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(Kathleen Horan)

Everyone may be Irish today, but given the tough economic times some are wondering if its really a good time to be celebrating. Before setting out on the St. Patrick's Day parade route, Mayor Bloomberg said the answer was simple: yes, more than ever.
'People need a pick-me-up,' says Bloomberg. 'People need to know that we can get through this together. All we need to do is treat everybody today like their Irish, next time like their Italian, the other like they're Hindus.'

(Kathleen Horan)

It's a parade of firsts and lasts for St. Patrick's Day in New York. Warren Levinson reports.

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has ...

(Getty)

In an early meeting with journalists after her appointment, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand noted she was among the first members of Congress to post her schedule -- including meetings with lobbyists and so-called 'private meetings' -- on the internet. She's barely got a website up and running (spokesman Matt Canter says a more complete one is coming within the week). But we asked anyway, who has she met with? (We were curious if anyone was lobbying her on the stimulus funding, and our interest was piqued by the conspicuous presence of former Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who IS lobbying on stimulus funding, , at the press conference announcing Gillibrand's appointment.) Canter sent us over this list -- anything on it look interesting to you?

On March 16, 1985, Terry Anderson, an Associated Press bureau chief, was taken hostage in Beirut, Lebanon.

A water main break in lower Manhattan is causing subway and traffic disruptions. The break occurred on Varick Street about 12:20 p.m. and is causing delays on the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 subway lines. The Department of Environmental Protection says it has shut off water in the area. Two lanes have been closed to traffic while crews work on the problem.

On March 13, 1955, Tammany leader Carmine De Sapio spars with New York State Attorney General Jacob Javits on ethics in politics.

Despite the hype over shovel-ready projects, and a list 787 transit projects that are "ready-to-go within 90 days", it's going to take well over a year before the $8.4 billion that the federal stimulus bill allocates for mass transit is actually spent.

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration put out its regulations on spending that money (PDF). They stipulate that half of the money allocated to a particular state or transit agency must be "obligated" within the next six months, and the rest of it in the following six months.

But "obligate" means simply this: that the FTA agrees that the local transit agency is planning to spend the money in an appropriate way. It does not mean that the agency has to have put the project out to bid by that point, much less that it be put under contract.

Investors Dewitt Baker (R) and Judith Welling, who had invested with financier Bernard Madoff, outside Manahttan federal courthouse. (Getty)

Bernard Madoff was led ...

No tax on gym memberships either.

Governor Paterson says he’s rescinding 137 so-called 'nuisance taxes' in the state budget. They ranged from taxes on haircuts to iPods. Karen DeWitt has more from ...

Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner says he'll decide in June whether he will run for mayor. Weiner, who represents parts of Queens an
Brooklyn, said in a letter to supporters that the nation's economic crisis 'is a time for problem solving' in Washington. He said he'll decide during the Congressional summer break, quote, 'the best political course.' A potential Democratic rival -- City Comptroller Bill Thompson -- already has hired a campaign manager. Mayor Bloomberg also has hired staff for his re-election bid.

March 11, 1959 - The drama “A Raisin in the Sun” opens at New York's Ethel Barrymore Theater. 

From heist movies in the Great Depression to 1967's 'Bonnie and Clyde' to a new film about John Dillinger, Hollywood has had a longstanding love affair with bank robbers. Leonard Lopate looks at populist ideas in a few of these movies and why, even though they're criminals, many of us end up rooting for the robbers. Film critics David Thomson and Mark Harris join Leonard to talk about 'Dog Day Afternoon' (1975), 'Bonnie and Clyde' (1967) and “The Bank Dick” (1940).

Anyone who has been commuting from the Bedford Avenue L stop for the past 10 years must have noticed something funny happening. Not only has the platform, once pretty civilized, has become become painfully crowded, but when the train comes, there's no room to squeeze on. The nonpartisan think tank ...

Senate Republicans were the first at the state capitol to release their alternative to Governor Paterson’s state budget, WNYC's Karen Dewitt reports from Albany.

The Senate Republicans, who are in the minority in that house by just one seat, rejected both Governor Paterson's dozens of new taxes and fees to raise revenues and a plan circulating in the legislature to raise taxes on wealthy. 'You can't tax your way out of this situation,' says Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos.

The 'iron curtain' speech.

March 4, 1933

This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.

So first of all let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

(Getty)

The Brooklyn Bridge may not be for sale, but it's one of the East River crossings that has inspired haggling worthy of a Persian marketplace. And the latest back-and-forth between the Metropolitan Transit Authority and New York State legislature has taken us one step closer to tolls on all East River crossings that are currently free.

First, the transit authority said that a $5 per vehicle toll was the minimum it would have to charge to raise revenue and close its budget gap. Then political leaders like Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Mayor Bloomberg floated the idea of $2 tolls. And like a novice bargainer, the MTA agreed too soon.

Senate Leader Smith got suspicious.

This morning, he said the authority needed to agree to a full audit. 'You know they kept two books at a time,' he said.

Brian Lehrer ask's Planet Money’s Alex Blumberg and Adam Davidson "why not just let the banks fail?"
Listen to the whole interview

The last NYC school snow day was in January 2004. (brianpjcronin)

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein says he and other city officials waited until 5:40 this morning to call a snow day because they were waiting for the latest updates on wind and road conditions. It's the first time city schools have been shut down in five years. Klein told WNYC's Brian Lehrer that New York City doesn't call snow days as often as suburban districts partly because the city has mass transit.

'A lot of suburbs have almost everybody riding buses to and from schools or parents in cars, we have a lot of people walking to schools,' says Klein. 'So, in general, where it's sensible and prudent we try to keep them open.'

Klein also acknowledged many city students come from families where both parents are working, so he prefers to keep schools open whenever possible.