>> well, you had questions, you had questions yesterday. >> i didn't get questions yesterday. [ simultaneous speakers ] >> no one ever -- not all of you always gets questions and you know that. marcia, could you just -- >> no! no! this is a legitimate question. they have legitimate questions, too,. >> reporter: to clarify what's going on, this was mayor de blasio at a press conference on monday on fire alarm safety. the question was not on a pre- approved topic. it was about three people being killed in a bronx car crash over the weekend. >> happy to discuss that with you tomorrow. >> reporter: and a professor says this attitude is reflected in the mayor's plunging popularity. >> when you look at those polls and you see that the people feel for a variety of reasons that the mayor's focus is not on new york city. there's a sense that he is not present, that he is not doing the job they elected him to do. >> reporter: is he doing any other availability where he is taking general questions this week? >> he is going to puerto rico tomorrow to do the healthcare rally. he will be having an avail in puerto rico tomorrow. >> reporter: the mayor's press secretary said mayor de blasio was modeling his press conference after mayor bloomberg's. she said he only took four or five off topic questions and limit his availabilities. so i went back and fact checked and his aides are saying that bloomberg had press conferences at least three times a week where he took numerous off topic questions and if a major event happened, bloomberg added additional question and answer sessions. >> thank you. new at 6:00 tonight, we are getting a lot of comments on our facebook page about what happened today at city hall. let us know what you think about how mayor de blasio answers questions from reporters. you can give us your comments at facebook.com/cbsnewyork. also tonight, police are hunting for a violent robber who targeted a paralyzed man in the bronx throwing him from his wheelchair before running off with his wallet. cbs 2's diane macedo talks with the victim, who says this is the second time the same suspect came after him. >> reporter: jose cabrera can't walk and can and has a hard time speaking after a stroke. he was preyed monday night in his apartment complex. [ non-english language ] >> reporter: his caretaker tells me in spanish it happened as he was entering the elevator at 783 southern boulevard around 10 p.m. the man yanked him by his pants, robbed him and left him lying on the ground. [ speaking spanish ] >> reporter: she adds the same person robbed cabrera just two months ago in the same building. this time, surveillance cameras captured the attack and this image of the suspect. we showed it to residents who didn't want to go on camera but say they recognize the man that he is in and out of jail, he comes around here often and has robbed people here before. as for cabrera? >> families nice people. >> nice guy. doesn't bother nobody. practically never even asks for help to go down the stairs with his wheelchair. things like that to him. >> reporter: neighbors say they know the suspect as [ non- english language ] but he says he is 58-year-old jose aguilar and are asking for help to find him. diane macedo, cbs 2 news. >> cabrera's caretaker says he was not injured but the robber stole his bank card, social security card, resident card and $119 in cash. a contract wage dispute leads facup and staff members of the city of university of new york to stage a protest at cuny. chopper 2 has pictures where several arrests were made. employees have been working without a contract for five years and have gone six years without a raise. cuny says it's made a contract offer to employees that includes wage increase and reflects cuny's current fiscal condition. the bus drive accused of a deadly hit-and-run in brooklyn is being held on bond. he was arraigned late this afternoon and charged with leaving the scene of an accident. police say they have video showing the b15 bus hitting carol bell in the crosswalk. investigators say the bus stopped for a few seconds then drove on dragging the 70-year- old's body. paul roper's attorney says his client is not guilty and regrets the tragic loss. police are investigating a possible bias attack on a member of a jewish ambulance corps. cell phone video shows hatzolah volunteer david katz getting treatment after the attack. katz was off duty and not in uniform when he was slashed in crown heights last night. he tells police a man wearing a mask came up from behind and attacked him without saying a word. >> i have been stabbed, i have been stabbed. >> that's the type of hate we don't want in crown heights, we don't want in brooklyn and we don't want in the city. >> katz was carrying a radio so he called hatzolah dispatch for help. there are two separate $5,000 rewards for information in this case. dropping somebody off for or picking them up at the airport could cost extra. the port authority says it's considering charging taxicabs and ridesharing cars a fee at our airports. cbs 2's christine sloan has the story. >> reporter: in front of terminals at newark liberty international airport, traffic backs up as passengers are dropped off or picked up. congestion a problem even though cops tell drivers to move along. why the port authority says it's considering slapping for hire vehicles including yellow caps, uber and lyft with airport access fees each time they pick up. >> i don't think the airport should be charging fees. >> you're talking about a toll to come in to pick up somebody?! i don't think that's going to work. i really doubt it. >> reporter: the port authority says its airports, among the few in the nation that don't charge access fees. in a statement, the agency says, that, quote, the operations of for hire vehicles and taxis at our airports are evolving rapidly and we are in the early stages of review. >> going to forward it to the customers. >> reporter: he is both an uber and limo driver but a spokesman representing uber has no comment because it's not a proposal. meaning passengers say if it happens, they will end up paying and they are sick of the fees. >> it feels as a consumer that they are charging fees for absolutely everything and bags, food on planes, all kinds of costs of everything. >> reporter: it costs you to park in airport lots but the port authority won't put a dollar amount on any potential access fee. only saying that something like this would have to be reviewed by its board of commissioners and the public. but airports like dulles and reagan have just instituted $4 access fees. at newark liberty international airport, christine sloan, cbs2 news. . >> a spokesman with lyft has an agreement with other airports for applicable fees and are incorporated into the ride cost. a key witness for the prosecution took the stand today in the trial of former assembly speaker sheldon silver. he remains in the new york assembly is charged with federal corruption. dr. robert taub testified that he referred over 25 clients to silver in hopes the powerful speaker would fund his research center. silver is accused of earning $5 million through bribes and kicks backs. nassau county's union the police union has joined the calls for a boycott of quintin tarantino's upcoming film after his controversial comments about police brutality. tarantino says he is not backing down. at a new york city rally recently the director said he was on the side of the murdered. tarantino told the "los angeles times," quote, all i never even i implied that. instead of expecting the problem of police brutality in this country, better they single me out. tracking children with autism. when they are away from home. next, a mother's fight for her sons to have gps devices for their safety. >> also, let the leaves fall where they may. why scientists are encouraging homeowners not to rake. >> and a health scare today for the mets general manager. otis livingston with that update later in sports. and here's lonnie with wonderful november weather. >> just a beautiful day out there. look at this. what a fall day hitting 74 degrees in ridgewood, new jersey. how long will it last? we'll talk about it coming up. >> and coming up on the "cbs evening news," did a bomb bring down the russian airliner? scott pelley with that and more tonight. scott? >> dana, late today the british said they had reason to believe that it might have been a bomb that brought that airliner down over the weekend. and the british have canceled some of their own flights because of it. we'll have that and the rest of the world news coming right up for you on the "cbs evening news" at 6:30. for the girl scout meeting... for the soccer team... for the girl scout meeting... how many meetings are you having?! at stop&shop, prices are down. savings are up. this price can't be right... that's the right price! it's that low. what other things on this list can't be right?" looks like a list of can't be right's." seriously? at stop&shop, prices are down. savings are up. my stop&shop. a long island family is one of the first to use a new gps device made for children with autism. the device tracks children in case they wander off from home or from school. cbs 2's jennifer mclogan reports from north merrick. >> any parent i think, um, who has even lost their child at a shopping mall, um, and had that five-minutes of complete fear understands what we feel, but we feel it every day. >> reporter: the mcdonough family of north merrick is blessed with two sons extremely high iqs and autistic. the boys douglas age 10 and donovan 8 have repeatedly wandered away. they bolted doors locked windows set alarms. backyard is enclosed and locked but the boys broke the screens and escaped. >> it's very hurtful to have people look at you as if you're a bad parent or you abuse or neglect your children because of a disabilities that you can't control. >> reporter: now donovan and douglas are among the first to be outfitted with gps tracking devices which they wear at >> so if i click on it, it's going to show me where he is. and this radius is the safe zone. >> reporter: the audio monitoring is turned off to protect the privacy of teachers and other students. emails and texts note a location change. >> it lets me know, he arrived at school shortly thereafter. the next step is how do we find them? the gps allows us to know exactly where this went off to and that saves time, that can save a life. >> reporter: it wasn't automatic. the family had to fight for the tracking. nassau boces and the north merrick school district said they would never pro hint any device that would ensure the safety and well-being of any student. senator schumer introduced a federal version of the law a $10 million grant to help parents purchase voluntary locator devices to be located by wandering children with autism. jennifer mclogan, cbs 2 news. >> the family hopes their pave the way for other families struggling with autism. humane society officials in new jersey are trying to catch a pair of goats. drives spotted the goats grazing on the side of the garden state parkway near exit 100 in monmouth county. animal control officers were able to steer the animals away from the busy highway the next step to lure them into a safe enclosed area. >> we are setting up a food station so to speak that they can go and feel comfortable eating and drinking. we have them contained in a safe area but now we have to contain them a little bitter to get them. >> the area will also have a baby goat to help draw the pair and their parental instincts. the national wildlife federation wants you to leave your leaves alone. scientists say the leaf layer is an important habitat for all kinds of wildlife. butterflies, salamanders, chipmunks, box turtles, toads, shrews, earthworms and other creatures like that. they lay eggs or live in the area or they eat. and all those leaves, that's why they're good. so if you can't leave your leaves on your property, they recommend using them as mulch in your gardens and flower beds and however, the big of course word of advice here, many communities have ordinances for leaf removing toss the rake. now we know more and we also know there are a lot of leaves that are lasting longer in the trees. >> right. >> the warm temperatures out there. when you're looking for like a great fall, there's all sorts of different elements that come into play and i do want you to know that we have great video. it flew over the park on staten island. there's great color to be seen in plenty of spots in our area at their peak for foliage viewing this weekend. keep in mind, it's the moderate drought that plays into this, as well. environmental scientists say when it's, you know, dry like increase in something that allows the trees to have more pigment. not every trees. oaks don't benefit but sugar maples are on fire. then you have cold air like we had a couple of weeks ago and then they turn and you get a mild snap and everybody is drawn outside to enjoy it and the leaves are staying on the trees longer. take a peek. all sorts of them coming in. just lots of colors all around the area. let me show you what we see now in new york city. we just have to get into the forecast and show you what's happening and it's all about the fall foliage viewing for this weekend. the area shaded in that nice deep red color that's peak viewing this weekend. that includes the city now. all of long island, much of the hudson valley, as well. there are some areas in our viewing area that are past peak. you have already had the best that nature has to offer. and now you start that decline but many of us are going to have a great weekend this weekend to see the fall colors. it didn't help the big storm that we came through with the big winds that blew leaves off the trees but it's going to be nice. it's what we have right now is a nice night out there. it's a pretty sky at 61 degrees as we speak. a high temperature of 70. 12 degrees above the average. you're going to be close to 307 degrees again tomorrow. it has been a nice warm november for the first four days of november we have averaged 68 degrees. that's 10 degrees warmer than it should be on average. now, all of the nice sky cover that we have right now which is perfectly clear all because of a high pressure system and if you look down to our south you will notice this bit of rain is something that we watch for tomorrow. now, this is not going to steam roll right over the area. first of all, it's not a huge system to do any steam rolling but you could see a little of this make its way in. so we put a little rain chance in going in on thursday to friday. high pressure today moves offshore. that's going to bring in clouds. you can see maybe a little bit of a shower chance not a lot, okay? 25% chance. that's because of the rotation around the high. then you watch this front off to our west that separates the warmer and colder air. that front makes its way in here on friday. here we are friday 3 p.m. it's not to us yet. you start to get some breaks in the cloud cover. whenever you get those breaks that's where you could pop some warm temperatures and maybe a record on friday. then the front will come through. showers friday with cold air around it and showers arrive sunday. let's go over the numbers. what to expect, more clouds to finish the week. very slight risk for rain. temperatures stay well above normal. you are pushing a record on friday. and here's that seven-day forecast. tomorrow's high temperature will be just about 70. i'm going 69, more clouds overhead, friday you're 74. the record is 74. so you will be right there. saturday 65. and then sunday you're 55. so there's that 10-degree drop because again that cold air is going to be delayed a little bit after the front moves through. >> thank you. thank you for the weather forecast and leaf expertise. plenty of football news tonight. otis has that. jets and giants? >> that's right. one is going to start, the other is hoping to play. the latest on ryan fitzpatrick and jason pierre-paul's status for sunday. it was supposed to be a happy occasion for terry collins and the mets but it turned scary for the general manager. i'll have details coming up. ah! come on! let's hide in the attic. no. in the basement. why can't we just get in the running car? are you crazy? let's hide behind the 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(vo) ingrid and robert called empire blue cross blue shield and found an affordable new medicare advantage plan that pays for many of the costs original medicare won't. now they can focus on other important decisions. empire plans help protect you from high medical costs. so call now to find a new plan that's right for you. choose from plans with monthly premiums as low as zero dollars. with no copays for annual checkups and screenings. we've built stronger partnerships with trusted local doctors and hospitals, to bring you special benefits like... ...dental and vision free access to over 13,000 fitness locations. plus prescription drug coverage. with copays as low as zero dollars at over 68,000 pharmacies. now's the time to switch. the deadline to enroll is december 7th. so call empire blue cross blue shield today at 1-844-731-9026. the mets were supposed to announce terry collins' new two-year contract but general manager sander alderson's health grabbed headlines as the 67-year-old former marine collapsed during the media session. no real video of him going to the ground. but! here he was seen doing okay after the incident. the mets say he didn't eat breakfast was dehydrated and was affected by the heat in the room and camera lights. terry collins is happy to get back with the team. >> to me it's exciting to think that i have another opportunity to see this team come to what, you know, the long-term plan was which will continue. so i was very, very excited that i got two years and sandy and i have talked. we'll see what happens at the end of each and every year. >> this is an expression of our appreciation and our confidence in terry going forward not just because of 2015 but because of the whole body of work. >> and before he collapsed he spoke about the attitudes surrounding the mets now that they have shown they can reach the fall classic. not only the team's attitude but the fans, as well. >> bottom line is, we're starting from a higher level of expectation. i think our fans feel that way. we certainly feel that way. it doesn't guarantee anything. but at the same time, we feel comfortable with those expectations. now we have to go out and figure out a way to meet them. after giving up 52 points to the saints on sunday, the giants could certainly use a playmaker. a burst of energy. could jason pierre-paul be the answer? tom coughlin says his work load in practice is increasing in hopes of getting him ready to make his season debut in tampa on sunday. there's no guarantee he will be ready. after that 4th of july fireworks accident that cost him his right index finger. >> how much more do you feel like you want to get out there and not take things for granted. just like you say you can take things for grant. they can be taken away from you just like that. but i'm very excited. going out there and -- because i got a second chance to do with i love. could have been taken away. it scared me. >> did you have that confidence that you could be that monster, that beast -- >> i know for a fact that i'm still the same jpp. they been waiting on me. i'm here. i arrived. so, um, you know, they say i cain it. but i did. it's all me. todd bowles gives ryan fitzpatrick and not geno smith the thumbs up today naming him the starting quarterback against sunday's game against jacksonville. looks like he is taking snap with the ligament damage in his left thumb. geno also played on sunday suffered a bruised shoulder so he will be the backup. the concern is if you're taking a snap from under center it might come back too hard. so being back in the shotgun kind of notes back to you then you can make a throw. it's on his nonthrowing hand but still it could be painful. >> in theory. >> thank you. >> they need to win. we'll be right back. >> closed captioning on cbs 2 news is brought to you by: we work weekends here. because it works for our patients. here, at cancer treatment centers of america in philadelphia, we give our patients the freedom to make appointments that fit their schedules, even on weekends. because we believe in being here when our patients need us, so they can keep living their busy lives. weekend appointments are now available here. take a look at 24 video. a ball of -- at this video. a ball of flames erupts inside a bar after an ecigarette explodes and it's happening all over the country. >> the battery started shooting fire towards me. and exploded and shot the metal pieces on my lap. >> you could be in danger even if you don't smoke. cbs 2 investigates e torched tonight on the news at 11. thank you. the rockefeller center christmas tree is now on its way to manhattan. the 78-foot norway spruce cut down today in gardner, new york in ulster county. the family that donated it said it is an honor to do this to give it to all new yorkers. it's about 80 years old. weigh about 10 tons. and it goes up at rockefeller center this friday. the lighting ceremony december 2. next on the "cbs evening news with scott pelley," could chemotherapy during pregnancy