The Parking Games

Cuomo unleashes his wrath at Ron Kim

 

 New York Times

For months, Assemblyman Ron Kim has been one of the few Democratic lawmakers willing to criticize Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for his handling of the state’s nursing homes during the pandemic, pressing for investigations into the matter.

So when a top aide to Mr. Cuomo recently admitted that his administration had withheld nursing home data from state lawmakers, Mr. Kim, whose Queens district was hit hard by the coronavirus, said it appeared the governor was “trying to dodge having any incriminating evidence.”

Hours after Mr. Kim made that comment to The New York Post last Thursday, he said he got an irate late-night call from the governor. Mr. Cuomo began with a question — “Are you an honorable man?” — and then proceeded to yell for 10 minutes, Mr. Kim recalled, threatening to publicly tarnish the assemblyman and urging him to issue a new statement clarifying his remarks.

Mr. Cuomo made good on his threat on Wednesday afternoon.

In a remarkable retort, the governor used his press briefing to lob allegations of impropriety at the assemblyman, saying that he and his administration have had a “long and hostile relationship” with Mr. Kim, now in his fifth term.

In particular, Mr. Cuomo was angered and combative about a letter published by The New York Post that was signed by several Assembly members, including Mr. Kim. The letter, citing the governor’s delays in releasing a complete tally of deaths of nursing home residents, including those that happened after a resident was transferred to a hospital, accused Mr. Cuomo of attempting to circumvent a federal probe and “intentional obstruction of justice.”

City Hall tied ex-gangbanger activist threatened to kill a traffic cop

NY Daily News

A prominent anti-gang activist with ties to City Hall is accused of threatening to sic the Bloods on his Brooklyn neighbor.

“I’m going to get my people, the Bloods, to come handle you. I’m going to have you killed," activist Shanduke McPhatter told his neighbor, according to a criminal complaint.

The former Bloods member’s group, Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes, has been a fixture at protests against gun violence alongside prominent politicians since it first partnered with City Hall in 2014.

Last month, McPhatter, who founded the group, attended a meeting with Mayor de Blasio and received a proclamation from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has contributed city funds to G-MACC for years. The Mayor’s Office to Prevent Gun Violence listed G-MACC as a resource for recently-released Rikers Island inmates. The advocacy group received more than $1.5 million in city funding between 2014 and 2018, according to its most recent non-profit tax filing.

But McPhatter’s recent arrest for threatening his neighbor, who works in traffic enforcement for the NYPD, as well as a recent federal takedown of a Rikers Island contraband ring, have raised questions about the anti-gang group.

Two of the people charged in the bust have ties to the advocacy group, which includes former gang members who know first-hand the danger of street life. A G-MACC staffer and McPhatter’s brother are among those charged with the smuggling operation allegedly involving crooked correction officers.

City Hall said it was unaware of “the extent” of the allegations involving G-MACC. The group is no longer providing re-entry services to former Rikers inmates as the city conducts a review.

“The described allegations are unacceptable and of great concern. To ensure G-MACC is able to serve our neighborhoods in a manner that reflects the values of our administration, we are requiring the organization to strengthen their internal protocols and procedures," City Hall spokeswoman Avery Cohen said.

Crowley challenger receives bomb threat

17-year old threatens Lancman over policies

From the Daily News:

A 17-year-old was arrested for threatening to “do a drive-by, old-school” on a Queens councilman and his family, authorities said Thursday.

Ariel Gershkovich is facing harassment charges for allegedly calling Councilman Rory Lancman’s home repeatedly on Tuesday, officials said.

After receiving three heated, obscenity-filled calls from Gershkovich, Lancman (D-Queens) let the calls go to his voicemail.

That’s when Gershkovich started threatening the legislator with violence.

“Call me back or I’m going to do a drive-by, old-school on you and your family,” Gershkovich said, according to officials.

Cops took the teen into custody without incident on Wednesday. No weapons were found.

Officials said Gershkovich was outraged over “the councilman’s policies.” They didn’t specify which policies.

Pomonok graffiti threatens to kill NYPD

From DNA Info:

Graffiti threatening to kill police was found in Queens Monday, sources said .

It comes amid a rash of violence against members of the NYPD.

Two officers were shot responding to a robbery Monday night and, on Dec. 20, Detectives Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were killed while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn.

The department has also fielded dozens of threats against police in recent weeks and made several arrests.

The graffiti that reads “PSA-9 'n' 107 Pct R Next to Die" was spotted in the basement of a building at the Pomonok Houses on Parsons Boulevard, near 65th Avenue, sources said.

Police Service Area 9 serves the Pomonok Houses. The housing project is also part of a larger area covered by the 107th Precinct, which includes Fresh Meadows, Cunningham Heights, Hilltop Village and Kew Gardens Hills as well.

It was not immediately clear if the NYPD is investigating the graffiti as a threat. The NYPD's Citywide Vandals Task Force is handling the case, sources said.

Illegal cabbies threaten green cabbies

From the NY Post:

Illegal livery drivers see red when they spot green.

The scofflaws are bullying the outer-boroughs’ new green-taxi operators — kicking, smacking and spitting on the apple-colored rides to scare them from what has been their prime turf, legal workers told The Post.

The illicit drivers “have been making violent threats — kicking cars and banging on widows,” said Jenny Ahmed, who runs a green-taxi base in Brooklyn. “They think they’ve been there longer and it’s their turf.”

At least three of Ahmed’s drivers have suffered through car-whackings and threats from angry drivers since the green-taxi program launched in August, she said.

Fights have flared up in front of the Target store on Flatbush Avenue near Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

One green-cab driver was forced to give up a prime parking spot near the Atlantic Avenue Terminal after a black-livery-car operator spat at him, the driver said.

War over crap in Sunnyside

From the Sunnyside Post:

A battle between a dog owner and a concerned resident–over dog poop–has led to a nasty threat and some curious actions. The following tree postings on 43rd Street (btwn. 43rd and Skillman Ave.) tell part of the story.

With some fava beans and a nice chianti?

Holy war at Qns. church
By KATHIANNE BONIELLO, NY Post

A Queens church has asked for divine judicial intervention -- in the form of a restraining order -- to keep four excommunicated worshipers away from Sunday services.

The action came after Nam Sik Park, one of four black sheep expelled from the flock at the Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Flushing, railed against Rev. Stephen Kim, calling him a "false prophet" and allegedly threatening to "take out the liver of Pastor Kim, chew it up and eat it," court papers charge.

The banished pariahs keep showing up for services -- shouting during sermons, cursing at church elders and complaining to the congregation, the pastor claims.

Former church deacons Jae Kun Lee, Soon "Sunny" Kwang Hong and Hyun Suh Park were excommunicated in October. They had protested the August reinstatement of a former church elder, accused another elder of taking bribes and threatened to take the church to court, according to papers filed in Queens Supreme Court.

Nam Sik Park said he never threatened the pastor that he would "chew" and "eat" his liver.

Park said he was trying to show his devotion to God, by explaining, "If I didn't believe in Jesus Christ, I would 'take out the liver of Pastor Kim, chew it up and eat it.' "