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| New York Today: Russian Spies in Our Midst | New York Today: Russian Spies in Our Midst |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Updated, 7:28 a.m. | |
| Good morning on this chilly-cheery Wednesday. | Good morning on this chilly-cheery Wednesday. |
| With accusations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and the F.B.I. investigating whether members of President Trump’s campaign were involved, Washington seems to be getting all the espionage attention. | With accusations of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and the F.B.I. investigating whether members of President Trump’s campaign were involved, Washington seems to be getting all the espionage attention. |
| Yet we’d like to point out that New York’s streets, parks and libraries have long been grounds for covert operations. | Yet we’d like to point out that New York’s streets, parks and libraries have long been grounds for covert operations. |
| “New York is one of the great espionage capitals of the world,” said Edward Lucas, the author of “Deception: The Untold Story of East-West Espionage Today.” “But the spying that happens in New York doesn’t always involve United States.” | “New York is one of the great espionage capitals of the world,” said Edward Lucas, the author of “Deception: The Untold Story of East-West Espionage Today.” “But the spying that happens in New York doesn’t always involve United States.” |
| A big draw for foreign agents is the United Nations, Mr. Lucas said. For spies, “it’s like a pond: Any fish you want swims through there.” | A big draw for foreign agents is the United Nations, Mr. Lucas said. For spies, “it’s like a pond: Any fish you want swims through there.” |
| New York has long been a hub of Russian spies because the Russian Mission to the U.N. was a way of getting agents into the United States, where they could work covertly and recruit Americans to their cause, Mr. Lucas added. | New York has long been a hub of Russian spies because the Russian Mission to the U.N. was a way of getting agents into the United States, where they could work covertly and recruit Americans to their cause, Mr. Lucas added. |
| A few of our city’s most famous Soviet spies include: | A few of our city’s most famous Soviet spies include: |
| • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a Manhattan couple accused of perpetuating the “crime of the century” from their Lower East Side apartment. They were convicted of an espionage conspiracy for stealing atom bomb secrets for the Soviets, and were executed by electric chair in 1953. (Mrs. Rosenberg’s defenders, among them her two sons, say she was innocent and should be exonerated.) | • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a Manhattan couple accused of perpetuating the “crime of the century” from their Lower East Side apartment. They were convicted of an espionage conspiracy for stealing atom bomb secrets for the Soviets, and were executed by electric chair in 1953. (Mrs. Rosenberg’s defenders, among them her two sons, say she was innocent and should be exonerated.) |
| • Elizabeth Bentley ran a Soviet spy ring out of her Barrow Street apartment in Greenwich Village, before becoming a double agent in 1945. | • Elizabeth Bentley ran a Soviet spy ring out of her Barrow Street apartment in Greenwich Village, before becoming a double agent in 1945. |
| • Rudolf I. Abel, a Soviet spy who posed as an artist, rented an apartment and an artist studio in Brooklyn. A newsboy from the borough and a hollow nickel led to his arrest in 1957. | • Rudolf I. Abel, a Soviet spy who posed as an artist, rented an apartment and an artist studio in Brooklyn. A newsboy from the borough and a hollow nickel led to his arrest in 1957. |
| Even after the Cold War ended, the spying continued. | Even after the Cold War ended, the spying continued. |
| • In 2010, 10 Russian sleeper agents pleaded guilty to conspiracy before a federal judge in Manhattan and were sent out of the country as part of a swap. Their story inspired the television show “The Americans.” | • In 2010, 10 Russian sleeper agents pleaded guilty to conspiracy before a federal judge in Manhattan and were sent out of the country as part of a swap. Their story inspired the television show “The Americans.” |
| “It’s much more difficult to do counterintelligence on these people because they are pretty much who they say they are,” Mr. Lucas said, “as in they’re using their real names.” | “It’s much more difficult to do counterintelligence on these people because they are pretty much who they say they are,” Mr. Lucas said, “as in they’re using their real names.” |
| And they are, of course, still attracted to our city. | And they are, of course, still attracted to our city. |
| So much is going on here — in academia, in the financial system and in politics, Mr. Lucas said — that “New York remains a great place to be a spy.” | So much is going on here — in academia, in the financial system and in politics, Mr. Lucas said — that “New York remains a great place to be a spy.” |
| Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
| Today’s brew: Bitter and breezy, but bright. | Today’s brew: Bitter and breezy, but bright. |
| The sun will stay shining — doing its part to make you smile — but the wind will make it feel as cold as 20 or 30 degrees during the day, and between 5 and 10 tonight. | The sun will stay shining — doing its part to make you smile — but the wind will make it feel as cold as 20 or 30 degrees during the day, and between 5 and 10 tonight. |
| Wince. | Wince. |
| And don’t bank on things heating up again until the weekend rolls around. | And don’t bank on things heating up again until the weekend rolls around. |
| • The Medicaid fight has landed in New York state government, setting off a political firestorm. [New York Times] | • The Medicaid fight has landed in New York state government, setting off a political firestorm. [New York Times] |
| • The United States has barred passengers in 10 Muslim-majority countries from carrying laptops, iPads and other devices larger than a cellphone aboard flights. [New York Times] | • The United States has barred passengers in 10 Muslim-majority countries from carrying laptops, iPads and other devices larger than a cellphone aboard flights. [New York Times] |
| • Preet Bharara, the former United States attorney in Manhattan who was fired this month by the Trump administration, will join the New York University School of Law. [New York Times] | • Preet Bharara, the former United States attorney in Manhattan who was fired this month by the Trump administration, will join the New York University School of Law. [New York Times] |
| • Meet Paul J. Massey Jr., a first-time candidate and Republican challenger to Mayor Bill de Blasio. [New York Times] | • Meet Paul J. Massey Jr., a first-time candidate and Republican challenger to Mayor Bill de Blasio. [New York Times] |
| • A private middle school, partially funded by Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, is set to open this fall near Union Square. [DNAinfo] | • A private middle school, partially funded by Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, is set to open this fall near Union Square. [DNAinfo] |
| • In our latest About New York column, The Times’s Jim Dwyer — who sat down with Jimmy Breslin in 2007 — writes about why Mr. Breslin’s life’s work matters. [New York Times] | • In our latest About New York column, The Times’s Jim Dwyer — who sat down with Jimmy Breslin in 2007 — writes about why Mr. Breslin’s life’s work matters. [New York Times] |
| • As part of the mayor’s Vision Zero campaign, the city will break ground on a project to make more crosswalks, medians and bike lanes — and to make them safer. [DNAinfo] | • As part of the mayor’s Vision Zero campaign, the city will break ground on a project to make more crosswalks, medians and bike lanes — and to make them safer. [DNAinfo] |
| • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Standard Morning Fare, on the Go” | • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Standard Morning Fare, on the Go” |
| • Scoreboard: Devils jab Rangers, 3-2 (in overtime). Nets catch Pistons, 98-96. | • Scoreboard: Devils jab Rangers, 3-2 (in overtime). Nets catch Pistons, 98-96. |
| • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Wednesday Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Wednesday Briefing. |
| • Young adults can learn about hip-hop, the music industry and streaming services at Countee Cullen Library in Harlem. 6 p.m. [Free] | • Young adults can learn about hip-hop, the music industry and streaming services at Countee Cullen Library in Harlem. 6 p.m. [Free] |
| • Learn how to grow a garden with your children at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 6 p.m. [Free] | • Learn how to grow a garden with your children at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 6 p.m. [Free] |
| • Watch the documentary “Wall Writers: Graffiti in its Innocence” at the Museum of the City of New York on the Upper East Side. 6:30 p.m. [$12] | • Watch the documentary “Wall Writers: Graffiti in its Innocence” at the Museum of the City of New York on the Upper East Side. 6:30 p.m. [$12] |
| • NYC Improv Fest presents an evening of extemporaneous comedy at several locations, beginning at 7 p.m. [Prices vary] | • NYC Improv Fest presents an evening of extemporaneous comedy at several locations, beginning at 7 p.m. [Prices vary] |
| • Learn about the future of gene editing at Union Hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 7:30 p.m. [$12] | • Learn about the future of gene editing at Union Hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 7:30 p.m. [$12] |
| • Islanders at Rangers, 8 p.m. (NBCS). Knicks at Jazz, 10:30 p.m. (MSG). | • Islanders at Rangers, 8 p.m. (NBCS). Knicks at Jazz, 10:30 p.m. (MSG). |
| • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. | • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. |
| • Subway and PATH | • Subway and PATH |
| • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak | • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak |
| • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. | • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. |
| • Alternate-side parking: in effect until April 11. | • Alternate-side parking: in effect until April 11. |
| • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry | • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry |
| • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark | • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark |
| The increased subway fares have roiled some commuters, who have protested and complained about having to shell out more for a ride. | The increased subway fares have roiled some commuters, who have protested and complained about having to shell out more for a ride. |
| In response, New Yorkers in the #swipeitforward campaign are urging riders to share MetroCard swipes with other travelers. | |
| Which got us thinking about the legality of sharing a swipe. | Which got us thinking about the legality of sharing a swipe. |
| According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, it’s legal to swipe someone else into the subway, even with an unlimited pass (which lets you use it again after 18 minutes). | According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, it’s legal to swipe someone else into the subway, even with an unlimited pass (which lets you use it again after 18 minutes). |
| Selling a swipe, on the other hand, is illegal. | Selling a swipe, on the other hand, is illegal. |
| So is soliciting a fare from someone else. It can result in a $25-$50 ticket, or a court summons. | So is soliciting a fare from someone else. It can result in a $25-$50 ticket, or a court summons. |
| We’d like to know, would you swipe someone else into the subway? Tell us in the comments. | We’d like to know, would you swipe someone else into the subway? Tell us in the comments. |
| New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. | New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. |
| For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. | For updates throughout the day, like us on Facebook. |
| What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. | What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com, or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday. |
| Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
| You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |