About David Levine
David Levine is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, American Heritage, and dozens of other publications. He is the author, co-author, or ghostwriter of seven books, including the basketball books Life on the Rim (Macmillan) and In the Land of Giants (Little, Brown). His latest book, The Hudson Valley: The First 250 Million Years, was published by Globe Pequot Press in 2020.
Articles written by David Levine
When You’re the Boss
You might be an employer—and not know itAre you an employer? Hiring people to work for you—a gardener, caretaker, even potentially a babysitter—could make you one, with all the risks and responsibilities that come with that role. The New York State Department of Labor warns as much on its website: “You may genuinely believe that you have hired people to perform services for you as independent contractors. You may discover that by law they are considered employees and that you are liable for unemployment insurance …
Does Hiring Someone for Work in My Home Make Me an Employer?
Are you an employer? Hiring people to work for you — a gardener, caretaker, even potentially a babysitter — could make you a small business owner, with all the risks and responsibilities that come with that role. The New York State Department of Labor warns as much on its website: “You may genuinely believe that you have hired people to perform services for you as independent contractors. You may discover that by law they are considered employees and that you are liable for unemployment …
New York Estate Plan: How To Amend Documents
“Man plans, God laughs.” So goes the old Yiddish proverb, which applies to all aspects of human endeavor, including financial planning. Creating an estate plan is a sound practice to protect assets and direct their distribution. But when God laughs, it may be time to change course. As Life Changes, so Should Directives “Many significant life events would prompt a person to alter their estate plan,” says Pinni Bohm of Bohm Law Firm. These include illness or disability, separation or …
Preparing To Rent in New York City
One of the biggest ways New York City differs from the rest of the country is in the nature of residential real estate. “When I started doing this, I was told that landlord-tenant is the second-most passionate relationship in NYC,” says Peter Schwartz, a real estate attorney at Graubard Miller who focuses on rent regulation and the rental market, with a laugh. To keep those passions as cool as possible, experts recommend that when apartment hunting, tenants enter this relationship with eyes …
What To Do if You Are Pulled Over for a DUI
More than a million motorists in the U.S. are jailed each year on charges of driving under the influence. They face harsh penalties, from jail time to the loss of driving privileges to the loss of a job. The average cost of a first DUI arrest is an estimated $10,000, including court costs and legal fees, says Jonathan Blecher, a Miami, Florida criminal defense attorney. More important than the financial cost is the danger of driving while impaired. About one in three traffic fatalities …
Four Problems with New York’s Estate Tax Laws
In 2014, New York’s legislature passed a tax bill that made big changes to the state estate tax laws. Before we dig into the details, two caveats: The provisions below tend to apply to the wealthy, so most of us will remain unaffected. The second caveat comes from estate planning & probate attorney L. David Clark, Jr. “Explaining the technical stuff,” he admits, “makes clients' eyes glaze over.” You’ve been warned. For legal advice on your situation, consult with a local tax …
Estates of Enlightenment
When, why and how to amend your estate plan“Man plans, God laughs.” So goes the old Yiddish proverb, which applies to all aspects of human endeavor, including financial planning. Creating an estate plan is a sound practice to protect assets and direct their distribution. But when God laughs, it may be time to change course. “Many significant life events would prompt a person to alter their estate plan,” says Pinni Bohm of Bohm Law Firm. These include illness or disability, separation or divorce, retirement or …
Tenants and Landlords: A Love Story
What to know before entering into one of life’s most important relationshipsOne of the biggest ways New York City differs from the rest of the country is in the nature of residential real estate. “When I started doing this, I was told that landlord-tenant is the second-most passionate relationship in New York,” says Peter Schwartz, a real estate attorney at Graubard Miller who focuses on rent regulation, with a laugh. To keep those passions as cool as possible, experts recommend that tenants enter this relationship with eyes wide open. “There are plenty of …
Breaking Down New York's GPS Stalking Law
In 2012, Erie County resident Jackie Wisniewski discovered a GPS device on her car. Her ex-boyfriend had put it there to stalk her. Fearing for her safety, she removed it and reported it to law enforcement, but there was nothing they could do about it—it wasn’t a crime. She was later murdered by the man. Two years later, in October 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Jackie’s Law. It added the use of GPS devices to track another person to the list of actions considered fourth-degree stalking …
Wish Fulfillment
Make-A-Wish co-founder William Drury Jr. has created a lasting legacy of helping sick children and their familiesIn 1980, 7-year-old Chris Greicius, who had leukemia, said he wanted to be a police officer “to catch bad guys.” A group of do-gooders—including a friend of the family who happened to be a U.S. Customs Agent—jumped through bureaucratic hoops to make it happen, creating a uniform, a small motorcycle and a pad and pen. “Chris had so much fun riding up and down his street writing tickets,” says Bill Drury, whose sister-in-law was involved in the effort. Chris died soon after, and the …
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