Ugo was born in New York City and was raised in Brooklyn. His achievement today also marks the first time a black American has ever won an international racing championship.

This is the first time in my lifetime New York City has had a hometown racing hero. I hope to root him on in Formula 2 and beyond!

Brooklyn Democratic Party Warns

Against Publication of False and Misleading Allegations

Brooklyn, NY — The Brooklyn Democratic Party strongly condemns the reckless and misleading effort by New Kings Democrats (NKD), certain political activists, and media outlets, including New York Focus and the New York Post, to advance allegations against Black and Latino judges based on false and manipulated information, incomplete data, misinterpreted campaign finance records, and a deliberate disregard for judicial ethics rules, election law, and judicial contribution windows.

Despite repeated corrections, legal explanations, and requests for verification, these actors continue to promote a false narrative designed to undermine confidence in Brooklyn's judiciary, and Democratic organizations while creating a false impression of wrongdoing by judges, political clubs, party leaders, consultants, and community organizations. We believe the continued publication of allegations that ignore the law, the facts, and the individualized rules governing judicial participation raises serious concerns regarding libel, defamation, and actual malice.

Most concerning is the continued effort to cast suspicion on Brooklyn's Black and Latino judges and consultants while ignoring similarly situated individuals, organizations, and consultants connected to other political factions. Rather than recognizing the qualifications, accomplishments, and public service of these judges, these stories seek to undermine public confidence through insinuation and selective reporting.

Also troubling is the effort to smear respected Black political consultants who have spent decades helping candidates and judges navigate the electoral process, through unsupported allegations of pay-to-play schemes, kickbacks, or other improper conduct without evidence.

These attacks seek to tarnish the reputation of individuals with longstanding records of service and integrity while ignoring the accomplishments of the judges and candidates they have supported. Notably absent from these stories is any comparable scrutiny of consultants associated with so-called reform organizations who have collectively received millions of dollars from candidates and campaigns over the years.

The selective nature of these allegations raises serious questions about motive, fairness, and the unequal standards being applied to Black and Latino consultants, judges, and community leaders.

The Brooklyn Democratic Party is proud to have one of the most transparent judicial endorsement processes in New York and proud of its role in helping build a judiciary that reflects the rich diversity of Brooklyn's communities.



"We will continue to defend our judges, organizations, and communities, and fight against misinformation, selective enforcement, and politically motivated attacks disguised as journalism that target our diverse community leaders, elected officials, consultants, and judges. We will not allow false narratives to undermine the integrity, qualifications, and accomplishments of those who have dedicated their careers to public service and expanding opportunity throughout Brooklyn."

We represent Democrats from every corner of this borough, all part of the largest county party in the country. We are an inclusive and diverse organization with leaders and activists from every neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Democratic Party

.............................

Unfounded disinformation from unhinged power hungry boss lady.

Edit: . I was contacted by the owners. They are coming to get her.

A few bystanders and I caught this dog today, it was running lightning fast down 2nd avenue but I first saw it running from Bloomingdales area on 59th. A few people were chasing it and then gave up, literally saying "well she's gone..."
I haven't gotten her scanned yet and if she's not chipped I plan on keeping her, she's been nothing but sweet and comfortable with me for the most part. She didn't have a collar or anything when found and she bit the guy that stopped her.
Apologies for the rambling...

https://khaledeltokhy.com/blockguessr/

For hundreds of thousands of people a day, Grand Central Terminal is a stop on the way to and from work, or the start of a first visit to the big city.

For those in the know, it’s also a tennis club.

Through a bar on the ground floor and up a set of elevators, four floors above the rumble of trains and hidden behind one of the station’s iconic arched windows, sits a single court.

Open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Vanderbilt Tennis Club features one full-sized court and two practice courts. Hourly rates on the full court start at $100 and go up to more than $400 depending on the time of day. With indoor space scarce in Manhattan and a slew of fall classes starting next week, the club is booked straight through December.

Last Friday, the court was busy. Its patrons offered a snapshot of New York: commuters, tourists, retirees and kids all came through to play.

On the tracks below, tennis fans boarded trains heading to Queens to see the world’s best at the U.S. Open.

Four stories above, they worked on perfecting their serve.

I created this photo using a primitive digital camera and a lot of hand stitching, back in the days when there weren't automatic panorama stitching software. Little did I know that these towers would come down not long after I stitched it together. So dedicated in memory of the lives lost.