A new terminal is posed to open at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, marking the latest step forward in the makeover of a facility once likened to that of “a Third World country” by former Vice President Joe Biden. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton attended Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting for the new, 840,000-square-foot Terminal B, slated to open on Saturday. The airport was opened in the late 1930s but had become a cramped, outdated relic by the time Biden said in 2014 that disembarking there was like being “in some Third World country.” The five-year, $8 billion makeover is in its fourth year, and is replacing six concourses, adding 72 gates and improving parking and access roads.

Security video shows more than a dozen people ransacking Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan last week during unrest over the death of George Floyd. The video released by police Tuesday shows two people smashing a glass door with a hammer and baseball bat on the night of June 1 at the Herald Square store. Others are seen prying open a revolving door before entering and grabbing purses and other goods. One man appears to stuff merchandise into a garbage bag. In all, police released security photos of 15 people. They said they made off with about $10,000 worth of merchandise. Macy’s has said the damage to the store can be fairly easily repaired. Retailers in New York City have been given permission to reopen, but only for curbside pickup of merchandise or delivery.

The head of New York state’s Police Benevolent Association Mike O’Meara raged at a PBA press conference in New York City today. O’meara slammed the the media and state legislators who he says were “vilifying” police “like animals and thugs,” despite police interactions around the country being “overwhelmingly positive.” “Everybody’s trying to shame us. Legislators. The press. Everybody’s trying to shame us into being embarrassed of our profession. You know what? This isn’t stained by someone in Minneapolis,” he said, holding up his badge before gesturing to the crowd of officers standing behind him. “It’s still got a shine on it, and so do theirs.”

New York state lawmakers repealed a decades-old law Tuesday that has kept law enforcement officers’ disciplinary records secret, spurred by the national uproar over the death of George Floyd. The New York City Council public safety subcommittee met Tuesday to discuss legislation aimed at police reform as state officials took steps to promote transparency. Both the New York State Senate and Assembly approved the repeal of the law known as Section 50-a on Tuesday, which prevents the public from discovering an officer’s disciplinary record. “All across the nation, there is a shared sense of anger and frustration over the death of yet another unarmed black man at the hands of law enforcement,” said Speaker Carl Heastie.

Effective immediately limited indoor get-togethers and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people can resume in an easing of rules meant to slow the spread of the cornavirus, Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday. The governor also said that outdoor demonstrations protected by the First Amendment, including religious services and protests stemming from George Floyd’s death, can be held, regardless of the number of attendees. “We believe such a rule appropriately prioritizes individuals’ rights to speak and worship freely,” he said during a news conference. He said he planned to increase the limits for other outdoor gatherings to 250 people by June 22 and to 500 people by July 3.

A series of overnight shootings across Brooklyn has left at least eight people wounded, according to police. There was also one shots fired incident as well. All of this happened in around three hours – and comes on the heels of failing NYC Socialist Mayor Bill DeBlasio pandering to the “Black Lives Matter” movement, and vowing to “defund the police”. DeBlasio laid out the next wave of police reforms on Sunday, including shifting funds from the NYPD to youth and social services, in the aftermath of days of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. “The details will be worked out in the budget process in the weeks ahead. But I want people to understand that we are committed to shifting resources to ensure that the focus is on our young people,” de Blasio said.

A New York City police officer who was caught on video violently shoving a woman to the ground during a recent protest over the death of George Floyd is facing criminal charges, Brooklyn prosecutors announced Tuesday. Officer Vincent D’Andraia was charged with assault, criminal mischief, harassment and menacing in the May 29 altercation that sent protester Dounya Zayer to the hospital, causing what she said was a concussion and a seizure after hitting her head on the pavement. D’Andraia is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, according to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who said he was “deeply troubled by this unnecessary assault.” A message seeking comment was left with D’Andraia’s union. It was not immediately known whether he had a lawyer.

In each borough at a “crucial” location, a street will be named “Black Lives Matter,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. “What will be clear — the street name and on the streets of our city — is that message that now this city must fully, fully deeply feel and this nation must as well, that Black Lives Matter,” de Blasio said. This follows a Sunday meeting with activists, including Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who died after an NYPD officer used a chokehold on him. One of the locations will be near city hall, and the other locations will be decided with participants activists and city leaders, de Blasio said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

As protesters of police brutality demand accountability, New York lawmakers are poised to overhaul a decades-old law that has kept officers’ disciplinary records secret. The state law, known by its section title, 50-a, was passed in the 1970s to prevent criminal defense attorneys from subjecting officers to harassing cross-examinations about irrelevant information in their personnel file. The law applies to jail guards and firefighters, as well. But over the years, the law has draped a veil over most records of police misconduct, including allegations. Formal complaints about excessive force by officers are not public in New York. In recent years, police departments have cited the law in refusing to say even whether officers have been punished.

The dripping hypocrisy and double standard is simply sickening. Hasidic children were once again tossed out of a playground. It happened on Monday afternoon at the park located at Lee Avenue near Division Avenue. Meanwhile, just a few days ago, NYC Mayor DeBlasio (who was not wearing mask) joined tens of thousands at a protest in Brooklyn at Cadman Plaza to protest the horrific murder of George Floyd. Once again, it’s a tale of two cities. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)