newyorkpost--2020-06-27--Church of Scientology tried to silence Danny Masterson’s alleged rape victims: suit

`` Your days of getting away with it [ are ] coming to ...

Danny Masterson, who made a wisecracking name for himself on “That ’70s Show,” was arrested and charged June 17 on multiple counts of rape against three women. But it’s not just the actor who is on trial.
The accusers are all former members of the Church of Scientology, to which the 44-year-old actor is said to be devoted. Previously, four women, including the three from the criminal charges, filed a civil suit against Danny and the church, accusing the church of harassing them for having reported the alleged assaults to authorities.
One of the attorneys for the civil suit, Stewart Ryan, said: “It is alleged [in the suit] that our clients reported the sexual assaults to Scientology at the times that they happened. It is alleged in the suit that Scientology attempted to cover up the sexual assaults.”
In a response to The Post, the church denied all claims against it from the civil suit.
The sole victim identified by name in the criminal filing, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, dated Danny from 1996 until 2001 and claims to have been drugged and raped, multiple times, in the actor’s Hollywood Hills home.
According to the amended civil complaint: “On more than one occasion Plaintiff Bixler awoke in bed to find Masterson sexually assaulting her. In one specific instance, Masterson drugged . . . Bixler’s wine at dinner and anally assaulted her. The following morning, Masterson admitted that he had anal sex with her while she was unconscious.”
Danny has insisted that he is innocent of all civil and criminal charges. His lawyer Thomas Mesereau described the actor as “being in complete shock” over “nearly 20-year-old allegations.” Former Scientologists, however, see good reason for the delay.
They maintain that it would have been challenging for authorities to gain cooperation from alleged victims while they remained affiliated with the church. Bixler left in 2016.
Ex-Scientologist Geoff Levin alleged that, in a situation like this, church protocol would have been to deal with the allegations in-house and to take the women through “security checks.”
“Maybe you’d be directed into finding that, 10 million years ago, you enslaved a whole city and allowed your soldiers to rape all the women,” Levin added. “[And] that is the reason why this is happening to you now. It is brainwashing to the Nth degree.”
Ryan, the lawyer, told The Post that it “is accurate” that the women experienced intimidation tactics by the church. “It was part of the pressure campaign to force them into silence.”
Indeed, the civil suit details allegations of such tactics. In it, Bixler claims that she was stalked by church members and filmed; that “an agent of [Scientology]” spit on her after she caught him trying to hack her phone; and that there were threats to leak nude photos of an underage Bixler. According to the suit, she believes that Scientology representatives contributed to the deaths of two of her family’s pets.
“It is brainwashing to the Nth degree.” - Former Scientologist Geoffrey Levin on how the church silences people like the alleged assault victims
Tony Ortega, editor of The Underground Bunker, a Scientology-investigating website, said: “[Founder] L. Ron Hubbard called [such procedures] noisy investigations. Not only do they surveil you, but they want you to know it via very creepy encounters. They want to convince you to stop exposing Scientology because it causes too many emotional issues in your life.”
From the start, Scientology was a family affair for Danny.
The son of an insurance-broker father, Peter, and mother Carol, Danny grew up in Albertson, Long Island, with his younger brother Chris. His parents divorced in 1984, and, according to Joe Reaiche, who would marry Carol the next year, all were members of the church.
When The Post called Peter’s home, a woman who answered said: “You are not speaking with my husband. My stepson is innocent of the ridiculous money-grabbing charges.”
Carol and Joe had met through Scientology prior to her divorce. Joe recalled trying to help Danny and Chris — who would go on to play Francis on “Malcolm in the Middle” from 2000 to 2006 — make it in showbiz. “Carol was the boys’ manager and we both drove them to auditions,” Joe told The Post. “Danny is Carol’s first born and, of course, she adores him as she does all her kids.”
Danny once crowed to Paper magazine that he recognized Scientology as a good fit by the time he was 15. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is f–king awesome.’ ”
Levin, whose son was friends with Masterson’s step-siblings, remembers Danny displaying “a type of arrogance that Scientology instills in you. It gives you a kind of confidence that is helpful for people who want to be actors.”
It must have worked. “Danny moved to LA for pilot season when he was 17 in 1993,” Joe said. The aspiring actor landed “That ’70s Show” in 1998 — and launched his family into what’s been described to The Post as “second-tier celebrity status” within Scientology.
It got the Mastersons into Celebrity Centre, the VIP quarters of Scientology in Los Angeles, where elite members gain access to private classrooms and convenient parking — and the chance to rub elbows with fellow members John Travolta and Tom Cruise. Danny established himself as a famous face of the church and a booster at various fundraising events. He was spotted strutting around LA in a T-shirt emblazoned with “Psychiatrists are here. Hide your children!” in support of the church’s anti-psychiatry party line.
It boosted his family, too, who had moved full-time to LA in 1993.
“Once the boys got their big roles, we were considered a celebrity family,” said Joe. “It resonated for all of us. We were all welcome at the Celebrity Centre.”
Dreaming of their own Hollywood careers, Joe’s kids, Jordan and Alanna, decided to use their successful half-brothers’ surname.
Danny, Levin said, “was cocky. Though Carol [a high-level and well-regarded Scientologist] ruled the family with an iron fist, the kids still did whatever they wanted and kept it under their hats.”
The Masterson kids fell in with Scientology’s budding bold-facers — even though, according to Ortega, Danny and his siblings never reached the church’s midlevel, known as “clear.”
Danny’s little sister Alanna was spotted hanging out with Connor Cruise — Scientology elite and the son of Tom — in 2013. At the time, Joe fretted to the Daily Mail that Connor “is the worst person for my daughter to be around. The more she is around him, the deeper into the church she goes.”
According to Levin, “Danny was part of the young Hollywood clique. He ran with Jason Lee [who has since left the church], Giovanni Ribisi, Laura Prepon and [‘Grounded for Life’] sitcom actress Lynsey Bartilson.”
(A source noted that Prepon, Danny’s co-star on “That ’70s Show,” is not currently active in the church.)
Beyond that, a family source told The Post, “I think the Hollywood environment changed [Danny]. Lots of freedom and partying . . . Scientology unfortunately treats its celebrities and big-money donors differently. They will let various celebrities get away with s–t and turn a blind eye.”
According to Ortega: “One of the rules of Scientology is that celebrities get to break all the rules. They are not held to the same standards.”
A representative for the church denied these claims.
The question remains: Will Scientology stand by Danny if he is convicted?
“The church could easily turn on Danny if they felt they had to,” a family source told The Post. “But they won’t as he is too high-profile.”
Mike Rinder, a former church member and outspoken detractor whose role in Scientology was to deal with the highest of the church’s highest-profile celebrities, is less sure.
“It’s a tenuous situation,” he told The Post. “It depends entirely on Masterson taking a plea deal. If he takes a plea deal and coughs up to [the allegations], which will implicate a number of Scientologists, they will cut him off. They will say, ‘We threw you out years ago.’ ”
But, Rinder said, that would be a last-ditch effort. “They all have to stay on the same page and keep their stories straight,” he speculated. “Scientology is afraid that if they condemn Danny, he will turn on them. It may be in his interest to keep everybody on the same team, coming up with the same defense.”
Reaiche was excommunicated from the church in 2005, 10 years after he and Carol divorced; he is estranged from his kids and stepkids as a result. He was declared a “suppressive” person by the church, and members are ordered to cut off all contact with any “SP,” even their own parent or child.
But Reaiche knows his family well enough to know that, unless Danny left the church himself, they will support him — as a son, brother and Scientologist — no matter what. Describing the Mastersons as “inseparable,” he added, “They are not going to turn on Danny. No way. They love him too much. And he did the right thing by them all his life.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Cam Newton signing means Patriots dynasty ain’t dead yet

Spygate II is over and it was the typical less-impactful ...

With one fell swoop, swooping in on Sunday night to sign Cam Newton to a one-year deal, Bill Belichick reminded the football world why you never count him out.
Newton, if healthy, immediately changes the landscape of the AFC East.
Sorry, Adam Gase. Sorry, Jets. Sorry, Bills.
The Patriots are not as sorry as you thought they might be with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
A healthy Cam Newton with a massive chip on his strengthened shoulder ends all talk of a rebuilding season in New England, and gives the Patriots a legitimate shot at capturing their 12th straight AFC East title.
And a healthy Cam Newton gives Belichick a chance to beat Brady to a seventh Super Bowl.
Because know this about Cam Newton: Following in Brady’s GOAT footsteps won’t bother him in the least.
After all the gnashing of teeth in New England about Jarrett Stidham and/or Brian Hoyer replacing Brady, Newton gets to ride to the rescue.
He gets his chance to win his first Super Bowl ring after losing Super Bowl 50 to the Broncos.
“I’m excited as I don’t know what right now,” Newton wrote on Instagram. “All praise to God. … I hope you’re ready. #LETSgoPATS.”
Newton has been a shell of himself for most of the past two seasons. First a shoulder injury, followed by surgery. Then a foot injury, followed by surgery that sabotaged his 2019 season and led to new Panthers coach Matt Rhule releasing him in April.
It is an incentive-laden deal worth up to $7.5 million and Newton will have all the incentive in the world to prove he can return to an elite level and secure a monster free-agent contract for 2021 and beyond.
The Bucs welcomed Brady with a two-year, $50 million deal. The Panthers replaced Newton with a three-year, $63 million deal. Belichick lies in the weeds and captures a 2015 NFL MVP on the cheap.
Here is what Giants cornerback James Bradberry told me in April about his former Panthers quarterback: “He’ll have a bigger chip on his shoulder than anybody in the league, I feel like. Everyone’s against him. I know he wants to prove all the doubters wrong.”
And remember this: Newton is only 31, or 12 years younger than Brady when (and if) the season begins.
And remember this: Belichick has always had a gift for getting the most out of talented players who for one reason or another found their way to the open market.
Randy Moss was 30 when he and Brady led the Patriots to the brink of a perfect season before they ran into Eli Manning and the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Here was Belichick after re-signing Moss to a three-year, $27 million deal following that Super Bowl:
“What Randy did for our team last year was outstanding,” he said. “He is one of our most consistent, competitive and team-oriented players.”
The era of good feeling lasted three years before Belichick unloaded the mercurial Moss to the Vikings in 2010.
Belichick doesn’t have to worry beyond this season about Newton.
He’ll have to worry about losing a 2021 third-round pick and Bob Kraft will have to worry about the club being fined $1.1 million for their latest videotaping scandal, from the press box in Cincinnati, of all places.
A grotesque reminder that Belichick simply cannot help himself.
On a night when he helped himself immensely for 2020.
Sorry, Adam Gase. Sorry, Jets. Sorry, Bills.
The Dynasty you all thought was dead ain’t dead yet.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--DineOut nonprofit looks to redesign NYC eateries for outdoor dining

When New York City officials announced it would be fast-tracking applications for outdoor dining on June 19 , Melba ’ s , a popular comfort-food restaurant in Harlem , was ready to serve 62 people three days later — its first-ever open-air foray .
Owner Melba Wilson ’ s new seating arrangement — set up in just six hours — accommodates 17 white square bistro tables with each of them separated by large planters or short , plexiglass walls designed to maximize coronavirus safety .
What ’ s more , most diners coming for Wilson ’ s specials such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so under either a shady pavilion or white umbrellas on the sidewalk .
Wilson is one of several restaurateurs getting a lift from a new nonprofit group created by architect David Rockwell ’ s Rockwell Group and the NYC Hospitality Alliance that has received funding from the likes of billionaire Bill Ackman and actor Daniel Stern , best-known as a comic villain in the movie “ Home Alone.
” The new group , called the DineOut NYC project , also is working on outdoor-seating setups for Bronx restaurants Ceetay and Hudson Smokehouse ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slope ; Queens restaurant Pa ’ Nash ; and Staten Island ’ s The Craft House and Kills Boro Brewing Co .
Photos of its work , which includes pavilions with separate dining cubbies that can sit on the street or sidewalk , are to appear on Rockwell Group ’ s Web site in the coming weeks as inspiration for other restaurateurs to follow .
Each location shares similar design concepts but Negril BK , for example , will feature yellow awning on its pavilions to go with the restaurant ’ s logo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bronx restaurants will focus more on sidewalk dining instead of street dining because neighborhood parking space is limited .
“ We want to be respectful of the communities and their specific needs , ” Rockwell said .
In Harlem , Melba ’ s new outdoor space , which makes use of street parking and sidewalks , has allowed Wilson to start drawing big crowds again , including Mayor de Blasio .
“ I have been walking around and talking to people and about 70 percent are from the neighborhood but also from Queens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ Some saw the mayor at the restaurant and they wanted to come .
He was here the first day it opened [ on Monday , June 22 ] .
” Melba ’ s only did 72 percent of its pre-COVID business in the first week , but that ’ s with 47 fewer seats than her indoor operation .
The restaurant ’ s hours are longer — from noon to midnight instead of 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. , and she says guests are lingering longer than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broadway shows , bars and parties to rush off to .
“ We found that people want to sit in fellowship over a meal with friends and family , which they haven ’ t been able to do , ” Wilson said , which prompted her to stop taking reservations because she couldn ’ t predict when diners would leave .
“ We have to find a way to navigate that while making our guests feel comfortable and welcome , ” she said .
West Elm provided the furniture , string lighting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and The Work Room donated the awnings and the plants came from Sweetbrook Nursery & Garden Center .
“ It ’ s so beautiful , ” Wilson said .
“ One woman said she had never seen anything outdoors like this .
‘ These are things we only see downtown , not in brown and beige communities , ’ she said .
“ We all had tears in our eyes .
This helps rebuild communities and creates jobs , and that is invaluable .
There is so much love and support , @ @ @ @ @ @

When New York City officials announced it would be fast-tracking applications for outdoor dining on June 19, Melba’s, a popular comfort-food restaurant in Harlem, was ready to serve 62 people three days later — its first-ever open-air foray.
Owner Melba Wilson’s new seating arrangement — set up in just six hours — accommodates 17 white square bistro tables with each of them separated by large planters or short, plexiglass walls designed to maximize coronavirus safety.
What’s more, most diners coming for Wilson’s specials such as Southern fried chicken & eggnog waffles do so under either a shady pavilion or white umbrellas on the sidewalk.
Wilson is one of several restaurateurs getting a lift from a new nonprofit group created by architect David Rockwell’s Rockwell Group and the NYC Hospitality Alliance that has received funding from the likes of billionaire Bill Ackman and Daniel Stern, co-founder of Reservoir Capital Group.
The new group, called the DineOut NYC project, also is working on outdoor-seating setups for Bronx restaurants Ceetay and Hudson Smokehouse; Brooklyn’s Negril BK in Park Slope; Queens restaurant Pa’Nash; and Staten Island’s The Craft House and Kills Boro Brewing Co.
Photos of its work, which includes pavilions with separate dining cubbies that can sit on the street or sidewalk, are to appear on Rockwell Group’s Web site in the coming weeks as inspiration for other restaurateurs to follow.
Each location shares similar design concepts but Negril BK, for example, will feature yellow awning on its pavilions to go with the restaurant’s logo as well as bar areas. The Bronx restaurants will focus more on sidewalk dining instead of street dining because neighborhood parking space is limited.
“We want to be respectful of the communities and their specific needs,” Rockwell said.
In Harlem, Melba’s new outdoor space, which makes use of street parking and sidewalks, has allowed Wilson to start drawing big crowds again, including Mayor de Blasio.
“I have been walking around and talking to people and about 70 percent are from the neighborhood but also from Queens and Brooklyn and downtown and Connecticut,” she said. “Some saw the mayor at the restaurant and they wanted to come. He was here the first day it opened [on Monday, June 22].”
Melba’s only did 72 percent of its pre-COVID business in the first week, but that’s with 47 fewer seats than her indoor operation.
The restaurant’s hours are longer — from noon to midnight instead of 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and she says guests are lingering longer than they did when there were sporting events, Broadway shows, bars and parties to rush off to.
“We found that people want to sit in fellowship over a meal with friends and family, which they haven’t been able to do,” Wilson said, which prompted her to stop taking reservations because she couldn’t predict when diners would leave.
“We have to find a way to navigate that while making our guests feel comfortable and welcome,” she said.
West Elm provided the furniture, string lighting, umbrellas and planters for Melba’s, and The Work Room donated the awnings and the plants came from Sweetbrook Nursery & Garden Center.
“It’s so beautiful,” Wilson said. “One woman said she had never seen anything outdoors like this. ‘These are things we only see downtown, not in brown and beige communities,’ she said. “We all had tears in our eyes. This helps rebuild communities and creates jobs, and that is invaluable. There is so much love and support, I am so grateful.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--NYC first responders sue ambulance operator for pay and work violations

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Out-of-state EMTs and paramedics who risked their lives to help New Yorkers during the coronavirus crisis say the FEMA subcontractor that hired them controlled every second of their deployment , including their sex lives — and then refused to pay them for all of their time .
According to a stunning lawsuit filed in Brooklyn state court , private ambulance operator Ambulnz promised the group of first responders it recruited back in March it “ would be paid for 24-hours a day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city as the COVID-19 cases began skyrocketing .
But Ambulnz went back on its word after the recruits arrived , including by refusing to pay people for the time it took to drive their ambulances to NYC , according to the suit .
Once in the Big Apple , Ambulnz told the recruits “ to remain in their hotel rooms at all times when not on shift , ” the lawsuit said , and were ordered to refrain from “ consuming alcohol or engaging in any sexual activity while at their hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call ’ for any emergencies.
” Those who disobeyed faced punishment , including possible termination , according to the suit .
Ambulnz even placed a security guard in the hotel lobby and required its workers to carry GPS devices to ensure they stayed put , the lawsuit said .
In an interview with The Post , lead plaintiff James Richard said he worked seven days a week for the month of April , responding to heart attacks , gunshot incidents and COVID-19 cases while helping the fire department respond to 911 calls .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard said he was awakened by blaring calls on his emergency-responder radio , which he was required to have with him at all times .
The 29-year-old EMT from Murfreesboro , Tenn. , said he only learned of the company ’ s actual pay policy about two weeks into his stint when he was given a document showing that his pay — 1.25 times his regular pay , plus overtime , for seven 12-hour shifts a week — would be less than other FEMA responders .
Richard was told he could accept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I didn ’ t want to leave New York in that state , ” Richard said about the city ’ s massive COVID-19 caseload .
“ Morally , I couldn ’ t do that.
” FEMA declined to provide information about its pay requirements , but the lawsuit claims that all other ambulance services companies contracted by FEMA during this time paid their EMTs and paramedics for 24/7 shifts .
Once its workers returned home , Ambulnz asked them to sign general-release agreements giving up their right to recover unpaid wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawyer .
She said the company also is trying to enforce arbitration agreements it had EMTs sign shortly before deploying them .
Ambulnz defended its pay practices in a statement saying that it “ verified compensation practices for our New York City COVID-19 response contract with two separate , independent top-tier labor law firms , ” and that both firms “ confirmed that our payroll practices exceeded the amount required by law.
“ However , legal experts indicated such employment conditions merit better treatment .
“ When you tell an employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room , can ’ t have a beer , and can ’ t have sex , that ’ s pretty good evidence that the time belongs to the company and should be compensable , ” said labor lawyer Louis Pechman , who teaches a course on wage theft at Fordham University .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Out-of-state EMTs and paramedics who risked their lives to help New Yorkers during the coronavirus crisis say the FEMA subcontractor that hired them controlled every second of their deployment, including their sex lives — and then refused to pay them for all of their time.
According to a stunning lawsuit filed in Brooklyn state court, private ambulance operator Ambulnz promised the group of first responders it recruited back in March it “would be paid for 24-hours a day, 7-days a week” for deploying to the city as the COVID-19 cases began skyrocketing.
But Ambulnz went back on its word after the recruits arrived, including by refusing to pay people for the time it took to drive their ambulances to NYC, according to the suit.
Once in the Big Apple, Ambulnz told the recruits “to remain in their hotel rooms at all times when not on shift,” the lawsuit said, and were ordered to refrain from “consuming alcohol or engaging in any sexual activity while at their hotel, in order to remain ‘on call’ for any emergencies.”
Those who disobeyed faced punishment, including possible termination, according to the suit. Ambulnz even placed a security guard in the hotel lobby and required its workers to carry GPS devices to ensure they stayed put, the lawsuit said.
In an interview with The Post, lead plaintiff James Richard said he worked seven days a week for the month of April, responding to heart attacks, gunshot incidents and COVID-19 cases while helping the fire department respond to 911 calls. When he wasn’t working, Richard said he was awakened by blaring calls on his emergency-responder radio, which he was required to have with him at all times.
The 29-year-old EMT from Murfreesboro, Tenn., said he only learned of the company’s actual pay policy about two weeks into his stint when he was given a document showing that his pay — 1.25 times his regular pay, plus overtime, for seven 12-hour shifts a week — would be less than other FEMA responders.
Richard was told he could accept the terms or go home, he said. “I didn’t want to leave New York in that state,” Richard said about the city’s massive COVID-19 caseload. “Morally, I couldn’t do that.”
FEMA declined to provide information about its pay requirements, but the lawsuit claims that all other ambulance services companies contracted by FEMA during this time paid their EMTs and paramedics for 24/7 shifts.
Once its workers returned home, Ambulnz asked them to sign general-release agreements giving up their right to recover unpaid wages, said Sally Abrahamson, the group’s lawyer. She said the company also is trying to enforce arbitration agreements it had EMTs sign shortly before deploying them.
Ambulnz defended its pay practices in a statement saying that it “verified compensation practices for our New York City COVID-19 response contract with two separate, independent top-tier labor law firms,” and that both firms “confirmed that our payroll practices exceeded the amount required by law.“
However, legal experts indicated such employment conditions merit better treatment. “When you tell an employee you have to stay in your hotel room, can’t have a beer, and can’t have sex, that’s pretty good evidence that the time belongs to the company and should be compensable,” said labor lawyer Louis Pechman, who teaches a course on wage theft at Fordham Law School.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Dead language? Latin is a hit at this Bronx charter school

A dead language is bringing these Bronx kids to life .
Students at Classical Charter Schools are all taught Latin – and more than a quarter of the network ’ s kids scored at the highest tier on a recent national exam on the ancient tongue .
“ When we were founded nearly 15 years ago , we set out to offer children in the South Bronx something they never had before , ” said the network ’ s founder Lester Long .
“ We wanted to offer Latin , giving them a world-class education rooted in the classics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are accomplishing that goal.
” Results from the National Latin Exam , released in May , showed that 34 out of the 120 Bronx Classical students in the 6th , 7th and 8th grade who took the test were recognized for having received a top score .
Eleven in the 6th and 7th grade got a certificate of outstanding achievement , for receiving a score of 36 to 40 out of a possible 40 .
In addition to Latin , Bronx Classical kids – who number 1,000 across four schools – are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vanishing from American education , including debate , philosophy , and rhetoric .
While they initially question the devotion of time to a bygone language , network teachers said students soon become absorbed in the distant worlds of Aristotle and Plato .
Teacher Chris Perednia said kids – especially Spanish speakers – are stunned to recognize the direct connection of their native tongue to the time of gladiators and the Roman Coliseum .
“ At first we introduce the stories and adventures of the gods , and that gets them interested , hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ And then they start to see how their own world connects back to that time .
They become invested in it.
” Students are fascinated to discover the Latin origins of much of modern day language and quickly sense a newfound power in their deepened linguistic comprehension .
Parent Hikma Umar of The Bronx said her 7th grade son would suddenly begin identifying the Latin roots of words at the dinner table after a few years at Bronx Classical .
“ He just really loves language and reading , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us are watching TV he ’ ll be in his room reading .
He ’ s more interested in that.
” While many children become increasingly emoji-dependent , Long said Bronx Classical students — about 90 percent of whom get free or reduced price lunch , a common poverty marker — strive to command the floor with a perfected phrase or impenetrable argument .
The only bullying allowed must take place within the bounds of rhetoric and reason .
“ There is something beautiful , something powerful in strong communication skills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense that and they take off on their own .
Remote learning is difficult enough in English , but Long said his schools successfully made the transition after the coronavirus crisis shuttered the network ’ s K-8 schools .
To cap their experience , Bronx Classical 8th graders normally board a plane to Rome to see the subjects of their specialized study up close .
This year ’ s graduating class was unable to make the journey due to the coronavirus but are considering a reunion trip there in the future .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perednia said .
“ There ’ s a pretty special moment when they finally see the thing that they ’ ve been reading and studying for years like the Coliseum .
That has an impact that I think stays with them for a long time .
”

A dead language is bringing these Bronx kids to life.
Students at Classical Charter Schools are all taught Latin – and more than a quarter of the network’s kids scored at the highest tier on a recent national exam on the ancient tongue.
“When we were founded nearly 15 years ago, we set out to offer children in the South Bronx something they never had before,” said the network’s founder Lester Long.
“We wanted to offer Latin, giving them a world-class education rooted in the classics. As these exceptional national scores show, we are accomplishing that goal.”
Results from the National Latin Exam, released in May, showed that 34 out of the 120 Bronx Classical students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade who took the test were recognized for having received a top score.
Eleven in the 6th and 7th grade got a certificate of outstanding achievement, for receiving a score of 36 to 40 out of a possible 40.
In addition to Latin, Bronx Classical kids – who number 1,000 across four schools – are also immersed in subjects that are quickly vanishing from American education, including debate, philosophy, and rhetoric.
While they initially question the devotion of time to a bygone language, network teachers said students soon become absorbed in the distant worlds of Aristotle and Plato.
Teacher Chris Perednia said kids – especially Spanish speakers – are stunned to recognize the direct connection of their native tongue to the time of gladiators and the Roman Coliseum.
“At first we introduce the stories and adventures of the gods, and that gets them interested, hearing about Zeus and Hera,” he said. “And then they start to see how their own world connects back to that time. They become invested in it.”
Students are fascinated to discover the Latin origins of much of modern day language and quickly sense a newfound power in their deepened linguistic comprehension.
Parent Hikma Umar of The Bronx said her 7th grade son would suddenly begin identifying the Latin roots of words at the dinner table after a few years at Bronx Classical.
“He just really loves language and reading,” she said. “When the rest of us are watching TV he’ll be in his room reading. He’s more interested in that.”
While many children become increasingly emoji-dependent, Long said Bronx Classical students — about 90 percent of whom get free or reduced price lunch, a common poverty marker — strive to command the floor with a perfected phrase or impenetrable argument.
The only bullying allowed must take place within the bounds of rhetoric and reason.
“There is something beautiful, something powerful in strong communication skills,” Long said. “These kids sense that and they take off on their own.
Remote learning is difficult enough in English, but Long said his schools successfully made the transition after the coronavirus crisis shuttered the network’s K-8 schools.
To cap their experience, Bronx Classical 8th graders normally board a plane to Rome to see the subjects of their specialized study up close.
This year’s graduating class was unable to make the journey due to the coronavirus but are considering a reunion trip there in the future.
“That brings it all together,” Perednia said. “There’s a pretty special moment when they finally see the thing that they’ve been reading and studying for years like the Coliseum. That has an impact that I think stays with them for a long time.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Patriots fined, docked draft pick in Spygate II punishment

The Patriots ’ competition to replace Tom Brady just got a ...

Spygate II is over and it was the typical less-impactful sequel.
The New England Patriots were fined $1.1 million and will forfeit their third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft as penalties for filming the Cincinnati Bengals’ sideline during a Bengals-Cleveland Browns game in December. The Patriots faced the one-win Bengals the following week.
Additional discipline includes Patriots’ television production crews being prohibited from filming games in 2020 and required training on league operation and game policies for all senior team officials.
The NFL-issued penalties were first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.
Harsh and reputation-damaging discipline for any organization, but barely a blip on the radar for the Patriots over the last 25 years.
The original Spygate – when the Eric Mangini-coached Jets reported the Patriots for filming defensive coaches’ signals from an unauthorized stadium location – led to a $500,000 fine for coach Bill Belichick, a $250,000 fine for the Patriots and the loss of their first-round draft pick in 2008.
Unlike the first time, the Patriots immediately confessed and complied with this latest league investigation after getting caught in the act by Bengals security. The Patriots’ explanation is a video crew hired by the organization mistakenly “inappropriately filmed the field from the press box” for a “Do Your Job” video series on an advance scout to publish on the team website.
The Patriots also were fined $1 million and lost a 2016 first-round draft pick for Deflategate, which also resulted in a four-game suspension for quarterback Tom Brady.
In a shrewd move likely to distract fans, the Patriots scooped the release of the penalties by making big news of their own just minutes earlier in the evening: They agreed to an incentive-laden one-year contract with quarterback Cam Newton, who is the favorite to be their starting quarterback if his injured shoulder is healthy.
The Patriots now have a pick in six of the seven rounds of the 2021 Draft and could delayed recoup the lost third-rounder by getting an extra third-rounder in 2022 as compensation if Newton plays well and leaves in free agency next offseason.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Mississippi lawmakers vote to remove Confederate symbol from state flag

Mississippi lawmakers on Sunday voted to remove the Confederate symbol from their state flag .
Members of the state House and Senate broke into loud applause after both chambers passed the bill to retire the flag with broad bipartisan support .
“ How sweet it is to celebrate this on the Lord ’ s day , ” Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn , who is white , said after the measure was passed .
“ Many prayed to Him to bring us to this day .
He has answered , ” he said .
Republican Gov .
Tate Reeves said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though he didn ’ t say exactly when .
Mississippi legislators placed the Confederate emblem on the flag in 1894 .
The state was the last in the nation to use the symbol — a red field crossed with a blue X dotted with 13 white stars — in its flag .
The flag has been controversial among residents for decades , with the state facing increased pressure over the last month to remove it amid global racial injustice demonstrations triggered by the police killing of George Floyd .
A commission will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new flag without the Confederate battle emblem — though it must have the phrase “ In God We Trust.
” The new design would be put on the ballot Nov. 3 and would become the official state flag if a majority of voters approve of the design .
If a majority vote against the new flag , the commission will go back to the drawing board to design a new emblem under the same criteria .

Mississippi lawmakers on Sunday voted to remove the Confederate symbol from their state flag.
Members of the state House and Senate broke into loud applause after both chambers passed the bill to retire the flag with broad bipartisan support.
“How sweet it is to celebrate this on the Lord’s day,” Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn, who is white, said after the measure was passed.
“Many prayed to Him to bring us to this day. He has answered,” he said.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said he will sign the bill into law, though he didn’t say exactly when.
Mississippi legislators placed the Confederate emblem on the flag in 1894. The state was the last in the nation to use the symbol — a red field crossed with a blue X dotted with 13 white stars — in its flag.
The flag has been controversial among residents for decades, with the state facing increased pressure over the last month to remove it amid global racial injustice demonstrations triggered by the police killing of George Floyd.
A commission will be tasked with designing Mississippi’s new flag without the Confederate battle emblem — though it must have the phrase “In God We Trust.”
The new design would be put on the ballot Nov. 3 and would become the official state flag if a majority of voters approve of the design.
If a majority vote against the new flag, the commission will go back to the drawing board to design a new emblem under the same criteria.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Patriots sign Cam Newton as potential Tom Brady replacement

With one fell swoop , swooping in on Sunday night to ...

The Patriots’ competition to replace Tom Brady just got a whole lot more interesting on Sunday, as New England signed former league MVP Cam Newton to a one-year deal, NFL Network reported.
Newton, who turned 31 last month, was released by the Panthers in March after his career was derailed by foot and shoulder injuries, leading him to play in only two games last season.
The signing of Newton, worth up to $7.5 million and incentive-laden, comes as a bit of surprise, as many NFL pundits expected second-year quarterback and former fourth-round pick Jarred Stidham to replace Brady, who left after two decades to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But now Newton, the 2011 first-overall pick, likely becomes the favorite to start in New England in a quarterback room that consists of Stidham and journeyman backup Brian Hoyer.
Newton spent the first nine years of his career in Carolina, leading the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015 when the team went 15-1. He was named MVP that season, but injuries have put him on the decline ever since.
In his early 30s, however, Newton may be able to regain the form that also made him a three-time Pro Bowler in Carolina.
That will be the hope of the Patriots and Bill Belichick, who are no strangers to taking on reclamation projects, famously finding success with Randy Moss in 2007 while flunking with Antonio Brown last season.
Belichick of course hasn’t taken on such a project at the quarterback position, which Brady had manned for 20 years, sans the 2008 season when Matt Cassel led the Pats to an 11-5 record after Brady tore his ACL in the first game of the season.
Newton’s former team, under a new coach in Matt Rhule, signed one-time Jets QB Teddy Bridgewater to replace him.
Newton had one year left at $21.1 million when he was released from his five-year, $103 million contract with the Panthers.
The Newton news was immediately followed by the Patriots being fined $1.1 million and docked their third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft months after the team’s television crew was caught filming the Bengals’ sideline a week before facing Cincinnati.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Why the fireworks surge is truly a scourge: Gelinas

New York is compressing all of the upheavals of the 1970s — job loss , population exodus , looting , rising crime , existential questions of what the city is even for — into a disorienting few months .
Add another one : deteriorating quality of life .
How the city addresses its fireworks scourage has vast implications about whether we retain our tax base .
Pop , pop , pop — New Yorkers , middle class and working poor , black and white , have their efforts at dinner , relaxation and sleep punctuated every night with a barrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are up to 13,315 , nearly 13 times the figure last year .
But the NYPD won ’ t attempt to stop anyone setting off illegal fireworks .
“ They have many other things , particularly , the NYPD , dealing right now with other profound challenges , ” Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week .
Yes , he has set up a task force to try to cut off supply by arresting large-scale sellers — but the streets themselves will stay lawless .
The fireworks scourge afflicting neighborhoods may seem minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But New York ’ s ’ 70s history , when it lost a million people to suburbs and other regions , shows that people are driven away by minor things .
Even at the height of New York ’ s 25-year crime wave , between the mid- ’ 60s and early ’ 90s , middle-class and upper-class people were highly unlikely to be murdered or otherwise seriously harmed .
Then , as now , perpetrators and victims were mostly young , poorer minority men .
It was the little things that affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming home to a burgled apartment ; having to endure a graffitied , delayed subway train .
Plus , the fireworks aren ’ t so little .
A 3-year-old Bronx toddler , Adiel Rosario , drawn to his window by the noise , suffered burns and cuts last week when a firework landed in his apartment .
Another Bronx family is left homeless because a stray firework destroyed their apartment .
And as with the rest of broken-windows policing , catching a firework miscreant may prevent a larger crime .
Also last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleeping , elderly homeless man in Harlem , causing burns .
That ’ s not harmless fun ; that ’ s utterly cruel depravity .
People in poorer neighborhoods don ’ t favor all this “ fun.
” Jesus Rosario , Adiel ’ s father , said flatly that “ the cops aren ’ t doing anything at all.
” At last week ’ s e-meeting of Community Board 16 , covering Brownsville and Ocean Hill , two of the poorest neighborhoods in Brooklyn , one resident curtly dismissed an assertion made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the situation was under control .
For people in Brownsville , the fireworks scourge comes atop more serious problems .
The murder rate there is up 83 percent this year ; shootings are up 92 percent .
Now , though , poisonous racial politics are preventing people who can focus on quality of life from speaking out .
Irina Manta , a Ditmas Park resident and mother of a young child , tried to constructively address the fireworks issue this month , circulating a draft petition suggesting that non-police , civilian mediators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group called Equality for Flatbush termed this a “ white-supremacist sentiment ” and said that fireworks were “ a culturally accepted norm of Brooklyn ” and “ an act of resistance ” against police .
They also called her a “ Karen , ” a word increasingly used as a sexist slur to make middle-age , white and female mouths stay firmly shut in an online world dominated by young , mostly white men .
A small but determined group “ engaged in a doxxing campaign , ” Manta tells me .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call was an unambiguous death threat.
” People who want to improve quality of life are also termed gentrifiers .
It ’ s a good thing we had gentrification — white , black and immigrant — to reclaim central Brooklyn , Harlem and the South Bronx after the ’ 70s .
Cities such as Detroit , which never regained their populations , don ’ t have such problems .
If people with means can ’ t speak up , for fear of being called racists , and even for fear of losing corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public debate , they will leave .
That leaves behind people like Jesus Rosario , hoping the police “ definitely put a stop to it ” — before more children are injured , or worse .

New York is compressing all of the upheavals of the 1970s — job loss, population exodus, looting, rising crime, existential questions of what the city is even for — into a disorienting few months. Add another one: deteriorating quality of life. How the city addresses its fireworks scourage has vast implications about whether we retain our tax base.
Pop, pop, pop — New Yorkers, middle class and working poor, black and white, have their efforts at dinner, relaxation and sleep punctuated every night with a barrage. Fireworks complaints to 911 this year are up to 13,315, nearly 13 times the figure last year.
But the NYPD won’t attempt to stop anyone setting off illegal fireworks. “They have many other things, particularly, the NYPD, dealing right now with other profound challenges,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week. Yes, he has set up a task force to try to cut off supply by arresting large-scale sellers — but the streets themselves will stay lawless.
The fireworks scourge afflicting neighborhoods may seem minor, compared to a skyrocketing murder rate. But New York’s ’70s history, when it lost a million people to suburbs and other regions, shows that people are driven away by minor things.
Even at the height of New York’s 25-year crime wave, between the mid-’60s and early ’90s, middle-class and upper-class people were highly unlikely to be murdered or otherwise seriously harmed. Then, as now, perpetrators and victims were mostly young, poorer minority men. It was the little things that affected everyone that made people give up: coming home to a burgled apartment; having to endure a graffitied, delayed subway train.
Plus, the fireworks aren’t so little. A 3-year-old Bronx toddler, Adiel Rosario, drawn to his window by the noise, suffered burns and cuts last week when a firework landed in his apartment. Another Bronx family is left homeless because a stray firework destroyed their apartment.
And as with the rest of broken-windows policing, catching a firework miscreant may prevent a larger crime. Also last week, attackers targeted a firework at a sleeping, elderly homeless man in Harlem, causing burns. That’s not harmless fun; that’s utterly cruel depravity.
People in poorer neighborhoods don’t favor all this “fun.” Jesus Rosario, Adiel’s father, said flatly that “the cops aren’t doing anything at all.” At last week’s e-meeting of Community Board 16, covering Brownsville and Ocean Hill, two of the poorest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, one resident curtly dismissed an assertion made by a representative of Borough President Eric Adams that the situation was under control.
For people in Brownsville, the fireworks scourge comes atop more serious problems. The murder rate there is up 83 percent this year; shootings are up 92 percent. Now, though, poisonous racial politics are preventing people who can focus on quality of life from speaking out.
Irina Manta, a Ditmas Park resident and mother of a young child, tried to constructively address the fireworks issue this month, circulating a draft petition suggesting that non-police, civilian mediators try to address this issue.
A group called Equality for Flatbush termed this a “white-supremacist sentiment” and said that fireworks were “a culturally accepted norm of Brooklyn” and “an act of resistance” against police.
They also called her a “Karen,” a word increasingly used as a sexist slur to make middle-age, white and female mouths stay firmly shut in an online world dominated by young, mostly white men.
A small but determined group “engaged in a doxxing campaign,” Manta tells me. “I received multiple harassing calls and one call was an unambiguous death threat.”
People who want to improve quality of life are also termed gentrifiers. It’s a good thing we had gentrification — white, black and immigrant — to reclaim central Brooklyn, Harlem and the South Bronx after the ’70s. Cities such as Detroit, which never regained their populations, don’t have such problems.
If people with means can’t speak up, for fear of being called racists, and even for fear of losing corporate jobs in an increasingly paranoid environment for public debate, they will leave. That leaves behind people like Jesus Rosario, hoping the police “definitely put a stop to it” — before more children are injured, or worse.
Nicole Gelinas is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow. Twitter: @NicoleGelinas


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Trump unleashes the China haws and other commentary

Team Trump officials tell The Washington Post ’ s Josh Rogin that the president “ has evolved on China ” after seeing “ how Beijing handled the COVID-19 crisis , ” which “ has easily cost the US economy several trillion dollars ” and “ could have been avoided if China had contained the virus or , at least , been honest about it.
” His “ attitude shift has freed the China hawks on his team to launch a new , widespread campaign against the Chinese Communist Party and its ideology.
” Robert O ’ Brien , the national-security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech ; the secretary of state , attorney general and FBI director will soon follow , and their agencies will “ push back on various Chinese bad actions throughout the summer.
” Some may see it as an election-year ploy , but “ these moves to call out the Chinese Communist Party for what it is and protect ourselves .
.
.
are important and overdue.
” “ Coronavirus doomsayers ” just couldn ’ t wait to make “ apocalyptic announcements , ” Heather Mac Donald quips at The Spectator USA : Establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus cases.
” In reality , the highest number of new daily cases came on April 24 — and while we are facing rising cases , we ’ re also seeing “ steadily dropping daily death numbers.
” For the media , alas , that ’ s “ no news ” : Instead , they ’ re blasting reopened Texas and Arizona — but have “ gone silent ” on Georgia , whose death toll has decreased since reopening .
Meanwhile , we have “ no crises in hospital capacity , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decline or hold steady.
” Americans have to reject the media ’ s call to “ halt the still far-too-tentative reopenings ” — or we ’ ll risk destroying “ any remaining hope of restoring our economy.
” Just because “ the past was unlike the present , ” says The Week ’ s Matthew Walther , doesn ’ t mean “ we should never denounce historical evils , much less fail to celebrate those who had the good sense to see them clearly at the time.
” Case in point : the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a reactionary crank ” even by the standards of his own time , who nevertheless radically opposed slavery .
Johnson denounced English plantations in Jamaica , and his abolitionism wasn ’ t just a matter of words : “ Johnson ’ s valet Francis Barber was a freed black Jamaican who eventually became his heir , an astonishing bequest that was widely reported in the English press at the time.
” What drove his views was “ his deep religious faith.
” Simply put , “ Johnson could not stand to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under English cruelty ’ for the simple reason that he believed human beings are made lovingly in the image of God.
” According to The New York Times ’ Jamelle Bouie , “ neither Abraham Lincoln nor the Republican Party freed the slaves ” — a “ falsehood ” so egregious , National Review ’ s Dan McLaughlin seethes , that it ’ s “ a species of gaslighting.
” Yes , “ black Americans played a significant role ” in abolition .
“ Had Lincoln lost the 1860 election , ” though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” abolished slavery by 1865 : As president , he made the “ epochal decision ” to confirm that the Union Army , under the command of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant , was fighting for emancipation , and his fellow Republicans pushed through the 13th Amendment .
Bouie really just wants to “ topple Lincoln and Grant from their pedestals ” and deny them “ all credit for their successes and failures.
” But “ history matters , ” and truth matters — and “ we need not play along ” with such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Desk : A Black-Hole Collision Like No Other Detecting colliding black holes has become so routine , The Atlantic ’ s Marina Koren reports , astronomers usually “ go back to sleep ” when they receive alerts about them .
But last week , researchers “ announced they have spotted what might be a spark from the collision of two faraway black holes ” — a discovery that could “ mark the first time that astronomers have captured light produced by the joining of the darkest objects in the universe.
” As one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ is illuminating the invisible ’ [ and ] ‘ providing light in a region where something fascinating has happened ’ ” — something usually shrouded in the darkness of objects whose gravity is so intense , not even light can escape them .

Foreign desk: Trump Unleashes His China Hawks
Team Trump officials tell The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin that the president “has evolved on China” after seeing “how Beijing handled the COVID-19 crisis,” which “has easily cost the US economy several trillion dollars” and “could have been avoided if China had contained the virus or, at least, been honest about it.” His “attitude shift has freed the China hawks on his team to launch a new, widespread campaign against the Chinese Communist Party and its ideology.” Robert O’Brien, the national-security adviser, recently delivered a Cold War-style speech; the secretary of state, attorney general and FBI director will soon follow, and their agencies will “push back on various Chinese bad actions throughout the summer.” Some may see it as an election-year ploy, but “these moves to call out the Chinese Communist Party for what it is and protect ourselves . . . are important and overdue.”
Pandemic journal: The Spike That Wasn’t
“Coronavirus doomsayers” just couldn’t wait to make “apocalyptic announcements,” Heather Mac Donald quips at The Spectator USA: Establishment media are claiming “a dangerous spike in coronavirus cases.” In reality, the highest number of new daily cases came on April 24 — and while we are facing rising cases, we’re also seeing “steadily dropping daily death numbers.” For the media, alas, that’s “no news”: Instead, they’re blasting reopened Texas and Arizona — but have “gone silent” on Georgia, whose death toll has decreased since reopening. Meanwhile, we have “no crises in hospital capacity,” and many states “are seeing cases decline or hold steady.” Americans have to reject the media’s call to “halt the still far-too-tentative reopenings” — or we’ll risk destroying “any remaining hope of restoring our economy.”
Iconoclast: The Wokest ‘Reactionary’
Just because “the past was unlike the present,” says The Week’s Matthew Walther, doesn’t mean “we should never denounce historical evils, much less fail to celebrate those who had the good sense to see them clearly at the time.” Case in point: the 18th-century English literary genius Samuel Johnson — “a reactionary crank” even by the standards of his own time, who nevertheless radically opposed slavery. Johnson denounced English plantations in Jamaica, and his abolitionism wasn’t just a matter of words: “Johnson’s valet Francis Barber was a freed black Jamaican who eventually became his heir, an astonishing bequest that was widely reported in the English press at the time.” What drove his views was “his deep religious faith.” Simply put, “Johnson could not stand to see ‘black men . . . repining under English cruelty’ for the simple reason that he believed human beings are made lovingly in the image of God.”
History lesson: Yes, Lincoln Freed the Slaves
According to The New York Times’ Jamelle Bouie, “neither Abraham Lincoln nor the Republican Party freed the slaves” — a “falsehood” so egregious, National Review’s Dan McLaughlin seethes, that it’s “a species of gaslighting.” Yes, “black Americans played a significant role” in abolition. “Had Lincoln lost the 1860 election,” though, we “could not possibly have” abolished slavery by 1865: As president, he made the “epochal decision” to confirm that the Union Army, under the command of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, was fighting for emancipation, and his fellow Republicans pushed through the 13th Amendment. Bouie really just wants to “topple Lincoln and Grant from their pedestals” and deny them “all credit for their successes and failures.” But “history matters,” and truth matters — and “we need not play along” with such attempts to “rewrite it.”
Science Desk: A Black-Hole Collision Like No Other
Detecting colliding black holes has become so routine, The Atlantic’s Marina Koren reports, astronomers usually “go back to sleep” when they receive alerts about them. But last week, researchers “announced they have spotted what might be a spark from the collision of two faraway black holes” — a discovery that could “mark the first time that astronomers have captured light produced by the joining of the darkest objects in the universe.” As one scientist told Koren, “the flare ‘is illuminating the invisible’ [and] ‘providing light in a region where something fascinating has happened’ ” — something usually shrouded in the darkness of objects whose gravity is so intense, not even light can escape them.
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--City Hall’s push to bleed out NYC’s property owners

Kudos to City Councilmen Kalman Yeger , Robert Holden , Mark Gjonaj and 10 others for sticking up for city homeowners and property owners in the council debate on reducing interest for landlords delinquent in their property-tax payments .
City Hall wants to charge landlords usurious penalties ( up to 18 percent ) for late payments .
Team de Blasio even texted council members during the debate on Yeger ’ s amendment , urging them to resist .
“ This Kalman floor amendment is crazy , ” read one text obtained by The Post .
“ It will bankrupt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for services.
” Councilman Peter Yoo charged that City Hall seems to see property owners as a cash cow .
“ Building owners want to meet their obligation of paying property taxes , but they just need more time , ” said the Rent Stabilization Association ’ s Frank Ricci .
Why single out property owners for pain , when the city is easing up on everyone else who has been hit hard by the pandemic and lockdown ?
With tenants given a rent moratorium , how are landlords to find cash for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America ” wants to slam its largest providers of affordable housing simply because they ’ re landlords .
Yes , the economic shutdown is starving the city ’ s coffers — but that ’ s no reason to savage just one class of taxpayer .
Find a better way , Mr. Mayor .

Kudos to City Councilmen Kalman Yeger, Robert Holden, Mark Gjonaj and 10 others for sticking up for city homeowners and property owners in the council debate on reducing interest for landlords delinquent in their property-tax payments.
City Hall wants to charge landlords usurious penalties (up to 18 percent) for late payments. Team de Blasio even texted council members during the debate on Yeger’s amendment, urging them to resist.
“This Kalman floor amendment is crazy,” read one text obtained by The Post. “It will bankrupt the city and we will have no money for services.”
Councilman Peter Koo charged that City Hall seems to see property owners as a cash cow.
“Building owners want to meet their obligation of paying property taxes, but they just need more time,” said the Rent Stabilization Association’s Frank Ricci.
Why single out property owners for pain, when the city is easing up on everyone else who has been hit hard by the pandemic and lockdown?
With tenants given a rent moratorium, how are landlords to find cash for taxes?
“The fairest big city in America” wants to slam its largest providers of affordable housing simply because they’re landlords.
Yes, the economic shutdown is starving the city’s coffers — but that’s no reason to savage just one class of taxpayer. Find a better way, Mr. Mayor.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--What ‘woke’ whites get wrong about Blacks’ priorities

This month ’ s protests started out as a black movement against police brutality , but they have a different look now .
In many cases , whites have taken over .
They apologize for their “ white privilege ” and , in at least one case , wash black people ’ s feet to expiate their collective sins .
Celebrities , athletes and corporate America followed suit .
Portland ’ s police chief resigned , asking to be replaced by a black man , and the CEO of Chick-Fil-A urged whites to shine the shoes of black people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But why now ?
To find out , I had to hear what whites were saying .
I listened to the protesters , talked with my white friends and read articles and social-media posts .
What I found was white people overwhelmingly depicting black people as desperate and defeated , with no way to pull themselves out of their misery .
“ I understand your point , ” a white friend said when I objected to this simplistic narrative .
“ But don ’ t you think blacks are being oppressed ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white wokeness is the new factor in our national life .
It has been embedded into the consciousness of whites that all blacks are the same and that they all face impossible barriers to improvement — from standardized tests to the black men being arrested on the nightly news .
A growing number of whites believe that black life is unrelentingly grim .
Most whites don ’ t have many black friends to give them firsthand accounts of what their experiences are with racism .
While most blacks do experience some discrimination or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it doesn ’ t hold them back in a significant sense .
The media give a distorted view of black life .
We see this in the stories they choose to report — and those they eschew .
In 2018 , police shot and killed 54 unarmed men ; 22 were black .
Compared with the percentage of blacks in the US population , that figure looks disproportionate — but black people commit a disproportionate amount of violent crime and thus tend to have more interactions with the police .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly , but we should also demand fair and thorough media coverage of these shootings .
It ’ s telling that so many people can name some of the unarmed black men killed by police , but few can name any of the white men .
Blacks do lag whites in many socioeconomic indicators — but most blacks don ’ t live in poverty , don ’ t have constant run-ins with law enforcement and aren ’ t uneducated .
It ’ s important to look at racial disparities in context .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do in relative terms , in absolute terms , the percentage of people who commit any violent crime is tiny .
The white violent-crime rate is 0.12 percent ; for blacks , it is 0.44 percent .
By any standard , most people aren ’ t violent criminals , regardless of their race .
Yet sympathetic non-blacks often see blacks as oppressed victims with limited opportunities .
Since the killing of George Floyd , I ’ ve had many conversations with whites , mostly centered on my own well-being .
Many of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their companies telling employees to “ check on ” their black co-workers .
Everywhere one looks , organizations are showing their solidarity with Black Lives Matter — both the motto and the organization .
Uber Eats canceled its delivery fees for black businesses .
Turn on YouTube TV or order from Amazon , and you ’ ll see messages of support for “ the black community.
” Nike , the NFL and others made Juneteenth a paid holiday for all employees .
These gestures , mostly symbolic , suggest what whites believe blacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since they don ’ t have many blacks in their social circles , and having conversations with blacks is awkward and can take time , woke whites opt for easy , feel-good actions , most of which will have no effect on police brutality , on the quality of black schools or neighborhoods or on black lives generally .
Most woke whites have good intentions , but their symbolic gestures will , at best , have little effect and , at worst , do real harm .
The campaign against police is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already caused cops to become less proactive in high-crime neighborhoods , with the predictable result that shootings have spiked around the country .
Whites are engaging in activism motivated by a misperception about black life that doesn ’ t comport with reality for most blacks .
With their views of blacks as wounded and perpetually oppressed , woke whites would do more good by doing nothing .
Charles Love is the assistant executive director of Seeking Educational Excellence .
Adapted from City Journal .

This month’s protests started out as a black movement against police brutality, but they have a different look now. In many cases, whites have taken over. They apologize for their “white privilege” and, in at least one case, wash black people’s feet to expiate their collective sins.
Celebrities, athletes and corporate America followed suit. Portland’s police chief resigned, asking to be replaced by a black man, and the CEO of Chick-fil-A urged whites to shine the shoes of black people to show a “sense of shame.” But why now?
To find out, I had to hear what whites were saying. I listened to the protesters, talked with my white friends and read articles and social media posts. What I found was white people overwhelmingly depicting black people as desperate and defeated, with no way to pull themselves out of their misery.
“I understand your point,” a white friend said when I objected to this simplistic narrative. “But don’t you think blacks are being oppressed?”
That’s when I realized that white wokeness is the new factor in our national life. It has been embedded into the consciousness of whites that all blacks are the same and that they all face impossible barriers to improvement — from standardized tests to the black men being arrested on the nightly news. A growing number of whites believe that black life is unrelentingly grim.
Most whites don’t have many black friends to give them firsthand accounts of what their experiences are with racism. While most blacks do experience some discrimination or racial prejudice, it is rarely violent, and it doesn’t hold them back in a significant sense.
The media give a distorted view of black life. We see this in the stories they choose to report — and those they eschew. In 2018, police shot and killed 54 unarmed men; 22 were black. Compared with the percentage of blacks in the US population, that figure looks disproportionate — but black people commit a disproportionate amount of violent crime and thus tend to have more interactions with the police.
Every police shooting must be investigated thoroughly and fairly, but we should also demand fair and thorough media coverage of these shootings. It’s telling that so many people can name some of the unarmed black men killed by police, but few can name any of the white men.
Blacks do lag whites in many socioeconomic indicators — but most blacks don’t live in poverty, don’t have constant run-ins with law enforcement and aren’t uneducated. It’s important to look at racial disparities in context. Though blacks commit more violent crime than whites do in relative terms, in absolute terms, the percentage of people who commit any violent crime is tiny. The white violent crime rate is 0.12 percent; for blacks, it is 0.44 percent. By any standard, most people aren’t violent criminals, regardless of their race.
Yet sympathetic non-blacks often see blacks as oppressed victims with limited opportunities. Since the killing of George Floyd, I’ve had many conversations with whites, mostly centered on my own well-being. Many of my black friends relate stories of management at their companies telling employees to “check on” their black co-workers.
Everywhere one looks, organizations are showing their solidarity with Black Lives Matter — both the motto and the organization. Uber Eats canceled its delivery fees for black businesses. Turn on YouTube TV or order from Amazon, and you’ll see messages of support for “the black community.” Nike, the NFL and others made Juneteenth a paid holiday for all employees. These gestures, mostly symbolic, suggest what whites believe blacks are concerned about. They seem insincere.
Since they don’t have many blacks in their social circles, and having conversations with blacks is awkward and can take time, woke whites opt for easy, feel-good actions, most of which will have no effect on police brutality, on the quality of black schools or neighborhoods or on black lives generally.
Most woke whites have good intentions, but their symbolic gestures will, at best, have little effect and, at worst, do real harm. The campaign against police is a good example. Broad anti-police sentiment has already caused cops to become less proactive in high-crime neighborhoods, with the predictable result that shootings have spiked around the country.
Whites are engaging in activism motivated by a misperception about black life that doesn’t comport with reality for most blacks. With their views of blacks as wounded and perpetually oppressed, woke whites would do more good by doing nothing.
Charles Love is the assistant executive director of Seeking Educational Excellence. Adapted from City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Richard Carranza is still not figuring out how schools can work in the fall

City Comptroller Scott Stringer last week joined the parade slamming Chancellor Richard Carranza for his failure to plan properly for reopening schools in the fall .
“ While I can appreciate the complexities involved in making many of these decisions , there is no good reason why planning and preparation for the fall — as well as communication with parents and staff — is not more advanced , ” wrote Stringer .
So far , the Department of Education has bandied about the idea of phased start days and staggered classes to allow for social distancing .
Fair enough — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Co. have given kids , parents , teachers and even principals no clue how ( or if ) anything will work .
The DOE also just dashed the hopes of thousands of parents by announcing that it won ’ t even offer in-school special-ed classes over the summer .
Sigh : That could have been an excellent small-scale dry-run for the fall , allowing for school staff to learn valuable lessons .
Carranza , meanwhile used the last day of school to push his same old agenda , with an open letter proclaiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our commitment to addressing the systemic inequalities that these crises have further exposed.
” He was awful in normal times ; in a crisis , he ’ s a disaster .

City Comptroller Scott Stringer last week joined the parade slamming Chancellor Richard Carranza for his failure to plan properly for reopening schools in the fall.
“While I can appreciate the complexities involved in making many of these decisions, there is no good reason why planning and preparation for the fall — as well as communication with parents and staff — is not more advanced,” wrote Stringer.
So far, the Department of Education has bandied about the idea of phased start days and staggered classes to allow for social distancing. Fair enough — but far from concrete. Carranza & Co. have given kids, parents, teachers and even principals no clue how (or if) anything will work.
The DOE also just dashed the hopes of thousands of parents by announcing that it won’t even offer in-school special-ed classes over the summer. Sigh: That could have been an excellent small-scale dry-run for the fall, allowing for school staff to learn valuable lessons.
Carranza, meanwhile used the last day of school to push his same old agenda, with an open letter proclaiming, “We all must double down on our commitment to addressing the systemic inequalities that these crises have further exposed.”
He was awful in normal times; in a crisis, he’s a disaster.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Cardinal Dolan comes through at St. Patrick’s first ‘reopened’ Mass

Saint Patrick ’ s Cathedral on Sunday reopened its doors to Gotham ’ s Catholic faithful for the first time since public Masses in the archdiocese were suspended 14 weeks ago .
Thanks be to God .
For a city suffering from viral disease , economic devastation and racial unrest , it was a joyous moment — a reminder that whatever hellish cycle our nation is trapped in is but a blip from the standpoint of things eternal .
And for New York ’ s cardinal archbishop , Timothy Dolan , it was a moment of undisputed triumph .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily Mass at Saint Patrick ’ s .
And almost always , I used to see an older woman , immaculately dressed and with her silver hair immaculately coiffured , kneeling in one of the front pews .
We never spoke , but her devotion at Mass — her stillness , her prayerful poise — was something to behold .
What , I wondered during the lockdown , had become of that old lady ?
You can perhaps imagine the euphoria that overcame me as I spotted her at the reopening Mass , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kneeling near the front , smiling subtly but generously at everyone , as if to say : What , you thought I ’ d miss this ?
She ’ s the very image of Catholic New York , this lady .
All of my own gloom of the past few months — my dark fantasies of fleeing to some farm , holed up with chickens , shotguns and survivalist manuals — seemed to vanish in her presence .
The church , the people of God , can endure this , too .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yes , there were some unusual elements of the “ new normal ” that meant this Mass didn ’ t quite feel like an ordinary Mass from the Before Times .
Only every third pew was available for seating , and the pews that were available were filled sparsely by usher ’ s orders .
Masks were , of course , de rigueur .
There was no holy water but plenty of hand sanitizer at every corner .
I , for one , worry about the smell of isopropyl alcohol replacing incense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholicism .
Still , if the choice is between this ultra-antiseptic Mass and no Mass and no sacraments , well , that ’ s no choice at all .
At any rate , that first blast of the organ pipes wiped away the antiseptic scent and , with it , more of our accumulated sorrow .
As the cantor sang “ Joyful , Joyful , We Adore Thee , ” Dolan and his retinue of priests entered almost with an air of bravado ; the procession had the feel of our boys returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t wave at his people .
No , a more dramatic flourish was called for : He held up his episcopal-ringed hand and shook it in midair in a majestic gesture ; you can find footage online of Pope Pius XII making the exact same gesture .
And somehow , it befit Dolan in this moment , too .
The man loves to be with his people ; he has the smell of the sheep , as Pope Francis says of good priests .
At a gathering of journalists and diplomats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 15 minutes talking intently with one of the waiters , asking about his family , consoling or counseling him about some personal matter .
To those who know him , this is Dolan at his best .
It must have been hard for such a man to be away from his flock for so long .
“ All right , where have you all been ?
” he jokingly asked on Sunday .
“ Since you ’ ve been gone 14 Sundays , there will be 14 second collections today , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was enjoying himself .
And the people laughed along .
Not even the dourest traditionalist could have helped smiling .
It was fitting , too , that the readings emphasized the virtue of hospitality : “ He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet ’ s reward.
” For Catholics , to be hospitable means foremost to worthily receive Jesus in the Eucharist ; having consumed divinity , we are supposed to radiate it to others in our otherwise broken world .
That about sums up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city ’ s history : patiently enduring the lockdowns , rolling up his sleeves and feeding tens of thousands of newly jobless and hungry New Yorkers .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday reopened its doors to Gotham’s Catholic faithful for the first time since public Masses in the archdiocese were suspended 14 weeks ago.
Thanks be to God.
For a city suffering from viral disease, economic devastation and racial unrest, it was a joyous moment — a reminder that whatever hellish cycle our nation is trapped in is but a blip from the standpoint of things eternal. And for New York’s cardinal archbishop, Timothy Dolan, it was a moment of undisputed triumph.
Before the lockdowns, I used to attend daily Mass at Saint Patrick’s. And almost always, I used to see an older woman, immaculately dressed and with her silver hair immaculately coiffured, kneeling in one of the front pews. We never spoke, but her devotion at Mass — her stillness, her prayerful poise — was something to behold. What, I wondered during the lockdown, had become of that old lady?
You can perhaps imagine the euphoria that overcame me as I spotted her at the reopening Mass, elegant as ever in chic booties, kneeling near the front, smiling subtly but generously at everyone, as if to say: What, you thought I’d miss this?
She’s the very image of Catholic New York, this lady. All of my own gloom of the past few months — my dark fantasies of fleeing to some farm, holed up with chickens, shotguns and survivalist manuals — seemed to vanish in her presence. The church, the people of God, can endure this, too. If she can endure, so can we.
Yes, there were some unusual elements of the “new normal” that meant this Mass didn’t quite feel like an ordinary Mass from the Before Times.
Only every third pew was available for seating, and the pews that were available were filled sparsely by usher’s orders. Masks were, of course, de rigueur. There was no holy water but plenty of hand sanitizer at every corner. I, for one, worry about the smell of isopropyl alcohol replacing incense as the dominant scent associated with Roman Catholicism.
Still, if the choice is between this ultra-antiseptic Mass and no Mass and no sacraments, well, that’s no choice at all. At any rate, that first blast of the organ pipes wiped away the antiseptic scent and, with it, more of our accumulated sorrow.
As the cantor sang “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” Dolan and his retinue of priests entered almost with an air of bravado; the procession had the feel of our boys returning home from the war.
The cardinal didn’t wave at his people. No, a more dramatic flourish was called for: He held up his episcopal-ringed hand and shook it in midair in a majestic gesture; you can find footage online of Pope Pius XII making the exact same gesture. And somehow, it befit Dolan in this moment, too.
The man loves to be with his people; he has the smell of the sheep, as Pope Francis says of good priests. At a gathering of journalists and diplomats pre-pandemic, I watched the cardinal spend nearly 15 minutes talking intently with one of the waiters, asking about his family, consoling or counseling him about some personal matter. To those who know him, this is Dolan at his best.
It must have been hard for such a man to be away from his flock for so long. “All right, where have you all been?” he jokingly asked on Sunday. “Since you’ve been gone 14 Sundays, there will be 14 second collections today, all right?” He was beaming. He was enjoying himself. And the people laughed along. Not even the dourest traditionalist could have helped smiling.
It was fitting, too, that the readings emphasized the virtue of hospitality: “He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.” For Catholics, to be hospitable means foremost to worthily receive Jesus in the Eucharist; having consumed divinity, we are supposed to radiate it to others in our otherwise broken world.
That about sums up how Dolan has met this extraordinary moment in the city’s history: patiently enduring the lockdowns, rolling up his sleeves and feeding tens of thousands of newly jobless and hungry New Yorkers.
Take a bow, Your Eminence.
Sohrab Ahmari is The Post’s op-ed editor. Twitter: @SohrabAhmari


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--LGBTQ, BLM march in Manhattan leads to clashes with cops

The NBA shut down in March when Rudy Gobert became ...

A joint LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter march in Manhattan on Sunday led to clashes with NYPD cops.
The crowd of hundreds — some of whom carried anti-police-brutality banners and waved rainbow flags — got into confrontations with officers after reaching Washington Square Park in the West Village from downtown Foley Square.
The tensions erupted after officers spotted 29-year-old Brooklyn resident Michael Dunn allegedly vandalizing a marked police car with black marker at about 4:30 p.m., law enforcement sources said.
Chanting “Hands up! Don’t shoot!,’’ the protesters clashed with the horde of cops, screaming in their faces, video and photos show. Some of the marchers and cops were not wearing face masks.
At one point, a cop appeared to have been pepper-sprayed, and another fell off his motorcycle, as other officers pushed back the crowd, according to video.
Another officer was allegedly punched in the nose by Millen Dang, a 20-year-old from Brooklyn, who was later arrested, sources said.
At least one other protester, 25-year-old Jacob Kruger, of New Jersey, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer outside the park.
Previous 1 of 9 Next Advertisement Protesters clashed with members of the New York City Police Department during a march through Washington Square Park North today. James Keivom EPA/Peter Foley Advertisement James Keivom James Keivom James Keivom Advertisement EPA/Peter Foley Advertisement
The march was organized by the Reclaim Pride Coalition and called the Queer Liberation March.
It was held the same day the city livestreamed a virtual Pride celebration, to replace its famous annual parade, because of the coronavirus.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--De Blasio’s ‘open streets’ rapidly vanishing, causing fights among neighbors

Drivers across town are brazenly tossing aside street-blocking barriers set up as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s plan to provide outdoor recreation space amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Frustrated New Yorkers told The Post they ’ ve had to take enforcement of the street closures into their own hands as motorists flaunt the program — and that it has even sparked tug-of-wars between neighbors .
“ Within the first week it was clear that some neighbors did not like the impediment of the open street barrier , so they would just take it down , ” Noel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the traffic clot on Berry Street between North 12th Street and Broadway .
“ It ’ s been a war of attrition , to the point that yesterday the remaining twigs of one wooden blue barrier were pulverized by a driver.
” Launched in mid-May , de Blasio ’ s “ Open Streets ” initiative has so far restricted motorists from about 67 miles of Big Apple roads , with the aim to close off 100 miles so residents can get fresh air while still social distancing .
While the “ open streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 8 p.m. , motorists making deliveries or dropping people off are still allowed to drive through slowly , and utility , emergency and city service vehicles are OK , too .
But despite the ban on unnecessary traffic , some drivers have been taking back the supposedly pedestrian-only plazas , and moving the wooden blue and metal NYPD blockades so they can get through , residents in multiple locations told The Post .
“ Drivers get around the barricade , they just move it , ” said Larry Barbieri about a closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ditmas avenues in Ditmas Park , Brooklyn .
Cars on East Seventh Street were spotted driving around barricades set up along intersections on Friday , including one that was smashed to bits .
Barbieri , the owner of a landscaping business , said he didn ’ t agree with the street closure in his neighborhood , arguing that it was unnecessary since playgrounds are open and that “ it screws up the traffic.
” But Cynthia King , the owner of a nearby dance studio , said she and other residents like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back up when they ’ re moved .
“ We keep putting them back up , ” King said .
“ I live on the block and I love the street closure… It ’ s nice to have all the neighbors out and socializing more.
” “ I am mostly a driver but I definitely prefer closed streets over access to the road , ” King added .
A City Hall spokesman said enforcing the open streets is a collective responsibility , with the Department of Transportation , local NYPD precincts and community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast majority of drivers respect the program , ” Mitch Schwartz said in a statement .
“ DOT patrols the closures with in-person checks and social media monitoring , and they work with relevant agencies like the NYPD to fix issues as they arise.
” An NYPD spokeswoman said the department doesn ’ t track the number of complaints for broken barriers but that , “ As we become aware of broken or damaged barriers , we replace them.
” “ The barriers are checked on by community volunteers and partners , DOT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precinct.
” But some of the “ open streets ” have sparked bitter fights between neighbors , with some trying to enforce the closures and others rebelling against them .
On Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills , Queens , drivers were seen last week simply veering around the barrier and zipping down the block , which feeds into busy Queens Boulevard , for most of the day .
Sometime in the afternoon , parents come to reestablish the metal barriers — then the tiffs begin , locals said .
“ They make me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said of a man playing football with his son next to the outdoor dining set-up at Portofino Restaurant , which he ’ s owned and operated for 46 years .
“ I say people are trying to eat dinner , can you play down the street or in the park ?
He say , ‘ So what ?
!
’ Looked at me like I ’ m nuts !
So I say , I ’ m opening the barricade !
” Polito said .
“ They are supposed to have a cop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .
Arlind Belegu , a building superintendent on the block , said fights between parents who want their children to play in the open space and others on the block can get heated .
“ A parent threatened my doorman , ” Belegu said .
“ His kid was playing on the steps and my doorman asked him to stop the parent said to my doorman , ‘ You touch my kid and I ’ ll knock you out ! '
” Meanwhile , a dad in Crown Heights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the block-long closure on Prospect Place between Brooklyn Avenue and New York Avenue launched for someone to move the barriers .
“ I sent my kids out there when it opened .
By the next day , we couldn ’ t do it , ” said John Buckholz .
“ By the time the kids had gotten the barriers up one side of the block , someone had moved them aside on the other side.
” Buckholz said he takes his kids to open streets in other neighborhoods so they can ride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faulted the city for failing to effectively communicate the purpose and rules of the program , and said the closure near his home was doomed from the start .
“ It was put up haphazardly and with little community notice , ” he said .
“ De Blasio didn ’ t care about this or want to do it , and it shows.
” The City Hall spokesman said : “ We have more work to do , but we ’ re committed to providing all New Yorkers with the breath of fresh @ @ @ @ @

Lorena Mongelli, Kevin Sheehan, David Meyer, Tamar Lapin

It’s open season on the city’s “open streets.”
Drivers across town are brazenly tossing aside street-blocking barriers set up as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to provide outdoor recreation space amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Frustrated New Yorkers told The Post they’ve had to take enforcement of the street closures into their own hands as motorists flaunt the program — and that it has even sparked tugs of war between neighbors.
“Within the first week it was clear that some neighbors did not like the impediment of the open street barrier, so they would just take it down,” Noel Hidalgo, of Greenpoint, said of the traffic clot on Russell Street between Nassau Avenue and Driggs Avenue.
“It’s been a war of attrition, to the point that yesterday the remaining twigs of one wooden blue barrier were pulverized by a driver.”
Launched in mid-May, de Blasio’s “Open Streets” initiative has so far restricted motorists from about 67 miles of Big Apple roads, with the aim to close off 100 miles so residents can get fresh air while still social distancing.
While the “open streets” are in effect between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., motorists making deliveries or dropping people off are still allowed to drive through slowly, and utility, emergency and city service vehicles are OK, too.
But despite the ban on unnecessary traffic, some drivers have been taking back the supposedly pedestrian-only plazas, and moving the wooden blue and metal NYPD blockades so they can get through, residents in multiple locations told The Post.
“Drivers get around the barricade, they just move it,” Larry Barbieri said about a closure on East Seventh Street between Caton and Ditmas avenues in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.
Cars on East Seventh Street were spotted driving around barricades set up along intersections on Friday, including one that was smashed to bits.
Barbieri, the owner of a landscaping business, said he didn’t agree with the street closure in his neighborhood, arguing that it was unnecessary since playgrounds are open and that “it screws up the traffic.”
But Cynthia King, the owner of a nearby dance studio, said she and other residents like the closure and have been putting the barriers back up when they’re moved.
“We keep putting them back up,” King said. “I live on the block and I love the street closure … It’s nice to have all the neighbors out and socializing more.”
“I am mostly a driver but I definitely prefer closed streets over access to the road,” King added.
A City Hall spokesman said enforcing the open streets is a collective responsibility, with the Department of Transportation, local NYPD precincts and community organizations all pitching in.
“The vast majority of drivers respect the program,” Mitch Schwartz said in a statement.
“DOT patrols the closures with in-person checks and social media monitoring, and they work with relevant agencies like the NYPD to fix issues as they arise.”
An NYPD spokeswoman said the department doesn’t track the number of complaints for broken barriers but that, “As we become aware of broken or damaged barriers, we replace them.”
“The barriers are checked on by community volunteers and partners, DOT personnel and NYPD officers from the local precinct.”
But some of the “open streets” have sparked bitter fights between neighbors, with some trying to enforce the closures and others rebelling against them.
On Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills, Queens, drivers were seen last week simply veering around the barrier and zipping down the block, which feeds into busy Queens Boulevard, for most of the day.
Sometime in the afternoon, parents come to re-establish the metal barriers — then the tiffs begin, locals said.
“They make me explode!” Carmine Polito, 67, said of a man playing football with his son next to the outdoor dining set-up at Portofino Restaurant, which he’s owned and operated for 46 years.
“I say people are trying to eat dinner, can you play down the street or in the park? He say, ‘So what?!’ Looked at me like I’m nuts! So I say, ‘I’m opening the barricade!’ ” Polito said.
“They are supposed to have a cop here. There is no cop here,” he added.
Arlind Belegu, a building superintendent on the block, said fights between parents who want their children to play in the open space and others on the block can get heated.
“A parent threatened my doorman,” Belegu said. “His kid was playing on the steps and my doorman asked him to stop’ the parent said to my doorman, ‘You touch my kid and I’ll knock you out!'”
Meanwhile, a dad in Crown Heights said it took just a day from the launch of the block-long closure on Prospect Place between Brooklyn Avenue and New York Avenue for someone to move the barriers.
“I sent my kids out there when it opened. By the next day, we couldn’t do it,” said John Buckholz. “By the time the kids had gotten the barriers up one side of the block, someone had moved them aside on the other side.”
Buckholz said he takes his kids to open streets in other neighborhoods so they can ride their bikes in the street. He faulted the city for failing to effectively communicate the purpose and rules of the program, and said the closure near his home was doomed from the start.
“It was put up haphazardly and with little community notice,” he said. “De Blasio didn’t care about this or want to do it, and it shows.”
The City Hall spokesman said: “We have more work to do, but we’re committed to providing all New Yorkers with the breath of fresh air they deserve.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Fresh signs of NYC spiraling out of control

“ Complete lawlessness , ” one cop termed the incident in Harlem in the early hours Sunday — and it ’ s fast becoming an apt description of much of the city .
Officers responded to an electronic ShotSpotter alert just before 4 a.m. , and discovered a block party still raging .
Worse , the crowd attacked the police , with members screaming obscenities as they hurled bottles and other debris at the cruisers .
The NYPD showed tremendous restraint , perhaps too much — retreating vans down Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and avoiding arrests or injuries as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How many innocents were at risk in the interim ?
And how are police to reverse the surge in shootings when they meet this kind of reception ?
Eleven New Yorkers were shot across 12 hours that night , with several of the victims refusing to cooperate in any investigation .
And that doesn ’ t include the couple gunned down with an AR-15-style rifle Saturday afternoon on an East New York stoop .
That ’ s over 80 people shot in a week , with at least six fatalities .
Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the assaults on the barricades that close off roads under Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s “ open streets ” effort .
Drivers blowing through those barriers are plainly putting innocents at risk while showing utter contempt for the law .
As are the people shooting off fireworks at all hours of the night , with cops evidently ordered not to interfere .
Indeed , “ don ’ t interfere ” seems the slogan for every city authority these days .
Police took troubled vagrant Matthew Mishefski to Mt .
Sinai Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started running around naked in Washington Square Park and got into a fight with two other men .
But he ’ d been camped out in the fenced-off fountain for a month , amassing a living-room worth of furniture .
Is it really a coincidence that he was finally hauled in only after he made the front page of The Post ?
Where were ThriveNYC and all the other city mental-health programs all those weeks ?
This is a guy who answers only when addressed as “ Jesus Christ Lord Saviour , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the public with mandatory treatment .
Indeed , he was discharged Sunday morning , returned to the park , stripped again and got hauled back to Mt .
Sinai .
He may be out again by the time you read this .
The city seems not only to be increasingly out of control , but to be led by “ authorities ” who don ’ t care ( or dare ) to restore basic order .
New York has recovered from far worse — but only after choosing leadership committed to putting @ @ @ @

“Complete lawlessness,” one cop termed the incident in Harlem in the early hours Sunday — and it’s fast becoming an apt description of much of the city.
Officers responded to an electronic ShotSpotter alert just before 4 a.m., and discovered a block party still raging. Worse, the crowd attacked the police, with members screaming obscenities as they hurled bottles and other debris at the cruisers.
The NYPD showed tremendous restraint, perhaps too much — retreating vans down Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and avoiding arrests or injuries as it dispersed the mob over several hours. How many innocents were at risk in the interim? And how are police to reverse the surge in shootings when they meet this kind of reception?
Eleven New Yorkers were shot across 12 hours that night, with several of the victims refusing to cooperate in any investigation. And that doesn’t include the couple gunned down with an AR-15-style rifle Saturday afternoon on an East New York stoop.
That’s over 80 people shot in a week, with at least six fatalities.
Other signs of disorder are more mundane, like the assaults on the barricades that close off roads under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “open streets” effort. Drivers blowing through those barriers are plainly putting innocents at risk while showing utter contempt for the law.
As are the people shooting off fireworks at all hours of the night, with cops evidently ordered not to interfere.
Indeed, “Don’t interfere” seems the slogan for every city authority these days. Police took troubled vagrant Matthew Mishefski to Mt. Sinai Hospital on Saturday . . . after he started running around naked in Washington Square Park and got into a fight with two other men.
But he’d been camped out in the fenced-off fountain for a month, amassing a living room worth of furniture. Is it really a coincidence that he was finally hauled in only after he made the front page of The Post? Where were ThriveNYC and all the other city mental health programs all those weeks?
This is a guy who answers only when addressed as “Jesus Christ Lord Saviour,” yet the system fails to protect him or the public with mandatory treatment. Indeed, he was discharged Sunday morning, returned to the park, stripped again and got hauled back to Mt. Sinai. He may be out again by the time you read this.
The city seems not only to be increasingly out of control, but to be led by “authorities” who don’t care (or dare) to restore basic order. New York has recovered from far worse — but only after choosing leadership committed to putting public safety first.