Day: January 8, 2025

ATTORNEY JIM WALDEN, independent candidate for NYC Mayor, has filed a lawsuit against social media site X for “permanently”

The post NYC mayoral candidate Walden sues X after site ‘permanently’ suspends his account appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

People have been found dead hiding in the wheel wells of planes twice in the past month. Two stowaways were arrested on different flights.

The post Stowaways on planes and inside landing gear raise worries about aviation security appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

An MTA trackworker died while working on a Brooklyn L train Wednesday morning, the Transit Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 reported. 

Ricardo Louis, 44, was working on the train at Morgan Avenue in East Williamsburg when he suddenly collapsed at around 3:10 a.m. on Jan. 8. His coworkers found him after he had suffered an apparent medical episode, according to an MTA spokesperson.

The staff attempted to revive him as they called 911, TWU Local 100 President Richard Davis said, adding that EMS brought him to nearby Woodhull Hospital, but he could not be saved. 

“On behalf of our membership of 44,000 transit workers, I convey deep condolences to the family of Brother Louis and offer them all the resources of the union as they go forward at this difficult time,” Davis said. 

Louis had worked for the MTA since March 16, 2018. 

Davis, the head of local transit union, said working on subway tracks is dangerous for multiple reasons, and Local 100 has fought for better workplace conditions. 

“Transit work on the subway tracks is hazardous because of constant train traffic and because medical attention is not immediately available,” he said. “TWU Local has always fought for better working conditions and we will determine whether any avoidable hazard contributed to this tragic death.”

In August of 2024, the Biden administration ordered the MTA to improve safety protocols for workers after the death of a flagger on the job in 2023. 

During a probe into the MTA’s NYC Transit, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) discovered some alarming safety issues, which prompted the feds to order the MTA to conduct a safety risk assessment.

At the time, the MTA said it would appeal the federal decision. 

Families across Brooklyn are invited to Brooklyn Family’s 2025 Ultimate Camp Fairs to be held on Sunday, Jan. 25 at Industry City and on Saturday, March 8 at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church. Come explore a world of summer adventure.

The fair will showcase a wide array of summer camps designed to engage young minds and foster a love of learning and exploration. The camps being marketed include everything from traditional outdoor activities to specialized educational programs.

Held from noon to 3 p.m. the events promise to be an afternoon filled with possibilities for children and parents alike.. 

The event is free to attend, although visitors are encouraged to register in advance by clicking below:

• Saturday, Jan. 25, 12-3 p.m. at Industry City
• Saturday, March 8, 12-3 p.m. at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church

Considering checking out a Camp Fair? Here are some tips to help you find the best camp for your kids.

Considering a sleep away camp this summer?

These camps are great for boosting your kid’s independence and confidence. They’ll learn how to do things on their own, returning back in August as self-sufficient campers! Sleep away camps also improve social skills, helping your little ones form friendships outside of school. While you might be nervous to send your kids away for the summer, asking the right questions at the Camp Fairs can help! Read on for a handy checklist.

Day camps

You’re probably already familiar with the classic day camp. These are great for keeping your kids entertained (and active!) during the day. If your kids are hoping to do a little bit of everything — sports, arts and crafts, games — then a general day camp may be the way to go. They often have a “choose your own adventure” structure, where kids can choose what they want to do.

Special interest camps

Does your child have a unique interest or skill they can’t stop talking about? Help your child nurture this passion through special interest camps. These might include dance, arts & crafts, STEM, sports and theater. Your kids will be surrounded by other campers who are also excited about that interest, and specialized camp directors who are experts in their fields!

Getting excited? Here are some questions to ask directors and counselors so you can find the perfect camp:

• Can you walk me through a typical day for my child?
• What time is drop off/pick up? Do you offer aftercare?
• What background or experience do the camp counselors have? (Especially important for special interest camps!)
• What kind of safety procedures or systems do you have in place in case of emergency? (Especially important for sleepaway camps!)
• What will my kids learn this summer?
• What makes this camp special? Can you share the camp mission or values?
• Does the camp offer financial aid or scholarship support?

Selecting the right camp for your child sets the stage for life-long memories, friends, and a summer brimming with enjoyment! Summer always seems to creep up on us fast here in NYC, so it’s time to start prepping your camp plans.

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers have left the city over the past two years to live in cheaper towns across the United States, according to a recent report from a real estate data company.

PropertyShark’s latest report showed that more than 352,000 fed-up New Yorkers left the Big Apple in 2022, citing affordability reasons.

The report, which examined the latest IRS data on address changes to see where New Yorkers were heading, also found that remote working made these moves easier for individuals and families.

But the city is not becoming an empty wasteland, as the report also noted an influx of new New Yorkers. While New York’s output was greater than its input, 174,000 people moved into the bustling city, hailing from places including upstate New York, New Jersey, California and Florida.

“Although NYC was not spared from the outflow of residents moving away, it nevertheless continued to attract transplants from elsewhere in the country,” Ioana Ginsac, wrote in an article about the report. “So, for a more granular understanding of recent domestic migration in and out of the five boroughs, we looked at the most recent IRS data on year-to-year address changes reported on individual income tax returns.“

High earners were most likely to move into the New York than out of it, specifically those earning $100,000 year or more.

Research from April 2024 backs up this point. A study released by SmartAsset, a consumer-focused financial company, showed that on average, a family of four needs to make at least $318,406 in order to live comfortably in the city.

The New York shuffle

Another group of about 125,500 New Yorkers simply moved within the sprawling city, according to the PropertyShark report, bouncing from one borough to the other, with Manhattan taking in the most intra-city movers.

The city’s smallest-sized borough welcomed more than 10,800 former Brooklyn residents; around 8,400 people from the Bronx; just more than 6,000 residents from Queens; and a little more than 700 from Staten Island.

Conversely, more than 35,300 Manhattanites moved to the outer boroughs, with recent home sales reaching a median price of $1 million, the report showed.

Leaving New York State

A 2024 study by Atlas Van Lines, showed similar state-wide data. According to the moving company’s Migration Patterns Study, New York is a top outbound state, with 56% of recorded moves headed elsewhere in America from Nov. 1, 2023, to Oct. 31, 2024. (Louisiana topped the list of outbound states, followed by California, Illinois, South Dakota and then New York.)

Why are people moving out of the entire state, not just New York City? It’s not just about affordability, but also being closer to family, the report found.

“Three of the most populous and expensive states to live in – California, Illinois, and New York – were on this year’s outbound list,” according to a press release from Atlas. “Illinois and New York have remained firmly on the outbound list for over five years, but California was balanced from 2022 to 2024.”

Where are New Yorkers moving?

Most of the 352,000 residents who left the Big Apple in 2022 did not go far, according to the PropertyShark report.

Nearly 51% of outgoing New Yorkers stayed in the tri-state region, with about 179,000 relocated to various counties within the state, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

According to the report, this suggests that they were likely driven out by the city’s housing shortage or high cost of living but did not want to leave their home base altogether.

The campaign treasurer for a failed candidate in the 2021 Brooklyn borough president race pleaded guilty to wire fraud and attempting to steal $400,000 from New York City’s Campaign Finance Board, federal prosecutors announced.

Erlene King could face up to 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

During the campaign, King admitted to using straw donors and forged documents in an attempt to qualify for public matching funds from the Campaign Fiance Board (CFB). She also confessed to securing fraudulent donations by using the names of individuals who either did not contribute personally or were reimbursed for their donations. Some of the fraudulent contributions involved stolen identities.

Prosecutors said King used CashApp to send money to intermediaries, instructing them to make donations to the campaign of Anthony Jones, a candidate for Brooklyn borough president.

“Erlene King deprived New York City residents of a fair election by attempting to manipulate hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor contributions to unlawfully favor her candidate,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge James Dennehy in a statement. “King abused her position as a campaign treasurer and attempted to profit from exploiting a system designed to represent the voices of the city.”

What is the Matching Funds Program?

The CFB’s matching funds program allows candidates who qualify to receive public funds based on the amount and number of eligible donor contributions. In the 2021 borough president race, candidates needed to raise $50,000 in eligible donations to qualify.

Under the program, candidates could receive up to $8 in matching funds for every $1 of eligible contributions, with a maximum of $175 per donor. For example, a $175 donation would be matched with $1,400 in public funds. The program is intended to boost participation in local elections by encouraging candidates to seek small-dollar contributions from everyday New Yorkers.

“By encouraging candidates to raise small-dollar contributions from average New Yorkers, the program increases engagement between voters and those who seek to represent them,” the CFB said in a statement.

King’s scheme unraveled when the CFB flagged the suspicious donations before disbursing the $400,000.

She was initially charged on Oct. 2, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2025, according to John Marzulli, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Marzulli noted that sentencing guidelines suggest a likely range of 33 to 41 months in prison.