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New York Post
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
NY's legal guardrails will be no match for Zohran Mamdani's socialist harms
A Florida trade group is using what it calls 'the unacceptable risk' of a Zohran Mamdani mayoralty to entice Big Apple CEOs into moving their firms and families to the Sunshine State. Smart marketing: Business leaders are already doing the Mamdani math — adding up the massive costs of his promised public spending on universal child care, transportation and other freebies. A Mayor Mamdani will either raise New York's already-high taxes to pay for all these goodies, or his reckless spending will plunge the city into fiscal chaos, leading to draconian austerity measures like cuts to police and garbage collection. Disastrous, either way. Aren't there legal guardrails to limit what an irresponsible New York City mayor — even a crazed socialist one — can do? For half a century, ever since Gotham's financial debacle in 1975, New Yorkers have taken comfort in knowing that a state-run Financial Control Board is in place to prevent the city from ever again plunging into financial ruin. But that's more a myth than a reality: The guardrails have turned into tissue paper under New York's one-party, increasingly leftist rule. In 1975, overspending and an economic slump had New York City on the brink of bankruptcy. Banks would no longer underwrite the city's debt. The state stepped in, creating a seven-member Financial Control Board — made up of the mayor, the governor, the state and city comptrollers, and three additional members chosen by the governor — to right the ship. Until 1986, this powerful board controlled the city's budget, union contracts and borrowing, no matter who occupied City Hall. Since then, the FCB has been in hibernation, but legally poised to reactivate if the city spends more than it takes in, or fails to pay its debts — likely scenarios under a Mayor Mamdani. Here's the hitch: Reactivating the FCB requires the consent of the state Legislature. Good luck with that. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and her powerful No. 2, Sen. Michael Gianaris, both Democrats, have allied with the hard left for years. Both now endorse Mamdani — so don't count on them to defy him, if necessary, and put the city's financial management in safer hands. In fact, few Democratic pols in the state are showing the backbone to speak a word against Mamdani even now, before he's actually been elected. And don't expect the City Council, dominated by leftist loons, to resist Mamdani's excessive spending. Get opinions and commentary from our columnists Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Last month the council pushed current Mayor Eric Adams to accept a record-setting $116 billion budget, bloated with new services for illegal immigrants and a pilot program for universal child care starting at birth. Is there a firewall against the huge tax hikes required to fund Mamdani's utopian wish list? Depends on what type of taxes. Mamdani says he plans to raise the city's corporate tax rate to 11.5% to bring in $5 billion. He also wants to slap an additional 2% on the income tax rate paid by individuals earning more than $1 million a year, collecting another $4 billion. Only the Legislature can impose those tax increases, and Gov. Kathy Hochul says she won't sign any such hikes into law — a vow that's likely good until the next statewide election, in November 2026. But after that, New Yorkers could be in big trouble if a solidly blue state government approves new taxes to fund Mamdani's wild ideas. Property taxes are another matter, and a looming threat. Get ready to pay up big time, whether or not you own your home. A socialist mayor will go where the money is. Real estate taxes brought in $37 billion last year, nearly half of all city revenues — and the mayor and City Council largely control property-tax levies. New York City is exempt from the property-tax cap imposed on most parts of the state. For Gothamites, state law only puts a lid on annual increases in assessed real estate values, limiting them to 6% a year for large properties and 8% for smaller ones. That's not enough protection against a cash-hungry spendaholic mayor. Property-tax hikes impact not only building owners, but also residents of co-ops and condos — and many renters, too, when landlords pass the tax increase along. So much for Zohran's 'affordability' blather. Here's the clincher: Mamdani is promising to increase assessments in what he calls 'richer and whiter' neighborhoods, claiming property valuations there haven't kept up with the rising real-estate market. If you live in Manhattan or Brooklyn, get ready to be socked with higher taxes — and possibly see your home's resale value drop as a result. In a one-party city and a nearly one-party state, there are few safeguards against the maniacal vision of Zohran Mamdani. We have just one defense: electing someone else. Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and co-founder of the Committee to Save Our City.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Cannes 2025: That's A Wrap! 9 Top Industry Voices Report
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity: Spectacular setting for the ad industry to ... More set the future and celebrate great work Herein, a fuller report than most, with insights and takeaways from the Cannes International Festival of Creativity 2025, all in one place, gathered from the industry's top agency creatives, marketers, ad tech trail blazers and other leaders on answers to my questions on what they heard, saw, learned and want more of. Read on for learnings on AI, creativity, platforms, what's happening with the holding companies, CTV, ad tech, what surprised people the most and much more:Susan Credle Global Creative Advisor, InterPublic Former Global Chair & CCO of FCB The good news: Tech, data, platforms and AI language finally took a backseat to a consistent declaration: creativity is the human additive that will give real economic value to our rapidly commoditizing businesses. The bad news: No one was asking the harder question — Why aren't creative businesses and people valued economically? And more importantly, how does that business model change, ASAP? ________________________________________ The yachts anchored next to the Palais des Festivals were dialed down this year. They seemed less like floating parties and more like quiet respites from the chaos of the beach — that sand in front of the Mediterranean you can hardly see anymore. While the perception of yachts remains indulgent, the reality is they remind me of what the piers in front of the hotels used to be: intimate spaces for quiet, important conversations that build relationships lasting long after the festival breaks down and Cannes returns to a lovely seaside town in the South of France. ________________________________________ What still irks me is how many people tied to the creative side of this industry skip the Palais each night — we miss the celebration of the work that should make this festival matter. Worse, we plan parties and dinners during the show. If we, the stewards of creativity, don't value the original purpose of Cannes, why would anyone else? Next year, let's set a better example: Go to the shows. See the work. Celebrate it. It's why we're here. Or it should be. ________________________________________ The Carlton took the Carlton to the next level this year — at times, it felt like the first vestibule of Dante's Inferno. And the quiet Majestic I once retreated to now feels like the old Carlton. (I hear the Mondrian was less of a Charlie Foxtrot, but I'll let someone else confirm that.) ________________________________________ My favorite moments were the small gatherings with clients discussing the work that was winning at Cannes. Be it a tour of the work in the basement of the Palais or small gatherings with a focused conversation leading to vulnerable Q&A moments. Did we agree? Disagree? Were our apertures widened about what creativity can do — solving business problems, creating opportunities, building brands? Would we rethink our partnerships? Were we inspired? Were we in this together? The body language leaning forward seemed to say, Law Creative Chairperson Accenture Song What I saw in Cannes I can't remember a Cannes being so divided into three worlds - the tech platforms, the agencies and the brands. The platforms were bubbling with optimism as they demonstrated more concrete creative applications of genAI. The agencies felt lost, unable to articulate a coherent model for a future that is arriving too fast. And the brands seemed to be watching and waiting with a detached curiosity. What I heard most often 'AI needs humans.' A handwavy statement that is true, but achingly unspecific. The details of what we make, who makes it and how we make it, are still fuzzy. (Incidentally, I tried to answer these questions in my presentation on stage at the Palais on the afternoon of June 19.) What surprised me the most The mindboggling progress of the AI video generators. The creative control and production values of engines like Veo 3 leave no doubt that soon almost every video will be made without a camera. Next Cannes we'll have a much better idea of how this changes what we see in our feeds, what our jobs look like and how our businesses will Shing, Best Known as 'Shingy' Digital Prophet & Storyteller What I heard the most: AI, of course. But not in the way it will change creativity—more like how it might replace it. That's the wrong question. The right one? How can AI unbox us from decades of dusty workflows, overproduced sameness, and rinse-repeat formats? I argued for something different: let's not use new tools to recreate the same old cage. Let's use them to break it. Let's use AI to breathe—because creativity needs oxygen, not automation. What I saw the most White linen. Influencers in pastel. Ad tech throwing parties that don't mention tech. But amidst the haze, the work that stood out whispered instead of screamed. A train ticket that doubles as a lottery ticket. A KitKat replacing a phone in your hand. Vaseline verifying the unfiltered. Subtitles designed with intention, not as an afterthought. Each one a heartbeat. Each one solving something real. What I learned That sometimes, the best work hides in plain sight. Not on stage, but in the quiet genius of the Titanium shortlist. Not in the panels about 'authentic audiences,' but in the pavement art that made me pause mid-scroll. The future isn't more noise. It's better signal. What surprised me the most That we're still talking about 'authenticity' like it's a trend, not a truth. That we invite creators to panels but don't always treat them like co-conspirators in invention. That no one seems to notice—we've already entered a post-interface era. The best brand experiences won't be seen. They'll be felt. What I want to see more of next year: Less orchestration. More improvisation. Less 'innovation theater.' More soulful utility. Less 'build it for culture.' More 'build it from culture.' And maybe—just maybe—someone brave enough to show up with nothing to sell but something to Cooper CMO GumGum What I heard most often in Cannes Two themes kept popping up: consumer attention and emotional connection. There's this growing need to not just get eyeballs but to mean something to the people consuming the content. Marketers are trying to bridge performance with real emotional resonance. It's no longer just about reach, it's about impact. What I saw most often This one is easy - content! You couldn't walk a block without running into a panel, a recording, a creator with a camera crew or some branded moment happening in the background. And not just fluff—there was actually a lot of thoughtful stuff happening. But with so much going on, the real challenge was figuring out where to be and when. What I learned CTV standardization stood out. While industry demand is growing, a lack of standards is slowing adoption. That's something we as an industry must address as the potential of the channel grows. What surprised me the most Of course, the beach was full of activations as usual, but there seemed to be many more restaurant and store takeovers this year by both brands and tech companies. What I want to see more of next year There was lots of talk about AI moving beyond simply streamlining workflows to usage in publishing technology and creatives. I'd like to see more concrete use cases and case studies of how this is working in practice next red carpet at the Palais des Festivals where every creative wants to hold a Lion Antonia Faulkner Head of Corporate Communications & Ads Marketing, Analytics and Insights EMEA Samsung Ads What I heard most often AI was certainly a hot topic and it is exciting to see its capabilities in making ad tech more effective in terms of optimization and targeting. There was a lot of talk about its role in creativity, but I don't think AI can replace it. Authentic stories are created by people, not AI. What I saw most often It was great to see more creators present, redefining what content—and more specifically TV content—is. Chef and creator Ian Fujimoto joined a panel we hosted which described how CTV and streaming platforms are reshaping the traditional 'television show,' bringing a new world of creative and commercial opportunity. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney also had a larger presence this year, and so it's great to see TV in all its shapes and forms taking center stage. What I learned TV is having a real renaissance, and this is a great time to be working in this space. There is so much buzz about the possibilities around TV. What surprised me the most As per what I said above, just the sheer number of creators this year was a driving force—instead of just attending, creators were actively involved in keynotes, collaborations and shaping the event's agenda. The festival's introduction of creator and start-up passes a few years back has clearly led to a shift in the event's dynamics, with this group now playing a more central role. What I want to see more of next year More creativity in TV advertising. I want to see brands getting more experimental and truly harnessing all the capabilities that come with Guglielmo President Chemistry Cannes was, as one might predict, a crescendo of 2025 trend-chasing, hitting the high notes with extra color, more candor and much better views. It reinforced what I know, but even more so, it set me to brace for what I don't know. My favorite truth of the week (outside of Jeff Goodby's mic-dropping that fear and jealousy are essential in this biz) was that when it comes to AI, we're all in danger of looking the wrong way. Everyone's talking about how to use AI to market. But no one's ready for when we have to market to AI I went to Cannes expecting to learn-and-burn (southern girls don't sweat, they glisten), but I didn't expect the airport. The AIRPORT. The great equalizer where all of us marketing-obsessed masters of corporate sports are stripped of our accolades and VIP positions and find ourselves in the exact same boat. A lovely metaphor for marketing as a whole this year, actually, at least in part. We come to Cannes to network, and some of the best networking happens while you're waiting, and waiting, and waiting in line with peers and role models who, in between airline announcements, put their brands down and commiserate with glorious adland war stories—wild pitches, creative miracles, marriage proposals, accidental espionage and every charmingly self-effacing tale in between. Cannes is about the work. But it's also about the people behind the work. The cultures behind the cultures. The best conversations, insights and connections don't always happen at the Palais or in planned meetings, they happen at gate Hornaday CEO BarkleyOKRP What I heard the most AI was the headliner—again—but this year the conversation matured. It wasn't just 'look what it can do,' it was 'look how we should be using it.' Clients now expect agencies to be fluent in AI across workflow, data and content creation. The best creative teams are figuring out how to use these tools not just for efficiency, but for personalization and real brand-building. Craft, taste and great ideas matter more than ever, especially now that it's incredibly easy to flood the world with mediocre content. What I saw the most The festival is increasingly leaning into trade show style noise, with multimillion-dollar stages, beach houses and over-the-top activations everywhere. Yet for many of us, the most valuable conversations happened in smaller, private forums, intimate gatherings and meetings with clients, peers and press. It'll be interesting to see if this sparks a shift toward more thoughtful, focused experiences at Cannes. I think we'd all welcome that. What I learned Integrating creativity and media is still a giant opportunity. The best work—the kind that wins at Cannes—doesn't separate the two. The real task ahead is in smashing those silos: media, strategy, data and creative working as one from the jump. What surprised me the most The growing skepticism around the holding company model. Aside from Publicis, the energy around the big networks Between leadership uncertainty, structural shake-ups and looming mergers, there's real vulnerability there, and that might mean big talent (and clients) shifts in the future. What I want to see more of next year More work that connects marketing to business outcomes. This old line, 'I'm wasting half my budget, I just don't know which half,' was repeated a lot last week. CMOs are more willing than ever to experiment, but they're hungry for results, not just vibes. The future belongs to those who can measure creative impact and make it repeatable. Le Vieux Port where yachts berth for parties, content and networking Natalie Silverstein Chief Innovation Officer, Collectively The Brandtech Group What I saw I've seen creators start to play a bigger and bigger role at Cannes over the past several years, and it definitely felt like they've finally been fully embraced across the festival. Walking up and down the Croisette, I ran into so many creators we work with. Marketers across the spectrum were talking about seeing big creators as important multiplatform media partners. I personally had a lot of conversations about what's ahead at the intersection of generative AI and the creator economy. From digital twins, synthetic creators and 0 to 1 video in social feeds to deeper measurement through LLMs and personalization of creator media at scale, there's no doubt that we'll see a ton of innovation in the year ahead. What I heard Gen AI isn't going to negate the need for human creativity. Instead, we're going to see totally new skillsets and novel applications of foundational storytelling experience Irgang President/Founder Red Shoes Marketing Former SVP Marketing at Kraft Foods and GoDaddy What I heard A lot of healthy discussion about the human element and the need for it given AI. So, while we all run to test, learn and activate with every form of AI, the outcry was to elevate the human element or 'human-ness' that is required to drive the nuance and empathy that AI often misses. This is an encouraging sign. Let's let AI do the grunt work, the data sorting and analysis, and let's let the humans bring pure creativity and new thinking to the table. It could be a best of both worlds if we manage this right. What I saw The Festival has gotten very commercial and while that's good for the Lions' business, it takes some of the objectivity and authenticity away from the experience. It has become too much of a world of have and have-nots, access and no access, VIPs and just regular Joes. Somehow, that doesn't feel right for an industry that wants to open its messages to the world and drive growth. Cannes Lions seems to be embracing growth for the biggest spenders or biggest brand titles. What I learned People are what makes his industry great. Meeting old friends and finding new ones is what got me excited all week. Every conversation was a new stimulation to another POV, perspective and idea. Our differences and openness to connect is what makes being in this business wonderful. That's a spirit that will never die. What surprised me the most Despite a chaotic global economy, brand spending reductions and a cautious outlook on growth, the spending and cash was flowing, flowing, flowing. The activations on the beach were outrageous (in a good way) and must have cost a fortune. The dinners, yachts and free-flowing extravagance seemed somewhat out of sync with current business conditions. What I want to see more of next year Less content, but longer richer discussions. Too many 15- and 30-minute panels that took two hours to get into and not enough time to really get deep on topics. This is an industry that thrives on curiosity and creativity, and I would love to see more time to dive deep and explore.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich join race to sign Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens
Kicker reports that Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are getting serious about acquiring young English talent Jamie Gittens. Chelsea have also set their sights on the Borussia Dortmund professional, but the English and German club remain far apart in negotiations over the transfer fee. Bayern board-member-for-sport Max Eberl has left the Club World Cup and returned to Germany in order to take a more active role in shoring up his club's summer purchases. The German publication has plenty of news to offer up on other candidates Eberl and the FCB front office are considering. Advertisement Kicker notes that FCB moves for Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Rafael Leo (AC Milan), and Cody Gakpo (Liverpool are appearing less likely to join the German giants. Williams is reported to prefer a move to FC Barcelona. Gakpo – with a price tag of €70m – is considered a disproportionate investment. Leo could still head to Bavaria, with former Serie A defender Kim Min-jae serving as a bargaining chip in a potential swap deal. Other players such as Bradley Barcola of Paris St. Germain and Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion, are no longer serious targets for Eberl and his staff. Kicker cites its own sources to claim that Eberl has already held talks with Gittens' entourage. Given that Dortmund held firm against Chelsea's pursuit of the 20-year-old, organizing a transfer sham, not prove easy. Even a fourth Chelsea bid totaling some €55m was said to be rejected by BVB. GGFN | Peter Weis
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mathys Tel joins Tottenham permanently
After rumors began surfacing Saturday evening, Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel's permanent move to Tottenham was confirmed Sunday morning. In a recent interview, FCB board-member-for-sport Max Eberl noted that the Bundesliga Champions wished to conclude the deal as promptly as possible. Everything is now sewn up. Kicker confirms reports that the Premier League club will pay €35m for the 20-year-old. Tel departs Germany having scored 16 goals in 83 competitive appearances for his German club. Thus far, he's notched only three tallies for his new North London outfit. The 2024/25 Europa League winners nevertheless prepare to bank on his potential. Advertisement 'Mathys Tel joined FC Bayern as a very young player and took his first steps in top-flight international football here,' Eberl noted in an FCB statement. 'He was a popular figure in our team who always gave his all for the club and the team. It has become clear that the move to Tottenham is the right step for his development.' GGFN | Peter Weis
Sunday World
10-06-2025
- Sunday World
Irishman allegedly tried to steal €200k of drugs he found floating in sea near Santa Ponsa
A pre-trial indictment drafted after the 24-year-old was charged accused him of wading into the water to pick up a 31 kilo bundle PUBLIC prosecutors have demanded a four-and-a-half year jail sentence for an Irishman who allegedly tried to steal more than €200,000 of cannabis he found floating in the sea off a Majorcan beach. A pre-trial indictment drafted after the 24-year-old was charged accused him of wading into the water to pick up a 31 kilo bundle of hash "with the intention of selling the drugs." He was arrested just after 3pm on October 24 2023 along with a second Spanish suspect aged 25 at a beach called Cala Blanca near the popular holiday resort of Santa Ponsa. Santa Ponsa. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10 A security guard called police when he spotted them leaving the sea with the bale of cannabis, with Barcelona Football Club initials stamped on it, after it was abandoned by traffickers during a failed drug drop in a storm. Cops found them soaking wet and sitting near a Volkswagen Golf with the same package hidden behind it after following a trail of blue raffia from the cannabis bale. Spanish prosecutors, who valued the drugs at €211,967 in a three-page indictment, flagged up how the blundering alleged thieves had lost the keys to the car as they tried to 'flee the scene' with the drugs. The suspects have been on bail for the past near two years since their arrests and appearance before an investigate magistrate who decided there was enough evidence to charge them with a drugs offence following a lengthy behind-closed-doors criminal probe. Police had been placed on alert around the time they were held after drugs washed ashore in the Majorcan municipalities of Calvia and Andratx. Officers were pictured at the time recovering a blue bale of cannabis with the initials FCB - Futbol Club Barcelona - stamped on it in black which appeared near the Brismar Hotel in Port Andratx. Subsequent local reports said 19 bales had been recovered in just three days between October 21 and 24 2023. Some holiday beaches were briefly cordoned off after the drugs washed ashore. The cannabis resin finds were linked to a failed attempt to smuggle the drugs into one of the Balearic Islands during a storm. As well as a lengthy prison sentence if they are convicted, public prosecutors are also seeking fines of €840,000 for each man. It was not immediately clear this morning if the Irish national lives in Majorca or was holidaying in the area at the time, and when he will go on trial. In October 2020 Spanish police seized an estimated £14 million of drugs thanks to Storm Barbara. Nearly 90 bales of cannabis resin weighing three tons washed up on Isla Canela beach near Ayamonte close to Spain's south-west border with Portugal. Police had to use several vehicles to move them. A high-speed boat that had run aground and is thought to have been employed by the unlucky drugs smugglers was also seized so forensic experts could go over it for clues. A number of young Brits including several women have been arrested in the last few weeks and accused of trying to smuggle drugs in different parts of the world. A glamorous British OnlyFans model is languishing in prison near Barcelona after being caught trying to smuggle nearly £200,000 worth of drugs into Spain. Clara Wilson, from Huthwaite, Notts, has been charged with a drug running offence after more than 34 kilos of cannabis were found in her suitcase at the Catalan capital's El Prat airport. And the pretty 36-year-old has been warned she faces being caged for up to four years and ordered to pay more than £750,000 in fines if convicted. Clara was held as she got off a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on January 20 although she is thought to have travelled to Barcelona from Bangkok with stopovers in India and Qatar. She was remanded to prison two days after her arrest and has been held there ever since as part of her pre-trial detention. British OAP William Eastman, 79, is currently languishing in a Chilean prison after being arrested at Santiago International Airport with five kilos of methamphetamine worth an estimated £200,000. A 23-year-old British woman in Ghana was arrested last month after being accused of attempting to bring up to 18kg of cannabis into the UK on a May 18 British Airways flight to Gatwick. Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while she was believed to be holidaying in Thailand. However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia, allegedly carrying 30 pounds (14kg) of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation. And recently 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, from Coulsdon, south London, was arrested in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo after police discovered 46 kg of 'Kush' - a synthetic strain of cannabis - in her suitcase. The former flight attendant, facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted, is claiming she had 'no idea' about the drugs worth up to £1.2 million and insisting they must have been planted in her luggage without her knowledge.
