NYPD is Slower to Show

NEW YORK, NY — Cops are taking longer to respond to serious crimes, police stats show.

More than half the city’s 75 precincts saw increased response times to “critical” calls from 2007 to 2008, according to NYPD data.

Although many of the 38 precincts saw only slight increases, others had more significant spikes in average response time, including a 42-second increase at the 100th Precinct in Rockaway, Queens, and a 38-second hike at the 13th Precinct on Manhattan’s East Side.

Parking Meters Changing From 30 Minutes to 20 Minutes

NEW YORK — At 47,000 meters around NYC, 30 minutes for 25 cents is being reduced to 20 minutes at the same price.

It’s part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to raise an additional $16.8 million annually to help close the city’s $4 billion budget gap.

Mayor Bloomberg: No Link Between Violent Crime, Economy

NEW YORK [AP] — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he doesn’t believe a bad economy leads to more violent crime.

Bloomberg said Monday in an interview that murderers “don’t read The Wall Street Journal.”

TLC to Silence Cabbies With Cell Phone Blockers

NEW YORK [NY1] — City taxi officials are calling all riders, drivers and technology firms as they search for high-tech ways to improve cab service.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission wants to take full advantage of the Taxicab Passenger Enhancement Program, which has already resulted in credit card machines, backseat video screens and automatic trip data collection.

Insane Government Cell Phone Tax Grab in New York

NEW YORK, NY — You can’t hang up on the taxman.

Eleven federal, state and city levies add as much as 33 percent to the cost of New Yorkers’ cellphones, a Post analysis found.

New Yorkers Can Now Call 511 For Travel Info

NEW YORK [AP] — New York state is making it simpler to get transportation information. Commuters and other travelers can dial 511 for updates in their area. They also can visit www.511ny.org.

The 511 service ties together information from numerous agencies. Topics include commuter and subway service, road conditions, buses, ferries, carpools and vanpools.

FDA: Tests Uncover Listeria Contamination in Kosher Salmon

NEW YORK [FDA] — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers not to eat Strubs Norwegian Style Sliced Smoked Steelhead Salmon in 300 gram packages because of potential contamination with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause serious illness and death.

Distributed by West Side Foods Inc. of Bronx, N.Y., the smoked steelhead salmon was imported from Canada, and 13 cartons were sold to three kosher retail stores in New York and Maryland.

Video – More Red-Light Cameras on the Way

NEW YORK [NY1] — State lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday allowing the city to add 50 red light cameras to catch drivers who run traffic lights.

The city already has cameras at various intersections.

Mayor Bloomberg – An Al ‘Sharpton Fan’?

NEW YORK, NY [CHI] — In effort to win Black votes in the coming city elections for mayor, Mike Bloomberg said that he was a fan of controversial activist and politician Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton is known in the Crown Heights Jewish community circles, as the force who riled up residents in Crown Heights during the 1991 riot. The following is a piece by Eizabeth Benjamin for the NY Daily News Blog.

Appearing at the National Action Network’s annual meeting at the Sheraton New York in midtown this afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg was full of praise for the organization’s founder, the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Paterson: MTA Bailout Won’t Include Bridge Tolls

ALBANY, NY [AP] — Gov. David Paterson and New York legislative leaders are rejecting a proposal to put tolls on bridges as part of any deal to bail out New York City’s financially troubled mass transit system.

Salmonella Worries Prompt Pistachio Recall

FRESNO, CA [AP] — A Central California company is recalling about 1 million pounds of pistachios over concerns of possible salmonella contamination.

Food safety officials are looking through Setton Farms’ plant in rural Tulare County to see if it could lead them to the source of the contamination.

Gun Purchases Up in New York caused by Recession, Obama

MONROE, NY — Fears that a liberal presidential administration will impose more restrictions on gun ownership have triggered a frenzy of gun buying at local suppliers, who are struggling to restock their shelves with firearms and ammunition.

Driver Lay Shot Dead in Car, while Parking Tickets Piled

BROOKLYN, NY – He died as he lived — sadly.

Yosef ben Mirayum (Jeffrey) Schneider never married or had children. Always in debt, he was forced to sell his house. Bookies followed him trying to collect. For years he had threatened to commit suicide.

More MTA Pain To Come?

NEW YORK, NY — Unless Albany comes through with a rescue plan, bus and subway fares are set to rise May 31.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, now we’re hearing fares could jump again just a few months later.

B&H Store Settles Job Bias Lawsuit for $4.3M

New York, NY – B&H electronics retailer in New York City has settled a job discrimination lawsuit on behalf of 149 Latino warehouse workers for $4.3 million.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said today a federal judge in Manhattan approved the settlement.

Gov. Paterson Orders Nealy 9000 Layoffs

ALBANY, NY [AP] — Gov. David Paterson on Tuesday ordered layoffs that could total more than 4 percent of state workers after unions refused concessions amid a staggering economic downturn that was projected to push the state’s deficit to $16 billion in the next year.

Budget Director Laura Anglin told The Associated Press that the layoffs of nearly 9,000 employees would be the first since the late 1990s after unions refused to even provide counterproposals.

Sales Tax Shocker: NYC Staring At 10 Percent

NEW YORK, NY — A proposed sales tax hike could have you shelling out more almost every time you shop.

News of a possible hike isn’t sitting well with consumers.

“Oh no, this is ridiculous,” said Cleonie Sinclair of Manhattan.