Day: May 20, 2025
By: Russ Spencer
As excitement reaches a fever pitch across New York State with the New York Knicks returning to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a high-priority consumer alert urging fans to be vigilant when purchasing tickets to the upcoming games at Madison Square Garden. The warning, released just days ahead of Game One on Wednesday, highlights a surge in fraudulent ticket activity spurred by massive demand and opportunistic scammers preying on eager fans.
With scalpers and online con artists flooding secondary marketplaces, Governor Hochul is urging consumers to follow safety protocols developed by the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, which outlines specific steps to avoid scams and protect both your wallet and your NBA game-day dreams.
“As the Knicks continue their incredible run, I understand the excitement and pride fans across New York are feeling — it’s electric,” said Governor Hochul. “But I want to remind everyone: don’t let that excitement make you a target. Be cautious when buying tickets and only use trusted sources. Scammers are out there, and we won’t let them take advantage of our fans.”
The Knicks’ unexpected but thrilling advancement to the Eastern Conference Finals has reignited the energy and optimism of their fanbase. But with that joy comes vulnerability — particularly in a digital marketplace where fake tickets can look authentic and thousands of dollars can be lost in seconds.
Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley reinforced the message, calling on all New Yorkers to protect themselves.
“With the Knicks heading to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, excitement for fans is through the roof, but so is the risk of scams,” Mosley said. “Follow our Division of Consumer Protection’s guidance to make sure you don’t get benched by a scammer.”
State Senator Rachel May, Chair of the Senate Consumer Protection Committee, emphasized the stakes: “This is an opportunity for scammers to take advantage of the excitement surrounding the team. Please pay close attention to the tickets you purchase because you don’t want to ruin your experience at the next big game with a fraudulent ticket.”
The Division of Consumer Protection has issued a comprehensive list of best practices to help New Yorkers make informed, secure decisions when purchasing tickets — particularly during high-demand playoff seasons. Below are their key recommendations:
Purchase Directly from the Venue
Buy from Madison Square Garden’s official website or their certified partners. These platforms may also host verified resellers for fans who need last-minute tickets.
Avoid Risky Online Marketplaces
While websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or even third-party apps may offer tempting deals, beware of impersonators and scam profiles selling fake tickets that cannot be traced.
Watch for Payment Redirection Scams
Fraudsters often trick consumers into using unofficial payment methods or third-party platforms that redirect you to unsafe or counterfeit sites. A legitimate transaction should be seamless and fully embedded on a secure, branded site.
Verify the Seller
Before buying from a resale vendor, research their reputation, check for a physical business address, and verify the event details. Utilize tools like VerifiedTicketSource.com to confirm whether the seller is a member of the National Association of Ticket Brokers, which requires its members to guarantee authenticity.
Be Suspicious of Deals That Are Too Good to Be True
Scammers often lure fans with deeply discounted prices, then pressure them to act quickly. If the price feels suspiciously low, proceed with extreme caution — it may be a bait-and-switch scheme.
Use Credit Cards for Protection
Credit cards typically offer the most robust fraud protection if you need to dispute a charge. Avoid using payment apps, prepaid gift cards, or cash, as these methods are difficult to trace and offer no recourse.
Secure Your Digital Tickets
Most venues now utilize digital-only ticketing systems. Use strong, unique passwords on your mobile ticket apps to prevent hackers from accessing and stealing your tickets.
Streaming Instead? Know Your Rights
If you plan to stream the game, beware of “free trial” traps. By New York State law, businesses offering auto-renewing subscriptions must clearly disclose all terms and cancellation procedures. Make sure you set a reminder to cancel before being charged if you only plan to use the trial period.
State Support Is Available
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection stands ready to assist any consumer who suspects they’ve been scammed. The Division offers voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses when a complaint cannot be resolved independently. For immediate help or to file a complaint, New Yorkers can call the Consumer Assistance Helpline at 1-800-697-1220, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding state holidays), or visit www.dos.ny.gov/
You can also follow the Department of State on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram to receive weekly consumer tips on how to avoid scams, manage subscriptions, protect your identity, and make safer digital purchases.
As the Knicks chase their first NBA championship in a generation, fans should remain alert and proactive. Governor Hochul’s consumer warning isn’t just timely — it’s a reminder that scammers never take a time-out. Whether you’re buying tickets, jerseys, or planning to watch from home, stay informed, stay protected, and don’t let fraudsters steal your moment.
Let’s go Knicks — and let’s keep scammers off the court. 
The post Consumer Alert: Hochul Warns Knicks Fans to Beware of NBA Ticket Scams Ahead of Historic Eastern Conference Finals appeared first on The Jewish Voice.
By Amy Neustein, Ph.D.
In a nail-biting game of psychological warfare, the New York Times and their parrots in the liberal Jewish media have shamefully spun a web of deceit, causing many in the Jewish communities, both in Israel and in the diaspora, to begin to question their judgment in their unflagging support for President Trump. Promoting diffidence and insecurity among Jewish voters is exactly what the left-leaning pundits wanted to accomplish. And they craftily misused last week’s historic precedent-setting Middle East diplomatic mission as fodder for their cause.
Before Trump even took off for the Arab summit, his detractors were in full swing decrying his acceptance of Qatar’s munificent gift of a deluxe 747 aircraft to replace the 40-year old Air Force One. Declining a gift — especially in the form of such a generous offer – from a foreign state is a well-recognized taboo in diplomatic relations. This is for good reason. Refusal to accept a gift is a clear sign of rejection of the friendly overtures made by a foreign state. Even worse, failure to accept a gift would imply that the giver of the gift had ill intent because the gift would be seen retroactively as a “bribe.”
The clearer message however, lost in the chatter of the liberal press, is that Qatar, notably the principal financial backer of Hamas, in making this generous offer was extending an olive branch to Israel’s staunchest ally. Who would ever imagine that the benefactor of Hamas that had empowered them to launch the October 7, 2023 attack – the deadliest day of assault on Jews since the Holocaust – would one day come with a peace offering to the US? But instead of reveling in this historic turn of events, the leftist press tried to persuade the Jewish community that they were abandoned and betrayed once again as they have been throughout history.
While the left-of-center and progressive voices pompously engaged last week in carping and caviling wherever they could find a receptive ear, they completely ignored the reality that Trump’s forging an axis of alliance among the powerful Arab countries, and advancing the Abraham Accords which he began in his first administration, has many benefits, some of which may not be as readily observable.
For example, US in building such a powerful alliance with Arab nations could prevent Turkish reign in the Levant. Did we not see how Erdogan, President of Turkey, immediately after the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad worked with lighting speed to gain a foothold in that region. Certainly, this placed Israel at risk. But by lifting the US sanctions on Syria last week Trump beat Turkey to the punch. Because, by offering something so sweet to Syria, Trump pushed aside his Turkish competition for Syria’s affections. This of course went unnoticed. I ask, what does it take to remove the blinders of the liberal Jewish media intent on infecting its readers with traumatic memories of historical oppression, making us feel that we are still buried under water? Are the Democrats’ political gains from bashing Trump worthy of inflicting wide scale insecurity on the Jewish community when the facts shout the opposite?
Not one voice in the liberal media could deny that Trump remains loyal to his conviction that Israel must be free of the detritus of Hamas. Now that Trump has fortified an axis of strength in the Middle East, he has ready and willing partners to finance the creation of a “freedom zone” in Gaza, administered by the US and funded by the wealth of the Arab nations. His plans for relocation of the Gazans and for the conversion of this desolate war zone into a “Riviera of the Middle East” that he announced in early February, can now come to fruition. With the support of wealthy Arab nations the US can now spearhead this mission, knowing that it can fall back on its Middle East partners who are essential for financing this multi-billion dollar project.
Trump sees the bigger picture. And that includes looking at all the regional players and how they can best work together in forming a strong and viable axis to defeat the Iranian-led axis of resistance. But he also sees the biblical picture, perhaps more strongly than any of his predecessors. He understands Israel’s existential struggle both in ancient times and today. He is wedded to the survival and strength of the Jewish state. And so should every Jewish pundit and media personality. To do anything less is to betray the Jewish community at a time when we need to keep our heads high.
Amy Neustein, Ph.D. is a sociologist who has authored/edited 16 academic books. Her most current book, From Madness to Mutiny, will be published by Oxford University Press in June 2025. Her book, Forensic Speaker Recognition: Law Enforcement and Counter-Terrorism (Springer 2011) continues to be used to train FBI agents in verifying the identity of criminal suspects.
The post Trump Remains Loyal to the Jewish State, But Fake News Wants Us to Believe the Reverse appeared first on The Jewish Voice.
As the sun sets on New York City’s annual design celebration, Dumbo will take center stage.
On Wednesday, May 21 — the final day of the 13th annual NYCxDESIGN Festival — the waterfront neighborhood will be officially recognized as a New York City Design District, joining a growing list of creative hubs across the five boroughs.
The designation highlights Dumbo’s role in shaping the city’s design identity and comes as the NYCxDESIGN Festival transforms New York into a global design destination from May 15–21. The weeklong event features more than 20 programs, including studio tours, panels, grand openings, book signings, a walking tour of indie design shops, and nighttime art projections on the Manhattan Bridge. TheDUMBOxDesign closing party will wrap the festivities.
Participating companies include Henrybuilt, Mark Jupiter, Hudson Wilder, Pensa, ZAROLAT, Post Company, Reform, BIG, M Collection, JAM Architecture, Snøhetta, Mammoth Design, Block Renovation and others.
This year’s theme, “Design is for Everyone,” reflects the festival’s ongoing focus on inclusivity and accessibility in the design world.
“Dumbo has earned its new title,” said Ilene Shaw, executive director of NYCxDESIGN. “While the former industrial hub has long been attracting architecture and design creatives and artists, there has been a significant uptick in activity in recent years that has not gone unnoticed. So many firms based in the neighborhood will be opening their doors on DUMBOxDesign Day to make the celebration more special than ever.”
Once an industrial waterfront, Dumbo is now home to more than 150 architecture and design firms — giving it what may be the highest concentration of designers in any New York City neighborhood.
“While the neighborhood’s reputation as a creative hub dates back to its industrial roots, in recent years we have seen a significant increase in architecture and design studios joining this creative community, and we are proud to see the new culmination of activity resulting in Dumbo’s official recognition as a design district,” said Jed Walentas, Principal of Two Trees Management. “The NYCxDESIGN Festival and DUMBOxDesign Day will showcase our city’s extraordinary creative talent and celebrate a community integral to New York City’s cultural landscape.”
Founded by the City of New York, NYCxDESIGN aims to spotlight the city’s vibrant design community on a global stage. Past festivals have drawn an average of 160,000 attendees and featured more than 1,000 participating designers. This year, the spotlight is on Brooklyn, with the debut of DUMBOxDesign Day and a range of programs celebrating the borough’s creative talent.
“[Dumbo] has a unique flavor that I think you can only find in a few neighborhoods in New York, which is this sort of glimpse into the best parts of the past in New York, while also still looking forward,” said Joseph McGuier, co-principal of JAM Architecture. “It is that sort of combination of history and progress that I love, and it is a beautiful neighborhood.”
BING BONG! If you want to buy tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals, watch out for scalpers and scammers.
Our Division of Consumer Protection has been monitoring complaints filed with the @FTC and @FBI. Learn more on how to stay safe:https://t.co/03JR9FEROF
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 20, 2025
Reconciling Russia and Ukraine’s Interests
– Google Search https://t.co/ty6IB600Qp
– Gemini Chatshttps://t.co/Lgwvkyvx0S
– Blog: Road to Peace: Vova, Uymis! («Вова, уймись!»), or Reconciling Russia and Ukraine’s Interestshttps://t.co/6cCIbQjO6S pic.twitter.com/5EfkJMPtYM— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 20, 2025
Reconciling Russia and Ukraine’s Interests
– Google Search https://t.co/ty6IB600Qp
– Gemini Chatshttps://t.co/Lgwvkyvx0S
– Blog: Road to Peace: Vova, Uymis! («Вова, уймись!»), or Reconciling Russia and Ukraine’s Interestshttps://t.co/6cCIbQjO6S pic.twitter.com/5EfkJMPtYM— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 20, 2025
Reconciling Russia and Ukraine’s Interests – Google Search https://t.co/ic1CMhha1jhttps://t.co/njyMO1AWKn
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 20, 2025