newyorkpost--2020-03-31--John Wooden’s last UCLA hurrah turns 45 years old

Long before we called it March Madness , they were our ...

He had built this remarkable pyramid of success, and now John Wooden was coaching the UCLA Bruins for the last time.
Only Kentucky was standing between Wooden and his 10th national championship in 12 years. This was 1975, the year after high-flying David Thompson and North Carolina State had ended UCLA’s string of seven consecutive NCAA titles in the semifinals by upsetting Bill Walton and the vaunted Walton Gang.
Kentucky was waiting two days after an exhausted Wooden had informed his stunned players in the locker room following an emotional overtime win over Louisville in the national semifinals that he would be retiring.
“I’m bowing out,” Wooden said in the vast quiet. “I don’t want to. I have to.”
Right then and there Andre McCarter knew he and his teammates had to send John Wooden out a winner.
“I just blurted out after all the emotions of the moment, because this came from left field, we had no idea. And I said, ‘We’re gonna win this game against Kentucky no matter what,’ ” McCarter told The Post.
McCarter was a 6-foot-3 two-time high school All-American, a product of the Sonny Hill League and the Charles Baker League during the golden basketball age in Philadelphia. McCarter, a walking triple-double, was a student/disciple of former 76ers guard Archie Clark and ball-handling whiz Bobby Lewis, and an Oscar Robertson fan.
“I lived four blocks from Earl Monroe, he used to come over to play in a schoolyard called Landreth; an elementary school, which was packed with everybody from Wilt Chamberlain to Guy Rodgers to Al Attles on Saturdays and Sundays,” McCarter said.
Wooden sent assistant Denny Crum to McCarter’s home and Overbrook High School to recruit him. Overbrook had produced Chamberlain and guard Walt Hazzard, who had led Wooden to his first national championship in 1964.
“I came to UCLA because of Lew Alcindor [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar],” McCarter said. “As a kid coming up, then watching him at UCLA, made me aware of UCLA.”
A tennis player who also went to UCLA by the name of Arthur Ashe visited Overbrook to fill McCarter in on UCLA’s social environment and the area. “He was very instrumental in painting a picture,” McCarter said.
The NCAA Tournament expanded from 25 to 32 in 1975, and so the Bruins, No. 1 seed in the West, had to defeat Michigan first, then Montana, then Arizona State. And then came the knockdown, drag-out battle against Louisville.
“Louisville was kinda like playing ourselves,” McCarter said, “because Denny Crum was now the coach at Louisville.”
This wasn’t one of those UCLA teams that inspired fear. Maybe some aura and mystique, but no fear, no Alcindor, no Walton. Wooden depended on six men — McCarter, Richard Washington, Marques Johnson, Dave Meyers, Pete Trgovich and Ralph Drollinger. It didn’t mean they didn’t wear a bull’s-eye on their chests.
“When you come to UCLA, you’re already used to that,” McCarter said. “When I came to UCLA, they had won seven national championships and five in a row. For coach John Wooden to pick me to come means they wanted to continue on doing that, No. 1 in the nation. Then once I got there, I was part of the Walton Gang. The pressure of being No. 1, that was like eating breakfast. That was a part of life. But I think we were more doubted — once Bill and Jamaal [Wilkes] and that team graduated, we were more doubted.”
But McCarter and the rest of the Bruins never doubted they would send out their beloved coach the right way.
“This is John Wooden!” McCarter said. “You’re sitting here with the greatest coach ever. And he’s telling you that this is his final game on Saturday.”
UCLA had the advantage of playing the championship game at the San Diego Sports Arena. But Joe B. Hall’s Wildcats were big and tough and had an unconscious senior sharpshooter named Kevin Grevey, who dropped 34 points in the title game.
“I was right there on him, hand in his face, and he still was hitting a few of those shots,” McCarter said.
And it didn’t matter.
Some time ago, McCarter’s wife watched the game on television.
“She says, ‘Man, Andre, you act like you didn’t care nothing about what Kentucky was doing,’ ” McCarter said. “ ‘For a while they were kicking your butt, and they were throwing everything they had at you guys, but you just seemed like you just … just kept on going, your face never changed.’ ”
McCarter played every minute of the last three games and dished out a championship-game record 14 assists. Washington (28 points, 12 rebounds) and Meyers (24 points, 11 rebounds) Marques Johnson and the 7-foot-3 Drollinger also stepped up big for the Bruins. It took a team effort.
“It was like, ‘I don’t care what they do, they’re not winning this game,’ ” McCarter said. “I guess it spread to my teammates and they came up with great performances too.”
The final was UCLA 92, Kentucky 85.
The date was March 31 — 45 years ago Tuesday.
John Wooden’s last game.
“You could see the relief on his face,” McCarter said, “and at the same time, obviously happiness.”
McCarter grabbed Wooden and said, “Coach, you have a nice life.”
McCarter, 66, never forgot his coach, never forgot that Wooden hated being labeled “The Wizard of Westwood.” McCarter lived five minutes from Wooden’s Encino, Calif., home and the two would spend hours at a time talking basketball and life.
“The way he taught the game and the way he went about doing his business made him special,” McCarter said.
McCarter spearheaded a campaign of former players from as far back as the 1940s to write letters to the president to get Wooden the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Wooden wrote the forward for McCarter’s upcoming book “Anatomy of a Champion,” a 25-year project interrupted by COVID-19, that will include more than 600 captioned photographs.
“An honest man, a faithful man, a man of his word,” McCarter said of Wooden.
McCarter, who played for the Kansas City Kings (1976-78) and Washington Bullets (1980-81), began building his own pyramid of success when he invented The Touch Glove, patented in 1999, for players of all ages and skill. Former NBA great Jason Kidd has vouched for it.
“It forces them to use their fingertips to become better dribblers, shooters. It’s gonna take the game to the next level,” McCarter said.
He is eternally grateful that he played for the coach who took UCLA to the next level.
“It’s one of the greatest things ever that can happen to a person,” McCarter said. “The best that ever did it. It doesn’t get too much better than that.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Country singer Kalie Shorr tests positive for coronavirus

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Yet another celebrity has announced that they ’ re fighting coronavirus , and this time , it ’ s Kalie Shorr .
The 25-year-old country music star took to Twitter on Monday to discuss her diagnosis .
“ Despite being quarantined ( except for a handful of trips for groceries ) for three weeks , I managed to contract COVID 19 , ” stated Shorr .
“ I ’ m feeling significantly better , but it ’ s proof how dangerous and contagious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrating to see people not taking this seriously.
” In a separate tweet , the “ Lullaby ” singer explained what she was facing in the early stages of the virus .
“ The first few days were absolutely miserable .
I ’ ve never felt like that before , ” Shorr explained .
“ My entire body was in pain , and my fever was like riding a wave .
I completely lost my sense of taste and smell.
” Shorr joins a list of celebrities that includes Tom Hanks , Rita @ @ @ @ @

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Yet another celebrity has announced that they’re fighting coronavirus, and this time, it’s Kalie Shorr.
The 25-year-old country music star took to Twitter on Monday to discuss her diagnosis.
“Despite being quarantined (except for a handful of trips for groceries) for three weeks, I managed to contract COVID 19,” stated Shorr. “I’m feeling significantly better, but it’s proof how dangerous and contagious this is. It’s endlessly frustrating to see people not taking this seriously.”
In a separate tweet, the “Lullaby” singer explained what she was facing in the early stages of the virus.
“The first few days were absolutely miserable. I’ve never felt like that before,” Shorr explained. “My entire body was in pain, and my fever was like riding a wave. I completely lost my sense of taste and smell.”
Shorr joins a list of celebrities that includes Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Idris Elba.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Former Jet Brandon Copeland giving back again with ‘life’ webinar for NFL players

If you ’ re wondering why Henry Ruggs III is fast climbing ...

Brandon Copeland has a game on Tuesday. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Coronavirus be damned. That’s when the first in a series of webinars Copeland has created begins for fellow NFL players in which he’ll offer life advice that includes time and financial management.
It’s fitting the class Copeland teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater, is called “Life 101,’’ because in more ways than most professional athletes he has life figured out.
Copeland is a 28-year-old linebacker who recently signed with the Patriots after playing the past two years with the Jets, and he’s anything but one-dimensional. His “seasons’’ are not confined to the window in which NFL games are played, because Copeland is all about giving back and paying life forward.
Thus, the creation of the series of webinars, which are free for all active NFL players.
Copeland is determined not to let this period of sheltering in place because of the coronavirus crisis leave his peers confined to an existence of playing video games by day and watching Netflix by night.
“We should try to look at this as an opportunity to get better,’’ Copeland told The Post. “That may be by auditing ourselves, going through bills, getting things done, finding little pockets of money and coming out of this stronger in terms of having a better investment plan.
“The benefit of having me be the host is they’re talking to a brother when they’re talking to me. You can dwell on the negative of this [crisis] or you can come out of it better, because years from now, some people will talk about having made money or becoming the person they are out of the coronavirus pandemic.’’
Copeland, who graduated from Penn’s Wharton Business School before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013, has never relied on football to define him. He had the game taken away from him in 2017 when he tore a pectoral muscle and was out of football for a year before signing with the Jets in 2018 and resuscitating his career, producing his best season with five sacks.
So, Copeland knows better than most that there are no guarantees in sports, particularly in the NFL, which is commonly known to stand for “not for long.’’
He recently reached out to the NFL Players Association with the webinar idea and it was embraced so emphatically that he’s since been in contact with both the NBA Players Association and the Major League Baseball Players Association to offer his services.
“When I pitched this to the [NFL] Players Association, I told them this is an opportunity for us to be a resource and a support system to our guys during this time,’’ Copeland said. “If we’re not doing that, then what are we here for?’’
Copeland said he’s already had fellow players reach out to him on a one-on-one basis, asking questions about how to invest in stocks and when they should be investing.
“So, let’s have a conversation together with everyone,’’ he said. “It’s also going to help people understand who’s like-minded around the league and also will help initiate more conversations in their own locker rooms about this stuff. This is just me doing what I do and keep pushing the conversation forward and keep connecting people.’’
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Copeland said ultimately, he’d like to open the webinars up to the public.
“A lot of people rag on athletes who’ve gone broke, but it’s not just players, it’s people,’’ he said. “People see athletes go broke within a few years of retirement. But my neighbors might be doing the same thing, they’re just not in the news.’’
Copeland said Tuesday’s opener “will be more of coronavirus-related check-in and about what we can do to better ourselves to we come out of this stronger.
“That can be estate planning or having a grip on an investment plan or something as simple as reading some books and getting some things done that you always wanted to get done but didn’t have the time,’’ he said.
In the subsequent webinars, he will address real estate, stocks, taxes, accounting, entrepreneurship and small business.
What’s in it for Copeland?
He’s being paid a nominal “honorarium’’ by the NFLPA, but the motivation, at its core, is purely altruistic.
“For me, this is about connecting with people who are like-minded and spreading the word, spreading knowledge,’’ he said. “I’m taking an hour of my time to do what I’m already doing, what I’m passionate about, and sharing the information. I personally believe that there’s a tie between stress and mental health issues and not being where you want to be financially.
“So, to have the platform I have as an NFL player and to have an opportunity to help people become more confident in that is something that I don’t take lightly. That’s what I’m in it for. This is life.’’


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Pete Alonso defends Noah Syndergaard after surgery causes coronavirus backlash

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Pete Alonso is going to bat for Noah Syndergaard .
The Mets first baseman took issue with a Sports Illustrated story examining if pitchers should be getting Tommy John surgery while the nation ’ s health care system is strained by the coronavirus pandemic and after several states imposed a ban on non-essential surgery in order to free up resources to deal with COVID-19 .
Syndergaard underwent a successful surgery last week at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training facility , and two surgeons told the team that the righty ’ s surgery met the necessary guidelines , The Post ’ s Mike Puma previously reported .
“ Who is to judge someone ’ s medical needs in order to perform their job ?
” Alonso tweeted Monday in response to the story .
“ Noah ’ s surgery , or any other athlete ’ s surgery during this time shouldn ’ t be scrutinized considering it is done by orthopedic surgeons , not those on the frontlines battling this pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the biggest supporters of health care workers and others on the front lines during the pandemic , seemed to take issue with the story raising the question of not whether athletes “ can ” have the surgeries , but “ should ” they chose to have them in this climate .
“ Medical supplies are high in demand , ” Alonso wrote .
“ The issue isn ’ t Noah needing surgery and getting it .
The issue I have is that the tone of this article suggests that players are making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No athlete wants to go through a serious surgery and grueling recovery process .
This surgery is done when it is absolutely necessary for their arm.
” In contrast , Red Sox starter Chris Sale had Tommy John surgery Monday in Los Angeles , following an 11-day wait after doctors said he needed the operation because of difficulty in scheduling during the coronavirus pandemic .
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag “ Under normal circumstances we might have been able to have it happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said on a conference call with reporters .
“ We know that this is not life and death .
… It ’ s apples and oranges with this versus when you talk about something that ’ s life-threatening.
” Syndergaard likely won ’ t be ready to pitch for the Mets again until around June 2021 .

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Pete Alonso is going to bat for Noah Syndergaard.
The Mets first baseman took issue with a Sports Illustrated story examining whether pitchers should be getting Tommy John surgery while the nation’s health care system is strained by the coronavirus pandemic and after several states imposed a ban on non-essential surgery in order to free up resources to deal with COVID-19.
Syndergaard underwent a successful surgery last week at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Fla., near the Mets’ spring training facility, and two surgeons told the team that the righty’s surgery met the necessary guidelines, The Post’s Mike Puma previously reported.
“Who is to judge someone’s medical needs in order to perform their job?” Alonso tweeted Monday in response to the story. “Noah’s surgery, or any other athlete’s surgery during this time shouldn’t be scrutinized considering it is done by orthopedic surgeons, not those on the frontlines battling this pandemic.”
Alonso, who has been one of the biggest supporters of health care workers and others on the front lines during the pandemic, seemed to take issue with the story raising the question not of whether athletes “can” have the surgeries, but whether they “should” elect to have them in this climate.
“Medical supplies are high in demand,” Alonso wrote. “The issue isn’t Noah needing surgery and getting it. The issue I have is that the tone of this article suggests that players are making the decisions to get surgeries.
“No athlete wants to go through a serious surgery and grueling recovery process. This surgery is done when it is absolutely necessary for their arm.”
In contrast, Red Sox starter Chris Sale had Tommy John surgery Monday in Los Angeles, following an 11-day wait because of difficulty in scheduling the operation during the coronavirus pandemic.
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“Under normal circumstances we might have been able to have it happen a little bit sooner,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said on a conference call with reporters. “We know that this is not life and death. … It’s apples and oranges with this versus when you talk about something that’s life-threatening.”
Syndergaard likely won’t be ready to pitch for the Mets again until around June 2021.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--New Yorkers baffled over ‘unsettling’ Empire State Building siren display

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New Yorkers were left spooked Monday night by a glaring Empire State Building light display intended to honor emergency workers fighting coronavirus .
The iconic Midtown skyscraper announced the debut of a display that began at 9 p.m. Monday , and will continue on through the course of the ongoing pandemic .
“ Starting tonight through the COVID-19 battle , our signature white lights will be replaced by the heartbeat of America with a white and red siren in the mast for heroic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fight , ” read a tweet from the building ’ s official Twitter account .
But to some , in addition to solidarity , the siren induced anxiety , as it spun for the first time surrounded by low clouds .
“ The @ EmpireStateBldg reminding us that the city is in the middle of an emergency , ” tweeted Rita King , who also posted a video of the display depicting an eerie scene .
King said on Twitter that she fully supports the cause , “ but recommend [ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the iconic pulsing heartbeat effect to reassure our heroic healthcare workers that their efforts will succeed , and soothe nervous New Yorkers now sheltering in place.
” Another Twitter user suggested the building maintain its signature white lights amid the crisis .
“ Just make it a normal Empire State Building .
Nice , soothing white .
A symbol of New York .
Our buildings do not need to look like they are also panicking.
” Added another user : “ We know we ’ ve really screwed things up when the empire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it , but that seems a bit.. unsettling , ” responded somebody else .

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New Yorkers were left spooked Monday night by a glaring Empire State Building light display intended to honor emergency workers fighting coronavirus.
The iconic Midtown skyscraper announced the debut of a display that began at 9 p.m. Monday, and will continue through the course of the ongoing pandemic.
“Starting tonight through the COVID-19 battle, our signature white lights will be replaced by the heartbeat of America with a white and red siren in the mast for heroic emergency workers on the front line of the fight,” read a tweet from the building’s official Twitter account.
But to some, in addition to solidarity, the siren induced anxiety, as it spun for the first time surrounded by low clouds.
“The @EmpireStateBldg reminding us that the city is in the middle of an emergency,” tweeted Rita King, who also posted a video of the display depicting an eerie scene.
King said on Twitter that she fully supports the cause, “but recommend[s] that the siren be replaced by the iconic pulsing heartbeat effect to reassure our heroic healthcare workers that their efforts will succeed, and soothe nervous New Yorkers now sheltering in place.”
Another Twitter user suggested the building maintain its signature white lights amid the crisis.
“Just make it a normal Empire State Building. Nice, soothing white. A symbol of New York. Our buildings do not need to look like they are also panicking.”
Added another user: “We know we’ve really screwed things up when the empire state building gets mad.”
“I get it, but that seems a bit.. unsettling,” responded somebody else.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Blake Martinez sings praises of ‘smart’ Giants defensive coordinator

The next time will be the first time for Blake ...

There was only one season together in Green Bay but it was enough to convince Blake Martinez his linebackers coach, Patrick Graham, was something special.
There are many factors that go into a player signing with a new team and there is no doubt Graham’s presence as the Giants’ new defensive coordinator was a major selling point for Martinez.
“What made me so excited to work with him this year and the following years is how smart he is,’’ Martinez said Monday. “I think he’s probably the smartest coach I’ve ever been around. And then just the preparation he puts in every week, his intensity, just how much he cares about the game of football. It just allowed me to go in every Sunday or Monday or whatever, Thursday game just fully prepared and I never felt like I didn’t know what play was going to happen next.’’
Martinez, 26, started all 48 regular-season games for the Packers the past three years and his total tackle numbers amassed — 144, 144 and 155 — are eye-catching and also need to be put in perspective. Yes, he is always around the ball, but where he put down the ball-carrier in relation to the line of scrimmage is key to viewing Martinez as a compiler or something much more.
The Giants studied and came to the conclusion the defensive scheme in Green Bay was not conducive to Martinez making impactful plays. Martinez was “about 50-50 of a surprise and not a surprise’’ when the Packers made him an offer that was easy to refuse.
“The way they value the inside linebacker position, especially in that defense, it wasn’t as valued as other places I guess, in my opinion,’’ he said.
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Graham was there in 2018, but the Packers ran coordinator Mike Pettine’s defense. Martinez knows all about the criticism and has heard all the accounts of the tackles he makes 6 or 7 yards across the line of scrimmage. He and the Giants share a vision that the best is yet to come for him.
“That’s been one, in my opinion, misconception of me to I guess the public view,’’ Martinez said. “The way we ran the defense at least the last two years at the Packers in coach Pettine’s defense it’s kind of, I put it as, ‘The cleanup-crew guy.’ ’’
The way the Packers ran their defense, Martinez did not have any gap responsibilities. The stars of the unit were supposed to be the big guys up-front — Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith, Kenny Clark or Dean Lowry. Martinez was often the only inside linebacker on the field.
“It was just kind of, ‘Hey, play off Kenny, play off Za’Darius, play off Preston, play off Dean, play off these guys and basically make them right,’’ Martinez said. “They were kind of able to do whatever they wanted to do. And then I would go make the plays depending on that.
“So I know there was things like, ‘You make tackles down the field, you didn’t make tackles here, you make tackles there.’ But for the majority of the time there that’s what I was called to do so it was just me doing my job in that sense. Going into this season once I learn the scheme, whatever it ends up being yeah, I hope I’m able to trigger it, hit solo gaps do those type of things and make impact plays.’’


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Opera legend Placido Domingo feels ‘fine’ after contracting coronavirus

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MEXICO CITY — Tenor Placido Domingo said Monday he is resting at home after catching the new coronavirus .
Domingo said in a statement that he is “ at home and I feel fine.
” The 79-year-old was reportedly hospitalized in Mexico after publicly acknowledging on March 22 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and said he was going into isolation .
Domingo , who has longstanding ties to Mexico , had suffered from a fever and a cough .
Domingo wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first symptom I was , as usual , under medical supervision , given my age and my comorbidity.
” “ My thoughts right now are with those who suffer and with all those who are generously working to save lives , ” he said .
“ I thank everyone for your affection and once again I recommend everyone to stay safe at home .
See you soon.
” For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
The opera singer ’ s illness comes after his own glittering career had recently been stained by sexual misconduct revelations .
Last year , multiple women accused Domingo of harassment and abusing his power while he held management positions at Los Angeles Opera and Washington National Opera in stories published by The Associated Press .
After first denying any wrongdoing , Domingo issued an apology last month when the American Guild of Musical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassment allegations against him to be credible .
He has since had a number of performances canceled .
He also resigned as the director of the LA Opera .

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MEXICO CITY — Tenor Placido Domingo said Monday he is resting at home after catching the new coronavirus.
Domingo said in a statement that he is “at home and I feel fine.”
The 79-year-old was reportedly hospitalized in Mexico after publicly acknowledging on March 22 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and said he was going into isolation.
Domingo, who has longstanding ties to Mexico, had suffered from a fever and a cough.
Domingo wrote on Monday that “from the very first symptom I was, as usual, under medical supervision, given my age and my comorbidity.”
“My thoughts right now are with those who suffer and with all those who are generously working to save lives,” he said. “I thank everyone for your affection and once again I recommend everyone to stay safe at home. See you soon.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
The opera singer’s illness comes after his own glittering career had recently been stained by sexual misconduct revelations.
Last year, multiple women accused Domingo of harassment and abusing his power while he held management positions at Los Angeles Opera and Washington National Opera in stories published by The Associated Press.
After first denying any wrongdoing, Domingo issued an apology last month when the American Guild of Musical Artists and LA Opera found the sexual harassment allegations against him to be credible.
He has since had a number of performances canceled. He also resigned as the director of the LA Opera.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Florida pastor arrested for holding services in violation of coronavirus restrictions

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A pastor of a Florida megachurch was arrested Monday for defying public health orders aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus by leading two services with hundreds of congregants , authorities said .
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne held the services Sunday at The River at Tampa Bay Churches despite county and state mandates limiting gatherings to less than 10 people , Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister announced in a news conference .
Chronister said members of his office even met with church leaders before Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risks posed by not complying with social distancing orders .
“ Shame on this pastor , their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job , ” Chronister said .
“ That ’ s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency .
We are hopeful that this will be a wake up call.
” The law firm representing Howard-Browne , Liberty Counsel , alleged the enforcement amounted to religions discrimination .
“ Not only did the church comply with the administrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above and beyond any other business to ensure the health and safety of the people , ” the law firm said .
Liberty Counsel also said the church made sure staff wore gloves and provided hand sanitizer to everyone who entered .
Howard-Browne earlier this month downplayed the coronavirus outbreak , mocking the “ pansies ” who are scared of the bug .
He also insisted his church would only shut its doors “ when the Rapture is taking place .
”

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A pastor of a Florida megachurch was arrested Monday for defying public health orders aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus by leading two services with hundreds of congregants, authorities said.
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne held the services Sunday at The River at Tampa Bay Churches despite county and state mandates limiting gatherings to less than 10 people, Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister announced in a news conference.
Chronister said members of his office even met with church leaders before Sunday, informing them of the potential health risks posed by not complying with social distancing orders.
“Shame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job,” Chronister said.
“That’s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency. We are hopeful that this will be a wake up call.”
The law firm representing Howard-Browne, Liberty Counsel, alleged the enforcement amounted to religions discrimination.
“Not only did the church comply with the administrative order regarding six-foot distancing, it went above and beyond any other business to ensure the health and safety of the people,” the law firm said.
Liberty Counsel also said the church made sure staff wore gloves and provided hand sanitizer to everyone who entered.
A live stream of Sunday’s three-and-a-half-hour church service showed a packed house of congregants.
Howard-Browne earlier this month downplayed the coronavirus outbreak, mocking the “pansies” who are scared of the bug. He also insisted his church would only shut its doors “when the Rapture is taking place.”
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--NYC to team up with feds, state to rent hotels, turn them into temporary hospitals

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The city will be teaming up with the state and the feds to rent Big Apple hotels and convert them into temporary hospitals to help ease burden on other facilities dealing with the coronavirus pandemic , Mayor de Blasio said Monday .
De Blasio told NY1 that these three levels of government would create “ thousands ” of non-ICU hospitals rooms by , “ in some cases , leasing entire hotels ” that are “ ideally ” near existing hospitals .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I talked this through right here at City Hall with the Army Corps of Engineers leadership on Friday night — and they showed me the floor plans of how you turn a hotel into an instant hospital , ” de Blasio said .
“ You create a nurse ’ s station around where the elevators are .
I mean they have really simple things they do to flip a switch basically and turn a hotel into a hospital .
And we ’ re going to be doing that to the tune of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not say how much the plan will cost or when it would be completed .

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The city will be teaming up with the state and the feds to rent Big Apple hotels and convert them into temporary hospitals to help ease burden on other facilities dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor de Blasio said Monday.
De Blasio told NY1 that these three levels of government would create “thousands” of non-ICU hospitals rooms by, “in some cases, leasing entire hotels” that are “ideally” near existing hospitals.
“We can take a hotel floor plan – I talked this through right here at City Hall with the Army Corps of Engineers leadership on Friday night — and they showed me the floor plans of how you turn a hotel into an instant hospital,” de Blasio said.
“You create a nurse’s station around where the elevators are. I mean they have really simple things they do to flip a switch basically and turn a hotel into a hospital. And we’re going to be doing that to the tune of thousands and thousands of rooms.”
The mayor did not say how much the plan will cost or when it would be completed.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--It’s in the hole! Caddyshack is the Cinderella story that will make you miss the links

During the coronavirus shutdown , each day we will bring you a recommendation from The Post ’ s Peter Botte for a sports movie , TV show or book that perhaps was before your time or somehow slipped between the cracks of your viewing/reading history .
There probably isn ’ t a more quotable comedy for an entire generation .
So it ’ s got that going for it , which is nice .
First-time director Harold Ramis ’ raunchy comedy about the shenanigans and politics of country-club life meteorically vaulted the careers of “ Saturday Night Live ” alums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Bill Murray ( as goofy greens keeper Carl Spackler ) , who ad-libbed much of the loosely written script by Ramis and National Lampoon legend Doug Kenney .
“ Caddyshack , ” which revolves around the scholarship aspirations of teenaged caddy Danny Noonan ( Michael O ’ Keefe ) at snobby Bushwood Country Club , is ranked the No .
7 sports movie of all-time by the American Film Institute .
It also featured “ Mary Tyler Moore Show ” veteran Ted Knight as the irascible club cofounder Judge Smails and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 59-year-old standup comedian named Rodney Dangerfield , who finally earned the silver-screen respect he long craved as quipping real estate mogul Al Czervik .
The drug use and rampant partying on and off the set became as legendary as the film itself , which was based on Murray and his brother Brian Doyle-Murray ( who played Lou the caddie master ) growing up as caddies at Indian Hills Golf Club in Illinois .
Add a couple of points if you like dancing mechanical gophers and songster Kenny Loggins .
It must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Caddyshack II — with Dan Aykroyd replacing Murray , Jackie Mason in for Dangerfield and Robert Stack for Knight — also stands near the top of the leaderboard for worst sequel ever made .
Judge Smails ( Ted Knight ) : “ You know , Ty , you should play with Dr. Beeper and myself .
I mean , he ’ s been club champion for three years running and I ’ m no slouch myself .
”

During the coronavirus shutdown, each day we will bring you a recommendation from The Post’s Peter Botte for a sports movie, TV show or book that perhaps was before your time or somehow slipped between the cracks of your viewing/reading history.
CADDYSHACK (1980)
Rated: R
Streaming: Amazon Prime
There probably isn’t a more quotable comedy for an entire generation. So it’s got that going for it, which is nice.
First-time director Harold Ramis’ raunchy comedy about the shenanigans and politics of country-club life meteorically vaulted the careers of “Saturday Night Live” alums Chevy Chase (as trust-funder Ty Webb) and Bill Murray (as goofy greens keeper Carl Spackler), who ad-libbed much of the loosely written script by Ramis and National Lampoon legend Doug Kenney.
“Caddyshack,” which revolves around the scholarship aspirations of teenaged caddy Danny Noonan (Michael O’Keefe) at snobby Bushwood Country Club, is ranked the No. 7 sports movie of all-time by the American Film Institute.
It also featured “Mary Tyler Moore Show” veteran Ted Knight as the irascible club cofounder Judge Smails and marked the first major film role for a 59-year-old standup comedian named Rodney Dangerfield, who finally earned the silver-screen respect he long craved as quipping real estate mogul Al Czervik.
The drug use and rampant partying on and off the set became as legendary as the film itself, which was based on Murray and his brother Brian Doyle-Murray (who played Lou the caddie master) growing up as caddies at Indian Hills Golf Club in Illinois.
Add a couple of points if you like dancing mechanical gophers and songster Kenny Loggins. It must be noted, however, that 1988’s Caddyshack II — with Dan Aykroyd replacing Murray, Jackie Mason in for Dangerfield and Robert Stack for Knight — also stands near the top of the leaderboard for worst sequel ever made.
Quote of Note
Judge Smails (Ted Knight): “You know, Ty, you should play with Dr. Beeper and myself. I mean, he’s been club champion for three years running and I’m no slouch myself.”
Ty Webb (Chevy Chase): “Don’t sell yourself short, Judge. You’re a tremendous slouch.”
Botte Blows: 4.7 of 5


newyorkpost--2020-03-30--‘Ghostbusters,’ ‘Morbius’ postponed to 2021 due to coronavirus

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Sony Pictures on Monday cleared out its summer calendar due to the coronavirus , postponing the releases of Jason Reitman ’ s “ Ghostbusters : Afterlife ” and the Marvel movie “ Morbius ” to 2021 .
Hollywood ’ s summer season — the film industry ’ s most lucrative time of year — is increasingly shutting down because of the pandemic .
Theaters nationwide have closed and major film productions have halted with no clear timeline for resuming .
“ Ghostbusters : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ghostbusters II , ” had been scheduled for July 10 , but it will now open March 5 next year .
The Jared Leto-starring “ Morbius , ” slated for July 31 , will now be released March 19 next year .
“ Greyhound , ” a World War II drama starring Tom Hanks , is now to-be-determined instead of opening June 12 .
Last week , Warner Bros. postponed “ Wonder Woman 1984 ” to August instead of June , and undated its adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda ’ s “ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took Marvel ’ s “ Black Widow ” ( previously May 1 ) off the schedule .
Those postponements followed others for the “ Fast and Furious ” movie “ F9 , ” the James Bond film “ No Time to Die ” and the horror sequel “ A Quiet Place Part II.
” One Sony release moved up .
“ Fatherhood , ” with Kevin Hart , will open in October instead of next January .

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Sony Pictures on Monday cleared out its summer calendar due to the coronavirus, postponing the releases of Jason Reitman’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and the Marvel movie “Morbius” to 2021.
Hollywood’s summer season — the film industry’s most lucrative time of year — is increasingly shutting down because of the pandemic. Theaters nationwide have closed and major film productions have halted with no clear timeline for resuming.
“Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” set 30 years after “Ghostbusters II,” had been scheduled for July 10, but it will now open March 5 next year. The Jared Leto-starring “Morbius,” slated for July 31, will now be released March 19 next year. “Greyhound,” a World War II drama starring Tom Hanks, is now to-be-determined instead of opening June 12.
Last week, Warner Bros. postponed “Wonder Woman 1984” to August instead of June, and undated its adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights.” The Walt Disney Co. took Marvel’s “Black Widow” (previously May 1) off the schedule. Those postponements followed others for the “Fast and Furious” movie “F9,” the James Bond film “No Time to Die” and the horror sequel “A Quiet Place Part II.”
One Sony release moved up. “Fatherhood,” with Kevin Hart, will open in October instead of next January.


newyorkpost--2020-03-30--DeAndre Jordan’s changing role could bring big Nets splash

When Kyrie Irving was growing up in New Jersey playing ...

Part 9 of a series analyzing the Brooklyn Nets.
When DeAndre Jordan came to the Nets to team up with superstar pals Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, he expected to start. The fact that he didn’t under Kenny Atkinson will always be linked with the ex-coach’s ouster, for better or worse.
Throughout the season — now suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic — Atkinson painted the Nets’ depth at center with Jordan and Jarrett Allen as a huge advantage. And while it could’ve — and perhaps should’ve — been, the position never reached its peak in terms of stability or production.
That may have contributed to Atkinson’s undoing.
Jordan is an elite rebounder, while Allen is more mobile and a decade younger. But arguing who is better is a fool’s errand. The more germane discussion is who fits better — in terms of both chemistry and play — with Durant and Irving.
Answer that question, and that is who will likely be the starter going forward — especially with the belief in NBA circles that the Nets could hunt for a third star this offseason, and Allen being one of their most attractive assets.
Submit your Nets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
For his part, the 31-year-old Jordan acknowledged he’s had to adjust to being a reserve. And even in the weeks before parting ways with the Nets, Atkinson admitted he was still learning about Jordan and getting used to the veteran big man.
Atkinson was one of Allen’s biggest backers, and there is a perception that his decision to keep Jordan on the bench contributed to the shaky footing that eventually broke underneath him on March 7.
“The guys who’d been here love him, so I’m sure it’s tough for them,” Jordan said at the time. “At the end of the day, this is a business, coaches get fired, players get cut, get traded, whatever it is.”
The perception is that the move was incited by Irving and at least tacitly approved by Durant. But Jordan pushed back against that.
“Yeah I’m close to Kyrie, but Wilson [Chandler] is a new player, Garrett Temple is a new player. We’re all new players. So if you’re going to say new players, put it on all eight of the new players,” Jordan said after the win over Chicago the day after Atkinson’s ouster. “I think whatever you’re saying, and whatever the reports are, are bulls—.”
But the questions aren’t liable to stop, even if play has.
Even when Allen’s form dipped — a team-worst minus-49 over the last eight games — Atkinson went to using Jordan at crunch time in the fourth quarter, but still hesitated to start him. That is, until the Nets replaced him and elevated assistant Jacque Vaughn to interim coach.
Vaughn’s first order of business was to promptly put Jordan in the lineup over Allen, despite being a decade younger. The veteran was a plus-12 in the victory over Chicago, then ripped down 12 rebounds in the road win over the Lakers before the season was suspended.
At the time Vaughn framed it as a tactical call, saying it shored up the first-unit defense. He also added “it gave both those guys a drive to give us their best.”
But there is the matter of fit with Durant and Irving, who had talked about playing with Jordan since they won 2016 Olympic gold together. And there is also the fact that, after reportedly turning down an offer for Allen that would’ve brought back Clint Capela, the Nets could package him to try to get a Bradley Beal.
Organizationally, making the right call at center is one of the biggest decisions the Nets have if and when the 2019-20 season resumes — or this offseason if it doesn’t.


newyorkpost--2020-03-30--Yankees catcher gives peek into coronavirus wait: Barn workouts, video-game chats

Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka takes Post readers behind the scenes as he tries to stay prepared for the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic .
As told to Ken Davidoff .
Thursday would have been my first major league Opening Day .
But , to be honest , I didn ’ t really think about it during the day .
I think over the years I ’ ve gotten pretty good about only worrying about stuff I can control .
I know that right now , my goal is to stay ready for when the season does start .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , then good things can happen .
I ’ m staying prepared out here in Bend , Oregon , where I ’ ve lived for a couple of years now .
I got back here on March 17 , after the Yankees made it clear that we would have limited access to their facilities .
Luckily , my in-laws have a pretty sizable ranch .
I ’ ve got a lot of space to work out and hit with foam balls .
I ’ m doing my catching drills in a barn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the barn when I ’ m working on my catching .
It does smell like hay in there , but that isn ’ t too bad .
We just have a couple of dogs , and there are a couple of bald eagles that have built a nest on one of the trees .
We see them flying around all the time .
My wife , Alyse , shoots the balls at me out of a mini-Hack Attack pitching machine .
I do a little blocking and receiving .
I use that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trainer allowed me to take a lot of equipment , like kettlebells and a landmine press , home from his gym .
And my father-in-law has a bench-press bench .
In all , I wind up working out four to five hours a day .
It ’ s kind of like my typical offseason schedule .
I didn ’ t know I was well prepared for something like this , but I was .
The rest of the time , I ’ m doing standard quarantine activities .
Sometimes I play guitar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guitar , I think I ’ m getting sharper , making fewer mistakes .
Although my peak guitar ability was a few years ago , when I was living by myself .
When you ’ re married , you don ’ t want to play guitar a few hours a day .
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag My favorite video game is FIFA Ultimate Team .
Tommy Kahnle and Adam Ottavino are both FIFA guys , so I talk to them a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Call of Duty , too .
Beyond video-game talk , I ’ m in touch with a lot of my teammates , sometimes one-on-one ( I talk with Mike Tauchman a lot ) , sometimes in a group text .
I know that I ’ ve got it easy during this time .
The average person is having a pretty rough time compared to me .
I just hope that we can get this under control soon and get back to as normal as possible , but within a safe time frame .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would just say hang in there .
Hopefully , at the very least , baseball is going to come back at sometime this year and we can all have that normal , everyday stuff .
And we can still have Opening Day .

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Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka takes Post readers behind the scenes as he tries to stay prepared for the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic. As told to Ken Davidoff.
Thursday would have been my first major league Opening Day. But, to be honest, I didn’t really think about it during the day.
I think over the years I’ve gotten pretty good about only worrying about stuff I can control. I know that right now, my goal is to stay ready for when the season does start. As long as I’m prepared for it, then good things can happen.
I’m staying prepared out here in Bend, Oregon, where I’ve lived for a couple of years now. I got back here on March 17, after the Yankees made it clear that we would have limited access to their facilities. Luckily, my in-laws have a pretty sizable ranch. I’ve got a lot of space to work out and hit with foam balls. I’m doing my catching drills in a barn.
No, there are no animals in the barn when I’m working on my catching. It does smell like hay in there, but that isn’t too bad. We just have a couple of dogs, and there are a couple of bald eagles that have built a nest on one of the trees. We see them flying around all the time. My wife, Alyse, shoots the balls at me out of a mini-Hack Attack pitching machine. I do a little blocking and receiving. I use that for hitting, too.
My offseason trainer allowed me to take a lot of equipment, like kettlebells and a landmine press, home from his gym. And my father-in-law has a bench-press bench. In all, I wind up working out four to five hours a day. It’s kind of like my typical offseason schedule. I didn’t know I was well prepared for something like this, but I was.
The rest of the time, I’m doing standard quarantine activities. Sometimes I play guitar, sometimes I play video games. On the guitar, I think I’m getting sharper, making fewer mistakes. Although my peak guitar ability was a few years ago, when I was living by myself. When you’re married, you don’t want to play guitar a few hours a day.
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag
My favorite video game is FIFA Ultimate Team. Tommy Kahnle and Adam Ottavino are both FIFA guys, so I talk to them a bunch about that. Sometimes I play Call of Duty, too. Beyond video-game talk, I’m in touch with a lot of my teammates, sometimes one-on-one (I talk with Mike Tauchman a lot), sometimes in a group text.
I know that I’ve got it easy during this time. The average person is having a pretty rough time compared to me. I just hope that we can get this under control soon and get back to as normal as possible, but within a safe time frame. To the fans, I guess I would just say hang in there. Hopefully, at the very least, baseball is going to come back at sometime this year and we can all have that normal, everyday stuff. And we can still have Opening Day.


newyorkpost--2020-03-30--Coronavirus cases in Mexico pass 1,000, health emergency declared

MEXICO CITY – Mexico ’ s government on Monday announced a health emergency including stricter measures aimed at containing the @ @ @ @ @ number of cases passed 1,000 and deaths rose substantially .
Health officials reported a total @ @ @ @ @ , up from 993 a day earlier , and 28 deaths from the virus , @ @ @ @ @ Minister Marcelo Ebrard declared a health emergency .
Mexico will extend a suspension of non-essential @ @ @ @ @ health officials said , and reduce the limit of people allowed to gather to 50 @ @ @ @ @ over 60 years old and others vulnerable should strictly observe the stay-at-home recommendations .

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s government on Monday announced a health emergency including stricter measures aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus after the number of cases passed 1,000 and deaths rose substantially.
Health officials reported a total of 1,094 cases of coronavirus, up from 993 a day earlier, and 28 deaths from the virus, up from 20. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard declared a health emergency.
Mexico will extend a suspension of non-essential activities to April 30, health officials said, and reduce the limit of people allowed to gather to 50.
It also said people over 60 years old and others vulnerable should strictly observe the stay-at-home recommendations.


newyorkpost--2020-03-30--ESPN moving up highly anticipated Michael Jordan documentary in wake of coronavirus

ABC/ESPN ’ s highly anticipated 10-part Michael Jordan documentary , “ The Last Dance , ” is being moved up @ @ @ @ @ has learned .
Sources said the start date will be Sunday , April 19 .
@ @ @ @ @ June .
ABC/ESPN plans to make an announcement on “ Good Morning America ” on @ @ @ @ @ .
ESPN declined to confirm either the start date or the GMA plan .
The @ @ @ @ @ in June prior to the coronavirus outbreak that has halted games at all levels of @ @ @ @ @ implored ESPN/ABC to move up the documentary ’ s beginning because of the hunger for @ @ @ @ @ and its four partners , including Netflix , Jordan , the NBA and Mandalay Sports @ @ @ @ @ calls and have acted on them .
Netflix owns the international rights to the docuseries @

ABC/ESPN’s highly anticipated 10-part Michael Jordan documentary, “The Last Dance,” is being moved up to April, The Post has learned.
Sources said the start date will be Sunday, April 19. It was originally slated for June.
ABC/ESPN plans to make an announcement on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, according to sources.
ESPN declined to confirm either the start date or the “GMA” plan.
The documentary was set to debut in June prior to the coronavirus outbreak that has halted games at all levels of competition.
Social media has implored ESPN/ABC to move up the documentary’s beginning because of the hunger for new sports programming. ESPN and its four partners, including Netflix, Jordan, the NBA and Mandalay Sports Media, have heard the calls and have acted on them. Netflix owns the international rights to the docuseries.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--De Blasio: Evangelical charity running Central Park hospital won’t discriminate

ALBANY — With New York ’ s budget due at midnight , Gov ... .

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Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that he has been “assured” the evangelical Christian charity overseeing the makeshift Central Park hospital will not discriminate against patients.
Hizzoner acknowledged that he found it “very troubling” when he first learned that Samaritan’s Purse — a charity run by Franklin Graham, who has raged about “the sins of homosexuality” — wanted to open a pop-up hospital in the park to help handle the city’s deluge of coronavirus patients.
“I said immediately to my team that we had to find out exactly what was happening,” de Blasio said. “Was there going to be an approach that was truly consistent with the values and the laws in New York City, that everyone would be served and served equally?
“We’ve received those assurances from the organization,” the mayor said.
“I spoke earlier today with the CEO of the Mount Sinai system, Dr. Ken Davis, who was adamant that they will only continue their relationship with the organization if those rules are followed, that they have a written agreement, that there’s going to be no discrimination whatsoever.”
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement The Central Park hospital will be receiving patients from the Mount Sinai healthcare system. Matthew McDermott Matthew McDermott Advertisement
“We’re going to send people over from the Mayor’s Office to monitor” the park facility, de Blasio added. “So I’m very concerned to make sure this is done right. But if it is done right, of course, we need all the help we can get.”
Samaritan’s Purse has been called out over its anti-LGBT stance — including, for example, requiring its workers to adhere to a “statement of faith” opposing same-sex marriage.
“We believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made to complete each other,” the statement on the group’s website reads.
“God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Medicaid fight takes central stage in Albany budget battle

ALBANY — With New York ’ s budget due at midnight , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers are at loggerheads over his proposed restructuring of the state ’ s Medicaid program , which critics charge would cut hospitals as coronavirus rages and cost New York City at least $ 1.6 billion .
“ It is still one of the things that ’ s being discussed at the table and we ’ re fighting [ Cuomo ] on this issue , ” said state Sen. Gustavo Rivera ( D-Bronx ) , who chairs the chamber ’ s committee on health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re making up numbers.
” Cuomo acknowledged during a Tuesday briefing he is still working with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie ( D-The Bronx ) and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins ( D-Westchester ) to hammer out a deal , but did not specifically address the Medicaid fight .
Lawmakers returned to Albany in January facing a $ 6 billion deficit — $ 4 billion of which was linked back to Medicaid , the state ’ s health insurance program for the poor .
That was before the COVID-19 outbreak torpedoed the Empire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues to drop by as much as $ 15 billion .
The twin crises could leave the state with a $ 20 billion hole in what was once a .
Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate are pushing back against Cuomo ’ s two proposals to cut Medicaid spending — shifting costs to local governments and trimming benefits and hospital funding .
Local governments , including New York City , and liberal lawmakers have fiercely opposed both proposals — and say they will make the Empire State ineligible for $ 6.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charles Schumer ( D-New York ) .
The city ’ s Independent Budget Office offered a withering assessment of Gov .
Cuomo ’ s claim that local governments should share a greater burden of Medicaid ’ s costs since they have little power to actually reduce spending .
“ It is not clear how much control city officials have over these costs , particularly for managed long-term care , which has been the main driver of New York City Medicaid claims growth in recent years , ” the IBO determined in a little-noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governing Medicaid eligibility , benefits , program design , and reimbursement— beyond those fixed by the federal government — are determined by the state.
” And in New York City , a company hired by the state — Maximus — even approves most of the applications for long-term care .
It concludes that “ even with more ‘ skin in the game , ’ the city is limited in its ability to slow increases in the cost of managed long-term care , which has been the primary driver of New York City Medicaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall estimates the Medicaid changes would cost New York $ 1.6 billion in the first two years alone .
There is also a pitched fight over recommendations from the panel Cuomo tasked with identifying $ 2.5 billion in Medicaid cuts , saying they ’ ll hit city hospitals hard amid the pandemic and make the Empire State ineligible for $ 6 billion in federal relief .
One of the panel ’ s recommendations to change to how the state pays the city ’ s public hospital system for services could cut its Medicaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is cruel and inhumane and we will not accept a budget that includes these cuts , ” tweeted state Sen. Zellnor Myrie ( D-Brooklyn ) about the $ 38 million in cuts to hospitals in central Kings County .
Cuomo ’ s office declined to comment Tuesday , but pointed The Post to the governor ’ s Monday remarks on the fight over the Medicaid changes .
“ Two-and-a-half billion , per year recurring , is worth more than $ 6 billion one shot , ” Cuomo told reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.5 , 2.5 , than $ 6 billion today .
”

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers are at loggerheads over his proposed restructuring of the state’s Medicaid program, which critics charge would cut hospitals as coronavirus rages and cost New York City at least $1.6 billion.
“It is still one of the things that’s being discussed at the table and we’re fighting [Cuomo] on this issue,” said state Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx), who chairs the chamber’s committee on health. “It seems like they’re making up numbers.”
Cuomo acknowledged during a Tuesday briefing he is still working with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx) and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) to hammer out a deal, but did not specifically address the Medicaid fight.
The deadline to pass the state’s budget by 12 a.m. Wednesday came and went — with no resolution over the Medicaid fight or other key issues, including bail reform and school spending.
State lawmakers are expected to reconvene on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
The legislative session opened in January with lawmakers facing a $6 billion deficit — $4 billion of which was linked back to Medicaid, the state’s health insurance program for the poor.
That was before the COVID-19 outbreak torpedoed the Empire State’s economy, causing tax revenues to drop by as much as $15 billion.
The twin crises could leave the state with a $20 billion hole.
Democratic lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate are pushing back against Cuomo’s two proposals to cut Medicaid spending — shifting costs to local governments and trimming benefits and hospital funding.
Local governments, including New York City, and liberal lawmakers have fiercely opposed both proposals — and say they will make the Empire State ineligible for $6.7 billion in federal aid negotiated by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York).
The city’s Independent Budget Office offered a withering assessment of Gov. Cuomo’s claim that local governments should share a greater burden of Medicaid’s costs since they have little power to actually reduce spending.
“It is not clear how much control city officials have over these costs, particularly for managed long-term care, which has been the main driver of New York City Medicaid claims growth in recent years,” the IBO determined in a little-noticed study released last week.
“Rules governing Medicaid eligibility, benefits, program design, and reimbursement— beyond those fixed by the federal government — are determined by the state.”
And in New York City, a company hired by the state — Maximus — even approves most of the applications for long-term care.
It concludes that “even with more ‘skin in the game,’ the city is limited in its ability to slow increases in the cost of managed long-term care, which has been the primary driver of New York City Medicaid cost increases in recent years.”
City Hall estimates the Medicaid changes would cost New York $1.6 billion in the first two years alone.
There is also a pitched fight over recommendations from the panel Cuomo tasked with identifying $2.5 billion in Medicaid cuts, saying they’ll hit city hospitals hard amid the pandemic and make the Empire State ineligible for $6 billion in federal relief.
One of the panel’s recommendations to change to how the state pays the city’s public hospital system for services could cut its Medicaid funding by $186 million a year.
“This is cruel and inhumane and we will not accept a budget that includes these cuts,” tweeted state Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) about the $38 million in cuts to hospitals in central Kings County.
Cuomo’s office declined to comment Tuesday, but pointed The Post to the governor’s Monday remarks on the fight over the Medicaid changes.
“Two-and-a-half billion, per year recurring, is worth more than $6 billion one shot,” Cuomo told reporters. “I would rather have 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, than $6 billion today.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Man accused of ordering hit on dad in McDonald’s can’t have corona-pass: judge

On March 1 , there were two stories that dominated much ...

The man charged with plotting the murder of his dad in a McDonalds drive-thru can’t get out of federal lockup to avoid catching the coronavirus, a federal judge ruled.
Anthony Zottola Sr., who is accused of paying $200,000 to have his Bonanno-linked father bumped off, had asked that he be allowed to stay under house arrest while he awaits trial because the deadly bug presents a “gratuitous risk” to his health.
Brooklyn federal Judge Raymond Dearie said in a ruling issued Tuesday that he and other judges are “deeply concerned” about the COVID-19 outbreak and how it could affect inmates — and that they have let some go free as infection rates increase.
But in the case of Zottola, the judge said there are “compelling circumstances” that have gone unchanged since he last asked for bail.
“None of this is pleasant,” Dearie said. “None of it is easy.“
The judge did not elaborate on the “compelling circumstances,” but when he initially denied Zottola bail back in January, he had said the charges were too “serious and disturbing” to allow him to stay at home.
Prosecutors allege that Zottola, 42, worked with nine co-defendants to hatch a murder-for-hire plot for Salvatore “Sally Daz” Zottola, 71, while the wiseguy was picking up coffee from a McDonald’s in the Bronx in 2018.
The feds say he wanted to get the elder Zottola out of the way so he could take over his father’s gambling ring.
If convicted, Anthony Zottola Sr. and his co-defendants could face life in prison or the death penalty.
Zottola had offered to put up a $5 million bond to get released from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan, where three inmates have now tested positive for coronavirus, according to the US Bureau of Prisons.
Henry Mazurek, Zottola’s attorney, said he is disappointed with the ruling and said that his client remains in “harm’s way” as long as he is behind bars in MCC.
“There’s still a lack of available soap, disinfectant, hand sanitizer,” Mazurek said, “There is the spread of the virus among both prisoners and staff.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--March mercifully ends with sports, world unrecognizable

The Polar Bear is well aware of the Tiger King ... .

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On March 1, there were two stories that dominated much of the news cycle. There was much buzz attached to Joe Biden’s stunning political resurrection after winning the South Carolina primary. There was hope surrounding an agreement signed between the U.S. and the Taliban to end America’s longest war, which on that Sunday had lasted for 6,720 days.
On March 1, there were a total of 62 reported cases of COVID-19 in the United States.
On March 1, Galen Rupp was celebrating having become one of the first Americans to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, winning the men’s marathon trials in Atlanta in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 20 seconds. Aliphine Tuliamuk won the women’s portion of the race in 2:27:23.
On March 1, a resident in a nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., became the second American to die of COVID-19.
On March 1, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Jacob deGrom looked razor sharp in throwing three shutout innings of one-hit ball at the Nationals. Michael Conforto hit a home run — it would be a few days later when he threw a wrench in the Mets’ springtime optimism when it was revealed he tweaked his oblique in that same game. That seemed like dreadful news at the time. In Lakeland, a 27-year-old journeyman named Rosell Herrera hit two homers for the Yankees, who were bracing for the next day, when Aaron Judge would have more tests on his ailing shoulder.
On March 1, our world was the same world we’d ever known, the only world we’d ever known. Restaurants and saloons were crowded. Folks in Florida frolicked on the beach without a care in the world. People boarded airplanes and, undoubtedly, groused that there never seem to be any empty seats anymore. People planned vacations, and weddings, and baptisms, and bar mitzvahs, and funerals.
On March 1, sports fans were allowed to live well within the blissful bubble to which we’ve grown accustomed. They strategized about fantasy-baseball drafts. If you lived in New Jersey and had a hunch and some money burning a hole in your pocket, you clicked on your MGM or FanDuel accounts and gambled to your heart’s content on NBA, NHL, MLS, college hoops, an endless buffet table of options.
You raged — I mean, raged — about the Houston Astros if you were a fan of any of the other 29 teams in Major League Baseball (or just a believer in fair play). If you wanted to take a break from the Astros, you set your furies on Rob Manfred and the various controversies littering the commissioner’s office. You fretted about the Islanders’ collapse, rejoiced in the Rangers’ surge.
If you had tickets to see the Knicks at the Garden — they had games with the Rockets and Jazz that week — maybe you wondered if you’d be able to join your fellow sufferers in a chorus or two of “Sell the team!” before any of the Garden security folks heard you. If you were a Mets fan grown tired of present ownership, you gamed out with fellow believers how Steve Cohen could still possibly ride in on a white horse and save the day.
That was March 1, all of it.
Wednesday, finally — mercifully — the calendar flips to April 1. History will forever insist that March 2020 occupied just the standard 31 days of the calendar, but you know better. You know that after a lifetime of sad, wistful lamenting that time speeds by so quickly, the past 31 days, for all of us, have felt like a year unto itself. A decade, maybe.
On April 1, there are more than 3,000 American deaths from COVID-19, the count surpassing the terrible carnage of Sept. 11. There are more than 175,000 people afflicted with the virus. Life as we know it has been turned upside-down, and it’s going to stay that way until May 1, maybe June 1, likely longer, possibly much longer.
We fill the time any way we can: doom-surfing on Twitter, binge-watching “Tiger King” and other cultural necessities, making Zoom stock shoot through the roof — hungry for nice days when we can sit, appropriately distanced, in the outdoors and let the sun’s healing rays make us feel normal, however temporarily.
Sports fans make do. There are old games on YouTube and elsewhere. April 1 is the 35th anniversary of Villanova 66, Georgetown 64, and there’s been plenty of discussion about that game since CBS re-aired it Sunday.
On Tuesday, your humble narrator may or may not have reactivated his dormant William Hill account in order to wager a double-sawbuck on Shakhter Soligorsk over Yunost Minsk in a Belarus Extraliga hockey game (and your humble narrator may have lost that $20 when Yunost scored an overtime goal, causing a groan and a cry of “Same old Soligorsk!”).
On April 1, we all do what we can. Smartly, I hope. And safely, I pray.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--David Fales returns to compete for Jets’ backup job

The Jets agreed to bring back Sam Darnold ’ s backup from last year on Tuesday .
The team and quarterback David Fales agreed to a one-year deal , according to a source .
Fales was signed last September after Trevor Siemian broke his ankle against the Browns in Week 2 .
Fales , 29 , backed up Luke Falk for two games , was cut then was re-signed to back up Darnold for the rest of the season .
Fales appeared in two games but did not attempt a pass .
The Jets still could add a more experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have a chance to compete to be Darnold ’ s backup .
The only other quarterback on their roster is Mike White , who spent last season on the practice squad .
Fales ’ knowledge of coach Adam Gase ’ s offense had to be an attractive quality .
Fales played for Gase last year and in 2017-18 with the Dolphins .
It seems likely the NFL is going to cancel all of its spring program , including OTAs , due to the coronavirus pandemic .
That will leave coaches with less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system will help Fales .
Still , the Jets may look to add someone with more of a track record to play behind Darnold .
Their franchise quarterback has missed six games in his first two seasons , and the Jets are 0-6 in those games .
They have suffered from not having a suitable replacement .
Among backup possibilities , Siemian , Drew Stanton and Joe Flacco and are veterans still on the market .

The Jets agreed to bring back Sam Darnold’s backup from last year on Tuesday.
The team and quarterback David Fales agreed to a one-year deal, according to a source. Fales was signed last September after Trevor Siemian broke his ankle against the Browns in Week 2.
Fales, 29, backed up Luke Falk for two games, was cut then was re-signed to back up Darnold for the rest of the season. Fales appeared in two games but did not attempt a pass.
The Jets still could add a more experienced quarterback to their roster, but Fales will have a chance to compete to be Darnold’s backup. The only other quarterback on their roster is Mike White, who spent last season on the practice squad.
Fales’ knowledge of coach Adam Gase’s offense had to be an attractive quality. Fales played for Gase last year and in 2017-18 with the Dolphins. It seems likely the NFL is going to cancel all of its spring program, including OTAs, due to the coronavirus pandemic. That will leave coaches with less teaching time, so familiarity with the system will help Fales.
Still, the Jets may look to add someone with more of a track record to play behind Darnold. Their franchise quarterback has missed six games in his first two seasons, and the Jets are 0-6 in those games. They have suffered from not having a suitable replacement.
Among backup possibilities, Siemian, Drew Stanton and Joe Flacco are veterans still on the market.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Americans are drinking a crazy amount of alcohol during coronavirus lockdown

Americans are concocting cocktails to cope with the coronavirus — and lots of them .
US sales of alcoholic beverages have risen 55 percent in the week ending March 21 , according to Nielsen data .
Hard alcohol , such as gin , tequila and premixed cocktails , is on the top of the pour list , and spirits have seen the highest increase with sales jumping 75 percent compared to the same period last year .
Wine and beer are heavily flowing also : Wine sales are up 66 percent , and beer sales have risen 42 percent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered essential businesses by Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and remain open .
But even so , national online sales were up 243 percent , far outpacing store sales .
Danelle Kosmal , a Nielsen vice president , suspects growth rates peaked that week as stay-at-home orders went into effect , prompting many to stock up on booze .
She said data for the week ending March 28 will be a better indicator of ongoing demand .
As consumers largely avoid brick-and-mortar shops , many of which are closed , online services and apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toast friends during all the happy hours held via Zoom , Facebook , FaceTime and Google Hangouts .
Alcohol delivery app Drizly , which serves 26 states plus Washington , DC , and Alberta , says the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on sales the week of March 16–21 , up approximately 300 percent from earlier in the year , reports CNBC .
The world might be mad for margaritas , but a World Health Organization official wants people to put the brakes on the booze — calling it an “ unhelpful coping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rise in alcohol consumption has also negatively impacted those who are in alcohol or drug recovery , with health experts saying they have already seen an increase in relapses .
Dr. Richard Piper , of charity Alcohol Change UK , tells the Independent that drinkers should limit their consumption to 14 units or less per week .
“ With routines out of the window , we might well find ourselves reaching for a drink more often , ” he said .

Americans are concocting cocktails to cope with the coronavirus — and lots of them.
US sales of alcoholic beverages have risen 55 percent in the week ending March 21, according to Nielsen data. Hard alcohol, such as gin, tequila and premixed cocktails, is on the top of the pour list, and spirits have seen the highest increase with sales jumping 75 percent compared to the same period last year.
Wine and beer are heavily flowing also: Wine sales are up 66 percent, and beer sales have risen 42 percent.
In New York, liquor stores are considered essential businesses by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and remain open. But even so, national online sales were up 243 percent, far outpacing store sales.
Danelle Kosmal, a Nielsen vice president, suspects growth rates peaked that week as stay-at-home orders went into effect, prompting many to stock up on booze. She said data for the week ending March 28 will be a better indicator of ongoing demand.
As consumers largely avoid brick-and-mortar shops, many of which are closed, online services and apps have made it easier for lushes to toast friends during all the happy hours held via Zoom, Facebook, FaceTime and Google Hangouts.
Alcohol delivery app Drizly, which serves 26 states plus Washington, DC, and Alberta, says the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on sales the week of March 16–21, up approximately 300 percent from earlier in the year, reports CNBC.
The world might be mad for margaritas, but a World Health Organization official wants people to put the brakes on the booze — calling it an “unhelpful coping strategy” during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The rise in alcohol consumption has also negatively impacted those who are in alcohol or drug recovery, with health experts saying they have already seen an increase in relapses.
Dr. Richard Piper, of charity Alcohol Change UK, tells the Independent that drinkers should limit their consumption to 14 units or less per week.
“With routines out of the window, we might well find ourselves reaching for a drink more often,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--NFL plans to start season on time with filled stadiums, expanded playoff

So , Roger Goodell says the show will go on .
The ...

While the country’s other professional sports have been postponed indefinitely by the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL still intends to begin the 2020 season on time.
“That’s my expectation,” NFL executive vice president and general counsel Jeff Pash said Tuesday on a conference call. “Am I certain? I’m not certain I will be here tomorrow. But I’m planning on it, and in the same way, I’m planning on having a full season.”
According to Pash, the NFL remains focused on playing the season in full, as scheduled, and “in front of fans in our regular stadiums.” Much of that plan, of course, will depend on public-health recommendations related to COVID-19, he said, and the potential extension of the limiting of large gatherings to stem the spread of the virus.
“We’re still in March, so it’s quite a few months between now and when our season would begin,” Pash said. “The belief and the information that we have is leading us to continue on focusing on a season that starts on time and played in a normal way.”
NFL training camps are scheduled to begin in late July, followed by the regular season in early September. Pash added that schedules are slated to be released May 9.
Pash also said the league remains committed to staging all five of its scheduled international games in 2020 (four in London and one in Mexico City), pending medical and governmental approval in Great Britain and Mexico.
The NFL also announced Tuesday that it officially will expand its playoffs to include 14 teams, with the league’s owners voting to add one wild-card team in each conference beginning with the 2020 season.
The new format will include four division winners and three wild cards in both the AFC and the NFC, with only the No. 1 seed in each conference earning a bye week in the opening weekend of the playoffs.
The six remaining division winners will host games in the first round, with three games played on Saturday, Jan. 9 and three more on Sunday, Jan. 10. The NFL previously expanded the playoffs from 10 to 12 teams for the 1990 season.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--NYC mommy blogger gets heat for cross-country RV trip amid coronavirus

Manhattan-based mother of five and influencer Naomi Davis has sparked outrage by quitting New York City in the midst of a pandemic to embark on a cross-country road trip with her hubby and kids in an RV , according to BuzzFeed News .
Davis , a blogger at her Love Taza site with 465,000 Instagram followers , announced on Saturday that she was leaving the Upper West Side so “ we can have a little more space ” during the coronavirus quarantine .
Her decision to leave the city , which has been under lockdown per orders from government officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her followers for ignoring public-health guidelines .
“ Absolutely wrong thing to do , ” one wrote .
Another chimed in with : “ This is insane !
You are potentially spreading the virus to other areas.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a domestic travel advisory Saturday for New York , New Jersey and Connecticut residents , asking them to “ refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days , effective immediately.
” Many states are even monitoring New Yorkers who have fled the state , including Rhode Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post , the mom featured a photograph of the RV in which she and husband Josh were escaping with their little ones .
She said they bade farewell to the Upper West Side on Friday night .
“ While we ’ ve been diligent about self-quarantining and social distancing in New York City , we want to make sure we will stay away from others during our trip ( even though no one in our family has symptoms , you could always be asymptomatic ) , ” wrote Davis .
“ For this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RV in order to avoid hotels and people and just eat and sleep in the RV on the way.
” She concluded : “ Hopefully , a little change of scenery will be just what we need — for everyone ’ s physical health , for my headspace which is spiraling lately — and for our kids ’ own mental health.
” While many of the comments on the Instagram post were hard-hitting but polite , the Twitterverse showed less mercy .
A user named LienOnMe tweeted : “ This is dangerous , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be so concerned about yourself that you forget you are *more* likely to cause harm to others.
” “ It takes some egregiously insufferable influencer privilege to dramatically flounce from the epicenter during an international health emergency .
Wouldn ’ t you say so @ lovetaza .
Naomi Davis should have been canceled long ago , ” @ SnarkyAbby chimed in .
Meanwhile , another Twitter user tagged New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo in their post in order to snitch on Davis ’ rogue actions .
“ @ andrewcuomo Is this even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” asked @ MandaMarae .
“ These people should be fined for their adventure.
” A public-health expert contacted by BuzzFeed News called the Davises ’ plan “ highly irresponsible ” and “ not safe at all.
” Lawrence Gostin , a professor of global health law at Georgetown University , said people in New York City should listen to authorities and not make individual judgment calls on what is or isn ’ t safe .
“ On its face , if everyone gets to decide what is safe , then we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was particularly concerned about the family infecting people they meet throughout their journey , especially when they need to stop for gas or food .
“ The only place you can literally separate yourself from society is at home , ” he told BuzzFeed .
His point of view was echoed by Dr. Drew Harris , a researcher and assistant professor at the Thomas Jefferson University College of Population Health .
“ We assume the virus will continue to circulate for months , so how long do they intend to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only safe time to return will be after a vaccine is available , which is a year or more away.
” Davis did , however , receive some support on Love Taza ’ s Instagram page .
One user wrote : “ I think you are totally doing the right thing for your family and NYC .
Less people in the city will allow the virus to slow and disappear.
” Both BuzzFeed News and The Post attempted to contact the runaway blogger — who has been uncharacteristically quiet on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to no avail .
Davis isn ’ t the only blogger to up sticks on New York in the middle of lockdown .
Blogger Arielle Charnas of Something Navy , who was lambasted for using connections to score a COVID-19 test , has fled to the Hamptons with her family despite being diagnosed with the coronavirus .

She’s a mom on the run!
Manhattan-based mother of five and influencer Naomi Davis has sparked outrage by quitting New York City in the midst of a pandemic to embark on a cross-country road trip with her hubby and kids in an RV, according to BuzzFeed News.
Davis, a blogger at her Love Taza site with 465,000 Instagram followers, announced on Saturday that she was leaving the Upper West Side so “we can have a little more space” during the coronavirus quarantine.
Her decision to leave the city, which has been under lockdown per orders from government officials and experts, has angered many of her followers for ignoring public-health guidelines.
“Absolutely wrong thing to do,” one wrote. Another chimed in with: “This is insane! You are potentially spreading the virus to other areas.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a domestic travel advisory Saturday for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut residents, asking them to “refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days, effective immediately.” Many states are even monitoring New Yorkers who have fled the state, including Rhode Island and Florida.
In her weekend Instagram post, the mom featured a photograph of the RV in which she and husband Josh were escaping with their little ones. She said they bade farewell to the Upper West Side on Friday night.
“While we’ve been diligent about self-quarantining and social distancing in New York City, we want to make sure we will stay away from others during our trip (even though no one in our family has symptoms, you could always be asymptomatic),” wrote Davis. “For this reason, we decided to rent an RV in order to avoid hotels and people and just eat and sleep in the RV on the way.”
She concluded: “Hopefully, a little change of scenery will be just what we need — for everyone’s physical health, for my headspace which is spiraling lately — and for our kids’ own mental health.”
While many of the comments on the Instagram post were hard-hitting but polite, the Twitterverse showed less mercy.
A user named LienOnMe tweeted: “This is dangerous, reckless behavior. Please don’t be so concerned about yourself that you forget you are *more* likely to cause harm to others.”
“It takes some egregiously insufferable influencer privilege to dramatically flounce from the epicenter during an international health emergency. Wouldn’t you say so @lovetaza. Naomi Davis should have been canceled long ago,” @SnarkyAbby chimed in.
Meanwhile, another Twitter user tagged New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in their post in order to snitch on Davis’ rogue actions. “@andrewcuomo Is this even allowed right now?!!,” asked @MandaMarae. “These people should be fined for their adventure.”
A public-health expert contacted by BuzzFeed News called the Davises’ plan “highly irresponsible” and “not safe at all.”
Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, said people in New York City should listen to authorities and not make individual judgment calls on what is or isn’t safe.
“On its face, if everyone gets to decide what is safe, then we will just have chaos,” he said.
He was particularly concerned about the family infecting people they meet throughout their journey, especially when they need to stop for gas or food.
“The only place you can literally separate yourself from society is at home,” he told BuzzFeed.
His point of view was echoed by Dr. Drew Harris, a researcher and assistant professor at the Thomas Jefferson University College of Population Health.
“We assume the virus will continue to circulate for months, so how long do they intend to stay away?” he wondered. “The only safe time to return will be after a vaccine is available, which is a year or more away.”
Davis did, however, receive some support on Love Taza’s Instagram page. One user wrote: “I think you are totally doing the right thing for your family and NYC. Less people in the city will allow the virus to slow and disappear.”
Both BuzzFeed News and The Post attempted to contact the runaway blogger — who has been uncharacteristically quiet on social media since the avalanche of complaints — but to no avail.
Davis isn’t the only blogger to up sticks on New York in the middle of lockdown. Blogger Arielle Charnas of Something Navy, who was lambasted for using connections to score a COVID-19 test, has fled to the Hamptons with her family despite being diagnosed with the coronavirus.


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Subway franchisees fret as corporation says it won’t offer new break on fees

Subway laid off nearly a quarter of the workers at ...

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Subway franchisees whose business has been crippled by the coronavirus got a break two weeks ago on the fees they pay to their corporate parent — and now the break is over.
The fast-food giant on Monday abruptly announced that it will stop forgiving half of the 8 percent royalty fees it collects from franchisees for its 23,500 North American restaurants, instead revealing plans to defer and collect the fees at a later date, sources told The Post.
The about-face from Subway’s headquarters in Milford, Conn., miffed franchisees, feeding the perception among some that its new chief executive, John Chidsey, a former CEO at Burger King, isn’t looking out for the little guy.
“To say I was disappointed in [the restored fees] would be an understatement,” Steve Workman, vice chair of the North American Association of Subway Franchisees advocacy group, said in a blog post this week, a screen grab of which was reviewed by The Post.
“They only see the world from the singular paradigm of ‘me’ with not a thought of ‘we,’ ” Workman continued. “That is not just sad but will be catastrophic to the very system they purport to be looking out for.”
A Subway spokeswoman said, “We recognize the significant impact and strain this event will have on our network of franchise-owned businesses,” referring to the corona shutdown which, according to some franchisees, is reducing revenue at many locations by more than half as others shutter altogether.
“We are working around the clock to monitor, evaluate and respond in real time, and do what we can to support our global ecosystem as we face this unprecedented situation together.”
Subway is reportedly in negotiations with landlords for rent reductions, declaring the coronavirus a “force majeure” that has preventing it from meeting its obligations. Still, experts say that could prove difficult unless its contracts specifically address pandemics.
Subway CEO Chidsey, along with top executives from other big fast-food chains, had a call recently with President Trump and reportedly committed to keeping drive-through and delivery options for their customers in exchange for access to government funds.
Franchisees are now eligible to apply for loans that the government will consider grants to the extent that borrowers continue their full spending on payroll. Applications are expected to be distributed to lenders this week with the first checks being cut in about three weeks.
“I think this is a program where the government is trying to prop everybody up,” said franchisee lawyer Ron Gardner.
Still, some Subway franchisees remain skeptical that a government bailout will solve their problems.
“My sales are plummeting,” one franchisee wrote on a Subway blog. “Do I place one last food order … or do I give my employees one last paycheck? I’ve decided to give my employees one last paycheck.”
“All of us borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars to live the American Dream. To work for ourselves. To be our own boss. And this is what it has come to,” the franchisee added. “I’ll be damned if I’m going to take out another loan to buy me maybe three more months.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-31--Trump: America faces ‘rough two weeks’ in coronavirus battle

President Trump issued a grim warning to Americans on Tuesday that the country would face a spike in deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in coming weeks before the situation started to improve .
“ This is going to be a rough two weeks .
As a nation , we face a difficult few weeks as we approach that really important day when we will see things get better .
All of a sudden , and it will be like a first light , ” the president said from the White House during the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our endurance will be tried .
But America will answer with love , courage and ironclad resolve .
This is the time for all Americans to come together and do our part .
Drs .
Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx , the top experts on the task force , showed models that predicted that as many as 2.2 million Americans could perish without strict efforts to control the virus and universal cooperation from Americans to comply with the task force ’ s guidelines .
If the guidelines — such as handwashing and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll could be substantially lower , closer to 100,000 , they said .
“ We are going to continue to see things go up , ” Fauci said .
But while deaths will climb , new cases should begin to slacken , he added .
“ So now we have to brace ourselves , and next several days to a week or so , we will continue to see things go up .
You can not be discouraged by that , because mitigation is actually working and it will work , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a glimmer of hope in New York ’ s efforts to slow the spread of the disease .
Birx also stressed the importance of following the guidelines .
“ I know it is stressful to follow the guidelines , but it is more stressful and difficult [ for ] the soldiers on the front lines , ” she said .
“ There is no magic bullet , no magic vaccine or therapy .
It is just behavior .
Each of our behaviors translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said earlier Tuesday the idea of using masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus was under “ very active discussion ” by the task force .
“ The idea of getting a much more broad , community-wide use of masks outside of the health care setting is under very active discussion at the task force .
The CDC group is looking at that very carefully , ” Fauci told CNN .
His comments came a day after Trump said he could see a time when all Americans would be advised to wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deadly virus .
The idea contradicted the government ’ s current guidance , which says that masks aren ’ t necessary for most people .

President Trump issued a grim warning to Americans on Tuesday that the country would face a spike in deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in coming weeks before the situation started to improve.
“This is going to be a rough two weeks. As a nation, we face a difficult few weeks as we approach that really important day when we will see things get better. All of a sudden, and it will be like a first light,” the president said from the White House during the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing.
“Our strength will be tested, and our endurance will be tried. But America will answer with love, courage and ironclad resolve. This is the time for all Americans to come together and do our part.
Drs. Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx, the top experts on the task force, showed models that predicted that as many as 2.2 million Americans could perish without strict efforts to control the virus and universal cooperation from Americans to comply with the task force’s guidelines.
If the guidelines — such as handwashing and social distancing — are taken seriously, the toll could be substantially lower, closer to 100,000, they said.
“We are going to continue to see things go up,” Fauci said.
But while deaths will climb, new cases should begin to slacken, he added.
“So now we have to brace ourselves, and next several days to a week or so, we will continue to see things go up. You cannot be discouraged by that, because mitigation is actually working and it will work,” he said, noting that there was already a glimmer of hope in New York’s efforts to slow the spread of the disease.
Birx also stressed the importance of following the guidelines.
“I know it is stressful to follow the guidelines, but it is more stressful and difficult [for] the soldiers on the front lines,” she said.
“There is no magic bullet, no magic vaccine or therapy. It is just behavior. Each of our behaviors translating into something that changes the course of this viral pandemic over the next 30 days.
Fauci said earlier Tuesday the idea of using masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus was under “very active discussion” by the task force.
“The idea of getting a much more broad, community-wide use of masks outside of the health care setting is under very active discussion at the task force. The CDC group is looking at that very carefully,” Fauci told CNN.
His comments came a day after Trump said he could see a time when all Americans would be advised to wear masks in public to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
The idea contradicted the government’s current guidance, which says that masks aren’t necessary for most people.