Latest news with #NewYorkers
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
More concerned about teeth than constituents: Gale Brewer faces backlash over demanding dental care for migrants
Upper West Side councilwoman Gale Brewer is facing backlash after calling for free dental care for migrants, after she revealed already have paid up to $10,000 out of her own pocket to cover their dental expenses. The 73-year-old Democrat made the plea during a budget hearing with the NYC Health Department on May 23, where she criticised the lack of attention to migrants' full health needs. 'Is someone paying attention to all of their health needs?' she demanded. 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000–$10,000 on the dental. So who is paying attention to them?' Brewer, who earns $148,500 as a council member, later told The New Post that she has been covering the cost of procedures such as root canals and cavity fillings for several migrants, especially young people she supports personally. 'I've been doing this kind of stuff for years, especially helping younger people,' said Brewer, who, along with her late husband Cal Snyder, fostered 35 children. 'This is nothing new for me.' She also pressed acting health commissioner Dr Michelle Morse to improve awareness among migrants about the city's existing free healthcare options. Brewer said many asylum seekers, particularly young delivery workers, are enrolled in city-funded health insurance schemes like NYC Care but have no idea how to use them. 'And I assume you can't do dental, because you can't get dental for Americans — let alone for anybody else. They all have dental issues.' Brewer added, 'I happen to know a lot of asylum seekers and support them.' 'These are young guys. They're pretty lost' she said, referring to what benefits the immigrants qualify for. However, her remarks have sparked criticism from some in her own district. Longtime Upper West Side activist Maria Danzilo accused Brewer of ignoring her constituents. 'This is another example of misplaced priorities from Gale Brewer,' Danzilo said. 'It's unfortunate that Gale feels migrants' dental problems are more important than the needs of her own constituents. What is she doing about the healthcare needs of her community? Plenty of New Yorkers also lack medical coverage.' Morse responded by promising that the Health Department would work with city hospitals to improve outreach efforts about available healthcare services under NYC Care. City law already requires all hospitals to treat emergency patients regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay. Migrants seeking asylum are eligible for Medicaid, while minors, seniors, and pregnant women can access free healthcare regardless of immigration status. The health department declined to say whether Brewer could have referred migrants to more affordable city options rather than paying out of pocket. This isn't the first time Brewer has made headlines during budget hearings. In March, she told correction officials that the food served at Rikers Island made her sick — and suggested the city should serve inmates 'farm-to-table' meals like those at high-end Manhattan restaurants.
New York Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NYC Council trashes Mayor Adams over Sanitation budget cuts
Mayor Eric Adams is losing his 'war on rats' — in large part because his administration refuses to fully fund a Sanitation Department unit dealing with a backlog of more than 1,700 garbage-strewn lots that need to be cleaned, a majority of City Council members said this week. Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens) fired off a bipartisan letter last week to the mayor signed by 30 council members demanding the city pump another $2.6 million yearly into agency's Lot Cleaning Unit back to pre-pandemic levels of 108 employees in 2019. The unit has since shrunk to 10 workers assigned to clean city-owned lots and vacant lots in the five boroughs. Advertisement 4 This debris-filled vacant lot on Baltimore Street on Staten Island is one more than 1,700 such abandoned or city-owned lots on a waiting list for the Sanitation Department of clean, according to the City Council. Obtained by the New York Post 'These [lots] are not only unsightly and unsafe, but they are also infested with rats and other vermin that spread disease,' Ariola wrote. 'Considering the resources your administration has poured into its 'War on Rats,' we expected that tackling these filthy areas in every borough would be a priority.' Advertisement Adams' proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes $820,277 for lot cleaning, increases the unit's staff to 15 and it's funding to $1.6 million by fiscal 2029. 4 Twenty-nine City Council members signed off a letter demanding Mayor Eric Adams pour another $2.6 million yearly into cleaning up vacant lots. Luiz Rampelotto/ZUMA / That's not enough, said council members who have been forced to use their discretionary funds to supplement nonprofits and city sanitation workers cleaning filthy weed-strewn lots and traffic medians. 4 Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens) suggested in the letter that Adams is losing his 'war on rats' – in large part because his administration refuses to properly fund the Sanitation Department. Michael Nagle Advertisement 'Having a severely deficient lot cleaning program only undermines other efforts by DSNY and your administration to 'Get Stuff Clean,'' wrote Ariola, referring to the mayor's campaign to cleanup city streets. 'It also sends a hypocritical message to New Yorkers that, while residents are required to comply with the rules, to containerize their garbage and clean their own properties or else face fines and penalties, their own city government has no such responsibility. 'We once again ask that you provide DSNY the funding they need to rectify this problem.' 4 A debris-filled vacant lot on Chandler Street in Far Rockaway. Obtained by the New York Post Advertisement The backlog of vacant lots desperately needing a cleaning include one on Chandler Street near Motts Basin in Far Rockaway, Queens, and another disaster at 75 Baltimore Street in Great Kills, Staten Island, according to council members. Both are garbage-filled, weed-strewn eyesores that have become neighborhood dumping grounds covered with abandoned shopping carts, mattresses, furniture and other debris. Rodent complaints to 311 spiked nearly 8% during Adams first two years in office — despite his ballyhooed multi-million dollar war on rats and vow from Day One to make headway against the vermin, The Post has reported. Updated statistics were not immediately available. Sanitation Department spokesman Joshua Goodman insisted Mayor Adams proposed budget for next fiscal year 'makes greater investments in a cleaner city than ever before.' 'The increased funding for cleaning vacant lots allows us to focus on those that pose health risks, those located near schools or parks, and those receiving 311 service requests – not just in the coming year, but for years to come,' he said. 'We can always do more with more, and we look forward to working with the Council to ensure resources are allocated efficiently to areas of greatest need.'
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Could Diddy be next in line for a Trump pardon amid trafficking trial?
In a surprising twist that has everyone talking, former President Donald Trump hinted he might consider pardoning Sean 'Diddy' Combs, the music mogul currently embroiled in a high-profile sex trafficking trial in New York. Trump acknowledges pardon talks, but no formal request yet During a recent press conference, Trump said nobody has officially asked for a pardon yet, but he knows that some people have come close. While admitting he has not closely followed the trial, which began earlier this month, Trump acknowledged the case is attracting significant media attention. Combs faces serious charges, including racketeering and coercion, that could land him in prison for life if he is found guilty. The allegations stem from a federal investigation prompted by multiple lawsuits, including one from his ex-partner Cassie Ventura accusing him of abuse and sexual assault. Though Combs initially denied the claims, released CCTV footage in 2024 showed him physically assaulting Ventura, a fact his defence team has admitted while maintaining his innocence on other charges. Past connections and a complex relationship Trump also spoke about his past encounters with Combs, describing them as two New Yorkers who once had mutual respect. According to Trump, their relationship soured when he ran for president, with Combs reportedly making negative comments. Despite this, Trump insisted that any decision on a pardon would be based purely on the facts, not personal feelings. Controversy awaits if a pardon is granted If Trump were to pardon Combs, it would undoubtedly spark controversy, given the severity of the allegations and the public scrutiny surrounding the trial. Trump's history of pardoning celebrities, ranging from reality TV stars to rappers, and issuing blanket pardons for the January 6 participants shows he is willing to take bold, often divisive, actions. As the trial unfolds, the possibility of a Trump pardon looms large, adding yet another layer of drama to an already intense legal battle.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How To Make an Extra $6K a Month (It's as Easy as Riding a Bike)
If you live in New York, you've probably heard of Citi Bikes. It's an immensely popular bike-sharing program by Lyft that operates throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Hoboken and Jersey City. Read More: Find Out: The official website claims it's 'the best way to get around.' Considering there are plans to expand to 36,000 bikes and more than 2,000 Citi Bike stations in 2025, this might not be that far off base. Citi Bikes is more than the area's 'official bike share program.' It's also touted as a fun — and affordable — alternative to taxis, walking, and the whole public transit system. It's accessible, convenient and, for some people, a great way to earn additional income every month. Citi Bikes might not have been intended as a side hustle, but it's certainly become that way for the dedicated few who know how to game the system. The New York Times even called it 'the perfect New York hustle, a scam of subtle perfection. The way it works is simple: Borrow a Citi Bike. Ride it a block — just one. Wait about 15 minutes. Ride it back to where you started. As for earning money, that part's a little more complicated. Citi Bike's goal is to offer seamless pickup and drop-off of its bikes — but things don't always go as planned. Sometimes, someone going to work doesn't have a place to leave their bike when they arrive. Others can't find a bike when they need one during their lunch break or have errands to run with no time to waste. Read Next: However, the program costs roughly $220 a year, and subscribers are none too happy with paying that much only to find no available bikes. That's why Citi Bike started introducing various tactics and incentives to get bikes where they're most needed. One such program, introduced in 2016, is Bike Angels. This program essentially allows Citi Biker subscribers to move bikes themselves in exchange for points. After earning enough points, they can redeem them for a variety of things — from swag to membership discounts to gift cards. Some New Yorkers — later dubbed Power Angels — got so into this that they started competing with one another to win the most points. Here are just a few ways to earn points: 4 points for taking a bike from a full station 4 points for docking a bike at an empty station 3x points for moving 4+ bikes within 24 hours Each ride can earn as many as 24 points, which translates to a maximum of $4.80 per ride (with the 3x points). Cutting ahead a few years, these 'Power Angels' discovered how to game the system, analyzing the algorithm to see where they could earn the most and maximize those financial benefits. By working together, they found a way to exploit the system — called 'station flipping' — and make some pretty good money. Here's just one account of how, back in August 2024, seven Bike Angels made money riding bikes: Each one used a special blue key (awarded by Citi Bike) to unlock a bike at a docking station. They then rode it one block, docked it, ran back to their starting point to unlock another bike, and repeated the cycle. Knowing Lyft's algorithm resets every 15 minutes (meaning new point values get awarded for each bike move), the Angels created a system in which one station would be totally full while the other (just one block away) would be empty. Viewing the empty docks as being in high-demand, the algorithm offered $4.80 per bike returned to the empty station. The riders then changed direction (each riding their bikes from the full station to the empty one), earning the maximum incentive per ride. As far as side hustles go, it's inventive, but not without its challenges. That said, one particular Bike Angel, known as Tommy, was said to have earned around $60,000 in 2023 by flipping bikes. In the early part of September, another Angel (username: NS143) earned roughly $3,800 or 19,394 points. Most don't earn nearly that much, perhaps enough to pay some bills, and taxes still have to be paid. But all in all? For those who are dedicated and willing to put in the work, it's not a bad hustle. More From GOBankingRates 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth Sources 'Mayor Adams Announces Major Expansion of Citi Bike Service in Outer Boroughs as Ridership Continues to Soar' The New York Times, 'The Hustlers Who Make $6,000 a Month by Gaming Citi Bikes' Citi Bike NYC, 'Citi Bike Annual Membership | Citi Bike NYC' This article originally appeared on How To Make an Extra $6K a Month (It's as Easy as Riding a Bike) Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Lefties' pro-migrant push-back on Tisch's e-bike crackdown is obscene
City Council lefties just proved again that they care a lot more about protecting law-breakers than the safety of law-abiding New Yorkers. Every. Single. Time. The proof? How they used a budget hearing to assail NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for deciding to issue criminal summonses to law-breaking e-bike riders, instead of mere traffic-court tickets, to discourage reckless road behavior. Their gripe? A lot of e-bike riders are delivery drivers for food apps, and a lot of delivery drivers are illegal immigrants — who might get deported if slapped with a criminal summons. Ergo, the progressives insist, the NYPD should give up on any kind of meaningful consequences for every e-biker caught blasting through a red light, barreling down a sidewalk or otherwise putting other New Yorkers at risk. Yes, really. Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán insisted cops will go out of their way to target minorities, offering this word-salad: 'A person who is more likely to be a person of color may end up in deportation proceedings. It's not just right.' No, what's 'not right' is pretending that basic public-safety enforcement is somehow racist. Meanwhile, Brooklyn's Lincoln Restler, a pro-cycling fanatic, worried about 'more people getting swept up in our criminal justice system who don't need it.' Obscene: He had the gall to oppose increased enforcement just days after a fast-moving e-bike rammed a 3-year-old girl, sending her to the hospital, in his own district. Nobody's getting 'swept up' in the justice system here as long as they simply obey the rules of the road. Tisch held her own against the avalanche of 'questions' that painted the NYPD as racist jackboots, rightly noting: 'This is not a war on e-bikes, this is a response to very real concerns that are widely held across virtually every borough, every New Yorker in this city.' She's spot-on: Most Gothamites have a story of a near-miss (or full-on collision) with an out-of-control cyclist, and it's only grown worse with the rise of e-bikes. Even Restler has admitted that dangerous e-bikes are one of his constituents' top worries; apparently, he just doesn't care. To these so-called progressives, the 'very real concerns' of everyday New Yorkers are irrelevant: Their overriding concern is that illegal migrants be treated as a protected class, able to break the law with impunity because they might — might — face larger consequences if they're held to the same standard as everyone else. And that's so important, they reason, that the NYPD mustn't enforce any law that 'asylum seekers' are supposedly especially likely to break. If a few more toddlers get mowed down because e-bikers get to ignore traffic laws — well, that's acceptable collateral damage. Cabán and Restler insist on ignoring the safety of the people they're supposed to represent to protect hypothetical lawbreakers. Their constituents should remember that come voting time.
