Cops clear Occupy Wall Street protesters out of Zuccotti Park

Hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters moved to Foley Square in downtown Manhattan Tuesday morning after helmeted, baton-wielding police evicted them from Zuccotti Park overnight.

During a three-hour General Assembly meeting, the demonstrators plotted their possible next moves — including marches on Canal St. or on Wall St.

They also discussed marching to NYPD headquarters or occupying Manhattan Criminal Court in solidarity with the 70 to 100 protesters who were arrested during the raid.

Cleaning crews descended on Zuccotti Park and scrubbed every flat surface while scores of cops kept everyone out with metal barricades.

 
As of 7 a.m., there were no protesters in the park — just employees of Brookfield Properties, which owns the property and asked for the cleanout.

“That was my home,” said Shane Stoops, 23, a protester from Seattle who said he had been at Zuccotti since the dawn of the protest Sept. 17.

“You see all those garbage trucks? That’s where I live now. They took my life...all my clothes, my four-man tent and mattress, all of my books and three years of drawings.”

Mayor Bloomberg said that once the cleaning is finished, the anti-greed movement can return to Zuccotti, but protesters will not be allowed to rebuild their tent city.

“Unfortunately, the park was becoming a place where people came not to protest, but rather to break laws, and in some cases, to harm others,” the mayor said in a statement about five hours after the raid.

“Protesters have had two months to occupy the park with tents and sleeping bags. Now they will have to occupy the space with the power of their arguments.”

The eviction began around 1 a.m. when a horde of cops surrounded the park and used a bullhorn to notify protesters that sanitation trucks would be clearing out the site.

“If you fail to immediately leave the park, you will be subject to arrest," they said.

The protesters were defiant at first, chanting: "Whose park? Our park! No retreat. No surrender!"

"When the cops closed in, people tried to hold on to one another. Cops pulled people out, but we went back in," said Jose Mediaville, 29, a former Marine from Brooklyn. "A white shirt got frustrated. He yelled, 'Come on, let's do this.'

"I tried to avoid them, but they got me. They smashed people in the hands and broke the human chain. They lifted me up and threw me out like a rag doll," he said.

"If they think this is the end of it, they're crazy," Steve Iskovitz, 51, a mental health counselor from Pittsburgh, said. "People will strike back."

Police began tearing up the tents wholesale by about 1:45 a.m. after throwing reporters out of the park and corralling the protesters in the center.

"The police have us surrounded," Tyrone Greenfield, 23, of Brooklyn, said as sanitation workers tossed tents into dumpsters.

One young man wearing a gas mask tore up the notice after a cop handed it to him.

"Everybody stay calm, the police want you to become violent," protesters shouted. "Do not become violent. Pass the message."

One protester, 32, who gave his name as Daryl W, called his mother. "We're about to be raided I just thought I'd let you know I love you bye," he said.

"They don't even obey their own rules," Frank Olivo, Bronx, 21, said. "What they're doing is against the law."

Some protesters sang the Beatles song "Revolution." Helicopters flew noisily overhead.

"I have not broken the law tonight," yelled protester Eamon O'Rourke as cops stuffed him into a squad car.

Occupy Wall Street sent out a message on Twitter that said cops were using pepper spray.

City Council member Ydanis Rodriguez was arrested, and a tweet alleged he was beaten and bleeding.

"They took oaths to protect and serve," Jason Lee, 36 of Brooklyn, said. "They broke that oath tonight. They destroyed what we built. That's tyranny by any definition."

Paul Kostora, head of the medical tent, said he was working with a patient when police pulled him away.

"They pulled me out stethoscope, white coat and all as I was telling them I have a patient in there," he said. "One girl has a heart condition and wasn't feeling well. They manhandled her and threw her on the ground."

By 3:30 a.m., cops had cleared the kitchen area of the park, where protesters had formed a human chain, cuffed those arrested with plastic ties and loaded them in vans.

The showdown came after protesters had vowed to "shut down Wall St." on Thursday to mark two months of occupation. "It's still on. It'll be bigger than ever. People are mobilizing now. They're wounded now and preparing for comeback," said Matt Baldwin. 

Victoria’s Secret Angels go through diet & exercise hell

Model Adriana Lima (wearing $2 million fantasy bra by Damiani) walks the runway during the 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York City.

What does it take to get the body of an Angel?

Egg powder, twice-daily workouts and no solid food.

Brazilian beauty Adriana Lima told the Telegraph just how much strenuous dieting and sacrifice to look effortlessly perfect for the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

 The 30-year-old model, who said she’s been working out with a personal trainer every day since August, has doubled her regimen now that the show is coming up on Nov. 29.

She lifts weights, she boxes, she jumps rope — and starting three weeks ago, she’s been doing it twice a day.

She also sees a nutritionist who measures out exactly what she needs to stay healthy but also keep her svelte. She drinks a gallon of water a day.

Then, nine days before the show, she says goodbye to solid foods and drinks only protein shakes. She is allowed to stop drinking that daily gallon of water and just drink normally until 12 hours befor the show.

Then, no liquids allowed at all.

No liquids at all so you dry out; sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that, she said.

Sources close to the process of getting ready for the $10 million production say the models train like Olympians for their big moment on the runway.

"Adriana works really hard at it. It's the same as if you were a long-distance runner,” said Sophia Neophitou, chief stylist for this year's show. “They are athletes in this environment — it's harder to be a Victoria's Secret model because no one can just chuck an outfit on you, and hide your lumps and bumps."

Despite the constant workouts, and missing tasty foods, Lima, a 30 year-old mother, said that it’s all worth it.

"It opens up so many doors, everyone knows your name, the whole world knows you now," she said. "Any model in this world would love to be an Angel." 

Men's Health Urbanathlon - Photos

Get fit for the big shopping day with this Black Friday bootcamp

Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season, means long lines of shoppers will start to gather in the pre-dawn hours, such as this crowd at a Best Buy store in Brooklyn two years ago.

The countdown to Black Friday has begun. With less than 21 days remaining, it’s time to start working out the fundamentals so that you can make the most of the post-Thanksgiving hysteria.

Retailers are already announcing their one-day special promotions and some have noted that doors will open earlier than ever, extending the hours you will need to fight crowds and wait in long lines.

But all this Black Friday hype doesn't necessarily promise bigger and better deals. There’s still lots of work that needs to be done to prepare and tackle such door busters.

Here’s what you need to know before you go:

Strategy is key. Braving the cold and crowds of crazed Black Friday shoppers with little to no preparation is an easy way to get burned out quickly. Plan ahead and map out an ideal shopping route with destinations based on the best discounts as well as locations within a close proximity to multiple stores for easy access to the deals.

City dwellers can purchase bus tickets to the popular Woodbury Commons Outlets or head to Long Island where shopping malls are abundant. Review store circulars ahead and call the stores to find out how many of each door-busting item will be sold to not waste time as most are limited in quantity.

Both Amazon and Target already have pages on their websites dedicated to Black Friday specials, so you can study their offers well in advance.

And don’t forget to dress in layers and fuel up with food for the long day.

Keep a list close. As part of your Black Friday strategy, a detailed list is essential for tackling the deals. Jot down all the product names and model numbers for quick reference when racing against masses to the store shelves.

Above all, make sure you stick to the list, because it’s easy to fall for alluring sales on products you don’t need while buying more than you budgeted for.

Practice negotiating skills. Black Friday deals seem pretty cut and dry, when in fact there’s much more to the offer than what meets the eye.

Many stores have spruced up their lowest price guarantee to match competitors — and some even throw in an added percent off. Those who don’t do their homework will miss out on savings.

Sears and Home Depot, for instance, promise to match competitor prices and even extend an extra 10% discount, while Bed, Bath and Beyond guarantees to meet offers available on Amazon.com.

For quick reference while you're on the go, download either the RedLaser or ShopSavvy apps, which feature a bar code scanner to provide instant price comparison for nearby brick and mortars as well as online stores.

Buddy up. If you’re waiting in long lines, it’s nice to have a place holder when a bathroom break is needed; or a snack runner when late night or early morning munchies strike. Plus, each of you can focus on grabbing specific items to double chances of snagging limited quantity deals.

Surf the Internet for even more savings. Most people don’t shop on Black Friday for the atmosphere, unless your idea of a good time is waiting in long lines to battle deal-crazed shoppers at 3 a.m.

Luckily, most merchants now offer their special sales online with the added incentive of free shipping. E-Retailers also have a larger quantity of inventory so you run less risk of items selling out by shopping online.

There are a surprising number of retailers who offer additional discounts. So before you check out, search for online coupons and free shipping codes from sites like FreeShipping.org.

Don’t give up. Whether you overslept or got stuck watching the kids, don’t fret; there are still plenty of opportunities (perhaps even better opportunities) to find huge discounts after the shopping extravaganza ends.

Cyber Monday, held on the Monday following Black Friday, will feature additional door busters available at online-only merchants with popular deals on electronics, appliances, and toys.

Free Shipping Day, scheduled for Dec. 16, gives you more time to save and shop bargains released later in the season. 

Macy’s to give Black Friday shoppers a headstart by opening on midnight after Thanksgiving

About 7,000 shoppers turned up for Macy’s annual Black Friday opening at 4 a.m. last year at its Herald Square store.

Holiday season bargain-hunters shouldn’t plan on taking a post-turkey nap this year.

Macy’s became the latest big retailer to announce it was opening its doors to Black Friday shoppers at its earliest time ever: midnight after Thanksgiving Day.

The move follows Target’s announcement last week that it would kick-off one of one of the busiest shopping days of the year at 12 a.m.

Retailers and businesses across the country are vying for an edge in a holiday season that is only expected to see a modest sales gain of 2.8% over last year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The earlier-than-usual start to Black Friday means shoppers will likely begin lining up outside stores as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers are put away.

The term Black Friday traditionally refers to the day of the year when businesses turn a profit, or move “into the black.”

But the day after Thanksgiving has in recent years become the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, with retailers nationwide typically offering huge one-day discounts and opening doors to frenzied shoppers in the wee hours of the morning.

In the past, chains such as Best Buy have allowed Black Friday shoppers in as early as 4 or 5 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving.

Last year, several national retailers got a headstart by opening on Thanksgiving, including Sears, Kmart, Wal-Mart and Toys “R” Us.

According to the NRF, nearly 10% of holiday shoppers now begin their Black Friday shopping at midnight. 

Wealth gap between younger and older Americans is widest

The median net worth of households headed by those 65 or older has jumped 42 percent.

WASHINGTON - The wealth gap between younger and older Americans has stretched to the widest on record, worsened by a prolonged economic downturn that has wiped out job opportunities for young adults and saddled them with housing and college debt.

The typical U.S. household headed by a person age 65 or older has a net worth 47 times greater than a household headed by someone under 35, according to an analysis of census data released Monday.

While people typically accumulate assets as they age, this wealth gap is now more than double what it was in 2005 and nearly five times the 10-to-1 disparity a quarter-century ago, after adjusting for inflation.

The analysis reflects the impact of the economic downturn, which has hit young adults particularly hard. More are pursuing college or advanced degrees, taking on debt as they wait for the job market to recover. Others are struggling to pay mortgage costs on homes now worth less than when they were bought in the housing boom.

The report, coming out before the Nov. 23 deadline for a special congressional committee to propose $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over 10 years, casts a spotlight on a government safety net that has buoyed older Americans on Social Security and Medicare amid wider cuts to education and other programs, including cash assistance for poor families.

"It makes us wonder whether the extraordinary amount of resources we spend on retirees and their health care should be at least partially reallocated to those who are hurting worse than them," said Harry Holzer, a labor economist and public policy professor at Georgetown University who called the magnitude of the wealth gap "striking."

The median net worth of households headed by someone 65 or older was $170,494. That is 42 percent more than in 1984, when the Census Bureau first began measuring wealth broken down by age. The median net worth for the younger-age households was $3,662, down by 68 percent from a quarter-century ago, according to the analysis by the Pew Research Center.

Net worth includes the value of a person's home, possessions and savings accumulated over the years, including stocks, bank accounts, real estate, cars, boats or other property, minus any debt such as mortgages, college loans and credit card bills. Older Americans tend to hold more net worth because they are more likely to have paid off their mortgages and built up more savings from salary, stocks and other investments over time. The median is the midpoint, and thus refers to a typical household.

The 47-to-1 wealth gap between old and young is believed by demographers to be the highest ever, even predating government records.

In all, 37 percent of younger-age households have a net worth of zero or less, nearly double the share in 1984. But among households headed by a person 65 or older, the percentage in that category has been largely unchanged at 8 percent.

While the wealth gap has been widening gradually due to delayed marriage and increases in single parenting among young adults, the housing bust and recession have made it significantly worse.

For young adults, the main asset is their home. Their housing wealth dropped 31 percent from 1984, the result of increased debt and falling home values. In contrast, Americans 65 or older were more likely to have bought homes long before the housing boom and thus saw a 57 percent gain in housing wealth even after the bust.

Older Americans are staying in jobs longer, while young adults now face the highest unemployment since World War II. As a result, the median income of older-age households since 1967 has grown at four times the rate of those headed by the under-35 age group.

Social Security benefits account for 55 percent of the annual income for older-age households, unchanged since 1984. The retirement benefits, which are indexed for inflation, have been a consistent source of income even as safety-net benefits for other groups such as low-income students have failed to keep up with rising costs or begun to fray. The congressional supercommittee that is proposing budget cuts has been reviewing whether to trim college aid programs, such as by restricting eligibility or charging students interest on loans while they are still in school.

Sheldon Danziger, a University of Michigan public policy professor who specializes in poverty, noted skyrocketing college tuition costs, which come as many strapped state governments cut support for public universities. Federal spending on Pell Grants to low-income students has risen somewhat, but covers a diminishing share of the actual cost of attending college.

"The elderly have a comprehensive safety net that most adults, especially young adults, lack," Danziger said.

Paul Taylor, director of Pew Social & Demographic Trends and co-author of the analysis, said the report shows that today's young adults are starting out in life in a very tough economic position. "If this pattern continues, it will call into question one of the most basic tenets of the American Dream - the idea that each generation does better than the one that came before," he said.

Other findings:

-Households headed by someone under age 35 had their median net worth reduced by 27 percent in 2009 as a result of unsecured liabilities, mostly a combination of credit card debt and student loans. No other age group had anywhere near that level of unsecured liability acting as a drag on net worth; the next closest was the 35-44 age group, at 10 percent.

-Wealth inequality is increasing within all age groups. Among the younger-age households, those living in debt have grown the fastest while the share of households with net worth of at least $250,000 edged up slightly to 2 percent. Among the older-age households, the share of households worth at least $250,000 rose to 20 percent from 8 percent in 1984; those living in debt were largely unchanged at 8 percent.

On Monday, the Census Bureau planned to release new 2010 figures that will show a big increase in poverty for Americans 65 or older due to rising out-of-pocket medical expenses. Currently, about 9 percent of older Americans fall below the poverty line, based on the official definition put out in September, but that number did not factor in everyday costs such as health care and commuting.

The new supplemental figures will show poverty to be higher than previously known for several groups, although they may not fully reflect longer-term changes. For instance, a recent working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that U.S. spending on the safety net from 1984 to 2004 shifted notably toward programs benefiting the near-poor rather than the extreme poor and to the elderly rather than younger adults. That trend, which has continued since 2004, has led to faster increases in poverty over time for some of the underserved groups.

Robert Moffitt, a professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University and co-author the paper, cited a series of cuts in government programs since 1984 for the neediest, including welfare payments to single parents and the unemployed under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, while Social Security and Medicare have either been expanded or remained constant.

"Over time, even under a revised poverty measure, the elderly have done better," he said. 

Coney Island draws biggest crowds since 1964 this summer

Coney Island opened Luna Park in 2010, and followed up this summer by opening Scream Zone with two roller coasters and other thrill rides.

Crowds at Coney Island surged this summer despite the soggy weather.

More than 640,000 people came to two new amusement parks, city officials said — up from 450,000 last year and the most since Steeplechase Park closed in 1964.

“With another season of record attendance in the books, the city’s efforts to revitalize Coney Island continue to gain momentum,” said Seth Pinsky, the president of the city’s Economic Development Corp., in a statement.

“The steady increase in visitors, drawn by dramatic new amusements, is helping to bring more people back to the ‘People’s Playground’ ” he said.

Italian amusement company Zamperla opened Luna Park last year with 19 family rides. This year, it added Scream Zone, with two new roller coasters and two other thrill rides on the city-owned land. Visitors took more than 2 million rides at the parks this year.

The number of visitors spiked despite the rainiest month ever in New York this August and a total weekend washout for Hurricane Irene.

But the season ended on a sour note for five Boardwalk businesses evicted by the amusement giant, who had to leave for good this weekend.

“We tried fighting, but it’s hard when you’ve got the city pushing the buttons to get you out,” said Anthony Berlingieri, owner of Beer Island and the previously bulldozed Shoot the Freak.

“I took two empty lots in Coney Island and turned them into two of the top things there, and yet I get ousted for no reason,” he said. “You just never would have thought, in New York, that was what it would come down to.”

Two other businesses initially hit with evictions, Ruby’s Bar and Paul’s Daughter, have since been offered eight-year leases that are currently under negotiation.

The city also plans to put out a request for proposals Monday to find an operator to bring new amusements to Jones Walk, the site of 11 now-shuttered game booths .

The city bought 6.9 acres of land from developer Joe Sitt for $95.6 million in 2009 after a long standoff and tapped the Italian ride maker to open new parks. 

In this Age of Automation, workers don’t have to be robots to do their jobs

In today’s highly automated world, it seems as if the robots have taken over the workplace.

Remember the Age of Automation?

In the late 1950's the first American workers to be affected by technological advances were sent from the production line to the unemployment line, as machines began to take over the work of humans.

It's still happening today, and most consumers actually prefer that combination of automation and human interaction.

For a simple bank deposit, there is the ATM. And when something goes wrong, there is still a bank teller out there, somewhere, who can answer the phone or call us up to the window to get it worked out.

Despite the advances that save money and time, most would agree that there are some jobs that were never meant to be done by robots.

Even so, the way that some human beings perform their work makes their co-workers and customers swear that they had been replaced by very human-looking robots.

In fact, in some industries, sometimes it seems that the robots have taken over.

There is a funny scene in the movie “Meet the Parents” that illustrates this problem. Ben Stiller is in the airport, at the gate, waiting to board the plane. He waits as any passenger would, except for one key difference: he is the only one in the boarding area.

Instead of allowing him to get on the plane, the airline employee continues to call out the boarding announcements — in proper order, of course — allowing him to board only when his row is called.

Are there robots in your workplace? Learn how to spot them — and cut off their power source by insisting on human behavior:

But that’s our policy!

A front-line supervisor who once worked for me dispensed the following advice to her employees, “We have policies here, and I expect you to know them and to follow them. However, we are the people, and we make those policies. When the situation warrants, I expect you to break the policy.”

That is smart — and gutsy — management. It requires hiring the right people and then training them to think.

Consider a hotel’s check-in policy. Most hotels have a check-in time in the afternoon. This gives them time to check out the people from the previous night, and get those rooms cleaned and ready for the new guests.

What about the tired family, who arrives at 11 a.m., having driven for several hours with children — one of whom looks as if they may be sick? Policy would dictate that check-in time is 2 p.m. A human being knows to find a clean room for them and get them checked in as soon as possible.

It’s easier not to think

Some humans adopt the robotic characteristics simply because it's less work than thinking. It doesn't require as much energy to say “no” all day long to co-workers who need extra assistance or an exception to a rule.

Policies are meant to ensure a smooth and consistent running of a business. They are not created for employees to hide behind. If a co-worker or a customer needs something done very quickly, consider stepping up — and stepping outside of policy — to do something extra, even if it means putting aside fears that people are going to expect this every time. Any potential abusers can be dealt with later.

Working in a dictatorship

Often when employees are acting like robots, it is actually out of fear. When the boss is a tyrant, workers would rather do things the same way every time (even when it results in poor service or a loss of money) than risk the wrath of a bully.

Don’t give that type of business your business. The only way the company will take notice of the damage done by a tyrant boss is when the company begins to lose customers and profits.

Is automation a bad thing? Certainly not. At the end of a busy day, the automated checkout line at the grocery store holds some appeal — scan your items, pay with the ATM card, and get out of there as quickly as possible. However, when it comes to certain aspects of the working world, there is no substitute for the human touch.

The computers can keep track of the inventory, but it’s the teenager stocking shelves who sees the elderly lady struggling to lift something off of a high shelf. We still need that worker to step outside of his responsibilities and offer to lend a hand. That is what will bring the customers back the next day.

Don't allow pressures to perform keep you from maintaining that human touch in your own work — when the robots take over, the humans lose. 

What Obama’s student loan plan can offer your family

The cost of higher education in the States can be alleviated by the government - if you meet a very specific set of eligibility requirements.

You might need a Ph.D. to understand President Obama’s new plan to ease the pain of student loan borrowers.

Announced last week, the changes provide relief to millions shouldering student loans they cannot afford. But figuring out whether you are eligible requires a fair amount of homework.

Luckily, Your Money is here to make it simple.

If you have a private loan, you’re out of luck. This new plan is aimed at helping borrowers who have federal student loans. The loan must be taken out by the student, not the parent.

But if you have a federal loan that is either issued directly by the government, such as a Stafford Loan, or a bank loan backed by the government, you could be in the money.

Within the Obama plan, there are actually two groups of potential winners. The smaller of the two — 1.6 million borrowers — have the most to gain.

But there are parameters.

To be eligible for a new income-based plan, you must have taken out at least one loan no earlier than 2008 and you have to take out a new one in 2012 or later.

Generally, your total federal student loan would have to exceed your annual income for you to get a lift.

The rewards are nice: The plan improves on an existing program, reducing a current cap on monthly loan payments by a third, from 15% of discretionary income to 10%, and forgives any remaining debt in 20 years, instead of 25.

“It is a significant benefit,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb.com and Finaid.org. This is for someone who has a job, but it doesn t pay enough and is struggling to make loan payments. This will provide them with financial relief by reducing their loan payments to an affordable level.

For a second, much larger group, of student loan borrowers called split borrowers 5.8 million there could be advantages, too, but on a much smaller scale.

These are folks who have both federally guaranteed and direct student loans. They get to consolidate into one direct loan program and reduce their interest rate by up to half a percent.

Borrowers who are eligible will be contacted by their loan servicers early next year. You must consolidate by June 30, 2012.

For some, it may not be worth it.

The typical benefit will be $3 a month, Kantrowitz said. Some people may be better off keeping their loans out of this program. If you intend to accelerate the repayment of your loan, you may be better off keeping the loans separate. 

Credit unions see huge spike in business due to debit-card fee backlash ahead of ‘Bank Transfer Day’

Bank of America’s now-scuttled plan to charge customers a $5 monthly fee to use their debit cards has created a huge backlash.

Consumers fed up with being nickel-and-dimed by big banks have made these boom times for the nation’s credit unions.

The not-for-profit cooperatives, which are owned by their members and often offer better interest rates on free checking and savings accounts, have enjoyed a huge boost in business in the past month — thanks to the backlash against Bank of America’s now-scuttled plan to charge customers a $5 per month fee for using its debit card.

Credit unions have added about 650,000 new customers — and $4.5 billion in deposits — since Sept. 29, after Bank of America said it would begin charging the fee, according to the Credit Union National Association.

“These are very good times for credit unions,” said Kirk Kordeleski, CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, one of Long Island’s largest with 24 branches and $4.4 billion in assets.

“All this conversation about fees has led to a lot of opportunity for us,” said Kordeleski, who saw a 60% hike in new members in October, to 1550 from 925.

That number is sure to grow Saturday if frustrated consumers follow through on their promise to ditch their current banks and move their money into credit unions, in a grass-roots movement dubbed “Bank Transfer Day” that boasts a Facebook page with 80,000 supporters.

Bethpage Credit Union will celebrate the “Day” by offering $100 to new members who open accounts and

“People are saying, ‘Enough is enough,’” said Kordeleski.