wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Mayor Says City Employees Should Survive Wall Street Fall

September 24, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Mayor Bloomberg says there's no telling how far Wall Street might fall, but he thinks the city can weather the storm with a combination of spending cuts and, possibly, property tax increases. BLOOMB....

Nonprofits not Immune From Wall St. Woe

September 18, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

The financial crisis is likely to have a direct impact on many of the city's nonprofits, which rely on corporate gifts. Fran Barrett is the executive director of Community Resource Exchange, which w....

Fewer Schools Get F Grades

September 16, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

The city's elementary and middle schools have received their second annual progress report cards from the Department of Education. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more. REPORTER: The progress reports sug....

Bloomberg Urges Calm Amid Wall Street Woes

September 15, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

In the wake of Lehman Brothers' collapse and the ongoing chaos on Wall Street, Mayor Bloomberg had a few words for a room full of reporters, namely- "Fear Not." WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more. REPO....

"Block the Box" Crackdown Criticized

September 15, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

The NYPD started cracking down on motorists who block the box last week, but the measure has some police officers upset. Anthony Miranda of the National Latino Officers Association says traffic agent....

Bloomberg Says WTC Redevelopment is Too Slow

September 10, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Mayor Bloomberg says the redevelopment of the World Trade Center is going too slowly...and he's asking Governor Paterson to dismantle the Lower Manhattan Development Authority, and give its tasks to ....

City Makes it Easier to Ticket Box-Blockers

September 10, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Don't block that box. At noon today, the city made it much easier to ticket drivers who clog up intersections. REPORTER: Earlier only police officers could hand out the $115 tickets, but over the su....

Former Reality TV Star Courts Young Voters

September 08, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

New York voters are set to go to the polls in primary elections tomorrow. In Brooklyn, writer and activist Kevin Powell, who first made a name for himself on the MTV's The Real World, is running for ....

Neighbors Weigh In on Columbia Expansion

September 05, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Supporters and opponents of Columbia University's planned expansion into Manhattanville presented their case at a public hearing this week. Nick Sprayregen owns Tuck-it-away Storage, one of the two ....

City Takes New Swing at School Bullies

September 03, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

The city's taking a swing at bullies in schools, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Council Speaker Christine Quinn announcing a set of initiatives they hope will curb me....

Bloomberg to Catch 'Xanadu,' Not Palin

September 03, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

All eyes will be on presumptive Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin as she makes her big speech at the Republican national convention tonight. But not Mayor Bloomberg. He says he’s got other pla....

Court Recognizes Out of State Same Sex Marriages

September 03, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

A New York State court is supporting Gov. David Paterson's directive to recognize out of state same sex marriages. A judge has tossed out a legal challenge to the policy. Susan Sommer is an attorne....

Mayor Blasts Critics of Kindergarten Testing

August 27, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Mayor Michael Bloomberg pushed back against criticism of the city's plan to test its youngest students. The Department of Education is encouraging principals to administer standardized tests to child....

7 Miles of Manhattan Streets Go Car Free

August 10, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

It was billed as Summer Streets, an effort to clear the road of cars and let bikes and pedestrians take over. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more. AUDIO: The sound of near-silence REPORTER: For about si....

Bloomberg Hopes Olympics put Spotlight on China

August 07, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says when the Olympic Games begin tomorrow in Beijing, he hopes the attention will highlight the progress he says has taken place in China. He said the Olympics also provide a....

City Readies For Summer Streets

August 07, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

This Saturday walkers, skaters, and cyclists will take control of a seven mile stretch of Manhattan, from East 72nd Street down to the Brooklyn Bridge. WNYC's Arun Venugopal was with the Mayor today,....

Democrats Vie for Staten Island Congressional Seat

August 07, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Hillary Clinton will endorse Democrat Mike McMahon today in the congressional seat that encompasses Staten Island and part of Brooklyn Republican congressman Vito Fossella resigned his seat in the w....

Activists Want Special Prosecutor for Police Abuse

August 06, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

Civil rights activists called for a crackdown on police misconduct today at rally outside police headquarters. The protest comes after a videotape surfaced showing an officer pushing a cyclist off hi....

New Paper Recycling Mill Opens on Staten Island

July 31, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

The city will be sending a lot less of its recycling out of town. A newly expanded paper recycling mill has opened on Staten Island. The facility will convert waste paper and plastic into pizza box....

NYS Audits MTA Finances

July 28, 2008

by Arun Venugopal

As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans two fare hikes starting next July, a top state official has a message for the agency: not so fast. WNYC’s Arun Venugopal has more on a planned aud....