http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ny-news/ en-us Sun, 3 Jan 2010 18:28:49 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420080/posts More than eight years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, New York City authorities are demanding that developer Larry Silverstein fork over almost $35m in commercial rent taxes on the Twin Towers and two other buildings that no longer exist. The city's reasoning is that Silverstein continued to pay rent to the Port Authority after the towers fell. That, city officials claim, subjects his transactions to the 3.9 percent commercial rent tax ... On May 27, 2007, the city's finance department sent Silverstein a bill for $34,866,549 - including penalties and interest - on his four trade center buildings. City... NewsCore http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420080/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 18:28:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420076/posts Sarah Palin almost nudged feminist's beloved Hillary out of the first place spot in the Gallup's recent Woman of the Year poll. The buzz from women who can't bring themselves to acknowledge Palin's self-made success is spiteful and loud, especially on the internet. Why is that? With the help of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, Hillary catapulted her career from a small city, small state Arkansas attorney to a failed run for president, finally settling for her present position as Obama's Secretary of Defense. Hillary has one daughter and a marriage that has seen more than its share of... The Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420076/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 18:17:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419966/posts Here's the latest smack on taxpayers. The city spent $32,000 on 70,000 fliers that tell you how to shoot heroin, complete with detailed tips on prepping the dope and injecting it into your arm. The Health Department handout has outraged New York's top drug prosecutors and abuse experts. "It's basically step-by- step instruction on how to inject a poison," said John Gilbride, who heads the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York office. * * * The 16-page pamphlet features seven comics-like illustrations and offers dope fiends such useful advice as "Warm your body (jump up and down) to show your veins,"... New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419966/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 14:51:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419921/posts We have heard a lot from Gov. David Paterson about the terrible shape of the state budget. But New York has a chance to do this better right now. It has $27 billion in federal stimulus funds to spend over two years, the bulk of which has not yet been used. The primary purpose of that money is job creation. The state also has received (in two parts) an additional $500 million windfall from the federal welfare contingency fund. This money can be used to draw down additional stimulus dollars for job training and work activity. Finally, state lawmakers enacted... Albany Times-Union http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419921/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 13:13:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419207/posts NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg sought to strike a humble tone Friday as he began his third term by promising "to listen and to lead" and to take a fresh look at the challenges facing the city. The 67-year-old billionaire acknowledged the unusual circumstances that landed him on the steps of City Hall to take the oath of office for another four years. A city term-limit law had barred officeholders from seeking a third, consecutive term, but he orchestrated a last-minute law change that let him run again in 2009. "This term is a special opportunity, one that comes... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419207/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:56:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418823/posts It's been two decades since New York City was held hostage to violent crime -- murder especially. All that's changed, and therein lies a lesson for those charged with protecting America from Islamist terror.   This year's 461 murders through last Sunday promises the lowest mark since record-keeping began in 1963. Overall crime dropped 11 percent since 2008, with murder down 19 percent. And it's been a while since 2,200 homicides a year was considered the norm.  None of this happened by itself.  If not for the focus, determination, vision and courage of certain men -- and one in particular --... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418823/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 05:30:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418728/posts New York is about to achieve a dubious milestone: For the first time in history, the state's main bank account is poised to end the year in the red. After months of plunging revenues and weeks of budget battles, New York had a negative balance of $174 million in its general fund on Wednesday, with nearly $1 billion in bills owed by day's end. Every sign pointed to the account still being in the hole when 2010 begins. New York moves toward a previously unimaginable eventuality: A government check that bounces. "New York state is officially living paycheck to paycheck,"... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418728/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 01:38:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418670/posts LATHAM, N.Y, Dec. 31, 2009 – As New Yorkers and visitors gear up for New Year’s Eve celebrations, National Guard soldiers and airmen will remain on duty in support of homeland security missions across the state. New York State Gov. David Paterson directed that members of the state’s Army and Air National Guard stand ready to respond to local civil authorities if an emergency occurs. Throughout New York City, National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will conduct security operations at Penn Station, the PATH terminal, and LaGuardia and JFK airports in coordination with the Port Authority of New York and New... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418670/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:41:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418631/posts The governors of the nation’s two largest Democratic states are leveling sharp criticism at the Senate health care bill, claiming that it would leave their already financially strapped states even deeper in the hole. New York Democratic Gov. David Paterson and California GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are urging congressional leaders to rework the Medicaid financing in the Senate-passed bill, warning that under that version their states will be crushed by billions in new costs. After the Senate passed the bill in a Christmas Eve vote, Paterson said the expansion would leave New York $1 billion in the lurch. The state... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418631/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:22:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418253/posts The state's cash reserves sunk to an all-time low yesterday as the comptroller warned that the treasury could ring in the New Year in the red for the first time. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the state was on track to start the day with a mere $833 million on hand -- about half a percent of its total $133 billion budget and the lowest figure ever recorded in at least three decades of the present accounting system. In making the announcement, DiNapoli chided Gov. Paterson and lawmakers for approving an overly optimistic budget in April, and predicted that repercussions... New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418253/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:18:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418223/posts Here's the second part of our look back at cable news ratings over the last decade. We've charted the total day numbers, and here are the numbers for primetime. Again, Fox News' rise is most noticeable, as is the bump the election gave CNN and MSNBC. The charts track each network's Nielsen primetime ratings average for each of the last 10 years, from Dec. 27, 1999 - Dec. 23, 2009. After the jump, the A25-54 demo. Mediabistro TVNewser http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418223/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:07:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418199/posts For two hours on Wednesday, Times Square morphed into a militarized zone as the police swarmed an unoccupied van with blacked out windows and no license plates parked in an area set aside for Thursday’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Officials said that nothing harmful was found in the van. But the scare illustrated the challenges for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as they confront an array of security concerns when revelers flood the streets Thursday to ring in 2010. To prepare for the festivities, thousands of police officers, including 250 rookies, will descend on Times Square , said... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418199/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:14:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418198/posts December 31, 2009 New York State Has First Deficit in General Fund By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE ALBANY — New York is about to achieve a dubious milestone: For the first time in history, the state’s main bank account is poised to end the year in the red. After months of plunging revenues and weeks of budget battles, New York had a negative balance of $174 million in its general fund on Wednesday, with nearly $1 billion in bills owed by day’s end. Every sign pointed to the account’s still being in the hole when 2010 begins. To fill the gap, New... NYT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418198/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:12:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417849/posts The court order even insists that LeRoy employees “will not disparage in any manner” Mr. Poll’s future restaurant to Tavern customers who are booking future events. The meter is running on many other dust-ups, adding to the legal costs that will paid out of money that creditors might otherwise receive. For example, seven lawyers were arrayed at a federal court hearing last week before Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum, who will decide whether the city, or the LeRoys, owns the trademark on the name Tavern on the Green. The city managed to shift the dispute from bankruptcy court to a federal... The NYT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417849/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:59:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417773/posts <p>The Nasdaq stock market was evacuated and the area cordoned off on Wednesday . . . .</p> MarketWatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417773/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:18:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417705/posts Times Square Shut Down Due To Suspicious Vehicle 42nd Street And Broadway Closed As NYPD Investigates Park White Van NEW YORK (CBS) ― The NYPD has closed down part of Manhattan's Times Square in response to a report of a suspicious vehicle, CBS 2 HD has learned. Police blocked off Broadway at 42nd Street just after 11 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a white 1992 Dodge van with tinted windows that has been parked at the location for two days. The van has temporary plates and a tarp is covering the windows, police say. WCBSTV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417705/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:37:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417205/posts Democratic freshman Sen. Kristin Gillibrand is one of her party's most vulnerable incumbents, but New York Republicans can't come up with a political heavyweight to knock her on the ropes, and her campaign gains momentum with each passing day. The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417205/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:52:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417020/posts For more than three decades, they sang Mozart in Latin, Bach in German, and Cole Porter and Stevie Wonder in English, from Alice Tully Hall in New York to Royal Albert Hall in London. For the audiences that marveled at the Boys Choir of Harlem, it was an additional wonder that the young performers with world-class voices had emerged from some of the most difficult neighborhoods of New York. December was always a busy month, as the choir toured the country’s premier concert halls and appeared on television Christmas specials. But this year, the boys are nowhere to be found.... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417020/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:08:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416936/posts Gov. Paterson's security detail has been doubled in the last year for what are being called "political" reasons, and is now bigger than the entire State Police force patrolling Long Island, troopers have told The Post. "The governor wants to have an entourage -- three or four cars -- wherever he goes because he thinks it makes him look more gubernatorial, it helps him politically," contended a senior official with firsthand knowledge of the situation. New York Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416936/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:57:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416029/posts New population figures give a boost to the GOP By: Chris StirewaltPolitical EditorDecember 28, 2009 The 2010 census is sure to be controversial.Republicans will thunder about the community organizers who get hired to do the counting, and Democrats will wail that the homeless and migrant workers are undercounted.But in the final pre-count estimate just released by the Census Bureau, we already have a broad idea of where the results are headed and what they will mean politically.The numbers are cause for alarm for Democrats.Of the states gaining House seats -- Texas (three) and Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah... Washington Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416029/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:44:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416601/posts "FBI: Man Flew Into LaGuardia With Firecracker" "Passenger Taken Into Custody After Device Found Wedged Between Seats On Piedmont Airlines Flight Into LaGuardia" NEW YORK (CBS) SNIPPET: "A passenger who flew into LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night was questioned by FBI agents after allegedly boarding the flight with an explosive device in his possession, CBS 2 has learned. Officials confirmed Monday that a crew member on board Piedmont Airlines flight 4126, originating from Baltimore Washington International Airport, was cleaning the plane after it landed in New York around 7:30 p.m. when he found a large firecracker-like device wedged between two... WCBSTV.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416601/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:09:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416371/posts Two cops patrolling a Brooklyn housing project were nearly shot at by a runaway perp whose mother allegedly encouraged him to open fire. Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, the two officers patrolling the Marlboro Houses in Gravesend encountered three men drinking in a stairwell. One of the men, Angel Rivera, 25, was wearing a bulletproof vest and bolted when cops tried to question them. As he neared his apartment, he allegedly tried to fire his 9-mm. pistol at the pursuing police. But his gun jammed and its magazine fell out, much to the dismay of his mother Rosa. As the... Gothamist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416371/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:44:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416346/posts FBI: Man Flew Into NYC From BWI With Firecracker Passenger Taken Into Custody After Explosive Device Found Wedged Between Two Seats On Piedmont Airlines Flight Into LaGuardia NEW YORK (CBS) ― A passenger who flew into LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night was questioned by FBI agents after allegedly boarding the flight with an explosive device in his possession, CBS 2 has learned. Officials confirmed Monday that a crew member on board Piedmont Airlines flight 4126 was cleaning the plane after it landed in New York around 7:30 p.m. when he found a large firecracker-like device wedged between two seats. Port... WCBSTV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416346/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:07:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416305/posts Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) barely managed to celebrate the holidays before being reminded he’s facing his toughest challenge since first elected in 2002. Bishop’s Republican opponent, businessman Randy Altschuler, is already up with his first campaign ad – with over 10 months until the election. The ad, which begins airing today, ties Bishop to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the dysfunctional political culture in Albany. “Tim Bishop is all about the old way: big government, more taxes, more spending,” Altschuler says in the ad. “My top priority is to create a pro-growth environment, lower taxes and more jobs." The Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416305/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:11:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416163/posts Every year around Christmastime, the Census Bureau releases its population estimates for each state for the 12 months ending on July 1. The numbers look dry on a sheet of paper (or on an Excel spreadsheet on your computer), but they tell some vivid stories. The more so when they reflect, as the numbers for 2008-09 do, the effects of a sharp downward shift in the nation’s economy. Given the recession, it’s not a surprise that percentage growth, at 0.86 percent, was the lowest in this decade, just a tad below the rate in 2002-03, and well below the peak... NY Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416163/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:48:44 GMT