News: February 2010 Archives

Today the State Senate voted 53-8 to expel Senator Hiram Monserrate. The Queens Democrat's status was in question after being convicted of misdemeanor assault of his girlfriend, whom he slashed in the face with a broken glass. However, he will appeal to the decision, questioning the legality of the move, "This is a much bigger issue than Hiram Monserrate. It's about due process and the law. And ultimately, the power of the voters to decide." more ›

• Kings 118, Knicks 114: The presence of Sacramento's Omri Casspi led to the Knicks' declaring this Jewish Heritage Night, but it didn't lead to a Knicks victory. The Knicks blew an eight-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter and couldn't make use of Wilson Chander's career-high 35 points.
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Here we go again. After countless allegations of fraud and abuse of police parking placards, a new report indicates that some 22,000 parking decals for disabled drivers are missing, and they might have fallen into the wrong hands. According to city Comptroller John Liu, the massive number of missing permits means there could be a lucrative black market for the handicapped stickers. "Fraudulent permits are easily created using these seals," he said. more ›

With the Health Department cracking down on the carriage horse industry, it seems stable horses are next on their list—if their proposed regulations go through, the animals may receive the same breaks animal rights activists have been fighting for. But one Brooklyn Stable owner tells the Daily News that if he has to give his horses 5-week vacations, bigger stalls and install a sprinkler system in his barn... it would break the bank. more ›

Bloomberg made so many donations last year he can't even keep track of them all. Something shady is allegedly going on with one of them, a $750,000 contribution to the Independence Party, prompting Manhattan DA Cy Vance to investigate how the money was handled by a top aide and what exactly it was spent on. "We handed the money over to the Independence Party, and they have the full accounting, presumably, of how the money was spent," said Bloomberg's campaign lawyer Ken Gross. "The understanding was that the money was helping go to the party to pay for Election Day expenses such as poll watchers." more ›

Last weekend's snow storm missed us, but meteorologists say the NYC region will get walloped tomorrow with a big snowfall, prompting city officials to call it a snow day in advance. AccuWeather says, "The nor'easter is destined to be the biggest storm of the new year so far for New York City to Boston. Unlike the last storm, this one will 'not' miss these areas... The blowing snow will create near-zero visibility at times." more ›

Governor Paterson held a press conference today to talk about impending snow (the natural kind). But naturally talk veered to the rumors surrounding a yet-unpublished NY Times "bombshell" that some have speculated would force Paterson to step down. The Governor said he sat down for an interview with Times reporters today, and the questioning did not have to do with the salacious gossip that's been swirling for the past week. "I was interviewed for that piece," Paterson told reporters. "No such questions related to any of that information was asked of me at any interview. [The reporter] said he would leave all that speculation for other news sources." And then Paterson defiantly unloaded on the Times for not clearing the air. more ›

In order to avoid far-reaching subway cuts that would eliminate the M and W lines and cause trains to become less frequent and more crowded, the MTA needs about $18 million—the same amount a deadbeat advertising company owes the transit agency. An MTA audit revealed that Titan Outdoor Holdings has come up short on its monthly payments for almost a year, but the MTA is afraid that recouping the money might bankrupt the company, causing the agency to net even less revenue. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Today rapper Lil Wayne is expected to go to Rikers Island, where he'll spend most of 2010 behind bars after pleading guilty to "attempted" gun possession charges. In a cover story interview with Rolling Stone, Wayne says he hasn't sought advice on how to get through Rikers, because "This is Lil Wayne going to jail. Nobody I can talk to can tell me what that’s like. I just say I’m looking forward to it." It can be a mellow place if one avoids the fight clubs. Wayne spent his last night of freedom in the studio recording tracks bound for "Tha Carter IV," and also send out this heartfelt message, or "shout out," for his fans: more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) has reportedly been hit with a 13-count indictment on federal charges of money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail and wire fraud, extortion, and receiving an unlawful gratuity. Insiders told the Times that the Democrat—who represents Wakefield, Co-op City, Edenwald, Williamsbridge and Baychester—is suspected of helping a boiler company obtain city contracts. more ›

The city is backing out of plans to purchase the historic Wyckoff-Bennett House in Brooklyn even though the 18th-century Dutch farmhouse—located on East 22nd Street near Avenue P—is one of the few left standing and it's still inhabited. Homeowners Stuart and Annette Mont say they've gone through a decade of negotiations and preparations with the Parks Department, but now a new deal has been proposed that isn't to their liking. more ›

Today's update on Alan Rosenfeld, the ex-teacher who landed in a Department of Education teacher reassignment center (aka Rubber Room) nearly a decade ago for lewd behavior towards students, features weird and outlandish quotes from some of his victims. We also get more info on how the educator ogled students, some as young a 13, at his school, a neighboring school and from the women's bathroom. more ›

A Staten Island man accused of stabbing a 54-year-old to death told reporters he was on drugs when he committed the crime. While waiting to enter court for his arraignment, 23-year-old Jahaad Chesson tried to tell his "side of the story," stating: "I was high as a mother [expletive] when I did it." Here's footage of the bizarre exchange from the Staten Island Advance: more ›

An elderly Carroll Gardens woman recently fell for the old "you're grandson's in trouble" con, but this one had a clever Canadian twist. A man identifying himself as "Constable Karl Moore from the Canadian Police Department" telephoned a woman at her home on Henry Street Friday morning with some bad news: her grandson "had gotten into trouble with the law" during a trip to the north country. more ›

More animals are terrorizing our streets! This time chickens have taken over the 1300 block of Edward L. Grant Highway in the Bronx (safe from eagles and coyotes... for now). According to the Daily News, there are like 30 chickens on Highbridge Street! A local tells them, "They're all over the place. Walking up the street like they belong there." Kids are feeding them chocolate chip cookies, they're sleeping in trees, mingling with squirrels... it's chaos! more ›

Today Toyota made official its recall of over 400,000 hybrid cars. Meanwhile a Queens man says he felt the affects of automaker's widespread pedal problems first-hand when his out-of-control Camry hit two other cars yesterday, ending up on the steps of a synagogue. "It's quite obvious—I blame Toyota," said Gerald Silver. more ›

Under Gov. Paterson's plan to rescue the MTA from a $400 million budget shortfall, New York City businesses would see a payroll tax increase by 59 percent, surging from .34 percent for every $100 of payroll to .54 percent. Meanwhile, the payroll tax in suburban areas would be cut in half. more ›

Friends and clients of real estate investor Adam Hochfelder thought they were buying shares in Lake George's Sagamore Resort and another property in Telluride, Colorado, but instead the money was going up Hochfelder's nose, among other places. The onetime-mogul—who underwent nasal reconstructive surgery because of his coke problem—says substance abuse led him to take over $2.5 million from investors and spend it on debts, private school for his kids, private jets, lawyer fees and expensive trips. He was arrested yesterday, and previously, in 2008, Hochfelder was charged with taking banks, family and friends for $17 million. “The facts of this case speak volumes about the defendant’s character,” the prosecutor said. “He did it with an outstanding level of arrogance and entitlement.” more ›

Former Tennessee lawmaker, current Wall Street worker, and possible Senate candidate Harold Ford has already taken heat from his likely rival for not disclosing whether or not he earned a "taxpayer-backed" bonus for his work at Merrill Lynch. Now, he's taking heat from himself. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign is circulating a video of a March 2009 appearance by Ford on MSNBC in which he says there is a need for greater "transparency" regarding banking bonuses funded with TARP money. more ›

While we all wait for a Bald Eagle vs. Coyote face-off—or for those Columbia University coyotes to finish their education and take over the human race—we figured we'd get some facts from the front line. more ›

Snow noes, the teenagers are going to be running amok tonight! The Mayor's office has preemptively announced that all NYC public schools are going to be closed tomorrow out of panic that this time the impending snowmageddon will actually happen, as our venerable seers portend. Over a foot of snow is expected starting early tomorrow morning, but throughout tonight, expect adolescents to run (more) wild in the streets (than usual). Then they'll sleep half the day away tomorrow, rising for The Price is Right, followed by a mass high-jacking of snow plows to make sure roads remain impassable through the weekend. Rules were made to be frozen! more ›

Today Imam Zulqarnain Abdu-Shahid, the Correction Department chaplain and ex-con caught carrying sharp objects (razor blades and a pair of scissors) into a downtown prison, is set to testify in front of a grand jury. Last week the Imam was charged with four counts of first-degree promoting prison contraband. According to his layer, the blades caught by an X-ray machine as the chaplain entered the prison are "the kind found in barbershops." more ›

Believe it or not, Mayor Bloomberg is insisting that the NYPD's crime statistics are accurate—well, most of the time. "There's always going to be some fudging of the numbers, but it is tiny," the mayor said. "I have an enormous amount of confidence in the data." He also suggested that a study by two criminologists, which showed police precincts routinely fudge their data, may have been biased. According to Bloomberg, it was "paid for by one of the unions, so you've got to start wondering whether it was an independent study." more ›

Poor Bernard Kerik shouldn't have to spend much time in prison because of his "extraordinary public service," and his "extraordinary and meteoric rise from truly humble origins wrought with hardship," his defense lawyers argue. On the other hand, prosecutors submitted a long memo to the judge yesterday that highlighted Kerik's "egotism and hubris", and dredged up an extraordinarily petulant letter the former NYPD commissioner sent in 1999 to his buddy Larry Ray (himself a former NYPD commissioner) which makes Kerik look like a crass, money-grubbing whiner. more ›

With many cases stemming from an outbreak at a Jewish boys' summer camp upstate, more than 1,000 in New York and New Jersey are infected with the mumps, most of them Orthodox Jews. One camper—who caught the old-fashioned childhood disease in England where more than 4,000 are infected—spread the sickness to 25 of his bunk-mates, who then brought it home to their Orthodox communities. Many came from Borough Park, Brooklyn, where in October, 79 mumps sufferers were counted, reports CNN. But the numbers keep growing! more ›

Former terror trial supporter and current terror trial opponent Mayor Bloomberg asked the federal government to offer some kind of guarantee that it would cover the costs of bringing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspected 9/11 plotters to justice in New York City. According to the Washington Post, Bloomberg said he is skeptical "because a lot of times the federal government promises to pay and then the monies don't come." more ›

With speculation about the contents of a forthcoming New York Times "bombshell" report on Governor Paterson reaching a fever pitch, Paterson personally addressed the salacious rumors in an interview with the Associated Press yesterday, reiterating that he hasn't been involved sexually with another woman since he was separated from his wife a decade ago, and hasn't done drugs since his early 20s. "For the last couple of weeks I have been the subject of what, even by Albany standards, has been a spate of outrageous rumors about me," Paterson said. "There is an accountability that should exist in the media. How do I get my reputation back? Because I don't believe I have done anything to deserve this kind of bashing." (Yesterday, a source close to Paterson told Daily Intel that the Times's story "is PG-13, not XXX.") more ›

The alleged serial cat killer has escaped from jail island. Sean Lynde, 37, had been charged with killing five of his girlfriend's cats between October 2008 and January 2009. He pled guilty today in a no-jail deal, where he admitted to killing one of the cats, Bonafide (who was a 2-month-old male, somehow broke two vertebrae in his neck, slipped into a coma and subsequently died), has to undergo weekly psychotherapy sessions for a year and must stay away from "his now ex-girlfriend and her surviving pet, a dog named Sasha." more ›

The rat problem in the Upper West Side's Verdi Square, once called Needle Park, has gotten so bad that recently the Parks Dept. called for back-up. "We have sent an extra staff person there in the early morning and later in the day," said Cristina DeLuca, a spokeswoman from the Parks Dept. "The park is now being cleaned as much as three times a day to address the rodent issues." Still, neighborhood residents say the rats are part of their routine. "If you clap your hands at night they all jump out of the bushes," said Rob Hafferman, who lives nearby. It turns out, the rodents have not gone undocumented. more ›

A Rockaway resident claims that no-parking signs that bar visitors from leaving their cars in the beach-front neighborhoods of Belle Harbor and Neponsit during summer weekends and holidays are "racist and illegal." The signs force beach-goers to drive west to pay parking lots in Jacob Riis Park, or east to look for street parking in areas that "have a higher percentage of lower-income and minority residents," according to the Times. But the signs themselves don't exist in city or state records. more ›

Perhaps following in the footsteps of Alain Robert and the other men who followed his climb up the NY Times building in 2008, a man was just spotted scaling the Manhattan Bridge (Brooklyn side). We'll update when we have more info! Let's hope he made it... more ›

Speculators say the NY Times's Paterson scoop has to do with drugs, swinger parties or some combination of the two, but as scandals pile up, it seems like the news could have to do with 4,500 video slot machines planned for a racetrack in Queens. In a move that by some accounts "smacked of favoritism" Gov. Paterson awarded the project to a company that operates a shabby casino in Elko, Nevada. Now, sources say, Paterson is "paranoid" and lashing out at aids over the corrupt-looking gambling deal. According to one insider, "He sits gnashing his teeth, looking around for scapegoats among the people around him. He's lecturing them, launching into tirades, and he's demoralized the entire staff in the process." more ›

Checker cabs are a thing of the past, so what does the taxi of tomorrow look like? Well, maybe you can have a say... more ›

[UPDATES BELOW] Everyone's talking about the supposed "bombshell" article on Governor Paterson that the NY Times is said to be sitting on (except the NY Times). Over the weekend, Paterson met privately with key Democratic leaders, but his campaign spokesman says the "routine" meetings concerned his re-election plans, not the sensational rumors of a drug and sex scandal that some speculate will end his administration. "The governor started making calls two weeks ago to step up his campaign effort and get ready to officially announce his re-election campaign," Fife told the AP. "The calls were—and are—going well... And then look what happens—a coordinated effort to stop him and spread rumors." But one source reveals that Paterson's resignation was discussed. more ›

In a year when charitable giving dropped among the nation's wealthiest people, Mayor Bloomberg handed out $254 million in donations—making him not only richest man in New York City but also the country's fourth biggest giver. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Bloomberg—who is worth an estimated $17.5 billion—donated money to 1,358 different nonprofits and dedicated $125 million to help six charities devise a plan to help reduce traffic accidents in developing countries. more ›

It would be charitable to call this one a mess: Two prominent Queens politicians are under scrutiny because the nonprofit they set-up to aid Katrina victims delivered barely 1/30th of their funds to evacuees. According to the ethics watchdog group National Legal and Policy Center, tax records show that only $1,392 of at least $31,000 raised to help Katrina families was paid to victims. more ›

Former Giants star Plaxico Burress swears he will return to the NFL after he is released from prison, and insists "it will be like I never left." During his first interview since being sentenced to two years in prison for shooting himself in the leg with an unlicensed handgun, the wide receiver stated: "Being in here I have time to think about how I want to be seen when I get out. I want to be better." more ›

Steve Phillips, the former Mets general manager and ESPN baseball analyst, appeared on the Today Show, fresh from his stint in sex rehab. Phillips told Matt Lauer, “People look at sex addiction as an excuse; it’s not an excuse. I’m fully responsible for everything that I did and accept responsibility for that... People who go [to rehab] are broken people. That’s really the essence of the addiction, that you’re broken inside. You’ve got a hole that you’ve tried to fill, whether it was with alcohol or drugs or sex or gambling with whatever.” more ›

Following a barrage of exposés on the Department of Education's Rubber Room—a paid purgatory for union teachers booted from the classroom— Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx slammed the system. "New York City must no longer permit a gift of several million dollars for incompetent former teachers who sit in the infamous 'rubber rooms,' drawing full salary while the Department of Education drags its feet and refuses to promptly address allegations of teacher misconduct and incompetence," said the Democrat in an angry statement to the Post. more ›

Former Tennessee lawmaker and possible Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. claims his rival is using "underhanded tactics" to keep his name off the ballot. According to the New York newcomer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been trying to convince county Democratic Party chairs to endorse her before the May nominating convention, making it difficult for Ford to become an official Democratic candidate without initiating "a cumbersome and costly" petition drive. more ›

As MTA megaprojects including the Second Avenue Subway and the 7 train expansion have fallen behind schedule and gone up in cost, salaries and staff at the department in charge of overseeing such projects have increased for five years straight. Under the guidance of the MTA Capital Construction department, the price of major developments has surged and setbacks have become commonplace—yet the department has grown from 39 employees in 2004 to 151 in 2009, and its payroll has ballooned by $10.6 million. more ›

Looking at yesterday's satellite image you can see how close Snowmageddon got to the city this past weekend. Great Kills actually had 6.4 inches of snow on Saturday and about an inch fell on parts of Brooklyn. A second wave of cold air behind that storm is blowing into town today. Despite the sun it will be a cold and windy day. Look for highs a little above freezing with wind chill readings in the teens. more ›

Judging from comments on our site and a NY Times reaction piece, New Yorkers didn't seem much surprised by "shocking" new allegations that NYPD crime statistics are fudged, cooked and patched. And yet many still think the city is safe and getting safer; regardless of the stats, the Times finds quite a few people who trust the force to serve and protect. “The N.Y.P.D. lays their lives on the line for us every day,” said a senior minister at the Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church in Harlem. “But they’re human. Mistakes are made. I know that people pad books. They pad books in the banking system. I’ve even known ministers to pad books in the church. It just needs to be investigated.” more ›

After endearing herself to the Tea Party faithful—and landing herself a lot of media attention—at the Tea Party Convention this past weekend, former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin told her Fox News colleague Chris Wallace that of course she'd think about running for president in 2012. Palin said, "I would. I would if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family. Certainly, I would do so... I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country." more ›

Fed up with name-calling and increased restrictions from the Obama administration, bankers are shifting financial support to Democratic opponents in the Republican party. Bank officials say Wall Street is sending a message: “The expectation in Washington is that ‘We can kick you around, and you are still going to give us money,’ ” one top official at a major Wall Street firm tells the Times. “We are not going to play that game anymore.” more ›

The Manhattan socialite accused of killing her son in a failed murder-suicide attempt had became increasingly detached as she tried to find a way to treat her 8-year-old boy's autism, friends said. "When she had Jude, she found herself a character in an Aristotelian tragedy, in that the baby was severely autistic," said Dr. Marcus Conant, a longtime friend of Gigi Jordan. "She felt she had to to fix his problem ... She went to clinics all over the country looking for a treatment, grasping at straws." more ›

The body of a man whom investigators believe may have been a stowaway was found in one of the landing gear compartments of a plane in Tokyo. Last night a mechanic found the man's body while performing maintenance on the Boeing 777-200; the plane had originated in New York as Delta Flight 59. There's little information about the dead man, who has been identified only as a 5'7" male with dark skin, clothed in a long-sleeved plaid shirt and jeans. The area he was found in is inaccessible from the inside of the plane, and does not have any air conditioning or pressurization. more ›

The cash windfall from a major marijuana money-laundering ring has gone up in smoke. Investigators recently raided an apartment at 153 Mulberry Street (next to the Italian American Museum) and seized $1.1 million in cash believed to be profits from a large-scale hydroponic pot operation. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Daniel McGehean, the apartment's 32-year-old tenant, and Canadian national Richard Doyon, 37. (According to the Daily News, they also seized an incriminating photo of McGehean standing in a marijuana field.) more ›

The speculation about a supposed "bombshell" NY Times story about Governor David Paterson has been percolating since last week. Now, the Business Insider offers, "We've now heard from a single source familiar with the goings on at the Governor's office that the story will likely drop on Monday, and that the governor's resignation will follow." more ›

Senate hopeful Harold Ford Jr. gave another memorable interview, this time over a garden omelet at a Union Square bistro. Meanwhile the Daily News dug up “Say it Loud,” the award-winning newspaper column Ford wrote in his college days at U Penn. Seems like—though pedicures are a recent development—his gift for gab goes back at least that far. Coming from a work-out at Equinox the man who “could sell a snowball in a blizzard,” did his best to sell the NY Times’s Marueen Dowd. Some choice cuts from the interview: more ›

Could Brooklyn have skateboard parks? I like to skateboard with my cousin . . . I like to stop and kick the board up in the air and catch it in my hands and would like a skateboard park to ride in and do tricks. It's good exercise and burns lots of calories. Without a skateboard park, people will have to jump over a fire hydrant for a stunt. They would say, "This is boring, dude." I hope there is a skateboard park here one day. more ›

Whoops! Aside from long lines, lost packages, rodents, and closed branches... the United States Postal Service has now taken their fail factor to the streets. A reader sent in this photo of a postal truck leaving the dock at 10th Avenue, attempting to make a very sharp turn and getting wedged under the overpass on 30th Street at 9:30 this morning. Check out another angle after the jump... more ›

Still $125 million short of completion, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s developers are considering unusual self-financing options to finish the 20-year-old project (Gothamist got a tour, see pictures here). Over the years it’s appeared in bits and pieces: there are benches and tree-lined paths on Pier 1 by Old Fulton Street, and a big playground on Pier 6 near Atlantic Avenue. Still, the bulk of the work is unfinished, and just running the park costs $16 million annually. But will seeking private moneys turn the park into Disney World, or worse the private backyard of a condo? “When you talk more broadly about parks,” said Sen. Daniel L. Squadron, who represents the area, “I don’t think we have figured out how to make them self-sustaining.” more ›

Super Bowl XLIV is upon us and for the 44th time it will be played in warm weather. Every year the game is played in a city with good weather in winter or inside if the game is held in a northern climate. But that may change since the NFL is considering putting the game in the new Meadowlands Stadium. NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell said "Playing in the elements is central to the way the game of football is played. I think being able to do that and celebrate the game of football in the No. 1 market could have tremendous benefits.” more ›

And now for this week’s installment of Stories from the Rubber Room: today meet Francisco Olivares, a Queens math teacher who knocked up and then married his 16-year-old student, then decades later sexually molested two 12-year-olds and one more student, according to the Department of Education. Like that rich gross lawyer guy profiled last week, he’s sat for years in the Rubber Room, all the while draining the city’s coffers in ever-growing increments. more ›

The wackiness surrounding this weekend’s G Train service (no it won’t run, yes it will) is sure to make for lots of memorable moments, none better than this one we were tipped off to via Twitter. It’s audio someone recorded of the station stop announcements, performed (and I do mean performed) by one very classy motorman on the green snail line. “My 4am G Train voyage from Smith/9th to Metro was made beautiful thanks to this,” wrote the audio engineer on Poorly Washed Silverware. Listen here. more ›

Daniel Ignacio, the man accused of setting the fire that killed five Guatemalans in Brooklyn last week, continues to spew about the devil and the evil spirits that prompted the act, from the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. "It must have been the Devil. It could not have been Jesus Christ," he said "I know I have to face a living hell now and God's judgment later." Still, since allegedly telling cops he lit the fire with a cigarette lighter, he’s changed his story—now he insists it was all an accident, caused by six plus bottles of vodka. And Satan, of course. more ›

The father of the autistic boy found dead at the Peninsula Hotel Friday—allegedly killed by his mother—says Gigi Jordan was a totally devoted mom. “She was not a killer," said Emil Tzekov through tears. ... I cannot understand." Jordan, a successful pharmaceutical rep, even quit her job to be a better parent to little Jude. OK, not everything was copacetic: Tzekov, a successful yoga instructor, revealed that he hadn’t seen his son since 2007 because Jordan blocked his emails and cut off service to her cell phone. more ›

A retired corrections officer working the security detail at a Woodside bowling alley shot two rowdy patrons early this morning, sending them to the hospital. Gerard Hourigan and Justin Donaghy, both 29 years old, were having cigarettes in the vestibule, flouting city non-smoking regulations when the guard, Michale Iavecchio, gave them the boot. But when he escorted them outside the friends attacked him, he says. Iavechhio—who because of this past employer had a license to carry a concealed weapon—reached for his .380 Ruger and fired two rounds, hitting one man in the stomach and the other in the chest. more ›

While former governor Eliot Spitzer reminded everyone he used to be the Sheriff of Wall Street on The Colbert Report this past week, "Manhattan Madam" Kristin Davis, the madam who claims Spitzer was one of her clients, has been eyeing one of Spitzer's former jobs—being governor! According to the Daily News, Republican operative Roger Stone has been helping her with a gubernatorial bid! more ›

Sarah Palin rallied attendees at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville by attacking President Obama and Democratic policies, saying, "How's that hopey, changey stuff working out for you?" and "America is ready for another revolution! ... This is about the people, and it’s bigger than any one king or queen of a tea party, and it’s a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter." more ›

With 41 saves, Henrik Lundqvist was able to stop the Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk, who played in his second game with this new team. Lundqvist stopped Kovalchuk eight times in the game, which was only the second win for New York in its last nine games. The Rangers did all its scoring in the 2nd period, when Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan and Chris Drury each lit the lamp in under three minutes. The win put the Rangers in a tie with the Flyers for 8th place in the Eastern Conference. more ›

To linguists our city is part of what’s known as the "R-less corridor,” because New Yawkas, like South Londonaws before them, drop their “R’s” (My Daughta’s a lawya). But, most language experts agree that the designation is quickly becoming irrelevant. “New Yorkers are more and more 'R'-ful, and the amount of R-dropping is decreasing," says Michael Newman, associate professor of linguistics at Queens College. more ›

Days after a Brooklyn cop and a Queens politician accused the police of cooking its crime statistics, a survey of more than one hundred retired NYPD higher-ups showed that cops—who are under constant pressure to produce happy-looking stats—have routinely fabricated or manipulated their data, since the crime analysis system was put into place in 1995. And the statistics they produce are the very same that Bloomberg quotes when he says the city is safe, and getting safer every year. “Those people in the CompStat era felt enormous pressure to downgrade index crime, which determines the crime rate, and at the same time they felt less pressure to maintain the integrity of the crime statistics,” said John A. Eterno, one of the researchers and a former NYPD captain. more ›

There are plenty of downsides to being a lifer for the MTA—like spending your youth vole-like in the city’s subterranean passages—but unlimited cards for life have always been a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe not for much longer though, since Mayor Bloomberg said recently that if free student cards go, so should MetroCards for agency retirees. more ›

A monetarily secure hedge fund manager is suing to keep his rent on Park Avenue rock bottom. Though Ross Haberman could afford the increase (which could be as much as thirty times what he’s paying now) his lawyer says he shouldn’t have to since he was willed the apartment by his late grandpa, real-estate legend Louis Katz. But despite what the last letter said, relatives want him to pay up. more ›

Maybe you’ve seen this PSA around in the subway—well its turns out NYPD doesn’t know which one is real either. Early this morning Bushwick cops fired two round at a 61-year-old BB gunman, whose weapon they mistook for a real firearm. Should have turned it in for cash. more ›

Three months after being sued for using Bernard L. Madoff Securities Investments like a "family piggy bank," the sons, brother, and niece of Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff have agreed to having their assets frozen—plus they agreed to disclose their finances within 30 days. more ›

Two picturesque Bronx developments at the edge of the Long Island Sound are accused of barring blacks from purchasing homes in the quiet confines of their communities. The Fair Housing Justice Center is suing Edgewater Park and nearby Silver Beach Gardens for racial discrimination, as well as one its longtime residents, Realtor Amelia Lewis. Investigators sent fake couples to try to buy homes in the community: a white pair received a warm welcome, but when a black couple inquired they were immediately asked for references and then told by Lewis “there’s no way you’re going to get in there.” Stats revealed that though blacks account for 35 percent of homeowners in the Bronx, they own less than 1 percent of the 1,100 homes in Edgewater Park and Silver Beach Gardens. The prosecution says it was tipped off by the communities’ low profiles. “Any time anything’s hidden or secret,” the justice center’s lawyer told the NY Times, “you have to ask, ‘Why would you want to be hidden?’” more ›

Embattled ex-anchorman Dominic Carter has been released early from jail just as new reports come in that he was already arrested once, 13 years ago, for beating and choking his wife. Last month he was sentenced to 30 days for abusing his longtime partner Marilyn, who claimed he’d been using her as a punching bag since 2003. Now we know the episodes go back more than a decade, but she sill blames his behavior on the sad, sordid story of his childhood, revealed graphically this week in a NYMagazine piece. "Those demons that he's carrying around were turned on me," she said. more ›

The mother of Alexa Gonzalez, the Queens public school student arrested after being caught doodling on her desk, tells the Daily News that the principal is unapologetic about how the 12-year-old was treated. According to Moraima Camacho, Junior High School 190 principal Marilyn Grant said "that it wasn't their fault that it was something they had to do. She doesn't consider it doodling." more ›

A note left by Gigi Jordan—the socialite mom who allegedly killed her 8-year-old son in a murder-suicide attempt—suggests child pornography and sexual abuse played a role in the rich woman's desperate act. "I hope Jude is in a better place," wrote the Belgian multi-millionaire, going on to suggest that her autistic son was the victim of rape. more ›

After getting a $6 million bail-out from the state—enough to hold it over until it had made “a decision about whether to file for bankruptcy"—St. Vincent’s hospital is slowing to a stop. It’s used the loan to settle employees’ salaries and other costs, but the conversation at a meeting on Friday suggested that there’s not enough to make it into next week. To buy more time, the Greenwich Village landmark facility would need $20 million, so one by one its eliminating its programs and services. more ›

Natavia Lowery is sticking to her original story that her former boss Linda Stein was a feisty pot-smoking racist. She claimed Stein fought with everyone, from her daughters to building workers—but of course never fought with Lowery, they "had a fine relationship." This all comes from early questioning by homicide cops, which came out during a trial testimony yesterday by Detective Angelique Lofredo. more ›

After a record earnings year—and rumors of a $100 million bonus—Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein is receiving a $9 million bonus in deferred stock for 2009. Some on Wall Street think it's a "sign of restraint"—the Wall Street Journal characterizes it as Goldman "bowing" to criticism about executive pay. more ›

Milwaukee 114 Knicks 107: Remember when the Knicks started the season 1-9? And remember how they then fell to a season-worst 11-games under .500 at 3-14? Well, they are right back there again after losing to the Bucks Friday night. Nate Robinson got the start, but shot 3-for-12. David Lee turned in another double-double, but his 32 points and 15 rebounds were wasted. The Knicks were once a team in contention for a playoff spot, now there are headed for oblivion more ›

The L.A. Clippers officially parted ways with head coach Mike Dunleavy today after nearly seven somewhat successful seasons, opening up the possibility that they may hire Isiah Thomas in his stead—Wait, what?? more ›

A Queens Democrat has sent out mailings illustrated with a swastika that label his rival for an open Assembly seat as an "extremist" who is "out of touch with our community's values." Just days before a special election for a northeastern Queens seat, former Councilman David Weprin attacked Republican and Conservative party candidate Bob Friedrich with literature showing the Nazi symbol and text accusing his foe of not taking a tough enough stance against hate crimes. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] The rumor mill is churning right now about a "big, damaging" New York Times "bombshell" story that supposedly features some ruinous dirt about the personal life of Governor David Paterson. Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily News hears it "will be far worse than his acknowledged extramarital affair with a former state employee." Remember when you first heard about Eliot Spitzer's involvement with prostitutes, and everyone was like, "Okay, so who the hell is David Paterson?" Well, let's get to know current Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch! (We would link to his official New York State website, but, heh, that doesn't even exist.) more ›

Photographer Brian Letwin has made us burn with envy: Earlier this week, he got the chance to go down and take photos of the 7 train extension project currently underway. And who should he find down there but Mayor Mike Bloomberg, rocking his casual denim/high-wader combo. You'll recall our excitement back in December when the city released a video showing the massive tunnel boring machine (TBM) cutter head breaking through the 34th Street Station Cavern Wall. The machines are currently working their way toward 42nd Street, where the 7 line currently ends, carving through rock 110 feet under Eleventh Avenue. When asked about a report that said the project could be delayed from its December 2013 opening into 2014, Bloomberg told reporters, "I don’t know. If it takes into 2014, as long as we do it safe, that’s the most important thing." And do it with more video of the TBMs—those machines rock. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] The hits keep coming in the trial of Natavia Lowery, who is accused of bludgeoning her former boss Linda Stein to death in 2007. But before we get to yesterday's testimony from Stein's ex-husband, music producer Seymour Stein, there's something else that has come to our attention. more ›

Investigators believe a Manhattan woman killed her 8-year-old son in a failed murder-suicide attempt in a posh Midtown hotel. Police reportedly found 49-year-old socialite Gigi Jordan "babbling incoherently" beside the body of her child, who had been dead for a day, in a room in the Peninsula hotel that was littered with thousands of pills. more ›

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants her likely Democratic rival to tell voters if he received a "taxpayer-backed" bonus from his Wall Street job. Gillibrand is pushing former Tennessee lawmaker, current Merrill Lynch employee, and possible Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. to say whether or not he received cash during a controversial round of bonuses at the end of 2008 from companies that were bailed out with TARP funds. more ›

With the MTA facing a $400 million budget gap—even if it implements "Doomsday" service cuts and a 7.5 percent fare hike—Mayor Bloomberg warned straphangers yesterday that commuting will likely become more tedious, more expensive, or both. According to the Post, the Mayor said state legislators must "come up with some ways to fund the MTA, or the MTA is either going to have to raise rates dramatically or cut back service dramatically—or, what's more likely, some combination of the two," more ›