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Quinn Sidesteps Questions on Mayoral Run

May 20, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

At a Midtown breakfast, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was grilled about the discretionary fund scandal and whether it would hurt any future mayoral bid on her part. Quinn sidestepped any ques....

State Unions May Not Get Extra Cash

May 16, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Though he's a longtime friend of labor, Gov. David Paterson says he cannot accommodate the unions' requests to increase their pensions and ensure benefits. The governor says unions have to face the ....

New Playground Opens in The Bronx, Part of Mayor's Initiative

May 14, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

City officials had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new playground at the Bronx's P.S. 138. It's part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's goal to ensure that all New Yorkers live within a ten-minute walk to....

School Groups Call for Targeted Funding

May 06, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Educational activists are calling on Schools Chancellor Joel Klein to target $360 million in state funding for specific programs. Representatives for six educational groups contend that money was wo....

Activists Protest Cuts to School Funding

April 30, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

A group of education activists, parents and elected officials rallied at City Hall to say they will fight the the city's plan to cut $500 million from school funding. REPORTER: Helen Rosenthal, chai....

City Spends Millions on Unassigned Teachers

April 29, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

The city is spending more than $80 million dollars over two years on unassigned teachers. A new report by an educational group is recommending new rules for those teachers who've lost jobs to school ....

Group Angry Over Lack of Change to Class Size

April 29, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

The group says a study commissioned by the teachers union backs their claim. City Comptroller Bill Thompson says he'll review how the Education Department spent state funds. WNYC's Elaine Rivera rep....

Bronx Nuns Donate Hosts for Pope's Yankee Stadium Mass

April 18, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Sixty thousand communion wafers will be dispensed at the Pope's Mass at Yankee Stadium Sunday. The wafers are a donation from the Corpus Christi Monastery in the South Bronx. WNYC's Elaine Rivera rep....

Manhattan Housing Boom Strains City Classrooms

April 15, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

As the housing boom explodes in Manhattan, parents, educators and elected officials say the city is not doing enough to build more public schools in the borough. A report released by the Manhattan b....

Teachers' Union Head Blasts Bloomberg Administration

April 12, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Randi Weingarten, the head of the city's United Federation of Teachers, is blasting the Bloomberg administration for what she calls scurrilous attacks on the union. REPORTER: Speaking at the New Yor....

Parents Fight Daycare Closures

April 11, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

The city wants to shutdown what it says are under-utilized daycare centers, but parents, daycare workers and elected officials gathered at City Hall yesterday to say they're going to fight the plan. ....

Victory for Teachers in Tenure Battle

April 10, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

The city's public schools and teachers were big winners in the budget, approved by New York's legislature yesterday. Gov. David Paterson and the legislature restored $644 million in additional scho....

Paterson Warns of Tough Times Ahead for the State

April 08, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Gov. David Paterson says the state is facing tough economic times ahead and officials need to act now. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports: In one of his first major speeches as governor, Paterson told a ....

CUNY Reaches Out to War Veterans

April 07, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

In the next four years, 10,000 armed service members who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are expected to come back to the New York region. There is a growing understanding that returning veteran....

50 Percent of Students Get Top Pick

April 01, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Half of New York City students will get into their first choice high school next year. According to the Department of Education's admission process report, 86 percent of students were admitted to ....

Mayor Unveils Rapid Bus Service

March 26, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and top transit officials unveiled a new rapid transit bus that would cut the commute from the Bronx to Manhattan by five minutes. But, officials say the new bus service can o....

Klein Takes Heat from Council on School Cuts

March 20, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

A day after thousands rallied outside of City Hall to protest the $729 million in school budget cuts; Schools Chancellor Joel Klein faced the City Council. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports: At the educ....

Thousands Protest School Cuts

March 20, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Thousands of parents, educators and students gathered at City Hall yesterday to protest the current and proposed $729 million in school budget cuts. They, along with council members say they're going....

Paterson Admits to Affairs

March 19, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

Less than 24 hours after taking office, Gov. David Paterson acknowledged that he had several extramarital affairs - including one with a state employee. But, Paterson emphasized that he did nothing ....

Gov. Paterson Sworn in Among Applause and Laughter

March 17, 2008

by Elaine Rivera

David Paterson is sworn in as governor before a who's who of New York State political power. In his speech, he revealed his trademark sense of humor that may have set the tone for his style of govern....