Which public worker union contracts are next up for renewal? Two of the biggest unions representing public workers serving New York City – the United Federation of Teachers and Transport Workers Union Local 100 (TWU) – are in the news this week over the future of their contracts. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced he will press […]
Daily Q
What can riders get arrested for doing on subways? Did you know that what most consider sloppy train manners can get you in trouble with the New York Police Department? We’re talking about improper seating on a subway — things like propping your feet up and lying across seats. According to a recent New York […]
Do state agencies really pay attention to public comments? The state Department of Environmental Conservation’s proposal to regulate hydrofracking generated an unprecedented 20,000 comments, in a process that closed yesterday. The state agency has to navigate between pressures from the drilling industry, which is seeking quick approval so the state can begin issuing permits for […]
How much power does Gov. Cuomo have over Indian Point’s fate? Yesterday the Indian Point nuclear power plant on the Hudson River north of New York City reported that it shut down one of its reactors after a radioactive leak was found at the facility. Although the plant’s owner, Entergy Nuclear, said the leak posed […]
What’s at stake for MTA riders as union contract expires? It is a busy week for New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority. Yesterday, the State Senate confirmed its new chairman, Joe Lhota, a former New York City deputy mayor, budget director and finance commissioner. And this Sunday, the Transit Workers Union’s contract for 38,000 bus and […]
How far off course does Trump’s golf course deal fly? This week, the city Franchise and Concession Review Committee will vote on an agreement between the city Department of Parks and Recreation and real estate mogul Donald Trump, which will put him in charge of the long-delayed Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx for a […]
What are the leading reasons for 911 calls? The Bloomberg administration announced yesterday that 911 dispatchers handling calls for police, fire, and emergency medical services have be integrated into a single force – using the same technology and working on the same building floor – for the first time in history. The upgraded system, which is costing […]
How tightly can Cuomo close campaign finance loopholes? In his State of the State address yesterday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared that that the time has come for sweeping campaign finance reform in New York State. “In short,” he said, “the state’s campaign finance laws fail to prevent the dominance of wealthy contributors and special interests.” […]
Which city workers will be on duty Christmas Day? The work year is winding down but a group of city workers have a busy weekend ahead of them. For one thing, New York City drew a record number of tourists this year — estimates say 50 million visitors by the close of 2011 — and […]
Former State Senator Carl Kruger resigned, pleaded guilty to corruption charges, and has cleared out of his district’s office. But under current ethics law, he is still eligible for a state pension. The Times Union’s Jimmy Vielkind estimated that Kruger will get about $69,534.61 per year under the pension scheme because a pension claw-back provision in the new […]
