newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Marcus Maye criticizes disastrous Jets play-call:  ‘Gotta help us out’

Grading the Jets following Sunday ’ s 31-28 loss to the Raiders ... .

There has been speculation through the years about what the extra “G” in Gregg Williams stands for. On Sunday, it was for “gag,” as in gagging away a victory.
The Jets defense coordinator made the inexplicable, inexcusable decision to call an all-out blitz with his team leading by four points and 13 seconds left to play with the Raiders facing a third-and-10 on the Jets’ 46-yard line. The “zero blitz” call meant there was no safety help for the cornerbacks. Williams blitzed eight players, leaving three defensive backs one-on-one with receivers.
The call burned the Jets as Raiders speedy rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs put a double-move on cornerback Lamar Jackson, an undrafted rookie, and quarterback Derek Carr connected with him for a 46-yard touchdown with five seconds left on the clock.
The 31-28 defeat for the Jets will make the “Tank for Trevor” crowd happy, but left the Jets players and coaches devastated.
“Obviously, everybody is disappointed,” Jets coach Adam Gase said. “To lose a game like that, our guys work way too hard to go through this [s–t].”
Veteran safety Marcus Maye, who never says anything remotely controversial, criticized the play-call by Williams.
Marcus Maye leaves the field after the Jets’ loss to the Raiders. AP
“That situation, just has to be a better call,” Maye said. “We gotta execute, but you gotta help us out at the same time.”
The Jets are now 0-12 for the first time in franchise history and the 12-game losing streak matches the longest ever for the Jets, which they also did in 1995-96. They remain on track to get the No. 1 pick in the draft and Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, but the current Jets do not care about that.
It felt like the Jets had this one won. They took a 28-24 lead with 5:34 left on a 1-yard touchdown by Ty Johnson that followed a Ruggs fumble. The defense then came up with a fourth-down stop as Carr’s pass to Nelson Agholor fell incomplete in the end zone with 1:37 left to play.
But the Jets went three-and-out and the Raiders used two timeouts. They got the ball back with 35 seconds left at their own 39. On first down, Carr found tight end Darren Waller for a 15-yard gain. Waller owned the Jets all day, finishing with 13 catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
Carr spiked the ball to stop the clock. He then missed a wide-open Agholor deep on second down. That set up the third-and-10 from the 46 and Williams’ head-scratching call.
“I couldn’t believe they all-out blitzed us,” Carr said. “As soon as I saw it, I was thankful.”
The Jets are the only team to send eight or more pass rushers on a play in the last 30 seconds of a game this season, according to Next Gen Stats.
Williams did not speak to the media after the game. Assistant coaches are usually not available. That left others trying to explain the call.
“We were trying to create pressure,” Gase said. “[Carr] hadn’t done well with it all game. That’s what happened. We had a couple of free runners, but we didn’t get there.”
Maye, a team captain, was the most critical of Williams, saying repeatedly they should have been put in a better call.
“We fought hard to put ourselves in the position to win,” Maye said. “That’s the point in the game we’ve just got to be in a better call.”
Jackson, an undrafted rookie from Nebraska, showed accountability by meeting with reporters on a Zoom call.
“All I could think was, ‘Not me. I don’t want to be the reason.’ But I was,” Jackson said. “I’ve got to live with it. I’ve got to get better.”
The loss was heartbreaking for a Jets team that has not had many close games this year. They jumped out to leads of 7-0 and 13-7 in the first half, but three turnovers by Sam Darnold in the second quarter opened the door for the Raiders, and Las Vegas took a 17-13 lead into halftime. A 2-yard touchdown run by Carr in the third quarter stretched the lead to 24-13 and the Jets looked like they were well on their way to another loss.
Derek Carr celebrates the Raiders improbable win. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
They came back to life with a nine-play, 96-yard drive that stretched over the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth. They rode the legs of backup running backs Ty Johnson and Josh Adams, who were in the game in place of Frank Gore, who suffered a concussion on the second play of the game. The Jets ran for 206 yards and Johnson gained 102 yards, the first Jet to hit the 100-yard mark in two years.
Darnold ran the ball for a touchdown from the 4 and the Jets got a two-point conversion to make it 24-21.
Jets rookie cornerback Javelin Guidry then forced Ruggs to fumble and Maye recovered to give the Jets the ball at the Vegas 44 with 8:45 to play. Six plays later, Johnson scored from the 1 to put the Jets ahead 28-24 with 5:34 remaining.
The Jets stopped the Raiders after allowing them to drive to their 9 on a series aided by Jets penalties on a third down and a fourth down. But the Jets stopped Carr on fourth down and began celebrating, but it was premature.
“We should have won,” Darnold said. “We’ve had a few games this year where we haven’t had a chance and so to be able to have a game like that that you should have won at the end, those ones definitely hurt more than any.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Post-Trump, populists still have a big future in the GOP

Why conservative populism is stronger than ever — even without ...

With a month in the rearview mirror since the Americans headed to the polls, it’s clear that the election confirmed and crystallized a massive political realignment.
The multicultural left describes a nation balkanized along racial lines, but the emerging reality is quite a bit different. President Trump, despite a four-year effort to tar him as a bigot, made substantial inroads among young black men and Hispanics. At the same time, donor-class elites — Wall Street, Silicon Valley and corporate America writ large — broke overwhelmingly for the Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.
To those who, Rip Van Winkle-like, may have been asleep for the past 20 years, this may come as a surprise. Octogenarians who grew up in the New Deal era may be even more shocked. Long gone are the days where the Democratic Party was the political vehicle for the downtrodden, oppressed “little guy,” and the Republican Party the organ of conniving, Mr. Burns-esque plutocrats.
The reality, of course, is that today’s Democratic Party disproportionately represents the college-educated elite — purveyors of the addlebrained “woke” catechism, dispensers of New Green Deal, bottom-to-top redistributionist nonsense.
Meanwhile, it is the Republican Party that disproportionately represents a multiethnic, non-college-educated working class — the Rust Belt and Sun Belt “deplorables” of Hillary Clinton’s ire who, per Barack Obama, still cling desperately to their guns and religion.
Though it’s true that exit polling data suggest blacks and Hispanics didn’t quite mirror whites in breaking so sharply along the educated/non-educated line, it is still undeniable that class, not race, is the main line of fracture in our two-party political system.
Elites are often puzzled by this. Democratic elites, prone to word-vomiting the full litany of social-justice “woke”-isms, are often in denial as to how unpopular “defund the police” and the Green New Deal are with the public.
Republican elites, for their part, are still stubbornly moored to laissez-faire fundamentalism and limited government as an end in itself. That leaves them in denial as to how minuscule the political constituency is for a pro-corporate libertarianism detached from the day-to-day needs of the working class.
Even so, there is no putting this genie back in the bottle. America’s political realignment will not slow down any time soon.
Assuming the Electoral College formalizes Joe Biden as our next president, the next four years are potentially ripe for crossover opportunity. The beauty of an unfolding political realignment in which so much is in flux is that there may well be more Venn diagram overlap than meets the eye.
Conservatives must remain constantly vigilant about a far-left capture of the frail and deteriorating Biden, but it would also be a mistake to preemptively write off the possibility of any bipartisan cooperation whatsoever.
On economic matters, there is room for legislative deal-making on the need for an industrial policy that reshores strategic supply chains and spurs greater domestic investment in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Even before the pandemic, Republican populists were hawkish on China, wary of the downsides of free-trade absolutism and alert to the need for greater economic resilience on the home front. The damage wrought by a Chinese virus buoyed that wing of the GOP, giving it an unquestionable we-told-you-so Trump card.
Biden has voiced support for some variety of a pro-manufacturing industrial policy. Republican watchdogs should ensure that such a policy, if enacted, does not manifest itself in the form of cronyist, Solyndra-like boondoggles.
On Big Tech, too, there is strong bipartisan outrage at the status quo. Conservatives and progressives may be angry at Facebook and Twitter for different reasons. Yet it’s likely that there will be room to collaborate on antitrust reform or on reform of Section 230, the 1990s-era legal-immunity giveaway to the Big Tech giants. Partisans from both sides are increasingly coming around to the view that these goliaths must be reined in.
It’s unfortunate that Trump looks headed for an Electoral College defeat. The next four years could be rough. But there are always silver linings to be found amid the rubble.
Twitter: @Josh_Hammer


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Who is Kayla Nicole, girlfriend of Chiefs star Travis Kelce?

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Travis Kelce is celebrating his favorite fan this holiday season .
As the Kansas City Chiefs tight end , 31 , recently revealed , he ’ s looking to spoil on-again girlfriend Kayla Nicole this Christmas .
“ So obviously we ’ ve got the fam , ” Kelce said in an interview with the WNBA ’ s Chiney Ogwumike ( via TMZ ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely on the list.
” First linked in 2017 , Kayla and Kelce initially split over the summer but have since reunited .
Here ’ s what you need to know about the model-host who captured the five-time Pro Bowler ’ s heart .
Kayla has regularly shared clips from past event coverage , which has also included Lakers games for Lakers TV .
She also has her own YouTube channel with over 32,000 subscribers .
With over 448,000 followers and counting , Kayla regularly keeps fans up-to-date on her daily happenings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoots and hangouts with loved ones , Kayla also posts videos of her workouts .
Kayla is also the founder of the Strong is Sexy initiative , which is “ redefining sexy from the inside out.
” The page features workout tips and body-positive messages .
Count Kayla and Brittany Matthews , the pregnant fiancée of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes , as Kansas City ’ s biggest fans .
Ahead of the Chiefs ’ Super Bowl run last season , the ladies regularly posted pictures together at Arrowhead Stadium , where they posed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kayla sported a Chiefs sweater during Kansas City ’ s win over the Carolina Panthers , 33-31 .
She and Kelce know how to celebrate Following the Chiefs ’ Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers in February , Kayla and Kelce celebrated with a victory lap in Kansas City .
Joined by Mahomes and Matthews , the group sang Queen ’ s “ We Are the Champions ” as they rode through the city .
“ I just want to say that after today , I ’ m not driving anymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story at the time .
Kelce also took part in the “ Lombardi Luge , ” in which he chugged the contents of a Bud Light can from the NFL ’ s most coveted prize .

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Travis Kelce is celebrating his favorite fan this holiday season.
As the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 31, recently revealed, he’s looking to spoil on-again girlfriend Kayla Nicole this Christmas.
“So obviously we’ve got the fam,” Kelce said in an interview with the WNBA’s Chiney Ogwumike (via TMZ). “My girlfriend Kayla. Kayla is definitely on the list.”
First linked in 2017, Kayla and Kelce initially split over the summer but have since reunited.
Here’s what you need to know about the model-host who captured the five-time Pro Bowler’s heart.
She’s an on-air host
Lights, camera, Kayla!
Kayla has regularly shared clips from past event coverage, which has also included Lakers games for Lakers TV.
She also has her own YouTube channel with over 32,000 subscribers.
She’s got a massive Instagram following
With over 448,000 followers and counting, Kayla regularly keeps fans up to date on her daily happenings.
In addition to sharing photos from modeling shoots and hangouts with loved ones, Kayla posts videos of her workouts.
Kayla is also the founder of the Strong Is Sexy initiative, which is “redefining sexy from the inside out.” The page features workout tips and body-positive messages.
She’s friendly with a fellow Kansas City Chiefs WAG
Count Kayla and Brittany Matthews, the pregnant fiancée of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, as Kansas City’s biggest fans.
Ahead of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run last season, the ladies regularly posted pictures together at Arrowhead Stadium, where they posed on the field.
In November, Kayla sported a Chiefs sweater during Kansas City’s win over the Carolina Panthers, 33-31.
She and Kelce know how to celebrate
Following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers in February, Kayla and Kelce celebrated with a victory lap in Kansas City.
Joined by Mahomes and Matthews, the group sang Queen’s “We Are the Champions” as they rode through the city.
“I just want to say that after today, I’m not driving anymore,” Kayla posted to her Instagram story at the time.
Kelce also took part in the “Lombardi Luge,” in which he chugged the contents of a Bud Light can from the NFL’s most coveted prize.
In January 2021, Kayla also celebrated the Chiefs’ AFC Championship win by shotgunning a beer.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--LI day care owner arrested after serious injury to infant

A Long Island day care owner was arrested Saturday after a 10-month-old boy was seriously injured at her business , @ @ @ @ @ , 34 , proprietor of Kiddie Academy in Bethpage , is accused of falsifying a @ @ @ @ @ Sept. 24 incident in which the infant did not receive the proper care , according @ @ @ @ @ ’ s injury sparked a probe by the state Office of Children and Family Services @ @ @ @ @ s alleged wrongdoing , authorities said .
Police charged Rose with endangering the welfare of @ @ @ @ @ records and offering a false instrument for filing .
The day care owner must appear @ @ @ @ @ .

A Long Island day care owner was arrested Saturday after a 10-month-old boy was seriously injured at her business, police said.
Natalie Rose, 34, proprietor of Kiddie Academy in Bethpage, is accused of falsifying a state incident report after the Sept. 24 incident in which the infant did not receive the proper care, according to police.
The boy’s injury sparked a probe by the state Office of Children and Family Services, which uncovered Rose’s alleged wrongdoing, authorities said.
Police charged Rose with endangering the welfare of a child, falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing.
The day care owner must appear in court on Dec. 17.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--E-cigarette maker critics fume over concert series aimed at young people

Kiarra Clarisse , 22 , of Meritt Island , was arrested Tuesday on ...

Rolling Stone magazine and a fast-growing vaping brand are taking heat over a rooftop concert series that critics say is meant to make e-cigarettes look cool to kids.
Vuse — a vaping company owned by tobacco giant Reynolds American — joined forces with Rolling Stone to promote Rooftop Sessions, a run of three virtual concerts that were livestreamed from locations around New York City on Nov. 20.
“Our adult vapor consumers are looking for inspirational experiences and this is another example of Vuse delivering moments that speak to their enthusiasm,” Vuse senior vice president Leila Medeiros said in a Nov. 17 statement.
Critics contend the series is geared toward an audience that could easily include people under the legal smoking age of 21. It featured 20-minute sets from the rock band Cold War Kids, singer Elle King and rapper Oddisee. “Saturday Night Live” cast member Chloe Fineman played host, introducing each act from a waterfront location boasting views of the city skyline.
Vaping watchdogs say Vuse is taking a page straight from Big Tobacco’s playbook by sponsoring concerts clearly aimed at young people — something cigarette brands can’t get away with under federal law.
In addition to the choice of acts, observers pointed to the bright orange colors on the slickly designed Web page where Rolling Stone broadcast the shows. Vuse promoted the series heavily on its Instagram page, sharing 10 images and videos about it over nine days, including a shot of Cold War Kids that declared, “Indie is back on scene.” Another post featured an animation of an apartment building drawn to look like an amplifier, a design that also appeared on Rooftop Sessions-branded T-shirts and tote bags Vuse sold on its Web site.
“From the company who brought you Joe Camel, this is exactly the type of behavior they used and the government stopped because of its impact on youth,” Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told The Post, referring to Reynolds’ former cartoon mascot for Camel cigarettes.
“The fact that they are doing it for this new product is as clear an indication that they intend to replicate their marketing efforts to young people.”
Rolling Stone and Reynolds American defended the concerts, saying they were geared toward an adult audience in compliance with the law. The shows’ stated purpose was to “bring live music back to the people” and raise money for musicians unable to make a living because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Vuse looks to inspire creativity and celebrate the expression of the human spirit by sharing one of our passions — music — with adult fans who may have missed live concerts this year and who want to give back to the music community,” a Reynolds spokesperson told The Post. “We do not want our products in the hands of minors. Period.”
Concerns about vaping products catering to kids have dogged the industry for years. US market leader Juul has faced scrutiny for recruiting social-media influencers to promote its products. The Washington, DC-based company shut down its Facebook and Instagram accounts in 2018 and halted all broadcast, print and digital advertising last year.
The Food and Drug Administration has also called out other vaping companies who have put their products in packaging that imitates candy or snack brands, or features cartoon characters similar to SpongeBob SquarePants and the Powerpuff Girls.
In the case of Rooftop Sessions, advocates contend the promotion ran afoul of the FDA’s guidance for how e-cigarettes can be marketed — even though it’s not strictly illegal for vaping brands to sponsor concerts like it is for tobacco companies.“
Clearly Reynolds, who’s been in the cigarette business for a while, understands these regulations very closely and so they’re taking advantage of that,” said Lauren Lempert, a law and policy specialist at the University of California, San Francisco’s Center for Tobacco Control Research & Education.
“Maybe Rolling Stone isn’t quite the youth magazine that it was when I was a kid, but certainly it’s still bumping up against what’s illegal,” she added.
In guidance released early this year, the FDA said it would prioritize its enforcement efforts against several categories of unauthorized vaping products — including those “targeted to minors or whose marketing is likely to promote use” by minors.
E-cigarette-makers are also legally required to submit applications for federal marketing authorizations that must show their products will not lead young people and other nonusers to pick up vaping.
“One of the things the FDA is requiring is information about how these products, how these companies . . . will take steps to make sure that exactly what they’re doing now, as evidenced by this sponsorship, will not happen,” said Meredith Berkman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping e-Cigarettes, which has filed a complaint with the FDA about Vuse promoting the concerts.
“That’s sort of the absurdity — they are literally doing in full view what it is that they are required to say they won’t do,” Berkman added.
The FDA declined to comment on whether it’s investigating Vuse’s promotion, but the agency said it will take action whenever it spots a product targeted to kids.
“We will continue to use our regulatory authority to tackle this alarming crisis that’s affecting children, families, schools and communities,” an FDA spokesperson told The Post. “We will also continue to closely monitor data regarding youth usage of all e-cigarette products and adjust our enforcement priorities to address youth use as necessary.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Giants stun Seahawks for signature Joe Judge win

The Giants have won games this season under the direction of first-year head coach Joe Judge .
But not like @ @ @ @ @ previous four victories were mostly close and taut , with agonizingly no margin for error @ @ @ @ @ it went , again , Sunday in Seattle , but this was so very different @ @ @ @ @ victory for Judge .
He took his team across the country to face Russell Wilson @ @ @ @ @ a legit playoff and Super Bowl contender in the NFC .
The Giants were 10-point @ @ @ @ @ with backup Colt McCoy at quarterback .
The Giants found a way , incredibly .
@ @ @ @ @ for 60 minutes , got just enough out of McCoy and plenty out of running @ @ @ @ @ defense showed up early , in the middle and late , and it all came @ @ @ @ @ victory at Lumen Field .

Is this correct?
The Giants sunk to 1-7 at midseason and now sit at 5-7, in control of the NFC East, after the signature victory in the first year of the Joe Judge coaching regime. Jabrill Peppers explained the turnaround as no miracle, but rather, a course correction.
“We got a good group of guys,’’ the high-octane safety said, “and we got a damn good team here.’’
Can it be? Are the Giants actually damn good?
The Giants are no longer losing. Yes, their previous four victories were mostly close and taut, with no margin for error. That is the way it went Sunday in Seattle, but this was so very different, given the opponent.
This was a groundbreaking moment for Judge. He took his team on its longest road trip of the season to face Russell Wilson and the first-place Seahawks, a legit playoff team and Super Bowl contender in the NFC. The Giants were 10-point underdogs and had to go with backup Colt McCoy at quarterback.
The Giants found a way, incredibly. They took it to Wilson for 60 minutes, got just enough out of McCoy and plenty out of running back Wayne Gallman. Their defense showed up early, in the middle and late, and it all came together for a shocking 17-12 victory at Lumen Field.
“You don’t win a lot of games when you have zero points at halftime,’’ McCoy said.
Colt McCoy (r.) celebrates throwing his second touchdown in the Giants win over the Seahawks. AP
No you do not, and the Giants did it by hearkening back to a long-lost franchise formula of power running and backbreaking defense. Their only two touchdowns were scored by 31-year-old Alfred Morris, unemployed until the Giants came calling in late September with a practice-squad invite.
At halftime, the Giants trailed 5-0 and looked as if they might not score a point all day. By the end of the game, McCoy was a winner as the replacement for injured Daniel Jones, and Patrick Graham, the Giants defensive coordinator, must be hailed for the way he put the elusive Wilson in a bottle and never let him out.
“We always joke around about how Pat is like a computer,’’ surging defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “He’s just like a genius when it comes to scheming.’’
The Giants own a four-game winning streak and strengthened their grip on first place. The Eagles (3-8-1) were thrashed in Green Bay and Washington (4-7) and the Cowboys (3-8) are heavy underdogs this week.
McCoy (13 of 22, 105 yards) did not win the game for the Giants. More importantly, he did not lose it. Gallman erupted for a career-high 135 rushing yards, part of a 190-yard ground game that got cooking (158 yards) in the second half. The Giants averaged an outrageous 7.9 yards on their 20 runs after halftime.
Wilson was 27-for-43 for 263 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Seahawks (8-4). Game-breaking receiver DK Metcalf did not break open this game, with five receptions for 80 yards, with cornerback James Bradberry never far away.
Down five, Wilson got the ball back with 1:48 remaining and the Giants were without Blake Martinez, their do-everything inside linebacker, out with a lower-back injury. Williams, completing a maestro (2.5 sacks) performance, dropped Wilson on third down. On fourth-and-18, Wilson put one high into the air. Bradberry knocked the ball away and the Giants had their upset.
“We put them through a lot of stuff and I’m proud they get to receive some tangible results for their hard work,’’ Judge said.
McCoy admitted he needed to “calm down, take a breath’’ after a shaky first half — the first start in 14 months for the 34-year-old. He did, because the Giants ran it down the Seahawks’ throats. Gallman’s career-long 60-yard run set everything in motion and Morris finished things off with a 4-yard touchdown run. Ahead 6-5, the Giants went for two, and McCoy found Sterling Shepard to make it 8-5.
Joe Joe is congratulated after the Giants win. AP
Wilson was pressured by rookie Carter Coughlin on fourth-and-1 for a key stop. The Giants took over on the Seattle 48-yard line and went to work, with Gallman on runs of 13 and 23 setting up McCoy’s play-fake to Morris for a wide-open 4-yard touchdown flip to increase the Giants lead to 14-5 after Graham Gano missed his first extra point of the season.
More defense: A drop by running back Chris Carson deflected into the air and rookie Darnay Holmes came away with an interception on the Seattle 39-yard line. Gano’s 48-yard field goal gave the Giants their 17-5 lead with 9:50 to go.
Wilson came back to find Carson for a 28-yard touchdown connection to bring the Seahawks within 17-12 with 6:09 remaining.
The Seahawks got no closer. The defense, on cue, made sure of that.
“We walked in here confident, I’m not going to lie to you,’’ Peppers said. “The team had a different swagger about them, a different juice … because we knew if we played our brand of football we could shock a lot of people.’’


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Goldman Sachs eying Florida move for key division, report says

Goldman Sachs is eying a move to Florida for one of its key divisions — in what could be yet another major blow to New York City ’ s position at the helm of the financial industry , a new report says .
The financial titan is considering relocating its $ 8 billion-revenue-generating asset-management arm to Palm Beach County or Fort Lauderdale , checking out potential real estate , chatting up local officials and weighing the Sunshine State ’ s tax advantages , sources told Bloomberg .
The potential development comes on the heels of several other investment companies moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and battering New York ’ s bottom line with the loss of white-collar jobs .
There is now the most office space empty in Manhattan since right after 9/11 , Bloomberg said .
As The Post reported in October , billionaire Paul Singer has decided to move the headquarters of his hedge fund Elliott Management from Manhattan to Florida , according to sources , while Carl Icahn also made the switch for his offices .
Florida offers tax advantages — not to mention warmer weather appreciated by at least some Manhattan-weary workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more work can be done remotely than ever before , too , so there is less of a need for costly offices , sources told Bloomberg .
Still , no decision has been made by the Goldman Sachs Group , Inc. , which is considering Dallas , Texas , too , for its assets-management division , site said .
“ We are executing on the strategy of locating more jobs in high-value locations throughout the US , but we have no specific plans to announce at this time , ” a company rep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York ’ s economy has been reeling from the coroanvirus , as companies battle decreased business amid government restrictions and public health fears .
The securities and trading industry is vital to its survival .
Last year , the industry accounted for 18 percent , or more than $ 15 billion , of collected state taxes , and 6 percent of New York City taxes collected .

Goldman Sachs is eyeing a move to Florida for one of its key divisions — in what could be yet another major blow to New York City’s position at the helm of the financial industry, a new report says.
The financial titan is considering relocating its $8 billion-revenue-generating asset management arm to Palm Beach County or Fort Lauderdale, checking out potential real estate, chatting up local officials and weighing the Sunshine State’s tax advantages, sources told Bloomberg.
The potential development comes on the heels of several other investment companies moving from the Big Apple down South — and battering New York’s bottom line with the loss of white-collar jobs.
Manhattan now has the most office space empty since right after 9/11, Bloomberg said.
As The Post reported in October, billionaire Paul Singer has decided to move the headquarters of his hedge fund Elliott Management from Manhattan to Florida, according to sources, while Carl Icahn also made the switch for his offices.
Florida offers tax advantages — not to mention warmer weather appreciated by at least some Manhattan-weary workers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that more work can be done remotely than ever before, too, so there is less of a need for costly offices, sources told Bloomberg.
Still, no decision has been made by the Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which is considering Dallas, Texas, too, for its assets management division, the site said.
“We are executing on the strategy of locating more jobs in high-value locations throughout the US, but we have no specific plans to announce at this time,” a company rep told Bloomberg in a statement.
New York’s economy has been reeling from the coroanvirus, as companies battle decreased business amid government restrictions and public health fears.
The securities and trading industry is vital to its survival.
Last year, the industry accounted for 18 percent, or more than $15 billion, of collected state taxes, and 6 percent of New York City taxes collected.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Fresh success at Hudson Yards shows how NYC wins with rezoning

It ’ s battle stations at the Crossroads of the World , where ...

As 2020 nears its eagerly awaited expiration, four giant, very different news-making companies share an overlooked, common thread. Can you guess what it is?
Pfizer was first of several pharmaceutical firms to announce the development of a successful COVID-19 vaccine. BlackRock hedge-fund honchos are replacing Goldman Sachs execs as top White House economic advisers. The National Hockey League is struggling to launch a 2020-21 season. And Facebook is in the news nearly every day for just about everything.
What’s the connection? All the companies are moving to Hudson Yards, the far-west-side Manhattan district that gets trashed in reactionary circles for everything from exaggerated “subsidies” to the fact that it doesn’t resemble Rockefeller Center.
The pharmaceutical firm, the investment bank and the NHL are moving their headquarters from other parts of town into buildings by three different Yards-area developers — Pfizer at Tishman Speyer’s Spiral, BlackRock to Related Companies’ 50 Hudson Yards and the NHL to Brookfield’s One Manhattan West.
Facebook, meanwhile, merely leased a whopping 1.5 million square feet in three buildings at Related’s complex, one of the largest office deals in several years. (Related’s 28-acre “Hudson Yards” is part of the 360-acre Yards District.)
There’s a lesson in the migration of so many of-the-moment companies to a slice of Manhattan that 10 years ago was a backwater of prostitution, tire-repair shops and unsightly sunken rail yards.
In today’s increasingly development-hostile climate, the moves dramatize the power of rezoning to fundamentally alter the city’s destiny for the better and bring revitalization even amid the gloom of an economically destructive pandemic.
The word “rezoning” puts some people out like a light. But for decades, much of the city was straitjacketed by antiquated rules to preserve manufacturing long after factories moved away. Efforts to bring neighborhoods into the modern world began under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and, surprisingly, continued under “progressive” Mayor Bill de Blasio.
A 2005 rezoning to allow larger, non-factory buildings on the Far West Side catalyzed its transformation into a great commercial district, as well as a new locale for homes, stores, hotels and restaurants. More recent rezoning also facilitated the development of One Vanderbilt near Grand Central Terminal, a game-changer for Midtown East.
But rezoning requires public review. It’s increasingly stymied by resistance over “gentrification” and “out-of-scale” construction (the latter argument would have prevented the Empire State Building from getting built).
The movement killed off City Hall’s worthy proposals to rezone 300 blocks of Brooklyn’s Bushwick, the Industry City site in the same borough’s Sunset Park and Lenox Terrace in Harlem. Others hang in the balance as they await court decisions.
Unlike at Hudson Yards, those hotly contested initiatives weren’t meant to yield giant skyscrapers. They were tailored to encourage affordable-housing creation by requiring new projects to include cheaper apartments. But the principle was the same: to unlock neighborhood potential and allow them to flourish anew. Unfortunately, the idea is poison to activists and to certain pols who’d prefer to preserve the city in aspic.
Hudson Yards has defied the reactionary tendency, however. And let’s hope President-elect Joe Biden is paying attention. A hockey site described him as “the first serious hockey fan” to occupy the Oval Office. If we’re lucky, the NHL’s move to Hudson Yards will spur federal action that could boost revitalization.
City and state desperately need to replace the crumbling Hudson River rail tunnels that feed into the Yards; tracks emerging from the tunnels remain visible just west of The Vessel and Related’s new towers. The Trump administration has balked at helping to pay for the job.
Biden might be more inclined to pony up the dough. The sight of his beloved NHL’s home amid gleaming new towers might be just the thing to make him deliver it.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Biden picks California AG Xavier Becerra as health secretary

President-elect Joe Biden has tapped California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be his health secretary .
Becerra , a fierce @ @ @ @ @ Act , would be the first Latino to lead the US Department of Health and @ @ @ @ @ s confirmed by the Senate .
As California ’ s attorney general , the 62-year-old @ @ @ @ @ Democratic states defending Obamacare from the Trump administration in a Supreme Court case that is @ @ @ @ @ year .
Becerra served 12-terms in the House of Representatives , where he played a @ @ @ @ @ the Affordable Care Act through Congress .
Much of his motivation , he said at @ @ @ @ @ high number of his Southern California uninsured constituents .

President-elect Joe Biden has tapped California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and named the top members of his administration’s health care team that will tackle the coronavirus pandemic when he takes office in January.
Along with Becerra, Biden on Monday nominated Dr. Vivek Murthy as surgeon general, Dr. Rochelle Walensky as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith to lead the COVID-19 equity task force.
Dr. Anthony Fauci will be Biden’s chief adviser on the coronavirus and will also continue to serve as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Jeff Zients was selected to be the coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and counselor to the president, and Natalie Quillian, a former Obama White House and Pentagon adviser, will be the deputy coordinator of the COVID-19 Response.
Becerra, a fierce defender of the Affordable Care Act, would be the first Latino to lead HHS if he’s confirmed by the Senate.
As California’s attorney general, the 62-year-old has led the effort of Democratic states defending Obamacare from the Trump administration in a Supreme Court case that is expected to be decided next year.
Becerra served 12-terms in the House of Representatives, where he played a vital role helping to pass the Affordable Care Act through Congress.Much of his motivation, he
said at the time, was the high number of his Southern California uninsured constituents.
Murthy served as the surgeon general in the Obama administration from 2014 to 2017 and helped lead the response to the Ebola and Zika viruses and the opioid crisis. A physician, he has been the co-chair of Biden’s coronavirus advisory board during the transition.
Walensky is currently the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is the former chair of the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council at the National Institutes of Health and was an adviser to the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
Nunez-Smith is an associate professor of medicine, public health and management and associate dean for health equity research at Yale School of Medicine. She is also a co-chair of the president-election coronavirus advisory board.
Zients was the director of the National Economic Council, acting director and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the first Chief Performance Officer of the United States in the Obama administration. He is the co-chair of the Biden transition.
Quillian is a former White House and Pentagon senior adviser. She was also the deputy campaign manager for Biden’s presidential bid.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Paycheck Protection Program wasn’t perfect, but still a huge jobs saver

WASHINGTON — President Trump is ready to sign a new , ...

The Paycheck Protection Program was expensive, complicated, unfair and graft-prone. But it worked.
The perception of a boondoggle is hardening. But before we slam Congress and President Trump for trying something new, let’s consider the big picture.
In late March, as Congress prepared the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, it became clear that pandemic-related shutdowns would cost millions of jobs. In April alone, the country shed 19.4 million jobs, more than twice as many jobs lost during the 2008 financial crisis, and 15.2 percent of the total.
To avoid turning a temporary, if long, health emergency into an indefinite Depression, Congress had to act. Lawmakers revived two old tools: unemployment benefits and aid to state governments.
But they also did something different: try to prevent layoffs in the first place.
The novel Paycheck Protection Program paid $523 billion in low-interest loans to 5.2 million small businesses. The businesses used the money to help pay wages for more than 50 million people and cover other expenses, such as rent. The loans are forgivable, provided employers didn’t lay off workers during the period the money covered, either eight or 24 weeks.
So what’s the problem? Last week, The New York Times, parsing newly released data, opined that the program was emblematic of inequality, with “the biggest sums going to a sliver of the companies in need.” To wit: 1 percent of the program’s borrowers took in a quarter of the money.
But small-business size can vary from one worker to 500. So a business with 250 employees would inevitably get a bigger share than a business with two. If the point was to save jobs, saving 100 jobs at one firm is just as good as saving 100 jobs at 50 firms.
Next, Congress let restaurants circumvent small-business limits, allowing them to take loans if they had fewer than 500 employees per location. Big chains, like TGI Friday’s, borrowed money. For some reason, the Times is particularly annoyed that CNN mogul Ted Turner’s steakhouse chain got funds.
Again, so what? Despite mutterings about cronyism, Congress was justified in carving out an exemption for restaurants, which have been disproportionately devastated. Americans couldn’t eat with a mask on.
Third, Trump supposedly benefited indirectly from the program, because commercial tenants of his properties used PPP money to pay rent. This, too, is absurd. The government shouldn’t discriminate against a business based on who the landlord is. Should a person who lives in a Kushner apartment be ineligible for jobless insurance, because she might use it to pay rent?
Then, there are tales of rich companies that got PPP loans — like the law firm of David Boies, Al Gore’s election lawyer. But the legal-services industry did lose 54,000 jobs in April. Law firms employ event planners and investigators who travel the country to conduct in-person discovery — activities curtailed by the pandemic. Congress couldn’t have excluded the industry, so was it just supposed to exclude companies run by semi-famous people?
The most substantive arguments against PPP are that it helped firms that wouldn’t have laid off workers, and that the program only delayed, rather than prevented, layoffs.
Sure, absent PPP, some firms likely would have found a way to retain workers. Likewise, without unemployment insurance, some individual workers would find another job quickly.
Across the total number of firms and people, though, the argument doesn’t hold. Does anyone think Ted Turner was going to pay employees at shuttered restaurants, out of the goodness of his heart?
As for delaying rather than preventing: Sometimes, a delay is good. The United States didn’t need another 12 million layoffs in April, meaning a 25 percent jobless rate.
If PPP only meant that some restaurants laid off workers in August rather than in May, that delay relieved pressure on overwhelmed state unemployment systems.
Longer term, transferring part of the burden of unemployment costs to the federal, rather than state, governments will relieve financial pressure on all small business, which must eventually replenish state unemployment-benefits coffers.
Finally, workers laid off after PPP expired get more weeks of unemployment benefits, as they started later.
PPP was not perfect — it was too complicated, and some businesses did take undue advantage. But it didn’t fail small businesses or the country.
Nicole Gelinas is a contributing editor of City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Sam Darnold’s rebound for Jets couldn’t overcome brutal stretch

Sam Darnold threw a touchdown for the first time in 10 weeks Sunday, then did it again.
And then the embattled quarterback turned the ball over on three straight possessions in the second quarter, making the Jets’ comeback that much more difficult before they ultimately dropped a crushing 31-28 loss to the Raiders at MetLife Stadium.
Darnold rebounded in the second half and even scored his second rushing touchdown of the season before the Jets took the late lead, only to see it disappear on Henry Ruggs’ game-winning, 46-yard touchdown catch with five seconds left. But his three turnovers — one interception and two fumbles — loomed large in the tight loss.
“Obviously the turnovers hurt us,” said Darnold, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. “Just gotta take better care of the ball. When I feel pressure, get away from it or get the ball out of my hands.”
Sam Darnold walks of the field after the Jets’ loss to the Raiders. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
While the 28 points tied a Jets season-high, Darnold fell to 0-8 as the starting quarterback this year, with the loss bringing them one step closer to possibly drafting his successor, Trevor Lawrence.
Darnold came out strong on the opening possession, putting together a 12-play, 74-yard drive in which he converted three third downs. The last of those came on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder, which was Darnold’s first touchdown pass since Week 3 against the Colts. He missed four games with a shoulder injury in between, but had gone 19 quarters without a touchdown pass before connecting with Crowder.
The duo hooked up again for a 6-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter as the Jets took a 13-7 lead, but it went south from there.
On the Jets’ following drive, Clelin Ferrell beat Mekhi Becton off the edge and strip-sacked Darnold. The next drive ended when Darnold tried to squeeze a pass to Breshad Perriman and got picked off by Trayvon Mullen. And then on the Jets’ final drive of the first half, Ferrell got to Darnold again for another strip sack, at which point the Raiders led 17-13.
“[Darnold] did some good stuff,” coach Adam Gase said. “I’m sure when we go back and watch it, we can clean a few things up, put ourselves in a better position. … It was unfortunate we had the two sack-fumbles. The pick we definitely can clean up.”
After two three-and-outs to begin the second half, Darnold came back to lead a scoring drive capped off by his 4-yard touchdown run and hit Denzel Mims for the two-point conversion to close within 24-21. Ty Johnson later capped off a big rushing day with a 1-yard touchdown to put the Jets up 28-24 before it all fell apart.
“We have no choice, we gotta move on,” Darnold said. “We gotta learn from it and continue to get better. I really feel like this group is getting better as the season goes on. We just gotta continue to do that.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--RXR Realty has its work cut out to fill 5 Times Square

It ’ s battle stations at the Crossroads of the World , where Scott Rechler ’ s RXR Realty is ramping up to re-fill its 39-story , 1.1 million square-foot 5 Times Square , which will soon be empty .
It opened at the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street in 2002 as one of the quartet of commercial giants that defined the “ new Times Square.
” Ernst & Young was former owner Boston Properties ’ anchor tenant .
But in 2022 , EY , as it ’ s now known , will move to Manhattan West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
RXR has its work cut out now that leasing has slowed to a crawl , Times Square remains mostly desolate , and companies are putting oodles of space up for sublease .
RXR , which owns the tower in a joint venture with investor David Werner , is spending $ 50 million more on upgrades — notably , an elevator connection for the first time between the lobby and the huge subway station below .
RXR managing director Bill Elder and his team of brokers politely chuckled when we asked our dreaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crazy to think it can be done ?
Elder assured us , “ We ’ re not out of our minds .
With the election over and the vaccines announced , people are starting to become re-engaged with the market .
Remember , there were 19 million square feet of [ corporate space ] requirements before the pandemic , and most of it is still out there .
“ I think by mid-year 2021 , a lot of people will be outsourcing solutions to their space needs.
” Joshua Strauss , leader of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21,000 square feet of retail space , agreed , “ We can take our time putting together our market approach in a very deliberate way.
” RXR executive vice-president Whitney Arcaro concurred .
“ We are fortunate to be an institutional owner that can take advantage of the lead time , ” she said .
RXR ’ s portfolio boasts 26 million square feet of metro-area offices , of which 19 million square feet are in the city .
The landlord ’ s confidence in 5 Times Square is based on its central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor plates of 31,000 square feet with floor-to-ceiling windows .
In addition to the new subway link , RXR is replacing obsolescent exterior signage with giant LED displays , redesigning the lobby , and creating a tenants ’ amenity center to be managed by a big-name food-and-beverage operator .
RXR must compete for office tenants with newer properties — including in the Hudson Yard-area towers and at 425 Park Ave .
But 5 Times Square ’ s rents will run from $ 80- $ 100 per square foot on higher floors — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations .
CBRE ’ s Robert Alexander , Ryan Alexander , Michael Affronti and Taylor Callaghan will sift offers .
Strauss declined to cite asking rents for the stores .
He said tenants will likely be large corporate users , including “ experiential ” venues , entertainment companies and an array of traditional retailers .
“ We ’ re not interested in landing the first tenant who comes along , the bottom feeders , ” he said .
“ We are patient.
” The Brooklyn Navy Yard scored a salvo of new leases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet .
The city-owned , 300-acre contemporary industrial park has also seen more than 81,000 square feet of renewals .
The “ vast majority ” of the Yard ’ s total 5 million square feet are leased , according to Navy Yard chief development officer Johanna Greenbaum .
Rents at many Yard buildings run about $ 40 per square foot .
But higher numbers are in store for top floors of what are known as Building 303 and Building 77 , which are hitting the market for the first time .
CBRE ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named the leasing agent this week .
Up for grabs are the 50,000 square-foot 15th floor of Building 303 and , at Building 77 , the 70,000 square-foot 15th floor as well as 8,000 square feet indoors and 16,500 square feet of outdoor roof space on 16 .
Gerla is targeting tech and creative companies , many of whose employees “ live close to the Navy Yard , some within walking distance , ” he said .
The complex ’ s glam properties are Steiner Studios and the new office building Dock 72 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the Yard ’ s historic heart .
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation earmarked $ 187 million to convert jumbo Building 77 from a former US Navy facility into a design and light manufacturing hub .
Building 303 , in the Admirals Row section developed by studio founder Doug Steiner , opened this fall for light manufacturing and creative tenants .
Greenbaum attributed the Yards ’ leasing success to close cooperation with tenants during the pandemic and to “ the proximity of workers , a huge contributing factor .
The creative workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Johanna has done an incredible job of creating a real urban eco-system ” out of the Yard ’ s diverse tenant mix .
For example , women ’ s apparel brand Lafayette 148 employs creative designers and seamstresses “ who all live in Brooklyn , ” Greenbaum said .
Other recent signings include Danish footwear and leather retailer ECCO ’ s first studio outside Denmark , start-up electric motorcycle maker Tarform , and women-owned jeweler Catbird .
And at One Vanderbilt … The insatiable leasing machine plows on at SL Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new office tenant is executive search/advisory firm Heidrick & Struggles , which just signed a 12-year lease for 36,031 square feet on the entire 25th floor .
The deal brings the 77-story , 1.7 million square-foot skyscraper ’ s office floors to 70.1 percent leased .
The largest tenants include TD Securities , TD Bank , Carlyle Group and McDermott Will & Emery .
There ’ s a substantial new retail lease as well .
One Medical , a brand of 1Life Healthcare , signed for 4,924 square feet on the ground and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary care and other health services .

It’s battle stations at the Crossroads of the World, where Scott Rechler’s RXR Realty is ramping up to re-fill its 39-story, 1.1 million square-foot 5 Times Square, which will soon be empty.
It opened at the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street in 2002 as one of the quartet of commercial giants that defined the “new Times Square.” Ernst & Young was former owner Boston Properties’ anchor tenant.
But in 2022, EY, as it’s now known, will move to Manhattan West. The retail spaces are already vacant. RXR has its work cut out now that leasing has slowed to a crawl, Times Square remains mostly desolate, and companies are putting oodles of space up for sublease.
RXR, which owns the tower in a joint venture with investor David Werner, is spending $50 million more on upgrades — notably, an elevator connection for the first time between the lobby and the huge subway station below.
RXR managing director Bill Elder and his team of brokers politely chuckled when we asked our dreaded, pandemic-times question:
Are you guys crazy to think it can be done?
Elder assured us, “We’re not out of our minds. With the election over and the vaccines announced, people are starting to become re-engaged with the market. Remember, there were 19 million square feet of [corporate space] requirements before the pandemic, and most of it is still out there.
“I think by mid-year 2021, a lot of people will be outsourcing solutions to their space needs.”
Joshua Strauss, leader of a Newmark team on board to market 21,000 square feet of retail space, agreed, “We can take our time putting together our market approach in a very deliberate way.”
RXR executive vice-president Whitney Arcaro concurred. “We are fortunate to be an institutional owner that can take advantage of the lead time,” she said. RXR’s portfolio boasts 26 million square feet of metro-area offices, of which 19 million square feet are in the city.
The landlord’s confidence in 5 Times Square is based on its central location, mass-transit proximity, and column-free floor plates of 31,000 square feet with floor-to-ceiling windows.
In addition to the new subway link, RXR is replacing obsolescent exterior signage with giant LED displays, redesigning the lobby, and creating a tenants’ amenity center to be managed by a big-name food-and-beverage operator.
RXR must compete for office tenants with newer properties — including in the Hudson Yard-area towers and at 425 Park Ave.
But 5 Times Square’s rents will run from $80-$100 per square foot on higher floors — a bargain compared with the cost at other locations. CBRE’s Robert Alexander, Ryan Alexander, Michael Affronti and Taylor Callaghan will sift offers.
Strauss declined to cite asking rents for the stores. He said tenants will likely be large corporate users, including “experiential” venues, entertainment companies and an array of traditional retailers.
“We’re not interested in landing the first tenant who comes along, the bottom feeders,” he said. “We are patient.”
Brooklyn Navy Yard finding tenants
The Brooklyn Navy Yard scored a salvo of new leases since March — a whopping 162,428 square feet. The city-owned, 300-acre contemporary industrial park has also seen more than 81,000 square feet of renewals.
The “vast majority” of the Yard’s total 5 million square feet are leased, according to Navy Yard chief development officer Johanna Greenbaum. Rents at most Navy Yard buildings are below $40 per square foot.
Rendering of Building 77’s interior
But but $40 psf is the target for top floors of what are known as Building 303 and Building 77, which are hitting the market for the first time.
CBRE’s Brad Gerla is expected to be named the leasing agent this week. Up for grabs are the 50,000 square-foot 15th floor of Building 303 and, at Building 77, the 70,000 square-foot 15th floor as well as 8,000 square feet indoors and 16,500 square feet of outdoor roof space on 16.
Gerla is targeting tech and creative companies, many of whose employees “live close to the Navy Yard, some within walking distance,” he said.
The complex’s glam properties are Steiner Studios and the new office building Dock 72. But repurposed World War II-era buildings are the Yard’s historic heart.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation earmarked $187 million to convert jumbo Building 77 from a former US Navy facility into a design and light manufacturing hub. Building 303, in the Admirals Row section developed by studio founder Doug Steiner, opened this fall for light manufacturing and creative tenants.
Greenbaum attributed the Yards’ leasing success to close cooperation with tenants during the pandemic and to “the proximity of workers, a huge contributing factor. The creative workforce largely lives in Brooklyn.”
Gerla said, “Johanna has done an incredible job of creating a real urban eco-system” out of the Yard’s diverse tenant mix. For example, women’s apparel brand Lafayette 148 employs creative designers and seamstresses “who all live in Brooklyn,” Greenbaum said.
Other recent signings include Danish footwear and leather retailer ECCO’s first studio outside Denmark, start-up electric motorcycle maker Tarform, and women-owned jeweler Catbird.
And at One Vanderbilt …
The insatiable leasing machine plows on at SL Green’s One Vanderbilt. The latest new office tenant is executive search/advisory firm Heidrick & Struggles, which just signed a 12-year lease for 36,031 square feet on the entire 25th floor.
The deal brings the 77-story, 1.7 million square-foot skyscraper’s office floors to 70.1 percent leased. The largest tenants include TD Securities, TD Bank, Carlyle Group and McDermott Will & Emery.
There’s a substantial new retail lease as well. One Medical, a brand of 1Life Healthcare, signed for 4,924 square feet on the ground and second floors. One Medical offers membership-based primary care and other health services.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Floyd Mayweather announces exhibition fight vs. Logan Paul

Floyd Mayweather is returning to the ring — to fight a YouTube star .
Mayweather , the undefeated retired boxing superstar , announced on Instagram Sunday that he will step back into the squared circle to fight Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition match on Feb. 20 .
The event , which has reportedly been in the works for a while , will be exclusively available on Fanmio pay-per-view .
More than a week ago , Paul ’ s brother Jake Paul knocked out former Knicks guard Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. undercard , and the internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result .
Everyone from Conor McGregor to the San Jose Sharks ’ Evander Kane has been lining up to get a crack at Paul .
But the focus has shifted to the elder Paul .
The 25-year-old Logan will face Mayweather , a five-division winner with 50 wins and 27 KO ’ s under his belt .
Mayweather ’ s most recent fight — excluding an exhibition against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa last year — was against UFC star McGregor in August 2017 .
Mayweather won by a 10th-round TKO .
Mayweather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full-time boxer since September 2015 , when he defeated Andre Berto by unanimous decision .
Earlier that year he beat Manny Pacquiao , also by unanimous decision .

Floyd Mayweather is returning to the ring — to fight a YouTube star.
Mayweather, the undefeated retired boxing superstar, announced on Instagram Sunday that he will step back into the squared circle to fight Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition match on Feb. 20. The event, which has reportedly been in the works for a while, will be exclusively available on Fanmio pay-per-view.
More than a week ago, Paul’s brother Jake Paul knocked out former Knicks guard Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. undercard, and the internet personality garnered a heap of challengers as a result. Everyone from Conor McGregor to the San Jose Sharks’ Evander Kane has been lining up to get a crack at Paul.
But the focus has shifted to the elder Paul. The 25-year-old Logan will face Mayweather, a five-division winner with 50 wins and 27 KOs under his belt. Mayweather’s most recent fight — excluding an exhibition against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa last year — was against UFC star McGregor in August 2017. Mayweather won by a 10th-round TKO.
Mayweather, 43, hasn’t fought a full-time boxer since September 2015, when he defeated Andre Berto by unanimous decision. Earlier that year, he beat Manny Pacquiao, also by unanimous decision.
Logan Paul fought British YouTube star KSI last year, losing a six-round split decision in Los Angeles.


newyorkpost--2020-12-06--Laugh, don’t scream, over AOC’s ‘socialist merchandise’

Will you forgive us for being more amused than outraged that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is selling $ 58 “ Tax the Rich ” sweatshirts ?
New York ’ s most famous Democratic Socialist clearly embraces all the slogans on her new line of apparel , from “ Abolish ICE ” to “ Drink water & don ’ t be racist.
” And she is the mother of the Green New Deal , so why shouldn ’ t she sell her bourgeois fans an organic GND baby onesie ( $ 25 ) or dog collar ( $ 17 ) ?
Plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from $ 65 after Twitter started calling her a hypocrite .
Yes , the swag reeks of materialism , which socialists are supposed to detest ( unless it ’ s scientific materialism ! )
— but , hey , she only raked in $ 17.3 million in donations this last campaign cycle and that ’ s hardly enough to remake America .
If the folks with the spare cash to waste on this stuff want to pay her so they can push her ideology — well , it ’ s OK to exploit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lenin himself spoke of capitalists selling their enemy the rope to hang them with .
He ’ d probably smile on AOC ’ s trademark commodification of Democratic Socialism .

Will you forgive us for being more amused than outraged that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is selling $58 “Tax the Rich” sweatshirts?
New York’s most famous Democratic Socialist clearly embraces all the slogans on her new line of apparel, from “Abolish ICE” to “Drink water & don’t be racist.” And she is the mother of the Green New Deal, so why shouldn’t she sell her bourgeois fans an organic GND baby onesie ($25) or dog collar ($17)?
Plus, she did mark the sweatshirts down from $65 after Twitter started calling her a hypocrite.
Yes, the swag reeks of materialism, which socialists are supposed to detest (unless it’s scientific materialism!) — but, hey, she only raked in $17.3 million in donations this last campaign cycle and that’s hardly enough to remake America. If the folks with the spare cash to waste on this stuff want to pay her so they can push her ideology — well, it’s OK to exploit the rich, right?
Heck, Lenin himself spoke of capitalists selling their enemy the rope to hang them with. He’d probably smile on AOC’s trademark commodification of Democratic Socialism.


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--Fantasy football injury update Week 13: Brandin Cooks, Frank Gore

The Jets may have found a running game during their ...

Sunday of NFL Week 13 was (thankfully) a quieter day on the injury front.
Running back Frank Gore suffered a concussion and receivers Brandin Cooks and Tyler Lockett were examined for concussions while running backs Darrell Henderson and Joshua Kelley suffered knee injuries. Quarterback Brandon Allen sustained a chest injury.
Here’s a recap of the biggest injuries to players across the league and how it could impact fantasy football heading into the playoffs:
Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans (head)
Cooks had a scary moment during Sunday’s game against the Colts. The receiver — who has suffered a number of concussions in the past — was evaluated for a concussion during the third quarter of Sunday’s game. He was supposed to take over as the Texans’ No. 1 option with Will Fuller suspended for six games and caught five of eight targets for 65 yards. Keke Coutee — a popular Week 13 waiver add — eclipsed Cooks’ performance and caught eight of nine targets for 141 yards and Chad Hansen caught five of seven passes for 101 yards.
Cooks was eventually cleared for return, indicating the injury was not serious and should not force him to miss any time. That said, Hansen could be an interesting waiver add in deeper leagues with the Texans playing shorthanded.
Frank Gore, RB, New York Jets (concussion)
Gore suffered a concussion on the second play of the Jets’ 12th loss on Sunday and would not return. He finished with one carry for 2 yards and was replaced by Ty Johnson and Josh Adams. Johnson shouldered the majority of the workload and saw 22 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 13 yards, while Adams saw eight carries for 74 yards. Gore was expected to see a big role in this game with La’Mical Perine still on injured reserve. If he were to miss time, it appears that Johnson would be the preferred add out of the Jets’ backfield.
Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks and New York Jets running back Frank Gore Getty Images
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks (head)
Lockett was evaluated for a concussion early in Sunday’s loss to the Giants after a hard hit by linebacker Devante Downs. He was knocked face down and was tended to on the field before being helped to the medical tent, but was surprisingly cleared for return. He ended the game with six catches on nine targets for 63 yards and should be fine moving.
Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams (knee)
Henderson suffered a knee injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. He finished with three carries for 49 yards and a touchdown and caught two of three targets for 25 yards. In his absence, rookie Cam Akers picked up 21 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for 22 yards; Malcolm Brown saw just three carries for -3 yards, and a catch for 30 yards. It’s unclear how serious Henderson’s injury is, but Akers should be considered Los Angeles’ main running back. Akers should be rostered in all leagues moving forward.
Brandon Allen, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (chest)
Allen suffered a chest injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss against the Dolphins. He finished completing 11 of 19 attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Allen was replaced by Ryan Finley, who went 6-for-7 for 40 yards and a touchdown. Allen — who was already subbing for an injured Joe Burrow — isn’t fantasy relevant, but his health does impact other skill position players on the Bengals roster, such as Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
Higgins’ and Boyd’s fantasy values had already taken a serious hit with Burrow out, and could be downgraded even further if Finley is named the starter moving forward.
Joshua Kelley, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (knee)
Kelley suffered an ankle injury during Sunday’s embarrassing 45-0 loss to the Patriots. He saw zero carries and caught two passes for 3 yards. Virtually nothing went right for the Chargers during this game, including their anemic rushing attack. Austin Ekeler saw eight carries for 36 yards and caught four of nine targets for 32 yards, while Kalen Ballage saw seven carries for 34 yards and caught three of four targets for 5 yards. It’s unclear what Kelley’s status is moving forward, but the rookie wasn’t siphoning significant workload out of the Chargers backfield prior to this. His injury is mostly a non-factor except in the deepest of leagues.


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ rejects calls to add ‘fiction’ disclaimer

Netflix is rejecting calls to add a disclaimer to its series “ The Crown ” that states it is a work of fiction .
The drama series faced calls from key British figures to make it as abundantly clear as possible to viewers that the events depicted in the show are fictional but based on actual historical events .
However , the streaming giant believes the show is presented in enough context .
“ We have always presented The Crown as a drama — and we have every confidence our members understand it ’ s a work of fiction that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” reads a statement released by Netflix Saturday .
“ As a result we have no plans — and see no need — to add a disclaimer.
” Netflix was urged last week by British Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden to add the disclaimer in the wake of the broadcast of the drama ’ s fourth season .
“ It ’ s a beautifully produced work of fiction , ” he explained to the Mail on Sunday .
“ So as with other TV productions , Netflix should be very clear at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.
” Questions of historical fidelity weren ’ t a major issue during earlier seasons of the show , which debuted in 2016 and traces the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II , which began in 1952 .
But the current fourth season is set in the 1980s , a divisive decade in Britain .
Characters include Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher , whose 11-year tenure transformed and divided Britain , and the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car crash in 1997 transfixed the nation and the world .
Some conservatives have criticized the program ’ s depiction of Thatcher , played by Gillian Anderson .
Britain ’ s first female prime minister , who died in 2013 , is portrayed as clashing with Olivia Colman ’ s Elizabeth to an extent that some say is exaggerated .
“ The Crown ” creator Peter Morgan , whose work also includes recent-history dramas “ The Queen ” and “ Frost/Nixon , ” has defended his work , saying it is thoroughly researched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Diana ’ s brother , was one who called on Netflix to add a disclaimer .
“ I think it would help ‘ The Crown ’ an enormous amount if , at the beginning of each episode , it stated that , ‘ This isn ’ t true but it is based around some real events , ’ ” he told broadcaster ITV .
“ I worry people do think that this is gospel and that ’ s unfair.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Netflix is rejecting calls to add a disclaimer to its series “The Crown” that states it is a work of fiction.
The drama series faced calls from key British figures to make it abundantly clear to viewers that the events depicted in the show are fictional but based on actual historical events. However, the streaming giant believes the show is presented in enough context.
“We have always presented The Crown as a drama — and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events,” reads a Saturday statement released by Netflix.
“As a result we have no plans — and see no need — to add a disclaimer.”
Netflix was urged last week by British Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden to add the disclaimer in the wake of the broadcast of the drama’s fourth season.
“It’s a beautifully produced work of fiction,” he explained to the Mail on Sunday. “So as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that. Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.”
Questions of historical fidelity weren’t a major issue during earlier seasons of the show, which debuted in 2016 and traces the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which began in 1952.
But the current fourth season is set in the 1980s, a divisive decade in Britain. Characters include Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whose 11-year tenure transformed and divided Britain, and the late Princess Diana, whose death in a car crash in 1997 transfixed the nation and the world.
Some conservatives have criticized the program’s depiction of Thatcher, played by Gillian Anderson. Britain’s first female prime minister, who died in 2013, is portrayed as clashing with Olivia Colman’s Elizabeth to an extent that some say is exaggerated.
“The Crown” creator Peter Morgan, whose work also includes recent-history dramas “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon,” has defended his work, saying it is thoroughly researched and true in spirit.
Charles Spencer, Diana’s brother, was one who called on Netflix to add a disclaimer.
“I think it would help ‘The Crown’ an enormous amount if, at the beginning of each episode, it stated that, ‘This isn’t true but it is based around some real events,’” he told broadcaster ITV. “I worry people do think that this is gospel and that’s unfair.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--LLC co-owned by Ilhan Omar’s husband got $635K in COVID-19 relief

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her allies are assailing former President ...

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A political consulting group co-owned by Rep. Ilhan Omar’s husband received nearly $635,000 in coronavirus funds, public records show.
Tim Mynett’s E Street Group LLC was given $134,800 this year as part of the Paycheck Protection Program; he was also given $500,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Omar (D-Minn.) and Mynett married in March, and just weeks after they tied the knot, his consulting firm was paid $189,000 by Omar’s campaign, The Post reported in July.
Mynett was allegedly Omar’s lover until their affair was exposed last year, while the two were still married to other people.
Federal Election Commission records show that the progressive lawmaker additionally funneled nearly $2.8 million to her future husband’s firm from early 2019 to July 22, 2020.
Omar’s team also sent $1.6 million to the E Street Group for the third quarter, sending along an additional $27,000 in the weeks that followed.
The FEC allows lawmakers to hire family members or spouses to work on their campaigns, but political ethics experts have said the practice creates suspicion.
Omar has denied any wrongdoing regarding her relationship with her husband when ethics questions were raised about payments to his firm earlier this year.
“We consulted with a top FEC campaign attorney to ensure there were no possible legal issues with our relationship,” she said in a Twitter post in March, just days after she and Mynett wed. “We were told this is not uncommon and that no, there weren’t.”
Omar cut professional ties with Mynett in mid-November while still denying any wrongdoing, according to Fox News. The announcement, which came in the form of an email to supporters, was aimed at ending speculation about their work.
Before cutting ties, however, she was by far the E Street Group’s biggest client, according to Open Secrets data, with nearly one in every three of her campaign dollars going to her alleged then-lover’s firm as of last August, according to the Washington Examiner.
A spokesperson for Omar did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--Bob Dylan sells rights to all his songs in likely record-breaking deal

The rights they are a-changin ’ .
Bob Dylan has sold his entire six decades-long catalog of songs to Universal Music Group in a deal thought to be the biggest of its kind .
Universal announced the deal early Monday , with publishing CEO Jody Gerson calling it “ both a privilege and a responsibility ” to “ represent the body of work of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
” A price for the deal was not disclosed , but people familiar with it told Bloomberg the songs are worth more than $ 200 million , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could be more than $ 300 million .
That would make it likely the biggest acquisition ever of the music publishing rights of a single act , the paper said .
Dylan — who had previously controlled most of his own songwriting copyrights — sold more than 600 copyrights spanning 60 years , Universal said .
That includes classics that made him an icon from his time in New York in the early 1960s — such as “ Blowin ’ in the Wind ” and “ The Times They Are a-Changin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s latest album this year , “ Rough and Rowdy Ways.
” “ It is no exaggeration to say that his vast body of work has captured the love and admiration of billions of people all around the world , ” Universal Music Group ’ s chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said of his “ enormous pride ” at the deal with Dylan .
“ I have no doubt that decades , even centuries from now , the words and music of Bob Dylan will continue to be sung and played — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ songwriting “ the fundamental key to all great music , ” adding , “ Bob is one of the very greatest practitioners of that art .
“ Brilliant and moving , inspiring and beautiful , insightful and provocative , his songs are timeless — whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday.
” Dylan is just the latest legend to cash in on a boom for music rights .
Just last week , former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks sold a majority stake in her songwriting that valued the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dylan ’ s catalog includes some of the best-known tunes in music history — songs that have been recorded more than 6,000 times by artists around the world , Universal noted .

The rights they are a-changin’.
Bob Dylan has sold his entire six-decade catalog of songs to Universal Music Group in a deal thought to be the biggest of its kind.
Universal announced the deal early Monday, with publishing CEO Jody Gerson calling it “both a privilege and a responsibility” to “represent the body of work of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.”
A price for the deal was not disclosed, but people familiar with it told Bloomberg the songs are worth more than $200 million, with others telling the New York Times it could be more than $300 million.
That would make it likely the biggest acquisition ever of the music publishing rights of a single act, the paper said.
Bob Dylan Getty Images
Dylan — who had previously controlled most of his own songwriting copyrights — sold more than 600 copyrights spanning 60 years, Universal said.
That includes classics that made him an icon from his time in New York in the early 1960s — such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’” — to the 79-year-old songwriter’s latest album this year, “Rough and Rowdy Ways.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that his vast body of work has captured the love and admiration of billions of people all around the world,” Universal Music Group’s chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said of his “enormous pride” at the deal with Dylan.
“I have no doubt that decades, even centuries from now, the words and music of Bob Dylan will continue to be sung and played — and cherished — everywhere.”
He called songwriting “the fundamental key to all great music,” adding, “Bob is one of the very greatest practitioners of that art.
“Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless — whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday.”
Dylan is just the latest legend to cash in on a boom for music rights. Just last week, former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks sold a majority stake in her songwriting that valued the catalog at about $100 million.
Dylan’s catalog includes some of the best-known tunes in music history — songs that have been recorded more than 6,000 times by artists around the world, Universal noted.


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--Lauren Bushnell is pregnant, expecting first child with Chris Lane

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Christmas came early for Chris Lane and wife Lauren Bushnell .
On Sunday , the couple announced they ’ re expecting their first child together , sharing a video of an ultrasound on Instagram .
“ A dream ☁ Except I ’ m not dreaming .
I ’ m wide awake .
Holding your dads hand , watching you dance around in my belly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post Sunday as Lane ’ s song , “ Big , Big Plans ” played in the background .
“ Listening to your little heart beat .
My new favorite sound .
A miracle .
New life .
Our sweet baby .
Thank you Jesus !
All the glory belongs to You , ” she continued .
Country singer Lane , 36 , who wed “ Bachelor ” alum Bushnell last fall , quipped , “ Prayers work !
Hope you look like your Mama.
” Bushnell first appeared on Season 20 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and got engaged to star Ben Higgins .
They split in May 2017 .
Lane was first linked to Bushnell in 2018 .
They announced their engagement in June 2019 .
In the spring , Bushnell told People that starting a family with Lane was her priority .
“ Definitely family .
We throw that one around a lot in terms of trying to plan it , I don ’ t know how much you could plan for that , ” she said .

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Christmas came early for Chris Lane and wife Lauren Bushnell.
On Sunday, the couple announced they’re expecting their first child together, sharing a video of an ultrasound on Instagram.
“A dream ☁ Except I’m not dreaming. I’m wide awake. Holding your dads hand, watching you dance around in my belly,” Bushnell, 30, captioned the post Sunday as Lane’s song, “Big, Big Plans” played in the background.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell Getty Images for CMT
“Listening to your little heart beat. My new favorite sound. A miracle. New life. Our sweet baby. Thank you Jesus! All the glory belongs to You,” she continued.
Country singer Lane, 36, who wed “Bachelor” alum Bushnell last fall, quipped, “Prayers work! Hope you look like your Mama.”
Bushnell first appeared on Season 20 of “The Bachelor” in 2016, and got engaged to star Ben Higgins. They split in May 2017.
Lane was first linked to Bushnell in 2018. They announced their engagement in June 2019.
In the spring, Bushnell told People that starting a family with Lane was her priority.
“Definitely family. We throw that one around a lot in terms of trying to plan it, I don’t know how much you could plan for that,” she said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--Daisy Coleman’s mom takes own life 4 months after daughter’s suicide

Daisy Coleman , one of the subjects of the 2016 Netflix ...

The despondent mother of sex assault advocate Daisy Coleman has taken her own life — four months after her 23-year-old daughter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while on a call with her boyfriend, according to a report.
Melinda Coleman, 58, was found dead Sunday evening, according to the Sun.
“We are in shock and disbelief to share with our SafeBAE family, that we lost Melinda Coleman to suicide,” the sex assault prevention group that Daisy launched announced on Instagram.
“The bottomless grief of losing her husband, Tristan, and Daisy was more than she could face most days,” it said.
“Melinda was a gifted veterinarian, devoted mother and wife, and talented body builder,” SafeBAE continued. “More than anything, she loved and believed in her children.
“It is no accident that she created some of the most gifted, passionate, and resilient children. Out hearts are forever with Logan & Charlie,” it added, referring to the surviving sons.
Daisy Coleman (left) and Melinda Coleman Matt Winkelmeyer
“My daughter Catherine Daisy Coleman committed suicide tonight. If you saw crazy / messages and posts it was because I called the police to check on her,” Melinda wrote on Facebook at the time.
Daisy, one of the subjects of the 2016 Netflix documentary “Audrie & Daisy,” died by suicide in August. Her body was found after her mother asked police to conduct a welfare check.
“She was my best friend and amazing daughter. I think she had to make it seem like I could live without her. I can’t. I wish I could have taken the pain from her! She never recovered from what those boys did to her and it’s just not fair. My baby girl is gone.”
Melinda’s death is the latest tragedy to strike the family after Daisy’s brother Tristan died in a car crash in June 2018. Her husband also died in a car crash when the Netflix star was a child, according to the Sun.
Daisy Coleman Getty Images for the World Child Foundation
Daisy was raped at a party in Maryville, Missouri, in January 2012, when she was 14 years old. She was harassed online and at school after the rape, which made national headlines.
Her attacker was never convicted.
“Audrie & Daisy” detailed Coleman and Audrie Pott’s experiences with sexual assault and how their families coped with the trauma. The movie, directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Daisy, also worked as a model and tattoo artist, spent months living in fear of a stalker trying to get into her Colorado home — and had filed a harassment complaint just hours before her suicide.


newyorkpost--2020-12-07--Desperate people turn to Christmas decorations to make 2020 suck less

Not even a pandemic can mess with Christmas in Brooklyn ... .

The Grinch stole 2020 — so even the biggest Scrooges are more desperate than ever to salvage holiday cheer in a year trashed by a deadly pandemic, nasty political mudslinging and civil unrest. It’s trending. One only need look outside to see the lights.
On Thursday night, Maya Robinson-Napier put the finishing touches on her first-ever Christmas decorations outside her home near Charlotte, NC. This illuminated display, which includes an 18-foot inflatable Frosty the Snowman and 13 champagne-colored arches that glow above a walkway, not only aims to brighten spirits in general — but also to honor the spirits of her mother and father, both of whom the 38-year-old lost under lockdown.
Maya Robinson-Napier’s first-ever Christmas decorations include an angel to represent her mom, who died in August, and a memory tree where visitors can share memories of their own lost loved ones — something even deeper for her after losing her dad early this week. Courtesy of Maya Robinson
At the front of her lawn stands a glittering angel paying homage to her mom, Toya Hamilton, who passed away in August, at age 60, after going into septic shock. Next to it, a pine dubbed the “memory tree” invites visitors to hang an ornament in honor of their own lost loved ones. The latter installation takes on raw meaning for Robinson-Napier, whose dad, 61-year-old Reginald Robinson, died Tuesday after battling congestive heart failure and alcoholism.
“So many people have been lost this year, and I wanted something that we could put in our neighborhood for those of us who have shared losses . . . to keep [them] on our minds during the holiday season,” said Robinson-Napier. “It’s all about keeping the memory alive.”
Robinson-Napier is one of many Americans who are decking the halls for their very first time, or have amped up their typical holiday decorations with more extravagant lights and figures, to end dark 2020 on a bright note — especially as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, now having claimed 276,000 lives in the US alone.
Beyond deeply personal tributes, a larger national trend suggests Dr. Seuss’s iconic words — “The Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day” — are coming to fruition.
Americans are hungry for sweet seasonal relief
Robinson-Napier’s display also features golden reindeer underneath an ornament-shaped arch. Courtesy of Maya Robinson-Napier
A new survey of 2,000 Americans found that 2020’s non-stop flood of bad news took a toll on 75 percent of respondents, with 70 percent of the study’s pool revealing they are “desperate” to do something positive to spread cheer each day, even if it’s just to make at least one person laugh or smile.
Or maybe even hang a string of lights? Yeah, it’s probably not just your imagination. A casual stroll or drive around your neighborhood might reveal more hardcore holiday decorama than ever before.
For Robinson-Napier, the battle to bring joy back to her family — comprised of her husband, Sean Napier, and their sons Benjamin, 6, and Christian, 3 — came during Halloween following the death of her mother. It materialized with similar over-the-top decorations, including two of Home Depot’s highly popular 12-foot-tall skeletons, which she also erected for the first time. This effort came about after Robinson-Napier had a discussion with her mom in March about how she could honor her legacy when she was gone, by asking what favorite foods the family could eat or favorite color they could wear.
“She couldn’t answer any of those questions,” said Robinson-Napier. “She always invested herself into others. My mom always went all out for us despite other things going on.”
Robinson-Napier lost her mother (above right) in August and her father (above left) early this month. Courtesy of Maya Robinson-Napier
So, Robinson-Napier realized that “If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities. I’m going to go all out for my kids.”
Benjamin and Christian also have their own Christmas trees in their bedrooms, and two other decorated trees shine on the home’s entertaining areas.
Previously, while living in Oakland, Calif., the family didn’t have the space to decorate — and Robinson-Napier, who worked as a health-care appeals specialist, didn’t have the time. Moreover, she lost her grandmother to pancreatic cancer about a week before Christmas in 2004, which she said put a lingering damper on the holiday season.
Maya Robinson-Napier, center, with her sons Benjamin, 6, and Christian, 3. Michelle Eastridge
“I didn’t intend on it being a whole thing,” she said of her 2020 decorating spree. “Once you start, it’s kind of hard to stop. So, we just keep putting more stuff out.”
Even cynical New Yorkers are going ‘holiday HAM’
Deanna Testa is gearing up to celebrate Christmas with her “COVID puppy” Sailor. Courtesy of Deanna Testa
This is the time of year when native New Yorker Deanna Testa would typically be jet-setting on holiday to the Maldives, Thailand, Cuba or Italy. But in the doomsdays of 2020? She’s just piling on the Christmas lights, garland and blow-ups.
“I’m such a busy Grinch, I always forget to decorate and get gifts — but, this year, I went holiday HAM to make sure all my family and friends will get a little extra cheer, too,” said Manhattan-born Testa, 33, who runs the video department at Betches Media, an online destination for millennial memes and pop culture news. “Hell, after months of being bored, lonely and stressed out, I desperately needed a pick-me-up.”
The Yonkers transplant decorated inside and out for the first time ever — and even bought her new toy poodle the ultimate gift that keeps on giving: a treat-propelling Furbo. (FYI: Testa works remotely during the coronavirus lockdown and is fully available for hand-treating 24-7. This is peak holiday 2020 indulgence.)
“I got so many decorations for my COVID puppy, Sailor — who is basically getting me through this pandemic,” Testa says with a chuckle. Yes, Sailor is also sporting Christmas jammies — and even has her own inflatable tree and snowman.
We need brighter days to look forward to
Tara Reid, a 34-year-old pharmacy technician who lives in Hopewell, Va., opted for a spooky theme for her first-ever outdoor Christmas decorations — including 11 skeletons, figures from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” film and a projection of Santa Claus dropping off presents with bats flying around.
“I hope that I can give [visitors] a second not to think about it,” said Reid of the pandemic. “To bring them back to how things were and just be happy.”
Tara Reid’s spooky-style Christmas decorations outside her Virginia home aim to lift the spirits of locals as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. Courtesy of Tara Reid
Reid — who lives with her fiancé Jake Rotz, 45, and four children ages 8 to 16 — previously didn’t have the time to set up Christmas decorations. “But this year changed . . . our perspective,” she said, adding that after winning a local Halloween decorating contest this year — a similarly spooky effort loved by many — “I wanted to give it a try for Christmas, just to give them something to look forward to.”
This front-yard spectacle took the family a few days to install — and one night included making three trips to Target to buy more lights. Although they previously hung stockings and kept a Christmas tree inside, it’s a far cry from the zero decorations they had outdoors. Now, Reid said, the family can look forward to a new annual tradition to ring in the season.
“It’s definitely an addiction and, yes, it’s going to keep growing,” she said.
You’re never too old to get into the spirit
First-time decorator Amber Goss, a former litigation attorney who lives in Thompson’s Station, Tenn., is laying down the law in front of her home.
“It’s not something I would have ever imagined at the age of 47 that I would have a yard full of inflatables at Christmas,” said the mother of two. “But why not? I’m definitely of the [mindset] now that . . . this makes the kids happy.”
Goss, who’s now involved in a hyperlocal blog for area moms, previously didn’t have the time to dedicate to this kind of effort.
For the first time, the outside of Amber Goss’ home features Christmas decorations, including tough-to-get nutcracker figures. Courtesy of Amber Goss
“I think, once upon a time, I bought those net lights when they were new, and I took them out of the box, and it looked too hard, so I threw them away,” she quipped.
Now, however, her yard includes a 20-foot inflatable Santa, an inflatable Baby Yoda holding a candy cane, two nearly 6-foot-high nutcracker figures and a blow-up Christmas tree.
The kids, 7-year-old son Brett and 5-year-old daughter Casey, can’t get enough of them.
“They go up and hug the blow-ups,” she said.
Goss’ two children get a kick out of the Christmas display. Courtesy of Amber Goss
Size matters in 2020: Big box stores are selling out of hot decorations
“Once you’ve crossed the inflatable barrier, why not?” Goss said. “You’re there.”
She’s not the only person with an insatiable appetite for festive decor. Among this year’s hottest holiday merch: Goss’ 68-inch nutcrackers, now sold out at Walmart; Robinson-Napier’s 18-foot Frosty the Snowman, now sold out at Hammacher Schlemmer and a 4-foot reindeer unavailable at Home Depot.
While neither retailer commented on the rush they’ve faced so far this season, a Home Depot spokesperson told The Post other in-demand decorations include a 6-foot inflatable Buddy the Elf and a 12-foot inflatable Santa, both of which are in stock.
Brian Birt, a 35-year-old resident of Huber Heights, Ohio, stocked up on several thousand more lights and 10 more figures to add to his typical Christmas tableau.
“We went a lot bigger this year,” he said, adding that 2020 upgrades include two 7-foot nutcrackers from Lowe’s.
Instead of using his full display, which rocks blinking lights synchronized to music, solely to entertain his 37-year-old wife Sarah and their six children — who range from 3 months to 13 years old — the family wanted “to make this fun for the city” in an effort of giving back to the community.
Brian Birt and his family added more flair to their annual Christmas display to give the community some good cheer this holiday season. Courtesy of Brian Birt
For Goss, the inspiration to decorate also represented a way to stay busy these days — and her 45-year-old husband, David, has been a good sport about it. But she also drew motivation after joining a Facebook group run by a friend, the Griswolder Christmas Decorating Club, which has decoration-aficionado followers post images of their own festive flair. Thanks to its success with her children, it’s a tradition she thinks she’ll keep going.
“After the year we’ve all had, seeing families pull up to your house and looking at the display and seeing the joy in their faces of watching everything, it’s nice,” said Birt, who works as a custodian. “They can have family time together, drive around and see some cool houses. It’s nice to be able to help any way we can.”
The local feedback has been positive, and in the holiday spirit, has been full of gratitude, added Birt. One visitor messaged him on Facebook after making a recent visit, thanking him and his family for “bringing joy to our family.”
“That was nice to get a message like that,” said Birt. “It makes it feel like the hard work was all worth it.”