If you’re a prominent person – whether a celebrity, CEO, or politician – you’re probably aware that high profile often comes with complications. Such as unique vulnerabilities to targeted threats, and that’s when executive protection services can be engaged to provide a safe protective arc above the average personal bodyguard. Executive protection services are a…
Back in the summer at Riverside Church, Mayor Adams was late arriving for a ceremony to rename a street in tribute to New York City’s first African American mayor David Dinkins, his idol. Eric entered the room and stood right next to me. He was not aware that his coattail dangled just above a lit candle. After calling it to his attention, I said, “You don’t need another flame, you are hot enough.” He chuckled and stepped away from the fire. This time though, he may not be able to avoid the current political heat as calls mount for him to resign after being indicted and arraigned on federal charges alleging he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources.
During his arraignment Friday morning, Adams maintained he was not guilty.
As a reporter who has covered his activities for more than a generation, including those days when he was still in uniform and attended our rallies while a leader of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, I gathered an abiding respect for him. So, the welter of charges he’s facing now places me in concert with many Black Americans who are not calling for his resignation, but insisting on a presumption of innocence.
Among the notable New Yorkers echoing this plea is Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who, if Adams is removed or steps down, will be the interim mayor. In a recent statement, Williams said, “It is federal officials’ obligation to prove their case. It is the mayor’s obligation to prove to New Yorkers that there is a real plan and path to govern the city effectively and regain trust, and his time to show that plan is rapidly running out.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton was equally concerned about the rush to judgment and said the mayor should only be judged by the outcome of a potential trial. Earlier Sharpton expressed a more cautionary stance, noting that the mayor’s aggressive self-defense could hurt Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats seeking office. He promised to convene a meeting with Black leaders to chart a path forward.
Speaker of the New York City Council Adrienne Adams, who is not related to the mayor, said that she would continue to monitor the situation. She later added, “I ask the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be sound and stable.”
A presumption of innocence was the response from Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “A jury of the Mayor’s peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a determination. In the meantime, I pray for the well-being of our great city.”
Two elderly leaders of the community, the Rev. Herbert Daughtry and Hazel Dukes, a former NAACP leader and currently president of the New York Chapter of the organization, stood by Adams on Thursday outside Gracie Mansion. Dukes asked the crowd to be quiet as she stepped to the microphone to defend the mayor. “I’m 92 years of age. I’ve known this young man for over 40 years. I come with a heavy heart today but my head is unbowed. He’s going to have his day in court and we’re going to stand by him.”
On several occasions, Eric and I have talked about collaborating on a book, an autobiography that would feature a life of recovery from a beating by a police officer, to one who became one of New York’s finest, and his political accomplishments. We now have a chapter to explain the tumultuous incidents now commanding the headlines — you ready Eric?
Although jaywalking—crossing the street outside designated areas without regard for traffic—is a common practice in NYC, it is technically illegal.
That might soon change, though: New York City Council recently passed new legislation aimed at decriminalizing the practice.
Mayor Eric Adams still has to sign the bill into law and, given his current indictment, we can’t imagine he’ll be giving much attention to New Yorkers’ street-crossing habits right at this moment.
Alas, it’s worth mentioning that citizens’ reactions to the news fall into two camps: many pro-jaywalking decriminalization folks specifically point to data showing that over 90% of related tickets given out in 2023, each one about $250, were issued to Black and Latino pedestrians.
“This bill seeks to address this imbalance,” said councilmember Mercedes Narcisse, one of the lead sponsors of the bill, during an official press event. “How many people in the room can tell me they never jaywalk? None of you.”
At the same time, many worry that legalizing the practice may make things murky when it comes to accidents—especially since jaywalking can, potentially, lead to car injuries.
Whatever the case may be, crossing the street without regard for the presence of a sidewalk has become part and parcel of being a New Yorker—is that right? Who knows. Eventually, Mayor Adams will decide.
Quite often, you may need to remove objects from your photo but feel that it is easier said than done if you lack editing skills. This is where AI Ease’s free object remover comes in quite helpfully. Using this tool, you can edit pictures perfectly in minutes with the aid of advanced artificial intelligence applications.…
The second act from the popular (and now shuttered) Little Tong Noodle Shop, Silver Apricot opened at the height of the pandemic in July of 2020. With a menu that redefined the cultural complexity of being Chinese in America, the restaurant received rave reviews with Eater calling it “NYC’s most exciting new restaurant.” But this summer, the restaurant served its last round of Scallion Puffs, closing its doors in August. But luckily, the team retained the space, and this month, launched something entirely new.
Located right next door to sister restaurant Figure Eight, Cora (20 Cornelia Street) made its debut on September 26. Translating to “heart,” Cora beats for wine. Led by managing partner and sommelier Emmeline Zhao, the wine list is heavy on North American producers, touching on varietals from the U.S., Canada and Mexico. With almost 20 wines by the glass, the list features bottles from women, BIPOC and sustainable winemakers.
For snacks in between sips, executive chef Joseph Bliffen puts the bounty of the season on the plate. Starters include Sunflower Pull Apart Rolls served with cultured butter, Beef Tartare with salsa verde and cured yolk and House Coppa served with grilled sourdough from their in-house bread program. Larger appetites call for the veggie-forward Buttered Radishes or Little Potatoes with tonnato and a jammy egg. Carnivores can satiate their hunger with Crispy Rice with nduja and little neck clams or the Whole Trout Milanese with smoked gribiche and watercress. And if you just need a little something sweet to go with your final glass of wine, pastry chef Janice Sung has just the ticket. Her selection of sweets includes an Olive Oil Cake with rotating fruits and a Sweet Corn Ice Cream with both plum jam and salted plum.
Sharing the same intimate space as its predecessor, the interior here is quaint with a seven-seat terrazzo bar, six tables in the dining room and a heated backyard patio so cheers can be had all year long. So just remember to set a reservation if you want a guaranteed spot.
In the last years, the rivalry between hydroponics and traditional soil gardening has grown intense, each offering distinct advantages to home gardeners. The detailed report prepared by the Princeton University of the United Nations stated that hydroponic systems can save about 90 percent of water compared with traditional soil-based agriculture and, at the same time,…
In a dazzling display of craft and cultural fusion, Pharrell Williams unveiled his Fall-Winter 2024 Men’s Collection for Louis Vuitton, transforming the Parisian runway into a vibrant homage to the American wild West. The collection, presented at the Jardin d’Acclimatation, marks a bold new chapter for the storied French maison under Williams’ creative direction. Reimagining…
Musical history is about to be made: Oasis, the iconic English rock band that took over the industry in the 1990s and famously separated in 2009, just announced that its recently-revealed upcoming world tour will include stops in North America as well.
Dubbed the Oasis Live ’25 tour and led by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose often reported on feuds famously led to the disbandment of the group decades ago, the string of concerts will hit MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a 20-minute drive from midtown Manhattan, on August 31, 2025.
“America,” the band said in a statement earlier today. “Oasis is coming. You have one last chance to prove that you loved us all along.”
How to get tickets to the 2025 Oasis concert at MetLife
Fans can register for tickets to all North American tour dates on the official Oasis website right here already. Keep in mind that ticket sales will kick off on Ticketmaster this Friday.
It’s important to note that the band has released a statement regarding the dynamic pricing model that the members claim Ticketmaster usually employs, basically allowing the cost of a pass to fluctuate based on demand for it.
“Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model will not be applied to the forthcoming sale of tickets to Oasis concerts in North America,” reads the statement. “We have made this decision […] to hopefully avoid a repeat of the issues fans in the U.K. and Ireland experienced recently.”
For what it’s worth, Ticketmaster itself has said that it “does not set prices, nor offer algorithmic surge pricing technologies” in a statement to the New York Times. “Furthermore, Ticketmaster did not change prices during this sale — prices were established before the sale began.”
It’s safe to say that all of Oasis’ tour dates will be sold out, so dynamic pricing or not, try to snag a ticket ASAP.
