You know how the city pushed the Hudson Yards mega-development plan, saying it would be good because it would, besides creating retail, commercial and residential space, bring in tons of construction jobs? Well, now it turns out that Related, the development company who is building it all (including a 51-story skyscraper), has hired a huge California firm as the main contractor. As the Post reports from a Crain's article, "An outfit the size of Tutor Perini doesn’t need to subcontract work to third parties because it owns companies that can perform tasks such as concrete placement and electrical work, while local developers have to outsource the business." more ›

New Yorkers hear the argument from Californian refugees all the time: "You can't get any decent tacos in New York City." These poor ex-Angelenos have never put a Brooklyn Taco to their lips. Before this fall, you could only snag one at the Hester Street Fair or the Artists and Fleas fair in Williamsburg, but now you don't have to wait for spring. We paid a visit to Brooklyn Taco's first permanent location in the Essex Street Market, and as sad as it was to see Jeffery's Meat Market leave, the neighborhood now has sublime tacos just steps from 5 subway lines, 7 days a week. more ›

Al Davis, the provocative, loyal, and highly successful owner of the Oakland Raiders, died yesterday at the age of 82. Newsday reports that it was unclear what the cause of death was, but Davis' health had been declining in recent years. "I can control most things, but I don't seem to be able to control death," he once said. more ›

Now that we've all got a soothing cup of coffee in hand, let's take a closer look at the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the East Coast yesterday. Beginning at 1:51 p.m., the quake lasted between 20 and 30 seconds. The USGS reported two aftershocks of magnitude 2.8 and 2.2 within 90 minutes of the initial quake. People felt the quake from Ontario all the way down to Alabama, because "it was a shallow earthquake, and geological conditions in the eastern U.S." make for a widely shared experience. Why? "Western rock is relatively young" ("impudent," lets say?) and absorbs the violent shaking near the epicenter, while eastern rock is "far older, and so earthquakes can have a much larger and more widespread impact." more ›

Back in 1975, Newark resident Janice Maffucci's 1969 Chevy Camaro SS was stolen from the parking lot of the post office where her father worked. She never expected to see the car again...and certainly not 36 years later, all the way across the country. But authorities say that a Santa Maria, Calif. man bought the very same hot rod on eBay this past February, and they've now reunited the original owner with the car—but nobody knows where the car has been during those 36 years. Could it be like the muscle car version of The Red Violin? more ›

Liquid Viagra to some, ecological insanity to others, shark fin soup has long endured as a controversial cultural touchstone, but it may go the way of whaling. The Independent reports that global opposition to shark finning—the procedure that cuts the fins off a shark and leaves it to die in the ocean—has reached a fever pitch, with environmental groups like New York City's own Shark Savers increasing their influence to countries like Canada and Australia. A Chinese legislator even proposed anti-finning legislation earlier this month but the bill is expected to die, given that 95% of the world's shark fins are consumed there. more ›

Get out your ALL CAPS-happy Comic Sans-font conspiracy theory keyboard, because it's time to figure out this missile thing. Earlier this week, a missile was spotted over California, and it's still a mystery (at least to us civilians) as to where it came from. Well, last night the mystery went bi-coastal, and around 5 p.m. a missile was spotted over Far Rockaway, Queens! more ›

A huge explosion rocked San Bruno, a suburb a few miles from the San Francisco International Airport, after 6 p.m. Pacific time. SFist has been compiling photos and reports—at first, it was speculated that a plane crashed, but it turns out it may be from a gas line explosion. It's now a six-alarm fire; people were evacuated, the fire is "jumping from house to house," and there may already be looters. One report said, "There is no fighting this fire. It is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it." SFist agreed, "It's just one large fireball shooting from the ground." more ›

Federal Judge Vaughn Walker today struck down Proposition 8, the 2008-voter proposition that made gay marriage illegal in California. In his ruling, he called it unconstitutional. "Plaintiffs have demonstrated by overwhelming evidence that Proposition 8 violates their due process and equal protection rights and that they will continue to suffer these constitutional violations until state officials cease enforcement of Proposition 8. California is able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, as it has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples and has not suffered any demonstrated harm as a result." more ›

A Columbia University social scientist was called to testify yesterday in the high-profile federal trial to decide if Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. For the past decade, Ilan Meyer has studied the effects that public health issues have on the mental health of minority populations. Yesterday Meyer testified that California's voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriages amplified the social stigma that makes homosexuals more susceptible to depression, suicide and substance abuse. When asked if mental health outcomes for gay and lesbian in CA would improve if Prop. 8 were not law, Meyer said: more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] On New Year's Eve a Chihuahua was rescued by NYPD Harbor Patrol after jumping off a Brooklyn pier and diving into the frigid East River, in an attempted suicide or escape attempt. Today, over two dozen Chihuahuas arrived from San Francisco. Coincidence? Or did that despondent Bay Ridge Chihuahua decide to end it all after hearing about the glamorous, tan, West Coast betters coming to steal our hearts? more ›

Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that New York has so many cute Chihuahuas on their way from California! The bad news is that they're coming from overcrowded shelters after being abandoned by fairweather owners. more ›

The State Supreme Court in California has voted 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in the state last November. But in upholding the law, the court also agreed to validate the 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place between June of last year when gay marriage was legalized (by the same court) and November, when Prop 8 was passed by the voters. more ›

After earlier saying he would "defend the proposition as enacted by the people of California," California Attorney General Jerry Brown has asked the California State Supreme Courtto void Proposition 8, which bans same sex marriage. The L.A. Times reports that his brief, filed just under the deadline, declared "the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification." more ›

The heated battle over Proposition 8, California's ballot initiative introducing a constitution amendment outlawing same-sex marriages, has been approved by voters. Votes were being counted until early this morning, with 52% for the ban and 48% against it. The LA Times reports ban throws "into doubt the unions of an estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who wed during the last 4 1/2 months"--the CA State Supreme Court recognized gay marriage in May. So now the Monday morning quarterbacking--did progressives get too complacent? how could Utah Mormons (they funded support for the ban) seize control of the California Constitution--begins, as do lawsuits. more ›

against constitutional amendments that would strip rights from people) while Bay Area notables like George Lucas and the Google founders have been donating to "No on 8" efforts. And yesterday Yes on 8 types, in SUVs and vans, yelled hatefully at pedestrians in San Francisco. more ›

In two hours, the state of California will start issuing licenses for same-sex marriages. more ›

The California State Supreme Court refused to put a hold on gay marriage in its state, denying a requested stay by opponents to the legal and social evolution that is scheduled to go into effect June 17th. The decision was 4-3 against the stay. more ›

The California Supreme Court struck down the gay marriage ban and legalized gay marriage. The decision will go into effect in 30 days. more ›

continues to embarrass the book publishing industry. Writer Margaret Jones, who told her publisher she was a half-white, half-Native American raised by a black foster family in South Central L.A. and former Bloods gang member, was exposed as Margaret Seltzer, white private school graduate from Sherman Oaks, California. more ›

Earlier this year Bravo announced their "Real Housewives" series would be moving from Orange County to The Big Apple. The show premieres tonight, and critics have already gone sour on it. more ›

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The NY State Legislature has long been considered the most dysfunctional state government in the country, and NY Sun has a great article giving weight to that statement: "The Empire State's Legislature employs more people than any other state legislature in the nation." Well, all that dysfunction has to be enabled from someone - or many someones! more ›

Crazy! Gowanus Lounge posted this video of a car on fire in the Greenwood Heights section of Brooklyn. The video shows the FDNY extinguishing the fire, and GL followed up with an eyewitness account from Greenwood Heights resident Aaron Brashear (who's also in the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights). more ›

The California based Westland/Hallmark Meat Company is recalling all its raw and frozen beef products distributed since Feb. 1, 2006 – a total of 143 million pounds of ground beef. The largest beef recall in history was announced after an undercover Humane Society video showed workers kicking sick cows, jabbing them in the eyes and using forklifts to force them to walk to slaughter. (See the video here.) more ›

Jason Kidd has finally gotten his wish and is heading out of town. ESPN is reporting that the Nets and Mavericks have agreed to a deal that will send Kidd to Dallas. While the transaction has not be finalized, it is believed that Kidd and Malik Allen will head to Dallas in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris, a couple of expiring contracts, some future draft picks and some cash. more ›

It was an exciting night of Super Tuesday primary returns. In the Democratic contest, Hillary Clinton won eight states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California, but Obama won twelve - Illinois, Connecticut, Alabama, and Missouri - among them (New Mexico is still undecided as the two candidates are in a tie). The NY Times notes that since there were no decisive victories, "an electoral fight...will unfold for weeks to come." Or, as the Post puts it in more visceral terms, "Neither Clinton nor Obama was able to deliver a knockout punch on a night that had once been expected to crown a winner." more ›

As of 11:45 p.m., Hillary Clinton and John McCain are projected to win their New York primaries. The Democratic primary distributes NY delegates proportionally, so the final total will be important in determining how many will go to Clinton and how many to Barack Obama. more ›

Super Tuesday is supposed to be a decisive catalyst in the presidential campaigns. It may wind up raising more questions than ever, especially with Mayor Bloomberg (not officially) entertaining a run towards 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. more ›