newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Seagram’s heiress Clare Bronfman set to be sentenced today in Nxivm sex-cult case

Prosecutors want a federal judge to throw the book at ...

Seagram’s liquor heiress Clare Bronfman — who allegedly used her family fortune to help bankroll the notorious Nxivm cult — is set to become the first person sentenced in the sordid saga Wednesday.
The disgraced daughter of late Canadian billionaire Edgar Bronfman Sr. pleaded guilty last year to charges related to her role as a top cohort of sick group svengali Keith Raniere.
The 41-year-old faces 30 months behind bars under federal sentencing guidelines — but prosecutors are asking for twice that, noting the extreme privilege she came from, not to mention her alleged lack of remorse.
“Bronfman did not commit these crimes out of need,” Brooklyn prosecutors wrote in a blistering sentencing memo earlier this month.
“She is likely one of the most privileged and wealthy defendants to ever appear before this court for sentencing.”
Bronfman pleaded guilty last August to charges of conspiracy to conceal and harbor an illegal alien for financial gain and fraudulent use of identification.
Her time at the side of self-help guru-turned-sex trafficker Raniere included her bringing young women into the country illegally, prosecutors have said.
She turned one woman from South Africa into her personal assistant — and would fire off emails to her spelling out how to make oatmeal for her dogs, court papers said.
Bronfman, a onetime equestrian, also recruited an aspiring professional horse-rider into Nxivm when the woman was 18.
She was later groomed to perform perverted sex acts for Raniere’s twisted pleasure as part of a secret master-slave group within Nxivm called DOS — and forced to wear a dog collar while performing oral sex on him, according to court testimony.
Bronfman used part of her $210 million fortune — which includes an island in Fiji — to fund Nxivm, as well as threaten Raniere’s victims and foes into silence, prosecutors have alleged.
Bronfman’s lawyers are seeking three years of probation for their client, who has been under house arrest at her city luxury apartment, denying she knew anything about DOS.
Her lawyers, Ron Sullivan and Duncan Levin, wrote that she was never charged with or convicted of sex-trafficking and that prosecutors are “seeking to lay the blame for DOS at [her] feet because she has a large checkbook.”
They also filed court papers Monday noting that she might have a liver disorder.
Several woman testified at Raniere’s trial that they were tricked into joining DOS — handing over damaging “collateral” and then starved, branded like cattle with Raniere’s initials and ordered to have sex with him.
When the “slaves” failed at their duties, they were whipped with a leather strap, forced to hold agonizing poses or subjected to other humiliating punishments, according to trial testimony.
Raniere, 60, was found guilty of charges including racketeering and sex-trafficking last year and faces up to life in prison when sentenced next month.
Bronfman’s lawyers said in court papers that their client still “stands by both the organization and Mr. Raniere for the tremendous good they did for thousands of people.”
But prosecutors fired back, “There can be little doubt that Raniere would not have been able to commit the crimes with which he was convicted were it not for powerful allies like Bronfman.’’
“For years, Bronfman leveraged her colossal wealth to recruit individuals, often women with no legal status in the United States, into NXIVM-affiliated organizations,” the prosecutors wrote.
She continues in her “unwavering support” of Raniere, the feds said.
Three other people await sentencing over their roles in Nxivm — including former “Smallville” TV actress Allison Mack.
Mack, who was Raniere’s right-hand woman and served as one of DOS’s masters, has pleaded guilty to racketeering.
Nxivm president Nancy Salzman, her daughter Lauren Salzman, and the organization’s bookkeeper Kathy Russell each copped to charges ranging from racketeering to visa fraud.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Biden reportedly holds to three debate commitment despite chaotic first event

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get updates on the 2020 presidential election and more Joe Biden has pledged to continue to debate President Trump , the Democratic nominee ’ s deputy campaign manager told reporters after the two candidates ’ first encounter devolved into a chaotic scene , according to a report .
“ I don ’ t know how many different ways we can say it .
Yes , we are going to do the debates , ” Kate Bedingfield said , The Hill reported .
“ I would imagine there will be some additional conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] .
But yeah , we are committing to attending the debates , ” she added .
Biden ’ s running mate Sen. Kamala Harris also suggested that the former veep planned to debate the president again on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 .
“ Joe Biden ’ s never going to refuse to talk to the American people , ” Harris said on CNN said when asked if Biden should continue taking part in the debates .
Throughout the first debate Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland , Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but particularly Trump — for interrupting him and each other .

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Joe Biden has pledged to continue to debate President Trump, the Democratic nominee’s deputy campaign manager told reporters after the two candidates’ first encounter descended into a chaotic scene, according to a report.
“I don’t know how many different ways we can say it. Yes, we are going to do the debates,” Kate Bedingfield said, The Hill reported.
“I would imagine there will be some additional conversations [with the Commission on Presidential Debates]. But yeah, we are committing to attending the debates,” she added.
Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, also suggested that the former veep planned to debate the president again on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.
“Joe Biden’s never going to refuse to talk to the American people,” Harris said on CNN when asked if Biden should continue taking part in the debates.
Throughout the first debate Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Fox News host Chris Wallace repeatedly chastised both candidates — but particularly Trump — for interrupting him and each other.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Yankees likely will start J.A. Happ in Game 3 — if needed

If the Yankees and Indians play a deciding Game 3 on Thursday night Aaron Boone said J.A .
Happ is the Yankees ’ likely starter .
“ Looking like it will be Happ .
We are a long ways away and a lot can happen between now and then , ’ ’ Boone said before the Yankees ’ 12-3 blowout win over the Indians in Game 1 .
“ Not necessarily committing to anything but if everything stays on plan it will probably be J.A .
Happ.
’ ’ Happ , 37 , has pitched in 14 postseason games ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 5.04 ERA .
He was 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in nine starts this season .
The other choice would be neophyte right-hander Deivi Garcia , who made his major league debut this year and went 3-2 with a 4.98 ERA in six starts .
The 21-year-old is part of the Yankees ’ 13-man pitching roster for the series against the Indians .
Jordan Montgomery is part of the Yankees ’ 13-man pitching staff for the series and could find himself pitching in relief .
Should the Yankees advance to the best-of-five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-hander could make a start .
“ He could end up in a lot of roles .
Obviously someone who can give us length .
… You get into an extra-innings situation or a situation you needed a big inning from somebody or got into a situation where you needed to get a lot of length he can provide that obviously , ’ ’ Boone said of Montgomery , who started 10 games this season and went 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA.. “ So , I think his role is very fluid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ The Yankees chose lefty-swinging Mike Ford over Miguel Andujar for a spot on the 28-man wild-card series roster .
Both players had miserable regular seasons , but Ford ’ s left-handed bat helped his cause , Boone said before the game .
Boone said they considered Andujar — who wound up in the 12-player pool that the Yankees can add from if they advance — as well as others before opting to go with 13 pitchers , as well as three catchers .

If the Yankees and Indians play a deciding Game 3 on Thursday night Aaron Boone said J.A. Happ is the Yankees’ likely starter.
“Looking like it will be Happ. We are a long ways away and a lot can happen between now and then,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 12-3 blowout win over the Indians in Game 1. “Not necessarily committing to anything but if everything stays on plan it will probably be J.A. Happ.’’
Happ, 37, has pitched in 14 postseason games (four starts) and is 1-3 with a 5.04 ERA. He was 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in nine starts this season.
The other choice would be neophyte right-hander Deivi Garcia, who made his major league debut this year and went 3-2 with a 4.98 ERA in six starts. The 21-year-old is part of the Yankees’ 13-man pitching roster for the series against the Indians.
Jordan Montgomery is part of the Yankees’ 13-man pitching staff for the series and could find himself pitching in relief. Should the Yankees advance to the best-of-five ALDS, with no day off the left-hander could make a start.
“He could end up in a lot of roles. Obviously someone who can give us length. … You get into an extra-innings situation or a situation you needed a big inning from somebody or got into a situation where you needed to get a lot of length he can provide that obviously,’’ Boone said of Montgomery, who started 10 games this season and went 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA.. “So, I think his role is very fluid. We will see how it unfolds.’’
The Yankees chose lefty-swinging Mike Ford over Miguel Andujar for a spot on the 28-man wild-card series roster.
Both players had miserable regular seasons, but Ford’s left-handed bat helped his cause, Boone said before the game.
Boone said they considered Andujar — who wound up in the 12-player pool that the Yankees can add from if they advance — as well as others before opting to go with 13 pitchers, as well as three catchers.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Yankees hoping one swing saves Giancarlo Stanton

CLEVELAND — The good people of Northeast Ohio wouldn ’ t take ...

As the rest of the Yankees clobbered Cleveland pitching throughout their lopsided victory on Tuesday night, Giancarlo Stanton only contributed outs — and strikeouts.
Hitless going into the top of the ninth, Stanton had one final opportunity to get himself going — and he may have done so.
Stanton capped off a 12-3 win with a 443-foot solo blast to left-center off Cam Hill. It was hardly an important blow or a dramatic shot, since the Yankees already led by eight runs, but the slumping Stanton will no doubt take it.
Whether the home run, measured at 116.1 mph off the bat, is a sign of better things to come or just another garbage-time blast is still to be determined.
“We talked about that and hope it’s a big swing for him,’’ Aaron Boone said. “That ball, if you didn’t know who hit it and just watched the flight of the ball, there’s no mistaking — only Giancarlo hits a ball like that. He got a good swing off.”
His teammates wasted no time roughing up the Indians and their ace, Shane Bieber, pounding him for seven runs in just 4 ²/₃ innings.
For most of the night, though, Stanton didn’t get the memo.
As the rest of the lineup pounded Cleveland pitching, the slugger went hitless in his first four at-bats with two strikeouts.
Boone liked Stanton’s approach for much of the night, even if he had nothing to show for it.
“He had good swings, good recognition,’’ Boone said. “To get some results at the end, hopefully that’s something that gets him rolling a bit, too.”
Especially after his 2020 season was once again impacted by a hamstring injury.
He was mostly a nonfactor in last year’s postseason as well, after another injury-riddled regular season.
The Yankees had hoped both Stanton and Judge could overcome their leg injuries and regain their form in time for the playoffs.
Judge did so immediately, delivering a two-run homer just two batters into the game Tuesday.
Stanton, meanwhile, finished the regular season in a 7-for-35 skid that included 16 strikeouts.
On Tuesday, he grounded to short to end the top of the first, struck out with a runner on second to end the top of the third, fanned looking for the second out in the fifth and grounded out with two on and no outs in the seventh.
But he got one last shot in the ninth and held off calls for his benching — at least for a night.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--12th Jersey City officer pleads guilty in off-duty jobs scam

A Jersey City police officer ’ s own cellphone provided evidence against her in a no-show off-duty jobs scam that also has involved nearly a dozen other officers , the U.S. attorney ’ s office said Tuesday .
Officer Gicella Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud a local government receiving federal funds .
She became the 12th city officer to plead guilty to similar charges stemming from an investigation by the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
Four of the officers have received prison terms .
Between November 2014 and June 2016 , Sanchez was paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t perform or for shifts she started but didn ’ t complete .
Another officer authorized to make work assignments and sign vouchers created phony vouchers with Sanchez ’ s knowledge , according to authorities .
According to documents filed in the case , investigators used evidence from Sanchez ’ s cellphone to show she wasn ’ t at job sites when she was supposed to be working — including a photo of Sanchez and a relative taken at a restaurant .
In one text , Sanchez told a co-worker she hadn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but had made her co-conspirator “ give me a no-show one.
” Sanchez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when she ’ s sentenced in February .
She also will have to forfeit more than $ 9,000 earned from the scheme and pay restitution of about $ 2,500 .
In an emailed statement , city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said , “ Today ’ s guilty plea reaffirms that Mayor Steven Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea made the right decision in ending the police off-duty job program several years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filled with corruption for decades prior , and it didn ’ t reflect the values of our city .
”

A Jersey City police officer’s own cellphone provided evidence against her in a no-show off-duty jobs scam that also has involved nearly a dozen other officers, the US Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.
Officer Gicella Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud a local government receiving federal funds. She became the 12th city officer to plead guilty to similar charges stemming from an investigation by the US Attorney’s Office. Four of the officers have received prison terms.
Between November 2014 and June 2016, Sanchez was paid thousands of dollars for work she didn’t perform or for shifts she started but didn’t complete. Another officer authorized to make work assignments and sign vouchers created phony vouchers with Sanchez’s knowledge, according to authorities.
According to documents filed in the case, investigators used evidence from Sanchez’s cellphone to show she wasn’t at job sites when she was supposed to be working — including a photo of Sanchez and a relative taken at a restaurant.
In one text, Sanchez told a co-worker she hadn’t gotten a job that day but had made her co-conspirator “give me a no-show one.”
Sanchez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when she’s sentenced in February. She also will have to forfeit more than $9,000 earned from the scheme and pay restitution of about $2,500.
In an emailed statement, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said, “Today’s guilty plea reaffirms that Mayor Steven Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea made the right decision in ending the police off-duty job program several years ago. This was a program that was filled with corruption for decades prior, and it didn’t reflect the values of our city.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Yankees’ Brett Gardner delivers after getting start over Clint Frazier

You could have a fine debate this year about who ...

There was some debate about who would start in left field on Tuesday, but Brett Gardner said his mindset never changed as Game 1 of the Wild Card Series approached.
“I always expect to be there,’’ Gardner said. “I always prepare, no matter what my role is.”
Aaron Boone went with the veteran Gardner in left field over Clint Frazier in Game 1 and Gardner delivered an RBI double off Shane Bieber to spark a two-run fourth and added a two-run homer in the seventh in a 12-3 romp over the Indians at Progressive Field.
“I had a good idea [I was playing on Monday] night,’’ Gardner said. “I’m excited about being in the lineup and the swings I took.”
Boone said he went with Gardner in part because of the spacious left field in Cleveland, as well as Gardner’s performance at the plate toward the end of the regular season.
Gardner improved offensively, while Frazier tailed off.
“[It was] something we discussed a lot and thought about here a lot the last couple of days which way I wanted to go,’’ Boone said before the game about the left field decision. “Really feel good either way I would have gone. I just feel like the way [Gardner] has started to swing the last few weeks and what he brings defensively in this ballpark.’’
But Gardner made the biggest impact with his bat. He followed Gleyber Torres’ one-out walk with a double and homered in the seventh.
“He had really good at-bats,’’ Boone said afterward. “The homer padded the lead, but that double seemed huge.”
Gardner was one of just two lefty bats in the lineup Tuesday, along with the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks.
Gardner’s performance would have been hard to predict not that long ago, when the 37-year-old was slumping earlier in September. He went hitless in 14 at-bats when the Yankees lost four of five from Sept. 4-9.
And Frazier’s bat was hot and his defense improved.
But Gardner turned his season around by going 10-for-26 with a .500 on-base percentage in his last nine games, while Frazier cooled off in his final six games, in a 1-for-20 slump with 11 strikeouts.
With the Indians planning to start right-handers Carlos Carrasco in Game 2 and Zach Plesac if there is a Game 3, Gardner could start in left for all three.
“Our season started today,’’ Gardner said. “I had no doubts [about myself]. I felt good and healthy all season even though a few weeks ago my numbers were not good.”
Now, none of those numbers matter.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Merriam-Webster’s most searched words after the presidential debate

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Those were @ @ @ @ @ on Merriam-Webster following Tuesday night ’ s raucous presidential debate .
Other top queries on @ @ @ @ @ ” “ fascism , ” and “ racism , ” according to the dictionary ’ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both Sokolowski and Merriam-Webster ’ s official twitter account tweeted out the list of @ @ @ @ @ defined key moments in the debate .
The words white supremacist and Antifa , for @ @ @ @ @ when moderator Chris Wallace asked President Trump to condemn white supremacists and militia groups who @ @ @ @ @ experiencing frequent protests .
Trump refused to label any particular group as white supremacists .
@ @ @ @ @ group Proud Boys to “ stand back and stand by.
” The president then blamed @ @ @ @ @ Portland on Antifa .
“ This is not a right-wing problem , this is a @ @ @ @ @ said .

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“White supremacist” and “Antifa.”
Those were the top two searched words on Merriam-Webster following Tuesday night’s raucous presidential debate.
Other top queries on Merriam-Webster were “petulant,” “fascism,” and “racism,” according to the dictionary’s lexicographer, Peter Sokolowski.
Both Sokolowski and Merriam-Webster’s official twitter account tweeted out the list of words, some of which defined key moments in the debate.
The words white supremacist and Antifa, for example, took center stage when moderator Chris Wallace asked President Trump to condemn white supremacists and militia groups who have exacerbated violence in cities experiencing frequent protests.
Trump refused to label any particular group as white supremacists. But he told the right-wing group Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”
The president then blamed the violence in cities like Portland on Antifa.
“This is not a right-wing problem, this is a left-wing problem,” Trump said.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Wisconsin school worker jailed for exposing herself to student

A former Wisconsin school staffer accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old student was sentenced to six months in jail — with the judge branding her “ the nightmare of every parent.
” Courtney Roznowski , 32 , pleaded no contest to one count of exposing intimate parts to a child , under a plea deal that saw the most serious charge of sexual assault dropped , WLUK-TV reported .
“ You are , frankly , the nightmare of every parent , ” Judge Donald Zuidmulder railed during Friday ’ s sentencing .
“ Because what a parent assumes is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with trusting people.
” “ Whatever punishment I impose on you , ” the judge continued , “ I assume that the humiliation and embarrassment you ’ ve caused your mother and father is more punishment that you will carry than what I could impose on you.
” The more serious charges , sexual assault of a student by a staff member , were dropped because Roznowski wasn ’ t employed by the Green Bay School District when she slept with the student , who she had met while working as a support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted to starting a sexual relationship with the student in July 2019 , after acting as his mentor , according to a police report obtained by WBAY .
The boy confirmed he had two sexual encounters with Roznowski , who allegedly told him that he was “ special and deserved special things.
” He also told detectives : “ Well , it is every kid ’ s dream to do a teacher , ” according to the report .
Roznowski said she was having “ extensive personal issues ” in her life and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
In a statement to the judge , she admitted , “ I know what I did was wrong ” and said she had turned her life around and stopped boozing .
“ While I did not initiate the relationship , I should have put an end to it once I realized that the messages being sent to me were from a student at the school , ” Roznowski said .
The judge also placed Roznowski on probation for three years and ordered her to write a letter of apology to staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay sober and can no longer work anywhere with minors .

A former Wisconsin school staffer accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old student was sentenced to six months in jail — with the judge branding her “the nightmare of every parent.”
Courtney Roznowski, 32, pleaded no contest to one count of exposing intimate parts to a child, under a plea deal that saw the most serious charge of sexual assault dropped, WLUK-TV reported.
“You are, frankly, the nightmare of every parent,” Judge Donald Zuidmulder railed during Friday’s sentencing. “Because what a parent assumes is that their child is in a safe environment with trusting people.”
“Whatever punishment I impose on you,” the judge continued, “I assume that the humiliation and embarrassment you’ve caused your mother and father is more punishment that you will carry than what I could impose on you.”
The more serious charges, sexual assault of a student by a staff member, were dropped because Roznowski wasn’t employed by the Green Bay School District when she slept with the student, whom she had met while working as a support staffer at Southwest High School.
She admitted to starting a sexual relationship with the student in July 2019, after acting as his mentor, according to a police report obtained by WBAY.
The boy confirmed he had two sexual encounters with Roznowski, who allegedly told him that he was “special and deserved special things.”
He also told detectives: “Well, it is every kid’s dream to do a teacher,” according to the report.
Roznowski said she was having “extensive personal issues” in her life and had been drinking a lot at the time.
In a statement to the judge, she admitted, “I know what I did was wrong” and said she had turned her life around and stopped boozing.
“While I did not initiate the relationship, I should have put an end to it once I realized that the messages being sent to me were from a student at the school,” Roznowski said.
The judge also placed Roznowski on probation for three years and ordered her to write a letter of apology to staff at the school. She must also stay sober and can no longer work anywhere with minors.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Noel Ashman’s autobiography authored with ‘Fat Albert’ film scribe

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Club owner turned movie producer @ @ @ @ @ TV writer Charles Kipps to help tell his tale .
Kipps — who wrote the @ @ @ @ @ and a “ Law & Order ” episode — is helping Ashman write an autobiography @ @ @ @ @ certainly not a tell-all .
I wouldn ’ t rat on my celebrity friends , @ @ @ @ @ fun stories , ” Ashman told us .
“ The book will be an engaging @ @ @ @ @ I struggled to support myself when I was kicked out of my apartment at the @ @ @ @ @ Ashman has been behind clubs including Veruka and the Plumm .
He was a partner @ @ @ @ @ , but abandoned nightlife to produce films such as “ Gotti .
”

Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
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Club owner turned movie producer Noel Ashman is banking on TV writer Charles Kipps to help tell his tale.
Kipps — who wrote the “Fat Albert” movie and a “Law & Order” episode — is helping Ashman write an autobiography. “The book is certainly not a tell-all. I wouldn’t rat on my celebrity friends, however, there are many fun stories,” Ashman told us.
“The book will be an engaging read as I relate how I struggled to support myself when I was kicked out of my apartment at the vulnerable age of 12.”
Ashman has been behind clubs including Veruka and the Plumm. He was a partner at the revamped Studio 54, but abandoned nightlife to produce films such as “Gotti.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Carlos Correa defiant after Astros’ sweep: ‘What are they going to say now’

Justin Verlander ’ s injury comeback has been cut short — in ...

MINNEAPOLIS — Shaken up by a scandal before the virus outbreak shrunk the season, the Houston Astros barely played well enough to reach the playoffs — with the rest of baseball actively rooting against them.
Well, they’re not ready to leave yet.
Carlos Correa hit a two-out, tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning for the Astros, who produced another stifling pitching performance and swept Minnesota over two games with a 3-1 victory Wednesday that sent the Twins to a record 18th straight postseason loss.
“I know a lot of people are mad. I know a lot of people don’t want to see us here,” Correa said. “But what are they going to say now?”
Nine months after Houston’s rules-breaking, sign-stealing system was revealed, the Astros advanced to the Division Series in Los Angeles. As the sixth seed, they’ll face the Oakland Athletics or Chicago White Sox in a best-of-five matchup starting Monday at Dodger Stadium.
“I don’t think they necessarily thought that they had anything to prove. They just had to play ball,” said manager Dusty Baker, who took his fifth different team to the playoffs and advanced for the first time in seven rounds since winning the 2003 NL Division Series with the Chicago Cubs.
The Twins are 0-18 in the playoffs since winning Game 1 of their Division Series at the New York Yankees on Oct. 5, 2004, a total of seven rounds lost. Since that date, the Astros are 43-35 in postseason play, winning 10 of 15 rounds with three trips to the World Series.
Kyle Tucker hit two RBI singles for the Astros and made a key throw from left field for the inning-ending out in the fifth.
Rookie Cristian Javier worked three hitless innings in relief for the victory in his postseason debut and Ryan Pressly pitched a perfect ninth against his former team, giving the Houston bullpen a total of 9 2/3 scoreless innings in this wild card series with three hits allowed.
“From the very beginning, we envisioned ourselves back in the playoffs and playing real well,” Tucker said. “So we never counted ourselves out at any point.”
Nobody on this Twins team has had a hand in more than six of the playoffs losses, but for the second straight year one of baseball’s most potent lineups limped through a brief postseason cameo. In a three-game division series sweep by the Yankees last year, the Twins totaled seven runs and 22 hits. Against the Astros, they mustered only two runs and seven hits.
“We put a lot of balls in play, it seemed like, but they were up in the air and, yeah, it seemed like we played into their trap,” said Max Kepler, one of four starters who went hitless in the series. “At the end of the day, we didn’t get the job done.”
Nelson Cruz gave the Twins an RBI double for a second straight game, this time in the fourth inning against starter Jose Urquidy. Luis Arraez aggressively tried to score from first base, but Correa took the throw from Tucker and fired home to beat Arraez to the plate to preserve the tie after third base coach Tony Diaz waved him in.
“I don’t know why he sent him,” Correa said.
Then in the seventh against losing pitcher Cody Stashak, Correa drove a 1-0 slider into the tarp-covered seats above right-center field for his 12th home run in 52 playoff games.
After winning 101, 103 and 107 games in the last three regular seasons, winning the 2017 World Series and losing the championship in seven games to the Washington Nationals last year, the Astros stumbled through the 2020 season at 29-31 under Baker and new general manager James Click with a slew of injuries after the COVID-19 pandemic cut the schedule to 60 games.
They had the third-worst road record in the major leagues, too, but none of that mattered this week against the third-seeded Twins, who were out of sorts in their two biggest games this year.
José Berríos was one of the few who were locked in with five strong innings to start, with just two hits allowed. His two walks were costly, though, issued right before Tucker’s single in the fourth.
“I don’t think anyone was ready to leave, to end this way,” Cruz said. “That’s life.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Brad Parscale leaves Trump campaign due to ‘overwhelming stress’

Brad Parscale , a senior adviser to Donald Trump ’ s 2020 campaign , is reportedly leaving his role due to “ overwhelming stress ” after being detained by police over the weekend during a meltdown at his Florida home .
“ I am stepping away from my company and any role in the campaign for the immediate future to focus on my family and get help dealing with the overwhelming stress , ” Parscale said in a statement Wednesday to Politico .
Parscale was hospitalized Sunday after police responded to his Florida home where the irate adviser allegedly was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said his wife , Candice , told them he physically abused her — an accusation she now denies , according to the outlet .
“ The statements I made on Sunday have been misconstrued , let it be clear my husband was not violent towards me that day or any day prior , ” she said .
Police bodycam video shows officers tackling the shirtless and apparently drunk Parscale during his arrest .
The footage also shows Candice after she fled the couple ’ s $ 2.4 million Fort Lauderdale home , telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ran outside when he cocked a gun .
Parscale was praised for his work as the digital director on Trump ’ s 2016 campaign , with some crediting the former Trump Organization employee for having a major hand in the president ’ s election .
After being promoted to campaign director , he was demoted from the role this July as Trump ’ s poll numbers lagged .
“ We hope only for the best for Brad and his family , ” Tim Murtaugh , a Trump campaign spokesman , told Politico @

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Brad Parscale, a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, is reportedly leaving his role due to “overwhelming stress” after being detained by police over the weekend during a meltdown at his Florida home.
“I am stepping away from my company and any role in the campaign for the immediate future to focus on my family and get help dealing with the overwhelming stress,” Parscale said in a statement Wednesday to Politico.
Parscale was hospitalized Sunday after police responded to his Florida home where the irate adviser allegedly was threatening suicide. Police at the scene said his wife, Candice, told them he physically abused her — an accusation she now denies, according to the outlet.
“The statements I made on Sunday have been misconstrued, let it be clear my husband was not violent towards me that day or any day prior,” she said.
Police bodycam video shows officers tackling the shirtless and apparently drunk Parscale during his arrest. The footage also shows Candice after she fled the couple’s $2.4 million Fort Lauderdale home, telling police her husband had become unstable and she ran outside when he cocked a gun.
Parscale was praised for his work as the digital director on Trump’s 2016 campaign, with some crediting the former Trump Organization employee for having a major hand in the president’s election. After being promoted to campaign director, he was demoted from the role this July as Trump’s poll numbers lagged.
“We hope only for the best for Brad and his family,” Tim Murtaugh, a Trump campaign spokesman, told Politico.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Shares of Elon Musk’s privately held SpaceX soar on satellite dreams

Forget Tesla .
Shares of Elon Musk ’ s rocket company are soaring to new heights on growing excitement over its burgeoning satellite business , The Post has learned .
Demand for privately held shares of SpaceX has jumped 25 percent in recent weeks , driven by fresh headlines about plans to launch a network of 12,000 pint-size satellites that can beam high-speed internet access to far-flung locations worldwide .
“ We just traded some at $ 340 a share , ” a Wall Street source who brokers such deals told The Post .
That ’ s up by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 270-a-share value on Aug. 18 , when SpaceX completed a weeks-long private share offering that raised $ 1.9 billion , the source said .
The dizzying rally implies a market capitalization for SpaceX nearing $ 58 billion — up from $ 46 billion in August and more than double its valuation in April 2018 , when the shares were changing hands at $ 169 each .
That ’ s still a fraction of the $ 400 billion market cap of Tesla — Musk ’ s electric-car company , which has been on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surged more than 400 percent this year .
Still , Tesla shares by comparison have risen just 17 percent since Aug. 18 .
SpaceX is known for its rocket launches , one of which in May took NASA astronauts into orbit for the first time in nearly a decade .
But smart-money investors have been piling in amid growing signs that its satellite business , known as Starlink , might be a money maker and not just a sci-fi fantasy , sources said .
It ’ s a risky business , with Lockheed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satellite-based telecom ops in 2001 .
But SpaceX in August told regulators that Starlink was seeing “ extraordinary demand ” with “ nearly 700,000 individuals ” expressing interest in its services .
As a result , it asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to offer 5 million user terminals , which connect consumers to its Internet service , up from 1 million .
In early September , SpaceX announced that Starlink ’ s Internet network was achieving download speeds of 100 megabits per second — fast enough for users to play video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coup came earlier this week when a member of Washington state ’ s first-responder military team , which has been using the Starlink system to provide Web access to people in areas destroyed by wildfires , gave the service rave reviews .
“ I have never set up any tactical satellite equipment that has been as quick to set up , and anywhere near as reliable , ” Richard Hall , the emergency-telecommunications leader of the Washington State Military Department ’ s IT division , told CNBC on Monday of Starlink .
Hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ easily doubles the bandwidth ” with low delays in transferring data .
And he applauded the ease of its setup , which he said took between five to 10 minutes compared to the usual 30 minutes to an hour .
Adding to the buzz , Musk this week teased the possibility that SpaceX could spin off its satellite business into a separate , publicly traded company .
“ We will probably IPO Starlink , but only several years in the future when revenue growth is smooth and predictable , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Tesla fan .
Small investors , he added , will get “ top priority .
You can hold me to it.
” Since 2019 , SpaceX has deployed about 650 satellites into orbit , and Bloomberg Businessweek says it has plans to crowd the sky with more than 40,000 Starlinks , or 13 times the current number of active satellites in orbit .
The greatest opposition so far has come from astronomers , who claim that SpaceX ’ s necklace of low-hanging satellites are already ruining their view of the night sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in the sky that you won ’ t see a satellite going by , ” Rick Feinberg of the American Astronomical Society recently told The Post .

Forget Tesla. Shares of Elon Musk’s rocket company are soaring to new heights on growing excitement over its burgeoning satellite business, The Post has learned.
Demand for privately held shares of SpaceX has jumped 25 percent in recent weeks, driven by fresh headlines about plans to launch a network of 12,000 pint-size satellites that can beam high-speed internet access to far-flung locations worldwide.
“We just traded some at $340 a share,” a Wall Street source who brokers such deals told The Post. That’s up by a quarter from the stock’s $270-a-share value on Aug. 18, when SpaceX completed a weeks-long private share offering that raised $1.9 billion, the source said.
The dizzying rally implies a market capitalization for SpaceX nearing $58 billion — up from $46 billion in August and more than double its valuation in April 2018, when the shares were changing hands at $169 each.
That’s still a fraction of the $400 billion market cap of Tesla — Musk’s electric-car company, which has been on a market tear of its own, having surged more than 400 percent this year. Still, Tesla shares by comparison have risen just 17 percent since Aug. 18.
SpaceX is known for its rocket launches, one of which in May took NASA astronauts into orbit for the first time in nearly a decade. But smart-money investors have been piling in amid growing signs that its satellite business, known as Starlink, might be a money maker and not just a sci-fi fantasy, sources said.
It’s a risky business, with Lockheed Martin, for example, exiting its satellite-based telecom ops in 2001. But SpaceX in August told regulators that Starlink was seeing “extraordinary demand” with “nearly 700,000 individuals” expressing interest in its services.
As a result, it asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to offer 5 million user terminals, which connect consumers to its Internet service, up from 1 million.
In early September, SpaceX announced that Starlink’s Internet network was achieving download speeds of 100 megabits per second — fast enough for users to play video games and stream movies.
The biggest coup came earlier this week when a member of Washington state’s first-responder military team, which has been using the Starlink system to provide Web access to people in areas destroyed by wildfires, gave the service rave reviews.
“I have never set up any tactical satellite equipment that has been as quick to set up, and anywhere near as reliable,” Richard Hall, the emergency-telecommunications leader of the Washington State Military Department’s IT division, told CNBC on Monday of Starlink.
Hall boasted about the service, saying it “easily doubles the bandwidth” with low delays in transferring data. And he applauded the ease of its setup, which he said took between five to 10 minutes compared to the usual 30 minutes to an hour.
Adding to the buzz, Musk this week teased the possibility that SpaceX could spin off its satellite business into a separate, publicly traded company. “We will probably IPO Starlink, but only several years in the future when revenue growth is smooth and predictable,” he said Tuesday in response to a tweet from a Tesla fan.
Small investors, he added, will get “top priority. You can hold me to it.”
Since 2019, SpaceX has deployed about 650 satellites into orbit, and Bloomberg Businessweek says it has plans to crowd the sky with more than 40,000 Starlinks, or 13 times the current number of active satellites in orbit.
The greatest opposition so far has come from astronomers, who claim that SpaceX’s necklace of low-hanging satellites are already ruining their view of the night sky. “There’s almost no place in the sky that you won’t see a satellite going by,” Rick Feinberg of the American Astronomical Society recently told The Post.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--COVID-19 clusters in NYC growing at an alarming rate

Europe is seeing a second wave of COVID , and America ...

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The outer-borough COVID spike is growing.
City Hall revealed late Wednesday that the major southern Brooklyn coronavirus cluster now spans from Brighton Beach all the way to eastern Crown Heights — as officials added a slew of new neighborhoods to the list of those witnessing concerning spikes in COVID test rates.
Central Queens and Far Rockaway also recorded coronavirus infection rates of between 3 percent and almost 7 percent based on a two-week rolling average that’s continuing to drive the citywide infection rate past 3 percent.
Five ZIP codes in Brooklyn and Queens that were already on the city’s COVID hot-spot watch list — now with 10 neighborhoods showing infection rates higher than 3 percent — all saw spikes over a 24-hour period:
Borough Park’s positive infection rate is at 6.51 percent, up 0.28 percent from Tuesday’s data. Bensonhurst/Mapleton saw a 0.26 percent increase over the same period, bringing the neighborhood to a 6.31 percent average infection rate.
Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay’s infection rate is recorded at 4.13 percent, up 0.08 percent, and Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok is at 3.68 percent — also an increase of 0.08 compared with the previous day.
A new neighborhood, Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest, was added to Gotham’s hot-spot list, with a 3.08 percent infection rate — an increase of 0.22 from the day before.
Meanwhile, Edgemere/Far Rockaway, Gravesend/Homecrest, Midwood, Flatlands and Kew Gardens saw slight declines in their positive infection rates, although they alarmingly remained above the city’s 3 percent threshold.
Those 10 areas account for 27.5 percent of Gotham’s new virus cases over the past two weeks, despite having only 7.5 percent of the city’s overall population.
City health officials also added a new category for communities with virus upticks hovering between an average of 2 percent and 3 percent. They include Williamsburg, Crown Heights East, Bedford-Stuyvesant West/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene and Hillcrest/Jamaica Estates/Jamaica Hills.
Viral videos and firsthand reporting by The Post give witness to maskless gatherings and large crowds, despite continuous pleas by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo for New Yorkers to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.
De Blasio has also threatened to roll back progress in certain areas if noncompliance persists, and even close public schools should positive infection rates persist above 3 percent on a seven-day rolling average.
The clusters — several home to members of the Orthodox Jewish community — have drawn ire from Cuomo, who said he spoke with Jewish leaders Wednesday.
“I spoke to the leaders of the Orthodox community this morning and we had a good conversation,” Cuomo told reporters during a late-morning conference call.
“We’re nowhere near herd immunity,” he said, listing eight hot spots in Brooklyn and Queens that have also landed themselves on a statewide list tracking New York’s top ten ZIP codes seeing COVID-19 spikes.
Cuomo slammed local governments — without naming de Blasio — but he did complain that compliance enforcement by the state police was not enough, and he may need local police departments, including the NYPD, to lend officers for a special COVID compliance task force.
“The local governments must do compliance,” he insisted.
“It is a state law and the localities must enforce it … they have to enforce the state law and they’re not doing it with enough diligence. Period.”
“They’ve made it worse, not better,” he said of local officials.
Cuomo has also questioned NYPD members’ alleged refusal to wear masks, asking Tuesday, “What kind of message does that send?” during a phone call with reporters.
When questioned on the topic Wednesday, de Blasio told reporters that officers who flout the rule should “face penalties” and that he has brought up the issue with NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.
“Our officers should be held to the same standard as all citizens, all public standards,” he said during his daily televised press conference.
The state Health Department recorded a 1.2 percent positive infection rate over the last 24-hour period for New York City.
The statewide average stands at 1.02 percent following 97,960 tests performed and 1,000 recorded as positive.
There were nine deaths in the Empire State, as well as 605 individuals hospitalized, 144 patients admitted to the ICU and of that group, 67 intubated.
Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Rain delay debacles cause Yankees-Indians Game 2 mess

After the start of Game 2 of the Wild Card Series between the Yankees and Indians was delayed by nearly @ @ @ @ @ threat of rain at Progressive Field in Cleveland , the game finally started- after no @ @ @ @ @ delayed again with one out in the bottom of the first and the Indians up @ @ @ @ @ rain finally came .
The embarrassing move came after Cleveland ’ s Carlos Carrasco threw @ @ @ @ @ of the first and Masahiro Tanaka tossed 11 pitches and gave up a run in @ @ @ @ @ .
Tanaka returned to the mound after the second delay , which lasted 33 minutes @ @ @ @ @ Carrasco pitched a scoreless inning , while Tanaka allowed back-to-back doubles to Cesar Hernandez and @ @ @ @ @ Indians a one-run lead .

What a mess.
After Wednesday’s start of Game 2 of the Wild Card Series between the Yankees and Indians was delayed by nearly 45 minutes because of the threat of rain at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the game finally started — after no rain — only to be delayed again with one out in the bottom of the first and the Indians up, 1-0, when the rain finally came.
The disastrous move came after Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco threw 17 pitches in the top of the first and Masahiro Tanaka tossed 11 pitches and gave up a run in the bottom of the inning.
Tanaka returned to the mound after the second delay, which lasted 33 minutes.
Before a game, MLB determines whether to start a game, in consultation with both teams. Once the game begins, the decision belongs to the umpires.
On the ESPN broadcast, Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis said, “We started in a delay. Here in Cleveland, with the lake effect [off Lake Erie], you can follow the radar and things can turn around and come back on you. We thought we were gonna be safe.’’
A source familiar with the situation added the weather at Progressive Field presents unique challenges because of the lake effect and while the first heavy system missed the stadium, the second system strengthened as it came onshore.
Before the stoppage, Carrasco pitched a scoreless inning, while Tanaka allowed back-to-back doubles to Cesar Hernandez and Jose Ramirez to give the Indians a one-run lead.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Chilling Gary Sanchez comparison captures his Yankees collapse: Sherman

Sandy Alomar spent two decades catching in the majors , so ...

When Masahiro Tanaka threw seven shutout innings to help save the Yankees season in Game 3 of a 2017 Division Series, Gary Sanchez was his third place-hitting All-Star catcher.
The only run of that game was produced when Greg Bird led off the bottom of the seventh at Yankee Stadium with a left-on-left homer versus Andrew Miller.
The Yankees, who trailed two-games-to-none in that best-of-five, won that Oct. 8, 2017 game, then two more to rally into an ALCS against the Astros in which Bird and Sanchez were age 24 and Aaron Judge was 25. The Yankees had brought that trio up in consecutive seasons — Bird in 2015, Sanchez in 2016 and Judge in 2017 — to great success.
Even losing in seven games to the Astros did not dim the belief that the Yankees had the middle of their order locked in for at least the next five years.
But life comes at you fast.
Judge is still central to the Yankees, initiating the offense with a two-run, first-inning homer in Tuesday’s Game 1, a 12-3 rout of the Indians. Bird, though, did not even play in 2020. The Yankees finally gave up on him after last season, too many injuries, too little production. The Rangers signed him to a minor league deal, but he could not even make a 30-man roster out of spring training 2.0. And just when it looked as if he might get a chance with the injury-crushed Phillies, Bird contracted COVID-19 and that opportunity vanished.
As for Sanchez, he is still around, at least in name. He did not start Game 1 as the Yankees went instead with Kyle Higashioka, who hasn’t even proven yet he is a major league backup catcher. And when Tanaka started against the Indians in a playoff contest for the first time since 2017, in Wednesday’s Game 2, Sanchez was the ninth place-hitting catcher.
Aaron Boone explained this was no knock on Sanchez because when the Yankees lineup is healthy the parts are all interchangeable between the fifth and ninth spots and there was a strategy to break up the lefty bats of Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner and … Well, what does it matter? The Yankees are in the propaganda business when it comes to Sanchez, talking up a can of spam as if it were a filet mignon.
Actions — in this forum — matter more than words. You hit your worst hitter ninth. That is where Higashioka batted Tuesday and that is where Sanchez was placed for Game 2. And not because he was a good choice among many to hit higher.
Boone tried to sell that Sanchez was much better than his numbers, particularly over the last month. That Sanchez has had a bunch of line drives die for outs and that he was chasing less and walking more. But, again, a whiff of reality. There were 175 players who batted at least 100 times this year. Sanchez at .147 had the worst average. He needed nine of those bad-luck liners to fall just to get to the Mendoza Line. And it is hard to get line drives to fall when you strike out in 36 percent of your at-bats (sixth worst in the majors).
And, remember, Sanchez is only playing because of his offense. Yep, the Yankees happy talk his defense too. But — once more — actions, not words. Early this season, Gerrit Cole unsolicited kept publicly praising Sanchez as if trying to fill the catcher with confidence or talk himself into a bad marriage. Eventually, Sanchez was jettisoned for Higashioka and — lo and behold — Cole began pitching like a $324 million ace again. The Cole flattery tour has not been heard in quite a while.
Will Sanchez appear on lists for the best of exit velocity and homer distance? Yep. When the ball squares on his bat good things can happen. Just it is not frequent any more like in 2016 and ’17. He seems to lose confidence easily. He appears overloaded with more data to help coax pitchers through games and new low-down squats to steal strikes at the bottom of the zone. It is like the more the Yankees try to improve Sanchez, the worse the player they get. The ball gets by him a lot, whether he is swinging or trying to catch.
So when does Sanchez get the Bird treatment and the Yankees fly in a different direction? His trade value already has been squandered. The Yankees would not give him up for J.T. Realmuto after the 2018 season, valuing Sanchez similarly or better with two extra years of control before free agency (after the 2022 season). They are unlikely now to pivot and spend big on Realmuto as a free agent this offseason.
Could they even trade Sanchez for anything now? Would they think of non-tenderng him? Or will they keep going trying to rediscover 2016-17? Does it matter what they say because what they are doing with Sanchez tells the clearer story.
Not playing at all in Game 1 of a playoff series. Hitting ninth in Game 2. There is not much further to fall.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Yankees’ Gio Urshela: I’ve grown since time with Indians

CLEVELAND — In the movie “ Cocktail , ” which I ’ ve never seen , ...

The first time Gio Urshela played in the postseason, he was an all-field, no-hit third baseman for the Indians who went on to make two key errors in the 2017 ALDS that helped the Yankees advance.
He’s back in Cleveland for the Wild Card Series, firmly established as a stellar defender and one of the Yankees’ most consistent threats in the lineup.
Asked prior to Game 2 at Progressive Field how he’s grown since his time with the Indians, Urshela said, “I guess a lot. I feel like a different player [with a] different mentality.”
The improvements have come on both sides of the ball and persuaded the Yankees to stick with Urshela even after Miguel Andujar returned to health this season.
And he continues to impress his teammates, including DJ LeMahieu, who likened Urshela’s play at third to Nolan Arenado.
LeMahieu played with the perennial All-Star and Gold Glove-winner in Colorado before coming to The Bronx before last season.
“He’s a special defender,’’ LeMahieu said. “I’d put him in the Nolan category defensively. Offensively, it seems like he hits the ball hard every time up. He’s been big for us all year. He’s just a really good player. I really respect his game.”
It’s a long way from 2018, when Urshela was designated for assignment by the Indians and then traded to the Blue Jays in May. Later that season, Toronto shipped Urshela to the Yankees for cash considerations, about $25,000.
The investment has paid off for the Yankees.
He hit sixth in the lineup on Wednesday against Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco after hitting a double, scoring a run and driving in another in the Yankees’ Game 1 win.
He was also his usual solid self at third base.
“He’s a tremendous fielder,’’ LeMahieu said. “He makes some acrobatic plays you think he has no chance on and is consistent on balls right at him.”
Aaron Boone, who played third base throughout his career, has marveled at Urshela while managing him the last two seasons.
“He has a really strong and really accurate arm from a lot of different angles,’’ Boone said. “He has good hands. And I feel like this year, his range has ticked up. He’s special at third base. It’s fun to watch.”
And while the defensive metrics haven’t always agreed that Urshela is well above average at the position, Boone said the Yankees’ internal measurements have shown an improvement.
“He’s pretty elite over there,’’ Boone said.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Shelter Island resident sues town for allowing Beyoncé to film at historical site

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) A furious Shelter Island resident has launched legal action against the town council for allegedly allowing Beyoncé to secretly shoot a video at a local historical site — which he called “ sacred ground.
” Mike Gaynor claims in court papers seen by Page Six that neither Beyoncé nor Disney applied for permission to film her visual album “ Black is King ” at Sylvester Manor , the former home of slave trader Nathaniel Sylvester .
Gaynor calls Nathaniel “ top a-hole and CEO of a worldwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the site demands respect because slaves were buried there .
Gaynor , who lives in a neighboring property , filed suit in New York Supreme Court last Wednesday against the town , all of the town trustees and the Community Preservation Fund board ’ s member .
He donated $ 30,000 last year alone to the Manor .
“ I have official confirmation from the town clerk that no permits were obtained , ” he told Page Six , “ I was deeply offended when I learned that The Manor took money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is without argument on wholly sacred ground.
” He added , “ Please know that there are at least 200+ enslaved Africans and Manhasset Indians buried on their land and so that ’ s just not a place where you film a dance-off.
” Gaynor believes that the council knowingly allowed the superstar to film without permits .
“ There ’ s no way they would have allowed her to turn up without knowing — I believe in fact the town did know about this and the town was signed up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the town could make money , ” he said .
Manor staff confirmed in August that they hosted the superstar and helped choose locations for her — insisting that she chose the site because of its important history .
A source told us that Disney bought the completed movie from an independent production company , and didn ’ t have a hand in the filming locations .
Reps for Beyoncé and Shelter Island Town Council were unavailable for comment .

A furious Shelter Island resident has launched legal action against the town council for allegedly allowing Beyoncé to secretly shoot a video at a local historical site — which he called “sacred ground.”
Mike Gaynor claims in court papers seen by Page Six that neither Beyoncé nor Disney applied for permission to film her visual album “Black Is King” at Sylvester Manor, the former home of slave trader Nathaniel Sylvester.
Gaynor calls Sylvester “top a-hole and CEO of a worldwide slave-hunting and trading operation” — but says the site demands respect because slaves were buried there.
Gaynor, who lives in a neighboring property, filed suit in New York Supreme Court last Wednesday against the town, all of the town trustees and the Community Preservation Fund board’s member.
He donated $30,000 last year alone to the Manor.
“I have official confirmation from the town clerk that no permits were obtained,” he told Page Six. “I was deeply offended when I learned that The Manor took money from Disney to allow the film … on what is without argument on wholly sacred ground.”
He added, “Please know that there are at least 200+ enslaved Africans and Manhasset Indians buried on their land and so that’s just not a place where you film a dance-off.”
Gaynor believes that the council knowingly allowed the superstar to film without permits. “There’s no way they would have allowed her to turn up without knowing — I believe in fact the town did know about this and the town was signed up on an NDA so that the Manor and the town could make money,” he said.
Manor staff confirmed in August that they hosted the superstar and helped choose locations for her — insisting that she chose the site because of its important history.
A source told us that Disney bought the completed movie from an independent production company, and didn’t have a hand in the filming locations.
Reps for Beyoncé and the Shelter Island Town Council were unavailable for comment.
Gerry Stiller, the town supervisor, said it was “preposterous” to allege the town got a secret payment.
He said: “The first time anyone in Town Hall was made aware of the film shoot at Sylvester Manor was when an article was written about it in the local paper, The Shelter Island Reporter. The article referenced the film that had been made in the summer of 2019 and recently released.
“When we learned that no permit or application for a permit had been requested, we met with Sylvester Manor, which apologized for the mistake; they had assumed that the film company had completed the required paperwork, which it had not done.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Rays sweep Blue Jays, will face Yankees or Indians in ALDS

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. — Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam and the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays won a postseason series for the first time in 12 years , overpowering the young Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 Wednesday to finish a two-game sweep of their AL wild-card matchup .
Renfroe launched the first playoff grand slam in franchise history during a six-run second inning .
Tyler Glasnow kept Tampa Bay ahead from there , allowing two runs — on a pair of homers by Danny Jansen — in six innings .
Mike Zunino hit a two-run homer off Blue Jays ace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s big inning .
Manuel Margot and Randy Arozarena also drove in runs as the Rays advanced to the AL Division series against either the New York Yankees or Cleveland Indians .
The next round starts Monday at Petco Park in San Diego .
Renfroe is plenty familiar with the stadium — he hit 85 home runs in the previous three years for the Padres before being traded to the Rays last December .
The Rays celebrated with some hugs and handshakes after the final out .
Glasnow , who walked one and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of family and friends who were allowed to attend the series at Tropicana Field .
Ryu was rocked for a season-high seven runs in 1 2/3 innings , the lefty ’ s shortest outing of the season for the wild-card Blue Jays .
The Rays , who won Game 1 with a nice mix of pitching , defense and timely hitting , had dropped five consecutive multigame postseason series dating to the 2008 World Series .
A year ago , they beat Oakland in the AL wild-card game before losing to Houston in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that nevertheless heightened team expectations heading into this season .
Ryu signed with the Blue Jays in free agency last winter after being an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers and finishing second in NL Cy Young Award balloting in 2019 .
The 33-year-old lefty had the AL ’ s fourth-best ERA this season .
And , his career mark of .295 is third-best behind Clayton Kershaw ( 2.43 ) and Jacob deGrom ( 2.61 ) among active pitchers with at least 700 innings pitched .
The Rays began the first inning with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run on Manuel Margot ’ s one-out single .
Ryu escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Willy Adames , however his outing got worse the next inning .
After Zunino ’ s homer made it 3-0 , Tampa Bay loaded the bases again on a double , walk and shortstop Bo Bichette ’ s second error of the day .
Renfroe , obtained from San Diego in an offseason trade that sent Tommy Pham to the Padres , hit his grand slam into the left field seats to extend the lead to @ @

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam and the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays won a postseason series for the first time in 12 years, overpowering the young Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 Wednesday to finish a two-game sweep of their AL wild-card matchup.
Renfroe launched the first playoff grand slam in franchise history during a six-run second inning. Tyler Glasnow kept Tampa Bay ahead from there, allowing two runs — on a pair of homers by Danny Jansen — in six innings.
Mike Zunino hit a two-run homer off Blue Jays ace Hyun Jin Ryu during Tampa Bay’s big inning. Manuel Margot and Randy Arozarena also drove in runs as the Rays advanced to the AL Division series against either the New York Yankees or Cleveland Indians.
The next round starts Monday at Petco Park in San Diego. Renfroe is plenty familiar with the stadium — he hit 85 home runs in the previous three years for the Padres before being traded to the Rays last December.
The Rays celebrated with some hugs and handshakes after the final out.
Glasnow, who walked one and struck out eight before a small gathering of family and friends who were allowed to attend the series at Tropicana Field.
Ryu was rocked for a season-high seven runs in 1 2/3 innings, the lefty’s shortest outing of the season for the wild-card Blue Jays.
The Rays, who won Game 1 with a nice mix of pitching, defense and timely hitting, had dropped five consecutive multigame postseason series dating to the 2008 World Series.
A year ago, they beat Oakland in the AL wild-card game before losing to Houston in the division round — a five-game setback that nevertheless heightened team expectations heading into this season.
Manager Kevin Cash’s team delivered this year, winning the AL East.
Ryu signed with the Blue Jays in free agency last winter after being an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers and finishing second in NL Cy Young Award balloting in 2019.
The 33-year-old lefty had the AL’s fourth-best ERA this season. And, his career mark of .295 is third-best behind Clayton Kershaw (2.43) and Jacob deGrom (2.61) among active pitchers with at least 700 innings pitched.
Ryu’s impressive credentials meant nothing Wednesday.
The Rays began the first inning with three straight hits and scored their first run on Manuel Margot’s one-out single. Ryu escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Willy Adames, however his outing got worse the next inning.
After Zunino’s homer made it 3-0, Tampa Bay loaded the bases again on a double, walk and shortstop Bo Bichette’s second error of the day.
Renfroe, obtained from San Diego in an offseason trade that sent Tommy Pham to the Padres, hit his grand slam into the left field seats to extend the lead to 7-0.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--LeBron James helps recruit 10,000 volunteers to polls in black electoral districts

NBA superstar LeBron James has reportedly helped recruit 10,000 poll workers in black electoral districts for the 2020 presidential election .
The James-fronted collective of star athletes — dubbed More Than a Vote — organized the rally to increase workers as part of the joint “ We Got Next ” initiative with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund , The New York Times first reported .
The collaboration will be featured Wednesday night during the first game of the NBA Finals between James ’ Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat .
First-time poll workers organized through the program will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appearing alongside basketball legends like Julius Erving , Shaquille O ’ Neill and Dwyane Wade , according to the paper .
A second phase of the project will focus on increasing poll workers in 11 cities where shortages still exist and others located in the cities of important battleground states — including Birmingham , Jackson , Houston , Cleveland , Detroit , Flint , Milwaukee and Philadelphia .
Sherrilyn Ifill , the head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund , said boosting poll workers is crucial to combat voter suppression and improve trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she discussed the effort with The Times earlier this summer .
“ We need more poll workers , and we need younger poll workers who can be resilient and work during early voting as well , ” Ifill said .

NBA superstar LeBron James has reportedly helped recruit 10,000 poll workers in black electoral districts for the 2020 presidential election.
The James-fronted collective of star athletes — dubbed More Than a Vote — organized the rally to increase workers as part of the joint “We Got Next” initiative with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The New York Times first reported.
The collaboration will be featured Wednesday night during the first game of the NBA Finals between James’ Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. First-time poll workers organized through the program will be in the virtual audience for the game appearing alongside basketball legends like Julius Erving, Shaquille O’Neill and Dwyane Wade, according to the paper.
A second phase of the project will focus on increasing poll workers in 11 cities where shortages still exist and others located in the cities of important battleground states — including Birmingham, Jackson, Houston, Cleveland, Detroit, Flint, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
Sherrilyn Ifill, the head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, said boosting poll workers is crucial to combat voter suppression and improve trust in the process among black voters when she discussed the effort with The Times earlier this summer.
“We need more poll workers, and we need younger poll workers who can be resilient and work during early voting as well,” Ifill said.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--HS football player in critical condition after enduring ‘traumatic brain injury’

An Atlanta high school football player is in critical condition after suffering a “ traumatic brain injury ” during his homecoming game on Friday .
Jordan Sloan , a 15-year-old sophomore at Pace Academy in Atlanta and a wide receiver for the school ’ s varsity team , is in critical condition at the Children ’ s Healthcare of Atlanta after undergoing brain surgery for injury he sustained during a game on Friday , a spokesperson for the school said in a statement to FOX 5 .
“ We are grateful for the overwhelming show of love and concern for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , ” the spokesperson said .
“ As a school , our focus is supporting Jordan and his family and caring for our students , faculty and staff .
We ask that you continue to offer prayers for healing and recovery.
” Details surrounding the incident were not immediately known but , according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Jordan played until the third quarter in the game against Westminster where he totaled three receptions for 38 yards .
He was also a member of the school ’ s basketball team .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family to FOX 5 .
“ This is an extraordinarily difficult time for Jordan ’ s family and much is still unknown about his condition .
The family is hoping and praying for the best-case scenario and appreciates the outpouring of support from friends , family and the community .
”

An Atlanta high school football player is in critical condition after suffering a “traumatic brain injury” during his homecoming game on Friday.
Jordan Sloan, a 15-year-old sophomore at Pace Academy in Atlanta and a wide receiver for the school’s varsity team, is in critical condition at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta after undergoing brain surgery for injury he sustained during a game on Friday, a spokesperson for the school said in a statement to FOX 5.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming show of love and concern for Jordan, his family and the Pace community,” the spokesperson said. “As a school, our focus is supporting Jordan and his family and caring for our students, faculty and staff. We ask that you continue to offer prayers for healing and recovery.”
Details surrounding the incident were not immediately known but, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jordan played until the third quarter in the game against Westminster where he totaled three receptions for 38 yards.
He was also a member of the school’s basketball team.
A spokesperson sent a statement on behalf of the family to FOX 5.
“This is an extraordinarily difficult time for Jordan’s family and much is still unknown about his condition. The family is hoping and praying for the best-case scenario and appreciates the outpouring of support from friends, family and the community.”


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--NYC housing official busted for using phony parking placard

A senior city housing official was busted for using a fraudulent parking placard , officials said Wednesday .
Vivian Louie , assistant commissioner for the city ’ s Department of Housing Preservation and Development , faces up to seven years behind bars after city investigators found a photocopy of an official city placard in the dashboard of her 1998 Toyota RAV4 in Manhattan , the Department of Investigation said .
DOI says it caught Louie red-handed on March 6 , when an investigator spotted the placard in a spot on Spruce Street in Lower Manhattan .
The placard “ appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an official Department of Transportation holographic emblem , investigators said .
When confronted , Louie confirmed “ in substance ” that the placard was fake , DOI said Wednesday .
At the time , the $ 148,000-per-year bureaucrat did not have a valid driver ’ s license — which could get her another 30 days for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle .
Louie pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to all charges .
She is due back in court Jan. 7 .
Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed in February 2019 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking placards — which give drivers reprieve from some parking regulations while conducting city business — but has revoked just two permits so far .
Louie did not immediately return requests for comment .

A senior city housing official was busted for using a fraudulent parking placard, officials said Wednesday.
Vivian Louie, assistant commissioner for the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, faces up to seven years behind bars after city investigators found a photocopy of an official city placard in the dashboard of her 1998 Toyota RAV4 in Manhattan, the Department of Investigation said.
DOI says it caught Louie red-handed on March 6, when an investigator spotted the placard in a spot on Spruce Street in Lower Manhattan.
The placard “appeared to be photocopied” and did not have an official Department of Transportation holographic emblem, investigators said.
When confronted, Louie confirmed “in substance” that the placard was fake, DOI said Wednesday.
At the time, the $148,000-per-year bureaucrat did not have a valid driver’s license — which could get her another 30 days for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Louie pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to all charges. She is due back in court Jan. 7.
Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed in February 2019 to crack down on people who abuse city-issued parking placards — which give drivers reprieve from some parking regulations while conducting city business — but has revoked just two permits so far.
Anthony Proia, a spokesman for HPD, said Louie remains employed at the agency.
Louie did not immediately return requests for comment.
Additional reporting by Vincent Barone


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--It’s past time to pull the plug on Andrew Cuomo’s dictatorial pandemic powers

New York City ’ s restaurant industry held a wake for itself ...

I don’t mean to alarm the good people of New York, but it’s important that they understand we are living under a dictatorship — with no end in sight.
Who’s the autocrat in question? Why, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, of course. Perhaps because his father was governor before him, Cuomo may have grown up thinking of himself as crown prince and now fancies himself a king with unquestioned authority. But the ultimate blame falls squarely on a state Legislature that has now abdicated its duties for the better part of six months.
Back in March, our lawmakers in Albany used a public health statute to hand the governor nearly unchecked power. The idea was that the state executive must have broader-than-usual authority to tackle a crisis. But a supposedly interminable emergency is an invitation to endless abuse of emergency authority.
As Rensselaer County Executive and former Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin told me, “You’ve got to be able to address the emergency. This is no longer an emergency. We’re well past where we were in March, April and May.”
Indeed. And yet King Cuomo is still issuing diktats with absolutely no check on his power. Half of them don’t even make sense. This week, he tweeted that wearing a mask is not optional. What does that even mean? That he signed an executive order? Or is his itchy Twitter finger just making up laws on social media? And who is enforcing this? Are the police going to start arresting people for literally showing their faces? Does anyone have any idea?
Meanwhile, this week we learned that pay increases for 80,000 civil servants have once again been deferred by Cuomo. Perhaps that’s necessary amid the lockdown-induced budget crunch. But you know who is scheduled to get a big, fat raise? Unless deferred, Cuomo’s own will jump by $71,000. It’s good to be the king.
Yes, there is a time limit on these emergency powers. They last one year and so would expire of natural causes in six months or so. But can we really take six more months of this? Shouldn’t we, by right, have the government we voted for right now?
Individual legislators might for whatever reason feel compelled to hand over their powers semi-permanently. But here’s the thing: That power doesn’t ultimately belong to the Legislature in our system of government — it belongs to us, the people of New York, a people now crushed under the despotism of a petty tyrant who gives himself raises as tens of thousands of small businesses close forever under his irrational lockdown orders.
As New Yorkers take to the polls to elect state Assembly members and senators this fall, one question should be front and center: Will you do your job, Mr. Would-Be Lawmaker? Will you, you know, legislate?
Understand: El Comandante from Queens is in this for the long haul. He now says he won’t trust a vaccine approved by the federal government, this after months of lectures about trusting the science. Instead, he wants his own experts to judge the drug. And guess who gets to remain the unchecked emperor while that process plays out?
Never in the history of this state has a governor wielded this much power for so long. If Cuomo wanted to force you to tie his shoes right now under penalty of fine or arrest, he could do it — perfectly legally, too. OK, maybe I’m slightly exaggerating. But consider the fact that Cuomo has the authority to ban church attendance — which is a constitutional right, one of the bases for the founding of this nation and among the first rights secured by the Bill of Rights.
This is how the Empire State is being governed at the moment, not as a democracy, but one-man rule by the same governor whose malfeasance resulted in the horrific mass senicide of the nursing homes.
One of the fundamental dangers of a crisis is that we lose sight of very basic things, like not being ruled indefinitely by a power-hungry autocrat. New Yorkers need to wake up, as do our lawmakers — and I use that term generously, as lately, the only “law” they’ve enacted is that Cuomo can do whatever the hell he wants.
At this point the crisis is no longer the pandemic. The crisis is the governor and his enablers. It is time for New York to get its legitimate government back.
David Marcus is The Federalist’s New York correspondent. Twitter: @BlueBoxDave


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea weighs in on being top cop in 2020

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) I did not ask Dermot Shea about the city .
I already know about it .
I was here before George Washington .
So I asked how much sleep he gets .
Answer ?
“ Not enough .
You catch it when you can .
Maybe a couple of hours .
The phone ’ s 10 inches away.
” What would he be if not a cop ?
“ Growing up I wasn ’ t sure what I ’ d do .
If I was left-handed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d have been a hockey player .
But I ’ m blessed .
Nothing ’ s as terrific as working with the NYPD .
Today ’ s timing isn ’ t perfect and we just have to get through this .
But there ’ s no hesitation — not a second — about my having this job .
Better still , I haven ’ t screwed up in the last 10 minutes.
” He remember his first day on the force ?
“ Yeah .
46th Precinct .
I was scared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the beat but I was assigned to paperwork indoors .
I was especially disappointed when other rookies returned the end of the day and told me all that they ’ d done and their exciting experiences — and here I was sitting writing reports.
” How ’ s his wife feel about his job ?
“ We ’ re married since ’ 92 .
Three kids .
A grandchild on the way .
She works from home and maybe we didn ’ t think it would be what it is now but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our relationship .
Listen , we can still both laugh .
But looking back at my career , it ’ s been a wild ride.
” OK , we spoke 10 minutes , which is more than he talks to anyone unless they ’ re in handcuffs .
Just one more question — Ray Kelly , Bill Bratton , why so many top cops Irish ?
“ The Irish run strong .
I absolutely do not know one thing that ’ s not great about the Irish.
” Gated .
Ivy-clad granite and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roof .
Great hall .
Oversize fireplace , carved oak staircase , library , leaded-glass bay window , formal dining room , terrace , kitchen with marble island seating plus Wolf , Sub-Zero , Miele appliances .
Billiards room without which no home should be without , full-service bar and home theater without which no other home should be without .
Also , wine cellar , gym and sauna .
If unwelcome cousins stay over , a guest apartment .
Plus koi pond , tennis court , pool , greenhouse and — if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-car garage .
Now comes Aaron Sorkin ’ s “ The Trial of the Chicago 7 ” about 1968 ’ s Dem National Convention protests and the seven charged with conspiracy , in theaters maybe now , Netflix for sure Oct. 16 .
Eddie Redmayne : “ I play rebellious Tom Hayden who joined Students for a Democratic Society ” … Sacha Baron Cohen : “ I ’ m activist Abbie Hoffman who grew his hair to look like the hippies protesting ” … Frank Langella as 5-foot-6 Jewish Judge Julius Hoffman : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play this unqualified , corrupt , feelingless man with no interest in abiding by the law.
” Sorkin : “ The ’ 60s resonates today .
Protesting is not anti-American .
It ’ s the opposite.
” Hotels in Europe : Porter swabs your luggage .
Check-in pen is wet-wrapped .
Astringent gel ’ s on stands , walls , at the elevator , in the elevator , by the desk .
Lausanne ’ s Beau-Rivage Palace staff smiles ( we guess ) behind medical masks .
Airports have decals for distance sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directories , menus , informative cards or stationery .
A Made in China tablet ’ s in English , French , German for room service , information , spa menu , places in town , concierge , boutique menu , Internet , newsletter , media access , weather , airlines .
No newspapers .
The tablet delivers Abu Dhabi to Atlanta media .
The Alfred E. Smith Dinner with its usual 2,000 Waldorf Grand Ballroom guests ?
Trump and Barfden got e-vites .
It ’ s whispered — just whispered — Biden pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oy , only in New York , kids , only in New York .

I did not ask Dermot Shea about the city. I already know about it. I was here before George Washington. So I asked how much sleep he gets. Answer? “Not enough. You catch it when you can. Maybe a couple of hours. The phone’s 10 inches away.”
What would he be if not a cop?
“Growing up I wasn’t sure what I’d do. If I was left-handed and a really great athlete, maybe I’d have been a hockey player. But I’m blessed. Nothing’s as terrific as working with the NYPD. Today’s timing isn’t perfect and we just have to get through this. But there’s no hesitation — not a second — about my having this job. Better still, I haven’t screwed up in the last 10 minutes.”
He remember his first day on the force?
“Yeah. 46th Precinct. I was scared. Nervous. I wanted to be out on the beat but I was assigned to paperwork indoors. I was especially disappointed when other rookies returned the end of the day and told me all that they’d done and their exciting experiences — and here I was sitting writing reports.”
How’s his wife feel about his job?
“We’re married since ’92. Three kids. A grandchild on the way. She works from home and maybe we didn’t think it would be what it is now but she’s been a rock in our relationship. Listen, we can still both laugh. But looking back at my career, it’s been a wild ride.”
OK, we spoke 10 minutes, which is more than he talks to anyone unless they’re in handcuffs. Just one more question —
Ray Kelly, Bill Bratton, why so many top cops Irish?
“The Irish run strong. I absolutely do not know one thing that’s not great about the Irish.”
Decked out
Sotheby’s peddling designer Tommy Hilfiger’s tri-level 13,344-square-foot 22-acre Greenwich, Conn., home.
Gated. Ivy-clad granite and brick turreted French Normandy-style. Turkish tile roof. Great hall. Oversize fireplace, carved oak staircase, library, leaded-glass bay window, formal dining room, terrace, kitchen with marble island seating plus Wolf, Sub-Zero, Miele appliances. Billiards room without which no home should be without, full-service bar and home theater without which no other home should be without.
The owner’s suite, six bedrooms, sitting area, cashmere walls, Juliet balcony, steam shower, dressing room, study.
Also, wine cellar, gym and sauna. If unwelcome cousins stay over, a guest apartment. Plus koi pond, tennis court, pool, greenhouse and — if tired of your Hamptons share — a four-car garage.
Netflix gives a rebel yell
Now comes Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7” about 1968’s Dem National Convention protests and the seven charged with conspiracy, in theaters maybe now, Netflix for sure Oct. 16.
Eddie Redmayne: “I play rebellious Tom Hayden who joined Students for a Democratic Society” … Sacha Baron Cohen: “I’m activist Abbie Hoffman who grew his hair to look like the hippies protesting” … Frank Langella as 5-foot-6 Jewish Judge Julius Hoffman: “They got a 6-foot-3 Italian to play this unqualified, corrupt, feelingless man with no interest in abiding by the law.”
Sorkin: “The ’60s resonates today. Protesting is not anti-American. It’s the opposite.”
OK?
Checking inn
Hotels in Europe: Porter swabs your luggage. Check-in pen is wet-wrapped. Astringent gel’s on stands, walls, at the elevator, in the elevator, by the desk. Lausanne’s Beau-Rivage Palace staff smiles (we guess) behind medical masks. Airports have decals for distance sitting and standing in line.
No room directories, menus, informative cards or stationery. A Made in China tablet’s in English, French, German for room service, information, spa menu, places in town, concierge, boutique menu, Internet, newsletter, media access, weather, airlines. No newspapers. The tablet delivers Abu Dhabi to Atlanta media.
And your breakfast bagel’s Saran-wrapped.
The Alfred E. Smith Dinner with its usual 2,000 Waldorf Grand Ballroom guests? Trump and Barfden got e-vites. It’s whispered — just whispered — Biden pulled out. DJT will speak virtually.
Oy, only in New York, kids, only in New York.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Henrik Lundqvist was truly ‘The King’ in every way for Rangers

And now for the emotional farewell to Henrik Lundqvist .
After ...

It isn’t the numbers and it isn’t the number 30 that will be raised to the pinwheel ceiling of the Garden when the time becomes right.
It is the aura, it is the personality, it is the grace and it is the professionalism, competitiveness and, yes, the humanity of Henrik Lundqvist he bequeaths to New York forever now that his days in a Rangers uniform have come to an end.
That is what makes this so heart-wrenching.
“I know we are all facing some challenges as a city so let’s do what New Yorkers do best, come together and get back to where we want to be!” Lundqvist, not quite sticking to sports, said as part of a five-part farewell tweet posted to his account Wednesday. “Be kind, be respectful and supportive of others.”
That is what Lundqvist, the Swede who made himself at home on Broadway, leaves behind. That is who Lundqvist is.
He’s not Derek Jeter. He’s not Eli Manning. He’s not Willis Reed. He’s not Tom Seaver. He doesn’t have the ring(s). But if you want to talk about this particular Core Four, Lundqvist was something else that not one of them was and he carried a burden shared by none of the above.
He was the face of the franchise for the final 14 years of his 15-year career here, the singular name above the title on the marquee and essentially required to be the best player on the ice just about any and every night in order for his team to win. That’s what he was.
Eventually, it took a toll. The amount of work he needed to do on a consistent basis, and certainly over the last five years while often operating behind a defensive structure that seemed to traffic in chaos, wore him down. So did the Cup receding into the background of the rearview mirror. The game became faster, Lundqvist became slower. Or, perhaps more accurately, the King became 35, then 36, then 37, and now 38.
And Rangerstown was no longer a country for old men.
The Rangers were 15-4 in playoff elimination games from 2012-15. That almost seems like a typographical error. It isn’t. Lundqvist allowed one goal or no goals in 11 of those 19 games. The Rangers came from 3-1 down against the Penguins in 2014 and 3-1 down against the Capitals in 2015 and Lundqvist allowed a sum of eight goals in those six potential elimination games.
He was as hard on his teammates as he was on himself and perhaps not every player appreciated that all the time. He was as hard on his teammates, come to think of it, as John Tortorella was on him.
Tortorella treated Lundqvist with tough love. The Swede was better for it. A lot of it was even necessary, but probably not the lecture after a poor outing that coincidentally came on a day the King’s picture with Justin Bieber taken at the Knicks game the previous night showed up on Page Six. I believe the coach prohibited the King from attending Knicks games for the rest of that season.
There was that stretch of seasons when Tortorella gloried in the number of high shots directed at Lundqvist during practice. He thought it toughened up the goaltender. I thought it was absurd. And so, after the second or third time he’d been struck by a high one, I advised Lundqvist to simply leave the net next time, the way Billy Smith often did when he was with the Islanders. I presumed it was a private conversation.
But the next night, in the midst of answering a question in a pregame press briefing, the coach matter of factly let it drop that, “One of our writers even told Hank to stop playing … didn’t think I knew that, did you?”
Who, me?
“You told him?” I asked Lundqvist after the match.
“I shouldn’t have?”
He was laughing.
I wasn’t.
Fifteen years. We talked and we talked and we talked. We talked at morning skates, we talked after games, we talked after practices. I have written thousands and thousands of words about him, more than any other athlete I have ever covered. I don’t know if there has ever been a more gracious star of that magnitude.
Lundqvist came to camp in 2005. After his third NHL game, a 5-1 victory over the Thrashers at the Garden on Oct. 15, I anointed him The King. There was just something about him. “He is King Henrik of Sweden, that’s who he is,” I wrote.
Years later, after the title had become inextricably linked with his identity, Lundqvist wanted to know why I’d bestowed that name upon him. There had, at some point, been a Swedish monarch named Henrik, though he apparently did not rule the land. He knew that.
“It’s because of my name, that’s the reason, right?” he wanted to know. “If my name was Sam, you wouldn’t have called me King Sam, would you?”
Well, yes, I would have.
But he was not Sam.
He was (and is) Henrik Lundqvist.
The King.
One of the best of all time.
And I am going to miss him terribly.


newyorkpost--2020-09-30--Man nabs $6M in PPP loans using sham ‘Game of Thrones’-themed firms

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
A North Carolina businessman is accused of fraudulently raking in more than $ 6 million in coronavirus relief aid for phony companies named after “ Game of Thrones ” characters and references , according to reports .
Tristan Pan , 38 , from Garner , N.C. , allegedly submitted more than a dozen sham applications when he applied for a Payroll Protection Program ( PPP ) loan on behalf of his “ businesses ” — listed as Khaleesi LLC , The Night ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LLC , NBC reported .
His fake firm White Walker— named after the icy humanoid featured on the hit HBO series — along with another one of his businesses acquired $ 1.7 million after he submitted paperwork with false tax documents to a bank , the station reported , citing a federal indictment filed last week .
It wasn ’ t clear how much money Khaleesi LLC — named after the ” Mother of Dragons ” character played by Emilia Clarke in the fantasy series — or Night ’ s Watch LLC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military order , acquired during the alleged scam .
The move , which fleeced federal cash meant to help out small businesses amid the coronavirus crisis , left the feds breathing fire .
Law enforcement seized $ 6.1 million from Pan , according to Forbes .
He was charged with wire fraud , bank fraud and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions .
Pan has also formed several other companies over the past decade , including Pan Realty , Technology for Teaching , NC Health Care Reform Advisors , A & D Pan Legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Encryption Storage , according to the report .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Shame of thrones!
A North Carolina businessman is accused of fraudulently raking in more than $6 million in coronavirus relief aid for phony companies named after “Game of Thrones” characters and references, according to reports.
Tristan Pan, 38, from Garner, N.C., allegedly submitted more than a dozen sham applications when he applied for a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan on behalf of his “businesses” — listed as Khaleesi LLC, The Night’s Watch LLC, and White Walker LLC, NBC reported.
His fake firm White Walker— named after the icy humanoid featured on the hit HBO series — along with another one of his businesses acquired $1.7 million after he submitted paperwork with false tax documents to a bank, the station reported, citing a federal indictment filed last week.
It wasn’t clear how much money Khaleesi LLC — named after the”Mother of Dragons” character played by Emilia Clarke in the fantasy series — or Night’s Watch LLC, a nod to the show’s military order, acquired during the alleged scam.
The move, which fleeced federal cash meant to help out small businesses amid the coronavirus crisis, left the feds breathing fire.
Law enforcement seized $6.1 million from Pan, according to Forbes. He was charged with wire fraud, bank fraud and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.
Pan has also formed several other companies over the past decade, including Pan Realty, Technology for Teaching, NC Health Care Reform Advisors, A&D Pan Legacy, Health Care Without Borders and Digital Encryption Storage, according to the report.