newyorkpost--2020-10-15--US workers file 898,000 jobless claims as COVID-19 chokes labor market

Some 898,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus pandemic kept the labor market in a chokehold , the feds said Thursday .
The latest figure brought the seasonally adjusted number of initial jobless claims filed during the COVID-19 crisis to roughly 64.5 million — a total larger than the combined populations of California and Florida .
Last week ’ s filings reported by the US Department of Labor surged from the prior week ’ s revised total of 845,000 and outpaced economists ’ expectations for 825,000 new claims .
But the data may have been distorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work through a backlog of claims and implement anti-fraud technology .
Jobless claims have hovered between 800,000 and 900,000 for seven consecutive weeks as the labor market ’ s recovery from the virus crisis appeared to stall .
Last week ’ s total remained well above the pre-pandemic record of 695,000 filings in a single week .
Continuing claims , which measure ongoing joblessness on a one-week lag , fell once again to about 10 million in the week ending Oct. 3 .
The steady decline in those numbers is likely due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of benefits that most states provide , experts say .

Some 898,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus pandemic kept the labor market in a chokehold, the feds said Thursday.
The surprise surge brought the seasonally adjusted number of initial jobless claims filed during the COVID-19 crisis to roughly 64.5 million — a total larger than the combined populations of California and Florida.
Last week’s filings reported by the US Department of Labor jumped from the prior week’s revised total of 845,000 claims, outpaced economists’ expectations for 825,000 and remained well above the pre-pandemic record of 695,000. New claims have hovered between 800,000 and 900,000 for seven consecutive weeks, a sign that the labor market’s recovery from the virus crisis is stalling
“America is unlikely to see a full recovery and a return to low unemployment until the pace of weekly [unemployment insurance] claims dials back significantly,” Glassdoor Chief Economist Andrew Chamberlain said. “As the virus remains in the driver’s seat, today’s elevated claims cast a shadow over the fate of the US labor market in the next half year.”
The latest data, however, may have been distorted as California paused its reporting to work through a backlog of claims and implement fraud prevention technology. The feds used a placeholder figure of 226,179 claims for the Golden State, which accounted for about a quarter of the raw total tallied for last week.
Continuing claims, which measure ongoing joblessness on a one-week lag, fell once again to about 10 million in the week ending Oct. 3. The steady decline in those numbers is likely due to jobless workers exhausting the 26 weeks of benefits that most states provide, according to experts.
But the number of gig workers and others seeking special federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance dropped by about 91,000 to 372,891 last week. And the total number of workers claiming some kind of state or federal aid ticked down by some 215,000 to roughly 25.3 million in the week ending Sept. 26, the most recent for which that figure is available.
“It looks like the labor markets are improving at the start of October and that some jobless workers who lost their employment in the pandemic recession are getting paychecks once again,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank.
Despite those silver linings, experts say Washington needs to pass another round of stimulus spending to make sure the economic recovery from the pandemic doesn’t falter any further. Job growth has slowed the last two months, and big companies such as Disney and United Airlines have announced layoffs or furloughs in recent weeks.
“There is risk of stagnation in the coming months as layoffs mount, and more businesses struggle or fail,” said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.com.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Dr. Fauci suggests canceling Thanksgiving gatherings amid COVID uptick

Summer is barely over and US retailers are already fretting ...

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Dr. Anthony Fauci issued a dire warning about the surging coronavirus cases around the country — saying that people “may have to bite the bullet and sacrifice that social gathering,” according to a report.
The 79-year-old top infectious diseases doctor told “CBS Evening News” on Wednesday that his three children will not be coming home for the holiday because his age puts him at increased risk.
“You may have to bite the bullet and sacrifice that social gathering, unless you’re pretty certain that the people that you’re dealing with are not infected,” Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told anchor Norah O’Donnell.
Noting that COVID-19 cases are surging in 37 states, Fauci said that “what we really have to do is double down” during the cooler weather on preventive measures like social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands.
“They sound very simple, but people are not doing that and that’s why we have an uptick in cases,” he said.
The situation could get even worse as families across the country travel and gather for the holiday season, Fauci added.
“That is unfortunately a risk, when you have people coming from out of town, gathering together in an indoor setting,” he said. “It is unfortunate, because that’s such a sacred part of American tradition — the family gathering around Thanksgiving. But that is a risk.”
He continued: “Given the fluid and dynamic nature of what’s going on right now in the spread and the uptick of infections, I think people should be very careful and prudent about social gatherings, particularly when members of the family might be at a risk because of their age or their underlying condition.”
Fauci said his children, who live in three different states, have decided to stay away this year amid the pandemic.
“They themselves, because of their concern for me and my age, have decided they’re not going to come home for Thanksgiving — even though all three of them want very much to come home for Thanksgiving,” he said.
Fauci also addressed President Trump’s recent bout with the coronavirus.
“We’re very, very pleased” with how well the president is doing, he said, but warned that not everyone who contracts the deadly bug will be as fortunate as Trump, who was treated with a variety of aggressive and experimental treatments at Walter Reed medical center.
As for Trump’s promise that the Regeneron antibody cocktail will be made available to all Americans who need it, Fauci said that’s not yet feasible because there aren’t enough doses to go around.
The president has urged people to not be afraid of the virus or let it “dominate” their lives — but Fauci pushed back at the suggestion.
“That’s sort of like saying someone was speeding in a car at 95 miles an hour and didn’t get in an accident, so I can go ahead and speed and not get in an accident. There’s a great deal of variability,” he said.
“We’re very, very pleased that the president did so well when he was infected with the coronavirus, but there are also a lot of people who are his age and his weight which did not do as well as the president did. The president was fortunate,” Fauci added.
He also said he signed off on Trump’s participation in an NBC town hall Thursday night after looking at the “totality” of the tests the president has taken.
“I, and one of my colleagues who’s very experienced in this, Dr. Cliff Lane, came to the conclusion — I think certainly correctly — that he is of no threat to transmit the virus to anybody else,” Fauci told O’Donnell.
Asked whether Trump is putting the people who travel with him in peril, he replied: “The answer to that is no, he is not.”
Fauci’s warnings about the upcoming holiday come as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that even small gatherings are becoming a source of infection nationwide.
“In the public square, we’re seeing a higher degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions,” Dr. Robert Redfield told governors on a call Tuesday, The Hill reported.
“But what we’re seeing as the increasing threat right now is actually acquisition of infection through small household gatherings,” he said. “Particularly with Thanksgiving coming up, we think it’s really important to stress the vigilance of these continued mitigation steps in the household setting.”
As of Thursday, the death toll from the coronavirus in the US stood at 216,904, with more than 7.9 million reported cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Le’Veon Bell’s latest Twitter clues point to Chiefs signing

Le ’ Veon Bell may go from the worst team in the NFL to the best .
Bell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ liking several tweets suggesting the Jets should trade him and that he should have gotten @ @ @ @ @ Jets ’ loss to the Cardinals .
Bell is dropping some more social media breadcrumbs @ @ @ @ @ free agent .
Bell liked a video on Twitter from 2019 that featured him and @ @ @ @ @ Jones .
The video was of Bell and Jones hyping up the possibility of the @ @ @ @ @ Chiefs .
It came six days before Bell signed his ill-fated four-year , $ 52 @ @ @ @ @ that he was released from on Tuesday night .
Bell and Patrick Mahomes also just @ @ @ @ @ .
According to NFL reporter Benjamin Allbright , Bell is deciding between the Chiefs , @ @ @ @ @ and Patriots .
The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are 4-1 and could use a @ @ @ @ @ Clyde Edwards-Helaire .

Le’Veon Bell may go from the worst team in the NFL to the best.
Bell’s Jets tenure ended with him liking several tweets suggesting the Jets should trade him and that he should have gotten the ball more in the Jets’ loss to the Cardinals. Bell is dropping some more social media breadcrumbs now that he is a free agent.
Bell liked a video on Twitter from 2019 that featured him and Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones. The video was of Bell and Jones hyping up the possibility of the running back signing with the Chiefs. It came six days before Bell signed his ill-fated four-year, $52 million contract with the Jets that he was released from on Tuesday night. Bell and Patrick Mahomes also just followed each other on Twitter.
According to ESPN.com, Bell is deciding between the Chiefs, Bills and Dolphins.
The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are 4-1 and could use a complement to rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Heineken fined for allegedly forcing pubs to sell ‘unreasonable’ amounts of beer

UK regulators fined Heineken ’ s pub business nearly $ 2.6 million for allegedly forcing British bars to sell “ unreasonable levels ” of the Dutch brewer ’ s beers .
Star Pubs & Bars “ seriously and repeatedly ” violated UK rules over a nearly three-year period by keeping an iron grip on pub owners who tried to exercise their right to serve products from different brewers , the British Pubs Code Adjudicator said Thursday .
Star — which operates Heineken ’ s UK pub arm — told 96 tenants who asked to offer competing brands that every drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be from a Heineken label , officials said .
That was despite a legal requirement that pub “ stocking terms ” can ’ t stop an operator from selling competitors ’ brands .
Star later changed its approach and allowed pub operators to offer competing beers while requiring them to sell certain “ must stock ” brands , according to regulators .
But some tenants still would have been forced to make 60 percent of their keg products Heineken brands within a year even though they sold little or no Heineken products at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brands , according to officials .
Star “ did not engage frankly and transparently with its tenants or meet the standards required of a regulated business when engaging with ” pub regulators , Pubs Code Adjudicator Fiona Dickie said in a statement , adding that the fine of 2 million British pounds would be a “ deterrent to future non-compliant conduct.
” Star said it was “ deeply disappointed and frustrated ” with the regulators ’ findings and said it is considering an appeal .
The company said pub regulators did not respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms that it was offering certain pub tenants .
“ This penalty is unwarranted and disproportionate , and comes at a time when the entire sector is in serious financial crisis as we work around the clock to support our pubs and licensees to keep their businesses afloat , ” Star managing director Lawson Mountstevens said in a statement .

UK regulators fined Heineken’s pub business nearly $2.6 million for allegedly forcing British bars to sell “unreasonable levels” of the Dutch brewer’s beers.
Star Pubs & Bars “seriously and repeatedly” violated UK rules over a nearly three-year period by keeping an iron grip on pub owners who tried to exercise their right to serve products from different brewers, the British Pubs Code Adjudicator said Thursday.
Star — which operates Heineken’s UK pub arm — told 96 tenants who asked to offer competing brands that every drop of keg beer they sold had to be from a Heineken label, officials said. That was despite a legal requirement that pub “stocking terms” can’t stop an operator from selling competitors’ brands.
Star later changed its approach and allowed pub operators to offer competing beers while requiring them to sell certain “must stock” brands, according to regulators.
But some tenants still would have been forced to make 60 percent of their keg products Heineken brands within a year even though they sold little or no Heineken products at the time they asked to offer other brands, according to officials.
Star “did not engage frankly and transparently with its tenants or meet the standards required of a regulated business when engaging with” pub regulators, Pubs Code Adjudicator Fiona Dickie said in a statement, adding that the fine of 2 million British pounds would be a “deterrent to future non-compliant conduct.”
Star said it was “deeply disappointed and frustrated” with the regulators’ findings and said it is considering an appeal. The company said pub regulators did not respond to its requests for guidance on the terms that it was offering certain pub tenants.
“This penalty is unwarranted and disproportionate, and comes at a time when the entire sector is in serious financial crisis as we work around the clock to support our pubs and licensees to keep their businesses afloat,” Star managing director Lawson Mountstevens said in a statement.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Kayleigh McEnany: Twitter has me at ‘gunpoint’ to delete The Post’s Hunter Biden story

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tore into Twitter for locking her account — saying the administrators “ essentially have me at gunpoint ” until she deletes the post she shared of the New York Post ’ s Hunter Biden story .
McEnany was among the Twitter users blocked from spreading The Post ’ s exclusive front-page story on Biden ’ s alleged hard drive — and an email linking Joe Biden to his son ’ s job at a Ukrainian energy company — with the social media site claiming “ hacked materials ” were used in the report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blockage , ” McEnany told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday night .
“ When I log on to my Twitter account , it says I ’ m permanently banned .
They essentially have me at gunpoint and said unless you delete a news story by the New York Post , I can not regain access to my account.
” When she attempted to tweet the Post ’ s story , McEnany got a message from Twitter that said , “ Your account has been blocked .
We have determined that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for : Violating our rules against distribution of hacked material.
” “ This is censorship .
This is not the American way , ” she told Hannity .
” This is not how a freedom-loving democracy operates .
We have to have to hold Twitter accountable , and Facebook too , who is banning the transmission of this story simply because ideologically it hurts the side of the aisle that Silicon Valley prefers .
It ’ s sad , it ’ s censorship , [ and ] this is not America.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if they can ban the press secretary of the United States for President Trump , they can ban you , as a citizen , and that is pathetic.
” On Wednesday night , Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admitted that “ blocking URL sharing via tweet or DM with zero context as to why we ’ re blocking : unacceptable.
” Facebook also limited the spread of the story on its platform .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tore into Twitter for locking her account — saying the administrators “essentially have me at gunpoint” until she deletes the post she shared of the New York Post’s Hunter Biden story.
McEnany was among the Twitter users blocked from spreading The Post’s exclusive front-page story on Biden’s alleged hard drive, and an email linking Joe Biden to his son’s job at a Ukrainian energy company — with the social media site claiming “hacked materials” were used in the report.
“It’s not a temporary blockage,” McEnany told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday night. “When I log on to my Twitter account, it says I’m permanently banned. They essentially have me at gunpoint and said unless you delete a news story by the New York Post, I cannot regain access to my account.”
When she attempted to tweet The Post’s story, McEnany got a message from Twitter that said, “Your account has been blocked. We have determined that this account violated the Twitter Rules. Specifically, for: Violating our rules against distribution of hacked material.”
“This is censorship. This is not the American way,” she told Hannity. “This is not how a freedom-loving democracy operates. We have to have to hold Twitter accountable, and Facebook too, who is banning the transmission of this story simply because ideologically it hurts the side of the aisle that Silicon Valley prefers. It’s sad, it’s censorship, [and] this is not America.”
She added, “Make no mistake, if they can ban the press secretary of the United States for President Trump, they can ban you, as a citizen, and that is pathetic.”
On Wednesday night, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admitted that “blocking URL sharing via tweet or DM with zero context as to why we’re blocking: unacceptable.”
Facebook also limited the spread of the story on its platform.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Cameron Peak Fire becomes largest in Colorado’s history

A still-raging Colorado wildfire has become the largest in state history , officials said .
Wind gusts as high as 76 mph this pushed the Cameron Peak Fire — which has already been burning for two months — to devastate an extra 23,000 acres by late Wednesday , The Denver Post said .
That took it to 158,300 acres , or about 247 square miles — beating the largest wildfire recorded in the state , the Pine Gulch , which reached 139,007 acres before it was fully contained in late September .
The Cameron Peak Fire ignited Aug. 13 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September snowfall , the paper said .
It is 56 % contained and has left towers of smoke billowing over Fort Collins and much of the northern Front Range , according to the report .
Wednesday ’ s growth led to new mandatory evacuation orders in the Larimer County foothills , including hundreds of mountain cabins .
“ It was a bad day , ” Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said at an evening briefing , saying they “ lost structures today.
” “ But it very easily could have been a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were no reports of injuries or deaths .
Officials also fear it may grow , with strong winds also forecast Thursday and into Friday .
“ We ’ re not through this wave of activity yet , ” incident commander Dan Dallas said .
Colorado is just one of a dozen Western states to have been devastated this year by wildfires that have broken numerous records , with some of the largest ever seen in California and Oregon .

A still-raging Colorado wildfire has become the largest in state history, officials said.
Wind gusts as high as 76 mph this pushed the Cameron Peak Fire — which has already been burning for two months — to devastate an extra 23,000 acres by late Wednesday, The Denver Post said.
That took it to 158,300 acres, or about 247 square miles — beating the largest wildfire recorded in the state, the Pine Gulch, which reached 139,007 acres before it was fully contained in late September.
The Cameron Peak Fire ignited Aug. 13 and survived more than a foot of early September snowfall, the paper said.
It is 56% contained and has left towers of smoke billowing over Fort Collins and much of the northern Front Range, according to the report.
Wednesday’s growth led to new mandatory evacuation orders in the Larimer County foothills, including hundreds of mountain cabins.
“It was a bad day,” Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said at an evening briefing, saying they “lost structures today.”
“But it very easily could have been a lot worse,” he said, noting there were no reports of injuries or deaths.
Officials also fear it may grow, with strong winds also forecast Thursday and into Friday. “We’re not through this wave of activity yet,” incident commander Dan Dallas said.
Colorado is just one of a dozen Western states to have been devastated this year by wildfires that have broken numerous records, with some of the largest ever seen in California and Oregon.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Federal judge rules inmates can now receive COVID-19 stimulus checks

A federal judge this week ordered the Internal Revenue Service to stop withholding $ 1,200 coronavirus stimulus checks from people in state or federal prisons who are otherwise eligible to receive the money under the CARES Act .
The IRS initially distributed nearly 85,000 stimulus checks worth about $ 100 million to locked-up taxpayers in April .
But the agency revised its guidance for the stimulus program the following month , saying incarcerated people didn ’ t qualify for the money and that people who had already received the cash should return it .
A class-action lawsuit brought on behalf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguing that the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus bill set out clear eligibility requirements for the checks that did not exclude incarcerated people .
US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton sided with them in a series of court rulings in recent weeks , writing in a Wednesday decision that the Trump administration ’ s move to deny people stimulus checks “ solely on the basis of their incarcerated status is arbitrary and capricious.
” Hamilton set an Oct. 24 deadline for the IRS to reconsider sending the payments to locked-up individuals whose checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Incarcerated people who didn ’ t file a 2018 or 2019 income tax return — which would allow the IRS to automatically distribute their checks — have until Oct. 30 to submit paperwork to claim the money , the judge has ruled .
The federal government has filed an appeal of Hamilton ’ s rulings , meaning there ’ s a possibility incarcerated people could still be denied the money .
But for now , the IRS website says the agency “ can not deny a payment to someone who is incarcerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developments came as Congress and the White House negotiated another large-scale stimulus package to blunt the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic .
Both President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi support a second round of $ 1,200 payments , but they disagree on several other key issues .

A federal judge this week ordered the Internal Revenue Service to stop withholding $1,200 coronavirus stimulus checks from people in state or federal prisons who are otherwise eligible to receive the money under the CARES Act.
The IRS initially distributed nearly 85,000 stimulus checks worth about $100 million to locked-up taxpayers in April. But the agency revised its guidance for the stimulus program the following month, saying incarcerated people didn’t qualify for the money and that people who had already received the cash should return it.
A class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of affected prisoners challenged the move, arguing that the $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus bill set out clear eligibility requirements for the checks that did not exclude incarcerated people.
US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton sided with them in a series of court rulings in recent weeks, writing in a Wednesday decision that the Trump administration’s move to deny people stimulus checks “solely on the basis of their incarcerated status is arbitrary and capricious.”
Hamilton set an Oct. 24 deadline for the IRS to reconsider sending the payments to locked-up individuals whose checks have been withheld, intercepted or returned. Incarcerated people who didn’t file a 2018 or 2019 income tax return — which would allow the IRS to automatically distribute their checks — have until Oct. 30 to submit paperwork to claim the money, the judge has ruled.
The federal government has filed an appeal of Hamilton’s rulings, meaning there’s a possibility incarcerated people could still be denied the money. But for now, the IRS website says the agency “cannot deny a payment to someone who is incarcerated if they meet the criteria.”
The developments came as Congress and the White House negotiated another large-scale stimulus package to blunt the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Both President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi support a second round of $1,200 payments, but they disagree on several other key issues.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--California court orders re-examination of Scott Peterson’s murder convictions

Call yourself a Deadhead ?
You might get more than you ...

Less than two months after overturning his death penalty, the California Supreme Court has ordered a trial judge to consider whether to overturn Scott Peterson’s convictions for murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, according to a report.
The court sent the case back to the San Mateo County Superior Court to determine whether Peterson should get a new trial, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Juror Richelle Nice committed “prejudicial misconduct” by not disclosing that she had filed a lawsuit in 2000 to obtain a restraining order after her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend harassed her while she was pregnant, according to the paper.
Nice, who was initially an alternate and replaced a discharged juror during deliberations, published a book with several other members of the jury about their experience during the 2004 trial.
When asked as a potential juror whether she had ever been a victim of a crime or involved in a lawsuit, she said she hadn’t, Peterson’s attorneys told the LA Times.
But in 2000, Nice was 4½ months pregnant when she was threatened by her boyfriend’s ex, according to Peterson’s lawyers.
She said she feared for her unborn child when she filed a lawsuit to obtain a restraining order against the woman.
The attacker — who was tried based on Nice’s charges — was convicted and sentenced to a week in the slammer, Peterson’s lawyers said.
In the case that made headlines around the globe, Peterson was convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder of his 27-year-old wife, who was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Laci Peterson and Scott Peterson ZUMAPRESS.com Members of the Scott Peterson jury AFP via Getty Images Advertisement
Peterson also was convicted of second-degree murder of his unborn son, Connor. He has maintained his innocence.
Prosecutors argued that Peterson dumped their bodies from his boat into San Francisco Bay, where their bodies washed ashore almost four months later.
Peterson was eventually arrested after Amber Frey, a massage therapist living in Fresno, told police that they had begun dating a month before his wife’s death, but that he had told her she was dead.
In August, the state Supreme Court overturned his death sentence, citing “significant errors” in jury selection.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--‘Dead and Gone’ exposes grisly dark side of Grateful Dead fandom

Call yourself a Deadhead ?
You might get more than you bargained for .
That seems to be the subtext of “ Dead and Gone , ” a podcast premiering Wednesday , October 15 .
It ’ s inspired by the findings of amateur detective Todd Matthews , who discovered that an outsized number of Grateful Dead fans fall victim to foul play .
Considering himself the world ’ s first cyber-sleuth , Matthews uses the Internet to solve cold murders and identify missing persons through crowdsourcing .
The podcast centers on a particular case in which two Deadheads were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been convicted .
The double-murder dates back to 1985 and took place in a homeless enclave known as Rainbow Village , near San Francisco .
Post-concert , Mary Gioia and Greg Kniffin , 22 and 18 , respectively , from Schenectady , NY , and Wilton , Conn. , planned to crash there for a night or two .
Both wound up beaten and shot dead .
“ They met at a Grateful Dead show , ” podcast co-creator Payne Lindsey told The Post , maintaining that the man convicted of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) was actually innocent .
“ It was easy to pin it on him , and the police wrapped up their investigation in one day.
” “ Dead and Gone ” investigates the crime as well as the conviction while aiming to find out who really offed the young music fans .
Not wanting to tip his hand , Lindsey allowed that he and his podcast partner Jake Brennan found the person who they believe committed the crime .
Lindsey credits their breakthrough to “ a mysterious tip from a fellow Deadhead.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Todd has established a set of unsolved cases , all with one thing in common : the Grateful Dead.
” Then Lindsey reels off some dozen examples of Deadheads who died under mysterious or suspicious circumstances , before , after or while seeing the band .
“ Grateful Dead fans sometimes had anything-goes lifestyles that made them vulnerable and put them in harm ’ s way , ” said Lindsey .
“ People expected peace and love but came across wolves in sheep ’ s clothing.
” Before a typical concert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through chill scenes where pot smoke permeated the air , Hacky Sacks got kicked back and forth , ticketless fans roamed around hoping for “ a miracle ” that would get them into the show for free and illegal drugs — ranging from psychedelic mushrooms to balloons full of nitrous oxide ( dubbed “ hippie crack ” ) — were for sale .
In that environment , classic Deadheads were friendly , stoned and open to making new buds who shared their musical affinities .
All of that , according to Brennan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There were people who ’ d take you into a Volkswagen bus , and you ’ re never seen again ” — as was the possible outcome for two Brooklyn teenagers who hitchhiked to a 1973 show in Watkins Glen , NY .
“ People who attended shows in the ’ 80s told us about seeing bad people .
There were opportunistic drug dealers.
” Brennan and Lindsey uncovered enough weird deaths to sour the hallucinatory buzz of a marathon Dead show — and , considering that sets have been known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of spilled blood and corpses .
One of the more mysterious cases was that of the murdered girl found on the side of a New Jersey road in 1991 .
Her ID was unknown , but her thigh bore a recognizable image : the tattoo of the tiger illustration that adorned Jerry Garcia ’ s guitar .
Then there was the hitchhiker whose face was dismembered beyond recognition from a 1995 car accident .
His pocket contained only a Dead ticket stub and a note signed by two girls with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Online , the crash victim would be dubbed Grateful Doe .
In 2015 , his identity as Jason Callahan got sussed out through a combination of Dead fans responding to a graphic reconstruction of his face and DNA research .
Lindsey and Brennan said that they spent a lot of time researching superfan Jeremy Alex .
An ardent follower of the Dead who trailed the group from concert to concert , he vanished in 2004 , “ after freaking out in a lady ’ s yard in Maine , ” said Lindsey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chasing him.
” Possibly suspecting that the intruder was high on drugs , the woman stepped inside to call police and told the kid to stay put .
When she returned , Alex was gone .
“ Several years later , his ID washed up on [ a nearby ] shore .
There ’ s speculation that somebody dumped his body in the ocean or that he swam out and committed suicide.
” Another tragedy transpired at Brendan Byrne Arena — now known as New Jersey ’ s Meadowlands Arena — during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour after the final encore , the unconscious body of 19-year-old Adam Katz , who grew up in South Orange , NJ , was found alongside Route 120 , near the venue .
Next day , he died .
While one medical review hypothesized that Katz was high on LSD and committed suicide , Lindsey said , “ He had blunt force trauma to the head … Witnesses saw sketchy things with security guards that night.
” Katz ’ s parents reportedly reached a settlement with multiple parties .
Considering it all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grateful Dead were well intentioned .
They did not spread this mayhem on purpose .
It ’ s just what happens when your fans live outside of society .
”

Call yourself a Deadhead? You might get more than you bargained for.
That seems to be the subtext of “Dead and Gone,” a podcast premiering Thursday, October 15. It’s inspired by the findings of armchair detective Todd Matthews, who discovered that an outsized number of Grateful Dead fans fall victim to foul play. Considering himself the world’s first cyber-sleuth, Matthews uses the Internet to solve cold murders and identify missing persons through crowdsourcing. The podcast centers on a particular case in which two Deadheads were killed and the wrong man seems to have been convicted.
The double-murder dates back to 1985 and took place in a homeless enclave known as Rainbow Village, near San Francisco. Post-concert, Mary Gioia and Greg Kniffin, 22 and 18, respectively, from Schenectady, NY, and Wilton, Conn., planned to crash there for a night or two. Both wound up beaten and shot dead.
“They met at a Grateful Dead show,” podcast co-creator Payne Lindsey told The Post, maintaining that the man convicted of the homicide (who later died in jail) was actually innocent. “It was easy to pin it on him, and the police wrapped up their investigation in one day.”
“Dead and Gone” investigates the crime as well as the conviction while aiming to find out who really offed the young music fans. Not wanting to tip his hand, Lindsey allowed that he and his podcast partner Jake Brennan found the person who they believe committed the crime. Lindsey credits their breakthrough to “a mysterious tip from a fellow Deadhead.”
As Lindsey puts it in the podcast, “Todd has established a set of unsolved cases, all with one thing in common: the Grateful Dead.” Then Lindsey reels off some dozen examples of Deadheads who died under mysterious or suspicious circumstances, before, after or while seeing the band. “Grateful Dead fans sometimes had anything-goes lifestyles that made them vulnerable and put them in harm’s way,” said Lindsey. “People expected peace and love but came across wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
Before a typical concert, followers of the band routinely circulated through chill scenes where pot smoke permeated the air, Hacky Sacks got kicked back and forth, ticketless fans roamed around hoping for “a miracle” that would get them into the show for free and illegal drugs — ranging from psychedelic mushrooms to balloons full of nitrous oxide (dubbed “hippie crack”) — were for sale. In that environment, classic Deadheads were friendly, stoned and open to making new buds who shared their musical affinities.
All of that, according to Brennan, opened the door for grim endings: “There were people who’d take you into a Volkswagen bus, and you’re never seen again” — as was the possible outcome for two Brooklyn teenagers who hitchhiked to a 1973 festival in Watkins Glen, NY. “People who attended shows in the ’80s told us about seeing bad people. There were opportunistic drug dealers.”
Brennan and Lindsey uncovered enough weird deaths to sour the hallucinatory buzz of a marathon Dead show — and, considering that sets have been known to last four hours, that’s a lot of spilled blood and lifeless bodies.
One of the more mysterious cases was that of the murdered girl found on the side of a New Jersey road in 1991. Her ID was unknown, but her thigh bore a recognizable image: the tattoo of the tiger illustration that adorned Jerry Garcia’s guitar.
Then there was the hitchhiker whose face was dismembered beyond recognition from a 1995 car accident. His pocket contained only a Dead ticket stub and a note signed by two girls with a drawing of Jerry Garcia at the bottom. Online, the crash victim would be dubbed Grateful Doe. In 2015, his identity as Jason Callahan got sussed out through a combination of Dead fans responding to a graphic reconstruction of his face and DNA research.
Lindsey and Brennan said that they spent a lot of time researching superfan Jeremy Alex. An ardent follower of the Dead who trailed the group from concert to concert, he vanished in 2004, “after freaking out in a lady’s yard in Maine,” said Lindsey. “He claimed that people were chasing him.” Possibly suspecting that the intruder was high on drugs, the woman stepped inside to call police and told the kid to stay put. When she returned, Alex was gone. “Several years later, his ID washed up on [a nearby] shore. There’s speculation that somebody dumped his body in the ocean or that he swam out and committed suicide.”
Another tragedy transpired at Brendan Byrne Arena — now known as New Jersey’s Meadowlands Arena — during a concert in 1989. Less than an hour after the final encore, the unconscious body of 19-year-old Adam Katz, who grew up in South Orange, NJ, was found alongside Route 120, near the venue. Next day, he died. While one medical review hypothesized that Katz was high on LSD and committed suicide, Lindsey said, “He had blunt force trauma to the head … Witnesses saw sketchy things with security guards that night.” Katz’s parents reportedly reached a settlement with multiple parties.
Considering it all, Brennan told The Post, “The Grateful Dead were well intentioned. They did not spread this mayhem on purpose. It’s just what happens when your fans live outside of society.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Two men dubbed Florida’s ‘dumbest criminals’ after one drops ID at crime scene

These two men have earned the dubious distinction of being named Florida ’ s dumbest thieves of the week .
Robert Hobby , 41 , and Marcus Reeves , 23 , are clearly not the sharpest tools in the shed – making it a cinch for cops to track them down by leaving a few items behind after their alleged crime spree .
“ Now being a thief already makes you dumb , but that isn ’ t why they are this week ’ s ‘ Dumbest Criminals , ’ ” the Marion County Sheriff ’ s Office said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these two went on a burglary spree inside the city limits of Ocala and out here in the county , ” it said .
“ They were breaking into convenience stores , stealing cigarettes and lottery tickets , BUT while doing this , they were smoking cigarettes inside the stores while the cameras were watching , ” the sheriff ’ s office continued .
“ But that still isn ’ t the best part , because we didn ’ t need the cameras to identify them…you see when they left the stores , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Marcus left his wallet with his Driver ’ s License.
” It added : “ So we went to his house and knocked on the door…he confessed…both were arrested and are now in the Gold Star Hotel.
” The two numbskulls face a total of 14 charges combined for grand theft and burglary .

These two men have earned the dubious distinction of being named Florida’s dumbest thieves of the week.
Robert Hobby, 41, and Marcus Reeves, 23, are clearly not the sharpest tools in the shed – making it a cinch for cops to track them down by leaving a few items behind after their alleged crime spree.
“Now being a thief already makes you dumb, but that isn’t why they are this week’s ‘Dumbest Criminals,’” the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page.
“You see these two went on a burglary spree inside the city limits of Ocala and out here in the county,” it said.
“They were breaking into convenience stores, stealing cigarettes and lottery tickets, BUT while doing this, they were smoking cigarettes inside the stores while the cameras were watching,” the sheriff’s office continued.
“But that still isn’t the best part, because we didn’t need the cameras to identify them…you see when they left the stores, they left their shoe, their tools and Marcus left his wallet with his Driver’s License.”
It added: “So we went to his house and knocked on the door…he confessed…both were arrested and are now in the Gold Star Hotel.”
The two numbskulls face a total of 14 charges combined for grand theft and burglary.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--‘Tripod’ dog is super fast on just three legs

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Is this the world’s fastest three-legged dog? Her owner certainly thinks so. Watch as Pippa, a rescue pooch with a missing hind leg, sprints around her house in Louisiana’s Calcasieu Parish.
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newyorkpost--2020-10-15--2020 Billboard Music Awards sound a political note ahead of election

With just 19 days to go until the presidential election , the 2020 Billboard Music Awards sounded a political note Wednesday night .
In fact , that tone made some of the most powerful moments ones that were not involving music at all .
Certainly , the award for best speech of the night went to Lizzo , picking up her trophy for Top Song Sales Artist at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles .
Wearing a one-shouldered black minidress with the word “ vote ” emblazoned all across it , the “ Truth Hurts ” diva made a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refuse to be suppressed , ” said Lizzo .
“ And I wonder , would I be standing here right now if it weren ’ t for the big black women who refused to have their voices be suppressed ?
” The Grammy-winning singer-rapper continued to rock the vote : “ When people try to suppress something , it ’ s normally because that thing holds power .
They ’ re afraid of your power … So whether it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to vote , use your power , use your voice and refuse to be suppressed.
” Now that ’ s what we call using your juice for good .
Then , in a nod to these socially impactful times , Run the Jewels rapper and activist Killer Mile was honored with the inaugural Billboard Change Maker Award from the historic APEX ( African American Panoramic Experience ) Museum in Atlanta .
After being presented the award from Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , Killer Mike spoke directly to the “ kids that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ground and mobilizing ” with words of encouragement .
“ You matter more than you know , ” he said in a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement .
“ You are needed more than ever.
” But the prevailing political message of the night went beyond speeches .
Demi Lovato — having her Alicia Keys moment playing the piano — performed her new single “ Commander in Chief , ” speaking directly to President Trump with some condemning lyrics : “ Commander in Chief , honestly/If I did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t sleep/Seriously , do you even know the truth ?
/We ’ re in a state of crisis , people are dying/While you line your pockets deep.
” Later , Lovato issued a fists-in-the-air warning : “ We ’ ll be in the streets while you ’ re bunkering down/Loud and proud , best believe.
” That ’ s a long way from “ Sorry Not Sorry.
” It was a moving moment that was one of the best performances of the night .
Even better , though , was the electric rendition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ En Vogue closed the show with 30 years after the girl group released its debut album , “ Born to Sing .
With a full , mask-wearing band and vocals that left no doubt there was no lip-syncing involved , En Vogue proved that the message of “ Free Your Mind ” is just as relevant today as it was when the funk-rock anthem was released in 1992 .
Another memorable ’ 90s R & B moment occurred when Brandy took the stage to perform two tracks from her new album “ B7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No Tomorrow ” ( with Ty Dolla $ ign ) — as well as her 1999 hit “ Almost Doesn ’ t Count.
” It was a much-needed throwback to escape these trying times .
But for sheer tears , the winner was John Legend ’ s emotional performance of his “ Bigger Love ” ballad “ Never Break , ” which he dedicated to his wife Chrissy Teigen , who miscarried their son — who was to be named Jack — a couple of weeks ago .
“ This is for Chrissy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the song , during which his voice broke ever so briefly at times before regaining its strength .
“ John , that was so beautiful , ” said BBMAs host — and Legend ’ s fellow coach on “ The Voice ” — Kelly Clarkson .
“ All my love to you and Chrissy.
” And the night ’ s big winner ?
Post Malone , who picked up his ninth and final trophy — for Top Artist — from Taraji P. Henson while holding what appeared to be a red Solo cup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of statement that others made , but rock stars will be rock stars .

With just 19 days to go until the presidential election, the 2020 Billboard Music Awards sounded a political note Wednesday night.
In fact, that tone made some of the most powerful moments ones that were not involving music at all. Certainly, the award for best speech of the night went to Lizzo, picking up her trophy for Top Song Sales Artist at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Wearing a one-shouldered black minidress with the word “vote” emblazoned all across it, the “Truth Hurts” diva made a major statement without singing a note.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refuse to be suppressed,” said Lizzo. “And I wonder, would I be standing here right now if it weren’t for the big black women who refused to have their voices be suppressed?”
The Grammy-winning singer-rapper continued to rock the vote: “When people try to suppress something, it’s normally because that thing holds power. They’re afraid of your power … So whether it’s through music, protest or your right to vote, use your power, use your voice and refuse to be suppressed.”
Now that’s what we call using your juice for good.
Then, in a nod to these socially impactful times, Run the Jewels rapper and activist Killer Mile was honored with the inaugural Billboard Change Maker Award from the historic APEX (African American Panoramic Experience) Museum in Atlanta. After being presented the award from Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Killer Mike spoke directly to the “kids that are organizing … strategizing, right there on the ground and mobilizing” with words of encouragement.
“You matter more than you know,” he said in a reference to the Black Lives Matter movement. “You are needed more than ever.”
But the prevailing political message of the night went beyond speeches. Demi Lovato — having her Alicia Keys moment playing the piano — performed her new single “Commander in Chief,” speaking directly to President Trump with some condemning lyrics: “Commander in Chief, honestly/If I did the things you do, I couldn’t sleep/Seriously, do you even know the truth?/We’re in a state of crisis, people are dying/While you line your pockets deep.”
Later, Lovato issued a fists-in-the-air warning: “We’ll be in the streets while you’re bunkering down/Loud and proud, best believe.” That’s a long way from “Sorry Not Sorry.”
It was a moving moment that was one of the best performances of the night. Even better, though, was the electric rendition of “Free Your Mind” that En Vogue closed the show with 30 years after the girl group released its debut album, “Born to Sing.
With a full, mask-wearing band and vocals that left no doubt there was no lip-syncing involved, En Vogue proved that the message of “Free Your Mind” is just as relevant today as it was when the funk-rock anthem was released in 1992.
Another memorable ’90s R&B moment occurred when Brandy took the stage to perform two tracks from her new album “B7” — “Borderline” and “No Tomorrow” (with Ty Dolla $ign) — as well as her 1999 hit “Almost Doesn’t Count.” It was a much-needed throwback to escape these trying times.
But for sheer tears, the winner was John Legend’s emotional performance of his “Bigger Love” ballad “Never Break,” which he dedicated to his wife Chrissy Teigen, who miscarried their son — who was to be named Jack — a couple of weeks ago.
“This is for Chrissy,” Legend said as he started the song, during which his voice broke ever so briefly at times before regaining its strength.
“John, that was so beautiful,” said BBMAs host — and Legend’s fellow coach on “The Voice” — Kelly Clarkson. “All my love to you and Chrissy.”
And the night’s big winner? Post Malone, who picked up his ninth and final trophy — for Top Artist — from Taraji P. Henson while holding what appeared to be a red Solo cup. It was not the same kind of statement that others made, but rock stars will be rock stars.


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Alexei Navalny calls on Trump to condemn use of banned nerve agent

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is calling on President Trump to join other world leaders in denouncing the banned Soviet-era nerve agent he says Russian leader Vladimir Putin used to poison him , according to a report .
The 44-year-old dissident , who was discharged Sept. 23 from a German hospital , spoke with CBS News ’ Lesley Stahl in Berlin in his first US television interview since he was poisoned Aug. 20 during a domestic flight in Russia .
Asked if he believes Putin directed the attack , Navalny said , “ I don ’ t think .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , the European Union agreed to impose sanctions against Russian officials over the incident .
The EU foreign ministers agreed with calls by France and Germany at a meeting in Luxembourg to freeze the assets of those suspected of poisoning Navalny and ban them from traveling in Europe under sanctions to combat the use of chemical weapons .
“ I have noticed [ Trump ] didn ’ t , ” Navalny told Stahl for the “ 60 Minutes ” edition that airs Sunday .
“ I think it ’ s extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , president of United States , to be very again [ st ] using chemical weapons in the 21st century , ” he added .
Navalny said he believes the Novichok attack on him also was meant to terrify others .
“ It ’ s a banned substance .
I think Putin… he ’ s using this chemical weapon… [ to ] both kill me and , you know , terrify others .
It ’ s something really scary , ” he said .
“ Where the people just drop dead… no gun… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and without any traces on your body .
It ’ s something terrifying .
And Putin is enjoying it , ” Navalny added .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the accusation was “ completely baseless and unacceptable.
” Navalny said : “ They deny everything because it means that they still have this Novichok .
They ’ re not just violating [ the chemical weapons ban ] with keeping it .
They… continue to improve it .
”

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is calling on President Trump to join other world leaders in denouncing the banned Soviet-era nerve agent he says Russian leader Vladimir Putin used to poison him, according to a report.
The 44-year-old dissident, who was discharged Sept. 23 from a German hospital, spoke with CBS News’ Lesley Stahl in Berlin in his first US television interview since he was poisoned Aug. 20 during a domestic flight in Russia.
Asked if he believes Putin directed the attack, Navalny said, “I don’t think. I’m sure that he is responsible.”
On Monday, the European Union agreed to impose sanctions against Russian officials over the incident.
The EU foreign ministers agreed with calls by France and Germany at a meeting in Luxembourg to freeze the assets of those suspected of poisoning Navalny and ban them from traveling in Europe under sanctions to combat the use of chemical weapons.
“I have noticed [Trump] didn’t,” Navalny told Stahl for the “60 Minutes” edition that airs Sunday.
“I think it’s extremely important– that everyone… maybe… first of all, president of United States, to be very again[st] using chemical weapons in the 21st century,” he added.
Navalny said he believes the Novichok attack on him also was meant to terrify others.
“It’s a banned substance. I think Putin… he’s using this chemical weapon… [to ]both kill me and, you know, terrify others. It’s something really scary,” he said.
“Where the people just drop dead… no gun… no shots… you’ll be dead and without any traces on your body. It’s something terrifying. And Putin is enjoying it,” Navalny added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the accusation was “completely baseless and unacceptable.”
Navalny said: “They deny everything because it means that they still have this Novichok. They’re not just violating [the chemical weapons ban] with keeping it. They… continue to improve it.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--City Hall misfires could imperil New York’s COVID-19 recovery: study

Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s high profile missteps on reopening city schools and tracing coronavirus infections could endanger the Big Apple ’ s recovery from the pandemic , a study published Thursday warned .
The Regional Planning Association ’ s 26-page examination of New York City ’ s health and recovery reveals that the five boroughs are well-positioned to bounce back after a COVID-19 vaccine is developed — provided City Hall is deft enough to avoid massive cuts to key services .
“ Beside the pandemic itself , the biggest threats that could result in a spiral of decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with New York ’ s urban character or any inherent susceptibility to this or future pandemics , ” the think tank warned in its report “ Rather , they stem from how the damage already inflicted on people , businesses , government and institutions could become a self-reinforcing cycle without the right policy choices and effective leadership.
” The group never mentions Hizzoner by name , but its report goes on to highlight City Hall ’ s high profile stumbles as it launched its coronavirus tracing program and reopened public schools for partial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inability to adequately plan for restarting public school or put in place an efficient COVID-19 contact tracing infrastructure are symptoms of this overall declining standard of public services , ” the study said .
“ A normalization of things like rolling blackouts , overflowing trash cans and uncertain school schedules not only greatly degrades life for everyday New Yorkers , but puts us one more step behind contemporary world cities , ” the RPA continued .
“ If we can not adequately maintain public services and repair and expand our infrastructure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a preeminent global city.
” The urban planners who authored the report affirmed other research that found the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn hit New York ’ s minority communities the hardest .
And they determined New York ’ s density and sprawling transit systems — once thought to be a vulnerability during the initial days of the pandemic ’ s outbreak — will contribute to its economic recovery .
However , they argue that City Hall and Albany can bolster and better position New York ’ s recovery by repurposing New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pedestrians , bikes and outdoor dining — while protecting key subway and bus improvement projects from the budget ax .
“ In spite of the immense suffering and fear , there are reasons to be hopeful , ” the RPA said .
“ Whether we are entering an era of decline or come back stronger , fairer and more resilient than ever will depend on the choices we make now .
”

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s high profile missteps on reopening city schools and tracing coronavirus infections could endanger the Big Apple’s recovery from the pandemic, a study published Thursday warned.
The Regional Plan Association’s 26-page examination of New York City’s health and recovery reveals that the five boroughs are well-positioned to bounce back after a COVID-19 vaccine is developed — provided City Hall is deft enough to avoid massive cuts to key services.
“Beside the pandemic itself, the biggest threats that could result in a spiral of decline and widening inequality have little to do with New York’s urban character or any inherent susceptibility to this or future pandemics,” the think tank warned in its report. “Rather, they stem from how the damage already inflicted on people, businesses, government and institutions could become a self-reinforcing cycle without the right policy choices and effective leadership.”
The group never mentions Hizzoner by name, but its report goes on to highlight City Hall’s high profile stumbles as it launched its coronavirus tracing program and reopened public schools for partial in-person instruction.
“Things such as the inability to adequately plan for restarting public school or put in place an efficient COVID-19 contact tracing infrastructure are symptoms of this overall declining standard of public services,” the study said.
“A normalization of things like rolling blackouts, overflowing trash cans and uncertain school schedules not only greatly degrades life for everyday New Yorkers, but puts us one more step behind contemporary world cities,” the RPA continued. “If we cannot adequately maintain public services and repair and expand our infrastructure, New York risks losing its place as a preeminent global city.”
The urban planners who authored the report affirmed other research that found the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn hit New York’s minority communities the hardest.
And they determined New York’s density and sprawling transit systems — once thought to be a vulnerability during the initial days of the pandemic’s outbreak — will contribute to its economic recovery.
However, they argue that City Hall and Albany can bolster and better position New York’s recovery by repurposing New York’s streets to make room for pedestrians, bikes and outdoor dining — while protecting key subway and bus improvement projects from the budget ax.
“In spite of the immense suffering and fear, there are reasons to be hopeful,” the RPA said. “Whether we are entering an era of decline or come back stronger, fairer and more resilient than ever will depend on the choices we make now.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Emails reveal how Hunter Biden tried to cash in big on behalf of family with Chinese firm

Jose Altuve shook off two of the worst games of ...

Hunter Biden pursued lucrative deals involving China’s largest private energy company — including one that he said would be “interesting for me and my family,” emails obtained by The Post show.
One email sent to Biden on May 13, 2017, with the subject line “Expectations,” included details of “remuneration packages” for six people involved in an unspecified business venture.
Biden was identified as “Chair / Vice Chair depending on agreement with CEFC,” an apparent reference to the former Shanghai-based conglomerate CEFC China Energy Co.
His pay was pegged at “850” and the email also noted that “Hunter has some office expectations he will elaborate.”
In addition, the email outlined a “provisional agreement” under which 80 percent of the “equity,” or shares in the new company, would be split equally among four people whose initials correspond to the sender and three recipients, with “H” apparently referring to Biden.
The deal also listed “10 Jim” and “10 held by H for the big guy?”
Neither Jim nor the “big guy” was identified further.
The email’s author, James Gilliar of the international consulting firm J2cR, also noted, “I am happy to raise any detail with Zang if there is [sic] shortfalls ?”
“Zang” is an apparent reference to Zang Jian Jun, the former executive director of CEFC China.
The email is contained in a trove of data that the owner of a computer repair shop in Delaware said was recovered from a MacBook Pro laptop that was dropped off in April 2019 and never retrieved.
The computer was seized by the FBI, and a copy of its contents made by the shop owner shared with The Post this week by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
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Another email — sent by Biden as part of an Aug. 2, 2017, chain — involved a deal he struck with the since-vanished chairman of CEFC, Ye Jianming, for half-ownership of a holding company that was expected to provide Biden with more than $10 million a year.
Ye, who had ties to the Chinese military and intelligence service, hasn’t been seen since being taken into custody by Chinese authorities in early 2018, and CEFC went bankrupt earlier this year, according to reports.
Biden wrote that Ye had sweetened the terms of an earlier, three-year consulting contract with CEFC that was to pay him $10 million annually “for introductions alone.”
Related Video Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad
“The chairman changed that deal after we me[t] in MIAMI TO A MUCH MORE LASTING AND LUCRATIVE ARRANGEMENT to create a holding company 50% percent [sic] owned by ME and 50% owned by him,” Biden wrote.
“Consulting fees is one piece of our income stream but the reason this proposal by the chairman was so much more interesting to me and my family is that we would also be partners inn [sic] the equity and profits of the JV’s [joint venture’s] investments.”
A photo dated Aug. 1, 2017, shows a handwritten flowchart of the ownership of “Hudson West” split 50/50 between two entities ultimately controlled by Hunter Biden and someone identified as “Chairman.”
According to a report on Biden’s overseas business dealings released last month by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a company called Hudson West III opened a line of credit in September 2017.
Credit cards issued against the account were used by Hunter, his uncle James Biden and James’ wife, Sara Biden, to purchase more than $100,000 “worth of extravagant items, including airline tickets and multiple items at Apple Inc. stores, pharmacies, hotels and restaurants,” the report said.
The company has since been dissolved, and Hunter Biden’s law firm, Owasco PC, was one of two owners, according to the report.
Biden’s email was sent to Gongwen Dong, whom the Wall Street Journal in October 2018 tied to the purchase by Ye-linked companies of two luxury Manhattan apartments that cost a total on $83 million.
Dong, who owns a sprawling mansion in Great Neck, LI, has been identified in reports as CFO of the Kam Fei Group, an investment firm based in Hong Kong.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Ye Jianming, former chairman of the Shanghai-based CEFC China Energy conglomerate Dr. Chi Ping AP Advertisement View of a signboard of China CEFC Energy Co., Ltd. Imaginechina via AP Images Advertisement
The documents obtained by The Post also include an “Attorney Engagement Letter” executed in September 2017 in which one of Ye’s top lieutenants, former Hong Kong government official Chi Ping Patrick Ho, agreed to pay Biden a $1 million retainer for “Counsel to matters related to US law and advice pertaining to the hiring and legal analysis of any US Law Firm or Lawyer.”
In December 2018, a Manhattan federal jury convicted Ho in two schemes to pay $3 million in bribes to high-ranking government officials in Africa for oil rights in Chad and lucrative business deals in Uganda.
Ho served a three-year prison sentence and was deported to Hong Kong in June.
Neither Biden’s lawyer, the Joe Biden campaign, Gilliar, Dong nor Ho’s lawyers returned requests for comment, but Biden’s lawyer has previously said, “There is no need for comment on any so-called information provided by Rudy Giuliani.
“He has been pushing widely discredited conspiracy theories about the Biden family, openly relying on actors tied to Russian intelligence. His record of dishonesty in these matters speaks for itself,” lawyer George Mesires added.
Additional reporting by Reuven Fenton


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 3 Review: Back to the Future

What ’ s perhaps most surprising about Star Trek : Discovery Season 3 , which finds the crew of the ship stranded in a dark , broken future without the Federation , is how comforting it is .
While there ’ s a lot of danger , bombastic action , and the usual twists and turns that Discovery has made its bread and butter in Seasons 1 and 2 , what most characterizes this year ’ s outing is that it ’ s classic Trek with a modern sheen .
And with that , particularly for die hard fans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with returning the franchise to its old school roots .
Here ’ s the gist of the season , the first four episodes of which were provided for review .
After battling a vicious artificial intelligence called Control ( or Leland , if you want to be less formal ) that wanted to wipe out all sentient life in the universe , the Discovery decided to hide the precious MacGuffin ( called sphere data ) Control needed to win in the far future .
The plan was to follow Commander Michael Burnham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time suit designed by her mother through a wormhole , and settle down on a tech-free planet called Terralysium .
Obviously , that all goes horribly wrong .
At least initially , Burnham and the ship containing a skeleton crew of her friends that followed her 930 years into the future are separated and lost .
Soon , they discover that not only is the Federation pretty much gone thanks to a mysterious event called The Burn , that same event essentially destroyed all travel between galaxies , 100 years earlier .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious posturing , and shady characters straight out of a cantina from another Star series .
Given that the first season of Discovery was — incorrectly , I ’ d argue — criticized for going too dark , and too serial ; and Season 2 somewhat the same , with its bearded , mentally damaged Spock ( Ethan Peck ) and murderous AI rampage , you ’ d be forgiven from thinking Discovery Season 3 would be a similar trek into darkness .
It ’ s not .
If anything , Season 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classic Trek adventures , down to the done-in-one visits to planets , solving mysteries through kindness and thoughtfulness , and then moving on to the next .
To be sure , there ’ s an ongoing plot : you don ’ t introduce something called “ The Burn ” and then completely ignore the origins and consequences of this disastrous event .
That ’ s the arc that powers through the first few episodes , and presumably the rest of the season .
But in the initial going , it ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew of Discovery as the beacon of hope that begins to shine again in a broken universe .
The other theme that weaves through is that most of the universe wants to hope .
This isn ’ t Mirror Universe redux , with its goatees and gleeful eating of crew-mates .
This is the main Star Trek universe , and it holds tight to Gene Roddenberry ’ s ideals of a bright future even in the darkest of times .
Not every being the crew encounters is good , of course .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand .
But in each episode , there ’ s someone — or ones — who wants to believe in the Federation , and the promise of a unified universe moving forward towards Utopia through science and cooperation .
Certainly right now , that seems as pressing as ever .
And perhaps it is those real-world circumstances that make Discovery ‘ s initial episodes such an emotional journey .
Seeing steady leadership from de facto captain Saru ( Doug Jones ) in particular , or group hugs and reunions carries an extra emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have either right now , in real life .
Don ’ t get me wrong , there ’ s plenty of action .
As is consistent with modern Trek , gone are the days of walking the same hallway over and over , or alien planets that look like they ’ re somewhere on the outskirts of Los Angeles .
Part of the season was filmed in Iceland , a first for the series , and the behind the scenes crew makes the most of the strange , rocky environs .
The action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as usual , including a season premiere plummet to a planet that literally slams together Burnham and new character Book ( David Ajala ) , leading to an unwilling team-up between the two .
Hand-to-hand combat gets its time as well , and three seasons in the production has learned to stand back and let Michelle Yeoh ’ s devious Philippa Georgiou do her thing .
But ultimately it ’ s the characters who shine this season , and that hold the show together .
The ensemble has hit its groove in Season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spotlight .
There ’ s the aforementioned Saru , now in charge of a ragtag crew , who as usual conveys command and kindness in equal measure through layers of makeup .
Anthony Rapp ’ s Paul Stamets and Wilson Cruz ’ s Hugh Culber are finally back together after a season of angst , and it ’ s lovely to see ; though the best relationship ( or at least the most hilarious ) is between Stamets and his frenemy Jett Reno ( Tig Notaro ) .
Mary Wiseman ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delight , but the trauma of being plunged hundreds of years into the future allows her plumb new , emotional depths we haven ’ t seen before .
And even former side characters that weren ’ t even really named in Season 1 get a time in the sun , from Emily Coutt ’ s Kayla Detmer ( you know , the one with the implants on the side of her face ) to fan-fave saurian Linus ( David Benjamin Tomlinson ) .
Oh , and then there ’ s Michael Burnham .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get-go as Burnham , balancing her human nature with a Vulcan upbringing .
She ’ s proven herself to be an actor who puts it all on the table , every episode .
She ’ s a dramatic anchor for the series , the plot hub the series pivots on , and as adept at action as she is at searing emotional scenes .
Martin-Green is a star in every sense of the word , and that ’ s been clear since way back with her time on The Walking Dead .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin-Green , and Burnham .
Without getting too heavily into spoilers , her trip to the future tests her in ways she couldn ’ t imagine .
The Burnham that emerges is something decidedly different , and one that you perhaps wouldn ’ t expect .
Gone is the grim , serious , weight-of-the-world on her shoulders Commander who has had to save the universe multiple times .
In one of the later episodes , a character comments that she looks lighter , and that ’ s the best way to describe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still there below the surface ; but Burnham has emerged through her baptism by wormhole with a new outlook on life .
It ’ s one that might cause trouble in the long run as she grapples with the new state of the universe .
But at least in the early going means that Martin-Green laughs , and smiles , and shows off the incredible charm that makes her the focal point of every scene .
Disco is also , despite the far future time period and overarching mystery of The Burn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thankfully .
Though the Sophomore season had its highlights , including the phenomenal season finale and classic Trek crew led by Captain Pike ( Anson Mount ) , Season 2 got overwhelmed with mysteries , and mentions of sphere data , time crystals , rogue AIs and so much more that at times it started to feel like watching a glossary .
Season 3 simplifies all of that , and gives us episodes that illuminate new parts of this dark universe while the crew visits old , familiar environs .
There are mysteries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re resolved in the episode , or the next .
With nine episodes to go it is possible we ’ ll get back to the Season 2 mode of a 5-10 minute crew meeting each episode to break down the complicated plot and catch other characters up on what they missed ; but hopefully not .
As is , the first four episodes feel sleeker and breezier ; lighter , like Burnham .
I ’ ll fully admit that , as a fan of the first season of Discovery , I miss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those episodes .
But that said , that sort of breakneck pace might feel exhausting to watch in the current moment .
Instead , Season 3 of Discovery is the Star Trek we need right now , the one that feels like comfort food and promises that no matter how grim things get , they ’ re going to be okay if we all trust each other and work to the top of our intelligence .
It may be an impossible goal , but as Roddenberry believed — and as plays out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — it ’ s a goal worth working towards anyway .
That in essence is what makes Discovery feel like such a refreshing throwback to classic Trek .
Season 1 was about a crew who did not trust each other , fractured by a Captain who kept them in the dark .
Season 2 was about how that crew learned to work together and became a family .
And Season 3 finds them finally working as a unit , caring for each other and exploring strange new worlds ; albeit while stuck nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the trappings of the franchise at their disposal .
As usual , though , Star Trek needed to head to the future to reconnect with its past .

What’s perhaps most surprising about Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, which finds the crew of the ship stranded in a dark, broken future without the Federation, is how comforting it is. While there’s a lot of danger, bombastic action, and the usual twists and turns that Discovery has made its bread and butter in Seasons 1 and 2, what most characterizes this year’s outing is that it’s classic Trek with a modern sheen. And with that, particularly for die hard fans, comes the sense of calm that tags along with returning the franchise to its old school roots.
Here’s the gist of the season, the first four episodes of which were provided for review. After battling a vicious artificial intelligence called Control (or Leland, if you want to be less formal) that wanted to wipe out all sentient life in the universe, the Discovery decided to hide the precious MacGuffin (called sphere data) Control needed to win in the far future. The plan was to follow Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as she donned a time suit designed by her mother through a wormhole, and settle down on a tech-free planet called Terralysium.
Obviously, that all goes horribly wrong. At least initially, Burnham and the ship containing a skeleton crew of her friends that followed her 930 years into the future are separated and lost. Soon, they discover that not only is the Federation pretty much gone thanks to a mysterious event called The Burn, that same event essentially destroyed all travel between galaxies, 100 years earlier. Enter the black leather costumes, some serious posturing, and shady characters straight out of a cantina from another Star series.
Given that the first season of Discovery was — incorrectly, I’d argue — criticized for going too dark, and too serial; and Season 2 somewhat the same, with its bearded, mentally damaged Spock (Ethan Peck) and murderous AI rampage, you’d be forgiven from thinking Discovery Season 3 would be a similar trek into darkness. It’s not. If anything, Season 3 is the closest Discovery has gotten to classic Trek adventures, down to the done-in-one visits to planets, solving mysteries through kindness and thoughtfulness, and then moving on to the next.
To be sure, there’s an ongoing plot: you don’t introduce something called “The Burn” and then completely ignore the origins and consequences of this disastrous event. That’s the arc that powers through the first few episodes, and presumably the rest of the season. But in the initial going, it’s more about taking the time to establish the crew of Discovery as the beacon of hope that begins to shine again in a broken universe.
The other theme that weaves through is that most of the universe wants to hope. This isn’t Mirror Universe redux, with its goatees and gleeful eating of crew-mates. This is the main Star Trek universe, and it holds tight to Gene Roddenberry’s ideals of a bright future even in the darkest of times. Not every being the crew encounters is good, of course. There are plenty of villains and opportunists on hand. But in each episode, there’s someone — or ones — who wants to believe in the Federation, and the promise of a unified universe moving forward towards Utopia through science and cooperation. Certainly right now, that seems as pressing as ever. And perhaps it is those real-world circumstances that make Discovery‘s initial episodes such an emotional journey. Seeing steady leadership from de facto captain Saru (Doug Jones) in particular, or group hugs and reunions carries an extra emotional punch, given we don’t have either right now, in real life.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of action. As is consistent with modern Trek, gone are the days of walking the same hallway over and over, or alien planets that look like they’re somewhere on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Part of the season was filmed in Iceland, a first for the series, and the behind the scenes crew makes the most of the strange, rocky environs. The action sequences, too, are fantastically staged as usual, including a season premiere plummet to a planet that literally slams together Burnham and new character Book (David Ajala), leading to an unwilling team-up between the two. Hand-to-hand combat gets its time as well, and three seasons in the production has learned to stand back and let Michelle Yeoh’s devious Philippa Georgiou do her thing.
But ultimately it’s the characters who shine this season, and that hold the show together. The ensemble has hit its groove in Season 3, and everyone gets time in the spotlight. There’s the aforementioned Saru, now in charge of a ragtag crew, who as usual conveys command and kindness in equal measure through layers of makeup. Anthony Rapp’s Paul Stamets and Wilson Cruz’s Hugh Culber are finally back together after a season of angst, and it’s lovely to see; though the best relationship (or at least the most hilarious) is between Stamets and his frenemy Jett Reno (Tig Notaro). Mary Wiseman’s Ensign Sylvia Tilly is always a hilarious delight, but the trauma of being plunged hundreds of years into the future allows her plumb new, emotional depths we haven’t seen before. And even former side characters that weren’t even really named in Season 1 get a time in the sun, from Emily Coutt’s Kayla Detmer (you know, the one with the implants on the side of her face) to fan-fave saurian Linus (David Benjamin Tomlinson).
Oh, and then there’s Michael Burnham. Martin-Green has been consistently excellent from the get-go as Burnham, balancing her human nature with a Vulcan upbringing. She’s proven herself to be an actor who puts it all on the table, every episode. She’s a dramatic anchor for the series, the plot hub the series pivots on, and as adept at action as she is at searing emotional scenes. Martin-Green is a star in every sense of the word, and that’s been clear since way back with her time on The Walking Dead. But Season 3 brings something new out of Martin-Green, and Burnham. Without getting too heavily into spoilers, her trip to the future tests her in ways she couldn’t imagine. The Burnham that emerges is something decidedly different, and one that you perhaps wouldn’t expect. Gone is the grim, serious, weight-of-the-world on her shoulders Commander who has had to save the universe multiple times. In one of the later episodes, a character comments that she looks lighter, and that’s the best way to describe it. That pain, that heaviness is still there below the surface; but Burnham has emerged through her baptism by wormhole with a new outlook on life. It’s one that might cause trouble in the long run as she grapples with the new state of the universe. But at least in the early going means that Martin-Green laughs, and smiles, and shows off the incredible charm that makes her the focal point of every scene.
Disco is also, despite the far future time period and overarching mystery of The Burn, far less complicated than Season 2. Thankfully. Though the Sophomore season had its highlights, including the phenomenal season finale and classic Trek crew led by Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Season 2 got overwhelmed with mysteries, and mentions of sphere data, time crystals, rogue AIs and so much more that at times it started to feel like watching a glossary. Season 3 simplifies all of that, and gives us episodes that illuminate new parts of this dark universe while the crew visits old, familiar environs. There are mysteries, but for the most part they’re resolved in the episode, or the next. With nine episodes to go it is possible we’ll get back to the Season 2 mode of a 5-10 minute crew meeting each episode to break down the complicated plot and catch other characters up on what they missed; but hopefully not. As is, the first four episodes feel sleeker and breezier; lighter, like Burnham.
I’ll fully admit that, as a fan of the first season of Discovery, I miss the pedal-to-the-metal, go for broke nature of those episodes. But that said, that sort of breakneck pace might feel exhausting to watch in the current moment. Instead, Season 3 of Discovery is the Star Trek we need right now, the one that feels like comfort food and promises that no matter how grim things get, they’re going to be okay if we all trust each other and work to the top of our intelligence. It may be an impossible goal, but as Roddenberry believed — and as plays out in every episode this season so far — it’s a goal worth working towards anyway.
That in essence is what makes Discovery feel like such a refreshing throwback to classic Trek. Season 1 was about a crew who did not trust each other, fractured by a Captain who kept them in the dark. Season 2 was about how that crew learned to work together and became a family. And Season 3 finds them finally working as a unit, caring for each other and exploring strange new worlds; albeit while stuck nearly a millennium in the future with none of the trappings of the franchise at their disposal. As usual, though, Star Trek needed to head to the future to reconnect with its past.
Star Trek: Discovery airs Thursdays on CBS All Access
Where to watch Star Trek: Discovery


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--Astros’ Jose Altuve comes up big at plate after fielding woes

Like any proper bad guy , the Astros won ’ t go without ...

Jose Altuve shook off two of the worst games of his career to lead the Astros to a 4-3 win over the Rays in Game 4 of the ALCS on Wednesday in San Diego to keep their season going.
The second baseman, who made three errors in his previous two games, hit his third first-inning homer of the series and added an RBI double.
Perhaps most importantly, he made two plays at second base without any throwing issues.
Asked how he put the previous two games behind him, Altuve said, “I didn’t have a choice.”
“It was [win] today or go home and I didn’t want to go home,’’ Altuve said. “I turned the page pretty quick, showed up today ready to help my team.”
Altuve wasn’t tested much in the field, but his case of the yips didn’t bother him on a routine grounder by Yoshi Tsutsugo to end the bottom of the fourth and he then made a strong throw to second on a Joey Wendle forceout in the ninth.
A pregame pep talk from Dusty Baker also helped. Baker moved Altuve from second in the lineup to third.
The manager told Altuve he made the switch because Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan — who died Sunday — hit third for the Reds on their World Series-winning teams in 1975 and ’76.
“He’s swinging the bat great,’’ Baker said of Altuve. “I told him another second baseman, little Joe Morgan, batted third for the Big Red Machine and he told me, ‘Hey, man, I’m ready.’ ”
It was a much different outcome than in Game 3, when an Altuve miscue in the sixth inning led to five runs by the Rays. Later in that game, Altuve’s night got worse when he came to the plate with a pair of runners on base and struck out on a questionable call on a check swing.
“Obviously, he takes a lot of things to heart and prides himself on every aspect of his game,’’ George Springer said. “To start to show people who he is again as a player, he’s our leader and he’s doing what we expect him to do.”
Altuve admitted the prior two games were difficult, when he was visibly despondent on the field and in the dugout.
“It’s not easy to do things against your team,’’ Altuve said. “For me, to not contribute and play [well], I feel bad.”
He’s confident Wednesday’s performance in the field proved his issues were behind him.
“That’s the way I always do it,’’ Altuve said. “I don’t want to think too much about throws because that’s when you make a mistake.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-15--New York coronavirus exodus fuels ‘gangbusters’ Maine real estate boom

When asked if it was COVID-19 that forced him to flee New York for Maine in March , Jordan Cohen doesn ’ t waffle .
“ One hundred percent , ” the Greenwich Village native , 40 , told The Post .
“ It was when things looked precarious and we didn ’ t know if we ’ d get out.
” Jordan grew up near Grace Church , attended Bronx Science and has family ties that go back to Ellis Island arrivals .
But he also has warm memories of sleepaway camp and family vacations in Maine .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Elisabeth , on their first trip together .
It ’ s also where , a year later , he proposed at Acadia National Park .
So when it was time to beat a hasty retreat from the coronavirus , Jordan looked north .
“ I always dreamed of living in Maine , ” he said , “ but it wasn ’ t possible because of work.
” Then the pandemic hit , and Jordan lost his tech job .
He and his now-wife , Elisabeth , made the move , intending to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rustic climes — but ultimately stayed .
After renting in Searsmont , a town of some 1,617 people inland from coastal Camden , they bought a historic home from 1925 on desirable Chestnut Street in Camden itself for $ 725,000 .
Elisabeth , 35 , does sales work remotely from the finished attic ( with a view of Mt .
Battie ) , while Jordan started his own marketing agency , the Fox Hill Group .
“ Life here is awesome , ” he said .
“ I hike every morning .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s much more relaxed , but still productive.
” Other tristate-area denizens decamped to the Pine Tree State for peace — and peace of mind .
“ Probably 70 percent of my guests this summer were New Yorkers , ” said James Lott , of vacation rental firm Camden Accommodations .
“ Usually it ’ s sporadic , but New York was definitely in Maine this summer.
” Prospective renters and buyers were desperate , according to brokers on the frontlines .
“ People have called and said ‘ Get me any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gwyneth Freeman of Better Homes & Gardens , The Masiello Group .
A strong economy and low interest rates made 2019 a historically good year for Maine real estate , resulting in 40 percent less inventory in 2020 .
When frantic out-of-staters began looking to escape the pandemic , housing demand exceeded supply , pushing prices up and accounting for a large volume of closed sales .
“ Because of COVID , April and May sales were down , ” said Tom Cole , president of the Maine Association of Realtors .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was gangbusters , with nearly 6 percent more out-of-state buyers than last year .
In August , out-of-state sales went up nearly 10 percent , showing a clear trend of what ’ s happening.
” “ It ’ s the most crazy market I ’ ve seen , ” added Nancy Hughes of Camden Coast Real Estate .
“ There ’ s a very high demand , with people willing to pay high prices , but the lack of inventory made prices even higher.
” As a result , it ’ s common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; in fact , a “ picturesque three-bedroom ” in Brunswick ( home to Bowdoin College ) attracted a whopping 12 .
Bidding wars are now prevalent and offers made sight unseen , based solely on video tours given by realtors doing walk-throughs for clients sitting at home .
Needless to say , houses don ’ t linger on the market long .
The Brunswick house sold within four days of listing for $ 274,900 to a Nashville couple who paid well over ask : the handsome sum of $ 305,000 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and look back a day later and it would be under contract , ” said Rich G. , a 37-year-old lawyer who relocated with his girlfriend from “ hectic ” Toms River , New Jersey , to Aroostook County .
The couple paid $ 159,000 for a three-bedroom ranch in Caribou , in the northeast corner of the state near the Canadian border .
But they had to move fast .
“ We made an offer within a day or two because we really liked the house , ” said Rich , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We acted quickly because we knew what was happening in the market.
” Coronavirus has led to more anxiety and claustrophobia in dense urban areas , low interest rates and job losses .
“ It ’ s COVID and all its tentacles making this market , ” said Hughes , in Camden .
Another one of those tentacles — travel bans — drove Larry Cohen and his husband to Maine .
The married couple had planned on visiting Sicily in June , but when the coronavirus nixed that , the couple booked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populated coastal enclave in “ Down East ” Maine near the Canadian border .
Along the way they randomly happened upon stunning Rockport village , which is similarly on the shoreline but closer to the rest of the continental US .
“ I said to my husband , ‘ This is the most beautiful town I ’ ve ever seen , ’ ” recalled Cohen , a 47-year-old nonprofit executive director .
Though Cohen and his husband once shared an East Village studio , they reside in a Bed-Stuy brownstone .
But for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fixer-upper ” with harbor views for just over $ 1 million in Rockport .
“ We wanted a place to socially distance easily and spend time comfortably , ” said Cohen , anticipating more COVID-19 quarantines .
“ If stuck at home , we could look out at the water and relax.
” Freeman of Better Homes & Gardens thinks the pandemic allowed the now-remote workforce to entertain other places to live .
“ Without the pandemic , people might not have thought outside the box , ” the Bangor-based realtor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have to go into the office and can work anywhere.
” That ’ s one reason Morgan and Hayley Greenlaw-Morrow sold their Connecticut home and relocated to a spot on Big Indian Lake in St. Alban ’ s , smack in the middle of the state .
The married couple cheekily dubbed their waterfront A-frame “ Camp Beaverwood.
” While they love the tranquility of “ lake life , ” they also realize its financial benefits .
Both women now work remotely , meaning they earn New York salaries but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It became increasingly obvious with a healthy income and significantly-reduced cost of living that we ’ d be really stupid to leave , ” said Morgan , 33 , a corporate event manager .
Hayley , 45 , does product development for a footwear company .
Mainers seem divided about people from “ away ” buying up local real estate .
Many drivers with New York license plates report being the target of unexpected middle fingers , but other transplants tell a different tale .
After Will Wood ( with wife Deb and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sebec Lake in Dover-Foxcroft — about 30 miles north of the Greenlaw-Morrows — the town posted a welcome sign on the marquee of the local movie theater .
And when it was time to prop up their ramshackle cottage , to be used as a second home , neighbors pitched in unbidden : One helped deliver heavy beams for free , while another appeared to assist in sliding them under the home .
“ I ’ ve found our neighbors in Piscataquis County to be almost comically helpful , ” said Wood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One taciturn Mainer told The Post his opinion on the subject , if not his name .
“ We ’ re fine with people moving up here , ” the long-time local drawled .
“ It ’ s just when they want to change everything that we could have a problem .
”

When asked if it was COVID-19 that forced him to flee New York for Maine in March, Jordan Cohen doesn’t waffle.
“One hundred percent,” the Greenwich Village native, 40, told The Post. “It was when things looked precarious and we didn’t know if we’d get out.”
Jordan grew up near Grace Church, attended Bronx Science and has family ties that go back to Ellis Island arrivals. But he also has warm memories of sleepaway camp and family vacations in Maine. It’s where he took his girlfriend, Elisabeth, on their first trip together. It’s also where, a year later, he proposed at Acadia National Park. So when it was time to beat a hasty retreat from the coronavirus, Jordan looked north.
“I always dreamed of living in Maine,” he said, “but it wasn’t possible because of work.”
Then the pandemic hit, and Jordan lost his tech job. He and his now-wife, Elisabeth, made the move, intending to “ride out” COVID in more rustic climes — but ultimately stayed.
After renting in Searsmont, a town of some 1,617 people inland from coastal Camden, they bought a historic home from 1925 on desirable Chestnut Street in Camden itself for $725,000. Elisabeth, 35, does sales work remotely from the finished attic (with a view of Mt. Battie), while Jordan started his own marketing agency, the Fox Hill Group.
“Life here is awesome,” he said. “I hike every morning. I’ve lost 30 pounds. It’s much more relaxed, but still productive.”
Other tristate-area denizens decamped to the Pine Tree State for peace — and peace of mind.
“Probably 70 percent of my guests this summer were New Yorkers,” said James Lott, of vacation rental firm Camden Accommodations. “Usually it’s sporadic, but New York was definitely in Maine this summer.”
Prospective renters and buyers were desperate, according to brokers on the front lines. “People have called and said, ‘Get me any house in Maine,’ ” said Gwyneth Freeman of Better Homes & Gardens, The Masiello Group.
A strong economy and low interest rates made 2019 a historically good year for Maine real estate, resulting in 40 percent less inventory in 2020. When frantic out-of-staters began looking to escape the pandemic, housing demand exceeded supply, pushing prices up and accounting for a large volume of closed sales.
“Because of COVID, April and May sales were down,” said Tom Cole, president of the Maine Association of Realtors. “But June picked up, and July was gangbusters, with nearly 6 percent more out-of-state buyers than last year. In August, out-of-state sales went up nearly 10 percent, showing a clear trend of what’s happening.”
“It’s the most crazy market I’ve seen,” added Nancy Hughes of Camden Coast Real Estate. “There’s a very high demand, with people willing to pay high prices, but the lack of inventory made prices even higher.”
As a result, it’s common for a property to attract multiple offers; in fact, a “picturesque three-bedroom” in Brunswick (home to Bowdoin College) attracted a whopping 12. Bidding wars are now prevalent and offers made sight unseen, based solely on video tours given by realtors doing walk-throughs for clients sitting at home. Needless to say, houses don’t linger on the market long. The Brunswick house sold within four days of listing for $274,900 to a Nashville couple who paid well over ask: the handsome sum of $305,000.
“We’d see something we liked and look back a day later and it would be under contract,” said Rich G., a 37-year-old lawyer who relocated with his girlfriend from “hectic” Toms River, New Jersey, to Aroostook County.
The couple paid $159,000 for a three-bedroom ranch in Caribou, in the northeast corner of the state near the Canadian border. But they had to move fast.
“We made an offer within a day or two because we really liked the house,” said Rich, who asked not to publish his surname. “We acted quickly because we knew what was happening in the market.”
Coronavirus has led to more anxiety and claustrophobia in dense urban areas, low interest rates and job losses. “It’s COVID and all its tentacles making this market,” said Hughes, in Camden.
Another one of those tentacles — travel bans — drove Larry Cohen and his husband to Maine. The married couple had planned on visiting Sicily in June, but when the coronavirus nixed that, they booked an Airbnb in Machiasport, a sparsely populated coastal enclave in “Down East” Maine near the Canadian border. Along the way, they randomly happened upon stunning Rockport village, which is similarly on the shoreline but closer to the rest of the continental US.
“I said to my husband, ‘This is the most beautiful town I’ve ever seen,’ ” recalled Cohen, a 47-year-old nonprofit executive director.
Though Cohen and his husband once shared an East Village studio, they reside in a Bed-Stuy brownstone. But for their vacation home, they purchased a “fixer-upper” with harbor views for just over $1 million in Rockport.
“We wanted a place to socially distance easily and spend time comfortably,” said Cohen, anticipating more COVID-19 quarantines. “If stuck at home, we could look out at the water and relax.”
Freeman of Better Homes & Gardens thinks the pandemic allowed the now-remote workforce to entertain other places to live.
“Without the pandemic, people might not have thought outside the box,” the Bangor-based realtor said. “But now they realize they don’t have to go into the office and can work anywhere.”
That’s one reason Morgan and Hayley Greenlaw-Morrow sold their Connecticut home and relocated to a spot on Big Indian Lake in St. Alban’s, smack in the middle of the state. The married couple cheekily dubbed their waterfront A-frame “Camp Beaverwood.” While they love the tranquility of “lake life,” they also realize its financial benefits. Both women now work remotely, meaning they earn New York salaries but live in the Maine woods.
“It became increasingly obvious with a healthy income and significantly reduced cost of living that we’d be really stupid to leave,” said Morgan, 33, a corporate event manager. Hayley, 45, does product development for a footwear company.
Mainers seem divided about people from “away” buying up local real estate. Many drivers with New York license plates report being the target of unexpected middle fingers, but other transplants tell a different tale.
After Will Wood (with wife Deb and teenager Winnie) bought 2-plus acres near Sebec Lake in Dover-Foxcroft — about 30 miles north of the Greenlaw-Morrows — the town posted a welcome sign on the marquee of the local movie theater.
And when it was time to prop up their ramshackle cottage, to be used as a second home, neighbors pitched in unbidden: One helped deliver heavy beams for free, while another showed up to assist in sliding them under the home.
“I’ve found our neighbors in Piscataquis County to be almost comically helpful,” said Wood, 55, a former bike store owner.
One taciturn Mainer told The Post his opinion on the subject, if not his name. “We’re fine with people moving up here,” the long-time local drawled. “It’s just when they want to change everything that we could have a problem.”