Stern, credited with designing 15 Central Park West, sought to design buildings that invoked pre-war splendor

Robert AM Stern, an architect who fashioned the New York City skyline with buildings that sought to invoke pre-war splendor but with modern luxury fit for billionaires and movie stars, has died at the age of 86.

Dubbed “The King of Central Park West” by Vanity Fair, Stern was credited with designing 15 Central Park West that, in 2008, was credited as being the highest-priced new apartment building in the history of New York.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

© Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

© Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

If support for Israel is no longer de rigueur in New York, it may soon not be obligatory in Washington. That is good news for Palestinians

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be quaking in his boots at the decisive victory of Zohran Mamdani in the 4 November New York City mayoral election. Not because of absurd allegations of antisemitism for which there is no evidence, but because Mamdani has broken the longstanding taboo for successful New York candidates against criticizing the Israeli government. And he has only reinforced his approach in the month since his election.

New York has the largest Jewish population in the United States – and the second-largest of any city in the world after Tel Aviv. The longstanding assumption was that many Jewish voters prioritized the defense of the Israeli government over other issues, so criticism of Israel would set them against a politician.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

© Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

© Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

Chaotic street takeover in New York City ends with car set ablaze and property destroyed as officials call incident a "planned attack" on residential community.

National news organizations have treated the borough like flyover country. It’s time to change that

As the extraordinary Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani shows, there’s a new bellwether in American politics.

For years, Ohio played that role. In every election from 1964 to 2016, the state voted for the winning presidential candidate, and every four years journalists would travel there to interview voters in Columbus and Cincinnati, Dayton and Youngstown. But in 2020 Biden won without carrying the state, and today Ohio is deeply red, costing it its bellwether status. Several other states once considered battlegrounds – Iowa, Missouri, and Florida – have also turned firmly Republican.

Michael Massing is an American writer based in New York City. He is a former executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Lev Radin/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Lev Radin/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Lev Radin/Shutterstock

NYC's new socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani faces criticism from pro-life pregnancy center CEO who fears shutdown threats could eliminate free care.

Decades-old missing child case returns to court as formerly convicted suspect Pedro Hernandez faces new trial for 1979 kidnapping and murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz in Manhattan.

NYC officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the comptroller and borough presidents could see significant salary increases unde legislation proposed by City Council.