A state law against loitering has been ruled unconstitutional three times since it was passed in 1965, but the city has continued to enforce it, often using it as an excuse to round up the homeless in bus terminals and men whom cops perceive as gay and "cruising" for sex. In 2010 a judge held the city in contempt of court for failing to comply with orders to stop enforcing these loitering laws, and now, finally, a federal court has approved a class action settlement requiring the city to pay $15 million dollars to approximately 22,000 New Yorkers who were charged under unconstitutional “loitering” statutes between 1983 and this year. more ›

A 64-year-old Bulgarian immigrant and Hoboken, NJ resident is fighting the local bureaucracy over what he calls an "unconstitutional and irrelevant ticket" for disorderly conduct on a PATH train. And it stems from looking at a heavily tattooed woman. more ›

Yesterday, angry dog owners living in an apartment building across from Lincoln Center took up verbal arms against their condo board's attempts at installing "Draconian rules," such as banning certain breeds and forcing dogs to use service elevators. Today, the embattled pet lovers stand victorious as the condo board scrapped the strict rules. But even among the conquering owners, there is debate as to whose victory this really belongs to: "It's a victory for dog lovers," said Nick Santino, who previously called the board "an autocratic, dictatorial-like decision process." Not so fast, said Coleen Weiss, the owner of a black Lab puppy named Bongo: "It's a great day for doggies!" more ›

An apartment building on the Upper West Side has turned into a battleground between dog lovers and haters over a set of new restrictive rules, the likes of which haven't been seen since the Reign of Terror. Dog owners at One Lincoln Center, a 43-story condo tower across from Lincoln Center, are appalled at their condo board's attempts to ban certain breeds, and fine them $250 for breaking any of their rules. "There's a rush to impose these Draconian rules. They haven't been thought out. This is a form of prejudice. These people do not like dogs," said resident and dog owner Kevan Cleary. more ›

Citing health trends (demands?), Heinz said it would reduce the amount of salt in its ketchup recipe. The Post reports, "Company officials have taste tested the new blend and believe it will be as popular as their old recipe, which has a 60 percent share of the ketchup market." But that seems like a bunch of catsup to one Bay Ridge devotee with decades of Heinz consumption under his belt, "I'm so used to the ketchup the way it is -- why would they change it? I'm 80 years old, and I haven't died yet. It's really hard for me to eat without salt. I think it's infringing on our rights!" more ›

A judge turned down a request by former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) to halt his expulsion from the legislative body, but the disgraced politician isn't giving up his fight. Though the federal judge declined Monserrate's bid for an immediate stay on his senate expulsion and on Gov. David Paterson's call for a special election, Monserrate will continue the legal battle in which he has cast himself as a victim whose civil rights have been trampled. more ›

Just weeks after New York State Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry, a similar piece of legislation is on the rocks in New Jersey, the Times reports. Though Garden State supporters of gay marriage were optimistic of their chances as recently as last month, the legislation has "become bogged down in both chambers" before the looming Jan. 19 deadline, when Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who supports gay marriage, is replaced by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who opposes it. more ›

A Rockland County family filed suit against the New York Archdiocese after a Catholic preschool wouldn't accept their child because she has not been fully vaccinated, according to the Post. The couple — who filed the suit anonymously — claim they are the victims of religious discrimination and are seeking a court order so their 4-year-old can attend the St. Margaret School in Pearl River after the preschool rejected their request for a religious exemption. more ›

Um, sorry guys, we forgot to give you a heads about the whole "National Go-Topless Day" event in Central Park yesterday. The Daily News called it the "breast day ever" (har har), reporting back that "dozens of semi-nude women gave the city a Double-D eyeful when they bared their boobs in Central Park and then marched through the streets" as Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" blasted from speakers. One onlooker told the paper, "This is unbelievable—and super. I'm going to tell my wife to join in." The prudes guarded their eyes, and spewed terms like "extreme liberalism," while others hooted and hollered in solidarity. Currently New York is the only state where women can go topless legally (since a 1992 ruling), so really, Go-Topless Day can be every day. Here are plenty of photos from last year's march. more ›

The big bad Big Box IKEA is the latest to ostracize breastfeeding moms from their establishment. One Brooklyn mom tells her recent story of being banished to the bathroom when she tried to feed her 6 1/2 month old something other than Swedish meatballs at the store:

On Wednesday I was in IKEA Red Hook in the middle of breastfeeding, fully covered, when I was told I had to stop doing "that" and go to the nearby family bathroom. The IKEA employee and security guards were extremely rude to us. I was hustled off to the bathroom and then had to wait because someone else was using it. I was humiliated, my daughter was upset from being interrupted in the middle of her feed. When eventually I gave up and headed for the car to finish feeding, the security guards who had seen the entire event insisted on checking my receipts. I'm putting together a formal complaint to IKEA. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else?

Sure, World Breastfeeding Week isn't until August, but the lactivists can celebrate a small victory today. The NY Post reports that "the Brooklyn Public Library was forced to apologize to a new mother after a security guard scolded her on two occasions for breast-feeding her daughter in a children's book area." The female security guard was allegedly unaware that New York law dictates that women have the right to breast-feed at any time, in any location. The mom, Danielle Glanvill, said the guard "was uncomfortable with the flesh of my breast being exposed and told me what I was doing was 'inappropriate in front of the children'," and walked away when she tried to explain the law. After contacting the New York Civil Liberties Union, the guard was transferred to a different branch, memos were hung up, the library apologized, and the breast-feeding continues amongst the books in Brooklyn. more ›

When giving his Best Actor acceptance speech, Sean Penn said, "For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support." LAist has photographs of the protesters, who are from Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas; one said, "I'm picketing the Oscars because the entertainment industry in this country is just ...one of the institutions, that you're using to promote sin and filth and rebellion against the commandments and standards of God." And Penn later said backstage, "I think that these are largely taught limitations and ignorances. It's very sad in a way, because it's a demonstration of such emotional cowardice to be so afraid to be extending the same rights to a fellow man as you would want for yourself." more ›