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Jessica Schultz

By Jessica Schultz 3/30/12 5:44pm

Buzz Kill

Synthetic marijuana. (DEA)

New York State Health Department Ashes Synthetic Marijuana

It’s cheap and has code names like “Happy Hour,” “Spice” and “K2.”

But it can no longer be found in stores.

The New York State Health Department banned the sale of synthetic pot on Thursday, after doctors and politicians raised concerns over the chemicals and side effects of the pot-like product.

Last week, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah warned doctors that chemicals in the pot-like product have had serious health effects on users, death and acute renal failure. Read More

By Jessica Schultz 3/30/12 5:29pm

Micky D's

Greenwich Village McDonald's.

McDonald’s Makes It an Extra Value Meal with a Side of Security

It’s been a site of scorn from residents and politicians for a series of violent episodes that have rocked the neighborhood.  Police have said it needs as much security as a rowdy bar. Except its not a rowdy bar, it’s Greenwich Village’s local Mickey D’s.

The fast-food chain, which is located on West 3rd Street, has been the site of three violent incidents in the past year, compelling City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to launch a boycott of the restaurant until they buff up security on Monday.­­Quinn — along with support from Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Community Board 2 and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer — are calling for the chain to hire an off-duty cop to police the restaurant at times when there is a potential for trouble.

“The first thing this McDonald’s needs to do is engage better security through the paid detail option that our police department offers,” Quinn said outside the restaurant Monday. “Those are off-duty police offcers trained in how to do this type of security. This will be a huge step forward, make a difference and a show of good faith.” Read More

By Jessica Schultz 2/24/12 4:33pm

Plains Trains & Automobiles

I feel the earth, move, under my feet. (MTA)

These Residents Feel the Earth, Move, Under Their Feet: Construction Has 72nd Street Going Bonkers

The MTA is going beyond the call (literally as phone calls and angry messages are filling up their inboxes) of duty to ensure that residents on the Upper East Side are getting a good night’s sleep.

After repeated complaints that residents are being kept awake at night by construction at the future 72nd Street subway station, the MTA will begin offering nighttime visits to apartments around the area. Engineers from the agency will start their visits starting around 10 p.m. in order to hear the noise and feel the pain that residents are going through while construction continues on the Second Avenue subway line. Read More