In NYC mayor's race, Republican Curtis Sliwa has no intention of dropping out
The Guardian Angels founder, who lost to Adams in 2021, told CBS News New York's "The Point with Marcia Kramer" on Sunday the idea of candidates strategically dropping out to block Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, from winning Gracie Mansion is unrealistic and possibly unfair to voters.
"Everybody loves to play fantasy politics. If you've received matching funds and you drop out, you gotta give it all back," Sliwa said. "You think Cuomo's gonna give it all back? You think Jim Walden's gonna give it all back? Not gonna happen. You think I'm gonna give it all back? I'm not independently wealthy. Number two, you're still on the line. They don't take your name off."
Sliwa said his supporters would not vote for Cuomo "under any circumstance."
"So let the people decide. Nobody's dropping out. This fantasy idea of Jim Walden, who is really a surrogate for Andrew Cuomo, is not resonating with anybody," he said.
Cuomo said he would drop out only if Adams is ahead of him in pre-election polls, and Walden made a similar promise. Adams said Cuomo should exit the race regardless because he already lost once to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
Sliwa said Mamdani proved his strength as a candidate in the primary, but he opposes his biggest campaign promises -- a rent freeze on stabilized units, fare-free buses and city-run grocery stores.
"I wouldn't vote for a rent freeze because obviously you're gonna see an abandonment of properties," Sliwa said. "Half the people don't even pay the fare on the bus to begin with. We gotta talk about fare enforcement. Adams hasn't done any fare enforcement. Cuomo, when was governor, hasn't done any ... Somebody's gotta pay for the free buses, right? Nothing is free. You gotta pay for it. The point is, I'm the only one saying enforcement, everybody pays the fare. If you can't afford it, there's half reduction, a third reduction."
"City-run grocery stores. Hey, how did that work in Kansas City recently? They imploded. I was in Havana, I saw. You walk in with a ration book if you're a citizen in Cuba. If you're a tourist, you get to walk to normal kinds of Walmart supermarkets where everything is set. It doesn't work," he continued.
In his campaign, Sliwa is promising to slash the city's corporate taxes and property taxes in the outer boroughs. But reducing crime is still his top priority.
"First off, you've got to have law and order, because you could cut people's taxes, you could make it more corporate friendly, and they're not gonna stay," he said. "I'm gonna add 7,000 cops. And guess who I am taxing? Jimmy Dolan, Madison Square Garden, you owe $43 million in property tax a year. He's had a sweetheart deal."
Sliwa said he'd also tax Columbia University and New York University "only on their real estate holdings that have nothing to do with education."
"They've become big real estate firms. They own so much real estate in Greenwich Village and Morningside Heights that has nothing to do with education. That has to be taxed," he said.
Sliwa said he believes some Republican Party leaders would prefer a Mamdani victory because it could boost the GOP in the 2026 midterms.
"I don't believe President Trump thinks that. He's a New Yorker, but there are others who hate New York," Sliwa said. "There are a lot of people, even Democrats, around the country, they hate, they despise, they loathe New York."
Sliwa is attempting to become the first Republican to move into Gracie Mansion since Rudy Giuliani in 1994. Michael Bloomberg was a lifelong Democrat before he switched to the GOP and won the mayor's race in 2001. Bloomberg was an independent during his third term.
Cuomo opted to wage an independent campaign after losing the Democratic primary. Adams chose to skip the primary and seek reelection as an independent. Walden also qualified to be on an independent ballot line.
There was no Republican primary.
Click here to watch Sliwa's full interview.
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Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The Latest: Gunman targeted the NFL headquarters in Manhattan, mayor says
A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle on Monday, killing four people including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said. The shooting took place at a skyscraper that is home to the headquarters of both the National Football League and Blackstone, one of the world's largest investment firms, among other tenants. Investigators believe that he was trying to target the NFL headquarters but took the wrong elevator, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday. A rambling note found on his body suggested he had a grievance against the NFL over an unsubstantiated claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and other repeated head trauma common in contact sports like football. President Donald Trump says he's been briefed on the deadly shooting and 'my heart' is with the families of the four people killed. In a post on his social media site, Trump said he trusts that law enforcement will 'get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence.' Here's the latest: Shooter left a note saying 'I'm sorry' A three-page note found in the shooter's wallet repeatedly says he is sorry and asks that his brain be studied for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to the police department. CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed after someone has died. The note references former NFL player Terry Long, who was diagnosed with CTE, and the manner in which Long killed himself in 2005. The note accuses the NFL of concealing the dangers to players' brains for profit. — By Jennifer Peltz in New York New York governor urges Congress to ban assault weapons Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul called on lawmakers to restrict the sale of certain semiautomatic rifles commonly called assault weapons. 'We once had a national assault weapons ban. It worked,' Hochul said in a statement on social media Tuesday. 'Republicans in Congress must find the courage to pass it again.' In another post, the governor ordered all state flags be flown at half-staff to honor those killed in the shootings, which she called a 'brutal, cowardly attack.' Flowers and a balloon placed outside the office building Several bunches of flowers are now attached to the glass-and-metal railing of a ramp leading to the building's front door, along with a yellow balloon with 'LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!' written on it. Who were the victims? Didarul Islam, 36, had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years. He was an immigrant from Bangladesh. Islam was married and had two young boys, Tisch said. His wife is pregnant with their third child. Blackstone confirmed one of its employees, Wesley LePatner, was among those killed. 'Words cannot express the devastation we feel,' the firm said in a statement. 'Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.' A Yale graduate, LePatner was a real estate executive at Blackstone, according to the firm's website, and spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs before joining the firm in 2014. The names of the other victims, along with a man who was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition, have not yet been released. Dignified transfer of officer's body Early Tuesday, Islam's body was draped in the NYPD flag as it was moved from the hospital to an ambulance, with fellow officers standing at attention. Flags lowered to half-staff in NYC to honor shooting victims, mayor says In a post on social media, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he has ordered all flags on city buildings to be lowered to half-staff until further notice to honor the officer who was killed and the other shooting victims. NFL commissioner says an employee remains hospitalized in stable condition Roger Goodell said in a memo to staff Tuesday that 'all of our employees are otherwise safe and accounted for,' following the shooting at the league's headquarters in Manhattan. Goodell praised the swift law enforcement response and honored the NYPD officer who was killed in the attack. Employees in New York were instructed to work remotely Tuesday or take the day off, he said, and additional security will be in place. 'Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family. We will get through this together,' Goodell said. Adams says gunman left few clues Adams said one challenge of the investigation has been that Tamura only arrived in New York shortly before the shooting, leaving few clues in the area. 'We are going to communicate with federal and state partners in Las Vegas to drill down on this as much as possible including looking at his social media pages, anything that he may have in his home, so that we can continue to piece this investigation together,' Adams said. The mayor said it's also a challenge for law enforcement, 'dealing with those who come from areas with lax gun laws that allow individuals to have these high-powered weapons into cities like New York that have strong gun laws.' Statement from Blackstone on employee who was killed in the shooting Blackstone on Tuesday said an employee, Wesley LePatner, a senior managing director, was among those killed in the shooting. 'Words cannot express the devastation we feel,' the firm said in a statement. 'Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.' LePatner was Blackstone's global head of core+ real estate and chief executive officer of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, according to the firm's website. She spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs before joining Blackstone in 2014. A 2003 Yale graduate, LePatner served on the boards of several organizations, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Blackstone said. Trump says he's been briefed on deadly NYC shooting, says his heart is with the families of the four people killed In a post on his social media site, Trump said he trusts that law enforcement will 'get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence.' Trump, who is currently in Scotland, said 'my heart' is with the families of those who were killed at a Manhattan office building, including a New York City police officer. The gunman was targeting NFL headquarters, mayor says Investigators believe Shane Tamura was trying to get to the NFL offices after shooting several people in the building's lobby but accidentally entered the wrong set of elevator banks, Adams said in interviews on Tuesday. Police said Tamura had a history of mental illness, and a rambling note found on his body suggested he had a grievance against the NFL over an unsubstantiated claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. He had played football in high school in California nearly two decades ago. The note claimed he had been suffering from CTE — the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and other repeated head trauma common in contact sports like football — and said his brain should be studied after he died, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. It also specifically referenced the National Football League, the person said. A motive has not been determined but investigators were looking into, based on the note, whether he might've specifically targeted the building because it is home to the NFL's headquarters. ▶ Read more about the investigation Witnesses said they heard 'rapid fire' Nekeisha Lewis was eating dinner with friends on the plaza when she heard gunfire. 'It felt like it was a quick two shots and then it was rapid fire,' she told The Associated Press. Windows shattered and a man ran from the building saying, 'Help, help. I'm shot.' Lewis said. Jessica Chen told ABC News she was watching a presentation with dozens of other people on the second floor when she 'heard multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor.' She and others ran into a conference room and barricaded tables against the door. 'We were honestly really, really scared,' she said, adding that she texted her parents to tell them that she loves them. Some finance workers at an office building down the block were picking up dinner at a corner eatery when they heard a loud noise and saw people running. 'It was like a crowd panic,' said Anna Smith, who joined the workers pouring back into the finance office building. They remained there for about two hours before being told they could leave. Adams said officials are still 'unraveling' what took place Officers found a rifle case, a revolver, magazines and ammunition in Tamura's car, Tisch said. They also found medication that belonged to Tamura, she said. She said an initial investigation shows his vehicle traveled across the country, passing through Colorado on July 26, then Nebraska and Iowa on July 27. The car was in Columbia, New Jersey, as recently as 4:24 p.m. Monday. He drove into New York City shortly thereafter, she said. Rudin is one of the largest privately owned real estate companies in New York City. The company dates back to 1925 and is still managed by members of the Rudin family. Tisch said there were no indications so far that Tamura had prior connections to the real estate industry or to the city. No one answered the door at the address listed for Tamura in Las Vegas. What to know about the shooting A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle Monday, killing four people , including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said. The gunman, identified by authorities as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, had a 'documented mental health history,' according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, but his motive was still unknown. 'We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location,' Tisch said. Surveillance video showed the man exiting a double-parked BMW just before 6:30 p.m. carrying an M4 rifle, then marching across a public plaza into the building. Then, he started firing, Tisch said, killing a police officer working a corporate security detail and then hitting a woman who tried to take cover as he sprayed the lobby with gunfire. The man then made his way to the elevator bank and shot a guard at a security desk and shot another man in the lobby, the commissioner said. The man took the elevator to the 33rd floor offices of the company that owned the building, Rudin Management, and shot and killed one person on that floor. The man then shot himself, the commissioner said. The building, 345 Park Avenue, also holds offices of the financial services firm KPMG. ▶ Read more about how the shooting unfolded Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. 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Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Gunman who killed 4 at Manhattan office building was targeting NFL headquarters, mayor says. Follow live updates.
pinned What to know about the shooting: .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied The victims: A police officer who was killed was Didarul Islam, 36, an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years. One man was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition, Mayor Eric Adams said. Four others got minor injuries attempting to flee. The gunman: Police identified a man from Las Vegas as the gunman. He had a 'documented mental health history,' police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers found a rifle case, a revolver, magazines and ammunition in his car. Gunman was targeting NFL headquarters: Investigators believe that he was trying to target the headquarters of the National Football League, but took the wrong elevator, Mayor Adams said. A rambling note found on his body suggested he had a grievance against the NFL over an unsubstantiated claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. New York governor urges Congress to restrict the sale of semiautomatic rifles commonly called assault weapons — 10:51 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press 'We once had a national assault weapons ban. It worked,' Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on social media Tuesday. 'Republicans in Congress must find the courage to pass it again.' In another post, the governor ordered all state flags be flown at half-staff to honor those killed in the shootings, which she called a 'brutal, cowardly attack.' Advertisement Flowers and a balloon placed outside the office building — 10:15 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Several bunches of flowers are now attached to the glass-and-metal railing of a ramp leading to the building's front door, along with a yellow balloon with 'LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!' written on it. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Who were the victims? — 9:53 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Didarul Islam, 36, had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years. He was an immigrant from Bangladesh. Islam was married and had two young boys, Tisch said. His wife is pregnant with their third child. Blackstone confirmed one of its employees, Wesley LePatner, was among those killed. 'Words cannot express the devastation we feel,' the firm said in a statement. 'Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.' Advertisement A Yale graduate, LePatner was a real estate executive at Blackstone, according to the firm's website, and spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs before joining the firm in 2014. The names of the other victims, along with a man who was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition, have not yet been released. PHOTOS: Dignified transfer of officer's body — 9:52 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Early Tuesday, Islam's body was draped in the NYPD flag as it was moved from the hospital to an ambulance, with fellow officers standing at attention. People join together for the transfer of Didarul Islam, an officer killed in a shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office building, at Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in N.Y., July 29, 2025. VINCENT ALBAN/NYT NYPD officers bring out the body of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. Angelina Katsanis/Associated Press NYPD officers join together for the transfer of Didarul Islam, an officer killed in a shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office building, at Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in N.Y., July 29, 2025. VINCENT ALBAN/NYT Officers line up during the dignified transfer of Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed by a gunman earlier this evening, out of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Hospital to the medical examiner's office, early Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in New York. Angelina Katsanis/Associated Press Flags lowered to half-staff in NYC to honor shooting victims, mayor says — 9:44 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press In a post on social media, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he has ordered all flags on city buildings to be lowered to half-staff until further notice to honor the slain officer and the other shooting victims. NFL commissioner says an employee remains hospitalized in stable condition — 9:35 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Roger Goodell said in a memo to staff Tuesday that 'all of our employees are otherwise safe and accounted for,' following the shooting at the league's headquarters in Manhattan. Goodell praised the swift law enforcement response and honored the NYPD officer who was killed in the attack. Employees in New York were instructed to work remotely Tuesday or take the day off, he said, and additional security will be in place. 'Every one of you is a valued member of the NFL family. We will get through this together,' Goodell said. Adams says gunman left few clues — 9:13 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Adams said one challenge of the investigation has been that Tamura only arrived in New York shortly before the shooting, leaving few clues in the area. 'We are going to communicate with federal and state partners in Las Vegas to drill down on this as much as possible including looking at his social media pages, anything that he may have in his home, so that we can continue to piece this investigation together,' Adams said. Advertisement The mayor said it's also a challenge for law enforcement, 'dealing with those who come from areas with lax gun laws that allow individuals to have these high-powered weapons into cities like New York that have strong gun laws.' Statement from Blackstone on employee who was killed in the shooting — 9:12 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Blackstone on Tuesday said an employee, Wesley LePatner, a senior managing director, was among those killed in the shooting. 'Words cannot express the devastation we feel,' the firm said in a statement. 'Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.' LePatner was Blackstone's global head of core+ real estate and chief executive officer of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, according to the firm's website. She spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs before joining Blackstone in 2014. A 2003 Yale graduate, LePatner served on the boards of several organizations, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Blackstone said. Trump says he's been briefed on deadly NYC shooting, says his heart is with the families of the four people killed — 9:05 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press In a post on his social media site, Trump said he trusts that law enforcement will 'get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence.' Trump, who is currently in Scotland, said 'my heart' is with the families of those who were killed at a Manhattan office building, including a New York City police officer. The gunman was targeting NFL headquarters, mayor says — 9:04 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Investigators believe Shane Tamura was trying to get to the NFL offices after shooting several people in the building's lobby but accidentally entered the wrong set of elevator banks, Adams said in interviews on Tuesday. Advertisement Police said Tamura had a history of mental illness, and a rambling note found on his body suggested he had a grievance against the NFL over an unsubstantiated claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. He had played football in high school in California nearly two decades ago. The note claimed he had been suffering from CTE — the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and other repeated head trauma common in contact sports like football — and said his brain should be studied after he died, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. It also specifically referenced the National Football League, the person said. A motive has not been determined but investigators were looking into, based on the note, whether he might've specifically targeted the building because it is home to the NFL's headquarters. New York Mayor Eric Adams prepares to speak during a news conference at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York on Monday night, July 28, 2025. VINCENT ALBAN/NYT Witnesses said they heard 'rapid fire' — 8:59 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Nekeisha Lewis was eating dinner with friends on the plaza when she heard gunfire. 'It felt like it was a quick two shots and then it was rapid fire,' she told The Associated Press. Windows shattered and a man ran from the building saying, 'Help, help. I'm shot.' Lewis said. Jessica Chen told ABC News she was watching a presentation with dozens of other people on the second floor when she 'heard multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor.' She and others ran into a conference room and barricaded tables against the door. 'We were honestly really, really scared,' she said, adding that she texted her parents to tell them that she loves them. Advertisement Some finance workers at an office building down the block were picking up dinner at a corner eatery when they heard a loud noise and saw people running. 'It was like a crowd panic,' said Anna Smith, who joined the workers pouring back into the finance office building. They remained there for about two hours before being told they could leave. NYPD officers assist civilians evacuating a building during an active shooter situation in Midtown Manhattan, July 28, 2025. OLGA FEDOROVA/NYT The scene on 52nd Street between Park and Lexington Avenue where a New York Police Department police officer was shot, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. Angelina Katsanis/Associated Press Adams said officials are still 'unraveling' what took place — 8:52 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press Officers found a rifle case, a revolver, magazines and ammunition in Tamura's car, Tisch said. They also found medication that belonged to Tamura, she said. She said an initial investigation shows his vehicle traveled across the country, passing through Colorado on July 26, then Nebraska and Iowa on July 27. The car was in Columbia, New Jersey, as recently as 4:24 p.m. Monday. He drove into New York City shortly thereafter, she said. Rudin is one of the largest privately owned real estate companies in New York City. The company dates back to 1925 and is still managed by members of the Rudin family. Tisch said there were no indications so far that Tamura had prior connections to the real estate industry or to the city. No one answered the door at the address listed for Tamura in Las Vegas. A New York Police officers gather at the scene on 52nd Street outside a Manhattan office building where two people were shot, including a New York police officer, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. Angelina Katsanis/Associated Press What to know about the shooting — 8:50 a.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied By the Associated Press A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle Monday, killing four people, including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said. The gunman, identified by authorities as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, had a 'documented mental health history,' according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, but his motive was still unknown. Advertisement 'We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location,' Tisch said. Surveillance video showed the man exiting a double-parked BMW just before 6:30 p.m. carrying an M4 rifle, then marching across a public plaza into the building. Then, he started firing, Tisch said, killing a police officer working a corporate security detail and then hitting a woman who tried to take cover as he sprayed the lobby with gunfire. The man then made his way to the elevator bank and shot a guard at a security desk and shot another man in the lobby, the commissioner said. The man took the elevator to the 33rd floor offices of the company that owned the building, Rudin Management, and shot and killed one person on that floor. The man then shot himself, the commissioner said. The building, 345 Park Avenue, also holds offices of the financial services firm KPMG. Police officers and paramedics respond to a shooting on Park Avenue in New York on Monday evening, July 28, 2025. DAKOTA SANTIAGO/NYT
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Voices: By likening Nigel Farage to Jimmy Savile, Peter Kyle has handed Reform a free gift
Just when Nigel Farage and his tiny parliamentary party were beginning to be exposed as shrill and clueless, Peter Kyle, one of the most promising cabinet ministers, handed them a free gift. By saying that the Reform leader is on the side of 'people like Jimmy Savile', Kyle destroys his own arguments for the Online Safety Act. The attempt to link Farage with a notorious child sex abuser is gratuitous and offensive. It makes Kyle seem desperate, and allows Farage to pose as the wronged party. Farage's criticisms of the Act seem more credible after Kyle's outburst than before. It is surprising that Kyle has chosen to use this slur when Labour people were so indignant – and rightly so – when Boris Johnson used it against Keir Starmer. That was when Johnson was desperate: Sue Gray's report on lockdown parties in Downing Street had just been published and Johnson wanted some way of deflecting attention. His attack on Starmer had nothing to do with Gray's report. It was an aside referring to Starmer's time as director of public prosecutions, during which, Johnson said, 'he spent most of his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, as far as I can make out'. But it was more relevant than Kyle's attack on Farage. It is factually correct that the Crown Prosecution Service failed to prosecute Savile when Starmer was in charge, and it is unclear whether it could have done more to bring Savile to justice at the time. But Farage has nothing to do with Savile – at all. Kyle's attempt to smear the Reform leader was phrased thus on Sky News: 'If people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he'd be perpetrating his crimes online, and Nigel Farage is saying that he's on their side.' Nothing could be better calculated to distract from the real issue, which is whether Farage's pledge to repeal the Online Safety Act is a sensible one. The Reform rhetoric about 'authoritarian' and 'dystopian' legislation is overdone, and Farage admitted yesterday that he didn't know how he would protect children online instead. But rather of exposing the weakness of Farage's arguments, Kyle allowed his opponent to protest on X that his comment was 'disgusting' and to demand an apology. Kyle responded: 'If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. It is as simple as that.' This is a terrible way to conduct a public debate. There are well-founded concerns about the Online Safety Act, which seems to put unworkable obligations on non-profit-making websites while doing little to ensure that the big tech companies behave more responsibly. A lot of well-informed people said it was badly drafted legislation even before it was passed by the Conservative government two years ago. Kyle is now overseeing the coming into effect of provisions of the Act relating to age-verification, and instead of acting on the concerns that have been expressed, he has ploughed ahead – in effect accusing anyone who has doubts, including for example Ella Dorn of the New Statesman, of being aligned with Savile. When Johnson gratuitously dragged Savile's name into his attempt to save his disintegrating premiership, the disgust at his deliberate attempt to invoke conspiracy theories driven by fears of paedophilia was felt across the political spectrum. Munira Mirza, Johnson's adviser who was consulted in advance, begged him not to do it, and resigned when he did. Kyle should not be using the same disreputable tactic, which not only speaks volumes about this government's self-confidence but also allows Reform off the hook. Only this morning, Sarah Pochin, Reform's newest MP, was struggling to explain what her party's policy on small boats actually is. All she could propose was that Britain should 'do something drastic', by which she seemed to suggest that we should let migrants drown in the Channel. If the next election really is a fight between Labour and Reform, Labour must fight it better than this.
