Budget Threats
President George W. Bush's proposed $2.9 trillion federal budget would cost New York City up to $1.58 billion in cuts to health care (including spending to train young doctors), police officers, public housing and heating assistance, according to estimates by Congressman Anthony Weiner and Senator Charles Schumer. “Bush added $25 million to prevent a shutdown of a medical monitoring and treatment program for World Trade Center responders,” the Daily News reports, “but lawmakers asked for $1.9 billion over 10 years.” The New York lawmakers argue that, with the Democrats in charge of Congress, Bush’s budget threats to the city are unlikely to become reality.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Albany and complained that Governor Eliot Spitzer’s proposed $120 billion state budget would cost New York City some $660 million in cut state aid over the next two years, because of Spitzer’s plan to exclude the city from state program called Aid and Incentives to Municipalities. The mayor argued that, according to the New York Times, the city did not get its fair share of state dollars, from property tax exemptions to public housing subsidies: “The state budget should not undercut New York City’s, which, to some extent, this budget does,” the mayor said. Spitzer disagreed, saying the overall impact of the state budget on the city is positive. Both the proposed state and federal budgets would reportedly hit New York City hospitals especially hard. For details, go to finance links in the news.

More People Stopped By Police...Plan To Ban The N Word...Spitzer Presents $120 Billion Budget...Killer of Police Sentenced to Death...Federal Money for Ground Zero Workers...School Bus Glitches...

In the Press...

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Shape a New Economy (NY Times)

Bus Companies Warned Last Year Of Chaos If Bus Routes Changed; Complaints Rise (Daily News)

Legislator Said Set To Defy Spitzer And Pick Assemblyman DiNapoli for Comptroller (NY Post)

Second Death Penalty Case In A Week (Newsday)

Education Reorganization Plan (Especially Elimination Of Regional Superintendents) May Spread Chancellor Klein Too Thin (NY Sun)

Reform Groups Express Disappointment In Spitzer Relationship With Donor (New York Magazine)

Housing Construction Boom Continues; 30,927 Permits In 2006 (Metro)

The Art Of “Staging” An Apartment – Making It Look Better (E.G. Grapefruits In Ceramic Bowls) So It’ll Sell For A Higher Price (New Yorker)

Plan NYC 2030: New York’s First Long-Range Plan? (Gotham Gazette)

Land Use Links In The News (Gotham Gazette)

Today's Report...
Sex Offenders Live Close To Schools
Sex offenders across the five boroughs are living too close to city’s schoolchildren, according to a new comprehensive study released today by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens), a member of the subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, and Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn). More than 85 percent of registered sex offenders in New York City live less than five blocks from schools, and 670 sex offenders live within just two blocks. Some offenders are even closer, permanently residing less than 500 feet away from unwitting parents, educators and children.

For the full report, visit here.

Recent Reports
MTA Delays Put Riders At Risk...Spitzer's Executive Budget...Rental Rip-Off?...

Topic of the Day...
Land Use
The mayor has announced plans for a unique planning effort for a more populated New York of 2030. But, Tom Angotti asks, is the plan itself sustainable beyond 2008, when voters will elect a new mayor? Read more ...

Land Use Links In The News
Council Members Choose Locations For New Street Toilets; Some Don't Want Them; City Subsidy Of Atlantic Yards More Than Doubles, To $205 Million; Robert Moses Exhibit Highlights Dispute Between Two Chroniclers of the City;

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