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brooklynite's Journal
brooklynite's Journal
March 25, 2021
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/03/25/broadway-covid-shutdown-end-mayor-de-blasio-shares-reopening-steps/6996647002/
'Time to raise the curtain': NYC mayor announces vaccine sites for Broadway performers, workers
Source: USA Today
Broadway's coronavirus shutdown has an end in sight.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced comeback plans Thursday to set up vaccination sites for Broadway performers and theater workers to ensure shows can return to the city this fall.
"It's time to raise the curtain and bring Broadway back," he said during a virtual news conference, promising to "move heaven and earth."
...snip...
Along with vaccination efforts, the city's plan for reopening this fall includes pop-up coronavirus testing sites near theaters, crowd management before and after shows and a mobile vaccination unit for off-Broadway performers and workers.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced comeback plans Thursday to set up vaccination sites for Broadway performers and theater workers to ensure shows can return to the city this fall.
"It's time to raise the curtain and bring Broadway back," he said during a virtual news conference, promising to "move heaven and earth."
...snip...
Along with vaccination efforts, the city's plan for reopening this fall includes pop-up coronavirus testing sites near theaters, crowd management before and after shows and a mobile vaccination unit for off-Broadway performers and workers.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/03/25/broadway-covid-shutdown-end-mayor-de-blasio-shares-reopening-steps/6996647002/
March 25, 2021
Netanyahu fails to gain right-wing majority in final election tally
Source: Jerusalem Post
The Central Elections Committee completed the process of counting all the votes cast in Tuesday's election on Thursday afternoon, a committee spokeswoman announced.
The spokeswoman said it would now take time to verify the counting and to upload the new numbers to the system.
But Channel 12 reported that there were no new changes in the mandates of the parties since Thursday morning, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp with Yamina remained at 59 seats.
...snip...
Earlier Thursday, Religious Zionist Party leader MK Bezalel Smotrich has ruled out joining a government that is in any way supported by the Islamist Ra'am Party.
Read more: https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections/vote-count-ends-without-netanyahu-majority-663193
The spokeswoman said it would now take time to verify the counting and to upload the new numbers to the system.
But Channel 12 reported that there were no new changes in the mandates of the parties since Thursday morning, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp with Yamina remained at 59 seats.
...snip...
Earlier Thursday, Religious Zionist Party leader MK Bezalel Smotrich has ruled out joining a government that is in any way supported by the Islamist Ra'am Party.
Read more: https://www.jpost.com/israel-elections/vote-count-ends-without-netanyahu-majority-663193
March 25, 2021
Netanyahu/Right/Abbas = 64: This would include the 52 seats of Likud, Shas, UTJ, Religious Zionist Party plus Yamina’s seven, with Ra’am’s five supporting the coalition from outside. Likelihood: Relatively high, despite promises from Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich not to rely on Abbas. Otzma Yehudit head Itamar Ben-Gvir would not have to be part of such a coalition, but Smotrich would.
Anti-Netanyahu camp + Ra’am = 61: the 56 seats of Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, Joint List, New Hope and Meretz, plus Ra’am’s five again. Likelihood: Relatively high if Abbas decides to join efforts to end Netanyahu’s political career in return for being appointed the first Arab minister from an Arab party.
Yamina ousts Netanyahu = 62: This scenario is the same as the anti-Netanyahu one, except that Yamina replaces the Joint List. It would comprise the 50 seats of Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, New Hope and Meretz, plus Yamina’s 7 and Ra’am’s 5. Likelihood: Very low.
Defectors from New Hope to Likud: New Hope head Gideon Sa’ar and former minister Ze’ev Elkin burned too many bridges with the Likud, but former MK Sharren Haskel has not. Former MK Yoaz Hendel could join her in Likud despite his sharp criticism of Netanyahu. Assuming Bennie Begin, who is sixth on the New Hope list, would retire again, the seventh candidate, Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevy, could return to Likud for a cabinet post. Likelihood: Low.
Defectors from Likud to New Hope: No one wants to join a sinking ship, but there are still plenty of Likud MKs who privately bear a grudge against Netanyahu. Hendel said that when he sought Likud defectors in the past, there were several who were prepared to come then and still remain in the party. Likelihood: Low.
How can Israel form a coalition and avoid another election?
Jerusalem PostNetanyahu/Right/Abbas = 64: This would include the 52 seats of Likud, Shas, UTJ, Religious Zionist Party plus Yamina’s seven, with Ra’am’s five supporting the coalition from outside. Likelihood: Relatively high, despite promises from Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich not to rely on Abbas. Otzma Yehudit head Itamar Ben-Gvir would not have to be part of such a coalition, but Smotrich would.
Anti-Netanyahu camp + Ra’am = 61: the 56 seats of Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, Joint List, New Hope and Meretz, plus Ra’am’s five again. Likelihood: Relatively high if Abbas decides to join efforts to end Netanyahu’s political career in return for being appointed the first Arab minister from an Arab party.
Yamina ousts Netanyahu = 62: This scenario is the same as the anti-Netanyahu one, except that Yamina replaces the Joint List. It would comprise the 50 seats of Yesh Atid, Blue and White, Yisrael Beytenu, Labor, New Hope and Meretz, plus Yamina’s 7 and Ra’am’s 5. Likelihood: Very low.
Defectors from New Hope to Likud: New Hope head Gideon Sa’ar and former minister Ze’ev Elkin burned too many bridges with the Likud, but former MK Sharren Haskel has not. Former MK Yoaz Hendel could join her in Likud despite his sharp criticism of Netanyahu. Assuming Bennie Begin, who is sixth on the New Hope list, would retire again, the seventh candidate, Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevy, could return to Likud for a cabinet post. Likelihood: Low.
Defectors from Likud to New Hope: No one wants to join a sinking ship, but there are still plenty of Likud MKs who privately bear a grudge against Netanyahu. Hendel said that when he sought Likud defectors in the past, there were several who were prepared to come then and still remain in the party. Likelihood: Low.
March 25, 2021
So which is it? There IS a surge, which Trump exacerbated, and Biden has to deal with it, or their ISN'T a surge and the media is just hyping the story?
Biden transition officials say Trump officials delayed action on child migrant surge
NBC NewsWASHINGTON — In early December, the Biden transition team and career government officials began sounding an alarm on the need to increase shelter space for the large number of migrant children expected to soon be crossing the border, but the Trump administration didn't take action until just days before the inauguration, according to two Biden transition officials and a U.S. official with knowledge of the discussions.
"They were sitting on their hands," said one of the transition officials, who does not currently work for the Biden administration and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "It was incredibly frustrating."
The Biden transition team made its concerns about the lack of shelter space known to Trump officials both at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security, laying out the need to open an influx shelter in Carrizo Springs, Texas, and to issue what's known as a "request for assistance" that would start the process of surveying new sites for expanded shelters, according to the transition officials.
It was not until Jan. 15 that then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the request for assistance, which started the multiweek process of surveying and choosing new sites. The Biden administration opened the Carrizo Springs facility Feb. 22 and announced this week that it would be expanding the capacity of that site.
"They were sitting on their hands," said one of the transition officials, who does not currently work for the Biden administration and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "It was incredibly frustrating."
The Biden transition team made its concerns about the lack of shelter space known to Trump officials both at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security, laying out the need to open an influx shelter in Carrizo Springs, Texas, and to issue what's known as a "request for assistance" that would start the process of surveying new sites for expanded shelters, according to the transition officials.
It was not until Jan. 15 that then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the request for assistance, which started the multiweek process of surveying and choosing new sites. The Biden administration opened the Carrizo Springs facility Feb. 22 and announced this week that it would be expanding the capacity of that site.
So which is it? There IS a surge, which Trump exacerbated, and Biden has to deal with it, or their ISN'T a surge and the media is just hyping the story?
March 25, 2021
Read more: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/anti-netanyahu-bloc-in-talks-to-form-govt-with-benny-gantz-as-head-663125
Anti-Netanyahu bloc in talks to form gov't with Benny Gantz as head
Source: Jerusalem Post
The parties which oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party began to discuss the option of naming Blue and White leader Benny Gantz as their head to collectively form a government, KAN tweeted on Thursday.
Naftali Bennett's Yamina Party is also part of the negotiation process.
Naftali Bennett's Yamina Party is also part of the negotiation process.
Read more: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/anti-netanyahu-bloc-in-talks-to-form-govt-with-benny-gantz-as-head-663125
March 25, 2021
Read more: https://ijr.com/biden-to-unveil-infrastructure-plan-pittsburgh/
Biden To Unveil Multitrillion-Dollar Infrastructure Plan in Pittsburgh Next Week
Source: Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden next week will travel to Pittsburgh, where he kicked off his presidential campaign in 2019, to unveil a multitrillion-dollar plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure, choosing a backdrop of an American city with a long union history.
Biden is expected to push for a “Build Back Better” plan that could have a price tag as high as $4 trillion to pay for traditional roads and bridges while also tackling climate change and domestic policy issues like income equality.
Biden is expected to travel to the Western Pennsylvania city on March 31, the White House said on Wednesday. Pittsburgh is a blue-collar city that is home to the United Steel Workers union, long a Biden ally.
The legislative effort is expected to be split into two parts, an initial package the deals with traditional transportation projects and a second one that addresses domestic priorities, such as universal prekindergarten, national childcare and free community college tuition.
Biden is expected to push for a “Build Back Better” plan that could have a price tag as high as $4 trillion to pay for traditional roads and bridges while also tackling climate change and domestic policy issues like income equality.
Biden is expected to travel to the Western Pennsylvania city on March 31, the White House said on Wednesday. Pittsburgh is a blue-collar city that is home to the United Steel Workers union, long a Biden ally.
The legislative effort is expected to be split into two parts, an initial package the deals with traditional transportation projects and a second one that addresses domestic priorities, such as universal prekindergarten, national childcare and free community college tuition.
Read more: https://ijr.com/biden-to-unveil-infrastructure-plan-pittsburgh/
March 24, 2021
Meet the Arab Islamist who can sway the Israeli election
Jerusalem PostThe complete tally of the election will not be announced until Friday, but preliminary results indicating that Ra’am (United Arab List) leader Mansour Abbas will be the kingmaker for the next coalition have seen both political camps begin efforts to woo him.
According to the preliminary results of 97% of regular votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc won 59 seats, two short of a blocking majority, unless Abbas would help him form a government. But there were indications late Wednesday that the numbers would change.
Netanyahu’s Likud won 30 seats, Yesh Atid 17, Shas nine, Blue and White eight, United Torah Judaism, Yamina, Yisrael Beytenu and Labor seven, New Hope and the Religious Zionist Party six, and Meretz five. After initial indications that Ra’am had not crossed the 3.25% electoral threshold, current results give it five seats and the Joint List six.
Preliminary results of the rest of the regular polling stations were delayed by technical problems. Late Wednesday, the Central Elections Committee began counting some 430,000 double envelopes, which are ballots from hospitals, nursing homes, emissaries, soldiers, prisoners and special polling stations for returnees at Ben-Gurion International Airport and for the sick and quarantined from COVID-19.
Sources close to Netanyahu said Likud would be open to parliamentary cooperation with Abbas but Netanyahu’s associates asked Likud MKs to stop talking about the matter. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid is set to meet with Abbas later this week.
According to the preliminary results of 97% of regular votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc won 59 seats, two short of a blocking majority, unless Abbas would help him form a government. But there were indications late Wednesday that the numbers would change.
Netanyahu’s Likud won 30 seats, Yesh Atid 17, Shas nine, Blue and White eight, United Torah Judaism, Yamina, Yisrael Beytenu and Labor seven, New Hope and the Religious Zionist Party six, and Meretz five. After initial indications that Ra’am had not crossed the 3.25% electoral threshold, current results give it five seats and the Joint List six.
Preliminary results of the rest of the regular polling stations were delayed by technical problems. Late Wednesday, the Central Elections Committee began counting some 430,000 double envelopes, which are ballots from hospitals, nursing homes, emissaries, soldiers, prisoners and special polling stations for returnees at Ben-Gurion International Airport and for the sick and quarantined from COVID-19.
Sources close to Netanyahu said Likud would be open to parliamentary cooperation with Abbas but Netanyahu’s associates asked Likud MKs to stop talking about the matter. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid is set to meet with Abbas later this week.
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