The Daily Hub-Bub | Must-Reads from the WNYC News Hub

TRANSPORTATION
People Trapped in Subway Elevators 232 Times in 2010 (WSJ)
A video of 28 straphangers trapped for more than an hour in an elevator at the 181st Street Station in Washington Heights went viral over the weekend and is shedding some light on a persistent problem. Elevators consistently fail at subway stations where the only way to get to the platform is on an elevator. The video does include some coarse language.

HEALTH
City’s Efforts to Introduce Farmers’ Markets to Poor Areas Blocked By City (NY Times)
Improving the health of New Yorkers is a goal of the Bloomberg Administration, but a study from the Manhattan Borough President shows community groups frequently encounter road blocks when trying to open farmers’ markets in low-income neighborhoods.

CRIME
Mob Boss Makes Mob History: Testifies for the Government (NY Times)
Joseph Massino will be the first mob boss ever to testify for the government in a mafia trial. This would be more impressive if New York’s crime families were as powerful as they used to be, but with the government having successfully weakened the mafia in recent years, turncoat-ism is a normal state of affairs. “The Last Don” -- as Massino was once known -- testified against the Bonanno family after facing murder and racketeering charges.

BUSINESS
7.5% Increase in Water Bills Expected This Summer (NY Times)
The city expected to raise water rates 11.5%, but New Yorkers used so much water during last year’s scorcher of a summer, it will only go up 7.5%.

POLITICS
City Unions Seek to Reverse Campaign Finance Disclosure Measure (City Hall)
Anonymous union officials say the city’s Central Labor Council wants to block a measure that requires unions and other interest groups to disclose how much they paid while advocating for candidates. The measure was passed in the package of questions put on last November’s ballot by the city’s Charter Revision Commission. The CLC is planning to sue. The issue could then be tangled up in the courts until the next election in 2013.

EDUCATION
NJ Public University Officials Want to Prevent Tuition Hikes (NJ.com)
New Jersey education officials say four-year colleges and universities in the state will be able to keep tuition increases below 10 percent if Governor Christie’s budget proposal passes. College presidents and other education leaders appeared in a State Senate hearing Monday to call for more money.

CRIME
Video Hearings Surge in NYC Courts, Especially in Brooklyn (Daily News)
More of the city’s court hearings are taking place via video feeds, especially in Brooklyn. There were 864 video-linked appearances in Brooklyn Supreme Court last year. That’s compared to just 302 just two years ago. Other boroughs are lagging behind.

TRANSPORTATION
Bike Lane Beat: City Drops Plans for Bay Ridge Parkway Bike Lane (NY Post)
Strong opposition from residents stopped this proposed 4-mile bike lane stretching from Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn from Shore Road to By Parkway in Bensonhurst. Councilman Domenic Recchia says the street was too narrow to share.

FOOD
Gourmet Food Truck Explodes on West Side Highway (Daily News)
The Frites and Meats truck, a beloved hamburger vendor on wheels, exploded in flames yesterday, injuring workers and losing part of its roof after a propane tank blew up. The vehicle was en route to Tribeca, where it was scheduled to start serving customers a few hours later.

OPINION
Editorial: Mean-spirited Lawsuit Cheats Kids Out of Opportunities (Daily News)
The Daily News editorial board goes on the attack, accusing those behind the lawsuit aimed at keeping a charter school out of the Brandeis Building as denying “aspiring children the chance for high-quality education.” They call out public advocate Bill de Blasio, Councilwoman Gail Brewer, Rep. Charles Rangel and others for being behind the suit.

OPINION
Editorial: Does Gov. Cuomo Have the Stomach to Fight the Unions? (NY Post)
The Post editorial board chides the governor for “reviewing legislation” instead of forcefully condemning legislation that would “jack up” state and local employee employee benefits. They question whether he’s strong enough to stand up to unions and the state lawmakers who support them.