NYU students and professors were arrested Thursday afternoon after they bound themselves together and blocked the school’s library in Lower Manhattan during a pro-Palestine protest.

The protest began early Dec. 12 and lasted well into the afternoon as students placed their arms in long metal cylinders and sat outside of the NYU Bobst Library, located at 70 Washington Square South. The blockade prevented their peers and staff from entering the premises.

Other students set up banners and created a picket line as they marched across the sidewalk.

Campus security attempted to usher the blockade away but were ultimately left helpless as the demonstrators refused to comply. It wasn’t until just after noon that school faculty appeared to have enough of the protest.

Fountain Walker, vice p;resident of Global Campus Safety at NYU, stood with the NYPD Strategic Response Group and announced that the police would start making arrests.

“I am asking you all to please vacate the area. You are causing an obstruction, and I am asking you to please vacate the area. If you do not vacate the area, you will be charged with trespassing,” Walker said. “Subsequently, you will be arrested.”

At least two professors seemed to attempt to block cops, resulting in them getting hauled away in zip ties first. Officers then used heavy-duty power saws, sending some sparks flying, to cut into the protester’s constraints and free their limbs. Others underwent tense face-offs and shouting matches with cops At least half a dozen people were arrested after the long, arduous process of unshackling them.

“Free Palestine!” they cried as some were literally carried away.

This demonstration is the latest in a long line of student-led rebellions on NYC campuses…

Anaffordable housing lottery at a Washington Heights building to its cost-efficient living program, offering one month of free rent. 

Residents searching for modern living options have a new option at Forty Six Fifty, a new residential complex overlooking Fort Tryon Park and The Cloisters at the northern tip of Manhattan. For a limited time, according to Housing Connect, the community is offering new tenants their first month free as part of its introductory promotion.

Affordable units include studios and one, and two-bedroom homes.

Amenities feature a green lobby and a landscaped rooftop, Integrating nature into daily life. The location boasts access to the city’s most treasured park spaces, providing residents with an ideal urban oasis.

The complex displays meticulously crafted interiors and amenities, including panoramic views of the park. Each residence has generous living spaces and state-of-the-art finishes.

Tenants will also benefit from the anticipated tax exemption through the 421-a Tax Incentive Program by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, making the complex part of an affordable housing initiative.

Additional fees apply for select amenities, and while pets are welcome, breed restrictions do apply.

Rent includes hot water; however, tenants will be responsible for their electricity, including the electric stove and heating. Household income is limited between $85,715.00 and $218,010.00, depending on the household size and desired bedrooms.

No application fees or security deposits are required for potential residents. Potential tenants can find more details on the official website. 

Live your ultimate Barbie fantasy in a limited-time-only life-size Barbie Dreamhouse in New York City.

The Barbie StreamHouse powered by Verizon is coming to Soho from Dec. 12-15 as a part of Verizon’s Barbie-themed holiday campaign. Open to all ages, the pop-up will replicate Barbie’s DreamHouse and bring the Barbie world to life.

“The holiday season is an incredibly special time for Verizon and our customers, and we wanted to do something big, entertaining, and first-of-its-kind. With Barbie, we found the perfect partner to turn “dreamy” into “streamy” through a campaign sure to captivate and delight families and fans everywhere,” said Leslie Berland, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon. “The Barbie StreamHouse brings to life the magic of Barbie and friends, powered by Verizon Home Internet and all the ways our customers live and play. We can’t wait to host everyone and experience the world of Verizon and Barbie like never before.”

Those who come to the Barbie StreamHouse will experience an interactive mobile guide through the house, hosted by Barbie herself. Along the way, visitors will encounter holiday photo opportunities, interactive games, surprises, giveaways, and more. A few lucky guests will also have the opportunity to win exclusive merch such as t-shirts and customized phone cases.

Guests will also be able to virtually shop through the latest holiday gifts from both Barbie and Verizon. Through their partnership with Barbie Dream Gap Project and Girls, Inc, the pop-up will also be hosting 100 students for a special Barbie StreamHouse experience with a behind-the-scenes look at Verizon technology and holiday play kits with Barbie toys and merchandise. Students from a neighboring Verizon Innovative Learning school are also invited to come and check out the StreamHouse.

“When Verizon tapped Barbie…

A humorously lewd trio brought their laugh-out-loud act to The Bell House during the New York Comedy Festival on Nov. 13, delivering a cacophony of laughter that struck more than a few offbeat notes.

Created by J.D. Roberson and Ryan Wentz, known collectively as the duo Two Tree Hill, and standout performer Rose Kelso, “Don’t Stop, I’m About to Jazz” is an improvisational comedy show that’s as crass as it is musically inventive.

The show opens with a high-energy musical number that immediately sets the tone: an irreverent mix of jokes and jazzy improv. The only thing smoother than the saxophone solos was the edgy banter that followed.

After connecting on TikTok, Kelso, Roberson, and Wentz turned their shared desire to bring the laughs from the app to the stage into a show where they riff and joke over a live jazz band. They invite visiting comedians onstage to deliver snippets of stand-up, while the band improvises a musical score they’ve never seen before.

Complete with clumsy dance numbers, spontaneous singing, and racy riffing, the show feels almost like a guessing game to the audience — delivering surprises in the most rewarding way.

“Sometimes you can find that you really get in a groove, and other times it’s a little clunky and fun,” Kelso said. “We wanted to do something where we could have that sort of cabaret, Vaudeville vibe.”

Risky as it may be, the live band adds a layer of sophistication to the show, setting it apart from other, less ad-libby productions. 

“Doing musical comedy, we’re already not traditional stand-ups. We love bits, pageantry, and putting so much energy and production into a single joke,” Roberson said. “We’re just doing what we love.”

Wentz calls the act a “perfect meld” of all…

Two dozen individuals were busted in a massive Manhattan takedown that may have stopped a bloody six-year gang war, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the NYPD announced Thursday.

Police believe the suspects involved in the takedown are responsible for half of the shootings that have taken place during the six-year period in Inwood and Washington Heights, within the 33rd and 34th Precincts’ confines..

Standing at a podium surrounded by 30 confiscated firearms — including ghost guns — Bragg said much of the violence was tied to a years-long gang war that practically left bullets raining down over the upper portion of the island.

“These groups have allegedly committed fatal and horrific gun violence in Inwood and Washington Heights over the past six years,” Bragg said. “I want to be very clear: if you traffic illegal firearms into Manhattan, or use guns to commit violence against fellow Manhattanites, you will be held accountable. We will not accept this type of conduct, which tears at the fabric of our communities. I will continue to work in close coordination with all of our law enforcement partners to address the continued scourge of gun violence and ensure everyone in the borough can live in the safe neighborhood that they deserve.”

According to Bragg, 18 members of the “200/8 Block,” eight members of the “6 Block” crew, and four members of the “Own Every Dollar” (O.E.D.) were indicted on Nov. 14. In addition to the litany of shootings, prosecutors said many of the individuals cuffed were also responsible for trafficking guns into the Big Apple with the sole purpose of arming themselves against their rivals.

Both NYPD officials and Bragg say the gang war escalated some six years ago in 2018, after a 6…

The FDNY has contained a wildfire that ravaged a section of Inwood Hill Park in upper Manhattan on Wednesday.

Firefighters immediately rushed to the 197-acre park on the northern tip of Manhattan to put out the three-alarm blaze that started at around 3 p.m. on Nov. 13.

The fire damaged nearly four acres of brush on a hillside area of the sprawling park.

People passing by the area were the first to notice the fire and immediately called for help.

More than 140 firefighters and emergency services personnel worked well into Thursday to put out the fire, which was finally extinguished just after midnight. They battled intense flames and a terrain that made putting out the fire even more difficult, said FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods.

“We had many challenges here due to the terrain, the elevation, and we had water issues as well,” Woods said.

With no nearby fire hydrants, firefighters improvised by using water from the Harlem River.

“We had to stretch hose lines approximately 150 feet or more up a hill to extinguish multiple fires. We had multiple trees that collapsed and this operation was extremely dangerous for our members,” Woods said. “We used our drones to enhance the safety and identify the hot spots with the drones.”

FDNY officials there no injuries as a result of the incident.

@FDNY members operated at another brush fire Wednesday night, this time in Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan. The dry and windy weather in New York City continues to create prime conditions for these types of fires. Our members did a tremendous job at the labor intensive fire, and… pic.twitter.com/F13ycGCBan

— FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker (@FDNYFC) November 14, 2024

While the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, sources close to the scene suspect the city’s ongoing dry spell is likely the cause or at…

The man accused of assaulting a senior on the Upper West Side in September was arraigned Monday while the case is adjourned pending a mental health evaluation.

Hansel Esparragoza, 37, allegedly sucker-punched 81-year-old Guela Levi Freeman as she walked her dog along 66th Street and Amsterdam Avenue on Sept. 13, in the 20th Precinct‘s confines. The attack left the octogenarian unconscious and suffering bruising, pain, and a fractured nose, though her faithful pet remained by her side throughout the ordeal.

The victim was treated at Mount Sini Hospital for her injuries and still has amnesia regarding the incident, according to court documents.    

Police caught up to Esparragoza allegedly shoplifting on Oct. 3 in his home borough of Staten Island after a store owner called 911. One month later, on Nov. 4, Esparragoza finally appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court for arraignment — but his defense team informed Judge Laura Ward that they were still waiting on the findings of a mental health evaluation.

That left Judge Ward to adjourn the case to Dec. 17. Esparragoza himself did not address the court; however, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

“As alleged, Hansel Esparragoza punched an 81-year-old woman in the face in an unprovoked attack, causing her to lose consciousness and fall to the ground,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “New Yorkers deserve to be safe when they are going about their daily lives walking through their neighborhoods, and we will continue to prosecute those who threaten their safety. I hope the victim continues to heal from this assault.”

Esparragoza is no stranger to the…

A bike-riding creep in Central Park who tried to rape a woman early on Saturday morning remains at large, police said.

The NYPD released on Sunday images of the perpetrator sought for the heinous attack, which occurred in the area of 85 East Drive, near the Lasker Rink, at about 5:10 a.m. on Oct. 26.

Law enforcement sources said the male suspect approached the victim, a 38-year-old woman, and then shoved her over a nearby metal fence. 

Cops reported that the perpetrator punched the woman multiple times, then attempted to rape her. Police sources said the victim did not know her attacker.

Moments later, authorities said, the attacker fled on a bicycle that was last seen heading northbound on 5th Avenue.

The incident was reported to the Central Park Precinct. EMS rushed the victim to a local hospital in stable condition.

The Central Park Precinct generally has few reported crimes, but major felonies are up 12.99% year-to-date through Oct. 20, according to the most recent CompStat report. There had been 87 felonies, including two rapes, year-to-date in the command, up from 77 felonies (including 2 rapes) reported at the same point last year.

Most of the crimes reported in the Central Park Precinct are robberies and grand larcenies, which account for 73 of the 87 felonies tallied this year. After a rash of thefts this past summer, the NYPD surged additional officers into the park. 

Other sex crimes in the park year-to-date, however, are down from 17 last year to 11 this year, the latest CompStat report noted.

As for Saturday’s attempted rape case, the black-and-white images police released show the suspect on a bike while carrying what appears to be a large black delivery bag on his back.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for…

Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday that he does not believe Donald Trump is a fascist a day ahead of the former president’s controversial rally on Sunday at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

Adams’ comments came at a late afternoon press conference at police headquarters as NYPD brass went over security plans for Sunday’s area rally in Midtown that is expected to draw thousands.

While officials went over plans and expected traffic closures, the mayor was asked if he believed Trump — this year’s Republican presidential nominee — to be a fascist as some of his opponents have claimed, given the former president’s stated desire to round up undocumented individuals in camps and to jail his political opponents. Remarks by Trump’s former chief of staff, retired General John Kelly, this past week further fanned claims about Trump and his fascistic tendencies. 

“My answer is no. I know what Hitler has done and I know what a fascist regime looks like,” Adams said. “I’ve heard people say that the former president should not be able to have a rally in Madison Square Garden — I strongly disagree. This is America. This is New York, and I think it’s important that we allow individuals to exercise their right to get their message to New Yorkers. And our job, as a city and as a police department is to make sure that you do that in a peaceful way.”

Adams’ statement came days after Trump himself defended Mayor Adams at the Al Smith Dinner against a federal corruption indictment and several investigations that ensanred the mayor and key figures in his administration, seeing the likes of Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Deputy Mayor Philip Banks resign.

Regarding the topic at hand,…