newyorkpost--2020-04-27--‘Diana’ star Judy Kaye talks Broadway shutdown, Queen Elizabeth

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Actors know the show must go on .
But how about when the show mustn ’ t go on .
Previewing in Broadway ’ s Longacre was “ Diana.
” The musical glorifying the late Princess of Wales — the first Mrs. HRH Charles the future King of England , mother of Princes William and Harry , coulda woulda been mother-in-law of me-me-me-Meghan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead CV shut life upon the wicked stage .
In a pandemic coup Jeanna de Waal as Diana in 38 costumes , Roe Hartrampf playing a semi-naked Charles , the whole cast plus all of Broadway were closed out .
Uneasy lies the head that wears a tiara .
The Shuberts just reopened backstage quick-time with security so cast and crew could retrieve personal belongings .
Alone , de Waal , quarantined with her parents in New Jersey , could not go .
Two-time Tony winner Judy Kaye playing the queen : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 16 was sent home abruptly with nothing in which to carry anything .
We ’ d had performances that night .
No time to collect even our tchotchkes .
My dressing room fridge had yogurt , cheese , the unsweetened red cherry juice I ’ d drink daily to help inflammation .
“ Also there was champagne , four cartons of opening night mugs with the Queen of England crest and , of course , my 10 changes and wig .
I ’ d studied Queen Elizabeth ’ s posh plummy royal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ d learned she loved Diana .
It was two years prepping , testing in La Jolla , had eight new songs and standing ovations .
Look , I ’ d even left my script behind .
“ Some say it ’ ll be removing seats , doubling prices , using magnetometers , reopening June 7 .
Others say not until fall .
We ’ re trying to keep our juices together and staying in touch via texting and Zoom .
“ I ’ ve got a husband , Ulster County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OK .
But kids who ’ ve saved their pennies , were trying to make it and this was their debut — I feel sorry for them.
” Fashion : Bergdorf ’ s , the shopper ’ s Statue of Liberty , owned by Neiman Marcus , could go splat .
Rumor ’ s a buyer could be cashier Bernard Arnault whose Paris-based LVMH stands for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy .
It already owns Vuitton , Dior , Fendi , Sephora , Givenchy , Tiffany and almost every biggie glittery candy store this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world : India .
Government ’ s dispensing money and food .
All ’ s closed until May 3 .
CV ’ s not in small villages .
It ’ s in big cities like Mumbai where people can ’ t go out but cows still amble down the streets .
TV : Angus Macfadyen played Robert the Bruce in Mel Gibson ’ s “ Braveheart ” 25 years ago .
he ’ s back with more of that 14th century same-name outlaw-king battling England , failing , running , hiding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this “ Robert the Bruce ” were the Highlands , Glencoe , Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle , but Scotland was filmed mostly in Montana .
Producer : Angus Macfadyen .
Screenplay : Angus Macfadyen .
Star : Angus Macfadyen .
He ’ d like a nice quote from Mel Gibson .
Yeah , right .
Does Mel Gibson give nice quotes ?
And now “ beach read ” novels come in May like Barbara Delinsky ’ s “ A Week at the Shore ” ( 19th ) , Nora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Mary Kay Andrews ’ “ Hello , Summer ” ( 5th ) .
No traditional bookstore tour , but she ’ s doing a weekly Facebook Live hour .
A “ virtual author events ” series hosted by online bookstores .
From a good old sport : I remember those old days when we had the Brooklyn Dodgers , and they then were losing their games three hours earlier.
” Only muttered in New York , kids , only in New York .

Actors know the show must go on. But how about when the show mustn’t go on.
Previewing in Broadway’s Longacre was “Diana.” The musical glorifying the late Princess of Wales — the first Mrs. HRH Charles the future King of England, mother of Princes William and Harry, coulda woulda been mother-in-law of me-me-me-Meghan.
The opening March 31 wasn’t. Instead CV shut life upon the wicked stage. In a pandemic coup Jeanna de Waal as Diana in 38 costumes, Roe Hartrampf playing a semi-naked Charles, the whole cast plus all of Broadway were closed out.
Uneasy lies the head that wears a tiara. The Shuberts just reopened backstage quick-time with security so cast and crew could retrieve personal belongings. Alone, de Waal, quarantined with her parents in New Jersey, could not go.
Two-time Tony winner Judy Kaye playing the queen: “Grabbing what we could, our company of 16 was sent home abruptly with nothing in which to carry anything. We’d had performances that night. No time to collect even our tchotchkes. My dressing room fridge had yogurt, cheese, the unsweetened red cherry juice I’d drink daily to help inflammation.
“Also there was champagne, four cartons of opening night mugs with the Queen of England crest and, of course, my 10 changes and wig. I’d studied Queen Elizabeth’s posh plummy royal dialect, watched Olivia Colman and newsreels. I’d learned she loved Diana. It was two years prepping, testing in La Jolla, had eight new songs and standing ovations. Look, I’d even left my script behind.
“Some say it’ll be removing seats, doubling prices, using magnetometers, reopening June 7. Others say not until fall. We’re trying to keep our juices together and staying in touch via texting and Zoom.
“I’ve got a husband, Ulster County home and pensions. I’m OK. But kids who’ve saved their pennies, were trying to make it and this was their debut — I feel sorry for them.”
Louie’s mall
Fashion: Bergdorf’s, the shopper’s Statue of Liberty, owned by Neiman Marcus, could go splat. Rumor’s a buyer could be cashier Bernard Arnault whose Paris-based LVMH stands for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. It already owns Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Sephora, Givenchy, Tiffany and almost every biggie glittery candy store this side of Canal Street.
And around the world: India. Government’s dispensing money and food. All’s closed until May 3. CV’s not in small villages. It’s in big cities like Mumbai where people can’t go out but cows still amble down the streets.
Once a king, always a king
TV: Angus Macfadyen played Robert the Bruce in Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” 25 years ago. he’s back with more of that 14th century same-name outlaw-king battling England, failing, running, hiding, rescuing, struggling for Scotland.
Locations for this “Robert the Bruce” were the Highlands, Glencoe, Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle, but Scotland was filmed mostly in Montana. Producer: Angus Macfadyen. Screenplay: Angus Macfadyen. Star: Angus Macfadyen.
He’d like a nice quote from Mel Gibson. Yeah, right. Does Mel Gibson give nice quotes?
Good luck. Macfadyen’s film is streaming now.
Booking it
And now “beach read” novels come in May like Barbara Delinsky’s “A Week at the Shore” (19th), Nora Roberts’ “Hideaway” (26th) and Mary Kay Andrews’ “Hello, Summer” (5th). No traditional bookstore tour, but she’s doing a weekly Facebook Live hour. A “virtual author events” series hosted by online bookstores.
From a good old sport: I remember those old days when we had the Brooklyn Dodgers, and they then were losing their games three hours earlier.”
Only muttered in New York, kids, only in New York.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Riots, escapes, and fear as coronavirus hits juvenile centers hard

The city Department of Correction said on Wednesday that the ...

Nicole Hingle wasn’t surprised when the call came. Frustrations had been building inside juvenile detention centers nationwide as the number of coronavirus cases continued to climb. Now, her 17-year-old son Jace, was on the phone telling her around 40 kids had rioted at his facility in Louisiana — the same state where more than a dozen youths escaped during two breakouts at another site this month.
Hingle said her son described whirring helicopters above the Bridge City facility just outside New Orleans. Juveniles kicked down their doors, a SWAT team swarmed in, kids were pepper-sprayed and a staffer was injured during the melee.
“It’s a real mess,” the teen told his mother. “Everything is destroyed.”
Due to coronavirus lockdown measures, it’s been more than two months since Hingle has been able to visit her son. She has accused administrators of keeping her in the dark, and said she was growing increasingly upset by the lack of a clear plan to protect or release those held inside. Ten youths have tested positive at Bridge City in recent weeks.
“This could be life or death for my child,” said Hingle, adding that her son was among a group transferred to the Acadiana Center for Youth after the brawl, where they were pepper-sprayed twice over the weekend by parole officers brought in to help due to short staffing.
“I don’t want condolences from the state. I don’t want condolences from the governor,” she said. “I do not want sympathy. I want them to do what is right on behalf of our kids because they cannot save themselves nor can we save them without the help of these politicians.”
As more and more state and local officials announce the release of thousands of at-risk inmates from the nation’s adult jails and prisons, parents along with children rights’ groups and criminal justice experts say vulnerable youths should be allowed to serve their time at home. But they say demands for large-scale releases have been largely ignored. Decisions are often not made at the state level, but instead carried out county by county, with individual judges reviewing juvenile cases one by one.
Such legal hurdles have resulted in some kids with symptoms being thrown into isolation for 23 hours a day, in what amounts to solitary confinement, according to relatives and youth advocates. They say many have been cut off from programs, counselors and school. Some have not been issued masks, social distancing is nearly impossible and they have been given limited access to phone calls home. One mother reported that her daughter was so cut off from the outside world — with no TV and staff not wearing any protective gear — that the girl had no idea a deadly virus was even circulating in America. In some states, authorities have been shuttling kids between facilities, trying to make sure sick and healthy young people are kept apart.
Growing fears and frustrations have led to violence and mayhem not just in Louisiana, but at juvenile centers in other coronavirus hot spots such as New York. Young people are calling their parents to say they’re scared and desperate to escape. Sheriff’s deputies responded to a facility in Portland, Oregon, this month after a “disturbance” broke out, but no injuries were reported.
“The department has maintained essential staff at the juvenile detention center in accordance with national standards throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and is working hard to balance the social and emotional needs of youth in our care during this extraordinary time,” the Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division said in a statement.
Vincent Schiraldi, co-director at Columbia University Justice Lab and a former correctional administrator, said he hoped these problems would serve as a warning to other juvenile facilities, especially those that have not yet been hit by the virus.
“If this storm is coming in your direction, don’t wait until you have 100 mile-an-hour winds to put the boards up on the windows,” he said. “Deal with it now. Come up with your COVID plan now. Get everybody out of your facility that can be gotten out, start training your staff, start developing your lines of communication, so that if people start getting sick and staff start calling in sick, then you can manage it as best you can.”
As of Sunday, 150 juveniles and 283 staff had tested positive for COVID-19 at facilities nationwide, according to an unofficial log being kept by Josh Rovner at the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit The Sentencing Project. He said because testing has been so limited, it’s likely the real numbers are “much, much higher.”
New York is one of the few cities that operates two juvenile facilities. At the first sign of illness there, the city agency that oversees the sites decided to put healthy kids at the Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brooklyn, while moving all of the infected residents to the Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx.
Fernando Cabrera, a Bronx council member, said he saw the potential danger of suddenly ripping kids away from familiar staff and routines, especially during a time of crisis.
“You transfer all these kids to another borough, they are going to be anxious,” he said after dozens of police responded when a fight broke out in Crossroads about two weeks ago. “They are in self-preservation mode.”
The city’s Administration for Children’s Services provided few details about the brawl, but said some staff suffered minor injuries, including one who needed offsite medical treatment.
A similar situation occurred at two branches of the Swanson Center for Youth in Louisiana. Its facility in Columbia had been designated for healthy youths, while its Monroe site was reserved for the infected, resulting in kids being transferred back and forth. So far, at least 17 have tested positive for the coronavirus in the two facilities, according to The Sentencing Project. In addition, two escapes occurred this month at Monroe involving 13 youths, according to a statement from the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice.
One of the main obstacles to monitoring the spread of the coronavirus in youth lockups is that so few tests are being administered. In addition, some juvenile justice agencies, citing privacy concerns, have refused to release even basic information, including the number of people infected.
Virginia’s Department of Juvenile Justice initially didn’t release figures. But on April 17, it revealed that more than two dozen kids had tested positive at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center outside Richmond, accounting for a quarter of all reported cases at youth facilities nationwide at that time, according to The Sentencing Project. On Monday, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services said 26 youths have tested positive at the Memphis Center for Success and Independence.
No severe cases were reported at Bon Air, and the majority were asymptomatic, according to a statement from Christopher Moon, the department’s chief physician.
But Rachael Deane, of the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Just Children Program, accused the department in a letter of not providing proper medical care to kids housed at Bon Air. She said one client with symptoms was not tested and another whose swab came back positive was never examined by a doctor. Deane also alleged that the department wasn’t communicating with parents when their kids became infected and that some clients had been denied access to counseling for weeks. She charged that legal rights were also being violated.
“Our clients report they are kept in their rooms for at least 23 hours per day. Although they are supposed to receive one hour per day outside their rooms, this is not always honored,” the letter said. “Even when their free hour is made available, residents are sometimes forced to choose between using it for essential activities, like taking a shower, instead of exercise and recreation.”
Valerie Boykin, director of the Virginia department, said in a statement that Bon Air residents’ parents and loved ones are kept informed in a timely manner.
More than 2.2 million people are incarcerated in the United States — more than anywhere in the world. But the threat posed by COVID-19 extends well beyond the prison walls. Even though most personal visits have been stopped, hundreds of thousands of guards, wardens and other correctional facility administrators go in and out every day, potentially carrying the virus home to their families and communities.
The juvenile population behind bars has been decreasing over the past couple of decades and stood at around 43,000 in 2017, the last available count. Roughly 70 percent were accused of low-level crimes.
It’s unclear exactly how many kids have been released due to the coronavirus, but a new survey by the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation looked at a snapshot of juvenile justice agencies in 30 states housing more than 3,700 youths. The survey found the number of young people in local secure detention centers — where they are held until a court decides whether to confine them until their hearings or allow them to wait at home — dropped 24 percent from March to April, mostly due to fewer admissions. However, the data only represents about one-tenth of counties nationwide.
Nate Balis, director of the foundation’s juvenile justice strategy group, said far more young people should be released to home confinement to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially given that the overall population is only a fraction of the number of adults behind bars.
“Whether or not kids are being released has to do with who’s calling the shots and that is very different from state to state,” he said. “We’re talking about states that may have a couple hundred young people in custody or less.”
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied a petition earlier this month asking it to limit new admissions and allow for the immediate release of some detained youths to prevent the spread of the virus in juvenile facilities.
Maryland’s Court of Appeals denied a similar petition but offered guidance to administrative judges, saying the health and well-being of the juveniles should be taken into consideration during the public health crisis.
The coronavirus doesn’t typically hit young people hard, but it has been shown to attack anyone with underlying health problems. Locked-up children face much higher rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments, along with substance abuse issues.
Up to 70% have mental health problems and many have learning disabilities or are illiterate, with more than half placed in a grade level below their age, according to the nonprofit Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights.
Seven youths and 11 staff have tested positive in juvenile detention centers in Connecticut.
Jibrelle Milner said her 17-year-old son is only getting out of his two-person room at the Manson Youth Institution in New Haven County for one or two hours a day. She said he’s supposed to graduate high school this year, but he’s a special education student who’s only receiving learning packets to complete on his own.
She said he suffers from allergies and asthma and is still recovering from injuries after being shot twice last year. She worries about the virus but is equally concerned about his mental health.
“There’s no visitation, there’s no school going on,” Milner said. “I feel like it’s incarceration on top of incarceration.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen goes missing, search underway

A soldier stationed at Fort Hood went missing last Wednesday , kicking off an extensive search to find her .
@ @ @ @ @ was last seen about 1 p.m. in the parking lot of her barracks at the @ @ @ @ @ said in a press release .
She was wearing a black t-shirt at the time @ @ @ @ @ — including her car keys , room key , wallet and ID card — were @ @ @ @ @ where she had been working before she went missing , the release said .
A @ @ @ @ @ by military members and police and outside authorities .
The soldier is 5 feet 2 @ @ @ @ @ .
She has black hair and brown eyes .
Anyone with information of Guillen ’ @ @ @ @ @ contact Army CID Special Agents .

A soldier stationed at Fort Hood went missing last Wednesday, kicking off an extensive search to find her.
Vanessa Guillen, 20, was last seen about 1 p.m. in the parking lot of her barracks at the Texas base, the army said in a press release. She was wearing a black t-shirt at the time.
Guillen’s belongings — including her car keys, room key, wallet and ID card — were found in the armory room where she had been working before she went missing, the release said.
A joint search is being conducted by military members and police and outside authorities.
The soldier is 5 feet 2 inches and weighs 126 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information of Guillen’s whereabouts is urged to contact Army CID Special Agents.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--British runners stuck home raise millions for charity after London Marathon postponement

The coronavirus lockdown may have meant the London Marathon couldn ’ t take place at the weekend – but it hasn ’ t stopped Brits raising millions of pounds for UK charities .
After it was announced that the famous race would have to be postponed , many of those who were due to take part decided to raise money for their chosen causes anyway .
And yesterday , the brand new 2.6 Challenge raised £4.6million as brilliant Brits ran , swam and walked around their homes and gardens .
Participants picked any physical activity relating to the numbers 2.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a marathon , as well as the date the event would have taken place .
One family even walked a full marathon – on their 11-foot balcony .
Ruth , 87 , Charles , 58 , Deborah , 57 , and James Montlake , 31 , carried out the ten-hour , 4,000-lap challenge to raise funds for research into blood cancer myeloma after Charles was diagnosed with the illness last year .
Others , including runner Frankie Lynch , ran 2.6 miles along the marathon route , even finishing at the world-famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dressed as a birthday cake to run in her back garden .
Actor and comedian Stephen Fry posted a video on social media of him attempting to use a cricket bat to hit a ball into the air 26 times in a row .
He said he would auction the bat , which is signed by members of the England cricket team , in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation .
Lynn Hedgecoe , from Chester in Cheshire , will walk 26 laps around a six-acre field opposite her house in 26 different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised more than £2,000 for the heart screening charity Vital Signs Foundation .
Meanwhile , five-year-old Henry Edwards , from the village of Miskin in South Wales , ran 26 miles across 10 days , raising more than £9,500 for the bereavement charity 2 Wish Upon A Star .
His mother , Katey , 39 , who completed the challenge with him , said : “ I always knew Henry was a good walker , but I never realized he could run the distance so well .
“ We started every day at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out clapping and cheering from their doorsteps .
“ Today was the closest you could get to running the London Marathon without running it , in terms of atmosphere.
” Charity worker Sophie Allen , from Romford in London , swam 2.6km in a small pool in her garden .

The coronavirus lockdown may have meant the London Marathon couldn’t take place at the weekend – but it hasn’t stopped Brits raising millions of pounds for UK charities.
After it was announced that the famous race would have to be postponed, many of those who were due to take part decided to raise money for their chosen causes anyway.
And yesterday, the brand new 2.6 Challenge raised £4.6million as brilliant Brits ran, swam and walked around their homes and gardens.
Participants picked any physical activity relating to the numbers 2.6 or 26, the number of miles in a marathon, as well as the date the event would have taken place.
One family even walked a full marathon – on their 11-foot balcony.
Ruth, 87, Charles, 58, Deborah, 57, and James Montlake, 31, carried out the ten-hour, 4,000-lap challenge to raise funds for research into blood cancer myeloma after Charles was diagnosed with the illness last year.
Others, including runner Frankie Lynch, ran 2.6 miles along the marathon route, even finishing at the world-famous Mall, while mum-of-two Anna Bassil has dressed as a birthday cake to run in her back garden.
Actor and comedian Stephen Fry posted a video on social media of him attempting to use a cricket bat to hit a ball into the air 26 times in a row.
He said he would auction the bat, which is signed by members of the England cricket team, in support of the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
Lynn Hedgecoe, from Chester in Cheshire, will walk 26 laps around a six-acre field opposite her house in 26 different outfits.
The 68-year-old has so far raised more than £2,000 for the heart screening charity Vital Signs Foundation.
Meanwhile, five-year-old Henry Edwards, from the village of Miskin in South Wales, ran 26 miles across 10 days, raising more than £9,500 for the bereavement charity 2 Wish Upon A Star.
His mother, Katey, 39, who completed the challenge with him, said: “I always knew Henry was a good walker, but I never realized he could run the distance so well.
“We started every day at 10am and everyone from the village has come out clapping and cheering from their doorsteps.
“Today was the closest you could get to running the London Marathon without running it, in terms of atmosphere.”
Charity worker Sophie Allen, from Romford in London, swam 2.6km in a small pool in her garden.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Gov. Cuomo convenes industry leaders for economy-restarting think tank

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Remember “ Give My Regards to Broadway ?
” “ Take Me Out to the Ballgame ?
” “ The Sidewalks of New York ?
” “ Take the A Train ?
” Try “ I Love New York.
” “ New York State of Mind.
” How about “ New York , New York , a helluva town ?
” The question is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week the governor got on the horn .
A call to industry ’ s major players — a nice little group who consider Fort Knox pocket change — and who make this greatest town in the whole effing world different from , let ’ s say that great , big , large tourist trap , Whitefish , Mont .
It was a reach-out .
A beginning .
A pack answered our governor ’ s call to solicit opinions .
Submit ideas on how to reopen NYC .
Restart our economy .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries .
Like the hotel group .
Like the museum group repping places such as MoMA , Natural History Museum .
The Broadway group included Scott Rudin , Jimmy Nederlander .
Movies : Tribeca Film Festival ’ s Jane Rosenthal .
TV : CNN ’ s Jeff Zucker .
Networks : Bob Bakish .
Sports : Yankees ’ Hal Steinbrenner , Randy Levine , MSG ’ s Jimmy Dolan , Brooklyn Nets ’ Joseph Tsai , NFL and MLB commissioners .
The calls were to trigger a comeback process .
The beginnings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a finance group .
Blackstone ’ s Bill Mulrow and MacAndrews & Forbes ’ Steven M. Cohen unveil their strategy at tomorrow ’ s meeting of the Association for a Better New York .
My thanks to the president tweeting how I still look like I ’ m only 39 .
But after inhaling all those birthday cakes , that ’ s now the size of my waist .
Just walking on a boulevard , I could make it a one-way street .
Hair not done in eight weeks , fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chopsticks , I ’ d put Rip Van Winkle back to sleep .
Because I couldn ’ t throw a party , I thank Fox-TV ’ s Rosanna Scotto for her piece on me .
I thank Steve Cuozzo for his double-page New York Post story on me .
I thank Town & Country ’ s May issue asking if I ’ m home swanning in Chanel , which I read while awaiting takeout in a raggy sweater awaiting throw-out .
Everyone , realizing I was born when Betsy Ross was sewing something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dolan , “ When your Fifth Avenue candy store reopens , you can throw me a belated blessing.
” And I thank the hundred who rang , from Sen. Chuck Schumer to Comptroller Scott Stringer to a first call in 10 years from Dan Rather , who said : “ If you ever need bail money , you can call on me.
” Meanwhile , be it known the coronavirus stimulus bill isn ’ t all that ’ s getting hairy these days .
While huffing and puffing in quarantine , bluffing Jerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I only mention this because I knew you ’ d want to know … Also meanwhile , you may have read that Matt Damon ’ s quarantining on Ireland ’ s Amalfi Coast .
Gated community .
Pricy neighborhood .
Shooting Ridley Scott ’ s “ The Last Duel ” drama .
He wears a baseball cap .
Smiles .
Does autographs .
Walks around .
Is friendly .
Breezes by the local pub .
Talks to people .
They love him there .
Almost as much as those neighbors do near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As our planet struggles against the pandemic , scientists are asked the big question : “ How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper ?
” And the answer is : “ Nobody knows , it ’ s never happened.
” Only in New York , kids , only in New York .

Remember “Give My Regards to Broadway?” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame?” “The Sidewalks of New York?” “Take the A Train?”
Try “I Love New York.” “New York State of Mind.” How about “New York, New York, a helluva town?”
The question is, how do you restart New York?
The answer is, Andrew Cuomo.
Last week the governor got on the horn. A call to industry’s major players — a nice little group who consider Fort Knox pocket change — and who make this greatest town in the whole effing world different from, let’s say that great, big, large tourist trap, Whitefish, Mont.
It was a reach-out. A beginning. A pack answered our governor’s call to solicit opinions. Submit ideas on how to reopen NYC. Restart our economy.
It was a whole collection of names and industries. Like the hotel group. Like the museum group repping places such as MoMA, Natural History Museum. The Broadway group included Scott Rudin, Jimmy Nederlander. Movies: Tribeca Film Festival’s Jane Rosenthal. TV: CNN’s Jeff Zucker. Networks: Bob Bakish. Sports: Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, MSG’s Jimmy Dolan, Brooklyn Nets’ Joseph Tsai, NFL and MLB commissioners.
The calls were to trigger a comeback process. The beginnings of a think tank.
Plus, there’s a finance group. Blackstone’s Bill Mulrow and MacAndrews & Forbes’ Steven M. Cohen unveil their strategy at tomorrow’s meeting of the Association for a Better New York.
I’m so grateful
My thanks to the president tweeting how I still look like I’m only 39. But after inhaling all those birthday cakes, that’s now the size of my waist. Just walking on a boulevard, I could make it a one-way street. Hair not done in eight weeks, fake eyelashes gone, toenails the length of chopsticks, I’d put Rip Van Winkle back to sleep.
Because I couldn’t throw a party, I thank Fox-TV’s Rosanna Scotto for her piece on me. I thank Steve Cuozzo for his double-page New York Post story on me. I thank Town & Country’s May issue asking if I’m home swanning in Chanel, which I read while awaiting takeout in a raggy sweater awaiting throw-out.
Everyone, realizing I was born when Betsy Ross was sewing something, was gracious. I told Cardinal Dolan, “When your Fifth Avenue candy store reopens, you can throw me a belated blessing.” And I thank the hundred who rang, from Sen. Chuck Schumer to Comptroller Scott Stringer to a first call in 10 years from Dan Rather, who said: “If you ever need bail money, you can call on me.”
Listen, here’s what I’m hearing
Meanwhile, be it known the coronavirus stimulus bill isn’t all that’s getting hairy these days. While huffing and puffing in quarantine, bluffing Jerry Nadler’s grown a full beard. I only mention this because I knew you’d want to know … Also meanwhile, you may have read that Matt Damon’s quarantining on Ireland’s Amalfi Coast. Gated community. Pricy neighborhood. Shooting Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel” drama. He wears a baseball cap. Smiles. Does autographs. Walks around. Is friendly. Breezes by the local pub. Talks to people. They love him there. Almost as much as those neighbors do near his $16.8 million Brooklyn pile.
As our planet struggles against the pandemic, scientists are asked the big question: “How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper?”
And the answer is: “Nobody knows, it’s never happened.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--New York City needs to slash its spending — or face receivership

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council aren ’ t in charge of the city ’ s proposed $ 93.5 billion budget .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature are .
The mayor ’ s first attempt at post-corona budgeting , two weeks ago , was a dud — so the City Council has two months to prove that it can be fiscally responsible .
If City Hall can ’ t come up with a balanced budget by July 1 , the state will have to step in — to avoid a repeat of the 1970s .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on lockdown , Hizzoner has shown no indication that he understands the fiscal severity .
In January , he proposed a pre-corona budget calling for $ 73.9 billion in city-funded spending , 31 percent higher than the final Bloomberg budget , three times the inflation rate .
( The rest of Gotham ’ s spending comes from federal and state grants . )
Post corona , the mayor proposed more than $ 3 billion in cuts , but spending will still be 26 percent higher than in 2014 .
The mayor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that starts July 1 is far from balanced , as required by state law .
The mayor “ balances ” the budget first by low-balling the revenue loss from the lockdown .
The city estimates the loss at $ 7.4 billion over two years .
But with more than 625,000 job losses — 15 percent of the private-economy total — the city is likely to see tax revenues fall by 20 percent , or $ 13 billion .
The other way the mayor balances the budget is by draining reserves — $ 2.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust for future public-sector-retiree health benefits , even though this trust is far from funded , relative to $ 112.5 billion in benefits promised , plus our $ 1.4 billion in general reserves .
If the city doesn ’ t bounce back quickly — and because of the nature of this crisis , there is a chance it won ’ t — we will need that money later .
Draining reserves should be the last resort .
So what should the City Council propose , to conserve cash and preserve options ?
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other civilian workers due in October for work done more than a decade ago under then-expired contracts .
De Blasio engineered this giveaway in his first year , as payback for support .
Defer this payment until 2025 and assess the situation then : If the city ’ s economy has bounced back , fine .
This would save $ 1.5 billion .
Second , freeze wages , pledging to spend no more on them this year than last , saving $ 600 million in just one year , as my colleague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper .
Third , furlough workers who can ’ t do their jobs from home .
A furlough isn ’ t a layoff ; it is temporary , the same as large employers such as Disney have taken .
Workers who make under $ 60,000 will not lose any income , because Congress ’ CARES Act created a special program for this purpose .
( The city could continue to pay health benefits , just as Disney is doing . )
The feds have expanded the safety net here to deal with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t afford to pay staff while the money isn ’ t coming in — including the city .
Thousands of school-safety agents , school aides , school nurses , cafeteria workers and others have critical jobs in normal times but nothing to do now .
They share in the plight faced by many workers in the private economy .
Depending on how gradually New York opens , furloughing 20 percent of the workforce would save $ 500 million a month .
These measures buy time to tackle the bloat of the administrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , the overall city workforce has grown by 10 percent , or 30,000 people .
Tellingly , de Blasio doesn ’ t expect to have to cut many jobs : He expects headcount next year to 332,551 people , just 1,308 fewer than this year .
He can start close to home : Does the mayor ’ s office really need 1,369 people , 412 more than when he took office ?
Does the Department of Education need 25,588 administrators , 2,351 more than in 2014 ?
The NYPD has 1,746 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why does it have cops processing press passes ?
If the council can ’ t balance the budget , the state will have to step in .
Under a 45-year-old law enacted after the ’ 70s brush with bankruptcy , a state-appointed Financial Control Board must certify that the books add up .
If they don ’ t , the FCB must recommend that the state Legislature enact a “ control period , ” a city-budget takeover .
In that case , the state would — or should — make the cuts city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public services and capital spending .
The board is chaired by the governor , with the state and city comptrollers and two financiers rounding out the mayor .
They should be ready to withhold the rubber stamp .
Nicole Gelinas is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow and a contributing editor of its City Journal .
Twitter : @ NicoleGelinas

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council aren’t in charge of the city’s proposed $93.5 billion budget. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature are. The mayor’s first attempt at post-corona budgeting, two weeks ago, was a dud — so the City Council has two months to prove that it can be fiscally responsible. If City Hall can’t come up with a balanced budget by July 1, the state will have to step in — to avoid a repeat of the 1970s.
In the seven weeks since New York City went on lockdown, Hizzoner has shown no indication that he understands the fiscal severity. In January, he proposed a pre-corona budget calling for $73.9 billion in city-funded spending, 31 percent higher than the final Bloomberg budget, three times the inflation rate. (The rest of Gotham’s spending comes from federal and state grants.)
Post corona, the mayor proposed more than $3 billion in cuts, but spending will still be 26 percent higher than in 2014.
The mayor’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 is far from balanced, as required by state law.
The mayor “balances” the budget first by low-balling the revenue loss from the lockdown. The city estimates the loss at $7.4 billion over two years. But with more than 625,000 job losses — 15 percent of the private-economy total — the city is likely to see tax revenues fall by 20 percent, or $13 billion.
The other way the mayor balances the budget is by draining reserves — $2.6 billion out of a $4.7 billion trust for future public-sector-retiree health benefits, even though this trust is far from funded, relative to $112.5 billion in benefits promised, plus our $1.4 billion in general reserves.
If the city doesn’t bounce back quickly — and because of the nature of this crisis, there is a chance it won’t — we will need that money later. Draining reserves should be the last resort.
So what should the City Council propose, to conserve cash and preserve options?
First, halt the final payment to teachers and other civilian workers due in October for work done more than a decade ago under then-expired contracts. De Blasio engineered this giveaway in his first year, as payback for support. Defer this payment until 2025 and assess the situation then: If the city’s economy has bounced back, fine. This would save $1.5 billion.
Second, freeze wages, pledging to spend no more on them this year than last, saving $600 million in just one year, as my colleague Eric Kober will suggest in a forthcoming paper.
Third, furlough workers who can’t do their jobs from home. A furlough isn’t a layoff; it is temporary, the same as large employers such as Disney have taken. Workers who make under $60,000 will not lose any income, because Congress’ CARES Act created a special program for this purpose. (The city could continue to pay health benefits, just as Disney is doing.) The feds have expanded the safety net here to deal with a temporary lockdown and help employers who can’t afford to pay staff while the money isn’t coming in — including the city.
Thousands of school-safety agents, school aides, school nurses, cafeteria workers and others have critical jobs in normal times but nothing to do now. They share in the plight faced by many workers in the private economy. Depending on how gradually New York opens, furloughing 20 percent of the workforce would save $500 million a month.
These measures buy time to tackle the bloat of the administrative workforce under de Blasio. Over seven years, the overall city workforce has grown by 10 percent, or 30,000 people. Tellingly, de Blasio doesn’t expect to have to cut many jobs: He expects headcount next year to 332,551 people, just 1,308 fewer than this year.
He can start close to home: Does the mayor’s office really need 1,369 people, 412 more than when he took office? Does the Department of Education need 25,588 administrators, 2,351 more than in 2014? The NYPD has 1,746 more civilians than seven years ago — so why does it have cops processing press passes?
If the council can’t balance the budget, the state will have to step in. Under a 45-year-old law enacted after the ’70s brush with bankruptcy, a state-appointed Financial Control Board must certify that the books add up.
If they don’t, the FCB must recommend that the state Legislature enact a “control period,” a city-budget takeover. In that case, the state would — or should — make the cuts city officials won’t, to preserve public services and capital spending.
The board is chaired by the governor, with the state and city comptrollers and two financiers rounding out the mayor. They should be ready to withhold the rubber stamp.
Nicole Gelinas is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow and a contributing editor of its City Journal. Twitter: @NicoleGelinas


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Brazil emerges as next potential coronavirus hotspot

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil is emerging as potentially the next big hot spot for the coronavirus amid President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s insistence that it is just a “ little flu ” and that there is no need for the sharp restrictions that have slowed the infection ’ s spread in Europe and the U.S. As some U.S. states and European countries moved gradually Monday to ease their limits on movement and commerce , the intensifying outbreak in Brazil — Latin America ‘ s biggest country , with 211 million people — pushed hospitals to the breaking point and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have all the conditions here for the pandemic to become much more serious , ” said Paulo Brandão , a virologist at the University of Sao Paulo .
Brazil officially reported about 4,500 deaths and almost 67,000 confirmed infections .
But the true numbers there , as in many other countries , are believed to be vastly higher given the lack of testing and the many people without severe symptoms who haven ’ t sought hospital care .
Some scientists said over 1 million in Brazil are probably infected .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into winter , which can worsen respiratory illnesses .
The country ’ s health ministry said that the system for accounting for deaths is “ robust ” and has captured all but a few cases .
Worldwide , the death toll neared 210,000 , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
The number of dead in the U.S. topped 55,000 — close to the 58,000 U.S. troops killed during the Vietnam War .
Italy , Britain , Spain and France accounted for more than 20,000 deaths each .
— In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw up new guidelines for how restaurants , schools , churches and businesses can safely reopen .
The draft under consideration included suggestions such as closing break rooms at offices , using disposable menus in restaurants and having students eat lunch in their classrooms .
— British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to work after a bout with the virus and warned strongly against easing his own country ’ s lockdown too soon : “ I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life.
” — In an unprecedented move , New York canceled its Democratic presidential primary , set for June 23 , since Bernie Sanders has already conceded the nomination to Joe Biden .
In Brazil , Bolsonaro has disputed the seriousness of the coronavirus and said people need to resume their lives to prevent an economic meltdown .
But most state governors in the country have adopted restrictions to slow the spread and pushed people to stay at home .
In mid-April , Bolsonaro fired his popular health minister after a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , replacing him with an advocate for reopening the economy .
Residents protested , leaning out their windows to bang pots and pans .
Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and at least four other major cities have warned that their hospital systems are on the verge of collapse or too overwhelmed to take any more patients .
Officials in Sao Paulo — the largest city in South America , in a tightly packed metropolitan area of over 21 million residents , many of them living in poverty — have issued death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 236 people who succumbed at home , double the number before the outbreak , according to the SAMU paramedic service .
Manaus , an Amazon city of 1.8 million , recorded 142 deaths on Sunday , the most yet , including 41 who died at home .
In the main cemetery , workers have been digging mass graves .
Brazil ’ s funeral industry warned last week that the city was running out of coffins and “ there could soon be corpses left on corners.
” In the U.S. , the governors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will join their three West Coast counterparts in coordinating their reopenings .
West Virginia ’ s governor unveiled an aggressive plan to reopen his state ’ s economy based on a loosening of previously announced testing benchmarks .
In Georgia , where Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp has moved decisively to let businesses reopen , restaurants received the go-ahead to resume dine-in service as long as they follow certain restrictions , including keeping tables 6 feet apart .
At Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits in Columbus , Georgia , eight regulars showed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and breakfast and “ chatted at each other across the room , ” manager Alesha Webster said .
But only 10 customers could be inside at a time , well below the capacity of 45 .
Alex Brounstein , owner of the Atlanta-based chain Grindhouse Killer Burgers , had no plans to reopen right away .
“ You ’ re talking about people putting their mouths on things in your restaurant .
You now have dirty dishes going back into your kitchen .
To me , it ’ s just completely illogical , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play an important role in helping countries ease their restrictions .
Many countries , including Italy , France , Switzerland and Britain , are working on virus-tracking apps and other means of reducing the labor-intensive task of tracing infected people ’ s contacts .
In Australia , with about 80 COVID-19 deaths , 1.1 million of the country ’ s 26 million people downloaded a new contract-tracing app within 12 hours of its becoming available .
In another encouraging sign amid the gloom , New York state reported 337 deaths for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a high of nearly 800 almost three weeks ago .
And Italy registered its lowest day-to-day number of new cases of COVID-19 since practically the first day the country was put under lockdown in early March .

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil is emerging as potentially the next big hot spot for the coronavirus amid President Jair Bolsonaro’s insistence that it is just a “little flu” and that there is no need for the sharp restrictions that have slowed the infection’s spread in Europe and the US.
As some US states and European countries moved gradually Monday to ease their limits on movement and commerce, the intensifying outbreak in Brazil — Latin America‘s biggest country, with 211 million people — pushed hospitals to the breaking point and left victims dead at home.
“We have all the conditions here for the pandemic to become much more serious,” said Paulo Brandão, a virologist at the University of Sao Paulo.
Brazil officially reported about 4,500 deaths and almost 67,000 confirmed infections. But the true numbers there, as in many other countries, are believed to be vastly higher given the lack of testing and the many people without severe symptoms who haven’t sought hospital care.
Some scientists said over 1 million in Brazil are probably infected. And the crisis could escalate as the country heads into winter, which can worsen respiratory illnesses.
The country’s health ministry said the system for accounting for deaths is “robust” and has captured all but a few cases.
Worldwide, the death toll neared 210,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The number of dead in the US topped 55,000 — close to the 58,000 US troops killed during the Vietnam War. Italy, Britain, Spain and France accounted for more than 20,000 deaths each.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Endeavor looking to raise $250 million amid coronavirus

Ultimate Fighting Championship is draining its cash reserves to fund ...

Hollywood powerhouse Endeavor is looking to raise $250 million by June in a bid to offset the crushing blow dealt to its show-business properties by the coronavirus pandemic, The Post has learned.
As reported by The Post, the conglomerate headed by super agent Ari Emanuel — which owns half of Ultimate Fighting Championship in addition to controlling the William Morris talent agency and the Miss Universe pageant — had been banking on getting a crucial $150 million dividend payment from UFC this year.
But that windfall — which would have allowed Endeavor to offer a stock buyback program to employees and rebuild the company after it pulled its IPO in September — got canceled last month as the coronavirus spurred a slew of cancellations on UFC’s calendar, sources told The Post.
The fallout from the coronavirus has ground Endeavor’s business to a halt, and now Emanuel, who inspired the pushy, bombastic lead character, Ari Gold, on HBO’s “Entourage,” is in need of cash to keep the lights on and is turning to private equity firm Silver Lake, which already owns a 42 percent stake in the business, sources said.
Silver Lake is speaking to other institutions about investing and could also invest itself, said a source with knowledge, adding that the $250 million figure was a round number it was presenting to potential investors. Both Silver Lake and Endeavor declined to comment.
A source close to Endeavor said while the private equity firm isn’t planning to increase its stake in Endeavor, it’s going to “support the company financially if it has any liquidity issues.”
The news comes after Endeavor said Wednesday that it will furlough or cut the pay of 2,500 employees, which make up one-third of Endeavor’s 7,500-person workforce. According to sources, those stark actions will save Endeavor about $100 million for the year, including salary reduction that will last through 2020 in some cases.
Insiders said any money raised through cost savings — and from Silver Lake — will go toward basic company functions, such as payroll and rent. By June, all of Endeavor’s cost-cutting will have been completed and there should be better visibility into when different parts of the business will open back up, a source said, adding that plans for the $250 million investment could change based on those factors.
Endeavor rep Christian Muirhead declined to comment on any fundraising plans, but addressed the cutbacks in a statement.
“The long-term prospects for Endeavor remain unchanged, but like other companies, we are taking a variety of actions to mitigate the impact of this pandemic,” said Muirhead. “Since late March, we have been rolling out cost-saving measures in phases across our companies and geographies and intend to complete most of this process in late May. Approximately a third of our population will be impacted by reduced pay for reduced work, furlough, or position elimination, with the majority affected by reduced work and furlough.”
Starting Monday, higher ups at Endeavor began informing employees about whether their jobs have been eliminated entirely, temporarily suspended, or whether they will have to take every other week off and suffer a 50-percent reduction in salary, The Post has learned.
People being asked to come in every other week are expected to have to do so for between two and six months, sources said. Their salary reductions, however, will remain in place until Dec. 31 of this year — even if coronavirus-related work restrictions are lifted and employees come back to work full-time.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Gov. Cuomo says New York may need federal help to pay unemployment benefits

Coronavirus is expected to crush New York ’ s economy for years ...

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo admitted Monday that the Empire State could run out of state funds to pay unemployment benefits to New Yorkers should the coronavirus pandemic continue to ravage the economy.
“No, that’s why federal government has to provide funding, we don’t have money,” he told reporters during his daily briefing in Albany.
“It depends on how many people moving forward asks for unemployment benefit and how long it goes on, but it’s in the billions of dollars.”
New York has paid out $3.1 billion in unemployment benefits since March 9 and April 22, as over 1.4 million individuals have submitted applications for unemployment benefits, according to the State Department of Labor.
Meanwhile state budget officials reported in a new analysis that the recession caused by COVID-19 could be worse than the Sept. 11 attacks and the Great Recession of 2008.
The state economy stands to lose $243 billion directly tied to losses from the pandemic, according to the State Division of Budget.
The DOL also experienced a security breach over the weekend, impacting around three dozen individuals — which was news to Cuomo.
“I have not heard that about that at all, has anyone heard about that?” the governor asked, before his top aide Melissa DeRosa explained to reporters.
“So there were, I think it was three dozen people who — it was a human error, it wasn’t malicious — where two pieces of paper were stuck together and sent, those people have been contracted and the ones who have not, will be been contacted today,”
“They’re going to receive free credit reporting surveillance for a year and making sure to process those claims as a priority. But yes, it was. It was human error, it was not malicious. And it’s being dealt with,” she added.
A DOL spokeswoman said the issue was discovered Saturday night and on Sunday morning the agency “began contacting those who were impacted.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--NFL considering major schedule changes to 2020 season

Teams keep secret their NFL draft boards , but The Post ...

The NFL might be ready to admit this coming season could be as unprecedented as the virtual draft that concluded Saturday.
Schedule-makers are in the process of designing several versions of the 2020 slate, some of which include a Super Bowl on Feb. 28, the regular season starting as late as Thursday, Oct. 15, and a season without bye weeks or a Pro Bowl, according to Sports Business Daily.
It marks a striking but also unsurprising about-face in the league’s thinking since the end of March, when NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash said he was “planning on having a full season,” and “in the same way” as previous years. Since then, commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league is prepared to make changes as the coronavirus pandemic has left many professional leagues around the world, including the NFL, with uncertain futures.
The schedules are expected to be released early next month and include the standard 16-game, 17-week slate but will allow for flexibility, if necessary.
One version would delay the season’s start by up to five weeks while pushing back the Super Bowl, currently scheduled for Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, by as much as three weeks.
Two weeks of early-season games could be moved to the back of the season, while a third week would feature two opponents with the same bye weeks. That would eliminate each team’s one bye week.
It’s unclear whether these ideas have been discussed with the players union. The two sides recently ratified a new collective bargaining agreement through the 2030 season.
Another change would include getting rid of the frivolous Pro Bowl, which takes place the weekend between the conference championships and the Super Bowl.
The league recently announced it would officially expand its playoffs to include 14 teams, two wild-cards for each conference beginning this postseason.
Not mentioned in the report is whether the preseason or five scheduled international games still would be played under any of these scenarios.
The NFL usually begins its regular season the weekend following Labor Day, which means this season’s openers would have fallen on Sept. 10 with the regular season ending Jan. 3.
An announcement from the league next month isn’t guaranteed, according to Sports Business Daily, because the league is worried about the backlash it could face for announcing return plans with so many unknowns — even as states have begun to loosen social distancing restrictions.
Team facilities have remained closed, but over the past two weeks, teams have begun a virtual offseason program, which the league says includes classroom instruction, workouts and non-football education programs.
This past weekend, the NFL held a largely successful virtual draft that pleased sports fans desperate for entertainment.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--UK doctor of nearly 50 years dead from coronavirus

Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Masson died on April 16 , aged 78 , having worked in the NHS for 47 years .
He founded Milton Road Surgery in Grays , Essex , in 1985 and worked there until 2017 , after which he did locum work across Thurrock and Basildon .
His family described him as an “ honest , kind and generous man who was deeply respected ” .
They added he was someone who “ would have wanted to practice medicine for many more years to come ” , and said he last worked on March 12 and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end last month , when he unfortunately contracted Covid-19 ” .
They described him as “ an excellent clinician whose drive to constantly improve his clinical skills and knowledge with passion and enthusiasm will remain with us all as a reminder to always try to be the best ” .
The family added : “ Dr .
Masson was an honest , kind and generous man who was deeply respected by anyone who was privileged to cross paths with him .
He was jovial , funny and kind , always wanting to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was well-known locally and recognised as a “ dedicated , determined , positive individual who would always do his utmost to help in all endeavors ” , they added .
The family thanked the staff at University College London Hospital who “ fought tirelessly ” to try to save him .
Dr. Anil Kallil , fellow GP and chairman of NHS Thurrock CCG , said : “ We were very sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Masson .
He was a well-respected and liked GP in Thurrock , with a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the borough caring for patients and providing support .
“ Later he provided GP services in both Thurrock and Basildon .
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Masson for his commitment and passion and our condolences to his family for their loss.
” Dr. Adegboyega Tayo , chairman of NHS Basildon and Brentwood CCG , said : “ In the latter part of his career Dr. Masson has been a valued member of the team at the Murree Medical Practice and has been able to support patients in Basildon with his wisdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career of service in the NHS .
“ He was much respected and a well-liked member of the primary care community .
He will be missed by all those who knew him.
” Dr Masson completed his medical training in India and also worked as a doctor in East Africa .
He worked in different parts of the UK before settling in Essex in 1975 .

Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Masson died on April 16, aged 78, having worked in the NHS for 47 years.
He founded Milton Road Surgery in Grays, Essex, in 1985 and worked there until 2017, after which he did locum work across Thurrock and Basildon.
His family described him as an “honest, kind and generous man who was deeply respected”.
They added he was someone who “would have wanted to practice medicine for many more years to come”, and said he last worked on March 12 and that his career “came to an unexpected end last month, when he unfortunately contracted Covid-19”.
They described him as “an excellent clinician whose drive to constantly improve his clinical skills and knowledge with passion and enthusiasm will remain with us all as a reminder to always try to be the best”.
The family added: “Dr. Masson was an honest, kind and generous man who was deeply respected by anyone who was privileged to cross paths with him. He was jovial, funny and kind, always wanting to make the best of any situation.”
He was well-known locally and recognised as a “dedicated, determined, positive individual who would always do his utmost to help in all endeavors”, they added.
The family thanked the staff at University College London Hospital who “fought tirelessly” to try to save him.
Dr. Anil Kallil, fellow GP and chairman of NHS Thurrock CCG, said: “We were very sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Masson. He was a well-respected and liked GP in Thurrock, with a significant contribution over the last 30 years in the borough caring for patients and providing support.
“Later he provided GP services in both Thurrock and Basildon. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Masson for his commitment and passion and our condolences to his family for their loss.”
Dr. Adegboyega Tayo, chairman of NHS Basildon and Brentwood CCG, said: “In the latter part of his career Dr. Masson has been a valued member of the team at the Murree Medical Practice and has been able to support patients in Basildon with his wisdom built over such a long and valued career of service in the NHS.
“He was much respected and a well-liked member of the primary care community. He will be missed by all those who knew him.”
Dr Masson completed his medical training in India and also worked as a doctor in East Africa.
He worked in different parts of the UK before settling in Essex in 1975.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--We’re destroying hospitals in the name of fighting the coronavirus

More than 1,000 cancer surgeries have been delayed in New ...

We had to destroy the hospitals to save them.
You could be forgiven for thinking that’s the upshot of the coronavirus lockdowns that have suspended elective surgeries and generally discouraged people from going to hospitals.
Many hospitals and health centers are getting pushed near, or over, the financial edge. At a time when we feared that hospitals would get overwhelmed by a surge of patients, they have been emptied out. At a time when we thought medical personnel would be at a premium, they are being idled all over the country.
We are experiencing an epidemic that bizarrely — and in part because of the choices of policy-makers — has created a surfeit of hospital beds and an excess of doctors and nurses.
That doesn’t hold true everywhere, of course. Hospitals in New York City and parts of New Jersey have been tested to their limits. But throughout much of the country, hospitals are drastically underutilized, both because states have banned elective procedures and because people have been afraid to show up.
One reason that we didn’t want hospitals to get overrun by COVID-19 patients is that we’d crowd out everyone else needing care. But we’ve ended up crowding out many people needing care as a deliberate choice — even where COVID-19 surges haven’t happened and probably never will.
Drastic measures were called for when the novel coronavirus hit our shores and began to spread out of control, especially in urban areas particularly susceptible to the pandemic.
It is understandable that we wanted hospitals to prepare for the worst and preserve and muster the equipment necessary to caring safely for infected people. Hospitals themselves can become a vector for the spread of the virus, so keeping away people who didn’t absolutely need to go was a reasonable impulse.
But this is a case where the cure may really have been worse than the disease — or at least has created its own crisis.
Elective surgeries are a major source of revenue for hospitals, which have taken an enormous hit as they have disappeared, often in response to state orders.
West Tennessee Healthcare, based in Jackson, Tenn., lost $18 million in March after the state prohibited elective surgeries. It furloughed 1,100 out of a 7,000-person staff, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Summit Healthcare in Arizona expects as much as a 50 percent drop in revenue after the Grand Canyon State’s ban on elective surgeries. Philadelphia-based Tower Health, also dealing with a 50 percent drop in revenue, furloughed 1,000 employees out of 14,000.
The examples go on and on and on. Even hospitals in New York state, an epicenter for the virus, are feeling the pinch. Catholic Health and Kaleida Health in Buffalo are furloughing workers. So is Mohawk Valley Health System in Utica, Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca and Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Elective surgeries aren’t necessarily what you think. As a piece in The Atlantic pointed out, they aren’t just knee replacements. They include procedures for serious illnesses like cancer. A recent New York Times story was headlined “The Pandemic’s Hidden Victims: Sick or Dying, but Not From the Virus.” It led with the story of a Rutgers University professor who couldn’t get treatment for the recurrence of his blood cancer.
As with the lockdowns in general, it isn’t clear how much of the reduced traffic in the hospitals has been the result of people changing their behavior on their own based on fear of the virus — and how much has been the result of state edicts. But it’s certainly true that the prohibitions on elective surgeries — more than 30 governors had issued some form of them as of late April — were too clumsy and sweeping, and not geographically selective enough.
They can’t be loosened up fast enough. In retrospect, they fail the cardinal rule of health care: First, do no harm.
Rich Lowry is the author of “The Case for Nationalism: How It Made Us Powerful, United and Free.” Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Bill Gates’ ridiculous denial on China’s coronavirus coverup

Bill Gates believes covering up a massive outbreak is China “ doing a lot of things right at the beginning.
@ @ @ @ @ Sunday , the billionaire rejected claims that China , as host Fareed Zakaria put it @ @ @ @ @ of the world.
” “ Well , I don ’ t think that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t affect how we act today , ” Gates replied .
“ Like @ @ @ @ @ first shows up , they can look back and see where they missed some things.
@ @ @ @ @ s government punished doctors for reporting that a SARS-like virus was loose .
And it @ @ @ @ @ the virus spreading human-to-human .
Talk of China ’ s cover-up is a “ distraction @ @ @ @ @ Sorry : Beijing ’ s intentional failures matter plenty .

Bill Gates believes covering up a massive outbreak is China “doing a lot of things right at the beginning.” Yikes!
On CNN Sunday, the billionaire rejected claims that China, as host Fareed Zakaria put it, “deceived the rest of the world.”
“Well, I don’t think that’s a timely thing because it doesn’t affect how we act today,” Gates replied. “Like any country where a virus first shows up, they can look back and see where they missed some things.”
Missed? China’s government punished doctors for reporting that a SARS-like virus was loose. And it lied to the world about the virus spreading human-to-human.
Talk of China’s cover-up is a “distraction,” Gates said. Sorry: Beijing’s intentional failures matter plenty.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Council members call for NYPD hiring freeze instead of education cuts

City council members joined parents and activists Monday in calling for an NYPD hiring freeze and other measures to ease Department of Education cuts amidst the coronavirus crisis .
The coalition ripped the DOE budget cuts of over $ 800 million and proposed other cuts including a freeze on staffing at the NYPD , according to a statement .
Council members Brad Lander and Mark Treyger lobbied for alternate budget slashing measures , including an immediate halt on cop hires .
Lander argued that the DOE is facing disproportionate cuts when compared to the NYPD .
“ If we must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , counselors , and social workers , then we should do the same at the NYPD , ” he said in a statement .
Treyger also pushed for City Hall to mitigate cuts to the nation ’ s largest school system .
“ We can not impose more pain and loss on them by cutting direct services , unless we have turned over every stone to find other areas to cut , ” said Treyger , the Chair of the Committee on Education .
Mayor de Blasio has taken a sickle to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and drawing opposition from activist groups .
Hizzoner has argued that the city ’ s shutdown has gutted revenue and ripped open gaping budget shortfalls that require painful cuts across departments .
Activists also called for a check on the DOE ’ s administrative spending and ballooning outlays on consultants .
“ The Mayor wants to make egregious cuts to schools instead of eliminating wasteful contracts of over $ 700 million for busing we ’ re not using , professional development that ’ s not happening , and consultants who are doing who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , founder of Class Size Matters , a parental advocacy group .
Shino Tanikawa of Community Education Council 2 , a parental advisory board , argued that kids traumatized by the pandemic will soon be in dire need of services .
“ All students will require a great deal of social emotional support in the coming months and well into the next school year , ” she said .
“ We must refocus our priority on education and wellbeing of the most vulnerable students .
”

A city council member joined parents and activists Monday in calling for an NYPD hiring freeze and other measures to ease Department of Education cuts amidst the coronavirus crisis.
In a press release, the group ripped the DOE budget cuts of over $800 million and proposed other cuts including a freeze on staffing at the NYPD, according to a statement.
Council member Brad Lander lobbied for alternate budget slashing measures, including an immediate halt on cop hires.
Lander argued that the DOE is facing disproportionate cuts when compared to the NYPD.
“If we must freeze hires and not replace retiring teachers, counselors, and social workers, then we should do the same at the NYPD,” he said in a statement.
Council member Mark Treyger, who also spoke during the Zoom press conference on DOE cuts, told The Post Tuesday that he does not back Lander’s position on halting police hires.
“I do not endorse Brad’s proposal,” he said. “My focus has been and continues to be the layers of fat within DOE spending and within Thrive spending.
Treyger has called for prioritizing more social workers, counselors, and nurses in city schools.
“We cannot impose more pain and loss on them by cutting direct services, unless we have turned over every stone to find other areas to cut,” said Treyger, the Chair of the Committee on Education.
Mayor de Blasio has taken a sickle to the DOE budget, lopping off entire programs and drawing opposition from activist groups.
Hizzoner has argued that the city’s shutdown has gutted revenue and ripped open gaping budget shortfalls that require painful cuts across departments.
Activists also called for a check on the DOE’s administrative spending and ballooning outlays on consultants.
“The Mayor wants to make egregious cuts to schools instead of eliminating wasteful contracts of over $700 million for busing we’re not using, professional development that’s not happening, and consultants who are doing who knows what,” said Leonie Haimson, founder of Class Size Matters, a parental advocacy group.
Shino Tanikawa of Community Education Council 2, a parental advisory board, argued that kids traumatized by the pandemic will soon be in dire need of services.
“All students will require a great deal of social emotional support in the coming months and well into the next school year,” she said. “We must refocus our priority on education and wellbeing of the most vulnerable students.”


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Doing right by kids — by giving them the grades they’ve earned

In stark contrast to the regular public system and even many private schools , the Success Academy charter network announced Monday that it will continue giving its students grades this year .
Because it isn ’ t fair not to .
Wrote network CEO Eva Moskowitz to student families : “ The world has fundamentally changed , but the benefits and requisites of education have not .
Now is not the time to throw out standards and give up on kids.
” Some systems are ditching grades this year “ in the name of equity , ” she noted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be far from fair.
” In fact , “ True equity honors the integrity of learning .
It ensures accountability for students and educators alike .
A child who studies and achieves mastery deserves an A , and the student who struggles but overcomes and earns a hard-fought B deserves that B … “ At Success , we believe it would be an abdication of our responsibility to treat grades like candy and to have no standards for ourselves or your children.
” The SA schools shifted to remote learning days before Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SA kids didn ’ t lose a week of classes while the network figured out how to do it .
Indeed , expert Stephen Wilson of the Center for Reinventing Public Education embedded in the SA remote-learning system for two days early on , and saw great success .
Meanwhile , de Blasio ’ s schools are going pass/fail for grades K-8 , as some call for all seniors to graduate automatically — which would make most diplomas worthless .
The devotion to excellence of the adults and the kids at Success helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors all won college acceptance , though nearly all these students are low-income .
But that excellence is an embarrassment to the special interests that run the regular public schools and fail to deliver for the same kinds of children .
Those interests do all they can to stop Success .
Even now , the city Department of Education is using the pandemic as an excuse to delay the long approval process for the temporary siting of new middle school space in Queens for Success this fall .
That leaves hundreds of families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just declaring that “ all children achieved mastery , ” writes Moscowitz , “ would cheat students with real gaps of the education they deserve.
” Sadly , cheating such kids is standard operating procedure for the city ’ s regular public schools .

In stark contrast to the regular public system and even many private schools, the Success Academy charter network announced Monday that it will continue giving its students grades this year.
Because it isn’t fair not to.
Wrote network CEO Eva Moskowitz to student families: “The world has fundamentally changed, but the benefits and requisites of education have not. Now is not the time to throw out standards and give up on kids.”
Some systems are ditching grades this year “in the name of equity,” she noted, “but the outcomes for children will be far from fair.”
In fact, “True equity honors the integrity of learning. It ensures accountability for students and educators alike. A child who studies and achieves mastery deserves an A, and the student who struggles but overcomes and earns a hard-fought B deserves that B …
“At Success, we believe it would be an abdication of our responsibility to treat grades like candy and to have no standards for ourselves or your children.”
The SA schools shifted to remote learning days before Mayor Bill de Blasio followed suit — and SA kids didn’t lose a week of classes while the network figured out how to do it. Indeed, expert Stephen Wilson of the Center for Reinventing Public Education embedded in the SA remote-learning system for two days early on, and saw great success.
Meanwhile, de Blasio’s schools are going pass/fail for grades K-8, as some call for all seniors to graduate automatically — which would make most diplomas worthless.
The devotion to excellence of the adults and the kids at Success helps explain why this year’s graduating seniors all won college acceptance, though nearly all these students are low-income.
But that excellence is an embarrassment to the special interests that run the regular public schools and fail to deliver for the same kinds of children. Those interests do all they can to stop Success. Even now, the city Department of Education is using the pandemic as an excuse to delay the long approval process for the temporary siting of new middle school space in Queens for Success this fall. That leaves hundreds of families on edge about their kids’ future.
Just declaring that “all children achieved mastery,” writes Moscowitz, “would cheat students with real gaps of the education they deserve.” Sadly, cheating such kids is standard operating procedure for the city’s regular public schools.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--GM boss Mary Barra’s $21.6M salary last year was actually a pay cut

General Motors CEO Mary Barra received a compensation package worth $ 21.6 million in 2019 , 1.1 percent less than the previous year , according to the US automaker ’ s proxy statement released on Monday .
Barra ’ s pay package included a salary of $ 2.1 million , stock awards worth $ 12.14 million , options worth more than $ 3.5 million and a performance award worth $ 2.73 million , according to the proxy .
Her salary remained unchanged from 2018 , while her performance award was 38.7 percent lower from 2018 .
Barra ’ s total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , below the $ 21.87 million she received in 2018 .
Barra , GM ’ s chairman and CEO , was paid $ 21.96 million in 2017 .
GM said Barra ’ s pay was 203 times that of the median company employee .
The company on Monday suspended its quarterly cash dividend on its common stock and its share buybacks to save cash in the face of the coronavirus crisis that has severely hurt global automobile sales .
GM , which has been forced to shut some production in North America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last month that compensation of board members will be reduced by 20 percent , while executives will see a cut of 25 percent to 30 percent .

General Motors CEO Mary Barra received a compensation package worth $21.6 million in 2019, 1.1 percent less than the previous year, according to the US automaker’s proxy statement released on Monday.
Barra’s pay package included a salary of $2.1 million, stock awards worth $12.14 million, options worth more than $3.5 million and a performance award worth $2.73 million, according to the proxy. Her salary remained unchanged from 2018, while her performance award was 38.7 percent lower from 2018.
Barra’s total compensation package was valued at $21.63 million, below the $21.87 million she received in 2018. Barra, GM’s chairman and CEO, was paid $21.96 million in 2017.
GM said Barra’s pay was 203 times that of the median company employee.
The company on Monday suspended its quarterly cash dividend on its common stock and its share buybacks to save cash in the face of the coronavirus crisis that has severely hurt global automobile sales.
GM, which has been forced to shut some production in North America along with other carmakers, had also said last month that compensation of board members will be reduced by 20 percent, while executives will see a cut of 25 percent to 30 percent.


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald do a boozy ‘Lunch’

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Theater fans were delighted to watch Meryl Streep , Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald merrily imbibe while paying tribute to Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim , who turned 90 last month .
The divine trio — clad in coronavirus-appropriate bathrobes — luxuriated while crooning the classic “ The Ladies Who Lunch ” from the 1970 show “ Company.
” The ladies were ready with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll Drink to That , ” with cocktails , whiskey and wine .
At one point , Streep slugged Scotch straight from a bottle .
“ # Meryl Streep is my # Quarantine spirit animal , ” one twitter user wrote while another commented : “ Meryl Streep drinking that bottle is my mood postquarantine.
” “ Meryl Streep , Audra MacDonald and Christine Baranski singing Sondheim over Zoom in their bathrobes is , and I can not stress this enough , the ultimate mood .
# sondheim90concert , ” wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein crooning “ It Takes Two ” from “ Into the Woods ” and Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford singing “ Move On ” from “ Sunday in the Park with George.
” “ Take Me To The World : A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration ” was not only a virtual hip hip hooray for Sondheim but also raised funds for the organization ASTEP ( Artists Striving to End Poverty ) .

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“I’ll drink to that!”
Theater fans were delighted to watch Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald merrily imbibe while paying tribute to Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who turned 90 last month.
The divine trio — clad in coronavirus-appropriate bathrobes — luxuriated while crooning the classic “The Ladies Who Lunch” from the 1970 show “Company.”
The ladies were ready with props for the immortal line, “I’ll Drink to That,” with cocktails, whiskey and wine. At one point, Streep slugged Scotch straight from a bottle.
“#Meryl Streep is my #Quarantine spirit animal,” one twitter user wrote while another commented: “Meryl Streep drinking that bottle is my mood postquarantine.”
“Meryl Streep, Audra MacDonald and Christine Baranski singing Sondheim over Zoom in their bathrobes is, and I can not stress this enough, the ultimate mood. #sondheim90concert,” wrote another.
The tribute concert also featured Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein crooning “It Takes Two” from “Into the Woods” and Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford singing “Move On” from “Sunday in the Park with George.”
“Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration” was not only a virtual hip hip hooray for Sondheim but also raised funds for the organization ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty).


newyorkpost--2020-04-27--Where Cam Newton fits in slowing NFL quarterback shuffle

Jameis Winston is sticking around the NFC South .
The former ...

With the news Jameis Winston, displaced by Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, is heading to the Saints to back up Drew Brees, one more seat in the game of NFL musical chairs filled up.
After an initial flurry of moves when free agency opened last month, the music is slowing down. Six quarterbacks who have been or are ticketed to be starters have found new homes; a quartet of QBs are in limbo and four more are staying put. Here’s a look at the current state of the quarterback shuffle:
QBs In New Places
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 42-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion, who spent the past 20 seasons with the Patriots, signed a two-year deal worth $50 million, all of it guaranteed, and includes another $9 million in incentives.
Brady inherits a roster with quality skill-position talent around him — stronger and deeper that what he had in New England last season. Receivers Mike Evans (67 receptions and 8 TDs) and Chris Godwin (86 catches, 15.5-yard average and 9 TDs) both were voted to the Pro Bowl. And now he has Rob Gronkowski back.
Brady has produced five times as many playoff wins, six times as many Super Bowl wins and seven times as many 30-TD seasons as all the QBs in Buccaneers history. He could lose his next 283 starts and still have a better career record than the entire Bucs’ franchise.
Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts
After 16 years with the Chargers, the 38-year-old Rivers signed a one-year, $25 million contract and will take over for Jacoby Brissett. Rivers is reunited with Colts head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni, both of whom worked with him in San Diego. He’ll have weapons such as T.Y. Hilton, second-round pick Michael Pittman and running back Marlon Mack. He’s coming off one of his worst years (23 TDs, 20 INTs, 4,615 yards with a 66.0 percent completion rate), but they’ll likely improve playing behind a better offensive line than he had in LA.
Teddy Bridgwater, Carolina Panthers
He was signed to a three-year, $63 million contract and will take over for Cam Newton. The former first-round pick of the Vikings now gets his first legitimate chance as a starter since a major knee injury cost him almost two full seasons (2016-17). Bridgewater is the centerpiece to the complete rebuild being done by new head coach Matt Rhule, whose offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, worked with Bridgewater during Brady’s two years as an offensive assistant with the Saints before taking over as LSU’s passing game coordinator last year. Bridgewater is 22-12 as a starter, good for the seventh-best winning percentage among QBs with at least 30 starts since 2014.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
No longer needed in Tampa Bay once Brady arrived, Winston will stay in the NFC South as the backup to Drew Brees. Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, led the league with 5,109 passing yards and 33 TD passes last season, but he also threw 33 INTs to become the first to ever throw 30 TDs and 30 INTs in the same season. Winston replaces Bridgewater as Brees’ backup. Bridgewater went 5-0 last season when Brees was out with an injury.
Nick Foles, Chicago Bears
He had a horrible year in Jacksonville, where he was injured in his first game after signing a massive contract and then went 0-4 when he was healthy before being benched. So, Foles made $30 million in 371 days with the Jags and never led them to a single win. Foles, though, is the last QB to win a playoff game at Soldier Field — beating the Bears two seasons ago en route to leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. Foles rejoins Matt Nagy, the Bears head coach who was with Foles in both Kansas City and Philadelphia.
Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders
After his failed run with the Titans, who picked him second overall in 2015, Mariota is a Raider, expected to play behind starter Derek Carr, who wasn’t exactly in top form last year. Mariota went 29-32 as a starter and never eclipsed 3,500 passing yards in a season. He was benched for Ryan Tannehill last year after a 2-4 start.
QBs In Limbo
Cam Newton
One of the NFL’s enigmas has been usurped as the Panthers starter by newly signed Teddy Bridgewater. Newton was the NFL MVP in 2015 when he led the Panthers to the Super Bowl, but Carolina has been to the playoffs only once since. Newton, who holds most of Carolina’s career passing records, missed 14 games last season with a Lisfranc injury and the final two games of the 2018 season with a shoulder injury that also required surgery. He turns 31 in May and his health is a concern, which has likely prevented any team from signing him yet, because no medical evaluations have been able to be done during the COVID-19 crisis.
Jacoby Brissett
He just lost his job in Indianapolis to newly signed Philip Rivers. Brissett, who was given a two-year, $30 million contract extension before last season, went a 5-2 in the first seven games in 2019, during which he threw 14 TDs and only 3 INTs. Then he injured his left knee in Week 9 and threw for more than 200 yards in only two of his final seven games with only 4 TD passes in a disappointing 7-9 season. Though the Colts didn’t move him during the draft, it is possible they trade him later in the offseason. Maybe the Patriots, who drafted him before trading him to the Colts, would be interested.
Mitchell Trubisky
He appears to have lost his job to newly acquired Nick Foles, though the Bears may spin it as an open competition. The Bears traded up to draft Trubisky No. 2 overall over Patrick Mahomes and Deshuan Watson in 2017. Chicago averaged just 17.5 points per game and 4.7 yards per play, the fourth- and second-worst marks in the league, respectively, while tying for last in net yards per pass attempt (5.3) last season. It’s likely Trubisky stays in Chicago.
Joe Flacco
The 35-year-old former Super Bowl winner was released by the Broncos with a failed-physical designation. Flacco, who was placed on injured reserve halfway through last season with a herniated disk in his neck, becomes an unrestricted free agent. He was 2-6 as Denver’s starting quarterback in 2019, throwing for 1,822 yards with six TDs and five INTs.
QBs Going Nowhere
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
He agreed on a two-year, $50 million contract extension that will ensure he finishes his career in New Orleans. Brees could have easily earned $30 million or more per year on the open market, he wants to retire with the Saints.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Though he wasn’t about to become a free agent (he was set to enter the final season of a three-year, fully guaranteed $84 million deal signed in March of 2018) the Vikings gave him a two-year extension worth $66 million — presumably to avoid a lame-duck scenario in 2020. Cousins completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,603 yards with 26 TDs and six INTs in 2019 and led Minnesota to the NFC divisional playoff round.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Before he had to a chance to get to the open market, the Titans signed Tannehill to a four-year contract extension worth $118 million, including $62 million in fully guaranteed money and $91 million in total guarantees. Tannehill, who won Comeback Player of the Year, had the NFL’s best passer rating (117.5) in 2019 and completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 2,742 yards with 22 TDs and six INTs in 10 games. Most importantly, he helped lead the Titans to the AFC Championship game.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
He’s not going anywhere, but he has yet to sign his franchise-tag tender. He’ll make about $31.5 million this season, as long as he plays, but the Cowboys have been trying to lock Prescott into a long-term deal and presumably will continue to do so.


newyorkpost--2020-04-28--Jordan Love pick is hurting Aaron Rodgers, Packers’ Super Bowl odds

All is fair in Love and war .
Veteran quarterback Aaron ...

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LAS VEGAS — Of all the unexpected storylines to emerge from the NFL draft, the imminent end of the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay is worthy of a cover story.
With the window closing on Rodgers’ pursuit of a second Super Bowl, the Packers seemed to hit their 36-year-old quarterback from his blind side by using a first-round pick on his replacement. The clock is ticking on Rodgers, and if he did not know it last week, he does now.
The Packers traded up in the first round to take Utah State’s Jordan Love, who will be developed as the team’s quarterback of the future, sooner or later.
William Hill sportsbook director Nick Bogdanovich was baffled by the move, saying, “If you are drafting Love, you should have a conversation with Rodgers and say, ‘How much do you have left? Is it two years or five years? What’s your plan?’ If he plans on playing five more years, get him some help you can win with this year.”
The Packers won 13 games last year, tied with the 49ers and Saints for most in the NFC. The William Hill futures board now shows five teams — San Francisco (+325), New Orleans (11/2), Dallas and Tampa Bay (each 6/1), Seattle (17/2) — with better odds to win the conference than Green Bay (9/1).
Rodgers wanted wide receiver help. Thirty-six wideouts were selected, tied for the most in draft history through seven rounds, but Green Bay drafted none. In the second round, the Packers took Boston College running back AJ Dillon. The Dillon pick did not fill an immediate need, either, considering Aaron Jones is returning after rushing for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Circa sportsbook manager Chris Bennett was so unimpressed with the Packers’ draft class that he raised their Super Bowl odds from 17/1 to 20/1.
“The first two picks don’t really improve the Packers for this year, in my opinion,” Bennett said. “I went through all of our NFL futures and tweaked a bunch of things. The biggest Super Bowl odds move was the Packers.”
Draft results seldom shake up the Super Bowl odds board. The top contenders add talent as anticipated and typically stay put. Rarely does a team like Green Bay move the wrong way.
The Packers’ season win total of 9 was priced Over -120 at William Hill last week and is shaded Under -120 at Circa this week. It’s more than a subtle hint that oddsmakers are expecting Green Bay to regress from 13-3 last year to either 9-7 or 8-8 in 2020, assuming there’s a 16-game season.
The league’s bottom-feeders pick higher in the draft and have more room for improvement. Along those lines, William Hill made minor boosts in the win total prices for Carolina (5½, -110) and Miami (6, Over -120).
The Dolphins picked Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall and filled all sorts of needs in their 11-player class. The Panthers, rebuilding with new coach Matt Rhule, used all seven of their picks on defensive players.
“I do think both of those teams will be on the rise,” Bogdanovich said. “But there’s a big difference between getting over 5½ wins to winning a Super Bowl. It’s incremental steps.”
Arizona, which selected Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons in the first round after trading a No. 2 to Houston for star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, is making a move in the NFC West. Circa shortened the Cardinals’ Super Bowl odds (from 70/1 to 60/1) and division odds (11/1 to 8/1).
Michael Lombardi, VSiN analyst and former NFL general manager, said he’s no fan of armchair analysts and couch critics who assign grades to draft classes. He did approve of the drafts for the Broncos, Seahawks and Vikings. Lombardi recommended plays on Denver (7½) and Seattle (9½) over their win totals.
“These drafts are judged way too early,” Lombardi said. “The Patriots are not going to get an ‘A’ for their draft because everybody is obsessed that they did not draft a quarterback.”
William Hill still lists New England as the even-money favorite in the AFC East, though it’s apparent the Buffalo Bills (+140) are closing the division gap along with the Jets and Dolphins (each 7/1).
Lombardi said he liked Green Bay’s decision to plan for the future by drafting Love. Many others hated the Love pick, but those debates are part of what make the draft a magnetizing event.
“If you read all of the so-called experts and their draft grades, the Packers grade as one of the worst,” Bogdanovich said. “This probably sparks Rodgers on to another big year. He’s still damn good.”
If Rodgers takes a page from Tom Brady’s playbook and is ready to move on, New England might need a quarterback in the near future. Let the wild speculation begin.


newyorkpost--2020-04-28--Nathan’s Famous to return $1.2 million coronavirus small-business loan

Dozens of publicly traded companies — including some with checkered ...

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Nathan’s Famous has joined the slew of companies returning small-business loans amid an outcry over big firms getting coronavirus aid.
The storied Coney Island hot dog brand plans to return the $1.2 million loan it received through the Paycheck Protection Program meant to help Main Street merchants cover payroll and other expenses during the pandemic.
In a Monday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nathan’s said it was granted the loan on April 21, two days before the Trump administration issued guidance saying publicly traded companies with “substantial market value” and access to other financing would be unlikely to qualify for so-called PPP loans.
The Long Island-based company with a market value of $253 million said it decided to return the money in light of that guidance, which urged public firms to repay their loans by May 7.
Nathan’s had 149 employees and more than 250 restaurants as of March 2019, according to its most recent annual report. Most of its franchised eateries have temporarily closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and its branded product sales have suffered from closures of venues where they’re offered, such as movie theaters and amusement parks, the company said.
But Nathan’s saw a significant increase in royalties from license agreements last month thanks to a spike in sales of packaged goods at grocery stores, according to the SEC filing.
“We are principally focused on the well-being and safety of our guests, franchisees, restaurant associates and all other employees,” Nathan’s said in the filing. “Since the situation around the COVID-19 virus is constantly changing, we may implement additional measures to ensure the safety of our team members and guests over time.”
Nathan’s is among at least 17 public companies that have pledged to return more than $195 million in so-called PPP loans amid a growing furor over who has benefited from the $659 billion loan program.
At least 250 public companies in all had disclosed receiving some $907 million in loans as of Tuesday afternoon, according to SEC filings compiled by data analysis firm FactSquared. Several firms with thousands of employees snagged loans before the program’s initial $349 billion budget ran out while many smaller businesses were left out in the cold.