By Hunter Walker and Colin Campbell 11/05/12 10:40am

Reality TV

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Mob Wives Star Crashes Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort

According to a volunteer helping to distribute resources to victims of Hurricane Sandy last Friday, Drita D’Avanzo of VH1′s reality show Mob Wives, and her camera crew made a surprise appearance at a place where volunteers were distributing supplies to victims of Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island. According to a volunteer with the relief effort who spoke to The Observer, her arrival was “not well received.”

“So she walked up and volunteers thought it was another news crew filming people helping out. ” the volunteer said, providing a photo of the occasion. “But then a boom mike lurked over our heads. Notice in the picture everyone turning their backs on her and walking away. She was not well received and was able to clear a hot coffee stand on a cold day in 2 seconds.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/31/12 11:03pm

sandy recovery

Click to view the subway map in full. (Photo: MTA)

Buses, Trains and Subways Will Be Free Thursday and Friday

At a press conference late in the night, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced New Yorkers in the metropolitan area will have their public transit fares waved for the rest of the week. Of course, traveling into Lower Manhattan won’t be easy for Thursday, at least, where no subways are currently scheduled to travel.

“As a further encouragement to have people take mass transit, which is coming online piece by piece,” Mr. Cuomo began, citing the intensive traffic congestion problems plaguing Manhattan earlier today. “I am declaring a transportation emergency and authorizing the MTA to waive fares…through the end of the week, Thursday and Friday. So commuter rails, subways and buses.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/31/12 6:24pm

sandy recovery

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Tomorrow, LaGuardia Airport Joins JFK in Reopening

When Hurricane Sandy overwhelmed New York City, the airport infrastructure naturally shut down along with everything else. As with the subway and bridge systems, however, it seems airplane travel is returning to normalcy.

Earlier today, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the reopening of two airports in the metropolitan area, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty, to limited traffic, with the fate of LaGuardia Airport remaining uncertain as officials sought to repair and inspect the facility in the wake of flood damage. But that ambiguity did not last long; Governor Andrew Cuomo just declared LaGuardia will open too. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/31/12 5:29pm

Education

(Photo: Getty)

NYC Schools Will Be Closed Thursday and Friday

At a press conference earlier today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced public schools will continue be closed on Thursday and Friday, but will “hopefully” be open again on Monday of next week.

“Schools will remain closed for students tomorrow and Friday,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “However, on Friday we ask all teachers, administrators and school staff to report to work. Friday, Chancellor Walcott and the Department of Education will have lots of things to do to get ready for next week.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/31/12 2:34pm

Escalation

Coney Island last night, as documented by Councilman Greenfield, who noted. (Photo: @NYCGReenfield)

Marty Markowitz Calls on National Guard Troops to Help Stop the Looting

Amid reports that looting has occurred in neighborhoods like Sea Gate and Coney Island in Brooklyn, as well as the broader recovery needs of hard-hit areas, Borough President Marty Markowitz has called on the military for further help in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation.

“Governor Cuomo also acted quickly by activating the National Guard prior to the storm, and I urge him to allocate as many troops as possible to Brooklyn—troops from New York or any other states that can spare them,” Mr. Markowitz said in a statement. “During my tours of the hardest-hit Brooklyn neighborhoods yesterday and again today, it was apparent that the devastation is so widespread and overwhelming that it’s in the best interest of all of our residents for a more significant National Guard presence to supplement the great work being done by our brave—but overwhelmed—first responders, including our amazing NYPD and FDNY.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/31/12 1:23pm

de-watering

Flooded. (Photo: Getty)

Army Corps to Begin Pumping Water Out of Lower Manhattan Tomorrow

According to Senator Chuck Schumer, the federal government will soon begin the arduous task of returning floodwaters back to the Atlantic Ocean after Hurricane Sandy’s surge flooded key transportation arteries earlier this week.

“In the past hour, I have received an update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the federal de-watering efforts happening in New York City,” Mr. Schumer said in a statement this afternoon.   Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/30/12 2:37pm

The Aftermath

28 Photos

A man surveys the remains of a flooded store.

More Photos: The Day After Storm Sandy Struck

The death toll from Hurricane Sandy last night has climbed above 30 and is likely to increase as emergency workers continue to survey the extensive damage across a number of states. “The worst is over,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in an interview earlier today. “I believe the worst may be for New Yorkers when they realize the extent of the damage….We don’t have the final number of fatalities because we haven’t found everyone yet.” Read More

By The Editors 9/13/11 9:26pm

opinion

The Calamity Upstate Continues

Hurricane Irene is just a memory in the five boroughs, but upstate, this summer’s succession of storms continues to wreak havoc. Even as city residents prepared to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, New Yorkers living along the Susquehanna River in the Southern Tier were fleeing their homes, hoping that that flood waters would prove merciful.

Their suffering and losses come after earlier floods ruined homes and businesses in the North Country beyond Albany in the days just after Irene passed through.

The summer of 2011 has been a disaster for upstate. Read More