An associate of Rudy Giuliani told a federal judge Wednesday that he will not testify at his own trial on charges alleging he used a Russian financier’s money to make donations to U.S. political candidates. Lev Parnas made the announcement in Manhattan a day after prosecutors finished presenting evidence against him. He said he did so after consulting with his wife and family. The Florida businessman and a codefendant, Andrey Kukushkin, have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Kukushkin also announced Wednesday that he will not testify. Shortly afterward, the defense rested. Judge J. Paul Oetken told jurors to return Thursday for closing arguments in the two-week-old trial.

New York City will require police officers, firefighters and other municipal workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be placed on unpaid leave, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, giving an ultimatum to public employees who’ve refused and ensuring a fight with some unions representing them. The mandate affecting the nation’s largest police department and more than 100,000 other Big Apple workers — including trash haulers and building inspectors — carries a Nov. 1 deadline for getting the first vaccine dose, de Blasio announced. Jailers on Rikers Island, where the city has been grappling with staffing shortages creating unsafe conditions, will be subject to the mandate on Dec. 1.

NJ Governor Phil Murphy visited Lakewood today ahead of upcoming Election Day. Murphy met with many community Askonim, including Rabbi Aaron Kotler, Meyer Lichtenstein, the Igud Hamosdos, Avi Schnall of the Agudah and others. Most notably, the Governor met with Hagaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler and Hagaon HaRav Yisroel Neuman – two of the Roshei Yeshiva of BMG. Among his many stops around Lakewood, was Lakewood Hatzolah, where the Governor put on a Hatzolah vest and posed for photos. Murphy was greeted in Lakewood by Rabbi Abe Friedman, a close friend and advisor to the Governor. Murphy also visited Lakewood Bikur Cholim, Chai Lifeline and other locations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Exclusive: YWN has learned that the highly-influential Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC) and the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF), have thrown their support behind front-runner Steven Saperstein for the upcoming City Council election to replace former Councilman Chaim Deutsch. The FJCC and Sephardic Federation represents more than 250 Shuls and Yeshivas, hundreds of Flatbush business owners and thousands of local residents and their endorsement is sought after by all candidates looking for the support of the broader Flatbush Jewish community. Tuesday, November 2nd is election day and NYC will choose a new Mayor as well as a majority of City Council members.

ENGLEWOOD, New Jersey – Bergen Hatzalah, the Chevra Hatzalah division based in Bergen County, New Jersey launched its monthly continuing medical education (CME) program earlier this week. The first class, which took place Monday and was anonymously sponsored in honor of Bergen Hatzalah’s first responders, offered the nationally standard “Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator” (CEVO) course. More than 30 responders attended the class. Bergen Hatzalah’s CME program will feature monthly classes which are part of state approved courses that allow responders to keep their skills fresh as they respond to calls. The classes cover the full gamut of medical, trauma and emergency operations subjects and are available for sponsorship.

The oversight agency of the NYPD has recommended discipline for dozens of officers accused of misconduct during last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board released new data on Monday, on the 313 complaints from the Black Lives Matter protests. They completed 127 full investigations that found 42 substantiated complaints of misconduct containing 91 allegations against 65 officers. The review board recommended the highest level of discipline for 37 of those officers. Each of them will undergo an administrative trial, and if found guilty, could face loss of vacation days, suspension or termination. (AP)

Overall crimes on New York City’s subways are at 25-year low, according to the MTA. But as more people return to public transit, police say the number of thefts is increasing. New data from the NYPD showed thefts on the subways jumped by 50% in September. Robberies also increased but the number of assaults remained the same. Subway grand larcenies went from 64 in August to 96 in September, according to NYPD statistics. (Source: NBC)
The post DEBLASIO’S NYC: NYPD Data Shows Thefts On Subway’s Rose 50% in September appeared first on The Yeshiva World.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea visited Yeshiva of Flatbush yesterday and announced the arrest of the individual responsible for pouring gasoline around the yeshiva and setting it on fire this past Thursday evening, October 14th.

Former President Donald Trump was questioned Monday in a deposition for a lawsuit brought by protesters who say his security team roughed them up in the early days of his presidential campaign in 2015. Trump testified under oath behind closed doors at Trump Tower in New York City for several hours, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said. Video of the deposition will be played for a jury if the case goes to trial. The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Benjamin Dictor, said Trump was questioned on a variety of topics, including comments he’s made at campaign rallies in which he appeared to encourage security personnel to treat protesters harshly.

(By Sandy Eller) A group of more than 40 senior Israeli officials met with members of Flatbush Shomrim in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon, hoping to gain insights that will benefit them on their home turf. The meeting was arranged by Moshe Samuels, creator of The New Jew, an Israeli documentary that cast the media spotlight on American Judaism. Having filmed a segment of the series in Brooklyn in conjunction with Flatbush Shomrim in the pre-COVID days, Samuels reached out to Shomrim executive coordinator Bob Moskovitz to arrange a fall visit with the Israeli Local Authorities group, which was comprised of mayors, city council members and directors of regional and local councils.