Anything God Can Do, Rudy Can Do Better

• Among other legislation making its way through Albany: A bill authorizing a formal "nostra culpa" for New York's complicity in slavery, the first such gesture for a northern Union state. Some conservatives worry it will embolden the reparations crowd. [NYS]
• The city leads the state with double-digit jumps in students' math performance — across the board, in every grade. The mayor is "happy, thrilled, ecstatic." For perspective, however, we're now merely nearing the statewide average. [NYT]
• Rapper The Game will be in Manhattan Criminal Court today, defending himself from a highly unusual charge: impersonating a police officer. He allegedly told a limo driver to run red lights because he was a cop on a case. [Metro NY]
• And, you've fantasized about doing it. He did it. A man in Manhattan yesterday took a new SUV for a test drive, liked it, shoved the dealer out of the vehicle and sped off. He was caught minutes later. [NYDN]

Reasons to Love New York 2009
New York Politicians Refuse to Quit
A-Rod Has Babe Ruth in His Sights
McCain Yields to the Party's Pressure