Iconic yellow taxis were omnipresent on the streets of New York day and night, as emblematic of the Big Apple as the Empire State Building or Yankees caps. But the pandemic has made yellow taxis scarce and facing an uncertain future. New York taxi drivers, most of whom are first-generation immigrants, were once able to make $7,000 a month or more if they worked long hours seven days a week. So could the yellow taxis, which replaced checkered-striped cabs in the 1960s, actually disappear?

Pandemic threatens New York's iconic yellow taxis

New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, sued Amazon Tuesday evening, arguing that the company provided inadequate safety protection for workers in New York City during the pandemic and retaliated against employees who raised concerns over the conditions.

The case focuses on two Amazon facilities: a large warehouse on Staten Island and a delivery depot in Queens. James argues that Amazon failed to properly clean its buildings, conducted inadequate contact tracing for known COVID-19 cases, and “took swift retaliatory action” to silence complaints from workers.

“Amazon’s extreme profits and exponential growth rate came at the expense of the lives, health and safety of its front-line workers,” James argued in the complaint, filed in New York Supreme Court.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-4000-amazon-employees-given-wrong-covid-test-result-364146" hreflang="en">Nearly 4,000 Amazon employees given wrong COVID test result</a>

Kelly Nantel, a spokesperson for Amazon, said the company cared “deeply about the health and safety” of its workers.

“We don’t believe the attorney general’s filing presents an accurate picture of Amazon’s industry-leading response to the pandemic,” Nantel said.

Last week, Amazon preemptively sued James in federal court in an attempt to stop her from bringing the charges. The company argued that workplace safety was a matter of federal, not state, law.

In its 64-page complaint last week, Amazon said its safety measures “far exceed what is required under the law.” It cited a surprise inspection by the New York City Sheriff’s Office that found Amazon “appeared to go above and beyond the current compliance requirements.” The company also detailed other safety measures it had taken, including temperature checks and offering free COVID-19 testing on-site.

New York, in its suit, said Amazon received written notification of at least 250 employees at the Staten Island warehouse who had COVID-19. In more than 90 of those cases, the infected employee had been at work in the previous week, yet Amazon did not close portions of the building to provide proper ventilation as the state required, the filing said.

James said that until at least late June, Amazon did not interview infected workers to determine their close contacts and instead relied on reviewing surveillance footage, which could take three days and did not cover the entire warehouse. The lack of interviews “created a very time-consuming process which did not identify close contacts in a timely fashion,” the complaint said.

She also argued that Amazon retaliated against Christian Smalls, a worker the company fired in the spring. Smalls had been raising safety concerns with managers and led a public protest in the parking lot of the Staten Island facility.

Amazon has said Smalls was fired for going to the work site for the protest even though he was on paid quarantine leave after he had been exposed to a colleague who had tested positive for the coronavirus.

James’ filing said two Amazon human resources employees discussed Smalls’ situation in writing. The employees said they thought it was unfair to fire him because he did not enter the building and because Amazon had not told him that the company’s quarantine policy prohibited him from being outside the facility.

James said that by firing Smalls and reprimanding another protest leader, Amazon sent a chilling message to others.

“Amazon employees reasonably fear that if they make legitimate health and safety complaints about Amazon’s COVID-19 response, Amazon will retaliate against them as well,” she argued.

The state said Amazon should change its policies, conduct training and undergo safety monitoring, and that it should pay lost wages and other damages to Smalls and offer him his job back.

New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, sued Amazon Tuesday evening, arguing that the company provided inadequate safety protection for workers in New York City during the pandemic and retaliated against employees who raised concerns over the conditions.

New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, sued Amazon Tuesday evening, arguing that the company provided inadequate safety protection for workers in New York City during the pandemic and retaliated against employees who raised concerns over the conditions. The case focuses on two Amazon facilities: a large warehouse on Staten Island and a delivery depot in Queens. James argues that Amazon failed to properly clean its buildings, conducted inadequate contact tracing for known COVID-19 cases, and “took swift retaliatory action” to silence complaints from workers. “Amazon’s extreme profits and exponential growth rate came at the expense of the lives, health and safety of its front-line workers,” James argued in the complaint, filed in New York Supreme Court. Also read| Nearly 4,000 Amazon employees given wrong COVID test result Kelly Nantel, a spokesperson for Amazon, said the company cared “deeply about the health and safety” of its workers. “We don’t believe the attorney general’s filing presents an accurate picture of Amazon’s industry-leading response to the pandemic,” Nantel said. Last week, Amazon preemptively sued James in federal court in an attempt to stop her from bringing the charges. The company argued that workplace safety was a matter of federal, not state, law. In its 64-page complaint last week, Amazon said its safety measures “far exceed what is required under the law.” It cited a surprise inspection by the New York City Sheriff’s Office that found Amazon “appeared to go above and beyond the current compliance requirements.” The company also detailed other safety measures it had taken, including temperature checks and offering free COVID-19 testing on-site. New York, in its suit, said Amazon received written notification of at least 250 employees at the Staten Island warehouse who had COVID-19. In more than 90 of those cases, the infected employee had been at work in the previous week, yet Amazon did not close portions of the building to provide proper ventilation as the state required, the filing said. James said that until at least late June, Amazon did not interview infected workers to determine their close contacts and instead relied on reviewing surveillance footage, which could take three days and did not cover the entire warehouse. The lack of interviews “created a very time-consuming process which did not identify close contacts in a timely fashion,” the complaint said. She also argued that Amazon retaliated against Christian Smalls, a worker the company fired in the spring. Smalls had been raising safety concerns with managers and led a public protest in the parking lot of the Staten Island facility. Amazon has said Smalls was fired for going to the work site for the protest even though he was on paid quarantine leave after he had been exposed to a colleague who had tested positive for the coronavirus. James’ filing said two Amazon human resources employees discussed Smalls’ situation in writing. The employees said they thought it was unfair to fire him because he did not enter the building and because Amazon had not told him that the company’s quarantine policy prohibited him from being outside the facility. James said that by firing Smalls and reprimanding another protest leader, Amazon sent a chilling message to others. “Amazon employees reasonably fear that if they make legitimate health and safety complaints about Amazon’s COVID-19 response, Amazon will retaliate against them as well,” she argued. The state said Amazon should change its policies, conduct training and undergo safety monitoring, and that it should pay lost wages and other damages to Smalls and offer him his job back.

New York sues Amazon, saying it inadequately protected workers from COVID-19

A relator in New York shared what his apartment looks like on social media. It has one room. No bathroom and no kitchen. The rent is a whopping $1650 per month. WION'S Palki tells you more about New York's worst apartment.

Gravitas: New York's worst apartment

In the latest news coming in from New York, it is very uncertain to present the latest counts of Covid deaths in the nursing home. New York which was reeling under Covid-19 since many months has now reported many cases which tends to be in thousands.

New york accused of misrepresentation of Covid deaths

The top Republicans in the United States are heading out to New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo for undercounting COVID-19 deaths at New York's nursing home.

US: Governor Andrew Cuomo faces flak for undercounting COVID-19 deaths

In major art museum collections in America, 85% of artists are white and only 1.2% are Black. A new documentary, "Black Art: In the Absence of Light," aims to show that just because Black art may not hang in many galleries, it doesn't mean there haven't been Black artists creating prolific work.

'Black Art: In the Absence of Light' documentary highlights little-known contributions by Black artists

Wall Street in the US reached all-time closing highs on Monday as investor optimism was stoked by prospects of a speedier economic recovery from the global health crisis, it was driven by increased stimulus and an accelerated vaccine rollout as well.

World Business Watch: Wall Street sets record closing highs on stimulus hopes

It is never easy to find your "best home/apartment", but it seems the hunt for the worst apartment is over.

This "worst apartment ever" is in New York, the US with a monthly rent of $1,650, but guess what it doesn't even have a toilet.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-to-be-neighbours-with-sylvester-stallone-buy-this-home-in-beverly-hills-355184">Want to be neighbours with Sylvester Stallone? Buy this home in Beverly Hills</a>

The location of this tiny studio remains a mystery and cannot be found on any rental sites.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fqqiV2cjAy8" width="650"></iframe>

&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">This toilet-less property is being called as "worst apartment ever" by TikTok users.</div>

The video of the apartment posted by real estate agent Cameron Knowlton on TikTok has gone viral and being viewed at least 21 million times.&nbsp;

Knowlton captioned the video as "Worst Apartment Ever NYC !!! as he showed that the single-room property doesn't have a bathroom, stove, freezer, and only a tiny fridge and closet.&nbsp;

"Before you ask, yes, this is a real apartment. This is what $1,650 gets you in the most desirable neighbourhood in New York City," the real estate agent said on the video.&nbsp;

In the video, Knowlton also shows that there is a toilet and shower out of the apartment down the hallway in separate rooms and are "shared by the entire complex."

He added that "for security purposes" a key is required to enter both the rooms, highlighting that the bathroom doesn't have a sink, but is "pretty clean".&nbsp;

He told news agency AFP the last tenant moved out from the property in October and expected that soon it will be occupied by someone.&nbsp;

"It's one of the most desired neighbourhoods in the world so people will rent it," he said. 
&nbsp;

It is never easy to find your "best home/apartment", but it seems the hunt for the worst apartment is over. This "worst apartment ever" is in New York, the US with a monthly rent of $1,650, but guess what it doesn't even have a toilet.

It is never easy to find your "best home/apartment", but it seems the hunt for the worst apartment is over. This "worst apartment ever" is in New York, the US with a monthly rent of $1,650, but guess what it doesn't even have a toilet. Also read | Want to be neighbours with Sylvester Stallone? Buy this home in Beverly Hills The location of this tiny studio remains a mystery and cannot be found on any rental sites. Watch | This toilet-less property is being called as "worst apartment ever" by TikTok users. The video of the apartment posted by real estate agent Cameron Knowlton on TikTok has gone viral and being viewed at least 21 million times. Knowlton captioned the video as "Worst Apartment Ever NYC !!! as he showed that the single-room property doesn't have a bathroom, stove, freezer, and only a tiny fridge and closet. "Before you ask, yes, this is a real apartment. This is what $1,650 gets you in the most desirable neighbourhood in New York City," the real estate agent said on the video. In the video, Knowlton also shows that there is a toilet and shower out of the apartment down the hallway in separate rooms and are "shared by the entire complex." He added that "for security purposes" a key is required to enter both the rooms, highlighting that the bathroom doesn't have a sink, but is "pretty clean". He told news agency AFP the last tenant moved out from the property in October and expected that soon it will be occupied by someone. "It's one of the most desired neighbourhoods in the world so people will rent it," he said.

Is this the world's worst apartment?

The Golden Globes ceremony at the end of February will take place from both Los Angeles and New York, organizers said on Tuesday, and those nominated for their work in film and television will take part from locations around the world. 
 
The changes are prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has ruled out the usual glitzy seated dinner for A-list celebrities at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. 
 
Instead, comedian Tina Fey will broadcast live on NBC television from the Rainbow Room in New York, while co-host Amy Poehler will be inside the Beverly Hilton. 
 
Other details are still being worked out for the Feb. 28 ceremony, which is the first major award show in the lead-up to the Oscars. 
 
Nominations for the Golden Globes, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be announced on Wednesday. 
 
The pandemic has forced big changes to the way award shows are produced and televised in recent months. The Emmy Awards last September had dozens of nominees appearing from remote locations, while other shows have featured a mixture of pre-recorded and live performances. 
 
The pandemic also pushed the Golden Globes and the Oscars ceremonies back a couple of months. The Golden Globes were delayed from their usual early January spot, while the Academy Awards will now take place on April 25 rather than the usual late February or early March date. 
&nbsp;

The Golden Globes ceremony at the end of February will take place from both Los Angeles and New York, organizers said on Tuesday, and those nominated for their work in film and television will take part from locations around the world.

The Golden Globes ceremony at the end of February will take place from both Los Angeles and New York, organizers said on Tuesday, and those nominated for their work in film and television will take part from locations around the world. The changes are prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has ruled out the usual glitzy seated dinner for A-list celebrities at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Instead, comedian Tina Fey will broadcast live on NBC television from the Rainbow Room in New York, while co-host Amy Poehler will be inside the Beverly Hilton. Other details are still being worked out for the Feb. 28 ceremony, which is the first major award show in the lead-up to the Oscars. Nominations for the Golden Globes, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be announced on Wednesday. The pandemic has forced big changes to the way award shows are produced and televised in recent months. The Emmy Awards last September had dozens of nominees appearing from remote locations, while other shows have featured a mixture of pre-recorded and live performances. The pandemic also pushed the Golden Globes and the Oscars ceremonies back a couple of months. The Golden Globes were delayed from their usual early January spot, while the Academy Awards will now take place on April 25 rather than the usual late February or early March date.

Golden Globes award ceremony to be bicoastal event

A 9-year-old girl was handcuffed and pepper-sprayed by police officers in the U.S. Footage from a body camera shows the girl crying out for her father and requesting to see him for one last time.

Gravitas: 9-yr-old pepper-sprayed in Rochester, New York

As people across the U.S. Northeast were digging themselves out on Tuesday (February 2) after a powerful storm blanketed parts of the region with more than 2 feet of snow, New Yorkers went sledding in Central Park.

'Gotta live that childhood memory again' - New Yorkers go sledding in Central Park snow

With the worst of the storm over in the mid-Atlantic, Metro North trains resumed regular service, while the Long Island Rail Road is operating on a weekend schedule.

U.S. faces its first major snowstorm of the season; New York declares state of emergency

Fur will fly on Super Bowl Sunday (February 7) as the XVII Puppy Bowl kicks off on discovery+ and Animal Planet.

Teams Ruff and Fluff battle it out during the annual Puppy Bowl

Bitcoin is currently trading at nearly $36,000 apiece, putting the price for Hellcat Annie’s and Scruffy Duffy’s at nearly $900,000.

Owner in New York's Hell's Kitchen selling out for cryptocurrency

A rare Botticelli portrait sold for $92.2 million at auction at Sotheby's in New York on Thursday (January 28), a world record for any work by the Italian artist.

Rare Botticelli portrait sells for record $92.2 million at NY auction

Action thriller "The Marksman" took the top spot at a quiet U.S. box office for the second weekend in a row, trade magazine Variety reported on Sunday (January 24).

'The Marksman' tops troubled box office

In many tight political races, candidates battle over not just what they know, but whom they know. In the New York City mayor’s race, the most popular person to know isn’t even a New Yorker.

“I’ve literally got the vice president’s number,” Andrew Yang told the news channel NY1.

“We introduced the vice president-elect to New York City,” Raymond J. McGuire said on a podcast last month.

Maya D. Wiley, another mayoral candidate, has a picture featuring that vice president — <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> of California — splashed across the top of her Twitter page.

As a new administration takes over in Washington, there are signs of fresh battle lines in New York’s mayoral race, centered on connections to federal power.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kamala-harris-as-us-vice-president-cements-importance-of-india-us-ties-jen-psaki-358442">Kamala Harris as US vice president cements importance of India, US ties: Jen Psaki</a>

Political candidates often claim ties to major party figures in an effort to energize their bases, and that may be especially true with regard to Harris, the first woman and person of color to serve as the country’s vice president.

Yet this year, in a contest that may be defined by promises to stabilize an economically imperiled city, several prominent candidates are also competing over who is best equipped to capture Washington’s attention — and its assistance.

“Having the bragging rights to relationships with these folks is appealing to voters,” said Jay Jacobs, chairman of New York State’s Democratic Party. “It probably allows them to suggest that maybe they’ll be able to get additional help for the city if they become mayor.”

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/twitter-cant-keep-calm-as-it-discovers-kamala-harris-is-a-part-of-bts-army-358228">&nbsp;Twitter can't keep calm as it discovers Kamala Harris is a part of BTS ARMY</a>

New York already has vigorous champions for federal aid, starting with the new Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, who is known to be attentive to his home state’s needs. And for mayors, the most urgent and fraught relationship to manage is often the one with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has vast control over city operations and has his own dealings with Washington.

But after New York’s rough relationship with the Trump administration, many mayoral candidates agree that the city needs as many strong ties as possible to the new Washington to help navigate issues like housing, transportation and pandemic relief.

Yet there are sharp distinctions in the ways the candidates approach discussing Washington.

Some of the leading contenders — like Scott Stringer, the city’s comptroller, and Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president — are vocal about the need for more federal relief, and they appear to be betting that the next mayor of New York will get through to Washington regardless of previous relationships.

“It’s a powerful argument to remind people in power time and time again in Washington that New York City continues to be the epicenter of the national economy,” said Stringer, who as comptroller laid out New York’s “most urgent” economic needs in a recent letter to President Joe Biden, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. “The quicker we bring back New York City, the better it will be for everybody.”

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-indian-family-is-waiting-for-her-to-become-president-358310">&nbsp;Kamala Harris' Indian family is waiting for her to become president</a>

For candidates with fewer established ties to city politics, national name-dropping can be part of a broader effort to explain the less conventional ways they would fight for New York, or simply a tactic aimed at standing out through association.

It is an approach that may attract attention from donors and endorsement gatekeepers, though many New York political experts are skeptical that such appeals move votes.

Embracing the new administration may not be viewed as a particular asset in the most liberal corners of New York, where the White House is sure to be seen as too moderate. And strategists warn that the impact that Washington has on New York can be an abstract concept for voters grappling with more tangible challenges.

“If you’re an insider, it obviously plays a larger factor,” the Queens borough president, Donovan Richards Jr., said. “For the person on the food line who’s disconnected from government, they don’t necessarily care about your relationship to Washington, D.C. They care about you being able to put some food on their plate.”

Yang is trying to address the latter concern with a broad suite of policies as he seeks to emerge as the anti-poverty candidate. But Yang, a former presidential contender and political surrogate, is also emphasizing national relationships — even as he faces scrutiny over his connections to the city in which he has never voted for mayor.

“My ties are strong with our partners in the White House and the Capitol; I have a lot of their phone numbers,” he said last week, adding that Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia had recently called him (though newly elected officials often make many phone calls to thank supporters).

Calling Biden, Harris and Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary nominee, “friends of mine,” Yang added, “These relationships will pay dividends for our city when we want to get things done.”

He also posted pictures of himself with Biden, Harris and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Cory Booker of New Jersey. (Booker, declining to name the mayoral candidates he knew best, said he did not expect to endorse in the race because “I have so many friends that are running.”)

The candidate with the deepest federal management experience is Shaun Donovan, who was a housing secretary under former President Barack Obama, and Donovan makes no secret of it. The biography on his campaign website opens with the promise to work with Biden, “ensuring that New York City’s voice is heard in the White House.”

His campaign also issued a news release that highlighted “Obama-Biden alumni” donors, including Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Biden’s choice to lead the Homeland Security Department, and Tom Vilsack, his choice for agriculture secretary.

Donovan said in an interview that his Washington relationships positioned him to see fresh opportunities for collaboration.

“The question is, how deep are those relationships, how much trust do you have in the ability not just to call them on the phone, but to actually have worked side by side with them in moments of crisis?” he said. “No one has the depth and breadth of relationships that I do.”

Despite those high-profile contacts, Donovan failed to meet the thresholds to qualify for the city’s matching-funds program, according to numbers released last week.

Then there is McGuire, a longtime Wall Street executive, who has been a major Democratic donor himself and was a supporter of Harris before she ran for president.

McGuire does not mention her at every turn, but he does have ties to her 2020 presidential primary infrastructure: The national finance chairman of her campaign, Jonathan Henes, is now a finance co-chair of his campaign, and there is additional overlap among prominent donors and on the finance team.

McGuire and his wife, Crystal McCrary McGuire, also have personal relationships with Harris, according to a person who has worked for both McGuire and Harris. The person recalled, for instance, that after Harris gave a book talk at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan several years ago, she and her husband dined on cartons of Chinese takeout at the McGuires’ home.

That doesn’t mean a Harris endorsement is imminent for McGuire or anyone else. A Harris aide said her team had been focused on the inauguration and on managing the coronavirus crisis. Others who have worked with her are skeptical that she would wade into a crowded mayoral primary.

But the relationship is part of McGuire’s pitch that he would activate his sprawling network on behalf of the city. McGuire has publicly cited his ties with Harris and his connections with Washington decision-makers.

“Given that this is arguably the most important city in the country, it is important to have a relationship with one of the two most important leaders of the country,” he said last week, asked why that relationship was relevant.

Wiley’s embrace of Harris is literal: The photo on her Twitter page shows her cheek touching Harris’ temple.

In an interview, she detailed her own experiences navigating Washington, including testifying before Congress and meeting key officials across federal agencies, and described opportunities for the next mayor to work with an increasingly powerful New York delegation. And Wiley, who is Black and hopes to be the first woman to serve as the city’s mayor, also noted the historic nature of Harris’ ascension to the vice presidency.

Female voters, she said, are “very energized by this White House, and by what it represents, not just symbolically but practically.”

“The national and local are deeply connected for folks because we do need help from Washington,” said Wiley, a former MSNBC analyst who has worked with Harris’ sister, who added that she had traded the occasional text with Harris.

Then there are the veteran New York politicians like Stringer and Adams who lack much of a national platform but do have deep local relationships.

Given New York’s stature, some officials say, that should be enough — a stance adopted by Kathryn Garcia, the city’s former sanitation commissioner who is also running for mayor.

“You are still the mayor of the premier city of the United States,” she said. “They’re going to take your call.”

Former Rep. Charles Rangel, the onetime dean of the New York House delegation, suggested that the mayoral candidates should keep fully focused on their own city.

“I refuse to say anything that could be misinterpreted as not being positive about the power of the vice president of the United States,” he said. “But I’ll be goddamned if I can ever remember going to the vice president for any help for my city.”

In many tight political races, candidates battle over not just what they know, but whom they know. In the New York City mayor’s race, the most popular person to know isn’t even a New Yorker.

In many tight political races, candidates battle over not just what they know, but whom they know. In the New York City mayor’s race, the most popular person to know isn’t even a New Yorker. “I’ve literally got the vice president’s number,” Andrew Yang told the news channel NY1. “We introduced the vice president-elect to New York City,” Raymond J. McGuire said on a podcast last month. Maya D. Wiley, another mayoral candidate, has a picture featuring that vice president — Kamala Harris of California — splashed across the top of her Twitter page. As a new administration takes over in Washington, there are signs of fresh battle lines in New York’s mayoral race, centered on connections to federal power. Also read| Kamala Harris as US vice president cements importance of India, US ties: Jen Psaki Political candidates often claim ties to major party figures in an effort to energize their bases, and that may be especially true with regard to Harris, the first woman and person of color to serve as the country’s vice president. Yet this year, in a contest that may be defined by promises to stabilize an economically imperiled city, several prominent candidates are also competing over who is best equipped to capture Washington’s attention — and its assistance. “Having the bragging rights to relationships with these folks is appealing to voters,” said Jay Jacobs, chairman of New York State’s Democratic Party. “It probably allows them to suggest that maybe they’ll be able to get additional help for the city if they become mayor.” Also read| Twitter can't keep calm as it discovers Kamala Harris is a part of BTS ARMY New York already has vigorous champions for federal aid, starting with the new Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, who is known to be attentive to his home state’s needs. And for mayors, the most urgent and fraught relationship to manage is often the one with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has vast control over city operations and has his own dealings with Washington. But after New York’s rough relationship with the Trump administration, many mayoral candidates agree that the city needs as many strong ties as possible to the new Washington to help navigate issues like housing, transportation and pandemic relief. Yet there are sharp distinctions in the ways the candidates approach discussing Washington. Some of the leading contenders — like Scott Stringer, the city’s comptroller, and Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president — are vocal about the need for more federal relief, and they appear to be betting that the next mayor of New York will get through to Washington regardless of previous relationships. “It’s a powerful argument to remind people in power time and time again in Washington that New York City continues to be the epicenter of the national economy,” said Stringer, who as comptroller laid out New York’s “most urgent” economic needs in a recent letter to President Joe Biden, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. “The quicker we bring back New York City, the better it will be for everybody.” Also read| Kamala Harris' Indian family is waiting for her to become president For candidates with fewer established ties to city politics, national name-dropping can be part of a broader effort to explain the less conventional ways they would fight for New York, or simply a tactic aimed at standing out through association. It is an approach that may attract attention from donors and endorsement gatekeepers, though many New York political experts are skeptical that such appeals move votes. Embracing the new administration may not be viewed as a particular asset in the most liberal corners of New York, where the White House is sure to be seen as too moderate. And strategists warn that the impact that Washington has on New York can be an abstract concept for voters grappling with more tangible challenges. “If you’re an insider, it obviously plays a larger factor,” the Queens borough president, Donovan Richards Jr., said. “For the person on the food line who’s disconnected from government, they don’t necessarily care about your relationship to Washington, D.C. They care about you being able to put some food on their plate.” Yang is trying to address the latter concern with a broad suite of policies as he seeks to emerge as the anti-poverty candidate. But Yang, a former presidential contender and political surrogate, is also emphasizing national relationships — even as he faces scrutiny over his connections to the city in which he has never voted for mayor. “My ties are strong with our partners in the White House and the Capitol; I have a lot of their phone numbers,” he said last week, adding that Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia had recently called him (though newly elected officials often make many phone calls to thank supporters). Calling Biden, Harris and Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary nominee, “friends of mine,” Yang added, “These relationships will pay dividends for our city when we want to get things done.” He also posted pictures of himself with Biden, Harris and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Cory Booker of New Jersey. (Booker, declining to name the mayoral candidates he knew best, said he did not expect to endorse in the race because “I have so many friends that are running.”) The candidate with the deepest federal management experience is Shaun Donovan, who was a housing secretary under former President Barack Obama, and Donovan makes no secret of it. The biography on his campaign website opens with the promise to work with Biden, “ensuring that New York City’s voice is heard in the White House.” His campaign also issued a news release that highlighted “Obama-Biden alumni” donors, including Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Biden’s choice to lead the Homeland Security Department, and Tom Vilsack, his choice for agriculture secretary. Donovan said in an interview that his Washington relationships positioned him to see fresh opportunities for collaboration. “The question is, how deep are those relationships, how much trust do you have in the ability not just to call them on the phone, but to actually have worked side by side with them in moments of crisis?” he said. “No one has the depth and breadth of relationships that I do.” Despite those high-profile contacts, Donovan failed to meet the thresholds to qualify for the city’s matching-funds program, according to numbers released last week. Then there is McGuire, a longtime Wall Street executive, who has been a major Democratic donor himself and was a supporter of Harris before she ran for president. McGuire does not mention her at every turn, but he does have ties to her 2020 presidential primary infrastructure: The national finance chairman of her campaign, Jonathan Henes, is now a finance co-chair of his campaign, and there is additional overlap among prominent donors and on the finance team. McGuire and his wife, Crystal McCrary McGuire, also have personal relationships with Harris, according to a person who has worked for both McGuire and Harris. The person recalled, for instance, that after Harris gave a book talk at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan several years ago, she and her husband dined on cartons of Chinese takeout at the McGuires’ home. That doesn’t mean a Harris endorsement is imminent for McGuire or anyone else. A Harris aide said her team had been focused on the inauguration and on managing the coronavirus crisis. Others who have worked with her are skeptical that she would wade into a crowded mayoral primary. But the relationship is part of McGuire’s pitch that he would activate his sprawling network on behalf of the city. McGuire has publicly cited his ties with Harris and his connections with Washington decision-makers. “Given that this is arguably the most important city in the country, it is important to have a relationship with one of the two most important leaders of the country,” he said last week, asked why that relationship was relevant. Wiley’s embrace of Harris is literal: The photo on her Twitter page shows her cheek touching Harris’ temple. In an interview, she detailed her own experiences navigating Washington, including testifying before Congress and meeting key officials across federal agencies, and described opportunities for the next mayor to work with an increasingly powerful New York delegation. And Wiley, who is Black and hopes to be the first woman to serve as the city’s mayor, also noted the historic nature of Harris’ ascension to the vice presidency. Female voters, she said, are “very energized by this White House, and by what it represents, not just symbolically but practically.” “The national and local are deeply connected for folks because we do need help from Washington,” said Wiley, a former MSNBC analyst who has worked with Harris’ sister, who added that she had traded the occasional text with Harris. Then there are the veteran New York politicians like Stringer and Adams who lack much of a national platform but do have deep local relationships. Given New York’s stature, some officials say, that should be enough — a stance adopted by Kathryn Garcia, the city’s former sanitation commissioner who is also running for mayor. “You are still the mayor of the premier city of the United States,” she said. “They’re going to take your call.” Former Rep. Charles Rangel, the onetime dean of the New York House delegation, suggested that the mayoral candidates should keep fully focused on their own city. “I refuse to say anything that could be misinterpreted as not being positive about the power of the vice president of the United States,” he said. “But I’ll be goddamned if I can ever remember going to the vice president for any help for my city.”

Why Kamala Harris is a star of the New York City Mayor’s race

It's only the first month of the year 2021 and we have already seen many first. One more addition to this list now is the birth of a rare white kangaroo.

The Animal Adventure Park in New York, this week, revealed that one of their kangaroos has given birth to a joey which has an all-white fur, making it a rare one in the family.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-glaciers-give-insights-on-the-planets-many-ice-ages-358330" hreflang="en">Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages</a>

"Our jaws are on the floor," the zoo wrote in a Facebook post. "This is not your standard red kangaroo!"

Red kangaroos spend the first few months of their initial stages of development in their mother's pouches, but the zoo workers do the first "pull" at the age of 4-5 months. This is done to conduct a full medical review and then the joey is returned to the pouch to let them develop fully.

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Our Jaws Are On The Floor! Valley Dental Pediatrics CODE GREEN: Red Kangaroo This is not your standard red...
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdventurePark/">Animal Adventure Park</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdventurePark/posts/3062159507220241">Friday, 15 January 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-resolve-mystery-of-people-hearing-the-dead-357632" hreflang="en">Scientists resolve mystery of people 'hearing the dead'</a>

"Today's inspection revealed an EXTREMELY RARE, what we are currently considering, Leucistic male joey," the zoo revealed.

Leucistic is the phenomena when there is lack of colour pigmentation which results in a white coat. This joey has "black color pigmentation in the eyes, therefore not your normally anticipated red-eyed albino mutation."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-resolve-mystery-of-boyajians-star-say-alien-megastructure-is-not-alone-358253" hreflang="en">Scientists resolve mystery of Boyajian's Star, say 'alien megastructure' is not alone</a>

There is no known leucistic red kangaroo in the US, the zoo claimed, making this joey a rare one in the country.

"We are now working with professionals in the zoological community to see just how unique of a blessing this little one is!" the post read.

It's only the first month of the year 2021 and we have already seen many first. One more addition to this list now is the birth of a rare white kangaroo. The Animal Adventure Park in New York, this week, revealed that one of their kangaroos has given birth to a joey which has an all-white fur, making it a rare one in the family.

It's only the first month of the year 2021 and we have already seen many first. One more addition to this list now is the birth of a rare white kangaroo. The Animal Adventure Park in New York, this week, revealed that one of their kangaroos has given birth to a joey which has an all-white fur, making it a rare one in the family. Also read| Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages "Our jaws are on the floor," the zoo wrote in a Facebook post. "This is not your standard red kangaroo!" Red kangaroos spend the first few months of their initial stages of development in their mother's pouches, but the zoo workers do the first "pull" at the age of 4-5 months. This is done to conduct a full medical review and then the joey is returned to the pouch to let them develop fully. Our Jaws Are On The Floor! Valley Dental Pediatrics CODE GREEN: Red Kangaroo This is not your standard red... Posted by Animal Adventure Park on Friday, 15 January 2021 × Also read| Scientists resolve mystery of people 'hearing the dead' "Today's inspection revealed an EXTREMELY RARE, what we are currently considering, Leucistic male joey," the zoo revealed. Leucistic is the phenomena when there is lack of colour pigmentation which results in a white coat. This joey has "black color pigmentation in the eyes, therefore not your normally anticipated red-eyed albino mutation." Also read| Scientists resolve mystery of Boyajian's Star, say 'alien megastructure' is not alone There is no known leucistic red kangaroo in the US, the zoo claimed, making this joey a rare one in the country. "We are now working with professionals in the zoological community to see just how unique of a blessing this little one is!" the post read.

'A blessing': New York zoo discovers extremely rare white kangaroo

Wednesday was a disastrous day for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>as when the US lawmakers were impeaching him, New York dumped him.&nbsp;

New York is the same city where Trump made him name.

It decided to end all business ties with the Trump organisation worth more than 17 million dollars.&nbsp;

The contracts of The Trump Organization that were ended included two skating rinks and a carousel in Central Park.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-trump-set-to-end-presidency-are-these-final-days-of-his-brand-too-356764">As Trump set to end presidency, are these final days of his brand too?</a>

The damage is not just financial and he has lost all political capital also.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that The Trump Organization was struggling to attract companies to its commercial properties well before the siege of the US Capitol and now it may virtually be impossible.&nbsp;

Trump is being blamed for an attack on the seat of power in America, which is now under a state of emergency.&nbsp;

Military and security teams have turned Washington DC into a fortress.&nbsp;

Military trucks now block the way to the Capitol and giant fences now guard the White House.&nbsp;

As many as 20,000 troops with lethal weapons are expected to guard the city during the inauguration of Joe Biden.&nbsp;

There is a heavy security presence at the Capitol too and the halls now look like an armed encampment.

Trump was out of sight when the House voted to impeach him again.

Reports claim the White House made no effort to line up votes in the president's defence.&nbsp;

Trump has already decided not to attend the inauguration.

He has agreed to pass the baton to Biden, but only after he tried what is called a coup.&nbsp;

The horrors of the insurrection of the US Capitol will continue to chase him even after he was left the White House.

Wednesday was a disastrous day for Donald Trump as when the US lawmakers were impeaching him, New York dumped him. New York is the same city where Trump made him name.

Wednesday was a disastrous day for Donald Trump as when the US lawmakers were impeaching him, New York dumped him. New York is the same city where Trump made him name. It decided to end all business ties with the Trump organisation worth more than 17 million dollars. The contracts of The Trump Organization that were ended included two skating rinks and a carousel in Central Park. Also read | As Trump set to end presidency, are these final days of his brand too? The damage is not just financial and he has lost all political capital also. Reports suggest that The Trump Organization was struggling to attract companies to its commercial properties well before the siege of the US Capitol and now it may virtually be impossible. Trump is being blamed for an attack on the seat of power in America, which is now under a state of emergency. Military and security teams have turned Washington DC into a fortress. Military trucks now block the way to the Capitol and giant fences now guard the White House. As many as 20,000 troops with lethal weapons are expected to guard the city during the inauguration of Joe Biden. There is a heavy security presence at the Capitol too and the halls now look like an armed encampment. Trump was out of sight when the House voted to impeach him again. Reports claim the White House made no effort to line up votes in the president's defence. Trump has already decided not to attend the inauguration. He has agreed to pass the baton to Biden, but only after he tried what is called a coup. The horrors of the insurrection of the US Capitol will continue to chase him even after he was left the White House.

New York, the city that made Donald Trump ends ties with him

New York City said it would cut trade ties with the Trump Organization, joining a growing list of corporations turning their back on twice impeached-president.

New York suspends contracts with Trump organization worth $17 Million

Zayn Malik is back performing on stage - this time, however, in an empty theatre and in front of otherworldly sets for the music video for his latest single "Vibez".

Zayn Malik turns 28, drops music video for new single 'Vibez'

A 22-year-old woman from California, who wrongly accused a Black teenager of stealing her phone and tackled him at a New York City hotel in a widely seen video, was charged after returning to the city.

Miya Ponsetto was charged with attempted robbery, grand larceny, acting in a manner injurious to a child and two counts of attempted assault, according to city police.&nbsp;

Ponsetto's confrontation with 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr on December 26 was posted online. It showed an agitated woman demanding the teenagers phone, claiming he stole it. The phone was found soon afterward in an Uber.

The charges follow more than a week of intense media coverage of the hotel lobby encounter and demands by the teens family and activists that she face criminal charges.

Ponsetto apologised but defended herself in a television interview conducted before she was arrested in California.

"I dont feel that that is who I am as a person. I dont feel like this one mistake does define me," she said in a 'CBS This Morning' interview that aired on Friday.&nbsp;

"But I do sincerely from the bottom of my heart apologise that if I made the son feel as if I assaulted him or if I hurt his feelings or the father's feelings."

A 22-year-old woman from California, who wrongly accused a Black teenager of stealing her phone and tackled him at a New York City hotel in a widely seen video, was charged after returning to the city.

A 22-year-old woman from California, who wrongly accused a Black teenager of stealing her phone and tackled him at a New York City hotel in a widely seen video, was charged after returning to the city. Miya Ponsetto was charged with attempted robbery, grand larceny, acting in a manner injurious to a child and two counts of attempted assault, according to city police. Ponsetto's confrontation with 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr on December 26 was posted online. It showed an agitated woman demanding the teenagers phone, claiming he stole it. The phone was found soon afterward in an Uber. The charges follow more than a week of intense media coverage of the hotel lobby encounter and demands by the teens family and activists that she face criminal charges. Ponsetto apologised but defended herself in a television interview conducted before she was arrested in California. "I dont feel that that is who I am as a person. I dont feel like this one mistake does define me," she said in a 'CBS This Morning' interview that aired on Friday. "But I do sincerely from the bottom of my heart apologise that if I made the son feel as if I assaulted him or if I hurt his feelings or the father's feelings."

Woman in widely seen hotel confrontation charged in New York

The New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday said that it would delist three Chinese telecom companies starting January 11.

This marks another U-turn in a series of delisting plans. On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told the NYSE chief that he disagreed with the decision to reverse the delistings. This marks the third such u-turn, owing to the confusion in with regard to rules carved out by Donald Trump administration, with tensions escalating between the US and China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/nyse-may-make-second-u-turn-on-china-telecom-delistings-354773" hreflang="en">NYSE may make second U-turn on China telecom delistings</a>

On Monday, the NYSE had reversed the decision to delist China Telecom Corp Ltd, China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd, and China Mobile Ltd after a series of consultations with US regulators.

The plans to delist Chinese firms came amid a White House executive order to ban US investment in companies that are linked to the Chinese military. Mnuchin on Tuesday told NYSE President Stacey Cunningham that he disagreed with NYSE’s previous decision.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/new-york-stock-exchange-scraps-plan-to-delist-china-telecom-firms-354577" hreflang="en">New York Stock Exchange scraps plan to delist China telecom firms</a>

The about-face was due to ambiguity over an executive order issued by President Donald Trump barring investment in firms Washington says are tied to the Chinese military, and whether the three firms were banned under the order, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

However, on Tuesday, it said it would go ahead with the delistings, which were planned on or before January 11, if it deems the companies are subject to the order.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/business-economy/new-york-stock-exchange-to-delist-chinese-telecom-firms-on-us-executive-order-353745" hreflang="en">New York Stock Exchange to delist Chinese telecom firms on US executive order</a>

Bloomberg earlier reported that the NYSE may flip back.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin phoned NYSE President Stacey Cunningham on Tuesday to tell her he disagreed with the exchange operator's decision to reverse course on the delistings.

The NYSE is owned by Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange Inc (ICE), which is run by billionaire Jeffrey Sprecher, whose wife Kelly Loeffler, also a former ICE executive, is one of two Republican senators facing run-off elections on Tuesday in Georgia. Loeffler is a staunch supporter of President Trump.

The New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday said that it would delist three Chinese telecom companies starting January 11. This marks another U-turn in a series of delisting plans.

The New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday said that it would delist three Chinese telecom companies starting January 11. This marks another U-turn in a series of delisting plans. On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told the NYSE chief that he disagreed with the decision to reverse the delistings. This marks the third such u-turn, owing to the confusion in with regard to rules carved out by Donald Trump administration, with tensions escalating between the US and China. Also read: NYSE may make second U-turn on China telecom delistings On Monday, the NYSE had reversed the decision to delist China Telecom Corp Ltd, China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd, and China Mobile Ltd after a series of consultations with US regulators. The plans to delist Chinese firms came amid a White House executive order to ban US investment in companies that are linked to the Chinese military. Mnuchin on Tuesday told NYSE President Stacey Cunningham that he disagreed with NYSE’s previous decision. Also read: New York Stock Exchange scraps plan to delist China telecom firms The about-face was due to ambiguity over an executive order issued by President Donald Trump barring investment in firms Washington says are tied to the Chinese military, and whether the three firms were banned under the order, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. However, on Tuesday, it said it would go ahead with the delistings, which were planned on or before January 11, if it deems the companies are subject to the order. Also read: New York Stock Exchange to delist Chinese telecom firms on US executive order Bloomberg earlier reported that the NYSE may flip back. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin phoned NYSE President Stacey Cunningham on Tuesday to tell her he disagreed with the exchange operator's decision to reverse course on the delistings. The NYSE is owned by Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange Inc (ICE), which is run by billionaire Jeffrey Sprecher, whose wife Kelly Loeffler, also a former ICE executive, is one of two Republican senators facing run-off elections on Tuesday in Georgia. Loeffler is a staunch supporter of President Trump.

NYSE reverses course again; set to delist three Chinese firms

To pay respects to the ones who lost their lives in the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Los Angeles in the United States decided to run a Twitter campaign titled&nbsp;#Every10Minutes on the official Twitter account of&nbsp;LA Public Health.

"#Every10Minutes someone dies of COVID-19 in LA County. People who were loved and will be missed. Until we slow the spread, the next person to tragically pass away could be someone you know.," the officials tweeted as soon as the clock stuck 12.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> someone dies of COVID-19 in LA County. People who were loved and will be missed. Until we slow the spread, the next person to tragically pass away could be someone you know.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344553883062972419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The campaign was also used to spread awareness and urge locals to stay home rather than stepping out on New Year's eve. The officials requested people to stay indoors and help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus and lower the death toll of the city.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-fireworks-australia-new-zealand-welcome-2021-353638">With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key</a>

"This is a 24 hour campaign that began at midnight last night and will end at midnight tonight," the department officials said. "We want to highlight the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our community; more than 10,000 people passing away this year, and all were loved by and loved others."

The first post read "someone's mother", which was followed by several other descriptions of people who lost their lives to the deadly virus, such as 'a cancer survivor', 'someone who loved the rain', 'abuelita', and more.

All posts read a message at the end reminding people to "Please physically distance. Slow the spread. Save a life."

Here are some of the tweets:

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A friend who always put smiles on people's faces. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please wear a face covering when outside. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344591629299150849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The energetic grandma who was dancing well into her 80s. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344594145138995204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The server at your favorite restaurant that knew your order. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344601694961807362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The best singer in the church choir. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please physically distance. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344596661817884673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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A sister who beat breast cancer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344611761253724160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Baba. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344621827545391106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The friend who always fixed your resume. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Every10Minutes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Every10Minutes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LACounty?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LACounty</a> 
 
Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life.
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/lapublichealth/status/1344629378978820099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The LA Mayor Eric Garcetti had also asked the local police to patrol the streets and stop any ongoing parties that were not following the COVID-19 guidelines set by&nbsp;the health experts.

Los Angeles has been one of the worst-hit areas in the US with more than&nbsp;750,000 cases and 10,000 deaths.

To pay respects to the ones who lost their lives in the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Los Angeles in the United States decided to run a Twitter campaign titled #Every10Minutes on the official Twitter account of LA Public Health.

To pay respects to the ones who lost their lives in the coronavirus pandemic, the city of Los Angeles in the United States decided to run a Twitter campaign titled #Every10Minutes on the official Twitter account of LA Public Health. "#Every10Minutes someone dies of COVID-19 in LA County. People who were loved and will be missed. Until we slow the spread, the next person to tragically pass away could be someone you know.," the officials tweeted as soon as the clock stuck 12. #Every10Minutes someone dies of COVID-19 in LA County. People who were loved and will be missed. Until we slow the spread, the next person to tragically pass away could be someone you know. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × The campaign was also used to spread awareness and urge locals to stay home rather than stepping out on New Year's eve. The officials requested people to stay indoors and help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus and lower the death toll of the city. Also read| With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key "This is a 24 hour campaign that began at midnight last night and will end at midnight tonight," the department officials said. "We want to highlight the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our community; more than 10,000 people passing away this year, and all were loved by and loved others." The first post read "someone's mother", which was followed by several other descriptions of people who lost their lives to the deadly virus, such as 'a cancer survivor', 'someone who loved the rain', 'abuelita', and more. All posts read a message at the end reminding people to "Please physically distance. Slow the spread. Save a life." Here are some of the tweets: A friend who always put smiles on people's faces. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please wear a face covering when outside. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × The energetic grandma who was dancing well into her 80s. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × The server at your favorite restaurant that knew your order. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × The best singer in the church choir. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please physically distance. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × A sister who beat breast cancer. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × Baba. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × The friend who always fixed your resume. #Every10Minutes #LACounty Please stay home tonight. Slow the spread. Save a life. — LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 31, 2020 × The LA Mayor Eric Garcetti had also asked the local police to patrol the streets and stop any ongoing parties that were not following the COVID-19 guidelines set by the health experts. Los Angeles has been one of the worst-hit areas in the US with more than 750,000 cases and 10,000 deaths.

Los Angeles officials tweet names of COVID warriors #Every10Minutes to spread awareness

The New York Legislature on Monday overwhelmingly passed one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation, as the state contends with high levels of unemployment caused by a pandemic that has taken more than 330,000 lives nationwide.

Tenants and advocacy groups have been dreading the end-of-year expiration of eviction bans that have kept people in their homes even as they fell months behind in their rent. Under the new measure, landlords will be barred from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days in almost all cases.

The measure will not only block landlords from evicting most tenants but will also protect some small landlords from foreclosure and automatically renew tax exemptions for homeowners who are elderly or disabled.

The Legislature convened an unusual special session between Christmas and New Year’s to pass the measure, acting quickly because the governor’s executive order barring many evictions was slated to expire on Dec. 31. The legislators’ urgency reflected a national concern over the fate of millions of people without jobs and access to job opportunities, as the pandemic continues to eat away at the economy.

The passage of the bill comes as a relief for renters like Vincia Barber, 40, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who said she lost her job as a nanny and hasn’t paid rent in months.

“This is the best thing they could do for us today,” said Barber, who added that two of her relatives had died of the coronavirus.

Once the bill becomes law in New York, tenants like Barber can protect their homes by submitting a document stating financial hardship related to the coronavirus. As many as 1.2 million New York households are currently at risk of being removed from their homes, according to a database maintained by Stout, a consulting firm.

For eviction cases that are already working their way through the courts, the law will halt proceedings for at least 60 days. Landlords would not be allowed to begin new eviction proceedings until at least May 1.

Some landlords resisted the measure, arguing that the law didn’t adequately distinguish between tenants with resources and those without. They said the new law paid too little heed to property owners who are themselves grappling with diminished financial resources, as tenants fall behind on rent and ground-floor retail tenants go out of business.

The legislation attempts to address those concerns by making it harder for banks to foreclose on smaller landlords who are themselves struggling to pay bills.

On Monday evening, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the bill, which will go into effect immediately.

The state’s emergency action comes a day after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion relief package, which included $1.3 billion in rental relief for New Yorkers and extended a federal eviction moratorium — and two days after unemployment benefits expired for millions of Americans.

The state and federal legislation speak to the precarious financial situation facing millions of Americans, nine months into the pandemic.

Nationally, an estimated 7 million to 14 million households are at risk for eviction, according to Stout’s database. They are thought to be short between $11 billon and $20 billion in rent.

Other states have taken steps to delay evictions as well. Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut has extended that state’s ban until Feb. 9. Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington extended an eviction moratorium until March 31.

New York and the other states acted to plug holes in a federal moratorium that housing advocates say does not do enough to protect tenants from losing their homes. The requirements to qualify for eviction protection are considered onerous, and several states took their own action.

The New York Senate approved the new measure 40-21 on Monday, while the state Assembly voted 99-47.

What makes New York’s new law exceptional is its reach: It eases the process for tenants and small landlords to claim financial hardships and eliminates hurdles for disabled and older homeowners to renew tax exemptions.

In New York state, even under Cuomo’s order, eviction proceedings have continued, but landlords have largely been barred from physically removing tenants from their homes. A smattering of evictions resumed in October, particularly for those tenants who were unable to convince judges that their financial hardships were related to the coronavirus.

As of late November, there have been 38 requests for eviction warrants in New York City, according to a recent analysis by the New York University Furman Center. Every one of those cases began before the pandemic and most involved properties in central Brooklyn.

Since October, Zellnor Myrie, a state senator representing central Brooklyn, has had at least three eviction warrants issued in his district. The most recent warrant was issued for a tenant who was unable to pay rent.

“So even with the constellation of moratoria, there have still been landlords going after tenants,” said Myrie, a sponsor of the legislation.

As of November, 8% of New York state residents were unemployed, more than twice as many as this time last year. State Labor Department figures indicate that the unemployment rate in New York City is significantly higher. Small businesses and their employees in Manhattan’s core have been especially hard hit, as commuters have all but vanished.

Winsome Pendergrass, 63, a tenant and activist from the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, lost her main source of income providing in-home care. Three months behind in rent, she said the legislation will bring her some relief.

“I myself suffer from high blood pressure and I don’t want to be running out there and overexert myself in the pandemic, because the money I am coming up with is just to pay the rent,” she said.

But landlords argue the bill oversteps, allowing tenants to avoid eviction by merely stating financial hardship rather than proving it.

“With no requirement of proof that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected their income, and no income limitation to qualify for eviction protection, a tenant whose household income went from a half-million dollars to $250,000 would qualify for eviction protection by declaring that their income has been ‘significantly reduced,’” said Joseph Strasburg, president of the Rent Stabilization Association, a landlord group.

The new state law will allow evictions to proceed in cases where judges find tenants have persistently created a nuisance for neighbors, like playing loud music at 3 a.m., or created hazardous conditions.

The hardship declaration would not only cover financial hardship but also a “significant health risk” of moving in the pandemic.

The law also seeks to address the plight of landlords who own 10 or fewer apartments, allowing them to file similar financial hardship declarations with their mortgage lenders, to delay foreclosure proceedings. The law also applies to foreclosures involving tax liens.

Jay Martin, the executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, said that while he understands the legislators’ desire to focus on smaller landlords, the law is unnecessarily narrow.

“The reality is a majority of renters in this city get their housing from what the legislature would consider non-small operators,” said Martin, whose organization represents landlords of rent-stabilized buildings. “Even a four- or five-story walk-up has more than 10 units in New York City.”

Since March, the governor, the state’s courts and the legislature have instituted a series of sometimes overlapping measures designed to forestall evictions during a crisis that has thrown millions out of work, and made it untenable for many tenants to pay rent. Tenants’ inability to pay their landlords has, in turn, made it difficult for some property owners to pay their own bills.

But the ever-shifting state rules and court guidance have sown substantial confusion among renters seeking to make sense of the legal morass. Tenant attorneys have also expressed displeasure with how some housing court judges interpret the law.

More than elsewhere, courts in the Albany region and in Rochester “have been remarkably unsympathetic to tenants’ situations,” said Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society.

The new law is by no means a panacea. Tenants will continue to owe landlords any back rent they haven’t paid, once the moratorium ends.

The $1.3 billion in rent relief authorized by the federal government should help, tenant advocates say, but it will not be enough to cover all tenants’ back rent.

Michael McKee, the treasurer of Tenants PAC, a tenants rights group, praised the law as “very close” to everything his organization wanted, but also warned that “when this is all lifted, there will be people owing thousands and thousands of back rent they cannot pay.”

The New York Legislature on Monday overwhelmingly passed one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation, as the state contends with high levels of unemployment caused by a pandemic that has taken more than 330,000 lives nationwide.

The New York Legislature on Monday overwhelmingly passed one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation, as the state contends with high levels of unemployment caused by a pandemic that has taken more than 330,000 lives nationwide. Tenants and advocacy groups have been dreading the end-of-year expiration of eviction bans that have kept people in their homes even as they fell months behind in their rent. Under the new measure, landlords will be barred from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days in almost all cases. The measure will not only block landlords from evicting most tenants but will also protect some small landlords from foreclosure and automatically renew tax exemptions for homeowners who are elderly or disabled. The Legislature convened an unusual special session between Christmas and New Year’s to pass the measure, acting quickly because the governor’s executive order barring many evictions was slated to expire on Dec. 31. The legislators’ urgency reflected a national concern over the fate of millions of people without jobs and access to job opportunities, as the pandemic continues to eat away at the economy. The passage of the bill comes as a relief for renters like Vincia Barber, 40, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, who said she lost her job as a nanny and hasn’t paid rent in months. “This is the best thing they could do for us today,” said Barber, who added that two of her relatives had died of the coronavirus. Once the bill becomes law in New York, tenants like Barber can protect their homes by submitting a document stating financial hardship related to the coronavirus. As many as 1.2 million New York households are currently at risk of being removed from their homes, according to a database maintained by Stout, a consulting firm. For eviction cases that are already working their way through the courts, the law will halt proceedings for at least 60 days. Landlords would not be allowed to begin new eviction proceedings until at least May 1. Some landlords resisted the measure, arguing that the law didn’t adequately distinguish between tenants with resources and those without. They said the new law paid too little heed to property owners who are themselves grappling with diminished financial resources, as tenants fall behind on rent and ground-floor retail tenants go out of business. The legislation attempts to address those concerns by making it harder for banks to foreclose on smaller landlords who are themselves struggling to pay bills. On Monday evening, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the bill, which will go into effect immediately. The state’s emergency action comes a day after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion relief package, which included $1.3 billion in rental relief for New Yorkers and extended a federal eviction moratorium — and two days after unemployment benefits expired for millions of Americans. The state and federal legislation speak to the precarious financial situation facing millions of Americans, nine months into the pandemic. Nationally, an estimated 7 million to 14 million households are at risk for eviction, according to Stout’s database. They are thought to be short between $11 billon and $20 billion in rent. Other states have taken steps to delay evictions as well. Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut has extended that state’s ban until Feb. 9. Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington extended an eviction moratorium until March 31. New York and the other states acted to plug holes in a federal moratorium that housing advocates say does not do enough to protect tenants from losing their homes. The requirements to qualify for eviction protection are considered onerous, and several states took their own action. The New York Senate approved the new measure 40-21 on Monday, while the state Assembly voted 99-47. What makes New York’s new law exceptional is its reach: It eases the process for tenants and small landlords to claim financial hardships and eliminates hurdles for disabled and older homeowners to renew tax exemptions. In New York state, even under Cuomo’s order, eviction proceedings have continued, but landlords have largely been barred from physically removing tenants from their homes. A smattering of evictions resumed in October, particularly for those tenants who were unable to convince judges that their financial hardships were related to the coronavirus. As of late November, there have been 38 requests for eviction warrants in New York City, according to a recent analysis by the New York University Furman Center. Every one of those cases began before the pandemic and most involved properties in central Brooklyn. Since October, Zellnor Myrie, a state senator representing central Brooklyn, has had at least three eviction warrants issued in his district. The most recent warrant was issued for a tenant who was unable to pay rent. “So even with the constellation of moratoria, there have still been landlords going after tenants,” said Myrie, a sponsor of the legislation. As of November, 8% of New York state residents were unemployed, more than twice as many as this time last year. State Labor Department figures indicate that the unemployment rate in New York City is significantly higher. Small businesses and their employees in Manhattan’s core have been especially hard hit, as commuters have all but vanished. Winsome Pendergrass, 63, a tenant and activist from the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, lost her main source of income providing in-home care. Three months behind in rent, she said the legislation will bring her some relief. “I myself suffer from high blood pressure and I don’t want to be running out there and overexert myself in the pandemic, because the money I am coming up with is just to pay the rent,” she said. But landlords argue the bill oversteps, allowing tenants to avoid eviction by merely stating financial hardship rather than proving it. “With no requirement of proof that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected their income, and no income limitation to qualify for eviction protection, a tenant whose household income went from a half-million dollars to $250,000 would qualify for eviction protection by declaring that their income has been ‘significantly reduced,’” said Joseph Strasburg, president of the Rent Stabilization Association, a landlord group. The new state law will allow evictions to proceed in cases where judges find tenants have persistently created a nuisance for neighbors, like playing loud music at 3 a.m., or created hazardous conditions. The hardship declaration would not only cover financial hardship but also a “significant health risk” of moving in the pandemic. The law also seeks to address the plight of landlords who own 10 or fewer apartments, allowing them to file similar financial hardship declarations with their mortgage lenders, to delay foreclosure proceedings. The law also applies to foreclosures involving tax liens. Jay Martin, the executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, said that while he understands the legislators’ desire to focus on smaller landlords, the law is unnecessarily narrow. “The reality is a majority of renters in this city get their housing from what the legislature would consider non-small operators,” said Martin, whose organization represents landlords of rent-stabilized buildings. “Even a four- or five-story walk-up has more than 10 units in New York City.” Since March, the governor, the state’s courts and the legislature have instituted a series of sometimes overlapping measures designed to forestall evictions during a crisis that has thrown millions out of work, and made it untenable for many tenants to pay rent. Tenants’ inability to pay their landlords has, in turn, made it difficult for some property owners to pay their own bills. But the ever-shifting state rules and court guidance have sown substantial confusion among renters seeking to make sense of the legal morass. Tenant attorneys have also expressed displeasure with how some housing court judges interpret the law. More than elsewhere, courts in the Albany region and in Rochester “have been remarkably unsympathetic to tenants’ situations,” said Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society. The new law is by no means a panacea. Tenants will continue to owe landlords any back rent they haven’t paid, once the moratorium ends. The $1.3 billion in rent relief authorized by the federal government should help, tenant advocates say, but it will not be enough to cover all tenants’ back rent. Michael McKee, the treasurer of Tenants PAC, a tenants rights group, praised the law as “very close” to everything his organization wanted, but also warned that “when this is all lifted, there will be people owing thousands and thousands of back rent they cannot pay.”

New York bans most evictions as tenants struggle to pay rent

About a dozen people lined up to shred the things they wanted to forget about 2020, including but not limited to the deadly global pandemic that swept the world, at the annual "Good Riddance" event held in New York City's Times Square on Monday (December 28).

'Good riddance' - New York ceremoniously knocks out '2020'

American actor Tom Selleck left a USD 2,020 tip on a bill of just over USD 200 at Elio`s restaurant in New York. According to Page Six, Selleck`s benevolent gesture was revealed by his `Blue Bloods` co-star Donnie Wahlberg. 
 
"I found out that my TV Dad #TomSelleck has generously accepted the #2020TipChallenge at Elios Upper East Side!" Wahlberg wrote in a tweet on Wednesday."Love ya dad. I didn`t start it but I`m proud to be part of it. To those who gave even the smallest extra amount this year -THANK YOU." 
 
Wahlberg also posted a note from Selleck that read: "I am honouring my friend Donnie Wahlberg`s `tip challenge` with my sincere hope for a better 2020." Page Six reported that Wahlberg, whose parents both worked in the service industry, is known for dropping huge tips. 
 
On January 1, Wahlberg`s wife, Jenny McCarthy, shared a photo of an IHOP receipt showing he`d topped USD 2,020. And last month he gifted the same amount at a Massachusetts restaurant. 
 
James Corden and Adele have also taken part in the "tip challenge," which began when a server in Michigan, Danielle Franzoni, received a tip of USD 2,020 on a bill of USD 23.

American actor Tom Selleck left a USD 2,020 tip on a bill of just over USD 200 at Elio`s restaurant in New York. According to Page Six, Selleck`s benevolent gesture was revealed by his `Blue Bloods` co-star Donnie Wahlberg.

American actor Tom Selleck left a USD 2,020 tip on a bill of just over USD 200 at Elio`s restaurant in New York. According to Page Six, Selleck`s benevolent gesture was revealed by his `Blue Bloods` co-star Donnie Wahlberg. "I found out that my TV Dad #TomSelleck has generously accepted the #2020TipChallenge at Elios Upper East Side!" Wahlberg wrote in a tweet on Wednesday."Love ya dad. I didn`t start it but I`m proud to be part of it. To those who gave even the smallest extra amount this year -THANK YOU." Wahlberg also posted a note from Selleck that read: "I am honouring my friend Donnie Wahlberg`s `tip challenge` with my sincere hope for a better 2020." Page Six reported that Wahlberg, whose parents both worked in the service industry, is known for dropping huge tips. On January 1, Wahlberg`s wife, Jenny McCarthy, shared a photo of an IHOP receipt showing he`d topped USD 2,020. And last month he gifted the same amount at a Massachusetts restaurant. James Corden and Adele have also taken part in the "tip challenge," which began when a server in Michigan, Danielle Franzoni, received a tip of USD 2,020 on a bill of USD 23.

'Friends' actor Tom Selleck leaves USD 2,020 tip at NYC restaurant

Hebrew Home has had a pet therapy program for 20 years; tiny Zeus and gentle giant Marley the Great Dane are the current snugglers in residence. Now, the activities department is expanding the canine corps with two new recruits in training to give residents more of the affectionate physical contact that has become so scarce and precious in the coronavirus era.

Dogs provide love at nursing home during pandemic

Despite the first major snowstorm in New York in a few years, the show must go on for Times Square's own Naked Cowboy.

Singing in the snow; the 'Naked Cowboy' performs in Times Square

New Yorkers slid down the freshly fallen snow on Pilgrim Hill in Central Park on Thursday (December 17), making the best of the winter storm that marched up the U.S. East Coast the night before.

New Yorkers enjoy wintry mix

Snowstorm lashes US east coast; New York hit

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