The House of Representatives passed the bill to raise the debt ceiling in a 269 to 161 vote. The Washington Post has a graphic of the "recalcitrant Republicans and disappointed Democrats [who] rallied around a measure to avert a government default" as well as the House members who voted against the effort, but the real news was that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona), who was shot in the head at the beginning of the year, made a surprise appearance to cast her vote in support. more ›

Voters in Nassau County have the chance to cast a ballot on whether $400 million in taxpayer money should go towards building a new arena to replace the aging Nassau Coliseum. Islanders owner Charles Wang, who has been begging and pleading for some help for years, even threatening to take the team to Queens, told reporters, "I vote ‘yes’ of course. It’s an opportunity to do something and start the process of rebuilding Long Island." However, in this depressed economy, some people are against rebuilding anythig. more ›

[UPDATED BELOW] Last night one part of the Williamsburg community rose up against another, possibly more "social" part of the Williamsburg community. This all went down at the CB1 meeting, where much of the night was spent discussing that proposed moratorium on all new liquor licenses in the area (more on that later). The shocker came at the end of the meeting, however, when community board members voted unanimously to ban all concerts from the Williamsburg Waterfront! more ›

This Sunday is National Pickle Day (not to be confused with International Pickle Day, celebrated in October), and as New Yorkers, we're kind of obligated to recognize its importance. Why? Well did ya know that by 1659, "Dutch farmers in New York grew cucumbers all over the area that's now known as Brooklyn" and those cucumbers became pickles that were sold in barrels on Washington, Canal and Fulton Streets? This is according to the New York Food Museum, which has an entire pickle timeline. So basically, brine is in our blood. more ›

The most important election of the day yesterday was not for Attorney General, but for the new flavor of cheesecake coming to Junior's for their 60th anniversary. Junior's owner Alan Rosen, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Daily News contest winner Dahlia Stephens judged selections from over 500 applicants, and selected the Joyful Almond cheesecake by Suzanne Banfield of New Jersey. The cake features layers of coconut, an almond-infused sponge cake and chocolate ganache. We imagine Marty said something to the tune of how the cake is made of the "cream cheese of the crop." more ›

Though they're still trying to convince voters that the primary elections weren't as bad as everyone thought, the Board of Elections may have landed themselves in some more hot water. Because apparently they don't care about the troops! The New York City and Westchester, Putnam, Erie and Niagara Boards of Elections all missed an October 1st deadline to send absentee ballots to the troops and residents overseas, which jeopardizes their ability to vote in the November 2nd elections on time. more ›

In an effort to become more attractive for federal funding from the Race to the Top program, the state senate voted 45-15 to raise the cap on charter schools to 460 from 200. The low cap was just one of the many reasons New York lost out on funding during the first round of allocations (that and the weird furniture requests), but the vote may be the first step in getting the state almost $700 million for public schools. Senate Majority Conference Leader John Sampson told the Daily News, "Nothing is more important than investing in our children's education and our future. We need to improve our score for Race to the Top." more ›

Despite a "high-level arm-twisting campaign" by the Democratic party, Rep. Mike McMahon (D-Staten Island) voted against health care reform. And though the vote won him the respect of some Republicans, the White House wants to make him pay, according to the Daily News. more ›

At a meeting with New York City students who are angry about the MTA's cost-cutting plan to abolish student MetroCards, MTA chair Jay Walder said he will postpone his agency's vote on the controversial measure. "We'd like to have as much time as possible for discussions with the state and city and hopefully find a way through this difficult situation," Walder said. According to the Post, he added that he hopes "students can make a decision about what school they would like to attend without them worrying about how they will get there." more ›

Rep. Eric Massa says the allegations of sexual harassment that forced him to announce his resignation stem from an incident at a wedding reception in which he told a male staffer: "[W]hat I really ought to be doing is fracking you." Massa—an ardent supporter of single-payer healthcare and opponent of the current healthcare bill—admitted the statement was "inappropriate," but said Democratic leaders launched an ethics probe against him in an effort to convince him to resign before the vote on healthcare. more ›

According to a new study, if all the first-time voters that helped elect Obama had cast their ballots in the November mayoral election, Democrat Bill Thompson might be sitting in Bloomberg's seat. "Bill Thompson only lost by 50,000 votes," CUNY Prof. John Mollenkopf told the News. "If only 50% of new voters came out, Thompson would be mayor. ... Here was a chance to knock off an incumbent mayor, to elect the second black mayor in New York history. If they had mobilized, it would have been huge, huge, huge news." Unfortunately the newly political set was hung over after the excitement of Obama's win. Only about one in five of them even showed up for the mayoral election—71,335 out of 338,128 whose votes were counted in the presidential tally. Maybe next time? more ›

Other than the fact it might have been illegal, was the expulsion of disgraced state Sen. Hiram Monserrate a bad idea? Voting to kick out Monserrate following his misdemeanor conviction for domestic assault leaves Democrats with a precarious 31-30 majority in Albany, where a 32-vote quorum is needed to pass any legislation. more ›

The Senate might have overstepped its bounds and broken the law when it voted to expel embattled state Sen. Hiram Monserrate, according to insiders and the disgraced Queens Democrat. After being acquitted on felony charges but convicted of misdemeanor assault charges for slashing his girlfriend in the face, the former cop has vowed to fight the ruling—and he might turn out winning. more ›

The list of opponents of the plan to hold the trials of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other suspect terrorists in a Lower Manhattan courthouse keeps getting longer. Due to concerns about security, cost, and trial's possible impact on the lives of Manhattan residents, the state Senate passed a resolution today urging the federal government to try the suspects in military tribunals, not civilian courts, according to 1010WINS. The advisory vote comes as the Obama administration appears to be considering moving the trial out of Manhattan—but not necessarily out of civilian courts. Meanwhile, tomorrow's planned City Council hearing on the terror trial has been postponed due to the pending snowpocalypse. more ›

Former Tennessee lawmaker and possible Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. claims his rival is using "underhanded tactics" to keep his name off the ballot. According to the New York newcomer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been trying to convince county Democratic Party chairs to endorse her before the May nominating convention, making it difficult for Ford to become an official Democratic candidate without initiating "a cumbersome and costly" petition drive. more ›

Just weeks after trouncing Councilman Charles Barron (D-East New York) to be re-elected as Council Speaker, Councilwoman Christine Quinn (D-Chelsea) stripped Barron of his position chairing the Higher Education Committee. In a near repeat of the 48-1 vote in the Speaker race, the Council voted 47-1 to demote Barron. In both instances, Barron cast the only vote in his favor. more ›

New Jersey will become one of a small batch of East Coast states to legalize medical use of marijuana. The measure has made it through both state houses of legislature and awaits Gov. Corzine's signature. Just nine months from now patients who suffer from chronic illnesses like AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis will be able to get their hands on the green stuff at one of six locations, says the Times. According to the NY Post, ID cards will be handed out to patients with "debilitating medical conditions." The cards can be used to collect marijuana and to ward off suspicious cops. And though they call it the Garden State there won't be any home growing or toking up in public; New Jersey's medical marijuana practices are set to be some of the most stringent in the nation. more ›

240 defunct parking meters (right) will be reincarnated as bike racks on almost 40 blocks of the UWS, on Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues between 67th and 86th Streets. Last night Community Board 7 voted 23-12 to convert the old meters, and received strong backing from the Columbus Ave BID, whose secretary said they'd definitely like "those 185,000 bikers to shop in our stores and eat in our restaurants." Isn't it nice to see a neighborhood warmly welcoming bicylists (ahem, South Williamsburg)? We should totally do the next Bike Kill on the Upper West Side! [Via Streetsblog] more ›

At 1 a.m. this morning, with D.C. still digging out from an historic blizzard, the Senate voted 60-40 along party lines to cut off debate on an expansive health care legislation. After securing the vote of Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, on Saturday, the Senate appears on track to pass the bill by Christmas Eve. At this point, Senate Republicans are fighting the bill with parliamentary tactics, demanding the full 30 hours of debate allowed under the rules after each filibuster is broken by a vote of 60 senators. Because the storm had severly delayed Amtrak, a government plane was sent to retrieve New Jersey Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez. more ›

Just days after the New York State Senate voted down a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the Garden State is getting ready for the debate. According to the Times, the New Jersey State Senate's Judiciary Committee is gearing up for a vote on gay marriage as early as Monday — with the full Senate preparing for a vote possibly on Thursday. more ›

In the wake of the State Senate's 38-24 rejection of a bill legalizing same-sex yesterday, advocates of gay unions will hold a rally on the north side of Union Square tonight at 6 p.m. Demonstrations are also expected in Albany and other cities, as people vent their frustration at the latest in a series of setbacks in the campaign for gay marriage equality around the nation. more ›

After a lengthy debate, the New York State Senate voted 38-24 against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act was finally brought to the floor for an up or down vote today after overcoming legislative roadblocks from opponents. During the emotional debate, one of the bill’s sponsors, State Senator Thomas K. Duane of Manhattan, who is gay, said, "This legislation would merely provide me and tens of thousands of other New Yorkers with equal rights in New York State. It would make me equal in every way to everyone else in this chamber." more ›

Passing longstanding legislative roadblocks, the State Senate has finally brought a bill to legalize same-sex marriage to the floor for a debate and vote. Here's live streaming video from the historic debate: more ›

Apparently, today's a bad day to be the richest and most powerful person in New York City. In the wake of last night's not-as-big-as-predicted victory over Democrat Bill Thompson, the press has decided that Mayor Bloomberg's easy days are behind him. The Times thinks that for the first time in years, the mayor "finds himself governing New York City from a most unaccustomed vantage point: Vulnerability" — a fact that "could have profound implications for the tenor of a third Bloomberg term, not least that it is likely to hinder the mayor’s well-honed ability to cow Democrats and liberal interest groups." more ›

It's Election Day and polls in NYC have been open since 6 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m. You can find your polling site here. more ›

If you're like most of us, you so totally meant to vote in today's primary run-off (especially since you're paying through the nose for it). But you're definitely going to vote after work tonight, in between the million other friggin' errands on your list. Well, hopefully somebody finds the time, because it's lonely out there for a poll worker today. Coordinator Joseph Lawrence is trying to put on a brave face, telling City Room turnout was "better than I expected: maybe 4 percent instead of 2 percent." But at most poll sites "there’s nothing to do, the time just drifts by." Old man river... And at PS 163 on the Upper West Side, at least one poll worker had to be awakened when a voter shockingly appeared to participate in the democratic process. more ›

Author Robert Sullivan, who writes provocative bicycling op-ed pieces for the Times when he's not writing about rats and the American Revolution, has a suggestion to solve the ongoing tension between cyclists and pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge walkway. He proposes that the city ban bicycles entirely from the walkway, and shift them down to the motor vehicle roadways by creating physically protected bike lanes. more ›