Good Day, Bad Day

GOOD DAY FOR: Bellinis and sympathy, as storied Venice watering hole Harry’s Bar is offering a 20 percent discount to “poor” Americans dealing with their weak dollar and housing crisis. The bar, a hangout of Ernest Hemingway, among others, has seen a drop in American patrons since January. A sign explains that the discount is “an effort to make the American victims of subprime loans happier.” (Reuters)

BAD DAY FOR: Gridlock, after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to charge cars and trucks for driving in downtown and midtown Manhattan died in the state legislature. The “congestion pricing” plan was designed to reduce traffic in the city and lower pollution levels. The proposal’s death also means the city will forfeit $354 million in federal grants. (The New York Times, free registration)

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