Next week’s public hearing on the expansion of the Girls Prep Middle School should be interesting.  An email making the rounds says, “please join Council woman Rosie Mendez on Thursday, February 11th… Stop the expansion of Girls Prep Charter School at P.S. 188… Make your voice heard.” We’ll have much more on this tomorrow.

“…violent crime rates have soared throughout downtown, with the East Village and the Lower East Side also seeing a big spike in street crime. Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne blames the boom on the neighborhoods’ nightlife, which attracts large numbers of revelers who become targets and predators after enough drinks.”

A new report suggests the NYPD manipulates crime data.

Melanie has coverage from the Day for Ray.

Councilmember Margaret Chin is featured in the Times’ “Sunday Routine” column.

Eater reports:

The city is shutting down Spitzer’s Corner once again for violating the ID policy for underage drinkers. The restaurant and bar’s PR contacted Eater this afternoon to report the city is forcing them to close from Sunday morning until next Friday as a punishment, making Spitzer’s forfeit days of business (during the Super Bowl!). The bar was previously busted for similar complaints last February and in March 2008.