Arun Venugopal

New York, NY —

Pakistani immigrants in New York City are reacting with shock and dismay at the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. Most tell WNYC's Arun Venugopal they do not believe the government of President Musharraf is behind the killing.

Some people dismiss any rumors that Musharraf's government ...

New York, NY —

The NYPD says 2007 will be the 17th consecutive year with a decrease in felony crimes in the city. That includes a 17 percent drop in homicides.

REPORTER: According to Mayor Bloomberg one of the highlights is the 36 percent drop in domestic violence murders. That ...

New York, NY —

The numbers are in: felony crimes in New York City have dropped for the 17th consecutive year.

REPORTER: That includes a 17 percent drop in homicides since last year, and an 11 percent drop in rapes. Mayor Bloomberg says the city is likely to experience fewer ...

New York, NY —

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani is in the city and continues to insist on his good health.

REPORTER: Plagued by flu-like symptoms, the Republican presidential candidate was admitted to a St. Louis hospital late last week. This move has prompted questions concerning the state of his health.

But, ...

New York, NY —

REPORTER: The last waves of Christmas shoppers are arriving at stores, having put off their purchases about as long as possible.

But, alongside those procrastinators are also shoppers like Rene Connolly, who bought all her gifts weeks ago. She was still prowling the stores of Harlem ...

New York, NY —

Columbia University's $7 billion expansion plan will likely to generate about $300 million in community benefits.

The city says it will provide $150 million for affordable housing over the next six years. This will match the amount promised by the university on Wednesday, when the City ...

New York, NY —

With the Iowa caucuses just days away, Mayor Bloomberg is under more pressure from the media to say whether he intends to enter the presidential campaign. Once again, he says he isn't running....but he admits to wanting to influence the issues.

BLOOMBERG: I want to make ...

New York, NY —

Columbia University's controversial plan to transform 17 acres of West Harlem will go forward. The City Council gave its final approval to the rezoning request yesterday. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

The council approved the Columbia plan even as it was brokering a set of community ...

New York, NY —

REPORTER: A new study, from the Design Trust for Public Space, also found that passengers want to pay for a cab ride with Metrocards and credit cards. But, according to the Design Trust's Deborah Marton, it isn't just about the ride but the driver too.

MARTON: ...

New York, NY —

Members of the commission were presented with about 10 plans - either variations on the city's original proposal or complete departures, such as the idea to toll East River Bridges. Most of these would be significantly cheaper to implement and in some cases, would generate ...

New York, NY —

For elected officials from Brooklyn and Queens, the only option worse than congestion pricing would be tolls on the East River Bridges. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

There haven't been any tolls on the East River Bridges since 1911, but the idea of re-instating them has ...

New York, NY —

It's been just over a month since the death of Khiel Coppin, in Brooklyn. He's the emotionally ill 18 year old who was shot by police officers who thought he was holding a gun. It turned out to be a hairbrush. The incident drew attention ...

New York, NY —

It's been exactly one month since the death of Khiel Coppin in Brooklyn. He's the emotionally disturbed 18 year old who was shot by police after pulling out a hairbrush. Officers thought he was holding a gun. The death drew attention to the NYPD's methods ...

New York, NY —

Part of an MTA proposal includes increasing the price of monthly Metrocards to $81, up from $76 and the introduction of a 14-day unlimited card. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: The proposals have already received the blessings of the governor and mayor, pretty much ensuring ...

New York, NY —

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is ending what he calls a kickback scheme between a student loan company and 63 colleges, including St. Johns University.

REPORTER: According to Cuomo the Florida based company, Student Financial Services, paid colleges in order to use their branding, thus misleading students ...

New York, NY —

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky says the MTA can still delay its December 19 vote to raise fares and allow the state to come up with more funding.

REPORTER: The MTA announced it intends to raise the price of monthly Metrocards by 5 dollars but Brodsky says they ...

New York, NY —

The city has detailed some of the immediate measures it's taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in the next 10 years. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: Most of the work involves the simple task of installing more efficient light bulbs, in dozens of ...

New York, NY —

Construction has started on the extension of the 7 train, which eventually will take riders from Times Square where it currently ends to 11th Avenue and 34th Street. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more. REPORTER: The extension of the 7 line is expected to cost the ...

New York, NY —

The city's proposed redevelopment of Willets Point would bring housing, a hotel and a convention center to the Queens neighborhood. But the businesses already there told the City Council it's a raw deal. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: The issue of eminent domain dominated the ...

New York, NY —

The City Planning Commission endured frequent disruptions before approving the proposal to transform 17-acres of West Harlem.

To the surprise of many opponents of the plan, Commissioner Irwin Kantor, abstained, saying he was opposed to Columbia's threat to use eminent domain in order to evict holdout ...