New York, NY —

The news of this week was dominated by violence in the Middle East and wrangling over tax cuts in Washington. But WNYC's Brian Lehrer says just below the surface were any number of reminders that New York is still New York.

They say 9/11 changed everything. Well, not quite. It struck me this week how many good old-fashioned New York battles royale are going on right now over myriad details of everyday life. Consider the week in court. One judge heard arguments on whether the MTA should roll back its bus, train and toll hikes, and consider them anew. The State Controller weighed in from the sidelines, saying the 2.00 fare is just too much, but a dollar-75 might do.

Another judge decided that the city can evict people from homeless shelters for breaking the rules. That one is just the latest pronouncement in a case from 20 years ago that established a right to shelter. No other city has such a right. And the new decision will, of course, be appealed.

In yet another case, a lawsuit was settled when the Schools Chancellor agreed to keep the 32 local school superintendents rather than cut down to 10. The New York compromise: the superintendents will keep their jobs, but lose most of their power. Hey, we'll take it.

Consider the week in the state legislature. Lawmakers debated the next tenant's rent in your rent-stabilized apartment. At issue: how much rent will put stabilized apartments onto the open market when you move out. Republican leaders were arguing for it to be 1500 a month, Democrats said 2500.

Then there's the bill to impose a fast food tax. Democratic Assemblyman Felix Ortiz of Brooklyn says cheap, unhealthy fast food is making his low-income constitutents fat, which eventually gives them diabetes and heart disease. A one percent tax at the burger joint, he says, will discourage junk food junkies, and give the state a fund to use for their health care when they inevitably get sick. Why do I think an idea like this would get laughed out of most places, while we debate the fine points in New York?

And consuder the fiscal crisis. All of America is struggling with it. But somehow, we're dealing with ours in a very New York way - like the alleged NYPD ticket blitz. Where else would you find headlines about unauthorized sitting on a milk crate, or a pregnant woman ticketed for sitting on the subway station steps? Never mind that statistics indicate the ticket blitz may be fictitious. It makes a great New York story.

And what other city could be planning to balance the budget by cutting child care, elder care, health care and welfare, while the politicians clamor to save the neighborhood zoos.

We haven't even mentioned the livery cab strike this week or the threatened strike by restaurateurs: they may stop selling lottery chances unless they can let some patrons smoke.

And only in New York could the public that's complained forever about politicians being too political finally get a non-political mayor, and give him record low approval ratings for not being political enough. Who would they rather have, Bill Clinton?

It's democracy New York style, as messy and cacophonous as it ever was. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!