Yorkers

US President Donald Trump labelled New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani ‘a communist’ and claimed New Yorkers would flee the city when he becomes mayor. In his election victory speech, Mamdani called Trump ‘a despot’ and said he had ‘betrayed the country’.

Tourists from New York have shared their thoughts on Blackpool after hearing how the seaside resort is commonly referred to as the ‘Las Vegas of the North’ – and they only had good things to say

When visiting England, most tourists make a beeline for London due to its history, culture and endless activities. But two New Yorkers decided to add Blackpool to their list to compare its similarities to Sin City after hearing how it’s described as the “Las Vegas of the North”.

When exploring its sights, tourists Max and Max bumped into TikTok user @AWalkOnTheWildSideTV who asked them about their visit. He said: “I’m here with Max and Max from New York – so what you doing here guys?” In response, the tourist said: “We’re checking out Blackpool. We’re seeing the sights with the man himself [points at AWalkOnTheWildSideTV].” But there was one thing that took them both by surprise – Blackpool’s deep history.

Max added: “We’re not used to cities with such rich history as this in the US. When was it named? 1602. It’s unbelievable and it’s beautiful. We’re loving it.”

Blackpool received its name in the Medieval ages from a discoloured steam that drained through peatland, creating a black pool where it met the sea.

The name first appeared in a baptismal register for the Bispham parish, with the modern spelling Blackpool, in 1602.

The seaside town has been a hotspot for tourists ever since the 18th century when sea bathing gained popularity for his health benefits.

In more recent times, it has become known as ‘Las Vegas of the North’ due to its lively nightlife, bright lights, extensive slot arcades and reputation for entertainment.

Now, it attracts around 20 million tourists annually, according to a STEAM report that measures attendance at events, visitor attraction numbers, and occupancy levels at hotels.

Commenting on his video, one user said: “It must be rewarding meeting people who are tourists from abroad not only that you could bump into a celebrity.”

Another user added: “Keep up the good work, mate. Post more videos, they are amazing.”

A third user said: “It was lovely that Max and Max wanted to meet you. I know you enjoyed meeting them.”

On his channel, AWalkOnTheWildSideTV, whose real name is Stevie, shares a glimpse of every day life in Blackpool as well as documenting notable events – such as when the Typhoon and C-17 Globemaster took off from the seaside town.

In one of his most-viewed videos, he showed off an “epic Blackpool sunset”, saying even the police spotted to take in the breathtaking view.

One user added: “The best sunsets are in Blackpool, this one is a beauty.” Another user said: “Don’t care what anyone says, Blackpool is magical.”

Someone said: “Blackpool has the best sunsets in the world.” A final user said: “I live near the front and run most nights looking at this.”

June 24 (UPI) — New Yorkers are facing scorching temperatures Tuesday as they head to the polls in local elections that include the hotly contested Democratic primary race for New York City mayor between former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani.

According to returns released as of 3 p.m. EDT, by the Board of Elections, more than 326,000 New Yorkers had voted Tuesday. More than 384,000 cast their ballot during early voting last week, which is more than double the number of early votes during the 2021 primaries for mayor.

Temperatures reached into the triple-digits Tuesday, hitting 102 degrees at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as voters in New York City braved the heat to cast their ballots. One polling site in Brooklyn had no air conditioning, leaving it up to poll workers to bring their own electric fans from home as New York’s Board of Elections provided only paper fans.

“I went to the management office and they said they didn’t convert it from heat to A/C. The air conditioning system wasn’t converted,” said a poll coordinator at the Taylor Wythe Community Center polling site. “It was supposed to be converted in April.”

One voter criticized New York City’s government for not doing better.

“Where are my tax dollars going?” said a woman, who did not want to give her name. “It’s 2025, who lets people work in this heat with no A/C?”

Primary elections in New York City use ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to express their preferences beyond just a single choice in an effort to prevent runoff elections. The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated first, until one candidate secures 50% of the votes. New York City’s last mayoral primary took several weeks to be decided.

The turnout and interest in the Democratic race for New York City’s mayor comes as two very different candidates are pitted against each other, with nine other candidates trailing far behind the two frontrunners.

Mamdani, 33, has been a New York State representative for the 36th district of Queens since 2021. During his run for mayor, Mamdani has called for free city buses, public child care, a rent freeze and affordable housing. He has received endorsements from progressive politicians, including Democrats Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and he has been accused of being anti-Semitic while arguing he is only holding Israel accountable.

Just after 5 p.m. EDT, Mamdani reminded voters, in a post on X, that there were “less than four hours to go” before the polls close.

If elected, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor. He has criticized a super PAC, backing Cuomo, for being Islamophobic for altering images of him in a campaign mailer.

“Fix the City” PAC defended the mailers.

“Every Fix the City ad and mailer presents Mr. Mamdani unaltered; the photos, policies and plans are his,” said Liz Benjamin, a spokesperson for the PAC.

“When you strip away his Hollywood tinsel, what you realize is that Mr. Mamdani has repeatedly embraced the rhetoric of hate,” Benjamin added. “It is far past time to disavow his own calls to ‘globalize the intifada,’ which many understood is an invitation to violence.”

Cuomo, 67, resigned as governor of New York in 2021 after more than a dozen women accused him of sexual harassment. Last month, the Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into the former governor over accusations he lied to Congress about the number of nursing home deaths in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Cuomo urged New Yorkers to vote early to beat the heat and reminded residents, in a post on X, that the polls are open until 9 p.m. The Board of Elections says results in the first round of voting should be released by 10 p.m. EDT.

“It’s Election Day. Together, we will save our city,” Cuomo wrote.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is not on Tuesday’s ballot since he is running for re-election as an Independent after dropping out of the Democratic primary in April.

“No such thing as a slow day in NYC! Temps hitting 100 degrees, so we’re keeping everyone cool and healthy. Primary Day across the five boroughs,” Adams wrote Tuesday in a post on X. “Drink your water and stay cool, everyone.”