dave evans, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> this is all just so tragic. we invite you to stay with eyewitness news and abc7ny. >>> we're going to turn to the other news of the night. we're going to begin with the mets. they're hoping to win their first pennant in 15 years. far it is 3-1 -- so far it is 3-0. we're going to begin with sports anchor rob powers. >> team is down 0-3. home teams win game 4 12.5% of the time. to chicago we go. game 4, mets and cubs. a win would vault the mets in to their first world series in 15 years. that win could come tonight at wrigley field. we've heard a lot about met pitching in this series. tonight it's long island native steven matz. he's 24. he's been off for about a week. he's made seven career big league starts. his eighth could who game that gets the mets in to the fall classic. >> i don't really have any history with them. they look like a tough lineup. they're a bunch of young fiery guys. it's a great ballpark, a lot of history here so it's going to be fun. >>> from high above wrigley field in chicago, a big nigh

political reporter dave evans with the story at city hall. >> whenever we see an uptick in gun violence such as the shooting of officer uptick in mass shootings such as newtown, aurora, south carolina, we see a new push for gun legislation. but in washington so far, not much in the way of any action. >> reporter: today's bill was introduced on the steps of city hall where flags now fly at half staff in honor of officer randolph holder killed in the line of duty next week. >> we're in the midst of a gun country that should shock the conscience of every decent american. >> reporter: the bill, sponsored by congresswoman velazquez would put a $100 tax on every gun sold in america. much of that would go to fund new mental health programs. velazquez wants perhaps a chip in every gun. could this pass in congress? doubtful but velazquez says something has to change. >> like abraham lincoln said, public sentiment is everything. and i know that the public is asking for leadership in washington. >> reporter: today's event included the families of gun victims, people like shenae johnson. her son ke

dave evans is mayor de blasio on staten island today. >> reporter: we are in maple terrace. the day after sandy the water was 5, 6 feet deep. i want to point out a couple of houses that were rebuilt. this house has been elevated street level. that is for any possible future flooding. you have to do that if you participate in the built it back program. this house is rebuilt and elevated 9 1/2 feet above the street. it has been a long three years for marilou and frank. they lived out of a suitcase for so long. this is the neighborhood in the weeks after sandy. on staten island sandy killed 23 people, displaced more than 75,000 destroyed hundreds of homes. they are part of the city's once troubled built it back program. they have now elevated their home. the windows and siding are new and so is the kitchen inside. but they moved back in just last week. >> i don't know, nothing like your home. no matter how bad it was, we >> when the mayor took office, the built it back program was so badly run not one repair job was finished. 93 homeowners are in the program. more than 5,000 ha

here's political reporter dave evans. >> the report is not in reaction to the takedown of tennis star james blake, but it serves as a good example of what sometimes happens in the department -- that not all police violence is properly recorded. the inspector general released a report faulting the department for not better tracking use of police force. >> our reaction, as in this report, is that it is absolutely unacceptable... that there is not a central mechanism for tracking and reporting use of force. >> curbing the use of police force is a huge issue in police departments across the country. the inspector general praised how los angeles and seattle report things and found fault with new york. >> they have modern, state-of-the-art use-of-force policies. n.y.p.d. was living a little bit in the dark ages with respect to its use-of-force policies. >> i would take strong, strong exception to that language. that is an outrageous comment. this department is nothing close to being in the dark ages. >> police brass were livid with what the i.g. said. still, the department is going ahead an

political reporter dave evans is on the upper west side with details. >> right now we're at the park. we're seeing a lot more in parks all over new york city. and those large holes you might be able to see down there, that's where the rats come and go. when activity has picked up here, we've seen some rats and we're going to see a lot more as night falls. the number of complaints about rats in new york city, it has gone up dramatically in the last several months but the city claims it's doing something about it. >> reporter: we've all seen the video called pizza rat. the questions become is the rat problem in new york city getting worse? nora says absolutely yes. today she pointed out the increasing number of large rat holes in her neighborhood park. >> i see it intensifying and i see them very bold and unafraid and multiplying, more and more presence of these rats. >> reporter: the number of rat complaints to 311 has gone up this year. that's because of a new mobile app making reporting much easier. but the city controller says baloney. rats are bad and getting worse. >> there's no d

political reporter dave evans has more on just what this deal means. mayor de blasio. >> reporter: the mayor could not have been more pleased with today's announcement. an agreement keeping thousands of apartments in peter cooper village reserved for middle class families. for years the owner bickered with tenants, rents went way up and a lot of people like linda, living here 67 years, feared they would be forced out. >> we didn't know what would go on. we were very frightened. i had great neighbors that had to move because they got these rent increases. >> reporter: how do you feel now? >> now i feel we have a chance. >> reporter: today an announcement the huge complex from 14th to 23rd street would be sold but 5,000 apartments would remain rent regulated. it would last for 20 years and the city's investment is about $250 million. >> my friends, this is a great day for new york city. this is a great victory nor tenants everywhere. >> reporter: the blackstone group is buying the complex and many tenants are relieved that the old landlord will soon be g

dave evans is at police headquarters where the announcement was made this afternoon. >> this morning at about 10:30 the inspector general made several recommendations how to curb the use of police use, how to punish bad officers. then several hours later here at police headquarters, the police commissioner admitted there is a bit of a problem how use of force is reported and he made recommendations how the department can fix things. one comment made earlier today by the inspector general, it really ticked off the police commissioner. >> reporter: today's report is not in reaction to the takedown of tennis star james blake but it serves as a good example of what simez happens in the department, that not all police >> our reaction is that it is absolutely unacceptable that there is not a central mechanism for tracking and reporting use of force. >> reporter: curbing the use of police force is a huge issue in police departments across the country. today the inspector general praised how los angeles and seattle record things and found fault with new york. >> they have modern state-of-the

dave evans has the latest in the newsroom. >> short answer to that question is probably no, it will not. every time we see one of these mass shootings, newtown,, or charleston, polls show that americans clamor for more gun control but over time as we get further from a shooting incident , that sentiment wanes. many americans think that our current gun laws are sufficient. then there is the powerful nra. bottom line, because of all that, new gun-control in this congress, unlikely. >> there's been another mass shooting in america. >> when the president spoke about oregon, he was angry. this photo taken just moments after he learned of the news showed his frustration. late today obama vowed he will keep fighting for tougher gun laws. >> this will not change until the politics changes. and the behavior of elected officials changes. >> it keeps happening again and again. and not much changes. >> it's just a flood of painful memories that hits me and just knocks the wind out of me completely. >> nicole hockley lost her 6- year-old son dylan in the sandy hook massacre. after that incident, it

he's political reporter dave evans. >> i'm not running for mayor in 2017. >> reporter: for someone who's not running, eva moskowitz generates a lot of publicity. she's the founder of success academy charter schools. helped organize yesterday's rally. she's also a thorn in the side of the teacher's union and a lot of democrats. >> i don't back down and they've tried threatening every which way possible and i don't back down. >> reporter: the mayor today basically shrugged when told of moskowitz' decision. >> each person has to make their own choice on whether they want to run for office and i said i welcome anyone who makes that choice. >> reporter: while moskowitz talked, a group nearby chanted and shouted. >> she's not running for mayor. is that a relief? >> definitely a relief. can you imagine here being mayor of new york city? >> reporter: many don't like moskowitz and her schools. they call her divisive and point to a new tv ad from some of her supporters who happen to be wealthy wall streeters. the ad shows a white child destined for success who presumably goes to charter school and

dave evans is here with more on the story. >> this whole fight revolves around the mta's capital budget plan. that will go to pay for things like finishing the second avenue subway and fixing the subway stations. both the city and the state are fighting for who pays for what. the feds will pay for most of it. the big question is how much will the city pay? the track, it became the latest in an ongoing battle between the governor and mayor over upkeep of our subways and who pays for what. nicole was on the train with her new baby then just three-days old. >> that really made me upset that our lives are so meaningless that they didn't care enough to manage the trains properly. >> reporter: this ad is running in the daily news, depicting the mayor jumping an mta turnstile. it accuses him of hurting new yorkers. >> the mayor and new york city need to contribute more money. >> reporter: the transit union that paid for the ad said the government is right, the cities should do more. the governor wants some from the city. he said maybe $1.6 is all. nothing close to what the governor is demandin

dave evans, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> eyewitness news is going to bring you coverage on tv and online, the funeral service for officer holder tomorrow afternoon. funeral scheduled to start at 3:00, it will be anchored by liz and david novarro. buried in his native guyana. >>> on this tuesday night, the top cop in suffolk county already the focus of a federal investigation suddenly resigns late this afternoon. >> a new poll has not so good news for one donald trump as he lost his frontrunner status in the republican race for president. >> a reminder, we want to see your pictures showing us your mets pride. i...love new york. these grapes are squishy. i...need a shove. can someone help me? i...love new york. yes, that's a real bear. i...won a trip. that is so exciting. (announcer vo) play the i love new york scratch-off from the new york lottery. you could win trips to exciting >>> he's under federal investigation but tonight the chief of the suffolk county police department insists that has nothing to do with the sudden resignation. >> chief james burke said he resigned for personal an

dave evans has the story. >> the -- bill de blasio campaigned on a tale of two cities. the rich and the poor and vowed lafayette playground, the changes coming. >> this playground is small. only about 1 acre in size. and all concrete. the mayor says there are way too many parks like this all over the city. especially in low income neighborhoods. >> the equity will reach southwest brooklyn. equity will reach the outer this is only the beginning. >> today, city officials announced an extra $135 million added and -- and 12 more parks. lafayette is earmarked to get $5 million now. in three years, it should look more different. >> more green. more active. multigenerational. a place for families. there will be grass here. >> a lot of grass, yes. >> the parks commissioner is following the mayor's mandate. to concentrate not only on glitzy central parks with smaller parks that need help. neighbors say it is about time. >> the city of new york if everything it needs. -- the city of new york will get everything it needs. and we get neglected. >> in all, 67 small parks will eventu

dave evans with more. >> reporter: many agree with the mayor that tyrone howard should have been locked up but court records did not fully reflect his background. a judge offered a drug diversion program. insiders say that is the way the system is supposed to work, that you can't lock up someone indefinitely with little information but the mayor said the system has to change. we know the suspect in this case, tyrone howard, has a long criminal record. the mayor and many others said he should have been locked up long ago so that tuesday night's tragedy never happened. >> i am a believer when someone gave his life for us as officer holder did, they cannot have died in vein and some greater good has to come out of it. >> reporter: his arrest includes 18 arrests for things like assault and robbery, nine narcotics arrests and police were looking for an east harlem shooting. instead of prison time, howard was put in a drug diversion program. the judge that made the decision did not see any violent crimes, no convictions on howard's record. >> that did endanger other folks, dave. drug dealing

eyewitness news political reporter dave evans with the latest. >> depending on your point of view, this is either nasty politics or an attempt to get to what happened in benghazi. so far no gafts or slip-ups by clinton. some believe this may actually end up hurting republicans, not clinton. >> reporter: the democratic frontrunner today on capitol hill began by making a point of shaking hands with all committee members. they're investigating the worst episode of her tenure as secretary of state. the attack in benghazi that left four americans dead, including ambassador chris stevens. >> i take responsibility for what happened in benghazi. >> reporter: in her opening statement, clinton began stone faced but grew somewhat emotional. >> i've lost more sleep than all of you put together. i've been racking my brain about what more could have been done. >> reporter: republicans have been accused of using this hearing to hurt clinton politically. committee with no rules, no deadline, and an unlimited budget. and they set them loose, madam secretary, because you're running for president. >> repo

dave evans on a new proposal for a hefty new tax on guns. we begin with n.j. burkett at the scene of the shooting. >> that's right, i stood on this spot on thursday night and said investigators were optimistic that they would find that handgun. they did. they worked around the clock in and out of the river for five days. groping in the water where visibility is 6 inches at best. there's more investigative work to be done about prosecutors are one step closer to closing this case. >> reporter: the nypd's late scuba team managed to beat the odds and finding a needle in a haystack would have been easier but divers managed to find the 40 caliber pistol used to murder officer randolph holder at the

dave evans is at city hall with more. >> this could be one of the big issues in the race for mayor in 2017. on one side, those who want to see more charter schools, and on the other side the mayor, who has never been a big backer of charter schools. >> reporter: this morning's rally began with oscar and grammy winner jennifer hudson. in all about 15,000 parents, students, and teachers urging the mayor to back charter schools, to give them more money, more space within public schools. >> when i say equal, you say schools. equal schools! >> reporter: organizers and parents say it would be more equal, more fair if the mayor would only see it their way. >> the schools are producing productive children and the it's awesome. >> the education is great. great education. and i'm so proud of the charter school today. >> reporter: protesters then marched over the brooklyn bridge to city hall to deliver the message in person. but the mayor told us a couple weeks ago in an exclusive video that he sees the path to improving schools as pre-k for all 4-year-olds. mandatory algebra classes, and new re

political reporter dave evans following the developments. >> reporter: we don't yet know exactly how many u.s. troops will be going to syria, probably fewer than 50 but they are special operations forces. they will be in the northern part of syria. we hope to hear from the white house on this soon. with elite u.s. troops who will be supporting kurdish forces and syrian rebels. abrash of missiles killed at least 40 people, the latest on this continuing war in that over four years has killed 250,000 people and displaced more than 11 million. to date, 19 foreign ministers including secretary of state john kerry are in vienna trying to hammer out a cease fire that would be followed by the formation of a transition government. it's not clear exactly what will happen now to president bashar assad. it is unlikely that the white house will call this boots on the ground, specially right as the sensitive talks are in vienna. abc news is reporting it will be only a few dozen elite special operations forces, fewer than 50 who will advise and assist others who are fighting isis. now russia and tu

>> political reporter dave evans is live outside city hall with more on this. dave? >> david, despite a lot of violence across the country here in just the last couple of weeks, this new gun law probably does not have much of a chance of passing in washington. in this republican-controlled congress. but congresswoman, we are in an epidemic of gun violence in america and something has got to be done. she announced her bill on the steps of city hall, where flags now fly at half staff, in honor of officer randolph holder who was of course killed last week in the line of duty. her bill would put a $100 tax on every gun sold in america and much of the money would go to mental health programs an between a billion and 2 3w-8 $2 billion a year and a gun registry system with a computer chip found some day in every single gun. >> we need some people in america to wake up from their second amendment slumber addiction and realize that there are reasonable things that can be done and the has embodies the acronym of no real answers. the answer can't be merely that we have a right

political reporter dave evans is here with the details. >> the move is significant because it marks the first time that american troops will be deployed inside syria. the white house insists they will not be involved in day-to- day combat, that they're there simply to train and assist. for some this is a worrisome development that 50 troops won't be effective, that it puts americans at risk. others fear it could lead to a rapid escalation. >> the white house says it is not a major troop deployment like in iraq and afghanistan. fewer than 50 commandos from u.s. special operations. they'll advise syrian rebels and kurdish forces now fighting isil. they'll operate out of northern syria and the white house admits it is a serious risk. >> the president does expect that they can have an impact in intensifying our strategy for building the capacity of local forces inside of syria to taking the fight on the ground to isil in their own >> today's decision comes as a barrage of missiles slammed into a suburb of damascus killing at least 55 people, the latest in this ongoing civil war. today's dec

we also dave warren, who is this. >> evan he's watching right now. >> high buddy.le. happy halloween from the kings of the circus wrangling those lions. and this one blew me away. beyonce' eat your heart out. look at the storm picture from the x-men arielle stunning stunning costume. this last one dope from philly, they're buzz and woody. so cute. dave warren, what's the foreca forecast. >> forecast looks pretty good especial follow trick or treating to night. not quite as cool. a lot of people outside right now just down the street getting ready for that temple game tonight. we'll look at that with the forecast. certainly plenty of sunshine out there right now, and remember to turn your clocks back tonight right before you go to bed. here's what it means for us. tomorrow morning, sunrise 6:30 a.m. sunsets just before 5:00 p.m. now. so turn the blocks back change the batteries in your smoke detects. right now these temperatures are trying to work their way out of the 30s not having much luck despite that sunshine we have now but likely the next hour the top of the

evans. the cold temperatures create something weather warnings though right now. let's get right over to fox 29 meteorologist davearren. dave, chilly out there. >> chilly right now. but down right cold tomorrow morning a number of weather advisories tonight and we're looking at the temperature closely this is what we have overnight tonight. it begins after midnight tonig tonight. freeze warning in the light blue color, frost advise 54 temperature does not have to get down to freezing you can still get frost forming does not include delaware county or philadelphia county. advisories go away as we warm up above freezing. dropping back down below freezing tomorrow night and look at the freeze warnings. actually expands. it could be a colder night tomorrow night you wake up monday morning to even colder temperatures. below 32 that's the freeze warning. now it kills the crops and the plants but we are looking at warmer weather. so bring them inside or cover them if you want to extent the growing season because warmer weather does return. right now we're into the 40s and 50's. a windy day today. gusting close to 30 mil

evans. >> and i'm dawn timmeney. you may want to grab an extra blanket or crank that heat up a little bit. let's get right over to meteorologist dave warren. >> just grab an extra blanket tonight. it's not all that bad. it will be cold by the time you get up tomorrow morning. freeze warnings in effect. that means temperatures will hit 32. the first time that that happens in the season signifies the end of growing season. may not get to freezing but you may see some frost around the area tomorrow morning. fast forward now to tomorrow night. we have a freeze warning in effect. a wider area closer to the city, still not in delaware county or philadelphia county but even colder night tomorrow as that temperature could drop down to 32. will be below 32. could drop into the 20's its a hard freeze there when it drops down below 30. we could easily see that in some of the northern suburbs. kills crops and plants. we have warmer weather back in the forecast. bring them inside or throw a cover over them. you'll be able to extend their growing season. want to keep your front porch looking nice. ultimate doppler with that cold air off the lake