Arun Venugopal

Senior Reporter, WNYC News

Arun Venugopal appears in the following:

Undercover Stings Expose Loophole at Gun Shows

Thursday, October 08, 2009

First, the city went after gun stores in other states. Now, its taking on the politically controversial matter of gun shows. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more on the city's latest undercover sting.

REPORTER: There are thousands of gun shows across the country, and while licensed dealers ...

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City Cracks Down on Gun Show Sales

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

(image courtesy of nyc.gov.)

(image courtesy of nyc.gov.)

City investigators found it all too easy to buy guns illegally at out-of-state gun shows, in the city's latest sting operation focusing on illegal gun sales. A four-month probe of 7 gun shows--in Ohio, Tennessee, and Nevada--found ...

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Councilman: After School Programs Prevent Youth Violence

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

A Queens councilman says after-school programs can help prevent shootings like the one that killed a 13-year-old boy over the weekend. According to Leroy Comrie, who represents the area in which Kevin Miller was killed, youth unemployment is a major problem. And he says many ...

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NYC to Expand Counterterror Network

Monday, October 05, 2009

The city is expanding its network of security cameras and other counterterrorism devices.

Officials say the system that has been in place downtown will also be implemented in midtown starting next year. Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement at the Lower Manhattan command center.

BLOOMBERG: If people know, ...

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Bill De Blasio Wins Democratic Runoff for Public Advocate

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Brooklyn councilman Bill de Blasio won the Democratic runoff for public advocate, handily defeating Mark Green. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: De Blasio won 62.5 percent of the vote, while Green got just 37.5 in his latest, and possibly last, run for office. Although the ...

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Public Advocate Candidates Focus on Minorities Towards Tomorrow's Runoff

Monday, September 28, 2009

The runoff in the public advocate's race is tomorrow, and both candidates say they expect few New Yorkers will vote. So they're focusing on minority neighborhoods, where they believe voters are more likely to turn out. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: Yesterday morning candidate Mark ...

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Doctor Who Treated Giraldo Testifes at Monserrate Trial

Friday, September 25, 2009

It was a bad day in court for State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who's charged with slashing his ex-girlfriend in the face. WNYCs Arun Venugopal has more on the testimony from the physician who met with her, soon after the incident.

REPORTER: Dr. Dawne Kort is the ...

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Doctor Testifies at Monserrate Trial

Thursday, September 24, 2009

It was a bad day in court for State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who is charged with slashing his ex-girlfriend in the face.

REPORTER: Dr. Dawne Kort, the physician who met with Karla Giraldo soon after the incident, testified in court today.

Dr. Kort is the attending physician ...

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One More Debate Before Public Advocate Runoff

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The two remaining candidates for public advocate square off in their only scheduled debate before Tuesdays' run-off election. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: Tonight's debate is the first since last week's primary, when in something of a surprise, Bill De Blasio won more votes than ...

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The Yes Men Are At It Again

Monday, September 21, 2009

That loose knit-group of political imposters who take on big issues through big stunts are hitting a local media outlet. Their latest action is timed to correspond with the first-ever New York City Climate Change ...

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Paterson Insists on Running Despite Washington Pressure

Monday, September 21, 2009

Governor Paterson says he has no plans of bowing out of next year's gubernatorial race, despite reports that the White House is asking him to. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: Reporters and TV crews mobbed the governor in Harlem, where he was marching in the ...

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Green on the Attack

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Mark Green continues to attack his opponent in the public advocate race, City Councilman Bill de Blasio, for what he terms a conflict of interest. Green says de Blasio should not have received campaign donations from groups that received special Council funds from his office. He said De Blasio had ...

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Monteserrate: No Jury of My Peers, Please

Monday, September 14, 2009

Queens state Senator Hiram Monserrate's fate will be decided by a judge, not a jury. Monserrate's attorney, Joseph Tacopina, asked for, and got, a bench trial with State Supreme Court Justice William Erlbaum. Tacopnia says he's concerned a jury might be swayed by emotion:

"We're that comfortable with the ...

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Candidates in Last Minute Scramble for Primary Votes

Monday, September 14, 2009

baez450Candidates for political office campaigned hard this weekend ahead of tomorrow's primary election, not just in citywide races but in some local races that might see a change of guard. In the 14th Council District, one challenger, Fernando Cabrera, has ...

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Judge to Decide Monserrate Case

Monday, September 14, 2009

Queens state senator Hiram Monserrate's fate will be decided by a judge, not a jury. Monserrate's attorney, Joseph Tacopina, asked for a bench trial today. He says he's concerned a jury might be swayed by emotion, and not by the facts.

TACOPINA: We're that comfortable with ...

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Guide: Council District 45, Brooklyn

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The 45th Council District covers Flatbush, East Flatbush and the Flatlands.

Map of the district

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Scandal Hovers Over Stewart in 45th District Race

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Kendall Stewart in the West Indies parade

Kendall Stewart in the West Indies parade

For the last eight years, the largely Caribbean neighborhood of East Flatbush has been represented by Councilmember Kendall Stewart. But the councilmember is fighting to keep his seat after two of his top aides were convicted of embezzling city funds.

It was only last June that Stewart found his office at the center of the City Council's so-called slush-fund scandal. Two aides pled guilty to stealing $145,000 that was supposed to go to non-profits. Stewart says he's innocent, but the issue has motivated some half dozen challengers to enter the race against him. Moderator Felicia Adams, the Editor of Carib World newspaper, raised it at a recent debate, co-sponsored by Whatz Up TV.

MODERATOR: Why should voters trust to send you back to City Hall for a 3rd term?

Stewart says it was his aides who were illegally diverting money from community-based organizations, or CBO's, without his knowledge.

STEWART: These members were not supposed to be involved with CBO's on the outside. And I know many people are involved with CBO's. You don't know what the executives are doing. You cannot really place that burden on the office.

Dexter McKenzie supporters in the West Indies parade

Dexter McKenzie supporters in the West Indies parade

Stewart has led the field in fundraising. His re-election campaign has raised some $65,000. Another candidate, college instructor Sam Taitt, has raised $43,000, while Dexter McKenzie, a physician has raised $49,000.

But in the last few days, one challenger has pulled even with Stewart. As of yesterday, Jumaane Williams had raised just $33 less than Stewart.

Unlike Stewart, who is a property owner with support from the real estate industry, Williams is a community organizer who's worked on affordable housing issues. He's also secured most of the big endorsements: from DC-37, 1199 and other powerful unions.

On a recent afternoon, he went door to door with an aide from the Working Families Party, trolling for votes.
Jumaane Williams

Jumaane Williams

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Of Politics and Parades

Monday, September 07, 2009

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed the mayor for a 3rd term, despite that painfully pink sweater.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed the mayor for a 3rd term, despite that painfully pink sweater.

The West Indian Day parade brought hundreds of thousands of people to Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn, including one very prominent person of West Indian descent... Colin Powell.

The former secretary of state showed up to formally endorse Mayor Bloomberg's campaign for a third term.

Listen to what endorsers say, listen to what Mayor Bloomberg says, but at the end of the day, what's best for you and what do you think is best for your city and vote that way. And if they do that I think they'll find that Mike is the guy who ought to be mayor for a third term.

The mayor's opponent, Comptroller Bill Thompson marched in the parade with Governor Paterson.

Some Thompson supporters, including a group of transit workers, shouted 'No More Years' a reference to the mayor's quest for a third term.

Members of TWU campaigning against Bloomy title=

Members of TWU campaigning against Bloomy


Roland Rogers for mayor. It can happen

Roland Rogers for mayor. It can happen


The parade highlighted some lesser-knowns as well.

The parade highlighted some lesser-knowns as well.

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New Yorkers Celebrate West Indian Heritage

Monday, September 07, 2009

The West Indian Day parade brought hundreds of thousands of people to Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn, including one very prominent person of West Indian descent... Colin Powell.

The former Secretary of State showed up to formally endorse Mayor Bloomberg's campaign for a third term.

POWELL: Listen to ...

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Bill de Blasio: "Got to Have the Inside and Outside Game"

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Bill de Blasio says he'd make a better public advocate than his more aggressive challengers, because he also knows how to work with the mayor. The Brooklyn council member was on The Brian Lehrer Show this morning, where he noted that he's advanced legislation by ...

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