A survey of all 62 state Senators shows that a pending same-sex marriage bill faces tough odds of passing if brought to the floor for a vote. Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says he won't do that unless he's certain it has the 32 votes needed for passage, and the survey, conducted by NY1, would seem to contradict the bill's primary sponsor, Thomas Duane, who has optimistically predicted "there are enough votes for it to pass and a cushion." Reverend Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms tells NY1, "We're very confident in the fact that this bill is quickly going to crash and burn." more ›

Everybody at Philadelphia's mass transit agency, "SEPTA", was so pumped for the city's upcoming Beer Week, and them some annoying blogger had to come along and point out that the pass they were about to sell to discourage drunk driving had one teensy error: It depicted the skyline of New York City. Trendspotters have been trying to position Philly as NYC's sixth borough for years, so one can understand the confusion. But the Phillyskyline blog was unsparing in its derision, and then the mainstream media picked up the story, and now the poor designer who grabbed the wrong stock photo is probably out of a job and won't be able to afford to even live in the glamorous sixth borough anymore. Don't worry, unidentified Beer Pass designer, this might actually turn out to be your big chance to move up here and live under the skyline of your dreams—NYC isn't immune to stock photo skyline oops, so you'll fit right in if you're looking for work. more ›

Yesterday the State Assembly passed legislation that would scale back increases on rent-regulated apartments statewide, returning to regulation tens of thousands of units that were converted to market rate in recent years. According to the Times, the bill would also lower to 10 percent, from 20 percent, the amount a landlord can raise the rent after an apartment's been vacated; limit the owner's ability to recover a rent-regulated apartment for personal use; and increase fines for landlords who harass their tenants to try and drive them away. more ›