Arun Venugopal

New York, NY —

The Roosevelt Island tram and its failure to run last week were at the center of City Council hearings today. WNYC's Arun Venugopal reports.

REPORTER: The hearings allowed many of the council members to voice their support for the tram's continued existence. Some Roosevelt Island residents ...

New York, NY —

The body of Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum was laid to rest this morning. The spiritual leader of tens of thousands of Satmar Hasidic Jews died last night. He was 91-years old. He was buried in the Orange county community of Kyrias Joel after his a funeral ...

New York, NY —

The latest world trade center rebuilding proposals offered to developer Larry Silverstein represents an effort by New York city, state, and New Jersey to finally work together. It calls for bringing the Freedom Tower under the control of the Port Authority, and allows Silverstein to ...

New York, NY —

The state official appointed to run the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation says the tram is "an intimate part of the Roosevelt Island mystique," but Mayor Bloomberg seemed ambivalent about the tram's future yesterday, saying the subway is quicker.

Meanwhile, the tram is still out of service ...

New York, NY —

Thousands of of building superintendents, porters, and doormen marched up Park Avenue yesterday, demanding a fair contract. Their union, Local 32-BJ is threatening to strike at midnight on Thursday.

REPORTER: Doorman Luis Jimenez says a recent wage proposal that included a one-year pay freeze and increased ...

New York, NY —

Twenty percent of New Jersey's energy will come from renewable sources under a new rule put into place by the state's board of public utilities. WNYC's Arun Venugopal reports.

REPORTER: The standard puts the state at the forefront of the alternative energy movement, rivaled only by ...

New York, NY —

Lawyers for the MTA again asked a Brooklyn judge to levy severe financial penalties against the Transport Workers Union for its illegal transit strike.

The day's proceedings centered on the union's financial status, and whether it can survive if subjected to millions of dollars in fines. ...

New York, NY —

The City Council held hearings today in an attempt to help resolve differences over the World Trade Center memorial. Construction began earlier this month, but some victims family members continue to press for changes.

REPORTER: The hearings drew a vocal core of 9-11 family members - ...

New York, NY —

The Port Authority and developer Larry Silverstein are once again said to be close to a deal on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. The two sides nearly reached a deal two weeks ago, only for talks to break down. For a growing number ...

New York, NY —

A state appeals court has ruled that New York City schools are entitled to billions in additional funding. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

The appeals court directed the state to spend an additional $4.7 billion per year - minimum - on New York City schools. That's ...

New York, NY —

More than 100,000 Irish-Americans will be marching up Fifth Avenue today to mark Saint Patrick's Day. But City Council speaker Christine Quinn won't be one of them. The speaker, who is of Irish descent and gay, failed to get parade organizers to lift their ban ...

New York, NY —

Associates of developer Larry Silverstein squared off with Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff during a city council hearing on the status of the World Trade Center rebuilding effort.

REPORTER: In hearings interrupted by hissing, applause and a visit from a group of Chinese dignitaries, Deputy mayor Doctoroff ...

New York, NY —

The wait appears to be over. Groundbreaking on the World Trade Center memorial takes place this Monday. The memorial is due to be completed by 2009. WNYC's Arun Venugopal looks into the politics that have surrounded - and still surround the memorial - as well ...

New York, NY —

The African Burial Ground in lower Manhattan has achieved National Monument status. WNYC's Arun Venugopal attended today's ceremony.

REPORTER: The ceremony was both a celebration, and in a sense, a wake for 400-plus free and enslaved Africans. Their remains lie under a small plot of land ...

New York, NY —

Tomorrow special elections will be held in six assembly districts around the state. Three of those districts are within the five boroughs. One of those races is taking place on the Upper West Side, in the 67th district.

That's for a seat recently vacated by Scott ...

New York, NY —

Four editorial staffers at the New York Press have resigned in protest. Their decision came after the free weekly paper decided against publishing some of the controversial Danish cartoons that depict the prophet Muhammad. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: The New York Press would not ...

The Real Estate Board of New York's first report on residental sales in 19 Brooklyn neighborhoods was met with the occasional whoop of joy from an audience of realtors.

Between 2004 and 2005, the median price of a condo or co-op went up by 38 percent. DUMBO led all neighborhoods, at ...

New York, NY —

We are midway through the 15-day Chinese New Year, which is being celebrated across the city. WNYC's Arun Venugopal took the opportunity to celebrate the festival with those who know it best.

It’s the first day of the Chinese New Year and Patrick Kwan ...

New York, NY —

The City Council has approved a proposal for the Gateway Center at Bronx Terminal Market. The $400 million mall is one of Mayor Bloomberg's signature economic development projects. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

The City Council's approval means that the project is just one step away ...

New York, NY —

HIV testing, detox treatment and programs meant to stop cigarette smoking will soon be featured at city homeless shelters, as part of an effort to bring better treatment to the people sleeping there. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: The changes come in the wake of ...