Former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton still isn't talking about how he got his special parking pass made for city employees on official business. But a spokesman for the Bloomberg administration tells the Post that they have a crack investigation squad working in shifts to determine how this abuse of rank has continued to deprive the City of vital parking revenue. “We’re looking at the issue,” Stu Loeser told the paper. more ›

In the wake of the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona two weeks ago, much of the ensuing discussion has revolved around the permissive gun laws in the country. But there's at least one part of NYC that doesn't see any reason for debate: the towns in the 10312 ZIP code, which cover's Staten Island's Annadale, Arden Heights and Eltingville sections, where one in every 56 males is packing heat, the most by far in the city. "[Guns are] a beautiful thing to own," said resident Peter Bruno, 73. more ›

Like Phish and Paul McCartney have in the past, Jay-Z was scheduled to perform on top of the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater during Monday night's rush hour, but the performance (part of the rapper's Letterman appearance) was canceled at the last minute. A source told the NY Post it was an abrupt cancellation that came after weeks of planning, and word is "Bloomberg canceled the concert for security reasons after Drake's free concert" at the South Street Seaport earlier this week. more ›

The for-profit rooftop farm Brooklyn Grange—which began installation on the Standard Motor Products building in Long Island City last week—was issued a stop-work order on Friday for not securing permits for the project. The New York City Department of Buildings said the group never showed engineering plans proving the 40,000 square feet of rooftop was sturdy enough to hold nearly a million pounds of dirt and vegetables. Farmer Ben Flanner told the Times, "Our enthusiasm to get plants in for the season outpaced our paperwork, and we are doing everything we can with our architect and engineer to work this out." more ›

It's been a while since we heard anything about the Jane Hotel, whose ballroom was shut down in October after numerous noise complaints were filed by locals (who also became a press force to be reckoned with, armed with a blog and Twitter). But today their worst nightmare may be coming true: the Jane's ballroom is reopening! Dun dun dun. more ›

It appears that last week's story about senior bankers at Goldman Sachs arming themselves with handguns to fend off a "populist uprising" was just that: a story. Reporting for Bloomberg News, Alice Schroeder wrote, "New York Police Department has told me that ‘as a preliminary matter’ it believes some of the bankers I inquired about do have pistol permits." But now NYPD spokesman Paul J. Browne tells the Wall Street Journal that only four Goldman employees have applied for gun permits in recent years — and the last application, submitted by the firm’s head of security, was made in 2003. Basically, they're sitting ducks over there! more ›

The bloggers over at the Hotel Chelsea have been keeping an eye on the new management of their ever-changing home, and most recently noted some falsified DOB construction permits obtained "in a move designed to sidestep requirement for certificate of non-harassment." more ›

Over the weekend, hungry visitors to the Red Hook ball fields were disappointed to find that the famous Latin American food vendors were nowhere to be found. Back in March the Parks Department bent to considerable public outcry and dropped its threat to evict the longstanding vendors, instead granting them a six-year permit. more ›

The number of residential construction permits issued by the Dept. of Buildings in the first quarter of 2008 declined by 46% from the same period in 2007, indicating that the construction boom that has gripped the city over the last several years may be coming to an end. The decline was citywide, with fewer permits issued in all five boroughs, although the sharpest decrease occurred in the Bronx. more ›

After widespread outrage that the city Parks Department might end more than three decades of Latin American cuisine dished out during weekend soccer games in Red Hook, it was announced yesterday that the longtime vendors have been granted a six year permit. In the end, they were the only group to apply. Last summer the Department of Health cracked down on the vendors for health violations, and it was feared that the vendors would be priced out of the park by new licensing fees. more ›