A man allegedly found a dead rodent in a wrap he purchased from the salad chain Chop't, Gothamist is reporting.

Someone named Steven Henderson tweeted a photo of the tainted wrap with the caption "My colleague ordered a wrap and got a rat @Chopt." The photo shows an entire head and body of what appears to be a mouse, which is stuffed inside the wrap along with lettuce and tomatoes.

He has since deleted the tweet.

"When reached via phone, Chop't Founder Tony Shure told us he knew about the incident and said that the store had been shut down for the day and that staff was 'doing a deep clean,'" Gothamist reports. 

The wrap was purchased at Chopt's Financial District location at 80 Pine Street, according to the report.  

This guy found a rat in his Chop't and oh god no I eat there, you know, sometimes :''''( http://t.co/1nVvSxPlpFpic.twitter.com/ZZ3pWUI6PY

— Damon Beres (@dlberes) July 8, 2014

We were unable to reach the company for comment.

SEE ALSO: How The Massive Crumbs Cupcake Empire Finally Caved

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David Tisch, former managing director of TechStars NY and startup investor, just raised a $7.5 million Series A round for his new new mobile e-commerce company, Spring.

The round was led by Thrive Capital, Groupe Arnault and Box Group. Other investors include Founder Collective, Google Ventures, SV Angel, and Lerer Hippeau Ventures.

Spring, which is launching later this summer, aims to make the best experience for buying things on your phone or tablet.

"We believe buying things should be simple," a listing for Spring on AngelList says. "We are on a mission to build a platform that connects the people who make products directly with consumers who love them."

Tisch co-founded Spring with his brother Alan Tisch, Ara Katz, and former Googler Octavian Costache. Tisch has already recruited some talent: The former social media editor at Bergdorf Goodman, Cannon Tekstar Hodge, joined in late March after 10 years at the designer brand. The former fashion director of ShopBop, Kate Ciepluch, also joined Spring.

Other team members formerly worked at Fab, Beachmint, Google, Foursquare, Ralph Lauren, and DVF.

Tisch has kept his new company largely under wraps. But a reporter at Fashionista says it's been dubbed"Instagram as a mall." 

Judging by the company's Instagram account, it looks like the focus will be on beautifully incorporating for-sale products into photos that are likely to spread on social media. 

Here are some of the photos from Spring's Instagram account that hint at what Tisch and his colleagues are up to:

SEE ALSO: The 12 Hottest Startups In Africa

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A man claiming to have robbed numerous New York City banks in the 1990s appeared on Brandon Stanton's popular Humans of New York blog this week.

We have no way of verifying this story, but in any case, the unnamed man had an interesting tale to tell. He said during his '90s bank heists he would hand tellers notes to get the cash, and that he never had to carry a gun. Because the security footage was blurry at best during the late '90s, he says, it was easy to get away with.

In a separate post Stanton published, the man said he didn't commit a crime until he was 54. Then, he says, he went on a bank robbing spree after pulling a heist for the first time.

It's been harder to rob banks these days, he says. The man says dye packs from banks exploded on him three separate times, with the worst occurring near Penn Station during the morning rush hour. He claims he heard a noise coming from his pants, followed by a bright neon cloud shooting up towards him. With many people watching, he tossed the money away, jumped in a cab, and went to a bar, according to his story.

In 1990, The New York Times reported a steep rise in bank robberies that was "baffling" both bankers and the FBI. From The Times:

Reasons for the increase are not clear. Law enforcement officials cite several possibilities: the spread of crack addiction, decreased attention by the authorities - who in some cases redeployed their forces against crack - and the recent return to the streets of some jailed bank robbers.

The banks hit most steadily, bank officials said, are midtown Manhattan branches. Most banks in poorer neighborhoods have installed teller windows of thick plastic while many midtown banks eschew them, and more robbers are blending into crowds or hopping on the subway instead of using getaway cars, the officials said.

During the late '90s, there were at least a couple of prominent bank robberies within New York, such as the 1998 heist from a Bank of America within the World Trade Center in addition to the "Seven-Second Bandit."

An NYPD spokesman told Business Insider the department is unable to identify a criminal based solely on a picture, although he advised sending the picture via email to the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information to see if the department can make a match. Business Insider is still waiting for that reply.

However, he added that if the man was never caught for any crime, there would be no way to identify him.

Here is the entire excerpt from the interview posted by Stanton, who gave us permission to use his pictures.

"It was the late 90’s. The police commissioner had figured out that all the people committing small crimes were the same people committing big crimes, so the cops started cracking down on all the little stuff— and crime kept going down, down, down. Everything except bank robberies. Because all the big national banks were moving into the city, and buying out all the local banks. And these new corporate banks were all about ‘customer service.’ So they replaced the retired cops at the doors with ‘greeters’ who would give you coffee and donuts. So word got around fast that robbing banks was f***ing easy now. All you had to do was walk in, hand them a note, and they’d hand over the cash. I never even carried a gun. The security footage was so grainy back then, you could barely see anything. It was easy. It’s much tougher these days. I’ve had dye packs explode on me three times. The worst was about a block from here. I had just left a bank, and was walking by the entrance to Penn Station during morning rush hour. Suddenly a noise starts coming from my pants, and a bright neon cloud starts shooting out. Hundreds of people were staring at me. I threw the thing away from me, hopped in a cab, and went to a bar."

SEE ALSO: 5 Surprising Things That Are Cheaper In New York City

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Sunday marks the 37th anniversary of the infamous blackout that led to looting and rioting all around New York City. That date, July 13, 1977, was a time of extreme strife and tension in America's largest metropolis.

3,800 arrests were made, according to the New York Times, and more than $1 billion in damage was recorded, with some of the worst coming in the Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood. The FDNY reported 1,037 fires throughout the city, with at least 50 being very serious, according to The Times. 

The root cause of the blackout was a series of lightning strikes occurring between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. that cut electricity off from two major power plants. The chaos would soon follow.

LaGuardia and JFK were closed, and the subways were evacuated.

''The looters were looting other looters, and the fists and the knives were coming out,'' Carl St. Martin, a neurologist in Forest Hills, Queens, recalled years later, according to the Times.

Here are some of the shocking photos of the eery darkness and mass chaos:

SEE ALSO: New York City Used To Be A Terrifying Place [PHOTOS]

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The best artists take something familiar and completely transform how a viewer sees it. 

Among the contemporary masters of this is Japanese artist Hisaya Taira, whose works were on display this weekend at the ArtHampton's Fine Arts Fair, through the Anthony Brunelli gallery.

Taira's best-known works are uncanny, photo-realistic paintings of New York City subway stations — scenes you'll instantly recognize, but which you won't believe were actually created with acrylic. 

We emailed Taira to ask how he views the scenes. The subway, he told us via email, is a place anyone can easily access, and therefore everyone takes for granted — "nobody usually notices that is a place which becomes a picture, but you can rediscover" it through drawing. It's also a place where "feelings like hope and anxiety [are] condensed."

Check it out:

(h/t Peteski)

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Life-long New Yorker David Allee has spent his summers in rural Connecticut for as long as he can remember. Every year, on his drive up to his family's country house, he would pass by the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, a massive complex that dominates the upstate New York town of Wingdale.

Originally slated to be a correctional facility, the hospital treated patients suffering from severe psychological and psychiatric issues from 1924 until it closed its doors in 1994.

The campus has sat abandoned for 20 years, giving it an unnerving atmosphere. But it's about to undergo a major transformation. It was recently purchased by Olivet University, a west coast-based evangelical Christian college that was founded by controversial preacher David Jang, who was rumored to have helped fund International Business Times' acquisition of Newsweek.

Allee made a dozen trips to the complex to capture it in its abandoned state, photographing the buildings and surrounding area. He has shared a selection of the photos with Business Insider. See more of his work on his Facebook page.

The hospital is made up of 80 buildings on more than 800 acres of land. The massive complex has sat empty for two decades.When it was opened in 1924, the prevailing approach to psychiatric care was to remove patients from the stresses of daily life.The center, about 65 miles north of New York City, was originally built to ease overcrowding at nearby institutions. Because patients became dependent on asylums, they rarely left. Hospital populations continually grew, often leading to poor living conditions.At its peak, in the mid-1950s, the hospital had more than 5,000 patients and 5,000 employees, according to Hudson Valley magazine.The campus was so large that there was even a 9-hole golf course that doctors could play on. Patients were often encouraged to be caddies.It had its own bakery, a bowling alley, ice cream parlor, and one of the biggest dairy farms in the state.The complex produced its own energy via a dam and hydroelectric power plant.The trend towards treating mentally ill patients in "complete institutions" where they lived and worked fell out of fashion in the 1960s, as overcrowding and underfunding led to wide abuses at hospitals.A real estate company purchased the abandoned asylum a decade ago, but gave up on plans to turn it into a housing and retail complex before the housing market collapsed, according to The New York Times.Olivet University paid $20 million for about half the property in 2013.It's an ideal space for a college campus: A Metro-North railway stop on campus connects it directly with New York City.Olivet has already begun to clean up the former asylum, mowing lawns, stripping brush, and clearing land for sports fields.While Olivet's plans are still not totally clear, it appears that the college intends to use the existing buildings. Allee, who used to be an urban planner, doesn't think that's a good idea."It's become a hazardous waste site. The buildings were so full of asbestos and mold that I'm shocked anybody thinks they could rehab them," says Allee.Wingdale residents are actually excited about the arrival of Olivet, according to the New York Times. Residents expect that the college will draw new jobs and commerce to the town.

SEE ALSO: Eerie Photos Of Brooklyn's Gigantic, Abandoned Domino Sugar Factory

DON'T MISS: This Abandoned New York City Island Shows What Would Happen 50 Years After Humans

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An official at the New York Young Republican Club has resigned after using the organization's official blog to question whether the country is being transformed into the "United States of Gaymeria."

In a statement to Business Insider on Monday, club president Brian Morgenstern disowned the post, which has since been deleted.

"William Palumbo resigned from his position with our volunteer organization on July 1st. The contents of his blog post do not reflect the views of the club," Morgenstern said.

The cited resignation date — July 1 — is a week and a half before the controversy first emerged last Friday, when Palumbo, the former head of "Blog" at the club, used the NYYRC website to declare his dismay after a friend sent him a photo of rainbow gay pride flags being displayed at the U.S. Embassy in London last month.

"Can I pose a serious question?  At what point does replacing the American flag with the rainbow flag, a symbol of gay/LGBTQ(RSTUVWXYZ) pride from embassies abroad become an impeachable offense in itself?" Palumbo wrote. "Last time I checked, the official flag of the country was the Stars and Stripes, not the same rainbow that is found on the doors of gay bars downtown."

Palumbo declined to comment to Business Insider specifically, but issued a general response alleging his foreign policy research had been stifled.

"The real story here [is] ... that the Republican Party has essentially kicked me out the door and pulled 18 months of research into the American relationship with Qatar (i.e., state sponsored terrorism and funding of ISIS), which was on their blog, because I posted a picture of an American embassy. That's a massive coverup," he said in an email.

Update (5:22 p.m.):Morgenstern also commented about the timing of Palumbo's resignation. "Regarding Mr. Palumbo's resignation, he submitted it on July 1, long before he posted this content on July 11. We were confirming his replacement and had not yet updated the website when he posted the content," he said.

Additional reporting by Hunter Walker.

SEE ALSO: The New York Young Republicans Are Worried The Country Is Becoming The 'United States Of Gaymeria'

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MIDTOWN — A looming Long Island Rail Road strike was averted on Thursday — after the unions representing the train workers reaching a tentative agreement with the MTA, union officials and Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.

“It’s my pleasure to announce today that we have settled a four-year dispute dealing with these Long Island Rail Road labor unions and an agreement with the LIRR and the MTA," Cuomo said at a press conference alongside lead union negotiator Anthony Simon of the United Transport Union and MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast.

While officials declined to discuss the exact details of the agreement pending approval by the union workers, they said the deal includes a 17 percent wage increase without raising riders' fares.

"This definitely is a fair contract. It’s a compromise by all parties," said Simon, who represented the host of unions involved in the LIRR during negotiations. He said the unions would be reaching out to workers to explain the deals to them first before making details public. "We're comfortable our members will support it," Simon added.

Prendergast called the agreement "a fair and reasonable contract" that provides "wages that our employees deserve … in a way that protects the commuter as well as the long term fiscal stability of the MTA."

"This is a contract we know the board will support."

The agreement came less than a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepped into the negotiations, calling both sides to his Manhattan office for continued discussions.

"There's no doubt there was a very wide gulf that had to be crossed," said Cuomo, "There was a huge amount of agita over the past few days, for those of you that know what agita means... the good news is there would have been a lot more agita next week."

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The line began to form around 8 a.m. on the corner of 18th and Broadway in Manhattan Friday. Rachel Meyer — known as "Bunny" on YouTube — was due to arrive at makeup store Tart at noon, and her biggest fans wanted to make sure they had a shot at meeting her. 

Meyer, or "Bunny," as her fans call her, is a relatively well-known YouTube celebrity, vlogging under the username Grav3yardgirl. She is one of the highest-earning YouTubers, earning her an estimated $462,798 a year from her popular videos, which cover a smorgasbord of topics, like makeup and fashion and even paranormal activity. 

One of her most popular videos called "I AM FLAWED (imperfections tag)" has nearly a million views, and, according to the fans we talked to, is the video that sums up why they love Bunny the most. In the video, the 26-year-old goes on a 10-minute rant about why she doesn't care that she isn't perfect.

Her other gimmick? Her "Does This Really Work?" series, where she reviews products in parody fashion, trying everything from nail art to stick-in eyelashes.

It's not scripted, and to the adult ear she might sound reminiscent of a character from popular 1990s Nickelodeon show "All That" (like SNL for kids), but moms tell me their young daughters go nuts over the videos, dissolving in laughter.

In a world where even the labeled "down-to-earth" celebs like Taylor Swift and Blake Lively are rarely, if ever, seen un-coiffed, Bunny sends a good message for young and impressionable girls, a demographic that showed up in full-force to wait in line to meet their idol Friday morning.

Sofia Cammarano, pictured below, got up at 5:30 a.m. to trek solo from Trumble, Connecticut, to Manhattan in order to be one of the first in line outside of Tart.

Cammarano, 16, said she's been watching Bunny's videos since 2011 and likes her vlogs on paranormal activity and graveyard tours the best.

Cammarano was one of six girls who were waiting at the very front of the line. She had traveled alone, but befriended (from left to right below) Kerina Nunez, 17, Naidy Calojes, 18, and Alexandria Cassella and Maggie McGarry, both 12.

The girls came prepared with signs and gifts for their idol. The heart on the sign below says "Follow us!" and gives the girls' Twitter handles.

There were cards.

And Cammarano brought her a book, "The Spoon River Anthologies." 

"It's about ghosts and she loves ghosts," she explained, as if she had purchased the gift for a good friend's birthday. And in a way, she had. When we talked to Bunny fans Maddy Broderick, 15, and Sydney Caprio, 17, we learned more about what made Bunny so appealing to the young masses.

"She's cool," Broderick told us, "and she's not trying to be someone she's not. And I appreciate that. And she likes Hunter S. Thompson! Do you know how hard it is to find someone who likes Hunter S. Thompson?" (Wait until she hits 21 and heads to any bar in Williamsburg.)

"She's weird," Caprio concluded. "She's weird. And I like that."

When we asked her who the anti-Bunny was, they both thought for a minute. 

"Michelle Phan, maybe," Caprio said slowly, referring another YouTube star with 6 million subscribers. Phan makes videos with titles like "Reduce Cellulite with Coffee," and "Underwater Makeup."

"I like Michelle," Broderick counteracted. "But yeah ... she's too ... polished."

Perhaps Bunny's youngest fan in attendance was 10-year-old Stella Copeland, a soft-spoken blonde from Brooklyn whose parents chaperoned her as they waited for Bunny's arrival at Tart.

Stella's mom, Vicky, said she's seen the videos herself and thinks they're funny.

"[Bunny's videos are] good for kids. They're funny, they send a good message; she loves them," she motioned at her daughter. Stella told us all of her friends watch Bunny, often times together, but they're all at camp this summer.

Bunny, with over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, makes her money from ad revenue and seems to have unlocked the key to success: Kids love her and moms approve.

Take a look at Bunny's YouTube channel or watch one of her videos below:

SEE ALSO: The Hottest YouTube Stars Alive!

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The newly opened Grand Banks isn't your average oyster bar.

For starters, the restaurant — the latest from Diner and Marlow & Sons cofounder Mark Firth— plans to sail south during the winter, according to The New York Times.

Moored at Pier 25 in Tribeca, Grand Banks is built into the historic F/V Sherman Zwicker, a schooner that launched in 1942, fished the North Atlantic, and sailed to South America to trade goods.

Now, it serves delicious oysters, cocktails, and beer, and is already wildly popular since it opened in June. We went aboard to check it out.

Grand Banks is anchored in the Hudson River, at the end of Pier 25 in Tribeca. The ship is 142 feet long, making it the largest wooden vessel in New York City and one of the largest on the East Coast.

The ship has great views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, as well as New Jersey (if you're into that type of thing).

You'll also get a prime view of the Freedom Tower.

According to British real estate website Zoopla, the average price of a Central London home over the past year is £1.1 million or $2 million in U.S. dollars, topping the $1.6 million average selling price of residences in the core of Manhattan.

Here, we've pitted some of their neighborhoods against each other to find the better investment. In the left column is NYC, global hub of finance and media. And on the right we have London, the world’s most-visited city.

Round 1: Upper East Side vs. Holland Park

Here in NYC, the Upper East Side area around Park and Fifth Avenues and 79th Street boast some of the city’s most opulent mansions and pre-war apartments, which actress Drew Barrymore, director Woody Allen, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg call home. Central Park is the focal point of the neighborhood, as are the ritzy stores along Madison Avenue.

Holland Park is one of the most affluent areas in London. Known for its collection of Victorian townhouses and upscale shopping, the neighborhood is home to several embassies, as well as new celebrity residents like singer Robbie Williams; TV and music mogul Simon Cowell; and David and Victoria Beckham, the ultimate pond-crossing power couple. Holland Park features a 54-acre public park, which is considered one of the most romantic and peaceful outdoor spaces in West London.

At the Claremont House, at 72nd Street between Park and Madison Avenues, a 6,300-square-foot, 7-bedroom penthouse is listed for $18 million. The four-floor condo boasts a sun-filled conservatory, 1,200 square feet of landscaped terraces, and a 1,600-square-foot master suite, complete with dual bathrooms, dressing rooms, and sitting areas.

Situated atop the highest point in Holland Park is this 4,056-square-foot, 6BR/4BA penthouse, designed by Richard Hywel Evans. Priced at $21.4 million, it features striking, futuristic glass walls that provide panoramic views of London, as well as many impressive amenities including a private lift (an elevator for all you non-Anglophiles), heated floors, Lutron lighting, concealed plasma screens, remote control blinds, two reception rooms, and a 600-square-foot terrace.

Our verdict: What the New York apartment lacks in space-age amenities and sleek design, it makes up for in space – lots of it!

Round 2: Battery Park City vs. Chelsea Harbour

Battery Park City, a 92-acre planned development, is the largest “green” community in the world. It was built over the last 40 years on top of a landfill from the World Trade Center site and contains a mix of affordable and luxury housing, restaurants, and plenty of parks and outdoor space.

Chelsea Harbour is a mixed-use, 20-acre development in Central London that’s made up of luxury apartments, a hotel, offices, and showrooms surrounding a small marina. It was constructed on an abandoned ex-British Rail Coal Yard and Victorian-era railway in the mid-1980s.

At the Ritz-Carlton Residences at 10 West Street, this 1,500-square-foot, 2BR/2.5BA apartment offers swanky hotel amenities like a gym, spa, concierge, and butler/housekeeper. For sale for $2,995,000, the high-floor unit has three exposures, mahogany flooring, and a chef’s kitchen.

A 3BR/2BA apartment listed for $3.3 million is part of the prestigious Kings Quay at Chelsea Harbour, which features the only five-star, all-suite hotel in London. It also houses the Blue Harbour Health Club, complete with swimming pool, fitness center, spa, and sauna. The raised ground-floor flat has views of the yacht marina, three balconies, and 12-hour weekday porterage.

Our verdict: Buyers at The Ritz-Carlton Residences get a lot more perks for the money, as well as prime views!

Round 3: SoHo vs. Knightsbridge

New York’s SoHo was once an artists’ community, but is now the go-to spot for high-end fashion and boutiques, located in large loft conversions. Celebrity actors like Daniel Craig and Juliana Margulies call the trendy neighborhood home.

For exclusive London shopping, those with cash to burn head to Knightsbridge for the famed Harrods Department Store and flagship locations of London designers such as Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik. Featuring a mix of refurbished flats and houses, Knightsbridge is home to many of the richest people in the world.

In SoHo, this 3-bedroom triplex penthouse was designed by famed architecture firm Ogawa Depardon and boasts 2,230 square feet of interior space, as well as an additional 1,762 square feet of outdoor space. Listed at $6,995,000, the apartment has a custom-built pergola and BBQ, bathrooms with heated stone floors, and a master bedroom with glass walls overlooking the landscaped roof garden.

This modern, 2BR duplex in Knightsbridge is in a landmark residential building and features a double-height reception space with large bay windows, double bedroom, and family room. Listed at $6.4 million, it also comes with an underground parking space and use of the valet service.

Our verdict: No contest, the SoHo apartment wins for space, perks, and distinctive design appointments.

Looks like overall you get more bang for your buck here in the Big Apple! How do you feel about our rulings? We’re always open to a rematch!

[Via CityRealty]

SEE ALSO: The Most Expensive Home In The World

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If you're sick of squeezing into New York City apartments but still want to stay within commuting distance, these amazing homes might pique your interest. 

But be ready to shell out some big bucks.

From New Jersey mansions to Connecticut equestrian estates, these are the most expensive homes for sale in the New York City suburbs.

We limited our search to homes an hour or less from Manhattan, located in Connecticut, New Jersey, Rockland County, Westchester County, and Nassau County. Thanks to our friends at Zillow for helping us compile this list. 

#15 This waterfront estate is located on a secluded peninsula.

Address:Larchmont, NY

Price: $16 million

This home comes with four acres, a quarter of waterfront property, and views of Long Island Sound and Larchmont Harbor. Other features include a deep water dock, grass tennis court, gym, and carriage house with four plus garages. 

#14 This home was selected as the "Designer Showhouse of Westchester" by New York Cottages and Gardens Magazine.

Address:Scarsdale, NY

Price: $16.5 million

Only 30 minutes out of Manhattan, this 1914 Murray Hill estate is set on 3.75 acres that include a a conservatory with Palladian windows, nine fireplaces, a library, drawing room, and a garden terrace overlooking the pool. It also includes a fully equipped pool house with his and her baths, tennis court, and a two-bedroom guest cottage with a greenhouse.

#13 This New Jersey estate comes with a custom-designed cafe and golf simulation room.

Address:Saddle River, NJ

Price: $16.5 million

This New Jersey estate sits on approximately five acres of land which includes a pool and pool house, basketball and tennis courts, chipping green, and play area.

Meanwhile, the interior includes 26 rooms with a library, billiard room, wine cellar and tasting room, award-winning theater, custom designed cafe, and golf simulation room.

The Chikungunya virus is normally found in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, but it's reportedly spreading across the United States and at least one prominent politician is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to act.

In a statement calling the mosquito-borne disease "excruciating," Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) asked the CDC to issue "an immediate health alert for medical professionals in New York  and around the country."

“Chikungunya has now officially reached Long Island, and the feds must act before this debilitating virus spreads further," Schumer warned. "There are a number of ways that Chik-V can be treated and contained, and it is critical that the CDC issue a health alert so that doctors can be on the look-out for this virus, better identify and treat symptoms and prevent its spread."

According to the CDC — which is publicly tracking the disease — the first Chikungunya case acquired in the United States was in Florida on July 17  and there have been several hundred cases in total. The CDC described the virus as painful but nonfatal.

"Infection with chikungunya virus is rarely fatal, but the joint pain can often be severe and debilitating. This virus is not spread person to person. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for infection, but research is underway in both areas," the agency said after the July case.

But merely tracking the disease isn't enough for Schumer, who also called on the Department of Homeland Security to declare a "public emergency" for the virus so the country "can deploy specific protocols and resources at our borders and elsewhere to prevent the spread of the virus in the U.S."

Schumer, who is well known for making headlines for himself around possible public health threats, previously warned of the soccer fans bringing the disease back with them to the United States from the World Cup in Brazil.

The CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Browsing rental ads is an online bloodsport. 

The most recent piece of London real-estate hate bait was a “modern studio apartment” advertised on Rightmove.

It was so small that the bed stopped the kitchen cupboards from opening.

The market is such a killing field that this £737-a-month hellbox in the London borough of Islington was snapped up in 16 hours, before an Internet backlash persuaded local housing authorities to intervene. 

In January, a “former storage space,” accessible only by ladder, was advertised as a “loft conversion” for £40 a week. “Please note you cannot stand upright in the room,” warned the Gumtree advert discovered by Time Out. In fact, there looks barely enough headroom to use the ensuite—a plastic bottle next to a sleeping bag on a parquet floor.

It would be comforting to think these listings were some gross mistake. But according to Alex Chesterman, the head of property website Zoopla, we shouldn’t call what we’re seeing a bubble, since the prices aren’t artificially inflated. They’re the natural result of a largely unregulated property market, where rising house prices are electoral catnip.

Dreams of the silver screen

Before our standards were systematically lowered by years of market excesses, it was every kid’s fantasy to have a cinema in his house. Well, the good news is that a nightmare housing market may actually provide the key to your childhood dream, albeit via a back door. Rent in London and New York is now so expensive that it’s cheaper to live full-time in a movie theater than to let even the worst apartments. 

This idea was mooted on Facebook by Chaz John Ross, a musician who complained of being priced out of an area that has become synonymous with people such as himself. The promoter and frontman of comedy electro-rock bandthe Coolness was recently served with an eviction notice on the house he has lived in for nine years in Bethnal Green, East London. 

“It seems like a tidal wave of bourgeoisie has hit East London,” Ross told me via email. “The types of people moving to the area are willing to pay stupid prices. Nowadays living East is some kind of cool, middle­-class status symbol that young professionals can boast about.”

As his artist’s studio in nearby Hackney was also being cleared by developers, Ross and the band moved his leotards and old Casio keyboards into storage. Then Ross started thinking about where he could live close to the club scene on his modest budget.

“I worked out it was cheaper to live in a cinema.”

The Greater London Authority’s latest figures show that rent in the same East London borough, Tower Hamlets, costs more on average than buying all-day tickets at the local pictures. With rents rising by nearly 10 percent a year in the capital, studio flats in the borough now cost, on average, £1,083 a month without bills. Keys to a one-bedroom flat change hands for £1,257 before utilities.

Instead of renting a flat in Bethnal Green, Ross could see every film at the nearby Genesis cinema in Whitechapel and have change left over. Tickets at the Genesis go for between £3.50 and £8, depending on the time of day. I’ve worked out that a person can exist for £31 a day ($52.62), or £930 ($1,579) a month, at East London’s best value cinema.

Become a regular customer

“We do have regular customers,” Genesis cinema’s events manager Abi Stroman said. “Theoretically you could spend your day here legitimately, without it being weird.” 

There are obviously a few inconveniences you should consider if you want to call an auditorium your home. Stroman said that all customers have to vacate the screen between shows, but only for 15 minutes. On the plus side, there are plugs for charging electrical items, and the café opens at 8am. 

Stroman clearly regretted humoring me when I asked if I could live there. “Um… we don’t have a shower. I feel like that’s something the majority of people would be looking for in a live-in experience.”

But Chaz John Ross, the musician, has that covered. Take care of your hygiene and stay fit in a 24-hour gym for £45 per month in the City of London. Storage for possessions is around £80. 

Even with these extra outgoings, you can live in the Genesis for £1,055 a month. That’s £28 cheaper to see movies all day than rent a small apartment nearby. And of course, it comes with free cinema.

New York City

Renters in New York’s gentrified Brooklyn face a similar discord between the cost of everyday necessities and premium entertainment. According to real estate agentMNS’s report for May 2014, a studio in the borough costs, on average, $2,164. Having a bedroom separate from the the living space elevates rent to $2,634.

A cinema seat in Brooklyn is vastly cheaper than renting in the same neighbourhood. The Cobble Hill Cinemas is one of the cheapest tickets in town, charging $8 per show during daytime hours and all day Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you decided to make Cobble Hill Cinemas your home for the whole duration of the opening hours, two matinee tickets and three at full price would cost $55 a day, which works out to $1,650 for 30 days. Put it another way, a month in the cinema is $1,000 cheaper than the average one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn.

Although in reality, the monthly cinema bill would be even more of a bargain, since you’d save $15 a night, or $75 a month, on Tuesday and Thursday special offers where the matinee rate applies all day. There isn’t a landlord I’ve ever heard of that offers discounted rent any day of the week.

New Yorkers could even stray from the cheap seats to find better value than Brooklyn rents. Walking into any movie theatre and seeing five films a day at the average citywide ticket price of $13.50, including IMAX, 3D movies, deluxe options, and special offers, is still only $2,025. That’s $150 cheaper than a Brooklyn studio. 

Animal lovers, keep reading

Admission to the London Zoo costs £24 a day. Buying a ticket every day for a month would only set you back the cost of the London hovel, £728, and way less than average East London rent. It also has more greenery and is probably safer.

Animal lovers get an even better deal in New York City, in a truly stunning location. While real estate overlooking Central Park goes for millions of dollars, general admission to the zoo located in the middle of Central Park costs just $12, or $360 a month.  

Asked to choose between the cinema or the zoo for his next rental, Ross said, “The zoo might be better but only in the summer, plus more friends. Cinema has higher turnaround of roommates.”

This lighthearted research has a serious conclusion. Extortionate rent doesn’t mean seeing more movies or having fun sleepovers close to the meerkat enclosure. Homelessness is rising at roughly the same rate as private rents.

“Homelessness in the capital has risen for the fourth year running, with the ending of a private tenancy the leading cause,” said Leslie Morphy, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis. 

“Rough sleeping in London has been rising at an alarming rate, with a massive increase of 75 percent over the last three years. Behind these numbers are thousands of people struggling to keep a roof over their heads.”

In addition to the official count of rough sleepers, there are thousands staying in what Ross calls the “Booty hotel.” I’m sure we all know somebody there. Although officially known as hidden homeless, residents of the Booty Hotel don’t appear in statistics but are nevertheless in a state of despairing precarity. They’re the ones, often working full-time or interning, who stay on friends’ couches, on floors, at work, or in the case of a friend I know who speaks French, Japanese and has a degree in maths, in a ditch at the back of Liverpool Street station. 

Living in the cinema or the zoo obviously isn’t a realistic option for these people, or anyone for that matter. But the fact that big-screen entertainment is more affordable than the most modest houses suggests that something has gone disastrously wrong.

SEE ALSO: I Used Tinder In Paris To Drastically Improve My French

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According to a recent poll, 86% of New Yorkers don't know who gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout is. Though she's relatively unknown, there is apparently a group of people so strongly opposed to her bid to challenge Gov. Andrew Cuomo in this year's Democratic primary that they've been appearing at her events and protesting.

Our attempt to discover the origins of the anti-Teachout movement ended with one of the protesters screaming, cursing, and threatening us.

UPDATE: Cuomo Campaign Admits Its Volunteers Staged Mysterious Protests Against Rival

Teachout's mysterious opponents first drew notice at a press conference she held on Tuesday in Manhattan in conjunction with Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino where they joined together to criticize Cuomo's ethics. The protesters carried hand drawn signs encouraging Teachout to "moveout" to Vermont, where she was raised and urging Astorino to "come clean." They declined to speak with reporters about why they showed up to protest.

Pic of anti-Teachout/Astorino, & presumably pro-Cuomo, protestors. They didn't respond when asked who they were. pic.twitter.com/ZyKvv8rOel

— John Kenny (@jjk607) July 22, 2014

Two days later, there was another contingent of at least seven protesters at an event Teachout held outside Cuomo's office in Midtown where she highlighted a New York Times report on allegations the governor interfered with an anti-corruption commission. The protesters appeared to hide their faces behind their signs, which highlighted a court challenge the Cuomo campaign is mounting attempting to get Teachout removed from the primary ballot for residency issues because, among other things, she made a 2012 campaign contribution listing a Vermont address as her own.

"Come clean on your residency," one sign said.

"Zephyr Teachout (D-VT)," said another.

A report from Capital New York also noted the protesters "tried to cover their faces with their signs when cameras were pointed at them" and declined to answer questions about their identities.

"I'm by myself," one said.

Aides to Teachout told Capital they saw some of the same protesters at other campaign stops. Teachout's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

After the event, six of the protesters gathered on a nearby corner. There were three men and three women. They were clean cut and wearing business casual. We overheard a few of them talk about going "back to the office" and they boarded the train at Grand Central Station.

Inside the subway, three of the protesters got on a train to go downtown. On board, two of the protesters discussed how "creepy" they thought Teachout's supporters were. The third protester, a young man in a bright blue shirt took out his wallet and began fiddling with an identification badge from the real estate firm SL Green that had his face on it.

According to Project Vote Smart, SL Green is one of Cuomo's top ten corporate campaign donors. A spokesperson for SL Green declined to comment on this story.

Update (3:13 p.m.):New York Times reporter Nick Confessore pointed out donations aren't SL Green's only link to the Cuomo campaign. Cuomo's gubernatorial campaign is based inside 750 Third Avenue, which is an SL Green property.

According to campaign finance reports, the Cuomo campaign received $20,000 in "in-kind" contributions from "750 Third Owner LLC" during the first half of this year. During that same period, the reports show the Cuomo campaign paid "750 Third Owner LLC" $5,275.00 in rent. In-kind contributions include services, facilities, property, and equipment that is provided to a campaign free-of-charge. Property records show the building where the Cuomo campaign is based is owned by 750 Third Owner LLC in care of SL Green. Business Insider reached out to SL Green to ask whether the in-kind contribution made to the Cuomo campaign was rent-free space in the building. The company did not immediately respond. 

While on the train, we attempted to get a picture of the protesters. As we departed at the Bleecker Street station, another passenger pointed us out to them and told them we tried to take their picture. The young man in the blue shirt cursed at us and the group left the station.

Outside, we saw the young man again and walked some distance behind him. Two blocks from the station, he turned and entered an NYU Law School residence. He approached us in the courtyard in front of the building and began to shout.

"You're going to take out your phone and you're going to take my picture, I should break your f**king phone right here!" he said.

After explaining who we were and showing press credentials, we asked him whom he represented and why he was protesting Teachout's campaign.

"I'm a college student!" he exclaimed.

The young man turned around to leave before returning to inform us he wasn't refusing to answer for "political" reasons.

"This is not a political thing where I'm walking away from your questions," he explained.

He went on to say he merely objected to us personally before turning around and going inside.

"F**k you! You are the worst member of society," the young man said. "I don't need to speak to you. … Have a nice f**king life."

Update (7:41 p.m.): A senior source at SL Green provided a statement to Business Insider saying the company leases spaces to multiple political campaigns. 

"As New York's largest commercial landlord, we frequently lease space to political campaigns," the source said. "We're pleased Gov Cuomo's team chose to be in an SL Green building."

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The aggressive approach that helped New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) become a rising star in his own party who was often touted as a potential 2016 presidential candidate may have contributed to the most serious scandal he's faced during his three-and-a-half years in office.

Cuomo's hard-charging, controlling management style initially earned him a number of major victories, including same-sex marriage legislation and a streak of on-time budgets after years of dysfunction in the legislature.

However, his fortunes turned last week when the New York Times published a blockbuster story alleging Cuomo interfered in the work of an anti-corruption commission that he established. Despite Cuomo vowing the commission would be completely independent and could even investigate him, the report said a top Cuomo aide repeatedly moved to squash subpoenas issued to his allies and block investigations that could be politically embarrassing.

Cuomo's alleged meddling in the commission came as little surprise to longtime observers of the governor who spoke to Business Insider anonymously out of fear of reprisal. One New York strategist immediately pointed to a quote from a former top Cuomo aide, Steven Cohen, that is famous in New York political circles.

"We operate at two speeds here: Get along and kill," Cohen said.

The strategist described the scandal over the commission as a result of this unique intensity and Cuomo's penchant for micromanagement. 

"As one high-ranking Cuomo person put it, they operate on two speeds: get along and kill. But they forgot about the 'get-along' part," the strategist said. "They are reeling now from a series of unforced errors on their part."

One aide in the state legislature similarly said lawmakers feel constant pressure from the "second floor" of the capitol building in Albany, New York, where the governor's office is located.

"There's this pathological need on the second floor for exact control — control at a level that's not really achievable, and not even healthy, over the long-term," the aide argued.

Another legislature staffer echoed the idea Cuomo hurts himself by attempting to exact "complete control" over the state legislature. 

"That’s his big weakness: He can’t give up control of anything. Whether it’s budget negotiations, whether it’s any piece of legislation, he has to have complete control," the second aide said, citing Cuomo's recent, last-minute effort to make the state's medical marijuana legislation more restrictive as one of many examples. "The guy wants to be in everything. The problem is when you want to be in everything, when sh** goes wrong, you’re in trouble: You’re left holding bag."

Cuomo is also known for making nighttime off-record calls to members of the media to quibble with unflattering stories about him. New York Times reporter Jeremy Peters described this habit as part of a "pattern of intimidation" in an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Thursday.

“As somebody who spent two-and-a-half years in Albany like I did, one of the aspects that you most clearly recognize is this pattern of intimidation from Cuomo’s office. I mean, here’s a guy who was famous for calling up reporters on the phone directly and just haranguing them," Peters said. 

There are also numerous examples of Cuomo's aggressiveness in his political operation.

Business Insider reported last week that the Cuomo campaign had volunteers stage protests against his underdog Republican rival in this year's gubernatorial race and his long-shot rival in the Democratic primary. This move baffled many political operatives as conventional wisdom holds that it's best for incumbents to ignore a relatively unknown opponent.

Cuomo's efforts to eliminate his political opposition often appear to come in the form of a barrage of statements from his supporters. When New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was trying to pressure Cuomo into accepting a city-based tax hike to fund a pre-K expansion, the Cuomo camp reportedly warned de Blasio's supporters to back off and moved to thwart the mayor on a separate educational issue. At the same time, reporters received a series of unsolicited statements from officials all across the state slamming the de Blasio tax proposal.

After Cuomo's primary opponent, Zephyr Teachout, hired a staffer who had been previously criticized for making anti-Israel statements on Facebook, Business Insider and other media outlets received a number of statements taking her to task for the hire.

Following five days of silence after the Times published its story on Cuomo's alleged interference with the anti-corruption commission, the governor emerged to make his first public statement denying any wrongdoing on Monday. At the same time, commission members issued a batch of statements insisting Cuomo had not meddled in its investigations.

"I reject the view that Governor Cuomo interfered with the Commission’s work, or that he told the Commission what to do. I do not think that any commissioner would have allowed such a thing," one commission member, Makau Mutua, a dean at SUNY Buffalo Law School, sent in an unsolicited statement to Business Insider on Monday.

Those statements — which contradict a number of exhaustive reports in the Times, Daily News, and other outlets — appear to have resulted in Cuomo's latest headache. According to the Times, at least some of the statements were "prompted" by Cuomo or his staff and one member refused to provide one and was upset by the request. In a sharply-worded letter that was reported by the Times Wednesday night, U.S. Attorney Bharara warned the commission working with Cuomo's office that distributing such supportive statements could constitute criminal witness tampering in the ongoing investigation.

 "We have reason to believe a number of commissioners recently have been contacted about the commission’s work, and some commissioners have been asked to issue public statements characterizing events and facts regarding the commission’s operation," the Bharara letter read. "To the extent anyone attempts to influence or tamper with a witness’s recollection of events relevant to our investigation, including the recollection of a commissioner or one of the commission’s employees, we request that you advise our office immediately, as we must consider whether such actions constitute obstruction of justice or tampering with witnesses that violate federal law."

Cuomo responded to Bharara's letter with a statement of his own wherein he admitted his office had discussions with commission members before they released what he described as "personal statements to correct the record."

"We are aware of the letter sent by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. The New York Times published a story last week that generated a wave of news reports across the state, some with numerous inaccuracies, and we wanted to correct them," said Cuomo. "We discussed these concerns with relevant parties. Several members of the Commission … issued personal statements to correct the record. These statements reiterated comments they had made over the past year. As I believe the U.S. Attorney has made it clear that ongoing public dialogue is not helpful to his investigation, we will have no additional comment on the matter."

In other words, a federal prosecutor viewed efforts by Cuomo's office to control the media narrative surrounding the commission scandal as a potential criminal act. Now, Cuomo is in hot water for allegedly micromanaging his response to a scandal based on his own micromanagement.

His office did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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An Amtrak Acela Express train left New York's Penn Station over the weekend without its passengers, The New York Daily News reports.

Eighty-five passengers waiting to board the Washington, D.C.-bound high-speed train were left stranded and bemused on the platform when it pulled out of the station without them. In an apparent communication mixup, passengers waiting to board the 3 p.m. train were told to go to one platform as Acela Express 2253 waited at another. In fact, several minutes passed before news of the train's departure even reached the then-stranded passengers. 

"They literally sent us to the wrong platform, and the conductor took off without any passengers," Damien Miano, a stranded passenger told The Daily News. "The right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing. It's just so bizarre." 

According to the paper, stranded passengers were taken to a waiting room at the station, given food, and eventually accommodated on later Amtrak service. 

In a statement to Business Insider, Amtrak apologized for the incident and said it was "investigating the circumstances" surrounding the mishap. 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's Hyperloop Makes The Bullet Train Look Like A Steam Locomotive

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New York City is full of great food, beautiful sights, and endless things to do.

But it's also a place of inflated prices, tiny apartments, and a less-than-perfect public transportation system.

Take our word for it: Moving here is equal parts amazing and terrifying. So for anyone courageous (or foolish) enough to think about packing up and heading to the Big Apple, we surveyed our editors and readers about what they wish they'd known before moving to New York.

Here's what you should know:

1. "That halal food would be like an addiction. It's like crack. It only takes once."—Alexandra Cardinale

2. "I wish I knew trying to get an apartment through Craigslist was like The Hunger Games."—Matt Johnston

3. "Walk everywhere you possibly can. Your wallet and your waistline will thank you over time."—Julia La Roche

4. "I wish I knew that Chase ATMs are virtually everywhere in Manhattan. Including in Duane Reade! If you have a regional checking account, open a Chase one as well so you're never caught without an ATM."—Libby Kane

5. "Your momma told you to look both ways when you cross the street for a reason. Watch out!"—Hunter Walker 

6. "It seems obvious now, but there is no cell service underground. Look up directions before you get on the train."—Emmie Martin

7. "Don't waste time comparing yourself to the version of NYC life you assumed you'd be living and just figure out a version that makes sense for you."—Caroline Moss

8. "Anyone who moves here and isn't rich has to have a high tolerance for tiny spaces, weird apartment layouts, and barely functional kitchens."—Pamela Engel

9. "In a nutshell: That asking for directions really isn't scary, and people are happy to help!" —Kim Renfro

10. "Never commit to an apartment without physically seeing it first if you can help it; finding an apartment is harder than finding a job." —Alyson Shontell

11. "Trains sort of don't work on the weekends."—Hunter Walker 

12. "When renting in a walkup it is a HUGE advantage to rent on the top floor even if the stairs are a pain. More light, fewer neighbors, more quiet."—Jim Edwards

13. "It rains in New York more often than I thought it would. You can never have too many umbrellas."—Hayley Hudson

14. "How to buy an apartment: Find a place near a good pharmacy, grocery, and laundromat; check for broker's fees; see how far it is from public transportation. Once you move in, develop a good relationship with the super."—Richard Feloni

15. "Have a basic idea of where you're trying to go before getting in a cab, so you can correct them if they go the round-about way."—Jenna Goudreau

16. "Indian food is delicious."—Sam Ro

17. "I wish I knew that even if you're lucky enough to find an 'affordable' rental that you like, give it a year or two — it will probably be a lot less affordable."—Kevin Kaplan

18. "Hiking trails and other outdoor adventures are easy to find — even without a car. You can take subways and buses to reach beaches, forests, lakes, and neighborhoods that feel like fishing villages. Metro North will take you even farther." —Lauren Friedman

19. "I wish I knew just how badly the subways can break down. I've been late for so many things because the trains and signals act up."—Richard J. Anderson

20. "The empty subway car is empty for a reason." (One example: A homeless person might have used it as a bathroom.) —John McDermott 

21. "How to pronounce 'Houston.'" (It's HOUSE-ton, not HEWS-ton.) —Heidi Grant Halvorson

22. "That living in NYC is like being in an abusive relationship with the coolest guy in the world."—Arikia Millikan

23. "There are a million people (and more) here who are smarter than you."—Chloe Tseung

SEE ALSO: 30 Photos That Will Make You Grateful For Your Commute

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The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) officially endorsed outsider New York gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout on Tuesday in her Democratic primary battle against incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo. PCCC is the first national fundraising organization to publicly back Teachout. 

The group's co-founder Stephanie Taylor sent an email to her membership Tuesday that referenced a growing scandal over Gov. Cuomo's alleged interference with an anti-corruption commission. Taylor also characterized Cuomo as a "corporate Democrat serving big-money donors."

"New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, one of the worst corporate Democrats in America, is caught up in an ethics scandal -- and now, a cover-up," Taylor wrote. 

The email memo referred to Zephyr Teachout as "one of the most wonderful progressive thinkers, organizers, and advocates in America."

Even with Cuomo's recent troubles, Teachout has a slim chance of unseating the governor. A new Marist Poll released Tuesday showed Cuomo's favorability rating has dropped five points in the wake of the anti-corruption commission flap. However, the poll still showed Cuomo with a 70% approval rating from the Democratic Party. The poll also showed only 23% of voters said the scandal would be a major factor in deciding their vote. It also concluded "primary challenger Zephyr Teachout is not known to most voters." 

SEE ALSO: 'KILL' SPEED: How Andrew Cuomo's 'Need' For Total Control Sparked A Scandal

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New York City is an extremely cosmopolitan place, and walking around the city, one often hears a plethora of languages being spoken.

The American Community Survey is a massive annual effort by the Census Bureau to measure various aspects of American life. Among many other things, respondents are asked if they speak a language other than English at home, and if so, what language is spoken. Using this data, as explained in more detail at the bottom of this post, Business Insider was able to map out New York City's most popular non-English languages.

First, here's the most commonly spoken non-English language in each NYC community district. Unsurprisingly, Spanish is pretty dominant. There are quite a few Chinese speakers in the southern Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, and in Flushing, Queens, and a few other language enclaves scattered around the city.

Because Spanish shows up in so many neighborhoods, we made an alternate version of the map where we found the most common non-English, non-Spanish language:

The maps were made using the ACS Public Use Microdata Sample, an edited version of the individual responses to the survey. With this data, we were able to calculate the most commonly spoken non-English language in each of New York City's Census-designated "Public Use Microdata Areas," which closely conform to the city government's community districts, for which the city provides very nice-looking map outlines.

SEE ALSO: Here's How All 50 State Economies Are Doing, Ranked From Slowest To Fastest

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