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Jobs Program Helps Minorities Break In to Film Business

June 11, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

A Brooklyn-based job program is trying to get minorities into the film industry by training them to be Production Assistants on everything from commercials, to reality shows to big budget films. The ....

AG's Deal to Put the Brakes on the Sub-Prime Mortgage Mess

June 06, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo struck a deal with the top three credit rating agencies as part of his investigation into the ongoing sub-prime loan crisis. It's designed to keep invest....

New Bills Aim to Improve Construction Safety

June 05, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Increased training for crane operators, new fines for contractors, and better tracking of violations - those are some of the proposals Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council are pushing to make....

Midtown Developer Could Lose Permits

May 21, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

The city has threatened to revoke the permits of the developer of a Midtown high rise tower where a crane collapsed in March, killing seven people. A letter sent to developer James Kennelly shows 28....

Farm Bill Could Help Area Soup Kitchens

May 18, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Food pantries and soup kitchens around the city have been struggling with rising food costs. But they could get a much-needed boost from the recent passage of a federal Farm Bill. WNYC's Cindy Rodrig....

Pro-Tenant Bills Approved by Assembly

May 14, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

New York's Assembly has passed a package of pro-tenant bills aimed at keeping more apartments rent stabilized. New York's Assembly has passed a package of pro-tenant bills aimed at keeping more apa....

Less Money for Abuse Prevention Programs

May 14, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Over the past two years, the Administration for Children's Services has increased child abuse prevention programs to serve an extra 1,000 families. But, money for the additional monitoring isn't inc....

Brooklyn Residents Fight Homeless Intake Center

May 08, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Some Crown Heights, Brooklyn residents are crying 'Not In My Back Yard' over plans for relocating a homeless men's intake center. REPORTER: Local officials warn the shelter already has a dangerous r....

Renewed Effort to Ensure Safety at Construction Sites

May 07, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

With construction accidents on the rise - including another yesterday that claimed the life of a worker on the Triborough Bridge - the City Council has introduced 12 bills all aimed at making job site....

Rent Hike Receives Preliminary Approval

May 06, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

In a preliminary vote, the Rent Guidelines Board has proposed rent increases on the city's stabilized apartments of 3.5 percent to 7 percent for a one year lease and 5.5 percent to 9.5 percent for two....

Board Set to Vote on Rent Increase

May 05, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

A preliminary vote takes place tonight on landlords' request to raise the rate on rent-regulated apartments by 15 percent. The Rent Guidelines Board meets at Cooper Union's Great Hall, starting at 5....

Preliminary Vote on Rent Hikes Tonight

May 05, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Residents and landlords of more than one million rent-stabilized apartments will be watching closely this evening when the Rent Guidelines Board holds a preliminary vote on rent hikes. WNYC's Cindy ....

No Explanation for Wrongly Approved Construction Permits

April 25, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

The new interim head of the Department of Buildings still can't say for sure why the agency wrongly approved permits for a building where a crane recently collapsed. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports. ....

City Pays Kids for Good Grades

April 24, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

New York City recently began using cash to try to motivate kids to get better test scores. So far, more than $800,000 has been distributed to about 5,300 4th and 7th graders. The city sees this as ....

DOB Commish Resigns After 5 Years Heading Sprawling Agency

April 23, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Patricia Lancaster, who led the city's Buildings Department for more than five years, stepped down yesterday. The sprawling agency has been under fire recently over a spate of construction accident....

Crane Collapse Building Did Not Meet Zoning Rules

April 18, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

The city should never have approved the building where the crane collapsed last month because it didn't meet zoning regulations. That's what the head of the city's Buildings Department, Patricia Lan....

Settlement Will Speed Food Stamps Applications

April 17, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

A federal judge has approved a settlement requiring the city to process food stamp applications within 30 days, or five days if the applicant has no income. The settlement comes out of a 2004 lawsui....

Landlords Did Well in 2006

April 16, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

A report issued by the Rent Guidelines Board shows rent stabilized landlords did better in 2006 compared to the prior year. According to records collected from landlords, rental income increased 5.....

Nylon Strap Failure Blamed in Worker's Death

April 15, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

A construction worker fell to his death yesterday while installing windows at a luxury condominium high rise under construction on Manhattan's East side. The city's Department of Buildings says it a....

Housing Activists Rally Against Global Lenders

April 12, 2008

by Cindy Rodriguez

Affordable housing advocates are rallying against global lenders who they say are giving out high-risk loans to large developers, who in turn are allegedly trying to push out tenants who pay the lowe....