The Early Word: MTA Chief Comes Out Against Subway Food Ban

1. Joseph Lhota, a former deputy mayor and current chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, said he was against in city subways, according to a story in yesterday's New York Times. Chief among his reasons for opposing the measure, he told the Times, was seeing youngsters eat breakfast on the train. "I don’t want to deny the kid the only time that day he’s going to get food," he said. The bill recently cleared the state Senate's Transportation Committee.

2. Verdi’s masterpiece, "," kicks off the winter-spring season in a new production by acclaimed director Jonathan Miller. , 30 Lafayette Ave. Tues., Thurs and Sat. at 7:30 p.m.

3. Cinema and literature collide with a screening of "," a film based on Raymond Chandler's novel of the same name. Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza. 6:30 p.m.

4. Name the tune, the movie, the artist or the speaker and win drinks at . The Emerson, 561 Myrtle Ave. 8:30 p.m.

5. Alternate side parking rules are in effect.