A majority of state Assembly members support beginning impeachment proceedings against Gov. Andrew Cuomo if he doesn’t resign over investigative findings that he harassed at least 11 women, according to an Associated Press count Wednesday. At least 82 of the body’s 150 members have said publicly or told The AP that they favored initiating the process of ousting the third-term Democratic governor if he doesn’t quit. A simple majority of Assembly members is needed to authorize an impeachment trial. Cuomo has denied that he made any inappropriate advances and insisted the findings didn’t reflect the facts.

New York’s legislative leaders signaled Wednesday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo could swiftly face an impeachment trial if he doesn’t resign, while a growing number of prosecutors also eyed investigative findings that he harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo denied that he made any inappropriate advances and insisted the findings, released Tuesday, didn’t reflect the facts. But while political pressure grew, so did the potential for criminal charges against the third-term Democratic governor. District attorneys in Manhattan, suburban Westchester County and the state capital of Albany said they have asked for investigative materials from the inquiry, led by Democratic state Attorney General Letitia James.

Traffic was brought to a halt on the eastbound lanes of Route 17 this morning. Sources tell YWN that a passenger vehicle suddenly went up in flames while driving near Exit 100 at around 11:00AM, Wednesday morning. A passing Hatzolah volunteer quickly ran to make sure the occupants were out of the vehicle, and had moved to a safe distance. The Rock Hill Fire Department was called, and required the full closure of traffic in the eastbound lanes as they extinguished the blaze. The D.O.T. responded for an oil spill, and traffic was reopened around 40 minutes later. Video via @Burbach

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Osher (Oscar) Lemel Ehrenreich ZT”L, the Dean of Bais Yaakov of Boro Park for more than sixty years. Rav Ehrenreich, who was in his nineties, was Niftar today in Maimonides Hospital. Bais Yaakov of Boro Park has for decades been looked at by countless people as the flagship school for Chinuch Habanos, thanks to the incredible Mesiras Nefesh and dedication by Rav Ehrenreich. Rav Ehrenreich was an incomparable master Mechanech, known as “the principal of all principals”, to whom Menahalim always looked for advice and help. There are thousands upon thousands of girls whos Chinuch he was responsible for over the decades. The Levaya will be on Wednesday morning at 11:30AM at Bais Yaakov of Boro Park, 1371 46th Street.

It was a close game, but the NYPD was victorious in the baseball game against Flatbush Hatzolah on Monday night. The final score was 5-4. Among the many celebrities who attended the game were NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, NYPD Community Affairs Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Bob Ganley, Brooklyn South Chief Michael Kemper, NYPD Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, NYPD Lt Ira Jablonsky, Councilman Kalman Yeger, Hatzolah CEO Rabbi Yehiel Kalish and Brooklyn Boro President and Mayoral candidate Eric Adams. Flatbush Hatzolah has been playing weekly summer baseball games against various NYC agencies – such as NYPD and FDNY to foster a spirit of camaraderie and friendship.

JetBlue is not departing New York. The low-cost airline announced Tuesday that it will keep its headquarters in Queens and expand its flagship terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. JetBlue had considered moving its headquarters to Florida when its lease at a building in Long Island City ends in 2023. The airline already operates a training center in Orlando and has a subsidiary based in Fort Lauderdale. Instead, the airline said that after going through a competitive bidding process it intends to stay in New York where it began in 1998. The airline will negotiate a new lease for its headquarters building. CEO Robin Hayes said New York is still a great place to live, work and visit, and JetBlue wants to help the city recover from the pandemic.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Dovid Tzvi Toiv ZT”L, longtime Rov in Flatbush. He was approximately 91 years old. The Niftar was the Morah D’asra of Bais Medrash Nachlas Yehoshuah for around 70 years. He was also the founder of the Jewish Heritage for the Blind. Rav Toiv was unfortunately sick for the past year, and was Niftar on Tuesday morning. He is survived by his wife, Rebbitzen Rivka Toiv, and sons Sruly, Peretz  Yehuda, and Shrage. The Levaya will be held at 6:30PM his Shul located at 1655 East 24th Street between Avenue P and Quentin Road in Flatbush. Kevura will be in Eretz Yisroel. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Joe Biden called on Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign Tuesday, following a report that Cuomo harassed 11 women. “He should resign. I understand the state legislature may decide to impeach, I do not know that for a fact,” Biden told reporters at the White House. The response came four months after Biden said that if an investigation confirmed allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, then the governor should step down. Biden said Tuesday that he stood by his March statement. “I think he’ll probably end up being prosecuted, too,” Biden told ABC News in an interview that aired March 16. (AP)

An investigation found that Gov. Andrew Cuomo harassed multiple women inside and outside state government and worked to retaliate against one of his accusers, New York’s attorney general announced Tuesday in a finding that is certain to renew calls for the Democrat’s resignation or impeachment. The nearly five-month investigation, conducted by two outside lawyers who spoke to 179 people, found that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile work environment” and that it was “rife with fear and intimidation.” People interviewed included complainants, current and former members of the executive chamber, State troopers, additional state employees and others who interacted regularly with the governor.

New York City will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for anyone who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, see a performance or go to the gym, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday, making it the first big city in the U.S. to impose such restrictions. The new requirement, which will be phased in over several weeks in August and September, is the most aggressive step the city has taken yet to curb a surge in cases caused by the Delta variant. People will have to show proof that they have had at least one dose of a vaccine. “The only way to patronize these establishments indoors will be if you’re vaccinated,” de Blasio said. “The goal here is to convince everyone that this is the time. If we’re going to stop the Delta variant, the time is now.