logo
Jewish New Yorkers rip Gov. Hochul for failing to help evacuate those stranded in Israel amid conflict with Iran

Jewish New Yorkers rip Gov. Hochul for failing to help evacuate those stranded in Israel amid conflict with Iran

New York Post7 hours ago

Gov. Hochul has done 'nothing' to evacuate New Yorkers stranded in Israel as missiles from Iran rain down on the country — while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has helped get hundreds of people to safety, angry families told The Post.
Frantic calls to Hochul's office this week went unanswered, according to those trying to get their relatives home.
'It wouldn't even occur to Hochul to help constituents stranded in a war zone,' fumed one Long Islander with a teen relative studying in Israel. 'She's doing nothing.'
Meanwhile, DeSantis contracted with the nonprofit Grey Bull Rescue to help about 1,500 Americans from multiple states get home.
4 Hochul was accused of 'deafening silence' on the issue of Americans who have been stranded in Israel.
Gabriella Bass
With Israel's airspace almost completely shut down, about 5,000 Americans have sought help, with the number of requests 'skyrocketing,' according to the rescue group.
Desperate, they're taking ships from Israel to Lanarca in Cyprus, or traveling by land to Amman, Jordan and flying to Cyprus in a bid to get to America — all with the help of DeSantis' operation, which arranged for four wide-bodied chartered planes to collect them.
So far DeSantis has welcomed two flights.
4 Gov. DeSantis had his state contract with a rescue group to help get Americans home.
Getty Images
'She should be doing what DeSantis did — partner with private contractors to get your citizens out,' the frantic relative, who did not want to be named for fear of retaliation, said of Hochul.
'She should have organized this already,' the relative added. 'There's no excuse to sit on her hands as she heads the state with the most Jews in the country.'
Erika Reichelscheimer said she felt 'completely abandoned' after calling the governor every day to no avail about her elderly parents, who were on a week's vacation in Israel when the conflict erupted June 13.
4 About 1,500 Americans have fled Israel thanks to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, he said.
Erez Uzir, courtesy of Birthright Israel
'We cannot even get a call back,' said Reichelscheimer. 'Disappointed is an understatement.'
'I haven't even seen Hochul say anything,' said Reichelscheimer, 34,
Her dad is running out of his heart medication. Meanwhile her brother, in Israel separately, was able to flee because of DeSantis' efforts, she said.
Asked what message she would give to Hochul, a distraught Reichelscheimer begged: 'Please use your vast resources and platform as the governor of New York to help your constituents that are literally in a life or death situation abroad. The silence from your office on this has been deafening.'
'DeSantis is doing what he is supposed to do,' said a Long Island couple whose 18-year-old is stranded and who also requested anonymity. 'We wish Hochul was doing the same.'
4 Elise Stefanik slammed Hochul as a 'disgrace' for failing to get New Yorkers home from Israel.
CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is believed to be challenging Hochul in the next election, slammed the governor.
'No answers from the Governor. No action. Not even the dignity of a call back. It's an utter disgrace. Kathy Hochul continues to prove she is the worst governor in America,' said Stefanik.
'Just last week, she proudly handed $50 million in New Yorkers' hard-earned taxpayer money to illegal migrants — and now, when actual New Yorkers are trapped in a war zone, she's doing absolutely nothing.'
'It's an absolute farce what's going on and Hochul should be ashamed of herself,' railed former veteran state assemblyman Dov Hikind, who said he's fielded countless phone calls from those looking for help.
Hochul is a 'steadfast ally to Israel and to New York's Jewish community,' her spokesman, Avi Small said, adding the administration is 'in active conversations with Governors from other states with large Jewish populations to determine how to coordinate travel for constituents if commercial flights do not resume.'
Roughly 1.4 million Jews live in New York state.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Will skipping ‘Made in China' beat tariff price hikes?
Will skipping ‘Made in China' beat tariff price hikes?

Miami Herald

time32 minutes ago

  • Miami Herald

Will skipping ‘Made in China' beat tariff price hikes?

For most shoppers, "Made in China" has been a way of life for consumers. The mark is on seemingly everything. That has consumers concerned about how tariffs and trade battles between the United States and China might hit home, literally. If tariffs ultimately act as a tax on consumers – most economists say they do – how can Americans avoid paying higher prices? Stop buying things that were made in China. That's easier said than Trump recently took to Truth Social to say that the United States and China have a deal that's done, pending final approval of leaders from both countries. He said that U.S. tariffs would be set at 55% on Chinese goods, while China's tariffs remain at 10%. Officially, tariff plans with China and other countries are on hold until July 9, but U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said several times that the 55% tariff "definitely" will not change. Related: Major housing expert predicts huge change to mortgage rates in 2026 While many of the harshest tariff hikes face legal challenges, current U.S. tariff rates are at their highest levels in nearly a century; estimates from the Yale Budget Lab say that's costing the average U.S. consumer an extra $2,500 a year. A recent study by covering consumer sentiment about tariffs shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe tariffs will have a negative impact on their personal finances. Just over 40% of respondents said tariffs would "greatly worsen" their personal finances. But even if consumers decide to tackle the China tariff problem by eliminating spending on goods from the country, it doesn't mean they will save money. They also will find the task daunting, if not impossible. That's according to journalist Sara Bongiorni, who tried to live without goods from China for a year back in the early 2000s; the trials and tribulations of her effort became the basis for her book, "A Year Without Made in China." Bongiorni, now an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University, woke up on Christmas morning in 2005 to a house full of stuff, and as she rummaged through it, she realized almost everything was made in China. "I said to my husband, 'Do you think it would be possible to live for a while without things made in China? You want to try that?' He was not very enthusiastic about that idea, but we gave it a whirl." Related: Forget tariffs, Fed interest rate cuts may hinge on another problem Bongiorni didn't set out to make a political statement or to write a book. She was simply hoping "to understand at a personal level, as best we could, how much we relied on things from China in our everyday, ordinary consumer life." In a recent interview on "Money Life with Chuck Jaffe," Bongiorni recounted how her rule was to avoid the words "Made in China," which are only seen on the end consumer product sold to shoppers. That's a low bar, given that countless products are assembled in the United States or in other countries using parts from China. Those goods-like the ones with the Made in China label-will incur increased costs due to tariffs. Bongiorni noted that in certain product categories – notably toys, household gadgets, many types of electronics, coffeemakers, sneakers and footwear, and children's clothing – it was nearly impossible to find items that weren't made in China. Even when she did find rare exceptions, Bongiorni noted that the options often pushed her to higher-end goods, which meant paying more for the purchase, in some cases, more than she would expect to pay now on goods from China with tariffs attached. "I think there were so many things we didn't buy that year because you couldn't find a viable option that wasn't made in China," Bongiorni said. She also noted that, ironically, it's nearly impossible to celebrate a wholly American holiday like July 4th without goods from China, as the small flags, fireworks, parade toys, festive paper goods, and more were made there. Truly trying to avoid all goods from China – including component parts – would be nearly impossible, Bongiorni said, noting that consumers would find themselves with no easy alternatives. "The share of things, ordinary consumer items from China, account for at least 65% of things you find in a typical household," Bongiorni said. "If you push up [prices with tariffs up to 55%], that is a huge impact, especially when we've got inflation and other things going on in the economy. It's a huge thing for most families to have to shoulder that burden." More Tariffs: Aldi plans huge price cut despite tariffs driving costs higherCar buyers should shop these brands for the best tariff dealGeneral Motors makes $4 billion tariff move Bongiorni does think the United States can bring some manufacturing back onshore, but that will have a limited impact because of the breadth and volume of goods coming from China, and the convenience of having those items and getting them cheaply. "I have a hard time thinking that we can lure ourselves off of our connection to China as consumers as a long-term affair," she said, "but also I can see a huge public outcry because this is going to affect people's bottom line every month." While Bongiorni recalls her efforts fondly nearly two decades later, she says she would not want to permanently do without Made in China, even if tariffs raise costs. Avoiding goods from China and finding alternatives was "incredibly time-consuming." And when there were no viable product options, she was willing to go without certain items for a year, but would not want to sacrifice them for a lifetime. "I do think it's interesting to have an awareness of where things come from, and to get a sense to the extent you can to which you are connected to the international economy on that consumer level," said Bongiorni. "I found that enjoyable and interesting, but the idea of weaning ourselves from Chinese goods, after doing this, just seems very unrealistic.…I can't imagine living like that long-term." Related: Fed official sends shocking message on interest rate cuts The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

Biden ‘talking in the quiet car,' asking for ice cream on Amtrak rides to DC office
Biden ‘talking in the quiet car,' asking for ice cream on Amtrak rides to DC office

New York Post

timean hour ago

  • New York Post

Biden ‘talking in the quiet car,' asking for ice cream on Amtrak rides to DC office

He may be out of office, but he's still driving people crazy. Former President Joe Biden has been overheard asking for frozen treats while commuting on Amtrak to his government-provided DC office — where little known work is being done — as well as allegedly forgetting a top rule of the train. 'He was talking in the quiet car!' a disbelieving Amtrak regular vented to The Post. The 82-year-old former chief executive, who rode the route back and forth to Delaware during his 36 years in the Senate, also has gotten rusty on the cafe car's offerings. Biden recently asked for ice cream — his favorite snack — but had to settle for a muffin. Amtrak's 'quiet car' is the second on the Acela — behind first class — and its code of conduct is enforced by conductors and passengers who brusquely hiss 'shhhhhh!' at violators. A second witness who has seen Biden chatting in the quiet car argued it wasn't his fault. 'If he's talking, it's because he's constantly approached,' said this person, noting that whispered exchanges are allowed. '[That] is always a criticism of him — that he's too soft spoken! No winning.' The ex-president's travels have been captured in a stream of photos from fellow riders — and even a brief May 8 interview with CNN's Dana Bash. The Amtrak he was on was stopped last week due to a track issue outside of Baltimore and fellow riders flocked to the Democrat for selfies. Biden, who dropped his re-election bid last year amid a mutiny by allies over his perceived cognitive decline, has been visiting DC roughly once a week for meetings, the Wall Street Journal reported last month. 5 Several alums of the Biden White House say there's intrigue into what exactly he is doing most weeks at his temporary office a short distance from DC's Union Station. The General Services Administration pays for the office until July, meaning Biden will have to relocate soon if he intends to continue commuting to the capital. 'It's really a mystery,' one former Biden aide said of his activities while visiting DC, noting that staff still working for Biden 'avoid answering.' 'They're supposed to be setting up library stuff but no one has heard anything,' this person said. 'We're all wondering the same thing because he doesn't go to restaurants or anything public around here.' A source familiar with Biden's activities said that at the office he conducts meetings with staff and former staff and passes the time calling members of Congress and other Democratic leaders. 'He's also been attending events which are sometimes coordinated through the office,' the person said. 5 'He was just in Galveston, Texas, to attend a Juneteenth service as a recent example. Separately, he's working on his book and library and foundation phases of post-presidency.' They were unaware of any plans to find a new DC office when the federally provided space ends next month. Sources tell The Post the family faces financial difficulties after losing his $400,000 presidential pay. He has struggled to find takers for his offer to give speeches for $300,000 — a figure first reported by The Post — while his son Hunter Biden, who formerly raked in millions from abroad, admits to.

How Senate Republicans want to change the tax breaks in Trump's big bill
How Senate Republicans want to change the tax breaks in Trump's big bill

Chicago Tribune

timean hour ago

  • Chicago Tribune

How Senate Republicans want to change the tax breaks in Trump's big bill

WASHINGTON — House and Senate Republicans are taking slightly different approaches when it comes to the tax cuts that lawmakers are looking to include in their massive tax and spending cuts bill. Republicans in the two chambers don't agree on the size of a deduction for state and local taxes. And they are at odds on such things as allowing people to use their health savings accounts to help pay for their gym membership, or whether electric vehicle and hybrid owners should have to pay an annual fee. The House passed its version shortly before Memorial Day. Now the Senate is looking to pass its version. While the two bills are similar on the major tax provisions, how they work out their differences in the coming weeks will determine how quickly they can get a final product over the finish line. President Donald Trump is pushing to have the legislation on his desk by July 4th. Here's a look at some of the key differences between the two bills: The child tax credit currently stands at $2,000 per child. The House bill temporarily boosts the child tax credit to $2,500 for the 2025 through 2028 tax years, roughly the length of President Donald Trump's second term. It also indexes the credit amount for inflation beginning in 2027. The Senate bill provides a smaller, initial bump-up to $2,200, but the bump is permanent, with the credit amount indexed for inflation beginning next year. Trump promised on the campaign trail that he would seek to end income taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits. Also, he would give car buyers a new tax break by allowing them to deduct the interest paid on auto loans. The House and Senate bills incorporate those promises with temporary deductions lasting from the 2025 through 2028 tax years, but with some differences. The House bill creates a deduction on tips for those working in jobs that have customarily received tips. The House also provides for a deduction for overtime that's equal to the amount of OT a worker has earned. The Senate bill comes with more restrictions. The deduction for tips is limited to $25,000 per taxpayer and the deduction for overtime is limited to $12,500 per taxpayer. The House and Senate bills both provide a deduction of up to $10,000 for interest paid on loans for vehicles made in the United States. And on Social Security, the bills don't directly touch the program. Instead, they grant a larger tax deduction for Americans age 65 and older. The House sets the deduction at $4,000. The Senate sets it at $6,000. Both chambers include income limits over which the new deductions begin to phase out. The caps on state and local tax deductions, known in Washington as the SALT cap, now stand at $10,000. The House bill, in a bid to win over Republicans from New York, California and New Jersey, lifts the cap to $40,000 per household with incomes of less than $500,000. The credit phases down for households earning more than $500,000. The Senate bill keeps the cap at $10,000. That's a non-starter in the House, but Republicans in the two chambers will look to negotiate a final number over the coming weeks that both sides can accept. The House bill prohibits states from establishing new provider taxes or increasing existing taxes. These are taxes that Medicaid providers, such as hospitals, pay to help states finance their share of Medicaid costs. In turn, the taxes allow states to receive increased federal matching funds while generally holding providers harmless through higher reimbursements that offset the taxes paid. Such taxes now are effectively capped at 6%. The Senate looks to gradually lower that threshold for states that have expanded their Medicaid populations under the Affordable Care Act, or 'Obamacare,' until it reaches 3.5% in 2031, with exceptions for nursing homes and intermediate care facilities. Industry groups have warned that limiting the ability of states to tax providers may lead to some states making significant cuts to their Medicaid programs as they make up for the lost revenue in other ways. The Medicaid provision could be a flashpoint in the coming House and Senate negotiations. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was highly critical of the proposed Senate changes. 'This needs a lot of work. It's really concerning and I'm really surprised by it,' he said. 'Rural hospitals are going to be in bad shape.' The House bill would allow companies for five years to fully deduct equipment purchases and domestic research and development expenses. The Senate bill includes no sunset, making the tax breaks permanent, which was a key priority of powerful trade groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Republicans in both chambers are looking to scale back the clean energy tax credits enacted through then-President Joe Biden's climate law. It aimed to boost the nation's transition away from planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions toward renewable energy such as wind and solar power. Under the Senate bill, the tax credits for clean energy and home energy efficiency would still be phased out, but less quickly than under the House bill. Still, advocacy groups fear that the final measure will threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs and drive up household energy costs. The House bill would allow millions of Americans to use their health savings accounts to pay for gym memberships, with a cap of $500 for single taxpayers and $1,000 for joint filers. The Senate bill doesn't include such a provision. The House reinstates a charitable deduction for non-itemizers of $150 per taxpayer. The Senate bill increases that deduction for donations to $1,000 per taxpayer. Republicans in the House bill included a new annual fee of $250 for EV owners and $100 for hybrid owners that would be collected by state motor vehicle departments. The Senate bill excludes the proposed fees.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store