Section 504. Actions against counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and district corporations

Notwithstanding the  provisions  of
  any  charter  heretofore  granted  by  the  state  and  subject  to  the
  provisions of subdivision (b) of section 506, the place of trial of  all
  actions  against counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and
  district corporations or any of their officers,  boards  or  departments
  shall be, for:
    1. a county, in such county;
    2. a city, except the city of New York, town, village, school district
  or  district  corporation,  in  the  county  in  which  such city, town,
  village, school district or district corporation is situated, or if such
  school district or district corporation is situated  in  more  than  one
  county, in either county; and
    3.  the  city  of New York, in the county within the city in which the
  cause of action arose, or if it arose outside of the city, in the county
  of New York.