Hell Gate

Hell Gate NYC has published a piece roasting New York Knicks and Liberty owner James Dolan, featuring Defector writers Patrick Redford and Harry Krinsky. The article revisits Dolan's long history as one of sports' most criticized owners, and the collaboration between the two New York outlets is drawing attention among local sports fans.

A lawsuit filed by a Jane Doe against Cornell University has put a spotlight on New York's handling of voluntary intoxication in sexual assault cases, with state lawmaker Nathalia Fernandez pushing to close what critics call a legal loophole. Hell Gate reports that under current law, a perpetrator's own intoxication can be used to argue they lacked the intent required for certain charges, frustrating victims and advocates. The case is renewing calls in Albany to change the statute.

Executives from AI companies called before the New York City Council repeatedly cited illnesses and medical conflicts to avoid answering questions about the safety of their products, according to Hell Gate. The report catalogs the various ailments invoked, and the pattern is drawing criticism from lawmakers and observers who see it as a way to dodge accountability on AI oversight in the city.

Hell Gate reports that the Brooklyn Democratic Party held a late-night election over Zoom that critics call a sham staged by incumbent party leaders desperate to hold onto power. The party, often described as a 'zombie' machine that persists despite weakened support, is accused of using opaque procedural tactics to shut out reformers and keep control of county leadership positions.