In what is being described as a "high-profile event" tomorrow, Governor Paterson will sign an executive order extending legal protections to transgender employees of New York State. (The order applies only to state employees under the executive branch—not to the private sector.) Sources tell City Room that the executive order will include transgender people in antidiscrimination policies that already govern state agencies, and will offer the broadest protections ever extended to transgender public employees in New York. Dru Levasseur, Lambda Legal transgender rights attorney, says, "This will bring New York up to par with other states that are taking the lead on workplace fairness." more ›

The MTA has embraced Internet technology once again to offer the public streaming webcasts of public meetings at its midtown Manhattan headquarters. Thanks to Governor Spitzer's "Executive Order 3," which requires all public agencies to broadcast meetings by July 1, the MTA is investing just over a hundred thousand dollars to set up and maintain the technology. MTA executive director and CEO Elliot Sander said, "The MTA shares Governor Spitzer’s focus on transparency and access, and we are thrilled to be able to offer this service before the mandated deadline." Of course, Sander is a Spitzer appointee. more ›

Gothamist is very fond of the film, Searching for Bobby Fischer. Although there is no Bobby Fischer in it, it does have an interesting look at the chess games in Washington Square Park. For more Bobby Fischer, read Rene Chun's 2002 Atlantic article, Bobby Fischer's Pathetic Endgame. One person doesn't think Fischer's playing was in violation of anything, but adds that Fischer's criminally charges were ordered by "Executive Order" from President Bush (41). more ›