In the wake of same-sex marriage passing in NY, as well as the federal repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, legislators are now turning their attention toward a federal bill to lift the last bans on gay couples and individuals adopting children. "This legislation would open thousands of new foster and adoptive homes to children ensuring they are raised in loving families," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said of her "Every Child Deserves a Family Act." more ›

Earlier this week, we heard the rumblings of some new legislation designed to curb the spread of mobile food vendors, who have already been facing down opponents in Midtown, the Upper West Side and Park Slope. Today, the Post reports that UWS Councilwoman Gale Brewer has indeed introduced a new bill, requiring the Department of Health to report the number of permits it issues each year to food trucks and carts, as part of a larger plan to regulate trucks overall. We spoke to Brewer to find out what exactly her beef with food trucks and carts is: more ›

There's a new New York State education law that's now in effect, and it calls back the frog-freeing scene from E.T. (watch below!). Patrick Kwan at the Humane Society of the U.S. tells us that schools must now notify students of their right to refuse to dissect animals without being penalized. The HSUS and the Humane Society of New York are making sure that schools now abide by the new provision in the state’s humane education law. more ›

Remember last month, when the city told pet lovers they couldn't accompany their beloved furry friends to the Great Beyond? Unsurprisingly, the move didn't go over so well then, and it's not going over so well now, either, with protests against the measure gaining traction. more ›

Boy howdy, the city really just does not know what to do with raccoons. It was almost a year ago that legislators first proposed a bill asking the city to trap errant raccoons, and today, they're still pushing. more ›

In one of the stranger political teamups since the uneasy Bloomberg-Gingrich-Sharpton triumvirate of 2009, liberal Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank and libertarian Texas Rep. Ron Paul have joined forces to introduce new legislation today. And what topic could possibly bring these two titans together? The stickiest of the ickiest. more ›

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. has introduced a bill (below) that would ban the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors and prohibit them from being used in certain public places—just like real cigarettes! And you can thank some Astoria tobacco shops for selling them to minors, because according to the Gotham Gazette that's where Vallone first noticed the products. “People should start getting the word out there about these cigarettes,” he said. “It’s absolutely not a healthy activity." more ›

The MTA needs money. But apparently, the state Legislature is trying to keep them from getting that money. A new bill would commendably require that the MTA provide free MetroCards for the city's public school students, but also would require 25 percent off MetroCards for college kids, and free MetroCards for senior citizens, off-duty fire marshals, off-duty police officers and retired cops. It also wouldn't require the city or state to chip in, leaving the MTA to fend for itself. And while an extra $52 million a year could probably help, they're apparently losing that to lost and unused MetroCards. more ›

Earlier this month, America's youth—specifically those currently enrolled at Rutgers University—paid Snooki of Jersey Shore an absurd amount of money to come fist pump at the school. More than the university paid Toni Morrison, in fact. (Kids today! Etc.) Now Senator Joe Kyrillos is prepping a proposal in the state Senate that would essentially, hopefully, lead to better choices. more ›

Don't worry, New York, maple syrup is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it prevents cancer...or we just tell ourselves that to justify eating it by the spoonful. (Everyone does that, right?) According to Senator Chuck Schumer, New York state has more sugar maples than Quebec, and he is renewing his efforts to make the state "global leaders in the maple industry." more ›

That's right, the day has come when Miley Cyrus's decisions are affecting our legal system. Salvia—an herbal drug that, when smoked, can cause intense hallucinations—came into the American mainstream after a video of the pop-star smoking it appeared in December. A few weeks ago, a Roosevelt Island man jumped to his death after smoking it, which pushed Senator John Flanagan to introduce legislation banning the substance. Yesterday, the legislation passed the State Senate. more ›

Thanks to some crazy kids who would probably snort just about anything, two New Jersey legislators are introducing legislation to ban the sale and use of "bath salts," completely ruining grandma's relaxing foot soak. Deputy Speaker John McKeon and Assemblywoman Linda Stender were inspired to introduce the bill after a Rutgers University senior was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, William Parisio, who happened to be on the powders. more ›

City Council really wants to crack down on bad landlords. Last week they debated legislation that would fine landlords for not providing adequate heat and hot water, and today legislation was introduced (below) that would require all landlords to post a tenants' bill of rights in plain view in their buildings and include it in every lease or renewal. So just what is on this bill of rights? more ›

It's cold out there, if you hadn't noticed. And when it's cold, we'll forgive our radiator for the 6 a.m. wake-up call because we're just thankful the heat is on. But for many people across the city that's not the case, and City Council wants to do something about it. In new legislation debated by the Council yesterday, landlords would be fined up to $500 per day they don't provide adequate heat and hot water, and up to $1000 for subsequent violations. more ›

After being expected to sign a bill to stiffen fines for illegal sidewalk ATMs, Mayor Bloomberg—for only the fourth time in nearly nine years—postponed signing the bill after being convinced by opponents that stiffer fines would lead to job loss? Really? He said, "I don’t want to be the Grinch that stole Christmas. I am particularly concerned about jobs in this city, particularly with small businesses." It has always been illegal to keep ATMs on the sidewalk, but the legislation would raise the fines to thousands of dollars. And put all the poor Whos down in Whoville out of Whojobs! more ›

The family of deliveryman Tian Sheng Lin, who has been declared brain dead after being struck by a texting teenage driver, says they're not ready to take him off life support yet. His daughter told ABC 7, "I hope he could wake-up because we still need him." But the family's lawyer, whom they hired to sue 19-year-old driver Nechama Rothberger, says the situation looks grim. He told the Daily News, "It would take a miracle, but the family is still hoping for recovery." Though it's no comfort for Lin's family, there is hope that the incident may motivate legislators to enact harsher punishments for drivers too busy texting to pay attention to the road. more ›

Following the egg recall—which happened outside of New York, but right around the same time Brooklyn alfalfa sprouts and cheese was getting recalled—two New York State legislators have announced they want farmers to vaccinate their hens against salmonella. more ›

If you have a raccoon breaking in to your brownstone (like some folks in Park Slope), then soon you may just be able to call on the city to take care of it. A new bill unveiled today by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley places responsibility on the city to trap raccoons in the five boroughs. All a concerned citizen needs to do is ask! But what will the big bad Department of Health do with the creatures once they're caught? According to the Daily News they'll be encouraged to humanely release them. more ›

Governor Paterson introduced legislation yesterday that would overhaul the state's rent laws in order to "preserve affordable housing stock." The legislation is in response to the Stuy-Town lawsuit Roberts v. Tishman Speyer, in which tenants prevailed but were left uncertain of their legal rent. DHCR Commissioner Brian Lawlor said in a statement, "The legislation Governor Paterson is proposing will protect all rent regulated tenants in New York State for an additional eight years, provide incentives to owners to quickly provide refunds and rent reductions to tenants in apartments that were inappropriately decontrolled and also slow the deregulation of rent stabilized apartments." more ›

New legislation introduced today by the City Council may help those who suffer from asthma by requiring landlords to make buildings more lung-friendly. The council would require owners of 175 buildings to attempt to reduce asthma factors like mold and garbage pileup, or risk liens from the city. Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the Times, "Not every landlord is a good landlord in the city of New York. We need to have stricter laws to deal with those bad apples." more ›

In the battle between legislators and teachers' unions over federal Race to the Top funding, hedge funds' executives are becoming powerful proponents of charter school reform. A new proposal for federal school funding would require the Assembly to pass legislation that would raise the cap on charter schools, and many managers have contributed millions in funds to lobby for the bill. “A lot of hedge fund and finance people in New York had decided state politics was too dirty and focused on their philanthropy.” said Eagle Capital Management partner Boykin Curry, “I think there’s an awakening now that we can be a force in Albany, but we’ve got to play a tougher game than before.” more ›

Yesterday the City Council passed legislation that will change the carriage horse industry, albeit not make it extinct, as many animal rights activists would like. Under the new bill, horses will be given five weeks off a year to "vacation" outside of the city, NY1 reports. Council speaker Christine Quinn called the move a “huge step forward" for the industry, and Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz spoke of the tourist appeal, saying: "People all over the world come to New York City with plans to take a carriage ride through Central Park. This bill ensures they can continue to do so in an environment that treats both the horses and the drivers fairly." more ›

Business owners did their best yesterday to scare off Council members mulling a bill that would require all employers in the city to provide up to nine paid sick days. The owners insist such a law would force small businesses to slash salaries and benefits, lay off employees, and eventually flee the city. "Pile on another expense to us, you’re gonna put people out of business. You’re gonna encourage people to move their business out of New York City. I’m a mile from New Jersey. It’s a hop over the bridge. And it’s very tempting," said Tom Scarangello of Scaran Heating & Air Conditioning. more ›

For college kids heading back to school in New York this Fall, don't plan on pulling all-nighters whilst chain smoking--or covering up your pot smoke with a Marlboro, for that matter. The Bwog just got word of a legislation, which was signed by Gov. Paterson in July, that makes smoking illegal in all New York college dormitories. They add that "a pair of RAs also noted that at least for Columbia, the mere possession of tobacco products is forbidden." Who knew that smoking in the dorms was even legal anymore? As Columbia's website states, there are both safety and health concerns with smoking in living quarters, and from now on, "those who choose to smoke do at least 20 feet away from undergraduate housing and dining buildings" (this includes fraternity and sorority housing). more ›

Republicans in the State Senate introduced a bill this week that would protect minors, particularly transgender students, from bullies. But no one will take credit for sponsoring the bill, and it may disappear as quietly as it was introduced. A spokesman for the Senate majority leader Dean G. Skelos would not comment on the proposed law, telling the Times, “We are focused on property tax relief.” Similar legislation has been passed in the Democrat-controlled Assembly; the mysterious Republican version would require schools to train teachers to intervene during bullying and keep track of bullying cases, including incidents involving sexual orientation. 11 other states have already enacted such laws, according to Alan Van Capelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda. more ›

Last week, City Councilman Tony Avella introduced a resolution to urge the state senate to outlaw the force-feeding of ducks and geese to produce foie gras. A bill has been on the back burners in Albany, and Avella hopes that his resolution will move things forward. Ariane Daugin, head of D'Artagnan, the nation's leading foie gras purveyor, had a some strong opinions to share on the matter. Read more about her opposition (and see the Humane Society's video of the duck and geese) here. more ›

Is that friendly server who just recited the evening's specials an ex-con? Quite possibly, and maybe even more frequently so if the New York State Restaurant Association has anything to do with it. The trade association is rallying behind a newly proposed bill sponsored in the State legislature by Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry of Queens. more ›

Outraged by the unstoppable deluge of delivery menus on your doormat and the inability of our elected officials to stem the rising tide? You are not alone! One man has decided to take matters into his own hands by designing a sticker for your apartment door to ward off unwanted promotions.

I've decided to start promoting my own solution: a simple bumper sticker that uses a helpful diagram to warn trespassers that fingers will be crushed if menus are put under the door. This has actually made a huge difference in reducing the number of menus arriving at my house.

First responders gathered in front of the NYC Medical Examiner's office to protest how the ME has classified deaths seemingly related to Ground Zero illnesses. State Senator Eric Adams said he would introduce legislation making sure first responders who worked at Ground Zero will "get the same line-of-duty benefits" as September 11 victims. Recently, the ME's office has not named two rescuers, who worked at the World Trade Center site after September 11 and later... more ›

After City Council member Simcha Felder announced he would propose legislation to ban feeding pigeons, bird lovers joined forces and, yesterday, held a rally at City Hall. Armed with posters like "Save Our Right to Feed Wildlife," "Have U Known Anybody Killed by a Pigeon?", "Pigeons are Beautiful Birds," and "Felder's Pigeon Bill is Poop!", the pro-pigeon protesters spoke out for their feathered friends. One demonstrator told City Room, "We are voices for the... more ›