New York City

NYC: "surveillance veil" for Lower Manhattan

This reminds us of an old R. Cobb cartoon. From the New York Times, July 9:

New York Plans Surveillance Veil for Downtown
By the end of this year, police officials say, more than 100 cameras will have begun monitoring cars moving through Lower Manhattan, the beginning phase of a London-style surveillance system that would be the first in the United States.

GAO report: EPA misled public on Ground Zero health risks

From the New York Times, June 21:

WASHINGTON, June 20 — Federal environmental officials misled Lower Manhattan residents about the extent of contamination in their condominiums and apartments after the collapse of the World Trade Center, according to a preliminary report released on Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office.

NYC: nuclear paranoia advances, civil rights retreat

Calling a nuclear or radiological strike against New York "the ultimate nightmare scenario," New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, speaking at a DC conference on nuclear terrorism June 13, called upon Congress to pay the full $40 million price tag for a ring of radiation detectors on major arteries leading into the city. Calling the "Securing the Cities" Homeland Security pilot program "our best, last defense to keep a nuclear or dirty bomb from being detonated in New York City," Kelly asserted: "Indeed, the worldwide proliferation of the materials needed to make such weapons leads many to believe that such a scenario is a matter of when, not if."

NYC: confusion surrounds police sweeps at Puerto Rican parade

New details are emerging surrounding the 208 arrests at the June 10 Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan. According to the New York Times June 13, the police still claim that people were arrested for "specific illegal behavior," like blocking traffic, and not because they were wearing colors of the Latin Kings gang. However, the Times found:

NYC: another Sikh attacked in Queens

Intolerance and stupidity, it seems, are equal-opportunity employers. Since 9-11, Sikhs in the US have faced violent attacks from Ugly American types who are too dumb to know that they aren't Muslims. Now a Sikh student has been attacked by real Muslims for not being Muslim. From amNew York, June 5:

NYPD escalates bicycle crackdown

From the New York City environmental group Time's Up, June 4:

NYPD Cuts Locks, Confiscates Bicycles and Arrests Bystanders in Bike Raid on East 6th Street
NEW YORK — On Thursday night, May 31st, the NYPD seized approximately 15 bikes locked on 6th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue and arrested two bystanders who questioned the police action. Witnesses state that without any prior notice, the NYPD used circular saws to cut the locks off of about 50 bicycles on 6th street and allowed people to walk up and take bicycles without showing any proof of ownership. The NYPD then took away approximately 15 of the bicycles in an unmarked van. Bikes locked to D.O.T. bike racks were also seized. In at least one case, the NYPD sawed through a $100 lock even as the bike's owner showed the police her key to open the lock.

Death threats in NYC City Council

New York City Council member Charles Barron is demanding an investigation following death threats made against him on a website frequented by police officers. The site contains a message board called "NYPD Rant" in which two posts called for Barron to be shot in the head. Barron says he believes the posters are in fact members of the NYPD, and that the website should be shut down.

Latest NYC terror scare linked to attempted coup in Trinidad

Security forces in Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago worked closely with US authorities to hunt down the men behind a supposed plot to blow up JFK International Airport in New York City. The arrest of three suspects was announced June 2: Russell Defreitas, a Guyana-born US citizen; Abdul Kadir, a former parliamentarian in Guyana; and Kareem Ibrahim of Trinidad. A fourth, Abdul Nur of Guyana, remains at large. (The Guardian, UK, Nation News, Guyana, June 3)

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