NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A man who got pushed off a subway platform in Brooklyn is talking about his terrifying experience. The incident was the latest in several recent unprovoked subway shoves that have commuters on edge, CBS2’s Christina Fan reported Monday. MORE : Seen On Video: Another Subway Rider Pushed Onto Tracks At Brooklyn Station Ryan Schoenherr is the man seen on video getting shoved onto the Atlantic Avenue subway tracks by a complete stranger. Speaking with CBS2 exclusively a day later, he said he is relieved to have walked away unscathed after hearing similar attacks on other riders. “It happened all so fast, I think the fear sort of happened after. Looking at those videos and being like, oh, I could have gotten really hurt,” Schoenherr said. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK: Long Island Appliance Store Owner’s Gamble Pays Off After Stocking Up On $1 Million Worth Of Inventory At Start Of Pandemic NYPD Officer Assaulted By Multiple People While Jogging In Queens Tri-State Area Officials Sound Alarms As Coronavirus Shutdowns Likely To Impact Holiday Season He was on the 4 train Sunday with his girlfriend headed uptown when he said a homeless man woke up and began screaming at him. Schoenherr said he got off, hoping to switch cars, but the man followed him, blocking him at every turn. MORE : Pushes, Punches, Slashings: With Violence Getting Out Of Control On NYC Subways, Guardian Angels Step Up To Patrol Schoenherr said he eventually decided to leave the station and that’s when the man pushed him. “I just hope that doesn’t happen to someone who is more elderly, or somebody who would have a harder time getting off those tracks,” Schoenherr said. In the past week there have been two other similar attacks. On Thursday, a homeless man shoved a woman into the path of an oncoming train . The day before, a man was shoved off the platform at Bryant Park. Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the unsettling trend on Monday. “The NYPD is going to be increasing its presence in the subways. That will be very visible. We continue to expand our mental health efforts,” de Blasio said. Fan pressed the city for specifics, but was only told officers would be added to high-traffic subway stations. MORE : Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder After Grandmother Shoved Onto Subway Tracks Metropolitan Transportation Authority Interim President Sarah Feinberg issued the following statement: “We have got folks in this city who desperately need mental health care. The transit system is for people who are using it to travel. MTA and NYC Transit, our personnel are out there in the system, we are doing our best to make sure the commuters, New Yorkers, are safe,” Feinberg said. “We have a crisis in this city with mentally ill people who need help, and it absolutely needs to be addressed, and I’m desperate for this mayor or the next mayor to take it on because we’ve got a long way to go.” Schoenherr agrees. “I’m hoping the city can approach this issue with empathy and making sure it is treated in a humane way,” he said. Schoenherr said that would mean help instead of jail time for the man who shoved him. Early Tuesday morning, police arrested 33-year-old Michael Medlock in the case. He was charged with attempted assault, reckless endangerment and menacing.
mayor
Polly Trottenberg, NYC’s Department Of Transportation Commissioner And Champion Of ‘Vision Zero,’ Resigns
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — It’s the end of the road for Mayor Bill de Blasio ‘s transportation commissioner. Polly Trottenberg is quitting, perhaps to take a job with President-elect Joe Biden. She is the latest key player to leave City Hall in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, CBS2’s Tony Aiello reported Monday. For more than seven years Trottenberg was one of the mayor’s highest-profile commissioners. Trottenberg had a huge portfolio, covering all things related to city streets. Now, she’s hitting the road with 13 months left in the de Blasio administration. “We all owe Polly Trottenberg a debt of gratitude for her incredible service to New York City,” said de Blasio. “She is a tireless and talented public servant who has made our city safer, fairer, and more accessible. I’m proud to have worked so closely with her, and I wish her all the best in whatever comes next.” “I will always be grateful to Mayor de Blasio for the incredible opportunity to serve the city I love so much, and especially for the chance to lead the 5,800 dedicated public servants at DOT,” Trottenberg said. “I have been honored to work with them and see the passion, creativity and dedication they bring every day to serving New Yorkers, especially during the pandemic of the last eight months. For now, I just say thank you, one and all.” MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK COVID In New York: Cuomo Says It’s Possible NYC Schools Could Reopen Even If Positivity Rate Stays Above 3% Pushes, Punches, Slashings: With Violence Getting Out Of Control On NYC Subways, Guardian Angels Step Up To Patrol NYPD Officer Assaulted By Multiple People While Jogging In Queens Trottenberg told the New York Times she was not particularly close to de Blasio, and they didn’t speak that often, but together they pushed through major projects, including “ Vision Zero ,” with its speed cameras and pedestrian plazas, and the lowering of the speed limit to 25 mph. There was also the reconfiguration of city streets, including the 14th Street busway and a tripling of bike lane mileage. During the pandemic, she was successful in devoting more street space to restaurants and recreation. “The real issue here is why is she leaving now? And why are so many de Blasio people leaving before we get close to the end of his term?” political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said. Sheinkopf pointed to the mid-pandemic departures of Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia , who also served as food czar. “You’re in a pandemic, a fiscal crisis, and, frankly, a city management emergency. It’s just not looking very good and de Blasio’s future and his legacy will be judged by what happens now, not what’s happened in the past,” Sheinkopf said. De Blasio said every departed commissioner leaves behind a capable team. “We already have the best talent. We have a very deep bench,” the mayor said. As his time in office heads to the ninth inning, more are expected to leave Team de Blasio. Advocacy groups such as Transportation Alternatives and Riders Alliance praised Trottenberg as a savvy commissioner who made a real difference. “New Yorkers owe Polly Trottenberg a sincere debt of gratitude. During her tenure, the Department of Transportation rolled out more bus lanes, traffic safety cameras, and other improvements citywide, often despite rabid NIMBYism and unfair resistance,” the Riders Alliance said in a statement. “While representing New York City on the MTA board, Commissioner Trottenberg was also a rare authoritative, independent voice for millions of public transit riders. New York is a safer and fairer city today thanks to her sustained efforts.” Trottenberg has been tapped to join the Biden-Harris presidential transition team as part of an 18-member transportation panel. Her resignation is effective next month.
Here is the original post:
Polly Trottenberg, NYC’s Department Of Transportation Commissioner And Champion Of ‘Vision Zero,’ Resigns
Dangerous Long Island Grade Crossing Replaced As Part Of Years-Long Effort To Make LIRR Safer
WESTBURY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — A years-long effort to make the Long Island Rail Road safer reached a milestone Friday. One by one, grade crossings are being replaced to save lives. There was celebration as a new underpass replaced a dangerous grade crossing on School Street in Westbury. “We had to have it for the betterment of the community as a whole,” Westbury Deputy Mayor Steve Corte said. A community that’s seen too much death in recent years. Just 19 months ago, the School Street crossing was the scene of mangled metal and lost lives. MORE — ‘I Really Thought I Was Going To Die’: Survivors Recount Terrifying Collision On LIRR Tracks As Normal Service Resumes Three men were killed after their car was struck by two LIRR trains. The impact crushed the platform and injured passengers. “They see the warning signs, they hear the train, they do it anyway,” Corte said. A dangerous grade crossing on School Street in Westbury has been replaced by an underpass. (Credit: CBS2) In its place now is the fifth of eight new LIRR underpasses. It’s part of the Third Track Improvement Project to reduce congestion and delays and increase railroad capacity. The other three are set to be eliminated by 2022, saving lives and time. “Drivers are no longer to be forced to sit and wait for trains to pass. The gates are down in the peak hour for roughly a third of the time, so you can imagine the back-ups these grade crossings cause,” said Janno Lieber, president of MTA construction and development. RELATED STORY — Ribbon Cutting Marks 1st Of 5 LIRR Grade Crossings Turned Into Underpass It took six months to carve out the road under the tracks, but it has been decades in the making with six fatal crashes along the stretch in 10 years. The project is on time and under budget during the pandemic. “If you do it smart and you follow safety protocols, you can actually take advantage of the fact that there are fewer riders being disrupted,” New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This will go down in history as something that was extraordinary.” It costs roughly $100 million to replace a single grade crossing with an underpass. Three hundred grade crossings, many of which are arguably as dangerous as School Street, remain with no plans or money to replace them. The MTA’s budget woes are not expected to impact the completion of the grade crossing plan with money already allocated. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK De Blasio Says NYC Parents Should Be Ready ‘As Early As Monday’ For All-Remote Learning Bicycle Thefts Surging In New York City As Pandemic Causes Nationwide Shortage Of Bikes 2 Killed In Explosion At Veterans Affairs Hospital In West Haven, Conn. You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
Read the rest here:
Dangerous Long Island Grade Crossing Replaced As Part Of Years-Long Effort To Make LIRR Safer
NYC Officials Urge People Not To Travel For Thanksgiving As De Blasio Says City Is Seeing Worrisome COVID Increase
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Mayor Bill de Blasio and health officials are urging people not to travel and celebrate Thanksgiving virtually as a way to beat back a possible second wave of COVID. As CBS2’s Marcia Kramer reports, the key may be figuring out what’s causing an increase in infection, and it’s a key they just don’t have right now. “Probably around 50% we don’t have a way to check out the source of the infection and that’s a concern,” said Dr. Jay Varma, de Blasio’s senior advisor for public health. Web Extra: Click for more about COVID-19 testing in NYC With the city’s COVID infection rates increasing, it was a stunning admission from Varma: While 10% of the city’s cases of COVID-19 can be traced to travel – down from 20% – 5% from small gatherings and 5% from congregate settings like nursing homes, health officials aren’t sure why more and more people are getting sick. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Tri-State Coronavirus Travel Advisory Quarantine List Resources, Hotlines, Unemployment & Covering Bills Remote Learning Tools For Parents Teaching At Home CBS2’s Dr. Max Answers Your Health Questions What To Do If Someone Isn’t Social Distancing Or Wearing A Mask? Expert: Parents Be Mindful Of Children’s Stress After Months Of Isolation Chopper 2 Over Empty NYC Streets, Landmarks Complete Coronavirus Coverage Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi says it could “encountering someone who is infected but they don’t know it yet, meaning they are asymptomatic.” The numbers, they say, are worrisome. Monday’s positivity rate was 2.88% and the seven day average 2.31%. That’s why they’re urging people to double up on precautions to prevent a second wave: Social distancing, wearing masks indoors, stay home – don’t travel for Thanksgiving. MORE : Aggressive Effort To Curb COVID-19 infection Rates Begins On Staten Island; N.J. Restrictions Looming When Kramer asked Mayor de Blasio what would happen if we can’t beat back a second wave, he pointed to the seven day average of 2.31%. “Obviously if that goes to 3%, schools would go all remote for a period of time,” he said. “I think there would be real concern about whether you can have businesses open on the same scale they are open now. You could see restrictions in certain industries. You could see full scale closure. You could see a limit on hours. All these things are possible.” MORE : Pfizer Says Trials Show COVID-19 Vaccine Is ‘More Than 90% Effective’ Because of the increasing infection rate, the city mounted a day of action on Staten Island and other parts of the city. On a happier note, Mayor de Blasio said the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be lit as usual, and he’s working on a plan to allow people to see it safely. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK Election 2020: Thousands Of Absentee Ballots Just Starting To Be Counted Could Decide Close Races Across New York Cuomo Says Managing Infection Rate Will Be Critical As New York’s Coronavirus Numbers Climb Sources: Bodies Of 2 Babies Found Wrapped In Paper Behind Bronx Building (© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Go here to see the original:
NYC Officials Urge People Not To Travel For Thanksgiving As De Blasio Says City Is Seeing Worrisome COVID Increase
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Announces Indoor Dining Restrictions; ‘We Have To Shake Off The Pandemic Fatigue’
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday announced bars and restaurants statewide must close indoor dining by 10 p.m. starting Nov. 12. Outdoor dining, takeout and delivery service may continue past 10 p.m., the governor said at a coronavirus briefing. “Looking at the data, we are taking surgical steps that we hope will help mitigate the current increasing rate of spread. No one up here wants to take the type of broad and all encompassing actions like those we had to take in March,” said Murphy. MORE: New Jersey Business Owners Bracing For Tightened Restrictions As COVID-19 Cases Continue To Climb Statewide Indoor service may not resume until 5 a.m., Murphy said. The indoor capacity limit remains at 25 percent. Casinos are also required to follow the late-night, indoor dining restrictions, which will not impact gaming operations. “We have to shake off the pandemic fatigue that I know we all feel. I feel it as well,” said Murphy. “We have to get back into the mindset that saw us crush the curve in the spring.” Watch Gov. Murphy’s Press Conference: Seating at bars will be prohibited during all hours when the new restrictions take effect. The governor said restaurants may place tables closer than six feet apart if they are separated by barriers in order to accommodate customers who would ordinarily sit at the bar. Officials said there is evidence that people sitting at the bar, having drinks and close conversations, are spreading the virus. In addition to the indoor restrictions, Murphy announced restaurants will be allowed to construct heated tents – or “bubbles” – around outdoor tables as long as they are limited to one group of diners each and are thoroughly cleaned. The announcements came as COVID rates rise across the Tri-State Area . New Jersey is recording an average of more than 2,300 new cases per day. Hospitalizations are also climbing, too. MORE: Cuomo Says Managing Infection Rates Will Be Critical As New York’s Coronavirus Numbers Climb The hospitality industry has been ravaged by the pandemic. Monday’s announcement was yet another round of bad news for Teddy Perides, who owns Biagio’s Ristorante in Paramus. “I’ll be honest with you, my stomach, it turned, because we though we’d go back to normal. Little by little. This was like we got hit with a sledgehammer,” Perides told CBS2’s Nick Caloway. While most customers finish eating by 10 p.m., closing early is devastating for revenue from the bar and private events. It could have massive impacts statewide. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said COVID doesn’t know what time it is, and curfews on restaurants could do more harm than good. “It seems to me that if you put restrictions or curfews on restaurants, you’re only going to be pushing more people into the small gatherings in the home area, which is a big spreader,” Fulop said. The new restrictions will also affect some youth sports, which must travel between different states in order to compete. Starting Nov. 12, all interstate competition for indoor youth sports up to and including high school are banned. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK Already Struggling Queens Business Owners Say Summonses, Fines Over COVID Guidelines Are ‘Unfair’ Cheering, Celebrations Erupt In Streets Of New York After Joe Biden Projected To Win Presidency 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Massachusetts, Felt In CT, Long Island, USGS Says You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
Read the rest here:
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Announces Indoor Dining Restrictions; ‘We Have To Shake Off The Pandemic Fatigue’
Traffic Accidents In LA Dropped Nearly 42% During Pandemic Period, New Report Shows
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The number of traffic collisions in Los Angeles is down nearly 42% in the first nine months of this year, according to a report released Friday. Between January and the end of September, the city recorded 24,541 collisions, a steep drop from the 42,279 accidents during the same time last year, according to Los Angeles Police Department data analyzed by Crosstown. The decline began in March, the month that Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered all nonessential businesses to close, leading to more people staying home due to the coronavirus pandemic, Crosstown reported. In March, there were 2,917 collisions, a 41% drop from the same month a year ago. The difference is most stark between April and July, when far fewer people were driving to work or to run errands. This year, the LAPD recorded between 1,723 and 2,159 collisions each month. The 2019 figures were all at least twice as high, bouncing between 4,487 and 4,858. As traffic began to start again, the number of collisions in August climbed to 2,983, a boost of more than 800 from July. September was a bit lower, with 2,662 collisions, according to the LAPD, but the figure is still well above March-July levels when the roads were all but empty. One thing that has not changed is where accidents happen. Downtown was the top spot for collisions both this year and last. However, the 1,234 collisions from January through September in the community is down 43% from the same time frame last year. (© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
Go here to see the original:
Traffic Accidents In LA Dropped Nearly 42% During Pandemic Period, New Report Shows
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Two new COVID-19 clusters on Staten Island have the city bringing in extra resources to avoid a major outbreak. St. George Ferry Terminal is one of the places the city plans to add a new rapid testing site. The idea is you come in, get tested, and if you test positive, there will be contact tracers to walk you through next steps. It’s part of the city’s plan to tackle the spike in two zip codes in the borough — 10305 and 10314 in the Rosebank and Bull’s Head neighborhoods, respectively. “In this case, in your case, we’ve caught it early, and we will do everything in our power to deploy resources and join the fight with you by your side,” Dr. Ted Long, of NYC Health + Hospitals told CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis on Thursday. Long is the head of the city’s Test and Trace Corps, which is working in two zip codes that have surpassed a 3% positivity rate. WATCH: Mayor Bill De Blasio’s Daily Coronavirus Briefing “We see the kind of increase that makes us concerned, that needs that very hyperlocal approach that we used in Sunset Park, in Soundview, in southeast Queens successfully,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The response includes: More than 70 Test and Trace Corps staff on the ground encouraging testing, masks and social distancing. 10 new testing sites A new rapid testing site at St. George Ferry Terminal next week. The mayor said what’s happening in Staten Island is more isolated than the recent outbreak in Brooklyn and Queens. “Not something that at this moment would trigger restrictions. That’s obviously the state’s decision. It is something that we think can be handled quickly with a lot of community involvement,” de Blasio said. CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC Tri-State Coronavirus Travel Advisory Quarantine List Resources, Hotlines, Unemployment & Covering Bills Remote Learning Tools For Parents Teaching At Home CBS2’s Dr. Max Answers Your Health Questions What To Do If Someone Isn’t Social Distancing Or Wearing A Mask? Expert: Parents Be Mindful Of Children’s Stress After Months Of Isolation Chopper 2 Over Empty NYC Streets, Landmarks Complete Coronavirus Coverage Kasia Zajac, the owner of Molto Carino salon, located in one of the impacted zip codes, said she is holding the city and community accountable and worried this could get worse. “We need to see that they’re doing that, not just saying in a press conference,” Zajac said. “If they’re going to shut down more of the businesses again I don’t think we’re going to reopen again.” At the St. John Villa Academy testing site, a staff member told CBS2 the site conducted more than 100 tests on Wednesday. That’s about triple it sees on a given day. MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK New York City’s New Quarantine Travel Rules Begin, New Jersey Adds States To Advisory List More Than 2,000 Inmates Released Early From New Jersey State Prisons In Effort To Prevent COVID Spread NYPD: At Least 50 People Arrested After Attempting To ‘Hijack’ Peaceful Protest In Midtown The mayor said the uptick on Staten Island hasn’t been traced to a specific source, but he believes fatigue is a big factor. DeAngelis asked those who live and work in the borough what they think. “I guess people are not doing what they’re supposed to do, not wearing a mask,” one resident said. “My opinion is so-so. I don’t really think you have to wear masks unless you’re close to someone,” resident Blerona Osmani said. Upcoming hyperlocal test sites: Tappen Park – 11/6, 11/7, 11/8, 11/10 Central Family Life Center flu shot event – 11/10 St. George’s Ferry Terminal – 11/12 “Hopefully everybody will wear their masks and try to stay socially distant and we can bring it back down,” said Brett Weed, who works at Pratt Industries on Victory Boulevard. Along with the ferry terminal becoming a rapid test site next Thursday, the city is partnering with the neighboring outlets here to serve as a personal protective equipment (PPE) distribution site. You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
Go here to read the rest:
New York City Monitoring Coronavirus Uptick In 2 Staten Island Zip Codes
Election 2020: New Jersey Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Legalizing Marijuana
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Voters have spoken, overwhelmingly passing a resolution to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey. Sixty-seven percent of New Jersey said yes to the ballot measure. A big election brought forth historic change in the Garden State. “I think it’s amazing. I think it’s good for our economy,” one person said. “This is a tremendous victory in New Jersey,” said Steven Hawkins of the Marijuana Policy Project. As CBS2’s Meg Baker reports, the Garden State is officially going green, but not so fast. So now what? More Election 2020 Coverage : General Election Results New York Results New Jersey Results Photos From The Polls Complete Coverage Hawkins’ organization helped with getting the initiative passed. He says now that it ha been approved by voters, it’s time for guidelines to be put in place. “The next steps will be that the Legislature perhaps as early this Thursday in New Jersey will move to pass legislation to implement a cannabis commission and set up a regulatory system for taxing cannabis and then we could see very early in the next year cannabis starting to be sold for adult use in New Jersey,” Hawkins said. Results : Marijuana Legalization Ballot Issue 2020 Recreational pot becomes in January, but you won’t be able to buy it right away. “Realistically, the timeline is anywhere from six months to a year,” said industry expert Mike McQueeny. “You have to grow it before you can package it and sell it. On top of that, you have to create regulations and rules to do that safely.” It took Massachusetts and other states more than two years to set up the industry. Those already in the medical marketplace will be the first allowed to sell to the general consumer. The problem: Growers in New Jersey do not have enough cannabis available to meet the needs of patients, let alone any other buyers. “I hope they’re out there tilling soil right now. So as soon as they have enough product, they’ll be able to sell,” said State Sen. Nicholas Scutari. Now that New Jersey has voted to legalize marijuana, the state Legislature can start establishing industry standards and deciding where the revenue goes. Scutari is writing the bill and says marijuana in New Jersey will have the lowest tax rate in the country at less than seven percent, and will allow an extra two percent local tax, giving additional revenue to municipalities that decide to allow facilities in their town. “We create an economic engine for this state moving forward, but not just taxation but with job creation,” Scutari said. But the impact is more than extra money for the state. “The economic impact it will have on our state. The job creation. The farming jobs, the tilling jobs, the bud tenders, the sales jobs, the architects,” Scutari said. Watch Meg Baker’s report — Dr. Diane Calello with New Jersey Poison Control Center says the state’s focus needs to be on safety. Edibles must be properly packaged and labeled. “Not only kids like to eat, not realizing it’s cannabis, but it’s also the thing that makes adults take some, not experience an effect, take more, take more, take more and then get hit with a big dose of THC or marijuana unexpectedly an hour or two in,” Dr. Calello said. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal reminds people that all of the state’s criminal laws relating to street purchases of marijuana still apply, though some state legislators are looking to decriminalize cannabis right away. There is opposition. More than 70 municipalities signed a pact not to allow dispensaries in their towns, and the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police cite concerns about drug impaired driving and the toxicity of today’s marijuana. “I think we have a lot of work ahead of us,” said John Zebrowski, the police chief in the town of Sayerville and serves as vice president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. The organization has some concerns about the legalization of marijuana and how it will impact the safety of people on roads. “The issue of impairment is still one that has not been answered. There isn’t a comprehensive or comparable device available to utilize to show impairment, as there is for alcohol at this point,” Zebrowski said. More From CBS New York Coronavirus Impact: NYC Businesses Near Subways, In Grand Central Terminal Struggling To Get By MTA Worker Says He’s Facing 30-Day Suspension For Exposing Safety Issues On Trains Study: 1.7 Million New Yorkers Have Been Infected With COVID-19 As Zebrowski waits to see how policing will move forward, some are hoping bordering states like New York will legalize marijuana, too. Currently, a New York senator is pushing for it to be legalized with a bill detailing how it can be regulated and taxed. “All New York is saying if we don’t legalize is, fine, New Jersey, we’ll come to you and we’ll spend our money over there,” Sen. Liz Krueger said. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio have both said they’re in favor. “It has to be done the right way in New York. It has to be done in a way that’s safe and that empowers communities who often have suffered from the wrong king of laws in the past,” de Blasio said. For social justice. For racial justice. For economic justice. https://t.co/zUTROLKhkY — Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 4, 2020 Meanwhile, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted his support, saying legalizing adult use marijuana is a huge step forward for racial and social justice and for the economy. Legalizing bud was one of his campaign promises. “This is a state, when we came in to office, had the widest white/non-white gap of persons incarcerated in America, and that’s overwhelmingly because of low-end drug crimes,” Murphy said. Black people in New Jersey are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than white people. Safeer Quraishi is with the NAACP local chapter in New Jersey. “We’re advocating for those who are incarcerated for small drug offenses to be released immediately,” Quraishi told CBS2’s Ali Bauman. You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app. Download here .
See original here:
Election 2020: New Jersey Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Legalizing Marijuana
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Mayor Bill de Blasio marked the 17th anniversary of the crash of Flight 587 in Queens Monday. De Blasio joined friends and family of the 265 victims of the crash for the solemn memorial. The plane was traveling from JFK International Airport to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic when it went down just minutes after takeoff. Everyone on board was killed, along with five people on the ground. The crash happened just two months after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks . It was deemed an accident.
Original post:
Mayor De Blasio Marks 17th Anniversary Of Flight 587 Crash
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating an incident involving Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam and Councilman Jeffree Fauntleroy II.
Link:
Atlantic City Mayor Reportedly Arrested After Casino Nightclub Dispute
KEY WEST, Fla. (CBS Local) – Political debates are known for their heated conversations, but a Florida man had a “conversation” with God while on stage during a Florida mayoral debate. Sloan Bashinsky, a perennial candidate for mayor of Key West, turned heads during a debate on July 23 when he took out his cellphone and allegedly answered a call from a higher power. “Hello? What? God?” Bashinsky said into his phone before talking about the city’s proposal to cut nonprofit funding with “the almighty.” Bashinsky reportedly has a law degree from Vanderbilt University and also used to be among Key West’s homeless population. He says God told him to run for office. However, the political candidate added that anyone who wants to be mayor is crazy. “I have said every time I ran, I ran because God told me to run,” Bashinsky said, via the Miami Herald . “This is known to everybody. I think anyone who wants this job is insane.” The Key West resident wouldn’t be the first colorful character to become the city’s mayor. Barkeep and former ship captain Tony Tarracino won the office in 1989 after several tries. His famous campaign slogan was “All you need in this life is a tremendous sex drive and a great ego.”
Excerpt from:
Mayoral Candidate Takes Phone Call From God During Live Debate
The rap mogul's Made in America music festival will stay in the heart of Philadelphia after Mayor Jim Kenney reversed course on his decision to move …
More here:
Philadelphia State of Mind: Jay-Z's festival is staying put
The rap mogul's Made in America music festival will stay in the heart of Philadelphia after Mayor Jim Kenney reversed course on his decision to move …
See the article here:
Philadelphia State of Mind: Jay-Z's festival is staying put
9 Flatiron Buildings Cleared For Re-Occupation As Cleanup Continued Near Site Of Steam Pipe Blast
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – More streets opened up and nine buildings were cleared for re-occupancy Sunday as hazardous debris cleanup continued in the area around Thursday’s steam pipe explosion in the Flatiron district. Many people evacuated were happy to return home for the start of the work week, while others wondered about when they’d be allowed back and how they’d be compensated for their displacement. Photos: Massive Steam Pipe Explosion In Manhattan’s Flatiron District Firefighters sprayed the facades of buildings along Fifth Avenue to wash off any asbestos from the steam-pipe explosion earlier this week, and many tenants are now allowed to return to their homes. The Department of Environmental Protection and NYC Health Department are conducting the interior investigations. The blast near 21st Street and Fifth Avenue sent asbestos-filled steam and pieces of the pipe flying. Mayor’s spokesperson Eric Phillips tweeted Sunday that “on compensation from ConEd for displaced steam pipe explosion residents, the Mayor agrees that $500 will likely not be good enough. We’ll be pushing ConEd to up that payment.” The $500 doesn't preclude anyone from submitting a claim for other related expenses. It was to provide immediate help to those who were displaced. We're available at The Clinton School, 10 E. 15th St, to meet with people. — Con Edison (@ConEdison) July 22, 2018 The utility company said the $500 “doesn’t preclude anyone from submitting a claim for other related expenses.” “It was to provide immediate help to those who were displaced,” ConEd tweeted on Sunday, adding company representatives would be made available at the Clinton School on East 15th Street to meet with people. On Sunday, city officials reported 18th, 19th, and 22nd Streets were again open to pedestrian and street traffic, while 20th Street was only reopened to residents. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said there was progress, but it shouldn’t be rushed if it meant compromising anyone’s safety. “I want to make sure it’s done correctly,” she said. “I know it’s really hard when you’re out of your home and your business but you don’t wanna be sick.” Crews on Saturday collected the water and filtered it before releasing it into catch basins. The difficult cleanup was made even riskier by the heavy rains. Workers used sandbags to line the contaminated area in hopes of preventing dangerous material from seeping out into storm sewers. The city is providing live updates as buildings are cleared for reoccupation. A community briefing is scheduled for Monday night for neighbors affected by the steam main break. For more information, visit the city’s website .
Excerpt from:
9 Flatiron Buildings Cleared For Re-Occupation As Cleanup Continued Near Site Of Steam Pipe Blast
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – More streets opened up Sunday as hazardous debris cleanup continued in the area around Thursday’s steam pipe explosion in the Flatiron district. Many people evacuated were wondering if they’ll be able to return home for the start of the work week, while others wondered about compensation. Photos: Massive Steam Pipe Explosion In Manhattan’s Flatiron District Firefighters sprayed the facades of buildings along Fifth Avenue to wash off any asbestos from the steam-pipe explosion earlier this week, and many tenants are now allowed to return to their homes. The Department of Environmental Protection and NYC Health Department are conducting the interior investigations. The blast near 21st Street and Fifth Avenue sent asbestos-filled steam and pieces of the pipe flying. Mayor’s spokesperson Eric Phillips tweeted Sunday that “on compensation from ConEd for displaced steam pipe explosion residents, the Mayor agrees that $500 will likely not be good enough. We’ll be pushing ConEd to up that payment.” The $500 doesn't preclude anyone from submitting a claim for other related expenses. It was to provide immediate help to those who were displaced. We're available at The Clinton School, 10 E. 15th St, to meet with people. — Con Edison (@ConEdison) July 22, 2018 The utility company said the $500 “doesn’t preclude anyone from submitting a claim for other related expenses.” “It was to provide immediate help to those who were displaced,” ConEd tweeted on Sunday, adding company representatives would be made available at the Clinton School on East 15th Street to meet with people. On Sunday, city officials reported 22nd Street was again open to pedestrian and street traffic, while 20th Street was only reopened to residents. Steam pipe explosion cleanup update: 11 West 19th, 17 West 19th, 10 West 20th, 16 West 20th were just declared safe and open returning tenants. Air and debris checks all clear. 22nd St. was just reopened to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. — NYC Emergency Management (@nycoem) July 22, 2018 Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said there was progress, but it shouldn’t be rushed if it meant compromising anyone’s safety. “I want to make sure it’s done correctly,” she said. “I know it’s really hard when you’re out of your home and your business but you don’t wanna be sick.” Crews on Saturday collected the water and filtered it before releasing it into catch basins. The difficult cleanup was made even riskier by the heavy rains. Workers used sandbags to line the contaminated area in hopes of preventing dangerous material from seeping out into storm sewers.
Read more from the original source:
Mayor: ConEd’s $500 Not Enough For Tenants During Steam Pipe Blast Cleanup