"City is collecting fewer fines from small businesses," Crain's New York Business, 3/6/15. "The city's Department of Consumer Affairs is trying to be less of a thorn in the side of the tens of thousands of small businesses it oversees," says Crain's New York Business. "As such, the agency is collecting less in fines from businesses and conducting fewer investigations into possible violations, Commissioner Julie Menin told the City Council Friday. In the fiscal year that started last June, DCA has inspected 35,328 businesses, 15% fewer than it did over the same time period in fiscal year 2014. Likewise, it has collected $5.3 million in fines so far in this fiscal year, a staggering 42% reduction from the $9.2 million collected during the same period in 2014. Ms. Menin said the agency accomplished this by reforming its system for collecting fines. For example, rather than issuing five fines to a shop owner for failing to affix price tags to five cans of vegetables, the agency now issues only one fine. She characterized this as a break from the previous administration." (Menin was the former chair of Community Board 1.) For the complete article, click here. 

"Bharara: Silver's bid to dismiss charges should be denied," Capital New York, 3/5/15. "U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara filed a 24-page rebuttal Thursday in response to former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver's motion seeking dismissal of criminal corruption charges against him," says Capital New York. "Silver, who served as the Assembly's most powerful member for more than two decades, was indicted Feb. 19 on three counts of corruption after being accused of pocketing millions of dollars in legal fees in exchange for political favors over more than a decade. He resigned his leadership position last month. Silver's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the federal case in late February, arguing Bharara had created a 'media firestorm' that had unfairly prejudiced any possible jury." Bharara, of course, disagreed. "The defendant's motion relies on distortions and omissions, disregards the law and is a transparent attempt to distract this Court and the public from the serious charges brought against the defendant. It should be denied," Bharara said in his rebuttal." For the complete article, click here.

Howard Hughes Corporation's 4th Quarter and full year, 2014, report: The Howard Hughes Corporation's report for the 4th Quarter and for the full year, 2014, made a number of references to its activities in the South Street Seaport.

"South Street Seaport continues to partially operate while redevelopment of Pier 17 is underway and remediation and repairs to the historic area from Superstorm Sandy continue," it said. "During the year, we received $24.6 million of insurance proceeds, which are excluded from NOI and recognized as Other income in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. We have received a total of $47.6 million of insurance proceeds from the inception of this claim through February 1, 2015. The claim is in litigation."

The report also noted that, "On December 29, 2014, in two separate transactions, we acquired a 48,000 square foot commercial building on a 15,744 square foot lot and certain air rights with total residential and commercial development rights of 621,651 square feet for $136.7 million. As of December 31, 2014, we were under contract to purchase another commercial building and additional air rights during the first half of 2015, which will ultimately create a site capable of supporting 817,784 square feet of mixed use development. These properties are collectively referred to as the Seaport District Assemblage and are located in close proximity to our South Street Seaport property."

The report stated that, "If these acquisitions close, we will own commercial development rights on the assemblage totaling 817,784 square feet." For the complete 4th Quarter and full year, 2014, report, click here. 

"That Howling? Just New York's Neighborhood Coyotes," New York Times, 3/6/15. "On a cold, clear afternoon in Pelham Bay Park, the tracks were etched in the crusted snow, doglike but more oblong, the claws less prominent and, over all, more compact," says The New York Times. "Coyotes. Joining an urban menagerie of deer, wild turkeys, hawks - and, O.K., rats - Eastern coyotes have, in recent years, taken up residence in city parks. In mid-January, one in Riverside Park, on the Upper West Side, was corralled and captured by the police on a basketball court after midnight. Two weeks later, another coyote was spotted in an even odder location - amid the vast grove of red brick buildings known as Stuyvesant Town on the East Side. Parks officials say that each of three Bronx parks is now home to a coyote family, including a pair that bred for the first time last year in Ferry Point Park in the South Bronx. There is also a solitary coyote that is permanently living in Railroad Park in Jamaica, Queens." According to The Times, "The Stuyvesant Town coyote may have been in Hudson River Park earlier, officials said." For the complete article, click here.

Manhattan Yacht Club will host the US Adult Championship: US Sailing has selected the Manhattan Yacht Club to host the 2015 US Adult Sailing Championship, which will take place in October over the Columbus Day weekend. US Sailing is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States.
 
This will be the first national sailing championship to take place in New York Harbor.  

"This is a very prestigious honor for Manhattan Yacht Club," said its Commodore, Michael Fortenbaugh, in a press release. "Our club successfully reintroduced recreational sailing. When we began sailing in 1987, most people thought you could not sail in the harbor because it was too polluted and had too much commercial traffic. Today, our club has built the harbor's largest sailing community. We have the largest and best quality racing programs as well as innovative cruising and education initiatives. Now, we will be hosting some of the best sailors in the nation who will battle for the Adult Championship in front of the Statue of Liberty."

The Manhattan Yacht Club was recently booted from its 20-year residency at North Cove Marina in Battery Park City and will now be operating from Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City, N.J. 
 
"This event will have a positive impact on Jersey City, both in terms of economic activity and image," said Fortenbaugh. "This event will help showcase the city."
 
During the competition, there will be a spectator boat from which Manhattan Yacht Club members, guests and the public can watch the races. For more information about the race, click here.