New York City

The number of Jews living in New York City has dropped below 1 million for the first time in a century, a new study has found. But the Jewish population of Greater New York, defined as the five boroughs of the city plus three suburban counties in New York state -- Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk -- has remained stable at 1.4 million, according to the study by the UJA-Federation of New York. Similar studies have indicated that the Jewish population of Greater Los Angeles is about 600,000.

Reputed Gambino hit man Salvatore Reale today was banished from New York City, fined $10,000 and given five years probation for his conviction on racketeering and extortion charges. "The defendant deserves imprisonment, but the court is convinced that incarceration would be likely to result in his death either by his own hand or the hands of somebody else," U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein of Brooklyn said before sentencing. "He just knows too much to be allowed to live."

The subway token slipped toward retirement Saturday, its 50-year career as the currency of city life ended by technology and fiscal problems. Tokens were being rationed two to a customer, with sales scheduled to end a minute after midnight. "It's part of New York, just like Yankee Stadium is part of New York," Albert Morales said. "I grew up on tokens." For 44 years, until 1948, subway fare was a nickel. Then for five years, it was a dime.

Residents used to call it the "champagne of municipal water." The mineral-rich water that flowed unfiltered from reservoirs in Upstate New York won national taste tests and, at one point, even was bottled and sold across the United States. Today, New York City tap water is flowing into hard times. Development on land near the city's reservoirs has led to increasing amounts of pollution entering the water supply.

New York attracted a record 44 million tourists who added $24 billion to the economy in 2006, the city said. The number surpassed the city's projection by 1 million, according to a statement from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's office. Spending by tourists supported about 350,000 jobs. About 42.6 million people visited in 2005. The city said 45.5 million were expected in 2007. Its goal is to draw 50 million tourists a year by 2015.

New York City has banned smoking in restaurants that seat more than 35 people, under terms of a new law that went into effect last week. (About 4,000 of the city's 15,000 restaurants have fewer than 35 seats, according to the New York Restaurant Assn.) The law also bans smoking or tightens restrictions at recreational facilities, and in movie theaters and office buildings.

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will unveil a $41.3-billion budget today with $1.8 billion of cuts as the media tycoon-turned-politician guides the city through the deepest fiscal crisis in decades. A special $1.5-billion bond sale will be a big part of the Republican mayor's plan to close a $4.8-billion budget gap, according to financial sources who declined to be identified. The new shortfall is $300 million bigger than the one the mayor forecast only last week.

In a symbolic embrace of a city still healing from Sept. 11, the Republican Party chose New York City on Monday to host the party's 2004 presidential nominating convention. Republican Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg welcomed the decision as a "tremendous boost" for New York, calling the city "exactly the right place for the president and the Republican Party." Gov.

I love New York City, but I have a love-hate relationship with its taxis. I love the availability and hate the drivers. This time I decided to take the subway from John F. Kennedy International Airport to my friend's apartment in Manhattan. I called her from the terminal. "Take a cab," Janice said. "It'll cost you about $25, but it's worth it." "I hate New York taxi drivers. They intimidate me," I told her. "You'll hate it worse on the subway," she said. "You're better off in a cab.

"Now this," said the tour guide, pointing out a New York City supermarket, "is where Jackie gets her groceries." The group of four, who paid $10 each to learn such tidbits about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, listen with rapt attention. "A Tour Named Jackie" is in full swing. Over the next two hours, tour patrons get a chance to see the former First Lady's local bank, her church and the resale shop where she sells clothes she no longer needs.