Mmmm . . . Commuter Tax . . . Mmmm . . .

The Census Bureau crunched the numbers and found that New York City’s population increases by 563,000 people each day:

The Big Apple swells by 563,000 people during the day — more than any other city in the country, according to the Census Bureau’s first-ever estimates on daytime population changes.

The report tracks how the nation’s cities are affected by commuter traffic.

Officials say the data, based on the 2000 Census, can be used for planning and disaster-relief efforts.

New York’s daytime growth, while huge, is only 7 percent of the city’s population of 8 million.

Other towns that would benefit from a commuter tax included Washington, D.C. (411,000 people, or 72 percent, commute into the district), Boston (41 percent), Atlanta (62 percent), Seattle (28 percent) and Denver (28 percent).

Why They Hate Us

Not only is it possible to spend $250,000 at a strip club but the Daily News explains how:

A married business executive who dropped $241,000 during one wild night at Scores was an insatiable customer who hired a virtual harem of lap dancers, a strip club source told the Daily News yesterday.

Robert McCormick, 40, an Internet company CEO and Midwestern father of three girls, took over the exclusive President’s Club when he showed up with some cronies the night of Oct. 22, 2003, the source said.

In the mirrored room, popular with high rollers and celebrities, the stripper enthusiast demanded 10 dancers lavish him with attention at the eye-popping cost of $4,000 an hour.

When their time was up, McCormick insisted club managers bring more girls – and keep them coming.

“I need 10 more,” he would say after the hour’s entertainment was over, waving his arms like he was motioning a jumbo jet in for a landing, according to the source.

“This went on for numerous hours,” the insider said.

The gentleman is contesting the charges, a lawsuit and the whole works (what’s the statute of limitations on suing strip clubs?) but the club says it has its ass covered:

Scores said yesterday it has documents to prove that McCormick authorized the charges and knew exactly what he was doing.

“We have signed waivers,” said club spokesman Lonnie Hanover, who read the forms to The News, but declined to turn over copies with the signature.

The waiver reads: “I am at Scores of my own free will. At the time of this transaction I am not drunk nor in any way impaired. I have not been coerced nor am I currently under any duress. I agree to pay any and all charges I have incurred as a result of my purchase of diamond dollars and/or food or beverages.”

Hanover also said that once a customer charges $10,000, his right index finger is fingerprinted and hourly calls are made to the credit card company for authorization.

And that’s why they hate our freedom.

If We Don’t Honor The Career Of Edward Durell Stone, Who Will?

Christopher Gray has blood on his hands! After much legal wrangling, the Lollipop Building at Columbus Circle has been sold by the city to the Museum of Arts & Design. Renovation work to start “immediately.” The Post gloats:

Columbus Circle’s “Lollipop” has sucked its last.

The Museum of Arts & Design bought the empty, Moorish-ornamented folly from the city yesterday, allowing the museum to start work immediately on a long-awaited but controversial redesign.

The purchase climaxed a two-year struggle against preservationists who had sued to prevent the city from selling the building.

The museum, now scrunched into a small gallery in Midtown, is paying $17 million for the 10-story, white marble structure designed by Edward Durell Stone in the 1960s. It is nicknamed the “Lollipop” for its quirky, Venetian-style pillars.

. . . Stone’s mostly windowless facade facing Central Park will be replaced with a new exterior of terra cotta and glass designed by Brad Clopefil.

. . .

After years of city indecision, Mayor Bloomberg turned down offers by Donald Trump and others, and designated the museum to buy the former Huntington Hartford Gallery of Art in 2003.

The sale became a flashpoint issue between those who regarded it as a useless eyesore of no value to the public and those who felt it should be preserved as-is at all costs.

Although the sale was overwhelmingly approved by community board members and the City Council, preservationist groups argued that the building marked an important turning point in Stone’s career and should not be altered.

They sued the city’s Economic Development Corp. for “fraud,” the Landmarks Preservation Commission for not granting 2 Columbus Circle protected status, and museum officials for alleged “collusion.”

All the suits and subsequent appeals were thrown out of court.

It’s actually a tough week for architect Stone; on Wednesday night, the St. Louis Cardinals played their final game at Busch Stadium, which Stone collaborated on. Demolition of the stadium is set to begin like right away.

Bonus Points: Recent Past Preservation Network’s Edward Durell Stone Page.

The Sinking Ship

Democratic mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer cannot get a break; even the Clintons only barely are supporting him. Case in point — Bill Clinton appeared at a rally yesterday to support Ferrer but not before unplugging the sound system so no one could hear what the former President actually said:

For New York Democrats seeking to take back City Hall, it was supposed to be a picture-perfect moment: Bill Clinton in the Bronx yesterday to rally voters behind Fernando Ferrer, the party’s beleaguered candidate against Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

But a run-of-the-mill campaign stop turned into a bizarre frenzy after the Clinton team removed the entire sound system during a dispute with low-level Ferrer supporters, who were trying to make the event more dramatic. As a result, a crowd of 1,000 people could barely hear Mr. Clinton praise “this good man.”

Real classy!

About That “Nice Treat” . . . “Whom Does This Actually Benefit?”

About that “nice treat”, you do realize there is a big MTA bond issue coming up this November, don’t you? “Fare Cuts for Holidays Are Called Into Question”:

It may seem like a benevolent year-end gift, but fiscal analysts and watchdog groups from both ends of the political spectrum yesterday criticized as irresponsible the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plan to give subway, bus and commuter-rail riders fare discounts during the holiday season.

The discounts, which would be unprecedented in scope and cost an estimated $50 million this year in lost revenue, may secure some sorely needed good will for the authority, which is urging voters to approve a $2.9 billion state transportation bond act on Election Day.

But the authority faces a grim fiscal situation in the near future, as rising debt payments threaten to devour its operating budget. The authority hopes to balance its books next year, but anticipates a net budget deficit of $128 million in 2007, rising to $880 million in 2009.

Liberal and conservative analysts alike questioned the prudence of the temporary discounts.

The Zagat version of this article would go something like:

The MTA, already under fire for its murky bookkeeping, appears to be engaged in “feel-good, short-term gimmicks” and a “a yo-yo fare policy” to “secure some sorely needed good will” as voters will be asked to approve its $2.9 billion state transportation bond act. “Merely a Christmas present,” an “empty election-year gift” to the Mayor or “a nice gesture” that they can afford? The question of “Whom does this actually benefit?” is on everyone’s minds.

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