New York Vacation Guide System

New York Fun Facts

Capital: Albany

State abbreviation/Postal code: N.Y./NY

Governor: Andrew Cuomo, D (to Jan. 2015)

Acting Lieut. Governor: Robert Duffy, D (to Jan. 2015)

Senators: Charles E. Schumer, D (to Jan. 2017); Kirsten Gillibrand, D (to Jan. 2017)

U.S. Representatives: 29

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Ruth Noemi Colón (apptd. by governor)

Comptroller: Thomas P. DiNapoli, D (to Jan. 2015)

Atty. General: Eric Schneiderman, D (to Jan. 2015)

Entered Union (rank): July 26, 1788 (11)

Present constitution adopted: 1777 (last revised 1938)

Motto: Excelsior (Ever upward)

State symbols:

animal	beaver (1975)
fish	brook trout (1975)
gem	garnet (1969)
flower	rose (1955)
tree	sugar maple (1956)
bird	bluebird (1970)
insect	ladybug (1989)
song	“I Love New York” (1980)

Nickname: Empire State

Origin of name: In honor of the Duke of York

10 largest cities (2005 est.): New York, 8,143,197; Buffalo, 279,745; Rochester, 211,091; Yonkers, 196,425; Syracuse, 141,683; Albany, 93,523; New Rochelle, 72,967; Mount Vernon, 67,924; Schenectady, 61,280; Utica, 59,336

Land area: 47,214 sq mi. (122,284 sq km)

Geographic center: In Madison Co., 12 mi. S of Oneida and 26 mi. SW of Utica

Number of counties: 62

Largest county by population and area: Kings, 2,486,235 (2005); St. Lawrence, 2,686 sq mi.

State forest preserves: Adirondacks, 2,500,000 ac.; Catskills, 250,000 ac.

State parks: 176

Residents: New Yorker

2005 resident population est.: 19,254,630

2000 resident census population (rank): 18,976,457 (3). Male: 9,146,748 (48.2%); Female: 9,829,709 (51.8%). White: 12,893,689 (67.9%); Black: 3,014,385 (15.9%); American Indian: 82,461 (0.4%); Asian: 1,044,976 (5.5%); Other race: 1,341,946 (7.1%); Two or more races: 590,182 (3.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 2,867,583 (15.1%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 75.3; 65 and over: 12.9; median age: 35.9.

Good things to know about New York City, or any big city!

NYC Safety and Survival Guide

"New York is the city of right angles and tough, damaged people." -Pete Hamill

Whether you are living in New York or just visiting, street smarts will definitely help you feel more at home.

• Finding a Bathroom: First things first. If you have to go to the bathroom, try a Barnes & Nobles, or a Starbuck's Coffee. Both usually have reasonably clean bathrooms, but your mileage may vary. At Starbuck's you'll need to ask for a key, maybe even buy something.
• Avoid empty subway cars, ride with many people or in the conductor's car (usually the middle car of the train).
• Never display large amounts of cash out in the open.
• Don't keep your wallet in the back pocket of your pants or in a backpack. Moving the wallet to the front pocket of your pants will reduce your chance of being pick-pocketed.
• Be aware of your wallet or purse in commotions Pick pockets often use helpers to create a disturbance nearby.
• Telephone information from a payphone is free. Simply dial 555-1212 on any pay phone and ask for the number of the business or person you are looking for. You don't need to put in any change.

NYC General Safety Tips

If you have never been to New York before, don't be afraid to go out! Just keep these safety tips in mind and you should be just fine.

• Be aware of who is around you.
• Stay in populated areas.
• How you carry yourself is crucial. Look confident in where you are going, how you walk and what you are doing.
• Clutch your purse/bag securely under your arm.
• If there are two of you, place handbags between you instead of on the outside.
• Turn rings around, so the gems face your palm.
• Keep necklaces tucked under your clothing.
• If someone is harassing you on the street, then go into a populated store or shop or find a police officer.
• Yell "Fire" not "Help". People will come look if they think there's a fire, but "Help" is like crying wolf.
• If you are being mugged then it's better to give the mugger what he/she wants. Your life is worth more than the cash in your pocket!
• Try to walk in the middle of the sidewalk and not next to the buildings or the street. At night, stay close to the street so that you can flag down help if the nearby stores are closed.

NYC Driving Tips

• Don't drive drunk!
  You shouldn't do this anywhere, but especially not in New York. With the new laws, your car can be seized by the police.
• No right turn on red in NYC!
  In every other city in the United States you are allowed to make a right turn on a red light after a full stop. However, in New York City this is illegal, unless otherwise noted by a traffic sign.
• Don't lock the block!
  Do not contribute to grid-lock! Enter an intersection only if you're sure you can make it through! In some locations gridlock is not only obnoxious, but it's illegal and subject to fine. Even more compelling -- with the proliferation of handguns and lethal weapons, who knows when a crazy driver will take a few shots at you for blocking his/her way.
• Alternate-side of the street parking regulations!
  Check the red signs with the street cleaning symbol to make sure you don't have to move your car the next day. This is NYC's attempt to give the street sweepers a chance to clean the streets. For information and a calendar, call the hotline at (212)/(718)225-5368.
• Towing information -- how to get your car back!
  Call the local police station to find out towing information whereby they'll most likely direct you to the Department of Transportation. Most cars are kept in a warehouse on the west side of Manhattan near the pier.
• How to prevent car theft
  Leave nothing valuable showing in the driver's cab. When placing belongings into the trunk, do so before finding a parking spot. Many car burglars hide and watch people place valuables into the trunk then strike after the driver has left. If something is valuable to you, carry it with you! Some people leave nice signs informing robbers that there's nothing valuable inside the car.
• Don't honk the horn unless absolutely necessary
  Some areas (ie. Holland Tunnel entrance) forbid the sounding of the car horn, with a fine of $100 for violators. This is usually found in areas with a large number of residences.
• Don't open your window to strangers
  If some one approaches your car at a stop light to either ask for money, wash your windows or sell you something, try to ignore them. If you do, for some reason, feel inclined to give the person money, remove it very discretely from your pocket. Then open the window a crack and slide the money through it. An open window in a car makes you a very vulnerable target. (This tip sent in by a visitor named Yorky)

"You can get anything you want @ CeeAmerica"