cbs 2's tony aiello reports today, the city council took action to stop future clusters of the disease. >> honestly, it should have really been done before an outbreak or something. >> reporter: vivian miller voicing a common sentiment in the bronx. almost 40 years after legionnaire's was identified, killing 34 people who attended a convention in philadelphia, why is new york city only now requiring cleaning and inspection of cooling towers? >> i don't think anyone would have hesitated to put new rules and regulations into effect if health authorities had specifically recommended them. >> reporter: the mayor says this outbreak was an unprecedented crisis for the city requiring a new approach so next week he will sign the bill the city council approved thursday affecting hundreds of towers on large buildings where legionella bacteria can spread. all cooling towers must be registered with the city with required regular testing for legionella and cleaning. and building owners must have cooling towers inspected and certified annually. violators face heavy fines. >> this has become an emerg

cbs 2's tony aiello reports. >> i didn't think it was reel at first. >> reporter: when anthony spanado got this letter demanding money for unpaid port authority tolls, he was skeptical. >> reporter: it didn't look official? >> anyone could have sent it out it didn't look official at all. >> reporter: he's not alone. dozens of people have posted about getting similar letters, and many think it's a scam. >> if i received one of those letters, i would have thought it was a scam. there's so many of them going on. >> reporter: mike riley says an e-zpass scam made the news this week to try to trick you into downloading the virus this retired cop did detective work. >> it's not a scam. >> reporter: in deed the demand for payment from alliance 1 from washington state is legitimate. the port authority hired alliance 1 earlier this year to try to collect millions of dollars from thousands of people. the letters don't specify when and where the violations took place, adding to confusion and doubt, but a port authority official tells me any letter with in phone number. 866-897-5349 is a legitimate

at times square, tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >>> another prominent congressional democrat plans to vote against the iran nuclear deal, and during a speech at se it ton hall university, robert menendez outlined the reasons why he objects the white house deal. menendez is a senior member of the senate foreign relations committee and said the deal hands too much power to iran, and he's concerned about a potential arms race in the middle east. >> at the end of the day, what we appear to have is a rollback of sanctions, and iran only limiting its capability, and not dismantling it or rolling it back. >> reporter: the congressional vote on the deal should happen in september, and new york's senior senator, charles schumer opposes the deal while kirsten gillibrand and chris murphy both say they support it. booker and blumenthal are weighing their decisions. >>> the fda has approved what is being called the female viagra. the controversial bill alled addy is the first designed to boost the sexual desire in women it can cause low blood pressure and fainting as some of the side effects and will h

from the big easy to big apple, cbs 2's tony aiello reports on katrina, 10 years later. [ music ] >> my mother called me at 6 a.m. that sunday and said, pack your car or else i'm coming to get you. we're leaving. and i left with four people and a dog in my car. and it began a whirlwind adventure. >> reporter: it was not without at versety. yvonne martin doesn't sugar coat how difficult it was to abandon her life in new orleans at age 23. >> katrina impacted my life in some enormous ways. i lost my home. my family was dispersed throughout the country. i can only say that it was a twist of fate that led us here. >> my two sons and i we evacuated early, early that morning. >> reporter: this artist also fled to the big apple from the big easy worried that the devastated city was no place to raise his two sons. >> we realize that we couldn't go back home and school was starting and my sons had to start school. so we headed up to new york where i do have family. my sons have excelled and we are spreading the beautiful spirit of new orleans in everything we do. >> reporter: that infuses the

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >>> trials and tribulations today as donald trump showed up for jury duty. he arrived in a stretch limo and opened the door before the driver came to complete stop, and he was met by a crush of reporters and some supporters coming to see the presidential candidate. scott rapoport spoke to trump about the experience. >> reporter: what have you learned through the whole process, the jury duty, doing your civic duty? >> it's a great process. the only way to do it. you to do it. >> cbs 2 got this exclusive photo of him during his lunch break. he was dismissed at 4:00 p.m. without being assigned to a case. >>> a thrill tonight in central park for stevie wonder fans. he performed a free concert, and it was a surprise. and cbs 2's matt kozar was there. [music] here's your friendly announcer >> reporter: the 65-year-old grammy award winner performing in three cities tonight, culminating with this performance for several thousand in central park, new york. -- >> reporter: as soon as word of the concert got out, people jumped to get their tickets. >> heard about the c

tony aiello reports. >> reporter: it's centered in harlem. a public safety and health crisis taking a particular toll on the homeless. >> it was actually making my heart hurt. i thought i was going to have a heart attack. >> reporter: michael asked we hide his face. he's a homeless man who has used the synthetic marijuana, also known as k2. many are having violent reactions including this naked homeless man. >> many individuals under the effect of the drug are totally crazy, and they do not feel the pain. the current practices do not work. >> reporter: in april 120 people were hospitalized after smoking the stuff. the nypd has been raiding the stores that sell it legally, $5 a package or $1 a joint. a few months back mr. nice guy was making the comeback. >> half the time you don't know what is in it, and it's causing havoc. >> reporter: cops recently confiscated 10,000 packages and promise a real continual crackdown on the synthetic marijuana. tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >> and the nypd released the crime statistics today, overall crime is down

cbs 2's tony aiello with tonight's exclusive. [ pause ] [ sirens ] >> reporter: harlem, hard hit by hard core users of k2 marijuana many of them homeless. >> this neighborhood is riddled, it's infected. >> reporter: wednesday a cbs 2 camera captured these men smoking k2 at 125th and lex. and a viewer recognized this homeless man in the black t- shirt. hard to believe he is the same person in this photo, celebrating his sister's wedding two summers ago. when you look at this picture of him happy and smiling what goes through your mind? >> it breaks my heart. he could have been something in life and living on the streets -- i'm a father. and like any other father out there, they don't want to see their kids in the street. >> reporter: peter says his son peter junior attended dix hills high school and suny albany. every advantage a loving family could offer vanquished by the demon of drug use that started 15 years ago. >> he is what he is now because of his addictions. >> reporter: he is particularly worried about his son using synthetic marijuana, which can permanently damage body and brai

cbs 2's tony aiello joins us live in roxbury township with the latest on this one. >> reporter: i went down on those railroad tracks looked up and got a good view of that dump truck hopper 20 feet above. i got to tell you i have never seen anything quite like it. drivers were stuck on i-80 for hours. trains were stopped and buses used to replace them after this morning's accident which also sent three people to the hospital. talk about a close call the rear part of a dump truck the hopper toppled on to the girders of an i-80 overpass. down below, new jersey transit railroad tracks, 20 feet below the 15,000 pounds of danger precariously perched above. >> we heard the huge crash noise. and then you just hear the horn honking nonstop. >> reporter: this woman was working nearby when the truck and this ford suv collided in the eastbound lanes of interstate 80. this picture posted on social media shows the suv upside- down on the road. marlin medrano heard the suv driver panicking. >> you hear the lady screaming like, oh, my gosh, like screaming like basically in terror saying help me, someo

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >> ignore offers for consulting services. state lawmakers have staffing members working to resolve issues at no charge to homeowners. >>> an interest rate increase? the latest information coming from the federal reserve. >> like a scene out of a hitchcock movie. why? neighbors point out one person. plus. >> i will sing the song >> singing and signing. a broadway hit coming back to life with an unusual twist. >> here is vanessa murdock with the forecast. >> hot end to the weekend. i will have specifics and what i expect to be the second heat wave of the 2015 summer season. first a check on the community calendar. since 1961, pearle vision has been providing expert eye care. today, we make caring for your eyes even easier. right now, buy one pair of glasses, and get another pair free. this is genuine eye care in your neighborhood. this is pearle vision. >>> great sunday morning. 73 degrees. vanessa murdock says it will be getting warmer throughout the day and week. we will have more on the weather forecast coming up. >>> now ca

live in the newsroom, tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >>> tony, thank you. have an emergency? help could be just a text away. local lawmakers are pushing a plan to upgrade new york city's 911 emergency system. a bill introduced to the city council today would require the city to come up with a 911 texting plan within a year. sponsors of the bill say the technology could help people in dangerous situations who are unable to make a voice call. it would also allow user to send pictures and video. >> the death toll is rising in china following those massive explosions at a warehouse for dangerous chemicals. 50 people died after last night's fiery blast in tianjin a port city southeast of beijing. 700 people were injured dozens missing. the shock waves from the explosions knocked people off their feet. hundreds of new cars in a parking lot were scorched. authorities are trying to figure out if the still smoldering chemicals pose a danger to the environment. >>> isis has claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in baghdad. the blast this morning targeted a crowded food market in the

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >> state senator boyle says victims of superstorm sandy should ignore offers for consulting services. state lawmakers have staff members working to resolve new york rising issues at no charge to homeowners. >>> new york city will spend $100 million on flood protection. superstorm sandy left parts of lower manhattan under water. mayor de blasio announced a plan today to make sure that doesn't happen again. it includes berms and deployable floodwalls to protect against storm surge. the mayor believes the city's investment will lead to further funding for protection from the federal government >>> a presidential visit to new orleans 10 years after hurricane katrina. president obama toured one neighborhood. this saturday will be 10 years since the storm struck the city destroying homes and killing 2,000 people. now townhomes line streets that were under water. >> what you're seeing here is an example of the incredible federal, state, local partnerships that have helped revitalize this community. >> a new $14 billion levee system is also up and running including a

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >> sad story there. >>> 8:38. 2,000 acres burning, the latest out of control wildfire putting hundreds of homes in jeopardy. >>> how you can get a room in new york city with a skyline view without breaking the bank. this one comes with a $22 price tag, but there's a catch. >>> first here is john elliott with your forecast. >> i tell you what, you want a skyline view, how about the top of one of our buildings. it is gorgeous out there. we'll talk about a pretty day today and needed rain on the way. remember, rain or shine, you can have the forecast any time witness cbs weather app. you can check radar and send us your pictures and video. it is in the itunes store. we'll be back in a bit. >>> another fire is causing damage out west. a large wildfire in arizona keeps spreading near the border with nevada and california. 150 homes have already been evacuated. authorities say the fire sparked afternoon. they call it the willow fire. >>> 20 new york state workers are heading west to help fight wildfires. the group from department of environmental conservation will w

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >>> from manhattan to the fort lee neighborhood to where the suspect, an army reserve veteran lived. dave carlin continues our team coverage with more on the man behind the gun. dave? >> reporter: kristine, just what made kevin downing snap? detectives are right now inside of his home to find the clues. this block of harvard place was taped off by police as s.w.a.t. team members moved in to secure the home of kevin downing and secure evidence. >> it's a shock. >> a quiet, nice gentleman. >> reporter: neighbors struggling to understand the violent final actions of the 68- year-old they knew as a polite real estate agent who lived all alone. >> his wife passed away a few years ago. >> reporter: real estate listings show downing bought the home in 1987, putting it on the market without success on several different occasions throughout the years, most recently 2013. now it's a home swarming with detectives and neighbors wanting answers. >> god only knows what happened in his life that pushed him to that point. >> reporter: cbs 2 learned that downing served in the m

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >> great story, tony. thanks. >>> the federal emergency management agency says more than 4,000 gulf coast residents sought refuge in new york after the storm. 10 years later, it is not clear exactly how many of them have stayed. >>> time now is 6:10. exclusive video after part of a restaurant collapses in westchester county. the last-minute warning that likely saved lives. >> i'm like oh, my goodness, why haven't more people done this around the world? it is amazing. >> it is a market so fancy, even prince charles needed a visit. why the location is so unique, coming up. >> and ever eating out alone? more people are doing it. but you could be making others i will explain how coming up. >> first here is vanessa murdock with a check on the forecast. >> full moon this morning. looking at a whole lot of week. but we do talk about some changes moving forward. i will have details coming up, in my full forecast. first, a check on the community calendar from cbs 2 and www.cbs- newyork.com. i need everything on thi

cbs 2's tony aiello says that includes a friend who is now lining up as a political foe. >> reporter: central park is the view from his fifth avenue office but powerhouse developer don peebles might have his sight set on an office at city hall. peebles supported mayor de blasio with time and money but now has what he calls buyer's remorse. >> like many other new yorkers i have lost confidence in him add not to say he is not a nice person. because he is. i don't believe he is up for the job and i proved that for the first two years. >> reporter: de blasio ran on a tale of two cities theme but peebles says instead of inspiring people, he has created a sour atmosphere of division. >> he has divided the city along economic lines. he has divided the city on racial lines. all to his political advantage. >> reporter: like many entrepreneurs, peebles has made headlines with bold proposals, buying the nba clippers, or long island college hospital. both deals fell through. peebles saidist serious about this possible challenge -- peebles said he is serious about this possible challenge focusing

tony aiello spoke with e-zpass crisis. >> the mayor needs to do something. as far as i'm concerned, this is the new heroin and the new crack, and it's disgusting. >> reporter: billie holiday can't believe what is happening in the heart of her neighborhood. the street people and homeless in harlem, many under the influence of synthetic marijuana, known locally as k2. moments after we took video of this man, he passed out, and a paramedic said he had no doubt he was wasted on k2. >> it's speeding up their mind, and they are zombies after that ilana gold found homeless man openly smoking the drug. >> reporter: you're smoking k2 right now? where did you get it? >> off the treatment. >> reporter: i found a full packet and many empties nearby. it's illegal to sell, but many do under the counter. >> this area is infested. >> reporter: residents say homeless people get high on k2. >> it's every day that they are picking up somebody. >> reporter: we found synthetic drugs in the garbage here at the kings county medical center. many users enter a catatonic state, but a

tony aiello spoke to people who said the problem is in plain sight. >> man needs to do something because as far as i'm concerned, seeing this every day, like this it's the new heroin, and the new crack, and it's disgusting. >> reporter: billie cannot believe what is happening in her neighborhood. street people and homeless in harlem, many under the influence of synthetic marijuana, known locally as k2. >> reporter: moments after we took video of this man, he passed out. a paramedic told me he had no doubt the man was wasted on k2. >> it's eating up their minds, that. >> reporter: ilana gold found homeless men openly smoking the synthetic drug. you're smoking k2 right now? yeah. >> reporter: where did you get it? >> off the street. >> reporter: i found this full packet on the street, and many empty packets were nearby. it's illegal for the bodegas to counter. >> this area is infested. >> they come out of there every day picking up some. >> reporter: we found packages in this pile of garbage on the property of the kings county hospital center. the nypd says it's a crisis, and while many en

tony aiello explains. at first. >> reporter: anthony got this letter demanding $58, and he was skeptical. >> it didn't look official at all. >> reporter: he's not alone, dozens have posted on facebook about the letters, and many think it's a scam. >> if i received one of those letters, i would have definitely thought it was a scam, especially in this day and age, there's so much going on. >> reporter: mike riley says a scam made the news this week o. official looking e-mails trying to trick you into downloading a virus. he's retired cop and did detective work. >> it's not really a scam. >> reporter: in deed, the demand for payment from alliance one from washington state is legitimate. the port authority hired alliance one earlier this year to try to collect millions of dollars from thousands of people. the letters do not specify when and where the toll violations took place, adding to confusion and doubt, but a port authority official says any letter with this phone number 1-866-897- 5349 is a legitimate a

tony aiello with the report. >> reporter: the road that represents the woe for the taxi industry. there's a lot of yellow on the streets of green point. >> reporter: tough to full-time find parking in the neighborhood? >> yeah t. is the reason why, -- yeah, it is. the reason why is the yellow cabs taking up the spot. >> do you think i want to park? >> reporter: each car should be out making money. what happened? >> paul: drivers left and went to uber. it's gone from a handful of drivers to 160,000 nationwide in the space of 2 years. >>> the de blasio administration is studding diddying their impact and how to address it at mcginnis management, so many dreiers switched to uber, some nights more than 100 taxis sit idle. some of the taxieses have not been out on the street 234 in 8 months. guess what is piling up? millions of dollars worth of medallions. no point in using for them. >> i don't need parking space for it. >> reporter: they use a mapping program it to keep track of what does where and when they need to be moved. >> i need a hours a day to move cars. for now the lounge wh

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >>> a woman has been arrested in the stabbing death of a woman in oceanside. officers responded to a reported assault to the home yesterday afternoon and found a woman bleeding from her neck wound. police have not identified the victim or her accused killer. >>> a violent robbery on the upper west side last month. police are looking for the man who attacked a 24-year-old woman in the vestibule of her apartment building. surveillance video shows the suspect pushing the woman to the floor as he rips her purse away. it was later found with everything still inside. >>> the search for a killer in a 16-year-old murder case led police all the way to trinidad. >> i'm sorry for the pain i caused the family. >> reporter: malcolm singh is accused of killing a 19-year- old at a wedding. >> for the the last 16 years we have had pain and suffering. >> he said he was relieved to be caught after living on the streets and on the run. he is currently being held without bail. >>> a tennessee tourist has been arrested for taking a selfie on the bridge this pick led to the police

tony aiello reports. >> reporter: chuck schumer used the line a week ago. >> i am not going to let politics, party or pressure influence me. >> reporter: and he repeated an almost identical version today. >> i will not let pressure, politics, or party influence me. >> reporter: but what about polls? a quinnipiac survey out today shows americans oppose the iran deal 57% to 28%. among democrats, the deal garners just 52% support. >> this is one of the most important decisions that i will make that any senator or congressman can make. so i'm studying it really seriously. >> reporter: last month the u.s. and five other nations reached an accord aimed at curtailing iran's newark capabilities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. but israel, its republican allies, and american american jews oppose the deal and have made schumer a focus of the opposition. >> i am sure he is under a lot of pressure by obama right now and we are hoping that he is going to listen to our voices. >> reporter: the president has an 82% job approval rating from democrats and schumer is in line to lead the sen

tony aiello has the story. also, we are on the scene of a school bus carrying disabled students. you will hear from the frightened students inside when the huge pothole opened up on their ride. and preparing for the pope. cardinal dolan visiting workers creating a one-of-a-kind altar for mass for the pontiff at madison square garden. why they were chosen for the honor. those stories and more at 6:00. i'm caridee. i've had moderate to severe plaque psoriasis most of my life. but that hasn't stopped me from modeling. my doctor told me about stelara it helps keep my skin clearer. with only 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses... ...stelara helps me be in season. stelara may lower your ability to fight infections and increase your risk of infections. some serious infections require hospitalization. before starting stelara your doctor should test for tuberculosis. stelara may increase your risk of cancer. always tell your doctor if you have any sign of infection, have had cancer, or if you develop any new skin growths. do not take stelara if you are allergic to stelara or any of its i

tony aiello, cbs 2 news. >>> it's 6:19. up next, jerry seinfeld getting the squeeze from police on long island. >>> his team, the mets, the hottest family baseball, completing a second in a row. >>> the stock futures are down after a rebound on wall street. the dow gaining 369, and the s&p rose by 47. >>> getting the weekend started like this on a friday. 64degrees, and 6:22, and perfect day ahead for you. welcome back to cbs 2 news this morning. >>> jerry seinfeld had a lemonade stand in east hampton until it hit a sour note with his neighbors. his wife posted this picture on instagram. jerry, his son, and two friends are showing the sign of surrender, and police are in the background. the police got a report about illegally parked cars, and they were raising money for the charity owned by his wife. >> whoever is calling to complain about cars, so many people in east hampton, give it another weekend, you will be fine. >> looked like a vw. >> did you see the vw in the background there? beautiful! >>> let's get ready to enjo