Heat-related deaths in New York City's borough of Manhattan may rise about 20 percent over the next decade, according to a new study.

Researchers at Columbia University in New York analyzed the relationship between daily temperatures and temperature-related deaths across all seasons between 1982 and 1999 in Manhattan, which comprises the most densely populated county in the United States. The findings were published online May 19 in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Using projections from 16 global climate models, the scientists found that the number of heat-related deaths in the city could increase by 20 percent by the 2020s, and in some worst-case scenarios, could rise by 90 percent or more by the 2080s, said study co-author Patrick Kinney, an environmental scientist at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. [Top 10 Surprising Results of Global Warming]

To make their estimates, Kinney and his colleagues used the 1980s as a baseline, during which about 370 Manhattan residents died yearly from overheating. With this figure as a reference, a 20 percent increase could mean 74 additional yearly heat-related fatalities in Manhattan by the 2020s.

"What we found was that there could be some benefits, in terms of reduced fatalities in the wintertime because of warmer temperatures, but our analysis suggests that those benefits are outweighed by extra fatalities that will occur in the hotter times of the year," Kinney told LiveScience.

Mercury rising

Daily readings in Manhattan's Central Park demonstrate that average monthly temperatures have increased 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) between 1901 and 2000. Last year was the warmest year on record in Manhattan, and projections predict rising temperatures over the next six decades, the researchers said.

In 2011, 206 people died due to extreme heat in the United States.

"The warming that's anticipated from climate change is happening throughout the year, so the months that are already hot — like June, July and August — are going to get hotter, but months that are more moderate, like May and September, may become uncomfortably hot or fatally hot," Kinney explained.  

In their study, Kinney and his colleagues applied climate models to two scenarios: one that assumed rapid global population growth with limited efforts to control emissions, and another that assumed slower population growth combined with technological advances to decrease emissions by the year 2040.

The researchers found that both projections pointed to increases in temperature-related fatalities.

"It was a little surprising that no matter which climate model we used, and which scenario of greenhouse gases we used, they all consistently showed this effect of increasing fatality risk in the future," Kinney said.

More of the same

And Manhattan is not alone, Kinney added. The trend toward more fatalities is also expected for other cities, particularly in the northern United States.

"Climate models of future temperatures do vary a bit from place to place, but generally the story is pretty much the same," Kinney said.

The effects are not limited to cities, but heat waves are typically more severely felt in densely populated areas. This is because cities tend to concentrate heat, with buildings and pavement surfaces soaking up heat during the day and releasing it at night, the researchers said.

"This serves as a reminder that heat events are one of the greatest hazards faced by urban populations around the globe," study co-author Radley Horton, a climate scientist at Columbia University, said in a statement.

The way of the future

The researchers acknowledge uncertainties in their projections, including that heat's effects could be made better or worse with changing demographics, and how fatalities may be prevented with better infrastructure or public policies.

Still, the findings suggest that cities and governments need to do more to address the potential dangers posed by heat waves, said Richard Keller, an associate professor of medical history and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was not involved with the study.

"We have needed to rethink the dangers of heat for years," Keller told LiveScience. "The Chicago heat wave of 1995, and especially the European heat wave of 2003 both caused catastrophic excess mortality."

Major federal programs provide heating assistance in the winter, but there is no concomitant program for cooling assistance in the summer, Keller said.

Kinney said that to combat the effects of deadly heat waves, cities can open community cooling centers, plant trees or construct "green" roofs.

The new findings demonstrate the importance of developing strategies to adapt to future higher temperatures.

"Heat is a major and often underestimated killer," Keller said. "While we evacuate in the face of hurricanes and floods, we tend to ignore extreme heat, with deadly consequences. The 2003 heat wave killed nearly 15,000 people in France alone — eight times the mortality associated with Hurricane Katrina."

Follow Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow LiveScience @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on LiveScience.com.

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The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) released new flood insurance maps for New York City and ProPublica has released a nifty interactive map showing how the zones will look if the city actually floods.

This new set of maps replaces those drawn up in 1983, and reveal that twice as many structures now sit in flood zones, according to ProPublica.The darker the color of the water, the deeper the flooding. Damage to buildings, from least to greatest, goes from light yellow to deep red.

Bloomberg is already at work on a $20 billion plan to protect the waterfront in lower Manhattan and another plan to protect one square mile of Staten Island's eastern waterfront, where 11 people died during the storm. But the subway systems really aren't ready for a hurricane yet— and they won't be for years.

The differences in the maps for this one square mile of Staten Island are shocking.

Here are what they thought were the flood zones in 2007:And here is what really happened when Sandy struck. Waves pounded this one square mile of land and submerged the entire area in more than 10 feet of water. The orange buildings represent structures that suffered major damage, and the ones in red were destroyed:So, FEMA has made a few changes to the new map:Coney Island, on the southern tip of Brooklyn, was also hit really hard. Here is the map from 2007:Here is what Sandy did:Virtually all of Coney Island was a high-velocity "V" zone, depicted by the dark blue color of the water in the map above.

The new flood zone map covers most, but not all of the area damaged by the storm:The 2007 maps were more accurate for the neighborhood of Red Hook on the western edge of Brooklyn, but Sandy still wrought more damage than experts predicted.

This is what the flood zones for Red Hook in Brooklyn looked like in 2007:On the right of the image you can see how far inland water actually flooded during Sandy: Read the Mayor's full plan for restoring the city and preparing for future disasters [PDF] >

Check out the interactive ProPublica maps>

SEE ALSO: What America's coastal cities will look like if the planet keeps warming What America Will Look Like Under 25 Feet Of Seawater

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An Egypt Air flight from Cairo to New York has landed in Scotland after BBC producer Nada Tawfik found a note in the plane's toilet with the words "I'll set this plane on fire" and a seat number, BBC reports.

The aircraft is carrying 326 passengers, who have been waiting on the plane for more than three hours at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, are in the process of being interviewed by police.

From BBC:

Ms Tawfik, who was travelling with her young daughter, said she found the note - written on a napkin with a pencil - inside the sink about three hours into the flight.

She immediately reported it to cabin crew who then locked the toilet.

"It almost looked like a child's handwriting or someone who has very sloppy handwriting, but it was very alarming especially these days when everyone is so concerned about safety on flights," she said.

We'll update if we learn any more relevant information.

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Deloitte has agreed to a one-year suspension from consulting work at New York regulated financial services firms and to pay $10 million to the state, Governor Andrew Cuomo's office said in a release. [via Dealbook]

The settlement has to do with the auditor's past consulting work for U.K. investment bank Standard Chartered, which was slapped with money laundering allegations last summer.

Back in August 2012, New York's Department of Financial Services released explosive allegations against Standard Chartered accusing it of facilitating billions of dollars in transactions for Iran, which is currently in under U.S. sanctions. 

According to the New York regulator's complaint, Standard Chartered allegedly asked the U.K.-headquartered auditor to water down its reports. 

From the NY DFS complaint: 

45. Having improperly gleaned insights into the regulators’ concerns and strategies for investigating U-Turn-related misconduct, SCB asked D&T to delete from its draft “independent” report any reference to certain types of payments that could ultimately reveal SCB’s Iranian U-Turn practices. In an email discussing D&T’s draft, a D&T partner admitted that “we agreed” to SCB’s request because “this is too much and too politically sensitive for both SCB and Deloitte. That is why I drafted the watered-down version.” — Page 19

DFS intends to use the reforms Deloitte has agreed to today as a model that will govern all independent consulting firms that seek to be retained or approved by DFS. These reforms could also potentially serve as a template for other government agencies that retain independent consultants in regulatory work.

“The State’s agreement with Deloitte will serve as a new model for reforming the financial services consulting industry in New York as well as across the country,” Governor Cuomo said. “When tasked by government agencies to undertake regulatory work at financial institutions, it is critical for these consultants to remain autonomous and avoid conflicts of interest. Our homeowners, investors and economy are protected when independent consultants are truly ‘independent.”

Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, said, “At times, the consulting industry has been infected by an 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' culture and a stunning lack of independence. Today, we are taking an important step in helping ensure that consultants are independent voices – rather than beholden to the large institutions that pay their fees. Our aggressive work investigating and reforming the consulting industry is far from over and will continue in the days, weeks, and months ahead.”

DFS’s Investigation into Deloitte's Work at Standard Chartered

In 2004, Standard Chartered executed a joint written agreement with the New York State Banking Department (“the Department” – a DFS predecessor agency) and Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”), which identified several compliance and risk management deficiencies in the anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act controls at Standard Chartered's New York branch. The agreement required Standard Chartered to retain a qualified independent consulting firm to review anti-money laundering issues at the bank. Standard Chartered engaged Deloitte to conduct that review.

DFS’s investigation into Deloitte’s conduct during its consultant work at Standard Chartered found that the company:

• Did not demonstrate the necessary autonomy required of consultants performing regulatory work. Based primarily on Standard Chartered's objection, Deloitte removed a recommendation aimed at rooting out money laundering from its written final report on the matter to the Department. The recommendation discussed how wire messages or “cover payments” on transactions could be manipulated by banks to evade money laundering controls on U.S. dollar clearing activities.
• Violated New York Banking Law § 36.10 by disclosing confidential information of other Deloitte clients to Standard Chartered. A senior Deloitte employee sent emails to Standard Chartered employees containing two reports on anti-money laundering issues at other Deloitte client banks. Both reports contained confidential supervisory information, which Deloitte FAS was legally barred by New York Banking Law § 36.10 from disclosing to third parties.

Deloitte Agreement

To resolve the misconduct, lack of autonomy, and violations of law at Deloitte uncovered during DFS's investigation, Deloitte has agreed to:

• voluntary, one year suspension from conducting consulting work at firms regulated by DFS;
• Make a $10 million payment to the State of New York;
• Establish and implement a new set of safeguards to address conflicts of interest in the consulting industry. DFS intends to use these standards as a new model that will govern independent consulting firms that seek to be retained or approved by DFS. When a financial institution engages an independent consultant pursuant to an agreement or order by DFS, the following code of conduct will apply:
  
  • Disclosure of Past Work that Could Represent Potential Conflicts of Interest. The financial institution and the consultant will disclose to DFS all prior work by the consultant for the financial institution in the previous three years.
  • Declaration of Independence Provision. The engagement letter between the consultant and the financial institution shall require that the consultant's ultimate conclusions and judgments during its work will be based upon the exercise of its own independent judgment – rather than that of the financial institution.
  • Anti-tampering Provisions. The consultant's final report shall contain a listing of all of the personnel from the financial institution who substantively reviewed or commented on drafts of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations to be included in the final report. The consultant will also bring any disagreement over a material matter between itself and the financial institution to DFS's attention.
  • Records of Recommendations Financial Institutions Failed to Implement ('Anti-Sweeping-Under-the-Rug' Provision). The consultant and financial institution shall maintain records of recommendations to the financial institution that the financial institution did not adopt, and provide such records to DFS.
  • Monitoring the Monitor, Independent Lines of Communication. DFS will meet regularly – at least monthly – with the independent consultant. The financial institution will consent that contacts between the Consultant and DFS may occur outside of the presence of the financial institution.
  • Protecting Confidential Information. The consultant shall have in place policies and procedures designed specifically to maintain the confidentiality of bank supervisory material.

Here's a statement from Deloitte sent to Business Insider: 

As a leading professional services firm, Deloitte has an important responsibility to continually elevate the standards that govern our work and that of our profession.

As such, Deloitte FAS has voluntarily entered into an agreement with the New York Department of Financial Services that resolves DFS’ inquiry into Deloitte FAS’ role in the 2004-2005 Standard Chartered Bank matter. 

We are pleased that, as the agreement states, a thorough investigation by DFS found no evidence that Deloitte FAS knew of, or aided, abetted or concealed any alleged violation of law by SCB.

Deloitte FAS looks forward to working constructively with DFS to establish best practices and procedures that are ultimately intended to become the industry standard for all independent consulting engagements under DFS’ supervision.

It is important to note that, as the agreement also states: “This is not intended to affect engagements performed by any Deloitte entity other than Deloitte FAS.  Neither the fact of this agreement nor any of its terms is intended to be, or should be construed as, a reflection of any of the other practices of Deloitte-affiliated entities.”

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A man was stabbed in the chest after a fight outside the Disney Store in Times Square this afternoon, DNA Info reports, in a surprise moment of violence in one of New York's busiest tourist districts.

The New York Post reports that the two men involved were crossing 45th street when they began loudly arguing. The victim hit the other man with a folding chair before he was stabbed in the chest.

A bystander reportedly broke up the fight and stemmed the flow of blood with an "I heart NY" t-shirt.

The 43-year-old victim was taken to hospital and is expected to survive, while the attacker fled the scene. It is believed the pair knew each other.

This picture shows the police activity after the crime:

There has been a stabbing in Times Square a block over from our HQ ... pic.twitter.com/81ztZCrHzs

— Dan Orlando (@DanOrlandoNYBJ) June 18, 2013

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As you've no doubt heard, New York's real estate market is sizzling, with buyers feeling the heat as low inventory constrains options and bidding wars are commonplace.

Here's how experts predict the market will play out this summer--and how you can prepare as a buyer or seller.

The summer 2013 market outlook

Inventory was near a 12-year low in the first quarter of 2013, says Jonathan Miller, president of appraisal firm Miller Samuel. And it's likely to stay that way.

Miller expects an active summer market with strong activity.

"I don't think we're going to get a lot of relief from any of the new development hitting the market," says Miller. New developments are targeted towards the "upper echelon" --which often means high net worth or foreign buyers who pay in all cash.

"It seems like it's pre-2008 all over again, where you've got 100 people coming to open houses and sometimes 10 or more offers coming in over the asking price," says real estate attorney Adam Stone of Regosin, Edwards, Stone & Feder. "From what I hear, it's very frustrating for buyers."

What if you're looking to sell?

Because demand is outpacing supply, asking prices are often increasing. In particular, "All of downtown is busy," says real estate agent Dan Bamberger of Citi Habitats.

Most sellers can expect strong demand, and usually don't need to be concerned about whether their home will sell if priced appropriately.

"The answer is going to be almost always yes, unless there's something strange about your property," says Stone.

Bamberger encourages sellers to be "flexible" when it comes to holding open houses and to have as many as possible to accommodate summer and weekend vacation schedules. That said, though traditionally weekend open houses can be slower than weekday open houses during the summer, he expects solid traffic both on weekends and weekdays this year because of high demand. 

Perhaps the biggest question for sellers is whether they can get a good deal for their next apartment and ultimately come out ahead after selling for a profit.

Some of Stone's clients have decided to take temporary rentals.

"They've sold, and they're done, they've got their money. And they'll figure out what they can buy afterwards," he says. Being able to offer full cash bids in the future also gives them a big advantage over buyers who need financing.

An important turning point--which may come within the next few months--will be if prices begin leveling off, which could encourage more sellers decide to list their units and help increase supply.

"I expect at some point in time that there will be some new psychology change: We better sell now or prices will go down," says Bamberger.

Generally speaking, sellers should look for an all-cash buyer or a buyer willing to waive mortgage the mortgage contingency in order to avoid any potential financing wrinkles.

If you accept an offer from a buyer who needs financing, bear in mind that in a rising market like this one--and especially in a bidding war situation--there's a bigger possibility that your apartment will appraise too low. So if you do agree to a mortgage contingency, consider a reduced contingency clause.

"You and your buyer agree that if the appraisal comes in too low for the amount of the loan, the buyer will make up the difference in cash and accept a lower loan amount from the lender," says Stone, the attorney.  "For instance, instead of the bank lending 80% of the sales price, it will lend 80% of the appraised value. If you have this limited appraisal contingency and the appraisal comes in $50,000 lower than the sales price, the buyer has to put in $10,000 more cash instead of having the right to cancel the contract."

How to prepare as a buyer

Besides a willingness to go above list price in many cases, buyers who are on the hunt this summer need to have strong financial credentials, says Miller: "It's all about your ability to close."

While cash offers are still expected to hold sway this summer, if you need financing, get yourself prequalified first--a quick process that can usually be completed online. You'll submit a standard uniform residential loan qualification form and details like income, assets and a credit report, says Robbie Gendels, a senior loan officer of National Cooperative Bank in Manhattan. 

Buyers who can put up a 20 percent downpayment and have a credit score of at least 680 will have the best chance of getting a mortgage, says Gendels, noting that employees with regular salaries tend to have an advantage over those who are self-employed.

To compete against all-cash offers, you may need to waive your mortgage contingency (or agree to a reduced contingency as described above), as well as abandon hope of negotiating a funding contingency, which would protect you if the bank decides not to lend for reasons having nothing to do with you personally. The risk of the latter can be mitgated by asking your lender to pre-approve the building too, says Gendels of National Cooperative Bank.

Also important during the summer months: Get a lawyer who is "here, available and can move quickly," says Stone.

And if you are a buyer battling it out in a bidding war...

Thanks to the strong sellers' market, more and more buyers may find themselves embroiled in bidding wars. Here are some tips for coming out on top:

• Make an all cash offer if you can. If you can’t, and you feel comfortable that you’ll be approved for a mortgage, waive any financing contingencies. (As noted above, to get comfortable that the building itself will be approved by your lender, ask your lender to pre-approve the building before you sign the contract.)
• Don't be afraid to show interest. Sellers will often think favorably about someone who's passionate about their apartment. Playing it too cool may be underwhelming for a seller.
• Stay in touch with the listings broker to find out things like how long it'll take the seller to accept an offer, how many rounds of bidding there will be and whether anyone's offered all cash.
• Try to accommodate the seller. If they want to close quickly, let them. Or do they want to stay in the apartment longer? Sure.
• Put a clear deadline on your offer.The seller may be more compelled to take your offer, and at least you'll know the status sooner rather than later.
• Apply a personal touch. Some sellers are swayed by a personal letter explaining their situation. Obviously this is something that'll affect long-time owners and not developers.

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Maybe it's not your first time to New York City. Maybe you're sick of the sweaty scene at Central Park. Maybe heading off to the end of the subway line in another borough sounds cool. Whatever the reason, you've just got to check out these six semi-secret city parks in the Big Apple.

Note that these six are not just some we're listing off because we've been once or twice; all of them we frequent on the regular, after having had our fill of Bryant Park, Central Park, Battery Park and the other usual suspects. We're not even sure it's wise to spread the word since there's the chance you could end up sitting on our favorite bench, but that's a chance we'll happily take if it means you'll stray from the beaten tourist path every so often.

Peter Detmold Park, Manhattan

Pros: Super secluded (you have to zoom in quite far on Google Maps to find it, and know what to look for), right along the East River with water views, fenced-in dog run, cool secretive route to reach it (walk down 51st street to the end, then down some stone stairs).

Cons: No grass, occasional beggar, occasional PDA hotspot.

Who should go: Solo travelers in the company of a good book, friends wanting to play chess/checkers, anyone with a dog.

Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Manhattan

Pros: Enough grass to attempt lawn games, picnic-friendly, right along the Hudson River with water views, upscale grocery markets within a quick walk.

Cons: Out of the way if your focus is Midtown, or really anywhere that's not the Tribeca/Battery Park zone.

Who should go: Families, tourists looking to have a nap in the grass after visiting Battery Park or the 9/11 Memorial, tourists staying in downtown hotels (like the Ritz-Carlton).

Four Freedoms Park, Roosevelt Island

Pros: Super new and clean, in the middle of the East River with water views all around, grassy picnic lawn, never crowded. 

Cons: Could take a while to reach (via the Roosevelt Island tram + red bus, F train + red bus, or MTA bus from Queensboro Plaza), closes early at 5pm.

Who should go: anyone, everyone.

Manhattan regularly tops the list of most expensive places to live in the U.S. and it is easy to see why. Goods and services here can cost two to three times more than the national average and seem to have a way of ballooning year after year.

Manhattan scores a whopping 225.4 on a cost of living index, much higher than the national average which balances out at 100, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research.

There is an interesting exception to this trend when it comes to things like manicures and yoga, which are actually cheaper in Manhattan thanks to a competitive market.For most things, however, Big Apple prices are out off the charts.

We used Bankrate.com's cost of living calculator to see just how much more expensive Manhattan really is.

Manhattan homes cost $1,018,864.67 more than the national average.

Manhattan: $1,303,420.67

National average: $284, 556

Source: Bankrate.com / CostofLiving.org

Manhattan rent costs $3,032.10 more than the national average.

Manhattan: $3,902.10

National average: $870

Source: Bankrate.com / CostofLiving.org

Energy bills are $66.58 higher in Manhattan than the national average.

Manhattan: $231.44

National average: $164.86

Source: Bankrate.com / CostofLiving.org

Who says New York's new Citi Bikes are just for commuting? One New Yorker has found another use for them. 

Comedian Fabrizio Goldstein, also known as "The Fat Jew," hopped the blue bike while still parked in its station and proceeded to lead a SoulCycle class to a group of homeless individuals near Tompkins Square Park in the East Village yesterday. The class was videotaped and posted on The Crosby Press.

SoulCycle, an indoor spin cycling class with an arm and core component, has become one of the hottest new fitness trends, but it's not easy on the wallet: A single class in New York costs $32.

"Indoor cycling, it's just too expensive," Goldstein told the videographer. "It's not available to everybody. I want the homeless people of New York to have the opportunity to have sick bodies."

Whether the classes are a true public service or a comedic stunt, the students seemed to be enjoying it. One reported that his legs felt better afterward as the class erupted in a round of applause.

"I'm just a New Yorker helping New Yorkers get beautiful definition," Goldstein said.

Watch the whole video here:

YouTube via thecrosbypress

SEE ALSO: New York's Bike Share Is Brilliant, And Every Complaint About It Is Bogus

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After years of being forced to socialize with the common folk, New York yuppies finally have the members-only club they always dreamed of.

IvyConnect hosts posh events and provides members with romantic and professional opportunities, acting as a kind of pseudo-sorority social chair for cocksure twentysomethings.

The club has 3,000 members with an estimated 2,000 on the waiting list, according to the New York Post.

From the Post:

“We’re very selective,” explains 31-year-old co-founder Philipp Triebel, who grew up in Germany and has degrees from the London School of Economics, Cambridge and Harvard.

“And we do turn down people to ensure that we’re building a community of like-minded people,” he says, adding that he can’t disclose the rejection rate.

Harvard's rejection rate is about 94% if that's any indication.

“We want well-rounded people," co-founder Beri Meric said, probably with a straight face.

IvyConnect applicants must submit a résumé, photo, a list of frequented cities, and personality traits. A five-person selection committee reviews their applications. As a testament to IvyConnect's spirit of inclusiveness, you need not be a graduate of an Ivy League school (so long as you meet the "criteria" of excellence).

“We had a big room [in the Mount Snow, Vermont ski lodge] where we could host everyone for après-ski drinks and snacks when we arrived,” says Triebel, who shares a Chelsea apartment with Meric.

“It felt like one big family trip.”

Nauseous yet? Great, because IvyConnect is coming to a city near you. With $2.6 million in individual investments, they plan to expand to DC, Boston, and Los Angeles.

Read the full report at the New York Post >

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I live in New York.

That means that for the past several years I have had to listen to everyone gush about the High Line.

What's the "High Line?"

The "High Line" is an old railroad track on the lower West Side that was recently converted into a park.

It's a bit strange to hear people gush about a park--especially a long, thin park.

First, some history. This is the High Line in 1936, with a train running through the Bell Technologies building.

The last train traveled on the High Line tracks in 1980, carrying frozen turkeys. After that, nature took over.

Over the years, property owners lobbied to have the High Line torn down. But in 1999, a group of citizens began raising money to restore it. Now the first two sections, from Gansevoort Street to 30th Street, are done.

Foursquare, Mashable, and 10gen.

What do a major social network, happening news website, and a rising database company have in common?  They are all ‘Made in New York.’

Just a couple of days ago, Techcrunch announced that famous incubator AngelPad was opening up a large office in New York City.  The incubator, which was previously fully based in Silicon Valley and has raised $100 million for its startups, now views New York as its new hub for East Coast investments.

That news highlights a major new trend developing since 2007 but accelerating rapidly in the past year: the Big Apple’s rise as the new hub for startup creation and investment.

New York City is now home to over 1,000 startups. Hundreds of them are venture-backed, and hundreds more are backed by angel funding from the New York Angels and other leading investing groups.

Ten years ago, those types of numbers would only have been used to characterize Silicon Valley.  Seattle, New York, and Boston were mere outposts of the tech world; far flung tentacles on a body centered firmly in California. But now that has changed and New York is the center of the East Coast’s rapidly rising startup world.

The question is, are these numbers, and the rapid growth of the Big Apple’s startup community, sustainable?  Yes: because of New York’s confluence of financial resources, committed individuals, and landmark public private partnerships, the city’s startup community should continue to grow in the next decade.

First, the financial resources. The tri-state is the wealthiest region of the United States. The annual GDP of New York City alone exceeds $1 trillion, and Manhattan has the nation’s highest concentration of high net worth individuals in any large city.  Before 2007, these resources were highly concentrated in finance but, after the landmark recession, the city began to pour resources into creating a new, sustainable industry for the city to rest its laurels on: tech.

This mixture of new public and private resources has pushed tech’s rise steadily. Perhaps the greatest example is the new Cornell-Technion partnership, which will build a new startup-themed campus on Roosevelt Island with donated city land, over $1 billion in Cornell University money, Israeli engineering expertise, and the mentorship and support of much of the New York startup community.

Also at the root of the tri-state’s startup growth is its focus on smaller, expansion-oriented, consumer-facing companies that can leverage the tri-state’s vast population of individual private investors and take advantage of its strong mix of media and advertising. My own company, Pervasive Group Inc., leveraged relationships with the New York Angels, the group I invest with, the Tech Launch accelerator our company participated in, and investors across the tri-state to raise its angel round and fund MMGuardian, a parental control app for Android that is aptly suited to take advantage of the Big Apple’s exciting media environment.

Pervasive Group is just one example; dozens of young startups, including early-stage companies SureDone and Nimbusbase, have taken advantage of the city’s unique characteristics to thrive in the Big Apple. SureDone, which is an advanced e-commerce solution for merchants, works in one of New York’s most famous incubators, General Assembly, and recently raised its seed round from the New York Angels. The company, which was born and raised in New York and is now expanding rapidly here, has grown exclusively through the Big Apple’s resources and is an example of how New York can now nurture seed companies without any involvement from Silicon Valley.

New York was once known as the financial capital of the world. Money moved here – and still does. But now the Big Apple can add something more – it can be the city that incubates companies, not just the one that finances them.

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With the opening of the space shuttle Atlantis' permanent exhibit in Florida on Saturday (June 29), the last of NASA's retired space planes will be officially on display for the public to enjoy, but you'll have to go state-hopping to see all four of the iconic spacecraft.

From Los Angeles to New York, the space shuttles have made their homes around the country. If you're looking for a good summer vacation destination, try visiting one (or all)of the orbiters that have been put out to pasture.

The space shuttles on public display include NASA's three space-flown orbiters — Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour — as well as the Enterprise, a prototype shuttle used for landing glide tests but never flew in space. [8 Surprising Space Shuttle Facts]

Here's where to find NASA's space shuttles this summer and what you need to know when you visit them:

Atlantis: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, NASA, Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Cost of admission: A viewing of the shuttle is included in the price of admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: $50 for adults, $40 for children (ages 3-11).

Why to visit: The space shuttle Atlantis was the last to fly in space before the fleet was retired in 2011 and the final orbiter to be put on public display. Atlantis flew 33 missions, including secret missions for the U.S. military, flights to space stations and missions to launch several spacecraft into orbit.

Atlantis was named after a ship that sailed for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts between 1930 and 1966. That vessel was the first seafaring ship to image the seafloor using electronic sounding technology.

Enterprise: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York City, NY

Cost of admission: Due to damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy, the Enterprise pavilion at the museum is currently closed, but scheduled to reopen on July 10.

Why to visit: Enterprise was the first space shuttle, but never actually flew in space. Enterprise was built without a heat shield or engines, making it incapable of spaceflight. It was used for drop tests and glide tests, giving astronauts a sense of what to expect during trips to and from space.

To the glee of "Star Trek" fans everywhere, Enterprise was named after the venerable starship commanded by Captain Kirk in the original series. It was originally called Constitution, but after receiving tens of thousands of letters from people around the country, then-president Gerald Ford decided to rename the orbiter.

Discovery: National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Va.

Cost of admission: Free

Why to visit: The space shuttle Discovery launched for the first time in 1984. Although it was only the third shuttle to fly to space, it flew the most missions, 39 in total. Discovery was chosen as the "Return to Flight" orbiter after two space shuttle tragedies; once in 1988 after the Challenger explosion and then again in 2005 after the Columbia disaster.

Discovery is responsible for launching the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit and was used to help build the International Space Station.

This space shuttle is part of a long, historical tradition of naming ships "Discovery," NASA officials have said. Henry Hudson's Hudson Bay exploring vessel was named Discovery, as was James Cook's in the 1770s.

Endeavour: California Science Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Cost of admission: Tickets reserving a timed slot are free, but a $2 service charge is applied to all tickets; $3 for telephone sales.

Why to visit: The only space shuttle displayed on the West Coast, Endeavour was built as a replacement shuttle after Challenger was lost just after liftoff in 1986. The youngest orbiter eventually flew to space 25 times, making multiple trips to the International Space Station and one flight to Mir, the Russian orbiting laboratory.

Endeavour got its name through a competition. A group of 6,000 schools in the United States competed to name the shuttle. NASA asked that the spacecraft be named after an "exploratory research sea vessel," and nearly one-third of the schools suggested Endeavour, the ship James Cook sailed to Tahiti while observing the transit of Venus from 1769 to 1771.

Follow Miriam Kramer onTwitter and Google+. Follow us onTwitter, Facebook andGoogle+. Original article onSPACE.com.

• Photos: NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis on Display at KSC
• Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit Gets You Up Close With Orbiter | Video
• Where to See America's Greatest Spaceships (Infographic)

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A wealthy Manhattan couple is suing an Upper West Side grade school for allegedly conspiring to rig a school fundraising auction, according to The New York Post.

The lawsuit claims parent and socialite Michelle Heinemann helped her son and his classmates at the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine create a painting with paper hands for a school auction. 

The Heinemanns did not attend the auction, but told organizers that they would place the winning bid on the project, for up to $3,000, according to the lawsuit, the Post reported.

When the auction ended, though, the winning bid for the painting was $50,000 — allegedly driven up by a first grade teacher, according to the Post.

Now, the couple has pulled their son out of school and is asking for $415,000 plus damages to compensate for tuition costs and their 5-year-old son's chauffeur who drove him to the elite school each morning, the Post reported.

The Heinemanns' lawsuit also reportedly says that their son, Hudson Cornelius, was never happy at his posh kindergarten. According to the lawsuit, he was "under-appreciated," and once "relegated to the role of 'door-holder' and ordered to hold the door for all of the other students."

DON'T MISS: This Quiz Will Make You Realize How Bonkers The Contemporary Art Market Is

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Almost seven months to the day after Superstorm Sandy submerged South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan, The Village Voice held its free 4 Knots Festival at the port this weekend. 

The music festival was a welcome sign in the area, which was hit hard by the storm. The piers and port were packed as thousands of people showed up for the festivities. 

It's been a slow road to recovery, festival organizer Stephen Dima told Business Insider.

"On the night of the storm, the Seaport was under nearly seven feet of water — none of us have ever seen that," said Dima, who has been organizing events at the seaport for a decade. "The infrastructure in the area was destroyed. Everything that was on the ground had to be removed, gutted and/or rebuilt."

The festival contained a healthy mix of music, from the hip-hop stylings of Fat Tony to the harsher tones of White Lung. But the headliner and main draw was Kurt Vile and the Violators.

Vile, a former forklift operator at the Philadelphia Brewing Company who recently released his latest album "Wakin On A Summer Daze" to major critical acclaim, is a fast-rising star. He and his band the Violators rocked the last set and made the day truly worthwhile. 

On our way down to the waterfront we spotted this amazing cab.

There were a lot of people, but also plenty of volunteers on crowd control.

The bike check was packed.

The New York Post published a heartbreaking story yesterday of a 5-year-old tyke pulled from his $39,000 a year pre-school because of a dispute over a fundraising auction. 

His family is suing the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine for rigging his mother’s alleged $50,000 bid on a painting done by tiny children.

This young heir will now be forced to attend a $20,000 a year school and who knows what that will mean for his future: Imperfect mastery of Latin? AP test failures? College at a state school?!

A few years back, I tallied how much an education could cost parents if they sent their children to the priciest private schools in Manhattan; less than three years later it is woefully out of date as the cost of education continues to soar. So let’s see what the new total is, shall we?

RELATED: 9 MUST HAVE STATUS SYMBOLS THAT SAY 'I'M RICH'

PRESCHOOL:This covers ages 2-4 (usually starting at two and a half as children need to be out of diapers when they start) but let’s say your child spends three years there. To send your children to the prestigious and much sought-after school at the 92nd Street Y, it will cost you $28,644 a year for a 9 am - 2 pm school day, Monday through Friday. That will run you just a few dollars shy of $86,000 total...for a five hour school day.

LOWER SCHOOL:Now that your child has mastered the art of finger painting and has stopped pulling that other kid’s hair, she’s ready for Kindergarten-5th known as “lower school” at the pricy Riverdale Country School. This will run you $40,750/year plus a $1,000 registration fee for new students which amounts to $245,000 total. If they don’t know more about computers than you by the time this ends, you’ve been ripped off.

UPPER SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL:If your children continue at Riverdale you are looking at a bump to $42,000/year--more than most colleges. For this 6th-12th grade education the bill will run you $294,000 total but at least they’ll know Latin.

COLLEGE:If your teen graduates high school and decides she wants to stay in the New York area, she can attend Sarah Lawrence--the most expensive college in the country. This will run you at least $61,000 a year(likely more depending on your meal plan). Assuming your son or daughter learned enough at Riverdale to graduate college in four years, this means a $244,000 price tag. This does include room and board, but doesn’t include books and other incidentals. A steal at half the price! 

LAW SCHOOL: To make up for the fact that you’ve invested hundreds of thousands in your child’s education, she darn well better choose a profession that will earn some of it back, so law school’s a good bet. Columbia University’s prestigious three-year program runs $82,795 a year which means you’ll drop $248,000 on (hopefully) your final tuition checks.

The grand total: $1,117,000

It’s possible that if you sent your kids to public school and invested that million dollars in a medium risk fund, they’d be set for life…unless they want to send their kids to New York City private schools.  But they probably wouldn’t know Latin.

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Parts of Coney Island's amusement park are closed today after the 275-foot-tall AstroTower began swaying unusually, CBS New York reports.

The park was closed at 5pm Tuesday and remained closed even after structural assessments that said the unused observation tower was safe. It is not clear when attractions such as the Luna Park, the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel will reopen, but tomorrow's annual hot dog eating contest at Nathan's will not be affected.

Here's what the ominously swaying tower looks like, from a Vine by WNBC-TV's Tracie Strahan:

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BROOKLYN — A man was killed after being electrocuted Monday morning while walking on the tracks near the Broadway G train stop, cops said.

Another man was hurt.

Matthew Zeno, 30,  and another man were walking north on the southbound side of the subway, near Union Avenue, when Zeno paused to urinate and inadvertently contacted the third rail, according to the FDNY and NYPD. 

The second man, who was not named by police, tried to help Zeno, but sustained an electric shock as well, police said.

Both were rushed to Woodhull Hospital, where Zeno died of cardiac arrest, officials said.

The second man was listed in serious but stable condition, an FDNY spokeswoman said.

Regular train service had resumed for the morning rush-hour commute, according to the MTA's website.

SEE ALSO: NYC Has Some Big Ideas To Save Its Subways From The Next Superstorm

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The New York Times editorial board ripped former Gov. Eliot Spitzer's planned political comeback as Comptroller of New York City, writing that voters should do their best to "tune out the noise" of what the board sees as a personal attention grab. 

The board called Spitzer and former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who is running for mayor, as the "two charter members of the Kardashian Party," lamenting the non-serious choices New Yorkers might have when they go to the polls this November. 

From the editorial:

New Yorkers, like all citizens, deserve serious and thoughtful political campaigns, but between Anthony Weiner, the former sexting congressman, and Client 9 (the name given to Mr. Spitzer in the federal investigation of the escort service he used) and the self-described madam who ran that escort service and now claims she’s going to run against her former customer, the stage is set for a summer of farce.

Mr. Spitzer, like Mr. Weiner, is a political animal who clearly finds it hard not to have an audience. That’s understandable, but did they have to bring us all along on their journeys of personal ambition? For these two charter members of the Kardashian Party, notoriety is looking like the quick, easy path to redemption. Witness the TV-and-tabloid free-for-all on Monday in Union Square, where Mr. Spitzer went to greet voters, collect petition signatures and get his face out there.

The board also noted its problems with Spitzer's failures as governor before he resigned amid a prostitution scandal. It referred to Spitzer as the "opposite" of a "competent politician," what with his aggressive management style and habit of frequent enemy-making.

SEE ALSO: The worst people in New York all hate Eliot Spitzer, and that's why you should like him

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Depending on where you shop, a fiver plus a handful of change can get you a lot on the Lower East Side.

The melting pot of cultures — Chinese, Jewish, Latino and more — has generated a wide variety of businesses, from bargain hair salons offering $5 haircuts to artisanal cafes featuring $5.25 iced mocha coffees.

With a range of price points, shops and restaurants in the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood aim to serve the newer hipster and young-professional crowd, along with longtime locals.

Basic Haircut — $5

Ting Ting Hair Salon at 302 Grand St. chops through about 50 customers each day, and a trim for short-haired adult customers costs only $5, according to licensed hairdresser of two years Yan Zatn.

"We are very straightforward here," said Zatn, who can get the job done in less than 10 minutes. 

Kids can get an even cheaper makeover at $4 per cut in the tiny salon, which has been open for 10 years.
And forget going to Drybar for a $40 wash and blowout — Zatn and her team of five licensed hairdressers will do it for about $8.

"We don't advertise," she said. "These are all people from the neighborhood."

25 Pork and Chive Dumplings — $5

Ten pork and chive dumplings go for just $2 at China North Dumpling, at 27 Essex St. between Hester and Grand streets, but a fiver will give you a meal for two, plus a few left over.

"We take less profit off each order so more people come," said Chen Jin Guo, 57, who opened the store eight years ago with his wife and offers 25 dumplings for $5. "We have a lot of returning customers."

His staff of five work long days to make the hundreds of dumplings, sesame pancakes and spring rolls that leave the store each day.

Gluten-Free Cupcake — $4.95

Babycakes NYC bakery, at 248 Broome St., is the saving grace for the discerning dieter and allergy-stricken customer.

"Our cupcakes are gluten free, soy free and vegan," wrote the bakery’s general manager, Amy Lachenauer, of the business that opened in 2005. "We use only natural ingredients, no artificial colors or flavorings, and make everything in our own ovens in the New York location."

Cupcakes come in a range of flavors such as vanilla, cookie crunch and chocolate mint.