The relatively recent boom of opening bank branches in Manhattan is examined in amNew York. With a 36% increase in Manhattan bank branches between 2000 and 2006, it's hard for many people to walk a block or two without passing at least one (though there are more in places like Midtown or the intersection of Second Avenue and 10th Street). Banks will pay higher rents, which makes landlords less willing to continue to rent spaces to mom-and-pop businesses. And basically, a pun explains why there are so many:

Chase spokesman Tom Kelly...pointed out that "economies of scale" make operating 120 bank branches not that much more expensive than running just 90... more ›

Funny - the Daily News reports that subway conductors were told to hype the "Top of the Rock" observation deck when they pull into the 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Plaza station. While motormen and conductors think the "order is unprecedented," MTA spokesman Tom Kelly explains that it's just a free "courtesy" to let people know about attractions.

A spokeswoman for Tishman Speyer, co-owners of Rockefeller Center, was tight lipped. "We are declining to comment," the spokeswoman said. more ›

As if we need any more reason to wonder how the MTA does its accounting, there's this article from the NY Times titled, "Cash for Forgotten Airport Link May Help Build Stadium Station." Really. See, Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg want to build a new Metro-North station for the new Yankee Stadium, but where would this money come from? No, not some loan or bond the state takes out, but pretty much from under the mattress: "...the transportation authority has dug into an old pot of money and found $40 million. The money is left over from $645 million that was set aside for the extension of the N subway line to La Guardia. The airport subway link, which was a pet project of Mr. Bloomberg's predecessor, Rudolph W. Giuliani, was 'abandoned,' said Tom Kelly, a spokesman for the authority." Gothamist proposes that we go through the MTA's books and we bet we'll find a couple hundred million just laying around. All we want is a .1% finder's fee - heck, we'll take .05%. So, magically finding this money means that the station can probably be built. more ›

The Metrocard is dispensable in ways that the MTA probably never guessed. In fact, the subways seem to be the transport of choice for suspected sex attacker, Peter Braunstein, who has been dodging the police for the past two weeks. The NY Post says that the NYPD has been able to track Braunstein's whereabouts because he purchased an unlimited Metrocard with his credit card, putting him at West Fourth Street and near Richmond Hill on various days. But the lagtime between receiving the information and getting detectives there takes a while - and Braunstein's unlimited card expired. We supposes the MTA never installed a special alarm if someone's card was swiped through, sort of like a "You're the millionth shopper" acknowledgement. more ›

Good for those riders! Please, Chairman Kalikow doesn't get enough complaints for Gothamist's liking. If you see this man, bug him! more ›

Though plans for what will happen at the West Side railyards are still up in the air, the MTA is still trying to move ahead with extending the 7 line. However, the state's Capital Review Board is looking at the 7 extension plan, and they have the power to vote against it...though it's unclear what their voting against a 7 extension would do, since the $2 billion project is funded by the city. Or, at least that's what the MTA thinks:

"They don't have jurisdiction over it," MTA spokesman Tom Kelly said. "If the city provides us with the funds, we will build the No. 7 line extension." more ›

, has only spent $25 to 30 million of the $591 million it has budgeted for security. more ›

more ›

The NY Times also looked at what was a better buy - the 6-rides-for-$10 Metrocard or the unlimited weekly/monthly Metrocards - last week. Related: What happened to the old tokens.
more ›

The best part? The MTA found out about it from The Daily News; MTA spokesman Tom Kelly said, "It's sad that a company and its advertising agency would appear to be promoting a good cause while instead using vulgar street phrases to demean women." Yeah, high school students figured it out: Brooklyn senior told the Daily News, "That's not kosher." Another said, "That's too sexy to be talking about some book." The ads are up in other urban centers, but New York City is the first to figure it out, thanks to the Daily News! more ›