NEW YORK NEWS
City officials, led by Mayor Eric Adams, are facing legal challenges as they attempt to modify the Right to Shelter law in New York City, which mandates housing for anyone who requests it. Adams seeks to limit the stay of adult migrants in city-run shelters to just 30 days, arguing that the influx of asylum seekers makes the law unsustainable. Advocacy groups oppose these changes, warning of increased homelessness if the law is altered.
Governor Kathy Hochul supports Adams’ stance, stating that the city shouldn’t be responsible for housing the entire world. Meanwhile, efforts to address the asylum seeker crisis include deploying National Guard personnel and seeking to expand Temporary Protected Status beyond Venezuelans, as the city grapples with the financial strain of accommodating over 60,000 migrants.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sue President Biden over the financial burden placed on the state while dealing with the migrant crisis. Cuomo argues that the federal government is responsible for immigration and border enforcement and should bear the entire cost of the crisis, rather than burdening local governments like New York City. He criticizes the federal government for keeping migrants on public assistance instead of allowing states to issue work permits, and he questions the use of a national park, Floyd Bennett Field, as an emergency shelter. Cuomo’s podcast episode highlights his belief that the federal government should take full responsibility for the situation and calls for legal action if necessary.
A jumbotron advertisement on a truck parked outside the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) offices in New York called for the resignation of Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL CEO and national director, just days before Yom Kippur. The ad, sponsored by the Jewish Leadership Project (JLP), urged Greenblatt to “repent and resign.” The JLP has been using truck ads to target leaders of Jewish organizations, including Eric Fingerhut of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. The aim is to provoke a response from these leaders and raise awareness about issues within the Jewish community. JLP co-founder Avi Goldwasser believes that addressing the root causes of anti-Semitism, such as envy and success, is essential, and he criticizes the ADL for taking political positions unrelated to the Jewish community.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is launching a $15 million taxpayer-funded pilot program, providing free rides on five New York City bus routes, one in each borough, for a duration of six to 12 months. The selected routes include the BX18 A/B in the Bronx, the B60 in Brooklyn, the M116 in Manhattan, the Q4 in Queens, and the S46 (along with its limited stop twin, S96) in Staten Island. The routes were chosen based on criteria like ridership, fare evasion, fairness for lower socio-economic communities, and commercial activity. However, the free bus service will not include free transfers to buses or subway lines and is expected to benefit approximately 43,900 riders per weekday.
The New York attorney general’s office has issued a cease-and-desist letter to NY Citizens Audit, accusing the group of engaging in voter intimidation by confronting voters at their homes while falsely claiming to be state election officials and accusing individuals of voter fraud. The letter orders NY Citizens Audit to immediately halt any voter intimidation efforts and provide records related to its training of and communications with door-to-door canvassers. The attorney general’s office expressed concern that these actions could constitute unlawful voter deception under New York state law and unlawful voter intimidation under state and federal law. The group has until October 2nd to comply with the request. NY Citizens Audit describes itself as dedicated to ensuring honest elections, but reports suggest that some canvassers displayed false badges or identification.
New York City is introducing the K5, a $15 million taxpayer-funded, fully autonomous outdoor security robot from Knightscope, in the Times Square subway station as part of its law enforcement efforts. The robot, equipped with four cameras but no audio recording capability or facial recognition, will map the station during a two-week pilot and subsequently patrol the mezzanine level, serving as a mobile camera for straphangers to call for help. Mayor Eric Adams, a proponent of law enforcement technology, sees it as enhancing public safety and justice. However, privacy rights advocates are skeptical and concerned about potential surveillance technology use.
US NEWS
The southwestern border of the United States has witnessed a significant surge in migrant encounters, with around 11,000 reported in 24 hours, marking the highest single-day total in recent memory, according to sources at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Over the weekend, Eagle Pass, Texas, experienced more than 4,000 migrant encounters, including one of the largest border crossings in the past two years, with over 2,200 migrants captured on video as they made their way towards the city. Border crossings in Arizona and California have also seen a resurgence, with up to 2,000 migrants crossing the border and getting apprehended daily, despite previous claims of a drop in border crossings.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife Nadine have been indicted on bribery charges, following a corruption investigation initiated by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in October. The indictment alleges that Menendez and his wife had a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, who allegedly provided the senator with bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, including cash, gold, mortgage payments, and luxury items. Menendez is also accused of ghostwriting a letter to other senators to support the release of $300 million in military aid to Egypt, in coordination with his wife and the businessmen. Menendez has faced previous bribery accusations and was indicted in 2015 but never convicted after his trial ended in a mistrial.
Hunter Biden has filed a civil lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani and his former attorney, Robert Costello, alleging that they violated federal and state computer privacy laws and caused “total annihilation” of his digital privacy by allegedly hacking his devices and tampering with his data. The lawsuit claims that Giuliani admitted to downloading data from Hunter Biden’s laptop onto his own computer and bragged about accessing, analyzing, and manipulating the data. Hunter Biden’s attorneys argue that Giuliani and Costello’s actions continue to be ongoing, necessitating legal action. This lawsuit adds to the legal challenges facing Rudy Giuliani, who is already facing multiple civil and criminal actions related to his post-2020 election activities.
The Biden administration has announced a $2 billion loan to Poland to support the country’s defense modernization efforts. Poland, considered a vital ally of the U.S. on NATO’s eastern flank, has been actively supporting Ukraine by providing weapons and equipment. The loan includes up to $60 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to cover the loan’s cost, ensuring favorable terms for Poland. While there have been recent tensions between Poland and Ukraine due to a trade dispute, the U.S. continues to praise Poland’s role in helping Ukraine and emphasizes its strategic interest in Ukraine prevailing against Russia.
The Biden administration has allocated over $1.4 billion to fund 70 railway projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C., aimed at improving railway safety and increasing capacity. The funding, with approximately $1 billion stemming from the 2021 infrastructure law, will address concerns regarding railway safety following a train derailment and explosion in Ohio. Projects include track upgrades, bridge repairs, enhanced connectivity among railways, and weather resilience measures. Notably, $178.4 million will be used to restore passenger service in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The funding aims to create jobs, improve quality of life, and support economic growth in the region.
According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll, former President Donald Trump holds a nearly ten-point advantage over President Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2024 matchup. The poll indicates that 51 percent of respondents would vote for Trump, while 42 percent would vote for Biden. Additionally, 36 percent of respondents said they would definitely vote for Trump, while 32 percent would vote for Biden. Trump led Biden by 20 points among voters under age 35. The poll also found that 62 percent of Democratic-leaning respondents would like to see someone other than Biden nominated for the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, while 54 percent of Republican-leaning respondents would support Trump over his opponent Ron DeSantis for the GOP nomination.
Rite Aid is considering closing approximately 400 to 500 of its stores as part of its bankruptcy proceedings and may sell or transfer the remaining stores to creditors. Some bondholders are reportedly pushing for even more closures. The pharmacy chain, facing around $3.3 billion in debt and over 1,000 lawsuits related to filling allegedly unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, has been struggling with competition from larger rivals like Walgreens and CVS. Rite Aid’s stock price has plummeted, trading for less than 50 cents per share, down from over $6.50 a share a year ago.
The privately owned high-speed passenger train service, Brightline, has launched a route between Miami and Orlando, covering 235 miles in 3.5 hours. This service, backed by Fortress Investment Group, aims to accommodate up to 8 million passengers annually and is the first private intercity passenger service to operate in the U.S. in a century. Tickets are priced at $158 for business class and $298 for first-class round-trip fares, with family and group discounts available. However, the launch was overshadowed by an unfortunate incident in which a pedestrian was fatally hit by a Brightline train in Delray Beach, marking the company’s 12th death in 2023 and its 98th since July 2017, resulting in concerns about safety despite Brightline’s claim that none of the deaths were its fault.
Israel NEWS
The Biden administration is set to admit Israel into the Visa Waiver Program, allowing its citizens to travel to the United States without a U.S. visa. The announcement is expected just before the end of the federal budget year, as the deadline for Israel’s admission approaches. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to make the announcement following a recommendation from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, despite ongoing concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian Americans. Israel’s inclusion in the program, which currently includes citizens of 40 mostly European and Asian countries, has been a priority for Israeli leaders and marks a significant diplomatic achievement for Israel.
Fighting erupted in Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square as Yom Kippur began when some worshipers attempted to set up partitions to separate men and women for the Kol Nidrei prayer, despite it being a public space where such separation was banned by the Tel Aviv municipality and the High Court of Justice. The announcement of gender segregation caused controversy leading up to the holiest day of the year, and while some groups petitioned to overrule the separation ban, the High Court rejected the petitions. As the prayer service commenced, protests against gender segregation escalated into physical altercations, drawing condemnation from various officials and politicians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed nuclear and security experts to collaborate with U.S. negotiators to find a compromise allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear program. Israel is working with the U.S. on establishing a U.S.-run uranium-enrichment operation in Saudi Arabia, a condition for the kingdom to accept normalization with Israel. This move represents a shift in Israel’s policy regarding nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. The U.S. is considering the proposal, but concerns persist that Saudi Arabia may turn to China for nuclear assistance. Israel and the U.S. appear willing to accept the risks of a nuclear Saudi Arabia in exchange for normalization, which could reshape Israel’s relationships in the Arab world.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi announced during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly that his country’s embassy in Israel would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move reciprocated by Israel opening an embassy in Kinshasa. The two leaders discussed various areas of cooperation, including agriculture, trade, security, and cyber warfare. The decision to establish embassies in each other’s capitals reflects their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. Currently, several countries have moved their embassies to Jerusalem, bolstering Israel’s position regarding the city as its capital.
WORLD NEWS
The Speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, Anthony Rota, issued an apology for recognizing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address in the House of Commons. Rota introduced Hunka as a war hero, but after realizing the controversy surrounding Hunka’s history, he expressed regret for his decision and apologized, particularly to Jewish communities worldwide. Hunka served in the First Ukrainian Division, also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, a unit under the Nazis’ command. Various organizations and individuals criticized the recognition, demanding a meaningful apology and an explanation of how Hunka entered the Canadian Parliament.
Mexico has reached an agreement with the United States to address the recent surge in border crossings, including deporting migrants from its border cities to their home countries and implementing actions to deter migrants. The agreement includes measures to “depressurize” northern cities, prevent migrants from using the railway system to reach the US-Mexico border, and deport migrants by land and air. The US-Mexico border has seen a significant increase in migrant crossings, with over 8,600 apprehensions reported in a 24-hour period, up from around 3,500 daily arrests earlier this year. Factors driving the surge include misinformation and increased kidnappings in Mexico.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that the country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine amid an escalating trade dispute between the two neighboring states. The decision comes as Poland pursues a military modernization plan due to concerns about Russian aggression in the region. While Morawiecki did not provide detailed explanations, a government spokesman clarified that Poland would continue to provide ammunition and armaments previously agreed upon. The move comes ahead of Poland’s national election, with pressure from far-right groups and concerns about the large number of Ukrainian refugees contributing to the decision. Despite this, the United States and others still see Poland as a supporter of Ukraine.
