Manhattan News - Weekly Updates

October 28, 2025 / Billionaire Press NYC Billionaire TV News / Manhattan Politics / Manhattan News NYC / Manhattan News Updates / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

*** What Follows was posted Week Ending 10.26.25

Knicks win Opener

While Adams & Cuomo Plan an Endorsement in the Stands

October 22, 2025 / NYC Mayoral Race. The New York Knicks won their home opener against the Cavaliers [119 - 111] at Madison Square Garden. Last year the Knicks made it to the second round of the Playoffs, for the first time since 2013. In spite of the successful season, the Knicks let go of head coach Thibodeau, whose five year contract had expired.

Mike Brown is the new head coach who the Knicks are hoping will take a more aggressive approach to offense.

Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo were in the stands at the game in Madison Square Garden. Cuomo arrived at the game shortly after leaving the 2nd Mayoral Debate in western Queens. The following day Adams endorsed Cuomo's run for mayor.

The City reports that in September Adams had reportedly called Cuomo "a snake and a liar". News 12 Brooklyn reports that Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate, said “They made the marriage, and they're probably going to write the book, which is ‘how to be a crook’ on taxpayers' dime.". Mamdani summed up the meeting, stating "Corruption goes court side.". Both Adams and Cuomo have been tacitly embraced by Donald Trump, and both men have been supported by a number of the same billionaires, who too often appear to be the beneficiaries of Adams' and Cuomo's respective tenures.

Knicks Fire Head Coach Thibodeau

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/new-york-knicks/news/why-knicks-fire-head-coach-tom-thibodeau/7f3b277338d6c6a8dbe0708c

Knicks Hire Mike Brown as New Head Coach

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/mike-brown-coaching-timeline-revisiting-210000314.html

After Calling Cuomo is a Snake & a Liar, Adams Endorses Him

https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/10/23/adams-endorses-cuomo-mayoral-campaign/

For more election coverage see our Politics Section [use link above]. We hope to post a final this coming weekend summing up some of the key takeaways from the debates.

Staten Island District Voter Map Challenged in Court

October 27, 2025 / Staten Island Politics. A lawsuit, representing four Staten Island voters, was filed in court this week, challenging the current U.S. House of Representatives electoral district for Staten Island. The suit contends that Black and Latino voters are disenfranchised, as the voting district doesn't account for the recent influx of Black and Latino voters to Staten Island in recent years. Currently the district is represented by Nicole Malliotakis who is a Republican.

Staten Island Voting District for the U.S. House of Representatives Challenged in Court

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/lawsuit-challenges-the-boundaries-of-the-only-gop-held-congressional-district-in-new-york-city/ar-AA1Pii3i?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Your Health - Flu & CoVid Season is Here - You Don't have to be a Victim

Acting NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse Provides an Update on NYC Respiratory Diseases, the Updated Vaccines to Prevent them & Vaccine Access

October 22, 2025 / NYC Health. Click this link to view a video of Acting NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse providing an update on flu, RSV and CoVid diseases, and the vaccines you can use to keep them at bay.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LHaBx2AaEouKbVoT3gyTauTB4EwL1JKm/view

In the talk video referenced above, there is also information about vaccine access for those who may not be able to afford vaccinations on their own, as NYC and NYS have allocated funds to reduce / remove financial barriers to those who wish to be vaccinated but may not be able to afford the shots. In the video they also mention the NYC Health Map link where visitors can find locations where they may obtain access to vaccines, made affordable or free for eligible applicants. But please call 311 to find out how to go about qualifying first. Click this link to view the NYC Health Map, which also includes quite a bit of other health related information.

The image above or at right shows that the respiratory illness season has begun, including CoVid 19, the Flue and RSV. Flu and RSV are on the rise - but from very low levels currently - while CoVid 19 has been declining. Generally things look good as of this posting.

https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/health-map.page

Flu, CoVid 19 & RSV in NYC - Currently Updated Chart of Data

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/respiratory-illness-data/index.html

Broadway Theater Season Narrowly Averts Strike

Musicians Local 802 & Broadway League Reach Tentative Agreement

October 23, 2025 / NYC Arts & Culture. As they say in show business, "The Show Must Go On". And so it will, as both unions that had voted earlier this year to authorize a strike, didn't need to do so, as both were successful in reaching an agreement with the Broadway League regarding the renewal of their union contracts.

American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and the Broadway League agreed to a tentative deal

https://apnews.com/article/broadway-labor-deal-musicians-a34c8886f4279b9aed7242262f5c0a6d

The deal follows on the heels of a deal made by the Actors Equity Association with the Broadway League on Saturday last weekend.

https://apnews.com/article/broadway-labor-2025-equity-deal-6a92b3f2807981a6bd2fba90d1e49362

Penn Station Redevelopment Public Comment Period Begins October 31, 2025

Penn Station $7 Billion Renovation Project Planned to Begin in 2027

October 22, 2025 / NYC Real Estate & Business / NYC Transit. In March 2025, Stephen Gardner, stepped down as Amtrak CEO, in what seems like a Trump Administration personnel change. In May 2025, Andy Byford, a British National, was appointed to a Special Advisory role on Amtrak. Sometime this Spring [2025], the Trump Administration removed the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority [MTA] from its position as the lead agency on the Penn Station renovation project and put Amtrak in charge.

Byford is not allowed to become the CEO of Amtrak, as law requires that the CEO of Amtrak be an American. Byford was President of tne NYC Transit Authority from 2018 to 2020, which is the sum total of his experience in a managment role here. But he does have prior management experience in transit in Toronto and London, and in advisory roles here in the U.S., since about 2014. Construction is expected to begin some time in 2027.

The photo above or at right was taken earlier this year at Penn Station in West Midtown Manhattan. The Empire State Building can be seen through the window in the background.

Here's a link to the original plan, when it was still being managed by the NY MTA and the second link takes you to the Amtrak site media area, where I would expect them to post the public comment solicitation - BUT THIS IS UNCONFIMRED.

Old Penn Station Renovation Plan

https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/new-penn-station

Amtrak Website - Media Center where we expect them to post the solicitation of public comments

https://media.amtrak.com

Trump Says $16 Billion NJ / NYS Hudson River Tunnel Project Terminated, but it is Not

Trump Cannot Make that Decision Unilaterally, so the Tunnel Project Continues

October 15, 2025 / Real Estate & Business. Trump said the Gateway Tunnel Project is terminated, even though Trump doesn't have the authority to unilaterally terminate projects authorized by Congress. The Trump Transportation Department said there aren't any official plans to terminate the $16 billion project. And the companies working on the Gateway Tunnel Project continued to do so.

https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2025/10/17/gateway-and-second-ave-subway-projects-still-alive-despite-trump-comments-ee-00611371

U.S. Constitutional Laws Surrounding the President's Ability to Halt Projects after Congressional Authorization - After you click the above link, type - unconstitutional withholding funds - in the search box, and then scroll down to January reports submitted by Senator Patty Murray of Washington. Murray's reports outline the laws / powers bestowed by the Constitution, to the legislative branch versus executive branch of government, surrounding the allocation and implementation of funding federally authorized projects.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov

And yet the billionaire TV News seemed to disinform the American public by repeating and amplifying Trump's comments about halting the Gateway Tunnel Project, without an equal amount of context and corrections. Thus, TV News is once again leaving so many of those who rely on TV for their news, walking around with the false / manipulated perception that Trump cancelled the Gateway Tunnel Project, which he is not unilaterally authorized to do. Some believe that Trump is making these comments in an attempt to try to influence some of the New York / New Jersey elections, most notably to attack Mamdani for NYC Mayor, and Mikie Sherrill for NJ Governor.

ICE Raid in Chinatown - Letitia James Opens Portal for ICE Complaints & Data

California Passes No Secret Police Law [aka no Masks by Law Enforcement] & Chicago Judge Mandates the Wearing of Body Cams by ICE Agents Operating in Chicago

October 22, 2025 / NYC Issues. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025 there was an ICE raid in Chinatown. Masked ICE agents arrested several street vendors allegedly selling counterfeit goods along Canal Street in Chinatown. ICE reported that several had police records, but this was not confirmed in the reports I read.

The photo above or at right, was taken earlier this year of goods being sold along Canal Street in Chinatown, not far from where the ICE raid took place this past week.

ICE Raid in Chinatown Sweeps Street Vendors

https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/10/22/chinatown-ice-arrests-raid-counterfeiting-street-vendors/

A number of New Yorkers protested the raid which created a scene. In response to ICE's incursion into local law enforcement - as it is still unclear whether the vendors were here legally or illegally - was not aided nor done in tandem with the NYPD.

In order to ensure the protection of New Yorkers' rights, Attorney General [aka AG] Letitia James, set up a Federal Action Reporting Form so that people can notify the AG of actions by ICE agents of actions they believe may not be in compliance with NYS laws.

NYS Attorney General Letitia James Launches Portal to Collect Photos & Reports on ICE Activities in New York State

https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-launches-portal-collect-photos-and-videos-ice-activity

NYS - Federal Action Reporting Form

https://ag.ny.gov/federal-actions-form

It's worth noting that the State of Californai has passed a No Secret Police Act that bans the wearing of masks by all law enforcement agents, unless there are extenuating circumstances. This seems a good law - as law enforcement agents should not ashamed to the work they do. And assuming they're doing their jobs properly - which is enforcing the law - they should be proud of the work they do, and so should the community.

California Passes a No Secret Police Act - Effective January 1, 2026

https://legalnewsfeed.com/2025/09/21/california-enacts-no-secret-police-act-to-ban-masked-law-enforcement-operations-by-2026/

And in Chicago, Illinois, a judge mandated that all ICE agents there, are now required to wear body cameras. This too seems a good idea, as it should protect the citizens of Chicago from unlawful use of force by ICE. And conversely, it should also protect the ICE agents by enabling them to demonstrate in court, that they followed the law.

Judge Orders ICE to Wear Body Cams in Chicago

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-immigration-officers-in-chicago-area-will-be-required-to-wear-body-cameras-judge-says/ar-AA1OBwyV

Canadian Province of Ontario Responds to Trump Tariffs by Replaying Tariffs Speech by Ronald Reagan

One for the Gipper?

October 24, 2025 / NYC Business News. Given well known Republican adoration for President Ronald Reagan, the Ontario government decided to replay a speech of Reagan's on tariffs, made while Reagan was president. Since what Reagan says in April 25, 1987 and what Trump has been doing since he returned to the Oval Office don't jibe, Trump took offense and unilaterally terminated trade talks.

In the image above or at right is Ronald Reagan reading a script where he says he's imposing tariffs on another country, but doesn't want to do that, because he generally views tariffs negatively.

Reagan Speech Arguing Against Tariffs in 1987

https://www.thestar.com/politics/what-did-reagan-actually-say-about-tariffs-read-the-transcript-of-his-1987-address/article_b360738d-c59d-5dbd-98a2-9a621cc2f646.html

Government Shutdown Nearly a Month Old - Where's America First?

In Another TV News Fail - Most Americans Believe Republicans are Responsible for the Breakdown BUT Only by a Slight Margin

October 28, 2025 / U.S. Politics. Republicans control the Presidency, the Senate [53 - 45 - 2] and the House [219 - 213]. And yet, somehow 39% of those polled somehow have convinced themselves that it's the Democrats' fault. Above or at right is the current breakdown of the number of Republicans v Democrats in the U.S. Senate.

But this 39% represents the factually immune supporters of MAGA Republicanism, who are getting all of their news from the billionaire TV News and press, instead of doing their civic duty by finding more informative news sources that provide more information and differing viewpoints, which give the reader / viewer a less manipulated view of the world. For the poll numbers, see #12 in the polling story.

What's even more interesting, is that in 2013 Trump is on record as opining that he thinks it's the president's responsibility to bring the parties together, and to work through their differences to end the government shutdown - even though as president, Trump has made no effort in that direction at all. Above or at right is the current breakdown of the number of Republicans v Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. And the following link will take you to the video of Trump 'telling it like it was' back then, which is not 'how it is' now.

In 2013 Interview Trump Blames whoever is President for Shutdown & Calls Any Such President a Failure

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fD5GM8Gvb0o

Quinnipiac Poll Inquiring as to Which Party is Responsible for the Government Shutdown

https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3938

U.S. House of Representatives Breakdown of Republicans and Democrats

https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown

U.S. Senate Breakdown of Republicans & Democrats

https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm

Local Republican Group Chat includes Racist, Sexist, Nazi-Supportive Texts

Vice President Vance Fails to Effectively Condemn Them, in a Manner Reminiscent of Trump's Response to Charlotteville in 2017, Instead Defending the Young Republicans as if Children, while Citing the Inexcusable Texts in 2022 by a Democratic Attorney General Candidate in Virgina

Mother Used to Tell me "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right"

It's Time for 'We, The People' to Lead by Example, as Current Electeds Do Not

October 15, 2025 / National Politics. Just over a week ago, the texts from a group chat of Young Republicans were released. They contained a number of racist, sexist remarks, with one of the participants even telling the group that he 'loved Hitler'. And there were NYC / NYS Republicans who participated in the group chat.

At right is a video of Donald Trump in 2013 telling the interviewer that a government shutdown is "tremendously negative mark on the president". Like most of the things he says, it was another meaningless remark, designed to suit his purposes at that time.

J.D. Vance response to this news wasn't impressive, as he dismissed the chat, comparing their indiscretion, to that of under age kids. This was reminiscent of Trump's response to the Charlottesville tragedy in 2017, wherein a number of Trump supporters openly expressed their support of the White Nationalist march in Charlottesville. At one of the events surrounding the march, one of the anti-march protesters was killed by one of the white nationalist supporters when he ran his car through a crowd. Trump's response to this incident was that, "... there are good people on both sides ...". While he may be right - that there are some good people on both sides - this skirts the issue of the violent behavior by one of the white nationalists, which resulted in someone's death.

Vance also skirted the issue of bad behavior, by pointing out, accurately, that in 2022 the current Virginia Democratic Attorney General candidate had texted something, to a Republican colleague, about putting two bullets into the body of someone he didn't like, instead of putting them into anyone else. This was also an incredibly stupid comment by a government official.

Nothing violent happened in connection with the texts by the Virginia AG candidate in 2022, nor in connection with the texts of the Young Republicans, which were recently discovered and publicized.

Doing the Right Things. My Mother used to tell me that two wrongs don't make a right, and I believe this statement to be generally - but possibly not always - true. I think we all - We, The People - need to do a better job of acting like adults, meaning calling out people when they make inappropriate comments as well as for inappropriate behaviors, since our 'leaders' aren't leading by example. In a democracy we all share some small part of the credit and blame, through our actions and inactions. Democracy is a conversation and a civilly negotiated compromise. Authoritarianism is "My way or the highway" and what anybody else thinks or does, doesn't matter.

Vice President J.D. Vance Reacts to Young Republicans' Racist, Sexist, Nazi-loving remarks

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/10/republican-hitler-group-chat-nazi-politico/

• CLICK here to read the rest of our Manhattan News Updates 2025 NYC.

THIS ENDS THE LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS FEED

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Thursday - Sunday, September 11 - 21, 2025 event times vary - The 99th Annual Feast of San Gennaro Festival & Parade. This is an 11 day Italian festival that runs through Sunday, September 21st in Little Italy in Manhattan. There are events every afternoon / evening of the festival. It begins at 6 pm on Thursday 9/11/25 with the Blessing of the Stands. On Saturday, 9/13 from 2 to 5 pm there's a parade / procession through Little Italy. And on Friday, 9/19 at 6 pm there's a church service followed by a procession through the streets of Little Italy, departing from the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood at 113 Baxter Street. For details of other events at the San Gennaro Festival and a bit of history of San Gennaro and Little Italy Manhattan see our story about the Feast of San Gennaro Parade & Festival in Little Italy NYC - or visit their website for details of all events - https://sangennaronyc.org/

The photo above or at right was taken at the FEC Chelsea NYCHA Demolition Protest, the notice of which we posted above. See photo caption above for further details about what seems like a corrupt 7 acre Chelsea public land grab. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance and a People who think they can remain ignorant and free believes in something that never was and never will be.

• CLICK here to view other Manhattan Neighborhood News Briefs NYC.

Adams Aborts Re-election Bid

After Years of Numerous Allegations of Corruption, Adams Exits Mayors Race

September 30, 2025 / NYC Mayors Race / Manhattan Politics / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan 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.

NYC Mayoral Race - Eric Adams Secret Florida Rendezvous with a Trump Official Who's also an NYC Real Estate Developer

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. 

Stephen Ross & Related Companies - A Huge Public Land Transfer Deal is Lurking in the Background that hasn't been Covered by Billionaire TV News

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.

Trading Up?  Adams Indulges Billionaire Developers, While Ditching his Supporters

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".

The Adams Record as NYC Mayor

Violent Crime Down Significantly Across the U.S. including NYC, But the other NYC Crime Reductions Significantly Trail the U.S.

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. 

• CLICK here to read more about Eric Adams exits NYC Mayoral Race 2025.

NYC Mayoral Race - Polls

September 21, 2025 / NYC Mayors Race / Manhattan Politics / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan 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.

• CLICK here to view our running report of polls of the NYC Mayor's Race of 2025.

Manhattan Neighborhoods & News Shorts

September 2025 / Manhattan Neighborhoods & History / Manhattan Arts & Culture NYC / Manhattan News NYC / News Analysis & Opinion / Manhattan Buzz NYC.

Thursday - Sunday, September 11 - 21, 2025 event times vary - The 99th Annual Feast of San Gennaro Festival & Parade. This is an 11 day Italian festival that runs through Sunday, September 21st in Little Italy in Manhattan. There are events every afternoon / evening of the festival. It begins at 6 pm on Thursday 9/11/25 with the Blessing of the Stands. On Saturday, 9/13 from 2 to 5 pm there's a parade / procession through Little Italy. And on Friday, 9/19 at 6 pm there's a church service followed by a procession through the streets of Little Italy, departing from the Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood at 113 Baxter Street. For details of other events at the San Gennaro Festival and a bit of history of San Gennaro and Little Italy Manhattan see our story about the Feast of San Gennaro Parade & Festival in Little Italy NYC - or visit their website for details of all events - https://sangennaronyc.org/

The photo above or at right was taken at the FEC Chelsea NYCHA Demolition Protest, the notice of which we posted above. See photo caption above for further details about what seems like a corrupt 7 acre Chelsea public land grab. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance and a People who think they can remain ignorant and free believes in something that never was and never will be.

• CLICK here to view other Manhattan Neighborhood News Briefs NYC.