Category Archives: New York

Thirteen-year wage dispute between NYC and Staten Island ferry workers set to end

Posted on by

Ferry captains, mates and engineers appear to be reaching deal after more than a decade without a union contract with the city

One of the lengthiest wage disputes in the US is reported to be drawing to an end, as Staten Island ferry captains, mates and engineers appeared to be reaching a deal after 13 years without a union contract with New York City.

A deal between the marine engineers’ beneficial association, which represents some 150 ferry workers, that has eluded negotiators since 2010, was set be announced Monday, according to the Daily News,

Continue reading...

‘Rat tours’ boom in rodent-infested New York

Posted on by

Rat tourism become latest must-experience trend in city besieged by infestations that affect residents’ quality of life

The Empire State Building. The Statue of Liberty. Central Park. Times Square. A horde of rats sprinting between an underground nest and a restaurant, squeaking and squealing as a group of tourists cheer them on.

New York has never lacked for attractions, but that last one on the list is one of its most unexpected.

Continue reading...

New York plan to monitor Labor Day parties with drones prompts outcry

Posted on by

Police accused of playing ‘fast and loose’ with New Yorkers’ rights to due process and to freely hold peaceful gatherings

New York City police plan to monitor large gatherings and noise complaints over Labor Day weekend with surveillance drones, officials have announced, prompting outcry from privacy advocates.

Police said Thursday that the remote-controlled aircrafts would be deployed to keep tabs on large gatherings, including private events, as New Yorkers prepared to celebrate the weekend heading into Monday’s holiday.

Continue reading...

New York City and state fight over foie gras ban

Posted on by

Mayor Eric Adams pushes for ban but animal rights activists say Governor Kathy Hochul is ‘in the pocket’ of the industry

Ducks are back on New York’s political minds, close to four years after the city under former mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill banning the sale and serving of foie gras in New York City, part of what he and his successor, Mayor Eric Adams, portrayed as an animal rights issue.

“The days of foie gras are gone and foie-gotten in New York City,” Adams tweeted in 2019 after the law was passed.

Continue reading...

Roman emperor statue seized from Cleveland museum in looting investigation

Posted on by

Warrant issued in investigation into smuggling of antiquities looted from Turkey and trafficked through US

A headless bronze statue believed to depict the Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius has been seized from the Cleveland Museum of Art by New York authorities investigating antiquities looted from Turkey.

A warrant signed by a judge in Manhattan on 14 August ordered the seizure of the statue, which the museum acquired in 1986 and had been a highlight of its collection of ancient Roman art.

Continue reading...

Two sex workers call Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect ‘violent’ and ‘aggressive’

Posted on by

Two women say they were concerned for safety during encounters with Rex Heuermann as investigators seek more information

As investigators continue to build their case against the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, two Long Island sex workers have described the suspect as “violent” and “aggressive” during encounters they had with him.

The two women, who have not been identified, told members of an anti-human trafficking unit with the sheriff’s office in Long Island’s Suffolk county that they became concerned for their safety during encounters with the 6ft4in, 240lbs Manhattan architect.

Continue reading...

Death of New York motorcyclist in ‘buy-and-bust’ police operation deemed homicide

Posted on by

Eric Duprey died after a police officer threw a picnic cooler at him, knocking him off his motorbike

The death of a new New York scooter rider who died during a “buy-and-bust” police operation in the Bronx has been upgraded to a homicide, the city medical examiner has said.

The examiner ruled Eric Duprey’s death a homicide, caused by blunt force trauma to his head.

Continue reading...

New York man on motorbike dies after officer throws picnic cooler at head

Posted on by

Erik Duran suspended over death of Eric Duprey, who was driving motorcycle on Bronx sidewalk towards group including Duran

A man fleeing New York City police officers on a motorcycle died after a sergeant hurled a plastic picnic cooler at his head from close range, causing a violent crash, authorities said.

The sergeant, Erik Duran, was suspended without pay just hours after the death of Eric Duprey, 30, in the University Heights section of the Bronx, police said.

Continue reading...

Alice Winn wins 2023 Waterstones debut fiction prize for In Memoriam

Posted on by

Novel described as ‘truly stunning feat of fiction’ tells love story of two first world war soldiers

Alice Winn has won the 2023 Waterstones debut fiction prize for her novel In Memoriam, which has been described as a “truly stunning feat of fiction”.

The novel, inspired by archive clippings from a student newspaper, chronicles the love story between two first world war soldiers. It was announced as the winner at a ceremony in London on Thursday evening.

Continue reading...

Rudy Giuliani surrenders at Georgia jail in Trump election subversion case

Posted on by

Giuliani’s surrender on racketeering charges marks a low point for the former prosecutor who made a name with racketeering cases

Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former lawyer, surrendered to authorities at the Fulton county jail on Wednesday on charges that he helped lead a racketeering enterprise and conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.

The surrender in Atlanta marks a jarring moment for Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor who made his name with aggressive racketeering cases, now facing a racketeering charge himself.

Continue reading...

Drug dealer gets 10 years in prison for role in actor Michael K Williams’s death

Posted on by

Irvin Cartagena sentenced after pleading guilty to providing The Wire actor with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death

A New York City drug dealer was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison for providing the actor Michael K Williams, best known for his role in the TV series The Wire, with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death.

Irvin Cartagena, 40, of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, was sentenced by the US district judge Ronnie Abrams. Cartagena had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to distribute drugs.

Continue reading...

Fears grow for property sector as WeWork scrambles to stay afloat

Posted on by

As company warns of ‘substantial doubt’ over its future, experts say consequences for commercial landlords could be dire

WeWork, the troubled office share behemoth, was once valued at $47bn. On Friday, the company was forced to combine 40 of its shares into one in an effort to keep its stock price above $1 and avoid being delisted from the New York stock exchange.

The dramatic rise and fall of WeWork has been well documented, but as the company warned there was “substantial doubt” it would stay in business, experts suggest the impact for the already troubled commercial property sector could be dire.

Continue reading...

Brooklyn’s limited-edition Jay-Z library cards spark surge in membership

Posted on by

Cards depicting albums by Brooklyn-born rapper are part of initiative to celebrate 50th anniversary of hip-hop

Forget new lines of sneakers or T-shirts: the most sought-after merchandise this month can be found in public libraries in Brooklyn.

In collaboration with Roc Nation, an entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, the Brooklyn Public Library is celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop by issuing limited-edition library cards featuring the rapper, who was born in the New York borough.

Continue reading...

Judge orders FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried to jail after bail revoked

Posted on by

Lewis Kaplan says he has cause to believe defendant ‘had tried to tamper with witnesses at least twice’ since December arrest

Sam Bankman-Fried’s bail has been revoked ahead of his October fraud trial after prosecutors accused the indicted founder of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX of tampering with witnesses.

Bankman-Fried is expected to report to jail later on Friday after Judge Lewis Kaplan announced the decision at a hearing over Bankman-Fried’s bail conditions in federal court in Manhattan. Bankman-Fried was taken directly into custody at the conclusion of the hearing. He was led out of the courtroom by members of the US Marshals Service.

Continue reading...

Judge says E Jean Carroll allegation Trump raped her is ‘substantially true’ in court dismissal

Posted on by

Ex-president claimed that writer defamed him when saying he raped her, but judge said term is commonly ‘used and understood’ in context

Donald Trump suffered another legal reversal on Monday, losing his counterclaim for defamation against E Jean Carroll, the writer against whom he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation and fined $5m, and who continues to pursue a separate defamation case against him.

Dismissing the counterclaim, a judge in New York, Lewis A Kaplan, said that when Carroll repeated her allegation that Trump raped her, her words were “substantially true”. Kaplan also set out in detail why it may be said that Trump raped Carroll.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

Continue reading...

New York City plans to house migrants on an island in the East River

Posted on by

Mayor Eric Adams plans to house as many as 2,000 adults seeking asylum, in tent city where center opened and then closed last year

New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, announced a plan Monday to house as many as 2,000 migrants on an island in the East River where a migrant center was set up last year and then taken down weeks later.

The state will reimburse the city for the cost of operating a tent city for adult migrants on Randalls Island, Adams said.

Continue reading...

Influencer faces charges of inciting riot after New York giveaway causes chaos

Posted on by

Kai Cenat drew thousands to Union Square with promises of giving away new PlayStation, leading to dozens of arrests

Social media influencer Kai Cenat is facing charges of inciting a riot and promoting an unlawful gathering in New York City after the online streamer drew thousands of his followers – many of them teenagers – with promises of giving away electronics, including a new PlayStation.

The gathering produced chaos, with dozens of people arrested – some jumping atop vehicles, hurling bottles and throwing punches.

Continue reading...

New York police arrest teen in killing of dancer O’Shae Sibley – report

Posted on by

Well-known gay dancer and choreographer was stabbed after he and his friends vogued at Brooklyn gas station

New York City police have arrested a teenager in connection to the killing of O’Shae Sibley, a well-known gay dancer and choreographer who was stabbed after he and his friends vogued to music by Beyoncé at a Brooklyn gas station on 29 July.

CBS News reported Saturday that the suspect is 17 years old and faces charges of murder as a hate crime as well as criminal possession of a weapon. He was reportedly booked as an adult, though his identity wasn’t released because he is younger than 18.

Continue reading...

Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis charged with ‘brazen’ insider trading

Posted on by

Billionaire allegedly gave friends, employees and romantic partners information on companies in which he was investor

The billionaire owner of Tottenham Hotspur football club was charged with orchestrating “brazen” insider trading by US federal prosecutors on Tuesday.

According to Damian Williams, the US attorney for the southern district of New York, Joe Lewis gave friends, including his personal pilots, assistants and romantic partners, inside information from companies in which he was an investor.

Continue reading...

Witness claims he heard police say ‘Is he one of us?’ as they restrained Malcolm X assassin

Posted on by

Mustafa Hassan says comment proved to him that police and FBI knew beforehand that there would be an attempt on activist’s life

A witness to the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X has come forward to claim that a comment he overheard as police were restraining assassin Thomas Hagan outside the Audubon Ball room proved to him that the New York police department and FBI knew beforehand that there would be an attempt on the civil rights activist’s life.

Mustafa Hassan said he heard an officer ask of Hagan, “Is he one of us?”

Continue reading...