Staten Island douchecanoe congressman Michael Grimm is stepping down

In probably our last big news story of 2014, we're happy to report that Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm, after earlier saying there was no reason to step down after admitting to felony tax evasion had a sit down with John Boehner, Republican party chief weasel, who told Grimm otherwise. So goodbye Mr."This is a witch hunt" Grimm, you've helped redefine 'witch hunt' as something that turns up a 20 count federal indictment. Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.

A crooked elected official, the worst kind of American citizen.

An open letter to Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan Jr.

Dear Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan, Jr.,

You fucked up and you fucked up in a way that's going to follow you in what's left of your career. You gutless piece of shit. It's a brave new world out here now Friend-O. People aren't afraid of you and your racist slow-walking of cherry picked evidence anymore. Your types are gonna move aside or be tossed out. Don't think so? Better have some donuts and good coffee on Monday morning when the Justice Department stops by for a visit.

Ladies and Jellyspoons I give you Staten Island Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan, Jr., the man who quite intentionally brought you all this by his lack of interest in doing his job. It belongs on his doorstep. "Officer" Daniel Pantaleo acted rashly, and stupidly, and like an out of control cowboy with no brain in his head. It's then your JOB Mr. District Attorney to hold him to account. You didn't which can only lead us to think you have even fewer brains. The coroner ruled it murder. The chokehold was banned. Are you telling us you saw something the entire globe did not or is your nose so far up the NYPD's ass you'll simply say yes, Black Lives Don't Matter when it comes to protecting rogue idiot cops in my conservative district which then means Black Lives Don't Matter at all to you.

A clearly broken system will be respected and neither can this farce of a grand jury decision.

Again, Daniel Donovan, Jr., you're an inept, gutless piece of shit.

Love,
Johnny

Staten Island congressman behaves like a thug

We know conservatives have been big into using the word "thug" anymore. Like Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks said earlier this week after he was called a thug time and time again for his NFC Championship post-game rant, it's becoming a fast and easy backdoor way to refer to someone as a nigger without saying nigger (Here at the Jersey City Desk we're not afraid of using certain words in an adult discussion because it's the context of words not their definition that should upset people).

So what is a thug or thuggish behavior? Let's try Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm who went off on a NY1 reporter last night after President Obama (and he's been called a thug as well yet exhibits NONE of the definition) threatening him with physical violence and a certain death if he followed up on his promise to throw reporter Mike Scotto over the Capitol balcony. Scotto merely asked Grimm about an ongoing federal investigation into his fundraising in 2010. Grimm got in Scotto's face and said he'd break him in half and said Scotto wasn't a man.

Now THAT is pretty thuggish behavior if that was all there is. The New Yorker Magazine tells us there is more to this behavior. When Grimm was an FBI agent he waved his gun around a Staten Island nightclub after a confrontation and is accused of saying "all the white people could leave" the club while he looked around. Waving a gun at a nighclub and possibly making racial comments? Sorry, in today's vernacular that rises to thug behavior rather easily.

So it would seem Staten Island employs a thug congressman who thinks he does people a favor by letting them talk to him. We'd remind Staten Island you needn't put up with a this come election day. Let's make 2014 the year SI becomes thug-free!

Sorry kids, out-of-town guests means a quickie news roundup

But these stories are about very important things your day would be bereft without.

*David Donnelly, former city council member will work for Mayor Fulop as a project manager to the tune of $80K. There, was that so damned hard to say? Why did it take repeated inquiries as to what Donnelly was going to do and be paid? Other administration officials pay can be found at that handy link above and a little left.

*A NYPD officer may have been talking on her phone when she ran down teacher Felix Coss killing him Saturday. Witnesses said Paula Medrano was on her phone when she hit Coss and investigators asked her for her phone which she refused to provide to police. NYPD will now subpoena her phone records or the NSA could just save time and fax them over.

*West Nile Virus carrying mosquitos have been hunted down, confirmed and executed on Staten Island and over in Queens. Still, more could be out there looking to ruin your summer.

*Finally, we have another winner of our Red Forman 'Dumbass' award. Do follow the link, mmmmmkay?

...and protect yourself from mayhem like Allstate

It would appear that Allstate had no problem using a customer's destroyed home in New Dorp Staten Island but are trying to short shrift that home's policyholders despite eyewitness accounts. See this is how insurance companies limit damages to their bottom line after storms like this. If you have flood insurance they blame it on wind. If you have a regular homeowners policy they say it was the flood. It happened time after time after Katrina, here's just one.

Sheila and Dominic Traina wisely left before Superstorm Sandy hit and returned to find their home in two pieces. Neighbors (note the s as PLURAL neighbors) said they saw the roof tear off in the storm long before the flooding finished the job. But this is Allstate who once again press the old adage "Who are you going to believe, us or your lying eyes?" To top it off Allstate used the Traina's home in one of those heartwarming we're all in this together sappy bullshit ads they all rush out to show how quickly they respond with an offer of $10,000 for your entire property because again, wind no, water yes.

Read up on companies you insure with before a big storm. Read some of the internet's best places to see what previous policyholders have to say. Sure you'll have a few crankasaurus rex's but if you see Company X has 40 or so claims of non-payment and blaming floods, there you go. It always pays to do your homework.

...and be better protected from mayhem, like Allstate.

Shame on Mayor Bloomberg for insisting the NY Marathon go on as planned -- UPDATED

It starts in Staten Island. Devastated Staten Island, where near as we can tell Mayor Bloomberg hasn't even been to yet. They are still pulling bodies from homes near the start of the race and you want to run it? Disgraceful, or as the New York Post said "An abuse of power." People on SI have nothing. Nothing, there are thousands of new homeless people and many dead yet to be discovered. So let's kick people out of hotels who have nothing for runners. Let's move police around to protect the runners and not work corners in Staten Island. Bloomie was just on television saying NO police or emergency responders would be taken off the job. Horseshit. If you have EXTRA cops or EMS people working the marathon you should send those PUBLIC EMPLOYEES to work on SI, not the race. So YES, they WILL be taken away from the rescue effort.

Here's another thing angering Johnny, read this and we'll get back to it below:

The New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, said the event will bring $340 million to the city. The club also announced on Thursday that it will donate at least $1 million, or $26.20 for each of the more than 40,000 runners expected to participate, to aid New Yorkers affected by Sandy. 
The Rudin Family, one of the founding members of the marathon, said it would donate $1.1 million and the ING Foundation said it would give $500,000. 

WHY is your large donation CONTINGENT on whether or not your precious road race is run? If you want to help, truly help devastated Americans JUST GIVE THE MONEY WITHOUT STRINGS!! How gauche to put strings on it.

Running this race (which could easily be rescheduled til a week or two from now -- TOO BAD for those already here from all over the globe. We're dealing with some serious shit right now and simply can't cater to your desire to run 26.2 miles through our devastation. Try to 2013 NYC Marathon, we'll all be better by then.

There are those in Staten Island threatening to disrupt the race and for once, we really understand why they would and in some cases SHOULD. Take notice Mayor, when people who have nothing left to lose take up a cause, YOU have a problem.

UPDATE -- As you have no doubt heard the marathon has been canceled on Sunday. It was really only the decent call. Mayor Bloomberg mentioned it was not drawing resources away from the cleanup. The news helicopters showing dozens of generators being used to run a VIP runner tent in Central Park to feed the runners a high carb pasta dinner and at other various points along the route told a different story. As did police setting up barricades. As did a late call for retired NYPD officers work the marathon. It was pointed out one of those generators can power 400 homes. You do the math. We know people trained hard. Johnny could never hope to run a marathon on his best day. These are all special athletes. This one time, we have more important things to task ourselves with. This isn't like 9/11 at all where things were much more confined. And Mr. Bloomberg, stop mentioning this being about business and sponsors and million dollar deals. Again, this one time all that can wait. Of course there is an economy to get running but people need a few days to know they are the sole focus. The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade will be the finest in the world and show off everyone the NYC can-do-spirit. Everyone will have power and people will have warm places to sleep not exposed to nature. New Year's Eve will be even bigger. And Donald Trump's hair will be wintering in Florida.

Anybody with any first hand accounts or pics and video of yesterday's storms you'd like to share?

So many videos and pictures yesterday of the tornadoes and brilliant lightning and thunder on the internets so we were wondering if any of you Jersey City Desk readers had any to share.

Saturday morning News-O-Copia

A wonderful little news roundup for your reading enjoyment:

Did tennis in America gain it's earliest foothold on Staten Island? This article may help clear that up.

Again with the Staten Island this week Johnny? Yes citizen, back to Staten Island. You may have read how there are some people dead set against the Muslim Cultural Center, Park 51, in lower Manhattan (If you are wondering Johnny is a strong YES on building it as religious freedom in this country does not apply in cases ONLY dealing with Christians like some like to believe), but now, with growing resentment at the growing Russian population, many there are dead set against a 10,000 sq. ft. community and day care center which the group proposing it says will be available to Staten Islanders. You can read more on this here.

Do you like beer bunky? Well then you're in luck. Take a few minutes to read up on a North Bergen brewery named New Jersey Beer Company. Would you be interested in learning they have times for free tastings? Click here for free beer.

A Superior Court judge in the case of Lee Anthony Evans, accused of luring five young boys into his truck 32 years ago then locking them in a building and burning them alive, allowed him to post bail and go free. Superior Court Judge Peter Vazquez lowered Evans' bail down to under 1 million dollars and his bail was posted. Gee Peter Vazquez is dumb.

Staten Island either has a race issue or a gang problem

Recent attacks on Hispanic and Mexican immigrants which they claim are racially motivated have Staten Island so not enjoying a long hot summer.

Isaias Lozano who was one of the attack victims claims indeed it was racially motivated:

"They hate us because we're Mexicans," he said while sitting at El Centro del Inmigrante, a center for immigrant day workers. "They aren't robbing just anybody."

Thus far there have been 11 attacks counted on Staten Island so far this summer but not everyone is convinced they are racially motvated by gang related:

Staten Island resident David Johnson said the attacks are more than likely gang related. Johnson blamed the incidents on drug addicts looking to rob people for cash to feed their habits. "They would do that to anybody," he said. "To jump toward bias issues is out of whack."

Racial instability has plagued Staten Island since at least 2003 when 21 day laborers were attacked with one being murdered in 2005.

Whether it's gang related or racially motivated Staten Island has work ahead of it. No doubt a comprehensive immigration policy would help allay SOME fears of the day laborers meeting up during the day at some places across Staten Island but it will be exceedingly difficult to really tell if these are drug related gang attacks or actual racist attacks.

The Cromwell Center Pier on Staten island collapses

And trust us, if it weren't caught on tape, we wouldn't be writing about it. The center was awaiting a multi-million dollar renovation when the collapse happened. The renovation project just became reclamation project we think.

Staten Island Ferry crashes into terminal -- Dozens injured -- Witnesses: It was narwhals!

MSNBC:
A Staten Island ferry boat with a history of accidents struck a pier as it approached a terminal Saturday, seriously hurting at least one person and leaving as many as 35 with minor injuries.

People were reported screaming and crying, no doubt some using their iPhone's speed dial to call their lawyers to get that paperwork started (Charles 'Speedy' White, "If I can't beat your rap I'll eat a bug" would be Johnny's choice) and the injured were being treated. Some passengers reported the captain of the ferry was traveling too fast as he approached the docks but at least two witnesses said the captain was merely taking evasive actions; "Narwhals, at least six came right at us flashing their tusks and threatening to ram holes in the boat dawg" said Vinnie 'The Situation' Barbarino. "Our driver had to speed up or these things with horns was gonna hit us," said Tamiquia White "They were like swimming unicorns, all frontin".

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was too busy dealing with actual terrorism threats in his city to comment on this possible narwhal attack and ferry crash but a city spokesman, Chuck U. Farley did say that many of the guns picked up off the streets and bought back from hoods in the city recently could be handed out to Staten Island Ferry riders to fend off future narwhalian attacks. "The fact there could be killer narwhals in New York Harbor and in the Hudson and East Rivers angries up my blood" said Farley.

Saturday morning news-o-rama

A Staten Island teenager pulled a Wile E. Coyote and managed to fall straight down a manhole while texting.

In case you hadn't been following along, the Mets eat, suck and blow.

New York City police have busted one of a group of four thugs committing anti-gay robbery and beat down attacks. We wonder how this guy will cope in prison when he's the recipient of such 'shakedowns' in the general population.

If you want to see important elected types ride a PATH train probably for the first time in their lives, click here. It does come to mind there are signs on the trains requesting riders give up their seats for people like Senator Frank Lautenberg. He doesn't need to stand.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) had now decided they should get a say in naming beer. They are angry that a local brewery has decided to name some good sounding ales and beers after New Jersey Turnpike exits. Seriously MADD, get over yourselves. They are names of exits on the flipping highway. It's NOT encouraging drinking and driving, they're names.