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New York Post
31-07-2025
- New York Post
Granny-gate: Long Island town admits grandma used as key witness to block mosque plan never existed
Who's your granny? A ritzy Long Island town admitted to inventing a fake grandma and citing her as a main witness in court papers to deny a local Muslim group's request to upgrade their mosque, according to court documents. Officials from the Town of Oyster Bay — which is home to the wealthy and celebs such as Billy Joel — claimed the imaginary woman testified that she couldn't drive her SUV down the narrow streets supposedly blocked by worshippers' parked cars, and named her one of the main reasons the mosque's plans had to be rejected. 5 The town claimed that the imaginary woman testified that she was unable to drive her SUV down the narrow streets because of the worshipper's parked cars. Audley C Bullock/Wirestock Creators – But under oath this month, town officials confessed the traffic-jammed grandmother, her SUV, and her grandkids don't actually exist — but instead are 'an amalgam' of other resident's submissions, none of which ever mentioned any grandmother, grandchildren, SUVs, or even daycare drop-offs. 'This grandmother doesn't exist,' Attorney for Muslims of Long Island, Peter Vogel, told The Post. 'She is a figment of the Town's imagination.' Town Planning Board Chairman Angelo Stanco admitted in a deposition that Oyster Bay 'departed from its normal practice' to 'invent the fake witness' — something he said had never been done before. He said the grandma is 'partially an amalgam of testimony and written submissions,' the records show. Deputy Commissioner Timothy Zike also admitted the woman was entirely fictional, conceding that her story should probably be removed from the town's official denial. 5 Deputy Commissioner Timothy Zike admitted the woman was entirely fictional. Facebook/I Love Oyster Bay, Long Island. But despite the town's sworn admissions in federal court, Oyster Bay is now publicly denying any wrongdoing. 'While we do not comment on the specifics of pending litigation, claims against the Town are baseless, unjustified and an attempt to divide the community,' Town Attorney Frank Scalera said in a statement. 'Our town's policies are applied equally and reflect fairness for all, regardless of faith. The Town takes great pride in its proven dedication to diversity and inclusiveness.' But the group's lawyers are not so sure that's the case — and the fake grandmother, attorneys argue, was just the tip of the iceberg. 5 Oyster Bay is now publicly denying any wrongdoing. Tak – Typically, the approval process to get the permit that the mosque is seeking only takes roughly six months to a year. But the mosque, which has existed in the town since the 1990s, said they have been fighting for their approval for over six years at this point. The federal complaint accuses Oyster Bay of orchestrating a years-long campaign to quietly stall and kill the mosque project — including manufacturing minuscule mistakes to send the application back, and even rewriting zoning laws midstream to create stricter parking requirements aimed squarely at the mosque's application, according to court documents. Town officials also admitted they passed Local Law No. 6 — a parking ordinance requiring new houses of worship to have one parking spot for every three seats — just as the mosque's application neared the finish line. On the record, officials told the court they passed the bill because the town viewed its existing parking laws as 'unfair,' and said they felt it 'favored' religions that pray standing, leaning on lecterns, or sitting on the floor — and had the mosque in mind when they passed it. 5 Muhammad Faridi called the actions from Oyster Bay 'pathetic.' Fordham Law The new law more than doubled the number of parking spaces the mosque would need, from 86 to 155, making the project all but impossible. And town officials admitted under oath they never considered any less burdensome alternatives. When asked which religions specifically did the new law target with the town's rationale, Oyster Bay's Deputy Commissioner Scott Byrne responded, 'Islam,' according to court documents. 'In other words, the Town passed Local Law No. 6 to specifically target building applications submitted by members of certain religions,' Diana Conner, another attorney for the group said. 5 'In a country that was founded upon the principles of religious freedom, it's just pathetic that this is what this town has done,' attorney Muhammad Faridi said. Audley C Bullock/Wirestock Creators – And while town officials attempted to paint the mosque as a traffic hazard, they were unable to point to a single accident ever caused by it — except for one — during a site inspection earlier this year, when the town's own public safety inspector rear-ended a woman outside the house of worship. The mosque's attorneys called the town's actions 'blatant islamophobia,' and the law firm, Linklaters, has taken the case pro-bono. 'In a country that was founded upon the principles of religious freedom, it's just pathetic that this is what this town has done,' attorney Muhammad Faridi told The Post. A bench trial is set for October in federal court, where the U.S. Department of Justice has joined the case in support of the mosque, arguing the town's actions likely violated the First Amendment and federal religious land use protections.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Here's how much owning a home in 2030 will cost based on stagnant US salaries
Homeownership is about to cost an arm, a leg — and a second salary. A new analysis from HireAHelper, using Redfin housing data, paints a sobering picture of the next housing decade: by 2030, the cost of a median home will far exceed income growth in every US state. The national median home price is projected to climb to $615,103 by decade's end, while income gains lag behind — leaving households across the country priced out of homeownership unless their earnings rise dramatically. 7 A new study predicts that by 2030, home prices will outpace income growth in every US state, creating significant affordability gaps across the country. Jaruwan photo – Nowhere is the affordability crunch more severe than in Montana, where home prices are forecast to hit roughly $932,584. To keep up, the average household income would need to jump by an eye-popping 144%, reaching nearly $191,000. 7 According to a Redfin data analysis by HireAHelper, the national median home price is expected to hit $615,103, while wages won't keep up — especially in Western states like Montana and California. Konstantin L – Once considered a haven of affordable living, the state's housing market has spiraled upward amid a pandemic-fueled influx of remote workers. California, long a poster child for housing sticker shock, isn't far behind. The Golden State is projected to see its median home price climb to more than $1.23 million, requiring households to bring in more than $250,000 annually — nearly a 140% increase in average salary — to afford a typical property. While California boasts some of the country's highest wages, they haven't kept pace with the runaway market, the report notes. 7 In Montana, the median home is projected to cost over $932,000, requiring a 144% income increase for affordability. Andrew Kornylak – 7 California follows closely, with expected home prices topping $1.2 million and incomes needing to exceed $250,000. Rich – New York, to no one's surprise, is also poised for a pricing crunch. By 2030, the median home is expected to cost more than $780,000, while the income needed to buy it will need to surge past $179,000 — a 103% leap. Much of that growth is concentrated in dense metro areas like New York City, where demand continues to outstrip supply. Rhode Island and New Jersey round out the top five states with the biggest affordability gaps. In Rhode Island, median home prices could approach $855,000, with income requirements nearing $190,000 — a near doubling of current average earnings. 7 New York, which has long been expensive, will only become more so. goodmanphoto – 7 Even smaller states like New Hampshire and Wyoming are not immune, with affordability gaps growing due to stagnant wage growth and surging housing demand. K Issa/Wirestock Creators – And in New Jersey, residents will need to earn more than $210,000 annually to manage projected housing costs nearing $845,000. That would make it the second-most expensive state in terms of income required to afford a home, behind California. Even states not typically associated with sky-high real estate markets are feeling the squeeze. New Hampshire's projected home prices — just over $832,000 — would necessitate nearly $196,000 in annual income, while Utah's median home price is set to surpass $958,000. 7 Pandemic-era migration, remote work trends, and low housing inventory are contributing to the spike, especially in states like Idaho. Jeremy – Washington State, where housing demand remains strong in cities like Seattle, is expected to see median home prices top $900,000, with income needs nearing $187,000 — up 79% from today.
New York Post
06-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Dozens of New Jersey suburbs have more renters than homeowners — more than any other state
In the Garden State, signing a deed to buy a home is being outnumbered in certain areas by inking a lease to rent one. As housing affordability continues to decline nationwide, a growing number of New Jersey suburbs especially are now dominated by renters — recasting the classic vision of suburban life. A new analysis of US Census data by Point2Homes reveals that 39 New Jersey suburbs with populations more than 10,000 are now renter-majority — a figure that leads the nation. Advertisement 6 New Jersey suburbs are becoming ground zero for the rise of the 'renter majority,' as the dream of suburban homeownership slips further out of reach. Col. Wilson – Once a haven for aspiring homeowners who wanted to maintain close ties to New York City, the state's inner-ring suburbs are seeing significant demographic and economic transformation as more residents lease rather than buy. Places like Harrison, Union City, West New York, Passaic and Elizabeth are among the top 20 suburbs in the country with the highest shares of renter households. Advertisement In Harrison, located near Newark, over 81% of households are occupied by renters; in Union City, it's nearly 80%. The trend isn't just about where people are living — it's about how. 6 According to a recent study by Point2Homes, 39 New Jersey suburbs now have more renters than homeowners — more than any other state represented in the national analysis. John McAdorey – 6 Places like Harrison, Union City, West New York, Passaic and Elizabeth top the list, with renter rates exceeding 74%. Fotosforthefuture/Wirestock Creators – The shift reflects both an affordability crisis and changing attitudes about homeownership, according to the National Association of Home Builders, which noted that nearly 75% of US households cannot afford a median-priced new home in 2025 — now hovering around $460,000 with a 30-year mortgage rate at 6.5%. Advertisement In New Jersey, the shift is particularly stark. Of the 15 suburbs nationwide that flipped from homeowner-majority to renter-majority between 2018 and 2023, four are in New Jersey — more than any other state. 6 From 2018 to 2023, four New Jersey suburbs — including Bound Brook and Secaucus — were among the top 15 nationwide to tip into renter-majority status. Luis – Bound Brook, for example, saw its renter population jump from just under 50% to more than 58%. Advertisement North Arlington, East Franklin and Secaucus also made the list, each undergoing a similar transformation. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Paterson added more than 3,500 renter households each over the past five years, ranking among the top 10 suburbs nationwide for absolute growth in renter households. The movement isn't just driven by rising home prices — it's also a response to skyrocketing urban rents, especially considering nearby New York. 6 The trend reflects both affordability challenges and broader cultural shifts: younger generations shaped by the 2008 housing crash are increasingly opting to rent, not just for financial reasons but for flexibility, remote work compatibility and proximity to transit. Bildgigant – 6 In places like Elizabeth and Union Township, large-scale rental developments near train stations are rapidly reshaping once ownership-dominated landscapes, catering to renters priced out of New York City and nearby urban centers. Felix Mizioznikov – Younger generations, especially millennials and Gen Z, are turning to suburban rentals as a middle ground: close enough to transit, but far enough from the eye-watering rents on or on the other side of the Hudson. Developers have responded in kind. In places like Union Township and Elizabeth, mid-rise apartment buildings have cropped up near train stations, catering to commuters and remote workers alike.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Your guide to all things Pride 2025, from survival tips to the hottest events & more!
It's the most magical time of year: Pride season! So grab your glitter, your favorite rainbow Speedo and get ready to stomp down the streets and raise the roof all in the name of queer joy! All month long, is bringing you the best, most complete coverage of Pride Month celebrations. We've compiled everything you need to know about Pride 2024 into one place. Check it out! Much like the first Pride Parade, the first Dyke March was a protest, not a party, and that indomitable spirit of radical resistance and claiming of space is still alive in today's Dyke Marches. Click here to see the radical Dyke Marches happening all across the country! Buy now , Kirkam/Shutterstock Pride Month is about demanding space and celebrating marginalized LGBTQ+ identities, but sometimes the Black queer community can be left out of the equation. That's why Black Pride Month events are so important. Click here to see all of the amazing Black Pride Month events happening in America! Buy now , Loredana Sangiuliano/Shutterstock Feeling a lack of trans representation at Pride Month events? You're not alone in feeling like sometimes the T in LGBTQ+ gets ignored, but that's why people across the country are coming together to organize, protest, and celebrate the trans community. Whether you're trans yourself or any ally looking to show up in solidarity, there is a Trans Pride event for you. Click here to see all of the exciting Trans Pride Month events happening in America! Buy now , Wirestock Creators via Shutterstock Pride Month has always been about protest as much as celebration, but with the LGBTQ+ community under attack from the Trump administration and conservative politicians all over America, it is more important than ever for us to stand together, show our strength, fight back against an oppressive government, celebrate our collective queer joy, and party the night away! Click here to see every Pride event across the country so you can start planning your own personal Pride calendar! Buy now , Courtesy Long Beach Pride Sunny Long Beach, California was home to a huge Pride celebration that attracted thousands to the city's gorgeous waterfront city. Click here to see how the LGBTQ+ community celebrated Pride by the beach! Buy now , Diana Davies, The New York Public Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division Queer people are — and always have been — everywhere. Queer people come in every shape, size, color, religion, ability, and age. Click here to scroll back through time and see how our diverse community has celebrated Pride over the years. Buy now , Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Reneé Rapp at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar After Party on March 3, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California Fresh off the release of her new single, "Leave Me Alone," the Sapphic star is headed to World Pride in DC! "Pride is everything. It is protection, it is visibility, it is intersectional, but most importantly, it is a celebration of existence and protest," Rapp exclusively tells PRIDE. Click here for more details about Reneé Rapp's World Pride debut. Buy now ,for Clinton Global Initiative Schuyler Bailar speaks onstage during Day 1 of the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 Annual Meeting at New York Hilton Midtown on September 23, 2024 in New York City. Author and athlete Schuyler Bailar has been making history for years. In college, he became the first out trans man to compete in a D1 sport while swimming for Harvard, and now he has another accolade under his belt: He kicked off Trans World Pride with a funny and heartwarming keynote speech. Click here to read more about Schyler Bailar's moving speech. Buy now , CarlosBarquero/Shutterstock It's the time of year to celebrate your queerness and find a Pride event near you to join with your fellow community to do so. If you're heading into this Pride season as a virgin to the experience, here are five tips to help you make the most of it! Click here for a beginners guide to Pride! Buy now , Jilll Richardson/Shutterstock For adults, Pride Month festivities are an excellent way to experience community, open expressions of sexuality and gender, and they serve as a powerful message about queer people's right to exist in public spaces. But it can also be a fun and validating experience for kids and teens. Click here for tips on how to celebrate Pride with the whole fam! Buy now , David Tran Photo/Shutterstock Forget the tired debate about whether kink belongs at Pride—spoiler alert: it does, and it's here to stay. Instead, focus on how to get kinky at Pride in a way that is safe and will leave a smile on your face when your fave month is over. Click here for some steamy safety tips! Buy now , Shutterstock Pride Parades are some of the most exciting events of the year, but a lot of people don't understand the rich and often untold history behind the movement. Click here to learn more about what makes Pride a party and a riot! Buy now , Shutterstock Whether you're celebrating Pride Month or just living your best gay life, these days you'll see a lot more flags than the traditional rainbow. It can get overwhelming trying to sort out the many sexualities on the queer spectrum, so we've broken it down for you with your Complete Guide to Queer Pride Flags! Click here to learn all about the queer flags we fly. Buy now , Brian Logan Photography/Shutterstock Queer history was made on the night June 28, 1969, when a six-day protest outside the Stonewall Inn changed the course of gay and lesbian life forever. Click here to learn more about the importance of the Stonewall Uprising! Buy now ,
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sea Stock Soars On Robust Q1 Growth In E-Commerce, Fintech
Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) reported fiscal first-quarter results on Tuesday. The company's quarterly revenue increased 29.6% year-on-year to $4.84 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $4.89 billion. EPS of 65 cents topped the analyst consensus estimate of 64 cents. Digital Entertainment revenue increased 8.2% year over year to $495.59 million. Bookings improved to $775.4 million, up 51.4% Y/Y. The segment's adjusted EBITDA was $458.2 million, up 56.8% Y/Y. Quarterly active users were 661.8 million, up 11.3% Y/Y. Average bookings per user were $1.17 versus 86 cents Y/Y.E-commerce and other services revenue increased 28.7% Y/Y to $3.12 billion. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $264.4 million versus a $21.7 million loss a year back. Core marketplace revenue grew 39.2% Y/Y to $2.4 billion. Gross orders rose 20.5% Y/Y. GMV was $28.6 billion, increasing by 21.5% Y/Y. Digital Financial Services revenue grew 57.6% Y/Y to $787.12 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $241.4 million, up 62.4% Y/Y. Sea generated first-quarter operating cash flow of $756.93 million, and held $4.02 billion in cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2025. Sea remains confident of achieving a full-year GMV guidance of around 20% while improving profitability. Price Action: SE stock is trading up 6.10% to $151.15 at the last check on Tuesday. Photo by Wirestock Creators via Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? SEA (SE): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Sea Stock Soars On Robust Q1 Growth In E-Commerce, Fintech originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
