  One of Mayor Bloomberg's signature initiatives has been the de-smoking of New York. Under his administration the city has seen smoking disappear not just in bars, most recently it was banned in parks and public beaches. And he's had a relatively easy target. Thanks to health concerns smoking in the past few decades has earned bad reputation. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have its defenders. If you've been following the debate over the years, you've probably noticed a quote or two from Audrey Silk, the head of New York City Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment (NYC CLASH). On the eve of last week's City Council vote we caught up with Silk on the phone to get a sense of the debate from the other side. That we got to learn about growing your own tobacco in New York City was just a bonus—are backyard tobacco plantations the new rooftop apiaries? [MORE]  | Sure, there are some common sense rules when walking on the sidewalks of New York City, but did you know this rule? A Park Slope parent was recently "accosted by a silver-haired woman and her cone-wearing dog" for talking on her iPhone while standing on the sidewalk and leaning against a brownstone. The older woman informed her:... [ MORE ] |  | Early Saturday morning, New Brunswick police were called to break up a fight that had spilled out into the street outside a house party near the Rutgers University. Police say some fifty people were involved to one degree or another, but most of them scattered when the cops arrived. Not Elliott Marx, a 20-year-old Rutgers sophomore. It took five cops to get the cuffs on him, and police subdued him only after one officer repeatedly punched him in the face. Here's the video, which was posted on YouTube with the title "Rutgers Student Brutally Beaten by NBPD.":... [ MORE ] |  | Ha, this anti-bike lane cartoon in the Daily News really is the limit! As you can see, there are only two people who use the bike lanes in NYC: Mayor Bloomberg and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan—who both dress in spandex like aggro weekend warriors while riding their tandem bike together. Sure, maybe once in a while you see ONE other cyclist in a bike lane, but for the most part these bike lanes sit idle, based on super-scientific analysis conducted in the middle of one of the worst winters in recent history. It's funny because it's true stupid.... [ MORE ] |  | It is kind of hilarious that the Hells Angels cannot find a way to keep tourists off their precious street bench. (Don't tell them we said that, though.) Outside of their clubhouse at 77 East 3rd Street, they have a wooden bench—not unlike any wooden bench you'd see around the city—and they really do not want commoners sitting on it. In Google street view it can be seen turned over, back in 2009 they added a sign warning others to stay away from the bench, and now EV Grieve has photos of the latest effort to keep unwelcome sitters (specifically from a nearby hotel) away. Yep, that's a Club-like device for benches. If this doesn't work, we suggest they chain a television to the bench and screen select footage from Altamont.... [ MORE ] |  | Fashion Week is nearly here, and PETA is totally prepared to combat any designer that dare bring fur into the tents. Longtime PETA target Donna Karan will allegedly be under an aural assault from the group this Saturday, near her Midtown offices. The Observer reports that "a source within PETA that the group has a permit from the city that allows it to 'blast Karan's offices with the sound of screaming rabbits'... and carry signs that say Donna Karan: Bunny Butcher." PETA says the noise will not exceed 75 decibels at 10 feet away, which is about the same level as a lawnmower.... [ MORE ] |  | St. Patrick's Day is still a month away, but Old Navy decided it's never too early for a witty "Irish" pun on a green t-shirt. Their website already has numerous shamrocked options for Patty's Day wear, but they're reportedly pulling two from stores after customers complained they were offensive toward the Irish. Old Navy customer Keith Wilson complained, “Can’t you find another way to sell t-shirts than intimating they’re all drunks?” ... [ MORE ] |  | We see your latest rat on the subway video, NYC the Blog, and we raise you pigeon on the subway. This freshly uploaded video shows one of New York City's flying rats strutting around the N train, and the man behind the camera says: "Once doors opened he walked out and walked back in the train.... He got off the train at 59th street." Not one straphanger was seen freaking out or trying to stomp on it, and one commuter even fed it some popcorn. According to the laws of natural progression, what this means is by next week we'll be sharing our seats with rabid raccoons. Probably. (Try to get it on video!)... [ MORE ] | | |
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