New York City Police Department

It was only a matter of time before Rudy Giuliani weighed in on Iranaian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad potentially visiting Ground Zero. As mayor, Giuliani, of course, kicked Yasir Arafat out of a Lincoln Center concert in 1995, a move criticized by the White House. Giuliani clearly doesn't approve of the Bloomberg administration's reported negotiations to escort the Iranian leader to the site during his visit to New York next week.

Here's his statement

"Under no circumstances should the NYPD or any other American authority assist President Ahmadinejad in visiting Ground Zero. This is a man who has made threats against America and Israel, is harboring Bin Laden's son and other al-Qaeda leaders, is shipping arms to Iraqi insurgents and is pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. Assisting Ahmadinejad in touring Ground Zero - hallowed ground for all Americans - is outrageous."

Footage taken at last year's funeral for slain NYPD officer Eric Hernandez will likely end up in a forthcoming film about the NYPD starring Colin Farrell and Ed Norton. But first, producers may have to pay the pipe and drum group that performed that day.  read more »

Now, the two come together on NYPD Rant, an unofficial Web site for the city's Finest, where some of the afflicted cops--or people pretending to be--are vowing to get back at those rowdy environmentalists.

Commenters have posted pictures of Paul White and Matthew Roth, two honchos at Transportation Alternatives, who are supposedly going to be riding in this Friday's Critical Mass ride. (When The Observer interviewed Mr. White a couple of months ago, he said he had pretty much stopped taking part in those rides, however.)

"These lawbreaking cycle pirates must be stopped!!" writes Blue Trumpet on NYPD Rant.

Gimmelosttime adds: "Someone please hammer these 2 turds this weekend"

The cauldron of early 21st-century urban life bubbleth over.

Charles Barron, who was one of three current or former Council members named in the police report, was outraged to have been the target of a spy operation. But Peter Vallone, Jr. told me, essentially, that he had it coming, saying that "any group Charles Barron is associated with" probably should be monitored.

Charles Barron, one of three lawmakers cited in NYPD intelligence reports leading up to the Republican National Convention, has a suggestion for Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

In a few minutes, Mike Bloomberg will testify to Congress, from City Hall, about financial issues.

On marginally related note -- Bloomberg as national figure? -- here's a guy who was yelling about "Bloomberg for President" at this weekend's St. Patrick's Day parade on Staten Island, and who was kind enough to elaborate on the theme when I asked.

His name is Jim Davis and he's an NYPD detective.

More bad news for Scores West.

Nearly a month after undercover cops arrested four dancers on charges of prostitution, shock jock Howard Stern's favorite strip club lost its liquor license on Wednesday.

The State Liquor Authority unanimously voted to suspend the gentlemen's club's license, after determining the embattled venue posed "an immediate and imminent threat to the public."

Bachelor's parties are advised to report immediately to Scores East.

Full SLA smackdown after the jump.  read more »

The bar, which only began slinging suds and shots this past February, was charged by the State Liquor Authority with a slew of regulatory infractions that perhaps exceeded even its guest list, including building, fire, and health code violations, as well as "unlicensed cabaret activity" (i.e. dancing) and "improper use of a trade name."

In the club's defense, more appropriate monikers "Snafu" and "Fubar" were already taken.

Full release after the jump.  read more »

Photo via CNN.com

Further details are sketchy and seem to be differing from one source to another.

According to a police department spokesperson contacted by The Observer:

"We're not confirming anything. We have people out there, it's being investigated, we don't know how many injuries, we don't know anything right now. We don't know whether it was a helicopter or an airplane."

One neighbor is describing evacuations of nearby buildings to The Observer, and Gothamist is reporting at least one casualty and people trapped in the upper stories of the building.

The AP is describing "a raging fire that sent a pillar of black smoke over the city."

There was no immediate word on any deaths or injuries.

It was not immediately known whether it was terrorism.  read more »

Flames could be seen shooting from windows on two upper floors of The Belaire, a 50-story tower on East 72nd Street, close to the East River. Burning debris fell on the streets below as firefighters shot water streams of water at the flames from lower floors.

Fire Department spokeswoman Emily Rahimi said the aircraft struck struck the 20th floor.

Rudy's fundraising letter for John Faso

The state attorney general in N.J. is about to resign because she used her office to get out of a traffic ticket, reports NY Hotlist.

Thinkprogress has the video of Bill Clinton calling Lieberman's position on Iraq the "Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld position." Ouch! [via: Political Wire]

When asked to choose between a Democrat and a Republican in their local congressional race, voters nationwide say they prefer a Democrat, according to Politcal Arithmetik.

To her surprise, an openly gay candidate running in Birmingham, AL gets the Yassky treatment. "What she didn't anticipate was the fight that broke out over the fact she is white."

DMI doesn't like the city's new definition of a 'parade' because now almost everyone needs a permit from the NYPD to get around this city.  read more »

And, as you can see above, Scott Sala got onto the right mailing list and got a fundraising letter from Rudy Giuliani.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

It's been a few years.

But on Thursday morning, The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation and the NY/NJ Port Authority will begin construction work on the Museum and Memorial's footings.

If you happen to have NYPD press credentials, head down at 10:15.  read more »

Click right for a rendering, or below for the full release.

Andrew Cuomo hosts a campaign party at his headquarters.

A town hall meeting will be held at 7pm at the Church of Lady of Refuge in the Bronx to discuss how Chicago's recent decision to have big box retailers pay a living wage impacts efforts to keep New York free of Wal-Mart.

Area residents have complained about increased traffic since the opening of the nearby Fairway grocery store in May. Witnesses said the van that struck Ramos came from the Fairway parking lot. The D.O.T. has not conducted a study of traffic in the neighborhood yet; it plans on conducting a study in the fall.
StreetsBlog has a damning post calling out the D.O.T. on its complacency regarding traffic, traffic studies and the resulting carnage on city streets.

See our earlier coverage here.

Firefighters clean blood off the street.

Earlier coverage here.  read more »

Congress had nothing to do with the allocations, the staffers argued. The cut to New York's security money came directly from the Homeland Security.

So it seemed to make more sense that Bloomberg's testimony today (full text after the jump) goes right at Homeland Security, attacking it as a department that "penalizes us for our aggressiveness and diligence in protecting our City" and blaming it for "bureaucratic "group think.'"

Full testimony after the jump.  read more »

Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the death of NYPD Det. James Zadroga

"The saddening news that Detective James Zadroga's death was directly caused by his exposure to toxic fumes and dust at Ground Zero reminds all of us of our continuing obligation to do whatever is necessary to help those who sacrificed their lives and health on September 11, 2001, and in the days and weeks afterwards.

Last December, my colleagues and I restored $125 million to New York, that was rescinded by President Bush, to remain available for ongoing Worker's Compensations Claims and for baseline and follow-up screening, clinical examination, long-term health monitoring and treatment, and other care for these heroes. At our urging, the Secretary of Health and Human Services appointed a 9/11 Health Coordinator to continue monitoring the long-term effects associated with Ground Zero.

(snip)

Still, isn't anyone sick of this script? It's as bad as the Town Hall meeting where someone asks about Social Security and the politician responds, "You know, last month, I met a woman named Eleanora, she's 90 and lives in Oneonta. She's got a lot of spunk. And she said to me, 'We've got to solve the social security crisis.'"

Assemblyman Dov Hikind and City Council member Simcha Felder might have broken bread with New York Police Department Chief Joseph Esposito in an effort to quell tensions after last Tuesday's riots between black-hatted yeshiva bochers and blue-uniformed police officers.

But the controversy is far from dead, as this video that has been making the rounds in Borough Park shows.

Partisans of the ultra-Orthodox community see the video, allegedly shot during the riots, as evidence of police misconduct and even brutality against both rioters and bystanders.

But police department spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne, saw a different scene. "The civilian in the video tried to push past a Police Captain and was restrained from doing so and he was then allowed to go on his way," said Deputy Commissioner Browne. "Nothing in the video depicts any unnecessary use of force."

For his part, Assemblyman Hikind, who represents Borough Park in Albany, said that he has both seen videos and heard reports of officers using their nightsticks against innocent bystanders as well as rioting car-burners.

"What was done by the community was absolutely outrageous, inexcusable," the Assemblyman said. "But any police officer who violated the rules and was involved in any kind of brutality, that's a separate issue and that has to be addressed. There is no excuse for that either. They are supposed to be disciplined. They are supposed to be professionals."

Here's my question: When did the Orthodox and Hasid world of Borough Park get on the wrong side of the law? When, and how (politically) did these people who were so well-in in the Giuliani administration become targets of the police?

And, are we aiding and abetting the forces of discord if we point you here? NYPD Rants may or may not be a blog by police officers. But reading it gives you a sense of how they feel on the job about different communities, Orthoworld included. It isn't pretty.

They stink and they all look the same..am I profiling? you bet!!!!