Photo by gotham24 via flickr.

February 29, 2012 (Happy Leap Day!) Weather: Rain, High of 42 Degrees.

Notices:
Upper West Side parent Howard Freeman sent me this note: “Our oldest son, 12, and five friends, had a run-in Monday when they were approached by two 17-year-olds asking for money and threatening that they “had” a gun.  (Hey, this is probably just tough street talk.)  Yet our son was also mugged a month ago by three kids, and they got physical. This most recent incident was at the monument at Riverside and 90th, where a lot of kids skate.  Parents should be advised to tell their kids to travel in groups and not take valuables with them.  I am considering going and sitting nearby as a monitor.”

News:
A man was hit by a Northbound 2 train at the 72nd Street subway station shortly before 8 a.m. Trains were Wednesday. The man was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital. Police initially told reporters he was dead. (Update: police tell us he died). Trains were rerouted from Times Square to 96th Street. (DNAinfo)

Upper West Sider Michael Waxenberg offers unflinching reviews of local open houses on StreetEasy.com. He’s not making a lot of friends in the broker community. (NY Times)

In a very strange twist, the man who first documented the death of celebrity hawk Pale Male’s mate was arrested for keeping the dead hawk in his apartment overnight. (NY Times)

Columbia University wants a piece of all that money that the city is giving out to boost engineering in the city. (Columbia Spectator)

Leap Day babies are having a blast today. (New York Post)

Some City Council members are trying to crack down on electric bikes, which are used by many delivery riders. (DNAinfo)