October 17, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Sunrise 7.09 am. Sunset 6.12 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 11 hours & 2 minutes of daylight or four hours and 4 minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.
The photo above or at right, was taken yesterday in Manhattan in Rockefeller Center. Over time I've come to consider Rockefeller Center as Manhattan's Town Center. The Art Deco architecture - including Saks 5th Avenue in the background - as well as the public space behind me, including the skating rink which recently opened, were developed with consideration for the community as a whole, not just the property owners. The photo reminded me of how nice it is to get together with friends, and to enjoy their company through an evening of texting together.
Charter Revision Ballot Measures. Eric Adams has floated 5 of the 6 Measures on the November 4th Ballot, which would strip you, the NYC voters, of most input into any billionaire funded real estate developments in your communities. I urge you to VOTE NO on the ballot measures. We will provide further details in the Weekly News Update coming over the weekend. But in the meantime, you can watch a half hour video by a community activist explaining why you should vote against the billionaire developer measures, which Eric Adams so dishonestly served up as an 'affordable housing fix'. And after you inform yourself, we ask you to tell your family and friends [aka We, The People] because the billionaire developers and international investors are likely to advertise false narratives about voting yes being good for you - when in fact it is not. And they will use the uninformative, disinformative and distracting TV News to pummel the electorate with the false, decades old 'this is good for 'affordable housing' pitch' to deceive NYC voters into giving up their rights. Why NYC should vote NO to the Charter Revision Ballot Questions November 2025.
NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different than TV News TriState Weather. Essentially no rain, but some rain may come late Sunday evening, but more likely early Monday morning. The temperature highs will be in the high 60's Saturday, and low 70's Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the low 50's Saturday and the high 50's on Sunday. The humidity will range from about 50% to 75% on Saturday and from 70% to 90% on Sunday. Winds are 5 - 10 mph Saturday, rising to 10 - 15 mph Sunday.
Saturday Early Morning Edition @ 4.15 am. This is a solid draft with a bit more to do.
Ongoing. We started adding a bit more news and events two weeks ago. Scroll down the page for some enhanced local coverage and check out our local and other news section using the drop down button, on the main tool bar in the upper left corner under the header. This will evolve over time. Stay tuned and thanks for clicking in.
The Campaign Finance Board scheduled two Mayoral Debates this month. The first was held on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 7 pm at NBC Studios at Rocefeller Center in Manhattan [aired on NBC], and next Wednesday , October 22, 2025 at 7 pm [NY1] there will be one more debate among the three remaining Mayoral candidates - Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa.
We covered the debate on Thursday night at NBC at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, as you can see in the photo above or at right. We'll post what we learned in the debate about all of the misinformation that's floating around, as well as our view on what the debate changed - if anything - over the weekend.
Saturday, October 18, 2025 - No Kings Day Protests Nationwide - see links below. Americans who are concerned that the Trump Administration is increasingly exercising fascist-like control of the U.S. federal government apparatus, are taking to the streets on Saturday in protests planned across the country, but also, out of concern for what's happening here, protests are planned around the globe.
The Reasons Why So Many are Expected to Participate in the No Kings Day Protests. Among the many concerns these protesters have with the Trump Administration are the following: 1) Trump is continually breaking the law by denying Americans and immigrants alike, their right to due process; 2) he's been withholding government funding to suppress freedom of speech at our colleges, universities [Columbia capitulated, MIT has stood tall and Harvard has too thus far] and many large influential law firms; 3) he's been attacking the press with what appear frivolous lawsuits [ABC, CBS, NYT, WSJ & more]; 4) his Secretary of Defense, Hegseth, has been trying to eliminate transparency about what's going on at the Department of Defense by trying to coerce media outlets to sign agreements / subservient oaths not to report anything without his authorization [reminds me of the Hitler loyalty oath], 5) he's been intimidating mass media companies by threatening them with their FCC licenses [eg. ABC Kimmel] or intimating the possibility of blocking mergers [CBS & Skydance], 6) he's been militarizing our city streets by using ICE agents who aren't well trained, nor experienced for the jobs they are being asked to perform [a Chicago judge ordered ICE agents to start wearing body cameras in Chicago], 7) he's been militarizing our streets by calling up the National Guard based on false pretences of non-existent emergencies in Democratically run cities [Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago], 8) he's been cutting funding for many Americans' essential food and healthcare [The Big Billionaire Bill], 9) he's been cutting taxes for the rich, by borrowing trillions on the backs of future generations of Americans, 10) he attempted to convince the Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger to 'find' him 11,780 votes so he could steal the 2020 presidential election, 11) he played a role in inciting the January 6, 2021 Insurrection to overthrow the results of the 2020 election, including delaying a call up of the National Guard even after the protesters started yelling 'hang Mike Pence' who was the Vice President at the time, 12) he's currently trying to rig the 2026 election results by having governors gerrymander their voting districts, so that in spite of whatever the popular vote may be, the Republicans will still retain a majority in the House and 13) he's begun using the Department of Justice as his own personal law firm wherein he's begun prosecuting anyone he doesn't like or who has stood up to him [John Bolton former National Security head, James Comey former FBI head & Letitia James NYS Attorney General].
Billionaire controlled TV News and mass media outlets have been amplifying the false statements that these peaceful protests are 'Hate America' rallies. TV News continually repeats these false statements, made by reckless politicians, over and over and over again. The careless politicians who say such things, appear to be trying to incite the ignorant and unstable, to do join them in doing stupid, immoral, possibly even violent, things in order to frighten 'We, The People'. The ultimate goal appears to be to muzzle Americans from standing up for our god-given "inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Historically, America has been the home of the brave, and I hope this generation will not be the exception. There's a lot at stake.
So, I have a few PEACEFUL PROTEST recommendations: 1 ) Don't allow yourself to get into an argument with anyone about anything. If you find your blood is boiling, walk away. 2) If you can maintain your calmness, and have a fairly good grasp of what's going on, and good command of the facts, try to converse with some of the counter protesters as to why they are there. Try to listen to them for as long as you like or can, and try to leave them with the sense that they just spoke to someone who is their fellow American, who listened and who cares. Only love can conquer hate. 3) Take along an Amercan flag. It automatically proves that Speaker Johson Action was wrong about this being a Hate America rally. 4) Report to the police anyone who is creating a disturbance regardless of which side they are on. Democracy is a conversation, where we discuss things, find what we can agree on, compromise on what we can't agree on, and kick some of the cans down the road.
While you're out there channel the calm spirituality of many peaceful protesters who've gone before you. Siddhartha Buddha, Jesus Christ, David Thoreau, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Joan Baez and Nelson Mandela - are a few of the great peaceful protesters that come to mind.
Links for the No Kings Protests in Each Borough. Copy & Paste into your browser bar.
For NYC, Yonkers & New Rochelle - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/?q=NYC
For Manhattan - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/?q=MANHATTAN
For Queens - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/?q=QUEENS
For the Bronx - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/?q=BRONX
For Brooklyn - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/?q=BROOKLYN
For Staten Island - https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/?q=STATEN%20ISLAND
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 17, 18 & 19, 2025 - Open House NY - at various times and at 270 locations in all five boroughs. An opportunity to tour many of NYC's historic, architectural, arts and cultural destinations for free. For details see - https://ohny.org
Wednesday - Sunday, October 15 - 19, 2025 - Times vary but generally in the evening between 6 pm - 11 pm - NYC Wine & Food Festival - at the South Street Seaport. This event has returned to Manhattan from Brooklyn where most events were held last year. They appear to have centralized most of the events at various at the Invesco QQQ Festival Campus at Pier 15 along the East River Esplanade, but also use the Tin Building for their opening night tasting, and the South Street Seaport Museum on Pier 15 for their Grand Tasting. Talks by restaurateurs and culinary artists, food demonstrations and samplings & chow downs range in price. Admissions vary from $75 on up. For details and tickets see - https://nycwff.org
Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 9 am to 3 pm - 4th Annual Indigenous People's Parade. Assembly begins at 9 am, there's a ceremony that begins at 10 am, and the parade begins at 12 noon marching south down Broadway from Madison Square Park at 26th Street to Union Square Park at 17th Street in south Midtown. There's likely to be after parade celebration in Union Square Park. For details see - https://calendar.powwows.com/events/the-annual-national-indigenous-peoples-of-the-americas-parade/
RESCHEDULED FROM PRIOR WEEK _ Sunday, October 19, 2025 from 1 to 3 pm - Harvest Festival at Carl Schurz Park - in the pumpkin patch at Gracie Oval at End End and East 88th Street. Live entertainment, scarecrow, pumpkin patch & pumpkin decorating. For details see - https://www.carlschurzparknyc.org. Free.
Sunday, October 19, 2025 from 11 am to 3 pm / Howl Starts at 1 pm - Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Vendor Fair - in the sports courts at Carl Schurz Park at East End and 89th Street. Free. For details see - https://www.carlschurzparknyc.org
Ongoing _ Monday, September 15, 2025 to October 30, 2025 at various times - Frenzy Film Festival. At El Barrio's Art Space PS109 at 215 East 99th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues on the UES / Harlem. For details see - https://filmfreeway.com/FrenzyFest or https://bip-nyc.com/fest/
Thursday, October 9 - Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at various times and at five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn - New Fest NY LGBTQ Film Festival. The five locations are: SVA Theatre, the LGBTQ Community Center in Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park Brooklyn. They also include a virtual option. For details and $14.50 tickets and up for festival passes see - https://newfest.org/
Gramercy Theater concerts - info coming but in the meantime - https://www.thegramercytheatre.com/shows
MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Manhattan Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Manhattan Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.
Friday & Saturday, October 17 & 18, 2025 from 6 pm to 8.30 pm Preview Night & 10 am to 4.30 pm respectively - Annual St Lukes Rummage sale - click street fairs link below for details.
Sunnyside _ Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 6.30 to 10.30 pm - Sunnyside Shorts Film Festival - at Sunnyside Reformed Church at 48th Street and [48-03] Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside. Here are a couple of links of prior reports we did on the Sunnyside Short Film Festival in 2009, 2010 and 2016. For details and $25 / $20 / $15 tickets see - https://www.sunnysideshorts.com
Sunday, October 19, 2025 from 12 noon to 3 pm - The Festival de las Flores - A parade marches along 37th Avenue from 69th Street [in Jackson Heights] to 88th Street in Corona where there should be a nearby street fair that runs along [possibly 90th] Street to Roosevelt Avenue until about 6 pm.
Ongoing _ Saturdays & Sundays, September 6 - October 26, 2025 from 2 to 5.30 pm Fridays, and from 11 am to 4 pm Saturdays & Sundays - Corn Fest / the Amazing Maize Maze at the Queens County Farm at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. This is a chance to stroll through a maze made of corn in the field at Queens County Farm. For details and $16 / $10 tickets [kids age 3 and under free] see - https://www.queensfarm.org
Ongoing _ Daily September 30 to October 31, 2025 [there are a few days closed] from 12 noon to 4 pm weekdays and beginning 10 am on Saturday and Sunday - Queens County Farm Pumpkin Patch at 75-30 Little Neck Parkway in Queens. Free with admission. For details see - https://www.queensfarm.org
Ongoing _ Flushing _ Saturdays, October 18 & 25, 2025 from 4 pm to 12 midnight - Queens International Night Market - see street fairs page for details.
MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS - Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Queens Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Queens Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes
Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19, 2025 from 12 noon to 6 pm - Gowanus Open Studios - in the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn. Stroll through the Gowanus neighborhood, stopping at artists studios along the way on Saturday and Sunday. For further details and a list and map of the over 300 artists participating in this weekend long events see - https://gowanusarts.org/.
Thursday, October 9 - Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at various times and at five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn - New Fest NY LGBTQ Film Festival. The five locations are: SVA Theatre, the LGBTQ Community Center in Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Nitehawk Cinema in Prospect Park Brooklyn. They also include a virtual option. For details and $14.50 tickets and up for festival passes see - https://newfest.org/
Back in Manhattan at the South Street Seaport et al 2025 _ Wednesday - Sunday, October 15 - 19, 2025- NYC Wine & Food Festival. See Manhattan Buzz for full description of event with details. Or for details and tickets see - https://nycwff.org
Two Plays - Polonsky & Billie Holiday Theater.
MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Brooklyn BLVD New Member Sign Up. Click this link Brooklyn MCAL - Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.
Thursday - Sunday, November 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2025 - The Other Art Fair - at ZeroSpace in Brooklyn. Three Brooklyn creative hubs : Clay Space, Dirtbag ArtHaus & the Textile Arts Center are presented by Saatchi Art and for sale at prices ranging from $100 plus.
November 11, 2025 from 6 to 8.30 pm - A Legacy of Love: 29 Years of Community and Connection - GRIOT Circle honors LGBTQ+ elders of color at the Loft in Downtown Brooklyn - see MCAL link above for details.
Saturdays, Sundays, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12, 2025 beginning at 4 pm Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays, 7 pm Thursday & Friday - Undead: A Dracula Story by Amy Frey - performed by The Monkey Theater Group at the Bartow Pell Mansion in Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. For details and $40 / $35 tickets see - https://www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org
Saturday - Tuesday, October 18 to November 4, 2025 at various times - Flip Circus in the Bronx. In the Mall at Bay Plaza in the parking lot. For details and tickets ranging from $104 for two and up, see - https://www.flipcircus.com
Saturday, October 25, 2025 beginning at 12 noon - Bronx Halloween Parade - beginning at Simpson & 163rd Street - see MCAL link below for details which includes a link to one of the organizers' website.
Wednesdays, November 17, & December 19, 2025 from 4 to 9 pm there's a Vegan Bazaar - at the Andrew Freeman Home - for details see street fairs page.
MCAL _ MEMBER CALENDAR EVENTS. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Bronx Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Bronx MCAL Member Events Calendar to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 beginning at 7 pm - District 13 Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato - at the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association (PPNA) monthly meeting - see MCAL link above for details.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 6 to 7.30 pm - Civic Engagement is People Power: Bronx Edition - at the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning on Crotona Avenue. For details see MCAL link above or contact - academy@cityparksfoundation.org
Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 12 noon to 5 pm - Cottage Row Curiosities at Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace Street in the Randall Manor neighborhood of Staten Island. There will be over 40 local vendors selling artisanal goods, food, music, entertainment and information. For details, copy & paste - https://snug-harbor.org
Editor's Note. There is also a Fall Festival on the Mount on Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26, 2025. Both events are held around the same location. This Staten Island Halloween party [10/25 & 10/26/25] includes Staten Island's largest pumpkin patch, DJ, food, rides, beer and sangria wine, and some entertainment. Donation Adults / Kids 10 & under free / Parking $5.
MCAL _ MEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR. Use this link for new member sign up and posting - Staten Buzz New Member Sign Up. Click this link Staten Island Events - Member Events to view free posts made by arts, cultural and community groups. This month includes TBD.
Have a nice weekend.
Updated October 10, 2025 v. 10/3/2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Sunrise 7.02 / 6.53 am. Sunset 6.23 / 6.36 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 11 hours & 20 minutes of daylight or three hours and 46 minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.
The photo above or at right, was taken last weekend near the Citibank Building in Long Island City in Queens. High winds are expected on Sunday and Monday, so I hope the NYC Department of Buildings is doing its job to make sure that construction sites in all five boroughs, have been properly fastened down.
NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different than TV News TriState Weather. There's a 50% chance of about a half inch of rain Sunday, beginning mid afternoon. On Monday, the probability of about 3/4 inch of rain climbs from 50% overnight, to about 70% by 7 am, climbing further to 100% by 11 am. Tuesday, at present looks like little rain. Now this all said, let me inform you that just a day ago, the forecast was for almost double that amount of rain, so the weather system has shed a fair amount of precipitation - and given the drought - could continue to dry up as we move through the weekend. And while this is good news for the weekend weather, it's a dire warning about the lost of planetary H2O that should concern everyone who's contributing to the problem by pumping carbon into the atmosphere. 10.10.25 late afternoon update - the weekend shed another 1/4 inch of rain off the forecast.
The temperature highs will be in the mid 60's on Friday, climbing to the high 60's on Saturday, dropping back to the mid 60's on Sunday and the low 60's on Monday. The temperature lows fell into the high 40's Friday morning, but will climb to about 60 for the rest of the weekend. The humidity was 90% early Friday, and will fall to about 50% later today, and then climb back to 90%, where it will remain for the rest of the weekend. The winds will be 5 - 10 mph Friday, climbing to 10 - 15 mph Saturday and then rising to 20 - 25 mph plus on both Sunday and Monday - so it's a windy weekend.
Friday Late Afternoon Edition @ 4.45 pm. This is a solid draft with a tiny bit more to do, plus clean up of a few related pages. Should be done with clean up early Friday evening. It's a big, fun filled, three day holiday weekend. Please share with family & friends. Have a good weekend. I don't think the weather is going to be anything near as bad as the TV News folks portray it.
Ongoing. We started adding a bit more news and events two weeks ago. Scroll down the page for some enhanced local coverage and check out our local and other news section using the drop down button, on the main tool bar in the upper left corner under the header. This will evolve over time. Stay tuned and thanks for clicking in.
Editor's Note. Our regular weekend things to do post coming either late Thursday, October 9 or by midday Friday, October 10, 2025. The following post contains some special Columbus Day weekend events, as well as a number of suggestions of things to do over the holiday weekend. Enjoy.
October 7, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.
The Columbus Day Weekend is this weekend.
Columbus Day 10/13/25 - Sunrise 7.05 am & Sunset at 6.18 pm.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 10.7.25. Friday and Saturday are sunny and dry. There's a 30% chance of a small amount [about an 1/8th inch of rain each day] of rain Sunday afternoon / evening, continuing through Monday until early evening [7 - 8 pm]. If history repeats itself, this threat of precipitation may evaporate, as it has done so many times this year, because of an ongoing drought in NYC due to carbon fueled climate change.
The temperature highs will be around 70 on Friday and Saturday, falling slightly into the mid 60's on Sunday and Monday. The temperature lows will climb from the high 40's on Friday, to the mid 50's on Saturday, to about 60 on Sunday and Monday. It's going to be a windy weekend, with winds of 5 to 10 mph Friday and Saturday, rising to 10 to 15 mph Sunday and Monday. The humidity will continue its pattern of late, swinging wildly within each day, drying out during the day and then returning in the evening, reaching its highs around daybreak and its lows in the afternoon. The humidity range this weekend is 75% / 55% Friday and Sunday, 80% / 60% Saturday, and 85% / 65% Monday. We'll provide an updated forecast on Friday on the front page of this site.
Updated October 4, 2025 v. 10/3/2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Sunrise 6.53 am. Sunset 6.36 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 11 hours & 42 minutes of daylight or three hours and 24 minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.
The photo above or at right, was taken on Sunday at the Tour de Bronx Bike Ride on the Grand Concourse at 161st Street just outside of the Bronx Borough Hall. About 4,000 cyclists signed up for the event, and based on what I saw on a beautiful, warm, sunny, dry morning, most of them showed up for the ride.
NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different than TV News TriState Weather. Looks like a great weather weekend. No rain. The temperatures highs will be in the mid 70's Friday, rising to the low 80's on Saturday and Sunday. The temperature lows will be in the high 50's on Friday and the mid 60's on Saturday and Sunday. The winds will be a pretty steady 5 mph all weekend. And the humidity will swing wildly again this weekend, from about 95% to 45% Friday, and from 80% to 45% on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity rises when it's dark out, peaking around daybreak, and then falling during the day, bottoming between 3 and 5 pm.
Saturday Morning Edition @ 10.15 am. Mostly done, with a bit of clean up to do on some of the attendant pages. We'll have it finished by about noon'ish. It's another big, fun filled weekend. Please share with family & friends. Have a good weekend.
Ongoing. We started adding a bit more news and events two weeks ago. Scroll down the page for some enhanced local coverage and check out our local and other news section using the drop down button, on the main tool bar in the upper left corner under the header. This will evolve over time. Stay tuned and thanks for clicking in.
Thursday, October 9, 2025 beginning at 7 pm - the First NYC-Wide Candidate Debate - organized by the NYC Campaign Finance Board and rebroadcast on Sunday. Further details coming next week.
October 13, 2025 / Billionaire Press NYC Billionaire TV News / NYC Politics / New York City News / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
*** What Follows was posted Week Beginning 10.13.25
October 13, 2025 / Manhattan NYC. The American Federation Musicians Local 802 [AFM Local 802] announced that their 1,000 plus membership has authorized a strike against the Broadway League which represents the producers and landlords of Broadway shows. Their contract expired August 31, 2025. Actors Equity, which represents 51,000 actors and stage managers in the entire U.S. [NYC is in the Eastern region], authorized a strike on October 1, 2025 [see short report below] following the expiration of their contract on September 28, 2025. Both unions are asking for pay increases and improved health benefits.
The Broadway League broke box office records last year [2024 - 2025 season] taking in $1.89 billion. The Broadway League represents 41 active theaters in NYC. A few shows would continue to go on, if there were a strike, as a couple of plays are being performed by touring companies, and a couple other plays do not have contracts with the Actors Equity or AFM Local 802. Also, Off Broadway Shows in NYC would continue as they also do not have contracts with the unions. But that said, at least 27 or more of NYC's biggest and most famous theaters, would temporarily close, pending the completion of negotiations.
In spite of box office revenue records, some Broadway Shows lost money, as production costs are also high. The following url will take you to a well done report on the situation.
Manhattan NYC News - Broadway Unions Authorize Strike if Negotiations Fail
https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/could-broadway-really-go-on-strike_1698161/
October 8, 2025 / Albany NYS. Drought Conditions in NYS Grow Worse, as Governor Hochul rolls out the current Drought Warning to ten additional counties [1st & 2nd links below].
Drought Warning is the second of the four level warning system, and some believe that some of the counties may soon become captive to a Drought Emergency. If a county is moved from Drought Warning to Drought Emergency water use is mandatorily curtailed. If a county is moved to Drought Disaster, the access to water is even further curtailed [3rd link below].
TV News again fails to Inform. While a great deal of TV News talk regarding climate change has focused on flooding, the real damage thus far comes from hurricanes and high winds [4th link below].
But what's worse, is that TV News continues to fail to inform the American public by looking backward - out of the rearview mirror - as if that's the future ... when it is not. The real climate change disaster is on its way and it's about lack of water, not too much of it [5th link]. If you think inflation is bad now, wait until farmers crops start drying out before harvest time. Pay attention to which TV Network News outlets mislead you, by labeling climate changes, the 'climate hoax', as well as those who promote the use and government subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry.
Albany NYS News - Hochul Announces Worsening NYS Drought Conditions
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-directs-department-environmental-conservation-add-10-more-counties-drought
NYC & NYS News - Map of Drought NYC & NYS
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NY
Albany NYS News - NYS Drought Emergency Levels
https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/drought
USA Climate Change News - Most Climate Change Damage done from Winds / Hurricanes
https://mitigateny.org/hazards_of_concern/drought/drought_hazard_history
https://iowaclimate.org/2025/04/16/reversing-soil-desiccation-cooler-moister-greener/
The Trump Administration has been changing the narrative about the real causes of climate change and the real impact of it, ostensibly to please his donors. Most notably there have been changes on the National Institute of Health [NIH] website, denying climate change. It seems highly plausible they are changing the narrative to please Trump and Republican oil and gas campaign funders, who donated almost a half billion to Trump and Republicans' campaigns in 2024 election alone [1st & 2nd links].
It is also believed that Trump's oil and gas campaign funders have been pushing him to aggressively put the screws to Venezuela, in order to impede Venezuela's ability to compete in the global oil and gas markets. Trump's attacks on boats in the Caribbean may have nothing to do with illicit drugs, as the Trump Administration has failed to produce any evidence of such. Republcian Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, continues to provide cover for Trump's lawless actions [7th, 8th & 9th links].
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1112950/
Washington, D.C. News - Big Oil Donations to Trump & Republicans
https://www.commondreams.org/news/big-oil-donations-trump
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/10/09/senate-resolution-trump-boat-attacks-fails/86590152007/
https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-boat-strikes-warships-6ffd9e6f4eb738048c816c6d8257a6ef
Washington, D.C. News - Is Big Oil the Real Reason for Trump's Attacks on Caribbean Boats?
https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-oil-license-chevron-election-4c0357961d7978e6fbac16127b0a759e
September 9 - October 13, 2025 / NYC. 
The New York League of Conservation Voters did a nice job of articulating what's on the ballot and identifying what both proponents and naysayers say about each [1st link]. We also posted an OpEd dated October 12, 2025 for details of the position of City Club, a civic-minded community group, on four of the ballot measures. City Club has initiated a lawsuit over Charter Revision changes [2nd link]. And lastly, we've included the report of an informative local news source about the measures [3rd link].
https://nylcvef.org/citizens-toolkit/nyc-general-election-2025-whats-on-the-ballot/?sourceid=1014461&emci=38590d43-a0a8-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=92c289eb-eca8-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=1384937
NYC News - City Club on NYC Sues to Review Zoning Changes of NYC Ballot Proposals 2, 3 & 4
https://www.gothambuzz.nyc/article/30/nyc-opinions-op-ed-new-york-city
https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/09/council-weakening-housing-proposals-survive-board-elections/408000/
While Governor Hochul parroted the real estate developers' talking point [not plural], stating it's 'to solve the [25 year] affordable housing crisis', her statement was tepid [4th link]. But an outright NO would have been better. But all pols in NYC, NYS and the USA are challenged by the Supreme Court Citizens United decision which essentially allows the super rich billionaires to limitlessly spend to buy pols and elections, so that once in office, the pols will do whatever they want in order to get the funding to get re-elected. That said, Hochul appears to have tried to strike a balance versus press releases I've seen from the real estate industry pushing the changes in their favor.
It's worth noting that the billionaires, real estate developers, and the pols they financially support - including Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo - have been working to solve the affordability crisis in NYC for the past twenty-five years - with something close to ZERO success. To keep letting these same people, keep feeding at the public trough [via public land transfers, tax breaks, cheap financing, government subsidies, favorable zoning changes et al], with no end in sight, makes no sense at all.
Albany NYS News - Governor Hochul's Tepid Statement Supporting NYC Charter Revision Ballot Measures
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/statement-governor-kathy-hochul-108
Vote No on #2, #3, #4 & #6 if you want to protect yourself, your community and your children from even more NYC Oligarchy money and power grabs by billionaires and real estate developers. Eric Adams has already done enough damage to New Yorkers' ability to exercise their community rights, so don't let him hit us one last time, with this donor power grab, on his way out onto the street.
Oct 21, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Sep 22, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Oct 01, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
September 30, 2025 / NYC Mayors Race / NYC Politics / New York City News / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
We look at events leading up to Adams exit from the NYC Mayoral Race, which lend credence to Sliwa's accusations that Adams was or will be compensated for dropping out. We identify one huge pending public land transfer that Adams is working on [FEC Chelsea NYCHA], and provide a summary history of many of the many real estate deals Adams implemented which provide public land, tax benefits, financing and possibly public funding to billionaires and real estate developers. Some of the people involved in these deals were Adams supporters. Then we look at some of the Adams Mayoral track record, including crime, putting his accomplishments in context. And lastly we look at the aftermath of Adams exit, and what Sliwa, Mamdani and Cuomo had to say about it.
Adams traveled to Florida following the Labor Day Weekend. Coming out of that trip, there were rumors of Adams cutting some sort of deal to drop out of the NYC Mayors race, in exchange for a position in the Trump Administration. On either September 2 or 3, 2025 Adams reportedly met with Trump Administration member, Steve Witkoff, who is also an NYC real estate developer.
It's worth noting that Stephen Ross, of Related Companies, lives in Florida. Ross is one of the largest NYC developers, and historically has been one of the largest players in the funding of NYC Mayoral & City Council members campaigns via supportive Political Action Committees or PACs. And Stephen Ross & Related Companies and affiliates are one of the largest - if not the largest - recipient of NYC public land transfers to a developer over the past quarter century.
Ross currently has at least one huge transfer of NYC pubic land to him and his companies pending [FEC Chelsea NYCHA], which Adams has obligingly - if not submissively - overseen. Ross and friends have been supporters of the campaigns of candidates like Adams for many years, which the current state of NYC's affordable housing crisis bears out. Stephen Ross has also been a financial / PAC Trump supporter, having reportedly hosted a fundraiser for Trump on Long island back in 2020.
In 2021 the billionaires opened their campaign cash spigots for Adams, thus enabling him to win that NYC Mayoral race based on campaign funding and TV commercials - not merit. And ever since Adams became NYC Mayor, he's been working hard to move ahead the billionaires' real estate development projects, which far too often appear to include the transfer of NYC public land at rock bottom / oligarchy free-for-all prices. I believe this is one of the reasons the billionaire developers and media oligarchy don't want to see Mamdani win, as it will slow down their railroading of riches from the public into the private domain.
Adams' meaningful achievements for the working class of NYC are close to non-existent. This helps explain why Adams repeatedly showcases a picture of his mother Dorothy at public appearances, to lay claim to her working class roots. Adams may have been born into the working class, but he does not appear to have working class values, nor a true affinity for them - least not since becoming NYC Mayor. Adams seems to have traded in his affinity with the working class, for aspirational riches a long time ago. Likely before he was famously quoted saying "show me the money".
Adams insinuates, if not outright claims, he's reduced crime in NYC since taking office. When Adams became Mayor in 2022, we were still dealing with the pandemic. Crime in NYC rose not just here, but in the rest of the nation as well. But over the past few years, crime has fallen in NYC, and in all other U.S. cities.
September 26, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Sunrise 6.47 am. Sunset 6.45 pm. Daylight Savings Time. We're getting 11 hours & 58 minutes of daylight or three hours and 8 minutes less of sunlight than we were getting the weekend of the Summer Solstice, on June 20, 2025. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of this year, providing 15 hours and 6 minutes of sunlight in NYC.
The photo above or at right, was taken last Sunday evening at the Sunnyside Night Market organized by Sunnyside Shines. The event featured local food and merchandise, and celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.
NYC Specific Weather - This can be very Different vs TV News Area Weather. Looks like a great weather weekend, and with plenty of interesting things to do. No rain, unless you count up to 1/8 inch between the hours of 10 / 11 pm Saturday night and 8 / 9 am Sunday morning. The temperatures highs will be in the low 80's all weekend. The temperature lows will be about 70 all weekend. The winds will be a pretty steady 5 mph all weekend. And the humidity will swing wildly from 100% to 55% Friday and from 90% to 60% on Saturday and Sunday. The humidity is higher when it's dark out, and lower during the day.
Don't Fool with Mother Nature. Please pay attention to this, because our climate is changing very rapidly in subtle ways. It's not just the temperature, but the humidity and rainfall as well, as we have been depleting our planetary fresh water reserves over the past 50 years, and we're nearing the inflection point. Our fresh water reserves are stored underground and at the glacial poles. By inflection point I mean we are quickly approaching that point where planetary food production will have shrunk sufficiently and the fresh water supply will have diminished so much, that nations won't have enough of these precious resources to keep their entire populations alive.
Ultimately - if our current energy consumption and production behaviours continue to go unchecked - vast amounts of crops will fail, and nations will begin fighting over food and water supplies. And these fights will be unlike anything seen modern history, because these resources are required by man to live.
This isn't just the fault of the profiteers and the sycophantic media outlets and politicians who enable them, but also the fault of all of the people who ignore this problem. When it comes to Mother Nature, ignore her at your own peril, as Mother Nature isn't one to be fooled with. She is not some lightweight businessman, newscaster or politician who can be distracted, bought or bullied. She's very real, she's unimaginably powerful, and if we don't soon start taking care of her, she will soon take care of us ... and at least as detrimentally.
Friday Afternoon Edition @ 4 pm. Mostly done, but we have a bit of clean up to do on related pages, which should be done by the end of the business day. It's another big, fun filled weekend. Please share with your family and friends. We wish you an enjoyable weekend.
ONGOING MORE NEWS & EVENTS. We started adding a bit more news and events last weekend. Scroll down the page for enhanced local coverage. This will evolve over time. Stay tuned.
September 18, 2025 / New York City News / NYC Billionaire Press Billionaire TV News & Free Speech in America / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.
All six TV Networks are controlled by billionaires [or folks whose wealth rounds up to billionaires or are members of billionaire families]. Increasingly they appear to be turning the TV networks into privately controlled propaganda machines. Too often they appear to resemble Rupert Murdoch's mistreatment of the truth in the news. This means they seem to omit key facts and even entire stories from view, while amplifying falsehoods and outright lies spoken by politicians and their teleprompter readers alike, which go uncorrected, leaving those who still trust Network TV News, ignorant and in the dark as to what's really going on in this country.
Colbert was cancelled by CBS and numerous seasoned journalists departed for journalistic integrity reasons. CBS appeared to be compromising their integrity, as Colbert is the top rated show in the time period. But Trump doesn't like Colbert, and CBS had a merger deal that needed to be approved by the Trump Justice Department and FCC, so poof, Colbert cancelled. CBS denies this reasoning, saying they have other [unannounced] plans.
Disney / ABC paid off Trump in a lawsuit many attorneys were sure they could have easily won. And this week Disney / ABC took the Jimmy Kimmel Show off the air for making an opinionated comment of which Trump didn't approve, on the Kirk assassination shooter. Kimmel had joked that the shooter was a MAGA Republican which he does not appear to be, although reportedly the rest of his family is.
The alleged shooter was reportedly in a relationship with someone working through gender identity issues, which is just one of the many important issues of our day, that billionaire TV News repeatedly fails to fully inform upon. This link will take you to the Metropolitan Museum website, of a past photo exhibit, wherein in the mid 1800's a French photographer documented a hermaphrodite, which is someone with both male and female genitalia. That's a fact, that I have NEVER seen raised nor discussed by the flunkies on TV News, who don't seem to be knowledgeable about the world around them, and definitely far too often, just simply do not do their basic homework on important issues.
And the sad thing is that this translates to an increasingly ignorant American public, as up until this year TV was the dominant news source. This year news on the web FINALLY passed TV News, and I am hoping that that trend will accelerate as more Americans start paying attention to how badly TV News fails them, daily.
If you decide to click this link you'll encounter what is likely a shocker to most folks [was to me the first time I saw it at the Metropolitan Museum exhibit in the late 1990's]. But the idea isn't to shock, but rather to instruct - Metropolitan Museum photo exhibit by Nadar of hermaphrodite.
September 21, 2025 / NYC Mayors Race / NYC Politics / New York City News / Gotham Buzz NYC.
This section is dedicated to providing our audience with a weekly update of recent polls surrounding the NYC Mayoral Race, and select other NYC public positions to be decided in this upcoming election.
Reposted September 11, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / Things to do NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
This is a video of one of the rehearsals for the Table of Silence performance this morning at Lincoln Center, commemorating the 19th anniversary of 911. They return to perform the Table of Silence at Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center on Thursday 9/11 at 8.10 am. Free. Or catch the live stream - https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/lincoln-center-presents/table-of-silence-project-911-259
9.10.25 _ Queens News / News Analysis & Opinion _ Click here to learn a bit more through an interview by Erroll Louis on Spectrum TV on August 28, 2025, who interviewed an author / community activist and the President of the FEC Tenants Against Demolition about what's going on there - NYC Oligarchy - Stephen Ross, Related Companies, Essence, Eric Adams transferring huge amount of public wealth & NYC billionaire TV doesn't much report it. Also on the front page scroll down to the Landlord Tenant Harassment button to become familiar with the bigger picture. And click into the drop down OpEd section from the front page tool bar to learn more about the FEC Chelsea NYCHA land grab by Stephen Ross and Related Companies. Ross and Related Companies have been the beneficiaries of the transfer of acres upon acres of prime public NYC land all over NYC for what seem like fire sale / corruption prices.
Please be advised that this series will be evolving slowly starting sometime in Q4 2025 and continuing thereafter. Thus far we've posted some of our historical coverage, but by far and away, the best is yet to come.
August 29, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Labor Day Weekend is less than two weeks away.
The following links will bring you to a list of special events happening this Labor Day Weekend in each borough, as well as the highlighting of a number cultural institutions in that locale.
We'll be updating our front page on the Friday of the Labor Day weekend, with an up-to-date weather forecast, as well as additional Labor Day Weekend events and updates. So please come back to visit us Friday or over the Labor Day weekend.
And in the meantime, have a good rest of week.
Sep 25, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
August 15, 2025 / NYC Business & Economy / NYC Politics & Government / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
It Looks Like We May be Heading for a Stagflation Economy. According to 8.15.25 Yahoo Finance report, wholesale prices rose faster than expectations, up 0.9% in July, far faster than expectations. The core rate grew 3.7% vs an expected 3%. The Fed target rate is 2%. Services, not goods, were the driving force behind the inflation increase, and services are not tied to tariffs. We might be heading into a stagflation economy, where inflation continues or picks up, while jobs growth slows, as happened this month.
The contributors to a staglationary economy include that the U.S. dollar has lost 10% of its value since the beginning of the year. This means everything purchased outside of the U.S. will essentially cost 10% more to Americans. And tariffs will eventually add further to the inflation problem by increasing the cost of goods further.
TV News doesn't seem to understand that there's a lag time between when changes in the economy occur [like tariffs or currency valuation changes], and when the impact of them shows up at the cash register. Macroeconomic lag times range from three to eighteen months as these changes work their way through the economy. And speaking of TV News, it's worth mentioning that a stagflationary economy would be just the opposite of the 'Trump Economy' touted by Fox News during the Fall 2024 campaign cycle. For details see - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-hotter-than-expected-wholesale-prices-make-the-feds-september-rate-cut-decision-harder-155711746.html
Is Eric Adams Recycling Faith Based Campaign Endorsements? About a week ago, Eric Adams announced that he was being endorsed by 100 faith based leaders. The endorsements appeared to come from some of the same people who've been supporting Adams all along, some of whom I've seen at various mayoral events, and some of whom I believe stood with him when he announced his re-election bid as an Independent in June of 2025.
Earlier this week Adams also picked up an endorsement from former NYS Democrat Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, and who switched his allegiance from Cuomo in the Democratic primary, to Adams running as an Independent.
A group of police unions also endorsed Adams this week, but notably missing was the largest NYC police union, the NYPBA. The NYPBA had previously endorsed Adams in the 2021 election, reportedly unenthusiastically. This may be why the NYPBA is holding back their endorsement again, or it could be that the NY Patrolmens Benevolent Association union is not happy that Adams has sullied the name of the NYPD, having been charged in a lawsuit with turning the NYPD into his own personal "racketeering enterprise".
July 25, 2025 / NYC Politics & Government / NYC Social Issues / Gotham Buzz NYC.
News Analysis & Opinion.
Meanwhile former NYPD Captain, Mayor Eric Adams, was hit with yet another set of corruption charges in court, this time alleging that Adams had turned NYPD operations into a criminal enterprise. See graphic above or at right.
We'll provide details sometime later, but in the meantime, take a look for yourself at what kind of a 'law and order' Mayor Adams is - https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/07/16/nypd-donlon-lawsuit-adams-racketeering/
NYC mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, has secured the backing of a number of large NYC unions support, beating out former Governor Cuomo for unions that had previously supported him.
We'll provide details sometime later, but in the meantime here's a video Mamdani did, taking a pre-emptive shot mocking the adolescently edited NY Post, instead of the other way around https://www.facebook.com/reel/1066919915568285
July 4, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / 4th of July Holiday NYC / Gotham Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather Friday & Saturday, July 4 & 5, 2025. The temperature highs will be in the mid to high 80's each day, while the temperature lows will be around 70 each day. No rain is in the forecast for NYC during this time period. The winds will be about 3 - 8 mph both days. The humidity will range from 50% - 65% in what appears to be a relatively stable couple of days, during which fireworks will be launched throughout the NYC area. Both days look pretty fine.
NYC Weather Update as of 6.24.25 for Early Fireworks Displays in the Bronx and Queens on Thursday June 26, 2025. The temperature highs will be in the high 90's on Thursday, descending to about 80 by midday and down to 70 in the late evening. The humidity will be in the 70% range for most of the day. No rain is expected and winds will be in the 10 mph range. Not too bad for a July 4th fireworks display, although the winds might make it challenging for the pyrotechnicians.
Air Quality. As of 7.4.25 the air quality is Moderate, as well as for Friday & Saturday, although rising going into the weekend. To stay abreast of the air quality in NYC copy and paste this link into your browswer bar - https://www.airnow.gov
All of these fireworks displays are FREE, unless specified otherwise.
June 22, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / Gotham Buzz NYC.
New York City offers easy access to a wide range of recreational indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The following provides you with a view of the range of public swimming pools available in the parks of the entire city. We encourage you to make use of these facilities because they provide healthy, fun, and frequently free or inexpensive entertainment for both individuals and families with children.
Be advised that as of this posting, the pools are scheduled to open on Friday, June 27, 2025. You're advised to bring sunscreen, a padlock for a locker and a towel. Please be respectful of your fellow Bronxians, Brooklyners, Manhattanites, Queensians and Staten Islanders while using the pools.
Click these links to view a listing of swimming pools in each borough, complete with location and contact information, swimming pool sizes, hours and other details.
July 14, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Parades / Gotham Buzz NYC.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 7.14.25. Update coming with the Friday / Weekend post.
The photo at right was taken at one of the NYC Dominican Parades in NYC in a prior year.
There were four Dominican Day Parades in NYC up until a few years ago, but the Brooklyn Dominican Day Parade appears to have been discontinued. Nonetheless, there are still Dominican Day parades in Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan in June, July and August 2025, respectively.
Updated 8.20.25 v. 7.7.25 Update / Opinion / Work in Progress
We've entered The Disinformation Age. Much of the mass media is controlled by billionaires, especially TV assets. They changed the FCC laws so they are no longer required to behave ethically, accurately and so the billionaire press does what it does best, pursues profits regardless of community collateral damage. They're only sharing information that they want you to know. They omit key facts they don't want you to know or even entirely ignore important stories that may embarass their billionaire friends. They try to manipulate viewers' perceptions in order to get them to vote for candidates representing the billionaires' interests, and provide open mics to the candidates their choice - not fact checked - even when these pols are making numerous false or misleading statements.
Updated 8.20.25 v. 6.20.25 _ Currently Recommended News Sources to Help You Wean Yourself from Servile Dependence on Billioniare TV News.
For local NYC / NYS news we currently find ourselves using The City, Politico, Axios, Vox, Wikipedia, the Gotham Gazette, Gothamist and City & State. Also NPR and PBS. Note that we will continue to revisit this section and continue developing this list of local, state and national news sources sometime in the not-too-distant future.
For national news we find ourselves using many of the above sources, as well as Mother Jones, Wired, the Atlantic, the New Yorker, the browser Firefox curates a fair news offering, finance.yahoo.com is good for business news, and moderated social media outlets like BSky.app has an intelligent, highly skilled audience that does a fair job of identifying key news reports. The search engines are also useful for fact checking and doing further research into issues, people and other things. Collectively these news sources should enable you to effectively do your civic duty to inform yourself about people and issues before voting.
The NON-Billionaire TV News that we currently find reliable, includes left-leaning Democracy Now [on FNX & CUNY TV], PBS News Hour, and PBS Documentaries are also very informative. The Washington Post and New York Times are still fairly reliable, but sadly, not as implicitly as I found them to be in the past. Both the NYT and Wapo have undergone ownership / top management changes within the past six years. And the new management teams' values appear to differ from their predecessors, so pay attention to editorial changes / impacts.
I no longer find any of the Network TV News outlets to be even remotely close to being sufficiently informative. And far, far too often I find them to be misleading and parlayers of false information. I doubt they ever were really up to the job, but back in the day, they used the newspaper reporting to help keep them informed. Here again, newspaper journalism may not be dead, but it's very financially challenged and isn't remotely close to what it once was due to constained financials. But that said, you can still pick up a few leads from TV News, which you can then use to more fully inform yourself, by doing further research on the internet.
June 13, 2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Politics Media & Government / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
On Friday, the top two NYC Mayoral contenders to Andrew Cuomo - Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander - cross endorsed each other for Mayor. This should help both of them as contenders and according to one pundit, reduces Cuomo's sure lock on the Mayoralty from 80% down to 60%. Which means Mamdani and Lander need to reach out to other NYC Mayoral candidates who realistically are no longer contenders, like Zellnor Myrie, Michael Blake, Jessica Ramos, and Jim Walden [running as an anti-corruption Independent] to increase their odds, while detracting from Cuomo's.
The photos above or at right were taken earlier this year at two different debates. On the left is NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and on the right is NYS Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani - the top two contenders for NYC Mayor following Andrew Cuomo. On Friday they cross endorsed each other, which will likely lead to increased TV ad spending by big real estate on their also-ran, straw horse candidates [see below]; as well as increased TV ad spending for attack ads trying to discredit real challengers to big real estate's choice for Mayor - Andrew Cuomo. Most TV political ads are such distortions of the truth, that they seem to be more fake news than informative.
Please do your homework on the candidates, using some of the high quality information sources below, to move up the learning curve on who the candidates are and who's funding them. TV News doesn't cut it any more, as it's controlled by billionaires. A long while ago, they rolled back FCC regulations requiring fair and balanced reporting, which is why what TV News presents today, is no longer consistently credible.
CLICK here to read the rest of our report on Mamdani & Lander cross endorse in NYC Mayoral Race 2025.
May 23, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
May 19, 2025 at 12:15 am by mikewood
May 09, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Apr 19, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Updated April 5, 2025 vs 4.4.2025 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
The photo above or at right was taken a couple of weeks ago in the Elizabeth Street Garden in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. They are trying to get the city to preserve the area as a permanent community green space, and to build the proposed 'affordable housing' elsewhere. The city has been threatening to close the garden any day now, but given it's an election year, Adams may wait until after he loses it. We'll have an update of Eric Adams' latest shenanigans later today or over the weekend.
3.31.28 Manhattan _ Just in today, an event tomorrow at 4 pm, to commemorate the garden and its artistic inspirations. This is how they described the event, " ... We are calling on everyone to gather in the Garden tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4 PM to celebrate this special space. We’ll be there for a while, but please try to arrive at 4 PM if you can. We are still in federal court and doing everything we can. At this point, we're taking it day by day. If you're a painter, photographer, poet, or artist who has created something inspired by the Garden, please bring your work. We only ask that it be related to the Garden. We want to show everyone how much Elizabeth Street Garden means to our community and to New York City ...". See related story in the weekend post of 3.28.25 below, next to the E St Garden / Ramones photos. The short story also includes their website url.
Updated March 15, 2025 vs 3.14.25 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
An excellent example of billionaire-controlled, Network TV News priorities / manipulations, was on full display this month. An American college student gone missing on Spring break in the Dominican Republic, seemed to get - as much, if not more airtime and 'investigative coverage' - than the budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.
TV News 'The' Disinformation Medium. Ask yourself WHY this particular missing college student has become such a HUGE Network TV News story, when 600,000 people go missing in the U.S. every year? Are the billionaire controlled Network News outlets trying to distract their viewers from what's going on in Washington, D.C. by giving the truly important stories less airtime while filling up their broadcasts with sensational horror stories?
The budget negotiations included a huge transfer of federally elected representatives' power [aka your power] from the legislative branch to the executive branch of government, as well as cuts of tens of billions of dollars to previously approved federal programs.
So, ask yourself, which of these news stories is of more concern to you? Which of these stories of more actionable by you? And which of these stories appears to be what might be a tragic human interest story, used by billionaire controlled Network TV News, as a ratings chasing headline / audience distraction?
CLICK here to view the rest of our report on how Chuck Schumer abandons the Democrats [own party], and leads a rebel contingent of Senators including NYS Senator Gillebrand to vote in favor of Trump and the Republicans, on the Continuing Budget Resolution of March 2025.
Oct 18, 2025 at 12:15 am by mikewood
Mar 17, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Oct 18, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Mar 10, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Mar 10, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Feb 10, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Feb 14, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Jan 19, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Dec 31, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Dec 29, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Mar 12, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Dec 07, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Dec 07, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
December 6, 2024 / NYC Real Estate & Business / NYC Government & Politics / City of Yes Special Section / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz.
The City of Yes for Housing Opportunities bill passed yesterday afternoon / evening in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City of Yes or NYC Municipal Legislative Bill - L.U. 181 & Res 689 - App. N 240290 ZRY (City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity) amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, modifying multiple Sections to expand opportunities for housing within all zoning districts, Citywide. *
The photo snapshot at right shows the NYC Council voting on the City of Yes.
Voting For the City of Yes Members. Carlina Rivera District 2, Eric Bottcher District 3, Keith Powers District 4, Julie Menin District 5, Gale Brewer M District 6, Shaun Abreu District 7, Diana Ayala District 8, Yusef Salaam M District 9, Carmen De La Rosa M District 10, Kevin Riley Bx District 12, Pierina Ana Sanchez District 14, Oswald Feliz District 15, Althea Stevens District 16, Rafael Salamanca Bx District 17, Amanda Farias District 18, Francisco Moya Q District 21, Tiffany Caban Q District 22, Shekar Krishnan Q District 25, Julie Won Q District 26, Nantasha Williams Q District 27, Speaker Adrienne Adams Q District 28, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers Q District 31, Lincoln Restler District 33, Jennifer Gutierrez District 34, Crystal Hudson District 35, Chi Osse District 36, Sandy Nurse District 37, Alexa Aviles District 38, Shahana Hanif District 39, Rita Joseph District 40, Justin Brannan Bk District 47.
Pay attention to the delineation of NYC Council members by the boroughs noted above by letters. Speaker Adrienne Adams delivered enough Queens council member votes (7) in favor of the legislation, which had they voted as their Community Boards did, would have killed the City of Yes bill.
Did Adrienne Adams and these NYC Council members betray the people of Queens they were elected to represent? Well, if so, keep in mind they are up for re-election in June 2025. So please educate yourself, fact check the statements made herein by using the power of the internet, and then after you've done enough research to know what's true, start spreading the news and get behind people who will represent you, the voters, not the big money that funded their campaigns.
Voting in the Negative. Joann Ariola District 32, Chris Banks District 42, Joseph C. Borelli District 51, David Carr District 50, Eric Dinowitz District 11, James Gennaro District 24, Kamillah Hanks District 49, Robert Holden District 30, Linda Lee District 23, Farah N. Louis District 45, Kristy Marmorato District 13, Christopher Marte District 1, Diane Mealy District 41, Mercedes Narcisse District 46, Vickie Paladino District 19, Lynn Schulman District 29, Sandra Ung District 20, Inna Vernikov District 48, Kalmar Yeger District 44, Susan Zhuang District 43.
We will keep this roll call of the vote on our site indefinitely in the City of Yes Special Report Section, because you, the voters, can use it as one benchmark vote, that helps you understand who is representing you, and how they are representing you. This becomes particularly important as there is the Democratic Primary in June 24, 2025 and the general election is November 4, 2025. Almost all of the elections are decided in the June primary because 56% of NYC is Democratic and only 26% is Republican. The remaining 18% are independent.
* Editor's Note. The summary of the bill leaves out the part about the NYC Council members forfeiting their power, and because they represent us, they are forfeiting our power and legal rights to weigh in on new developments in our neighborhoods. The summary also leaves out the part where by rushed passage of the 1,388 bill, the real estate developers and international investors can harvest a huge amount of tax abatements for 'affordable housing' that would be 'affordable' to individuals making up to $141,000 and a family of three making up to $183,00 per year or making rental payments of $4575 per month. And the summary leaves out the part about the negotiated deal, wherein how Eric Adams is going to miraculously fund the $4 billion, that magically appeared just by Eric Adams promising it, after Eric Adams tried to cut $100 million from the budgets of public schools in January 2024 and cut $22 million from the budget for public libraries as recently as November 2023. Adams promise of $4 billion is just that, and only that - a promise - as it is NOT IN THE BUDGET. And we all know the value of a politician's promise, especially when it's made by someone like Eric Adams, who has a documented history of lying, and is managing a tight budget that doesn't have $4 billion of funding lying around. He's going to have to take that funding from other places like public schools, public libraries and the NYPD.
Oct 15, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Nov 27, 2024 at 12:15 am by mikewood
October 23, 2024 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Real Estate & Business / Gotham Buzz NYC.
'Better hurry' to participate in this 'affordable housing' lottery for apartments in the Jasper at 49-20 5th Street in Long Island City, Queens. Studios are renting for the 'low, low price' of $2,900 per month and two bedroom apartments are a 'steal' at only $4,400 per month.
To qualify you 'only' need to be earning between $99,000 and $250,000 per year. These annual incomes, which are an eligibility requirement, are only 'slightly' higher [+50% to +291%] than the median NYC salary of $64,000 per year.
But don't worrry, if you miss this 'great' opportunity for 'affordable housing', because the real estate developers, real estate investors, billionaires, property owners and Mayor Adams, are pushing hard to get through the City of Yes Zoning Law changes, which will provide huge tax breaks to investors, billioinaires and real estate developers to make even more of this kind of 'affordable housing' available all over NYC.
Isn't that 'exciting'? It looks like more 'affordable housing' is finally on its way ...
See related stories below and in our City of Yes Special Report section on Gotham Buzz.
And you still have time to be heard by the NY City Council regarding your opinion of the City of Yes. Written Testimony is accepted for 72 hours after the hearing that was held Tuesday 10.22.24. Use this email address to send them your opinions - landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov. I believe the comment period expires at the close of business on Friday 10.25.24.
October 8, 2024 / LIC Neighborhood / Queens Real Estate & Business / Queens Buzz.
It was a beautiful, sunny, dry day as I walked over to the Museum of the Moving Image in LIC / Astoria. I arrived around 11 am to attend part of the second half of the LIC Summit, which is a real estate and business conference which examines in depth, an LIC centric world, but also mindful of the surrounding environment.
After I made my way through a flawless check-in, I found my way into the theater and sat down to listen in on the panel providing a Long Island City real estate update. These panels are structured such that the moderator serves up a number of questions to the panelists for comment, which is then followed by audience questions, which sometimes are the best, because they are asked by people like you and me, who have lived and worked in the area for a long while and witnessed and have adjusted to the huge changes that have occurred in Long Island City over the past couple of decades.
This panel included Patricia Dunphy of SVP of Rockrose Development, Eric Benaim CEO / Founder of Modern Space, Dan Mogolesko SVP of the Durst Organization, Peter Papamichael Principal of the VOREA Group and Crystal Xu Director of Business Development United Construction & Development Group.
As I came in at the end of the panel presentation, I only caught the Q&A portion of the program, which follows.
A performance theater / school owner pondered aloud whether the developers were still interested in involving and supporting the arts and culture scene in Long Island City. At the turn of the century LIC was well known as a thriving artists community, as it offered very competitive rents and good access to mass transit. In the near quarter century since then many - if not most - of the artists have moved out of the area as they can no longer afford the rents, which have skyrocketed from under $1,000 / month to over $4,000 per month.
One of the panelists said they are interested in supporting the arts and he mentioned Culture Lab LIC as one of the arts institutions that has survived the changes. But that was pretty much the full extent of the conversation surrounding the arts community. So I reckon the short answer would be no.
August 30, 2024 / Coney Island / Brooklyn / Brooklyn BLVD.
On Friday night, the final fireworks show by the Alliance for Coney Island, started around 10 pm on the Reigelmann Boardwalk just east of the Steeple Chase Tower and adjacent to the Luna Amusement Park. It was a comfortable evening, with a slight, cool breeze coming in off the water. There were hundreds of spectators who came to see the show and enjoy an end of the summer ride and snacks at Luna Park. I shot the 10 - 15 minute show from various locations around the Boardwalk, water and Luna Park and then edited it down to about 2 - 3 minutes, ending with a bit of island music. Enjoy the show.
Aug 15, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Aug 08, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Aug 08, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
July 6, 2024 / Coop City / Bronx Buzz NYC. I attended and recorded the Coop City fireworks in the Bronx this year. The fireworks display was launched from the Coop City Field located along the Hutchinson River which empties into the Long Island Sound.
They started around 9.30 pm and went for about 15 - 30 minutes, and I fouind it to be a fireworks display worth watching. Check out a few clips we put together from the show.
Jun 19, 2024 at 09:45 am by PeterParker
In addition to the presidential primary, there are also NYS primary races on the ballot.
Feb 01, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Jan 30, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Oct 19, 2025 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Updating August 29, 2024 from 10.7.23 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.
The official / unofficial kick off to the month and a half of Oktoberfest events in NYC begins in Manhattan with the Steuben Parade. This report identifies a number of Oktoberfest events around NYC beginning mid September and running through the end of October.
The photo at right shows one of the floats in the Steuben Parade celebrating the consumption of bier, which in tandem with consumption of bratwurst, is an integral part of Oktoberest. One thing the photo doesn't show is the music, that also goes hand in hand with Oktoberfest.
Coming with time. We've posted a number of Oktoberfests in this report, but a few more are coming. Also watch the front page, as this year [only] they are likely to be posted there first.
September 13, 2023 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Fall is just around the corner, which means the San Gennaro Festival is about to begin in Little Italy in Manhattan. See the front page or the parades & festivals page or click into the story for details of the San Gennaro Festival of 2023.
Little Italy is just north of Canal street, across from Chinatown, which lies to its south. SoHo lies to its west, across Lafayette Street. While the Bowery is just east of it along Mott and Bowery Streets, and Nolita [North of Little Italy] lies to the north of it, across Broome Street. This is something of a downsized area from the original Little Italy of a century ago.
Little Italy was an important destination for Italians arriving in New York City in the late 1800's and early 20th century. It was generally a poor, working class neighborhood at that time, filled with laborers, and shopkeepers who traded food, wine and clothing. And the community was fairly self-sufficient with its own doctors, lawyers and bankers accoding to a Wikipedia account of an NYT story in 1896.
Little Italy's size and population peaked in the early 20th century, aat about 10,000, as Italians left for greener pastures in other parts of the city, including East Harlem, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Nonetheless, Little Italy remains somewhat intact, as a very popular tourist destination, the peak of which is celebrated in tandem with the San Gennaro Festival.
Sep 12, 2023 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
Nov 09, 2023 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
November 8, 2022 / NYC Neighborhoods / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
The NYS election is today, Tuesday November 8th. On the ballot are the following races: U.S. Senate, Governor, Other state level positions such as Attorney General, State Assembly, State Senators and Ballot measures.
Oct 15, 2024 at 12:15 am by PeterParker
July 30, 2021 / NYC Neighborhoods / NYC Things To Do Events / News Analysis & Opinion / Gotham Buzz NYC.
Weather. There's a 60% probability of about a third inch of rain beginning sometime between 3 and 6 pm Sunday. The rest of the weekend should be clear. The temperature highs will be around 80 and the lows in the mid 60's all weekend. Humidity will range from 50% - 60% all weekend, except Sunday night when it rises to near 80% due to the rain. The winds will vary throughout the weekend from about 15 mph Friday, to 5 mph Saturday and 10 mph Sunday. All in all, not a bad weather weekend.
But please remain CoVid cautious for your own health and that of those around you by getting vaccinated, wearing masks when indoors or in close proximity to others and by washing your hands regularly.
Here are links to things going on in each borough this weekend.
Things to do this weekend in the Bronx
Things to do this weekend in Brooklyn
Things to do this weekend in Manhattan
Things to do this weekend in Queens
Things to do this weekend on Staten Island
Also see links below, posted on July 16, 2021, to farmers markets, street fairs and free theater, movies, concerts and swimming pools.
Enjoy.
