Podcasts about Staten Island

Send us a textRaw, unfiltered, and pulling no punches, this explosive episode tears down the façade of Staten Island's most prominent violence prevention organizations. ST (@MikeMont662) delivers a scorching exposé of Penn and Perry and True 2 Life, organizations he claims are operating as criminal enterprises while masquerading as community saviors.The conversation delves deep into the troubling allegations that these taxpayer-funded programs are led by individuals who actively incentivize violence rather than prevent it. ST details shocking instances where staff members allegedly received "raises" after physically assaulting him, suggesting a disturbing pattern of rewarded aggression within organizations publicly dedicated to peace. He doesn't hold back when describing Michael Perry as "a snake" who manipulates others to do his dirty work while maintaining a pristine public image.Perhaps most concerning are ST's claims about the organizations' relationships with law enforcement. He describes a system where certain members operate with apparent police protection, allowing them to intimidate witnesses and engage in criminal activity without fear of consequences. These allegations raise serious questions about accountability and the true mission of these community groups.The episode also explores personal histories and street politics, painting a complex picture of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between community work and criminal enterprise. ST shares his own attempts at peace talks with organization leaders, only to be rebuffed and later assaulted—incidents he claims went unpunished due to police connections.This conversation serves as a powerful reminder that genuine community safety requires transparency and honest assessment. By exposing what he sees as corruption within violence prevention efforts, ST challenges listeners to look beyond public personas and examine the real impact these organizations have on the communities they claim to serve.Check out our new LFTG hoodies on the website LFTGradio.com and follow for more unfiltered truth about what's really happening on Staten Island's streets.Support the showSubscribe to our YouTube @LFTGRadio and check out the website LFTGRadio.com for live updates!

Gov. Kathy Hochul still hasn't made an endorsement in November's mayoral election, keeping with several other high ranking New York City Democrats. Plus, New York City is giving out 350,000 free Chromebooks with built-in internet access to public school students. Meanwhile, Fort Greene Park Conservancy is raising concerns about how a proposed 72-story tower on nearby Flatbush Avenue could affect the park. And finally, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has hired a Bronx elections lawyer to look over petition signatures supporting his run for reelection as an independent.

City Council leaders have asked the Board of Elections to block three proposed ballot questions that could speed up housing development while limiting Council power. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul must decide whether to sign a bill requiring two-person crews on subway trains, a move the Transport Workers Union says is critical for safety but the MTA warns could raise costs. Plus, New York City is struggling to keep enough ambulance workers on the streets, with union leaders warning that record turnover and stalled contract talks are driving longer waits for 911 emergency response. Vice president of the FDNY EMS officers union Anthony Almojera joins us to explain.

A Hudson County judge has barred the owners of three Hoboken luxury buildings from renting more high-priced units until they add affordable housing. Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul is defending New York's vaccine access and criticizing President Trump's federal health policies, saying they are dividing families. Plus, residents of Rochdale Village in Queens are opposing a proposed fee hike of up to 57 percent, arguing years of mismanagement are putting their affordable housing at risk.

In this edition of Five Things, WNYC's Janae Pierre and Brian Lehrer break down the mayor's race after Jim Walden's exit, including speculation that Mayor Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa could be pushed aside to clear the field for Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. They discuss the divisions within the Democratic Party, the fight for New Jersey's governorship, the growing battles over vaccines, the rollout of New York's school cellphone ban, and how the Mets and Yankees are shaping up for the playoffs.

Guests:* Rossana D'Antonio – Author of 26 Seconds: Grief and Blame in the Aftermath of Losing My Brother in a Plane Crash* Marty Ross-Dolen – Author of Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter's Search for TruthTwo authors, Rossana D'Antonio and Marty Ross-Dolen, each faced the unimaginable loss of loved ones in separate plane crashes decades apart. Their grief led them to write powerful memoirs—Rossana's 26 Seconds and Marty's Always There, Always Gone—that explore truth, healing, and the lasting impact of tragedy. In an extraordinary coincidence, both books were released in the same week, a situation that could easily spark feelings of rivalry or jealousy between writers. Instead, their shared experience created a bond as they connected over loss, resilience, and the courage it takes to turn pain into story. This episode dives into that connection, exploring not only grief but also the unexpected solidarity found in telling similar stories side by side.Hey everyone, it's Jenny Nash. This episode happens to feature an Author Accelerator book coach. Author Accelerator is the company I founded more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. If you've been curious about what it takes to become a successful book coach, which is to say, someone who makes money, meaning, and joy out of serving writers, I've just created a bunch of great content to help you learn more. You can access it all by going to bookcoaches.com/waitlist. We'll be enrolling a new cohort of students in our certification program in October, so now's a perfect time to learn more and start making plans for a whole new career.Transcript below!EPISODE 464 - TRANSCRIPTJennie NashHey everyone. It's Jennie Nash. This episode happens to feature an Author Accelerator book coach. Author Accelerator is the company I founded more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. If you've been curious about what it takes to become a successful book coach, which is to say someone who makes money, meaning and joy out of serving writers. I've just created a bunch of great content to help you learn more. You can access it all by going to book bookcoaches.com/waitlist. That's bookcoaches.com/waitlist. We'll be enrolling a new cohort of students in our certification program in October, so now's a perfect time to learn more and start making plans for a whole new career.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now—one, two, three.Jennie NashHey everyone. I'm Jennie Nash, and this is the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast, the place where we talk about writing all the things, short things, long things, fiction, nonfiction, pitches and proposals. Today I'm here to talk with two writers who I brought together because of a very interesting coincidence; each of these writers recently published a memoir about a plane crash. They each lost somebody that they love in a plane crash, and they wrote a story about their search for understanding and their search for healing and what it all means to their lives. These two books are really different stories, which I think is so interesting and says so much about the creative process. And what's remarkable is that these two books were published just one week apart, and these two writers became aware of each other's books and became friends. I happened to have a connection to each of these writers. At several points throughout her writing process, I coached Rossana D'Antonio including the very first time she came into a classroom to write about this story. Her book is called 26 Seconds: Grief and Blame in the Aftermath of Losing My Brother in a Plane Crash. Marty Ross-Dolen is the other author. Her book is called Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter's Search for Truth. Marty is a writer who came into my Author Accelerator book coach certification program to study how to become a book coach, and that's when I became aware of her and her story. In this conversation, Marty and Rossana come together with me to talk about grief, writing, jealousy and so many of the things that make memoir such a difficult and challenging genre to write and also such a satisfying one. I can't wait for you to listen. So let's get started. Welcome Rossana and Marty. I'm so excited to have you both here today to talk about this incredible topic. And before we get going, we are talking just days after there was a terrible plane crash in India in which a lot of people died and one man walked away, and there's a plane crash at the center of both of your books. And I just wanted to start by asking, how do you feel when this happens as it happens so many times, you know, are you okay as we sit here today? Or does this weigh on you? What is it? What is it like to sit here today? So maybe we'll start Rossana with you.Rossana D'AntonioOkay, well, thanks, Jennie, for inviting me on your podcast. It's really exciting to be here and to share, you know, this podcast with Marty. And, yeah, I mean, I, I agree with you. It's really, I mean, I think our memoirs—it's just so timely that they're out during this time because it's, you know, it's not just Air India. We've had several incidents within the last several years, actually, that have brought to light the strain in the aviation industry. It's been, it's been really interesting because, as it seems like there's not a day that goes by that there isn't something in the news with regards to plane crashes or plane incidents, near misses, whatever it may be. But as we experience each incident, and it becomes breaking news, and you know, we're witnessing it on live TV, it is, it is hard not to relive the experience. And I'm—I'll speak for myself—it is hard for me not to relive the experience. And in the book, I kind of talk about it because I say that it's kind of like we belong to this group that we never asked to be part of and this group is made of families of the victims of plane crashes. And, you know, the very first images that you see are of the grieving families and the pain and the grief that is stamped on their faces, the shock of it all. Plane crashes are so dramatic and so violent that it's hard not to get caught up in the whole story, and it's hard not to think of the families and want to comfort them, knowing that their hell is just starting, and all the things that they're going to have to go through, you know, with regards to the aftermath, the investigation, recovering their loved ones and their loved ones' belongings. So it is hard, but I try to, I try to focus on hoping that their recovery or their healing—the sooner they face the disaster, the tragedy—their healing can actually start.Jennie NashIt's got to be so hard. We'll, we'll return to all of these topics again. But Marty, you're... what are your thoughts?Marty Ross-DolenI echo what Rossana says about how—first, thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here with you. I echo, and I love being here with Rossana, and I echo what she says as well. When I see some sort of headline or announcement that an airplane accident has taken place, my heart sinks. My stomach sinks. I know that I'm going to be in it for a couple of days, if not longer, and nowadays, with social media and the immediacy of information—and for the first time, with this devastating Air India crash, and part of it is because there was a survivor—we have information that we've never had before about the experience of it, and somehow, what came across my news feed on social media as well were videos of the inside of the cabin just before the crash. I don't even know how these were available. I don't even know if they're real because of AI—it's... but then I see that because I can't not see it, and I'm stuck with that in my brain until it goes into that little pocket that contains all those things that we see over our lifetimes that we try never to think about again. So it's hard, it's really hard, and it's really hard to get on an airplane. But that's true for everyone. That's true for everyone, but because, as Rossana describes, we're members of this group, this club that we didn't sign on for, it's probably extra hard.Jennie NashYeah, I want to come back to that "get on an airplane" thing, but just so our listeners can know about the stories that I'm referring to here, we know that you both wrote books, and they're both memoirs, and they're very, very different experiences for the reader—vibes, purposes, feelings, all of those things—and yet they share this plane crash at the center. So I wanted to ask if you would each just give a summary of what your book is about—the title, what it's about—so our readers can know, our listeners can know, what we're talking about. Your readers, our listeners. Rossana, we're kind of in a pattern here, so why don't you go first?Rossana D'AntonioSure. Thanks, Jennie. So my story, my book, is 26 Seconds: Grief and Blame in the Aftermath of Losing My Brother in a Plane Crash. And it's the story of—well, the title says it all, right? So on May 30, 2008, TACA Flight 390 departed from El Salvador International Airport en route to Miami, Florida, with an interim stop in Honduras at one of the most notoriously dangerous airports in the world, Toncontín International Airport. The area was buffeted by Tropical Storm Alma at the time. So there was a lot of wind, a lot of rain, a lot of fog, and when TACA Flight 390 attempted to land on the airport's very short runway, it overshot the runway, crashed into an embankment, and killed five people—three in the plane, including my brother, the pilot, and two in a car that were crushed when the plane landed on them. The book is my search for the truth as to what truly happened on that day. I suspected my brother would be made a scapegoat. Seventy percent of airplane accidents are blamed on the pilot, and so I just suspected that that would be our reality. And so this book is the story about me finding answers to the questions as to what happened that day..Jennie NashAnd in terms of the timeline of this story, when I first met you, you had just begun to write about it. I think it was 10 years. Oh, no, I've got that wrong. How long after the event? You came into a class of mine at UCLA—it was really close to the event.Rossana D'AntonioYeah. So it was February of 2009, so it was a little over six months. So it was still very, very raw.Jennie NashI know the 10 years part is you came back to me 10 years later, having finally wrapped your hands around how you wanted to approach it. So the story as you write it is 10–15 years after the event, looking back on it and all the work that you did to understand this crash and you are uniquely positioned. And I remember thinking about this way back when I first met you. You have a very unique perspective on disaster, and you have a very unique positioning or perspective from which to look at that. Do you want to explain what that is?Rossana D'AntonioSure. So I'm an engineer. I'm a civil engineer, and I worked for over three decades in the public sector at Los Angeles County Public Works. I was over—as I left county service, I was a deputy director over our emergency management business area, and so I was trained to respond to all sorts of different disasters. Our agency managed several pieces of infrastructure, including five different airports. So I was trained to not only plan, design, construct infrastructure, but also to respond to emergencies following not only natural disasters but, you know, human-made disasters. And following these disasters, I was the lead for preparing after-action reports, which essentially describe what happened, what went wrong, what went well, and what lessons learned can we actually take away from these disasters. So that was my background.Jennie NashYeah, it's an incredible connection to this tragic event. So we'll come back to that in a minute. So Marty, tell us about your book.Marty Ross-DolenSure. So my book is entitled Always There, Always Gone: A Daughter's Search for Truth. And in 1960, my grandparents were killed in an airplane accident that was a collision over New York Harbor. Their plane—they had left Columbus, Ohio. They were traveling to New York, and they were on a TWA Super Constellation, and then a United jet that had originated in Chicago was flying in. My grandparents' plane was set for landing in LaGuardia. The United flight was set for landing in Idlewild, which is now JFK Airport. The United plane got off course and collided with my grandparents' plane. My grandparents' plane landed in Staten Island in an empty airfield, and the United flight actually continued for a few miles and landed in Park Slope, Brooklyn, killing people on the ground. So on the planes, there were 128 people who lost their lives, and then six people on the ground in Brooklyn. And because of that horrific situation in Brooklyn, that's where most of the sort of media was focused. There was one survivor who survived for about 24 hours—a boy—but he didn't live. My grandparents were on their way from Columbus to New York to meet for a meeting to talk about their family business, their iconic family magazine Highlights for Children, and they were looking to place the magazine on the newsstands. So they were executives with the company, and this accident was actually the largest commercial jet airplane disaster up until that time in 1960, so it was a pretty well-known, famous accident.Jennie NashSo you two have a very unique connection to that accident, and where you stood when you wrote about it is much further in the future from the crash itself, because your mother, if I remember correctly, was 14 years old at the time.Marty Ross-DolenRight. So my mom was 14. It was six years before I was born, so obviously I didn't know my grandparents. My mom was the second oldest of five, and they moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Austin, Texas, to live with a paternal uncle and his family. And so my book is more about my experience of being raised by a mother who was in protracted mourning after having lost her parents and not had a way to process her grief as an adolescent, and as she got older. So my approach to my book is from that angle primarily, in addition to getting to know my grandmother through her letters, which was a significant goal through the writing process.Jennie NashRight. So you have this reverberation through time of this accident and your connection to the work your grandparents did. You're a writer, you're an editor, you're a person who deals with story, and they were—I mean, I was such a reader of Highlights back in the day—and that, you know, you use the word iconic, you know, probably launched the careers of so many writers and thinkers, and you have a connection through time with that, which is a very unique perspective to have on your story. So you each bring these very different ways of looking at this event. So before we kind of dig into the decisions you each made around how to structure your book, and the tone and shape and all of that, part of the reason we're all talking here today is this, what I think of as a very delightful outcome of these books, which is that you know each other. You've met each other after the books were written. And oftentimes we think, when we're writing something, that well, we think several things: nobody's ever written anything like this, and everybody else has already written this story. What do I have to say? You know, those sort of back-and-forth thoughts that writers often have—Is this unique? Do I have something to add? Do I have something to say? How am I going to serve my readers, or what experience am I going to give to my readers? And then, you know just those pinging back-and-forth thoughts. And it's not very often that we get to actually meet a writer who, at the same time, in the same phase here of publishing, you know, just the same year even, has written something that is similar-ish, you know, about a plane crash, but totally different books. But I just want to ask you each about the meeting of each other and the thinking of that book, and what that's like, because it's so unusual to get to have this kind of conversation. So, you know, I imagine there are lots of things going through your head when you heard about this other book or, you know, I don't know if I have a connection to both of you. I don't know if it came from me or what, but why don't we start this time with you, Marty.Marty Ross-DolenYeah, one of the great joys of this last year has been publishing with the same publisher as Rossana, and for us to get to know each other, because we both published our books with She Writes Press, and we just happened to be in the same cohort of summer 2025. We published in the same month, one week apart. Yeah, yeah. And I remember when we first were introducing ourselves as a group, and Rossana mentioned what her story was about. And my reaction was, is it really true? Is there really another airplane accident story amongst us? Because it is—it's not common. I mean, you don't very often come across people who have lost loved ones this way, and what became clear to me over time was that our books were very, very different. And by the nature of the fact that Rossana lost her beloved brother, who she was very close to, and I lost grandparents I had never met, our stories were just—and there's decades that separate these events—so by those natures, it was clear to me that our books were going to be different. I was excited to read Rossana's book. I was also apprehensive because, for the same reason that I described about when I'm reading about it in the news, it's just hard. But I will say, in reading Rossana's beautiful book, I immediately noticed just kindred spirits with her as a writer. It happened early in the chapters that I was reading. I had used the word lullaby to describe the sound of the engines getting going when you're sitting on a plane and it's about to take off, and sort of the sound of almost a lullaby that will put you to sleep. The person who was working with me as I was writing kept crossing that word out: “That doesn't make sense. Why would you call that a lullaby?” And I wanted it in there. It felt so right. And Rossana described that exact time, those sounds, as a lullaby. It was like; this is something that's just unique about people who have experienced what we've experienced.Jennie NashOh, wow, that's so interesting. Rossana, what about you? Your coming upon Marty's book.Rossana D'AntonioI know. What are the odds, right? I mean, I had never met anyone who had ever experienced a plane crash in their family. As a matter of fact, I'm going to get geeky here, but the U.S. Department of Transportation statistics indicate that one in 2 billion people will die in a plane crash. So what are the odds that, you know, life would bring Marty and I together, that had this connection, not only with the plane crash but also with you, Jennie? I mean some that came out later on. And so I thought, wow, you know, talk about serendipity and, you know, the mysterious ways of life. And although, you know, these are very different stories, I mean, they're connected at their core by a common theme, right? Very similar tragedies. And when I read Marty's book, like she says, there was—I was taken aback because there were many similar passages, you know, how we describe things or how we perceive things. There were a lot of commonalities, even though we came from it from different perspectives, which again reinforces my belief that we're part of this group that we never want to be a part of, and we'll always be connected in one way or another. I think one of the things, though, that was obvious when I read her book was that I connected, I understood, I related to her mom, obviously, right? Her mom was one that had experienced this plane crash, so it was kind of obvious the way it had impacted her, the tragedy, the aftermath, the bottling up of her feelings, PTSD, whatever—all of that I, like, clicked. But I think the most fascinating part of Marty's book was how that grief could be transferred from generation to generation. And I thought that was the fascinating thing that I learned that I really didn't know, and how these tragedies can be prolonged for, you know, generations.Jennie NashYeah, it's—well, first of all, thanks for geeking out because that is a good description of what your book is. You have a lot in your book that is kind of geeky in a—you know, you really get into the aviation industry, into the nuts and bolts of, literally, planes and how they function to the way that governments and reports about accidents function. So when reading your book, people get that layer, which is, you know, you bring to that work. So, geek out all you want. It's great. And Marty's book, by contrast, is this exploration of, you know, you drop a pebble in a pond, and how does it hit the shores? And that very emotional—you know, she had a mother immersed in grief. And what does that do to the child? And then the child's impulse to—I think it's the word search in both of your subtitles, I think it might be, or certainly the concept of it—but that idea of a quest or a journey or, you know, a need to understand. And in Rossana's case, it's what happened on that day. In Marty's case, what happened to my mom? You know, like, what was this thing that happened to my mom? And you're both seeking—that core of both of them. So I want to ask about, because I'm fascinated by this—you know, there's a raw material of a story, and how you make your choices about what the tone of that story is going to be, or the shape and structure of that story, what you want the reader to feel or to experience. Can you both go back to when you knew you were going to write about it? I think that's the first thing, is how did you catch this idea as, "This is a thing I'm going to write about"? Marty, do you want to start with that one?Marty Ross-DolenSure. I started writing after I attended a 50th anniversary memorial event for the airplane accident. And there's a sort of story that leads up to that memorial event and my attending it. But prior to that—which was, so that was 2010—prior to that, I wasn't necessarily inclined to write about it. So after attending this memorial event in 2010, a few months later, I just started telling the story of the memorial and putting some backstory into it, and that ended up being an essay that was about... I don't know, it was a long essay, like, say, 40 pages, but I was told the story was done. Because for those of us that like to use writing and words and language to try to process those things that are sitting—that we're obsessing about or sitting in our minds—I wanted to have done that and be done, because this thing was deeper than anything else that I could excavate in terms of pain in my life. So after I submitted this essay to a class that I was taking at Ohio State—writing, creative writing workshop—and at the end of the semester, the professor said to me that he thought that really what I was doing was writing a book, because there was too much material here and I hadn't done what needed to be done. My stomach sank because I didn't want to write a book. It wasn't—I wanted to be done with this topic. So I took his feedback and all of my workshop peers' feedback, and I stuck it all, the pile of papers, into a cabinet, and it stayed there for 14—well, 10—years.Jennie NashWow!Marty Ross-DolenYeah. And then, during that time, my mother had become the archivist for Highlights, for the family business, and was going through all of the saved artifacts and materials and papers related to the company and the family. And I had always wanted to know my grandmother better. My grandmother is the person I'm named for. I had always known a lot of stories about her, but I asked my mom if she had access to any letters that she might come across in the attics and basements that she was excavating—could I have them? So she started sending them to me. So while I had an essay in the cabinet, I had bins of letters from my grandmother in the basement. And that whole time, anybody who would ask me what I was working on, writing-wise, I'd say, "Well, you know I've got these letters in the basement..." but I never did anything with it. I just couldn't—it was too—everything was too overwhelming. And then what happened for me is that COVID—when the pandemic, you know, 2020, started—became part of our lives. I realized that it was an opportunity for me to pursue an MFA that I had wanted to do for a long time because it was going to be remote. And then I realized I've got time, and I could pull all of this out and see if it was something worth tackling. So that's the story of the decision to write. It was a slow one.Jennie NashWow. Oh, so interesting. And Rossana, well, we heard that you, six months after your brother died, you were in this class trying to learn how to write about it, which, at the time, I didn't quite put together that had been so recent. So when did you decide you were going to write about it? How did you know?Rossana D'AntonioYeah, so, I mean, I didn't set out to write a book. I just started to write. And as you know, as an engineer, I wasn't really trained to be like a memoir writer or writing essays of this type of nature. But I have to give you so much credit, because when I went to your class—and I went out of curiosity to see, well, is anything I'm scribbling down in these journals, is anything really good?—and so your class brought me together with all these other students, and, you know, reading some of the material out loud, all of a sudden, it was a four-day—I don't know if you remember—it was a four-day, one of these four-day intensive classes, and at the end, we're reading our material, and all these strangers are suddenly referring to my brother like they know him, and I recognize that it was because I was somehow relaying his story to them, and I was somehow, maybe through my work or my words, keeping him alive in some way, and that was really transformational for me, because I thought, well, maybe I can do this. And you were very kind. You said that the work was actually pretty good, and then I had some teachers that, you know, added to that. So it started out like, you know, just like playing with words, and then it turned into a grief memoir. That's the… you know, it's evolved greatly. It turned into a grief memoir, which you—I went back to you and you said, “Well, this is great, congratulations, but it's really not marketable, and if you really want to get it out into the world, you're going to have to make some changes.” And so at that point, that's when I decided, all right, I'm going to go ahead and explore. I'm going to go deeper and try to explore the truth about what happened that day. Maybe make it more scientific, more technical; maybe bring in some of the elements that were missing from this memoir. And so along with working with you and working with my editor­— Jodi Fodor—both of you, like within the last few years—I thought I had written it, I thought I was fine, I thought it was done. But then I'd come back to all of you, and you would ask me these probing questions. Perhaps I hadn't developed a scene well enough, or maybe I needed to go deeper. You know, memoir is different than what I was trained to do, and that would send me down this rabbit hole in search of answers to, you know, the questions you were asking, which, by the way, was very annoying because obviously I did not want to come to terms with, you know, the questions that you were asking, because it would, like, get me down into the feeling part of the whole memoir writing. But I did the homework, I came back with answers, and then I realized that memoir is a different animal. And I really felt that your input, your feedback, your questions, your probing, really did make it a lot richer of a story. And even through those seeking answers to the questions that you had brought me to self-discoveries, epiphanies, that perhaps… things that I had bottled up, and that even at the tail end of writing the story, there was still so much more to discover with regards to grief and healing, and which was a lesson to me that I suppose this journey never really ends.Jennie NashOh, I want to defend myself when I said, “This is great, but it's not marketable.” There is such a danger with memoir, particularly memoir around big things, and you both are writing about a big thing, and also particularly around grief, where it's so big in your own head, it takes over your whole mind or life or heart or world, that you assume that everybody else gets it. Right? Like this thing happened, and it's tragic, and in Marty's case, it reverberates through my whole life, and it's so easy to skip over the work of making that story mean something to the reader, and of just sort of resting on the fact that this dramatic thing happened in your family and your life. And there are so many manuscripts like that that when they land on the desk of an agent or the hands of a reader, it's not enough, right? It's not enough. And so that was what I was responding to you. And I know because I got to work with you, and I know from Marty, because I see the result of her finished book, you both did that really hard work, and when I say it's really hard, you just named, Rossana, why it's hard. You have to look at yourself in a way… you know you have to dig in there to things you might not really want to think about. You certainly probably don't want to feel. Do you even want to share them? All of those decisions and choices and ideas. That's what's so hard. And you both put yourself through that process. So I want to ask you each about that—what was it like? So Marty, we'll start with you. In your case, you're digging into these letters, you start then digging into the news, the articles, the pictures, the—you know, all this stuff that your mother never spoke about, and here you're digging, digging, digging. What was that like for you on an emotional level?Marty Ross-DolenAh, it took over my life for a period of time. It was very time-consuming and overwhelming, and nothing about it was easy. I spent a lot of time and tears. I had a tough time sleeping. I did a lot of the work of writing in the middle of the night. In my head, I would wake up in the middle of the night reciting something I had written the day before. It had totally taken over my brain, and fortunately, my mother is very supportive of my work and has been very supportive of the book. And while I was reading the letters—and I read them all, and there are hundreds and hundreds of letters and thousands of pages of them—my mom was available to me to have very long conversations each day through it, because I would want to share something that I read with her, check with her about a story, or she would add and fill in some cracks. And she and I spent a lot of time on the phone crying. We also spent a lot of time laughing, because my grandmother was hilarious, which helped the situation. Her letters were a joy to read. But it really—it's a commitment. It's something that anybody who decides that they're going to take on a project that's going to just sort of open up the wound and create a rawness you're not even familiar with until you're there certainly needs to have established the support system. And I also had my husband, who was incredibly willing to talk about—I mean, he's been talking about this with me and listening for, at this point, for years, but certainly all the time back then, during those days. So it's not pretty, it was hard, but there's nothing about it that doesn't feel like the biggest gift I've ever given myself, because as much as I was trying to avoid it for all those years, there was a reason. I had to do it. I had to go through the process. And also, no question, there's a healing component to writing about something like this, and that reflective writing process, when you do the deep work and try to really dig and let yourself—as Rossana was saying—you know, the annoying stuff that was really like not where you wanted to go, but that is what really changed how it helped me heal in terms of grief, but it really also changed the way I thought about the story and imagined the story, and helped me not look at it through quite as much sadness and even anger, as much as I then was able to look through more of a lens of love at all of it. And I would venture to say that Rossana may have felt that too, because I read her book, and her book is all love. So…Jennie NashYeah, so Rossana, what was that experience of writing like for you?Rossana D'AntonioYeah, well, like Marty said, you know, it was, it did become all-consuming. I became obsessed. For me, though, it was the plane crash, right? The plane crash is the common thread throughout the whole book. And I would venture to say that the crash is a character itself. I like to think of it as the crash is the villain that I battle throughout the story. Everything revolves around it, and it was all-consuming. I analyzed it a million different ways. I deconstructed it. I peeled layer after layer, fact upon fact, trying to get to the core of what truly happened, right? And then I put everything back together, reconstructing it to try to make sense of it all in an effort to find out the truth, with a little bit of fear as to what I may actually find, right? There were no guarantees that I would like what I actually discovered. And as a matter of fact, you know, working with my editor—because I got so ingrained in it, because I got so weedy and geeky and just too technical—you know, she would actually slash dozens of pages, and she said, “I'm not even going to read this because this is not memoir appropriate. You need to do better.” And I think it was at that point where I had that conversation with Jody that the crash evolved from a thing to a character that I could eventually conquer. And like Marty said, there is a healing, and at the end, I actually make peace with this experience. You know, not that I'm all healed, but I make peace with it. There's really nothing I could do. My search was for the truth, and I got the truth, and then I was able to let it go and actually continue to live, because it was so consuming that I wasn't really living until I let it go.Marty Ross-DolenCan I ask, Rossana, do you think that all that writing that you did that got slashed out—do you, because I have writing also that had to be removed—do you feel that that had to be written in order to be removed, in order to get on the other side of it?Rossana D'AntonioOh, that's a good question. I never thought of it that way, but yeah, it could be. I mean, it's part of the quest. It wasn't appropriate for the work that I was working on, but it did highlight facts that I needed to know in order to, like you said, let it go.Marty Ross-DolenYeah, I just think that's interesting, because I have material that didn't end up in the book, but I know I couldn't have written the book if I hadn't written that material. It's just… yeah.Jennie NashSo you both talk about having arrived at a place of peace, or you use the word a “gift to yourself,” Marty. It sounds like during the writing of these books it didn't feel like that… it feels like that now. So why did you keep going when it was so hard? Marty, what would you say to that?Marty Ross-DolenI think because even though it was hard, I was sensing that it was necessary. I was sensing the value of it, and I had just decided that I was committed to it, and I wasn't going to give up. I just had a sense that once I found myself on the other side, I would be in a place that would have made it all worth it.Jennie NashWhat about you, Rossana?Rossana D'AntonioWell, I mean, for me, there are two things. I mean, people who know me know that once I say I'm going to do something, I cannot let it go. So that's one. But the whole purpose of going down this journey was I needed to know what happened. So not knowing what happened was just not an option. I mean, that was the outcome that I was looking for, and there was fear and pain that I knew I was going to take on. But in order to get there, I needed to go through it. So it was just something inevitable. I just knew what I was getting myself into. And I—you know—bring it on.Jennie NashYeah. So I want to ask about the shaping of the stories. You know, there are so many different shapes a story can take. And Rossana, we heard how you started with one type of book, moved into another. You cut this and that. And Marty, you had this incredible amount of primary source material. How did you make a decision? I mean, there are so many questions we could ask here, but I'm going to just focus on the plane crash as part of this discussion. How did you decide where in the story the crash would come—let's call it the scene of the crash—because it appears in very different places in your books, and in some ways, that colors the tone or form or experience for the reader of that book. So, Marty, how did you make that decision? Because the crash comes quite late in your book, where we actually see it. And it struck me when I was reading your book that that was exactly right for your story, because your mother never spoke about it. You didn't know about it. It wasn't a thing you were playing over in your head, and so the not feeling the crash or knowing about the crash was part of the story of it, in a way. So how did you make that decision??Marty Ross-DolenI will say that the essay that I wrote in 2010 that I described as the foundational essay for the book was largely what part five of my book is. So in many ways, I had written the end of the book. That was the first thing I wrote. And then figuring out where to put what was really the largest challenge. And I ultimately started to realize that I knew that I was coming to the book with the goal of not having the book be about my grandparents' death, but having it be about their life, particularly my grandmother's life. And so I wanted to downplay, even though the details of the accident and my discovering it were critical to the story, I wanted to downplay their death, because that's what I was trying to do for myself, because I had grown up my whole life only knowing their death, and that wasn't what I wanted people to know about myself, my mother, or my grandmother. So that was probably the biggest reason that I decided to put it at the end. And then also I put it at the end because I did want to have some buildup. I sensed some value in the reader getting to know the characters well before finding out what actually happened, and I also wanted it to correlate with my own—as you said—my own discovery of the story, which happened later in my life.Jennie NashWell, then there's this—yeah, there's this cool thing that I thought was really cool that happens in your book, which is your grandparents have this magazine, this business, and they make a decision: “Oh, maybe we should see if we could get this in—was it dentist's offices or, you know, doctors' offices waiting rooms?” And then, you know, they're on this plane to try to get it on newsstands. And we know the incredible success that those ideas went on to have in terms of a business. You know, the seeds that they planted bore incredible fruit. And so that part of the story, I thought, was really beautifully handled as well, because we all know what Highlights was and what it became. And then to find out those were their ideas, and then they died. They were not the ones that saw that through. There's something so powerful about that, that their ideas were so strong. They were so prescient. They were, you know, they created this thing that reverberated—there's that word again—through so many people's lives. I thought that was really a beautiful touch to how you placed that plane crash too.Marty Ross-DolenOh, thank you. That's interesting to think of it from that perspective because, in addition to my not wanting the story to be about my grandparents' deaths solely, it was also not meant to be the story of the history of Highlights. It was meant to be who they were. And, you know, it really is more of a focus on my grandmother in relation to the company, but they saved the company. And there were many times in the 1950s when they were struggling to keep it from bankruptcy and the decision—the sort of… actually, it was an epiphany of a salesperson who came up with the idea of selling through doctors' and dentists' offices. But their decision to implement that happened a couple of years before they died, and that's when they actually started to see the company thrive. So they died when the company was thriving, and they were, just as you said, pursuing more. Because the whole Highlights is a mission-driven company. Our whole goal is to have material that will help children become their best selves. So the more children that it touches, the more successful the mission. And so, yes, I mean, it is part of the story as much as maybe I see it as separate. It's just not separate. But making decisions about how much of one thing, you know, is this book supposed to have? I mean, there were people who wanted me to write the history of Highlights more than I did, for sure. There were people who wanted more airplane accident, for sure. And I wanted more of my grandmother, my mother, and me, so…Jennie NashRight.Marty Ross-DolenYeah, it was a balance.Jennie NashRight. Well, you pulled it off beautifully.Marty Ross-DolenThank you.Jennie NashAnd Rossana, in your book, the plane crash literally starts on page one—or even in the title. How did you…? And I feel like it was maybe always that way. Was it always that way? Was that one thing that never changed?Rossana D'AntonioYeah, I was just going to tell you, the book went through a ton of revisions, but the one thing that remained constant was the opening scene, which was the timeline of the 26 seconds that describe touchdown to impact. And I remember reading that in your class early on, and there was a sense of shock from the reception from the other folks in the class, and I knew that that's how I wanted to start the book. I mean, that's the premise that sets everything in motion. So that was the one constant, and I'm pretty proud of that.Jennie NashYeah. I mean, it's really interesting. So we know from the very beginning what happens. And then you circle back to talk about how you learned of the crash, which is a very dramatic story as well. So how did you hold the tension through the rest of the book? When the reader knows what happened, this is not a mystery, then you have to construct the story in such a way to hold the reader—you know, what else are we going to root for or learn or find out? How did you pull that off? Because you did.Rossana D'AntonioWell, the mystery is, you know, what happened? The mystery—I mean, I talk about how the industry had, continues to have, a tendency to blame one individual, which is the pilot, the last person that touches this very complex system that is the aviation industry. And so I kind of made the industry somewhat of a villain. And this quest for me to seek the truth and hopefully to—you know, I suppose the reader wanted me to be right that the industry was somehow to blame. And so that's how I thread the story, in addition to the fact that, you know, there were facts that kind of reinforced my whole premise, right? I mean, the accident report was never—so the accident happened outside of the country. And so here in the United States, the NTSB will always do an investigation and release the report as public information, as a public document. But outside of the country, the accident investigation—although the NTSB and the FAA participated in it—the lead was the Salvadoran Civil Aviation Authority, and they opted not to make that investigation report public. And so to me, that screamed of a conspiracy. So I thread that into the whole story. And, you know, my family gets the report through indirect means, and I'm able to dive into it, and lo and behold, I discover smoking guns in the report that indicate that the industry lied and covered up. And there were conspiracies, which are not—they're not unique to this one accident. And that's the other thing I do in the book, is I bring in parallel accidents here in the United States that reinforce that the industry is a global industry, and that corporate greed is alive and well in this industry as well.Jennie NashYeah, indeed, your book is revelatory that way. And that leads me to a question I want to ask you both, which I'll start with you, Rossana. Given how hard it was to write the story, and to be in it, and to think about it, and how this plane crash dominated your thinking for so long, what do you think about when you step on a plane? Is it hard for you?Rossana D'AntonioWell, there's a little trepidation. Yes, absolutely. Every time I have to fly, there's a thinking in the back of the mind, right? I think I had a conversation with you, Jennie, where we talked about when I crossed the threshold, whether we like it or not, we are relinquishing all sense of control to those people who are flying the plane and to everybody else in the industry who helps support that pilot and co-pilot, and we have to trust that everyone has done their job. And we've discovered with recent incidents that that isn't always true. So, I mean, there are things that I do. I mean, I try to sit in the exit row. From now on, I will be sitting on 11A, you know? And, you know, I do pay attention to the safety message that the flight attendants do before we depart. I think that's a common courtesy. And by the way, you know, a lot of us feel that we're professional flyers, but we've never been tested under the most dire of conditions in an accident, so we just assume we know what to do. But do we really? And hopefully we'll never be, you know, required to put that knowledge into use. I text my husband, “We're leaving now, taking off,” and then when we land, I tell him that we've landed safe and sound, because there's no guarantee, there's no guarantee that we will make it to our destination. I like to believe—you know, we've been conditioned to believe—that flying is the safest mode of travel, and I believe that, I really do. I don't want to dispel that. I don't want to cause fear. But I do also believe that the industry is under tremendous strain. Those two things can be true at the same time. We can't just say, “I'm not going to travel.” That's just not realistic. And so I choose to trust just like my brother trusted the system when he was alive. I choose to trust the system, and we'll leave it at that.Jennie NashI love that. Marty, what about you?Marty Ross-DolenI find, interestingly, I have a lot more anxiety leading up to flying than actually while I'm flying. In the days before, I can't really focus. Part of it is this feeling of needing to get every little thing in order. And it just sort of takes over in my mind. So the thing that I like the least about flying is the days before I actually do it. And then I have a tradition that I insist that anybody flying with me, that I know personally, also take part in, which is that I kiss the plane, kiss my hand, and place it on the outside of the plane. I think that that's super superstitiously protective. And then I actually feel some relief once I'm in my seat that it's going to move forward. And maybe, maybe part of that is that whatever control I've had up to that point, I can let go. But I do, you know, my husband always says it's safer to fly than drive. And I think that that's true. I'm not a great passenger in a car, for sure, but I'm with Rossana. You trust the system, and you have to live, and you can't choose not to travel or not use a mode of transportation. It's just the way our society and lives are. And I guess I feel grateful and fortunate that we have those options. So, yeah.Jennie NashI love that! Kiss the plane. I might start doing that. I cannot recommend both of these books more. They're so beautiful, they're so different. Reading them together would be incredibly powerful if that's something listeners are inclined to do. But just to remind folks, Marty's book is called Always There, Always Gone. Rossana's book is called 26 Seconds. Thank you both for coming on with each other to talk about this unique connection you have to each other and also your individual books. Can you tell folks where they can go to learn more other than the obvious, go-buy-the-book places? Marty, why don't you go first?Marty Ross-DolenSure. Thank you. All of my information—there's a lot to learn through my website, which is martyrossdolen.com. It's M-A-R-T-Y-R-O-S-S-D-O-L-E-N.com, where there's things to learn about Highlights, there's book club questions, there's Q&A's, just lots of things. There are links to things I've done and all places where you can find the book.Jennie NashWe'll link to that in the show notes. It's just a beautiful book about mothers and daughters and grandmothers and history and our place in it, and grief and life and all of it. It's a beautiful read. And Rossana, where can people find your geeky and soulful book about your beautiful brother, Caesar [Captain Cesare D'Antonio], and his love of flying and this tragedy that unfolded and how you made sense of it? Where can they learn more?Rossana D'AntonioYeah, thank you. So my website is rossanadantonio.com—that's R-O-S-S-A-N-A-D-A-N-T-O-N-I-O.com—and you can find all sorts of information there as well.Jennie NashWell, thank you both for talking to me today.Rossana D'AntonioThank you, Jennie. Thank you, Marty.Marty Ross-DolenThank you, Jennie. Thank you, Rossana. It's been a pleasure.Rossana D'AntonioIt's been fun.Jennie NashAnd for our listeners, keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.NarratorThe Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Jersey City school officials are considering following the lead of their neighbors across Hudson and banning phones in schools. Plus, Gov. Kathy Hochul is declaring a health emergency to help New Yorkers get COVID vaccines. Also, we share what elected officials and other leaders in Brooklyn are saying in the days since six people were shot after the West Indian Day festivities. And finally, as summer comes to an end and farmstands switch produce, there's still plenty of cucumbers at farmstands across the city.

Small residential facilities where people can stay during mental health crises are expanding across New York, growing from eight in 2021 to 43 statewide. Meanwhile, prosecutors say 18-year-old Faisil McCants faces federal robbery and gun charges in an East Harlem shooting that killed 69-year-old bystander Robin Wright. The NYPD says he is also charged with murder and weapons offenses. Also, New York's LGBTQ+ film festival NewFest is offering free screenings to Arizonans after Phoenix's Desperado Film Festival was canceled under federal orders targeting diversity and inclusion programs. Plus, MTA data show major incidents delaying 50 or more trains peaked in June and July, marking the worst summer for subway service since 2018.

New York City is now offering $50,000 to landlords who opt to renovate vacant rent-stabilized apartments and return them to the market. Plus, 11 more public library branches will offer seven-day service starting this weekend. And finally, state court officials will decide whether more than a dozen judges who are 70 or older can keep serving.

Welcome to Unpacked, Five Questions, a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of one great travel story. In this episode, host Katherine LaGrave sits down with feature writer Harrison Hill, who is working on his forthcoming book The Oracle's Daughter. For his latest Afar feature celebrating New York City's 400th birthday, Harrison embarked on a borough-hopping journey to visit the oldest family-owned businesses across all five boroughs—from record stores and restaurants to bars and delis beloved by locals. Harrison reveals how these century-old institutions survive by constantly evolving while maintaining their authentic character, and shares his surprising discoveries about the precarity and resilience of New York's most iconic establishments. He also opens up about approaching his home city of 19 years as a travel destination for the first time. On this episode you'll learn Why New York's oldest businesses are both unchanging foundations and constantly evolving enterprises How iconic places like Katz's Deli and Sylvia's restaurant nearly didn't survive the pandemic The secret subway trick to see NYC's original City Hall station What "New Yorkness" really means according to longtime residents and business owners Why Staten Island should be your next NYC adventure Don't miss these moments [02:33] Harrison's revelation about Katz's Deli serving a century-old vegan dish that's back on the menu [03:33] The easy (but little-known) way to get from Brooklyn to Staten Island via the Verrazzano Bridge [07:52] The semi-secret subway loop that reveals NYC's original City Hall station [10:13] Meeting 91-year-old Mike Amedeo, the beloved "mayor" of Casa Amedeo in the Bronx [14:04] How owning their building saved Sylvia's restaurant during COVID—and the precarity of even iconic NYC institutions [16:14] Harrison's best advice for New York visitors: "Always look both ways before crossing a one-way street" Resources Read Harrison's complete ⁠Afar story about New York's oldest family businesses⁠ Read the transcript of the episode Follow ⁠Harrison Hill⁠ for more travel and culture writing Learn more about ⁠NYC's 400th birthday celebrations⁠ ⁠Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At eighteen, all he wanted was the simple things: free booze, a stocked fridge, and a place to crash with his girlfriend. What he got instead was a week in an attic that refused to let him sleep. The house was nothing remarkable on the outside—an ordinary Staten Island home filled with too many guests. No gruesome legends. No sinister past. But once he climbed the narrow stairs to the attic, the atmosphere shifted. Shadows refused to match the light, sliding unnaturally across the walls. By the window, a young girl appeared—smirking, silent, her eyes locked on him. And then came the hand. A cold, unseen hand that began tracing his girlfriend's shoulder, as though mocking the helpless terror in the room. It wasn't just him. The siblings in the home already knew of her presence. Even the stepdad dismissed it casually as “activity.” To them, it was simply part of the house. To him, it was a week-long battle with an entity that would not let him forget her. Two decades later, the memory remains as sharp as the night it happened. The smirk. The shadows. The hand that never should have been there. Because sometimes the most terrifying encounters don't come from ancient legends or notorious murders. Sometimes, they come from the ordinary houses we least expect—where a free stay carries a hidden cost, and the attic girl waits for her next guest. #RealGhostStoriesOnline #AtticGirl #HauntedAttic #ParanormalActivity #GhostEncounters #StatenIslandHaunting #DisembodiedHand #CreepyAttic #ParanormalExperience #DarkPresence Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is out with a new report that grades city bus lines. Plus, the New York Times reports that President Trump's advisers have discussed offering jobs to Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa to get them out of the mayoral race. Also, shifting federal guidance of vaccinations could make getting a COVID shot more of a hassle this year. And finally, Lifelong New Yorker Chloë Bass turns the MTA's public address system into art.

Governor Kathy Hochul visited a Brooklyn middle school to mark the start of New York's new statewide smartphone ban in schools. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Public Library will hold a free fair celebrating older adults at its Central Library with live music, vendors, and a keynote on aging. Plus, the NYPD says two men who died in custody last weekend had been arrested for low-level offenses, bringing the total to at least five deaths in custody so far this year. WNYC's Charles Lane reports.

Nearly 900,000 New York City public school students return Thursday under a new statewide cellphone ban signed by Governor Hochul last spring. Meanwhile, an analysis commissioned in Sullivan County says new casinos in New York City could undercut existing gaming operations in the Catskills. Plus, former Bronx Republican district leader Nicole Torres has been sentenced to two years in prison for pocketing kickbacks from potential poll workers.

Advocates are pressing New Jersey courts to enforce affordable housing requirements as towns fall short on construction. Meanwhile, pharmacies say demand for COVID shots is rising at the start of the school year, but new FDA guidelines are complicating access. Also, the New York Liberty have clinched a playoff spot despite losing 6 of their last 10 games. And WNYC's Liam Quigley reports on how Fire Island is grappling with climate change.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch is sending a thousand extra officers to the Bronx after a recent spike in shootings. Plus, the NYPD is investigating the deaths of two men in police custody over the weekend. And finally, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer reflects on the career of Representative Jerry Nadler, who announced this week he will not seek reelection.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Avilés-Ramos says city schools will do everything possible to keep undocumented students safe from detention. Meanwhile, despite Labor Day weekend saw shootings in Brooklyn and the Bronx, new NYPD data show overall gun violence is trending down. Plus, independent candidate Jim Walden has dropped out of the New York City mayor's race.

Authorities are investigating three shootings and a slashing near the West Indian Day Parade route Monday night that left several people injured. Meanwhile, City Council leaders are urging the city's Board of Elections to reject three housing-related ballot measures advanced by Mayor Adams' Charter Revision Commission, saying they mislead voters and weaken Council authority over land use. Plus, the Jets and Giants will open their NFL seasons Sunday with several new quarterbacks joining the Giants' roster.

Authorities are investigating several shootings and a slashing near the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn Monday night that left multiple people injured. Police say one man is under arrest on weapons charges. Meanwhile, a new study finds the horseshoe crab population in Long Island Sound has sharply declined over the past two decades. Also, President Trump says he will award Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom days after the former mayor was injured in a car crash. Plus, new MTA statistics show subway service disruptions this summer reached their highest levels since 2018. Finally WNYC's Community and partnerships desk spent some time at 109th Avenue in South Jamaica, Queens to hear from locals.

New MTA data show major incidents delaying 50 or more trains reached their highest levels in June and July since 2018, when former Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a transit emergency. Meanwhile, groups that donate school supplies say they are rethinking their strategies as President Trump's 30 percent tariffs on China drives up prices on nearly every classroom item. Plus, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan is stepping down as the executive director of Catholic Charities of New York after more than two decades in the role.

Police are searching for the pilot of a catamaran that collided with a party boat on the East River, sending three people to the hospital with minor injuries. Meanwhile, city officials are investigating the death of a Rikers Island detainee, the eleventh in custody this year. Also, Yankees captain Aaron Judge has tied Yogi Berra for fifth on the team's all-time home run list with his 358th career homer. Plus, GrowNYC's Amelia Tarpey explains why melons are peaking at city farmstands, and WNYC's Brittany Kriegstein reports on a viral water park in a Washington Heights bike lane.

Our Chairman, Dave Wiliams, was thrilled to have addressed the American Council of the Blind (ACB) at their 64th Annual National Conference & Convention held in Dallas, Texas. On 10 July 2025, Dave delivered the keynote speech at the annual Convention banquet to a sold out audience. He called for greater investmentt in braille as a proven literacy tool that can transform the lives of blind people around the world. He was introduced by ACB Treasurer and Master of Ceremonies, the Reverend Michael Garrett, from Missouri City, Texas. Sponsorship With thanks to Dot Inc. for sponsoring Dave's attendance. Find out more about Dot Pad X and the Raising the Dots Podcast. Dot is proud to have played its part in the Monarch, in partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and HumanWare. Links Related to the Braillists National Braille Press (NBP) Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation Points of Light award 1982, 8 February 2023 Links Related to Braille The International Council on English Braille (ICEB) Links Related to RNIB RNIB, the Royal National Institute of Blind People RNIB Tech Talk Links Related to ACB ACB Media Braille Revival League Links Related to the World Blind Union and European Blind Union World Blind Union (WBU) European Blind Union (EBU) Living Braille, the website of the EBU Braille Working Group Links Related to Running Parkrun UK Couch to 5K (C25K) Abbott World Marathon Majors Full Text of Dave's Speech Good evening ACB President, friends, advocates, everyone here and online. Thank you for your hospitality! I am grateful for your invitation to share in ACB's “Big Dreams and Bold Ideas”, not only this week here in Dallas, but over many decades in many places far beyond your shores. It is a privilege to stand before you tonight, as someone whose life has been profoundly shaped by this movement. Let me begin with a deeply personal truth: for a long time, I resented my blindness. Like many, I struggled to accept blindness as part of my identity. Through you, I learned to think differently, to dream boldly, and to act decisively. That shift in perspective changed everything. It is why I am here tonight—to celebrate what is possible when we embrace who we are and empower others to do the same. Our blindness stories break down barriers and build bridges. They turn isolation into community, fear into action, and doubt into confidence. Together, I believe we can ignite that transformation for countless others. When I talk about blind people, I intend “blind” in the broadest sense. Whether you identify as blind, low vision, vision impaired, we are all valued in this community and our voices carry equal importance. And if you are a sighted person who works to elevate the voices of blind people, we thank you for your solidarity. Before I share how it was you in this movement who taught this northern English lad to feel differently about my blindness, becoming a passionate braille advocate and Six-star World Marathon Majors Finisher, we must extend our gratitude to our friends at Dot, who's support means I can be with you here tonight. I know many of you took the opportunity this week to get your hands on Dot Pad X, a highly versatile multiline braille and tactile display portable enough to be carried in a schoolbag. Dot's technology is disrupting the braille display industry. Using Dot Pad and the Dot Canvas app, I recently supported my sighted 16-year-old son's math revision and got to touch his signature for the first time. Dot and partners are delivering new educational and employment opportunities we could only dream of just a few years ago. Do we have any first timers here? My first ACB Convention was Birmingham, Alabama. Your Birmingham in July is a bit warmer than our Birmingham near my home in England. We simply do not have anything like these blindness conventions in the UK. I jumped in at the deep end with you. 2003 was an eventful year for ACB. General Session ran over into an extra day. As Director of ACB Radio, I was responsible for making sure ACB's membership, and listeners tuned in from offices and homes in countless countries, could hear our coverage. And while we were very well looked after by ACB's Alabama affiliate, the internet connectivity at convention that year was especially problematic and seamed to get even more challenging during the liveliest debates. My purpose then, as it is today, is to empower as many blind people as possible by increasing our access to the information and tools we need to live our best lives. A year before Birmingham, ACB Radio's founder and mentor to many of us decided to move on. I took the call. My predecessor, Jonathan Mosen, would be an impossible act for anyone to follow. But he believed in me. Long before ACB Radio, as a young blind man, I avoided the tools and skills that could have empowered me. I resisted the cane. I dismissed braille. I thought these things marked me as “different” in a way I was not ready to accept. I mistakenly believed specialist skills separated me from sighted people. These days we would say “othering”. I cast those skills aside for a long time. It took me years to recognise that confidence can come from a cane or guide dog, and enjoying bedtime stories with our kids can come from braille. The voices I heard on ACB Radio via my dial-up modem—leaders like Marlaina Lieberg and Paul Edwards—challenged me to rethink what it meant to be blind. They taught me that tools like braille and the white cane do not separate us from society—they connect us to the people and world around us. Their advocacy lifted me up, and I realized I could be part of something bigger. When I took on the role of ACB Radio Director, I was terrified. Could a young man from a small town in the UK really lead an initiative that connected blind people across the globe? But I said yes. Why? Because this movement showed me the power of taking risks. And because I knew that by sharing our stories, we could empower others to do the same. One of my first tasks as ACB Radio Director was to convince Marlaina to host her own talk show. She was so humble and asked me what if nobody listened? What would we even call it? I told her I was sure everyone would listen, and the name of the show would be Marlaina. Like many of you, I miss her lots and think of her often. I also knew Paul Edwards was a natural broadcaster and must have his own show. He teamed up with Brian Charlson, and Tuesday Topics was born. You certainly kept me busy. When I was not producing audio or trying to secure sponsors, my email and phone rang 24/7. If it were not a server in California needing a reboot, it was listeners frustrated they had missed the latest episode of Main Menu, Blind Handyman or Cooking in the Dark, and would I please send it to them? I convinced our tiny team of volunteer software developers to build us a listen again on-demand service, an early form of podcasting. ACB Radio did not just stream content; it brought blind people together online, long before Zoom calls and virtual conventions became the norm. We created opportunities for storytelling, advocacy, and community that spanned continents. From broadcasting ACB conventions to global events like the World Blind Union General Assembly, we ensured that the voices of blind people could be heard. The impact did not stop there. ACB Radio became a launchpad for careers, a platform for innovation, and a catalyst for change. It inspired similar initiatives worldwide. It proved that when blind people lead, we redefine what is possible. That legacy continues today through ACB Media, and its ripple effects are felt in every corner of our community. We will never know how many blind lives this priceless service has transformed. When it was my turn to pass on the ACB Radio baton, it was to join a team working on one of the first mobile screen readers with touch support. Talks, Mobile Speak and Pocket Hal pioneered many of the concepts we now take for granted in VoiceOver on iPhone and Talkback on Android. Following the early success of ACB Radio, blind people in many nations started their own online radio stations. In 2003, the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the UK launched Europe's first station for the blind community, now known as RNIB Connect Radio. I worked at RNIB for 6 years as their Inclusive Design Ambassador. We partnered with companies like Canon, Netflix, and Sony to advance their accessibility efforts. My ACB Radio experience meant I was also invited to host around 150 episodes of RNIB's flagship technology show, Tech Talk. We were recognised by the UK radio industry and were awarded community station of the year in 2024. As well as interviewing many movers and shakers from the technology world, including accessibility leaders from Microsoft and Google, I had the incredible honour in March 2024 of recording a short interview with legendary singer songwriter Stevie Wonder. As we were introduced, I recalled the awe with which Marlaina had interviewed Ronnie Milsap years earlier. She had taught me that it is ok to feel that child-like excitement even during the moments that define our careers. After shaking Stevie's hand, I asked if he would be willing to share some messages about accessibility and inclusion with our blind brothers and sisters in the UK. I held my breath. He said let us do that now. I began recording. He asked about my recording equipment, and he playfully imitated my English accent. You should hear his Bob Dylan. As we were talking, we were forced to move due to being jostled by the crowd. Before I could grab my cane, Stevie took my arm in his and proceeded to walk us both forward. Hold the phone, I am now being sighted guided by Stevie Wonder? He said, “don't worry Dave, in a moment I'll Walk you into a wall.” My other lasting memory of that moment, in the interview, Stevie said, “I could not have the career I enjoy were it not for braille.” He talked about how he uses braille to write and edit his many songs. And how he has an ambition to publish his catalogue in braille for blind musicians to study. Stevie is not alone. We can all think of high-profile blind people who would link their success to an ability to read braille. Leading journalists, educators, lawyers, politicians holding high office have all relied on braille to get the job done. As for many of you, spreading braille and tactile literacy is a subject close to my heart. Every day I continue to be amazed how combinations of just six little dots fitting neatly under our fingerprints represent every letter of the alphabet, numbers, punctuation, math, music, and other symbols for accessing any subject and any language. Incidentally, six is also the number of big city marathons you must run to complete the classic Abbott World Marathon Majors series. I may have mentioned that somewhere. I will come back to running later. Braille's invention meant for the first time blind people could independently read and author our own stories, find our voices, become educated, and employed, label household items, read our own greetings cards, identify medications, the list goes on. Whether you read braille or not, we can all recognise how deeply linked braille is with the emancipation of blind people. Of the many tactile reading systems developed in the 19th century, and there were many, it is no accident that the system that prevailed was one developed by a young person who knew what we really needed because he was blind. Braille is an early example of that modern disability mantra, “nothing about us without us”. And it is blind people who today, through organisations such as the International Council on English Braille, continue to maintain our code. Blind people around the world have been celebrating two hundred years since braille's invention. I have been communicating braille's value in national broadcast and print media, meeting with hundreds of braille ambassadors at libraries across the UK. On January 4, the Braillists Foundation delivered the UK's first face-to-face World Braille Day Conference. I recognise that in the US, Braillists refers to a braille producer. But in the UK, Braillists often describes any blind person who relies on braille. We formally established the Braillists Foundation in early 2020 to promote braille and tactile literacy. The aims of the Braillists Foundation are: Promote the value of Braille as a proven literacy tool that enriches the lives of blind people. Support efforts to make affordable Braille and tactile reading technologies available to all blind people irrespective of education and employment status. Provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas about the development of future Braille technology. When social distancing forced everyone online, we began offering classes to introduce braille to beginners, supportive reading groups for practicing braille skills, drop-in sessions where readers can get braille questions answered, and masterclasses covering more advanced braille topics. The work of the Braillists Foundation, to spread braille literacy, especially during the pandemic, was recognised by your National Braille Press Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation, a UK Prime Minister's Point of Light Award, and in May this year I was honoured to accept an invitation to a Royal Garden party celebrating learning and skills at Buckingham Palace. You are invited to join the international community celebrating Braille 200 for the rest of this year. The European Blind Union Braille Working Group encourages everyone to share creative experiences celebrating braille. You can do that through their website at LivingBraille.eu. You can follow the hashtag #Braille200 on social media. There's still time to organise your own braille two hundred events. And always you can elevate the voices of braille readers by connecting with ACB's Braille Revival League. And next year, 2026, APH will open the Dot Experience in Louisville to celebrate braille's rich heritage. Braille's profoundly personal connection with written language cannot be underestimated. Braille enabled me to write my proposal of marriage on a braille scrabble board. I waited, heart pounding, while my then girlfriend rummaged in the bag to find letters to compose her answer. She wrote blank e s. Next week we will celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. I was also deeply moved, shortly after I crossed the finish line at the Tokyo Marathon this March, to discover braille featured on the finisher medal. I had run an exceptionally long way to get to that point, and reading that braille for myself, rather than having to ask a sighted person to read it to me, that really did feel like inclusion. Completing the much sought-after Abbott World Marathon Majors series was some journey. Blind since birth with Leber Congenital Amaurosis, I never saw myself as a runner. Seven years ago, I weighed over 220lb and could not run a bath. I had an idea of converting a guide runner into a pilot for my tandem bike gathering dust in my garage. I signed up for the England Athletics' “Find a Guide” database, a bit like your United in Stride. I soon met Steve and, later, Bex, my first real guide runners, who had no interest in piloting my tandem. What started as huffing and puffing to reach a mile turned into weekly runs and a community of support. I hated physical education at school: ill-fitting kit, smelly changing rooms, PE teachers. During those early attempts at something you could not describe as running, I thought about a blind lady I knew with asthma who ran marathons. I was reminded of Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb Everest, also interviewed by Marlaina. Just exactly what was my excuse? I decided I was going to get fit and set an example for my son, Arlo. With lots of encouragement, especially from other blind runners sharing their stories, I dragged myself from couch to 5K. While no guide runner seeks recognition for themselves, they really are amazing people. Some blind runners told me how they wanted their guides to appear in results and officially receive a finisher medal at London Marathon. It was the advocacy skills I learned from this movement that enabled me to support that campaign by producing a package for BBC Radio. Our combined efforts changed London Marathon's policy. In my excitement about this small win for guided running, I returned home from the pub one night and went online. Alcohol and the internet are always a winning combination, you know? I found myself filling in a ballot entry form for a place in the New York City Marathon. What was I thinking? I had barely run six miles at this point, and here I was entering a lottery to run 26.2 miles. Not to mention the thousand miles you need to run in months of training. Surely, I would not get a place? I would not need to tell anyone, right? Wrong! “Dear Mr Williams” the email read. “Congratulations, you have a place in the 2019 New York City Marathon”. This had to be a joke. I checked my bank. Oh shoot. New York Road Runners had taken $270. Now I would have to tell my wife. I had nine months to train. And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to show my then 10-year-old son that us blind dads could do things. Through the summer, I ran up and down hills in Worcestershire to prepare for the five massive bridges you must cross in the NYC marathon: Verrazano-Narrows, Pulaski, Queensboro, Willis Avenue, and Madison Avenue. I was doing my homework. I even joined a gym. It was a beautiful autumnal morning at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island as we lined up with 53,000 other runners to take on my first marathon. Helicopters hovered overhead and canons blasted as earlier waves set off. Nobody more surprised than me to be a part of it. Sinatra's New York, New York and Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind were on high rotation. New York would be the first of six starts that also included London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo: six big city marathons that have come together to make the classic Abbott World Marathon Majors series. These big city marathons are 26.2-mile street parties. The atmosphere is electric. You really feel the heartbeat of a city when the crowds turn out in force. Complete strangers yell your name to encourage you on. Not only do you get to feel like a rockstar, but you run the same course on the same day as the best athletes in the world. 1st Avenue in New York City and Tower Bridge in London are exceptionally loud. The shrill piercing screams of Wellesley's students in the Boston Marathon put me in mind of Beatlemania. I need to channel that energy especially when the running gets tough, as it always does. When the course is hilly and the weather is hot, I can find myself contemplating my life choices. There have been many times when I have gulped down buckets of Gatorade and walked for a while. Ultimately, drawing on that positive energy from all those people willing me on, and the power of the marathon to bring people together, is replenishing. Some of these cities have deeply divided histories. But they come together to support the runners. Your life, your marathon, has the power to bridge division. It is that sense of hope that drives me on through the exhaustion running to the finish line every time. Shout out to Chicago, London and Tokyo who gave me a medal that featured braille. Berlin, Boston and New York City, you can do this too. But it is not over. In 2024 Abbott announced that the Majors series will be extended to include a seventh, eighth and nineth star. Next month I am heading to Sydney for my first marathon in the Southern hemisphere. If you have ever taken a risk, bitten off a little bit too much, felt like an imposter, found yourself winging it, you are among friends. I certainly feel a little bit of that every time I go out for a run or stand up to deliver talks like this one. As blind people we know we must push the boundaries and take a chance. None of us got here by always taking the easy path. While I live thousands of miles away, you and I have a shared history. Some of which is written in People of Vision, ACB's story, a copy of which I have at home. Braille is also part of our shared history. Braille is a tool of liberation. It has empowered generations of blind leaders. Yet, we know that braille literacy is not where it should be. Too many blind children and adults lack access to the tools they need to thrive. This is a call to action for all of us. If we believe in independence, in dignity, in opportunity, then we must invest in braille. We must champion its teaching, ensure its availability, and celebrate its value as the cornerstone of blind empowerment. Let us dream bigger. Today, blind people are excelling in fields once thought inaccessible—technology, arts, business, politics, sports. But there is so much more to achieve. Imagine a world where every blind child has access to quality education, where workplaces are universally inclusive, and where we lead not as exceptions but as examples. Technology is a critical piece of this puzzle. But innovation is not enough. We must advocate for systemic change. We require policies that prioritize accessibility in every industry. We must have blind leaders at the decision-making table, shaping the future of inclusion. And we need allies—sighted people who amplify our voices, speaking with us, not for us. Tonight, I challenge each of you: How will you contribute to this movement? Will you mentor a blind youth, helping them see their potential. Will you advocate for better policies in your community. Or will you share your story, inspiring someone else to embrace their blindness as a source of strength. Whatever it is, do it boldly. Do it with the knowledge that your actions ripple outward, creating change far beyond this room. At the same time, let us not forget the power of collaboration. ACB, RNIB, the Braillists Foundation—together, we are stronger. Let us share strategies, pool resources, and align our goals to create a global network of blind advocates. The challenges we face are too big for any one organisation to tackle alone. But united, there is nothing we cannot achieve. As I stand here tonight, I am reminded of a truth that has guided me throughout my journey: stories change lives. Whether it is a marathon medal, a braille book, or a conversation with a stranger, every story we share chips away at prejudice and builds a more inclusive world. Thank you, ACB, for teaching me to think differently about blindness. Thank you for showing me what is possible when we embrace our identities and lift each other up. Let us keep running—toward inclusion, toward equality, and toward a future where every blind person has the tools and opportunities to live their best life. Let us find each other at the next starting line. Thank you, and good night.

Brooklyn is preparing for J'Ouvert and the West Indian Day Parade, celebrations that draw huge crowds. But they have also been marred by violence in recent years. After a mass shooting in Crown Heights earlier this month, the city is relying on violence prevention groups and the NYPD to keep the events safe. WNYC's Ben Feuerherd joins us to explain.

Phil in Queens, NY, called Ken to inform him that the price of buying lottery tickets has increased significantly. It's now $5 to play the Powerball or Mega Millions per ticket. Sam in Staten Island, NY, calls Ken to praise him on his broadcasting style. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil in Queens, NY, called Ken to inform him that the price of buying lottery tickets has increased significantly. It's now $5 to play the Powerball or Mega Millions per ticket. Sam in Staten Island, NY, calls Ken to praise him on his broadcasting style.

Join the BCP+ Panel as we make our full card #WWE #ClashinParis Picks and let us know who YOU got!!   Powered by Twisted Shamrock Studios & Spa   Graphics Courtesy of WWE   As Always The BCP is brought to you by our FAVORITE store, Funkenstein Wrestling Superstore located in The Englishtown Flea Market (NJ) from 8 am -3pm Sat & Sunday and online. Get your favorite wrestling merch, retro games, ninja turtles, Ghostbusters, and so much more!!    Please welcome in our NEW sponsor, MANIA CLUB . Established in 2015, MANIA CLUB is a WWE recognized community for fans with an eclectic love for both the world of professional wrestling and raising money for Connors Cure. During WrestleMania weekend, we host the official Tailgate of WrestleMania while also celebrating Connor Michalek. They are the single largest donor within the V Foundation for Connors Cure with over $150K raised! 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Jay provides quality, artistic, innovative photography with quick turnaround. Be sure to check out his latest pics from the top promotions here in the northeast and much more stellar content. Contact Jay at Jay Vogel for promo shots at events or off site, match photos, and much more!! Thank you Jay!! @Jay Vogel   Please welcome in our new pod sponsor for 2025 the @Ropes N Riffs Podcast featuring maestro John Kiernan speaking with the Stars of professional wrestling about in ring, tunage, gear, and more!! Check out John's interviews with the likes of Lince Dorado, Mercedes Martinez, and more!! Find the Ropes N Riffs Podcast on all major Podcast platforms!! @Ropes N Riffs Podcast    USDN Podcast is run by USDN_Chairman and the Council of Nerds. We bring you all the latest news and rumors from the World of Nerds and consolidate it right here at USDN. 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Mayor Eric Adams says he will deploy 1,000 additional police officers to the Bronx following a series of recent shootings. Meanwhile, the Reverend Al Sharpton led hundreds in a march on Wall Street to protest the Trump administration's effort to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Plus, nearly two dozen workers who renovated NYPD precincts will share in an $850,000 settlement after Comptroller Brad Lander found they had been severely underpaid.

More than 200 violence prevention workers will be in Brooklyn this weekend to help keep residents safe during the West Indian Day Parade and J'Ouvert festival. Meanwhile, the Port Authority is cutting AirTrain fares to JFK through Labor Day to ease congestion during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Plus, on this week's transit segment: Federal officials are soliciting new design proposals for Penn Station with construction targeted to begin in 2027. And the city approves a pilot for eight autonomous vehicles to test in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

A 7th person has died in Central Harlem's ongoing outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. Plus, a federal judge has extended a temporary order requiring U-S Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding rooms in New York City to meet certain conditions. And finally, the story of a Katrina survivor who made a home in New Jersey.

We stumbled across the brand new movie on Netflix while downloading movies for a flight. Talk about an amazing and wonderful surprise! Based on a true story, this movie explores friendship, family, food, community, and love...just to name a few things! What YOU bring to the movie is what you most likely see. Vince Vaughn, along with a loaded cast, will make you laugh, cry, and celebrate life. Join us as we explore the range of emotions this movie can bring out in you...and let's all go to Staten Island and eat at Enoteca Maria!

Mayor Eric Adams says the NYPD will launch a full mobilization plan in the Bronx after a string of shootings left three people dead and two others injured this week. Meanwhile, police say an off-duty officer was killed in a hit-and-run on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway when the driver of a box truck struck his motorcycle and fled the scene Wednesday. Also, the Port Authority expects a record 2.4 million passengers over Labor Day weekend and is urging air travelers to plan for long lines and delays. Finally, the National Transportation Safety Board says a fire on PATH tracks earlier this month in Jersey City was caused by electrical issues.

A City Council investigation says the Bronx has the highest concentration of illegal out-of-state license plates used to evade tolls and fines, with one in five sampled vehicles citywide showing fraudulent or missing plates. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has released a report underscoring sharp disparities across neighborhoods. Plus, in this week's Politics Brief: Governor Hochul says “no” to President Trump on sending the National Guard into New York, and Zohran Mamdani's record in Albany.

The MTA should be audited for its mismanagement over the years. Michael sees a high possibility for National Guard troops to be deployed for patrolling crime in NYC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MTA should be audited for its mismanagement over the years. Michael sees a high possibility for National Guard troops to be deployed for patrolling crime in NYC. 

A street advocacy group is calling on the city to revoke approval for a pilot program that'll allow a self-driving taxi company to test out their cars in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Plus, federal judges have formally appointed Joseph Nocella Jr. as U.S. attorney for New York's Eastern District. Meanwhile, a nonprofit housing group wants to build an affordable housing complex in the South Bronx. And finally, immigrants across New York City want safer, better paying jobs but they face a major hurdle: building digital skills.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could withhold federal resources from states with cashless bail policies, potentially affecting billions in funding for New York. Meanwhile, fans at the US Open in Flushing are paying steep prices for tickets and concessions, with some ground passes reselling for more than $300. Plus, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is seeking a fifth term and faces a Democratic primary challenge from Drew Warshaw, who says the office should do more to address affordability. WNYC's Jimmy Vielkind joins us to explain.

A Manhattan judge has found an NYPD officer guilty of assault and official misconduct for pepper spraying a man who was already handcuffed. Meanwhile, Liberty star Jonquel Jones is joining the Brooklyn Public Library for a children's storytime Wednesday afternoon in Crown Heights.

New York City's deadly Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem appears to be waning with no new fatalities reported since Friday. Meanwhile, police are searching for two men who posed as NYCHA workers and stole more than $200,000 in jewelry and cash from a Brooklyn woman. Plus, Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run marks its 50th anniversary, and Eileen Chapman of the Springsteen Archives at Monmouth University joins us to reflect on the album's legacy.

Governor Kathy Hochul says she told President Trump, New York doesn't need him to send National Guard troops. Plus, New York Attorney General Letitia James is asking a federal court to stop immigration officers from arresting people at federal immigration courts. Also, New York City animal shelters are once again accepting surrendered pets. And finally, what to do if you think your Con Ed bill is too high.

President Trump is threatening to cut funding to states that rolled back cash bail, including New York. Meanwhile, the MTA is holding in person hearings for riders to weigh in on fare changes. Plus, Breanna Stewart returned to the Liberty lineup after a month-long injury, scoring 19 points in an 81–79 win over the Connecticut Sun.

Nearly all New York schools are ready to prohibit cell phones this year. Also, longtime New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has a Democratic primary opponent. Plus, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department was desperate for applicants six months ago. Last week, she swore in the largest class since 2016. And finally, we hear from New Yorkers in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood.

New York City officials are investigating after they say an NYPD squad car ran over a man lying on a road in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Plus, a look at the reaction to a viral video showing Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani lifting weights at an Open Streets in Brooklyn over the weekend. And finally, for some immigrant families, the start of the school year brings fear and uncertainty—about immigration enforcement, their children's safety, and what rights they actually have.

Mayor Adams' son Jordan Coleman appeared on a TV show cited in the bribery case against former adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin. Meanwhile, Governor Hochul is warning that Hurricane Erin is still a potential danger. Finally, Zohran Mamdani held a chip bag treasure hunt to try and embarrass Mayor Eric Adams.

Known for his quick wit, Vince Vaughn has been a fixture of Hollywood comedies for more than two decades, starring in hits like Swingers and Wedding Crashers. In this Sunday Sitdown from May 2025, Vince joins Willie Geist at Enoteca Maria on Staten Island, the Italian restaurant that inspired his new Netflix film Nonnas. They talk about his career of iconic roles and even meet Joe Scaravella, the man who's life inspired the story of the film.

In Manhattan, prosecutors and investigators are learning a new way to interview suspects, witnesses, and victims in an effort to get more accurate information and prevent false confessions. As WNYC's Samantha Max tells host Janae Pierre, the new technique draws on scientific research about the human brain.

An NYPD detective is recovering after he was struck by gunfire from his fellow officers during an incident Friday morning. Plus, the National Weather Service warns of life-threatening rip currents through Saturday at regional beaches. Meanwhile, a quarter of residents in the Bronx don't have broadband internet access at home. And finally, there's a new entry in Red Hook's collection of oddball delights; a pinball museum.

Mayor Adams' former chief adviser is facing four new conspiracy and bribery indictments. Plus, the US Open tennis tournament gets into full swing in Queens next week after qualifying matches this week. And finally, we meet a group of young New Yorkers building some cool creations.

City health officials report that the Legionnaires' outbreak is declining, but confirmed cases could still rise as more people seek treatment and earlier cases are verified. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office hopes an Ohio man arrested for throwing a sex toy at a Liberty game can help them identify other people doing the same. Finally, the Trump administration appears to be targeting companies known to employ unauthorized workers to achieve its goals regarding immigration arrests.

The United States Champion Solo Sikoa joins the show to chat about his upcoming match with Jacob Fatu at SummerSlam. Solo also chats about going from the quiet enforcer to the de facto leader of The Bloodline and more.   Powered by Twisted Shamrock Studio & Spa   Tech provided by GPW Productions #thebloodline #fatu #jacobfatu #solosikoa #paulheyman #romanreigns #wwe #wwesummerslam2025 #summerslam #raw #smackdown As Always The BCP is brought to you by our FAVORITE store, Funkenstein Wrestling Superstore located in The Englishtown Flea Market (NJ) from 8 am -3pm Sat & Sunday and online. Get your favorite wrestling merch, retro games, ninja turtles, Ghostbusters, and so much more!!   Please welcome in our NEW sponsor, MANIA CLUB . Established in 2015, MANIA CLUB is a WWE recognized community for fans with an eclectic love for both the world of professional wrestling and raising money for Connors Cure. During WrestleMania weekend, we host the official Tailgate of WrestleMania while also celebrating Connor Michalek. They are the single largest donor within the V Foundation for Connors Cure with over $150K raised! Please donate and join the Facebook group at MANIA CLUB Donate at http://JimmyV.org/maniaclub    The BCP is also sponsored by The No Gimmicks Podcast ! The Pro Wrestling podcast that keeps it 100% real, 100% of the time!! The No Gimmicks Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. The No Gimmicks Podcast WRESTLING ALL DAY ALL NIGHT is the best wrestling discussion group on Facebook! We provide more of a community feel here, and have wrestling fans introduce other fans to something they may not have seen before, such as old school wrestling, indie wrestling, Japanese wrestling, and more! We also strive to be a source of information regarding upcoming wrestler meet & greets and signings. And remember, we're open 24/7. All Day. All Night! Be sure to follow on socials and join the group on Facebook at Wrestling All Day All Night   Sweet Chin Musings is the creation of the reigning, rarely defending, highly disputed champion of wrestling podcasts, “Mr. Perfect” Mike Mueller, and his tag team partner in crime, Luke Kudialis. SCM focuses on the in-ring product of WWE and AEW (no dirt sheet rumors here), as well as backstage news, predictions and analysis of characters, storylines, and major pay per views. Old school fans, don't worry, we have you covered too, with a look back on classic matches, top 10 lists, and interactive tournaments that let the fans decide who is truly the best of all time. You can find us on Facebook at Sweet Chin Musings , and check out the podcast at https://linktr.ee/SweetChinMusings   Please welcome in our returning pod sponsor for the show GPW Productions !! GPW provides your promotion or event with TOP TIER video, audio, production, live streaming, and more!! I can personally vouch for them in saying they are hands down THE BEST Production company I have ever worked with as they have and continue to work with the likes of AEW, GCW, Starrcast, MLW, not to mention the majority of the local independent Promotions in the tri-state area. They can even help you film a vignette or promo for your persona/gimmick. And guess what? GPW doesn't just work in wrestling. They cover MMA, boxing, basketball, or any other sporting event as well!! On a personal note I'd like to thank Michael James Sesko , Frank León , Oneil Andrews & the team for giving me multiple opportunities to work with them and some of the best talent in the world. BOOK GPW for your promotion or event today at contact@gpwproductions.com   Please welcome in our newest podcast sponsor ISPW Weekly featuring host Totowa Tom and Jumpin Jay as they interview the stars of the ring, uncover their stories, rivalries, and electrifying action that defines ISPW. Catch ISPW Weekly on The ISPW Facebook Page every week!! ISPW Wrestling    Looking to press play on feeling good again? Twisted Shamrock Studios & Spa—Delaware County's Retro Recovery Rebels—are here to rewind time and reboot the way you heal. From therapeutic massage and assisted stretch therapy to glow-up facials and energy work—this is where function meets feel-good. Perfect for athletes, overachievers, and everyday Joes & Janes who need real relief with a vintage twist. Reboot your body. Recharge your soul. Rock the retro vibe. Call or text 484-574-8868 or visit twistedshamrockstudiospa.com And follow us for pop-up events, retro inspo, and more!    Please welcome back our returning pod sponsor, Jay Adam Photography !! Jay provides quality, artistic, innovative photography with quick turnaround. Be sure to check out his latest pics from the top promotions here in the northeast and much more stellar content. Contact Jay at Jay Vogel for promo shots at events or off site, match photos, and much more!! Thank you Jay!! @Jay Vogel   Please welcome in our new pod sponsor for 2025 the @Ropes N Riffs Podcast featuring maestro John Kiernan speaking with the Stars of professional wrestling about in ring, tunage, gear, and more!! Check out John's interviews with the likes of Lince Dorado, Mercedes Martinez, and more!! Find the Ropes N Riffs Podcast on all major Podcast platforms!! @Ropes N Riffs Podcast   USDN Podcast is run by USDN_Chairman and the Council of Nerds. We bring you all the latest news and rumors from the World of Nerds and consolidate it right here at USDN. USDN is for the people, by the people and of the people. https://www.facebook.com/usdepartmentofnerds USDN Podcast   Warriors Of Wrestling (W.O.W) returns to Staten Island for the King of New York Tournament September 6th featring Von Wagner, Darius Carter, Roger Mendez, Chris Steeler, Lena Kross, Beast Man, Mike Datello, Danny Storm, and more!! Get your tickets at Warriors of Wrestling (.com)  and subscribe on YouTube   Brii Combination Wrestling returns to The Mecca in Ridgefield Park, NJ for The Grand Rumble, a tribute to Mama Pan on September 21st!! Entrants are being announced including Vinny Pacifico, Dee Vibe, Benny Blanco, Dainja and more!! Get your tickets now and follow BCW on Title Match Network.     Please welcome in our new podcast sponsor EM Collectibles featuring Live Signings, Collectibles, toys and more!! Be sure to follow them on Facebook and stay tuned for upcoming events: UPCOMING EVENTS!!   Oct 25- Glory Days GrappleCon 3 with Brutus Beefcake, Harvey Whippleman, Bill Alfonso and one more possible name! May 2, 2026- New England Fan Fest with Adam Bomb, Harvey Whippleman, The Headbangers and more to be named later! Please welcome back our returning podcast sponsor, From the Left Side ! Get hit From the Left Side with all the wrestling and sports news you can handle!! Thank you FTLS for sponsoring the BCP!!

On this Chit Chat Wednesday, Jared sits down with comedian Peter Revello for a hilarious and insightful conversation about growing up in Staten Island. Peter shares stories about the construction worker culture he was surrounded by, and how the Verrazzano Bridge changed everything for the borough. They talk about accents, stereotypes, and how Staten Island shaped their relationships, including how Peter met his wife at a Tottenville pizzeria! The conversation touches on marriage, moving to Florida, and the everyday realities of comic life. Plus, they wrap with a game of “Scummy or Yummy,” judging everyday behaviors and whether they're lowbrow or lovable!Support the show and get 25% off your first Tommy John order at https://www.tommyjohn.com/FEATHER