Feast your eyes on these gorgeous photos of Macy’s Flower Show 2024

Feast your eyes on these gorgeous photos of Macy's Flower Show 2024

Larger-than-life red lilies, orange daisies, and wispy green leaves have taken over the front of Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square. An annual rite of spring, the Macy’s Flower Show is back for 2024 with a bevy of beautiful installations.

While the oversize decor out front isn’t real, the hydrangeas, orchids, and roses inside the store are, so the show is only available for a limited time. Go see it now through April 7 (except for Easter Sunday when the store is closed) at Macy’s Herald Square (151 W 34st Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues). The show is free to visit, so be prepared for crowds.

RECOMMENDED: A first look at New York Botanical Garden’s fabulous fashion-focused orchid show

This year’s show was created in partnership with Dior, with one section paying tribute to the floral fragrance Miss Dior. Other installations feature glittery strawberries, a red-and-black butterfly, and a ladybug with a kaleidoscope on its back. Don’t miss the larger-than-life watering cans with cascading pink foliage.

Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect at this year’s Macy’s Flower Show. 

A pink floral display inside the Macy's windows for the spring flower show.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | Inside the Macy’s windows for the spring flower show.
Larger-than-life green watering cans with pink flowers.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | Larger-than-life green watering cans with pink flowers.
A red-and-black butterfly with light-up antennae.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | A red-and-black butterfly with light-up antennae.
Yellow and orange flowers burst from a floral display.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | Yellow and orange flowers burst from a floral display.
A display of glittery pink strawberries with burgundy orchids.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | A display of glittery pink strawberries with burgundy orchids.
A ladybug display with a kaleidoscope on its back.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | A ladybug with a kaleidoscope on its back.
A display of pink hydrangeas in the Macy's windows
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | A display of pink hydrangeas in the Macy’s windows.
A Miss Dior display bedecked with pink roses.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | A Miss Dior display bedecked with pink roses.
An installation featuring the aromas in Miss Dior perfume.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | An installation featuring the aromas in Miss Dior perfume.
A pillar of red and purple flowers.
Photograph: By Rossilynne Skena Culgan for Time Out | A pillar of red and purple flowers.

* This article was originally published here

Underfed watchdog: CCRB asks for $15 million more to keep up with rising police misconduct complaints

Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) interim chair Arva Rice requested a $15 million proposed budget increase at a city council hearing last Wednesday, March 20. The NYPD independent oversight agency needs the funding to keep pace with an uptick in police misconduct allegations.

“A priority for the agency was to reduce investigation timelines, which last year, we were able to bring down by 22%,” said Rice in her testimony. “Yet, in 2023, civilians filed 50% more complaints than in 2022, a 10-year high. So far in 2024, we have received even more complaints, 14% more than the already increased rate of last year. We are on pace to receive 6,300 complaints in 2024 which will inevitably cause timelines to increase again, which is worse for officers and civilians alike.”

The CCRB is asking for a total of $37.7 million. That’s $13 million more than last year’s budget to police the police. Specifically, the agency needs to hire 73 investigators to fulfill the growing workload. Meanwhile, the NYPD’s proposed budget sits at $5.4 billion—with a ‘B.’ 

According to Rice, the CCRB could not investigate every complaint within its jurisdiction for the first time in agency history in December due to cuts. This year, the agency ceased investigating some allegation types like “refusal to provide name or shield number” and “forcible removal to a hospital” unless they were attached to other allegation types within the CCRB’s jurisdiction. That led to 459 police misconduct complaints getting closed and another 73 referred back to the NYPD due to budget. 

To be clear, it is currently unknown whether the increased complaints stem from a significant rise in police misconduct or the CCRB’s recently expanded jurisdiction; over the past few years, investigations over body-worn cameras and racial profiling were added to the docket. But civil lawsuit payments over misconduct are generally going up according to Jennvine Wong, staff attorney of the Cop Accountability Project at the Legal Aid. 

“In this particular cycle, Mayor [Eric] Adams [has taken] so many different agency budgets to the chopping block except for NYPD,” added Wong. “For an agency whose budget has grown year over year, it [doesn’t make] a lot of sense that the one independent oversight agency for the NYPD continues to have [its] budget cut and resources limited.”

“The reality also is that while the CCRB is an independent agency, they also have a limited jurisdiction. Most NYPD misconduct is actually investigated by the NYPD themselves either by [Internal Affairs Bureau] or other investigative agencies. And so the vast majority of disciplinary proceedings and investigations and misconduct investigations are actually still secret because the NYPD is not not transparent in the way that CCRB is.”

Beyond hiring investigators, the $15 million could go towards finding a policy director whose research would provide a better understanding on why police misconduct complaints are at a decade high, according to a CCRB spokesperson. 

Staffing the CCRB is no easy task. New talent needs to be recruited and trained. Retaining existing investigators is more challenging with the lack of funding for promotions and raises. Stretching the roster means more overtime hours. And burnout is imminent for a role that already requires watching hours of body-worn camera footage featuring graphic, violent incidents. Grants currently fund a single therapist for just seven hours a week, according to the agency.
And speaking of body-worn cameras, the CCRB continues to advocate for direct access to all recorded footage, which is common practice across police oversight agencies, according to Wong. A bill introduced by Council Speaker Adrienne Adams would make it local law. But the NYPD fears evidence could be unsealed illegally if the legislation passed. At the moment, 75% of CCRB investigations are closed with access to body-worn camera footage. Just 26% are closed without that access.

Of course, the CCRB still faces the challenge of enforcing disciplinary actions—even if misconduct is fully investigated and proven, the ball is in the court of the NYPD Commissioner to impose punishment. Wong says it’s certainly demoralizing for police misconduct victims when a recommendation is not backed up by discipline, but she believes the requested budget is critical.

“It doesn’t matter how much you expand their jurisdiction or authorize them with more power, you’re cutting them off at the knees, and you’re undermining their ability and authority to hold the police accountable by not committing necessary resources to an agency like the CCRB,” said Wong. 

More than three decades ago, divorcing the CCRB entirely from the NYPD into a fully independent oversight agency led rioting cops and racist attacks to the doorstep of former Mayor David Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor. 

In her testimony, Rice reminded local lawmakers of such a history: “Thirty years ago, New York City was at an inflection point,” she said. “The City Council was faced with the decision to reimagine what safety and accountability should look like in this city and determined that the people of New York deserved more. Together that City Council and Mayor Dinkins created the CCRB. Today, this city is facing another inflection point. There is a fork in the road. 

“One path leads us down the same trajectory we have followed for 30 years, incremental changes that still leave us with a chronic issue of misconduct and lack of accountability. The other path would allow this city to realize the vision that this council and Mayor Dinkins had 30 years ago when they went out on a limb to create this agency.”
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

The post Underfed watchdog: CCRB asks for $15 million more to keep up with rising police misconduct complaints appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Political sexism and racism keeps the glass ceiling unbroken

Political sexism and racism keeps the glass ceiling unbroken
Political sexism and racism keeps the glass ceiling unbroken
Political sexism and racism keeps the glass ceiling unbroken
Political sexism and racism keeps the glass ceiling unbroken
Political sexism and racism keeps the glass ceiling unbroken

Although recent presidential elections have seen more diverse women on both sides of the political aisle jockeying for party nominations, the fact remains that in more than 240 years, the U.S. has never elected a female president. The prevailing sexist joke is that if you were married to the president as First Lady, like Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, then you’ve already “been in control of the White House.”

Vice President Kamala Harris is the first, and only, woman, Black American, or South Asian American to be elected to her position, as was the case when she served as district attorney of San Francisco and U.S. Senator for California. When she was elected alongside President Joe Biden in 2020, women of all backgrounds got one step closer to running the White House rather than just residing in it.

America’s history of overt political sexism and racism is still holding women back from the presidency, so the question is simple: If a candidate like Harris were a white male and not a Black woman, would they be president? The polls say: Most likely.
“Women have always faced systemic barriers of sexism and misogyny that hinder our opportunities, and women of color face the additional obstacle of racism,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, the first Black person to hold her position. She currently leads a historic women-majority City Council from 2022. She’s seen firsthand the disparate treatment women leaders receive, the challenges women face, and how their decisions and leadership are portrayed, she said.

“Time and time again, our city and country have witnessed the way women seeking higher office have been portrayed, questioned, and dismissed compared to their male counterparts,” said Adams. “We continue to see and experience these obstacles today, and it is not coincidental that there has never been a woman elected to serve as mayor of New York City or president of the United States.”

Trying to break the hardest glass ceiling

Contrary to popular belief, women have a long history of running for president in the U.S. The first woman to run for president was a stockbroker and publisher named Victoria Woodhull, who ran on the Equal Rights Party ticket in 1872. Belva Lockwood, the first woman admitted to practice law, also ran for president on the same ticket in 1888. Journalist Charlotta Spears Bass was the first Black woman nominee for vice president, in 1952 on the Progressive Party ticket.

“It was so out of the box. There were so few role models of women who even considered it,” said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP). “It’s important to remember that this was the period where if a woman went in and tried to vote, she would get arrested.”

In Miami in 1972, Brooklyn native and Congressmember Shirley Chisholm changed the game when she ran for president in the Democratic primaries and garnered 151.25 delegate votes before Senator George McGovern clinched the nomination.

Longtime Harlemite and former national president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, who is the current president of the organization’s New York State chapter, recalled the night Chisholm announced her nomination.

At the time, Dukes was a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and a delegate. She went to dinner that night with the Helen M. Marshall, the first Black borough president of Queens (now deceased); former Council member Mary Pinkett, the first Black New York City Council member; and former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton. On the way back, they passed by a distraught Chisholm in the green room behind the stage at the convention. When they inquired about what had happened, Chisholm told them that U.S. Rep Ron Dellums of California, the first Black person elected to Congress in north California, was supposed to nominate her for a presidential bid. He was directly told by higher-ups that if he did, he risked career suicide, said Dukes, so he backed down.

“Mr. Sutton said, ‘What?! Well, would you like for me to do that?’” said Dukes, chuckling at the memory. “So he looked at me and Mary and Helen, and he said, ‘I’m going to nominate her, would you all second?’And you know me, I’ve always been brave. So we said yes.”

Chisholm was on the ballot in 12 primaries, and although she didn’t win, she used her platform as a candidate to talk about women’s rights, civil rights, education issues, and the Vietnam War. Her activism, outspoken voice, legacy, and ambitions continue to inspire countless others.

“My mentor, Shirley Chisholm, broke glass ceilings so Black women like myself, Vice President Harris, and countless others can be leaders in our democracy. The impact of Shirley Chisholm’s legacy is still felt today,” said U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee of California in a statement. “With GOP extremists out to take away our freedoms and turn back the clock, we are pressing forward, and fighting for our voices to be heard and respected on all fronts. From grassroots activists to Supreme Court justices, women are forging the path for the next generation to strengthen our democracy and protect our freedoms.”

Over the next several decades, women in both the Democratic and Republican parties tried for the presidency and vice presidency.

In 2003, former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to New Zealand Carol Moseley Braun announced her intentions to bid for the 2004 election, but she withdrew her name the following year. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin became the first woman on a national Republican line for vice president, alongside Senator John McCain, in 2008. Former First Lady and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton came pretty close to holding the oval office. She was the first woman to win a major party’s Democratic presidential primary, at the same time as Palin, in 2008. By 2016, she was a formidable political figure. Clinton then threw her hat in the presidential ring again, becoming the Democratic nominee for president and earning the popular vote in the general election by almost 3 million votes. Clinton had only 227 votes in the electoral college, though. She ended up conceding to Donald J. Trump, who had clinched the electoral college with 304 votes. In 2019, in preparation for the 2020 presidential election, six women formally announced their candidacy for president: U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand from New York, Sen. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, author Marianne Williamson, and Harris. This was the first time in history that more than two women competed in the same major party’s presidential primary process. Walsh considers the fact that other countries have elected women to be heads of state more than once is an indication that the U.S. as a nation is “behind.”

Challenges for Women remain

One of the biggest challenges women candidates face in general is raising enough money. A report by CAWP highlighted how underrepresented women’s voices are in American politics because they are underrepresented as donors, even though they are often “formidable fundraisers.”

“In American politics, money, unfortunately, is an important factor; one that has been a challenge for women candidates—one they do overcome, but it’s harder for them to raise money,” said Walsh. “They come from less-money networks, they make less money than men, and so running for office [is hard]. They are able to raise the money—we know that they do it, but it’s a lot more work to get it done.”
According to the report, “Men give a disproportionate amount of all money contributed, with women giving one-third or less of all money contributed to gubernatorial, statewide executive, and state legislative races from 2019 to 2022.” In places that were considered abortion battlegrounds, men’s campaign contributions far exceeded women’s contributions to state races.

There are also partisan differences among women donors. Women are more likely to give to Democrats and are “poorly represented” as donors to Republican state candidates. The total amount contributed by men to Democratic state candidates also exceeds the total amount contributed by women, according to the CAWP report.

Despite these financial challenges, a record number of Black women have been running for and winning political offices—although no Black woman has ever served as governor.

“Over the past decade, Black women have seen representational gains across all levels of office, including in the federal executive, and achieved milestones as candidates and officeholders within states and nationwide,” said Glynda C. Carr, president & CEO of Higher Heights for America. “However, while we have made gains, the underrepresentation of Black women in American politics persists. The 2022 election illuminated these realities. Record numbers of Black women ran for congressional and statewide elective executive offices and, as a result of the election, a record number of Black women now serve in Congress, in the statewide elective executive office, and [in] state legislatures.”

Statistically, the Black woman voting bloc is also a loyal and consistent voting base that has been a deciding factor in elections for years.

More than two-thirds of Black women turned out to vote in the 2020 presidential election, which was the third-highest rate of any race-gender group, said CAWP. They overwhelmingly voted for Biden, and about 90% or more of Black women voters cast their ballots for the Democratic ticket.

Walsh considers Black women the backbone of the Democratic party.

“We know that Black women can serve in these roles. When Black women are at decision-making tables, better decisions are made,” said Carr. “More work needs to be done to understand and address the hurdles these Black women candidates confront en route to political office.”

Carr added that biases, racism, and sexism in American politics create systemic barriers that make it harder for women candidates to succeed, and can lead to a lack of support and resources for Black women candidates, making it more difficult for them to run competitive campaigns. In 2022’s mixed-gender non-incumbent gubernatorial primaries, white women fared better in terms of how much money their campaigns were able to raise compared to women from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Women from historically underrepresented groups were less likely to enter competitive races than white women, the CAWP report found.

“Black women in American politics have come far, but not further enough to build the type of presidential profile, war chest, and more to be competitive in a national election,” said political strategist and veteran campaign manager Donna Brazile. “For now, the goal is to get more Black women elected to Congress [House and Senate] and statewide. The bigger the pipeline, the larger the crop of viable candidates who one day may build the type of profile and candidacy to compete for the Presidency of the United States. Barack Obama did it.”

Another major challenge women in politics face is perception.

Pew Research Center analysis indicates that women candidates in the U.S. are punished more than men for showing emotions and having young children at home, as well as their perceived levels of physical attractiveness, assertiveness, and experience.

“The words that I am most allergic to and that I hate that we use as metrics are words like ‘likable’ or ‘authentic’ or ‘electable’ because what you’re talking about if you say someone is not one of those things is fundamentally that they are not what I am used to,” said EMILYs List Senior Vice President of Communications and Content Christina Reynolds.

Reynolds noted that for years, women who ran for office tried to “fit in a male shaped box” by wearing pantsuits, cutting their hair short, and being more inflexible on political issues. They often strove to appear more subjectively “likable” and “experienced” in order to be thought of as credible to voters.
“The reality is in this country we have never elected a woman president. We’ve had one—and only one—woman win her party’s nomination. We’ve had one—and only one—woman serve as vice president,” said Reynolds. “And so when we think of those positions, we think of a guy in a suit because that’s what we’re used to. So the truth is, what I like to remind people of is that most men who have run for president have lost, and yet we don’t consider them unelectable.”

Reynolds loved that the 2020 elections had so many different kinds of women with different ideologies running. She hopes that the more women are seen running for president, the more voters will confront their own internal biases from the media and polling.

Women candidates are also seen as too “risky” to vote for, meaning that in really competitive races people assume that women will lose and therefore voters would rather save their vote for a candidate they think might win—which is usually a man, said Walsh.

“2020 was a particularly strong example where Democrats felt desperate, like we cannot elect Donald Trump again, and so they wanted the safest possible candidate. And there was this fear that if you went outside of the most, in many ways the traditional, old school Democrat, that it would be too risky,” said Walsh. “And I think women and candidates of color were risky. And she [VP Harris] was both.”

Vice President Kamala Harris visits Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn in August 2022. Credit: Ariama C. Long photo

What does the VP say?

In an televised interview with “60 Minutes” last November, Harris did address the unique and added pressure her position as the first Black woman vice president has. She also acknowledged the rumblings that donors would not “naturally” fall in line to support her should she inadvertently become president if Biden dies, per the Constitution’s rules of succession by default.

“I hear from a lot of different people a lot of different things, but I am focused on the job. I truly am. Our democracy is on the line. I, frankly, in my head, do not have time for parlor games,” she continued, sidestepping the question. The AmNews reached out to Harris’ office for further comment. Her press office declined.

“Women, particularly Black women, confront bias at nearly every turn our lives take,” said U.S. Rep Yvette D. Clarke in a statement. “And so, when a strong Black woman makes the bold, brave choice to seek higher office, these sorts of accusations come as no surprise to her—nor should be of any concern to her. We do not burden ourselves with the opinions of the intolerant, for even the flawless record of an undeniably competent woman would not deter the most prejudiced individuals. Out of thin air, they conjure detractions and complaints and aim to smear our stories for no reasons beyond that we are born with.”

Vice President Kamala Harris exits Air Force 2 at New Jersey airport in 2021. Credit: Ariama C. Long photo

In terms of the future beyond the 2024 presidential elections, there’s a sense that a woman head of state is closer than ever in the U.S. Dukes hypothesized that a woman as president of the U.S. is not inconceivable. “There will be a breakthrough,” said Dukes. “A woman will win the presidency, sooner or later.”

“To any woman facing the same discriminatory slanders that have persisted since long before Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s historic run for the presidency, I urge her to follow the lead of our distinguished Vice President Kamala Harris—and that is to ignore them,” continued Clarke. “Day by day, success by success, these outdated ideas are fading into the past. All we can do is stay resilient and brilliant and expedite their end.”

Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

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* This article was originally published here

Theresa Harris, credited and uncredited in nearly 100 films

We recently had a chance to see Theresa Harris in “Baby Face,” one of the nearly 100 films she appears in, credited or uncredited. As in most of her films, she is a maid, part of a scene, a spectator, or amid a gaggle of women looking for a break in filmdom. Her role in “Baby Face,” starring Barbara Stanwyck, had a promising beginning but soon vanished as the star she attended to rose in power and acclaim.

Harris was born on December 31, 1906 in Houston, Texas to Isaiah, or Anthony, and Mable Harris, or Ina, both of whom were former sharecroppers from Louisiana. When she was 11 years old, her family moved to Southern California. She graduated from Jefferson High School and then began studying at the UCLA Conservatory of Music and the Zoellner Conservatory of Music. As a member of the acclaimed Lafayette Players, she starred in the musical comedy production of “Irene.”

Her film debut came in 1929 in “Thunderbolt,” where she sang “Daddy Won’t You Please Come Home.” A year later she began the long series of maid roles to such matinee idols as Bette Davis, Ginger Rogers, Francis Dee, Jean Harlow, Kay Francis, et al. She had bit part and cameo appearances in countless films and in 1933 had perhaps her most substantial role in “Professional Sweetheart,” starring Rogers. Though she is featured in the film, where she substituted for Rogers, she was uncredited.

In 1937, she appeared opposite Ralph Cooper in “Bargain with Bullets,” produced by the Cooper co-owned Million Dollar Productions. It was during her work with Cooper that she expressed her exasperation in Hollywood and the limited opportunities Black actors and actresses endured. “I never had the chance to rise above the role of maid in Hollywood movies,” she told journalist Fay Jackson in 1937. “My color was against me anyway you looked at it. The fact that I was not ‘hot’ stamped me either as uppity or relegated me to the eternal role of stooge or servant… My ambition is to be an actress. Hollywood had no parts for me.” But, according to Jackson, she also praised Cooper for starting a production company that produced films starring African American actors. “We have nothing to lose in the development of an all-colored motion picture company. The competition will make Hollywood perk up and produce better films with our people in a variety of roles.”

Even as she campaigned for more significant roles, she continued to take whatever decent part was offered, including “Tell No Tales,” where she is credited as Ruby, the widow of a murdered man. She also had a sizable role as Eunice Leonard in Jacques Tourneur’s “Out of the Past.”

Hollywood wasn’t her only outlet, though Hollywood Hotel was where she often performed in radio programs, including frequently teaming up with Eddie “Rochester” Anderson. She accompanied him in a sizzling song and dance routine in “Buck Benny Rides Again.” In the 1940s, she had various roles in spooky or horror films, including “Phantom Lady” and “I Walked with a Zombie.”

Television opportunities arrived in the fifties, though she continued to appear in films, most notably playing a role with her name as Nurse Theresa in “Angel Face,” in 1953. She was often seen on “Lux Video Theatre,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” and “The Loretta Young Show.” In 1958, in “The Gift of Love,” she made her last film appearance.

Harris’s personal life included her marriage in 1933 to George Robinson, a doctor. During her film career she supported Democratic candidates for office, working tirelessly for Adlai Stevenson’s bid in 1952.

A Methodist, she died on October 8, 1985 of undisclosed causes in Inglewood, Calif. and was buried in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles. The title character in Lynn Nottage’s 2011 play “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” is based on Teresa Harris.

The post Theresa Harris, credited and uncredited in nearly 100 films appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Nightlife legends are behind Two Fifteen, the new cocktail bar at PUBLIC

Nightlife legends are behind Two Fifteen, the new cocktail bar at PUBLIC

Nearly two decades after they opened the famed Gramercy lounge Rose Bar, nightlife impresarios Ian Schrager and Nur Khan are back with their latest cocktail concept, Two Fifteen. Located at—you guessed it—215 Chrystie Street inside the PUBLIC hotel, the new bar-lounge will produce innovative cocktails and will host regular surprise musical performances. (Rose Bar previously saw the likes of Guns & Roses, Rufus Wainwright, Jack White and The Black Keys pop by for impromptu sets.) 

RECOMMENDED: The best hotel bars in NYC

Overseen by bar maven Charlotte Voisey, the cocktail menu is split into four categories. The “Champagne Cocktails” section includes the bar’s signature gin-splashed Gold Bellini (finished with a dash of edible gold); the Pornstar Julep, a bubbly take on a Mavericks Martini; and the mojito-esque Island Vibes, topped with champs. Under “Modern Twists on Classics,” you’ll find tipples like the Rose Gold Vesper, updated with Lillet Rose and white port, and the OG Sazerac, festooned with even more edible gold.

“Drinks with Vibrant Colors” is exactly what it sounds like, with options including a refreshing watermelon-tequila Crimson and the Imperial Classes, which is basically a purple pisco sour. And there’s an entire “Spirit-Free” section if you want something fun but not hangover-inducing, like a no-booze agave “gimlet.” Some drinks will be prepared tableside, and bottle service will also be available. A selection of light bites will balance out the beverages, with menu items like raw oysters, shrimp cocktail, ceviche and more. 

Taking over the Bar Chrystie space, Two Fifteen will be serving up film noir vibes with a striking all-black interior. Of the new space and his renewed collaboration with Schrager, Khan said in a press release: “Working with Ian, once again, to create a boundary-pushing concept that encompasses downtown’s eclectic energy, has been a dream. The space brings a mature and edgy cocktail-driven experience reminiscent of the early aughts to life, providing the perfect escape for both PUBLIC guests and locals.”

Check out some of the good-looking sips from Two Fifteen below: 

Crimson at Two Fifteen
Two Fifteen/PUBLICCrimson at Two Fifteen
Pornstar Julep at Two Fifteen
Two Fifteen/PUBLICPornstar Julep at Two Fifteen
Smoked Mezcal Margarita at Two Fifteen
Two Fifteen/PUBLICSmoked Mezcal Margarita at Two Fifteen
Last Word at Two Fifteen
Two Fifteen/PUBLICLast Word at Two Fifteen
OG Sazerac at Two Fifteen
Two Fifteen/PUBLICOG Sazerac at Two Fifteen

* This article was originally published here

Immigration is benefiting the U.S. and the data undeniably shows it

Immigration is benefiting the U.S. and the data undeniably shows it

Immigration (210452)
Felicia Persaud (26512)
Felicia Persaud

Immigration is “not poisoning the blood” of America, but is actually helping its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) greatly—and the numbers prove it.

That’s according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which calculated in a report released last month that immigration will generate a $7 trillion boost to the GDP over the next decade. The agency came to that conclusion after incorporating the recent surge in immigrants across the country.

Shocking, right? Donald Trumpeto, Greg “SB 4” Abbott, and the right-wing xenophobes will probably scream “fake news,” but as the saying goes, numbers don’t lie. Unless, of course, you are Trumpeto and you are lying about the billions you allegedly own—or not, as New York Attorney General Letitia James has uncovered.

But I digress. There is no “supposedly” or “allegedly” in the CBO’s numbers, which have economists from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co., HSBC Holdings Plc., and BNP Paribas SA singing the same happy tune.

The buzz on Wall Street is from both more legal immigrants, as the U.S. goes through unprecedented visa backlogs, and the surge in illegal border crossings. The nation’s 32.5 million immigrant workers now account for roughly one in five U.S. workers, a record high in government data going back almost two decades.

The positive outlook came as the unemployment rate rose to a two-year high in February and businesses are ramping up calls for changes to bring in more workers through legal channels. Almost 9 million positions are open across the economy, equal to 1.4 jobs for every jobseeker. Foreign-born workers made up a record 18.6% of the civilian workforce in 2023 and the U.S. approved a record number of work authorizations in the fiscal year through last September.

“Immigration is not just a highly charged social and political issue; it is also a big macro-economic one,” wrote Janet Henry, global chief economist at HSBC Holdings Plc., in a note to clients last week, according to Bloomberg News. “No advanced economy is benefiting from immigration quite like the U.S., and the impact of migration has been an important part of the U.S. growth story over the past two years.”

Morgan Stanley economists Sam Coffin and Ellen Zentner also noted this month that faster population growth, fueled by immigration, lends itself to stronger employment and population estimates than initially thought, although they added that the full effect might not be captured by official data.

Goldman Sachs estimated that immigration was around 2.5 million in 2023, a figure that is far above the 1.6 million implied by the change in the foreign-born population in the official household survey from the Census Bureau.

To be sure, the connection between the higher influx of foreign workers and the rapid post-pandemic recovery has been noted by economists and policymakers alike for some time now. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly cited immigration as one of the reasons behind strong U.S. economic growth. In a reference to the role being played by higher labor supply, Powell pointed last week to “a strong pace” of immigration as helping on that front.

“The overall picture is a strong labor market—the extreme imbalances we saw in the early parts of the pandemic recovery have mostly been resolved, you’re seeing high job growth, you’re seeing big increases in supply,” Powell said at a press conference, as federal policymakers lifted their growth forecast for this year to 2.1% from 1.4%, their median estimate showed.

The CBO report has the last word: It insists there is a need for an immigrant workforce to help the nation’s economy grow—otherwise, without immigration, the U.S. population is expected to shrink into 2040. And that’s a fact you can take to the bank!

Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focusing on Black immigrant issues.

The post Immigration is benefiting the U.S. and the data undeniably shows it appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Sungold is the Arlo Williamsburg’s splashy new restaurant

Sungold is the Arlo Williamsburg's splashy new restaurant

Some of the best eateries in New York just happen to be hotel restaurants—a major plus for you visitors—and the city just got yet another great option with Sungold, the new all-day restaurant at the Arlo Williamsburg in Brooklyn. 

RECOMMENDED: The 6 best hotels in Williamsburg for every budget

For the menu, chef Michael King (Ace Hotel Brooklyn) has tapped into his own Italian-American heritage and a love for local, seasonal cooking—the restaurant takes its name from the toque’s favorite tomato at the Union Square Green Market—with wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas and small plates. 

“I have opened many restaurants in my career, but this is the first time that my style of cooking has been the genesis of the concept. Starting with the Italian and Mediterranean flavors I have always loved, my team and I have sought to create a collection of dishes that are approachable, vivid, and satisfying,” King said in a press release. “The hope is that every table is shared—I want guests to really have fun with one another. The menu is light, with the idea that a lot of food can come to the table without anyone feeling overwhelmed.”

Among those plates are the Coperta ($26), sheets of egg pasta layered with an amaro-splashed pork ragu and finished with a hazelnut gremolata and a cheesy snowing of Piave Vecchio; Smoked Sunchokes ($18) tossed with pistachios, citrus and a tangy brown-butter labneh; and line cook-inspired burger ($26), upgraded with premium Angus beef, house-made American cheese, crunchy shoestring onions and a local pickle mayo. That wood oven fires up pizzas like the Christo’s Seven Star ($22), a pepperoni-bacon pie named for King’s favorite childhood pizzeria, as well as meaty mains like a 22-ounce grass-fed ribeye ($95), served with hollandaise. 

The drinks menu features craft cocktails like the Joker’s Wild (butterfly pea-infused Casamigos tequila with Fever Tree ginger syrup and lime juice) and the Smoked Swine Ol’ Fashion (WhistlePig six-year rye, WhistlePig maple syrup, black sesame and coffee bitters), along with wine and beer. And if you drop by during “Lucky Hour,” the Arlo’s version of happy hour on weekdays from 4pm to 6pm, you can enjoy an espresso martini, French fries and a fortune cookie offering the chance to win a complimentary stay at the Arlo Williamsburg, all for $15. Cheers to that!

Check out some of the menu items, as well as the 60-seat dining room, below:

Sungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Arlo HotelsSungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Sungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Arlo HotelsSungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Sungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Arlo HotelsSungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Sungold at the Arlo Williamsburg
Arlo HotelsSungold at the Arlo Williamsburg

* This article was originally published here

Crossroads of destiny: Weighing Trump and Biden’s prospects in the upcoming general election

Armstrong Williams (26543)

The upcoming general election is going to be one for the ages. Political elections are divisive by their nature with both sides attempting to do everything they can to defeat the other. However, the United States is gearing up for the rematch no one wants with Joe Biden and Donald Trump embodying distinctly different visions for the future of the nation. Both candidates bring a unique set of strengths and weaknesses to the campaign, reflecting broader ideological, cultural and economic tensions that have come to define American politics.

Donald Trump: Strengths and Weaknesses

Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by a commitment to an “America First” ideology, and his now famous slogan “Make America Great Again,” characterized by an aggressive stance on immigration, skepticism towards multilateral trade agreements and international alliances, and the eschewing of government bureaucracy—endearing him to many conservative voters. His ability to communicate directly and effectively with his base through social media and rallies is unparalleled, bypassing traditional media channels to rally support and mobilize voters. This direct line to supporters not only consolidates his base but also allows him to set and dominate the political agenda in real-time.

However, Trump’s tenure has also been fraught with controversy and polarization. His four pending criminal trials are a serious risk to his reelection bid. Additionally, his approach to governance, often seen as divisive and confrontational, has alienated moderate and independent voters. The relentless pace of controversies, from impeachment proceedings to his handling of race relations and protests, has further cemented the perception of an administration mired in turmoil and conflict, eroding the sense of national unity.

Joe Biden: Strengths and Weaknesses

Joe Biden, on the other hand, presents himself as a unifying figure, promising to restore dignity and integrity to the Oval Office and to bridge the deep divides that have emerged in American society. Yet, the country is perhaps even more divided than before. With decades of experience in public service, including eight years as Vice President, Biden offers a return to a more traditional, diplomatic approach to governance, emphasizing consensus-building and bipartisanship. His policy platform, while progressive, seeks to appeal to both the Democratic base and moderate Republicans disillusioned with Trump’s presidency, advocate for a more equitable healthcare system and measured climate action, and to restore America’s alliances abroad.

Nevertheless, Biden’s campaign is not without its vulnerabilities. Critics argue that his lengthy career in Washington epitomizes the very establishment politics that voters rejected in 2016. A majority of Americans are concerned about his age. At 81, Biden is the oldest person ever to seek reelection and will be the oldest president if he wins. His age and occasional verbal gaffes have raised concerns about his capacity to endure the rigors of the presidency. Voters are concerned with immigration, the state of the economy. and the rising costs of everyday goods—a result of persisting inflation. Despite his efforts to energize younger voters and progressives within the Democratic Party some are now rejecting Biden outright because of the Israel and Hamas conflict, coupled with the lowest approval rating of any president at this point in their presidency; the path to reelection doesn’t look good for Biden at all.

Navigating the Road to the General Election

As the general election approaches, Biden and Trump face the challenge of broadening their appeal beyond their core supporters while navigating a profoundly changed national landscape, shaped by rampant illegal immigration, expensive foreign conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, economic uncertainty, and social unrest. Trump’s strength lies in his ability to mobilize his base with a clear, if contentious, message and vision for America. Yet, this same approach may limit his ability to attract undecided and moderate voters critical to securing a second term. Biden’s promise of stability and unity resonates with many Americans yearning for a return to normalcy, but he must overcome perceptions of being a “status quo” candidate and articulate a compelling vision that speaks to the urgent needs and aspirations of a diverse and divided nation.

As Trump and Biden head into the general election, their campaigns reflect a crossroads in American politics. The outcome will not only decide the immediate future of the nation but also signal the direction of its political, economic, and social evolution in the decades to come. Voters are tasked with a choice that goes beyond the two men themselves, grappling with fundamental questions about the values, identity, and aspirations of America in the 21st century.

The post Crossroads of destiny: Weighing Trump and Biden’s prospects in the upcoming general election appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here