New York Times columnist Nick Kristof turns 50 today. Newark Mayor Cory Booker is turning 40. Basil Paterson, the labor lawyer and father of Gov. David Paterson, is 83. City Council member Eric Gioia turns 36. New-York Historical Society president Louise Mirrer is turning 56. Investment banker Eric Gleacher is 69. Actor Jack Klugman is 87. Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump turns 25. Radio personality Casey Kasem is turning 77. And singer Sheena Easton celebrates her 50th today.

Paterson is an elder statesman of Harlem politics, a former Deputy Mayor under Ed Koch, and a neighborhood power broker. As an attorney, he's represented many of the city's biggest unions, including TWU Local 100, SEIU 1199, and the Randi Weingarten-led United Federation of Teachers.