the helmet has already been used on an 81-year-old man with COVID-19 at the University of Chicago Medical Center, producing “encouraging results,” Kress told the outlet.
Doctors in Italy also found that it helped some coronavirus patients.
Back in 2016, Patel tested the Sea-Long helmet against an oxygen mask for a group of 83 intensive care patients suffering from acute respiratory distress, the outlet reported.
The results clearly swung in the helmet’s favor — with patients who used them requiring ventilation 18.2 percent of the time, compared to 61.5 percent who wore the masks. Helmet-using patients also had a better 90-day survival rate, according to the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In the US, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have ordered the helmets, NBC reported. The company — which has seen droves of volunteers offering to help — has also received orders from Canada, Mexico and across Europe, Austin said.
Amid the surging demand, the cost of the device will not rise, he added.
“This probably sounds sappy,” he said. “But we think of what if that was our son or daughter or grandfather sitting there in that bed gasping for air and we have to explain to him: ‘I’m sorry. We don’t have anything for you.’ “


newyorkpost--2020-04-01--New Yorkers complain of delayed state tax refunds amid coronavirus crisis

The White House treasury secretary said Friday that the deadline ...

New Yorkers who filed their 2019 federal tax refunds weeks ago complain that the state Tax Department is foot-dragging in delivering thousands of dollars of refunds owed them amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Staten Island retiree Robert Feuerstein said New York State owes him “thousands of dollars.”
“It’s not a drop in the bucket to me,” Feuerstein, 73, an Eltingville resident and former Rudin Management executive told the Post Wednesday.
“I happen to use direct deposit, which should be easier for them.”
Feuerstein said he could use the money to serve as a bridge to help his family through the public health crisis.
His son, Justin, is an electrician who is out of work because virtually all the construction jobs have shut down to comply with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus social distancing rules.
“The stock market has cost me obviously. Things are a little tight right now,” Feuerstein said.
Feuerstein also said “many friends are on their sixth week since electronically filing with no updates available on the automated hot line.”
Other taxpayers who filed electronically in February and check the status of their refund on the Tax Department’s online portal get a vague statement that says: “We received your return and it may require further review. This may result in your New York State return taking longer to process than your federal return. No further information is available at this time.”
All wage earners have been given an extension to July 15 to file their federal and local taxes, although those who are due a refund can file earlier and are supposed to get their refund shortly after they file.
Feurstein said he understands state government is under financial stress, with businesses closed and tax collections drying up.
“This is unprecedented. I understand the severity of it. I understand the state is crunched,” he said.
“I can understand that. But at least give us an answer. Are they being held up because the state is broke? New budget not signed? Trouble with the computer system at the comptrollers office or simply because they are holding the money,” Feurstein asked.
But the state Tax Department insisted that it’s not sitting on refunds and that it’s processing of returns is “very close” to what it would be “under normal circumstances.”
To date, state tax auditors have processed more than 7 million returns and issued 3.3 million refunds, said Tax Department spokesman Darren Dopp.
“Nobody thinks of Tax Dept employees in warm and fuzzy ways, but they have continued to do their job during a very difficult time,”Dopp said, adding, “Given all that’s going on, these results are extraordinary.”
Dopp said the Tax Department typically processes about 11 million returns per year and collects $119 billion in revenue for the state. It issued 7 million refunds to taxpayers last year.
Cuomo two weeks ago ordered non-essential employees to work from home and the Tax Department reduced the number of people in its offices by 80 percent to stem the spread of COVID-19- — which happened to be the peak of the filing and processing season for tax returns.
The department estimated it might have processed 3.5 million refunds instead of 3.3 million at this time — under normal circumstances.
“Bottom line: We’re doing the best we can,” Dopp said.
Cuomo said state tax revenues could drop by $15 billion because of the economic blow caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.