newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Alabama rips Georgia after Nick Saban is cleared to coach

TUSCALOOSA , Ala. — A positive COVID-19 test couldn ’ t keep Nick Saban from the sideline , and Georgia ’ s heralded defense had scant hope of keeping Alabama ’ s playmakers out of the end zone .
Jones passed for 417 yards and four touchdowns and the Crimson Tide picked apart No .
3 Georgia ’ s heralded defense in the second half of a 41-24 victory Saturday night .
It ended up being a decisive ‘ Bama victory in a collision of the Southeastern Conference ’ s last remaining unbeaten teams .
The Crimson Tide ( 4-0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after all , rallied with three touchdowns in a 10-minute span starting late in the third quarter .
The nation ’ s top scoring offense ultimately got the emphatic upper hand in a battle with the Bulldogs ( 3-1 ) and one of the nation ’ s best defenses .
“ This was an obvious great win against a very , very good football team , ” said Saban , who was cleared early in the day after a false COVID positive .
“ I was very proud of the way our guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of knew it was going to be a 15-round fight and we wouldn ’ t be winning until the late rounds.
” Georgia had no answer for Jones and star receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith , especially with Alabama ’ s own beleaguered defense grabbing two second-half interceptions and three overall .
Freshman Malachi Moore had one at the goal line and returned it 42 yards .
Smith caught 11 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns , including one in the fourth quarter that effectively put it out of reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gained 161 yards on six catches .
Jones completed 24 of 32 passes and was strong after an interception on the opening play .
“ The goal was just to win the game , ” Jones said .
“ You can look at their defense .
They have good players in the secondary , they have good linebackers , they have good defensive linemen but so do we.
” Then there was some old-school ground and pound too .
Najee Harris gained 152 yards on 31 carries carries with a touchdown during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the nation ’ s top run defense , which came in allowing 38 rushing yards and 12.3 points per game .
Stetson Bennett completed 18 of 40 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns , including an 82-yarder to James Cook .
But he threw three interceptions .
Bennett was angry with himself over his mistakes , especially that final interception throwing across his body , calling it “ just stupid.
” “ I was frustrated with myself , ” the former walk-on said .
Alabama got a boost about seven hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach Saban to return to business of usual , determining a Wednesday COVID test was a false positive .
He tested negative Thursday , Friday and Saturday .
“ That was very emotional , ” he said .
“ It was very crazy , ” Jones said .
“ We were in our little quarterback meeting and he just showed up.
” A maskless Saban was yelling at a referee after an intentional grounding call in the second quarter .
The Tide has won the last six meetings with Georgia , including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive coordinator , Kirby Smart .
The first two came in the January 2018 national championship game and the SEC championship game the following season .
This was the first one that didn ’ t go down to the wire .
Georgia ’ s defense allowed 564 yards .
“ Just frustrated we couldn ’ t get anything going in the second half , especially that opening drive , ” Smart said .
“ I thought we were going to be able to run the ball and we stalled out and lost momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit the big long bomb to Waddle .
”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A positive COVID-19 test couldn’t keep Nick Saban from the sideline, and Georgia’s heralded defense had scant hope of keeping Alabama’s playmakers out of the end zone.
Jones passed for 417 yards and four touchdowns and the Crimson Tide picked apart No. 3 Georgia’s heralded defense in the second half of a 41-24 victory Saturday night. It ended up being a decisive ‘Bama victory in a collision of the Southeastern Conference’s last remaining unbeaten teams.
The Crimson Tide (4-0), with Saban stalking the sideline after all, rallied with three touchdowns in a 10-minute span starting late in the third quarter.
The nation’s top scoring offense ultimately got the emphatic upper hand in a battle with the Bulldogs (3-1) and one of the nation’s best defenses.
“This was an obvious great win against a very, very good football team,” said Saban, who was cleared early in the day after a false COVID positive. “I was very proud of the way our guys fought in the game.
“I sort of knew it was going to be a 15-round fight and we wouldn’t be winning until the late rounds.”
Georgia had no answer for Jones and star receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, especially with Alabama’s own beleaguered defense grabbing two second-half interceptions and three overall. Freshman Malachi Moore had one at the goal line and returned it 42 yards.
Smith caught 11 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns, including one in the fourth quarter that effectively put it out of reach.
Waddle caught a 90-yard touchdown pass and gained 161 yards on six catches. Jones completed 24 of 32 passes and was strong after an interception on the opening play.
“The goal was just to win the game,” Jones said. “You can look at their defense. They have good players in the secondary, they have good linebackers, they have good defensive linemen but so do we.”
Then there was some old-school ground and pound too. Najee Harris gained 152 yards on 31 carries carries with a touchdown during that game-clinching span. He did it against the nation’s top run defense, which came in allowing 38 rushing yards and 12.3 points per game.
Stetson Bennett completed 18 of 40 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, including an 82-yarder to James Cook. But he threw three interceptions.
Bennett was angry with himself over his mistakes, especially that final interception throwing across his body, calling it “just stupid.”
“I was frustrated with myself,” the former walk-on said.
Alabama got a boost about seven hours before the game when the SEC cleared coach Saban to return to business of usual, determining a Wednesday COVID test was a false positive. He tested negative Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“That was very emotional,” he said.
“It was very crazy,” Jones said. “We were in our little quarterback meeting and he just showed up.”
A maskless Saban was yelling at a referee after an intentional grounding call in the second quarter.
The Tide has won the last six meetings with Georgia, including a 3-0 record against Saban’s former defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart. The first two came in the January 2018 national championship game and the SEC championship game the following season.
This was the first one that didn’t go down to the wire. Georgia’s defense allowed 564 yards.
“Just frustrated we couldn’t get anything going in the second half, especially that opening drive,” Smart said. “I thought we were going to be able to run the ball and we stalled out and lost momentum after that point, especially after they hit the big long bomb to Waddle.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Free speech rally attacked by counter-protesters in San Francisco

A free speech rally organized by conservative activists in San Francisco quickly devolved into chaos and was immediately canceled Saturday when several hundred counter-protesters showed up and attacked those gathered .
Right-wing group Team Save America planned the rally to protest Twitter , charging that the social media giant squelches conservative speech after it censored The Post ’ s exposé on Hunter Biden ’ s emails .
Counter-demonstrators , some wielding plastic water bottles and glass bottles , surged the area around the city ’ s United Nations Plaza ahead of the event ’ s 1 p.m. start time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ event , was seen getting punched in the face before the rally could start in a video posted on social media .
A crowd of counter-protesters could be heard yelling at him to “ get the f–k out.
” Anderson posted a graphic photo of his bloody mouth — which showed one of his front teeth missing and a second tooth barely hanging on — on Twitter , writing that , “ Antifa attacked me for no reason.
” A photographer working for The Associated Press witnessed a supporter of President Trump being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco police officer injured on the ground near the plaza .
The event was canceled , though both sides stuck around in the area into the late afternoon .
Anderson had also planned a protest against big tech outside of Twitter ’ s headquarters , according to NBC Bay Area .
The San Francisco Police Department said three cops suffered minor injuries when they were assaulted with pepper spray and caustic chemicals .
One officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment .
Anderson slammed the counter-protesters as hypocrites and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s voting for Trump .
“ I love America , I love this country and I love free speech , ” he said .

A free speech rally organized by conservative activists in San Francisco quickly devolved into chaos and was immediately canceled Saturday when more than a hundred counter-protesters showed up and attacked those gathered.
Right-wing group Team Save America planned the rally to protest Twitter, charging that the social media giant squelches conservative speech after it censored The Post’s exposé on Hunter Biden’s emails.
Counter-demonstrators, some wielding plastic water bottles and glass bottles, surged the area around the city’s United Nations Plaza ahead of the event’s 1 p.m. start time.
Philip Anderson, an organizer of the event, was seen getting punched in the face before the rally could start in a video posted on social media.
A crowd of counter-protesters could be heard yelling at him to “get the f–k out.”
Anderson posted a graphic photo of his bloody mouth — which showed one of his front teeth missing and a second tooth barely hanging on — on Twitter, writing that, “Antifa attacked me for no reason.”
Anderson also posted footage of the attack, which shows him walking with his arm around another man when his attacker, clad entirely in black, leaps forward and punches him in the side of the face.
The two exchange words before he hits Anderson a second time, hitting him with a left and knocking out his tooth.
A photographer working for The Associated Press witnessed a supporter of President Trump being taken away in an ambulance and a San Francisco police officer injured on the ground near the plaza.
The event was canceled, though both sides stuck around in the area into the late afternoon. Anderson had also planned a protest against big tech outside of Twitter’s headquarters, according to NBC Bay Area.
The San Francisco Police Department said three cops suffered minor injuries when they were assaulted with pepper spray and caustic chemicals. One officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
No arrests were made.
Anderson slammed the counter-protesters as hypocrites and said they are the reason why he’s voting for Trump.
“I love America, I love this country and I love free speech,” he said.
Meanwhile, a supporter of Anderson’s launched a GoFundMe page “to help with fixing his teeth after they were knocked out.”
The page had raised more than $23,000 by Sunday afternoon.
With Wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Joe Biden is wandering around on his own island — on Animal Crossing

Joe Biden now has his own island — on Nintendo ’ s Animal Crossing .
“ Biden Island , ” @ @ @ @ @ by his campaign is called , features trains , lots of dogs , and a @ @ @ @ @ garden outside its own “ White House , ” Gamespot.com reports .
There is even @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden wandering around the place , telling visitors “ No malarky ” if they @ @ @ @ @ island also includes a wide range of Biden/Harris merchandise for players to acquire .
“ @ @ @ @ @ some serious work into its island , ” Gamespot noted .
Notably , President Trump @ @ @ @ @ busy running the country and campaigning , does not have his own Animal Crossing island @

Joe Biden now has his own island — on Nintendo’s Animal Crossing.
“Biden Island,” as the promotional site built by his campaign is called, features trains, lots of dogs, and a red, white and blue garden outside its own “White House,” Gamespot.com reports.
There is even a suited, aviator glasses-wearing Joe Biden wandering around the place, telling visitors “No malarky” if they try to interact. The island also includes a wide range of Biden/Harris merchandise for players to acquire.
“The Joe Biden campaign put some serious work into its island,” Gamespot noted.
Notably, President Trump, who is apparently too busy running the country and campaigning, does not have his own Animal Crossing island.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Jim Carrey finally gets laughs on ‘SNL’ while Alec Baldwin treads water

It took him three veeping weeks , but Jim Carrey was actually pretty funny as Joe Biden on “ Saturday Night Live ” this time .
Before tonight , I would not have bet on the actor budging a centimeter .
The first two episodes of the season creaked along like an Amtrak train as the famous funnyman , 58 , leaned too heavily on his physical comedy schtick from “ The Mask ” to play a 77-year-old and was stuck in a mediocre sketch in which his DNA became combined with the vice presidential debate fly .
But Carrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest “ SNL ” cold open that took aim at this week ’ s “ dueling town halls ” — with Biden speaking to voters and George Stephanopoulos on ABC and President Trump appearing on NBC with Savannah Guthrie .
His Biden zingers , at least , tickled .
A voter in the audience asked the former vice president what his plan for coronavirus was .
Carrey shot back , “ It ’ s a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.
” Solid “ Who ’ s On First ?
” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ em down stuff .
Piling on , Carrey also sang “ It ’ s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood ” while donning a red sweater , and later turned into TV painter Bob Ross .
“ You see , each tree has its own personality , just like America .
Does that answer your question ?
, ” Carrey said , not answering the question .
None of this was incisive or notably smart , but the comedy show finally acknowledged Biden ’ s personality , instead of merely boosting his candidacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carrey was consistently fun to watch .
Alec Baldwin ’ s crummy Trump , however , remains a textbook case of plus ça change .
As usual , none of the actor ’ s one-liners or pursed-lips mannerisms got guffaws .
The writers seem more lost than ever on how to handle the president humorously .
His main gag was mispronouncing names : he called Guthrie “ Serengeti ” and judge Amy Coney Barrett “ Conan O ’ Brien.
” That ’ s recycling what Will Ferrell ’ s George W. Bush used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
Baldwin ’ s Trump doesn ’ t work because it ’ s never risen above an impression to become a fleshed-out character .
His irritating take has worn thin during this administration because the actor wears his contempt for the president on his sleeve .
The actor is persistently awkward , and his moments all fell flat tonight .
The sketch ended with a WrestleMania bout — folding chairs and all — with Kate McKinnon ’ s combative Guthrie .
Terribly clichéd .
Some say Baldwin , 62 , has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing because of the president ’ s big personality .
But it can be done .
The best Trump impression ever belongs to a British drag queen named The Vivienne who appeared on “ RuPaul ’ s Drag Race UK.
” It ’ s a knowledgable , quick-witted , lived-in performance .
Baldwin should go to YouTube and learn from that drag queen , instead of being a drag .

It took him three veeping weeks, but Jim Carrey was actually pretty funny as Joe Biden on “Saturday Night Live” this time.
Before tonight, I would not have bet on the actor budging a centimeter.
The first two episodes of the season creaked along like an Amtrak train as the famous funnyman, 58, leaned too heavily on his physical comedy schtick from “The Mask” to play a 77-year-old and was stuck in a mediocre sketch in which his DNA became combined with the vice presidential debate fly.
But Carrey waved good-Biden to his failures in the latest “SNL” cold open that took aim at this week’s “dueling town halls” — with Biden speaking to voters and George Stephanopoulos on ABC and President Trump appearing on NBC with Savannah Guthrie.
His Biden zingers, at least, tickled.
A voter in the audience asked the former vice president what his plan for coronavirus was.
“Unlike the president, I have plan,” Carrey’s Biden replied.
“What is it?” pressed the confused voter.
Carrey shot back, “It’s a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.” Solid “Who’s On First?,” set-’em-up, knock-’em-down stuff.
Piling on, Carrey also sang “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” while donning a red sweater, and later turned into TV painter Bob Ross.
“You see, each tree has its own personality, just like America. Does that answer your question?,” Carrey said, not answering the question.
None of this was incisive or notably smart, but the comedy show finally acknowledged Biden’s personality, instead of merely boosting his candidacy like a socially distant pep rally. Carrey was consistently fun to watch.
Alec Baldwin’s crummy Trump, however, remains a textbook case of plus ça change. As usual, none of the actor’s one-liners or pursed-lips mannerisms got guffaws. The writers seem more lost than ever on how to handle the president humorously.
His main gag was mispronouncing names: He called Guthrie “Serengeti” and Judge Amy Coney Barrett “Conan O’Brien.” That’s recycling what Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush used to do much more lovably 20 years ago.
Baldwin’s Trump doesn’t work because it’s never risen above an impression to become a fleshed-out character. His irritating take has worn thin during this administration because the actor wears his contempt for the president on his sleeve. The actor is persistently awkward, and his moments all fell flat tonight.
The sketch ended with a WrestleMania bout — folding chairs and all — with Kate McKinnon’s combative Guthrie. Terribly clichéd.
Some say Baldwin, 62, has no other option than what he’s doing because of the president’s big personality. But it can be done.
The best Trump impression ever belongs to a British drag queen named The Vivienne who appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.” It’s a knowledgeable, quick-witted, lived-in performance.
Baldwin should go to YouTube and learn from that drag queen, instead of being a drag.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--NYC authorities break up 200-person party at Queens catering hall

The New York City Sheriff ’ s Office busted a party of more than 200 people who were flouting coronavirus restrictions at a Queens catering hall early Saturday .
Deputies crashed the bash at the Queens Luxe Banquet Hall on Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park at 1:35 a.m. — and said they found some 215 maskless revelers dancing , drinking and smoking hookah inside .
“ Patrons were not social distancing , not wearing proper face coverings , and not adhering to the Mayoral and Gubernatorial COVID-19 Emergency Executive orders , ” the sheriff ’ s office said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hookah party — meant to be capped at 45 guests — that people paid to get into , sources said .
In addition to violating Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s COVID-19 rules , the catering hall was also operating without a liquor license , authorities said .
The owner , 47-year-old Johnny Albuja , and an employee , Miguel Hernandez , 49 , were slapped with five summonses each for violation of emergency orders , unlicensed sale of alcohol and unlicensed warehousing of alcohol , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other staffers , Juan Carlos Barona Uribe and Luis David Mera Acosta , both 27 , were each issued summonses for violation of emergency orders .
Coronavirus guidelines in New York currently allow indoor arts and entertainment spaces to operate at 25 percent capacity — with all patrons required to wear a face covering except when eating or drinking .
According to its website , the Queens Luxe has two ballrooms , one with a maximum capacity of 160 people and another that can hold up to 250 guests .
A request to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately returned Saturday night .

The New York City Sheriff’s Office busted a party of more than 200 people who were flouting coronavirus restrictions at a Queens catering hall early Saturday.
Deputies crashed the bash at the Queens Luxe Banquet Hall on Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park at 1:35 a.m. — and said they found some 215 maskless revelers dancing, drinking and smoking hookah inside.
“Patrons were not social distancing, not wearing proper face coverings, and not adhering to the Mayoral and Gubernatorial COVID-19 Emergency Executive orders,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The venue had been hosting a hookah party — meant to be capped at 45 guests — that people paid to get into, sources said.
In addition to violating Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 rules, the catering hall was also operating without a liquor license, authorities said.
The owner, 47-year-old Johnny Albuja, and an employee, Miguel Hernandez, 49, were slapped with five summonses each for violation of emergency orders, unlicensed sale of alcohol and unlicensed warehousing of alcohol, the sheriff’s office said.
Two other staffers, Juan Carlos Barona Uribe and Luis David Mera Acosta, both 27, were each issued summonses for violation of emergency orders.
Coronavirus guidelines in New York currently allow indoor arts and entertainment spaces to operate at 25 percent capacity — with all patrons required to wear a face covering except when eating or drinking.
According to its website, the Queens Luxe has two ballrooms, one with a maximum capacity of 160 people and another that can hold up to 250 guests.
A request to the venue for comment wasn’t immediately returned Saturday night.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--White House official went to Syria seeking Americans’ release

WASHINGTON – A White House official traveled to Damascus earlier this year for secret meetings with the Syrian government seeking the release of at least two US citizens thought to be held there , a Trump administration official said on Sunday .
The official , who spoke on condition of anonymity , named the official as Kash Patel , a deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and the top White House counterterrorism official , saying he had flown to Damascus .
“ It is emblematic of how President Trump has made it a major priority to bring Americans home who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official , who was confirming a report in the Wall Street Journal .
The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
The newspaper , citing Trump administration officials and others familiar with the negotiations , described Patel ’ s trip as the first time such a high-level US official had met in Syria with the isolated government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in more than a decade .
Syria erupted into civil war nearly a decade ago after Assad in 2011 began a brutal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his family ’ s rule .
The newspaper said US officials hoped a deal with Assad could free Austin Tice , a freelance journalist and former Marine officer who disappeared while reporting in Syria in 2012 , and Majd Kamalmaz , a Syrian-American therapist who disappeared after being stopped at a Syrian government checkpoint in 2017 .
At least four other Americans are believed to be held by the Syrian government , the newspaper reported , but little is known about those cases .
The Journal reported that Trump wrote Assad a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ direct dialogue ” about Tice .
It said that Lebanon ’ s top security chief , Abbas Ibrahim , met last week at the White House with national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien to discuss the Americans held in Syria , according to people involved in the talks .
Talks with Syria have not gotten very far , according to people briefed on them , the newspaper reported , saying Damascus has repeatedly demanded Washington withdraw all its forces from the country .

A top White House official traveled to Syria earlier this year to discuss with the Assad regime the release of at least two Americans believed to be held by them, a report said.
The secret talks between Kash Patel, a deputy assistant to President Donald Trump, and officials with the Assad regime took place in Damascus, Trump administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.
“It is emblematic of how President Trump has made it a major priority to bring Americans home who have been detained overseas,” another Trump administration official told The Associated Press Sunday night.
Patel’s communication with the isolated Syrian government is believed to be the first of its kind since 2010, the newspaper reported.
The US in 2012 cut off diplomatic ties with Syria after the country erupted into an ongoing civil war when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on protesters looking to end his family’s rule.
The goal of Patel’s talks with the Assad regime, which reportedly have not gone very far, is to secure the release of at least Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz, the newspaper reported.
Tice, a freelance journalist and ex-Marine officer, vanished while reporting in Syria in 2012.
Kamalmaz, a Syrian-American therapist disappeared after being stopped at a Syrian government checkpoint in 2017, the report said.
One of Kamalmaz’s sons, Ibrahim Kamalmaz, told the Journal the Trump administration is actively working to bring his dad home.
“This administration is committed to our dad’s case, and we continue to speak with officials at the highest levels of the U.S. Government to bring dad home,” the son said.
The Syrian government is believed to be holding at least four other Americans, the newspaper reported.
Just last week, Lebanon’s top security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, met at the White House with national security adviser Robert O’Brien to talk about Americans held in Syria, sources told the paper.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Joe Judge’s bond with Giants has never been more clear

You never forget your first .
Even if it arrives much ...

Through it all, through the agony of defeat after defeat, the bond between this rookie head coach and this team that kept getting knocked down has proven to be unbreakable.
Joe Judge loves coaching these players, as imperfect as too many of them are, loves the first team he gets to call his own and mold in his own image, and these players never stopped fighting for him. They appreciate that he coaches them hard, with a relentless attention to detail, and he appreciates that they play hard, one play at a time, for 60 minutes.
And so Joe Judge deserved his first win as head coach of the 1-5 New York Giants, and his players deserved to win their first game, and no one cared that it was as ugly as it was, no one cared that it came against a weakling like the Washington Football Team, no one cared that Riverboat Ron Rivera gifted them this precious 20-19 triumph thanks to a failed two-point conversion attempt with 36 seconds left.
And so after he was giving and getting hugs and pats on the back on the sideline after Logan Ryan smothered the onside kick and Daniel Jones was done kneeling, Judge was treated to a jubilant locker-room drenching and was handed the game ball by Jones.
“I gave him the game ball, but he was quickly dumped with Gatorade,” said Jones (12 of 19, 112 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). “A lot of people played a part in that [chuckle] celebration, it was good, it was a fun moment there after the game.”
Barely surviving a backup quarterback such as Kyle Allen at home hardly compares to winning three Super Bowls under Bill Belichick, but it was sweet nevertheless for Judge if for no other reason than to see the frowns turned upside down on the faces of his players. Because this is the essence of what a coach lives for.
“The emotion on the sideline was just joy for the players,” Judge said. “To see them smile and to see them rewarded for their hard work, that’s really what you play for. You really want to teach someone and when you see somebody carry out what you teach ’em and have success with it, that’s really the reward in our profession.”
When he retreated to the locker room, there were texts on his phone that left him thinking about his late father, who was his role model and idol.
“I try not to make things internal,” Judge said. “When the players lose, I feel bad for the players. When they win, I’m happy for the players. When something goes wrong, our reaction is, ‘What did I screw up, what could I have done better to help out this guy in a position to have success?’ I’ll kinda sit back some day far in the future and think about internal things. I don’t think it’s any close to time right now for that. It was one game, and we got another one coming up shortly.”
His Giants recognize that Judge burns to see improvement from them with each passing day. They have learned that he treasures loyalty, that he will have their backs if they have his. He is a straight shooter, and the rules are the same for everyone, because if you are the fourth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft and you do something that interferes with winning, you will be benched for the first quarter. But Andrew Thomas will appreciate that Judge would not embarrass him publicly.
“Andrew violated team policy,” Judge said. “There was nothing disobedient, disrespectful or malicious in what he did, but he made a mistake, and there’s consequences for mistakes.”
Thomas revealed that he was late for a Saturday night meeting.
“Coach Judge always talks about actions have consequences, and I take responsibility for my actions and the consequences. It won’t happen again,” Thomas said in a statement.
It was rookie Tae Crowder who scooped and scored the 43-yard TD thanks to a Kyler Fackrell sack that gave the Giants a 20-13 lead and took Jones off the hook for his third red-zone interception of the season. The 255th and last pick of the 2020 NFL Draft — Mr. Irrelevant — helping make the latest faux pass from the sixth-overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft relatively irrelevant.
“I wish Tae would have bent his knees a little better and taken it cleaner off, but I’m glad the second time through he got it and finished on out,” Judge said. “Just gotta make sure we don’t kick that thing initially and give them an opportunity to get on that ball.”
Jones had thrown a picture-perfect 23-yard TD pass to Darius Slayton, had rumbled 49 yards around the left side on his way to a team-high 74 rushing yards, but he could easily have been the goat. If you are going to try to throw the ball away, you better make sure you have enough oomph on it to throw it away. Never mind that Kendall Fuller’s interception in the back of the end zone should have been overturned. Never mind that you were under heavy pressure. A 13-10 lead became 13-13.
“I gotta make that decision sooner and get the ball out. … Can’t afford to make those mistakes,” Jones said.
It was Dexter Lawrence in Allen’s face that forced the final incompletion and foiled Riverboat Ron’s gamble. “That’s actually a call [defensive coordinator] Pat [Graham] put in this week,” Judge said.
Judge had been too conservative early in the third quarter, punting fourth-and-2 at the WFT 38. His decision to kick a field goal on fourth-and-goal at the 2 in the first half turned out to be the correct one.
He knows he doesn’t have a good team yet. He has a tough team, physically and mentally. He has a resilient team. He has a together team.
“They haven’t blinked,” Judge said. “You understand when it’s tough, when they’re going through a streak where there’s a lot of noise on the outside that we ask them to stay focused on what’s ahead of ’em. We know they’re hearing from all directions. But they come to work, they don’t complain, they do whatever we ask ’em to. We got a good group of guys, they’re tough, they’re fun to coach, I’m happy they had success today.”
The Eagles are next on Thursday night. Judge had one last message in the locker room: “Hey, it’s Wednesday night guys. Philly Week, it’s Wednesday night right now.”
Won-and-5.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Jets report card: Lost and listless

Jets report card: Lost and listless

These Jets are hard to watch — just ask Joe ...

Grading the Jets after their 24-0 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Offense
There are no words to describe how bad the Jets offense, which punted 10 times and did not reach the end zone once, was on Sunday. Adam Gase’s unit was atrocious. It padded the statistics in the fourth quarter, but did not convert its first 12 third-down tries and had six three-and-outs. QB Joe Flacco (21 of 44, 186 yards, 1 INT, 50.0 rating) did nothing in his second game as a starter. He was sacked three times and when he tried to throw deep could not set his feet because he was under pressure. The Jets rushed for 115 yards in their first game post-Le’Veon Bell.
Grade: F
Defense
I’m not sure if Miami took its foot off the gas or the Jets defense got better as the game went on, but the unit improved in the second half after giving up three first-half touchdowns. Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (18 of 27, 191 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT, 93.3 rating) looked like he might throw for six touchdowns early. CB Brian Poole made a big play before halftime to pick off Fitzpatrick and S Marcus Maye had an acrobatic interception in the second half.
Grade: C-
Special Teams
This had been one of the few bright spots for the Jets, but not on Sunday. They had two killer penalties on special teams that hurt field position early in the game. Dolphins kick returner Jakeem Grant had six returns for 83 yards. Punter Braden Mann may not be able to walk Monday after punting the ball 10 times. He also was forced to make a tackle again. Even kicker Sam Ficken missed his first field goal of the season.
Grade: F
Coaching
Adam Gase and Gregg Williams deserve each other right now. Neither has his unit performing well. Gase had no answers … again. Jets CEO Christopher Johnson needs to think long and hard about whether making a change is the right move. This is not getting any better. The Jets looked lost and listless Sunday. That reflects poorly on the head coach.
Grade: F


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--New wildfires in Utah, Colorado force evacuations, 0% contained

Authorities have ordered evacuations in Colorado and Utah as new wildfires blaze across the states .
The Range Fire and Fire Canyon Fire have already burned through thousands of acres in less than a day in Utah , with the cause of both fires still under investigation .
The Fire Canyon Fire is believed to be human-caused , according to Utah authorities .
The Range Fire has burned approximately 1,500 acres and is 0 % contained so far , but authorities cautioned that homeowners may be able to return to their homes sometime on Sunday .
The Boulder Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been evacuated already .
“ It is still too dynamic to get in and even begin to assess where those homes may have been damaged or lost , ” said Mike Wagner , a member of the Boulder County Sheriff ’ s Office .
No deaths or injuries have been reported and a cause of the CalWood Fire has not yet been determined , authorities said .
New wildfires have continued to spread over parts of the western United States , spreading rapidly to consume thousands of acres over the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horse Fire has consumed nearly 8,500 acres since starting on Thursday , the Daily Courier reported .
Residents in Crown King near Prescott National Forest were evacuated from the area over the weekend as the fire raged nearby .
Authorities worry that the fire will damage necessary communication structures , making it even more difficult to combat and contain the blaze .

Authorities have ordered evacuations in Colorado and Utah as new wildfires blaze across the states.
The Range Fire and Fire Canyon Fire have already burned through thousands of acres in less than a day in Utah, with the cause of both fires still under investigation.
The Fire Canyon Fire is believed to be human-caused, according to Utah authorities.
The Range Fire has burned approximately 1,500 acres and is 0% contained so far, but authorities cautioned that homeowners may be able to return to their homes sometime on Sunday.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management said that nearly 900 homes have been evacuated already.
“It is still too dynamic to get in and even begin to assess where those homes may have been damaged or lost,” said Mike Wagner, a member of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
No deaths or injuries have been reported and a cause of the CalWood Fire has not yet been determined, authorities said.
New wildfires have continued to spread over parts of the western United States, spreading rapidly to consume thousands of acres over the course of a day.
In Arizona, the Horse Fire has consumed nearly 8,500 acres since starting on Thursday, the Daily Courier reported.
Residents in Crown King near Prescott National Forest were evacuated from the area over the weekend as the fire raged nearby. Authorities worry that the fire will damage necessary communication structures, making it even more difficult to combat and contain the blaze.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Jets trading Steve McLendon to Buccaneers after ugly loss

The Jets ’ fire sale appears to be underway .
Following a 24-0 loss to Miami on Sunday , the @ @ @ @ @ Steve McLendon and a 2023 seventh-round draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a @ @ @ @ @ Post ’ s Brian Costello confirmed .
The Tampa Bay Times was the first to @ @ @ @ @ , 34 , was in his fifth season with the Jets and had been a @ @ @ @ @ .
He was also the longest-tenured Jet and considered a leader in the locker room @ @ @ @ @ become a free agent at season ’ s end , having signed a one-year deal @ @ @ @ @ to $ 3 million ( $ 1.65 million guaranteed ) last offseason .

The Jets got rid of another veteran former Steeler on Sunday night.
The team traded defensive tackle Steve McLendon to the Buccaneers shortly after its 24-0 loss to the Dolphins, a source confirmed. The Jets received a sixth-round pick in 2022 in exchange for McLendon and a seventh-rounder in 2023.
McLendon started for the Jets on Sunday and had four tackles. The move reunites him with former Jets coach Todd Bowles, who is the defensive coordinator in Tampa. The 34-year-old was one of the most respected voices in the Jets’ locker room and a team captain. McLendon joined the Jets in 2016 and endured a lot of losing with the team. He now gets a chance to chase a Super Bowl with Tom Brady.
With McLendon gone, Jordan Jenkins is the only player on the Jets who has been with the team since 2016.
QB Joe Flacco went 21-for-44 for 186 yards with an interception in his second start with the Jets in place of Sam Darnold.
“I don’t feel good right now because we didn’t win the football game and we didn’t play well enough,” Flacco said. “I’m happy about how the guys who were in there at the end of the game fought and kept going. The defense kind of stepped up in the second half there and played a good game. I definitely made some mistakes and gotta clean some things up and keep on going, but we’re playing in some real tough conditions right now and we’ve just got to keep getting better.”
LG Alex Lewis (shoulder), RT Chuma Edoga (calf) and OLB Frankie Luvu (groin) all left the game. … OT Mekhi Becton (shoulder) was inactive for the second straight game.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Developers eyeing coveted Roosevelt Hotel site

Last week ’ s news that the historic Roosevelt Hotel was closing had New Yorkers teary-eyed and developers drooling .
The historic , nearly 100-year-old Roosevelt announced on Oct. 12 that it would be checking out for good at the end of the month because it could no longer survive the pandemic .
Longtime owner Pakistan International Airlines said it has “ currently no plans for the building ” after that .
But that hasn ’ t stopped tongues from wagging over the real estate at 45 E. 45th St. , which takes up the whole block between Madison and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 46th streets .
Surely , it will be missed as the setting for Guy Lombardo ’ s New Year ’ s Eve ballroom performances and for its atmospheric public spaces .
But it ’ s the property ’ s potential that is tantalizing developers , who ’ ve been circling it for years as the roughly 43,000-square-foot site can support a new building much larger than the current 18-story one .
The Roosevelt lies within the Vanderbilt Corridor rezoning area , which preceded wider East Midtown rezoning .
A new building in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more floor area than an existing one subject to city approval , depending on public amenities provided by owners and other considerations .
Sources said PIA paid off all of the Roosevelt ’ s debt shortly before the closing announcement .
However , buyer wannabes might be out of luck .
PIA seems likely to convert the property into a Class A office tower in a joint-venture partnership with a development company .
Asked if the Roosevelt could be revived as a born-again luxury inn , a hotel dealmaker who didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The office market will rebound a lot sooner than the hotel market.
” Pakistani aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan last week termed chatter about a sale “ misleading ” and “ speculative ” and said there were no plans to unload the hotel .
In 2017 , when PIA was weighing options for the hotel due to poor returns , Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said his government considered the Roosevelt an important historical property and told PIA to forget about selling .
The venerable inn was the setting for scenes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas , as Gordon Gekko , delivered his “ Greed is good ” speech in the ballroom .
“ Maid in Manhattan ” with Jennifer Lopez and many other films also shot scenes there .
Cushman & Wakefield investment-sale wizard Doug Harmon , who is not involved at the Roosevelt , described its desirability for office use : “ The Grand Central submarket maintains one of the longest average tenant tenures in the city .
As the city recovers , there will be an increased desire for offices near mass transit or train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is coming out of 2020 with an increased desire for longer commutes.
” Yes , it ’ s bleak out there right now : Office sublease availability has soared to 16 million square feet , nearly half of all office space now on the market , according to Savills .
The sublease surplus will likely break the post-9/11 record of 17.5 million square feet .
Some retail landlords have had to slash asking rents by nearly half .
Even so , there are nuggets of better news .
Hodges Ward Elliott , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 12,692-square-foot , 10-year lease on the 50th floor at SL Green ’ s One Vanderbilt Avenue .
It ’ s the third deal signed at the tower since the pandemic began .
The Durst Organization lured law firm Freeborn & Peters to 1155 Sixth Ave. , which recently underwent a $ 130 million capital-improvements program .
The firm is leaving 230 Park Ave. for 16,563 square feet on a prebuilt floor at 1155 Sixth .
The asking rent was $ 100 per square foot .
Big-name restaurants continue to reopen : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest .
Also returning : the Turnstyle Underground Market in the Columbus Circle subway station .
Already open are EZ Paella , Daa Dumplings , Boil Boil Ramen and more .
The food hall will be 70 percent full by next month .
EZ Paella was originally supposed to open in March when the lockdown descended .
Meanwhile , City Winery — which was ousted from its original Soho location for the Disney office project — is reopening on Pier 57 ( off West 15th Street ) in Hudson River Park .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even with 25 percent capacity rules it will still have 200 seats indoors and 70 outdoors .

Last week’s news that the historic Roosevelt Hotel was closing had New Yorkers teary-eyed and developers drooling.
The historic, nearly 100-year-old Roosevelt announced on Oct. 12 that it would be checking out for good at the end of the month because it could no longer survive the pandemic. Longtime owner Pakistan International Airlines said it has “currently no plans for the building” after that. But that hasn’t stopped tongues from wagging over the real estate at 45 E. 45th St., which takes up the whole block between Madison and Vanderbilt avenues and between East 45th and 46th streets.
Surely, it will be missed as the setting for Guy Lombardo’s New Year’s Eve ballroom performances and for its atmospheric public spaces. But it’s the property’s potential that is tantalizing developers, who’ve been circling it for years as the roughly 43,000-square-foot site can support a new building much larger than the current 18-story one.
The Roosevelt lies within the Vanderbilt Corridor rezoning area, which preceded wider East Midtown rezoning. A new building in the corridor may be taller and have much more floor area than an existing one subject to city approval, depending on public amenities provided by owners and other considerations.
Sources said PIA paid off all of the Roosevelt’s debt shortly before the closing announcement. However, buyer wannabes might be out of luck. PIA seems likely to convert the property into a Class A office tower in a joint-venture partnership with a development company.
Asked if the Roosevelt could be revived as a born-again luxury inn, a hotel dealmaker who didn’t want to be identified scoffed, “The office market will rebound a lot sooner than the hotel market.”
Pakistani aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan last week termed chatter about a sale “misleading” and “speculative” and said there were no plans to unload the hotel.
In 2017, when PIA was weighing options for the hotel due to poor returns, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said his government considered the Roosevelt an important historical property and told PIA to forget about selling.
The venerable inn was the setting for scenes from “Wall Street,” where Michael Douglas, as Gordon Gekko, delivered his “Greed is good” speech in the ballroom. “Maid in Manhattan” with Jennifer Lopez and many other films also shot scenes there.
Cushman & Wakefield investment-sale wizard Doug Harmon, who is not involved at the Roosevelt, described its desirability for office use: “The Grand Central submarket maintains one of the longest average tenant tenures in the city. As the city recovers, there will be an increased desire for offices near mass transit or train lines to ease commute times. Nobody is coming out of 2020 with an increased desire for longer commutes.”
Towers get new tenants
Yes, it’s bleak out there right now: Office sublease availability has soared to 16 million square feet, nearly half of all office space now on the market, according to Savills. The sublease surplus will likely break the post-9/11 record of 17.5 million square feet. Some retail landlords have had to slash asking rents by nearly half.
Even so, there are nuggets of better news.
Hodges Ward Elliott, a boutique real-estate capital markets adviser, signed a 12,692-square-foot, 10-year lease on the 50th floor at SL Green’s One Vanderbilt Avenue. It’s the third deal signed at the tower since the pandemic began.
The Durst Organization lured law firm Freeborn & Peters to 1155 Sixth Ave., which recently underwent a $130 million capital-improvements program. The firm is leaving 230 Park Ave. for 16,563 square feet on a prebuilt floor at 1155 Sixth. The asking rent was $100 per square foot.
Wine and dine
Big-name restaurants continue to reopen: The Russian Tea Room and Molyvos are the latest.
Also returning: the Turnstyle Underground Market in the Columbus Circle subway station. Already open are EZ Paella, Daa Dumplings, Boil Boil Ramen and more. The food hall will be 70 percent full by next month. EZ Paella was originally supposed to open in March when the lockdown descended.
Meanwhile, City Winery — which was ousted from its original Soho location for the Disney office project — is reopening on Pier 57 (off West 15th Street) in Hudson River Park. The 32,000-square-foot eating-and-sipping venue is so big that even with 25 percent capacity rules it will still have 200 seats indoors and 70 outdoors.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Giants locker room electric with NFC East suddenly in play

Grading the Giants following their 20-19 win over Washington on ...

You never forget your first.
Even if it arrives much later than you envisioned or wanted it to.
Joe Judge lost his first five games as the first-year head coach of the Giants but Sunday was dousing day. He got showered in the locker room after a 20-19 victory at MetLife Stadium — only after Washington scored with 36 seconds remaining and the Giants had to defend and survive a two-point conversion try.
“You know what, the locker room obviously had a lot of energy afterwards,’’ Judge said. “The guys were very happy. There’s been a lot of pressure that they’ve put on themselves and that we put on them. They’ve been fighting hard for six weeks and working through training camp for us. You hit this point right here and you just want to get the results. And I’m happy the fans were able to have it and I’m happy the players were able to enjoy it.’’
It figured with these Giants that they needed to get bailed out by the player selected 255th and last in the 2020 NFL Draft. How fitting that linebacker Tae Crowder, dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant,” made the most relevant play of the season.
Judge had to sweat this one out. A 13-3 lead was gone and the game was even at 13 when Crowder scooped up a Kyle Allen fumble forced by Kyler Fackrell and sprinted 43 yards for a touchdown with 3:29 remaining.
Judge, ever the stickler, noted Crowder, who first kicked the ball before securing it, should have bent his knees on the play.
“I wanted to dive on it bad,’’ Crowder said. “I knew if I could scoop it up and get in the end zone it would help the team. And it was something we needed at the moment.’’
Daniel Jones, who threw a red-zone interception that cost the Giants points, was the one to give Judge the game ball.
“Rightfully so,’’ Jones said. “He certainly deserves it.’’
It was the first happy moment in six weeks for the Giants. And, wouldn’t you know it, not long after Logan Ryan pounced on the onside kick to seal the deal, the reality of the true dreadfulness of the NFC East came into sharper focus.
The Giants are 1-5. The team that leads the division, the Cowboys, are 2-3 heading into Monday night’s game with the Cardinals. The Eagles are 1-4-1. Washington is 1-5.
The Giants, in a quick turnaround, face the Eagles on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
Look here, the Giants are in the race!
“That’s run through my head a lot,’’ defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “It made me feel happy and confident that everything’s right in front of us still.”
The Giants are not going to be in anything other than trouble if they do not up the ante on their performance, as they struggled to hand Washington its fifth consecutive loss after taking a 10-0 lead on Jones’ perfectly placed teardrop lob to Darius Slayton for a 23-yard touchdown hookup late in the first quarter. The Giants were in control, then they were not.
Ahead 13-10, the Giants were poised to add to their slim lead late in the third quarter when a painstaking drive that started at their own 20 reached the Washington 7. What followed was a haunting reminder it is difficult to trust Jones in these situations.
Pressured, Jones intended to toss the ball out the back of the end zone but did not get enough power on his throw. Instead, cornerback Kendall Fuller made a leaping, lunging interception. His right elbow appeared to hit out of bounds but the turnover survived a replay review to stand.
“Just trying to throw the ball away and didn’t get enough on it,’’ Jones said. “I got to make that decision sooner and get the ball out. Can’t afford to make those mistakes.’’
Washington tied it up with 8:56 left. After Crowder’s game-turning play, it was time for the Giants defense to maintain a seven-point lead and it did not go well. Allen, starting because second-year Dwayne Haskins was benched last week, dinked and dunked and then lofted the ball to Cam Sims, who beat Ryan on a double-move for a contested 22-yard touchdown catch with 36 seconds to go. Washington was within one point and coach Ron Rivera, called “Riverboat Ron’’ for his gambling ways, was not about to call for the extra point and overtime.
With Judge’s first win hanging in the balance, Allen on the two-point conversion try was pressured by Blake Martinez and Dexter Lawrence, as defensive coordinator Patrick Graham signaled in a play installed earlier in the week. Allen on the run had nowhere to go and his pass fell to the turf. Safety Jabrill Peppers did a series of backflips in celebration.
“It was special,’’ Williams said. “It’s not like we won the playoffs, we still have a lot of work to do, no bragging rights or anything like that. It was nice to see guys smile in the locker room after putting in that much hard work. We kinda got tired of going into the locker room and seeing sad faces.’’


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Furloughed B&H workers accuse company of discrimination

Some furloughed employees at B & H Photo Video fear that they recently lost their jobs for good — and claim it ’ s because they reported unsafe working conditions during the coronavirus outbreak .
After complaining about the company ’ s handling of the pandemic back in March — including packed indoor prayer services for its ultra-religious Jewish workers — some workers have spotted what look like postings for their jobs online .
It ’ s a position they wouldn ’ t be in , they suspect , if they were part of the company ’ s inner circle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say get special treatment .
“ They definitely used COVID as a cover to eliminate some of us , ” said Dan Wagner , a nearly six-year veteran of the famed New York tech retailer , which is known for its conveyor-belt system of moving merchandise around its three-story megastore on West 34th Street and Ninth Avenue .
Wagner , a professional photographer who worked as a product description writer for B & H , says he believes he has not been asked back to work after he raised a fuss in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took place in the company ’ s lunch rooms .
“ I told HR that people shouldn ’ t congregate , ” Wagner said , adding that B & H later announced in a newsletter that two workers who had attended the prayers had died from the virus in late March .
Wagner also repeatedly pressed B & H for information after learning that a fellow staffer on another floor had contracted the virus , he said .
“ I believe they retaliated against me for simply asking whether I was in close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cannon , also a B & H content writer , says he believes he isn ’ t being brought back because he asked for permission to work from home in March .
“ I told [ HR ] that I don ’ t feel safe at the office , leaving in the packed elevators and working so close to others , ” Cannon said .
Cannon , who is diabetic , was also unnerved by the prayer services because they were held in the same rooms where he kept his insulin , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were 60 people packed in there and I ’ d have to step over them to get to the refrigerator , ” he said .
“ It was uncomfortable for me.
” B & H told Cannon to use his paid time off until it came up with a work-from-home plan , which it did about a week later .
“ B & H was very slow to take the pandemic seriously , ” he said .
“ I took all my PTO days because they didn ’ t have a plan.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with about 400 other workers — about 20 percent of B & H ’ s staff — on April 27 .
The company notified workers via e-mail that they would be paid for 2.5 days and receive health benefits through May 31 .
Cannon has been unable to pay for his insulin medication since June and was forced to share insulin with his diabetic uncle , with whom he lives .
Then in August , after months of no communication from the company , Cannon saw an Indeed.com posting for a mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was what he did for the company .
The posting also called for gaming expertise , which Cannon says his manager knows he possesses .
“ I took this as their way of getting rid of the people they didn ’ t want , ” he said of the job posting .
“ It was so sudden with no followups .
It seemed like a way to lay people off without telling them they were laid off.
” Wagner , meanwhile , saw two listings for his job as photography writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most recently on Oct. 15 .
B & H has not told the men either way what its plans are and they have not asked , but the megastore reopened to walk-ins on July 1 .
After the furloughs came down , Wagner e-mailed his B & H managers to ask what percentage of laid off staffers were Hasidic , which the company declined to specify .
That ’ s when Wagner , who is Jewish but not Hasidic , says he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees .
Cannon , who is African-American , said he , too , is considering filing a discrimination complaint against B & H .
Wagner declined to share a copy of his complaint with The Post , but has shared e-mails with the agency showing that he filed one .
B & H , which Blimie and Herman Schreiber opened in 1973 , declined to comment on the job listings or Wagner ’ s discrimination complaint , except to say that it “ welcomes the EEOC ’ s findings.
” “ B & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to furlough employees , ” the company ’ s chief marketing officer , Jeff Gerstel , told The Post in a statement .
“ We ’ re proudly bringing back to work furloughed employees every week while we navigate these challenging times .
We can not respond to individual employee matters.
” Wagner claims B & H ’ s Hasidic Jewish staff get special perks , including what he believes are company-sponsored shuttle buses to help them commute to and from work .
The shuttles , which cost employees $ 2.75 a ride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
B & H declined to comment on its role in providing the buses , but a person close to the company noted that the retailer was named New York ’ s 14th best employer for 2020 by Forbes in August .
The popular retailer has been sued twice by the federal government for discriminatory practices , most recently in 2016 when the Department of Labor accused it of only hiring Hispanic men for entry-level positions at its former Brooklyn Navy warehouse , and then subjecting them to harassment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were separate from those used by the facility ’ s non-Hispanic workers .
The complaint also accused the company of not hiring women , black and Asian workers at the Brooklyn facility , which has since been moved to New Jersey .
The family-owned business “ categorically denied ” the 2016 allegations but paid $ 3.22 million to settle the case and “ avoid the distraction of litigation , ” it said at the time .
Legal experts like Carolyn Richmond say they have been warning employers since April to take precautions not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The question becomes why is the employer not bringing an employee back who was let go simply because of COVID restrictions and not job performance , ” said Richmond , chair of the hospitality practice group at Fox Rothschild LLP .
“ It is certainly suspect to replace these workers with new hires .
”

Some furloughed employees at B&H Photo Video fear that they recently lost their jobs for good — and claim it’s because they reported unsafe working conditions during the coronavirus outbreak.
After complaining about the company’s handling of the pandemic back in March — including packed indoor prayer services for its ultra-religious Jewish workers — some workers have spotted what look like postings for their jobs online. It’s a position they wouldn’t be in, they suspect, if they were part of the company’s inner circle of Hasidic Jewish staffers, who they say get special treatment.
“They definitely used COVID as a cover to eliminate some of us,” said Dan Wagner, a nearly six-year veteran of the famed New York tech retailer, which is known for its conveyor-belt system of moving merchandise around its three-story megastore on West 34th Street and Ninth Avenue.
Wagner, a professional photographer who worked as a product description writer for B&H, says he believes he has not been asked back to work after he raised a fuss in March about the daily prayer services, which took place in the company’s lunch rooms.
“I told HR that people shouldn’t congregate,” Wagner said, adding that B&H later announced in a newsletter that two workers who had attended the prayers had died from the virus in late March.
Wagner also repeatedly pressed B&H for information after learning that a fellow staffer on another floor had contracted the virus, he said. “I believe they retaliated against me for simply asking whether I was in close contact with someone with COVID.”
William Cannon, also a B&H content writer, says he believes he isn’t being brought back because he asked for permission to work from home in March. “I told [HR] that I don’t feel safe at the office, leaving in the packed elevators and working so close to others,” Cannon said.
Cannon, who is diabetic, was also unnerved by the prayer services because they were held in the same rooms where he kept his insulin, which needs to be refrigerated. “There were 60 people packed in there and I’d have to step over them to get to the refrigerator,” he said. “It was uncomfortable for me.”
B&H told Cannon to use his paid time off until it came up with a work-from-home plan, which it did about a week later. “B&H was very slow to take the pandemic seriously,” he said. “I took all my PTO days because they didn’t have a plan.”
Cannon and Wagner say they were furloughed along with about 400 other workers — about 20 percent of B&H’s staff — on April 27. The company notified workers via e-mail that they would be paid for 2.5 days and receive health benefits through May 31.
Cannon has been unable to pay for his insulin medication since June and was forced to share insulin with his diabetic uncle, with whom he lives.
Then in August, after months of no communication from the company, Cannon saw an Indeed.com posting for a mobile tech consumer writer for B&H, which was what he did for the company. The posting also called for gaming expertise, which Cannon says his manager knows he possesses.
“I took this as their way of getting rid of the people they didn’t want,” he said of the job posting. “It was so sudden with no followups. It seemed like a way to lay people off without telling them they were laid off.”
Wagner, meanwhile, saw two listings for his job as photography writer on the company’s Web site, most recently on Oct. 15.
B&H has not told the men either way what its plans are and they have not asked, but the megastore reopened to walk-ins on July 1.
After the furloughs came down, Wagner e-mailed his B&H managers to ask what percentage of laid off staffers were Hasidic, which the company declined to specify. That’s when Wagner, who is Jewish but not Hasidic, says he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that B&H discriminates against non-Hasidic employees.
Cannon, who is African-American, said he, too, is considering filing a discrimination complaint against B&H.
Wagner declined to share a copy of his complaint with The Post, but has shared e-mails with the agency showing that he filed one.
B&H, which Blimie and Herman Schreiber opened in 1973, declined to comment on the job listings or Wagner’s discrimination complaint, except to say that it “welcomes the EEOC’s findings.”
“B&H was one of the last retailers to furlough employees,” the company’s chief marketing officer, Jeff Gerstel, told The Post in a statement.
“We’re proudly bringing back to work furloughed employees every week while we navigate these challenging times. We cannot respond to individual employee matters.”
Wagner claims B&H’s Hasidic Jewish staff get special perks, including what he believes are company-sponsored shuttle buses to help them commute to and from work.
The shuttles, which cost employees $2.75 a ride, are not offered to non-Hasidic employees, he said.
B&H declined to comment on its role in providing the buses, but a person close to the company noted that the retailer was named New York’s 14th best employer for 2020 by Forbes in August.
The popular retailer has been sued twice by the federal government for discriminatory practices, most recently in 2016 when the Department of Labor accused it of only hiring Hispanic men for entry-level positions at its former Brooklyn Navy warehouse, and then subjecting them to harassment and unsanitary conditions, including inoperable bathrooms that were separate from those used by the facility’s non-Hispanic workers. The complaint also accused the company of not hiring women, black and Asian workers at the Brooklyn facility, which has since been moved to New Jersey.
The family-owned business “categorically denied” the 2016 allegations but paid $3.22 million to settle the case and “avoid the distraction of litigation,” it said at the time.
Legal experts like Carolyn Richmond say they have been warning employers since April to take precautions not to discriminate when rehiring furloughed workers.
“The question becomes why is the employer not bringing an employee back who was let go simply because of COVID restrictions and not job performance,” said Richmond, chair of the hospitality practice group at Fox Rothschild LLP. “It is certainly suspect to replace these workers with new hires.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Why Central Park horse carriages should be your litmus test in the mayoral race

New York City ’ s carriage horse drivers are back in the ...

As next year’s mayoral race shudders to life, candidates should face the following question at a future debate: What is your stance on Central Park’s horse carriages?
It may seem silly to focus on horses right now. But Mayor Bill de Blasio has made the horses, and their 200 human workers, into a bizarre litmus test of whether the next mayor can govern based on science, priorities and pro-small-business instinct — or whether he or she will cave to a special interest backed by transactional donors.
Central Park’s horse carriages and drivers have returned after a six-month COVID-19 hiatus. Two weeks ago, drivers started bringing back 15 carriages for a park tour, out of the normal 68.
Drivers are returning, because the holiday season, when more locals do take a ride, is the best chance of earning income.
It’s an expensive bet. It costs about $1,100 a month to keep two horses and a carriage at an out-of-town farm, but $2,600 to $3,000 to keep them in Manhattan.
“People still have birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, bored children,” says Christina Hansen, a driver. Right now, customers are “almost exclusively locals and tri-state people,” a reverse of the normal 80 to 85 percent tourist trade. “Everyone is happy to see us. . . . I’ve given a lot of rides to families with very small children.”
For stir-crazy New Yorkers, especially parents, there’s not much to do, and this dearth of options will last through New Year’s. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the Nutcracker, the Philharmonic’s Messiah, the Rockettes — all canceled. If you want your kids to get a taste of Manhattan Christmas, there will be a Rockefeller Center tree and skating rink and store windows, but not much else — except a traditional carriage ride, a socially distance-able outdoor activity.
It’s part of what makes Gotham unique and attractive to still-missing office workers and tourists, when so much of Midtown, like the historic Roosevelt Hotel, is disappearing. You would think City Hall would cheer this small business’ willingness to take a risk and make Manhattan more pleasant this grim season.
But, no. Since his first campaign, de Blasio has nurtured a vendetta against the carriage trade. To fulfill a campaign promise to a top donor, de Blasio vowed to ban the carriages on “day one.” Then-City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito quashed this bid.
But Hizzoner has waged a war of attrition, pushing his Department of Transportation to move carriage stands from Central Park South into the park, where fewer would-be customers see them.
Last year, current Speaker Corey Johnson passed a “heat-index” bill, based on no veterinary science, that would keep horses from working on summer days with temperatures in the low 80s (the city has long mandated that horses stay inside when it is 90 or above).
The animal-rights fanatics aren’t satisfied — and still want the industry banned. It would be strange for this fringe issue to define our next mayor. But in a close race with little difference among candidates on issues such as policing or taxes, it could matter.
“I don’t think there is anyone who is currently in the race who is avowedly anti-carriage,” says Hansen. The industry hopes to be on the offensive. In a switch from the Teamsters, the Transport Workers Union now represents the drivers. The TWU represents drivers across the tourist industry, including for Big Bus tours, and the carriage drivers think the TWU can help combat long-term scourges such as fraudulent on-street ticket sales.
And the TWU, with its representation of subway and bus workers, is a more powerful local force. That will help, as the horse-carriage trade tries to get a saner mayor and council to roll back the new regulations and to wrest back some street space, particularly Grand Army Plaza outside southeast Central Park.
With New Yorkers having spent the whole summer dining outdoors as cars and trucks speed by, Hansen points out, the issue isn’t whether it’s cruel to subject horses to traffic — but why the Big Apple is so bad at distributing street space among different users.
As New Yorkers pick out their next leader amid a historic crisis, voters should remember: Any candidate who won’t support this small business is a continuation of de Blasio — and will care as little about the fortunes of other businesses and workers. Say neigh.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor of City Journal.Twitter: @NicoleGelinas


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--State-enforced racial segregation — by progressives

State-sanctioned racial segregation ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but has recently returned in an unlikely place : government agencies in Seattle .
According to new whistleblower documents I ’ ve reviewed , at least three public agencies in the region have implemented race-segregated diversity trainings .
At the King County Library System , a private consulting firm called Racial Equity Consultants recently held racially segregated “ listening sessions ” to root out “ institutional privileges and systemic inequities.
” Apparently , there is widespread “ institutional racism ” in the libraries , and employees who reject that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” When reached by e-mail , the firm said it wasn ’ t authorized to comment .
At the federal Veterans Administration Puget Sound facility , the local leadership has launched a series of racially segregated “ caucuses ” for “ individuals who identify as white ” and those who identify as “ African-American or black ” or as “ people of color.
” According to whistleblower e-mails , the organizer , Dr. Jesse Markman , convened the racially segregated sessions , calling them “ an environment for sharing and discussion , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Markman referred me to the VA ’ s public-affairs office , which didn ’ t provide comment .
Finally , at the King County Prosecutor ’ s Office , the chief prosecutor , Dan Satterberg , and senior staff have recently required employees to sign an “ equity and social justice ” pledge and assigned “ continued training for white employees , ” who must “ do the work ” to “ learn the true history of racism in our country.
” White employees are encouraged to participate in racially segregated “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as agency-wide “ cultural-competency ” training that teaches them to how to adopt “ a new non-oppressive and non-exploitive attitude.
” According to a leaked memo I ’ ve reviewed , Satterberg recently wrote a letter to staff suggesting that the “ privileged , white , male cohort ” in his office should “ shut up and listen.
” The prosecutor ’ s office confirmed the authenticity of the equity pledge and staff-wide memo but didn ’ t offer further comment .
Oh , the irony : Seattle ’ s white elites are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the name of social justice .
In all three of these institutions , white executives have explicitly implemented these policies , arguing , in one case , that holding segregated training sessions mitigates “ any potential harming of staff of color that might arise from a cross-racial conversation.
” The VA ’ s Dr. Markman explained to his colleagues : “ It can be challenging for people of color to feel a burden to educate others on how to be better , when at the same time being told or expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind these policies — that white leaders must shield minority employees from open dialogue — is deeply patronizing and can itself cause racial division in the workplace .
According to multiple sources within King County government , segregated training sessions have created suspicion and distrust among colleagues .
“ I was truly disgusted , ” one library employee told me .
The trainers told white employees “ we stole the land from indigenous people , [ and ] we are responsible for committing genocide.
” Another employee at the prosecutor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ firing squad.
” This employee fears that any dissent would lead to immediate retaliation .
These training sessions aren ’ t only offensive , but possibly illegal .
As US Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow has argued , racially segregated training sessions violate the 1964 act , which prohibits employers from segregating employees based on “ race , color , religion , sex or national origin.
” The Department of Justice is already investigating the City of Seattle ’ s segregated diversity trainings .
It should expand its investigation to include the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Prosecutor ’ s Office and the VA ’ s Puget Sound system .
Segregation in the name of social justice is still segregation — and has no place in our public institutions .
Seattle , home to leading critical race theorists like Robin DiAngelo , has long been on the vanguard of race-based progressivism .
These crackpot concepts have escaped the academy and been entrenched in bureaucracies .
Federal officials would be wise to put a stop to them — before segregation is once more normalized .

State-sanctioned racial segregation ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but has recently returned in an unlikely place: government agencies in Seattle. According to new whistleblower documents I’ve reviewed, at least three public agencies in the region have implemented race-segregated diversity trainings.
At the King County Library System, a private consulting firm called Racial Equity Consultants recently held racially segregated “listening sessions” to root out “institutional privileges and systemic inequities.” Apparently, there is widespread “institutional racism” in the libraries, and employees who reject that premise are accused of “internalized racism.” When reached by e-mail, the firm said it wasn’t authorized to comment.
At the federal Veterans Administration Puget Sound facility, the local leadership has launched a series of racially segregated “caucuses” for “individuals who identify as white” and those who identify as “African-American or black” or as “people of color.” According to whistleblower e-mails, the organizer, Dr. Jesse Markman, convened the racially segregated sessions, calling them “an environment for sharing and discussion, which is not afforded by mixed groups.” Dr. Markman referred me to the VA’s public-affairs office, which didn’t provide comment.
Finally, at the King County Prosecutor’s Office, the chief prosecutor, Dan Satterberg, and senior staff have recently required employees to sign an “equity and social justice” pledge and assigned “continued training for white employees,” who must “do the work” to “learn the true history of racism in our country.”
White employees are encouraged to participate in racially segregated “anti-racist action groups,” as well as agency-wide “cultural-competency” training that teaches them to how to adopt “a new non-oppressive and non-exploitive attitude.”
According to a leaked memo I’ve reviewed, Satterberg recently wrote a letter to staff suggesting that the “privileged, white, male cohort” in his office should “shut up and listen.” The prosecutor’s office confirmed the authenticity of the equity pledge and staff-wide memo but didn’t offer further comment.
Oh, the irony: Seattle’s white elites are instituting a policy of racial segregation in the name of social justice. In all three of these institutions, white executives have explicitly implemented these policies, arguing, in one case, that holding segregated training sessions mitigates “any potential harming of staff of color that might arise from a cross-racial conversation.”
The VA’s Dr. Markman explained to his colleagues: “It can be challenging for people of color to feel a burden to educate others on how to be better, when at the same time being told or expected to be entirely open and unfiltered.”
The assumption behind these policies — that white leaders must shield minority employees from open dialogue — is deeply patronizing and can itself cause racial division in the workplace.
According to multiple sources within King County government, segregated training sessions have created suspicion and distrust among colleagues. “I was truly disgusted,” one library employee told me. The trainers told white employees “we stole the land from indigenous people, [and] we are responsible for committing genocide.” Another employee at the prosecutor’s office described a recent diversity session as a “firing squad.” This employee fears that any dissent would lead to immediate retaliation.
These training sessions aren’t only offensive, but possibly illegal. As US Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow has argued, racially segregated training sessions violate the 1964 act, which prohibits employers from segregating employees based on “race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” The Department of Justice is already investigating the City of Seattle’s segregated diversity trainings. It should expand its investigation to include the King County Library System, the King County Prosecutor’s Office and the VA’s Puget Sound system. Segregation in the name of social justice is still segregation — and has no place in our public institutions.
Seattle, home to leading critical race theorists like Robin DiAngelo, has long been on the vanguard of race-based progressivism. These crackpot concepts have escaped the academy and been entrenched in bureaucracies. Federal officials would be wise to put a stop to them — before segregation is once more normalized.
Christopher Rufo is a contributing editor of City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Andrew Cuomo’s shameful new book continues his lies about his ‘senior-cide’

When I first heard that Gov .
Cuomo was writing a book on his “ leadership ” during the pandemic , I think I spit out my coffee and thought it was an article from the satirical Web site The Babylon Bee .
I laughed .
Then I became enraged .
In March and April , my husband ’ s parents died of COVID-19 in their elder-care facilities .
Theirs were two of more than 6,000 deaths that resulted from Cuomo ’ s now-notorious nursing-home decree — a veritable mass seniorcide .
I wondered if Cuomo would use his memoir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing-home tragedy .
Up until now , the governor has blamed everyone else for his executive order forcing nursing homes to accept coronavirus-positive patients .
Cuomo has shifted the blame to God , Mother Nature , The Post , Fox News , President Trump , nursing-home visitors and employees and even residents themselves , among other scapegoats .
I wondered : Would the book , “ American Crisis , ” see him make a long-overdue reckoning with his calamitous mistake ?
As a vocal and prominent critic of his decision-making , I made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review copies , so I could write about it .
However , I wouldn ’ t under any circumstances buy the book , since I suspect he is profiting off the deaths of more than 30,000 New Yorkers .
I e-mailed the publisher , Crown Books , but got no response .
Then I e-mailed a co-worker who books guests on cable-news programs to help .
No luck .
I then asked my editor friend who knows some movers and shakers in the publishing world to find a copy for me .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I decided then that maybe it was the universe telling me I wasn ’ t meant to read this book .
But it was hard to avoid news of the governor ’ s publicity tour .
First , CBS “ Sunday Morning ” did a fluffy profile of the governor and his family .
It was a lovely package , but there were no hard-hitting questions about the nursing-home deaths , though numerous families like mine have demanded answers .
Why did the governor order COVID-positive patients into nursing homes for 46 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makeshift hospitals , like the USNS Comfort and the Javits Center , go unused ?
And why do we still not have the total number of nursing-home deaths ?
By some estimates , adding the deaths of those seniors transferred to hospitals would almost double the figure to some 12,000 .
More fawning interviews followed last week : on “ Live with Kelly and Ryan ” ( ABC ) and “ Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen ” ( Bravo ) .
When Cuomo was finally asked about the nursing-home tragedy on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his game of ignoring the question first , then blaming others .
At one point , he even said his government never needed to send COVID-19 patients into nursing homes to begin with .
I have received e-mails from a number of my journalist friends and reporters who have read the book .
They urged me not to torture myself .
The governor never used the opportunity to confess to one of the biggest mistakes of his career .
Instead , he uses just a few pages to blame others , including Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely hard for me to watch him lie through his teeth and get away with it .
The fact that he even had the time to write a book during the last six months of a pandemic is incredible .
Imagine if the governor of Louisiana decided to write a book soon after Hurricane Katrina hit ?
More seniors died in New York nursing homes than did in Katrina and 9/11 combined .
The governor continues to insist all criticism is political .
Yet not one of the grieving New Yorkers I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom they or their lost loved ones voted for .
We want answers — accountability to ensure this never happens again .
My publishing friends tell me his book is selling OK , better than his last memoir , which moved a little more than 3,000 copies .
But instead of writing books about himself and promoting them on every network , Cuomo should be helping his state get through the next six months .
The pandemic isn ’ t over , businesses are closing , people are losing their jobs and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead of waxing poetic on his leadership skills , Cuomo could ’ ve better spent his time , you know , actually leading .
And that includes writing letters of condolence and apology to families whose loved ones died because of his disastrous decisions .
Janice Dean is senior meteorologist at the Fox News Channel .

When I first heard that Gov. Cuomo was writing a book on his “leadership” during the pandemic, I think I spit out my coffee and thought it was an article from the satirical Web site The Babylon Bee. I laughed. Then I became enraged.
In March and April, my husband’s parents died of COVID-19 in their elder-care facilities. Theirs were two of more than 6,000 deaths that resulted from Cuomo’s now-notorious nursing-home decree — a veritable mass seniorcide.
I wondered if Cuomo would use his memoir to finally tell the truth about the nursing-home tragedy. Up until now, the governor has blamed everyone else for his executive order forcing nursing homes to accept coronavirus-positive patients.
Cuomo has shifted the blame to God, Mother Nature, The Post, Fox News, President Trump, nursing-home visitors and employees and even residents themselves, among other scapegoats.
I wondered: Would the book, “American Crisis,” see him make a long-overdue reckoning with his calamitous mistake?
As a vocal and prominent critic of his decision-making, I made several requests to his publisher to receive review copies, so I could write about it. However, I wouldn’t under any circumstances buy the book, since I suspect he is profiting off the deaths of more than 30,000 New Yorkers.
I e-mailed the publisher, Crown Books, but got no response. Then I e-mailed a co-worker who books guests on cable-news programs to help. No luck. I then asked my editor friend who knows some movers and shakers in the publishing world to find a copy for me. And that didn’t work, either.
I decided then that maybe it was the universe telling me I wasn’t meant to read this book.
But it was hard to avoid news of the governor’s publicity tour. First, CBS “Sunday Morning” did a fluffy profile of the governor and his family. It was a lovely package, but there were no hard-hitting questions about the nursing-home deaths, though numerous families like mine have demanded answers.
Why did the governor order COVID-positive patients into nursing homes for 46 days straight? Why did the other makeshift hospitals, like the USNS Comfort and the Javits Center, go unused? And why do we still not have the total number of nursing-home deaths? By some estimates, adding the deaths of those seniors transferred to hospitals would almost double the figure to some 12,000.
More fawning interviews followed last week: on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC) and “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” (Bravo). When Cuomo was finally asked about the nursing-home tragedy on NBC by Willie Geist, he continued his game of ignoring the question first, then blaming others. At one point, he even said his government never needed to send COVID-19 patients into nursing homes to begin with.
I have received e-mails from a number of my journalist friends and reporters who have read the book. They urged me not to torture myself. The governor never used the opportunity to confess to one of the biggest mistakes of his career. Instead, he uses just a few pages to blame others, including Republicans, of course.
It’s extremely hard for me to watch him lie through his teeth and get away with it. The fact that he even had the time to write a book during the last six months of a pandemic is incredible. Imagine if the governor of Louisiana decided to write a book soon after Hurricane Katrina hit?
More seniors died in New York nursing homes than did in Katrina and 9/11 combined. The governor continues to insist all criticism is political. Yet not one of the grieving New Yorkers I’ve met at rallies has brought up whom they or their lost loved ones voted for. We want answers — accountability to ensure this never happens again.
My publishing friends tell me his book is selling OK, better than his last memoir, which moved a little more than 3,000 copies. But instead of writing books about himself and promoting them on every network, Cuomo should be helping his state get through the next six months.
The pandemic isn’t over, businesses are closing, people are losing their jobs and New Yorkers are leaving Gotham in droves. Instead of waxing poetic on his leadership skills, Cuomo could’ve better spent his time, you know, actually leading.
And that includes writing letters of condolence and apology to families whose loved ones died because of his disastrous decisions.
Janice Dean is senior meteorologist at the Fox News Channel.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--Jets look completely inept in shutout loss to Dolphins

The Jets can only hope Trevor Lawrence does not own a TV … or have internet access.
Maybe then the Clemson star quarterback won’t know what awaits him if he declares for the NFL draft this spring. Maybe then the presumptive No. 1 pick won’t be aware of how putrid the Jets are, how hopeless this franchise looks and how far it has to go before contending again.
Because if he watched Sunday’s 24-0 loss to the Dolphins, another year in the ACC might look awfully appealing. Who would want to join this team?
The Jets were noncompetitive … again. This time it was against a team they were supposed to be able to compete with. Instead, the Dolphins looked like Super Bowl contenders. The Jets are now 0-6 and you have to be delusional to look at their schedule and think they can win a game. It is the second time in franchise history they are 0-6. The other time was 1996, when the team finished 1-15.
“It sucks,” beleaguered head coach Adam Gase said. “Everybody is just trying to do everything they can to win a game and just haven’t been able to do it.”
With wins by the Falcons and the Giants earlier Sunday, the Jets were left as the only winless team in the NFL. The only question now is when, not if, Gase will be fired?
“I’m not even thinking about it,” Gase said of his job security. “I have to focus on making sure our guys are ready to go when we get back in the building on Monday and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and then get ready for this next game.”
The Jets looked lifeless and clueless Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium against a Dolphins team that is not all that good and did not play all that well.
Joe Flacco made his second start at quarterback and could do nothing. He finished 21 of 44 for 186 yards and one interception.
The Jets were dismal in nearly every way. The offense failed to convert its first 12 third-down tries, had six three-and-outs and 10 punts. The defense made the Dolphins look like the Chiefs with three first-half touchdowns before settling down. Special teams joined the party with terrible penalties and by allowing long returns.
The offense did not convert a third down until the 10:47 mark of the fourth quarter.
“You can’t f–king wait until the fourth quarter to f–king want to start playing ball, man,” a frustrated Frank Gore said. “You can’t start slow in this league. When you’ve got the chance to make a play, we’ve got to make the play. That goes for me, that goes for everyone on the offense.”
The loss put the exclamation point on a tumultuous week for the Jets. It began with Le’Veon Bell complaining about his role, then Gase talked about giving up play-calling duties before deciding to keep them. The Jets released Bell on Tuesday night. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams blamed Gase and the offense for the defense’s struggles.
Gase said he and Williams talked about what the defensive coordinator said on Friday. That conversation did not occur on the field before the game, as CBS indicated.
“I wasn’t happy about it,” Gase said. “We talked about it. Right now, I feel like our players are doing such a good job trying to get things righted. Everything we say, it matters. He understood. We’ve got to set the right example.”
With all that swirling, it was not surprising to see the Jets looking like a mess.
In the first half, the Jets punted six times with five three-and-outs. Flacco brought nothing in his second start in place of Sam Darnold, who has a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. He actually took a 28-yard sack in the fourth quarter when the Jets had a prayer of scoring.
“We’ve got a lot of things to fix on offense,” Gase said. “We just have to make the plays when they’re there to be made and we’ve got to protect the quarterback better.”
While the Jets offense was sputtering, the defense was struggling to stop Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who carved up Williams’ unit in the first half before the defense settled in and played better in the second half. Fitzpatrick threw two interceptions, one an acrobatic catch by Marcus Maye, who pinned the ball against his backside.
Fitzpatrick threw three touchdowns to give the Dolphins a 21-0 lead at halftime. It would have been 28-0 if not for a Brian Poole interception just before halftime.
The Jets had six penalties in the first half, two on special teams and three personal fouls, which have plagued them.
The Jets say they are not giving up and still believe they can turn this around.
“It’s a new day, a new week,” Maye said. “I don’t think anybody has the mindset of giving up. I know I definitely don’t. We’ve just got to try to improve from this week. I know it sounds like a broken record almost, but each week in the NFL is a new week, it’s a clean slate. We’ve just got to find a way to get it done.”
It was the first time the Jets were shut out since last year’s 33-0 loss to the Patriots on “Monday Night Football” in the “ghosts” game. It was their second straight loss by at least 20 points and third this season.
The only hope for Jets fans now is the idea of getting the No. 1 pick and being able to draft Lawrence, the Clemson quarterback who looks like a generational talent.
If there are any Jets fans in South Carolina, you might want to steal Lawrence’s TV.


newyorkpost--2020-10-18--‘Unverified’ is a (false) excuse for ignoring The Post’s Hunter Biden scoops

Hunter Biden ’ s emails and texts show not just a politician ’ s ...

Much of the push to ignore The Post’s drop of Hunter Biden’s e-mails centers on the charge that it’s all “unverified.” The claim is more excuse than truth.
First, a host of media outlets have now interviewed the computer-repair guy who provided the data at the heart of these exposés — and he’s said exactly what we’ve reported from the start about how the laptop came into his possession.
Second, neither Hunter nor Joe Biden has even questioned the fact that the drive is real — they merely dismiss the entire line of questioning, while charging that The Post has an agenda in presenting it to the world.
Third, we’ve published emails and pictures — most of which have nothing to do with Ukraine or China — that contain an extraordinary level of detail. Is that all fabricated? The Biden campaign’s response, notably, is not that an e-mail from a Burisma official thanking Hunter for an introduction to his father isn’t real, it’s that said meeting doesn’t show up on Joe’s “official” schedules. Pressed by Politico, the campaign acknowledged that they couldn’t say for certain if Joe Biden had met him casually.
It’s particularly rich that The New York Times has fixated on the “unverified” excuse, since it’s spent much of the Trump era offering supposed dirt from anonymous sources — which, by definition, makes the info unverifiable.
A simple but striking case of that is The Atlantic’s “reporting” that President Trump spoke contemptuously and insultingly of US troops during his trip to France for war-memorial ceremonies. Its claims were based purely on anonymous sources — but contradicted by a number of on-the-record sources, including ex-National Security Adviser John Bolton, who has absolutely no reason to lie to protect the man who fired him.
Yes, the Times and other outlets “confirmed” the story — but only with anonymous sources of their own. What are the chances that these are the same people who talked to the Times anonymously?
More significantly, this is true of the Times and Washington Post reporting that built vast hysteria over “Russiagate” in the administration’s first days.
Some of the stories proved completely false, as no less than former FBI chief Jim Comey (who also has zero motive to protect Trump) said at the time. Others proved to be partial truths, retailed to suggest the opposite of the whole truth — such as the host of reports that the FBI was “investigating” one or another alleged horror, without ever mentioning that everything it had found so far indicated that the charge was pure fiction.
And all of it rooted in “opposition research” commissioned by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, or third-hand gossip retained by Clinton partisans in the Obama administration.
Now, suddenly, with a trove of information — which, again, the Bidens aren’t even claiming is false — these same outlets want to ask endless questions about the chain of evidence. A chain of evidence that The Post has been up-front and open about.
Desperate for Biden to win, they want to sink the story with innuendo rather than actually report on it. Don’t ask too many questions, and you can dismiss it all as “unverified.”