Bob Hennelly

New York, NY —

City Council members are asking why the City's fiscal watchdog, Comptroller Bill Thompson, failed to detect the use of phony non-profits by council leadership to hide millions of dollars. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has this report.

REPORTER: At face value it would be like finding a needle ...

WNYC's Bob Hennelly gives us the latest on the City Council slush fund indictments.

New York, NY —

The indictment of two City Council staffers who allegedly stole $145,000 from a non-profit has exposed serious weaknesses in the Council's financial controls.

But WNYC's Bob Hennelly says the ongoing probe may find the lax controls may extend to city agencies, too.

The practice of Council leadership ...

New York, NY —

There's growing discontent among City Council members with their leader, Speaker Christine Quinn.

Members are still concerned with Quinn's proposal to basically give the mayor's office final say in how the council doles out its discretionary funds. That's money council members give out for projects ...

New York, NY —

After weeks of public speculation about a criminal probe into the city council's budget practices, federal prosecutors unsealed the indictment of two staffers who worked for Brooklyn Councilman Kendall Stewart. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said the alleged conspiracy was masterminded by ...

New York, NY —

In the aftermath of last week's disclosure about several years of deceptive budgeting at the city council, Speaker Christine Quinn has rolled out several proposed reforms including the creation of an independent compliance officer.

REPORTER: Councilman John Liu says Quinn is motivated by ambition for higher ...

New York, NY —

This past week Mayor Michael Bloomberg was dealt a major setback when his ambitious congestion pricing plan failed to garner even enough support from Albany lawmakers to get posted for a vote. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. SILVER: Many of them don't believe in the concept. ...

New York, NY —

Council Speaker Christine Quinn met with over 300 seniors yesterday to discuss creating a more senior friendly city.

Quinn, however, continued to be pressed by reporters about the recent revelation that for years, council leadership budgeted millions of dollars to non-existent nonprofit groups and then awarded ...

WNYC's Bob Hennelly takes a look at the scandal erupting over City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's practice of budgeting funds for non-existent non-profit groups.

New York, NY —

The city's murder rate is on the rise, after years of decline. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

There were 22 more murders citywide in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year. An NYPD spokesman says this 25 percent increase is ...

New York, NY —

An ongoing criminal investigation suddenly cast a bright light on the finances of the City Council, as well as deceptive budgeting practices that may go back decades.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn said her staff discovered the historical irregularities last year.

They found that the council funded ...

New York, NY —

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn found herself on the defensive today. A New York Post story said that Quinn, an advocate of fiscal transparency and reform, has been using a secret slush fund, one that other speakers have used since 1988.

Quinn's office funded it over ...

New York, NY —

New Jersey Democrats may be headed into an intense battle for the nomination for the junior Senate seat - it's a fight that could rival the contest for the party's presidential nomination.

First, the 84-year-old incumbent senator, Frank Lautenberg was to face Morristown mayor and ...

WNYC reporter Bob Hennelly talks about New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's opposition to congestion pricing.

New York, NY —

Hundreds of critics and boosters of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's controversial plan to rezone Harlem's 125th Street packed the City Council yesterday.

WNYC's Bob Hennelly was there.

It's the first comprehensive plan for Harlem's "Main Street" in over 40 years. Council backers contend the plan offers protections for ...

New York, NY —

REPORTER: Councilman Lewis Fidler, who led the opposition, claims the mayor promised a campaign fundraiser as an incentive for an undecided council person who dropped by Gracie Mansion before the vote.

FIDLER: While that member was there, the mayor suggested that he would do a fundraiser ...

New York, NY —

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenburg, a Democrat, has made it official - he's going to seek a fifth term.

Lautenberg will face a June democratic primary challenge from Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, who has called for using local police for immigration enforcement.

At 84, Lautenberg is ...

WNYC’s Bob Hennelly chats about his interview with Barack Obama.

WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports on Senator Obama's speech on the economy at Cooper Union, then Jason Furman, Brookings Institution senior fellow, and Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal editorial board compare the three presidential candidates' responses to the mortgage crisis.

New York, NY —

In an interview with WNYC, Sen. Barack Obama commented on a number of urban issues. He says he supports efforts by the city to reduce traffic by charging congestion fees, calling Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan thoughtful and innovative.

OBAMA: "He's got to work out the details ...