JK ROWLING VOWS TO DEFY SCOTLAND'S "LUDICROUS" NEW HATE CRIME LAWS

JK Rowling vows to defy Scotland's 'ludicrous' new hate crime laws and refuses to delete posts calling trans TV presenter 'just a man'--Story by Krissy Storrar •JK Rowling has called Scotland's new hate crime laws 'ludicrous', as she vowed not to delete social media posts describing a transgender TV presenter as 'just a man'.   The Harry Potter author was cleared of any wrongdoing by police in England earlier this month over an online post about broadcaster India Willoughby, who complained she had been 'misgendered'.

But Ms Rowling has now been targeted by activists who claim she could be prosecuted under the controversial new Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, due to be introduced on April 1-------read more AT JK Rowling vows to defy Scotland's 'ludicrous' new hate crime laws and refuses to delete posts calling trans TV presenter 'just a man' (msn.com)

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY

FROM THE VILLAGE WEBSITE: For more info, go to Adopt-A-Highway Program Opportunity | Croton-on-Hudson NY (crotononhudson-ny.gov)

THE CROTON CHRONICLE--INFO SESSION ON MAPLE COMMONS (KATZ-REGAN) CONFIRMS THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE CROTON PEOPLE WILL GET THOSE APARTMENTS

Welcome to The New Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Info session on Maple Commons development (Katz-Regan) confirms there is little chance Croton people will get those apartments.

As of today more than 1500 applications have been received for 33 units, with nearly a month to go before the deadline. A lottery will be held May 3.

MICHAEL BALTER--MAR 18, 2024

Today, March 18, the village, along with Regan Development Corporation and the Croton Housing Network (CHN), held the first of three planned information sessions on how to apply for affordable apartments at Maple Commons, more commonly known as the Katz-Regan development.

The session was led by Jeremy Regan, development coordinator for the family owned business, with trustee Len Simon and CHN board member Ellen Eldred helping to facilitate. In attendance were 11 people, mostly from Croton and mostly seniors, potentially interested in applying for one of the 33 apartments that will be on offer. Also present were two local reporters.

But it quickly became clear that their chances of winning the lottery that will be held on May 3 for a chance at renting the apartments is statistically very small. Regan told the gathering that more than 1500 applications had already been received, and that they expected “a hefty portion more” by the April 15 deadline. Moreover, Regan said, there were no geographical restrictions whatsoever for the applicant pool. Regan pointed out that New York state housing law requires the company to consider applications from anywhere in the world.

“We can’t provide a preference for Croton residents,” Regan said, with an expression of regret.

The participants peppered Regan with questions, some of which were fielded by Len Simon as well, concerning minimum income qualifications and similar matters. Regan explained that when the lottery is held, everyone who applied will be given a number. Applicants holding the top numbers will be contacted to see if they still want the apartments, and to determine whether they meet the requirements, including an income verification and background check.

“Everyone has a fair chance,” Regan said. And anyone who does not get an apartment will be put on a waiting list in case there are openings later on.

In response to a question from one of the seniors, Regan also listed some other affordable housing that his company had available around Westchester County.

As many villagers know, Croton mayor Brian Pugh and other village leaders have held out the Maple Street project for a number of years as a development that might help solve Croton’s affordable housing shortage. In a 2021 post for The Croton Democrats, for example, Pugh wrote the following---read more at Info session on Maple Commons development (Katz-Regan) confirms there is little chance Croton people will get those apartments. (substack.com)

AND NOW SOME ITEMS FROM THE MAILBOX

-----THE BLOG HAS RECEIVED a number of requests about businesses that no longer exist in the village:

1) TENAMPA  CLOSED IN 2016; here are some photos from a Croton Lions event in 2012 EverythingCroton: PHOTOS, CROTON LIONS CLUB WINE TASTING 11/16/12

2) TAGINE WAS A FRENCH MORROCAN RESTAURANT/Wine Bar that existed in the Upper Village---it closed several years ago; there are over 50 photos here 

3) TREASURES AND TALES was an antique/thrift shop/gift shop and toy store (Melissa and Doug for example) that existed in the upper village; it also sold high fashion and was truly a unique place; you can see a photo here, all rights reserved.  The store held many charitable events, including Hearts for Haiti and Catwalk for Caring; here are the 2011 photos for Catwalk for Caring.  It closed circa 2013.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST---1983 RITE-AID CROTON EASTER AD

Welcome to The New Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST--a 1983 Easter ad for Rite-Aid in the Shoprite Plaza.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE.

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THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON: 1955 EASTER AD---SWANSON FLORIST---THE ANNUAL REQUEST

THE LATEST ON OPTUM--FLEECING THE FEDS--EXAMINER NEWS---ADAM STONE

Welcome to The New Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

Whistleblower Releases Audio, Files Complaint: Cites Medical Billing Plot at Optum--March 18, 2024--Adam Stone

This is the 14th installment in an ongoing investigative series, launched in December 2022, about CareMount/Optum/UnitedHealth and broader concerns about corporate healthcare.

FLEECING THE FEDS--Local Unionizing Effort Intensifies, Yorktown Workers Poised to Vote Next Week 

Plot on Tape

After my last piece in this series in February uncovered a Justice Department probe into UnitedHealth/Optum over alleged anti-competitive practices at the publicly-traded behemoth, gaining coverage in national outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News, I’ve been inundated with messages from sources across the country elaborating on the company’s grotesque internal behavior.

Yet there’s just way too much new detail to share in one newspaper column, even one the length of several book chapters.

I’ll focus today on one startling revelation.....READ MORE AT Whistleblower Releases Audio, Files Complaint: Cites Medical Billing Plot at Optum | The Examiner News

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---THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON: OPTUM CROTON OFFICE "TEMPORARILY CLOSED"

AND

---THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON: EXAMINER NEWS----JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBING UNITED HEALTH/OPTUM OVER ANTITRUST CONCERNS; LOCAL LAYOFFS

NEW FROM TRAVALANCE---TRAVIS S.D.-----WHO ARE THE STARS OF MARXFEST?

Who are the stars of Marxfest, the Marx Brothers festival taking place in NYC just two months from now? Well, I'll tell yer! And in my patented, condensed, prioritized way, for the convenience of the busy blog reader. For it is indeed star-studded. MORE AT Who Are the Stars of Marxfest? – (Travalanche) (wordpress.com)

CROTON POINT BEACH ACCESS: SORT OF, MAYBE, NOT REALLY?

Welcome to The New Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

MICHAEL BALTER---MAR 18, 2024

Croton Point Park beach access: Sort of, maybe, not really?
Park officials have opened a hidden gate to Mother's Lap Beach known to some locals, but kept the main entrance by the new bathhouse closed. Is this really public access?

Note: This post is free to all readers, but not all stories are or can be. To support local journalism, please consider taking out a paid sub. Details at post.

Some victories are too good to be true, and there are indications that this might be the case with last week’s announcement by Westchester County that it would make the swimming beach at Croton Point Park (also known as Mother’s Lap Beach) open to the public in the off season. We reported on that here, and an announcement was also made at last week’s Croton Board of Trustees meeting, where a letter from the county was read aloud by our village manager.

READ THE REST OF THE POST WITH PHOTOS AT Croton Point Park beach access: Sort of, maybe, not really? (substack.com)

1955 EASTER AD---SWANSON FLORIST---THE ANNUAL REQUEST

Welcome to The New Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

1955 EASTER AD---SWANSON FLORIST---CLICK ON THE IMAGE.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON: EVERYTHING CROTON'S FAVE VINTAGE, VINTAGE-INSPIRED & ANTIQUE "EASTER" POSTS FROM SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SITES--UPDATED 2024

FOR THOSE FOLLOWING THE GREAT MATT TAIBBI, THE CONTINUED DECLINE OF THE NY TIMES, AND ORAL ARGUMENTS FOR MURTHY V. MISSOURI FORMERLY MISSOURI V. BIDEN

On Today’s Absurd New York Times Hit Piece..........................................

Correcting the record after a desperate slam job on the Twitter Files, published just before oral arguments in a historic First Amendment case in the Supreme Court

MATT TAIBBI--MAR 17, 2024

In advance of oral arguments tomorrow in the Supreme Court for Murthy v. Missouri, formerly Missouri v. Biden, the New York Times and authors Jim Rutenberg and Steven Lee Myers wrote a craven and dishonest piece called, “How Trump’s Allies Are Winning the War Over Disinformation.”

The Times implies both the Twitter Files reports and my congressional testimony with Michael Shellenberger were strongly influenced by former Trump administration official Mike Benz, whose profile occupies much of the text. Benz is described as a purveyor of “conspiracy theories, like the one about the Pentagon’s use of Taylor Swift,” that are “talking points for many Republicans.” They quote Shellenberger as saying meeting Benz was the “Aha moment,” in our coverage, and the entire premise of the piece is that Benz and other “Trump allies” pushed Michael, me, and the rest of the Twitter Files reporters into aiding a “counteroffensive” in the war against disinformation, helping keep social media a home for “antidemocratic tactics.”  FOR MORE, SEE On Today’s Absurd New York Times Hit Piece - by Matt Taibbi (racket.news)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT--ACCESS GRANTED---CROTON POINT'S MOTHER'S LAP BEACH OPENED AGAIN

For those who walk this area, welcome news: UPDATED, ACCESS GRANTED THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON: BREAKING NEWS---WESTCHESTER PARKS TO OPEN CROTON POINT'S MOTHER'S LAP BEACH TO WALKERS DURING OFF SEASON--CROTON CHRONICLE

3/18 UPDATE --- THE NEW EVERYTHING CROTON: CROTON POINT BEACH ACCESS: SORT OF, MAYBE, NOT REALLY?