Speaking to Russia’s Sputnik news, Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas claimed that if Israel completes annexation of the Jordan Valley, the Palestinians will pursue the Jewish state in international forums and end relations on all levels. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Mahmoud Abbas told a Russian news outlet that the Palestinian Authority will cut all ties with Israel if it annexes the Jordan Valley.
By: WIN Staff
Speaking to Russia’s Sputnik news, Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas claimed that if Israel completes annexation of the Jordan Valley, the Palestinians will pursue the Jewish state in international forums and end relations on all levels.
“As for [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu’s intention to … annex[] the Jordan Valley, we are closely monitoring his steps in this direction. If the Israeli premier really does something like this, we will turn to the UN, the International Criminal Court, and we’ll finally and irrevocably sever all relations with Israel,” Abbas stated, according to Sputnik.
Abbas also claimed that the Palestinians have taken “decisive steps” to address Washington’s position that Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are not “illegal” under international law, a position recently announced by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Notwithstanding a longstanding near-total boycott of the Trump administration, Abbas reportedly threatened to cut off relations with the White House also.
Meanwhile, the “day of rage” the PA attempted to launch on Tuesday in response to the U.S.’ position on Judea and Samaria failed to attract significant numbers, with minor clashes mounted against Israeli security forces in places like Ramallah.
The PA shuttered schools in the morning and government offices to try to garner protesters.
The ones that did show up set ablaze posters of U.S. President Donald Trump as well as Israeli and American flags, while some rioters threw stones at IDF forces.
Later in the evening, terrorists fired two rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel. One was intercepted by an Iron Dome missile battery. It was the second such attack in as many days, and Israeli aircraft retaliated with strikes on several Hamas sites in Gaza. There were no reports of injuries. (World Israel News)
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on the campaign trail for Democrat candidate Bernie Sanders (Photo: Scott Heins/Getty Images)
By: WIN Staff
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is reportedly denying that she “passed sensitive information that was relayed to Iran, and received funding by a foreign government,” as reported by Al Arabiya English, a Gulf-based news outlet, based on a sworn deposition by a Canadian businessman in a Florida court.
“Since the day she was elected, Saudi Arabian trolls and mouthpieces have targeted Omar with misinformation and conspiracy theories,” a spokesperson for the congresswoman wrote in a statement to The JerusalemPost, published by the newspaper on Wednesday.
“The latest, outlandishly absurd story from a Saudi-funded media outlet is of course false and only the latest in that trend,” said the statement. “The only people Rep. Omar represents in Washington are the people of Minnesota’s 5th District. She will continue to speak out against human rights violations around the world – whether it is war crimes in Yemen or the caging of children at our border – regardless of who commits them.”
Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional rivals. Qatar, at odds with other Gulf states, is said to maintain close ties with Tehran.
“Al Arabiya is a Saudi free-to-air television news channel broadcast in Modern Standard Arabic. The channel is based in Dubai and broadcasts to a pan-Arab audience; it is regarded as a competitor to Al Jazeera,” according to Wikipedia.
Al Arabiya English said that it obtained the deposition and that it was “authenticated by the attorney for the plaintiffs.”
It reported that “in explosive testimony made by video link from Toronto, Canada to a Florida District Court on October 23, Kuwaiti-born Alan Bender claims to have deep ties with governments and royal officials across the Middle East including Qatar. In his statement, he says he met Qatar’s Secretary to the Emir for Security Affairs Mohammad bin Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Masnad and two other senior Qatari officials.”
In his sworn deposition, Bender reportedly said that the three Qatari officials “claimed credit for the meteoric rise of Omar, saying: ‘If it wasn’t for our cash, Ilhan Omar would be just another black Somali refugee in America collecting welfare and serving tables on weekends.’”
According to Bender’s testimony, the secretary to the Qatari emir for security affairs said that Qatar “recruited Ilhan Omar from even way before she thought about becoming a government official.… They groomed her and arranged the foundation, the grounds, for her to get into politics way before she even showed interest. They convinced her,” says the report, adding that “Omar cooperated with the Qataris and received cash payments,” according to the deposition as reported by Al Arabiya English.
Like World Israel News, the Jerusalem Post also carried the Gulf news outlet’s report on Bender’s deposition.
Speaking to the Post, Bender said: “I confirm that the information published in The Jerusalem Post report about Ilhan Omar and Qatar is accurate 100%.” (World Israel News)
The New York-based Human Rights Watch claims it has “damming evidence” showing the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army is engaged in summary executions, pillaging, seizing properties, and preventing the return of people to their homes.
By: Dorian Jones
“Turkey is turning a blind eye to the reprehensible behaviors displayed by the factions it arms,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “So long as Turkey is in control of these areas, it has a responsibility to investigate and end these violations.”
Last month Turkish forces and the SNA launched an offensive in northeast Syria against Syrian Democratic Forces, which are made up mainly of the Kurdish militia the YPG.
Ankara considers the YPG terrorists, but the militia was a crucial ally of Washington’s military effort against Islamic State.
HRW cites evidence that the SNA executed prisoners, seized the homes of local Kurds, and engaged in indiscriminate shelling of civilians.
The case of Hevrin Khalaf, a prominent women’s rights activist, is highlighted. In October, Khalaf was executed after her car was stopped by a militia affiliated with the SNA.
HRW also says social media postings of videos put up by the militia appear to show the execution of women prisoners.
Ankara has so far not responded to the HRW report. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised the SNA for its “sacrifices” in Syria.
Turkey is facing growing international criticism for its use of militias, which critics claim have links to radical Islamic groups, a charge denied by Ankara.
“The problem is that those people are radicals in terms of their ideology, this is criticized by the western world,” said international relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara’s Middle East Technical University.
“But Turkey has done it in the last eight years, so this is a choice by the president. He takes the risk. He lets them fight on the side of the Turkish army. We will see if it’s like a hand grenade exploding in his hand or it will strengthen his position,” Bagci added.
The SNA force is around three times larger than Turkish armed forces engaged in northern Syria. Ankara’s reliance on the SNA comes as its armed forces are facing an unprecedented number of simultaneous military commitments.
“The Turkish army is already strained,” said retired Turkish general Haldun Solmazturk, who now heads the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkish Institute. “From Iraq to Idlib to eastern Mediterranean Cyprus. An additional burden will have some serious impact on the Turkish army to meet all these challenges.”
The SNA has also taken the brunt of casualties. As of November 15, 224 killed and 692 injured compared to Turkish forces casualties of 11 dead and 90 wounded. Some analysts claim the relatively low number of Turkish deaths is a reason why the operation continues to enjoy strong domestic support among the Turkish public.
Ankara’s heavy use of SNA forces made up of mainly Syrian Arabs is also widely seen as a tactic to dispel allegations Turkish forces are invading another country.
Analysts point out, given that Turkey once ruled the region when it was the Ottoman Empire, Arab nations remain nervous about any irredentist Turkish aspirations. The Arab League has strongly condemned the Turkish operation.
Ankara insists it is committed to Syria’s territorial integrity.
“Our operations in northern Syria aim to clear terrorists from their strongholds, create safe conditions for the return of refugees robbed of their homes & lands,” tweeted Fahrettin Altun, the Turkish president’s communications head. “Kurdish groups have forced many Arabs from their homes in areas under their control in northern Syria,” said former Turkish ambassador Mithat Rende. “These towns and cities controlled by Kurds are Arab towns with Arab names, with Kurdish minorities.”
Erdogan claims up to two million Syrians who fled to Turkey to escape the civil war will be returned to a so-called “safe zone,” that is being created in northern Syria along the Turkish border.
The Turkish president is looking to the international community for funding to pay $20 billion for the building of hundreds of thousands of new homes in the “safe zone.”
Next week Erdogan will press his case when he is scheduled to hold a meeting with French, German, and British leaders on the sidelines of the London NATO summit. “We invite the international community to support us in helping our Syrian brothers and sisters to safely return to areas where they can live in peace regardless of their religious and ethnic identities,” tweeted Altun Wednesday.
However, the actions of SNA forces are seen as fueling accusations Ankara is seeking to remove local Kurdish populations and replace them with Arabs considered more sympathetic to Turkey.
“There weren’t many mistakes by the Turkish army, but there was a tactical mistake when it comes to public diplomacy in the communication,” said former senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen who served widely in the region. “It’s a fact some of these militias have committed crimes, and this is being used against Turkey, that it’s involved in ethnic cleansing.”
Ankara vehemently denies any intention that it’s seeking demographic changes in Syria. However, the latest findings by HRW can only add to questions over Turkey’s plans for a safe zone and mass return of Syrians.
“Executing individuals, pillaging property, and blocking displaced people from returning to their homes is damning evidence of why Turkey’s proposed ‘safe zones’ will not be safe,” said Whitson. (VOA News)
The disguised bandit is Yosef Ziegler of Airmont, federal authorities said. Photo Credit: COURTESY: Bergen County Prosecutor
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that YOSEF ZIEGLER was arrested in connection with four bank robberies in the counties of Rockland, Dutchess, and Bergen from January 24, 2019, through October 29, 2019. The defendant was arrested this morning in Airmont, New York, and presented in White Plains federal court this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judith C. McCarthy.
Edited by: TJVNews.com
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “In quick succession, Yosef Ziegler allegedly committed a series of daring broad-daylight bank robberies in New York and New Jersey. Ziegler’s alleged conduct not only put bank employees, law enforcement, and the public at risk. Traumatic events such as this can also cause lasting undue emotional distress on victims and bystanders. Yosef Ziegler now stands accused of bank robbery charges which could potentially earn him 25 years in federal prison.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint[1]:
On January 24, 2019, at approximately 4:20 p.m., ZIEGLER entered a bank in Pomona, New York, announced that he had a bomb, displayed a cylindrical device attached to wires, and demanded that employees empty the bank’s vault. ZIEGLER collected approximately $76,000 in United States currency and then fled.
On April 17, 2019, at approximately 12:00 p.m., ZIEGLER entered a bank in Park Ridge, New Jersey, announced that he had a bomb, and demanded that employees empty the bank’s vault. ZIEGLER collected approximately $30,150 in United States currency and then fled.
On June 25, 2019, at approximately 11:50 a.m., ZIEGLER entered a bank in Wappingers Falls, New York, announced that he had bomb, with a device in his hand attached to wires that connected to his belt, and demanded that employees empty the vault and teller draws. ZIEGLER collected approximately $22,500 in United States currency and then fled.
On October 29, 2019, at approximately 12:00 p.m., ZIEGLER entered a bank in Fishkill, New York, wielding what appeared to be a firearm, which he pointed at employees while demanding that they empty the bank’s vault. ZIEGLER collected approximately $105,000 in United States currency and then fled.
Altogether, ZIEGLER allegedly stole over $233,000 from the four robberies.
ZIEGLER, 29, of Airmont, New York, faces a maximum term of 25 years in prison for each of the three counts of bank robbery. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the respective judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, FBI Newark Division, Bergen County Prosecutors Office, the Ramapo Police Department, the Fishkill Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Berman also thanked the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Heavey is in charge of the prosecution.
Last week, the London Jewish Chronicle reported that a significant number of prominent officials and public figures representing 15 Arab countries joined forces in unison in the UK capital last Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov 19-20) in an initiative that resulted in the historic repudiation of the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) movement. (Courtesy of U.K. Campaign Against Antisemitism)
By: Fern Sidman
Last week, the London Jewish Chronicle reported that a significant number of prominent officials and public figures representing 15 Arab countries joined forces in unison in the UK capital last Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov 19-20) in an initiative that resulted in the historic repudiation of the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) movement.
According to a report in the Jewish Journal, the conference was sponsored by the US-based Center for Peace Communications, whose board of directors is headed by former US Ambassador Dennis Ross. The CPC describes itself as “a group of Americans who believe that security and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa require a peace between peoples.” Joseph Braude, the convener of the conference, is a senior fellow at the Middle East Program of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, in Washington D.C., and is CPC’s founder and president.
The New York Times reported that, Mustafa el-Dessouki, Egyptian managing editor of an influential Saudi-funded newsmagazine, Majalla, was one of the council’s main organizers. He said that while traveling around the Middle East in recent years he has met many like-minded Arabs “who had kind of been waiting for somebody like me to come along,” including Lebanese citizens.
El-Dessouki noted that Arab news media and entertainment have long been “programming people toward this hostility” directed at Israel and Jews, while political leaders were “intimidating and scaring people into manifesting it.”
Jassim Mohammad, an Iraqi counter-terrorism expert living in Germany, urged Arab security services to stop the spread of “radicalism and hate” in the media, schools and mosques and to spread “corrective content about Israel and Jews.” He said that these changes were a “matter of Arab national security.”
For close to 15 years, the BDS movement has been a virtual nemesis for Israel, as they have launched academic, economic, political, cultural and religious boycotts of the Jewish state. The ultimate objective of the BDS movement is the total destruction of Israel as a Jewish state.
Critics of BDS reject its charge that Israel is an apartheid state, asserting that in Israel (outside of the West Bank) “Jews and Arabs mix freely and increasingly live in the same neighborhoods…there is no imposed segregation.” Critics have also argued that the BDS movement is antisemitic in the form its opposition to Zionism takes, drawing analogies to the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses and accusing it of promoting the delegitimization of Israel.
Its opponents argue that at official university levels, the BDS movement inundates university organizations and departments with various and recurring anti-Israel resolutions, often without notice or time for open debate. They say that BDS supporters bring outsiders to influence opinion or to vote on university resolutions even when this is unauthorized. Whether a resolution passes is not as important as keeping the debate alive at official university levels. The goal is to influence future policymakers to find fault with Israel.
The London Jewish Chronicle also reported that the representatives of Arab countries called for expanded and enhanced civil relations with Israel.
According to a JPost report, chief among the litany of accomplishments at the monumental conference was the formation of a new group called the Arab Council for Regional Integration, a declaration signing ceremony and a nuanced and thoughtful discussion on issues that are generic to the Middle East, such as radical Islamic terrorism, regional economic interaction & cooperation and charting a course aimed at improving relations with Israel.
The JPost reported that those in attendance represented a diverse demographic and included a sizable contingent of youth, women, diplomats and artists, who envision the potential of crafting a just, sustainable and long-term peace initiative with Israel. The eclectic cadre of intellectuals seek to gain even a further understanding of the complex issues in the region that has often been dubbed a “powder keg.”
The Jewish Journal reported that Mohammed Dajani, a Palestinian academic who shocked the Arab world by taking a group of his students to Auschwitz, were already well known to Israeli activists. Professor Dajani suggested that the stories of close interaction with Jews could be collected and published by the new Arab Council. Photo Credit: YouTube
The Jewish Journal reported that Mohammed Dajani, a Palestinian academic who shocked the Arab world by taking a group of his students to Auschwitz, were already well known to Israeli activists. Many of the opinions that were voiced at the conference were not only completely supportive of a productive relationship between Jews and Arabs but were considered highly significant because this is the first time that such declarations have been made in public and on the record. Professor Dajani suggested that the stories of close interaction with Jews could be collected and published by the new Arab Council.
As such, the delegates to the conference which did not include Israelis, raised the pivotal issues of the lack of genuine reconciliation between Egypt and Israel as well as Jordan and Israel, since the countries in question signed the “cold peace” treaties in the 1990s.
Some visible figures at the event included Egyptian MP Mohammed Anwar Sadat, nephew of the late president Anwar El Sadat, as was reported by the JPost. The conference took place on the anniversary of the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat’s historic 1977 visit to Israel. On November 19, 1977, Sadat became the first Arab leader to visit Israel officially when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and spoke before the Knesset in Jerusalem on how to achieve a comprehensive peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Some visible figures at the event included Egyptian MP Mohammed Anwar Sadat, nephew of the late president Anwar El Sadat, as was reported by the JPost.
The conference took place on the anniversary of the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat’s historic 1977 visit to Israel. On November 19, 1977, Sadat became the first Arab leader to visit Israel officially when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and spoke before the Knesset in Jerusalem on how to achieve a comprehensive peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Peace treaty was finally signed by Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin in Washington, D.C., United States, on 26 March 1979, following the Camp David Accords. Both Sadat and Begin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the treaty. On October 6, 1981 during a military parade, Anwar El-Sadat was assassinated by a Palestinian terrorist commando, as revenge for having signed peace with Israel.
In February of 2019, the Jewish Voice reported that approximately, three years ago, an eclectic group of twenty-five Jewish -Americans formed the Anwar Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Commission, to lobby Congress to select and award the late President of Egypt with the highest civilian award of the United States of America. The award is considered the utmost expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions to humanity. A U.S. Congressional Gold Medal is designed by the United States Mint to specifically commemorate the person and achievement for which the medal is awarded.
Also included in the conference were the former Kuwaiti Minister of Information, Sami Abdul-Latif Al-Nisf; and two prominent Islamic religious figures, Hassen Chalghoumi, a Paris-based Tunisian cleric, and Lebanese imam Saleh Hamed.
The speakers at the conference specifically addressed the historic friendship and alliances that Jews and Arabs had forged for centuries as they both inhabited the same countries in the Middle East. Calling for Jews to return to the Arab countries of their birth or the birthplace of their antecedents, the gathering exhorted Jews to dedicate themselves towards a complete rapprochement between their people and the collective Arab enterprise, according to the JPost report.
Each member shared the view that isolating Israel had not been beneficial to the Palestinian cause and has also torn apart “the Arab social fabric, as rival ethnic, religious and national leaders increasingly apply tactics that were first tested against Israel,” the Times reported.
No Israelis attended the event, due to the fact that many participants could be prosecuted for having contact or relations with Israelis, which is a form of normalization.
The Jewish Journal also reported that in a video link from Washington D.C., Ambassador Dennis Ross told the participants at the conference that their deliberations “would have been wonderful if they had happened years ago,” but nevertheless he welcomed the initiative. He said, “You represent the voices who say enough. The more voices like yours who are prepared to speak out, the more you will build your voice [in talking] with Israel, and the more you will influence Israel’s leaders. You represent a ray of hope: it is a courageous endeavor, but also the right endeavor, and I am inspired by your example. You know you are on the right path.” Photo Credit: WikipediaThe Jewish Journal also reported that in a video link from Washington D.C., Ambassador Dennis Ross told the participants at the conference that their deliberations “would have been wonderful if they had happened years ago,” but nevertheless he welcomed the initiative.
He said, “You represent the voices who say enough. The more voices like yours who are prepared to speak out, the more you will build your voice [in talking] with Israel, and the more you will influence Israel’s leaders. You represent a ray of hope: it is a courageous endeavor, but also the right endeavor, and I am inspired by your example. You know you are on the right path.”
Former British prime minister Tony Blair was piped into the event, according to a UWI report. He commended the group for speaking out and nurturing stronger Arab-Israeli ties noting that it was vital to “any realistic possibility of an enduring peace.” He also called for a two-state solution.
The council’s members, however, stressed their belief that it is impossible for Arab countries to reach formal diplomatic relations with Israel without a resolution to the Palestinian conflict and noted that “polls show that when Israelis are offered the enticement of acceptance by Arab nations, they become more willing to compromise, even by giving up land,” reported the Times.
In October of this year, Tazpit Press Service reported that Israel acted quickly to rescind the residency status attained by BDS founder Omar Barghouti. The announcement was made by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri. Deri ordered the Population and Immigration Authority to prepare a legal opinion to revoke Barghouti’s residency status for the “breach of trust.”
Deri’s decision was adopted following the announcement by Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber regarding Deri’s authority to withdraw Barghouti’s residency, as was reported by TPS.
The Ministry noted that since 2016, Barghouti’s case was discussed on the grounds that he could not enjoy the status of an Israeli resident and its benefits while working to impose a boycott on Israel and leading the boycott movement in Israel itself. However, the issue was pending an amendment of the law which was passed in 2018 and clarified the Minister of Interior’s power to revoke residency status for breach of trust.
Following the change in the law, Deri decided to move forward with the canceling of Barghouti’s residency, according to the TPS report.
Deri stated that he intends “to act quickly to deprive Omar Barghouti of the residency status in Israel. He is a man who does everything to harm the country and therefore must not enjoy the right to be a resident of Israel.”
TPS reported that Barghouti, co-founder of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement has rejected Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and said he will only accept a single state where Palestinians have total sovereignty. He is a native of Qatar who grew up in Egypt and married an Israeli Arab, for which he was granted the residency status. He has an apartment in the city of Acre. However, an examination conducted by the Interior Ministry showed that he spends most of his time is in Ramallah.
In 2005, he founded BDS, which brings together hundreds of anti-Israel organizations and branches around the world, including Israel.
In 2014, he stated that Palestinians have a right to “resistance by any means, including armed resistance.”
Evidence that attitudes and perspectives towards Israel are being radically altered was evidenced on November 17th in Abu Dhabi, the capital of Dubai. It was there that 17-year-old Alon Leviev of Israel won the gold medal in the junior category of the Jiu-jitsu World Championship that was being hosted in the capital, Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah” was played. This symbolism of a new era of friendship had hitherto been unprecedented as no Arab country even welcomed Israeli athletes, let alone played their national anthem which speaks of the yearning of the Jew to return to his rightful and G-d given land after being banished for 2000 years.
Leviev, who competed in the 55-kilogram-and-under weight category, beat an athlete from Abu Dhabi in the final, having overcome competitors from Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, according to a report on the Times of Israel web site.
Until a few, short years ago, the Arab Emirates banned all Israeli symbols, as they actively participated in the global efforts to isolate Israel from the rest of the world.
In 2017, tournament organizers in Abu Dhabi banned Israel’s flag and national anthem — a policy directed only at Israeli participants. Tal Flicker, playing under the Judo Federation flag, won a gold at the tournament, but the anthem was not played, so he sang it himself, as was reported by the Times of Israel.
On November 25th, the Times of Israel reported that Hatikvah was once again played in Abu Dhabi after 21-year old Nimrod Ryder (who represented Israel) won the gold medal in the Adult category at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. He was crowned as world champion.
The World Championship in Abu Dhabi, which hosts teams from some 60 countries, is the most important competition of the year for the Israeli Jiu-Jitsu team. During the competition there are three categories – Youth (Under-18), Junior (Under-21), and Adults. The last stage of the competition included the Adults matches, where Nimrod Ryder came in first in his weight category.
The agency charged with investigating wrongdoing in city schools are stalling or outright blocking investigations into the mayor and the School Chancellor Richard Carranza. Photo Credit: wnyc.org
By: Jared Evan
A whistleblower made an explosive allegation which the N.Y Post initially broke: The Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) for city schools is sitting on nine cases of waste, fraud and corruption involving the upper echelons of City Hall and the Department of Education.
In other words, the agency charged with investigating wrongdoing in city schools are stalling or outright blocking investigations into the mayor and the School Chancellor Richard Carranza.
One of cases cited involves first lady Chirlane McCray’s embattled $850 million mental health program, Thrive, which has a large school component.
The Thrive program has been highly controversial as far as its actual impact on the mentally ill and especially the way the first lady McCray squandered almost a billion dollars on this program.
Chirlane McCray, was given $900 million to start a mental health initiative focusing on helping the homeless in the city. Four years later, no one seems to know what that money was used for, according to the New York Post.
The City Council discovered this shocking amount of potential waste during a meeting earlier in the year.
“I like the fact that money is going toward mental health, but when they say we’re seeing a benefit in all areas, I take exception to that, because I don’t see it everywhere,” Queens Councilman Robert Holden told The Post. “I’m not sure anybody does.”
The Thrive program, which had its budget raised to $250 million per year in 2019, has produced some underwhelming numbers in terms of how many people it impacts, Blaze reported.
The insider document blames Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman, who was appointed in February 2018, after prevailing in a power struggle with former Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark Peters, an aggressive prober of the mayor’s administration and city agencies, The Post reported. The insider document blames Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman, who was appointed in February 2018, after prevailing in a power struggle with former Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark Peters, an aggressive prober of the mayor’s administration and city agencies.
“Under Coleman, SCI is continuing to hold or redirect investigations into City Hall, Chancellor Richard Carranza and de Blasio allies with business or that are connected to the DOE to protect de Blasio’s image while he runs for president,” says the anonymous Aug. 20 letter signed by “SCI Investigative Staff”, and given to the N.Y Post.
Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza has been a lightening rod of controversy since de Blasio appointed the leftist social engineer as school chancellor in 2018, pushing a race based agenda from the start.
The school’s chancellor, made “desegregation” his signature issue when he took the job in 2018, denouncing racial inequality and promising sweeping action. He has specifically questioned whether too many students were being labeled “gifted”, the NY times initially reported.
New York City’s School Diversity Advisory Group recently demanded the elimination of all Gifted & Talented programs in Gotham’s government schools. Conservative outlet National Review described the situation: the SDAG proposes to sacrifice NYC’s high-achieving children on the altar of “equity and inclusion.”
Meanwhile at the DOE offices itself, race has become a key factor, as the radical leftist agenda has brought negativity and lawsuits.
Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza is facing charges for anti-white bias at the NYC Department of Education in a $90 million lawsuit. As reported by the NY Post in June , Carranza is denying the charges, brought forth by three high-ranking DOE employees, all white women, who claim they were demoted without cause in favor of less-qualified persons of color by him after he was placed in charge of the agency in April 2018. “Under Carranza’s leadership, DOE has swiftly and irrevocably silenced, sidelined and punished plaintiffs and other Caucasian female DOE employees on the basis of their race, gender and unwillingness to accept their other colleagues’ hateful stereotypes about them,” wrote the group’s lawyer, Davida S. Perry, in the filing.
During the NewsNight interview conducted by a BBC reporter, the Duke of York did not say that he regretted having forged a friendship with Epstein, nor did he express any compassion or sympathy for Epstein’s victims. Photo Credit: Getty–Contributor
By: Geraldo Espinoza
It’s not Macbeth, but it’s in the ballpark.
According to reports coming out of England, Prince William played a pivotal role in dumping Prince Andrew from his royal duties.
Andrew, 59, was canned last week after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, told insiders she felt “hoodwinked” by his disastrous BBC interview over his ties to late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to The Times of London.
“William is becoming more and more involved in decisions about the institution [monarchy] and he’s not a huge fan of his uncle Andrew,” a source close to the royals told The Times of London. “William thinks the right thing happened.”
Buckingham Palace “confirmed on Sunday that the Duke of York was “standing back from all his patronages” but indicated he still hoped to return to a public role at some point by saying the move was only temporary,” reported theguardian.com.
The possibly pervy prince “said last week that he was willing to help ‘any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations [into Epstein] if required.’ But the fallout from his friendship with the convicted child sex offender, who is believed to have killed himself in a New York prison in August, has already seen him lose or withdraw from patronages with English National Ballet, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Outward Bound Trust,” theguardian.com added.
During the NewsNight interview conducted by a BBC reporter, the Duke of York did not say that he regretted having forged a friendship with Epstein, nor did he express any compassion or sympathy for Epstein’s victims. He also said that even after Epstein was convicted of having sexual relations with a minor, he decided to take up Epstein’s invitation to stay at his Manhattan mansion.
In a somewhat bizarre twist, Prince Andrew said that due to a rare medical condition, he was unable to physically break a sweat. He mentioned this in response to the interviewer’s question about whether he danced with an underage girl in a London nightclub and began sweating afterwards as the young woman had charged.
The beleaguered prince is “not above the law” and has no diplomatic or sovereign immunity over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, it can be revealed,” reported The Sun. “The Duke has been urged to put himself forward to be quizzed by US investigators who are looking into allegations against convicted sex offender Epstein. It is understood Andrew is not eligible for sovereign immunity as only the Queen is entitled to that category.”
Worse still, the royals have had to cancel a party. “The Queen has scrapped plans to host a party for Prince Andrew to mark his 60th birthday in February,” reported dailymail.com. “Instead, the monarch is said to be arranging a small family dinner for the Duke, according to The Sunday Times. His birthday is on February 19. The news comes just days after the Queen effectively sacked him from his royal duties at the behest of her eldest son in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. It has also emerged that Andrew’s bungled BBC Newsnight interview was not sanctioned in advance by the Queen.”
Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus (D-Brooklyn) tried to land $100K from New York State coffers for the Southern Brooklyn Community Think Tank, which she promised to set up days after her November 2018 election to “change the face of politics” in the area. Photo Credit: nyassembly.gov
By: Justin Credible
Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus (D-Brooklyn) tried to land $100K from New York State coffers for the Southern Brooklyn Community Think Tank, which she promised to set up days after her November 2018 election to “change the face of politics” in the area, Fox News reported.
Mathylde Frontus is a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 46th district since 2019. The 46th district encompasses portions of southern Brooklyn, including Coney Island and Brighton Beach.
Frontus ironically was voted in her district after the preceding Assemblywoman of the same district 46 resigned over pure corruption.
In 2018, Assembly member Pamela Harris resigned ahead of indictments stemming from stolen Hurricane Sandy funds .
Pamela Harris was indicted in January 2018 following allegations she pocketed $25,000 in federal funds by falsely claiming the storm chased her from her Coney Island home. Authorities said the Brooklyn Democrat committed other frauds, including cheating the New York City Council out of discretionary funds meant for nonprofits, NY 1 reported.
Harris pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, one count of making false statements to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), and one count of witness tampering, NY 1 reported.
She was later was sentenced to six months in jail followed by three years of supervised release, 400 hours of community service, and restitution of $45,600 to the City of New York for the money stolen from Coney Island Generation Gap and $24,800 to the U.S. government for the money stolen from FEMA, Brooklyn Eagle reported.
Frontus won the Democratic primary over Ethan Lustig-Elgrably by only 51 votes. In the general election, Frontus defeated Republican Steven Saperstein with 56% of the vote.
Frontus said she couldn’t understand all the fuss over her failed political-pork request. “It’s not an entity, it’s just a name,” said Frontus, who previously founded two Coney Island-based social services nonprofits. “It’s not something real”, N.Y Post reported.
However, she never filed paperwork with state or federal authorities to establish the group — despite asking Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for the funding, which he refused, according to Fox News.
“How do you ask for $100,000 in funding for a group that doesn’t exist and think it’s OK?” said one Brooklyn legislator. “This request reeks of corruption and raises many legal and ethical questions.”
“Elected officials should not [try to] direct public money to groups they are affiliated with because it creates an appearance of favoritism,” Alex Camarda, senior policy advisor for the good government group Reinvent Albany told Fox News.
Frontus’ Republican opponent Steve Saperstein wanted to take a page from HBO’s “Game of Thrones” by forcing disgraced lawmakers convicted of corruption to be paraded in handcuffs through their home districts, TJV previously reported
Convicted statewide politicians would be subject to the same walk of shame near the Capitol in Albany, according to Steve Saperstein.
Hate mail – 2,200 flaming pieces of it — poured into New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office when that $3 billion deal to open a massive Amazon HQ in Queens fell through, even though most agreed the touch of death had been applied by his Democratic colleagues, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Photo Credit: Twitter
By Clark Savage, Jr.
Hate mail – 2,200 flaming pieces of it — poured into New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office when that $3 billion deal to open a massive Amazon HQ in Queens fell through, even though most agreed the touch of death had been applied by his Democratic colleagues, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
And the New York Post got a hold of at least some of them via a Freedom of Information request. The newspaper recently exposed some of those letters, and the anger exploding from them is more than obvious. Here are some examples:
* “You got outsmarted by a bartender … thanks.”
* “What a dysfunctional scenario to unfold under your watch. AOC has played you swiftly. WOW!”
* One voter suggested Cuomo’s Democratic Party “has lost its mind.”
* “Seriously? We lost AMAZON’S headquarters?!! Are you all so afraid of AOC and screaming, stupid protestors who don’t understand Economics 101??? Is she so intimidating that you and [Mayor Bill] De Blasio couldn’t get this done? SHAME ON YOU!!!!”
* Another New Yorker told Cuomo “that little snot nose trashed your big deal,” adding, “I guess we know who wears the pants in New York now. Especially in the Democratic Party.”
* “Bye, Bye. Me and My entire extended family are now on our way out of your state to live in Tennessee. It has nothing to do with the weather!!!!!!!!! It’s all to do with you. Loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
* “Your failure to secure Amazon as a new corporation to do business in the state is laughable and a testament to political incompetence.”
* “You and all the other NYS political self-serving hacks are an embarrassment. Looking forward to putting you and NY in my rear view mirror!”
For her part, when asked about extinguishing a potential 25,000 jobs for New Yorker residents, Ocasio-Cortez alibied that the city was “subsiding those jobs” anyway. “So if we were willing to give away $3 billion for this deal we could invest those $3 billion in our district ourselves if we wanted to. We could hire out more teachers, fix our subways. Additionally, there was no guarantee those jobs were for the New Yorkers that were here. I think we can come absolutely together to create an economic plan that actually invests in New Yorkers and higher wages.”
The governor’s shame is being shared across national borders, as well. In Britain, the DailyMail reported that Cuomo “has been slammed for being ‘outsmarted by bartender’ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after his push for an Amazon HQ in Queens collapsed. The 61-year-old faced a torrent of emails ridiculing him over losing the $3billion deal following fierce opposition from the congresswoman and former bartender.”
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced an agreement with National Grid to immediately lift the current moratorium on gas service in Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn.
National Grid has identified short-term supply mechanisms that will conservatively meet demand for approximately the next two years, allowing it to restore service to any customers that it had refused and grant all pending applications, according to a release. National Grid will present a long-term options analysis within three months, subject to a public review process. The long-term options will be in place and functioning in Fall 2021.
To compensate customers who were adversely impacted by the moratorium, National Grid will pay a $36 million penalty. The penalty will also support new energy conservation measures and clean energy projects as directed by the Director of the New York State Division of the Budget in consultation with the Public Service Commission, Cuomo’s office noted.
“This agreement is a victory for customers,” Cuomo said. “National Grid will pay a significant penalty for its failure to address the supply issue, its abuse of its customers, and the adverse economic impact they have caused. The Company is also working to address the long-term supply problem and will present options in the coming months to the people of Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, letting them choose the best way forward for their communities. Today it was made clear that we will not allow any business–big or small–to extort New Yorkers in order to advance its own interests. I also want to thank Attorney General Tish James, Senator Parker and Assembly Member Cusick for their help in resolving this matter.”
“We have worked hard to identify an innovative series of alternatives to meet growing demand. With this agreement, we will present options for long term supply solutions that ensure our customers have the service they require and desire,” said John Bruckner President of National Grid New York. “With the resumption of service, providing support for those affected by the moratorium and further investments in New York’s long-term clean energy future, we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to delivering on our top priority of providing safe and reliable service.”
“As winter begins, New Yorkers can rest assured that National Grid’s moratorium is finally over and the thousands of homeowners and businesses denied service will be able to turn their heat on,” said Attorney General Letitia James in the release. “I am grateful that Governor Cuomo pushed National Grid to do the right thing and brought attention to this critical matter. My office launched an investigation after hearing about the profound effect the moratorium has had on individuals, small businesses, and New York’s economy. We have received numerous complaints, which is why we will continue to closely monitor National Grid and service providers across the state to ensure New Yorkers are getting a fair shake.”
On Sunday, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg officially entered the presidential nomination for 2020. For the first time, the billionaire has actually filed the official paperwork, entering the Presidential primary in Alabama, running as a Democrat. Photo Credit: Twitter
By Ilana Siyance
On Sunday, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg officially entered the presidential nomination for 2020. For the first time, the billionaire has actually filed the official paperwork, entering the Presidential primary in Alabama, running as a Democrat.
As reported by CBS News, a Bloomberg political advisor disclosed that the new candidate was stirred to enter the race because he felt the Democratic Party needed another strong candidate. The advisor said Bloomberg’s team has already taken polls. Bloomberg will offer a unique fusion of political experience coupled with business know-how, and experience in philanthropy. The 77-year-old CEO of his namesake media empire is the 9th richest person in the U.S. and the 14th richest person in the world, with an estimated $58 billion, as per Forbes.
President Donald J. Trump lost no time commenting on Bloomberg’s entry. “I’ve known Michael Bloomberg a long time. You go back, early on, he said a lot of great things about Trump. But I know Michael, he became just a nothing, he’s really a nothing,” said President Trump. “He’s not going to do well, but I think he’s going to hurt Biden actually, but he doesn’t have the magic to do well. He will not do very well and if he did, I’d be happy. There is nobody I’d rather run against than little Michael, that I can tell you.”
Bloomberg has been going back and forth in his decision to run for presidency more than four times so far, now to have filed ahead of the Alabama primary deadline which is Friday. On the one side, the billionaire will have a difficult time divesting himself of his business, to avoid conflicts of interest. On the other hand, it seems he has a strong aversion for President Trump and wills to personally make sure he is not re-elected. “I’m a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one,” Bloomberg has said. “We cannot afford four more years of President Trump’s reckless and unethical actions. He represents an existential threat to our country and our values,” Bloomberg says on his election website.
The question which remains unanswered is, will Bloomberg have a good chance of winning nomination. His moderate positions, pragmatic sense and ability to finance his own campaign will certainly work for him. Political analyst Hank Sheinkopf says Bloomberg may have a shot, but that his status as a billionaire may impede him. “Some people will attack him because he’s rich, others will say wait a second, I want to be a billionaire too,” said Sheinkopf.
We have already seen that even the other Democratic candidates are making snide comments. Senator Elizabeth Warren took to twitter, saying “welcome to the race” Mike Bloomberg, but she therein attached a link to a calculator for billionaires that summarizes her proposed wealth tax plan. Bernie Sanders also took a stab, tweeting “The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared.”
Thomas Lopez-Pierre, who ran unsuccessfully for New York City Council in 2017, is in trouble for his campaign finances. The candidate, who rapidly became known for his anti-Semitic slurs and for disparaging speech about "greedy Jewish landlords", is being fined in connection to a probe by the Campaign Finance Board. Photo Credit: YouTube
By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh
Thomas Lopez-Pierre, who ran unsuccessfully for New York City Council in 2017, is in trouble for his campaign finances. The candidate, who rapidly became known for his anti-Semitic slurs and for disparaging speech about “greedy Jewish landlords”, is being fined in connection to a probe by the Campaign Finance Board.
As reported by Crain’s NY, Lopez-Pierre will have to pay back $54,107 of the $99,180 in matching funds the Campaign Finance Board gave him for his failed bid against City Councilman Mark Levine of Manhattan. Lopez-Pierre has also been assessed $6,182 in fines for assorted forms of malfeasance. The panel charged him with a long list of wrongs including: neglecting to report over $12,000 in contributions; failing to cite over $10,000 in transactions; exceeding the $100 limit on individual cash expenditures; using campaign funds for personal use; and making campaign expenditures after the election was already over.
Lopez-Pierre’s treasurer testified to the board that he had manipulated her, and not kept her fully informed of the financial activities. She further alleged that he had purposely recruited her for the job in spite of her admitted inexperience, specifically so that he could manipulate the system. “In hindsight, I believe the candidate knowingly targeted me to become treasurer to take advantage of the campaign finance process and my lack of knowledge so that he might commit fraud when possible,” Sandra Monperousse told the board. Lopez-Pierre did not appear at the hearing, and he did not respond to requests for comment.
The controversial Democratic candidate was infamous for having said that it is the “greedy Jewish landlords” who force out longtime residents in order to gentrify NYC neighborhoods. He was also known to have made racial slurs to African Americans who showed support for his political opponents. He had also in the past admitted that “he didn’t tell the truth”, when he had said that he was behind a GoFundMe campaign to stop his rants. He admitted he just lied to cause confusion and dissention on the other side and thwart their efforts to hinder him. He has also invited controversy as the former co-owner of a Harlem singles club which set up professional men with young, attractive ladies. In the 2017 city council election, Lopez-Pierre had received only 25.36 percent of the votes while Levine received over 74 percent of the votes as the incumbent.
All this, however, has not discouraged Lopez-Pierre from affirming that he will be running in 2021 for City Council once more for the 7th district in Northern Manhattan, representing Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, West Harlem and a portion of the Upper West Side. Levine is currently in his second and final term and will be vacating his seat.
The dire forecast, courtesy of the state’s Division of Budget in its mid-year budget report, came late – weeks, in fact, after it was required to have been by state law. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
By: Tobias Marcus
Budgetary agita for New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, as his bean counters are predicting a shortfall of $6.1 billion in 2020 – the largest since he took office in Albany.
The dire forecast, courtesy of the state’s Division of Budget in its mid-year budget report, came late – weeks, in fact, after it was required to have been by state law.
According to state officials, two-thirds of that shortfall, or $4 billion, stems from a precipitous jump in the cost of Medicaid. Some in Albany say they want to cut payments made to hospitals and nursing facilities both this year and next.
“Savings may include across the board reductions in rates paid to providers and health plans, reductions in discretionary payments, and other actions that can be executed administratively in the current fiscal year,” according to the report.
“This is the toughest budget that Cuomo has faced partly because he had bigger gaps when he took office, but he also had more political capital,” Bill Hammond of the Empire Center, told the New York Post. “He kind of owns this crisis because it’s not driven by the economy, it’s driven by the shortcomings of his own management of the Medicaid program in particular.”
The report outlines “increases in the minimum wage, a phase out of added funding by the federal government and an increase in enrollment and costs for managed long-term care and payments to cash-distressed hospitals,” according to spectrumlocalnews.com. It also “indicates the Cuomo administration is developing a savings plan with the Department of Health to avoid piercing the global cap for Medicaid.
“Savings may include across the board reductions in rates paid to providers and health plans, reductions in discretionary payments, and other actions that can be executed administratively in the current fiscal year,” the report reads.
Legislators are already braced for the fallout. “What we expect to be dealing with in the coming fiscal year is on the scale of billions,” Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, a Democrat from Manhattan who chairs the chamber’s health committee, told the Wall Street Journal. “Paying for health care in New York is expensive. So when you talk about a 5 or 10% cut in the program, you really can’t do that without causing serious damage.”
Once he was elected in 2011, Cuomo “established a cap on the allowable growth in the Medicaid program and won legislative approval for the state Department of Health to reduce spending if outlays exceeded the set limit,” the Journal added. “According to Bill Hammond, health-policy director for the fiscally conservative Empire Center for Public Policy, this year’s cost overruns were first disclosed in a May fiscal plan update.”
“It’s like a poor imitation of The Godfather,” former New York City mayor and personal attorney for President Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani told Fox News recently.
He was referring to former vice president and current Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s insistence that he knew nothing of his son Hunter’s business dealings in Ukraine.
And the fur is still flying.
“He says, ‘I don’t know my own family’s business’ — some of it sounds like Kay Corleone,” Giuliani continued, a reference to willful ignorance. “He’d have to be a fool.”
For his part, Biden managed to get his foot out of his mouth long enough to tell CNN that he felt “embarrassed” for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and wants to investigate the Bidens. “Lindsey is about to go down in a way that I think he’s going to regret his whole life.”
Like a pebble tossed into a pond, the fracas is inevitably causing ripples. “Scrutiny is increasing on the president’s personal attorney, as his indicted former associate Lev Parnas begins to tease information involving the former New York Mayor,” MSNBC reported yesterday. “Meanwhile, Giuliani is asking Sen. Lindsey Graham to investigate Bill Taylor for declining to give visas to people he says are witnesses to a grand conspiracy he’s uncovered.”
Politics being what it is in 2019, trust is a rare commodity, even between the president and his personal attorney. Speaking to Fox News once again, Giuliani sought to protect himself from even his client. “You can assume that I talk to him early and often,” he stated, adding that the two have a “very, very good relationship.”
Still, the former prosecutor knew enough to protect his back. “I’ve seen things written like (Trump) is going to throw me under the bus. When they say that, I say he isn’t, but I have insurance. This is ridiculous. We are very good friends. He knows what I did was in order to defend him, not to dig up dirt on [former Vice President Joe] Biden.”
Soon after, Giuliani “took to Twitter to elaborate on his statement, claiming the “insurance” comment he made was both “sarcastic” and “relates to the files in my safe about the Biden Family’s 4 decade monetizing of his office,” reported slate.com. “The president’s lawyer added that if he were to “disappear’ then the files “will appear immediately.”
The former mayor elaborated during a conversation on “America’s News HQ” with host Ed Henry, pointing out that the “case has been really simple from the day that Joe Biden confessed to committing bribery in 2018. Although, he said precisely what was attributed to President Trump a year and a half later… Basically, they’ll prove that he committed bribery.”
New York City’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio, is angry at ride-share companies Uber and Lyft. Specifically, he doesn’t care for their decision to slam the brakes on subcontractors when business is slow. Photo Credit: YouTube
By Pat Savage
New York City’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio, is angry at ride-share companies Uber and Lyft. Specifically, he doesn’t care for their decision to slam the brakes on subcontractors when business is slow.
For their part, Uber and Lyft place the blame on a recently implemented minimum-wage requirement by the city.
A radio caller complained to the mayor that he and his colleagues were responsible for his being unable to get work during portions of the day. But de Blasio passed the buck to the ride share firms for keeping too many subcontractors in place in the wake of recent rules limiting those numbers.
“They created a reality where they flooded the market on purpose so that they could get the biggest possible marketshare,” de Blasio told the caller. “They didn’t care how much pollution it caused. They didn’t care how low the wages of their workers were. They didn’t care how many workers, like Al, invested in vehicles and then were left high and dry.”
He added, “Why on earth is the call not for these companies to give fairness to these workers they exploited for so long, and they used to increase their market share and to prepare for their IPOs? They have the money to pay their workers decently. They have the money to create a fair transition for folks in this situation. They don’t have to use these sort of punitive approaches. But these are antiworker companies.”
“Lyft maintained that any negative ramifications for drivers are entirely the fault of de Blasio and his Taxi and Limousine Commission, which has sought to stop drivers from cruising in Manhattan without passengers on board,” noted Crain’s New York Business. “The company urged the mayor and the City Council to reconsider the contentious policies, which have been the subject of multiple lawsuits.”
“Lyft has had no choice but to change the driver experience by not allowing drivers to come online at times of low demand,” a Lyft spokesperson told Crain’s. “We welcome the opportunity to engage with the mayor and council to revisit these rules, which have had negative consequences on so many New Yorkers.”
The tussle didn’t appear to harm Uber in the eyes of investors. Shares of Uber Technologies Inc. “gained ground again Friday, to extend their bounce off last week’s record low, after Stifel Nicolaus analyst Scott Devitt turned bullish on the ride-sharing company, citing “reasonable” valuation and signs that fundamentals are “turning the corner,” noted marketwatch.com. “SunTrust Robinson Humphrey’s Youssef Squali also recommended investors buy, saying valuations and recent disclosures suggest the stock has probably “bottomed out.”
A new poll conducted for Breitbart News, reveals that Lara Trump would lead by over 30 percent in the elections, if she entered, even though she does not reside in NY. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
By Ilana Siyance
Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of our 45th President, would have a good chance of winning the GOP primary in New York’s 2nd congressional district, should she decide to run. The seat belonging to long-time Republican Representative Peter King of Long Island, NY will be vacant at the end of this term, when he retires after 14 terms. A new poll conducted for Breitbart News, reveals that Lara Trump would lead by over 30 percent in the elections, if she entered, even though she does not reside in NY.
The Club for Growth PAC poll, conducted by WPA Intelligence on Nov. 17 to Nov. 18, showed that she got 53 percent of the poll’s votes, where Rick Lazio a former GOP Rep. in the district who is running for the seat got 19 percent. Another 28 percent of those polled were undecided. The study, which used a sample size of 400 GOP primary voters in New York’s 2nd district, divulged that 60 percent of those polled have a favorable opinion of Lara Trump, only 13 percent have an unfavorable opinion of her, another 18 percent have not heard of her, and a final 9 percent were uncertain.
Among the same Long Island GOP primary voters surveyed, President Trump’s approval rating is sky high at 78 percent, with only 19 percent saying they view him unfavorably, 1 percent have not heard of him, and 2 percent are uncertain.
Lara and her husband Eric Trump have two children. The 37-year-old from Wilmington North Carolina, formerly known as Lara Yunaska, used to work as a CBS producer for Inside Edition. Since the President’s campaign in 2016, she has served as a campaign adviser, leading the Trump–Pence Women’s Empowerment Tour, and has served as online producer, fundraiser and spokesperson for the Real News Update reports by Trump Productions. She is also a senior consultant in Trump’s re-election bid for 2020.
Lara has not announced candidacy for any political position. When questioned about the poll, she said she was flattered but would not be running at this time. “I’m incredibly honored by this showing of support from my fellow New Yorkers,” Lara Trump told Breitbart News. “While I would never close the door on anything in the future, right now I am focused on winning a second term for President Trump.” The fact that she will likely not be running does not dismiss the findings of the report, as it is still a strong signal of support for the Trump family within the Republican party in Nassau and Suffolk county.
The NY Times, similarly named Lara as a potential political candidate for an unspecified position. She “is actively involved in his (President Trump) re-election campaign, is also mentioned as a possible candidate by some close to the family,” wrote reporter Maggie Haberman.
“Lara Trump is well positioned to win the Republican nomination for New York’s Second Congressional District and beat perennial loser Rick Lazio,” said Club for Growth PAC president David McIntosh. “She is a dynamic leader who is uniquely positioned withstand Nancy Pelosi’s socialist assault and hold the seat, and she would beat Lazio in the primary by more than 30 points if she decides to run.”
The congressional seat belonging to Rep. King will be an important strong hold for the GOP, particularly if the party aspires to retake the House majority in 2020’s upcoming congressional elections. To gain a majority, Republicans would need to hold on to this seat and all the seats they currently have, plus take over 19 Democratic seats in the elections next year.
