newyorkpost--2020-11-01--Park Avenue enjoying a real estate boost

There ’ s a livelier new vibe at 299 Park Ave. , Fisher Brothers ’ 44-story office tower between East 48th and 49th streets .
The new look reflects renewed energy up and down the iconic commercial corridor from East 40th to East 59th street following several years of decline .
As part of a just-completed $ 20 million capital-upgrades program , 299 Park boasts a monumental digital art display in the lobby .
The installation — done in partnership with Rockwell Group — hosted a week of safely spaced theatrical and dance acts for the public last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ art installation called “ Living Canvas , ” which Fisher says “ brings the space to life with drama and dynamism.
” Changes to the previously staid tower also include a new lobby exterior of black stone and a 26-foot-tall , 88-foot-long structural glazed curtain wall .
Landlord partner Ken Fisher called the new look “ a significant milestone ” using “ one of the first dynamic art displays that uses advanced technology to create an immersive experience ” and “ to revitalize and electrify Midtown in a way that hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1965 vintage tower ’ s recent upgrades have drawn “ a substantial increase for in-person tours ” by prospective tenants .
They ’ re also drawn by pandemic-protective features such as UV light technology in HVAC systems , indoor air-quality monitoring , thermal screening , branded distance markers and the touchless experience .
The tower ’ s 1.2 million square feet of office space are more than 90 percent leased , much of it to Capital One ’ s New York headquarters .
Asking rents are “ holding steady with Midtown Park Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
CBRE cites average asking rents on the avenue of $ 110.27 .
Meanwhile , Park Avenue as a whole is holding up well after a rough patch that had some analysts questioning whether the corridor ’ s best days were over .
Park Avenue remains a crucial bellwether of the city ’ s fortunes thanks to its proximity to Grand Central Terminal , which in normal times disgorges tens of thousands of well-paid executives from Westchester and Connecticut .
At a time when office occupancy remains under 15 percent , Park Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it has fewer street-level shops and eating places to generate sidewalk traffic .
But “ the metrics are strong relative to the rest of the market , ” said CBRE research manager Michael Slattery .
The avenue ’ s 900-ton gorilla is JPMorgan Chase ’ s ongoing project to replace its obsolescent 270 Park Ave. with a new skyscraper .
The boulevard is also home to one of central Midtown ’ s few other large new office towers — L & L Holding Co. ’ s nearly completed 425 Park Ave. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking half of the tower at rents ranging as high as $ 350 per square foot on the top floor .
CBRE says the 37-building Park Avenue submarket comprising 28.6 million square feet has 12 percent availability , a level the brokerage calls “ equilibrium.
” Sublease availability of 795,200 square feet represents about 23 percent of all availability — on par with the rest of Midtown .
CBRE research director Nicole LaRusso said the avenue ’ s commercial fortunes rebounded following a few years of tenant migration to Hudson Yards and Sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the momentum seemed to be sending tenants out of the corridor .
It wasn ’ t a vote against Park Avenue , but about finding the newest and best space ” elsewhere , LaRusso said .
One major loss was Wells Fargo , which left the Seagram Building at 375 Park Ave. for Hudson Yards .
But Park Avenue landlords , aware of the threat , began spending a fortune a few years ago to contemporize their properties , including at Vornado and SL Green ’ s 280 Park ( which had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and at the Stahl Organization ’ s 277 Park Ave. , where a $ 100 million capital improvements program is underway .
CBRE ’ s Slattery said JPMorgan ’ s decision to stay on Park in a brand-new skyscraper also “ obviously reinvigorated the market pre-COVID .
There are strong assets , inherent strength and new energy.
” One indication of that was Raymond James ’ spirits-lifting lease at Mutual of America ’ s 320 Park Ave. for 160,000 square feet in July , as first reported in The Post .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like its old self is a reopened Waldorf-Astoria Hotel , where a complete redesign was behind schedule even before the pandemic struck .
Owner Dajia US recently auctioned off 80,000 old Waldorf items prior to interior demolition .
Completion of the hotel in shrunken form and 375 condo units is still at least two years off .

There’s a livelier new vibe at 299 Park Ave., Fisher Brothers’ 44-story office tower between East 48th and 49th streets. The new look reflects renewed energy up and down the iconic commercial corridor from East 40th to East 59th street following several years of decline.
As part of a just-completed $20 million capital-upgrades program, 299 Park boasts a monumental digital art display in the lobby. The installation — done in partnership with Rockwell Group — hosted a week of safely spaced theatrical and dance acts for the public last week.
The digital display is a 60-foot-long LED art installation called “Living Canvas,” which Fisher says “brings the space to life with drama and dynamism.” Changes to the previously staid tower also include a new lobby exterior of black stone and a 26-foot-tall, 88-foot-long structural glazed curtain wall.
Landlord partner Ken Fisher called the new look “a significant milestone” using “one of the first dynamic art displays that uses advanced technology to create an immersive experience” and “to revitalize and electrify Midtown in a way that hasn’t been done before.”
He said the 1965 vintage tower’s recent upgrades have drawn “a substantial increase for in-person tours” by prospective tenants.
They’re also drawn by pandemic-protective features such as UV light technology in HVAC systems, indoor air-quality monitoring, thermal screening, branded distance markers and the touchless experience.
The tower’s 1.2 million square feet of office space are more than 90 percent leased, much of it to Capital One’s New York headquarters. Asking rents are “holding steady with Midtown Park Avenue trends,” a Fisher spokeswoman said. CBRE cites average asking rents on the avenue of $110.27.
Meanwhile, Park Avenue as a whole is holding up well after a rough patch that had some analysts questioning whether the corridor’s best days were over.
Park Avenue remains a crucial bellwether of the city’s fortunes thanks to its proximity to Grand Central Terminal, which in normal times disgorges tens of thousands of well-paid executives from Westchester and Connecticut.
At a time when office occupancy remains under 15 percent, Park Avenue can seem even quieter than other avenues because it has fewer street-level shops and eating places to generate sidewalk traffic.
But “the metrics are strong relative to the rest of the market,” said CBRE research manager Michael Slattery.
The avenue’s 900-ton gorilla is JPMorgan Chase’s ongoing project to replace its obsolescent 270 Park Ave. with a new skyscraper. The boulevard is also home to one of central Midtown’s few other large new office towers — L&L Holding Co.’s nearly completed 425 Park Ave., where Ken Griffin’s Citadel is taking half of the tower at rents ranging as high as $350 per square foot on the top floor.
CBRE says the 37-building Park Avenue submarket comprising 28.6 million square feet has 12 percent availability, a level the brokerage calls “equilibrium.” Sublease availability of 795,200 square feet represents about 23 percent of all availability — on par with the rest of Midtown.
CBRE research director Nicole LaRusso said the avenue’s commercial fortunes rebounded following a few years of tenant migration to Hudson Yards and Sixth Avenue.
“For a time, the momentum seemed to be sending tenants out of the corridor. It wasn’t a vote against Park Avenue, but about finding the newest and best space” elsewhere, LaRusso said.
One major loss was Wells Fargo, which left the Seagram Building at 375 Park Ave. for Hudson Yards.
But Park Avenue landlords, aware of the threat, began spending a fortune a few years ago to contemporize their properties, including at Vornado and SL Green’s 280 Park (which had a whole new facade installed on lower floors) and at the Stahl Organization’s 277 Park Ave., where a $100 million capital improvements program is underway.
CBRE’s Slattery said JPMorgan’s decision to stay on Park in a brand-new skyscraper also “obviously reinvigorated the market pre-COVID. There are strong assets, inherent strength and new energy.”
One indication of that was Raymond James’ spirits-lifting lease at Mutual of America’s 320 Park Ave. for 160,000 square feet in July, as first reported in The Post.
But what the avenue really needs to feel like its old self is a reopened Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where a complete redesign was behind schedule even before the pandemic struck.
Owner Dajia US recently auctioned off 80,000 old Waldorf items prior to interior demolition. Completion of the hotel in shrunken form and 375 condo units is still at least two years off.


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--RJ Hampton has better shot at Nets than Knicks in NBA Draft

Less than a month before the NBA draft , there still ...

Combo guard RJ Hampton has worked out a number of times with Knicks forward Julius Randle in Dallas recently. Randle is said to be high on Hampton’s game.
The Knicks interviewed Hampton in August, after new coach Tom Thibodeau was hired. However, if Hampton winds up in New York, it would likely might be with the Nets.
According to a source, the Knicks believe picking Hampton at No. 8 is too much of a reach, but have seriously mulled trading back. But Brooklyn is extremely interested in Hampton if he falls to No. 19.
Hampton and the Nets have been linked before because of Nets GM Sean Marks’ heritage. Instead of going to college, Hampton played with the New Zealand Breakers. Marks, the former Spurs forward, hails from Auckland — the largest city in New Zealand.
Scouts view the 6-5 Hampton in the 15-to-25 range. In The Post’s latest mock draft from Brian Lewis, he has Hampton being picked at No. 18 by his hometown Mavericks, with the Nets taking SG Desmond Bane of TCU at No. 19.
Sources have indicated Hampton has impressed teams during workouts with his work ethic and form on his jump shot.
As Hampton graduated high school in 2019, he was regarded as a future high lottery pick, but his stock fell by going the New Zealand route.
Some scouts argue he was the fourth option on the Breakers and couldn’t showcase all his abilities. He averaged 8.8 points on 41-percent shooting in 20 minutes a night.
In September, Hampton said on a Zoom interview during the virtual draft combine, “I went overseas, I learned a lot, I didn’t have superior numbers, and I was kind of forgotten about. The message that I was trying to get across is, ‘I’m still that same player. I’m still that player that can get you 20-25 points, 6-7 assists, be that lead guard and a franchise changer.’ ”
While the Brooklyn training facility is now available for group workouts under the new NBA guidelines, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert have been doing their own group session at the Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., formerly named Mamba Sports Academy before the estate asked for a name change. Spencer Dinwiddie has also been working out in the L.A. area. Considering the long layoffs by KD (Achilles tear) and Irving (shoulder surgery), it’s believed both would like to get the NBA started sooner than later. The NBA and union are debating between a Dec. 22 starting date and a Martin Luther King Jr. Day opener on Jan. 18. If the Nets open Dec. 22, that would have given Durant more than 18 months between games. Irving hasn’t played since early February. He’d have been off more than 10 months by that date.
According to sources, Jeff Van Gundy sent mixed vibes on his level of interest in the Rockets’ job after his interview, leading Houston in another direction in hiring Stephen Silas. Van Gundy lives in Houston and coached the Rockets before, but he may have been concerned on the fit of Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Or, he’s grown extremely comfortable as lead analyst for ABC/ESPN. The Post reported some players pulled for Rockets assistant John Lucas but ultimately would have approved VG. Lucas, meanwhile, could remain on Silas’ staff.


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--Yes, you should plan on traveling to family for Thanksgiving

Go and see your family on Thanksgiving .
Yes , even if you have to travel out of state to do it .
In case you ’ re wondering , yes , I ’ ve heard of the pandemic , and yet I repeat : Go see your family on Thanksgiving .
Last Tuesday , Mayor de Blasio urged New Yorkers not to travel for the holidays to see their family members .
Two weeks earlier , Hizzoner had skipped Columbus Day celebrations in the city , because , according to his spokesperson , “ the mayor is out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting angry about his hypocrisy .
Just do as de Blasio did — not as he said .
Look , we ’ ve made some major mistakes in our handling of the COVID-19 crisis , and the main one has been discarding everything that makes our lives worth living out of fear of the virus .
The pandemic has the potential to destroy our way of life if we keep dismissing everything important to us .
Family is important .
We shouldn ’ t forget that .
I say this precisely because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t signing up for a short-term spell inside baking banana bread like we believed we were doing in March ( remember those days ? )
.
The virus will be with us long-term , the scientists say so , and we must adjust our lives accordingly .
And adjusting must mean not discarding the things that truly matter to a rational and social animal like the human being — family , community , worship .
Look , I ’ m not saying go to an underground nightclub , rub up against complete strangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t live in a bubble .
If you ’ re flying for Thanksgiving , find out where you can get a fast test on arrival and then quarantine for 24 hours until you get your results .
COVID-19 isn ’ t going to jump out from behind a corner and surprise you .
We know what to do .
But you don ’ t get to pause your life and all that matters in it , and plan to hit an “ on ” switch in a year or three .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID , and you will live with the regret of not having seen them when you could have .
It ’ s precisely because COVID-19 has shown us that life is so fragile that we should make a priority to actually live it .
Last week , Kim Kardashian was berated as insensitive for posting on social media that she had taken her friends and family to a private island to celebrate her 40th birthday .
“ After two weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine , I surprised my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time.
” People were mad .
“ Read the room , Kim , ” was a popular refrain .
It isn ’ t atypical for a celebrity , particularly one of the Kardashians , to travel via private airplane to a private island to celebrate her birthday .
In any other year , we ’ d all be scrolling through Kim ’ s pictures and checking out her décolletage .
It was the fact that Kim got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed to rub people the wrong way .
We all miss normal and long for its return .
Even all the side pleasures of COVID — the baking and the togetherness , the empty subways and the beautiful outdoor dining set-ups — only manage to somewhat mask that we yearn so badly for our lives , our real lives , the ones hopefully waiting for us on the other side of this .
Kim got to live her regular life for a little while , and people were jealous .
It might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can live your regular life , too .
You can go see your family on Thanksgiving and argue about the election , just like in olden days .
Your great-aunt can squeeze your cheeks .
Your mom can badger you about getting married .
You can drink too much with your cousins .
You can overeat and sink into the couch you ’ ve known since you were a teenager .
You ’ ve been through an insane year , you ’ re tired and worn out .
You need to collapse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know and love you best .
For God ’ s sake , go see your family on Thanksgiving .

Go and see your family on Thanksgiving. Yes, even if you have to travel out of state to do it. In case you’re wondering, yes, I’ve heard of the pandemic, and yet I repeat: Go see your family on Thanksgiving.
Last Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers not to travel for the holidays to see their family members. Two weeks earlier, Hizzoner had skipped Columbus Day celebrations in the city, because, according to his spokesperson, “the mayor is out of state visiting family today.”
Never mind getting angry about his hypocrisy. Just do as de Blasio did — not as he said.
Look, we’ve made some major mistakes in our handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and the main one has been discarding everything that makes our lives worth living out of fear of the virus. The pandemic has the potential to destroy our way of life if we keep dismissing everything important to us. Family is important. We shouldn’t forget that.
I say this precisely because I listen to scientists. We aren’t signing up for a short-term spell inside baking banana bread like we believed we were doing in March (remember those days?). The virus will be with us long-term, the scientists say so, and we must adjust our lives accordingly. And adjusting must mean not discarding the things that truly matter to a rational and social animal like the human being — family, community, worship.
Look, I’m not saying go to an underground nightclub, rub up against complete strangers and then go see Grandma. But don’t live in a bubble. If you’re flying for Thanksgiving, find out where you can get a fast test on arrival and then quarantine for 24 hours until you get your results. COVID-19 isn’t going to jump out from behind a corner and surprise you. We know what to do.
Be safe, not insane.
But you don’t get to pause your life and all that matters in it, and plan to hit an “on” switch in a year or three. People will die, not necessarily of COVID, and you will live with the regret of not having seen them when you could have.
It’s precisely because COVID-19 has shown us that life is so fragile that we should make a priority to actually live it.
Last week, Kim Kardashian was berated as insensitive for posting on social media that she had taken her friends and family to a private island to celebrate her 40th birthday. “After two weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time.”
People were mad. “Read the room, Kim” was a popular refrain. It isn’t atypical for a celebrity, particularly one of the Kardashians, to travel via private airplane to a private island to celebrate her birthday.
In any other year, we’d all be scrolling through Kim’s pictures and checking out her décolletage. It was the fact that Kim got a little “normal” that really seemed to rub people the wrong way.
We all miss normal and long for its return. Even all the side pleasures of COVID — the baking and the togetherness, the empty subways and the beautiful outdoor dining set-ups — only manage to somewhat mask that we yearn so badly for our lives, our real lives, the ones hopefully waiting for us on the other side of this.
Kim got to live her regular life for a little while, and people were jealous. It might not involve private jets and islands, but you can live your regular life, too. You can go see your family on Thanksgiving and argue about the election, just like in olden days. Your great-aunt can squeeze your cheeks. Your mom can badger you about getting married. You can drink too much with your cousins.
You can overeat and sink into the couch you’ve known since you were a teenager. You’ve been through an insane year, you’re tired and worn out. You need to collapse into the comfortable embrace of those who know and love you best. For God’s sake, go see your family on Thanksgiving.
Twitter: @Karol


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--Bill de Blasio’s Midtown flipoff doesn’t mean it’s not vital to NYC’s economy

It may contain the “ Crossroads of the World , ” but Mayor ...

We’ve gotten used to strange, but Midtown this weekend was full of strange sights. Saks was putting up Christmas decorations and boarding up windows for potential election rioting at the same time. Midtown isn’t dead. But it is sleepwalking — and if the city doesn’t wake it up, Gotham and surrounding suburbs will lose millions of jobs.
President Trump is Trump, so it was no shock when he pronounced, in the debate two weeks ago, that Manhattan is a ghost town. More damaging was Mayor Bill de Blasio’s response: Who cares? “Midtown is important, but it is not the center of our universe,” the mayor told radio host Brian Lehrer. “The four boroughs that make up the vast majority of our population . . . there’s a lot of vibrancy.”
Actually, in terms of jobs, Manhattan is the center of the universe. In 2018, it was home to 59 percent of the city’s private-economy jobs, according to the state comptroller. That’s nearly 2.4 million positions, more than a quarter of the nearly 9.2 million jobs from Connecticut to Long Island to New Jersey.
A different report, by the city Planning Department, says that Midtown and lower Manhattan average 150,000 jobs per square mile, disproportionately higher-paying ones.
De Blasio’s position is like that of a patient who feels good despite his broken back, because he’s delirious from painkillers. Yes, poorer neighborhoods are surviving, sort of, because their residents have replaced Manhattan hotel, office-support, retail and restaurant jobs with jobless benefits. What happens when benefits run out, and we don’t recreate 600,000 missing jobs?
And how is the city surviving financially, sort of, even though Midtown offices are empty? (Only 10 percent of people are back to office work, according to the Partnership for New York City.) Simple: The city is collecting income taxes as if everyone were at their desk. That won’t last forever.
It may be that we don’t have a choice. The pandemic has revealed that people can work from home, and they will, well into next summer, according to the partnership. Temporary changes harden into permanent ones.
If so, it’s a catastrophe for the Big Apple. There is no way to put a positive spin on losing concentrated, well-paying jobs by saying, Look, people are eating outside in Astoria.
So why not try to keep those jobs, before blithely giving up? Some people are trying. Local “tourists” are returning in bigger numbers. People need something to do, and a well-planned dense environment is fun.
The private firm that runs Bryant Park (under contract with the city) has opened its annual Winter Village of outdoor shopping and food kiosks, complete with (free) skating rink. Saturday afternoon, the first weekend day, the place was busy with families and couples, an unusual cheery sight.
It’s a financial risk, especially since, to socially distance, the village has fewer shops, and all food is outdoors. But, says Dan Biederman, president of Bryant Park Corp., “we didn’t turn around Bryant Park over four decades” from the high-crime ’80s “by playing it safe. We felt doing Winter Village this year was good for the park, good for Midtown Manhattan and good for New York City.”
A few blocks north, Rockefeller Center is building its skating rink, and Fifth Avenue shops are planning their windows. To the west, Times Square, too, is showcasing different restaurants, like Tony’s Di Napoli, outdoors in the plaza; where else can you dine as Elmo saunters by?
The mayor’s minimal job is to keep everyone safe . . . and vow zero tolerance for election looters who undo modest progress.
He could do what Mayor John Lindsay once did in the late ’60s: Close down Fifth Avenue on holiday weekends, so that people can stroll with their families on these “winter streets,” partaking of pop-up outdoor activities and shopping.
If the mayor won’t cheerlead, his would-be successors can do that already. Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn President Eric Adams and the rest: As the holidays get underway, why not take commuter rail to Long Island and Westchester and hold outdoor press conferences there to politely ask people to come in to Manhattan to work for the day, have their spouses and kids meet them, see the Christmas sights amid far smaller crowds?
It can’t hurt to try. The only thing that can hurt is the mayor’s “who needs ’em anyway” attitude.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor of City Journal. Twitter: @NicoleGelinas


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--Yankees’ Carlos Mendoza competing with Alex Cora for Red Sox manager

This will be a Hot Stove League unlike any other ... .

Carlos Mendoza talked to the Tigers about the manager’s job that went to A.J. Hinch.
Now, the Yankees’ bench coach is still in the race to manage the Red Sox after interviewing with the club for a second time. The first interview was virtual; the second in person.
Hinch was the favorite the moment Ron Gardenhire announced his retirement late in the season and the former Astros’ manager was named the Tigers’ manager shortly after his one-year suspension ended following Game 6 of the World Series.
A similar situation surrounds Alex Cora, who was Hinch’s bench coach in Houston and led the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018, his first year managing in Boston. Like Hinch, Cora was suspended by MLB for the 2020 season due to the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scheme. There are many voices in the Red Sox organization who endorse Cora’s return, but GM Chaim Bloom and Cora need to meet to find out if it can work between them.
The Red Sox fired Ron Roenicke, who replaced Cora, in September. Cora and the team had parted ways in mid-January.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the likely final five candidates are Cora, Mendoza, Marlins bench coach James Rowson, Phillies front office member Sam Fuld and Pirates bench coach Don Kelly.
Should Mendoza land the Red Sox job, it would create a void on Aaron Boone’s coaching staff. Phil Nevin, who has minor league managerial experience and like Mendoza and Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames interviewed for the Tigers managing job, could be shifted from third base to bench coach. That would leave the Yankees looking for a third base coach.
Mendoza, who turns 41 this month, was elevated from quality control and infield coach to Boone’s bench coach following the 2019 season, when other teams were interested in hiring him.
Mendoza has two years of minor league managing experience in the low levels of the Yankees’ system. He also has managed two seasons in the Arizona Fall League.
This past season was Mendoza’s 12th straight with the Yankees’ organization.
Mendoza spent 13 years in the minors playing for the Giants, Yankees and independent Pensacola. His last season playing was 2009 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton. Later that year, he was named a coach at Staten Island (Short Season-A).


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--Why evangelicals are huge for Trump — despite the character issue

President Trump , who has long identified as a Presbyterian , now ...

Conservative evangelicals catapulted then-candidate Donald Trump to an against-all-odds victory in 2016. And this year they’re again throwing their political lot with a bombastic businessman from Queens with a sordid past and a penchant for social-media provocation. To find out why, I spoke to a number of evangelical pastors and thought leaders.
The reasons aren’t that complicated: As president, Trump has proved solidly pro-life and absolutely sound on Israel, while Joe Biden’s coziness with the hard left downright terrifies this crucial voting bloc.
Jack Hibbs, the pastor at California’s Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, told me that pro-life issues continue to be the main catalyst, impelling evangelicals to rally around Trump 2020. “Not only has Donald Trump been the most pro-life president in recent American history,” he said, “but his pro-family, pro-adoption policies have made it loud and clear that Donald Trump is concerned for the American family.”
Samuel Rodriguez, an author and preacher who leads the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, agreed that Trump has “done more for the pro-life community than any other president in history.”
Judges count for a lot. As author Eric Metaxas explained, the president has proved to be a man of his word on pro-life issues, standing by his pledge to nominate conservative judges: “Trump in the last election claimed he would appoint ‘pro-life’ judges to the Supreme Court — which no Republican had ever dared to say. Many howled in derision at this promise, saying he lacked character and would never follow through on any such ridiculous promises. But he did, even beyond the wildest expectations of pro-life voters.”
But there’s more to it than that. Hibbs, Rodriguez and Metaxas pointed to other important issues Trump has championed that matter to faithful Christians, including criminal-justice reform, support for the military, religious liberty — and Israel.
Trump “has done more to advance religious liberty and protect religious liberty in America and abroad than arguably any other president in American history,” Rodriguez said. Plus, “this administration’s commitment to Israel with every single act and gesture speaks” volumes.
Israel’s security has been a muted issue in the mainstream media, but evangelicals have been paying attention: They remember the apocalyptic predictions that attended the president’s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — a move required by US law and vainly pledged by successive predecessors of both parties.
Still, it’s also true that evangelical support for Trump continues to rankle many, including some evangelicals themselves. The president’s harsh tone and incivility don’t exactly bespeak someone who has internalized the life and message of Christ. But leaders like Hibbs and Rodriguez believe these arguments are a distraction that ignore the indisputable power of policy to shape Americans’ lives.
Says Rodriguez: “A tweet cannot stop my destiny, but a law signed by the president or an executive order carries the potential to infringe upon my ability to preach the gospel [and] raise my family with Christian values. . . . Tone and tweets cannot take away my rights, but executive orders can.”
And it isn’t as if Biden exactly lives up to Catholic moral teaching. “Despite cynically posing as a Catholic,” says Metaxas, “Biden will do all he can to expand abortion into the ninth month of pregnancy, including appointing justices to keep such infanticide ‘legal.’ ”
Despite critics’ claims, evangelical support isn’t about compromising values for power. For most, it’s about carving through the electoral fog to find the candidate most likely to advance policies that best align with their beliefs — compromises made by numerous other voting blocs in this country without inviting moral opprobrium or charges of hypocrisy.
Whether evangelical support is enough to propel Trump to re-election is a different question, of course. The polls look more unfavorable to the president than they did four years ago, including in some evangelical-heavy states. But the point is this: Evangelical support for Trump isn’t irrational.
As Metaxas put it to me: “Most Americans headed into dangerously rough weather on a small plane, with a decorated pilot in the cockpit who is unshaven, foul-mouthed and has a dice-and-dagger tattoo on his forearm, would elect not to replace him with a below average pilot who is a soft-spoken church elder. The stakes are far too high.”
Billy Hallowell has been reporting on the evangelical community for more than two decades. He is the author of “Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism and Ghosts.”
Twitter: @BillyHallowell


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--New York is about to kill a whole lot of landlords

Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and President Trump made sure to protect tenants by banning evictions during the pandemic , but public officials have done almost nothing for property owners .
That ’ s inviting disaster .
Many of these landlords , particularly mom-and-pop small-building owners , have been struggling for months to make ends meet as the COVID crisis drags on .
Thousands of tenants haven ’ t paid full rent .
Others , looking to escape the virus , violent crime and plunging quality of life , have fled , pushing up the vacancy rate and forcing owners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — including property taxes and water and sewage fees — have mounted , without letup .
Cleaning and other costs have actually soared , thanks to the pandemic .
The latest nightmare : an upcoming tax-lien sale , where the city sells owners ’ unpaid tax bills to a third party , which then moves to collect on them , along with 18 percent interest charges .
Waves of foreclosures may soon follow .
Cuomo had placed a moratorium on lien sales , but it expires Tuesday .
That could spell doomsday for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just small landlords , but also owners of private homes as well .
Anyone who recalls the housing-market horrors of the 1980s knows where this is headed : landlords unable to do basic maintenance , some ditching properties altogether .
Decaying and abandoned buildings spreading urban blight .
The city taking possession of vacant buildings — which takes them off the tax rolls , depriving it of vital revenue .
The prospect has pushed some owners and real-estate advocates to call for a halt to landlord-debt sales altogether .
“ If the City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” warns Rent Stabilization Association President Joe Strasburg , the “ housing crisis of the 1980s will pale in comparison.
” No one “ will be spared.
” And New York ’ s “ property-tax base , the city ’ s top revenue producer , will come crumbling down.
” Yes , the city needs a way to collect taxes it ’ s owed .
But those levies can eat up as much as 50 percent of a landlord ’ s income .
That ’ s not sustainable even in good times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t get it soon , they won ’ t be the only ones to suffer .

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Trump made sure to protect tenants by banning evictions during the pandemic, but public officials have done almost nothing for property owners. That’s inviting disaster.
Many of these landlords, particularly mom-and-pop small-building owners, have been struggling for months to make ends meet as the COVID crisis drags on.
Thousands of tenants haven’t paid full rent. Others, looking to escape the virus, violent crime and plunging quality of life, have fled, pushing up the vacancy rate and forcing owners to grant concessions.
Meanwhile, landlord bills — including property taxes and water and sewage fees — have mounted, without letup. Cleaning and other costs have actually soared, thanks to the pandemic.
The latest nightmare: an upcoming tax-lien sale, where the city sells owners’ unpaid tax bills to a third party, which then moves to collect on them, along with 18 percent interest charges. Waves of foreclosures may soon follow.
Cuomo had placed a moratorium on lien sales, but it expires Tuesday. That could spell doomsday for owners on the hook. And not just small landlords, but also owners of private homes as well.
Anyone who recalls the housing-market horrors of the 1980s knows where this is headed: landlords unable to do basic maintenance, some ditching properties altogether. Decaying and abandoned buildings spreading urban blight. The city taking possession of vacant buildings — which takes them off the tax rolls, depriving it of vital revenue.
The prospect has pushed some owners and real estate advocates to call for a halt to landlord-debt sales altogether.
“If the City Council doesn’t end tax liens,” warns Rent Stabilization Association president Joe Strasburg, the “housing crisis of the 1980s will pale in comparison.” No one “will be spared.” And New York’s “property-tax base, the city’s top revenue producer, will come crumbling down.”
Yes, the city needs a way to collect taxes it’s owed. But those levies can eat up as much as 50 percent of a landlord’s income. That’s not sustainable even in good times.
Landlords need relief. If they don’t get it soon, they won’t be the only ones to suffer.


newyorkpost--2020-11-01--Dellin Betances exercises option for chance at Mets redemption

Dellin Betances’ comeback season from injury rated as a disappointment, but he will receive another opportunity with the Mets in 2021.
The right-handed reliever on Sunday exercised his player option for next season, worth $6 million. Another Mets reliever, Brad Brach, exercised a player option worth $2.075 million.
Betances, 32, appeared in 15 games last season for the Mets, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 2.057 WHIP. He spent nearly a month on the injured list with a lat strain before returning for the final weekend of the regular season in Washington.
In a market that will be flooded by relievers this offseason, Betances’ decision to exercise his player option seemed obvious even though he would have received a $3 million buyout if he chose to become a free agent.
As part of his deal last winter, Betances received a signing bonus worth $5.3 million that was not subject to reduction, like straight salary was due to the shortened season caused by the pandemic.
Betances missed almost all of the 2019 season with the Yankees with a lat strain and torn left Achilles. The Mets took a gamble on him last winter as a potential high-upside reliever who could join Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz to give the team three power arms in the late innings.
But Betances may have never been healthy enough to contribute at a high level. Late in the season, when Betances was attempting to return from the injured list, manager Luis Rojas said the reliever admitted he was pitching with lat discomfort almost from Opening Day.
Betances struggled with his velocity, as his fastball hovered in the low 90s. Upon returning to the team for the final weekend, he had increased to the 95-96 mph range.
The Mets will have need for additional bullpen help this winter, with left-hander Justin Wilson a free agent. Also, the team never replaced Seth Lugo, who was forced into the starting rotation because of need. It’s uncertain whether the right-hander Lugo will remain in the rotation next season or return to the bullpen.
Brach, 34, also struggled. The right-hander tested positive for COVID-19 in summer camp and returned to the team in August, finishing with a 5.84 ERA and 1.784 ERA in 14 appearances.
The Mets extended a qualifying offer to Marcus Stroman worth $18.9 million for next season. The right-hander has until Nov. 11 to decide whether to accept or become a free agent. If Stroman rejects the offer and signs with another club, the Mets will receive draft-pick compensation. Stroman opted out from the season as he neared return from a left calf tear sustained during summer camp.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Carbon monoxide gas kills two people in Brooklyn apartment

Twitter added a warning label to one of President Trump ’ s ...

Two people were killed after being poisoned by carbon monoxide in an apartment building in Brooklyn Monday evening, fire officials said.
The two victims, identified by police sources as adult men, were sickened by the gas in a basement apartment on Avenue O near West 4th Street in Bensonhurst at about 7:40 p.m., authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the apartment and declared the two victims dead at the scene, fire officials said.
Four other people were treated at the scene, but did not require hospitalization, the FDNY said.
A man who lives on the second floor of the building said Monday night that he was dizzy and had a headache this weekend.
“We were getting headaches from Saturday night to overnight to Sunday,” the tenant, 27-year-old Carlos Hernandez, said. “From the morning when we woke up there was just dizziness and headaches.”
Hernandez said he felt so unwell that he went to a hospital to get a coronavirus test, which came back negative.
“Thankfully we had the window open at that point,” he said.
The cause of the leak is under investigation, but a police source said it did not appear suspicious. The buildings department was also investigating the cause, a spokesperson said.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Twitter adds warning label to Trump tweet about Pennsylvania voting

Twitter added a warning label to one of President Trump ’ s tweets on Monday night after deeming that the message might contain “ misleading ” information about the election .
The president had bashed the recent state Supreme Court decision allowing Pennsylvania to count mail-in ballots for three days after Election Day — claiming the ruling would “ induce violence in the streets.
” The social media giant quickly added a label to the tweet , writing that some or all of its content “ is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election between Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden .
More 2.4 million Pennsylvanians have already voted by mail in the contest , according to officials in the crucial battleground state who have said it could take several days to tally the results .
In Philadelphia alone , officials have received more than 400,000 absentee and mail-in ballots — which won ’ t start being counted until polls open at 7 a.m. , Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday , urging patience .
The delay in counting votes in the Democrat-heavy City of Brotherly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a huge lead in Pennsylvania over Biden , only to see it disappear as Philadelphia tallies its vote .
Trump on Sunday said his campaign will be sending teams of lawyers into swing states to challenge mail-in ballot extensions .

Twitter and Facebook on Monday night added warnings to an election eve message from President Trump that called a Supreme Court decision on voting in Pennsylvania “very dangerous.”
The president had bashed the recent ruling, which allowed absentee ballots in the crucial battleground state to be received for three days after Election Day.
“The Supreme Court decision on voting in Pennsylvania is a VERY dangerous one,” Trump wrote in posts on both social media platforms.
“It will allow rampant and unchecked cheating and will undermine our entire systems of laws. It will also induce violence in the streets. Something must be done!”
Twitter quickly added a warning to the president’s tweet, writing that some or all of its content “is disputed and might be misleading about an election or other civic process.”
It also restricted users from retweeting or interacting with the message.
Facebook, meanwhile, added a label that read: “Both voting by mail and voting in person have a long history of trustworthiness in the US. Voter fraud is extremely rare across voting methods.”
The social media platform did not restrict engagements with the post, which was shared thousands of times by users.
The moves came on the eve of the election between Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
At a rally earlier on Monday in Pennsylvania, Trump also blasted the high court decision, calling it “a very dangerous situation.”
The justices last week refused a request from Republicans to speed up a hearing on whether the extension for mail-in ballots ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court violates the Constitution.
With the extension, ballots postmarked by the time polls close on Nov. 3 can be counted by 5 p.m. Nov. 6.
More than 2.4 million Pennsylvanians have already voted by mail in the contest, according to local officials, who have said it could take several days to tally the results.
In Philadelphia alone, officials have received more than 400,000 mail-in ballots — counting of which won’t start until polls open at 7 a.m., Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday, urging patience.
The delay in counting votes in the Democrat-heavy City of Brotherly Love could mean that Trump may open up a huge lead over Biden in Pennsylvania, only to see it disappear as Philadelphia tallies its votes.
Trump said Sunday his campaign will be sending teams of lawyers into swing states to challenge mail-in ballot extensions.
Though the Supreme Court refused to block the Pennsylvania extension, some conservative justices have indicated they could revisit the issue after the election.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Thousands attend Utah rave billed as a ‘protest’ against COVID-19 restrictions

As many as 10,000 people attended a Halloween rave that was billed as a “ protest ” against coronavirus restrictions in Utah , a report said .
The party , which was hosted in an area known as “ The Knolls ” near Utah lake , drew a crowd from 2,000 to 10,000 people , a local NBC affiliate reported .
The rave featured DJs , along with professional lighting and sound systems .
Authorities found out about the party after medics were called to respond to someone who ’ d been dropped while crowd surfing and knocked unconscious .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ police after they were told to shut down .
No one was arrested .
Event organizers in the state had advertised an event billed as a Halloween protest for weeks on social media prior to the massive rave Sunday night , according to NBC .
One of the groups denied being official organizers of the event , but posted flyers for the party at an undisclosed location on platforms like Instagram .
In one of the posts they promised organizers would “ keep the faces of everyone at the Protest on Halloween confidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
”

As many as 10,000 people attended a Halloween rave that was billed as a “protest” against coronavirus restrictions in Utah, a report said.
The party, which was hosted in an area known as “The Knolls” near Utah lake, drew a crowd from 2,000 to 10,000 people, a local NBC affiliate reported.
The rave featured DJs, along with professional lighting and sound systems. Authorities found out about the party after medics were called to respond to someone who’d been dropped while crowd surfing and knocked unconscious.
The organizers of the event cooperated with police after they were told to shut down. No one was arrested.
Event organizers in the state had advertised an event billed as a Halloween protest for weeks on social media prior to the massive rave Sunday night, according to NBC.
One of the groups denied being official organizers of the event, but posted flyers for the party at an undisclosed location on platforms like Instagram.
In one of the posts they promised organizers would “keep the faces of everyone at the Protest on Halloween confidential so you have nothing to worry about!”


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Florida man accused of setting his girlfriend on fire with cigarette

A Florida man was arrested Monday night for allegedly setting his girlfriend on fire , a report said .
Noe @ @ @ @ @ his girlfriend with an accelerant and igniting her with a cigarette early Monday morning , @ @ @ @ @ .
The victim , who is in critical condition , told responding deputies that Jimenez-Cortes @ @ @ @ @ , the report said .
The boyfriend fled the scene but was arrested Monday night @ @ @ @ @ pending .

A Florida man was arrested Monday night for allegedly setting his girlfriend on fire, a report said.
Noe Jimenez-Cortes is accused of dousing his girlfriend with an accelerant and igniting her with a cigarette early Monday morning, CBS12 reported, citing authorities.
The victim, who is in critical condition, told responding deputies that Jimenez-Cortes intentionally set her on fire, the report said.
The boyfriend fled the scene but was arrested Monday night. Charges against him are pending.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Cardi B and Offset hit multiple parties for Halloween in Atlanta

Cardi B and her briefly estranged husband , Offset , were spotted spending Halloween together at a strip club bash in Atlanta .
The couple were headed for divorce — until Cardi officially pulled the plug on the split on Monday .
On Saturday , the duo were at Megan Thee Stallion ’ s “ Hottieween ” party at Allure Gentlemen ’ s Club , sources told Page Six .
Guests also included Miami hip-hop duo City Girls , and the bash featured cocktails by Jay-Z ’ s D ’ Ussé .
Cardi and Offset also attended a party hosted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lori Harvey and La La Anthony .
By Monday , she ’ d called off her divorce from fellow rapper Offset , unsurprisingly , according to a Georgia court docket obtained by Page Six .
The Post ’ s Chelsea Hirsch reported that she filed to dismiss the case without prejudice , meaning she could refile later .
A judge has not signed off on her request yet , but the case appears to be closed .
Cardi filed for divorce in September .
But the couple was spotted at her birthday together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her a Rolls-Royce for the occasion .
She said of accepting the gift : “ People been saying that I took him back like I ’ m materialistic … What do you all want me to do ?
[ He ] give me a Rolls-Royce and not f - - k him ?
Like , no !
”

Cardi B and her briefly estranged husband, Offset, were spotted spending Halloween together at a strip club bash in Atlanta.
The couple were headed for divorce — until Cardi officially pulled the plug on the split on Monday. On Saturday, the duo were at Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hottieween” party at Allure Gentlemen’s Club, sources told Page Six. Guests also included Miami hip-hop duo City Girls, and the bash featured cocktails by Jay-Z’s D’Ussé.
Cardi and Offset also attended a party hosted by Teyana Taylor, Iman Shumpert, Lori Harvey and La La Anthony.
By Monday, she’d called off her divorce from fellow rapper Offset, unsurprisingly, according to a Georgia court docket obtained by Page Six. The Post’s Chelsea Hirsch reported that she filed to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning she could refile later. A judge has not signed off on her request yet, but the case appears to be closed.
Cardi filed for divorce in September. But the couple was spotted at her birthday together last month, and he reportedly bought her a Rolls-Royce for the occasion. She said of accepting the gift: “People been saying that I took him back like I’m materialistic … What do you all want me to do? [He] give me a Rolls-Royce and not f - - k him? Like, no!”


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--DJ LeMahieu could get Derek Jeter treatment from Yankees in free agency

“ The Machine ” may soon be the MVP .
DJ LeMahieu , who ...

When Derek Jeter was a free agent following the 2010 season the Yankees told him to shop for deals. Of course, Jeter returned on a three-year deal for $51 million and played the final season of a Hall of Fame career for $12 million in 2014.
So if the Yankees did that with Jeter a decade ago, it’s not out of the question they will ask DJ LeMahieu to do the same this offseason.
On Sunday, LeMahieu was one of six major leaguers to be given the $18.9 million qualifying offer. He has until Nov. 11 to accept or decline. The belief throughout the industry is the versatile infielder will decline the qualifying offer and become a free agent.
Though he was open to returning to the Yankees late in the recently completed season, LeMahieu owes it to himself to see what is available from other teams in what figures to be a depressed market thanks to the 2020 season being financially clobbered by COVID-19.
LeMahieu turns 33 in July, so length of contract could be a factor for teams. However, he led the majors in hitting with a .364 average this past season and won a second batting title.
Post columnist Ken Davidoff published his top 30 free-agent rankings on Monday and predicted LeMahieu returns to The Bronx on a three-year deal for $66 million. In other circles, LeMahieu has been linked to the Blue Jays.
However, the wild card is the Mets. With Steve Cohen officially taking over ownership soon the Mets are expected to make a big splash or two in free agency.
They would likely be attracted to LeMahieu’s ability to play three of the four infield spots and adding his productive right-handed bat to a lineup that was left-handed heavy a year ago. And if the designated hitter will be used in the National League next season the Mets could use Robinson Cano there and plug LeMahieu in at second. Then there is Cohen, a lifelong Met fan, tweaking the Yankees by going after LeMahieu.
An AL talent evaluator said Monday the Yankees might not let LeMahieu get away because doing so would create a huge void in the lineup. Of course, the Yankees might want to duck under the $210 million payroll-tax threshold. If so that will impact what they spend.
“The problem is that when you take that type of bat out of the lineup you have to replace it,’’ the scout said. “I can’t imagine [LeMahieu leaving] will happen.’’
LeMahieu finished fourth in the 2019 AL MVP voting and is expected to get votes this year after hitting .364 with 10 homers, 27 RBIs and a 1.011 OPS in 50 games. It was announced Monday night that LeMahieu had joined Jose Abreu and Jose Ramirez as the finalists for this year’s award.
Then there is the issue of where to find rotation help since it isn’t likely the Yankees will start the season with Jordan Montgomery (47 big-league games), Deivi Garcia (six), Clarke Schmidt (three) and Mike King (10) in the No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 spots. Domingo German is an option but not a lock. Luis Severino could return in June from Tommy John surgery.
Davidoff predicts Trevor Bauer, the premier free-agent starter, will land a six-year deal for $150 million. That likely is out of the Yankees’ price range a year after they dropped $324 million and nine years on Gerrit Cole last season.
The Yankees like what Masahiro Tanaka has done for them in the previous seven seasons (78-46; 3.74 ERA) but didn’t give the 32-year-old the qualifying offer after he went 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Majority of voters named Karen favor Biden for president

A majority of likely voters from numerous battleground states named Karen favor Joe Biden to be the next president , according to a new poll .
Sixty percent of Karens — a name used as a pejorative for nit-picky middle-aged white women — are leaning towards Biden , according to a poll released Monday by The New York Times and Siena College .
The poll , conducted since September , asked more than 17,000 likely voters from 18 battleground states their preference for president and compiled the results by their first names .
Karen was among the 10 most common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard represented the most common name with the heaviest support for President Trump — at 64 percent .
The results of the poll included 102 first names , each of which account for at least 30 respondents .
Overall , Donald ’ s gave Trump his widest margin of support over Biden — at 68 percent in favor of the president compared to 19 percent for the former vice president .
Those with the same last name as Biden were split even between him and Trump with 45 percent support for each .

A majority of likely voters from numerous battleground states named Karen favor Joe Biden to be the next president, according to a new poll.
Sixty percent of Karens — a name used as a pejorative for nit-picky middle-aged white women — are leaning towards Biden, according to a poll released Monday by The New York Times and Siena College.
The poll, conducted since September, asked more than 17,000 likely voters from 18 battleground states their preference for president and compiled the results by their first names.
Karen was among the 10 most common first names of responders. People named Richard represented the most common name with the heaviest support for President Trump — at 64 percent.
The results of the poll included 102 first names, each of which account for at least 30 respondents.
Overall, Donald’s gave Trump his widest margin of support over Biden — at 68 percent in favor of the president compared to 19 percent for the former vice president.
Those with the same last name as Biden were split even between him and Trump with 45 percent support for each.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Fantasy football: Waiver wire rife with long-term injury replacements

Week 8 of the NFL season dealt injuries to a ...

Being successful at fantasy football isn’t just about wins and losses each week. That may be the primary factor to making your playoffs, but long-term success is about studying which waiver claims project multiweek value as opposed to chasing the points of a rotating group of one-week wonders.
Most waiver wires have been picked clean over the first eight weeks of the season, but new injuries from Week 8 have revealed a few names you may want to consider.
When Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay left Sunday’s game with a hip injury, there was genuine concern regarding both the severity and longevity of the injury. He has already been ruled out for Week 9 and is set to undergo a barrage of tests. That put Marvin Jones back on the map for fantasy owners — Sunday he hauled in his first touchdown catches since Week 2. Jones had been dropped in most leagues, but with Golladay’s near-future status up in the air, Jones has time to reconnect with his quarterback and regain the trust of fantasy owners everywhere.
But Jones isn’t the only Detroit receiver you should keep on your radar, especially with Minnesota’s porous secondary next on the schedule. Marvin Hall provides a deep threat for the Lions, and he proved more than capable this past week with four catches for 113 yards. Without Golladay, Hall’s snaps and subsequent on-field opportunities are going to get a major increase.
Keep tabs on Tim Patrick’s hamstring, as it sounds like a multiweek issue as well. DaeSean Hamilton and rookie K.J. Hamler will see plenty of work, with the Broncos facing the Falcons and Raiders over the next two weeks. And though N’Keal Harry might be back on the field next week, Julian Edelman will not, and that puts Jakobi Meyers in play for more action.
And, while you’re at it, why not add tight end Ross Dwelley to your list, with George Kittle now out for eight weeks due to a broken bone in his foot?
It’s easy to keep tabs on the injuries around the league. Interpreting which ones take longer to come back from is the key. Find those, and setting up your waiver targets becomes much easier each week.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at Fantasy-Alarm.com Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Mets’ hunt for pitching could bring them to Charlie Morton

Here are three potential free agent targets for the Mets : ...

Trevor Bauer is the prize starting pitcher for this offseason and the Mets — after years of passing on most expensive free agents — figure to be in the mix for the right-hander now that Steve Cohen is set to take over the franchise.
Bauer and Jacob deGrom were both named NL Cy Young Award finalists on Monday, but Bauer isn’t the only option available and the Mets will be looking at more than just Bauer to help fortify a starting rotation that is seriously short on depth behind deGrom heading into next season.
That’s where Charlie Morton could come in.
As the Mets wait for a decision from Marcus Stroman, who has until Nov. 11 to accept the $18.9 million qualifying offer or become a free agent, they have plenty of question marks. And if Stroman rejects the offer in hopes of getting a lucrative, multiyear deal, the Mets will get an additional draft pick, but will be left looking for another starter.
In addition to Stroman, who opted out of the 2020 season citing COVID-19 concerns when he was nearing return from a left calf tear, there’s Noah Syndergaard, recovering from Tommy John surgery. He’s likely out at least the first few months of 2021.
Seth Lugo pitched fairly well in seven starts this past season, but it’s still unclear if his greatest value comes in the rotation or as a reliever. David Peterson showed flashes of promise after making his MLB debut last season, while Steven Matz’s struggles continued.
The two most significant additions to the Mets’ starting rotation last offseason came in December, when they signed free agents Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha.
Cohen and the Mets will be looking to make a bigger splash this winter, whether that comes in the form of Bauer, catcher J.T. Realmuto or elsewhere.
Morton could fit into the Mets’ plans if the veteran right-hander is willing to pitch outside of the Tampa area, which he’s indicated is his preference, since he’d like to be near his family.
Tampa Bay, as expected, did not exercise Morton’s $15 million option for next season.
But Morton’s agent, B.B. Abbott, told MLB.com Monday that he “wants to play” in 2021 and will keep an “open mind” about pitching for other teams.
Prior to Game 6 of the World Series, Morton said he’d “been thinking about” retirement.
“Will it be the last time I put on a uniform?” Morton said at the time, when he was scheduled to start Game 7, before the Dodgers clinched the World Series that night. “Will it be the last time I put on a Rays uniform? Hopefully not. It just goes back to the situation, what it’s looking like this offseason into next year.”
Morton turns 37 this month and was coming off three straight fine seasons before pitching to a 4.74 ERA in nine regular-season starts with the Rays this year.
Morton then had three excellent starts in the playoffs before he struggled in Game 3 of the World Series against Los Angeles.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Univision host Gelena Solano causes double-takes with Lady Gaga costume

Univision host Gelena Solano dressed as Lady Gaga for the opening of Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park @ @ @ @ @ doing double-takes .
“ She was posing with her arms in the air for the @ @ @ @ @ thinking it was Lady Gaga .
You could tell people were unsure if it was @ @ @ @ @ took out their camera to take pictures and then others started snapping shots , ” @ @ @ @ @ .
Solano channeled Gaga ’ s appearance at the recent MTV Video Music Awards , @ @ @ @ @ awards with several mask changes .
Solano even had her own Moon Person , made @ @ @ @ @

Univision host Gelena Solano dressed as Lady Gaga for the opening of Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park on Friday and had people doing double-takes.
“She was posing with her arms in the air for the Univision cameras and people were thinking it was Lady Gaga. You could tell people were unsure if it was really her. One person took out their camera to take pictures and then others started snapping shots,” a spy told Page Six.
Solano channeled Gaga’s appearance at the recent MTV Video Music Awards, where the pop star accepted awards with several mask changes. Solano even had her own Moon Person, made out of tin foil.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--US election sets betting records overseas with $1 billion in wagers

The U.S presidential election is proving to be a boom for bookies overseas .
Total betting on the 2020 race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to approach the $ 1 billion mark .
“ This is a huge market , ” Matthew Shaddick , head of the British gambling firm GVC , told AFP News “ It is twice as big as 2016 , and easily making it the biggest political event ever.
” The election has surpassed the Super Bowl in terms of dollars bet and will be the biggest decision in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor boxing bout in 2017 , annoucned Betonline.ag .
Earlier in the week , one person placed a $ 1.3 million bet on Biden , which is the biggest political bet of all time .
If Biden wins , the player would bag $ 1.99 million dollars .
Biden has a substantial lead in national opinion polls , although the contest is slightly closer in battleground states likely to decide the race .
“ Florida is one where the polls suggest Biden is the more likely winner , but the ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Shaddick said .

The U.S presidential election is proving to be a boom for bookies overseas.
Total betting on the 2020 race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to approach the $1 billion mark.
“This is a huge market,” Matthew Shaddick, head of the British gambling firm GVC, told AFP News “It is twice as big as 2016, and easily making it the biggest political event ever.”
The election has surpassed the Super Bowl in terms of dollars bet and will be the biggest decision in the site’s history since the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor boxing bout in 2017, announced.
Check out the best sports betting sites and apps
Earlier in the week, one person placed a $1.3 million bet on Biden, which is the biggest political bet of all time. If Biden wins, the player would bag $1.99 million dollars.
Biden has a substantial lead in national opinion polls, although the contest is slightly closer in battleground states likely to decide the race.
“Florida is one where the polls suggest Biden is the more likely winner, but the (betting) markets have Trump as favorite,” Shaddick said.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Christian Siriano hosts Día de los Muertos dinner at Grupo Gitano’s Garden of Love

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) The designer co-hosted a Día de los @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Garden of Love with his publicist Bianca Bianconi , promoter Terence Edgerson , @ @ @ @ @ and owner James Gardner .
Honey Dijon curated the tunes and was seated with Ethan @ @ @ @ @ up as Steven Meisel .
Meanwhile , Siriano stole the show dressed as “ Chandelier @ @ @ @ @ It was a fun and calm Halloween .
People were seated for dinner , but @ @ @ @ @ it and came dressed up .
It was like people were seeing and being seen @ @ @ @ @ spy told us .
Bravo TV ’ s Manscapers designed a Day of the Dead-themed @ @ @ @ @ .
The Misshapes , Brian Atwood , Liz Vap , Amanda Lepore and Lady Bunny @ @ @

Halloween wasn’t canceled for Christian Siriano this year.
The designer co-hosted a Día de los Muertos dinner at Grupo Gitano’s Garden of Love with his publicist Bianca Bianconi, Terence Edgerson, Ricky Anderson, The Misshapes, Sophia Lamar and owner James Gardner.
Honey Dijon curated the tunes and was seated with Ethan James Green, who dressed up as Steven Meisel. Meanwhile, Siriano stole the show dressed as “Chandelier” singer Sia.
“It was a fun and calm Halloween. People were seated for dinner, but everyone made the most of it and came dressed up. It was like people were seeing and being seen from afar,” a spy told us. Bravo TV’s Manscapers designed a Day of the Dead-themed installation that included 1,000 marigolds. Brian Atwood, Liz Vap and Amanda Lepore also attended.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Carol Arthur, ‘Blazing Saddles’ actress and wife of Dom DeLuise, dead at 85

Carol Arthur , wife of Dom DeLuise and actress known for roles in Mel Brooks ’ “ Blazing Saddles ” and “ Hot Stuff , ” has died .
She was 85 .
The actress died Sunday , reports Deadline , at the Mary Pickford House at the Motion Picture & Television Fund senior home in Woodland Hills , California .
The New Jersey native had been living there since 2015 , according to The Hollywood Reporter , and battled Alzheimer ’ s disease for 11 years .
Her husband , Dom DeLuise , died of kidney failure in 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The couple married in 1965 and had three children together .
Arthur first appeared on the small screen in “ Arnie ” in 1971 and made her big-screen debut that year for “ Making It.
” She later appeared in Mel Brooks ’ iconic comedy “ Blazing Saddles ” as well as supporting roles in three other Brooks films .
She acted alongside her husband in 1976 ’ s “ Silent Movie ” and 1993 ’ s “ Robin Hood : Men in Tights , ” both directed by Brooks .
“ She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be missed , ” Brooks said in a statement .
While Arthur was best known for her role as Harriett Johnson in “ Blazing Saddles , ” she also starred on Broadway opposite Dick Van Dyke and Lauren Bacall during her career .
Arthur played Mrs. Paroo in a 1980 production of “ The Music Man ” with Van Dyke in 1980 and joined the cast of “ Woman of the Year ” in 1981 , which starred Bacall .

Carol Arthur, wife of Dom DeLuise and actress known for roles in Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” and “Hot Stuff,” has died. She was 85.
The actress died Sunday, reports Deadline, at the Mary Pickford House at the Motion Picture & Television Fund senior home in Woodland Hills, California. The New Jersey native had been living there since 2015, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and battled Alzheimer’s disease for 11 years.
Her husband, Dom DeLuise, died of kidney failure in 2009 when he was 75 years old. The couple married in 1965 and had three children together.
Arthur first appeared on the small screen in “Arnie” in 1971 and made her big-screen debut that year for “Making It.” She later appeared in Mel Brooks’ iconic comedy “Blazing Saddles” as well as supporting roles in three other Brooks films. She acted alongside her husband in 1976’s “Silent Movie” and 1993’s “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” both directed by Brooks.
“She was my lifelong friend, and she will be missed,” Brooks said in a statement.
While Arthur was best known for her role as Harriett Johnson in “Blazing Saddles,” she also starred on Broadway opposite Dick Van Dyke and Lauren Bacall during her career. Arthur played Mrs. Paroo in a 1980 production of “The Music Man” with Van Dyke in 1980 and joined the cast of “Woman of the Year” in 1981, which starred Bacall.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu named 2020 AL MVP finalist

“ The Machine ” may soon be the MVP .
DJ LeMahieu , who finished fourth in last season ’ @ @ @ @ @ a finalist for the AL MVP award on Monday night along with the Indians ’ @ @ @ @ @ Sox ’ s Jose Abreu .
A win would give the Yankees infielder his first @ @ @ @ @ , who is a big part of the Yankees ’ free-agency decisions this offseason , @ @ @ @ @ most steady bat in the 60-game 2020 season .
He batted a league-leading .364 with @ @ @ @ @ .421 on-base percentage , 10 home runs and 27 RBIs while playing Gold Glove-level defense @ @ @ @ @ free agent if he declines the Yankees ’ $ 18.9 million qualifying offer .
Abreu @ @ @ @ @ a breakout season while hitting .317 with 19 homers and a league-leading 60 RBIs .
@ @ @ @ @ batted .292 with a league-leading 45 runs scored , 17 home runs , 46 RBIs @ @ @ @ @ winner will be announce on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m .

“The Machine” may soon be the MVP.
DJ LeMahieu, who finished fourth in last season’s voting, was named a finalist for the AL MVP award on Monday night along with the Indians’ Jose Ramirez and the White Sox’s Jose Abreu. A win would give the Yankees infielder his first MVP award.
The 32-year-old, who is a big part of the Yankees’ free-agency decisions this offseason, was the team’s most steady bat in the 60-game 2020 season. He batted a league-leading .364 with a 1.011 OPS, a .421 on-base percentage, 10 home runs and 27 RBIs while playing Gold Glove-level defense. LeMahieu would become a free agent if he declines the Yankees’ $18.9 million qualifying offer.
Abreu led the White Sox to a breakout season while hitting .317 with 19 homers and a league-leading 60 RBIs. He slugged .671. Ramirez batted .292 with a league-leading 45 runs scored, 17 home runs, 46 RBIs and .993 OPS.
The winner will be announce on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Jets GM will finally face million-dollar Trevor Lawrence question

For the better part of two decades , the Jets bided ...

Joe Douglas is scheduled to speak with reporters on Tuesday via Zoom, a rare public appearance from his Florham Park cocoon.
The last time we heard from the Jets general manager was just before this season began when he spoke about how insulted the team was at the blatant disrespect it was encountering from prognosticators.
“Our guys don’t live in a bubble, we see the things that are said, we see the things that are written,” Douglas said in early September. “It angers a lot of people.”
Two months, eight losses and zero wins later, you have to wonder where Douglas’ anger lies now with the team he saw go 7-9 a year ago now spiraling at 0-8 after he spent his first full offseason with the club reconstructing the roster.
And now, in a twist that fits perfectly with the mayhem that 2020 has delivered to date, the Jets’ next opponent, the reeling 2-5 Patriots, represent perhaps their best chance at winning a game, their best chance to avoid going 0-16.
This raises a Tuesday question for Douglas, who has recently sold off two defensive starters for future draft picks (defensive tackle Steve McLendon and linebacker Avery Williamson): Does he even want to win next Monday night’s game against the Patriots … or any game the rest of this season for that matter?
Smart money has Douglas preparing to trade away Sam Darnold and starting over at quarterback by drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1-overall pick in April.
Smarter money has the Jets earning that No. 1-overall pick and possibly doing so while posting a perfectly imperfect 0-16 record.
But wouldn’t it be so very Jets if they defeated the Patriots on Monday night, thus damaging their chances to pick first in the 2021 draft?
In a way, the Patriots, who have beaten the Jets in the past eight meetings, 11 of the past 12 and 16 of the past 18, would actually defeat the Jets again by losing Monday night. Because, do you think Patriots coach Bill Belichick wants to play Trevor Lawrence twice a year in the AFC East?
On Tuesday, Belichick wanted no part of talking about how far his franchise has fallen without Tom Brady. What he was perfectly willing to talk about, however, is how good he thinks the winless and toothless Jets are.
“I think they’ve played very competitive,’’ Belichick said of the team that’s been outscored by 144 points, an average losing margin of 18 points per game.
“The offense is improved,’’ he said of an offense that’s produced seven TDs in eight games.
“Darnold’s playing better,’’ he said of the Jets quarterback who’s regressed this season, having thrown only three TD passes in six games.
“The defense is aggressive,’’ he said of a Jets defense that on Sunday allowed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw for 416 yards and five TDs and didn’t put a fingerprint on his jersey.
“Adam does a great job of game-planning, and is always hard to prepare for defensively,’’ he said of a Gase offense that produced 4 yards in the entire second half of a loss to Buffalo two weeks ago and two first downs in the second half of Sunday’s loss in Kansas City.
“They get a little better each week,’’ Belichick said, now fully warmed up. “Their record doesn’t show it, but looking at them on film … they’re a lot better than they were last year.’’
This was all said without the aid of a laugh track.
Listening to Belichick’s assessment of the Jets, you’d think he was on Joe Douglas’ payroll.
Douglas, since he was hired and given a six-year contract, has gotten a free pass for the past two seasons while Gase has taken more shots to the jaw than Mike Tyson’s opponents in his prime.
But Douglas’ fingerprints are all over this roster that’s performing worse than the one a year ago did — before he rebuilt the offensive line and replaced receiver Robby Anderson (51 receptions, 688 yards, 1 TD) with Breshad Perriman (11 for 118 and no TDs) among other dubious moves.
So, on Tuesday Douglas speaks for the first time since the season began. He’ll be asked a lot of questions he won’t answer with any transparency — including whether he truly wants to beat the Patriots on Monday and possibly spoil his plan to draft No. 1 overall.
Here’s to wishing someone spikes his morning coffee with truth serum.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--All that plywood tells you the real post-election fear is pro-Biden rioting

There is one clear leading indicator pointing to Donald Trump still having a chance to win the election — stores around America are fortifying themselves in anticipation of election-related violence .
Businesses in cities like New York City , Washington , DC , Los Angeles and Chicago are boarding up as if a Category 5 hurricane is bearing down .
Everyone tends to be coy about the reason why .
The cops in Beverly Hills worry about “ protest activity.
” Tiffany refers to “ potential election-related activity.
” Saks Fifth Avenue says it ’ s taking precautions “ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current election.
” This is all very diplomatic , but there ’ s no doubt about what has American business on edge , and it isn ’ t the possibility that the local women ’ s Republican club is going to take to the streets if Joe Biden wins in a landslide .
No , the risk is that left-wing rioters are going , as is their wont , to rampage through America ’ s cities if Donald Trump wins a second term .
There are certainly malefactors on the right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it ’ s disgraceful that Trump has spent so much time preparing the ground to argue that he ’ s been cheated if he loses .
Yet the left has the numbers , the proven penchant for violence ( up to $ 2 billion of property damage this year so far ) and the intellectual enablers to put parts of America on crisis footing in anticipation of its possible shock and upset after Nov. 3 .
Trump ’ s most fervid critics have been expecting a coup with such certainty that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if it is one .
They believe in the moral necessity of accepting the election result only if it is to their liking , and in the majesty of American democracy so long as a president they fear and loathe doesn ’ t win .
They are sticklers for rules , provided they work in their favor , and for norms that don ’ t constrain their own conduct , up to and including excusing mayhem and property damage .
Everyone knows the same rioters who have ransacked businesses in the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are coming again if Trump gets to 270 electoral votes .
According to The New York Times , some stores are using different screws than during the summer to foil looters equipped with screw guns .
The Times notes a contractor in Colorado who has bought a two-year supply of plywood for retailers and removed the name of his business from his trucks for fear of retaliation .
Nothing to see here — just life in America when urban violence has become expected , indeed part of the social fabric .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to “ steal ” the election , by which is meant he will deploy lawyers to file post-Election Day litigation protecting his interests .
Obviously , Joe Biden will do the same .
In such a post-game , Trump is likeliest to succeed where judges re-wrote the election rules in defiance of the US Constitution ’ s requirement that state legislatures write them .
In such cases , it is the new rules , not Trump ’ s prospective challenges of them , that are illegitimate .
Another trope is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppression , ” a bizarre charge in an election where about 100 million people have voted early and overall turnout is going to smash the 2016 record .
The cry of “ voter suppression ” is best understood as itself a powerful tool for turning out voters , rather than a description of an America where there ’ s unprecedented voting .
That is to the good .
But the election shouldn ’ t be taking place under the implicit threat of violence if it goes the “ wrong way.
” This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work , and perhaps one day there will be a universal consensus about that again .
For now , though , to paraphrase the old song , it ’ s praise the Lord and pass the plywood .

There is one clear leading indicator pointing to Donald Trump still having a chance to win the election — stores around America are fortifying themselves in anticipation of election-related violence.
Businesses in cities like New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Chicago are boarding up as if a Category 5 hurricane is bearing down.
Everyone tends to be coy about the reason why. The cops in Beverly Hills worry about “protest activity.” Tiffany refers to “potential election-related activity.” Saks Fifth Avenue says it’s taking precautions “in the event of civil unrest due to the current election.”
This is all very diplomatic, but there’s no doubt about what has American business on edge, and it isn’t the possibility that the local women’s Republican club is going to take to the streets if Joe Biden wins in a landslide.
No, the risk is that left-wing rioters are going, as is their wont, to rampage through America’s cities if Donald Trump wins a second term. There are certainly malefactors on the right, who should be called out and shunned, and it’s disgraceful that Trump has spent so much time preparing the ground to argue that he’s been cheated if he loses.
Yet the left has the numbers, the proven penchant for violence (up to $2 billion of property damage this year so far) and the intellectual enablers to put parts of America on crisis footing in anticipation of its possible shock and upset after Nov. 3.
Trump’s most fervid critics have been expecting a coup with such certainty that they will treat a Trump electoral victory as if it is one.
They believe in the moral necessity of accepting the election result only if it is to their liking, and in the majesty of American democracy so long as a president they fear and loathe doesn’t win.
They are sticklers for rules, provided they work in their favor, and for norms that don’t constrain their own conduct, up to and including excusing mayhem and property damage.
Everyone knows the same rioters who have ransacked businesses in the name of “social justice” for months are coming again if Trump gets to 270 electoral votes. According to the New York Times, some stores are using different screws than during the summer to foil looters equipped with screw guns.
The Times notes a contractor in Colorado who has bought a two-year supply of plywood for retailers and removed the name of his business from his trucks for fear of retaliation. Nothing to see here — just life in America when urban violence has become expected, indeed part of the social fabric.
It is widely assumed on the center-left that Trump is going to “steal” the election, by which is meant he will deploy lawyers to file post-Election Day litigation protecting his interests. Obviously, Biden will do the same.
In such a post-game, Trump is likeliest to succeed where judges rewrote the election rules in defiance of the US Constitution’s requirement that state legislatures write them.
In such cases, it is the new rules, not Trump’s prospective challenges of them, that are illegitimate.
Another trope is that Trump can only win via “voter suppression,” a bizarre charge in an election where about 100 million people have voted early and overall turnout is going to smash the 2016 record.
The cry of “voter suppression” is best understood as itself a powerful tool for turning out voters, rather than a description of an America where there’s unprecedented voting.
That is to the good. But the election shouldn’t be taking place under the implicit threat of violence if it goes the “wrong way.” This is not how a great republic is supposed to work, and perhaps one day there will be a universal consensus about that again.
For now, though, to paraphrase the old song, it’s praise the Lord and pass the plywood.


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Joe Biden, not President Trump, is the ‘leader’ who spells COVID disaster

The lie driving this election is that President Trump is to blame for the nation ’ s COVID deaths .
Democrats have blanketed the country with ads claiming Trump bungled the virus response .
Joe Biden blames Trump for 230,000 deaths .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , too , is parroting the lie , even though it ’ s Cuomo who has blood on his hands , for forcing nursing homes to take in infected patients .
Trump may taunt “ COVID , COVID , COVID , ” but actions are what count .
He marshalled private companies to produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals and swept away regulations to speed up the development of treatments .
The COVID death rate in the United States has plummeted 70 percent since March , according to data from NYU Langone , largely because hospitals are equipped and doctors have more tools .
How does that stack up against the rest of the world ?
A COVID patient in the United States has a better chance of surviving than in France , Belgium , the United Kingdom , Italy or many other countries , according to Johns Hopkins data .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as good a chance .
You don ’ t hear that from CNN .
No leader has full control over where the virus hits .
The difference is how they respond : France ’ s President Emmanuel Macron and the UK ’ s Boris Johnson are locking down their countries again , even while acknowledging the painful impact on livelihoods and mental health .
“ What the hell are they doing ?
” Trump exclaimed .
Locking down didn ’ t protect Europe .
The virus is back .
Lockdowns are the wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what Joe Biden would do , too .
Biden says he ’ d consult the scientists and shut down the US economy if “ the scientists ” recommend it .
Hey , Joe : How about consulting working people , who don ’ t get a paycheck unless they are allowed to go to their jobs ?
Lockdowns are an elitist scam .
Trump reminds voters that government officials , teachers and executives who support lockdowns get their paychecks no matter what .
Some “ even hire private tutors for their children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s working people who suffer from “ crippling shutdowns.
” Last spring , Trump heeded scientific advisers and closed the US for some 45 days .
That cratered the economy , led to 40 million unemployment claims by late May and caused drug overdoses , suicides , alcoholism and other deaths of despair .
Trump saw the disastrous results and pivoted fast to a better strategy : opening up the economy , getting people back to work and school , targeting the elderly and other vulnerable populations for protection and letting people make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressive results .
The United States just completed the strongest quarterly surge in gross domestic product in the nation ’ s history , undoing about two thirds of the lockdown damage .
All while reducing the death rate from the virus .
At every campaign stop , Trump pledges “ we will never lock down again.
” What would a Biden economy look like ?
Look at states run by pro-lockdown Democratic governors .
Including New York .
Unemployment is double what it is in red states .
Many Democratic governors are petty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the necks of small-business owners , forcing them to close and lose everything .
Forty-four thousand medical and public-health experts have signed the Great Barrington Declaration warning about the “ damaging physical and mental health impacts ” of lockdowns .
Disregarding the complexities , President Barack Obama told a Flint , Mich. , crowd this weekend that Joe “ will get the virus under control.
” And Biden said , “ If you want to get rid of the virus , you have to get rid of Trump.
” That ’ s demagoguery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , and Trump is ahead of other world leaders on that front .
Early on , Trump launched Operation Warp Speed , an unprecedented collaboration with four pharmaceutical giants to create eight competing vaccine platforms .
Not one or two but eight , because failure isn ’ t an option .
A vaccine will likely be ready within weeks .
Compare that with the failure of the Obama-Biden administration , which foolishly banked on one effort to produce a vaccine for the H1N1 flu in 2009 .
Now , Biden is telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag.
” It ’ s a lie .
Betsy McCaughey , a former lieutenant governor of New York , is author of the new book “ The Next Pandemic .
”

The lie driving this election is that President Trump is to blame for the nation’s COVID deaths. Democrats have blanketed the country with ads claiming Trump bungled the virus response. Joe Biden blames Trump for 230,000 deaths. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, too, is parroting the lie, even though it’s Cuomo who has blood on his hands, for forcing nursing homes to take in infected patients.
Trump may taunt “COVID, COVID, COVID,” but actions are what count. He marshalled private companies to produce massive supplies of ventilators, erected field hospitals and swept away regulations to speed up the development of treatments. The COVID death rate in the United States has plummeted 70 percent since March, according to data from NYU Langone, largely because hospitals are equipped and doctors have more tools.
How does that stack up against the rest of the world? A COVID patient in the United States has a better chance of surviving than in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy or many other countries, according to Johns Hopkins data. Not just slightly better — often twice as good a chance. You don’t hear that from CNN.
No leader has full control over where the virus hits. The difference is how they respond: France’s President Emmanuel Macron and the UK’s Boris Johnson are locking down their countries again, even while acknowledging the painful impact on livelihoods and mental health.
“What the hell are they doing?” Trump exclaimed. Locking down didn’t protect Europe. The virus is back. Lockdowns are the wrong way to go, but it’s what Joe Biden would do, too.
Biden says he’d consult the scientists and shut down the US economy if “the scientists” recommend it. Hey, Joe: How about consulting working people, who don’t get a paycheck unless they are allowed to go to their jobs?
Lockdowns are an elitist scam. Trump reminds voters that government officials, teachers and executives who support lockdowns get their paychecks no matter what. Some “even hire private tutors for their children,” Trump adds. It’s working people who suffer from “crippling shutdowns.”
Last spring, Trump heeded scientific advisers and closed the US for some 45 days. That cratered the economy, led to 40 million unemployment claims by late May and caused drug overdoses, suicides, alcoholism and other deaths of despair.
Trump saw the disastrous results and pivoted fast to a better strategy: opening up the economy, getting people back to work and school, targeting the elderly and other vulnerable populations for protection and letting people make their own decisions.
The pivot produced impressive results. The United States just completed the strongest quarterly surge in gross domestic product in the nation’s history, undoing about two thirds of the lockdown damage. All while reducing the death rate from the virus.
At every campaign stop, Trump pledges “we will never lock down again.”
What would a Biden economy look like? Look at states run by pro-lockdown Democratic governors. Including New York. Unemployment is double what it is in red states. Many Democratic governors are petty tyrants. They put their boot on the necks of small-business owners, forcing them to close and lose everything.
Forty-four thousand medical and public-health experts have signed the Great Barrington Declaration warning about the “damaging physical and mental health impacts” of lockdowns.
Disregarding the complexities, President Barack Obama told a Flint, Mich., crowd this weekend that Joe “will get the virus under control.” And Biden said, “If you want to get rid of the virus, you have to get rid of Trump.” That’s demagoguery.
Only a vaccine can defeat the virus, and Trump is ahead of other world leaders on that front.
Early on, Trump launched Operation Warp Speed, an unprecedented collaboration with four pharmaceutical giants to create eight competing vaccine platforms. Not one or two but eight, because failure isn’t an option. A vaccine will likely be ready within weeks.
Compare that with the failure of the Obama-Biden administration, which foolishly banked on one effort to produce a vaccine for the H1N1 flu in 2009.
Now, Biden is telling voters that Trump “waved the white flag.” It’s a lie.
Betsy McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York, is author of the new book “The Next Pandemic.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--Adam Gase not ‘waving a white flag’ with Jets sellers at trade deadline

Sam Darnold has an aching shoulder , but he is not ...

The Jets have had a promotion in the past where they hand out green flags to fans at MetLife Stadium. If there were going to be fans at this Monday’s game against the Patriots, the Jets could have handed out white flags.
The front office is sending a clear message that it has moved on from the 2020 season. General manager Joe Douglas reinforced that Sunday night when he traded linebacker Avery Williamson to the Steelers along with a 2022 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick. Williamson joined Steve McLendon and Jordan Willis as recent players sent packing by Douglas.
At 0-8, it is the right move. Douglas is moving players on expiring contracts who are not part of the future here for picks down the road rather than letting them walk in free agency for nothing this offseason. Douglas could make more moves before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline.
Still, there are players and coaches who have eight games left this season and don’t want to hear about Trevor Lawrence. They are trying to win. But isn’t the message from the organization that it no longer cares about wins in 2020?
“I never look at waving a white flag, that’s not in my DNA,” coach Adam Gase said. “This is our profession, when things like this happen, guys aren’t ever going to be shocked by this, like we’re in a profession of ‘We got to win games,’ when we don’t, things change, and younger guys get opportunities to play. I mean that’s what the NFL is, this is not unique.”
It is true this is not unique, but 0-8 is unusual. The Jets have only been this bad once before in franchise history, in 1996 when they started off 0-8 before winning their ninth game on their way to a 1-15 record.
The Jets made a move last year at the trade deadline, sending Leonard Williams to the Giants, but that move was more about not paying Williams and trying to recoup some picks. This year it has been about selling off any spare parts Douglas can move. Williamson and McLendon were heart-and-soul players for the Jets over recent years. They were popular in the locker room and their absence will be felt. They also were two of the better players on the defense. Williamson led the team in tackles in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and was traded hours later.
“I feel like, to me, each one’s a different story,” Gase said. “There are reasons behind every move that we make. I felt like this was something where an opportunity presented itself. Sometimes, with how we’ve accumulated picks for the next few drafts, we haven’t won a game yet. And when we have guys that other teams see value in, and we’re able to get draft picks due to it, I know it’s not always ideal but, I mean, that’s the NFL, that’s what it is. I mean that’s kind of part of what happens when you don’t win. And it would be a different story if we had more wins and something like that probably doesn’t happen, but we’re a part of the season right now where we haven’t won a game yet and things like this happen.”
Douglas has acquired three picks in 2022, all in the fifth and sixth rounds. He has given up his seventh-round pick in the next three drafts. He is acquiring draft capital to move around the draft.
The Jets are not interested in trading their top young talent like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, but some other players may be on the move. Linebacker Jordan Jenkins, tackle George Fant, tackle Chuma Edoga and safety Marcus Maye all are viewed as potential trade possibilities around the league. Maye, who will be a free agent after this season, said he has not heard about any trades involving him, but he knows anything can happen.
“We all know the business that we’re in and the situation that we’re in right now,” Maye said. “You just have to keep a positive mindset and just do what you have to do to help yourself out at the end of the day.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-02--New Edition’s Ralph Tresvant got ambushed by an amorous fan in a maid costume

New Edition lead singer Ralph Tresvant nearly got maid service of a very different kind back at the height of his fame .
Tresvant tells Page Six that when he was around 15 years old , a fan dressed up as a maid to sneak into his hotel room and waited for him to arrive .
“ When I checked in my room , she was lying in the bed .
It was an old lady , too , ” he told us .
“ I said , ‘ I ’ m sorry — I think I ’ m in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Oh no , you got the right room , baby , ’ and pulled the covers back.
” She was “ like my mother ’ s age , ” he said .
“ I was a youngster .
I didn ’ t go through with it .
I just slowly backed out the room with my luggage , got my security , and I said , ‘ There ’ s someone in my room.
’ They escorted her out.
” Tresvant will be featured on the premiere episode of “ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new streaming service UMC .
In the episode , out Thursday , the crooner is expected to talk in-depth about his career with the famed R & B group .

New Edition lead singer Ralph Tresvant nearly got maid service of a very different kind back at the height of his fame.
Tresvant tells Page Six that when he was around 15 years old, a fan dressed up as a maid to sneak into his hotel room and waited for him to arrive.
“When I checked in my room, she was lying in the bed. It was an old lady, too,” he told us. “I said, ‘I’m sorry — I think I’m in the wrong room.’ And she said, ‘Oh no, you got the right room, baby,’ and pulled the covers back.”
She was “like my mother’s age,” he said. “I was a youngster. I didn’t go through with it. I just slowly backed out the room with my luggage, got my security, and I said, ‘There’s someone in my room.’ They escorted her out.”
Tresvant will be featured on the premiere episode of “A Closer Look,” a docuseries from the new streaming service UMC. In the episode, out Thursday, the crooner is expected to talk in-depth about his career with the famed R&B group.