Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an injured firefighter on Myrtle Ave. in Queens, a robbery/mobilization on Broadway in Manhattan, and a suspicious death on Sheffield Ave. in Brooklyn. Five Hoboken police officers filed a federal lawsuit claiming discrimination by the town's police department. Their commander allegedly used the "N" word frequently and said "the white race was destined to rule and dominate others." You know you're screwed when you call your City Council representative... more ›

Today, all over the city, ordinary parking spaces will be transformed into temporary public "parks." The Trust for Public Land has organized a nationwide Park(ing) Day, and there are a number of these Park(ing) projects all over the city - Open Plans has the details on the NYC locations. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on East Tremont Ave. in the Bronx, two pedestrians struck on 42nd St. and 11th Ave. in Manhattan and one is likely dead, and another bank robbery on Myrtle Ave. in Brooklyn.
• A Queens car thief's plan of taking a dealer's SUV for a test drive and kicking the salesman out of the car would have worked beautifully if he hadn't surrendered his actual driver's license at the dealership before taking the car for a ride. He was arrested when he returned to the Potamkin dealership to collect his license. Two dozen police were involved in the ensuing foot chase.
• The M.T.A. is shockingly behind schedule on its anti-terrorism project schedule. No really, it's only completed two out of six scheduled "high priority" projects.
• A Park Ave. church is suing Con Ed for damage to its nearly century-old pipe organ after the utility allegedly let a damaged steam pipe vent damaging moisture into the instrument's fixtures for weeks.
• If you're a food blogger, there's a good chance that Mario Batali hates you. Just mentioning Batali yesterday was enough to evince criticism from some of our readers, so the NYC restaurant scene is apparently a contentious place.
• A Consumer Reports test named Hebrew National the #1-tasting dog in the land. Nathan's came in second with Boar's Head in third place.
• Any dual Sopranos-Lost fans should be reassured that the latter's shows don't intend to leave them hanging like David Chase. "Mobisodes" will be broadcast over Verizon's wireless network.
• Despite an approval vote by regulatory members last week, more than 100 neighbors packed into a Williamsburg Community Board meeting last night, halting the approval process of construction of a 24-story tower just off Bedford Ave.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: an unusual rescue on Beverly Rd. in Brooklyn, a car vs. building incident at Myrtle Ave. and 74th St. in Queens, and a shooting at 125th St. and 1st Ave. in Manhattan.
• Matthew Goldstein, a CUNY alumnus and present chancellor of that school system, won the Carnegie Corp.'s Academic Leadership Award and will receive $500,000.
• Queens state assemblyman Rory Lancman wants an appointed member of NYC's Human Rights Commission removed for his involvement in a lawsuit against airline passengers who reported behavior they found suspicious. Bloomberg is backing his appointee.
• A temporary compromise is reached on big-dog and little-dog areas in Upper East Side dog run.
• The FCC wants in on the Don Imus fiasco and is reportedly investigating the controversial radio host.
• The detectives charged in the Sean Bell shooting appeared in a Queens courtroom today as lawyers and the judge worked on scheduling issues. Outside of court, advocates, supporters, and detractors for and against the defendants argued over who was conducting the worst public smear campaign.
• The city breaks ground on the 2nd Ave. Subway tomorrow; for the final time we hope.
• A 73-year-old woman fell partway into a gap between the station platform and an LIRR train this morning in Syosset.
• Get your hands on a printed subway schedule. It should give you something to read when your train is running late.

A Gothamist reader tipped us off and Florence Fabricant confirmed that Black Pearl, the New England style clam and lobster shack in the back of the East Village bar, Julep has closed. We will mourn quietly and head back to Pearl Oyster Bar. more ›

At first glance, it seems fair to us that you'd be charged more than the flat $45 from airport to Manhattan rate, since you're making a stop in Brooklyn that's out of the way of the cabbie (meaning that he'd lose money shuttling you to Brooklyn and then to Manhattan). more ›