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Con Ed Braced for Weekend Heat

June 06, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Con Edison says it's ready for New Yorkers to crank up their air conditioners and fans during the expected heat wave this weekend. The utility says it's spent $1.7 billion upgrading electric cables ....

Despite Belmont Buzz, OTB Is On Shaky Legs

June 06, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

HOST: More than a hundred thousand people are expected to attend the Belmont Stakes tomorrow as Big Brown tries for the first Triple Crown in three decades. Off Track Betting parlors will also be pa....

Lighting Ceremony for Newtown Creek Sewage

June 04, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

There's beauty in wastewater. At least the city thinks so. Last night it flicked on special bluish lights on eight stainless steel wastewater digesters in the Newtown Creek plant. Department of En....

A Closer Look at Governor Paterson's Gay Marriage Order

May 30, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

New Yorkers have been digesting the news that gay marriages will be recognized – if not exactly legal – in the New York State. Yesterday Governor David Paterson acknowledged he gave an order two ....

Paterson Orders State to Recognize Out-of-State Gay Marriages

May 29, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Only a man and a woman can wed in New York, but the state must recognize gay or lesbian marriages performed elsewhere, the governor said in a news conference today. WNYC's Ilya Marritz has more. Pa....

World Science Festival Underway

May 29, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

The first ever World Science Festival began yesterday with a summit for top scientists and leaders from the worlds of business and government. Festival co-founder Brian Greene teaches physics at Col....

Ikea Comes to Red Hook

May 28, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

In three weeks time, the Swedish furniture giant Ikea will open its first store ever in New York City. Though millions of New Yorkers know Ikea from trips to outlets in the suburbs outside of New Yor....

Board Approves Verizon Plan to Expand Network Citywide

May 27, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

It'll take years and cost billions, but Verizon plans to make cable TV available to every city household by 2014. A city board unanimously approved an agreement with the telecommunications giant all....

Verizon Seeks Cable TV Venture

May 23, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Verizon could soon enter the city's cable TV market. Consumer groups say there hasn't been enough scrutiny of the telecommunication company's draft agreement with DOITT, the Department of Informatio....

Cop Raises Could Slow City Budget Negotiations

May 20, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

The arbitrated deal to increase police salaries potentially has thrown a monkey wrench into budget negotiations between the mayor and City Council. A spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg has sugges....

Rally at City Hall for More School Money

May 16, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Education advocates and elected officials rallied at City Hall today for more school money. They're angry that Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed budget doesn't include more for the city's students.....

Bloomberg Blasts Union Retirement Plan

May 16, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

State legislators have been considering an analysis of a legislative proposal to offer early retirement to city workers without knowing that the study had been paid for by their union. The New Yo....

State Web Law has Chilling Effect for Online Retailers

May 15, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

A new state law for online retailers is already having a chilling effect on some business relationships. It requires out of state Web retailers to collect sales tax on all purchases made by New York....

Cablevision Buys Newsday from Tribune

May 12, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

The nation's eleventh-largest newspaper, Long Island-based Newsday, will soon change hands. WNYC's Ilya Marritz reports. The winning bid for Newsday came from Cablevision, which is based in Bet....

Pricing at the Rock Bottom

May 12, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Many people dread Monday morning and the return to the drudgery of work. But at one discount clothing store in downtown Manhattan, it’s the most eagerly anticipated time of the week. WNYC’s Ily....

Rupert Murdoch's Neighborhood Papers

May 06, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Over the past few weeks, three companies have been vying for control of Newsday. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, which owns the New York Post, began the bidding at $580 million. D....

Anti-Piracy Bill Gets Boost in Albany

May 05, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

A long-stalled bill in Albany to fight piracy of TV shows and movies got a boost today. Jeff Zucker, the president and CEO of NBC/Universal, urged state lawmakers to increase the penalty for first-t....

Wildflower Week Promotes Native Plants

May 04, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

The first-ever New York City Wildflower Week has begun. It's a celebration of plants native to the region. At Union Square, volunteers are handing out free seedlings. Marielle Anzelone is among the ....

Mayor Offers City a Lean Budget

May 02, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

There were lots of clouds and little silver lining on display at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's budget presentation yesterday. Given the fragile state of the economy, Bloomberg says the city will likely ....

The Stage is Set for New York City's 2009 Budget

May 01, 2008

by Ilya Marritz

Mayor Michael Bloomberg presents his 2009 budget today. WNYC's Ilya Marritz has a preview. The executive budget presentation marks the last act of the city government's yearly kabuki over spending. ....