The gang of young men who were so incensed by last year's victory for President Obama that they "decided to go after black people" were sentenced today for their two separate Election Night attacks. The four Staten Islanders, known as the Rosebank Krew will now spend the four years of Obama's term behind bars. Three of them received sentences hovering around five years and one got a stiffer nine years for beating up a 17-year-old Liberian immigrant and putting a white man they believed to be black in a coma for weeks after running over him with a car. 19-year-old Ralph Nicoletti (pictured) received the 9-year sentence; he has had a rap sheet since he was 14 and at one point point attacked Michael Contreras because he thought Contreras was the snitch. (Nicoletti said he had become "upset" because Contreras repeatedly tried to sell him drugs.) Nicoletti believed he deserved a lighter sentence for cooperating, but a judge disagreed, saying his crimes were "perpetrated by pure hate that was born out of ignorance." more ›

One of the Staten Island teenagers convicted on charges from a series of Election Night racially-motivated attacks hasn't been able to keep his nose clean while awaiting sentencing for the federal hate crime. Troubled teen Bryan Garaventa was arrested again yesterday after freaking out on an ex-girlfriend. Garaventa allegedly went into a jealous rage Tuesday night after seeing his ex with another male and took it out on her car, punching the windshield and kicking the door. The eighteen-year-old then left ten late night messages over the course of an hour, threatening to blow up her car and kick her front door in if she didn't pick up. He's now been charged with third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree menacing, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, fourth-degree stalking and two counts of second-degree aggravated harassment. A law enforcement official told the SI Advance, "If you wanted to find a way to piss off your sentencing judge, this guy's done it in spades. There's probably no better way." more ›

Police believe that a 38-year-old Staten Island man left in a coma was attacked by the same white teens who beat a black Muslim teen with a bat on Election night. The Daily News reports that Ronald Forte, supermarket manager who is white, was allegedly "spotted by [Ralph] Nicolleti and [Bryan] Garaventa," who were "trolling a predominately black and Hispanic Staten Island neighborhood looking for victims." Forte was wearing his sweatshirt's hood because it was raining, and sources told the Advance the teens may have thought he was black, so they allegedly ran him down with a car, got out of the car and beat him, and then stole items from him. Forte, the father of five, was in a coma for weeks; he now has brain injuries that require extensive therapy. The NYPD is investigating this as a hate crime and Forte's mother sadly said to the S.I. Advance, "My heart is broken. I can't imagine anything like this happening to anyone. It's despicable." more ›

The incident that took place on Bedford Avenue on Election Night (you know...riot gear, arrests, etc) lived on last night at the 94th Precinct Community Meeting. NewYorkShitty has a rundown (with video), reporting back that Captain Fulton was on hand to field questions and concerns, as well as locals (both young and old). "Overall it was a pretty ugly meeting. The reason for this had little to do with Captain Fulton. Rather, it had to do with how the 'old guard' treated the younger people present. For example: When Aaron Short (of the Greenpoint Courier and BushwickBK) asked if this was 'a generational issue'," crowd responses allegedly included: "The issue is order over anarchy!" and "Too lenient!" In the end, a sit-down "with people present on Bedford Avenue that evening who felt the police acted inappropriately" has been promised. more ›

Two young men were arrested Friday for the Election Night beating of a black teenager on Staten Island soon after Obama's victory had been announced. Eighteen-year-olds Ralph Nicoletti and Bryan Garaventa allegedly yelled "Obama!" when they pulled up alongside 17-year-old Alie Kamara and attacked him with baseball bats that left bleeding from the head. The two were charged with hate-crime assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Other charges may follow and police are still looking for two more suspects involved with the crime. Federal prosecutors may get involved with the case and Reverend Al Sharpton has spoken to Kamara's mother about pushing the US Justice Department to take action. more ›

Straight from the front lines of gentrification comes the above public rant. Following the Election Night celebration, and arrests, it seems some of the other Williamsburg locals (artists and teachers born and bred in New York and Ivy League educated!) are lashing out against their fellow Obama supporters. The self-described "working left" advises the "trust fund Midwest spoiled brats" to stop using the new President-elect as a reason to "blow shit cocaine" up their asses, or something. more ›

Just when you thought hope was on the way, the NYPD comes to beat it out of you. Silly, silly cops--when will they learn that everything is caught on camera(phone)? Unsurprisingly, more and more video footage from the Election Night arrests on North 7th and Bedford in Williamsburg has found its way online. There's shoving with riot gear, excessive force, swearing, smashing of cameras and phones and a lot of pent up anger being taken out on celebratory Obama supporters (see below, and after the jump). more ›

During previous elections, the colors at the top of the Empire State Building have shone red, white and blue--but this week, for the first time ever, it will honor the U.S. presidential election with a four-night celebration. The general manager of the building, James Connors, says that the 4-night lighting celebration is "due to the excitement" of this year’s race. more ›

Tonight, while you're at home baking your Yes We Cake, you may wonder where you'll be able to enjoy it tomorrow. We've got you covered with some restaurants, bars, venues and parties where you can watch the results come in. more ›

THEATER: Mind the Gap specializes in bringing contemporary British plays to New York; their latest lark is a military/political thriller called The Cleric that explores the issue of state-sanctioned torture. It’s about an Irish-American priest who is caught by U.S. Special Forces in post-9/11 Afghanistan and accused of terrorist collaboration. Harmless, fraternity hazing type hi-jinks ensue, but all the priest wants is another priest to hear him confess sins that he claims are worse than anything he’s been accused of doing. Martin Denton assures us that not only is this an "important" play but that the “tension never flags.” - John Del Signore more ›

night, but not tonight. Because tonight, we want you to surround yourself with friends and strangers and throw things at the tv together. more ›

Gothamist has already told you how to get information about where and when to cast your vote tomorrow. Now, we move on to more important information -- where to party on Election Night. The Election Party is "a non-partisan organization working to give this election day November 2, 2004 the spirit of a popular holiday by creating an atmosphere of celebration and pride in our democracy," profiled in yesterday's New York Times. Even before we saw the article, Gothamist had noticed one of their posters in a Brooklyn bar, and we went to their website to learn more. After all, who doesn't want another excuse to go out and drink with friends? And what better excuse than democracy? Venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn where you can either celebrate or drink away your sorrows are listed at theelectionparty.org. more ›