Home Blog Page 322

Trump Live: Fact-checking claims about Iran war, Israel, birthright citizenship, affordability

0

president Donald Trump He delivered a prime-time address at the White House on Wednesday, his first major address to the nation since the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran escalated tensions in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday, April 1. (Associated Press)
US President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday, April 1. (Associated Press)

In this article we will fact check The main claim made by the 79-year-old in his prime-time speech.

The White House is keeping the content of the speech confidential because no details about its contents were disclosed. News reports cited White House sources saying Trump may be talking about winding down the strike. Iran Over the next two to three weeks. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said the president could effectively declare victory in the war with Iran and phase out ongoing actions in Iran.

But earlier Wednesday, the president was asked about his plans for the highly anticipated speech. Trump did not respond to speculation about a major decision on the Iran war, instead saying he planned to tell everyone “how great I am.”

Earlier, he attended an Easter lunch at the White House, where he spoke of his expectations for the speech.

“Tonight, I’m going to give a short speech at nine o’clock and basically I’m going to tell everyone how great I am, what a great job I’ve done, what a great job I’ve done, what a great job I’ve done,” Trump said. “But honestly, without me, without a different type of president, there would be no Israel.”

This story is being updated.

Defense Minister signs contract with PSU BEL for 2 mountain radars worth Rs 1,950 Cr for IAF

0

国防部长与 PSU BEL 为 IAF 签署价值 1,950 卢比的 2 台山地雷达合同

Senior defense officials and PSU BEL signed agreement on mountain radar in New Delhi on Tuesday

New Delhi: The Ministry of Defense has signed a major capital acquisition contract with PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of two mountain radars, including associated equipment and infrastructure, for the Indian Air Force at a cost of approximately Rs 1,950 crore.The installation and commissioning of these radars will enhance the country’s air defense capabilities and enhance national security. The purchase will also reduce reliance on foreign equipment.These radars are designed and developed in-house by DRDO’s Electronics and Radar Development Establishment and will be manufactured by BEL.The contract, which falls under the procurement (Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacturing in India) category, was signed on March 31 in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Defense and BEL. This is the last capital acquisition contract of the past fiscal year.

5 things H-1B visa holders fired by Oracle must do immediately to stay in the U.S. legally

0

被 Oracle 解雇的 H-1B 签证持有者必须立即做的 5 件事才能合法留在美国

H-1B visa holders laid off in Oracle’s massive layoffs should act quickly during a 60-day grace period, an immigration attorney says.

Immigration lawyer Gabriela Urizar said H-1B visa holders who were unfortunately laid off during Oracle’s massive layoffs, affecting 30,000 people around the world, should take immediate action to maintain legal status in the United States. At 6 a.m. on March 31, Oracle sent out a cold email notifying thousands of employees that they would be laid off due to organizational restructuring. They were told that March 31 was their last working day. It’s unclear whether the company will conduct another phase of layoffs soon. Urizar, an attorney at Manifets Law, said H-1Bs have a 60-day grace period, which allows them to legally stay in the United States after losing their jobs. But it’s not guaranteed, and DHS could shorten or eliminate it at its discretion. H-1B visa holders should act quickly and remember that the grace period begins on their last work day.

5 Things Fired H-1B Visa Holders Should Do Immediately

  1. Check your Form I-94 now on the CBP website to find out your exact date of entry and your visa’s entry deadline. This form controls how long you can legally stay in the United States. If your I-94 expiration date is less than 60 days away, the H-1B grace period will end early.
  2. Have the new employer file a new I-129 to transfer your H-1 B to the new employer. You can start working immediately after filing without waiting for full approval because you are already in the United States.
  3. If you do not find a job within 60 days, apply to change your status to a different visa category. Changing to a student visa or B visa can buy you more time and stay in the United States legally.
  4. If you are applying for a green card and have an approved Form I-140, you may be able to apply for adjustment of status.
  5. Please do not leave the country during the grace period. If you leave the United States, your grace period ends and you cannot re-enter.

Chess Candidates: How risk-averse Indians sabotaged themselves in the fourth round

0

Chess Candidates: How risk-averse Indians sabotaged themselves in the fourth round
Divya Deshmukh vs Julkinl (Photo: Michal Walusza)

New Delhi: The fourth wheel has always been considered a psychological hurdle. Wednesday was the final push before the first scheduled rest day at the Cape St. George Hotel and Resort in Cyprus as the 2026 Candidates Tournament opens up a new level of competition. However, the Indian team seems to have mentally checked out their off day.It was indeed a day of missed opportunities and disappointing results for India. While the brother duo of R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali managed to save the draw, the spotlight turned to Divya Deshmukh, whose experimental game collapsed under the weight of basic errors.

watch

Nihal Sarin Exclusive: 2026 Candidate Predictions, Anish Giri’s ‘Drawish’ Hashtag and More #Chess

For a country that looked solid in the first round, the fourth round felt like a whimper, a desperate rush toward the sanctuary of Thursday’s break.Praggnanandhaa’s dry fuckingR Praggnanandhaa, India’s only hope in the open section, had an uncharacteristic performance against Germany’s Matthias Blübaum. Playing black, the Chennai prodigy seemed content to steer the match towards neutral territory, as his German opponent wanted, rather than test his resolve.Senior general manager Pravin Thipsay is critical of this approach. “Bluebaum played very solidly, he chose a simple opening with white, and he just simplified it to a bland ending,” Tipsay told TOI while analyzing the match. “Pragnanandhaa did try to open the game through center, but he wasted some piece moves in 4…c6 and 5…c6, so when he played 6…c5, there was barely any chance of winning.”The game ended with 37 triple repetitions, a dull game that lacked the Prager-style aggression that the chess world has come to expect even when defending with black stones.Zindarov sets the toneWhile India struggled for pace, Uzbekistan’s Javokil Zindarov continued to set the pace, defeating world-class Fabiano Caruana. The result sent shockwaves through the chess world and firmly established the Uzbeks as the losers.

Javokir Zindarov (Photo: Michal Walusza)

Javokir Zindarov (Photo: Michal Walusza)

“It’s an interesting matchup between two players who lead this event with 2.5/3,” Thipsay noted. “Zindarov took the lead with a score of 3.5/4 beating Fabiano Caruana. It looks like a great result. At this stage, it can be said that his quality and performance or consistency are much better than others.” If things go the same way, then we can say that Zindalov will win this fight. “Vaishali escapesIn the women’s category, R Vaishali and Aleksandra Goryachkina performed a 27-step survival show. Vaishali chose the king-pawn opening that would become the Italian game (the modern bishop opening), but she found herself in trouble early on. “Vashali survived a bad situation. She had a bad start,” Tipsey said bluntly. “At one stage, there was a center exchange and it would have been a big positional advantage for her opponent if she had played exd4 (instead of 18…Nxd4). But after her opponent played Knight on d4, Vaishali recovered immediately and the game ended in a draw, with some exciting moments but nothing really serious.FIDE Round 4 Candidate Results – April 1, 2026open part

  • Andrei Esipenko 0–1 Anish Giri
  • Wei Yi 0.5–0.5 Nakamura Hikaru
  • Javokil Zindarov 1-0 Fabiano Caruana
  • Matthias Bruebaum 0.5–0.5 R Praggnanandhaa

Women’s group

  • Anna Muzychuk 1-0 Katerina Ranio
  • Bibisara Ashobayeva 0.5–0.5 Tan Zhongyi
  • Divya Deshmukh 0–1 Zhukinr
  • Vaishali Rameshbabu 0.5–0.5 Alexander Goryachkina

Divya Deshmukh’s status collapsesThe most tragic result for India came on the board of Divya Deshmukh. Facing China’s Zhu Jiner white chess, Divia’s Slavic defense collapsed not because of the opponent’s excellence, but because of self-injury.“The most disappointing match of the day was Divya Deshmukh’s match,” Thipsay said. Divya Deshmukh played in the England opener. Early in the middle game, she has established a two-pawn structure on d4 and d5, with 8.cxd5…exd4 and 9.exd4…Bb6.“The position she plays may not be easy to understand, but she puts the double pawns in the middle, which creates a cramping effect. Apparently, she had no idea what was going on, because once she gained a bit of an advantage…she tried to push the pieces to the king’s side for no reason, instead of focusing on development. “

Divya plays 12.h4

Divya plays 12.h4

Her first big mistake was a premature kingside push, 12.h4, which weakened her position. Zhu Jiner took advantage of this and struck decisively, capturing the d5 piece with 17…Nxd5.“Divya also fortified the same side she weakened, and in the process lost a piece on move 17,” Tipsay explained. “The lost time and the lost pieces are irreversible. After that, the game was also very inaccurate. She lost the pieces again… In the final position, she was threatened by the loss of the queen, threatened by the loss of the mate, threatened by the loss of the chess fork. It was a very one-sided game between the two.”When Divya resigned after 36 moves, she was in a desperate situation. This is a clear case of a player losing track of the game while perhaps already thinking about their day off.The Indian contingent needs more than just rest. They need a complete recalibration.The safety mentality on display in the fourth round didn’t do much, but it made the game a success.Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali and Divya need to return on Friday. What they need is that killer instinct that seems to be lost in the Mediterranean heat.Matching Round 5 – April 3, 2026

  • Open: Praggnanandhaa vs. Esipenko; Caruana vs. Blubaum; Nakamura vs. Zindalov; Giri vs. Weil.
  • Women: Goryachkina VS Muzychuk; Zhu Jiner vs. Vaishali; Tan Zhongyi vs. Divya; Ranio vs. Bibisara.

Full utilization of defense budget under capital account in FY 2025-26

0

2025-26 财年充分利用资本项下的国防预算A press release from the Ministry of Finance said that the initial fiscal capital expenditure allocation is Rs 180 crore, which is increased by the Ministry of Finance based on the pace of expenditure of the Ministry of Defense in the first two quarters and the increase in force requirements for modernization and other purposes after Operation Sindoor.A large part of the expenditure is spent on the purchase of aircraft and aerospace engines, followed by land systems, electronic warfare equipment, armaments, shipbuilding, aviation supplies and projectiles. It also includes proposals to procure multi-role fighter jets, medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft for the Indian Air Force, mine countermeasures ships for the Navy, quick-reaction surface-to-air missile systems and Nag missile system Mark-2 for the Army.In the financial year 2025-26, the Ministry of Defense approved 109 proposals worth Rs 681 crore, while 56 proposals worth Rs 176 crore were approved in the financial year 2024-25. Additionally, the ministry signed capital procurement contracts worth Rs 228 crore in total 503 proposals during the financial year 2025-26.The budget has been increased by 22% with Rs 219 crore allocated for capital projects in the financial year 2026-27.

Will Trump fire Pam Bondi over Epstein dossier dispute? Shocking reports emerge following Kristi Noem and Joe Kent departures

0

this Donald Trump The U.S. government has seen two high-profile departures in the past two months: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent were fired. It looks like another name will be added to that list soon.

Attorney General Pam Bondi listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday, March 26. (Associated Press)
Attorney General Pam Bondi listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday, March 26. (Associated Press)

Wednesday, CNN and new york times Claims that the president has “considered” firing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi could be a sign of deep divisions within the Trump administration. Trump’s considerations come in the context of how Bundy handled the incident. Jeffrey Epstein The documents and subsequent frustration among Trump’s base of supporters.

Earlier, Kristi Noem resigned from the Department of Homeland Security after being grilled about her extramarital affair with a Trump adviser. Corey Lewandowskiduring a House Judiciary Committee hearing on her handling of the Department of Homeland Security. Trump later reportedly fired Lewandowski from his position in the White House.

As for Bondi, Trump appears to be considering preemptive measures as the attorney general faces congressional hearings later in April related to the Epstein investigation. According to CNN, citing sources, Trump has been asking around whether Bondi should be fired.

However, sources said Trump has not yet made a decision on Bundy’s future ahead of a congressional hearing. In response to CNN’s request for comment on the claims, Trump said Bundy was a “great guy” who “did a great job.”

Bundy has faced criticism for extensively redacting and delaying the release of Epstein documents and violating Epstein Documents Transparency Act deadlines. Democratic lawmakers have accused her of a cover-up and putting political protection over victim justice and transparency.

Also read: Where is Pam Bundy? Amid rising threats, AG leaves Washington, D.C. home and enters secure military base

What to know about Pam Bundy’s hearings

Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify under a subpoena before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, April 14. She will face questions about the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein documents under the Epstein Documents Transparency Act.

Also read: Warren Buffett says he hasn’t spoken to Bill Gates since Epstein scandal revealed

This will be a private meeting and the media will not be admitted. Committee Chairman James Comer called the meeting after a March 4 bipartisan subpoena vote. The committee plans to investigate compliance issues, including redactions and the withholding of documents amid allegations of cover-ups by both parties.

This follows her controversial public testimony on February 11 before the House Judiciary Committee on broader Justice Department oversight issues.

Ishowspeed: IShowSpeed ​​quits YouTube, the real reason leaves fans speechless

0

IShowSpeed ​​quits YouTube, the real reason leaves fans speechless

The famous internet star IShowSpeed ​​released a big news that surprised many people, leaving fans worried and talking a lot. He said he was giving up his career Youtube He uses the channel to stream games, fun videos and live moments to millions of viewers. Many people reacted quickly, sending messages and sharing the post because they couldn’t believe their favorite streamer might actually be leaving the platform. IShowSpeed ​​is one of the world’s most popular content creators, known for its energetic and crazy clips that millions of people love.But soon, the mood changed when fans learned there was another reason behind the news. Some online posts and messages suggested that the news may not be true and may be related to an April Fool’s Day joke circulating online. Every April 1st, many people share hoaxes and fake news just to surprise others and make them laugh.

IShowSpeed ​​quits YouTube shock turns into hoax

Rumors about IShowSpeed ​​quitting YouTube are big news since his videos have millions of fans around the world. These fans watch his videos to see him play games, react to funny videos, or explore new places online. Many fans immediately shared their feelings after seeing the post that IShowSpeed ​​would be leaving YouTube. Many fans thought they would never see him upload a video again.However, IShowSpeed ​​finally revealed the truth in his video and it was all part of an April Fools’ joke! He told viewers he wasn’t quitting YouTube. This added a bit of humor to the video and the audience ended up laughing and even sharing the video more than usual. Viewers are happy and relieved to know that their favorite YouTuber is not quitting and that they will get more content from him.All in all, this story became a big talking point because of its mix of surprises and internet humor, and IShowSpeed’s joke reminded us all that even our favorite YouTubers want to participate in April Fools’ Day jokes! Viewers are waiting for his next video, they love his content and his sense of humor!

SC says judicial officials will rule on B6 million claims by April 7, 47.3L completed

0

SC表示,司法官员将在4月7日之前对600万孟加拉索赔做出裁决,已完成47.3LA bench of CJI Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court has informed that out of 60,06,675 objections filed against deletion of names from the electoral roll, judicial officers (of whom 500 were from Bengal and another 200 from Odisha and Jharkhand) had taken decisions on 47,30,000 as of Wednesday morning.“The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court informed us that the pending objections may be decided by April 7. Keeping in mind the above dates, these matters are posted (for further hearing) on ​​April 6,” the bench said.

In order to appeal against the decision of the Judicial Officer, the Supreme Court, using its extraordinary powers under Article 142, directed the constitution of an Election Tribunal (the Election Commission had notified 19 tribunals), including former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and former Supreme Court judges, in the face of serious doubts expressed by the State Government about the fairness of the procedure adopted by the Election Commission Officers.The judges said the Court of Appeal would be empowered to “re-examine the full record, including the grounds assigned by the judicial officer in deciding the objection, before ruling on an appeal before it, and to inform the parties of those grounds”.

Courts free to develop own procedures: SC

The court is free to frame its own procedure in accordance with the principles of natural justice and is required to decide the appeal after giving the parties a fair opportunity of being heard,” it said, adding that those intending to appeal to the court will be provided with reasons for rejection of their claims by judicial officers.Senior lawyer Kalyan Banerjee objected to the Council of Europe’s one-day training for former chief justices and judges before starting court work on Thursday. “Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies. They have to act independently. Why training,” he asked. “They are former chief justices and high court judges. Apparently, they will act independently. The training is to handle computers and soft copies of documents. Do not raise frivolous objections,” the CJI said.EC lawyer and senior advocate DS Naidu said this is not training but just induction.“They have vast experience in deciding cases. You don’t have to worry about the EC influencing the bench,” Justice Bhachi said. Advocate Kapil Sibal said, “When we have some grievances, we must have the freedom to approach the HC CJ for help.” The bench said, “Obviously, you have the right to approach the Kolkata HC CJ. But do not attend as a group or delegation.” If you send a political delegation, we will tell the Chief Justice not to receive such a delegation. Mr. Banerjee or the Attorney General can go for the meeting. Where is the need for political workers to meet the Chief Justice? ““The problem is that, to the best of our knowledge and information, representations by political alliances or associations were made not only to the chief justice of the Supreme Court but also to the district judges. We do not want judicial officers to be interfered with in this way,” Justice Bagchi said.

Loading for Sooryavanshi’s India debut? Zimbabwe series raises big questions

0

Loading for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut? Zimbabwe T20I series raises big questions
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is no longer just a feel-good breakthrough story; with talk growing about a possible debut for India in the upcoming T20I series in Zimbabwe, it is fast turning into a serious selection debate.Just days after turning 15, the Rajasthan Royals prodigy made a shocking statement by scoring a 15-ball half-century against Chennai Super Kings. This knock not only showcased his fearless intentions but also reinforced why he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket today.

watch

A father’s pride: How RR, Dravid and Vikram shaped Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Remarkably, this came against the backdrop of 35 centuries in last season’s IPL, which shows that his performance was anything but a one-off.In pursuit of a modest target of 128, Sooryavanshi made sure there was nothing modest about his approach. He took full advantage of the power-play, charging hard at the bowlers and making 52 off just 17 balls in a dazzling stroke-play performance. beside Yashasvi Jaiswalhe laid the foundation for a dominant pursuit, effectively sealing the game within the first six rounds.Explaining his attacking mentality, the teenager said: “I thought about defence, but the plan was to decide the game in the powerplay as we restricted them to low scores. If the bowlers bowled well in the powerplay, the game could have turned around, but we gave it our all in the powerplay.” It’s a mature assessment that reflects not only raw talent but a growing understanding of game situations.

Zimbabwe tour perfectly kicks off India debut

India are scheduled to tour Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series in July 2026, so the timing of his rise could be significant. Historically, tours of Zimbabwe have been a platform for new faces to break into the national team. Players such as Sanzhou SamsonKL Rahul and more recently Ryanparag and Dhruv Jurel both made their T20I debut there.Players who made their Zimbabwe T20I series debut in the past decade

  • Tushar Deshpande – 2024
  • B Sai Sudarsan – 2024
  • Abhishek Sharma – 2024
  • Dhruv Yurel – 2024
  • Riyan Parag – 2024
  • Dhawar Kulkarni – 2016
  • Balinder slan – 2016
  • Rishi Dhawan – 2016
  • Mandeep Singh – 2016
  • KL Rahul – 2016
  • Yuzvendra Chahal – 2016
  • Jaydev Unadkat – 2016
  • Tri-State Samson – 2015
  • Stuart Binney – 2015
  • Kedar Jadhav – 2015
  • Manish Pandey – 2015
  • Axar Patel – 2015
  • Sandeep Sharma – 2015

Considering India’s packed international schedule and the team management’s tendency to rotate the squad after major events, the Zimbabwe series provides a realistic opportunity to test emerging talents. Sooryavanshi fits the bill perfectly with her explosive style and growing confidence.

Experts divided as calls for quick solution to Sooryavanshi issue grow

Unsurprisingly, a growing number of former cricketers are now calling for the youngster to be fast-tracked into India’s T20 squad. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal believes it is only a matter of time before Sooryavanshi dons the national colours.“In just eight IPL games, he has set several records – he already has 100. I think he will get a chance in the next international matches in India, after the IPL. He will be a young player in the T20 international team. He has proven himself everywhere. If he continues to perform, he will definitely get a chance,” Akmal said.He also highlighted the youngster’s maturity, adding, “His composure, game awareness, the way he plays – he can handle everything at such a young age. It’s remarkable… We talk more about his performance because it was a low-scoring game of 128. But his performance was visible because he scored 50 runs off 15 balls.”Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif had earlier urged people to be cautious about the hype but has now changed his stance. “Last season, I thought Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was hyped too early. As an old-school cricketer, I don’t think there should be a rush to develop young players quickly. But a year later, I think he is ready to step up to the next level,” Kaif wrote. He further praised the youngster’s “ability to entertain and hit winning shots”.Veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla echoed similar sentiments, supporting the idea of ​​accelerated progress. “If he can play like that, I’d love to see him improve quickly,” Chawla said, while also pointing to his consistency across formats and his skill to score not just hundreds, but “hundreds.”Former India batsman Ambati Rayudu also weighed in, describing Suryavanshi as “better than many youngsters”. However, Rayudu offered a realistic perspective, highlighting the challenges of breaking into a consistent and successful Indian T20 side. “Don’t forget, our India team is a world champion team. It won the T20 World Cup. So it’s not easy to replace someone in this team. For me, there are several players ahead of him at the moment because you tend to pick and build your team before the next ICC match,” he said.While the excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi is building, not everyone is on board with his accelerated progress. veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Urging restraint, stressing the need to manage expectations for the 15-year-old prodigy.“Don’t give him such a target. He’s not even a human being, he’s just a kid,” Ashwin said. Stressing the importance of patience, he added, “If Suryavanshi plays till 40, he will have twenty-five years left in his cricketing career. Leave him alone, he will come on his own when the time comes.”Although Ashwin was cautious, he had no doubts about the young man’s abilities. “He is too good not to play for India. He will play eventually anyway. When will he play? For that, we may have to wait a little bit. Why are we always in a hurry,” he said.As the debate intensifies, selectors face a delicate balance: whether to quickly develop a generational talent or give him time and space to develop naturally. As the tour to Zimbabwe approaches, the buzz is only getting louder.

New York City considers leasing ‘section’ of Brooklyn Bridge to help close $6 billion budget gap

0

New York City considers leasing 'section' of Brooklyn Bridge to help close $6 billion budget gap
View from Manhattan to Brooklyn, 2009/Wikipedia

A section of enclosed chambers long closed to the public beneath the Brooklyn Bridge has become an unexpected part of New York City’s latest budget battle. City council members are now proposing renting out the hidden vaults to raise revenue, pitching the idea as a way to fill a multibillion-dollar gap without raising taxes, a stark contrast to Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s approach.

Hidden assets under the bridge

The spaces are located within the bridge’s stone anchorage, a network of vaults and rooms measuring approximately 13,000 square feet. Once used for art exhibitions, they have been largely closed since 2001 and are currently used as what officials call “glorified parking lots” for city vehicles.

Brookley Vault

Image: untappedcities.com

Some of these vaults also have a historical layer: In the 1960s, parts of the space were prepared as nuclear fallout shelters. The committee’s proposal would change that, converting the vaults into rentable units, possibly for commercial use or possibly mixed use to generate revenue from the space, which currently doesn’t generate any revenue.

$17M worth of creative and broader revenue boost

The proposal, part of the $127 billion alternative budget proposed by the New York City Council on April 1, directly targets the mayor. Zoran Mamdanipreliminary spending plan.Leasing the Brooklyn Bridge vaults at average Manhattan rental rates could bring in about $17 million a year, with revenue potentially starting as early as fiscal 2027, according to the council’s estimates.

Gotham Park

Part of the park under the Brooklyn Bridge/Photo: gothampark

The idea is part of a broader so-called “revenue enhancement” package totaling $529 million. In addition to vault rentals, the council is proposing to increase mooring fees at the city’s 15 marinas, which have not been increased since 2012, in an effort to generate about $1 million a year in revenue from yacht owners.It also recommends expanding “destination offers” for underutilized park space, including food halls, bars and seating areas, which could generate about $10 million a year. About 400 such franchises already operate in the city, ranging from established venues such as Tavern on the Green to smaller kiosks and food stalls.

The politics behind the proposal

At the heart of the plan are deeper divisions over how to manage New York City’s finances.Mayor Mamdani has been grappling with a projected $6 billion budget shortfall and has proposed a “tax the rich” approach, including potentially raising taxes on high-income residents, homeowners and profitable businesses making more than $1 million a year while drawing down reserves.However, the City Council positioned its plan as a drop-in alternative, arguing the city could stabilize its finances without raising taxes, cutting services or dipping into emergency funding.

Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani proposes raising taxes on high earners, businesses and homeowners to close budget gaps/Photo credit: New York City Mayor’s Office of Photography via The Daily Tribune

“Council proposes an alternative path that city government can follow, providing the necessary resources to fund all spending priorities without having to resort to tax increases, funding reductions for critical services or dipping into reserves,” Council stated in its official response. “We cannot in good conscience meet the needs of New York City on the backs of homeowners or renters by dipping into emergency reserves or cutting essential programs,” said City Council member Julie Menin, who has been closely involved in the proposal.She added that the council’s approach “puts the City back on its feet and invests directly in New Yorkers.”

Wider plan to close the gap

In addition to the new revenue streams, the council said it has identified $3.5 billion in revised revenue forecasts and spending adjustments that include higher-than-expected savings from building permit revenue and vacant city positions, as well as an additional $2 billion in agency efficiencies.The proposal also seeks to restore funding for programs that were reduced or eliminated in the mayor’s initial budget, including libraries, cultural institutions, CUNY initiatives and legal services for housing and domestic violence cases.It further outlines new investments such as expanding the Fair Fares Program, fully subsidizing public transportation for low-income residents, and increasing college savings support for public school students.

what happens next

For now, the Brooklyn Bridge vault plan remains a proposal. Approvals and further planning are still required before any tenancy can begin. But it shows how far the city will go to find new revenue. Driven by budget pressures, space, closed for decades, is now seen as a way to make money.