Thursday, May 5, 2011

The President Honors the WTC Fallen

Mission Accomplished

Obama visits Ground Zero for 9/11 remembrance ceremony

President Obama will visit Ground Zero today. He’ll lay a wreath in memory of the 9/11 victims and meet with about 50 of their family members. He will also meet FDNY and NYPD members at a local firehouse, but will not make any public comments. Obama giving NY its moment of justice on bin Laden * Obama visits Ground Zero * Live Update: President Meets With Sept. 11 Families * Obama lays wreath at Ground Zero: President Obama laid a wreath at the foot of the survivor tree in Ground Zero and... * Obama to NY: We Didn't Forget (WNBC) * Obama Pays Tribute To 9/11 Victims At WTC Site (NY1) * Video: Obama: "We mean what we say"(CNN) * Photos from President Obama’s Ground Zero visit.* Obama will meet privately tomorrow with the SEAL team members who killed bin Laden.* Meets Victims’ Families at Ground Zero (NYT)

Obama to lay wreath at Ground Zero; meet with first responders and 9/11 kin (NYP) * President to Travel to Ground Zero to Honor Lives Lost (NYT) * 9/11 Kin Want Trials Now(WSJ) * Obama to Visit Trade Center Site (WSJ) * President Obama's visit to Ground Zero marks great moment of national unity in a resurgent New York (NYDN Ed) * Reuters Releases Gruesome Photos Of Bin Laden Raid Aftermath * Jim Riches, Father Of Fallen 9/11 Firefighter, To Meet President Obama At Ground Zero (WCBS)* High Emotions, Tight Security for Obama Visit (WNBC) * President Finalizes Plans To Visit WTC Site, Won't Release Bin Laden Photo (NY1) * The Obama administration is stressing that this trip is not a “victory lap.”

Shot to Kill Mission From the Start

Account Tells of One-Sided Battle in Bin Laden Raid(NYT) * Bin Laden's final moments: Family spent quiet night at home (NYDN) * Killing an unarmed Osama Bin Laden was justified, U.S. officials say (NYDN) * How "intense" was fight to kill bin Laden? (CBS) * Ground Zero: On Friday, Obama to Kentucky to honor Navy Seals. * Bin Laden acted 'cowardly,' confused in final moments (NYP)

Jon Stewart Makes A Case For Showing Dead Bin Laden Photos

Bush Upset

Former President Bush declined Obama’s invite to attend, in part because his team reportedly feels he’s not getting enough credit for bin Laden’s capture and death. * George W. Bush feels President Obama is 'claiming all the credit' for Bin Laden's death(NYDN)

New Yorkers Feel Safer . . . Are We?

New Yorkers Feel Slightly Safer Following Killing Of Bin Laden (NY1)

NYPD should control anti-terror funds, say city boss (NYDN)

The WTC phoenix 'Ground Zero' is no more (NYP)

6 The List of the WTC Dead

Names for 9/11 memorial arranged (NYP) * Constructing a Story, With 2,982 Names(NYT) * 9/11 dead listed on memorial to emphasize ties(WSJ) * 9/11 memorial planners announce names' arrangement (WABC)

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Bin Laden Raid Discovery Prompts Train Advisory

Breaking: `Terror alert issued based on cache from bin Laden compound...`

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Pakistan: We Knew Nothing

Signs Point to Pakistan Link to bin Laden(WSJ)

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Tail of Two New York's: Rich Connect Buy Justice

Why is Jeffrey Smiling

Pakistan and Law Enforcement Know Nothings

Remember Steve Ratner and a dozen Wall Street companies paid a fine to get out of jail in the pension corruption scandal. Jeffrey Lazar is smiling because he believes his family business Lehr Construction Corporation can buy it way out of jail time like it did a decade ago the last time there was an investigation of inflated padding in the Manhattan construction industry. Yesterday Jeffrey and three other members of the family business were indicted for routinely inflated mechanical, electrical and other subcontractors’ costs by 10 percent to 13 percent on office projects they supervised. Lazar's father, Gerald, and uncle, Howard, both Lehr execs at the time, were busted in 1998 on bid-rigging charges. Lehr Construction owners pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with the case. But the plea agreement allowed the firm to avoid any charges. The Merry-Go-Round of corruption and mob control of the construction industry is allow to continue because the the DA's allow them to. Lehr has been padding for 30 years and the law has allowed them to continue in business after catching them red handed at least two times in the past. Howard Lazar, who pleaded guilty in the 1970s to attempted bribery of city construction inspectors, served a short prison sentence and was forced to leave the industry. In a plea deal, Gerald Lazar was allowed to continue running Lehr. Fraud Charged In Overbilling By Contractor(WSJ) * Builders' $30M 'pad' (NYP) * Four Construction Executives Are Charged With Fraud (NYT) * Vance expands Lehr Construction case by nabbing 6 subcontractors (NYP)

Who Does Bronx ADA Jennifer Troiano Know. . . Who is Protecting Her?

"a spokesman for Bronx DA Robert Johnson, said the office does not discipline employees based solely on arrests."

ADA case 'loaded' in Bronx Has 75 jobs despite DWI rap & probe (NYP) * NYPD Officer Salvador Duran's text message trying to fix ticket may derail attempted murder probe(NYDN) * Busts by tix-fix cops no ticket outta jail (NYP) * Asst. DA busted for DWI twice has 73 cases Jennifer Troiano, an assistant district attorney, is staying on as lead prosecutor in 73 cases despite her August 2010 arrest for DWI. (NYDN)

State Lobbying Soars Passed $200M

Firefighter gives poignant testimony in Deutsche Bank fire trial(NYP)

Vivid Testimony by Firefighter in Bank Blaze Trial(NYT)

What Happened to Linking Outer Borough Taxi Service to A Fair Increase?

Under plan, cab fare could rival flight cost (NYDN) * NYC Taxi Drivers Call for Fare Hike(Fox 5)* Cab Drivers Rally, Submit Petition For Fare Hike (NY1)

4 Middle Class Being Pushed Out of the City

Tenants furious over proposed gas surcharge (WABC)

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6 Albany Another Water Down Fake Ethics Law

Legislator complains Cuomo may get too much power to probe the legislature.

A sticking point in the ethics reform talks: Should the governor get a “seat at the table” in policing the Legislature?

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Straphangers group names R train MTA's dirtiest ride * R Line Is 'Schmutziest,' Survey Says * Subway Watchdog Releases Annual "Schmutz" Report (NY1)

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Cuomo Agenda For the Remainder of the Albany Session

Gov. Cuomo hitting road in gay marriage push(NYDN) * Gov's road show (NYP)

Cuomo's Agenda

Cuomo's Agenda: Statewide tour pushes same-sex marriage, ethics. * Cuomo's Agenda: Also pushing property tax cap. * Assembly Mulling Sunset For Tax Cap (YNN)

The state court system will announce another round of layoffs on May 18.* Expect services by the court system to be slower.

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The NYT Says Raising SUNY Tuition is Rational Budgeting

A Chance to Rebuild SUNY Unless all of the state universities have a more rational budgeting process, the system will continue its decline, and New York’s students will suffer. (NYT Ed)

Firemen's searing suit Their hands were seared instead of safeguarded -- and now two of New York's Bravest are suing the city for issuing them defective protective gloves.... (NYP)

Like Times Square plaza? More to come (NYDN)

New York, Now The Most Diverse City In America

Landmark Ruled Out for Forest Hills Stadium(WSJ)

Queens Tennis Stadium Denied Landmark Status) (NY1)

Audit Finds Long Waits for Breast Exams (NYT) * Audit Faults Wait for Mammograms (WSJ) * City audit shows long waits for mammograms, in some cases up to 50 days.(CrainsNY)

NYC Schools Official Tapped to Head Newark Schools (WNYC) * Body blow to Staten Island's St. Peter's Girls High School (SI Advance)

Law and Order

A Suspect’s Surrender, Eased by a Clergy Program to Curtail Black-on-Black Violence (NYT) * Robbery Defendant, Uncuffed, Scuffles With Officers (NYT) * Accused killer lying wounded on floor asked man who shot him to light his cigarette (NYDN) * Mob rat: Vinny Gorgeous bragged about murder (NYDN) * Three held without bail in iPhone robbery-slay (NYDN) * Cops curb car theft ring, nab tow drivers (NYDN) * Rabbi accused of groping Army officer on plane (NYDN) * Acquitted of charge, shot to death (NYDN) * Woman killed after blow to the head: cops (NYDN) * Teen Arrested In Death Of 9-Month-Old Boy At Marble Hill Houses (WCBS) * Police Seek Suspect Wanted In 8 Upper East Side Robberies (WCBS) * Smoking gunman nic fit (NYP) * Teen held in baby's death (NYP) * Pastor convinces fugitive to surrender (WABC) * Brooklyn Teen Charged With Murdering Bronx Baby (NY1) * Police Say UES Burglar Has Attacked Eight Apartments (NY1) * Ginned-up gun cop Vid shows 'drunk' pulling pistol on barkeep (NYP) * ACS woman: Drop slay rap (NYP) * Back in the Ring After a Detour Through a Jail Cell (NYT) * Joel Steinberg adoption shocker shakes up Manhattan 'Rape Cops' trial(NYP) * Brooklyn Man Charged In Mother's Stabbing Death(NY1)

US jobless claims at eight-month high * The Jobless Claims Get Ugly, Foreshadowing Gloomy Unemployment Data

News Corp. Will Begin Posting Political Contributions On Its Website

The Real Housewives of Osama bin Laden(Jimmy Kimmel)

LOOK: Can You Name All 91 Films On This 'New York Movie Map'?

TV on the iPad Walt Mossberg's quick guide on how to use a variety of apps to get network and cable TV shows sent to your iPad.(WSJ) * Facebook and Google in Talks for a Deal with Skype * The Daily Lost $10 Million in the First Quarter * Katie Couric to sign $20M ABC deal (NYP)

Reporters Made Most Incredibly Awful Flub Video: Obama / Osama Compilation

Wall Street Journal Launches Its Own WikiLeaks

Why Donate to True News Keep Real News Alive. Put simply, True News -- and the truth – cannot do more and could even end without financial help from the people who want to hold the government accountable for their actions. As you know True News, without any support, has fought to keep the real NYC’s investigative and analysis reporting era of great journalism alive. True News is a living memorial to publisher John Peter Zenger who was jailed in 1733 by the King for reporting to New Yorkers what was going on in their city. It is also in the tradition of the Ben Bradlee generation that believes that all reporters would not be doing their job if they did not follow the story until they got to the truth. Today’s reporters copy press releases from elected officials and lobbyists hired by the special interests who want to control the message. The lost circulation of newspapers has created a generation of young reporters who not only rely on elected officials and lobbyists for stories, but don’t even Google to find the historical context or, more importantly, the truth behind the stories they write. In this era of sell-out journalism, the public has become disconnected, powerless and trapped by a permanent government that has turned against them. The media blames an apathetic public for not voting even after democratic consultants act like an Orwellian 'Big Bother' threatening them to vote or be looked into. True News reports that the reason for the decreasing turn-out is the public no longer feel their votes matter. If you value hard hitting Investigative Journalism, don't let True News go the way of the Passenger Pigeon. The Newfield, Barrett, Kempton, Hammel of yesteryear are no more. Local TV news limits itself to good looking women and men reading about breaking fires and crimes, with few exceptions. What's left that isn't tabloid is a wasteland of superficial news, driven by political and corporate PR machines, sowing the fertile seeds of corruption public and private hand in glove. Despite the soft news we see, standard bearers play a significant albeit vestigial role. Newspapers constantly pick up stories from True News (without crediting us of course) avoiding the costs to investigate themselves. Without True News, the New York Press and this blog's over one and half million readers will be utterly lost in the wilderness. Only True News is explaining: How Blacks, the Poor and the Middle Class are Being Pushed out of Brooklyn Because of Albany's Tax Breaks for Luxury Developers and Apartments Gives Details How Lobbyists and Developers Run A Secret Shadow Government that Also Controls Elections With Big Money and Their Control Over the Media Investigates How Political Party Bosses Have Been Replaced By Lobbyists' Privatization of the Tammany Hall Machine Reports How the WFP and the Elected Officials Who Are Supported By Them Have Abused and Aggressively Broken Campaign Finance Laws. True news is not funded by special interests like the other news blogs. True News has been self-funded all these years. True News does not make nice with sitting politicians, developers, lobbyists to fund it or to provide its young clueless reporters with story ideas. True News wants nothing more than to scratch out a modest living in its aim to investigate, connect the dots, and get to the truth of every newsworthy story. To carry on in this mission, True News needs funding from people like you -- People Who Want Better Journalism in order to learn what is really going on in their government and fight the corrupt politicians. It's been written about True News Those of you who have an involvement in the dangerous game of politics, it may be of interest to know who’s telling the truth these days, and, whether the articles we read are real or imagined disinformation, emanating directly out of a governmental PR department. No genuine journalist would ever rely on such a source for the truth. As publisher of the SoHo Journal, through personal experience, take it from me that it is possible to become a political target for simply writing about the truth. And the mainstream media and writers eat their own for sales— as well as take orders from their masters— corporate, financial and political masters. Always pay attention to the agenda. Read between the lines. That is the basis of real reporting and political comprehension. Not the rehashing of a press release. OWS had a handle on this reality as well. Pay attention to the current daily blog written by Gary Tilzer. His True News is one of the few remaining sources for political investigative reporting. His fearless reporting of the truth in political circles is worth noting. Contributors names are confidential

Other Views

On October 15, 1958, veteran broadcaster Edward R. Murrow delivered his famous "wires and lights in a box" speech (VIDEO) The Last Lion of Tammany HOW JIMMY McMANUS, MANHATTAN’S LAST GREAT TAMMANY DISTRICT LEADER, HELPED TO REVIVE HELL’S KITCHEN AND THE THEATER DISTRICT c By James S. Kaplan f On January 13, 2011, the law firm of Proskauer Rose moved into 11 Times Square, which is located on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. In moving west to the final building of the City’s Times Square redevelopment, the Proskauer firm joined such other major law firms as Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Covington & Burling, Roberts & Holland, and the advertising firm of Ogilvy & Mather. That such major professional firms, along with a number of newly constructed luxury apartment buildings on 42nd Street from ninth to eleventh avenue and trendy restaurants and off Broadway theaters would be located west of 8th Avenue in midtown would have been almost inconceivable fifty years ago. Tammany Last Stand Continued

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