Elaine Rivera

New York, NY —

Eminent domain - the right of government to take land from private owners for the public good - has always been used to build public projects such as highways, hospitals, schools and parks. But another interpretation of the process is integrating eminent domain into some ...

New York, NY —

Following in Elliot Spitzer's footsteps, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is using a special law to widen his investigation into a state pension fund scandal.

REPORTER: Cuomo is now using the Martin Act to allow him to issue subpoenas and secure documents to bring criminal charges ...

New York, NY —

Republican Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno has distanced himself from the latest scandal - a profanity-laced phone call allegedly made by a Republican consultant to Governor Spitzer's father. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: Bruno quickly accepted the resignation of Roger Stone, who was hired by Senate ...

New York, NY —

A top Republican consultant resigns after an obscenity-laced phone call to Governor Eliot Spitzer's father was traced to his home. But Majority Leader Joe Bruno says officials should stay focused on investigating Spitzer. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports:

REPORTER: After hiring a security firm, attorneys for real ...

New York, NY —

Governor Elliot Spitzer conducted a whirlwind tour in New York yesterday to announce economic plans for the city. He's trying to push aside the trooper spy scandal. WNYC's Elaine Rivera with with the Governor in Brooklyn.

His sleeves rolled up and his face red from a ...

New York, NY —

The drumbeat escalates for Governor Eliot Spitzer to testify about what he knew in the trooper spy scandal. In the meantime, his legislative agenda may be taking a hit. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports: Editorials across the state are calling for Spitzer to disclose whether he ...

WNYC News —

Governor Spitzer has rejected a Republican state senator's call for a special prosecutor to look into any possible role the governor may have played in the trooper spy scandal. More fallout is expected. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: Republican State Senator George Winner, who chairs the Investigations ...

New York, NY —

Today, the International Association of Fire Fighters is expected to release a video that attacks Rudy Giuliani's reputation as a hero of 9/11. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

The 13 minute video will feature New York City firefighters and family members of victims who died in the ...

New York, NY —

A hard-hitting video has been released that criticizes former mayor and Republican presidential Rudolph Giuliani for his handling of the September 11th attacks. The online video was produced by a group Giuliani usually boasts as an ally: firefighters. WNYC’s Elaine Rivera talks about the video, ...

New York, NY —

The city and state granted billions of dollars in contracts in the past decade as unprecedented building and development took off. Left out of much of that boom, however, were minority and women owned businesses because of city and state initiatives to aid them were ...

New York, NY —

It may be 2 days after the 4th of July, but the fireworks continue in Albany as Governor Eliot Spitzer and Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno continue slinging accusations at each other. The vitriol is raising eyebrows even among the most seasoned political observers. ...

New York, NY —

It's been 2 years since the Supreme Court made it easier for governments to take private property, using what's called eminent domain. Yesterday, on the anniversary of the ruling, a broad coalition of opponents said the law is being abused. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: The ...

New York, NY —

Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani maintains the top perch among his Republican rivals in the latest polls. This in spite of a major flip-flop on abortion and embarrassing disclosures regarding his current wife and personal life in the past few months. WNYC's Elaine Rivera explores why ...

New York, NY —

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards unveiled his anti-terrorism strategy yesterday during a visit to the city. He also took the opportunity to blast the Bush administration and his Republican rivals. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: At a midtown Manhattan press conference, Edwards says his strategy would ...

New York, NY —

Presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani's 4 New York fundraisers were marred yesterday by a vocal protest among firefighters and their families who oppose his campaign. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: The more than 3 dozen protesters jeered as Giuliani arrived in a black SUV at a Bay ...

Alberto Vourvoulias-Bush, executive editor of El Diario-La Prensa; Sree Sreenivasan, dean of students at Columbia Journalism School, tech reporter for WNBC-TV and co-founder of the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA); Ti-Hua Chang, reporter for WCBS-TV; and Elaine Rivera, reporter for WNYC, look ...

New York, NY —

WNYC has learned that the international Association of Firefighters plans to send a video to a quarter million union members strongly criticizing former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports:

REPORTER: The six-minute video will be sent to 280,000 firefighters in the next two weeks. Jeff ...

New York, NY —

All you have to do is look at all the cranes swinging over the city and you know we're in a major building boom. And the Bronx is getting its share. But activists and residents are afraid that the city's mega development projects will have ...

New York, NY —

Last night's Republican state committee fundraiser in Midtown drew presidential hopefuls Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

More than 1,000 people paid $1,000 for a chicken dinner to hear Giuliani and McCain's stump speeches. Giuliani said he would do for America what he ...