Mayor Eric Adams’ high-stakes meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar was brokered by a surprising celebrity: Dr. Phil.

Adams’ sit-down at Gracie Mansion with incoming immigration official Tom Homan on Thursday came as New Yorkers prepare for what Trump has vowed will be “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” The mayor has signaled a willingness to work with the incoming administration, while at the same pledging to “be true” to the city’s immigrant roots.

In an interview that aired after the meeting, Homan praised Adams – and revealed that their talk came together last week, while the immigration hardliner was on Dr. Phil’s private plane.

“I’ve called him out this past year many times about being more of a politician than police officer,” said Homan, who was a police officer in a small town in the North Country before joining the federal government’s border patrol. “I was wrong. He came through today as a police officer and a mayor that cares about the safety and security of his city.”

Homan added to Dr. Phil: “Thank you for making it possible.”

Dr. Phil’s eponymous talk show ran for more than two decades, and the daytime television personality launched his own Merit TV network in the spring, largely focusing on right-wing fixations. Speaking to Homan, he referred to the incoming border official’s concerns about sanctuary cities as “nonpartisan issues.”

Merit TV anchors credited the network’s founder with making essential progress on policy priorities.

“ You had a hand in getting Mayor Eric Adams and Donald Trump’s incoming border czar to not only get into the same room together and discuss policy, but to agree on policy,” one anchor said.

“ I had the privilege of introducing Tom Homan and Mayor Eric Adams on an airplane, on FaceTime,” Dr. Phil responded. “We were actually about to take off and I had to call the tower and pull over because Mayor Adams FaceTimed me…

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Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday said he would issue an executive order to amend the city’s sanctuary laws during a fiery 10-minute press conference that followed his meeting with Tom Homan, the incoming ‘border czar’ for the Trump administration.

The mayor began his remarks by accusing the press and others of distorting his comments. In recent weeks, Adams has suggested that undocumented New Yorkers are not entitled to due process. He later walked back the statement. He said on Thursday that the city would not be a “safe haven” for those who have “committed crimes,” but neglected to specify whether he was referring to people who had been convicted of a crime, or just charged with one.

“About 170 crimes currently allow us to communicate and collaborate with ICE after a conviction,” he said, referring to the circumstances in the city’s sanctuary laws that allow local officials to work with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. “We need to examine them.”

Adams, who’s faced repeated questions about his stance on sanctuary laws, has been unclear about exactly what additional crimes and circumstances he believes should allow city officials to cooperate with federal immigration officials. On Thursday, he mentioned using executive orders to target repeat offenders.

Many Democrats, including challengers seeking to unseat the mayor, have attacked Adams as being anti-immigrant and seeking President-elect Donald Trump’s legal favor while battling federal corruption charges.

“Today, as Mayor Adams talks with Trump’s border czar, New Yorkers are left wondering: is his goal at the meeting to advocate for us or to advance his own personal agenda and curry favor to get a pardon?” wrote Scott Stringer, a Democratic mayoral challenger, on X.

The post contained a list of compiled statements from Adams over the years that showed conflicting stances on immigration and Trump.

State Sen. Jessica Ramos, another mayoral candidate, also attacked Adams for making…

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New bus lanes and pedestrian safety upgrades are now in effect on Manhattan’s 96th Street, city transportation officials said on Tuesday.

The redesign is one of 37 projects the Department of Transportation is implementing ahead of congestion pricing, which is scheduled to launch in January.

The changes span 96th Street from Second Avenue to West End Avenue, aimed at improving conditions for the majority of residents who depend on public transit. Nearly 75% of residents along the corridor do not own cars, and 68% commute by walking, biking or using public transit.

As one of the city’s busiest crosstown routes, 96th Street connects Manhattan’s East and West Sides, serving tens of thousands of commuters weekly. The M96 and M106 buses, which carry thousands of riders across the city, are among its key transit routes.

“96th Street is one of the city’s busiest crosstown routes, where bus speeds during rush hours can be as slow as walking. The addition of dedicated bus lanes will dramatically enhance service for the 15,500 weekday riders who depend on this corridor, making their commutes faster, safer, and more reliable,” Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement.

The new bus lanes run in both directions between West End Avenue and Central Park West, and from Madison Avenue to Second Avenue. These lanes are designed to reduce delays by separating buses from general traffic, improving travel times, officials said.

The bus lanes will operate 24/7, except for the eastbound curbside lane between Lexington and Third Avenues, which will be active from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Stop times for the M96 and M106 buses have also been extended.

Other updates include Neighborhood Loading Zones between Amsterdam Avenue and Central Park West, reserving space for deliveries, as well as left-turn bays and hardened center lines at intersections to enhance pedestrian safety.

“Simply put: when you prioritize walkers and micro mobility and mass transit, more people…

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A new Manhattan program is connecting teen performers with theatrically inclined seniors.

The Stage Exchange was started by 16-year-old Bailee Stein last year. The Upper West Side native, disturbed by what she saw as ageism in the theater world, saw an opportunity to forge connections within her community.

She created the Stage Exchange, a musical theater group composed of teenagers and senior citizens.

They’ve so far rehearsed four times, with teams focusing on whatever moves them. so far that has included a scene from “The Devil Wears Prada” and “I Could’ve Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady.”

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The medical examiner who analyzed Jordan Neely’s body after Daniel Penny kept him in a chokehold on an uptown F train last year could not identify any other reasonable explanation for his death besides compression of his neck, she testified during Penny’s Manhattan criminal trial on Friday.

“It is your opinion, if Mr. Neely’s neck was not compressed, he would not have died?” Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran asked.

“Yes,” replied Dr. Cynthia Harris with the chief medical examiner’s office.

Harris’s testimony on Friday is critical for prosecutors, who need to establish that Penny caused Neely’s death. She was the final witness in the prosecution’s case. Penny’s defense attorneys are expected to call their own witnesses starting Monday.

Penny has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges in Neely’s death. On May 1, 2023, Penny wrapped his arm around Neely’s neck, pulled him to the floor of the train and continued to hold on for about six minutes, according to evidence at his trial. Neely was pronounced dead at a hospital soon afterward. Penny told detectives that he put Neely in a chokehold because he was yelling threats and “acting like a lunatic.” He also said he was trying to restrain Neely until police arrived at the next station — not kill him.

But Harris said the chokehold prevented oxygen from traveling to Neely’s brain, causing him to lose consciousness and ultimately die. She said the oxygen was likely cut off in part by pressure on one side of Neely’s neck. Oxygen flow could also have been blocked from pressure under Neely’s chin, which the medical examiner said could have pushed Neely’s tongue or other tissue into his throat. She added that that type of blockage would only require a small amount of force.

Over the course of about four hours on Thursday and Friday, Harris walked jurors through some of the mechanics of the body, explaining in detail how people breathe and what can…

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President-elect Donald Trump has announced his pick to lead the U.S. attorney’s office for Southern District of New York — the same office that’s prosecuting Mayor Eric Adams’ on corruption charges.

Trump said he’ll nominate Jay Clayton of New York, who served as chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during his first first term. Damian Williams, the current head of the office, hasn’t yet announced his own plans.

It’s unclear what the selection will mean for the mayor, who the SDNY alleges took gifts from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors. Trump has said he was skeptical of the indictment and accused federal authorities of going after Adams because he criticized the Biden administration’s border policies, as tens of thousands of migrants streamed into the city.

“They went after you, mayor,” Trump said to Adams at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner in October. “But you’re going to win.”

Before and after his stint at the SEC, Clayton worked at the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell, according to the firm’s website and a statement issued by Trump Thursday. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Cambridge.

Trump, in his statement, said Clayton, “is a highly respected business leader, counsel and public servant.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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Thirty alleged gang members who authorities say are responsible for half of this year’s shootings in Inwood and Washington Heights this year were indicted Thursday on a range of charges — including murder, attempted murder, weapons possession and conspiracy to commit violence.

The busts come after shootings surged during the pandemic. Even though shootings have since come down, so far this year there have been about 100 more shootings citywide than during the same period in 2019, according to NYPD data.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the charges unveiled on Thursday all stemmed from a yearslong rivalry.

“The violence did not impact just these defendants and their associates,” Bragg said at a news conference detailing the indictment. “It impacted the entire neighborhood, [creating] a climate of fear among ordinary residents who had no part in this violence.”

Bragg said all of the shootings addressed in the charges were sparked by an alleged gang killing in 2018. The incident sparked 18 retaliatory shootings that claimed seven lives, including innocent bystanders, Bragg said.

Bragg blamed the gang war for approximately 50% of all this year’s shootings in the 33rd and 34th precincts, which include much of Washington Heights and Inwood in Uptown Manhattan.

Mayor Eric Adams frequently points to the removal of illegal guns as one of his major successes. According to NYPD data, gun seizures peaked in 2022, with 7,145 guns taken compared to 5,400 in 2019. That number has come down this year, to roughly 5,500 guns seized so far in 2024, according to law enforcement officials.

NYPD Deputy Chief Brian Gill, commander of northern Manhattan detectives, credits fast response by patrol officers in identifying targets.

“These kids are so young,” Gill said. “Sometimes something on social media will spark violence out of nowhere. Someone will be livestreaming and then his oppositions [sic] will see it and they’ll run outside and confront them with weapons.”

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As Democrats come to grips with Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Mayor Eric Adams faces a legal and political bind: He could benefit from the incoming president’s sympathy as he fights federal corruption charges, but risks suffering politically by cozying up to his party’s most powerful adversary.

Adams’ delicate dance with Trump was on display at press conference at City Hall on Wednesday, where the mayor pledged to work with the new administration while protecting the interests of New Yorkers, including women, immigrants and LGBTQ+ people.

“We will work with the new administration and Congress to develop a realistic and compassionate national strategy for our immigration system,” Adams said.

As the tense press conference wrapped up, Adams ignored questions about whether Trump’s election could benefit his battle against federal corruption charges.

In the leadup to the election, Trump expressed sympathy for Adams’ legal troubles, saying the mayor is facing retaliation from the Justice Department for criticizing President Joe Biden’s handling of the migrant crisis. Adams, in turn, refused to condemn Trump in the days leading up to the election and dodged questions on whether his reticence was hurting Vice President Kamala Harris.

The tension will only escalate as Trump takes office after a dark campaign that centered on deportation of undocumented immigrants. Adams rebuffed questions about how the city will respond if Trump follows through on his pledge. As a sanctuary city, New York City limits its cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The mayor has said he supports the city’s sanctuary policies, but he has questioned rules that restrict when city officials may assist federal immigration agents.

“Do you protect New York as a sanctuary city or do you consider your own liberty in that equation?” said Basil Smikle, a former Democratic strategist who now teaches at Columbia University. “What’s going to win out?”

Although…

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The World Series is coming to the Bronx Monday night for the Yankees’ highly-anticipated third matchup against the LA Dodgers – and there are plenty of ways to watch without giving up half a month’s rent for stadium seats.

The Oculus

For those near Lower Manhattan, the big game will be broadcast for free on a big screen at the North Oculus Plaza, where spectators will also have access to food and drinks from the nearby Oculus Beer Garden and other shops and restaurants. One drawback: The plaza won’t actually have seating, but the ledges and staircases of the open space are good places to post up.

Sports bars (in general)

New York sports bars have always provided a helpful alternative to cramped apartment living rooms, and this time will be no different. Fan-favorite watering holes like the Irish American Pub and Restaurant, Carragher’s Bar and Boot Room and Patrizia’s Taverna will be hosting watch parties.

Bronx sports bars (specifically)

For those hoping to be closer to the action, any bar near Yankee Stadium promises to be a packed house. If the scene at Billy’s Bar for Game 2 on Friday was any indication, Monday night should be a wild time.

Yankee Stadium

Anyone with tickets for the stadium is lucky enough. The gates will open three hours before the game to allow people enough time to make their way inside. But what about getting there?

To ferry hordes of fans to the Bronx, the MTA will increase service on the 4 and D trains, and will adding more Metro-North service to and from the Yankees-E. 153rd Street Station.

The MTA will also add more personnel on the platforms and mezzanines at the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station to help with crowd control.

Several bus lines also stop near Yankee Stadium, including the Bx1, Bx2, Bx6, Bx13 and BxM4. More details on schedules and fares can be found on the MTA TrainTime app and the MTA website.

The first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. Game 4 will also be in the Bronx on Tuesday night, followed by Game 5 at…

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