The Parksidegent

Yankee Stadium the Biggest Star on Display

2008-07-15T11:35:00.001-04:00

All Star Send-Off
Slated
for extinction, Yankee Stadium gets perhaps its final moment in the
national spotlight, hosting the All-Star game Tuesday night as part of
its grand send-off. The All-Star festivities will kick off with a
parade on 6th Avenue at 1

Bobby Murcer Dies at 62

2008-07-12T17:43:00.001-04:00

Beloved Yankee Passes
Bobby
Murcer died Saturday after a battle with brain cancer. The star
outfielder and broadcaster had been hospitalized after a
setback last week. He was 62.

A-Rod's Wife Files for Divorce

2008-07-07T09:57:00.001-04:00

C-Rod Files for Divorce
The
wife of Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has filed for divorce. An
attorney filed papers in a Miami court on Monday on Cynthia Rodriguez's
behalf. There are no reports if A-Rod also has filed.

Pervert caught

2008-06-21T11:29:00.001-04:00

'UPSKIRT' PERVERT CAUGHT
A
Long Island man has been arrested for allegedly videotaping women's
private body parts as they shopped at a dollar store. Police say Mario
Molina, 52, followed unsuspecting women around the store in Baldwin
Friday night and placed a camcorder under their clothing. One woman and
her two kids were followed for about 10 minutes, police said.

2008-06-20T14:21:00.001-04:00

New Look Planned for Pier at South Street Seaport

2008-06-18T06:36:00.001-04:00

Conceding the failure of the South Street Seaport pier as a
“festival marketplace” — these days, it is not much
more than a waterfront mall — its owners plan to replace it with
a mixed-use project including a 42-story, 495-foot apartment and hotel
tower, wrapped in a terra-cotta exoskeleton and rising from new pilings
in the East River.

Though other high-profile developments along the East River have foundered, most notably Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum and Santiago Calatrava’s
apartment tower of stacked cubes, the seaport plan speaks to the
undiminished allure of riverfront sites and of developers’ faith
that megaprojects can inject new life into, and create profit out of,
areas where other visions have failed.

NBC's Tim Russert Dead at 58

2008-06-14T05:57:00.001-04:00

Russert Praised Across Nation
Tim
Russert, a political lifer who made a TV career of his passion with
unrelenting questioning of the powerful and influential, died suddenly
Friday in the midst of a presidential campaign he'd covered with
trademark intensity. Praise poured in from the biggest names in
politics, some recalling their own meltdown moments on his hot seat.

Tyson's Name Mentioned in Brooklyn Gang Trial

2008-06-13T11:01:00.001-04:00

Tyson a Gang Banger?
Mike
Tyson has been accused of contracting to kill the head of a Brooklyn
gang. A former gang member testified about the alleged hit during a
trial on Thursday.

L.I. Man Takes His DeLorean Back..to the Future

2008-06-12T07:27:00.001-04:00

'This Sucker's Electrical'
A
Long Island doctor has found a way to beat the high price at the
pump with his DeLorean - - and it has nothing to do with the
Flux Capacitor. He converted it into an electric car. The higher-tech
version of the car that became an 80s icon, thanks to the 'Back to the
Future' movies, barely makes a sound and gets 30 miles to a charge.

WTC Site Redevelopment Faces More Delays

2008-06-11T16:22:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK (AP)
-- New York Gov. David Paterson says the World Trade Center site
redevelopment faces ``likely delays'' and wants to take a new look at
the project.

Paterson on Wednesday asked the executive director of the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey to determine if the latest
deadlines and budgets for the project are feasible. Paterson wants an
update by the end of the month.

Five office towers, a Sept. 11 memorial, a transit hub and a performing center are planned at the 16-acre site.

The Port Authority also said Wednesday it would be late on a
deadline to turn over land that a private developer needs to begin
building a planned office tower. The agency will pay over $9.6 million
in late fees to developer Larry Silverstein for not finishing the
foundation by June 30.

Big Brown has Date with Destiny on Long Island

2008-06-07T09:36:00.001-04:00

Big Brown Could Make History at Belmont
Big
Brown has his date with destiny today as the horse with the patched
hoof tries to become racing's first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
Meanwhile, Casino Drive, the early second choice behind the Triple
Crown favorite, was scratched because of a bruised hoof.

Riding a Heatwave: New York Sizzles Through Tuesday

2008-06-07T09:35:00.001-04:00

THE HEAT IS ON!
The
season's first heatwave comes early this year and is expected to last
through Tuesday. The mercury will be in the 90s, with AccuWeather 'Real
Feel' temperatures at 100

Man Arrested after Climbing New York Times Building

2008-06-05T14:15:00.001-04:00

'Spiderman' Scales Times Bldg
French
daredevil Alain Robert was taken into custody Thursday after
scaling the New York Times building in midtown Manhattan in order
to draw attention to global warming. During his ascent, Robert unfurled
a banner about global warming. Construction workers cheered. Police
took him into custody at the top.

Triborough Bridge to Be Renamed after RFK

2008-06-05T07:22:00.001-04:00

Triborough Bridge to Be Renamed after RFK

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)
-- The bridge that leads to the airport named for John F. Kennedy
is getting renamed for his younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy, the
former New York senator assassinated in 1968.

The state Assembly has given final legislative approval to rename
the Triborough Bridge, following Senate approval in April. Gov. David
Paterson planned to sign the measure to call it the Robert F. Kennedy
Bridge, spokesman Errol Cockfield said. The bill memo notes ``minimal
budgetary impact'' for the cost of changing signs.

The Triborough Bridge, opened in 1936, is actually a complex of
three bridges, a viaduct and 14 miles of approach roads. It connects
Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens.

``On the fortieth anniversary of his last campaign, naming the span
across three boroughs is a tremendous tribute to Robert Kennedy's
commitment to bridging divides between black and white, rich and poor,
young and old, and to his commitment to creating a more just and
peaceful world,'' said Kerry Kennedy, one of RFK's 11 children and
founder of the Robert F Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights.

Mayor Bloomberg May Want Another Term

2008-06-05T07:18:00.001-04:00

Mayor Michael Bloomberg made it clear from the beginning of his
tenure as mayor of New York that he was strongly in favor of term
limits.

His first-ever veto was to reject a City Council bill in 2002 that
sought to extend terms for some lawmakers. Bloomberg said the proposed
law was wrong because it amounted to changing the rules for personal
political gain.

But it may be a different story today, as Bloomberg's second
four-year term winds down and he struggles to figure out what to do
next and stay in the spotlight that has dimmed ever since he decided
not to run for president. As his aides and advisers explore ways to
keep him relevant, the possibility has emerged that he could try to
change the term-limit law and run again next year.

The mayor, who could rarely be described as indecisive, sounded
restless and a bit lost on Wednesday when asked about his future plans.
He said he still supports the concept of term limits, but sounded less
definitive than he ever has about what he wants to do next.

``I plan to, I think, stay on in public service some ways or other _
I don't know how,'' he said. Pausing slightly and sounding unsure,
Bloomberg then said ``I don't see anything for me _ `` but didn't
finish the thought. The billionaire then said he supposes he will end
up running his philanthropic foundation full-time.

When a reporter pointed out that it doesn't sound like philanthropy will be all he wants to do, Bloomberg did not disagree.

Homes outside of Las Vegas

2008-05-31T14:13:00.001-04:00

Tony takes you to Pahrump, NV to show you new homes that are being built.

Baltimore Bids to Ban Selling Small Cigars Individually

2008-05-31T03:45:00.001-04:00

Hoping to curb the increase in the number of young people who smoke
small, inexpensive cigars, Baltimore plans to bar shops from the common
practice of breaking open packages to sell them individually.

Enlarge This Image

Steve Roark for The New York Times

Shawn Liles, 22, of Baltimore, right, smoked a cigarillo on Friday.

Single cigars behind the counter at University Market in Baltimore.

Baltimore would be the first
city to impose such a regulation, said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, the
city’s health commissioner.

The city has put the proposal
out for public comment until July 1 and expects to impose the ban,
possibly with revisions, soon after, Dr. Sharfstein said. Under the
city code, the commissioner has the power to regulate health hazards
without legislation.

Crane Collapses in Manhattan; 2 Dead

2008-05-30T21:28:00.001-04:00

Crane Collapse Renews Fears
A
crane snapped and smashed into an apartment building Friday, killing
two workers in the city's second such tragedy in 2 1/2 months and
renewing fears about the safety of hundreds of cranes towering over the
New York skyline. Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri said
Friday that investigators "will be focusing on a particular weld that
failed'' on the crane, and noted that the 24-year-old crane's model is
out of production and one of only four in the city.

Verizon and the City: Digital Package (and Delays) Appear to Be Near

2008-05-27T07:04:00.001-04:00

Verizon and the City: Digital Package (and Delays) Appear to Be Near

By KEN BELSON

Cable customers in the five boroughs may soon have the same choices as their suburban counterparts.

Fireworks Mark Brooklyn Bridge's 125th Birthday

2008-05-23T16:55:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge!
It
was so singular a marvel, so ambitious a feat, that its opening drew
the president and a crowd of thousands. A leading national magazine
said it stood poised to become "our most durable monument." Some 125
years later, the Brooklyn Bridge remains a powerful symbol of
engineering might and imagination, and a revered fixture in the
landscape of the nation's largest city.

Step to the Rear of the Bus, Please, or Take a Seat Upstairs

2008-05-23T07:32:00.001-04:00

Step to the Rear of the Bus, Please, or Take a Seat Upstairs

By WILLIAM NEUMAN

Double-decker buses may come back to New York City’s Fifth Avenue.

Time to Hit the Road, Jack

2008-05-23T07:30:00.001-04:00

Time to Hit the Road, Jack
Holiday
travelers hitting the road for the unofficial start of summer have some
budget adjustments to make with gasoline prices at record highs. But
AAA still expects the roads to be crowded. The auto club estimates more
than 31.5 million drivers will take to the highways.

Sen. Edward Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor

2008-05-20T16:04:00.001-04:00

Ted Kennedy Has Brain Cancer
A
cancerous brain tumor caused the seizure Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
suffered over the weekend, doctors said Tuesday in a grim diagnosis for
one of American politics' most enduring figures. "He remains in good
spirits and full of energy,'' the doctors for the 76-year-old
Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement

WORLD TRADE CENTER, Not Yet on the Skyline, but Above Street Level

2008-05-19T22:36:00.001-04:00

Not Yet on the Skyline, but Above Street Level

Steel columns at 1 World Trade Center, the Freedom Tower, rise above street level for the first time.

Gas Prices Hit National High on Long Island

2008-05-19T07:24:00.001-04:00

It Just Keeps Getting Worse
For
the first time ever, a national survey has found that regular gas has
surged above $4 a gallon in two metropolitan areas: Chicago and Long
Island. The survey said the average price for regular gasoline rose
about 17 cents in the last two weeks.

AAA Report: Honolulu, NYC Most Expensive Destinations

2008-05-16T09:52:00.001-04:00

Posted: Friday, 16 May 2008 8:13AM

AAA Report: Honolulu, NYC Most Expensive Destinations

NEW YORK (AP) -- AAA says New York City is the second most expensive tourist destination this summer, behind only Honolulu.

It will cost two adults about $670 for meals and lodging for two
days in the Hawaiian city, according to a 2008 AAA vacation survey.

Tourists in New York can expect to spend around $600 for two adults
in two days. Miami ranks third, with cost of $370. Bargain hunters
should head to Albuquerque, N.M. where it costs only $179.

AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950, when it was only $13 a day for meals and lodging combined.

NYC Water Board to Vote on Increase.....OH NO...!!!!

2008-05-16T09:50:00.001-04:00

Board to Tap Rate Increase?
Want to take your mind off the rising cost of gas these days? It may be time to worry about a gallon of New York City tap water.

The New York City Water Board meets Friday morning to vote on a 14.5
percent increase in city water rates. If the vote passes, the new
rates would take effect July 1.

Hank Calls Out Yanks: Must Play Smarter and Harder

2008-05-14T14:48:00.001-04:00

Hank Steinbrenner expects his struggling New York Yankees to focus and turn around their season.

``They've got to play smarter and harder,'' he said Wednesday. ``The
injuries _ when you're missing Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, that
makes it tough. The injuries make a huge difference. At the same time,
you've got to get it done. We still have plenty of good hitters. We
need to get the job done.''

New York is 19-21, fourth in the AL East following a pair of losses to Tampa Bay, the surprise AL East leader.

``No question, the Rays are a hungry team,'' said Steinbrenner, the
Yankees' co-chairman. ``That's what our team has to get back.''

When asked if it was time for the players to earn their money, Steinbrenner said ``Yes.''

Following the four-game series against the Rays, the Yankees host
the New York Mets in a three-game series starting Friday. Two-time AL
Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, traded to the Mets after the
Yankees cut off talks with the Minnesota Twins, is slated to pitch the
Subway Series opener Friday. Santana is 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA.

Expectant Couple Wins $1 Million in Lottery

2008-05-14T14:47:00.001-04:00

Bundle of Joy, Bundle of Money
A
couple expecting their first child has a head start on the baby's
college fund -- a $1 million jackpot in the New York state
lottery. William and Hope Shanahan of New Rochelle say the timing
is perfect. They'll be taking the cash in $50,000 installments over the
next 20 years.

'Ugly Betty' Production Moving to Big Apple

2008-05-12T11:09:00.001-04:00

Ugly Betty" is moving to New York.

That's the word from Gov. David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz.

They said Monday the popular ABC drama will be taking advantage of a
35 percent tax credit from the city and state when it makes the move
from Los Angeles to the Big Apple.

``Ugly Betty'' is the story of an ordinary girl from Queens,
starring Emmy-winner America Ferrera as Betty Suarez. It will be filmed
in Manhattan and in Queens, and create more than 200 full and part-time
jobs.

Other hit television shows that film in New York City are ``Law & Order,'' ``30 Rock,'' and ``Gossip Girl.''

New York City's film and television production industry employs
100,000 people and generates $5 billion a year to the city's economy.

Clinton Stresses Equal Pay in Midtown Fundraiser

2008-05-11T06:26:00.001-04:00

Clinton Makes Campaign Stop in The Big Apple
Just
ahead of Mother's Day, Hillary Clinton told a fundraiser at the
Sheraton in Midtown that it would be ``exciting to have the first
mother in the White House.'' Appearing with daughter Chelsea,
Clinton made her pitch to a crowd of several hundred people, most of
them women.

Consolidated Edison Seeks 2009 Rate Hike of $654 Million

2008-05-09T19:52:00.001-04:00

Con Edison Seeks Rate Hike
Consolidated
Edison is asking state utility regulators to allow a rate increase that
will enable the New York-based power company to raise $654 million. The
company says the hikes -- to run from April 2009 to April
2010 -- would add about $6.18 to the average household bill and
$120 to its average business customer bills.

Clemens Apologizes for 'Mistakes in Personal Life'

2008-05-05T11:28:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK (AP) -- Roger Clemens apologized Monday for unspecified mistakes in his personal life but denied having an affair with a 15-year-old.

The Daily News reported last week Clemens had a decade-long relationship with country star Mindy McCready
that began when she was 15 and an aspiring singer. The newspaper also
linked Clemens to former Manhattan bartender Angela Moyer and Paulette
Dean Daly, a former wife of champion golfer John Daly.

``Even though these articles contain many false accusations and
mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life
for which I am sorry,'' Clemens said in a statement issued by spokesman
Patrick Dorton. ``I have apologized to my family and apologize to my
fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which
have not been right.''

Brian McNamee, Clemens' former trainer, accused him in December's Mitchell Report of using performance-enhancing drugs in 1998, 2000 and 2001, before players and owners agreed to ban them from baseball.

NYC BIKE TOUR..

2008-05-04T10:11:00.001-04:00

TRAFFIC ALERT: NYC Five Boro Bike Tour Today
Some
30,000 cyclists are riding in today's bike tour. The ride
began in Manhattan, and will end on Staten Island. The last thing you
probably want if you're driving is to be a spectator. Check out
the Route Map

Sharpton Plans NYC Civil Disobedience in Bell Case

2008-05-03T18:49:00.001-04:00

Posted: Saturday, 03 May 2008 5:35PM

Sharpton Plans NYC Civil Disobedience in Bell Case

NEW YORK (AP)
-- An upcoming day of civil disobedience to protest the Sean Bell
verdict will hopefully end with participants arrested while on their
knees praying, the Rev. Al Sharpton said Saturday.

For the massive pray-in, Sharpton is asking protesters to gather
Wednesday at 3 p.m. in at least six places around the city: 125th
Street and Third Avenue; 60th Street and Third Avenue; 34th Street and
Park Avenue; Varick and Houston streets; One Police Plaza; and House of
the Lord Church on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

Big Brown Favored to Take First Triple Crown Jewel

2008-05-03T10:07:00.001-04:00

FASTEST 2 MINUTES IN SPORTS
Big
Brown enters today's Kentucky Derby hoping to become the first horse
since 1929 to win from the 20th post position. A damp track is
expected. Post time is shortly after 6 p.m. EDT

Nicole Paultre Bell: "Justice System Let Me Down"

2008-04-27T07:10:00.001-04:00

'They Killed Sean All Over Again'
In
her first comments since the stunning verdict, Sean Bell's
fiancée said "the justice system let me down.'' Nicole Paultre
Bell said "April 25, 2008: They killed Sean all over again,'' as
hundreds gathered at Rev. Al Sharpton's Harlem headquarters. Paultre
Bell is going to Washington this week to press for federal charges
against the acquitted detectives.

NYPD Officers Acquitted in 50-Shot Killing

2008-04-25T10:09:00.001-04:00

Cops Acquitted on All Counts
BREAKING NEWS:
Three NYPD officers have been acquitted of all charges in the 50-shot
killing of an unarmed man on his wedding day. Michael Oliver,
Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper were charged with
manslaughter, reckless endangerment and assault in the 2006 slaying of
Sean Bell. 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa said there was shock, silence
and tears inside the courtroom.

Verdict Awaits Detectives in Death of Sean Bell

2008-04-25T07:13:00.001-04:00

Decision Day in Bell Trial
After
seven weeks of often conflicting testimony about the death of an
unarmed groom-to-be in a hail of 50 police bullets, it's now up to a
judge to decide whether the shooters committed a crime. Justice Arthur
Cooperman is to deliver a verdict thismorning in the closely watched
case of Sean Bell, who was gunned down outside a Queens strip club
where he was having a bachelor party.

Pope Wraps Up Trip with Mass at Yankee Stadium

2008-04-20T17:37:00.001-04:00

'Summons to Move Forward'
Pope
Benedict XVI celebrated his final Mass in the United States before a
full house in storied Yankee Stadium on Sunday, blessing his enormous
U.S. flock and telling Americans to use their freedoms wisely.Benedict
beamed before a joyous crowd of 57,000. He called the Mass "a summons
to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of
freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations."

Pope to Bless 'Sacred Ground' at WTC Prayer Service

2008-04-20T07:43:00.001-04:00

Pope to Bless 'Sacred Ground'
On
the final day of his journey, Pope Benedict XVI turns his focus to the
people of New York, in a prayer service Sunday morning at the site
of the Sept. 11th attacks. Benedict has invited 24 people with ties to
ground zero to join him. Later, Benedict will celebrate Mass for 50,000
at Yankee Stadium.

Microsoft Introduces Tool for Avoiding Traffic Jams

2008-04-11T23:45:00.001-04:00

SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft on Thursday plans to introduce a Web-based service for driving directions that incorporates complex software models to help users avoid traffic jams.

The new service’s software technology, called Clearflow, was developed over the last five years by a group of artificial-intelligence researchers at the company’s Microsoft Research laboratories. It is an ambitious attempt to apply machine-learning techniques to the problem of traffic congestion. The system is intended to reflect the complex traffic interactions that occur as traffic backs up on freeways and spills over onto city streets.

The Clearflow system will be freely available as part of the company’s Live.com site (maps.live.com) for 72 cities in the United States. Microsoft says it will give drivers alternative route information that is more accurate and attuned to current traffic patterns on both freeways and side streets.

A system for driving directions that Microsoft introduced last fall was limited, because without Clearflow there was no information available about traffic conditions on city streets adjacent to the highways. Because the system assumed that those routes would be clear, drivers were on occasion sent into areas that were more congested than the freeways.

2008-04-11T06:42:00.001-04:00

Robbery Ends in Fatal Shootout
An
Irvington police detective shot and killed an armed man who had wounded
him during a botched robbery at a local business on Thursday.
Authorities were searching Thursday night for a woman and another man,
who may have been armed, for questioning in connection with the
robbery.

Photo from WNBC.com

LISTEN NOW to 1010 WINS

Hollywood Legend Charlton Heston Dead at 84

2008-04-06T11:05:00.001-04:00

Farewell to a Hollywood Icon
Charlton
Heston won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing
"Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic
figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s. He died Saturday night at
his home in Beverly Hills. Charlton Heston "was seen by the
world as larger than life," Heston's family said in a statement.

You're Out! Yankees Toss 2 Fans Accused of Trying to Steal Frills

2008-04-03T06:13:00.001-04:00

2 Accused of Souvenir Hunting
The
souvenir hunting season is underway. Police say two die-hard New York
Yankees fans have been caught stealing. They say witnesses reported
seeing John Bunjaporte, 41, and Keith O'Rourke, 39, trying to
remove screws from the decorative bunting during Tuesday's Opening Day
game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

LISTEN NOW to 1010 WINS

YANKEE STADIUM'S FINAL OPENER A ROUSING SUCCESS

2008-04-02T07:56:00.001-04:00

As long as they hold Opening Days in the new Yankee Stadium the
Yankees will be hard pressed to put on the show they did last night in
the final Opening Day in their soon-to-be-gone digs.

Granted, the pulsating 3-2 win over the Blue Jays in front of a
sold-out crowd of 55,112 is the first of 162 overall and there are 80
tilts remaining to get weepy about The Bronx Baseball Cathedral
closing. Yet, when Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera
pitch brilliantly, Melky Cabrera makes two sensational catches and
sneaks a homer into the right field corner and Jason Giambi uses his
legs and arm to help win a game played with the red, white and blue
bunting hanging from the decks, it's very difficult to see it as just
another game. And if it needed anything else it was Joe Girardi's first
win as Yankees manager.

"It's awesome," Girardi said of the victory that was delayed a day
by rain but took only two hours and 31 minutes to complete. "I have
been looking forward to this day since I signed. You do all the
preparation and I saw it pay off. You saw a guy (Bobby Abreu) score
from first and you saw a guy (Johnny Damon) hit a triple. It was
unbelievable, you finally get to play for real."

Rodriguez’s Opt-Out: A Mess That Sticks

2008-04-02T07:40:00.001-04:00

TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez called his off-season “the greatest opt-out in the history of baseball,” but he said it sheepishly, not proudly. Rodriguez used words like “chaotic” and “whacked out” to describe how he went from opting out of his last three years with the Yankees to eventually returning to them.

YANKEES' FIRST ACT A WASHOUT

2008-04-01T06:11:00.001-04:00

RAIN PUTS FINAL OPENER AT RUTH'S HOUSE ON HOLD

April 1, 2008 -- While the Yankees and Blue Jays waited yesterday
for what was billed as the last Opening Day in Yankee Stadium, the
Rogers Centre - a domed venue - would have been available if Major
League Baseball had requested the date. When the game was called at
2:25 p.m., 80 minutes after the 1:05 scheduled start, more than one
Yankee pined for Canada.

"We will get through it but there a
couple of domes sitting empty right now," Johnny Damon said. "Is it
raining or snowing in Toronto? This easily could have been avoided."

City Council Approves Fee to Drive Below 60th

2008-04-01T06:05:00.001-04:00

John Marshall Mantel for The New York Times

Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito, left, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg,
Councilwoman Gale A. Brewer and Speaker Christine C. Quinn after the
congestion pricing proposal was passed.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Speaker Christine C.
Quinn won approval of the controversial proposal from the City Council
by an unusually slim margin.

Hell Gate to be upgraded

2008-03-29T21:46:00.001-04:00

Astoria's Hell Gate Bridge is another western Queens structure where rehabilitation has been stalled and is now ready to resume, City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said.

Amtrak will begin renovating the bridge on April 1 and complete work in one year, he said. Residents have long complained that the bridge poses dangers to pedestrians by leaking water and shedding debris.

"For too long this trestle, a landmark in our community, has been a sorry eyesore," Vallone said. "This bridge should be a neighborhood gem, not a crumbling piece of stone."

Amtrak put up scaffolding to fix the bridge nearly a year ago, but little renovation has since taken place, Vallone said. For years, rocks and pieces of plaster have fallen from the structure and damaged parked cars, he said. Water has also leaked from the bridge and frozen during the winter, causing one of Vallone's employees to slip and break her wrist, the councilman said.

Starbucks: Not So Fast on New Calorie Counts

2008-03-29T15:49:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Starbucks says it's going to take a little more time to start listing calorie counts on menus at its New York City outlets.

The coffee giant said earlier this week that it would post the
calorie data by Monday, though a city deadline for doing so has been
postponed until April 15.

But Starbucks said Friday it would comply with the rule when it takes effect.