Cindy Rodriguez

New York, NY —

The city will try to lure supermarkets into low-income neighborhoods with financial incentives and zone changes. The plan, aimed at combating diabetes and obesity, is being touted as the first of its kind in the country. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports:

REPORTER: The incentives will include property ...

New York, NY —

Daycare providers waiting almost two years for raises will finally get them, but the Administration for Children's Services says it will have to cut childcare for about 950 kids in order to afford the extra pay. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports:

The agency will look to cut ...

New York, NY —

A former Lehman Brothers banker has been appointed to lead the New York City Housing Authority. Mayor Bloomberg says John Rhea's 20-year career in the private sector would equip him to increase transparency and secure the authority's finances. Rhea acknowledges he has no housing experience, ...

New York, NY —

Police had to be called in to control crowds at a job fair in Brooklyn that attracted 4,000 people. Congressman Edolphus Towns sponsored the fair. He says his constituents are struggling right now and thousands showed up with the hope of finding employment.

TOWNS: People with ...

New York, NY —

A group of immigrant tenants say their landlord is trying to illegally evict them from two buildings in East Harlem. A letter to tenants says the buildings must be renovated and the city won't allow work to be done unless they're empty. The tenants acknowledge ...

New York, NY —

For homeowners facing unaffordable mortgage payments, courts across the five boroughs are offering conferences between lenders and borrowers in an effort to avoid foreclosures. A new law requires that the two sides meet. Elected officials and advocates thought the process would save thousands from losing ...

Our panel of nine guests will discuss the Mexican American experience in NYC as well as current issues affecting the Mexican American community. Guests include: Maria Hinojosa, senior correspondent for NOW on PBS and managing editor of NPR’s Latino USA; Daniel Jaquez, freelance theater director and the ...

New York, NY —

Immigrants demanding equal rights and fair treatment rallied at Madison Square Park in Manhattan today. A woman who would only identify herself as Mary from Zimbabwe held up a sign that read stop separating families. She says she wants to bring her children and grandchildren ...

New York, NY —

As the Swine Flu continues to make headlines, Mexicans in New York say they are keeping tabs on their family back home while trying to stay healthy here. Many in this immigrant community are from the state of Puebla, just south of Mexico City and ...

New York, NY —

Tenants at a large apartment complex in Tribeca say their landlord is illegally hiking their rents, despite receiving city tax abatements. As WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports, the tenants could benefit from a recent ruling that limits how landlords convert rent-regulated apartments.

REPORTER: Last month tenants at ...

New York, NY —

Despite still recovering from a heart condition and a gastro-intestinal virus, Cardinal Edward Egan has returned to lead Holy Week services after recently being released from the hospital.

EGAN: My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Welcome to St. Patrick's Cathedral.

REPORTER: Thousands of Catholics attended Holy ...

New York, NY —

Some local non-profits are praising the Bloomberg Administration's plan to assist social service agencies and cultural institutions that are struggling during the recession. Several initiatives are aimed at streamlining the contracting process so those that do business with the city get paid faster.

Ronald Soloway of ...

New York, NY —

The mayoral election is more than six months away but New Yorkers will soon hear the first TV ad to be released by the Bloomberg campaign. The ad focuses on the troubled economy and shows Bloomberg speaking to working New Yorkers, business executives and others. ...

New York, NY —

Daycare centers that run pre-kindergarten programs say the city has implemented an unexpected and complicated budget cut that threatens pre-K slots. WNYC's cindy rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: Hundreds of low income parents send their kids to pre-K at daycare centers funded by the Administration for Children's Services. ...

New York, NY —

The Department of Labor is using immigrant groups and labor unions to educate workers and employers about state labor laws. Alex Lazaro from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union says his group will cover the lower and upper east side as well as Harlem:

LAZARO: ...

New York, NY —

Low income New Yorkers are now reaping the benefits of federal stimulus funds. Food stamps went up 13 percent today. That means an additional $40 a month for families like Ann Valdez and her son.

VALDEZ: I guess the best thing I can say is this ...

New York, NY —

It has been about a year since the passage of a law giving tenants the right to sue landlords for harassment. Building owners fought to repeal it because of concerns the courts would be overwhelmed with frivolous lawsuits. As of mid-February 350 claims have been ...

New York, NY —

City officials say the federal government is considering new regulations that could greatly diminish the city's authority over regulating cranes. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez has more:

REPORTER: Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri testified in front of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration yesterday. He told officials ...

WNYC reporters Elaine Rivera, Cindy Rodriguez, and Matthew Schuerman discuss David Paterson's first year as New York's Governor and how his administration has affected New York City.

New York, NY —

After 16 years in service, the city’s only place of respite for homeless senior citizens is closing in June. Peter’s Place serves about 180 people a day. Their average age is just under 70.

This so-called drop-in center offers hot meals, showers and help with finding ...