Czar alert! Yesterday the state Senate confirmed Jay Walder for the position of chairman and CEO of the MTA. That's equivalent to rank of czar, according to the Post, which reports that Walder told lawmakers he "will be back" to try and wrest $10 billion from Albany for the MTA's five-year plan, which includes finishing the fabled Second Avenue Subway. The Senate's 47-13 vote was preceded by some debate, during which Democratic Staten Island Senator Diane J. Savino spoke for her constituents: "There is a level of discontent that exists between the M.T.A. and the people in this room, the people who should be your partner." more ›

Have you come to terms yet with losing McCarren Pool as you've known it for the past few years? It's time to move on, because last night the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the new plans for the space. Expect all that stuff you've been hearing about and seeing in renderings: ice skating rink, pool, cafes, umbrellas and other resorty type things. As we noted last month, there will still be performances, and the Brooklyn Paper reported that the future community center (set to open in 2011) will include an indoor performance space, according to the Parks Department spokesman Phil Abramson. [via Curbed] more ›

After widespread outrage that the city Parks Department might end more than three decades of Latin American cuisine dished out during weekend soccer games in Red Hook, it was announced yesterday that the longtime vendors have been granted a six year permit. In the end, they were the only group to apply. Last summer the Department of Health cracked down on the vendors for health violations, and it was feared that the vendors would be priced out of the park by new licensing fees. more ›