New York City
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Source: Fulton County Jail / Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
President-elect Donald Trump is slated to appear for sentencing for his conviction in the “hush money” case in New York City, and his online supporters are beside themselves.
Last Friday (January 3), President-elect Donald Trump received bad news regarding his sentencing in the “hush money” case in New York City when Judge Juan Merchan issued a decision that he would proceed. Judge Merchan ordered the sentencing to take place ten days before Trump is to be sworn in as president in Washington, D.C. The 18-page decision detailed Merchan’s reasoning, primarily explaining that Trump’s claims of immunity citing the Supreme Court’s infamous opinion were not valid. “The Constitution dictates that only a President, after taking the oath of office, has the authority of the Chief Executive, a President-elect does not. Accordingly, a President-elect is not permitted to avail himself of the protections afforded to the individual occupying that Office,” Merchan wrote.
Trump’s constant trashing of Merchan and other lawmakers and the court system also played a part in the decision. “Defendant’s disdain for the Third Branch of government, whether state or federal, in New York or elsewhere, is a matter of public record. Indeed, Defendant has gone to great lengths to broadcast on social media and other forums his lack of respect for judges, juries, grand juries, and the justice system as a whole,” he continued. Trump is not expected to receive any time in jail, as Merchan noted the difficulties in handing a prison sentence to a sitting president, he will not move to throw out the conviction.
Trump raged over that fact in a post on his Truth Social platform in the early hours of Monday morning (January 6), hours before his team declared that they would file an emergency appeal with New York State known as an “Article 78” petition used to challenge decisions by state judges and agencies. Several of Trump’s supporters among the right voiced their displeasure with Merchan on social media. “JUST IN: Judge Juan Merchan has just ordered President Trump to be sentenced in his phony hush money case on January 10th in New York City, 10 days before his inauguration. Outrageous,” wrote Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who’s been an ardent follower of Trump.
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Living in the Big Apple is about to get even more expensive. Governor Hochul is about to bring back congestion pricing to New York City.
As reported by the New York Times, the politician has announced she is reviving her plan for congestion pricing. Originally announced in April, state officials were aiming to impose an additional $15 dollar toll on vehicles that enter Manhattan below 61st Street. Commercial trucks, however, would face a higher fee of anywhere from $24 to $36 depending the axle count, dimensions, weight and other factors. The original idea was met with harsh criticism from citizens and business owners alike. Ultimately, the plan was put on hold in June.
This version of the plan has a reduced rate, which starts at $9 for regular cars. She detailed the reasoning during a formal press conference. “I’m proud to announce we have found a path to fund the MTA, reduce congestion and keep millions of dollars in the pockets of our commuters,” the governor said. She went on to add that citizens who make than less than $50,000 a year will receive a 50% discount after their 10th entry. Additionally, the toll overall will be cut after 9 p.m.
According to the New York Post, President-elect Donald Trump is not in favor of the move. “I have great respect for the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, and look forward to working with her to make New York and America Great Again. But I strongly disagree with the decision on the congestion tax,” he said in an exclusive statement to the newspaper.
The congestion pricing is currently being finalized but could start as early as January. You can see Governor Kathy Hochul’s press conference below.
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According to city officials, a controversial voucher program for migrants in New York City to get food using debit cards is ending.
New York City announced that it will discontinue a program that gave vouchers to migrants to pay for food, putting an end to an initiative that had been long assailed by conservatives and associated pundits. The vouchers came in the form of prepaid debit cards. “As we move towards more competitive contracting for asylum seeker programs, we have chosen not to renew the emergency contract for this pilot program once the one-year term concludes,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
The program, which began in late March, provided debit cards for food and baby supplies to 2,600 migrants who arrived in the city and were staying in hotels funded by the city. The debit cards could only be used at convenience stores, bodegas, and supermarkets. They would be unusable at other businesses. Mobility Capital Finance, or MoCaFi, was the private company that won a no-bid, emergency contract for $400,000 to run the program for one year.
The program distributed the cards at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan to participants, totaling $3.2 million. It was a sea change from a previous food distribution system managed by another private medical company, DocGo, which obtained a $432 million contract from the city before troubling allegations forced the city to phase the contract out.
Conservatives have attacked the program since its creation, claiming it was ripe for fraud, but no instances of bad behavior with the debit cards have occurred. City Comptroller Brad Lander also previously revoked the city’s ability to enter into emergency deals for migrant services. While an estimated 700 migrants are entering New York City each week seeking asylum, 1,000 are making their way out. Mayor Adams William Fowler, a spokesperson at City Hall, said that Mayor Adams is open to potentially pursuing the installment of a similar program in the future. “We will continue to implement and learn from innovative pilot programs like the immediate response cards program as we care for hundreds of new arrivals every week,” he said in an interview.
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The criminal trial for New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially been set to begin next April, with the judge reviewing other charges against him.
Last Friday (Nov. 1), New York City Mayor Eric Adams was informed by Federal District Court Judge Dale E. Ho that he would stand trial on corruption charges on April 21, 2025, during a hearing. Judge Ho is also reviewing whether or not Mayor Adams would be tried on a bribery charge or throw it out. He stated that he would rule on that at a later date.
Adams’ lawyers had been arguing for the trial to be held later, noting the upcoming mayoral elections next year. “In this city, with an election happening, the court should take into account that he is not just sitting here presumed innocent anymore,” attorney Alex Spiro said. “It doesn’t give him a realistic chance. If he still has this hanging over his head, that impacts the election, period.”
Spiro and other defense lawyers also argued that the prosecution didn’t meet the bar needed for the bribery charge, which stems from Adams’ involvement with the Turkish government as he ran for office in 2021. Lead prosecutor Hagan Cordell Scotten dismissed that request in court, pointing to Adams pressuring the Fire Department to sign off on Turkey’s consulate building despite safety concerns in exchange for luxury travel on their national airline. “Pressure,” Scotten said, “is one of the many ways to satisfy an official act.”
The scheduled trial date bumps up against the beginning of the primary season in New York City’s mayoral elections, and Adams is already facing a packed field of challengers. The embattled politician is also dealing with the fact that his $1.8 million fund for legal defense has been depleted. Mayor Adams has fended off calls for his resignation when queried by the press, and Judge Ho issued a warning to his legal team and the prosecution. “The parties are cautioned that this case is to be tried in the courtroom and not in the press,” he wrote.
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Cam’ron revealed that he was approached by Mayor Eric Adams to receive the keys, to New York City—after rescinding Diddy’s—but he declined.
As embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams is dealing with the fallout from his federal indictment, Cam’ron shared that his administration offered him the key to the city recently. “You know what’s crazy? This is word to everything I love,” he said to his friend and It Is What It Is co-host Ma$e while discussing the fraud and bribery charges Adams was hit with last week. “Last month, they called me to see if I wanted the key to the city. I said, ‘I don’t want to be involved with nothing. They offered me that shit. They said, ‘Cam, you want the key to the city?’ I was like, ‘That ain’t really up my alley right now. I’m cool with the key to New York City, man.’”
He went on to talk further about how that kind of offer doesn’t have a positive value now: “Where does that get you? I don’t want nothing to do with the keys to the city and the n—-s giving ’em out, the n—-s who previously had ’em. I don’t got nothing to do with the key to the city.” The “I Really Mean It” rapper was undoubtedly referring to Diddy, who received the keys to the city from Mayor Adams in a highly publicized ceremony in Times Square last September. The city rescinded the honor after video of the controversial music mogul assaulting his then-partner Cassie Ventura surfaced in correlation to her lawsuit against Diddy last November. Diddy, aka Sean Combs, returned the key six days after Adams’ office requested them back.
Mayor Adams had also recently given a key to Fat Joe, who received it in the Bronx in August. The “Don Cartagena” artist stated in an Instagram Live video that unnamed people were “upset” over it. “I get the key to the city [on] the 20th and, boy, was that a hard one. Hip Hop got a black eye,” he said at the time. “The mayor and his crew, his right-hand girl, got me the key to the city. Everybody was a little upset. But I don’t know another guy who keeps it realer with the streets of New York than Fat Joe, who feeds more people, opens more businesses. I don’t know what to tell you guys.”
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Fat Joe’s birthday month keeps getting better and better. Mayor Eric Adams awarded him the key to New York City.
As spotted on TMZ the South Bronx, New York native was given an honor that will live with him forever. On Tuesday, August 20 the city’s chief gave him the award at Orchard Beach prior to his performance hosted by Rise Up NYC. In attendance were not only Joe’s family and friends but also the likes of Funkmaster Flex, Chubb Rock, Doug E. Fresh, Wayne Wonder and others. “Fat Joe who’s getting the Key to the City of New York. All his legendary — his music, a real brother, authentic — we want to give you this key,” Mayor Adams said.
The “Lean Back” MC then took the microphone and briefly spoke on the honor. “Shout-out my wife, my daughter, shout-out my favorite aunt in the world. I gotta thank the pioneers. From Melle Mel, Mr. Ness to KRS-One — my whole life I been trying to be KRS-One — LL Cool J, Heavy D and the list goes on,” Fat Joe said. “I want to shout out everybody here because we in the Bronx and I know I know all of you. Every last one of you, I know you — I love you.”
Earlier this year Fat Joe received his honorary doctorate degree from Lehman College. You can see him receiving the key to New York City below.
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Sad news coming out of the sneaker community as well-known sneaker reseller to celebrities Javier Osorio-Mejia of Bayonne, NJ was reportedly shot and killed on Tuesday (June 25) in what police assume was a botched robbery attempt in New York City.
According to Fox5NY, the shooting occurred around 5:15 am on Greene Street in Soho and though it seems like a robbery attempt gone wrong, the men who accosted Meija shot him and fled the scene without taking any of his cash or his brand new Range Rover which was left behind at the scene. According to reports, Javier Osorio-Mejia was shot three times in the right leg before he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he passed away.
Known for selling exclusive high-end sneakers to celebrities and everyday sneakerheads alike, Meija built a name for himself over the years in the sneaker community, so when news of his shooting hit the internet, many eyebrows were raised and hearts broken.
Fox5NY reports:
NYPD detectives and crime scene investigators spent many hours going over the scene in search of clues. Sources told FOX 5 NY’s Lisa Evers significant ballistic evidence was recovered from the apparent ambush.
Detectives also recovered cash that was left on the ground, along with the victim’s trademark lime green Nike sneakers.
“I’m just devastated and I just want everyone to know he was a good person. He wasnt involved in no foul stuff, he was a humble dude, he helped a lot of people,” one of Osorio-Mejia’s friends said.
No arrests have been made. The motive behind the shooting was unknown at the time.
As detectives continued their work, friends gathered to mourn the loss of a rising businessman and support each other.
When news of his passing hit social media many of Meija’s friends and colleagues in the sneaker community took to his last post to express their love and condolences as he was beloved by many in the game.
Rest In Power, King.
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Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is considered a thing of the past and people have resumed living their everyday lives as if the coronavirus has magically disappeared (it hasn’t), many people still wear face masks whenever going out in public to protect themselves from catching the dreaded virus.
But according to the Gothamist, that may no longer be an option for people taking public transportation as New York Governor Kathy Hochul is considering banning protective masks in the New York City subway system after videos of masked anti-Israel protestors causing a ruckus in a subway car earlier this week hit social media. In the video that made the rounds on the internet, masked pro-Palestinian protestors took to the 14th Street subway station and hopped on a train where they asked the riders to “Raise your hand if you’re a Zionist,” and if so “this is your chance to get out…”
We wonder if they would’ve jumped anyone who claimed to be a Zionist. Just sayin.’
Still, the video was enough for the New York Gov. to consider a partial ban on people wearing face masks on the train as anti-Israel protests continue to rise out in the streets of New York with some people looking to take their pro-Palestine views above and beyond their call of duty.
The Gothamist reports:
In a news conference at the state Capitol on Thursday, Hochul said she has started discussions with Mayor Eric Adams and state lawmakers about what a mask crackdown would look like and how to craft exemptions for health and religious reasons. The mayor’s office confirmed it was looking into the issue.
But Hochul made clear she wants to see mask restrictions in some form, which she believes would help deter crime on public transit.
“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” Hochul said. “My team is working on a solution, but on a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.”
During an appearance on the “Cats & Cosby” radio show Wednesday evening, Adams compared protesters who cover their faces to the Ku Klux Klan.
“Cowards hide their face,” the mayor said. “Dr. King did not hide his face when he marched and for the things he thought were wrong in the country. Those civil rights leaders did not hide their faces. They stood up. In contrast to that, the Klan hid their faces.”
While we’re all for a free Palestine and want a stop to the atrocities that’s going on in Gaza, it’s things like this that turn people off from the cause who may not even have an opinion on the matter.cNow people who religiously wear face masks on the train to keep from catching COVID might be upset that they can’t protect their health because of a protest they may not even be a part of.
No word on whether or not a face mask ban will actually happen but if things like this keeps happening, it’s only a matter of time before it does.
What do y’all think of Gov. Kathy’s proposed face mask ban? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Commuters in the Big Apple are breathing a sigh of relief. New York City’s proposed congestion pricing has been shelved by the state’s governor.
As reported by Raw Story, the Metropolitan Transit Authority has put the first ever congestion pricing on pause. Back in April, it was announced that New York City would impose additional tolls on automobiles that enter Manhattan at 61st Street or below with a $15 fee while trucks would face a fee ranging from $24 and $36 depending on size. As expected the plan was met with sharp criticism from residents, environmentalists and business owners who were not exempt.
The initiative was set to go into effect on Sunday, June 30, but Governor Kathy Hochul abruptly pulled the plug. The New York Times called the decision was a “stunning 11th-hour shift.” The politician released a statement detailing her decision. “After careful consideration I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the planned congestion pricing system risks too many unintended consequences,” she said “I have directed the MTA to indefinitely pause the program.”
Hochul would go and point out that the fees could possibly do more harm than good. “Let’s be real: A $15 charge may not seem like a lot to someone who has the means, but it can break the budget of a hard-working middle-class household.”
According to transit officials, close to 700,000 vehicles enter Manhattan everyday.
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Supporters of Donald Trump have called for a boycott of New York City online, prompting other social media users to openly mock them.In the wake of former President Donald Trump being found guilty in his “hush money” trial supporters have called for a boycott of New York City, where the trial was held. The calls began right after the verdict was announced, which saw Trump being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Right-wing pundit Tim Pool declared “Truckers should boycott New York” in a post on X, formerly Twitter, referring to the trucker convoys that sprung up after the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to current President Joe Biden.
Pool’s statement was met with agreement by others on social media who felt it shouldn’t just be the truckers, but everyone upset over the verdict. It was a repeat of a call made on social media back in February after New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron found in favor of New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who had brought a landmark civil fraud case against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. The ruling dictated that Trump was to pay more than $450 million for fraud.
The threats to boycott New York City were met with a massive wave of derision by social media users, who poked fun at how thin-skinned Trump supporters were. Some even declared that the absence of those who aligned themselves with Trump and the GOP would only benefit the city, with one user reflecting on how they behaved when the Republican National Convention was held in New York City in 2004, expressing amazement that they didn’t understand tipping their servers in restaurants.
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