‘Nazi’ Thug $niched for NYPD

BROOKLYN, NY — The crazed hatemonger arrested for stashing pipe bombs in his Brooklyn Heights apartment and scrawling swastikas on local synagogues has worked as a paid confidential informant for the NYPD.

The startling disclosure that the shadowy Ivaylo Ivanov, 37, was employed as a witness for hire emerged in a public hearing in Brooklyn Criminal Court last Tuesday, where red-faced prosecutors were forced to drop charges against a businessman for alleged possession of stolen property after Ivanov’s involvement in the case surfaced.

In that case, Officer Eddie Lau, of Park Slope’s 78th Precinct, last July used Ivanov to launch a criminal case against Abdul Rehium, an Egyptian national who owns Computer Wiz, a Flatbush Avenue store that buys and sells new and used electronic gear, court records reveal.

Boro Pres Merkowitz Throws Support Behind Legislation Protecting Homeowners

BROOKLYN, NY — On March 7, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined Assemblymember Jim Brennan (D-Bklyn), Senator Frank Padavan (R-Queens), Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and Bertha Lewis, Executive Director of ACORN, at a Brooklyn Borough Hall press conference announcing foreclosure moratorium legislation. The bill would place a one-year moratorium on foreclosure and give at-risk homeowners a chance to work with lenders to find fair and equitable ways to restructure their loans and protect their homes.

Ex-Cop Agrees to Change Name of NYPD Rant Web Site for Pension

The founder of NYPD Rant – an Internet forum for disgruntled cops – has agreed to change the name of his controversial Web site in exchange for his police pension, the Daily News has learned.

Ex-cop Edward Polstein has surrendered to the city’s demand that he drop “NYPD” from the title, but he’s already planning a new site where disgruntled cops – hiding in anonymity – can spew racist rants and hate-filled attacks on the public, their superiors and other targets.

The settlement would mark the end of Polstein’s bitter federal lawsuit charging that he was fired in retaliation for criticizing Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly on the Web site.

Gov Spitzer Announces Additional Heating Assistance To Combat Rising Energy Prices

Second Grant Available to Those in Crisis

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that additional emergency home heating assistance is being made available to New York’s most vulnerable residents, in response to rising energy costs. The state has approved offering a second emergency benefit to qualified applicants through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). HEAP, a federally-funded program administered by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), assists eligible households in meeting their home energy needs. So far this winter heating season, HEAP has issued benefits to more than 719,000 families, totaling more than $178 million.

OTDA Commissioner David A. Hansell appeared today at Senior Services of Albany on Delaware Avenue to help publicize the additional benefits.

Trees, Scaffoldings and Building Walls Damaged in Severe Winds

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — The national weather service issues a severe weather alert today covering most of New York City, warning residents of winds gusting up to 60mph, this advisory is in affect till 6:00am Monday.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

In Bronx School, Culture Shock, Then Revival

NYT Video!

Junior High School 22, in the South Bronx, had run through six principals in just over two years when Shimon Waronker was named the seventh.

On his first visit, in October 2004, he found a police officer arresting a student and calling for backup to handle the swelling crowd. Students roamed the hallways with abandon; in one class of 30, only 5 students had bothered to show up. “It was chaos,” Mr. Waronker recalled. “I was like, this can’t be real.”

Continued in the Extended Article!

Tickets and Car Thefts on the Decline

NEW YORK, NY — Believe it or not, fewer car windshields got slapped with parking tickets in Brooklyn last year.

Overall, cops wrote 59,589 less tickets in 2007, an 11% drop from 2006, preliminary city records show.

Stats in the Extended Article.

Severe Weather Alert for NYC

NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — A heavy snow warning remains in effect from 9:00pm this evening to 12:00pm Monday.

A mixture of rain and snow is expected to begin this evening… changing over to all snow by midnight. The snow may be heavy at times overnight into early Monday morning before tapering off around noontime. Total snow accumulations are expected to range from 5 to 8 inches.

More info in the Extended Article.

Big Apple Warms Up To Winter

January 8, 2008 — Hot times!

The weather was a balmy 62 degrees yesterday and it’s expected to be 63 degrees today.

That’s more than 20 degrees above normal.

And it’s expected to last through Saturday – with maybe a few showers here and there.

Four Slain in City Hours into 2008

NEW YORK, NY — The city recorded its lowest murder count in four decades last year – but violence erupted Tuesday just hours into 2008.

Three people were shot dead and another was fatally stabbed.

Cops were targeted, but not hit, by gunfire at three separate scenes, and at least five people were shot and wounded, all before sunrise, police said.

EVE’S TRASH LITTER-ALLY MASSIVE

NEW YORK, NY — A million New Year’s revelers trashed Times Square with at least 42 tons of party hats, noisemakers and confetti, which an army of city sanitation workers beautifully swept up yesterday.

Armed with brooms, 16 mechanical sweepers, 13 collection trucks and 14 leaf blowers, 109 of New York’s Strongest took to the streets to do the heavy lifting.

645 Rookie Cops to Hit High-Crime Streets

BROOKLYN, NY — There may be fewer homicides in Brooklyn’s high-crime neighborhoods, but the number of people getting shot and robbed there is on the rise.

Home burglaries, car break-ins and muggings also have increased in central and north Brooklyn – even as the same crime rates have decreased citywide, NYPD statistics show.

Woman Searching For Her NYC Subway Hero

Click Here to watch a Newscast

BRONX, NY — The woman you’re about to meet, knows a lot about the spirit of giving. She’s a blood donor who gave the gift of life just one night before a Good Samaritan would save hers.

City Is Doubling Police Program to Reduce Crime

NEW YORK, NY — Every new police officer in New York City will be sent onto the streets of some of the city’s toughest neighborhoods as part of a broad anticrime operation that the authorities say has helped produce historic drops in crime, the city announced on Wednesday.

Click here to download the 71st Precinct Crime Stat Sheet (PDF)

Crown Heights Couple Featured in NY Times – The Hunt

NEW YORK, NY — In the fall, when Yael and Eli Hanover planned to move to the Upper West Side to be within walking distance of Mrs. Hanover’s new job, real estate agents warned that it would be tough to find large enough rental space that also allowed dogs.