The bitter barista battle between Alec Baldwin and the NY Post continues! After complaining about the Post's coverage of his Tweet about an Upper West Side Starbucks barista yesterday, Baldwin found out that the Post will stop at nothing in the fight to clear a barista's good name—and that means working on a somber day.
Alec Baldwin Learns Post Reporters *Will* Ask Him About Starbucks On 9/11
Post Continues Its Crusade To Get Sleeping MTA Workers Fired
The Post has caught another MTA station-booth clerk catching some ill-timed zzz's. They snapped a photo of the unidentified worker sleeping at the 18th Avenue F train stop in Brooklyn at 4 a.m. Wednesday. The worker is now under investigation as a result, and an MTA spokeswoman said, "It goes without saying that such behavior will not be tolerated by MTA New York City Transit and it is deeply disturbing to us." But here's what we're wondering: why does the Post get off so much on catching MTA workers sleeping?
Owner Of Precious Dodge Charger Now Feels Bad
You don't know shame until the Post mocks you the day after the Post prints its interview with you. That's the lesson Maria McCormack, who complained to the paper about her "baby"—a red Dodge Charger—being damaged by an apparently suicidal man (she said, "I want to meet [jumper Tom Magill] and say, 'Why? Why my car out of all the cars in the city?'"). According to the Post, now McCormack says, "I have not slept since this has happened. My heart and prayers go out to the family. I've been praying for Tom. I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery."
BREAKING: Bars, Bodegas Sell Beer To Underage Patrons
We interrupt your Sunday afternoon to bring you this very important news from the Post: their 20-year-old intern was able to buy beer at delis and bars around the city! That's right, folks, despite an ID that clearly states he is "UNDER 21 UNTIL" his birth date, the intern got served at 17 out of 30 establishments he visited. Slow news day, huh?
After Post Criticizes Him, Schumer Writes Op-Ed For Post
Senator Charles Schumer has an op-ed in today's Post, explaining the financial reform bill in the Senate. This comes just two day after Post slammed him and other Congressional Democrats in an editorial, "What's the point of having a high muckety-muck like Chuck Schumer sitting in the US Senate if he refuses to fight for New York's best interests? And that goes double for his hapless little poodle, Kirsten Gillibrand. Congress is poised to rip the heart out of New York's economy -- i.e., Wall Street -- while Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand stand by dumb as fence posts."
Palm Court at Plaza Scheduled to Reopen Next Month
gives a preview of the refurnished and refurbished tea room (no more "silly" throne chairs, brighter lighting, live piano and violin), as well as some historical context for the iconic but under-appreciated landmark. Of course, it wasn't too long ago when Cuozzo gave his damning take-down of the last incarnation of the Palm, when it reopened in 2008: "After a gazillion-dollar reopening...the Palm Court is goofier, gloomier and only slightly more appetizing than it was before. Even the harp sounds depressing." (That downer harp will not return.)
Halloween Parade Helped Out By Post Article
A few weeks ago, the Post reported that the economy had forced the annual Village Halloween Parade to downsize from 11 floats last year to just three (there were 20-25 floats in more flush years). But then this week, the parade said there would be a dozen—and the parade's director is giving credit to the Post for helping make it a real parade.
Post Asks If Obama's UN Speech Written By Rodney King
The Post slammed Obama's "One Love" speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday, calling it "pathetic" and hailing the new prez as "naif-in-chief." The Post did not hesitate to pile it on, accusing Obama of "stunning cluelessness" and asking "Who wrote President Obama's speech for the start of the UN General Assembly yesterday — Rodney King?"
Cops Detain Activists Giving Out Fake Post Outside News Corp.
Oh no, man! According to witnesses, this morning the NYPD detained several volunteers working with the Yes Men to distribute the hoax edition of the New York Post. Photographer Jason Nicholas was at the scene outside News Corp., the Post headquarters, when he observed cops detaining three volunteers who had been handing out copies.
Espada, Gas Guzzlers, And Boss Tweed
Another day, another story about Senate Majority Pedro Espada's questionable dealings! Today, the Post reports that Espada has "turned his Bronx nonprofit health center into his own 'cash for clunkers' program when it bought an old, gas-guzzling junker from his eldest son." The charity that runs the Soundview Health Clinics "picked up a 2001 Ford Expedition" with over 175K miles on it from Pedro G. Espada last year (you may remember Pedro G. Espada from this). While spokesman Alexander Fear said it was a good deal, it's unclear why the car was needed—apparently the group "has bought a series of upscale gas-guzzlers, including a Cadillac Deville, a GMC Envoy SUV and luxury Chrysler 300C -- periodically replacing them with newer vehicles." Espada, his son, his daughter-in-law and an employee "convicted of committing fraud for one of his campaigns" all have use of the CCDC's cars. The Post also has an editorial titled "BOSS PEDRO"—"Watch out, Boss Tweed -- here comes Pedro Espada. And from the looks of it, the Bronx up-and-comer just can't wait to claim title to the top spot as New York's most corrupt politician ever."
Weiner Hearts Affleck, Chooses Hockey Over House Voting
Oh, how the Post loves ripping on Representative Anthony Weiner. In March they reveled in that "Weiner's Naughty Hottie$" story; today they're back on the bun with a little opus dubbed "Weiner's a Pucking Goof-Off." This time the non-story is about how Weiner played in his hockey league at Chelsea Piers on the same day that he skipped an April 27th House session that included three votes: A measure to reauthorize a $250 million program that last year set aside $1.8 million for New York in emergency preparedness funds, a second vote "to support the goals" of National Volunteer Week, and... the tabloid doesn't say what the third vote was. But why does Weiner want to undermine volunteers and leave New York vulnerable to emergencies?
Wall Street Girlfriends Getting Jealous of Screwed Economy
It seems that many men who lost their shirts in the Wall Street tailspin have also lost their ability to satisfy women. According to the Post, sales of vibrators have surged, and more ladies are bemoaning their lovers' lack of lust. A Brooklyn lawyer whose boyfriend lost his $100,000-a-year Lehman Brothers job tells the tabloid, "He's just not in the mood. He's really depressed. He really loved his job, and now it's gone." Another girlfriend of a "hedge fund honcho" says she's only had sex once "since the economy went soft," tee hee. Dr. Ruth Westheimer chimes in too, noting that "a man's sexual apparatus is very delicate. If something is wrong, it is very difficult for men to get or maintain an erection." These frustrated ladies obviously need to seek satisfaction beyond the financial industry: online media, for instance, is still rock solid!
Clive Barnes, Influential Dance and Theater Critic, Dies
Widely-respected critic Clive Barnes lost his battle with cancer yesterday at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. He was 81.
Bronx Intruders Invade Yale Club! At Least 2 Members "In a Snit!"
Today the rabble-rousing Post is reveling in allegations that the IRS is investigating the Yale Club for violating a requirement that 70% of its guest rooms be reserved for members in order to maintain tax-exempt status. While the IRS won't verify the claim, one pissy club member has blabbed about the brewing brouhaha. "In recent years, the club has become more like a hotel than the private club it is chartered to be," the unidentified member complains, airing a grievance about difficulties getting a room reserved at the special alumni rate of $215 a night (as opposed to $325 for nonmembers). And another disgruntled member, one Mrs. Harrison DeSilver, declares that the club has been just plain "crappy. I just want to put my feet up here, but instead, weddings are being shipped down from The Bronx." While that does sound simply abhorrent, Mrs. DeSilver might also want to steer clear of the club Wednesday night, when L.G.B.T. photographer Catherine Opie is scheduled to be feted.
Player Priest Can't Be Blamed, Old Church Lady Says
As reported last week, a woman is suing the Diocese of Brooklyn for $25 million because a Roman Catholic priest at Our Lady of the Snows church allegedly seduced her from the confession booth. The accused priest, Reverend Elvis Elano, has yet to speak publicly, but yesterday parishioners at his former church in Astoria opened up to the Post. And one 80-year-old female churchgoer can probably count on being summoned to testify in Elano's defense: "I don't care whether he's a priest or not, when a woman opens her legs, a man is not going to say no. I don't believe it, but if he did it, more power to him."
Woman Sues Catholic Priest Who Seduced Her
Reverend Elvis Elano, a priest formerly posted at Our Lady of the Snows in the Queens, is having a very trying day. After his secret seven-month affair with parishioner Judith Rodrigues-Lytwyn ended earlier this month, his ex has gone public with a lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court, and The Smoking Gun has obtained a cachet of embarrassing photos, emails and documents, like the receipt for his online Viagra purchase.
Steve Dunleavy, Longtime Post Columnist, Retires
After over three decades at The Post and a 55-year-long career, right-wing "populist" reporter Steve Dunleavy bowed out today, explaining to readers that "when the bones get a bit creaky, you can't stay at the dance too long...I never spent a single hour at Columbia School of Journalism, except when I gave a lecture to journalism students - and I was about as popular as a fire hydrant at the Westchester dog show...Oh, yeah, I will miss those great cops and firefighters, the nutty judges and politicians and the criminal lawyers who were more colorful than an explosion in a paint factory." Here's video of Dunleavy telling the famous story of slashing his dad's tires to get a scoop.
Post Manufactures "Road Rage" at Broadway Boulevard
That new Broadway pedestrian plaza, which reduced Broadway to two lanes to make room for tables, chairs, and new bike lanes, are "making city drivers miserable," the Post contends. But though two reporters were assigned to the story, they were hard-pressed get any comments from the allegedly miserable drivers in question. Oh, there is one Jason Silitsky, a New Jersey "commuter" (we bet he takes the PATH) who declares the esplanade "completely useless." On the other hand, Barbara Randall, director of the Fashion Center BID, tells the tabloid, "We haven't noticed any traffic problems. It's down two to lanes, but it's moving." And Haim Dadi, owner of Mr. Broadway Kosher, says the increased pedestrians are boosting business: "Traffic-wise, it's not good, but who cares about traffic? I care about the store."
Uptown Family Unfazed by Inflation
Today the Post looks at how the turbulent economy is affecting the lifestyle of one family of four on the Upper East Side, and, surprise surprise, reports that it’s not really such a big deal for some people. Sure, their cost of living expenses have risen by $1,000 a month compared to this time last year, but Mr. and Mrs. Gary Foodim aren’t sweating it – they vacationed at Disney World last year and there's no way the recession is going to stop this year's trip.
Randy Quaid's Lawyers Call Ban a "Smear Campaign"
Yesterday we told you all about Randy Quaid being banned for life from Actors’ Equity and fined $81,572 for abusive and lewd behavior during the Seattle production of would-be Broadway musical Lone Star Love. Since then we’ve tried to get a comment on the allegations from Quaid’s wife Evi, who attended the Equity hearing on his behalf and ended up getting into a physical altercation – she says they broke her finger while trying to forcibly bar her entrance, they say she kicked a 76-year-old receptionist in the shins, drawing blood.

