Amidst ongoing probe of Senator Dean Skelos and son, Preet Bharara delivering speech on Friday

Preet Bharara to deliver a speech at Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

First public address since reports of Skelos investigation were confirmed U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, the nation’s top federal prosecutor in New York’s southern district, is set to deliver a keynote address at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Friday. The address is the highlight of the 2015 Assembly of the Regional Plan Association, an urban research and advocacy organization of academics, real estate developers, financial interests, and other big businesses. The Friday address will be the first public appearance by U.S. Attorney Bharara since a report published by The New York Times confirmed an earlier report broadcast by WNBC Channel 4 News that federal prosecutors were investigating State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) for possible wrong-doing. The report by The New York Times added that Senator Skelos’ son, Adam Skelos, is also allegedly under investigation. Following the shocking arrest of Assemblymember Sheldon Silver (D-Lower East Side) in January on corruption charges, U.S. Attorney Bharara advised voters to “Stay tuned,” to his on-going fight against political and government corruption. One day after Assemblymember Silver’s arrest, U.S. Attorney Bharara delivered a speech at New York Law School, reinforcing his campaign against corruption. Government reform activists are eyeing whether the Friday address may be preceded by any further arrests.

RELATED Week in Review : de Blasio's non-endorsement of Hillary Clinton ; Preet Bharara's upcoming speech (Progress Queens) Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist in New York City.

NY1 report exposes BerlinRosen's conflicts of interest with the de Blasio administration

Who is Jonathan Rosen ?

NY1 broadcast journalist Grace Rauh pulled back the curtain on the unregistered lobbying firm, BerlinRosen The unregistered lobbying firm BerlinRosen has access to material, nonpublic, inside information about the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio. One of the firm's name partners, Jonathan Rosen, for example, attended 20 private meetings with Mayor de Blasio in 2014. That insider access allows the firm to exploit advantages for its roster of consulting clients, including some of the city's largest real estate developers.

RELATED NY1 report exposes BerlinRosen's conflicts of interest with the de Blasio administration (Progress Queens) Who is Jonathan Rosen? The Most Powerful Man in Politics – Outside City Hall (NY1) de Blasio's lobbying group, the Campaign for One New York, finally drawing heavier scrutiny from mainstream media (NYC : News & Analysis)

City Council staff using taxpayer resources to post the happy birthday wishes of elected officials

Join us in wishing Speaker @MMViverito​ a very happy birthday! Wishing you a day full of joy, love & celebration! pic.twitter.com/QS9J9i5gqV

— NYC Council (@NYCCouncil) April 1, 2015

Albany ethics reform proposals ignore warnings of former JCOPE commissioner Ravi Batra

Ravi Batra : Albany makes sacred honor live in a spittoon

As Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-New York) negotiate ethics reforms up in Albany, Ravi Batra, a former JCOPE commissioner, says Albany wrongly refuses to grant ethics regulators the independence they need.

“If it wasn't for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's righteous indignation for being used as a prop to sell the public a farce by Andrew Cuomo, there would be no Shelly Silver indictment or the latest hyperventilated reform proposals by a control-infected Albany,” Mr. Batra told Progress Queens.

The "Three Men In A Room" in Albany are negotiating ethics reforms in this year's state budget as U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is investigating Albany officials. Albany keeps proposing incremental reforms, which have enforcement mechanisms that deliberately lack independence, charges attorney Ravi Batra.

READ MORE As Cuomo negotiates ethics reforms, Albany proposals ignore warnings of former JCOPE commissioner Ravi Batra (Progress Queens)

Building Collapse In East Village Near Second Avenue and St. Marks Place

Another photo from NYC —> RT @nypmetro: From the scene of the 2nd Ave building collapse http://t.co/uSENEsxT6r pic.twitter.com/vZ5mPRHOq8

— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) March 26, 2015

Over 100 FDNY have responded to an apparent explosion of a building in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Fire rescue are trying to remove people, who may be in the buildings damaged by a possible explosion or collapse.

The building, which was has received the principal amount of damage, is located at 125 Second Avenue, according to a NY1 News report.

NYC —> RT @ScottWesterfeld: Whole building is in flames now. pic.twitter.com/ze2TpZF76Z

— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) March 26, 2015

Explosion reported in New York's East Village; injuries unknown - @ScottWesterfeld; for more: http://t.co/dXEn6gh2iw pic.twitter.com/qg6f6nR9a9

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) March 26, 2015

Two buildings are currently on fire, according to a live news report made by NY1 News journalist Dean Meminger.

So this doesn't look so good. Apparent gas explosion at 2nd Ave and 7th St, New York pic.twitter.com/sWFNgRHKt9

— Niall Stanage (@NiallStanage) March 26, 2015

possible #gasleak on Second Ave & 7th Street #LowerEastSide - scary pic.twitter.com/zoHNprzTbP

— CBGB (@cbgbandomfug) March 26, 2015

Possible gas leak on 2nd Avenue & 7th street causes explosion #EastVillage pic.twitter.com/gmBCpDmScB

— East Village Eats (@EastVillageEats) March 26, 2015

BREAKING NEWS: MAJOR BUILDING COLLAPSE WITH INJURIES IN MANHATTAN. (@jmeyers44) pic.twitter.com/zmbwaEgU0w

— Breaking News Feed (@PzFeed) March 26, 2015

Bill de Blasio's war on public housing

Cash-strapped NYCHA sold apartment buildings that had been recently refurbished

NYCHA claimed that it needed to sell 900 Section 8 apartments, because it could no longer afford to maintain them.

However, a Progress Queens investigation has revealed that four buildings that were sold were recently refurbished by NYCHA, seemingly refuting claims that these buildings were too dilapidated for NYCHA to maintain.

Before NYCHA sold the buildings 1780 and 1782 Madison Avenue in Manhattan to private real estate developers, the city housing agency spent an unknown amount of money making unspecified refurbishing or repairs to the buildings.

Before NYCHA sold the building at 903 Halsey Street in Brooklyn to private real estate developers, the city housing agency spent an unknown amount of money making unspecified refurbishing or repairs to the buildings.

Before NYCHA sold the building at 55 Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn to private real estate developers, the city housing agency spent an unknown amount of money making unspecified refurbishing or repairs to the buildings.

Conflicts of Interest : Administration officials were either paid to lobbying in support of the sale of approximately 900 NYCHA Section 8 apartments, or else they had prior relationships with some of the developers. A controversial structured finance transaction originated by the New York City Housing Authority, or NYCHA, to create a special purpose vehicle to offload some Section 8 buildings to private developers is coming into greater view, according to an analysis by Progress Queens. The portfolio of project-based, Section 8 buildings that NYCHA sold to a consortium of private investors named Triborough Preservation LLC included four buildings that had recently been refurbished. The portfolio of buildings that were sold were situated in neighborhoods, where there was a great potential for real estate value appreciation due to recent trends in gentrification, begging the question whether real estate developers had cherry-picked some of the best properties amongst NYCHA's roster of buildings. Two principal de Blasio administration housing officials, Gary Rodney and Vicki Been, have had prior close ties to two of the developers in the consortium, BFC Partners, L.P., and L&M Development Partners, Inc., respectively. A third de Blasio administration official, Jonathan Greenspun, who serves as a commission on the city's Commission on Human Rights, was a lobbyist for BFC Partners, L.P. Administration officials defended the controversial sale by arguing that NYCHA did not have the financial resources to maintain the dilapidated buildings. However, as documented in archival photographs published by Google Street View, four of the buildings had had scaffolding encircling the buildings, with one photograph showing workmen suspended along the front of one building doing exterior construction or repair work. Some government reform activists told Progress Queens that the de Blasio administration disenfranchised taxpayers and NYCHA tenants by sidestepping the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, or the ULURP process, when it sanctioned NYCHA’s sale of the properties. According to one source, a lawyer with expertise in city legislation, Section 197-c of the City Charter requires that any disposition of city real property must be made through the ULURP process. City housing officials have suggested that they may seek to sell other NYCHA buildings in order to offload the responsibility of upkeep and maintenance for the buildings, a potential backdoor for for-profit real estate developers to raise the rents on tenants living in public housing. According to a reading of some of the transaction agreements, the city conveyed rights to the consortium of developers to building residential and non-residential units on developable land that was also sold along with the project-based, Section 8 buildings. Officials with NYCHA, City Hall, and the developers, who bought the Section 8 apartments, declined to answer questions about the transaction in time before the publication of Progress Queens report.

RELATED Cash-strapped NYCHA sold apartment buildings that had been recently refurbished (Progress Queens) Councilmember Torres : A public housing puppet on REBNY's strings (Progress Queens) Activists worry that de Blasio administration will keep selling NYCHA to developers, undermining regulated rents (Progress Queens) Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist in New York City.

Italian song "Viva La Pappa Col Pomodoro" in Heineken commercial

1965 hit in American TV commercial continues use of popular European songs as soundtracks

Viva la pa-pa-pappa / Col po-po-po-po-po-po-pomodoro The beer brewer Heineken has used an Italian song, "Viva La Pappa Col Pomodoro," popularised in 1965 by the singer Rita Pavone as the soundtrack to a cute new commercial. "Viva La Pappa Col Pomodoro" was also recorded by the European superstar Dalida. Here is the version of the song, recorded by Rita Pavone, which is used in the Heineken commercial. In 2013, a TV commercial campaign by Google for its Chromecast Web video and music interface for HDTV units used an instrumental version of one of French pop singer Dalida's most successful songs, "La Danse de Zorba," which, in turn, was a cover of Mikis Theodorakis's "Zorbas." Another 2013 major TV commercial for an American product used a hit French song for its soundtrack. Verizon Android Island commercial used "Comment te dire adieu" for its soundtrack. Still yet another 2013 TV commercial, this time for Netflix, used a song, "Hey Now," from one of French pop music's most successful disk jockeys, Martin Solveig. Solveig's hit, recorded in English, shows the broadening appeal of European music in English-speaking cultures.

RELATED Heineken | The Match, UEFA Champions League Commercial 2015 (YouTube) Dalida. Viva la pappa ! (YouTube) ♫ Rita Pavone ♪ Viva La Pappa Col Pomodoro ♫ Video & Audio Restaurati (YouTube)

de Blasio's "Blizzard of the Century" turns out to be, just like the mayor himself, very much a bust

"Historic" blizzard pounds six inches into New York

It was one of the most "historic" blizzard busts in New York City.

74th Roosevelt subway station still closed. Trains running, MTA workers swiping, entering under tape. #BlizzardBust pic.twitter.com/TFfHoQlCns

— Louis Flores (@maslowsneeds) January 27, 2015

Really, folks, it was just another snow storm. Contrary to the soaring, aspirational rhetoric of Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-New York City), who had proclaimed this week's blizzard as "historic," snow fall totals didn't reach anywhere near expected forecasts of 18 to 24 inches. Only 4 to 6 inches of snow fell on New York City, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-New York). Subways service, which had been shut Monday night, resumed Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. with limited availability. A walking tour of Jackson Heights, Queens 35th Avenue, looking east, in Jackson Heights. #Blizzardof2015 pic.twitter.com/TVq4xAl7R2 — Louis Flores (@maslowsneeds) January 27, 2015 37th Avenue, looking west. Jackson Heights. #Blizzardof2015 pic.twitter.com/1iK07rW3kA — Louis Flores (@maslowsneeds) January 27, 2015 74th Street, looking south to Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. #BlizzardBust pic.twitter.com/R63xTRa2Sh — Louis Flores (@maslowsneeds) January 27, 2015 Roosevelt Avenue looking east. The Dunkin Donuts is SRO. pic.twitter.com/vYqrFGgoQD — Louis Flores (@maslowsneeds) January 27, 2015 Blasphemy. Starbucks closed. #deblasiosNewYork #BlizzardBust pic.twitter.com/38f2Hb7mhL — Louis Flores (@maslowsneeds) January 27, 2015

RELATED Blizzard a Bust For NYC as Worst Fears Fail to Materialize (NBC News) Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist in New York City.

With NYPD seemingly out of control, de Blasio set to end first year presiding over an ungovernable New York City

Mayor de Blasio heads a bi-racial household, yet, in wake of NYPD double homicide, he cannot unify a multi-cultural city

Two NYPD officers killed in Brooklyn ; suspect reportedly commits suicide ; de Blasio in hot seat Rather than inspire from a place of equality, justice, due process, and the rule of law, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton are resorting to invoking fear to frighten New Yorkers, moving them in a direction of hatred and suspicion. At Saturday night's press conference at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, where the fallen officers were taken and later pronounced dead, in his brief remarks, Mayor de Blasio invoked a sense of fear to motivate New Yorkers into action, saying that, "every New Yorker should feel they, too, were attacked," that "our entire city was attacked," further requesting that New Yorkers should report any information about plans for attacks on police, a sense of fear that NYPD Commissioner William Bratton reaffirmed by saying that New Yorkers should consider this like the Homeland Security alert system, an alarum code that the Bush administration notoriously abused to keep Americans living in fear of terroristic attacks, so that the administration could keep pushing its political goals, as well as its agendas of war and surveillance. The reply messages of violence were further fueled by Patrick Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, or PBA, who Saturday night laid blame for the officers' deaths before Mayor de Blasio and police reform activists. The ratcheting up of inflammatory rhetoric and tensions comes at a time when the de Blasio administration had been trying to fluff its nominal accomplishments in its first year. Activists, who are calling for an end to discrimination, violence, and state-sponsored forms of oppression, are reaching for understanding and unity. However, elected officials and police union leaders remain entrenched in language of fear and suspicion.

RELATED de Blasio set to end first year presiding over an ungovernable New York City (Progress Queens) Two NYPD officers killed in Brooklyn ; suspect reportedly commits suicide ; de Blasio in hot seat (Progress Queens) Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist in New York City. Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist in New York City.

True News from Change NYC plagiarises from Progress Queens

How sad and pathetic, especially given how I helped Gary Tilzer to get his blog back, after Google censored and removed his blog. I remember that Suzannah B. Troy worked eight or ten hours straight one Sunday from about 6 or 7 a.m. until late in the afternoon.

2014-12-14 Complaint of Plagiarism to True News From Change NYC by Progress Queens

Contacted Joe Hartunian at Sen. Schumer's Office regarding NYPD reform

Follow-up on request for assistance in creation of a new commission with powers to investigate and prosecute NYPD corruption and misconduct

2014-12-01 Senator Charles Schumer Office Fax (NYPD Commission Follow-Up Letter) (FILE COPY) by NYPDFivePoints

Activists ask for a new commission, modeled after Knapp and Mollen, to investigate NYPD and IAB, but this time with the power to prosecute cases of corruption, authority that both the Knapp and Mollen commissions lacked Joe Hartunian, a legislative staff member to New York's senior U.S. Senator, was contacted to day as a follow-up to a letter sent on December 1. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was asked in the letter for his assistance and support for the creation of a new commission to investigate a pattern of corruption and misconduct and the lack of accountability at the New York Police Department, including at its troubled Internal Affairs Bureau. As soon as there is new information, a new update will be provided.

RELATED Written letter to Senator Charles Schumer asking for his assistance and support for the creation of a new commission to investigate and prosecute NYPD corruption, including at IAB (Scribd) Exigen crear nueva comisión que investigue quejas contra NYPD (El Diario) Written demand to Mayor de Blasio to appoint a new commission to investigate NYPD corruption, including at IAB (Scribd) Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist. Flatiron Massage is located in New York City.

Bill Bratton Using Breathe Right To Get Through Protests, Until Demonstrations Peter Out

Arrogant remarks by NYPD Commissioner shocking the conscious of average New Yorkers

Bratton : I'm breathing easier, thank you very much, because I know that the protests ''will peter out.'' Bratton expects protests 'to peter out on their own' this is disturbing. #badcops http://t.co/11cJ6l2N8V — michele somerville (@NYpoet) December 6, 2014 In an interview with The New York Observer, NYPD Police Commissioner William Bratton was asked about the thousands of civil rights activists, who have been taking to the streets to demonstrate in disapproval of a Staten Island grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer in the chokehold homicide of an innocent, unarmed man. “These things to tend to peter out on their own, people get tired of marching around aimlessly,” Commissioner Bratton said yesterday of the large demonstrations, adding “And we’re gonna have a lot of rain tomorrow, and the history of these things is that they don’t go on forever, they tend to peter out on their own.” Sad RT @buttermilk1: Bratton says he thinks protests will “peter out.” That, not listening, seems to be his solution. http://t.co/t6IK4IRS5y — Heidi N Moore (@moorehn) December 6, 2014 “These things to tend to peter out on their own, people get tired of marching around aimlessly,” Commissioner Bratton told The New York Observer. Reaction on Twitter to Commissioner Bratton's insensitive remarks ranged from dismay to outrage. Seriously NYPDCommishBratton? “These things tend to peter out on their own" Don't belittle the Movement! #EricGarner http://t.co/OV7ba1xkiF — Nikki & Noelle (@thezachkotwins) December 6, 2014 Bratton thinks protests will "peter out on their own" After the way #NYPD treated us last night, I highly fuckin doubt it Let's shut it down — BEATPAPA (@PAPADOCLIVE) December 5, 2014 Commissioner Bratton is facing calls for his resignation over escalating instances of police misconduct, corruption, brutality, and homicide. NYPD Commissioner Bill "The Butcher" Bratton thinks the notion that #BlackLivesMatter "won't go on forever" & will "peter out on its own." — Carmine (@carminemac) December 6, 2014

RELATED After Huge Demonstration, Bratton Expects Eric Garner Protests to ‘Peter Out’ (The New York Observer)

Sen. Schumer asked for help to appoint a new commission to investigate and prosecute NYPD, IAB corruption

Letter to Sen. Charles Schumer - Help us appoint a new commission to investigate NYPD, IAB

Activists ask for a new commission, modeled after Knapp and Mollen, to investigate NYPD and IAB, but this time with the power to prosecute cases of corruption, authority that both the Knapp and Mollen commissions lacked Sen. Charles Schumer, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was asked for his assistance and support for the creation of a new commission to investigate a pattern of corruption and the lack of accountability at the New York Police Department, including at its troubled Internal Affairs Bureau. "The nation needs a substantive examination of the overreach, the corruption, the brutality and murder, the abuse of discretion, and the lack of accountability of police departments in the nation, beginning with the NYPD, the largest police force in the nation. As your office contemplates how best the U.S. Senate can take part in the national debate over the need for policing reforms, we hope that in the meantime you will call for either Manhattan District Attorney Vance, U.S. Attorney Bharara, or Assistant Director Venizelos to create a new, independent commission with subpoena power to investigate -- and prosecute -- corruption, brutality, and murder by the NYPD, including corruption at IAB, along with other violations of constitutional rights, civil liberties, and civil rights." The letter to Sen. Schumer was sent after a prior e-mail to City Hall, dated 13 October 2014, went unanswered.

RELATED Written letter to Senator Charles Schumer asking for his assistance and support for the creation of a new commission to investigate and prosecute NYPD corruption, including at IAB (Scribd) Exigen crear nueva comisión que investigue quejas contra NYPD (El Diario) Written demand to Mayor de Blasio to appoint a new commission to investigate NYPD corruption, including at IAB (Scribd) Michael Hayes, LMT, has practiced massage for more than 20 years as a licensed massage therapist. Flatiron Massage is located in New York City.

2014-12-01 Senator Charles Schumer Office Fax (NYPD Commission Follow-Up Letter) (FILE COPY) by NYPDFivePoints

Jo Hamilton, ex-official involved in St. Vincent's Hospital condo conversion, fined for ethics violations

Jo Hamilton was on the take

Jo Hamilton, former member of Manhattan Community Board 2, which rubber-stamped and fast-tracked the demolition and luxury condo conversion of St. Vincent's Hospital, was on the take.

Jo Hamilton was given free Soho House membership for "reasons related to [her] position on #CB2" http://t.co/9nIffehl7X via @danielleiat

— StopNYMRT (@StopNYMRT) November 26, 2014

From the Demand a Hospital listserv :

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Demand A Hospital
To: Demand A Hospital
Subject: Jo Hamilton was on the take
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 04:41:25 -0500

Dear All :

For a decade, Jo Hamilton was receiving free gifts from an entity that had business before Community Board 2. Please read the following reports :

    (i)    http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/community-board-member-fined-free-soho-house-membership-blog-entry-1.2022053

    (ii)    http://nypost.com/2014/11/25/board-member-fined-10k-over-free-soho-house-membership/

    (iii)    http://gothamist.com/2014/11/24/soho_house_2.php

    (iv)    http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20141124/meatpacking-district/community-board-2-member-fined-for-accepting-free-soho-house-membership

    (v)    http://www.scribd.com/doc/248068157/COIB-Disposition-CB

How many other members of Community Board 2 were on the take ?

What did the former chairs of CB2 and the former subcommittee chairs know about Jo Hamilton being on the take -- and when did they know it ?

How many lobbyists paid for entertainment, meals, and other gifts for members of CB2 that were never reported or may have crossed the line to be inappropriate or illegal ?

Never give up.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Tell Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to stop closing our hospitals. Call 311 for the mayor and 1 (518) 474-8390 for the governor.

You can also tweet your concerns to : @BilldeBlasio -and- @NYGovCuomo

"Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo" Flyer resurfaces

This mailer is reportedly from the 1982 gubernatorial campaign, but the discriminatory slogan actually dates back to the 1977 Democratic Party primary race for New York City mayor

blast from the past 1982 Race for Governor the infamous Vote for Cuomo not the Homo mailer @azi @bobhardt @fud31 pic.twitter.com/iMVP6XpnDH

— VJ Machiavelli (@VJMachiavelli) November 14, 2014

For all of former Mayor Koch's internalised self-loathing as a closeted gay man, how much of former Mayor Koch's slow HIV/AIDS response should be attributable to the Cuomo campaign's fear-baiting tactics against former Mayor Koch ? From Progress Queens : A photograph was posted to Twitter of a flyer from the 1982 New York gubernatorial race bearing the slogan, "Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo," triggering remembrances and questions about the controversial campaign efforts by Andrew Cuomo to smear Ed Koch. The offensive slogan originally dates back to the Democratic Party primary in the 1977 New York City mayoral race when the two were political rivals running for the same office, but the Cuomo camp used the slogan again during the lingering whisper campaign five years later, in the 1982 New York gubernatorial race, as evidenced by the photo of the handbill.

RELATED Three decades later, "Vote For Cuomo, Not The Homo" mailer resurfaces (Progress Queens)