newyorkpost--2020-02-03--Iowa caucus results delayed due to ‘inconsistencies,’ state Democrats say

Despite Kyrie Irving ’ s statements that the Nets need more pieces ...

Ebony Bowden, Tamar Lapin, Ben Feuerherd

The first contest in the Democratic race to challenge President Trump descended into chaos Monday night and Tuesday morning, as reporting “inconsistencies” in the Iowa caucuses ended with zero results being announced.
Observers said the fiasco was sparked by a glitchy new app that caucus precinct chiefs were supposed to use to report their tallies.
Also, each of the precincts was required to report “three sets of results” — but nothing worked out as expected.
“We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results,” said Mandy McClure, communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party (IDP). “In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confidence and accuracy in the numbers we report.”
McClure insisted the problem was not the result of a “hack.”
“This is simply a reporting issue. The app did not go down and this is not a hack or an intrusion,” she said. “The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results.”
But in spite of what McClure said, Des Moines County party chair Tom Courtney said the app created to report the results was “a mess” and caucus organizers instead were reduced to having to phone in their results to state party headquarters in Des Moines, which was overwhelmed with calls that created gridlock.
Previous 1 of 18 Next Advertisement Jeff Erickson (left) tries to persuade Tim Gannon to join his group during a Democratic Party caucus. AP University of Iowa students caucus. AP Advertisement People wait for results at a caucus night campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. AP Christopher Le Mon (right) counts supporters during the Democratic caucus at Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa. AP Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks to supporters at a caucus night campaign rally. AP Advertisement Joe Biden meets with supporters. AP Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) speaks to supporters. AP Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren AP Advertisement Andrew Kirkland (right), an uncommitted voter, listens to an organizer during the Democratic caucus at Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa. AP Christopher Le Mon (right), a precinct captain for Joe Biden, tries to convince Amy Klobuchar supporters to join Biden supporters. AP David (left) and Mike Fuerstenberg fill out their presidential preference cards. AP Advertisement Lawrence Lee (left) of Peosta, Iowa, and David Keck of Dubuque, Iowa, tally votes. AP People wait for results at a caucus night campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. AP Advertisement
Earlier in the night, the party said the delay was due to unspecified “quality checks” and new rules requiring the triple check.
For the first time in Iowa’s history, the party decided to calculate three sets of data: tallies of caucusgoers’ first choices; vote totals for the “final alignment” after supporters of a lower-ranked candidate made a second choice; and the total number of “State Delegate Equivalents” each candidate received.
The Democratic Party released a statement that results would be released later Tuesday.
In a letter to the IDP, Joe Biden’s attorney requested that no results be released until the party provides information to the candidates about how the snafu happened.
“We believe that the campaigns deserve a full explanation and relevant information regarding the methods of quality control you are employing, and an opportunity to respond, before any official results are released,” Dana Remus, general counsel for Biden, wrote in the letter.
The debacle didn’t stop the leading candidates from taking victory laps on live television.
“At some point, the results will be announced and when those results are announced, I have a good feeling we’re going to be doing very, very well here in Iowa,” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a favorite to win the caucuses, told supporters.
“We know there’s delays but we know one thing: We are punching above our weight,” Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar told her backers.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, meanwhile, said the race was “too close to call” and used much of her speech to rail against President Trump.
“We don’t know all the results tonight, but tonight has already shown that Americans have a hunger for big structural change,” she said.
The candidates are now on to the New Hampshire primary, which will be held next Tuesday.
Unlike in Iowa, the victor in the Granite State is determined in a tried-and-true way: Whoever gets the most votes wins.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--‘Amazon Dating’ site won’t deliver hot singles to your door

In dating , as in life , if it ’ s too good to be true , it unfortunately is .
A fake site made to look like Amazon offers the promise of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes — delivered straight to your door .
The homepage advertises a bevy of young ( and some old ) , hot things at varying prices , all at the click of a button just like the online marketplace .
Sadly for those unlucky in love , the site is all a ruse , thought up by concept artists Ani Acopian , Suzy Shinn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thinko .
They are , in fact , all single , according to the clever site ’ s “ about ” section .
Amazon has not responded to The Post ’ s request for comment on the prank .
Each listing includes the single ’ s “ love language ” — a mustachioed 33-year-old Jeffery Epstein conspiracy theorist named Ted calls his “ words of affirmation.
” The listings also come with a price tag and the ability to change the person ’ s height .
Interested parties can go so far as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ll end up ghosted because , again , the site is not real .
And don ’ t worry , pretend dating won ’ t rack up a bill since the creators don ’ t actually have anyone ’ s credit card information .
Features of the site are made to look like Amazon , including a “ deal of the day ” — today ’ s is Teddy , a white-haired 87-year-old who “ doesn ’ t feel guilty about staying in on Saturday night ” and “ leaves a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tab on “ Your Last Relationship ” ?
It opens to a video of Britney Spears ’ “ Toxic .
”

In dating, as in life, if it’s too good to be true, it unfortunately is.
A fake site made to look like Amazon offers the promise of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes — delivered straight to your door. The homepage advertises a bevy of young (and some old), hot things at varying prices, all at the click of a button just like the online marketplace.
Sadly for those unlucky in love, the site is all a ruse, thought up by concept artists Ani Acopian, Suzy Shinn, Morgan Gruer and the animators behind Thinko. They are, in fact, all single, according to the clever site’s “about” section.
Amazon has not responded to The Post’s request for comment on the prank.
Each listing includes the single’s “love language” — a mustachioed 33-year-old Jeffery Epstein conspiracy theorist named Ted calls his “words of affirmation.” The listings also come with a price tag and the ability to change the person’s height.
Interested parties can go so far as to order their chosen single. But they’ll end up ghosted because, again, the site is not real. And don’t worry, pretend dating won’t rack up a bill since the creators don’t actually have anyone’s credit card information.
Features of the site are made to look like Amazon, including a “deal of the day” — today’s is Teddy, a white-haired 87-year-old who “doesn’t feel guilty about staying in on Saturday night” and “leaves a voicemail every time.” As for the tab on “Your Last Relationship”? It opens to a video of Britney Spears’ “Toxic.”
Happy Valentine’s Day, you poor, jaded things.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--James Dolan’s search for Knicks savior might be excruciating

With owner James Dolan looking at making various agents as ...

There are no perfect solutions for the Knicks right now, because that is the sentence for a team that for 20 years has wandered in a fugue state. Firing Steve Mills was a necessary decision that also comes a few weeks — or years — too late.
There is a perfect candidate to replace Mills, Masai Ujiri, who burnished his reputation by twice fleecing the Knicks — first in Denver in fully leveraging the Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony deal, later in Toronto somehow convincing them to take Andrea Bargnani off his hands. He then all but delivered a Raptors NBA title by boldly trading for Kawhi Leonard, even though Ujiri knew Leonard might be (and was) a one-year rental.
But Ujiri is signed with the Raptors through the end of next season, and the Raptors would surely demand draft compensation for him. Because the Knicks have all but written sonnets about how much they value their draft assets — likely one reason Mills was erased, before he could start playing fancy with them — that seems a genuine stumbling block.
There is Sam Presti, who runs the Thunder, who is young (43), bright and said to have a good enough relationship with Thunder owner Clay Bennett that Bennett might not block Presti if the Knicks truly make a run for him. That would be intriguing, especially if it means Presti could bring Long Island native Billy Donovan with him at some point.
But another potential pathway emerged Tuesday, the possibility Dolan could mimic what has worked well in both Golden State (Bob Myers) and with the Lakers (Rob Pelinka), which is to empower a player agent. Two names that quickly surfaced: CAA’s Austin Brown and Kevin Durant’s rep, Rich Kleiman.
One name that will surely be referenced by Knicks fans: Brodie Van Wagenen — an ex-agent now running the Mets whose first 14 months on the job have been, at best, uneven.
Only one thing is certain now: Mills had to go, curious timing or not. He should have been gone weeks ago (and let’s take it a step further: he never should have been rehired in 2013). The Knicks, forever looking for a savior, are in the market for one. Again. And leaning heavily on that Blind Squirrel Theory.
Put yourself, for a brief, uncomfortable minute, in the shoes of James L. Dolan, and consider the sensory overload that’s been at work the last couple of days.
SIGHT: All you need to do is look at the Knicks — despite their two-game road winning streak through Indianapolis and Cleveland — and see that they are an island of misfit toys, a roster assembled with neither imagination or ingenuity, a team that, more often than not, looks hapless and hopeless on the court.
SOUND: “Sell the team!” Sell the team! Sell the team!”
FEEL: Oh, you could sense that as the minutes clicked down toward the trade deadline that Mills, Dolan’s longtime henchman/yes-man/sidekick/valet, was about to do something foolish. Keep Marcus Morris, for instance. Ransom assets for D’Angelo Russell or Andre Drummond. Or, worse: something that hadn’t yet been rumored. This was a man who once thought it a fine basketball idea, after all, to sign Tim Hardaway Jr. to a $71 million contract. And to trade Kristaps Porzingis. No one saw those coming, either.
So even Dolan had enough by Tuesday afternoon, reassigning Mills elsewhere in his kingdom where he can stop doing chronic damage to the basketball team. That means, in the immediate, that the more level-headed (and basketball savvy) Scott Perry will take the Knicks through the trade deadline (where he is less likely to visit more carnage on the Knicks, as Mills would’ve done).
It will mean, in the long term, that the Knicks are about to enter into another era under another leader. Dolan inherited Scott Layden as his top basketball lieutenant. He has hired Isiah Thomas, Donnie Walsh, Glen Grunwald, Phil Jackson and Steve Mills. If you’re keeping score at home that makes:
Three abject failures (Thomas, Jackson, Mills)
One incomplete grade (Walsh) because, ultimately, he meddled to the point of neutering;
One guy (Grunwald) who actually led the Knicks to a season of prosperity, then didn’t even make it to opening night the next year.
That’s quite a track record.
So maybe the man is due.
Or else, if you are a Knicks fan, you must sit on pins and needles and hope that the stars finally align, that the blind squirrel finds his nut, that the broken clock gets two cracks to be right. Those aren’t great odds, but those are what lie ahead.
For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Russell Hornsby used Shakespeare to play paralyzed cop ‘Lincoln Rhyme’

Russell Hornsby says he used Shakespeare to play a paralyzed cop on the new NBC series “ Lincoln Rhyme : Hunt for the Bone Collector.
” “ Because of my conservatory training at Boston University — you ’ re steeped in Shakespeare , ” says Hornsby , 45 .
“ And Shakespeare is about letting the words work , standing still on the stage and presenting the text .
That ’ s basically what I look to for [ my character ] Lincoln .
That stillness — and allowing for emphasis for phrasing.
” Airing Fridays ( 8 p.m. on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stars Hornsby as the titular Lincoln , a brilliant forensic criminologist who ’ s paralyzed by a bad fall while working a case .
Rather than retire , he continues his work remotely , teaming up with rookie NYPD officer Amelia Sachs ( Arielle Kebbel , “ Midnight , Texas ” ) to hunt a serial killer known as The Bone Collector .
If the show ’ s name sounds familiar , that ’ s because it ’ s based on a bestselling 1997 novel that was also made into a 1999 movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starring Denzel Washington ( in the role of Lincoln ) and Angelina Jolie .
“ I wanted to show different aspects of my acting ability , and so this gave me the opportunity to do that , ” says Hornsby .
“ It ’ s a real distinct and specific challenge that has really changed my perspective on a lot of things.
” Over the course of his prolific career , Hornsby has jumped between the big screen ( “ The Hate U Give ” ) , the stage ( “ To Kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screen ( “ Lincoln Heights , ” “ Grimm ” ) .
Lately , he says he ’ s most drawn to TV .
“ I used to love the theater , but your energy is used up in a different way on stage eight times a week , ” he says .
“ I ’ m really enjoying doing series television because of the canvas — we can tell a larger story over time , and I appreciate that .
You get more specificity with characters.
” Hornsby says that , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he talked to people who ’ ve been paralyzed .
“ I have a medical consultant who took me to a few of his physical therapy sessions , and I talked with some of the other [ paralyzed and disabled people ] there .
I just listened , ” he says .
“ I listened to them telling their stories about how their disability came about , their accident and heard aspects of their humor that they still have .
Even though they do have a disability , they want to be regarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Lincoln Rhyme ” is filmed in New Jersey , so the California-born Hornsby moved his family to New York .
“ I have my kids in school here , and we ’ re going to give it a go , in anticipation of coming back for a second season , ” he says .
“ You have to think positive.
” Meanwhile , offscreen Hornsby is busy imparting his love of the Bard to the next generation .
“ I ’ m teaching my son [ the Hamlet soliloquy ] ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My 4-year-old — he ’ s got the first four to five lines .
My second son is 2 , and right now he goes ‘ tomorrow and tomorrow.
’ He ’ s got that down .
I ’ m going to work their way up so they know the whole speech by the time they ’ re about 8 .
”

Russell Hornsby says he used Shakespeare to play a paralyzed cop on the new NBC series “Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector.”
“Because of my conservatory training at Boston University — you’re steeped in Shakespeare,” says Hornsby, 45. “And Shakespeare is about letting the words work, standing still on the stage and presenting the text. That’s basically what I look to for [my character] Lincoln. That stillness — and allowing for emphasis for phrasing.”
Airing Fridays (8 p.m. on NBC), “Lincoln Rhyme” stars Hornsby as the titular Lincoln, a brilliant forensic criminologist who’s paralyzed by a bad fall while working a case. Rather than retire, he continues his work remotely, teaming up with rookie NYPD officer Amelia Sachs (Arielle Kebbel, “Midnight, Texas”) to hunt a serial killer known as The Bone Collector.
If the show’s name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s based on a bestselling 1997 novel that was also made into a 1999 movie (“The Bone Collector”) starring Denzel Washington (in the role of Lincoln) and Angelina Jolie.
“I wanted to show different aspects of my acting ability, and so this gave me the opportunity to do that,” says Hornsby. “It’s a real distinct and specific challenge that has really changed my perspective on a lot of things.”
Over the course of his prolific career, Hornsby has jumped between the big screen (“The Hate U Give”), the stage (“To Kill a Mockingbird”) and the small screen (“Lincoln Heights,” “Grimm”). Lately, he says he’s most drawn to TV.
“I used to love the theater, but your energy is used up in a different way on stage eight times a week,” he says. “I’m really enjoying doing series television because of the canvas — we can tell a larger story over time, and I appreciate that. You get more specificity with characters.”
Hornsby says that, to prepare for his role as Lincoln, he talked to people who’ve been paralyzed.
“I have a medical consultant who took me to a few of his physical therapy sessions, and I talked with some of the other [paralyzed and disabled people] there. I just listened,” he says. “I listened to them telling their stories about how their disability came about, their accident and heard aspects of their humor that they still have. Even though they do have a disability, they want to be regarded as just a regular person as well.”
“Lincoln Rhyme” is filmed in New Jersey, so the California-born Hornsby moved his family to New York.
“I have my kids in school here, and we’re going to give it a go, in anticipation of coming back for a second season,” he says. “You have to think positive.”
Meanwhile, offscreen Hornsby is busy imparting his love of the Bard to the next generation.
“I’m teaching my son [the Hamlet soliloquy] ‘To be or not to be.’ My 4-year-old — he’s got the first four to five lines. My second son is 2, and right now he goes ‘tomorrow and tomorrow.’ He’s got that down. I’m going to work their way up so they know the whole speech by the time they’re about 8.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Suborning perjury: The newest wrinkle in de Blasio’s neverending scandals

News that a top de Blasio administration staffer fired an employee for cooperating with an investigation into the mayor ’ s fundraising practices , and then apparently lied about it under oath , should provoke renewed scrutiny of Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s dealings with donors .
But this new evidence also suggests the mayor ’ s office orchestrated the firing of the whistleblower and ordered an official to perjure herself about it .
This especially cries out for inquiry and severe consequences for the responsible parties .
Ricardo Morales , a deputy commissioner at the Department of Citywide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping connected insiders like James Capalino and Harendra Singh receive favorable treatment from the city on their projects .
Capalino , a powerful lobbyist and fundraiser , wanted a deed restriction lifted on the Rivington House nursing home so it could be turned into luxury residences .
Singh , who pleaded guilty in federal court to bribing the de Blasio administration , wanted favorable terms for a lease renewal .
Morales cooperated with law-enforcement probes into City Hall pay-to-play practices and was fired a few hours after de Blasio spoke with federal investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morales ’ cooperation evidently came to light .
At a City Council hearing on March 13 , 2017 , DCAS Commissioner Lisette Camilo testified under oath that Morales ’ firing had “ absolutely nothing to do with Rivington ” and that it was “ part of a number of changes ” her department was making .
New e-mails between high-level de Blasio staff indicate that she was lying .
As The Post reported , former de Blasio Press Secretary Eric Phillips asked , “ Did Lisette really say Morales ’ firing wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an e-mail to Jon Paul Lupo , de Blasio ’ s former director of intergovernmental affairs .
“ Yes .
That ’ s what we were told she had to say for legal reasons , ” replied Lupo .
Under the Fifth Amendment , it is permissible to refuse to answer a question while under oath , and lawyers can legitimately advise their clients of their right to stay silent .
But there are no “ legal reasons ” for lying to a legislative body .
Assuming that Lupo — a key de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidants — is correct , then people at the highest levels in City Hall suborned Camilo ’ s perjury before the council to cover up the retaliatory termination of a whistleblower .
Such actions are manifestly illegal .
Despite manifold indications that he has run city government as a place where prominent consultants could drop off donations and get their tickets punched , Mayor de Blasio has skirted the legal consequences .
His dodgy nonprofit “ Campaign for One New York ” was a siphon to transfer money from powerful City Hall supplicants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whom he dubbed “ agents of the city ” to shield their communications from scrutiny .
He arranged for rich donors to bypass campaign-finance laws by using county political committees as pass-throughs for the 2014 state Senate election campaigns .
More recently , the city bought 17 buildings at an extraordinarily inflated price from two slumlords represented by a powerful donor to de Blasio ’ s Fairness PAC .
The mayor likely owes his liberty to President Trump , who fired his main pursuer Preet Bharara just as he was preparing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseers , meanwhile , have been utterly negligent .
Manhattan DA Cy Vance used Bharara ’ s firing as a screen to drop his own timid inquiries , and neither former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman ( remember him ? )
nor increasingly irrelevant AG Letitia James have taken notice of the ethical irregularities that surround de Blasio .
The new information suggesting perjury by a top de Blasio official demands immediate attention from any authorities who haven ’ t already been corrupted by de Blasio ’ s culture of pay-to-play .
Speaker Corey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council retains and summon Camilo to explain if she was ordered to lie , and , if so , by whom .
Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett must scrutinize the operations of the mayor ’ s office and grill Lupo , Phillips and other current and former members of de Blasio ’ s staff to determine who sought to cover up the Rivington scandal .
The mayor has praised the impeachment of President Trump for “ sacrificing the integrity of our democracy.
” But de Blasio ’ s own stint in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insists he be called to account for his evident corruption .

News that a top de Blasio administration staffer fired an employee for cooperating with an investigation into the mayor’s fundraising practices, and then apparently lied about it under oath, should provoke renewed scrutiny of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s dealings with donors.
But this new evidence also suggests the mayor’s office orchestrated the firing of the whistleblower and ordered an official to perjure herself about it. This especially cries out for inquiry and severe consequences for the responsible parties.
Ricardo Morales, a deputy commissioner at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, was apparently tasked with helping connected insiders like James Capalino and Harendra Singh receive favorable treatment from the city on their projects.
Capalino, a powerful lobbyist and fundraiser, wanted a deed restriction lifted on the Rivington House nursing home so it could be turned into luxury residences. Singh, who pleaded guilty in federal court to bribing the de Blasio administration, wanted favorable terms for a lease renewal.
Morales cooperated with law-enforcement probes into City Hall pay-to-play practices and was fired a few hours after de Blasio spoke with federal investigators in February 2017, at which time Morales’ cooperation evidently came to light.
At a City Council hearing on March 13, 2017, DCAS Commissioner Lisette Camilo testified under oath that Morales’ firing had “absolutely nothing to do with Rivington” and that it was “part of a number of changes” her department was making. New e-mails between high-level de Blasio staff indicate that she was lying.
As The Post reported, former de Blasio Press Secretary Eric Phillips asked, “Did Lisette really say Morales’ firing wasn’t related to rivington?” in an e-mail to Jon Paul Lupo, de Blasio’s former director of intergovernmental affairs. “Yes. That’s what we were told she had to say for legal reasons,” replied Lupo.
Under the Fifth Amendment, it is permissible to refuse to answer a question while under oath, and lawyers can legitimately advise their clients of their right to stay silent.
But there are no “legal reasons” for lying to a legislative body. Assuming that Lupo — a key de Blasio ally and one of his closest confidants — is correct, then people at the highest levels in City Hall suborned Camilo’s perjury before the council to cover up the retaliatory termination of a whistleblower. Such actions are manifestly illegal.
Despite manifold indications that he has run city government as a place where prominent consultants could drop off donations and get their tickets punched, Mayor de Blasio has skirted the legal consequences.
His dodgy nonprofit “Campaign for One New York” was a siphon to transfer money from powerful City Hall supplicants to de Blasio’s consultant handlers, whom he dubbed “agents of the city” to shield their communications from scrutiny.
He arranged for rich donors to bypass campaign-finance laws by using county political committees as pass-throughs for the 2014 state Senate election campaigns. More recently, the city bought 17 buildings at an extraordinarily inflated price from two slumlords represented by a powerful donor to de Blasio’s Fairness PAC.
The mayor likely owes his liberty to President Trump, who fired his main pursuer Preet Bharara just as he was preparing to drop the hammer. State and local overseers, meanwhile, have been utterly negligent. Manhattan DA Cy Vance used Bharara’s firing as a screen to drop his own timid inquiries, and neither former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (remember him?) nor increasingly irrelevant AG Letitia James have taken notice of the ethical irregularities that surround de Blasio.
The new information suggesting perjury by a top de Blasio official demands immediate attention from any authorities who haven’t already been corrupted by de Blasio’s culture of pay-to-play. Speaker Corey Johnson must defend whatever shreds of integrity the council retains and summon Camilo to explain if she was ordered to lie, and, if so, by whom.
Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett must scrutinize the operations of the mayor’s office and grill Lupo, Phillips and other current and former members of de Blasio’s staff to determine who sought to cover up the Rivington scandal.
The mayor has praised the impeachment of President Trump for “sacrificing the integrity of our democracy.” But de Blasio’s own stint in office mocks decency. New York City insists he be called to account for his evident corruption.
Seth Barron is associate editor of City Journal. Twitter: @SethBarronNYC


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Small-market candidates could be enticed by Knicks’ opening

The Knicks may be dysfunctional , but they still could be attractive to a top executive — mostly because of the money .
But many top names have lost their reputations at the Garden , so it ’ s a risk .
Here ’ s a list of candidates — some of whom may want to make the leap after getting small-market wages .
Masai Ujiri : Knicks owner James Dolan has had a yen for Ujiri ever since he was with Denver and outsmarted the Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony trade in 2011 .
Ujiri ’ s brilliant handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , trading for Kawhi Leonard , adding Marc Gasol at the trade deadline — led to the 2019 NBA championship .
The NBA wants Masai in New York .
Ujiri has told confidants he ’ d be intrigued by the New York exposure , but the truth is money is a factor , too .
It ’ s all about draft compensation and timing as he ’ s under contract through the 2020-21 season .
Sam Presti : Somehow , the longtime Oklahoma City GM — despite looking at a long rebuild after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the Thunder at 30-20 — sixth in the Western Conference .
That ’ s because of the culture the meticulous Presti has built .
He ’ s a perfectionist and even edits their team magazine , according to a source .
He takes almost every player who arrives in town to a tour of the memorial in Oklahoma City almost immediately to make them feel part of the community .
He ’ s elite , big into analytics , though blundered by trading for Carmelo Anthony and giving the Knicks the 35th-overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Mitchell Robinson .
Neil Olshey : The Blazers leader and former Clippers executive is originally from Flushing .
According to sources , Olshey has never been enamored living in a small-market town .
He was once an aspiring soap-opera actor and has the flair to run the Knicks .
Arturas Karenisovas : The Nuggets assistant GM played in Europe and has helped with talent accumulation in Denver .
He nearly got the Nets job that went to Sean Marks .
Kevin Pritchard : The Pacers GM has kept the club thriving .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ future All-Stars in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis .
Pritchard might crave a new challenge .
RC Buford : The sensational GM still with a small-market salary in San Antonio has been genius at managing the salary cap to continue the Spurs ’ playoff excellence and recently got bumped to a CEO-type position .
He ’ s made a Hall of Fame tandem with Gregg Popovich .
Would he want to risk his sterling reputation for a big payday ?
Probably not .
Austin Brown : Dolan is intrigued with the new model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown has climbed to the top of the mammoth CAA agency .
Brown has D ’ Angelo Russell on his client list and the point guard could be available in a trade again this summer .
Rich Kleiman : Kevin Durant ’ s manager has had a lifelong dream to run the Knicks .
Though he failed to bring KD to the Garden , his presence and all his connections could make the Knicks “ cool ’ ’ again .
Rich Paul : He ’ s the most famous agent out there — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Davis and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated last season .
For more on the Knicks , listen to the latest episode of the “ Big Apple Buckets ” podcast :

The Knicks may be dysfunctional, but they still could be attractive to a top executive — mostly because of the money. But many top names have lost their reputations at the Garden, so it’s a risk. Here’s a list of candidates — some of whom may want to make the leap after getting small-market wages.
Masai Ujiri: Knicks owner James Dolan has had a yen for Ujiri ever since he was with Denver and outsmarted the Knicks in the Carmelo Anthony trade in 2011. Ujiri’s brilliant handling of the Raptors — firing Dwane Casey, trading for Kawhi Leonard, adding Marc Gasol at the trade deadline — led to the 2019 NBA championship. The NBA wants Masai in New York. Ujiri has told confidants he’d be intrigued by the New York exposure, but the truth is money is a factor, too. It’s all about draft compensation and timing as he’s under contract through the 2020-21 season.
Sam Presti: Somehow, the longtime Oklahoma City GM — despite looking at a long rebuild after trading Russell Westbrook and Paul George — has the Thunder at 30-20 — sixth in the Western Conference. That’s because of the culture the meticulous Presti has built. He’s a perfectionist and even edits their team magazine, according to a source. He takes almost every player who arrives in town to a tour of the memorial in Oklahoma City almost immediately to make them feel part of the community. He’s elite, big into analytics, though blundered by trading for Carmelo Anthony and giving the Knicks the 35th-overall pick in 2018, which turned into Mitchell Robinson.
Neil Olshey: The Blazers leader and former Clippers executive is originally from Flushing. According to sources, Olshey has never been enamored living in a small-market town. He was once an aspiring soap-opera actor and has the flair to run the Knicks.
Arturas Karnisovas: The Nuggets GM played in Europe and has helped with talent accumulation in Denver. The former Seton Hall player nearly got the Nets job that went to Sean Marks.
Kevin Pritchard: The Pacers GM has kept the club thriving. His trade of Paul George netted two future All-Stars in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Pritchard might crave a new challenge.
RC Buford: The sensational GM still with a small-market salary in San Antonio has been genius at managing the salary cap to continue the Spurs’ playoff excellence and recently got bumped to a CEO-type position. He’s made a Hall of Fame tandem with Gregg Popovich. Would he want to risk his sterling reputation for a big payday? Probably not.
Kenny Smith: A Queens native, Smith told The Post in the preseason he’s ready to move on from TNT to a management or coaching role. He was invited to the Knicks’ open scrimmage at Columbia and sat with brass.
Austin Brown: Dolan is intrigued with the new model of hiring agents as GMs, and Brown has climbed to the top of the mammoth CAA agency. Brown has D’Angelo Russell on his client list and the point guard could be available in a trade again this summer.
Rich Kleiman: Kevin Durant’s manager has had a lifelong dream to run the Knicks. Though he failed to bring KD to the Garden, his presence and all his connections could make the Knicks “cool’’ again.
Rich Paul: He’s the most famous agent out there — managing the careers of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated last season.
For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Brooklyn DA will not charge cops for fatal 2017 shooting of knife-wielding man

The Brooklyn District Attorney will not pursue charges against two NYPD officers involved with fatally shooting a man who they say approached them with a 13-inch knife during a 2017 house call , the office announced Tuesday .
The Brooklyn DA informed the family of James Owens on Tuesday that the criminal investigation into his death is over , the office and relatives told The Post .
On Jan. 3 , 2017 , Officers Patrick Gourlay and Kurt Fitzcharles encountered Owens , 63 , after responding to a 911 call of an emotionally disturbed person inside a residence on 99th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rev .
Daisy Wright , Owens ’ sister , had called an ambulance for her brother but the officers were sent out first , she told The Post on Tuesday .
Police say that when the cops stepped inside the residence , Owens emerged from a back room , picked up a large knife from the kitchen and moved for the officers .
The NYPD says that Fitzcharles acted first , firing a Taser at Owens .
But when the Taser didn ’ t work , Gourlay shot Owens three times in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , insists that she was standing right next to her brother when the officer fired the fatal shots — and she claims that Gourlay actually fired first and that Fitzcharles used his Taser while Owens was bleeding on the floor .
Wright also claims that Owens was actually holding a metal spoon when he emerged from the kitchen and that one of the officers pulled the knife from a drawer .
“ I just want the world to know the truth — they planted that knife , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t comment further on the results of its investigation , beyond saying than there ’ s “ no criminality.
” Owens ’ nephew Jonathan Martin said he now feels “ betrayed by the system that ’ s supposed to protect us ” over the lack of charges .
A $ 20 million civil lawsuit filed by Owens ’ daughter had been put on pause while the DA investigated the matter for possible criminal charges .
The lawsuit , filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court in 2018 , will now move forward , said Sanford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This was a 911 call for help , ” Rubenstein said .
“ Instead of helping this mentally ill man , he was killed by police.
” The NYPD confirmed that the officers are still on full duty but would not comment on the case .
The city ’ s Law Department declined to comment .
Gourlay could not be reached for comment , and Fitzcharles did not respond to a request for comment .

The Brooklyn District Attorney will not pursue charges against two NYPD officers involved with fatally shooting a man who they say approached them with a 13-inch knife during a 2017 house call, the office announced Tuesday.
The Brooklyn DA informed the family of James Owens on Tuesday that the criminal investigation into his death is over, the office and relatives told The Post.
On Jan. 3, 2017, Officers Patrick Gourlay and Kurt Fitzcharles encountered Owens, 63, after responding to a 911 call of an emotionally disturbed person inside a residence on 99th Street in Canarsie, court papers state.
Rev. Daisy Wright, Owens’ sister, had called an ambulance for her brother but the officers were sent out first, she told The Post on Tuesday.
Police say that when the cops stepped inside the residence, Owens emerged from a back room, picked up a large knife from the kitchen and moved for the officers.
The NYPD says that Fitzcharles acted first, firing a Taser at Owens. But when the Taser didn’t work, Gourlay shot Owens three times in the torso, police said.
Wright, however, insists that she was standing right next to her brother when the officer fired the fatal shots — and she claims that Gourlay actually fired first and that Fitzcharles used his Taser while Owens was bleeding on the floor.
The DA’s office didn’t comment further on the results of its investigation, beyond saying than there’s “no criminality.”
Owens’ nephew Jonathan Martin said he now feels “betrayed by the system that’s supposed to protect us” over the lack of charges.
A $20 million civil lawsuit filed by Owens’ daughter had been put on pause while the DA investigated the matter for possible criminal charges.
The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court in 2018, will now move forward, said Sanford Rubenstein, an attorney for the daughter.
“This was a 911 call for help,” Rubenstein said. “Instead of helping this mentally ill man, he was killed by police.”
The NYPD confirmed that the officers are still on full duty but would not comment on the case. The city’s Law Department declined to comment.
Gourlay could not be reached for comment, and Fitzcharles did not respond to a request for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Results negative for first NYC patient tested for coronavirus

The first New York City patient to undergo testing for the coronavirus does not have the deadly ailment , officials announced Tuesday .
Test results from the patient , which were sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , came back negative , according to the city ’ s Health Department .
The unidentified 40-year-old fell ill after returning from a trip to China and was being treated at Bellevue Hospital .
“ We ’ re relieved to hear that the person in question does not have the novel coronavirus , ” Mayor Bill de Blasio said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t say this enough : if you have the symptoms and recent travel history , please see your health provider immediately , ” he added .
Results are still pending for two other city patients undergoing testing for the coronavirus .
The two patients , both over 60 years old , recently returned from China and developed “ fever and cough or shortness of breath without another common cause , ” according to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene .
The unidentified patients are in stable condition at Flushing Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 425 people in China and infected more than 20,000 others .

The first New York City patient to undergo testing for the coronavirus does not have the deadly ailment, officials announced Tuesday.
Test results from the patient, which were sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, came back negative, according to the city’s Health Department.
The unidentified 40-year-old fell ill after returning from a trip to China and was being treated at Bellevue Hospital.
“We’re relieved to hear that the person in question does not have the novel coronavirus,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.
“I can’t say this enough: if you have the symptoms and recent travel history, please see your health provider immediately,” he added.
Results are still pending for two other city patients undergoing testing for the coronavirus.
The two patients, both over 60 years old, recently returned from China and developed “fever and cough or shortness of breath without another common cause,” according to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The unidentified patients are in stable condition at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.
The virus has killed 425 people in China and infected more than 20,000 others.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Why Senate is entirely right to vote down House’s impeachment charges

The curtain is lowering on President Trump ’ s trial in the Senate .
A vote is scheduled for Wednesday .
Inevitably , it will be an easy acquittal .
So , what have we learned ?
That the Framers were wise to fret over the specter of impeachment as a partisan weapon .
The House impeachment inquiry was shoddy .
The president ’ s counsel was denied the right to cross-examine witnesses and present evidence .
That ’ s why a handful of Senate Democrats may vote to acquit , joining Republicans .
The lesson ’ s clear : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment in the absence of egregious wrongdoing that galvanizes a public consensus that the president should be removed — wrongdoing so serious that it can move the required two-thirds of senators , regardless of partisan ties , to vote for conviction .
Pursuing impeachment for lesser wrongs is paralyzing for our governance and divisive for our citizenry .
House Democrats never had anything close to that high standard .
Instead , bullied by a hard-left base that has wanted the president impeached since the night he defeated Hillary Clinton , they viewed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which to hang their predisposition that Trump is unfit for office .
In this , they are aided and abetted still by the mainstream press , which has taken to mocking Senate Republicans for concluding , essentially : “ Trump did it , but we ’ re going to let him get away with it.
” That ’ s a gross distortion of what has happened .
The “ it ” in question is not an impeachable offense .
There is no inconsistency in concluding that ( a ) House managers proved the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , under circumstances where former Vice President Joe Biden is Trump ’ s potential 2020 opponent , but ( b ) Trump shouldn ’ t be removed over it .
Merely saying the president “ abused his power ” is not enough .
All presidents abuse their power from time to time .
Recognizing that , the Framers made impeachment-and-removal difficult — available only for truly serious wrongdoing that threatens our security or system of governance .
Hence , the two-thirds ’ Senate supermajority requirement for conviction .
Here , the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high crime and misdemeanor that could command a consensus for removal .
Let ’ s stipulate that a president should never pressure another country to investigate any American citizen , let alone a political rival , for violations of that country ’ s law .
Presidents should protect Americans from overbearing foreign powers ; our government should only ask foreign powers for help if the Justice Department is investigating an American for violations of American law .
That said , the president ’ s offense was minor , albeit worthy of our disapproval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his father ’ s political influence and Joe Biden ’ s extortion of Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who was investigating the younger Biden ’ s corrupt company is objectively suspicious .
American law encourages the president to encourage anti-corruption efforts in countries , such as Ukraine , on which US aid is lavished .
More significantly , nothing of consequence happened .
The Ukrainians got their defense aid .
The Democrats ’ claim that Ukrainian and US security were compromised is laughable .
Kiev was required neither to conduct nor announce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never felt coerced by Trump .
Plus , in just nine months , voters can decide Trump ’ s fate for themselves .
There is no need for hyper-partisans in the political class to preempt our election .
That is why impeachment was not warranted .
Ukraine would be an excellent campaign issue for Democrats to use to question the president ’ s judgment .
It was a specious issue on which to launch an impeachment probe .
It ’ s also why there was no bipartisan buy-in for Trump ’ s impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s and ( especially ) Richard Nixon ’ s .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi was right months back when she opined that impeachment should never be commenced in the absence of bipartisan consensus about serious misconduct .
Yet , Democrats launched it anyway .
To pull that off , they necessarily had to cut corners .
In America , when a person is properly accused of serious wrongdoing , we insist on due-process protections so that any resulting conviction has integrity .
But accusers can not afford due process when they knowingly bring an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reject the House ’ s unworthy case .
Andrew C. McCarthy , a former chief assistant US attorney , is a contributing editor of National Review .
Twitter : @ AndrewCMcCarthy

The curtain is lowering on President Trump’s trial in the Senate. A vote is scheduled for Wednesday. Inevitably, it will be an easy acquittal. So, what have we learned? That the Framers were wise to fret over the specter of impeachment as a partisan weapon.
The House impeachment inquiry was shoddy. The president’s counsel was denied the right to cross-examine witnesses and present evidence. That’s why a handful of Senate Democrats may vote to acquit, joining Republicans.
The lesson’s clear: It is profoundly wrong to proceed with impeachment in the absence of egregious wrongdoing that galvanizes a public consensus that the president should be removed — wrongdoing so serious that it can move the required two-thirds of senators, regardless of partisan ties, to vote for conviction. Pursuing impeachment for lesser wrongs is paralyzing for our governance and divisive for our citizenry.
House Democrats never had anything close to that high standard. Instead, bullied by a hard-left base that has wanted the president impeached since the night he defeated Hillary Clinton, they viewed the convoluted Ukraine episode as a peg on which to hang their predisposition that Trump is unfit for office.
In this, they are aided and abetted still by the mainstream press, which has taken to mocking Senate Republicans for concluding, essentially: “Trump did it, but we’re going to let him get away with it.” That’s a gross distortion of what has happened.
The “it” in question is not an impeachable offense. There is no inconsistency in concluding that (a) House managers proved the president pressured Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, under circumstances where former Vice President Joe Biden is Trump’s potential 2020 opponent, but (b) Trump shouldn’t be removed over it.
Merely saying the president “abused his power” is not enough. All presidents abuse their power from time to time. Recognizing that, the Framers made impeachment-and-removal difficult — available only for truly serious wrongdoing that threatens our security or system of governance. Hence, the two-thirds’ Senate supermajority requirement for conviction.
Here, the president’s misconduct was woefully short of a high crime and misdemeanor that could command a consensus for removal.
Let’s stipulate that a president should never pressure another country to investigate any American citizen, let alone a political rival, for violations of that country’s law. Presidents should protect Americans from overbearing foreign powers; our government should only ask foreign powers for help if the Justice Department is investigating an American for violations of American law.
That said, the president’s offense was minor, albeit worthy of our disapproval. Hunter Biden’s cashing in on his father’s political influence and Joe Biden’s extortion of Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who was investigating the younger Biden’s corrupt company is objectively suspicious. American law encourages the president to encourage anti-corruption efforts in countries, such as Ukraine, on which US aid is lavished.
More significantly, nothing of consequence happened. The Ukrainians got their defense aid. The Democrats’ claim that Ukrainian and US security were compromised is laughable. Kiev was required neither to conduct nor announce any investigations. Volodymyr Zelensky says he never felt coerced by Trump.
Plus, in just nine months, voters can decide Trump’s fate for themselves. There is no need for hyper-partisans in the political class to preempt our election.
That is why impeachment was not warranted. Ukraine would be an excellent campaign issue for Democrats to use to question the president’s judgment. It was a specious issue on which to launch an impeachment probe.
It’s also why there was no bipartisan buy-in for Trump’s impeachment, in contrast to Bill Clinton’s and (especially) Richard Nixon’s. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was right months back when she opined that impeachment should never be commenced in the absence of bipartisan consensus about serious misconduct. Yet, Democrats launched it anyway.
To pull that off, they necessarily had to cut corners. In America, when a person is properly accused of serious wrongdoing, we insist on due-process protections so that any resulting conviction has integrity. But accusers cannot afford due process when they knowingly bring an unworthy case. The Senate is right to reject the House’s unworthy case.
Andrew C. McCarthy, a former chief assistant US attorney, is a contributing editor of National Review. Twitter: @AndrewCMcCarthy


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Mets fans panicking with Steve Cohen sale in jeopardy

Hedge fund manager Steve Cohen ’ s $ 2.6 billion deal to buy the Mets is on life support , and fans of the ball club are not happy .
On Tuesday it was revealed Cohen grew deeply unhappy with the current ownership group headed by the Wilpons after it changed terms of the deal late in negotiations , sources told The Post ’ s Thornton McEnery .
While the deal is not dead , it is in jeopardy .
The Mets said they could not comment on the status of the deal due to “ a mutual non-disclosure agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner since 2012 whose net worth is an estimated $ 13 billion , was slated to purchase an 80 percent stake in the team , which had Mets fans jumping for joy just two months ago when the negotiations were first reported .
The Wilpons have long been criticized for not spending as much as other big-market teams .
Under terms of the agreement , owner Fred Wilpon would retain the title of CEO and his son Jeff would remain COO for five years , though it had been reported Cohen could start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon as next offseason .
It was initially reported that the Wilpons and fellow owner Saul Katz would maintain ownership of SNY , the team ’ s cable network .
At the MLB winter meetings in December , commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that the two sides were on the right track to a deal.This latest development adds to an already chaotic offseason , which saw the Mets fire Mickey Callaway , hire Carlos Beltran as their new manager only to dump Beltran months later for Luis Rojas , amid the Astros sign-stealing scandal @ @ @ @

Hedge fund manager Steve Cohen’s $2.6 billion deal to buy the Mets is on life support, and fans of the ball club are not happy.
On Tuesday it was revealed Cohen grew deeply unhappy with the current ownership group headed by the Wilpons after it changed terms of the deal late in negotiations, sources told The Post’s Thornton McEnery.
While the deal is not dead, it is in jeopardy.
The Mets said they could not comment on the status of the deal due to “a mutual non-disclosure agreement”.
Cohen, a 63-year-old Mets minority owner since 2012 whose net worth is an estimated $13 billion, was slated to purchase an 80 percent stake in the team, which had Mets fans jumping for joy just two months ago when the negotiations were first reported. The Wilpons have long been criticized for not spending as much as other big-market teams.
Under terms of the agreement, owner Fred Wilpon would retain the title of CEO and his son Jeff would remain COO for five years, though it had been reported Cohen could start spreading his wealth to the team as soon as next offseason.
It was initially reported that the Wilpons and fellow owner Saul Katz would maintain ownership of SNY, the team’s cable network.
At the MLB winter meetings in December, commissioner Rob Manfred indicated that the two sides were on the right track to a deal.This latest development adds to an already chaotic offseason, which saw the Mets fire Mickey Callaway, hire Carlos Beltran as their new manager only to dump Beltran months later for Luis Rojas, amid the Astros sign-stealing scandal that implicated Beltran.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Mike Bloomberg emerges as big winner in Iowa caucus debacle, boosters say

The biggest winner in the Iowa Democratic caucus debacle may well have been a candidate who didn ’ t bother to campaign in the Hawkeye State — billionaire Mike Bloomberg .
Bloomberg campaign insiders said the former three-term New York City mayor ’ s strategic decision to skip Iowa and other early states and instead run a broad national campaign is vindicated by the voting controversy surrounding the caucus results .
“ The winner of the Iowa caucus was Mike Bloomberg , ” claimed Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone , the first elected Democrat in New York to endorse Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster .
This debacle totally vindicates Mike Bloomberg ’ s strategy of focusing on the country as a whole as opposed to the first few states.
” Bellone also said the Iowa mess plays into Bloomberg ’ s brand and reputation as a competent manager , noting that the company the billionaire mogul founded , Bloomberg LP , transits information through its data terminals .
“ They could have used Bloomberg terminals to report the results , ” Bellone quipped .
The leading candidates competing in Iowa — Bernie Sanders , Pete Buttigieg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blew through tens of millions for questionable results and for the winner , an arguably pyrrhic victory , campaign analysts said .
Sanders , the Vermont senator who ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016 , spent $ 50 million during the last quarter of 2019 on his campaign .
He directed $ 10 million toward TV ads in Iowa and stumped in the state for 58 days , according to a New York Times tally .
Buttigieg , the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor , went all out in Iowa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ State and spent $ 10 million on ads .
Warren , the Massachusetts senator , stumped 56 days in Iowa and spent $ 6.1 million .
Biden , the former vice president , spent $ 4 million in TV ads in Iowa but a Super PAC backing him , United the Country , spend $ 5.5 million more to assist him .
He spent 58 days in the state .
Staten Island Congressman Max Rose , the first House member to back Bloomberg , told The Post , “ Last night proved two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary process needs to be reformed , and the field is wide open for someone with Mayor Bloomberg ’ s independence , record and vision.
” Longtime Bloomberg campaign adviser Bradley Tusk said the early chips are going his way .
“ Sometimes in a campaign , things come together in a way that starts making a candidate the obvious choice .
That may be what we ’ re seeing here , ” Tusk said .
Even civil rights activist the Rev .
Al Sharpton who often butted heads with Bloomberg when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ inadvertently ” a winner .
“ It helps Bloomberg because he is a businessman that deals with data .
He can use the competency argument .
It helps Bloomberg inadvertently , ” Sharpton said .
“ The winners are Buttigieg [ who declared victory ] and inadvertently Bloomberg.
” Sharpton said even the top vote-getters in Iowa are muddied by the Iowa mess .
“ It ’ s a tarnished win .
It ’ s not their fault , but it ’ s their circumstance , ” he said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us who ’ ve been fighting against voter suppression .
It was a disenfranchisement of the voter .
Their votes are compromised .
”

The biggest winner in the Iowa Democratic caucus debacle may well have been a candidate who didn’t bother to campaign in the Hawkeye State — billionaire Mike Bloomberg.
Bloomberg campaign insiders said the former three-term New York City mayor’s strategic decision to skip Iowa and other early states and instead run a broad national campaign is vindicated by the voting controversy surrounding the caucus results.
“The winner of the Iowa caucus was Mike Bloomberg,” claimed Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the first elected Democrat in New York to endorse Bloomberg.
“The Iowa Caucus was a disaster. This debacle totally vindicates Mike Bloomberg’s strategy of focusing on the country as a whole as opposed to the first few states.”
Bellone also said the Iowa mess plays into Bloomberg’s brand and reputation as a competent manager, noting that the company the billionaire mogul founded, Bloomberg LP, transits information through its data terminals.
“They could have used Bloomberg terminals to report the results,” Bellone quipped.
The leading candidates competing in Iowa — Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden — blew through tens of millions for questionable results and for the winner, an arguably pyrrhic victory, campaign analysts said.
Sanders, the Vermont senator who ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016, spent $50 million during the last quarter of 2019 on his campaign. He directed $10 million toward TV ads in Iowa and stumped in the state for 58 days, according to a New York Times tally.
Buttigieg, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, went all out in Iowa. He spent 62 days in the Hawkeye State and spent $10 million on ads.
Warren, the Massachusetts senator, stumped 56 days in Iowa and spent $6.1 million.
Biden, the former vice president, spent $4 million in TV ads in Iowa but a Super PAC backing him, United the Country, spend $5.5 million more to assist him. He spent 58 days in the state.
Staten Island Congressman Max Rose, the first House member to back Bloomberg, told The Post, “Last night proved two things to be true: the early primary process needs to be reformed, and the field is wide open for someone with Mayor Bloomberg’s independence, record and vision.”
Longtime Bloomberg campaign adviser Bradley Tusk said the early chips are going his way.
“Sometimes in a campaign, things come together in a way that starts making a candidate the obvious choice. That may be what we’re seeing here,” Tusk said.
Even civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton who often butted heads with Bloomberg when he was mayor, said the billionaire was “inadvertently” a winner.
“It helps Bloomberg because he is a businessman that deals with data. He can use the competency argument. It helps Bloomberg inadvertently,” Sharpton said. “The winners are Buttigieg [who declared victory] and inadvertently Bloomberg.”
Sharpton said even the top vote-getters in Iowa are muddied by the Iowa mess.
“It’s a tarnished win. It’s not their fault, but it’s their circumstance,” he said. “It’s a setback for those of us who’ve been fighting against voter suppression. It was a disenfranchisement of the voter. Their votes are compromised.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Coronavirus cases in Wuhan may be ‘just tip of the iceberg,’ expert says

Here ’ s something big going right : For the first time in ...

The thousands of coronavirus cases in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the center of the epidemic, is likely “just the tip of the iceberg,” a medical expert said.
David Hui Shu-cheong, a professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the official count of 5,000 only reflects severe cases of the virus where patients have been admitted to a hospital, the South China Morning Post reported.
“There are many community cases that remain undiagnosed — unlike in Hong Kong, where cases are more carefully handled, including the mild ones,” Hui said.
Li Lanjuan, China’s National Health Commission’s coronavirus committee, said that lack of supplies are preventing the country from doing more aggressive tests for the virus, according to state media.
Li said Monday that that “not everyone can get tested” since there are not enough testing kits.
“Early detection, early diagnosis, early isolation and early treatment cannot be done in Wuhan at the moment,” Li said. “I hope that the country can support Wuhan [more].”
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Medical workers transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan on Tuesday. EPA CDC workers examine their findings while collecting biomaterial from suspected 2019-nCoV patients in a hotel for isolated people in Wuhan. EPA Advertisement
The virus has killed 425 people in China and infected more than 20,000 others.
Most of the deaths have been in the Hubei province, which contains the city of Wuhan and where the virus was first detected in December.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Great news: Americans living longer after 3 years of falling life expectancy

Here ’ s something big going right : For the first time in four years , US life expectancy rose @ @ @ @ @ National Center for Health Statistics .
The preceding three-year drop was a huge sign of @ @ @ @ @ science always advancing , rising death rates suggest serious social dysfunction .
And even the @ @ @ @ @ years in 2017 to 78.7 , suggests the reverse .
For example , it seems @ @ @ @ @ get a handle on the opioid epidemic , as overdose deaths fell 4.6 percent .
@ @ @ @ @ the 10 top causes of death , including cancer and heart disease , declined .
@ @ @ @ @ the Trump era has surely been an underlying factor : Rising employment and wages mean @ @ @ @ @ , as well as reduced stress — all factors that boost health .
As Health @ @ @ @ @ the fight against overdoses and disease is “ far from finished , ” but it @ @ @ @ @ be winning than losing .

Here’s something big going right: For the first time in four years, US life expectancy rose in 2018, reports the National Center for Health Statistics.
The preceding three-year drop was a huge sign of deep trouble: With medical science always advancing, rising death rates suggest serious social dysfunction. And even the small uptick, from 78.6 years in 2017 to 78.7, suggests the reverse.
For example, it seems the nation is starting to get a handle on the opioid epidemic, as overdose deaths fell 4.6 percent.
In all, six of the 10 top causes of death, including cancer and heart disease, declined.
The solid economic growth of the Trump era has surely been an underlying factor: Rising employment and wages mean less despair and more optimism, as well as reduced stress — all factors that boost health.
As Health Secretary Alex Azar notes, the fight against overdoses and disease is “far from finished,” but it’s far better to be winning than losing.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--‘Ray Donovan,’ starring Liev Schreiber, canceled after 7 seasons

Showtime ’ s drama series “ Ray Donovan ” starring Liev Schreiber will not be getting a final chapter .
The Season 7 finale — which is now a series finale — aired on January 19 .
“ After seven incredible seasons , ‘ Ray Donovan ’ has concluded its run on Showtime , ” the network said in a statement .
“ We are proud that the series ended amid such strong viewership and on such a powerful note .
Our deepest thanks go to Liev Schreiber , Jon Voight , showrunner David Hollander and the entire cast and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their dedicated work.
” At TCA last month , Showtime ’ s Co-President of Entertainment Gary Levine admitted that the fixer drama was “ nearing the end of its run ” .
He said at the time that the network was expected to make a decision on the future of the show “ in the next few weeks ” but hinted that it may get an eighth and final season .
That ’ s what Showtime did for another long-running series , Shameless , renewed last month for an 11th and final season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearing the end of its run , ” Levine told Deadline on Jan. 13 , ahead of the show ’ s Season 7 finale .
“ We always talked about seven or eight seasons .
Nothing has been decided yet but it ’ s fair to say it is nearing the end , ” Levine said .
In an ominous sign , Schreiber took to social media following the Jan. 19 finale , thanking fans for their love and support and urging them to reach out to Showtime if they want to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s been an amazing ride and we have all of you to thank for it , ” he wrote on Jan. 21 .
“ Ray Donovan ” was produced by The Mark Gordon Company , Ann Bidderman Company , Bider Sweet Productions , David Hollander Productions and Showtime Networks .
During its run , “ Ray Donovan ” has landed a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations , winning an Emmy for guest star Hank Azaria and a Golden Globe for Jon Voight .
Schreiber has been nominated five times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an Emmy .
Season 7 saw Donovan ( Schreiber ) come as close as he ’ d ever done to things collapsing around him .
He had been working to be the man his family needs him to be .
While he made progress with Dr. Amiot ( Alan Alda ) , there were dangers from the past that required the Ray Donovan of old .
Between NYC Mayor Ed Feratti ( Zach Grenier ) , an unrelenting NYPD officer hunting for the truth and clients old and new , Ray struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clients and fixing himself .
And when Feratti ’ s corruption brought a piece of Mickey ’ s past ( Jon Voight ) back to New York , Ray was forced to seek answers to long-buried questions .

Showtime’s drama series “Ray Donovan” starring Liev Schreiber will not be getting a final chapter. The Season 7 finale — which is now a series finale — aired on January 19.
“After seven incredible seasons, ‘Ray Donovan’ has concluded its run on Showtime,” the network said in a statement. “We are proud that the series ended amid such strong viewership and on such a powerful note. Our deepest thanks go to Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight, showrunner David Hollander and the entire cast and crew, past and present, for their dedicated work.”
At TCA last month, Showtime’s Co-President of Entertainment Gary Levine admitted that the fixer drama was “nearing the end of its run”. He said at the time that the network was expected to make a decision on the future of the show “in the next few weeks” but hinted that it may get an eighth and final season. That’s what Showtime did for another long-running series, Shameless, renewed last month for an 11th and final season.
“I think Ray Donovan is nearing the end of its run,” Levine told Deadline on Jan. 13, ahead of the show’s Season 7 finale. “We always talked about seven or eight seasons. Nothing has been decided yet but it’s fair to say it is nearing the end,” Levine said.
In an ominous sign, Schreiber took to social media following the Jan. 19 finale, thanking fans for their love and support and urging them to reach out to Showtime if they want to see an eighth season. “Either way it’s been an amazing ride and we have all of you to thank for it,” he wrote on Jan. 21.
“Ray Donovan” was produced by The Mark Gordon Company, Ann Bidderman Company, Bider Sweet Productions, David Hollander Productions and Showtime Networks.
During its run, “Ray Donovan” has landed a slew of Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, winning an Emmy for guest star Hank Azaria and a Golden Globe for Jon Voight. Schreiber has been nominated five times for a Golden Globe, three times for an Emmy.
Season 7 saw Donovan (Schreiber) come as close as he’d ever done to things collapsing around him. He had been working to be the man his family needs him to be. While he made progress with Dr. Amiot (Alan Alda), there were dangers from the past that required the Ray Donovan of old. Between NYC Mayor Ed Feratti (Zach Grenier), an unrelenting NYPD officer hunting for the truth and clients old and new, Ray struggled to find the balance between fixing for clients and fixing himself. And when Feratti’s corruption brought a piece of Mickey’s past (Jon Voight) back to New York, Ray was forced to seek answers to long-buried questions.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Carl Heastie wants more time for no-bail law to work — but that means more victims

Shootings jumped nearly 30 percent in January , along with spikes in four more of the NYPD ’ s seven “ major crime ” categories , for an overall 17 percent rise .
Subway crime ’ s up nearly a third , too .
Yet Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie wants New Yorkers to give his no-bail reforms more time to work .
Sorry , Mr. Speaker : “ More time ” means “ more victims.
” Police Commissioner Dermot Shea is making no bones about it : The rise in auto thefts ( up 70 percent ) , burglaries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct result of the new bail rules .
Reformers say the vast majority of accused will still show for court .
But that ’ s irrelevant : The new rules free hard-core crooks to keep on breaking the law .
With the courts unable to lock up serial offenders who pose a clear threat to public safety , serious criminals know they face no immediate consequences for their acts .
And it ’ s an open invitation for those who aren ’ t hard-core crooks to take up a life of crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-arrests are up , thanks to the new revolving door .
“ The word is out , they know that no matter what they are back on the street after arraignment , ” a police source told The Post .
Suburban Democrats led by Jay Jacobs , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s handpicked head of the state Democratic Party , are warning that lawmakers running for re-election risk defeat .
“ It ’ s going to be a problem if there are no changes to the law .
More Democratic seats will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Post .
But Heastie is blaming … law enforcement .
“ I want judges , DAs , the police departments , sheriffs to work with the Legislature to try to make the law work , ” the speaker told reporters .
Huh ?
The Legislature literally ignored judges , DAs , police and sheriffs when it wrote the law .
It only spoke with defense attorneys and far-left “ advocates.
” It ’ s past time for lawmakers to work with law enforcement to fix this mess , or crime will @ @ @ @

Shootings jumped nearly 30 percent in January, along with spikes in four more of the NYPD’s seven “major crime” categories, for an overall 17 percent rise. Subway crime’s up nearly a third, too.
Yet Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie wants New Yorkers to give his no-bail reforms more time to work. Sorry, Mr. Speaker: “More time” means “more victims.”
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea is making no bones about it: The rise in auto thefts (up 70 percent), burglaries, grand larcenies and felony assaults are the direct result of the new bail rules.
Reformers say the vast majority of accused will still show for court. But that’s irrelevant: The new rules free hard-core crooks to keep on breaking the law.
With the courts unable to lock up serial offenders who pose a clear threat to public safety, serious criminals know they face no immediate consequences for their acts. And it’s an open invitation for those who aren’t hard-core crooks to take up a life of crime.
On Tuesday, Shea told reporters that re-arrests are up, thanks to the new revolving door. “The word is out, they know that no matter what they are back on the street after arraignment,” a police source told The Post.
Suburban Democrats led by Jay Jacobs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handpicked head of the state Democratic Party, are warning that lawmakers running for re-election risk defeat. “It’s going to be a problem if there are no changes to the law. More Democratic seats will be put at risk,” Jacobs told The Post.
But Heastie is blaming … law enforcement. “I want judges, DAs, the police departments, sheriffs to work with the Legislature to try to make the law work,” the speaker told reporters.
Huh? The Legislature literally ignored judges, DAs, police and sheriffs when it wrote the law. It only spoke with defense attorneys and far-left “advocates.”
It’s past time for lawmakers to work with law enforcement to fix this mess, or crime will keep going up.


newyorkpost--2020-02-04--Dying mom falls on infant son, crushing him to death

An Arizona mom crushed her infant son to death as she fell on him while suffering a fatal medical episode @ @ @ @ @ said .
Larinique Meadows , 38 , and her 4-month-old son Denari Meadows were both @ @ @ @ @ their townhouse in Tempe , authorities said .
The mom had been using her cellphone @ @ @ @ @ chest pain before she collapsed on top of her son , according to police .
@ @ @ @ @ had some sort of heart condition .
“ It ’ s a very , very @ @ @ @ @ believe that she had some sort of heart condition , heart episode , and then @ @ @ @ @ top of Denari , ” Tempe Police Det .
Greg Bacon told news station KPHO @ @ @ @ @ father told authorities that he was sleeping and discovered their bodies around 5 p.m. as @ @ @ @ @ for a night shift at work .
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ of death .

An Arizona mom crushed her infant son to death as she fell on him while suffering a fatal medical episode at her home, officials said.
Larinique Meadows, 38, and her 4-month-old son Denari Meadows were both found dead Saturday night at their townhouse in Tempe, authorities said.
The mom had been using her cellphone to search for symptoms of chest pain before she collapsed on top of her son, according to police. It is believed that she had some sort of heart condition.
“It’s a very, very tragic incident in which we believe that she had some sort of heart condition, heart episode, and then passed away and fell on top of Denari,” Tempe Police Det. Greg Bacon told news station KPHO.
The child’s father told authorities that he was sleeping and discovered their bodies around 5 p.m. as he got ready to leave for a night shift at work.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause of death.
With Post wires