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NYC Lawmakers Maintain Ties With Convicted Child Sex Abuser Who Unleashed Racist Tirade At Hearing

A child sex offender affiliated with a progressive advocacy group remains tight with some lefty lawmakers — despite a racist tirade he unleashed at a 2022 City Council hearing.

Several Council members this month were seen on video and in photos schmoozing and protesting with Douglas Powell, despite the ex-con's anti-Asian tirade in December while testifying on behalf of VOCAL-NY in support of a controversial tenant background check bill.

"Did you see those Asian people that just were talking?" he said in videotaped remarks, referring to two women who testified before him. "I live in Rego Park now. That's the most racist neighborhood I've ever been in, and it's nothing but Asians."

"If you go into a store, they will follow you around like you're getting ready to steal something," Powell, 59, added. "They don't want black people living in black people neighborhoods. Because it's not their neighborhood, because they're from China, they're from Hong Kong. We from New York."

Despite a raft of lawmakers denouncing Powell's vitriol afterward, VOCAL-NY — a nonprofit focused on "ending the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness" that's gotten at least $4.4 million in city funding and contracts since 2014 — refused to part ways with Powell after his racist remarks.

Powell was listed as a Level 2 sex offender after a 2012 conviction for an attempted criminal sex act with a victim under the age of 15 in 2008.

Susan Lee — one of the women on the receiving end of Powell's December vitriol — told The Post some of the same lawmakers who denounced him then seem fine with him now, saying pictures of Council members alongside Powell this month "speaks volumes about where their priorities are."

"To see those photos, it's like my hurt doesn't matter," she said.

At a May 4 holiday gathering hosted by the Jewish organization Tidorf, and attended by VOCAL-NY members, Powell can be seen leaning back in his chair across the table from Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who in December decried the ex-con's remarks as "inappropriate and unacceptable in Council Chambers and everywhere."

Councilwomen Gale Brewer, Shahana Hanif and Sandy Nurse were also seated at the table with Powell, while fellow Democratic pol Pierina Ana Sanchez appeared with the ex-con in another photo.

Days later, at a VOCAL-NY memorial rally for Jordan Neely, Councilwoman Sandy Nurse stood in the front row with Powell — a move that drew some public criticism at Wednesday's Council budget hearing.

In February, City Councilman Ari Kagan (R-Brooklyn) joined the Council's other Republicans and moderate Democrat Robert Holden in voting against reallocating funds for VOCAL-NY.

"Any council member who claims to support [the] Asian American community and condemns racism should stay far away from this bigot," Kagan said.

Two months earlier, Holden (D-Queens) wrote a letter to the Council speaker demanding the legislative body stop funding an organization that had engaged "in such radical and deplorable rhetoric."

"Elected officials should denounce these comments and hold VOCAL-NY accountable instead of standing with these extremists at rallies and giving them taxpayer dollars," Holden recently told The Post.

© Provided by New York Post Council Speaker Adrienne Adams 9center with microphone) sits across the table from Douglas Powell (far back center left) during a Pesach Sheni celebration.Instagram/@jfrejnyc

During the fiscal year ending June 30, the City Council allocated $642,000 in discretionary funding to the nonprofit to bankroll various progressive causes, including $350,000 for opioid prevention and treatment measures and $5,000 for education workshops on housing and housing rights.

A Council spokesperson said Mayor Eric Adams had been attending the Tidorf holiday celebration to discuss housing issues and had no control over who had been invited. She noted "interfaith and cross-cultural engagement amongst New Yorkers is a pathway to increased understanding and respect of one another."

Powell declined to comment, saying only: "I can't help you."

VOCAL-NY did not respond to multiple requests for comment, nor did Hanif, Nurse, Sanchez or Brewer.

6 Must-have Apps To Amp Up Your Next Party

I don't know about you, but I personally love a good party with family and friends. Aside from spending time with your loved ones and having delicious food, there are other ways that you can guarantee your party to be one to remember for a long time. Here are my top tech picks to help you throw your best birthday celebration, a holiday gathering, or just a casual get-together.

CLICK TO GET KURT'S CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH QUICK TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, SECURITY ALERTS AND EASY HOW-TO'S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

There are thousands of apps out there to help you plan your party. You can find apps to help you make invitations, create a killer music playlist, use a photo booth app to take memorable pictures, and even use meeting apps if you're throwing a virtual event.

Here are some of my favorite apps that can be used for parties.

A garden party in the brownstone neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, May 19, 2023, in Brooklyn, New York. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Evite

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing) 

Android: 4.3 stars (at the time of publishing) 

Evite is a dedicated invitation platform that allows you to create and send digital invitations for a variety of events. (Fox News)

A great party starts with a great invitation, and my number one pick for sending amazing online invites is Evite. Evite is a dedicated invitation platform that allows you to create and send digital invitations for a variety of events. They have templates for everything from birthdays to weddings, and thousands of people have used the app to create invitations for their events. The invitations can be made digitally and sent to your friends and family members via text message or email. Once your invites are sent, you can track the RSVPs for free on the app. The app is free to use, or you can subscribe to its premium plan, which will give you access to even more features and invite templates. The Evite app is available on both iPhone and Android devices.

Spotify

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing) 

Android: 4.4 stars (at the time of publishing) 

Spotify is one of the most popular music-downloading apps in the game, with over 26 million downloads. You can make as many playlists as you want and even create and share your own music playlists. It offers millions of songs from all different genres, so you can make the perfect playlist for your party. And if you buy a good speaker, you can play your music loud enough to give it more of a party vibe. It's free to download and use, and if you want the ad-free version, you can get a subscription. The Spotify app is available on both iPhone and Android devices.

5 BEST APPS TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH A BOTTLE OF WINE GIFTED TO YOU IS WORTH

Simple Booth

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at the time of publishing

The Simple Booth app for iPhones lets you capture and share the fun of a Photo Booth right from your device. You can add some fun props and backdrops. The app allows you to take photos or GIFs with the app, create unique layouts or photo strips, choose filters, and more. It also allows you to instantly share photos to your preferred social media platforms, as well as through email or text message. You can even use editing tools like shuffle, crop, and more. This app is only available for iOS phones, however, there is another app called Photobooth mini for Androids that is very similar and had 3.8 stars at the time of publishing.

Zoom

iPhone: 4.6 stars (at the time of publishing) 

Android: 4.2 stars (at the time of publishing) 

Zoom is an excellent platform for hosting virtual events; you can invite as many people as you want (Fox News)

After the pandemic, we should all be pretty familiar with Zoom. It's an excellent platform for hosting virtual events; you can invite as many people as you want. You can use the app on your phone, iPad, or laptop and communicate with all your guests easily. You can even share your screen during the event and play music from your device or spice things up with a variety of backgrounds to choose from by going into your Zoom settings and choosing Virtual Background.

Zoom even began hosting a live hybrid event experience called Zoomtopia in 2022. This is perfect for people in the workforce wanting to host virtual work events because it gives you the ability to host a variety of events, from multi-day summits to multi-track conferences.

FOR MORE OF MY TIPS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER BY HEADING TO CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER

Zoom is free to use, but you do have to get a subscription if you want your event to be longer than 45 minutes. (Fox News)

Zoom is free to use, but you do have to get a subscription if you want your event to be longer than 45 minutes. If you accompany this with a projector and screen, you can even project your Zoom party onto the big screen to make it even more fun. The Zoom app is available on both iPhone and devices.

BEST SMART THERMOSTATS TO KEEP YOU AT THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE 

Heads up!

iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing) 

Android: 3.5 stars (at time of publishing) 

Heads Up! Is a fun mobile game app to incorporate into any party. How it works is you hold your phone against your forehead and guess the word on the screen based on your friends' hints. (Fox News)

Heads Up! Is a fun mobile game app to incorporate into any party. How it works is you hold your phone against your forehead and guess the word on the screen based on your friends' hints. The game features a diverse range of categories and the ability to customize your own decks. It's sure to be a hit for your party, family gathering, or any occasion where you want people laughing and creating lasting memories.  

Psych!

iPhone: 4.3 stars (at time of publishing) 

Android: 3.9 stars (at time of publishing) 

Psych adds a fresh twist to trivia and social gaming. Players create fake answers to real questions, trying to fool their friends. (Fox News)

Psych! Is the ultimate party game app! It adds a fresh twist to trivia and social gaming. Players create fake answers to real questions, trying to fool their friends. The goal is to trick others into choosing the wrong answer while you select the right one. With tons of categories and a huge question database, Psych! Guarantees laughter and friendly competition. It's perfect for small groups or big multiplayer matches, making any party a blast.

Invest in quality entertainment products

You can also upgrade your party experience with some cool entertainment products. I did my homework and found some great tech for your next soiree. Whether you want to show videos or movies outdoors with a mini projector or print those favorite party photos instantly with a portable printer. And let's not forget how important a good speaker is when you are playing your music. I also discovered a high-tech gadget that will even make mixed drinks for your guests.

You can check out these great entertainment gizmos at CyberGuy.Com/Party

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Kurt's key takeaways

So, whether you're planning a birthday celebration, a holiday gathering, or just a casual get-together, incorporating these tech picks will take your party to the next level and create unforgettable memories for you and your guests.

Have you tried any of these options yet for your parties? What are some others you enjoy using? Let us know by writing us at CyberGuy.Com/Contact For more of my tips, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to CyberGuy.Com/Newsletter

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt's CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.Com.

Biden, House Speaker McCarthy To Speak On Debt Limit

President Joe Biden planned on Sunday to speak directly with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, hoping to salvage talks to raise the debt limit that have stalled in recent days while he was abroad at the Group of Seven summit.

GOP lawmakers are holding tight to demands for sharp spending cuts, rejecting the alternatives proposed by the White House for reducing deficits.

Biden and world leaders at the gathering for industrial nations in Japan had been closely tracking the negotiations, looking for signs of a compromise that would ensure the federal government can keep paying its bills and avoid a potentially catastrophic default.

Biden has tried to project optimism even as the talks back in Washington were rocky.

Republicans are rejecting a White House plan that would impose less strict cuts while also increasing revenues.

The two sides are up against a deadline as soon as June 1 to raise its borrowing limit, now at $31 trillion.

"We're going to get a chance to talk later today," Biden said of McCarthy, R-Calif., while the president met with the leaders of Japan and South Korea at the G7 in Hiroshima, Japan.

But McCarthy may need bipartisan support; it's possible he'll need as many as 100 House Democratic votes to pass an agreement, based on likely GOP defections and past votes, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The person was not authorized to provide details about the proposal and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

In the latest round, McCarthy's team called for deep cuts to non-defense spending, while insisting on increased funding for the military.

Education, health care, Meals on Wheels and other programs would likely bear the burden, according to the person.

The GOP wants work requirements on Medicaid, though the administration has countered that millions of people could lose coverage.

The Republican side also introduced new cuts to food aid by restricting states' ability to wave work requirements in places with high joblessness, an idea that when floated by the Trump administration was estimated to cause 700,000 people to lose their food benefits.

© Provided by New York Post McCarthy holds a press conference at the US Capitol, following his meeting with United States President Joe Biden at the White House on debt limit negotiations, in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2023.Rod Lamkey – CNP / MEGA

The GOP lawmakers are also seeking cuts to IRS funding and asking the White House to accept provisions from their proposed immigration overhaul.

The White House has countered by keeping defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in fiscal 2024 and $1 trillion over 10 years.

Republicans have also rejected White House proposals to raise revenues in order to further lower deficits.

Among the proposals the GOP objects to are policies that would enable Medicare to pay less for prescription drugs and the closing of a dozen tax loopholes.

Republicans have refused to roll back the Trump-era tax breaks on corporations and wealthy households as Biden's own budget has proposed.

With talks frozen on Saturday as each side accused the other of being unreasonable, Biden was frequently briefed on the status of negotiations and directed his team to set up the call with McCarthy.

© Provided by New York Post Biden meeting with congressional Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss legislative priorities for the rest of the year, on Nov. 29, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. AP

The decision to set up a call came after another start-stop day with no outward signs of progress. Food was brought to the negotiating room at the Capitol on Saturday morning, only to be carted away hours later, and no meeting was expected.

Talks, though, could resume on Sunday after the two leaders' conversation.

"The Speaker's team put on the table an offer that was a big step back and contained a set of extreme partisan demands that could never pass both Houses of Congress," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement late Saturday.

"Let's be clear: The president's team is ready to meet any time," said Jean-Pierre, adding that Republican leadership is beholden to its extreme wing in threatening default.

McCarthy tweeted that it was the White House that was "moving backward in negotiations."

He said "the socialist wing" of the Democratic party appears to be in control, "especially with President Biden out of the country."

Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, who has worked closely with McCarthy to shape the GOP proposal told The Associated Press late Saturday that there were no meetings scheduled Sunday.

Republicans are trying to grab the president's attention rather than negotiators.

"If the president doesn't re-engage, I don't know the staff conversations can bear fruit," Johnson said.

Biden, attending the meeting of the world's most powerful democracies, tried to reassure them on Saturday that the United States would not default, a scenario that would rattle the world economy. He said he felt there was headway in the talks.

© Provided by New York Post Biden shakes hands as he presents a copy of his speech to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, before he delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, on Feb. 7, 2023. REUTERS

"The first meetings weren't all that progressive, the second ones were, the third one was," he said. The president added that he believes "we'll be able to avoid a default, and we'll get something decent done."

For months, Biden had refused to engage in talks over the debt limit, insisting that Congress must not play political games by trying to use the borrowing limit vote as leverage to extract other policy priorities.

But as the deadline approaches as soon as June 1 when Treasury says it could run out of cash, and Republicans put their own legislation on the table, the White House launched talks on a budget deal that could accompany an increase in the debt limit.

Negotiations heading into the weekend had been dizzying. McCarthy said Friday it was time to "pause" talks but then the two sides convened again in the evening, only to quickly call it quits for the night.

"We reengaged, had a very, very candid discussion," Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., a negotiator on McCarthy's side, said Friday evening.

As the White House team left the nighttime session, Biden counselor Steve Ricchetti, who is leading talks for the Democrats, said he was hopeful. "We're going to keep working," he said.

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