Sheldon silver arrives in court. Seems to be back in good spirits after yesterday. Defense had a tougher Monday pic.twitter.com/P45M4WfQH4
— Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) November 18, 2015
–Real estate developer Steven Witkoff, testifying at Sheldon Silver’s corruption trial, said he had no idea that the powerful Assembly speaker was receiving a cut of legal fees being paid to Goldberg & Iryami, a law firm specializing in property tax cases. As the Times reports, Witkoff “became incensed during (a 2014 phone) call when (the law firm’s founder, Jay) Goldberg, suggested that Mr. Witkoff had known about the fee-splitting arrangement.”
—Gotham Gazette reports on City Council legislation that would require more transprancy from the city in siting homeless shelters. Local Council member Margaret Chin is among the supporters.
–New advertisements accuse Airbnb of exploiting minorities in New York City, the Daily News reports.
—The Times reviews Nilaja Sun’s “Pike St.” at the Abrons Arts Center, calling it a “terrific new show” that showcases Sun’s uncanny abilities as a writer and performer.
–The International Center of Photography, which is moving to the Lower East Side, receives a $750,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation.
–A baby girl is born in a taxi on the way to Beth Israel.
A link worthy of note here will take you to Politico/NY and an article about the Big U and HUD’s effort to fund the berm project on the Lower East Side:
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2015/11/8583286/hud-begins-approval-process-east-side-flood-project