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Rival: Weiner Should Pay Election Costs For Vacated House Seat (NY Post, May 21, 2013)

Cuomo: $80 Million To Help Local Governments (Associated Press, May 15, 2013)

The Story of the World’s Most Expensive Train Station (NY Observer, May 15, 2013)

'Legacy Costs' Eating Up Quarter Of City's Budget (Village Voice, May 15, 2013)

DiNapoli: Fund Value Rebounding (Albany Times Union, May 7, 2013)

City Workers Holding Bike Traffic Signs Paid Very Well (NY Post, Apr 26, 2013)

Cuomo Plan To Help Municipalities Restructure (Albany Times Union, Apr 26, 2013)

Day Centers Sprout Up, Luring Fit Elders And Costing Medicaid (NY Times, Apr 23, 2013)

Raising The Salary Bar For Some State Workers (Albany Times Union, Apr 17, 2013)

SUNY Downstate Focus Of Senate Budget Debate (Gotham Gazette, Mar 27, 2013)

Cuomo’s New ‘Fast’ Tax: Surcharge On Speeders In State Budget (NY Post, Mar 27, 2013)

Senate Nears Budget Goal (Albany Times Union, Mar 27, 2013)

State Tells Investors That Climate Change May Hurt Its Finances (NY Times, Mar 27, 2013)

Tax Rebate Details Emerge (Albany Times Union, Mar 26, 2013)

Deal In Albany Would Extend Higher Taxes On Top Earners (NY Times, Mar 20, 2013)

How The Mayor And Comptroller Fumbled On The Budget (NY World, Mar 19, 2013)

Federal Budget Cuts Will Hit JFK (NY Times, Mar 6, 2013)

Aqueduct Bet Pays Off (NY Post, Mar 6, 2013)

Cuomo To Put Health Programs In Categories To Compete For Grants (Albany Times Union, Mar 5, 2013)

Federal Cuts Will Hit City For $800 Million (Daily News, Mar 5, 2013)

$100,000 In Solar Equipment Swiped From Brooklyn Bridge Park (NY Post, Feb 27, 2013)

To Curb Suits, City Now Opts To Fight Them (NY Times, Feb 26, 2013)

City Wins Ruling, Will Dock Workers for Not Showing During 2010 Storm (NY Post, Feb 12, 2013)

MTA Chairman Approved Four Retroactive Raises Totaling $253,000 (NY Post, Feb 6, 2013)

Lawsuit Seeks to Block Penalty for Teacher-Evaluation Impasse (Wall Street Journal, Feb 6, 2013)

School Bus Strike Saving the City Money, Despite Payouts to Parents (Daily News, Feb 6, 2013)

Housing Authority to Lease Playgrounds, Community Centers for Luxury High-Rises (Daily News, Feb 6, 2013)

Massive Salaries for Executives at Medicaid Funded Non-Profits (NY Post, Feb 5, 2013)

Bloomberg Seeks Spending Limits, but No Tax Increases (NY Times, Jan 30, 2013)

Cuomo Pitches Fiscal Control Board As One Way to Retool Ailing Cities Upstate (Albany Times Union, Jan 29, 2013)

New Site Makes it Easier to View City Spending (NY Times, Jan 23, 2013)

Bloomberg Slams UFT Teacher Evaluations Plan (Daily News, Jan 23, 2013)

Multiple New Marijuana Proposals Waft Towards Albany (Politicker, Jan 22, 2013)

For Cuomo, a Budget Test (WNYC, Jan 22, 2013)

Dozens of NYC State Senators Exceed Rental Allotment (NY Post, Jan 22, 2013)

Thompson Says He Wouldn’t Raise Taxes if Elected Mayor (NY Times, Jan 18, 2013)

Audit: SUNY Downstate Loses Millions a Year (Wall Street Journal, Jan 18, 2013)

Conservatives Chip Away at Sandy Aid (Associated Press, Jan 15, 2013)

Battle Lines Drawn Over Sandy Relief Package (WNYC, Jan 15, 2013)

House Set to Debate $50 Billion in Sandy Aid (Wall Street Journal, Jan 15, 2013)

School Bus Drivers’ Union Calls for Strike on Wednesday (NY Times, Jan 15, 2013)

State Comptroller Warns NY Is Headed For Fiscal Cliff (Daily News, Jan 8, 2013)

Houses Of Worship Seeking FEMA Grants Face Constitutional Barrier (NY Times, Jan 4, 2013)

Sandy Aid Vote Back On Track After GOP Outcry (NY Times, Jan 3, 2013)

Task Force Report Tells of Danger, Cuomo Lauds His Administration (Associated Press, Dec 19, 2012)

Cost-Cut Ideas Forwarded to Governor (Albany Times Union, Dec 19, 2012)

City is No Longer Reporting the Costs of its Settlements of Federal Cases (NY Times, Dec 10, 2012)

MTA Still Assessing Cost of Damage to South Ferry Station (Wall Street Journal, Nov 28, 2012)

City to Send Property-Tax Rebates That State Lawmakers Have Yet to Approve (NY Post, Nov 20, 2012)

Cuomo Aide Defends Choice of Highest Bidder for Driver's Licenses (Associated Press, Nov 16, 2012)

Storm Costs Wreak Havoc With Budgets (Wall Street Journal, Nov 14, 2012)

Cuomo to Seek $30 Billion in Aid for Storm Relief (NY Times, Nov 12, 2012)

As Shortfall Looms, Bloomberg Plans Cuts (NY Times, Nov 12, 2012)

Fare-Hike Hearings Back on Track (Daily News, Nov 7, 2012)

Cuomo’s Medicaid Changes Are at Washington’s Mercy (NY Times, Oct 24, 2012)

Report Tracks Student-Data System Usage (Wall Street Journal, Oct 22, 2012)

Education Department Payed Employees Who Stopped Showing Up (NY Post, Oct 22, 2012)

State Lawmakers Get Taxpayer Funds to Sleep in Second Homes in Albany (NY Post, Oct 22, 2012)

NYPD Hiring Out-of-Towners at Twice the Rate of Locals (Daily News, Oct 22, 2012)

Effort to Speed Up Repairs Will Save the City $200 Million (NY Times, Oct 18, 2012)

Did the Sanitation Department Trash a Cost-Saving Garbage Solution? (NY World, Oct 17, 2012)

Fiscal Woes, Long-Held Fears Spur Waste-to-Energy Debate (City Limits, Oct 17, 2012)

Development Deal to Bail Out Yankee Stadium Parking Lot Fiasco Stalls (Daily News, Oct 16, 2012)

'Rubber Rooms' Still Cost $22 Million a Year (Daily News, Oct 16, 2012)

MTA to unveil fare-hike proposals (Daily News, Oct 15, 2012)

State spending at $6,859 per person (Associated Press, Oct 15, 2012)

NY cities close to bankruptcy, looking to Cuomo for bailout (NY Post, Oct 15, 2012)

Tax stances separate 2013 hopefuls (Wall Street Journal, Oct 9, 2012)

State's public authorities trim jobs (Albany Times Union, Oct 8, 2012)

Unions, who agreed to wage freezes, angered by plans for Albany pay hikes (Daily News, Oct 8, 2012)

Housing Authority seeks millions for 'desperately needed' repairs (Daily News, Oct 1, 2012)

Parks Department lost $200,000 after doubling fees at recreation centers (NY Post, Sep 26, 2012)

State comptroller says tax receipts $147M below projections (Associated Press, Sep 21, 2012)

NY overbilled feds $15 billion for Medicaid over 20 years (Lower Hudson Journal, Sep 20, 2012)

Education is not spared in city’s latest round of budget cuts (Gotham Schools, Sep 19, 2012)

City comptroller re-signs firm he fired, no competitive bidding (NY Post, Sep 19, 2012)

Cuomo orders agencies to 'assume zero growth' in spending plans (Daily News, Sep 19, 2012)

Assembly spent additional $2,400 on sexual harassment suit, documents show (NY Times, Sep 18, 2012)

MTA to release fare hike options next month (NY Post, Sep 18, 2012)

Scores of prisoners could have been released for deportation years ago (Albany Times Union, Sep 17, 2012)

Big city projects on back burner since the attacks (Wall Street Journal, Sep 10, 2012)

City could save money by extending cops’ daily shifts: study (NY Post, Sep 3, 2012)

Rating agencies warn MTA on payroll-tax court ruling (Wall Street Journal, Aug 29, 2012)

MTA wants payback for Irene (NY Post, Aug 28, 2012)

Improved outlook for state's credit rating (WNYC, Aug 28, 2012)

Medical malpractice lawsuits cost city $134 million this year (Daily News, Aug 27, 2012)

Mayor: taxi stop sign means cuts (Wall Street Journal, Aug 21, 2012)

City Island bridge plan ripped (NY Post, Aug 10, 2012)

Upstate mayors cold to fiscal control board idea (Wall Street Journal, Aug 7, 2012)

State asks feds to reinvest billions in Medicaid savings (Albany Times Union, Aug 7, 2012)

NYPD accused of miscalculating benefits for officers in military (Associated Press, Aug 3, 2012)

Controlling the cost of Medicaid (MetroFocus, Aug 1, 2012)

Housing Authority sitting on nearly $1 billion in federal cash (Daily News, Aug 1, 2012)

Opposition to proposed bike arena in Brooklyn (NY Times, Jul 31, 2012)

Shift in how state pays bills cuts summer food programs (Albany Times Union, Jul 31, 2012)

Out-of-town homeless families in NYC shelters jumps 48 percent (Daily News, Jul 31, 2012)

NY localities hurt as Indian casino cash dries up (Associated Press, Jul 30, 2012)

Settlements cost localities $1B a year, study says (Albany Times Union, Jul 27, 2012)

Audits: State overpaid $33 million in Medicaid bills (Albany Times Union, Jul 25, 2012)

Cuomo signs law expanding tax credits for film and television industry (Daily News, Jul 25, 2012)

NY casino tax revenue double New Jersey and Nevada combined (NY Post, Jul 24, 2012)

Price tag for security cameras in housing projects rises (Daily News, Jul 23, 2012)

Fed grand jury probes Grimm fundraising (Daily News, Jul 20, 2012)

NY comptroller says Green Island needs to check pension payout (Albany Times Union, Jul 20, 2012)

Feds snuff out the roll-your-own cigarette tax loophole (Albany Times Union, Jul 10, 2012)

State agencies increase by 63 (Albany Times Union, Jul 3, 2012)

Costly brownfield cleanup plan benefiting affluent developers extended (Albany Times Union, Jul 2, 2012)

NYC budget uncertainty could lead to cuts later (Associated Press, Jul 2, 2012)

Free subway and bus rides proposed for some disabled users (NY Times, Jun 26, 2012)

Big rise seen in fare beaters (Wall Street Journal, Jun 26, 2012)

Roll-your-own cigarettes win state tax fight (Associated Press, Jun 26, 2012)

Mayor, council announce $68.5 billion budget deal (Associated Press, Jun 26, 2012)

Charter school gets disproportionate share of state education money (Daily News, Jun 25, 2012)

Audit: contractors shortchanged preschool special ed program (NY Times, Jun 25, 2012)

Freeloading bus riders cost MTA $50 million (Daily News, Jun 20, 2012)

State seeks input on federal health funding request (WNYC, Jun 18, 2012)

With taxi deal blocked, the city’s budget is in flux (NY Times, Jun 18, 2012)

Ratings agency warns of rough road for Thruway (Albany Times Union, Jun 13, 2012)

New city message on food: buy local (Wall Street Journal, Jun 12, 2012)

City budget balanced with help from Wall Street (Bloomberg, Jun 6, 2012)

Comptroller says Contractor on 911 System Inappropriately Billed Millions (NY Times, May 31, 2012)

City Council Questions Officials on 911 System (WNYC, May 30, 2012)

Upper East Side Trash Plan Price Frustrates Opponents (Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2012)

Analysis: City Budget Shortfall May Drop by $600 Million (Associated Press, May 23, 2012)

East Side Access $1 Billion Over Budget (NY Post, May 22, 2012)

Audit: NY overcharged Medicaid for disabled care (Poughkeepsie Journal, May 18, 2012)

Thompson Approved $300 Million Break for Battery Park City Owners (Daily News, May 16, 2012)

Tax-Cap Formula Means Different Things for Different Schools (Albany Times Union, May 11, 2012)

Queens to Lose Over 30 After-School Programs This Year (Daily News, May 10, 2012)

Bloomberg: I Didn't 'Bother' to Read 911 Report (Associated Press, May 9, 2012)

Ex-Con Ousted from MTA Project (Daily News, May 8, 2012)

Mayor to Present Executive Budget; City Revenue Not Growing as Predicted (WNYC, May 3, 2012)

Senate GOP Tries to Distribute $10 Million More to Schools (Associated Press, May 2, 2012)

Discretionary Funds Yanked from Indicted Councilmember Seabrook (NY Post, May 2, 2012)

Medicaid Rolls Soar, Costs Down (Albany Times Union, May 2, 2012)

Most School Budgets Comply with New State Tax Cap (Associated Press, Apr 30, 2012)

Union says MTA Should Move Offices to Brooklyn to Save in Rent (WNYC, Apr 26, 2012)

State Sues Sprint-Nextel for $100 Million in Sales Taxes (Associated Press, Apr 20, 2012)

City Hall Renovation Costs Keep Skyrocketing (NY Post, Apr 18, 2012)

Blacks, Latinos More Likely to be Enrolled in Lowest-Performing High Schools (Daily News, Apr 18, 2012)

City Settles Lawsuit That Claimed Bias and Retaliation for $750,000 (NY Times, Apr 17, 2012)

Governor Rejects Some Earmarks and Halts 'Bullet Aid' to Schools (Albany Times Union, Apr 12, 2012)

Mayor Wants Comptroller Stripped of Power Over Unionized Trade Worker Pay (Daily News, Apr 12, 2012)

Audit Finds Fraud in Construction Bids at SUNY Downstate Medical Center (Daily News, Apr 11, 2012)

Even Without New Contracts, Many Public Employees Get Raises (NY Times, Apr 11, 2012)

Monitor for Fire Department Minority Hiring Has Charged the City $310,000 (Daily News, Apr 5, 2012)

Bloomberg Defends Decision Not to Release 911 System Report (Daily News, Apr 4, 2012)

Redistricting Task Force Still Has a Budget (Albany Times Union, Apr 4, 2012)

'Bullet Aid' Funds for Schools Called Pork (Albany Times Union, Apr 3, 2012)

State Public Workers Rushed to Join Pensions Before Cutbacks (NY Times, Apr 3, 2012)

State’s Poorest Schools Get Boost From Budget: Moody’s (Bloomberg, Apr 3, 2012)

City Tries to Squelch 911 Disaster Report (NY Post, Apr 2, 2012)

Charter Spending Squeezing Education Budget (NY Times, Mar 30, 2012)

State: "Back Office" Mergers to Save $1 Billion (Albany Times Union, Mar 29, 2012)

State's Spending Plan Skips Lawmaker Sponsored Pet Projects (Daily News, Mar 29, 2012)

Albany Strikes On-Time Budget Deal (Associated Press, Mar 28, 2012)

State Budget Process Nearing End (WNYC, Mar 27, 2012)

Health Care Union Asks Albany for Another Bailout of its Insurance Fund (Wall Street Journal, Mar 22, 2012)

At Prospect Park, a Transformation is Five Years Behind Schedule (NY Times, Mar 20, 2012)

City Experimenting with One-Man Machines to Fill Potholes (Daily News, Mar 20, 2012)

City Comptroller Audit Targets Tax Breaks (Wall Street Journal, Mar 20, 2012)

Assembly Speaker Pushes to Reinstate Member Items (NY Post, Mar 20, 2012)

Union Suspends All Contributions and Endorsements Over Pension Ovehaul (NY Post, Mar 20, 2012)

Down to a Jog on the Budget (Albany Times Union, Mar 19, 2012)

Under Pressure, State Moves to Soften Tough Medicaid Audits (NY Times, Mar 19, 2012)

Over $1 Billion in State Transit Funds on Table in US Senate Bill (NY Post, Mar 15, 2012)

Contractor Strikes $500 Million Deal in City Payroll Scandal (NY Times, Mar 15, 2012)

Governor Warns Pensions Threaten to Bankrupt Municipalities (Albany Times Union, Mar 14, 2012)

Legislature's Budget Measures Don't Have Explicit Pension Plan (Albany Times Union, Mar 13, 2012)

City's Business Incubator in Jamaica Near-Empty (NY Post, Mar 12, 2012)

Cuomo’s Pension Plan Rejected by Assembly Democrats (Bloomberg, Mar 12, 2012)

Spending to Track Spending (Albany Times Union, Mar 12, 2012)

Evictions Begin after City Housing Voucher Ends (WNYC, Mar 9, 2012)

Assembly Budget Unlikely to Include Pension Reform Plan (Albany Times Union, Mar 9, 2012)

New Pension Plan Turns to Compromise (Albany Times Union, Mar 7, 2012)

Fare Increases in 2013, 2015 Will Cover Worker Costs (Wall Street Journal, Mar 7, 2012)

CityTime Settlement Would Mean 2012 Budget Windfall (Wall Street Journal, Mar 6, 2012)

Bloomberg and Unions Ramp Up War of Words on Pension Reform (Daily News, Mar 6, 2012)

City Reverses Policy on Tutoring Limits (NY Times, Mar 6, 2012)

City Pays $250,000 Settlement for Police Harassment of Firefighter (Daily News, Mar 2, 2012)

Educators Tell Council Why Millions Goes Unclaimed From Medicaid (NY Times, Mar 2, 2012)

Bloomberg Backs Compromise on State Pension Reform (Wall Street Journal, Mar 1, 2012)

Hydrofracking Opponents: No Streamlined Funding for Agencies (Albany Times Union, Mar 1, 2012)

Pilot has Constituents Making Capital Project Funding Choices (City Limits, Mar 1, 2012)

MTA to Seek Bidders for Madison Ave Headquarters (Reuters, Feb 28, 2012)

Toll Revenue from Bridge and Tunnel Crossing Up, Crossings Down (Daily News, Feb 28, 2012)

Cuomo Pressures Legislature on New Pension Plan (Associated Press, Feb 28, 2012)

To Pay Pension Fund, Cities Borrow From it First (NY Times, Feb 28, 2012)

State Comptroller Got Quarter of Campaign Cash from Unions (Daily News, Feb 22, 2012)

After Two Years and $2.3 Million, Queens Park Still Awaits Public Toilet (Daily News, Feb 20, 2012)

Assembly Bill Would Allow Government Workers to Retire Early with Full Benefits (NY Post, Feb 20, 2012)

Silver Backs 'Some' Parts of Cumo's Pension Plan (Daily News, Feb 20, 2012)

Expanded Aqueduct Could Double State Revenue, Bringing $700 Million Annually (NY Post, Feb 15, 2012)

Cuomo Touts 'Back Office' Consolidation, Legislators Concerned (Albany Times Union, Feb 15, 2012)

City to Give Fresh Direct $83.5 Million in Tax Breaks (Daily News, Feb 15, 2012)

Groups Seek to Protect State Environmental Fund (Associated Press, Feb 14, 2012)

Unions: Pension Outlook Unfairly Gloomy; Tap Rainy Day Fund to Pay Raises (Daily News, Feb 14, 2012)

Growing Number of Principals Object to Evaluation System (WNYC, Feb 13, 2012)

Bloomberg Questions Cost of Kindergarten for All (Wall Street Journal, Feb 13, 2012)

Two Governors’ Sucker Punches at the Port Authority (NY Times, Feb 10, 2012)

Port Authority's $1 Billion Trade Center Underestimate (NY Post, Feb 10, 2012)

Union Ad Blitz Launched Against Cuomo's Pension Plan (NY Post, Feb 8, 2012)

City to Pay $15 Million for Arrests Under Unconstitutional Loitering Law (Daily News, Feb 8, 2012)

Cuts to State Environmental Programs (Associated Press, Feb 8, 2012)

State Comptroller: Praise, Warning on Budget (Associated Press, Feb 8, 2012)

Judge Rejects Request to Halt Toll Increases (Bloomberg, Feb 7, 2012)

Comptroller Approves MTA Contract with Company that Bribed Foreign Officials (NY Post, Feb 7, 2012)

Manhattan Borough President Proposes Fund for Struggling Businesses (Daily News, Feb 3, 2012)

Yankee Stadium Parking Garages Hardly Used (Daily News, Feb 3, 2012)

Comptroller Lists Concerns About Cuomo's Pension Bill (Associated Press, Feb 3, 2012)

U.S. Sen. Okie Blocks 9/11 Museum Funding (NY Post, Feb 2, 2012)

Manhattan Borough President Calls for Tax Equity (Wall Street Journal, Feb 2, 2012)

Transit Union Wins Several Concessions in Contract Talks (NY Post, Feb 2, 2012)

Rising Pension Costs in the Upcoming City Budget (Bloomberg, Feb 2, 2012)

Brighter Bloomberg Budget on Tap (Daily News, Feb 2, 2012)

As City Plants Trees, Benefits and Some Burdens Grow (City Limits, Feb 1, 2012)

Police Union Ratifies Contract with State After Six Years Without One (Associated Press, Feb 1, 2012)

Liu Probe is Complicating Efforts for New Pension Structure Approval (Wall Street Journal, Jan 27, 2012)

MTA Might Refinance Most Debt Since 2002 as Borrowing Costs Fall (Bloomberg, Jan 26, 2012)

City Slow on Solar, Says Manhattan Borough President (Wall Street Journal, Jan 26, 2012)

Cuomo Helps Along Teacher Evaluation Discussions (Wall Street Journal, Jan 26, 2012)

Liu Aiming at Cuomo's Budget Plan (Wall Street Journal, Jan 24, 2012)

Education is Focus of First State Budget Hearing (Associated Press, Jan 23, 2012)

Analysis: State Making Progress on Health Care (Associated Press, Jan 23, 2012)

City's $6 Million Computer Property Tax System Keeps Crashing (Daily News, Jan 19, 2012)

Report: Wasted Time Rampant at New York’s Courthouses (Wall Street Journal, Jan 19, 2012)

Inching Closer to Agreement on Evaluations for Teachers (NY Times, Jan 19, 2012)

Still No Contract as Talks Continue Between MTA, Transit Workers (WNYC, Jan 18, 2012)

State Education Commissioner Batters Union on on Teacher Evaluations (NY Post, Jan 18, 2012)

City Bookkeeper in $600,000 'Scam' (NY Post, Jan 17, 2012)

Overhaul of Possibly Futureless Javits Center to Cost $463 Million (NY Post, Jan 17, 2012)

Cuomo Set to Release $130 Billion-Plus Budget (Associated Press, Jan 17, 2012)

Comptroller Clobbers No-Bid Deal for Former Education Chancellor's Company (Daily News, Jan 17, 2012)

Some Schools Buck Trend of High Costs (Wall Street Journal, Jan 17, 2012)

Wall Street Cutbacks May Limit Bloomberg’s Agenda (Businessweek, Jan 12, 2012)

Bloomberg: No Teacher Layoffs Expected (Wall Street Journal, Jan 10, 2012)

Housing Authority Wants to Sell Air Rights (WNYC, Jan 10, 2012)

Aqueduct Earns $90 Million in First Two Months (Daily News, Jan 9, 2012)

Road Work Ahead, Forever: The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (NY Times, Jan 5, 2012)

MTA Contract Talks With Union Delayed (WNYC, Jan 5, 2012)

Director of Brooklyn Boss's Social Services Agency Fired (NY Post, Jan 5, 2012)

Comptroller DiNapoli Backs Penalties for Corrupt Officials (Associated Press, Jan 4, 2012)

Convicted Ex-Senator Kruger to Get a Pension of Over $65,000 (NY Post, Jan 4, 2012)

MTA Cut Holiday Service, But Drivers Still Went to Work (NY Post, Jan 3, 2012)

Nowhere to Go, Patients Linger in Hospitals, at a High Cost (NY Times, Jan 3, 2012)

Cuomo Gets Leverage on Bloomberg in City's New Taxi Deal (Daily News, Dec 22, 2011)

City to Spend $2 Billion to Fix Leaky Aqueduct (Associated Press, Dec 22, 2011)

Actual Debate Breaks Out at MTA Board Meeting (WNYC, Dec 22, 2011)

MTA Sets 2012 Budget With No Cuts (NY Times, Dec 22, 2011)

Deal Struck to Broaden Taxi Service in the City (NY Times, Dec 21, 2011)

City Taxpayers Sending $6 Billion More to Albany Than They Getting Back (NY Post, Dec 21, 2011)

New Yorkers Mixed on New Millionaire Tax Hike (Associated Press, Dec 20, 2011)

Non-Profits That Own Land in City Could Lose Property Tax Exemptions (NY Post, Dec 20, 2011)

Federal Budget Cuts Heating Assistance for Millions of New Yorkers (WNYC, Dec 20, 2011)

MTA Bonds Face ‘Pressure’ After Tax Deal Strips $210 Million (Bloomberg, Dec 20, 2011)

Council Members Ask for Impact of Mayor’s Poverty Programs (WNYC, Dec 13, 2011)

MTA 2012 Budget Plan Won’t Restore Any Cut Services (Daily News, Dec 13, 2011)

Port Authority Overtime: $90.5 Million This Year (NJ.com, Dec 12, 2011)

Liu Gives Staffers Raises, but Some Watchdogs Cry Foul (Daily News, Dec 8, 2011)

Disgraced CityTime Firm to Repay $232 Million (NY Post, Dec 7, 2011)

Audit: Parks Miss Millions in Concession Fees (Wall Street Journal, Dec 6, 2011)

Council Speaker Quinn Opposed to New Property Taxes (NY Post, Dec 6, 2011)

State Still Holding $667 Million in Lower Manhattan Reconstruction Funds (Daily News, Dec 6, 2011)

More Details About Tax Rate Cuomo is Considering (Wall Street Journal, Dec 6, 2011)

Indicted Brownsville Assemblymember Has Taxpayers Foot Legal Bills (Daily News, Dec 1, 2011)

Cuomo Eyes Policy Shift on New Taxes (Wall Street Journal, Dec 1, 2011)

Cuomo Plan Pits Region Against Region in Race for Development Dollars (MetroFocus, Nov 30, 2011)

House Calls Corzine to Testify at MF Global Hearing (Crain's, Nov 23, 2011)

Millionaires Tax Could be Focus of Battle in Albany Next Year (The Capitol, Nov 14, 2011)

City Paid Out $135 Million in Malpractice Suits (Daily News, Nov 14, 2011)

Regions to Compete for State Economic Development Money (NY Times, Nov 14, 2011)

City's Capital Debt Rises Sharply Under Bloomberg (NY Post, Nov 13, 2011)

City Workers Seek Raise as Union Negotiations Begin (Wall Street Journal, Nov 11, 2011)

State Misses Budget Deadline, Cites Economic Turmoil (Associated Press, Nov 10, 2011)

Comptroller: Railroad Workers Cheat Metro-North Out Of Millions (WNYC, Nov 10, 2011)

GPS Units So Faulty, They Showed Fire Trucks in New York Harbor (NY Times, Nov 10, 2011)

MTA Payroll System Vulnerable to Fraud as Two Managers Demoted in Scandal (Daily News, Nov 10, 2011)

Bloomberg Backs Extension of Hotel Tax (Wall Street Journal, Nov 9, 2011)

Union Leaders Question Planned Changes in City Pension System (NY Times, Nov 9, 2011)

$535 Million City WiFi System Falls Short of Expectations (NY Post, Nov 7, 2011)

Settlement in Medicaid Suit Raises Concern About Cuts to Care (NY Times, Nov 5, 2011)

Fight Over Millionaires Tax Could Pit Democrats Against Cuomo (Daily News, Nov 4, 2011)

State Employees Vote to Accept Deal, Save Jobs (Albany Times Union, Nov 4, 2011)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/nyregion/public-employees-union-accepts-cuomos-contract-deal-to-avert-layoffs.html?ref=nyregion (NY Times, Nov 4, 2011)

Democrats, Labor Push Cuomo to Support New Levy on Wealthy (Wall Street Journal, Nov 3, 2011)

State Agencies Asked to Cut More in Second Round of Budget Belt-Tightening (Daily News, Nov 3, 2011)

In Shift, City Officials Admit Big Problems in Running Major Technology Projects (NY Times, Nov 1, 2011)

City to Pay $70 Million to Settle Medicaid Suit (NY Times, Nov 1, 2011)

Extending 7 Train to Jersey Could Cost Less Than NJ Transit Tunnel (WNYC, Oct 27, 2011)

Deep Backlog is Detailed at City’s Bias Watchdog (NY Times, Oct 27, 2011)

Progress Slow in City's $2 Billion Plan for 911 Call Center (Daily News, Oct 26, 2011)

Bloomberg Eyes Health Care Hike for City Employees (Daily News, Oct 26, 2011)

Early Retirees Boost State Pension Costs (Bloomberg, Oct 25, 2011)

Upset at Cuomo’s Property Tax Cap, Communities Move to Get Around It (NY Times, Oct 25, 2011)

State Revenue Falls $392 Million Short of Estimate (Bloomberg, Oct 20, 2011)

New Tactics and Billions to Manage City Sewage (NY Times, Oct 20, 2011)

Police Pensions Will Remain Private: Court (NY Post, Oct 19, 2011)

Concerns Over Maintenance Costs for Bloomberg's Million Tree Initiative (NY Times, Oct 19, 2011)

MTA Gets $113 Million in Federal Funds for Buses, Command Center (Daily News, Oct 18, 2011)

Cuomo Opposed to Tax Surcharge on Top Earners (NY Times, Oct 18, 2011)

Group Under Fire Over Lobbying Violations Gets Grant from State (Wall Street Journal, Oct 14, 2011)

Closed-Door Talks Continue on 3,500 Layoffs (Associated Press, Oct 14, 2011)

Wall Street Protests Evolved from Magazine Appeal (Associated Press, Oct 13, 2011)

Group Challenges State Grants to Business (Associated Press, Oct 13, 2011)

Schools Struggle to Fill Void of Layoffs (Daily News, Oct 13, 2011)

Protests Greet Lay Off of School Workers (, Oct 9, 2011)

Kelly Says Budget Cuts Put Police Class in Jeopardy (NY Post, Oct 8, 2011)

Union Blames City for Layoffs (NY Post, Oct 8, 2011)

Cuomo Warns of Another Tough Budget Year Ahead (Associated Press, Oct 7, 2011)

City to Fire 700 School Workers (Wall Street Journal, Oct 7, 2011)

State Helped Health Workers Union that Supported Cuomo's Budget (Wall Street Journal, Oct 7, 2011)

Schneiderman, U.S. Sue Bank for $2 Million (Crain's, Oct 5, 2011)

Cuomo Will Try to Avoid Layoffs, Source Says (Albany Times Union, Oct 3, 2011)

Cuomo, State Employee Union Willing to Return to Bargaining Table (NY Post, Oct 2, 2011)

State Employee Union Seeks Negotiations to Avert Layoffs (WNYC, Sep 30, 2011)

New Port Authority Director Will Confront Rising Costs and Falling Revenues (Wall Street Journal, Sep 30, 2011)

Blizzard Settlements Cost City $1.5 Million So Far (Daily News, Sep 29, 2011)

Union Leaders Stand by Vote Against Contract After Layoff Notices (NY Times, Sep 29, 2011)

Lawmakers Brace for Federal Cuts (Wall Street Journal, Sep 28, 2011)

MTA to Sell or Rent Mostly Vacant Brooklyn Headquarters (Daily News, Sep 28, 2011)

MTA to Sell or Lease Jay Street Building, Other Properties (Crain's, Sep 27, 2011)

Tax on Plastic Bags Could Aid State/s Parks (Albany Times Union, Sep 26, 2011)

Cuomo, Christie Had Secret Meal Prior to Port Authority Toll Deal (Daily News, Sep 23, 2011)

Union says Rats Increasing After MTA Cuts Back on Staff (Daily News, Sep 22, 2011)

MTA Debt Plan Could Hit Operating Budget: Report (Reuters, Sep 22, 2011)

City Didn’t Spend $9.3 Million Meant for Jobs, Liu Says (Businessweek, Sep 22, 2011)

Tax Breaks Attract Pearson to Manhattan (Businessweek, Sep 20, 2011)

City Gives $50 Million in Subsidies to Lure Pearson (Crain's, Sep 20, 2011)

Pearson to Put 600 Jobs in Lower Manhattan (NY Times, Sep 20, 2011)

Pearson Plays New York Against New Jersey (NY Times, Sep 20, 2011)

Pearson Signs Lease on Hudson Street Building (Real Deal, Sep 19, 2011)

Four Council Members Allow Participatory Budgeting with Their Earmarks (NY Times, Sep 14, 2011)

Judge Allows City to End Rent Subsidy for 16,000 Formerly Homeless Families (Associated Press, Sep 14, 2011)

Courts Get Tougher on Banks Over Foreclosures (Daily News, Sep 11, 2011)

With Workers Cut, Overtime for City Rises Sharply (Daily News, Sep 7, 2011)

9/11 Funds for Business Go Unclaimed (Wall Street Journal, Sep 1, 2011)

Verizon Under Pressure to Return $800,000 in City Funds (Daily News, Aug 31, 2011)

City Teachers Union Seeks to Appeal Ruling (Wall Street Journal, Aug 31, 2011)

Number of New Yorkers Qualifying for Medicaid Hits Record (NY Post, Aug 31, 2011)

Zone for 9/11 Compensation in Lower Manhattan Is Expanded (NY Times, Aug 31, 2011)

Comptroller Blocks State Contract with Murdoch-Owned Company (Daily News, Aug 27, 2011)

Remediation Fund Could Mean Fracking is on the Way (MetroFocus, Aug 26, 2011)

Rikers Island Tosses $11,000 Worth of Rotten Beef Patties (Daily News, Aug 24, 2011)

City Tears Down New Pedestrian Island in Brooklyn (NY Post, Aug 24, 2011)

Methane from Fresh Kills Brings $12 Million a Year (Bloomberg, Aug 24, 2011)

Nearly 800 School Employees Will Be Let Go (NY Times, Aug 24, 2011)

State Recoups $2.3 Million in Medicaid Overpayments (Associated Press, Aug 23, 2011)

A Council Speaker Who Tightens the Purse Strings on Dissent (NY Times, Aug 23, 2011)

State Gets $16.2 Million from Feds for Staten Ferry, Other Projects (Associated Press, Aug 18, 2011)

Port Authority's Proposed Toll and Fare Hikes: Behind the Numbers (WNYC, Aug 17, 2011)

Tough Issues Remain After State Laborer's Contract Approval (Albany Times Union, Aug 17, 2011)

Schools' $60 Million Contract with Verizon Criticized (Daily News, Aug 15, 2011)

Chief of Struggling Brooklyn Hospital Got $4 Million (Daily News, Aug 15, 2011)

Port Authority Facilities Lose Millions of Dollars (NY Post, Aug 15, 2011)

Espada Vows to Stop State from Closing Clinic (Associated Press, Aug 12, 2011)

Cuomo Administration Axes Espada Clinic's Medicaid (Associated Press, Aug 11, 2011)

City Cuts Free STD Screenings at its Health Clinics (Daily News, Aug 11, 2011)

DiNapoli Proposes Gas Drillers Pay into Cleanup Fund (Wall Street Journal, Aug 10, 2011)

Cuomo Considering Expansion of Casino Gambling (am New York, Aug 10, 2011)

Two on Judicial Pay Panel Press for Big Raises (NY Times, Aug 9, 2011)

Toll Hikes Could Hit Staten Island Hard (Staten Island Advance, Aug 7, 2011)

Governors Say They Weren't Told of Fare Hike (NY Post, Aug 7, 2011)

Key State Senator Blasts Toll Hike (Daily News, Aug 7, 2011)

Fare Hikes Would Fund Capitol Plan (Wall Street Journal, Aug 6, 2011)

Cuomo, Christie Said to Reject Port Authority Fare Hike Plan (NY Post, Aug 6, 2011)

Tolls Could Rise Sharply at Hudson River Crossings (Daily News, Aug 6, 2011)

City Looking for Developers to Build in Brooklyn Bridge Park (NY Post, Aug 5, 2011)

9/11 Memorial Refuses to Pay $150 Million to Port Authority (Daily News, Aug 5, 2011)

State Panel to Review Pay of Leaders at Nonprofits (Associated Press, Aug 4, 2011)

City Repair Charges Turn Into Liens (Wall Street Journal, Aug 4, 2011)

City a Special Case for State's Economic Development Strategy (City Hall, Aug 1, 2011)

More Questions Raised About State's Awarding of No-Bid Deal to Murdoch Company (Daily News, Jul 31, 2011)

MTA Wants City to Pay More for Second Avenue Subway (WNYC, Jul 30, 2011)

Hospitals in Brooklyn Defended at Hearing (NY Times, Jul 29, 2011)

DiNapoli: Federal Default Would Jeopardize State Pension Fund, Budget (WNYC, Jul 28, 2011)

MTA Wants $250 Million From City for Subway Expansions (NY Post, Jul 28, 2011)

Fare Hikes, More Borrowing in MTA Budget (Associated Press, Jul 28, 2011)

Bedbugs Triple in Schools (Daily News, Jul 22, 2011)

MTA Says $2 Billion Can Be Shaved Off Capital Budget (Daily News, Jul 21, 2011)

Caution Urged on Raises for State Judges (NY Times, Jul 21, 2011)

Stringer Calls for Abolishment of Member Item System (WNYC, Jul 21, 2011)

State Finds an Extra $800 Million (NY Post, Jul 21, 2011)

City Pension Funds Refuse to Release Recipients’ Names (NY Times, Jul 21, 2011)

State Labor Deal Falls Short of Cuomo's Savings Target (Albany Times Union, Jul 20, 2011)

Sen. Avella Criticizes Tree Program for Lack of Maintenance Funds (NY Post, Jul 19, 2011)

City Pension Plans Consider Selling Private Equity Holdings (Businessweek, Jul 19, 2011)

Borrowing for State University System Rises 14 Percent (Businessweek, Jul 14, 2011)

To Save Money, Some Principals Return to Teaching (WNYC, Jul 14, 2011)

Cuomo: Curbing Public Pension Benefits to Be Priority in 2012 (NY Times, Jul 14, 2011)

City Hall Ignored Warnings on CityTime (Daily News, Jul 13, 2011)

Fewer Workers Make More Money at MTA (NY Post, Jul 13, 2011)

Bloomberg Calls for Politicians to Settle Debt Crisis (am New York, Jul 13, 2011)

New York Teaching Hospitals Could Lose $1 Billion Plus in Deficit Deal (NY Times, Jul 13, 2011)

Hospitals Seek to Derail 911 Fee (Wall Street Journal, Jul 12, 2011)

Out-of-Staters Handed Tax Setback (Wall Street Journal, Jul 12, 2011)

Many Employees at State Authorities Make $100,000 Plus (Daily News, Jul 11, 2011)

Cuomo Names Auditor to Root Out Medicaid Fraud (NY Post, Jul 10, 2011)

State Plan to Modernize Medicaid Billing System Hit by Delays, Cost Overruns, Errors (Wall Street Journal, Jul 9, 2011)

Cuomo Lays Off More Than 300 Workers (Daily News, Jul 8, 2011)

Councilmembers Give Huge Pork Dollars to Their Kids' Schools (Daily News, Jul 8, 2011)

Liu Takes Credit for Pension Earnings (Daily News, Jul 6, 2011)

Stock Market Helped City Pension Funds Achieve 20 Percent Gain (Crain's, Jul 6, 2011)

City Pension Funds Post 20 Percent Gain, Liu Says (Bloomberg, Jul 6, 2011)

MTA and City Not Eager to Pay for Trans-Hudson Power Cable (WNYC, Jul 1, 2011)

State Shuts Seven Prisons, Two in City (Reuters, Jul 1, 2011)

Six Hundred Cops Pulled from High Crime Areas for World Trade Center (Daily News, Jul 1, 2011)

Vito Lopez-Connected Group Blocked From $600,000 City Grant (Daily News, Jun 30, 2011)

Bloomberg Demands $600 Million Payback from CityTime Firm (Wall Street Journal, Jun 30, 2011)

Budget Deal Still Cuts Teaching Force (WNYC, Jun 27, 2011)

Deal Saves Teachers, Fire Companies (NY Post, Jun 27, 2011)

Deal Averts Teacher Layoffs (Daily News, Jun 25, 2011)

Bloomberg, Quinn, Union Reach Accord to Avoid Teacher Layoffs (NY Times, Jun 25, 2011)

Ravitch to Lead Panel Scrutinizing Causes of Weak State Budgets (NY Times, Jun 24, 2011)

Talks to Avert Layoffs Stall (Wall Street Journal, Jun 24, 2011)

City Budget Talks Hanging on Negotiations Over Labor-Funded Bailout (Daily News, Jun 23, 2011)

Governor, State Employees Reach a 'Tentative' Deal (Wall Street Journal, Jun 23, 2011)

Teachers Try to Salvage Plan to Avert Layoffs (Crain's, Jun 21, 2011)

City Unions Balk at Using Health Fund to Avoid Layoffs (Wall Street Journal, Jun 16, 2011)

Bloomberg Said to Offer to Save Jobs in Return for Union Money (Daily News, Jun 15, 2011)

Liu Rejects City Contract with Klein's Company (Daily News, Jun 15, 2011)

Dipping Into Health Fund Could Avert Teacher Layoffs (Daily News, Jun 13, 2011)

Report: More Housing Likely in Future for Brooklyn Bridge Park (NY Post, Jun 10, 2011)

Cuomo's Pension Proposal - Will He Get His Way? (WNYC, Jun 10, 2011)

With Contracts Set to Expire, Contractors and Unions Head for Collision (Wall Street Journal, Jun 10, 2011)

Governor Seeks Sharp Tuition Increase in Five-Year Plan for SUNY (NY Times, Jun 10, 2011)

State Awards $27 Million No-Bid Contract to Company Klein Oversees (Daily News, Jun 10, 2011)

New Scrutiny on Millions in Police Department Settlements (WNYC, Jun 9, 2011)

Cuomo Urges Broad Limits to Public Pensions (NY Times, Jun 9, 2011)

City Budget Director Defends Deeps Cuts (Daily News, Jun 7, 2011)

Bloomberg Rips House Bill to Cut Terror Aid (Daily News, Jun 3, 2011)

As Mayor Holds Firm on Teacher Layoffs, Some See Reasons Beyond Money (NY Times, Jun 3, 2011)

Housing Authority Breaks Down Budget as Threat of Cuts Loom (WNYC, Jun 3, 2011)

Liu Says Government Pension Costs Will Drop in Time (Wall Street Journal, Jun 3, 2011)

Allegations That Cuomo Steered Work to Unions at Cost to State (Wall Street Journal, Jun 2, 2011)

Quinn: Avoiding Teacher Layoffs 'Top Focus' of Budget Negotiations (Daily News, Jun 2, 2011)

CityTime Manager Charged with Pocketing Millions (NY Post, May 30, 2011)

Another Indictment in CityTime (Crain's, May 30, 2011)

Bloomberg Condemns Fraud in CityTime (NY Times, May 28, 2011)

CityTime Executive Faces Fraud Charges (NY Times, May 28, 2011)

New Law Sought After Property Tax Ruling (Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2011)

City May Lose $44 Million in Dispute Over Teacher Evaluations (Daily News, May 27, 2011)

Federal Funds to Help Unsnarl Sunnyside Rail Hub (Daily News, May 26, 2011)

Key Threat to Tax-Cap Deal (NY Post, May 26, 2011)

State Tops in School Spending, Near Bottom on Grads (NY Post, May 26, 2011)

Budget Office Prediction of Surplus Sees No Windfall (NY Post, May 25, 2011)

Teachers Union to Fight Tax Cap (The Capitol, May 25, 2011)

Deal Reached on Property Tax Cap (NY Times, May 25, 2011)

Silver Links Tax Cap to Rent Laws (NY Post, May 25, 2011)

Critics Propose Budget Solutions (NY Times, May 24, 2011)

Bloomberg Administration Says CityTime is Fully Operational (Wall Street Journal, May 24, 2011)

Assembly to Consider Tax Cap (Wall Street Journal, May 24, 2011)

Upstate Losing $10 Million in US Anti-Terror Money (Associated Press, May 20, 2011)

Albany Moves Toward a Tax-Cap Deal (Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2011)

Voters Pass 93 Percent of School Budgets in State (NY Times, May 19, 2011)

Albany to Use Tax Breaks to Avoid Electricity Rate Hike (NY Post, May 19, 2011)

Amid Threat of Layoffs, City is Recruiting 500 New Teachers (Daily News, May 19, 2011)

Taxing Apartments Planned for Construction But Never Built (Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2011)

Halloran Defends Big Spending (Crain's, May 17, 2011)

Council Demands List of Fire Company Closures (WNYC, May 17, 2011)

State Senate Bluffs on Power Company Tax Breaks (NY Post, May 17, 2011)

City Wants Money That Feds Withhold From Foreign Aid Over Unpaid Tickets (Daily News, May 12, 2011)

Feature at Trade Center is Halted After $10 Million (NY Times, May 12, 2011)

Bloomberg Budget Cuts Bronx Zoo Funding in Half (Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2011)

Law Enforcement Union Rejects Deal with Cuomo (Reuters, May 12, 2011)

City Error Causes Assessments on Queens Co-ops to Skyrocket (NY Times, May 11, 2011)

Cuomo Pushes Senate on Tax Cap (Albany Times Union, May 11, 2011)

Feds Eye Huntley's Pork Spending (NY Post, May 9, 2011)

Money Owed to City Stuck in State Account (NY Post, May 8, 2011)

No Work Jobs Increase Tab at Ground Zero (Daily News, May 8, 2011)

Lawmakers Eye OTB Shakeup (NY Post, May 7, 2011)

Union Says State Could Save $300 Million by Cutting Consultants (Reuters, May 6, 2011)

State Comptroller Calls for Consolidating Tax Assessors (NY Post, May 6, 2011)

Police Department Asks for Latitude with Federal Anti-terrorism Funds (Daily News, May 5, 2011)

Under Pressure, City Agrees to Limit Tax Hikes for Co-ops, Condos (Daily News, May 3, 2011)

Schumer Wants Banks to Shorten Checking Account Applications (am New York, May 2, 2011)

Local Officials Push City for Solution to Housing at Brooklyn Bridge Park (Daily News, Apr 28, 2011)

Lehman Settles $1.2 Billion Tax Bill for $144 million (Dow Jones, Apr 28, 2011)

Budget Cuts Threaten Community Gardens (NY Times, Apr 28, 2011)

MTA Planning to Sell Its Midtown Headquarters (NY Times, Apr 21, 2011)

Bloomberg Opposes Move to Cap Apartment Taxes (NY Post, Apr 19, 2011)

Hevesi Sentenced to One to Four Years (NY Post, Apr 16, 2011)

Cuomo Gets One Labor Accord, but Truce Unlikely (Reuters, Apr 14, 2011)

Senate GOP Pressures Assembly Democrats on Property Tax Cap (WNYC, Apr 13, 2011)

Cuomo Vows Veto for Pension Fatteners (NY Post, Apr 13, 2011)

City to Add $1.75 Billion to School Capital Plan (Associated Press, Apr 13, 2011)

Mayor Delays a Cop Class to Save Money (Wall Street Journal, Apr 13, 2011)

Quinn Blasts Mayor's Delay on Police Academy Class (WNYC, Apr 13, 2011)

City Postpones Hiring 540 Police Recruits (NY Times, Apr 13, 2011)

Unions Consider Suit Over Campaign Disclosure (City Hall, Apr 12, 2011)

Verrazano to Get Rehabilitation (Staten Island Advance, Apr 12, 2011)

Albany Considers Bills to Hike Pensions (Albany Times Union, Apr 12, 2011)

Wage Theft Law Goes into Effect (Daily News, Apr 12, 2011)

Firehouses May Take a Hit (Daily News, Apr 8, 2011)

Cuomo Seeks Federal Money for High-Speed Rail (Bloomberg, Apr 7, 2011)

Census Workers Unable to Access 'Housing Underworld,' Some Say (WNYC, Apr 7, 2011)

Fixing 911: Years Overdue, Hundreds of Millions Above Estimate (WNYC, Apr 7, 2011)

Rats Run Rampant as Result of Layoffs, Says Stringer (WNYC, Apr 6, 2011)

Two City Power Plants Call Selves Factories for Tax Break (NY Post, Apr 6, 2011)

Albany May Allow Pension Payment Deferrals for School Districts (Wall Street Journal, Apr 6, 2011)

Homeowners Contest Property Tax Assessments (NY Post, Apr 4, 2011)

Garage Doesn't Draw Parkers (NY Post, Apr 3, 2011)

Parks Workers Protest Budget Cuts (WNYC, Apr 1, 2011)

Albany Finishes Rare On-Time Budget (NY Times, Mar 31, 2011)

Court Rules City Must Pay April's Rent for 15,000 Households (Daily News, Mar 31, 2011)

Legislature Passes $132 Billion Budget, No New Taxes (Reuters, Mar 31, 2011)

Schools Get Small Boost in State Aid in Budget (Associated Press, Mar 31, 2011)

When State Budgets Have Been Adopted in New York (Associated Press, Mar 31, 2011)

Bloomberg Softens Tone on Cuomo’s Budget (Wall Street Journal, Mar 31, 2011)

Liu Wants Pension Info Online (Associated Press, Mar 29, 2011)

Lessons for Albany on Malpractice Limits (NY Times, Mar 25, 2011)

State Finance Board: City Must Brace for Deeper Cuts (Associated Press, Mar 25, 2011)

Budget Deal Takes Shape (Wall Street Journal, Mar 25, 2011)

Advocates Press Albany for Foreclosure Prevention Funds (Daily News, Mar 24, 2011)

Cuomo Warns Legislature of Government Shutdown (Associated Press, Mar 24, 2011)

Bloomberg Launches Ad Campaign to Boost His Budget Plan (NY 1, Mar 23, 2011)

City Braces for More Cuts (Bloomberg, Mar 22, 2011)

Both Sides Spend Heavily in Budget Battle (New York Magazine, Mar 21, 2011)

Bad Weather Cost City Government $100 Million (Wall Street Journal, Mar 20, 2011)

Borough President Angry Over Cuts to Their Budgets (Daily News, Mar 20, 2011)

Fire, Police Departments to Hit Long-time Lows (Reuters, Mar 19, 2011)

Bloomberg Budget Increases Money for Charter Schools (Gotham Schools, Mar 19, 2011)

Budget Cuts Could Force City to Spend More on Shelters (NY Times, Mar 19, 2011)

Budget Boosts Spending for Charters Schools, IBO Finds (Daily News, Mar 19, 2011)

Ballooning Technology Contract Budget (Daily News, Mar 18, 2011)

Cuomo: School Aid Advocates Making Bogus Threats (Associated Press, Mar 18, 2011)

Cuomo Rips Critics of Education Budget Cuts (WNYC, Mar 18, 2011)

Doubts on Mayor's Forecast of 4,600 Teacher Layoffs (NY Times, Mar 18, 2011)

Cuomo: Schools Have Waste and Fraud, Can Weather Cut (Albany Times Union, Mar 18, 2011)

Cuomo Rips School Scare Tactics (NY Post, Mar 18, 2011)

Teachers Union, City Can't Agree on Evaluations, Risking $302 Million (Daily News, Mar 17, 2011)

Albany Begins Annual Push to Meet April 1 Deadline (Albany Times Union, Mar 17, 2011)

'Millionaire's Tax' Sinking in Budget Talks (Associated Press, Mar 17, 2011)

Senate, Assembly Each Pass Budgets Restoring Some Education Cuts (NY Times, Mar 16, 2011)

Senate, Assembly Budgets Call for Modest Restoration of Cuts (Wall Street Journal, Mar 16, 2011)

High Hospital Salaries Under Scrutiny (NY Post, Mar 16, 2011)

Bloomberg Brushes Off Silver's Tax Call (NY Post, Mar 15, 2011)

Comptroller Rejects Teaching Fellow Contract, Citing Layoffs (Daily News, Mar 11, 2011)

Cuomo Medicaid Team Continues After Ethics Claim (Associated Press, Mar 10, 2011)

Study: City Workers Earn Less Than Private Sector Counterparts (Wall Street Journal, Mar 10, 2011)

Judge Criticizes Independence Party on Monitoring Money (NY Times, Mar 9, 2011)

Cuomo and Bloomberg Cease Sniping Over Last In, First Out (WNYC, Mar 4, 2011)

Education Department Plans to Spend $52 Million on Computer Contractors (Daily News, Mar 4, 2011)

Poor, Infirm say Cuomo Medicaid Plan Hurts Them (Wall Street Journal, Mar 4, 2011)

Cuomo Amends his Budget for Medicaid, Schools (Associated Press, Mar 4, 2011)

City Unveils Senior-Center Hit List (Daily News, Mar 4, 2011)

For Medicaid Savings, Going Where the Money Is: The Costliest Cases (WNYC, Mar 4, 2011)

Proposed Malpractice Limits Face a Fight in Albany (NY Times, Mar 3, 2011)

Senate Passes Bill Changing Last In, First Out (WNYC, Mar 2, 2011)

Assembly Won't Consider Senate LIFO Bill (Wall Street Journal, Mar 2, 2011)

Cuomo Proposes Teacher Layoff Bill (, Mar 2, 2011)

Bloomberg Administration Condemns Cuomo Layoff Bill (Daily News, Mar 2, 2011)

Democrats in Local Government Protest Cuomo Budget Cuts (Crain's, Mar 2, 2011)

Cuomo Bill Would Set New Standards for Evaluating Teachers (NY Times, Mar 2, 2011)

Assembly to Push for Tax Surcharge on Richest New Yorkers (NY Times, Mar 2, 2011)

Cuomo Plan Seems to be Compromise on Teacher Layoffs (NY Post, Mar 2, 2011)

Cuomo's Ambiguous Budget Strategy (NY Times, Feb 28, 2011)

Landmarks Could be Closed for Business (Daily News, Feb 27, 2011)

Property Taxes Reassessed in Queens (NY Post, Feb 27, 2011)

Limit Pay, Not Unions (NY Times, Feb 27, 2011)

Port Security Could Be Cut in Washington (Daily News, Feb 26, 2011)

State Panel Approves Medicaid Cuts, Forwards to Cuomo (WNYC, Feb 25, 2011)

State May Cap its Medicaid Costs at $15.1 Billion (NY Times, Feb 25, 2011)

Cuomo Weighs Proposals to Cap New York's Medicaid Costs at $15.1 Billion (NY Times, Feb 25, 2011)

Cuomo's Medicaid Reform Task Force Hits Target (, Feb 25, 2011)

Cuomo in Medicaid Deal (, Feb 25, 2011)

New York Medicaid Panel Backs Cuts (, Feb 25, 2011)

Tax Department Asks Multiple Homeowners More Questions (NY Times, Feb 24, 2011)

Panel Returns to Albany to Trim Medicaid (WNYC, Feb 24, 2011)

Real Estate Industry Warns City Tax Policy Could Hurt Development (Wall Street Journal, Feb 23, 2011)

Budget Cuts to Child Care Biggest in Decades, Advocates Say (WNYC, Feb 18, 2011)

Mayor Relying On Albany Aid (Wall Street Journal, Feb 18, 2011)

Bloomberg Offers ‘Good News’ on New York’s Budget (NY Times, Feb 18, 2011)

Bloomberg's Budget Cuts Poised to Slash Daycare and Senior Centers (Daily News, Feb 18, 2011)

Espada Spent $1 Million on Staff in Last Six Months in Office (Daily News, Feb 18, 2011)

Education Department Overspending on School Placement Technology (NY Times, Feb 18, 2011)

Principals Penalized for Saving Leftover Funds (NY Times, Feb 18, 2011)

Florida's Rail Loss May be New York's Gain (Albany Times Union, Feb 17, 2011)

Bloomberg’s Budget to Include Teacher Layoffs (NY Times, Feb 17, 2011)

Mayor's Budget Sees a Windfall (Wall Street Journal, Feb 17, 2011)

Mayor to Reiterate Plan to Cut 6,100 Teachers (Associated Press, Feb 17, 2011)

Madoff Says Banks Complicit in Scheme (NY Times, Feb 16, 2011)

Retired Police Fight Effort to Put Names, Pensions On Line (NY 1, Feb 15, 2011)

With Cuts Looming, Legislature Ponders Formula for School Aid (NY Times, Feb 15, 2011)

Group Still Gets Cash Despite Bad Performance (NY Post, Feb 14, 2011)

Alliance for New York State Parks Calls for "Pennies for Parks" Fee on Plastic Bags (, Feb 14, 2011)

Food Stamp Use Reaches Record High (Daily News, Feb 13, 2011)

Funds for Espada Nonprofit Withdrawn (NY Post, Feb 13, 2011)

Bloomberg Helps Pal Land a Job (NY Post, Feb 13, 2011)

State Probing Overbilling of Medicaid (Wall Street Journal, Feb 11, 2011)

Cuomo's Budget Cuts Threatened by Democrats Tax Push (Bloomberg, Feb 11, 2011)

City to Pay $500,000 to Settle Suit Over Rikers Island Death (Daily News, Feb 11, 2011)

Police Unions say 'Bonus' for New Hires on Negotiating Table (Daily News, Feb 11, 2011)

SUNY, CUNY Push for Tuition Policy, Business Deals (Associated Press, Feb 11, 2011)

SUNY Leaders Argue for Regular, Modest Tuition Rises (NY Times, Feb 11, 2011)

Ambulances Have GPS, but Use Paper Maps for Directions (Daily News, Feb 10, 2011)

Congressional Republicans Fail to Cut $179 Million from United Nations (Daily News, Feb 10, 2011)

State Report: Most Schools Could Cover Aid Cuts (Associated Press, Feb 10, 2011)

Police and Firefighters Vow to Fight Bloomberg’s Plan to Cut a Retirement Benefit (NY Times, Feb 10, 2011)

Union Leaders say Bloomberg 'Lying' about Pensions (WNYC, Feb 10, 2011)

Fire, Police Unions Fight for Bonuses (Wall Street Journal, Feb 10, 2011)

Administration Weighs Extending Tax Break Deadline for Developers (NY Times, Feb 9, 2011)

Principals Ordered to Collect Lunch Fees or Pay Up (NY Times, Feb 9, 2011)

Adding Up the City's Snow Losses (Wall Street Journal, Feb 9, 2011)

As Alternate Side Resumes, City Unleashes Parking Ticket Blitz (City Room, Feb 9, 2011)

Savings Prevent Further Cuts to State Park (Albany Times Union, Feb 9, 2011)

State Renovates Judges' Pad (NY Post, Feb 7, 2011)

Pension Problems Won't Be Fixed for a Long Time (Daily News, Feb 6, 2011)

What's to Come of Finance in Lower Manhattan? (NY Times, Feb 5, 2011)

Cuomo: Pension Reform is Second Big Job After Budget (Associated Press, Feb 4, 2011)

Prison Towns Worry Closures Could Upend Communities (WNYC, Feb 4, 2011)

Cuomo’s Budget Whittles at All Corners of the State (NY Times, Feb 3, 2011)

Bloomberg Demands City-Union Pension Reforms (NY Post, Feb 3, 2011)

Mayor Bloomberg Proposes Pension Cuts for Future Workers (Bloomberg, Feb 3, 2011)

Bloomberg Seeks a Sweeping Overhaul of City’s Pensions (NY Times, Feb 3, 2011)

Mayor Broadens Target for Benefit Cuts (Wall Street Journal, Feb 3, 2011)

Cuomo's Medicaid Plan Roils Albany (Wall Street Journal, Feb 3, 2011)

Bloomberg Waffles on Potential Teacher Layoffs (Daily News, Feb 3, 2011)

Cuomo Cuts May be Less Severe than Originally Predicted (Buffalo News, Feb 1, 2011)

On Eve of Budget, Cuomo Attacks the Process (NY Times, Feb 1, 2011)

Cuomo Assails State's Budget Process (NY Post, Feb 1, 2011)

Bloomberg Retreats on Teacher Layoffs (NY Post, Feb 1, 2011)

Bloomberg Warns of Massive Teacher Layoffs (Wall Street Journal, Jan 30, 2011)

State Medicaid Fraud Agency Loses Money (Wall Street Journal, Jan 27, 2011)

Cuomo May Cut Budget for First Time Since 1995 (Bloomberg, Jan 27, 2011)

Mayor: Tort Reform Would Cut Costs (Wall Street Journal, Jan 27, 2011)

The Man Who Would Cut the State's Medicaid Costs (NY Times, Jan 26, 2011)

Politicians Quietly Resurrect Plan to Charge Drivers Entering City (Daily News, Jan 26, 2011)

Blizzard to Cost More Than $68 Million (NY Times, Jan 25, 2011)

Federal Cuts Will Hit New York (Daily News, Jan 25, 2011)

Medicaid Cuts Could Doom Some Hospitals (NY Post, Jan 22, 2011)

Governor Takes Aim at MTA Payroll Tax (NY Post, Jan 21, 2011)

Liu Sees Further CityTime Woes (Wall Street Journal, Jan 21, 2011)

Bloomberg Joins Cuomo in Layoff Threats (Wall Street Journal, Jan 21, 2011)

Cuomo: Budget War Won't Shut Down Government (Daily News, Jan 21, 2011)

Klein Cashes in $34,000-Per-Year Pension (Daily News, Jan 20, 2011)

Slashing Costs is the Theme at State Capitol (WNYC, Jan 20, 2011)

Rivera Sends Cash to Dying Group (NY Post, Jan 17, 2011)

Feds Investigate Synagogue Swipe (Daily News, Jan 17, 2011)

Groups Demand Medicaid Suit Withdrawal (NY Times, Jan 15, 2011)

Comptroller DiNapoli Settles Merrill Lynch Fraud Suit (Associated Press, Jan 14, 2011)

Legislators, Advocates Brace for Tuition Hikes (Associated Press, Jan 14, 2011)

Quinn Raises Stop Sign on Accident Fee (Wall Street Journal, Jan 14, 2011)

AAA Says Crash-Tax Plan is Double-Dipping (Daily News, Jan 14, 2011)

Investigators Seize $26 Million from CityTime Consultants (NY Post, Jan 12, 2011)

Bloomberg to Cut Education Contractors to Keep Firehouses Open (Daily News, Jan 7, 2011)

Rolling Back $35 Million in Cuts (Wall Street Journal, Jan 6, 2011)

Cuomo Outlines Fiscal Fix (Wall Street Journal, Jan 6, 2011)

Liu Rejects 911 Contract (Daily News, Jan 4, 2011)

More Anti-Terror Money Could Come to the City (Daily News, Jan 4, 2011)

Cuomo Will Not Rescind Layoffs but Will Drop Tax on Wealthy (Staten Island Advance, Jan 1, 2011)

Paterson's Budget Director Will Keep Job (Daily News, Jan 1, 2011)

Rattner Agrees to Pay $10 Million but Not to Admitting Wrongdoing (Wall Street Journal, Dec 31, 2010)

DiNapoli Picks Grannis as His Top Deputy (Daily News, Dec 30, 2010)

Paterson Warns of Looming Pension Crisis (NY Post, Dec 30, 2010)

Who Pays for Parks? (, Dec 24, 2010)

Comptroller Hits Mayor On CityTime Fraud (Wall Street Journal, Dec 23, 2010)

MTA Doubles Subsidized Bond Offering to $750 Million (Businessweek, Dec 23, 2010)

Major MTA Projects Behind Schedule, Almost $2 Billion Over Budget (Daily News, Dec 22, 2010)

Espada Files for State Pension (Daily News, Dec 22, 2010)

State Comptroller Rejects Transit Contract for Firm Linked to CityTime (NY Times, Dec 22, 2010)

Senate Democrats in Debt (Daily News, Dec 21, 2010)

Alleged CityTime 'Brains' Had an Arrest in 1999 for Larceny (Daily News, Dec 17, 2010)

Official in Charge of Overseeing CityTime Project is Suspended (Daily News, Dec 17, 2010)

Payroll Chief Is Suspended (Wall Street Journal, Dec 17, 2010)

Director of City Agency at Center of Fraud Case Is Suspended (NY Times, Dec 17, 2010)

State Faces $14 Billion Deficit (Bloomberg, Dec 16, 2010)

City Warns of OTB Retirees Losing Benefits (Wall Street Journal, Dec 16, 2010)

City Plans 20 Percent Capital Spending Cut (Bloomberg, Dec 16, 2010)

Fraud Charges in New York’s Payroll Overhaul (NY Times, Dec 16, 2010)

Six Charged in $80 Million 'CityTime' Rip-Off (NY Post, Dec 16, 2010)

CityTime Consultants Arrested in $80 Million Fraud Case (Wall Street Journal, Dec 16, 2010)

Sitting State Legislators Collect Pensions (NY Post, Dec 15, 2010)

Tax Break for Commuters Likely to Be Extended, Schumer Says (Crain's, Dec 15, 2010)

Bloomberg GOP Contributions Paid Off (Daily News, Dec 12, 2010)

Bloomberg Defends Crash Tax (Wall Street Journal, Dec 11, 2010)

Vallone to Propose Bill to Ban Crash Tax (NY Post, Dec 11, 2010)

City to Charge for Ambulances (Wall Street Journal, Dec 9, 2010)

Port Authority's New Budget Holds Line on Tolls (Associated Press, Dec 8, 2010)

City Urges Workers to Power Down Computers After Work (Daily News, Dec 8, 2010)

Bloomberg Announces Plans to Raise Parking to $1 an Hour (Daily News, Dec 8, 2010)

Teachers Still in Idle Limbo (NY Times, Dec 8, 2010)

As City Fixes Buildings, Reimbursements Lag (NY Times, Dec 8, 2010)

Pfizer Pays City $24.7 Million (Bloomberg, Dec 7, 2010)

Senate Returns to Examine OTB Rescue Plan (Albany Times Union, Dec 7, 2010)

Tax Shortfall Could Worsen MTA's Woes (NY Post, Dec 6, 2010)

Senate to Weigh Off-Track Betting Rescue (Wall Street Journal, Dec 3, 2010)

Police Department Cracks Down on Working Vacations (NY Post, Dec 3, 2010)

Cuomo in Talks with Health-Care Union Over Medicaid (Wall Street Journal, Dec 3, 2010)

Council Aims to Reverse Budget Cuts for the Elderly (Wall Street Journal, Dec 2, 2010)

DiNapoli Retained Defense Firm During Campaign (City Hall, Dec 1, 2010)

OTB Could Close Friday (WNBC, Dec 1, 2010)

DiNapoli Warns Legislature Must Act Now to Trim State Deficit (Associated Press, Nov 30, 2010)

Pension Board Reviews Firefighters' Disabilities (NY Post, Nov 21, 2010)

Rattner Settles With SEC, Faces Cuomo Suits (Crain's, Nov 19, 2010)

Experts say Feds Won't Fund Extension of 7 Train to Jersey (Daily News, Nov 18, 2010)

Bloomberg Expected to Order Thousands of Layoffs Today (NY Post, Nov 18, 2010)

Bloomberg's Charity Sent Millions to Caribbean Tax Havens (Daily News, Nov 17, 2010)

Strip Clubs Enjoying Big Tax Breaks (Daily News, Nov 12, 2010)

Cuomo says Prison Closings are Good Policy (NY Times, Nov 11, 2010)

Property Taxes Will Test Relationship Between Governor and Speaker (Wall Street Journal, Nov 11, 2010)

Universities: Increase Bond Sales to Deal with Debt Limit (Bloomberg, Nov 11, 2010)

Cuomo Reiterates Stand Against Tax Hikes (NY Post, Nov 9, 2010)

Paterson Calls for $300 Million in Cuts (Reuters, Nov 5, 2010)

Hard Times Worsen State Deficit, More Seek Medicaid (Associated Press, Nov 5, 2010)

Online Suggestion Box Pays Dividends (Daily News, Nov 5, 2010)

Cuts Reduce Bridge, Tunnel Security; MTA Insists Safety not Compromised (Daily News, Nov 4, 2010)

State Faces $315 Million Deficit This Year as Revenues Fall Short (Bloomberg, Nov 3, 2010)

Gillibrand Requests Tunnel Dollars (Wall Street Journal, Oct 31, 2010)

Vendors Sleeping in Carts (NY Post, Oct 31, 2010)

Sampson Sends Money to Brooklyn Radio Station (NY Post, Oct 31, 2010)

Paterson to Layoff 898 State Workers by Year's End (WNYC, Oct 29, 2010)

City Seeking Some of the Billions in Freed-Up Tunnel Funds (Daily News, Oct 29, 2010)

Role of Comptroller Key Issue in Race for the Job (Wall Street Journal, Oct 27, 2010)

More MTA Funding or More Service Cuts, New Report Warns (Daily News, Oct 21, 2010)

City Mulls Cuts for Elderly (Wall Street Journal, Oct 21, 2010)

State Tax Collections $529 Million Less Than Foreseen in August (Bloomberg, Oct 20, 2010)

City Asks for Money Saving Suggestions (NY Post, Oct 19, 2010)

Crowley Fights Ethics Probe with Cash (Daily News, Oct 17, 2010)

Audits Find Lopez's Books Off (Daily News, Oct 17, 2010)

Board of Elections Extends Voting for Military (Daily News, Oct 17, 2010)

Charity Cannot Account for Spending (NY Post, Oct 17, 2010)

Minority Hiring Deal Causes Worry (NY Post, Oct 17, 2010)

Feds Declare Disaster After September Tornados (NY Post, Oct 15, 2010)

Sanitation Department Says Reduced Staff Can't Handle Big Snow Storm (Daily News, Oct 14, 2010)

City, Firefighters Face Off Over Staffing (Wall Street Journal, Oct 14, 2010)

Nearly $1 Billion in Police Payments Over 10 Years (Associated Press, Oct 14, 2010)

New York Has Huge Rich-Poor Gap in School Funding, Study Finds (Daily News, Oct 12, 2010)

Hevesi Pleads Guilty of Pay-to-Play (Wall Street Journal, Oct 8, 2010)

Bloomberg to Put Pensions at Top of Albany Agenda (Wall Street Journal, Oct 7, 2010)

Soda Is Target of New Assault (Wall Street Journal, Oct 7, 2010)

Ban Sought for Purchases of Sugary Drinks with Food Stamps (Associated Press, Oct 7, 2010)

MTA to Raise Cost of Monthly MetroCard to $104 (Wall Street Journal, Oct 6, 2010)

Pension Return Expectations too High (Bloomberg, Oct 5, 2010)

Obama Administration Denies Federal Funds to Hire More Cops (Daily News, Oct 1, 2010)

Feds Forcing City to Alter Font of Street Signs (Daily News, Sep 30, 2010)

Liu: Dead Collect Pensions (Daily News, Sep 28, 2010)

City Pension Information Online (NY Post, Sep 23, 2010)

City Layoffs Likely (Crain's, Sep 22, 2010)

City Still Faces Budget Crisis (WNYC, Sep 22, 2010)

Bloomberg Orders Budget Cuts (Wall Street Journal, Sep 22, 2010)

New Jersey May Use Hudson River Tunnel Funds for Other Work (Crain's, Sep 21, 2010)

Bloomberg to Impose Hiring Freeze (Wall Street Journal, Sep 21, 2010)

Companies Fail to Meet Job Creation Numbers (NY Post, Sep 19, 2010)

Day Cares Sit Empty After Budget Save (Wall Street Journal, Sep 19, 2010)

Million Dollar Pension Fund Probe Deal (Associated Press, Sep 17, 2010)

Bloomberg says Indian Reservation Breaking Cigarette Tax Laws (NY 1, Sep 17, 2010)

City Fails to Meet Women and Minority-Owned Contract Goals (Crain's, Sep 8, 2010)

Federal Projects Wish List (Daily News, Sep 8, 2010)

Banks Move to Foreclose on Stuyvesant Town (Wall Street Journal, Sep 5, 2010)

DiNapoli Warns of Pension Fund Deficit (NY Post, Sep 3, 2010)

Candidate: State Pension Fund Faces Shortfall (NY Times, Sep 2, 2010)

Court Halts Indian Cigarette Tax Plan (Associated Press, Sep 2, 2010)

Court Blocks State Tax on Tribal Cigarette Sales (NY Times, Sep 2, 2010)

State to Try Taxing Indian Cigarette Sales Again (NY Times, Sep 1, 2010)

State Comptroller to Conduct Forensic Audit of MTA (NY 1, Aug 31, 2010)

Paterson Vows to Collect Cigarette Taxes from Tribes (Associated Press, Aug 27, 2010)

Port Authority, Silverstein Reach Deal on Financing for Trade Center Site (Daily News, Aug 27, 2010)

11 OTB to Shutter (Daily News, Aug 22, 2010)

MTA to Keep Old Cars in Use Longer (am New York, Aug 18, 2010)

India, Mongolia Get Away with Parking Tickets (NY Post, Aug 18, 2010)

MTA Payroll Tax Stirs Suburban Revolt (Wall Street Journal, Aug 18, 2010)

Wealthy Seek Special Ed Cash (Wall Street Journal, Aug 18, 2010)

Medicaid Probe Finds $40 Million in Dental Fraud (Daily News, Aug 17, 2010)

City Cuts Off Funding to Washington Heights Charity (NY Post, Aug 15, 2010)

St. Vincent Looted by Executives (NY Post, Aug 15, 2010)

The Cause and Effect of the Transit Funding Crisis (City Limits, Aug 13, 2010)

Liu and Bloomberg Spar Over CityTime (Daily News, Aug 13, 2010)

Major MTA Capital Projects Over Budget (NY Post, Aug 11, 2010)

Cultural Heads Get Tax-Free Housing (NY Times, Aug 10, 2010)

Rangel Defends Nonprofit (NY Post, Aug 10, 2010)

Paterson Still Pushing Property Tax Cap (Associated Press, Aug 6, 2010)

Housing Authority Spends Thousands on Portable Boilers (Daily News, Aug 6, 2010)

MTA has No Control Over Overtime (NY Post, Aug 6, 2010)

State Set for Boon in Aid (Wall Street Journal, Aug 5, 2010)

Bloomberg Aides Double Dip (NY Post, Aug 4, 2010)

Mayor Establishes New Post to Advise on Pensions (Wall Street Journal, Aug 2, 2010)

City Continues to Spend Tens of Millions on Overtime for Uniformed Workers (Daily News, Aug 1, 2010)

Move to Change SUNY and CUNY Emerges as Budget Obstacle (Albany Times Union, Jul 30, 2010)

MTA Cuts Service, Lays Off Employees (Daily News, Jul 29, 2010)

MTA to Propose New Fare Hikes (NY Post, Jul 28, 2010)

Agency to Pay City $120 Million (NY Times, Jul 27, 2010)

Bloomberg Proposes Charging for Garbage Removal (Wall Street Journal, Jul 27, 2010)

MTA Considering $15 Unlimited Card Hike (Daily News, Jul 27, 2010)

Unions Attack Paterson's Call for Worker Layoffs (Associated Press, Jul 27, 2010)

Layoff Threat Looms Anew (Albany Times Union, Jul 27, 2010)

Paterson says Planning for Layoffs Must Begin Immediately (Daily News, Jul 27, 2010)

Liu Won't Disclose Fired Managers (Bloomberg, Jul 22, 2010)

Bloomberg to Crack Down on Debtors (Crain's, Jul 20, 2010)

Hundreds of Buildings Fall Behind in Taxes, Repairs (NY Times, Jul 19, 2010)

MTA Workers Earn Overtime on Vacation (am New York, Jul 16, 2010)

Comptroller Issues Damning Analysis of State Budget (NY Post, Jul 16, 2010)

City Scrambles to Cut Pension Bloat (NY Post, Jul 13, 2010)

MTA Eyes 90-Trip Limit on Unlimited Cards (Daily News, Jul 13, 2010)

Audit Can't Account for Columbia Hospital's Work for City (Daily News, Jul 9, 2010)

Council Cuts Health Plan for the Poor (NY Times, Jul 9, 2010)

City Gets Boost from Feds for Bus-Only Lanes (NY Post, Jul 9, 2010)

Bus Lanes Get Aid Support (Wall Street Journal, Jul 9, 2010)

Pedestrian Plan for 34th Street Gets $18 Million Grant (Daily News, Jul 9, 2010)

Paterson Vetoes 6,700 Budget Items (Associated Press, Jul 8, 2010)

Education Department Grew by 70 Percent Since 2003 (Daily News, Jul 8, 2010)

Off-Track Betting Abandons Costly Rescue (NY Times, Jul 8, 2010)

City Rescinds $600 Million in Child Welfare Contracts (NY Post, Jul 5, 2010)

Comptroller's Site Tracks Use of Taxpayer Money (NY Times, Jul 2, 2010)

More Teachers to Lose Positions, but not Pay (Wall Street Journal, Jul 1, 2010)

Legislature Takes on Final Budget Bill (Crain's, Jul 1, 2010)

Senate Shelves Last Budget Item (Associated Press, Jul 1, 2010)

Paterson's Veto Threat Forces Democrats to Return to Negotiating Table (Daily News, Jul 1, 2010)

MTA to Borrow $600 Million (Crain's, Jun 30, 2010)

Senate Bill Delays MTA Layoff Plans (Daily News, Jun 30, 2010)

Governor to Veto Millions More in Spending (NY Post, Jun 30, 2010)

Legislature Takes on Final Budget Bill (Associated Press, Jun 30, 2010)

Paterson Wins Budget Battle with Veto Power (Crain's, Jun 30, 2010)

Paterson Getting Help in Budget Battle from GOP (Daily News, Jun 30, 2010)

Paterson Presses Albany on Budget (NY Times, Jun 30, 2010)

MTA Rejected Union Offer to Contribute (Daily News, Jun 27, 2010)

Details Emerge About State Clothing Tax (Crain's, Jun 25, 2010)

City Council and Mayor Reach Accord on a Budget (NY Times, Jun 25, 2010)

Bloomberg, Quinn Agree to $63 Billion Spending plan (Daily News, Jun 25, 2010)

$63 Billion City Budget Deal Spares Fire Department (NY Post, Jun 25, 2010)

Another Tax Shortfall for MTA Budget (Crain's, Jun 24, 2010)

MTA Proposal Would Save 700 Jobs (Daily News, Jun 24, 2010)

State Budget Talks Limp Forward (Associated Press, Jun 24, 2010)

Lawmakers Protest Firehouse Closings (Daily News, Jun 24, 2010)

Libraries Must Cut Days (NY Post, Jun 24, 2010)

Differences Remain Between Council and Mayor on City Budget (Staten Island Advance, Jun 23, 2010)

9/11 Workers Settlement Back in Court Today (NY Post, Jun 23, 2010)

City Exempt from Remediation Requirement in State Budget (NY Post, Jun 22, 2010)

Port Authority Police Officers Collect Overtime When Suspended (NY Post, Jun 22, 2010)

State Close to Saving Student MetroCards (am New York, Jun 18, 2010)

State Mulling Lawsuit Against BP over Pension Losses (Daily News, Jun 18, 2010)

State Pension Fund Considering Suit Against BP (Wall Street Journal, Jun 18, 2010)

Web Site Reveals Retirees' Pension Benefits (Associated Press, Jun 17, 2010)

Cuts Threaten Successful Education Program (Daily News, Jun 17, 2010)

Paterson Splits With No. 2 on Budget (NY Times, Jun 17, 2010)

Paterson Sets June 28 Deadline for Budget Deal (Crain's, Jun 17, 2010)

Paterson Sets Budget Deadline (Wall Street Journal, Jun 17, 2010)

Tribe Recognized, Clearing Way for Casino (NY Times, Jun 16, 2010)

Borrowing Plan Presents Political Risk for DiNapoli (Daily News, Jun 14, 2010)

Number of High-Priced Education Department Employees Soars (NY Post, Jun 13, 2010)

MTA Says Layoffs Still Needed (NY Post, Jun 10, 2010)

Parties Clash as Albany Shutdown Nears (NY Times, Jun 10, 2010)

Services for Families in Trouble Could be Cut (NY Times, Jun 9, 2010)

Espada Threatens Government Shutdown (NY Post, Jun 9, 2010)

Budget Office, Comptroller See Risks in Bloomberg Budget (Wall Street Journal, Jun 8, 2010)

Pensions, Benefits Drive Up Cost of Uniformed Workers (Daily News, Jun 8, 2010)

Precinct Resembles Dorm Room (Daily News, Jun 7, 2010)

TLC Collects Half of Its Fines (NY Post, Jun 7, 2010)

Paterson Aide to Lead OTB (NY Times, Jun 6, 2010)

Governor Slashes Health Care Spending (NY Post, Jun 5, 2010)

Brooklyn Neighborhood Hit Hard by Budget Cuts (NY Times, Jun 5, 2010)

Education Department Hands Out $340,000 in Raises (Daily News, Jun 4, 2010)

Stalemate Continues in Budget Talks (Crain's, Jun 3, 2010)

Over 8,000 MTA Employees Make Over $100,000 (NY Times, Jun 3, 2010)

Unions Grumble Amid Budget Cuts and Wage Freeze (Daily News, Jun 3, 2010)

Mayor to Cancel Teachers’ Raises, Averting Layoffs (NY Times, Jun 3, 2010)

Teacher Layoffs Averted, for Now (Wall Street Journal, Jun 3, 2010)

Latest Paterson Budget Plan Would Lay Off Thousands (NY Times, Jun 1, 2010)

Funding Parks' Upkeep (NY Observer, May 27, 2010)

Subway Camera Funds in Limbo (am New York, May 26, 2010)

Bus Driver Takes Five Months Off for Spitting (Daily News, May 26, 2010)

Spit Carries High Cost for MTA (NY Times, May 25, 2010)

Paying Online Comes with a Discount (NY Post, May 23, 2010)

City Delays Sewage Workers' Pay (Daily News, May 23, 2010)

Museums Still Dole Out Big Salaries and Perks (NY Post, May 23, 2010)

Racing Association Warns of Shutdown (NY Post, May 22, 2010)

Paterson Trims Soda Tax Proposal (NY 1, May 21, 2010)

MTA Calls Much of Overtime Unjustifiable (Crain's, May 21, 2010)

Pensions Add to State's Fiscal Problems (NY Times, May 21, 2010)

Governing During Budget Crisis (Albany Times Union, May 20, 2010)

Cuomo Opposes Key Parts of Fiscal Plan (Crain's, May 20, 2010)

MTA Problems With Vetting Subcontractors (NY Times, May 20, 2010)

State Voters Approve Most School Budgets (NY Times, May 20, 2010)

Tourism Rises in First Quarter (Businessweek, May 18, 2010)

Fire Companies Get Reprieve For Now (Daily News, May 18, 2010)

Leaders Will Meet Publicly on Budget Today (Albany Times Union, May 18, 2010)

White House: Transit Security Funds Actually Up (Crain's, May 14, 2010)

Drivers Actually Win Out in MTA's Latest Budget Cuts (am New York, May 14, 2010)

Bloomberg Budget Would Prune Key Libraries (Daily News, May 13, 2010)

Federal Security Funds Slashed (Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2010)

Paterson Rescinds Controversial Raises (NY Post, May 13, 2010)

Assemblymember Voluntarily Furloughs Self, Staff (Associated Press, May 13, 2010)

judge Orders Temporary Halt to Furloughs (Associated Press, May 13, 2010)

U.S. Judge Blocks State Worker Furloughs (NY Times, May 13, 2010)

Bloomberg and Paterson Keep Up Their Budget Battle (Daily News, May 8, 2010)

Budget Plan Calls for Cutting About 12,000 City Jobs (NY Times, May 6, 2010)

Bloomberg Won't Cut Cops (Reuters, May 6, 2010)

Obama Proposes Cutting Terrorism Aid to City (NY Post, May 5, 2010)

Paterson: Furloughs or Shutdown (NY Times, May 5, 2010)

State Overpaid Out-of-State Medicaid Bills (Daily News, May 4, 2010)

MTA Payroll Rises (NY Post, May 2, 2010)

Bloomberg Laments to Geithner (Daily News, May 1, 2010)

State Deficit Could Reach $15 Billion Next Year, Ravitch Says (WNYC, Apr 30, 2010)

Paterson Would Add Furlough to Emergency Measure (Daily News, Apr 29, 2010)

Ravitch: Budget 'Not Even Close' (Wall Street Journal, Apr 29, 2010)

MTA Plans More Layoffs (NY Times, Apr 29, 2010)

Agency Owes City Millions (NY Times, Apr 28, 2010)

Paterson: Furlough State Workers (NY Post, Apr 28, 2010)

Paterson Asks for Lawmaker Vote on Stalled Budget (Bloomberg, Apr 28, 2010)

Governor Proposes Furlough for 100,000 State Employees (Albany Times Union, Apr 28, 2010)

More Holes in MTA Budget (NY Post, Apr 27, 2010)

Mayor Defends Offshore Charity Funds (Associated Press, Apr 23, 2010)

Education Groups Sue Over State Aid Delay (Albany Times Union, Apr 23, 2010)

State Budget Imperils City Construction Jobs (Crain's, Apr 22, 2010)

Feds Probe City Rail Projects (NY Post, Apr 22, 2010)

Gillibrand Backs Reform for Wall Street (Daily News, Apr 21, 2010)

Legislators Push for Tax on Wall Street Bonuses (Crain's, Apr 20, 2010)

Bloomberg Plans to Centralize Contracting with Nonprofits (NY Times, Apr 19, 2010)

OTB to Remain Open (Daily News, Apr 17, 2010)

Senators Squabble Over Late Budget (Albany Times Union, Apr 16, 2010)

Rangel Struggles to Raise Cash (Daily News, Apr 16, 2010)

Schumer Defends Wall Street Reforms (NY Post, Apr 16, 2010)

Deal to Save Gambling Agencies Eludes Albany (Associated Press, Apr 15, 2010)

Many New Yorkers Don't Pay Federal Income Tax (NY Post, Apr 15, 2010)

DiNapoli Suspects More Fraud at Corrections Department (NY Post, Apr 15, 2010)

City Significantly Underfunding Teachers Pension Fund (Crain's, Apr 14, 2010)

G Train Shortened Early (am New York, Apr 14, 2010)

Community Board Budget Cuts Protested (Daily News, Apr 14, 2010)

Transfer Taxes Painful During Nascent Recovery (NY Times, Apr 14, 2010)

25/55 Retire Option in Mix (Albany Times Union, Apr 14, 2010)

Union Moves to Block Pay-Raise Delays (Crain's, Apr 14, 2010)

Gotbaum Said She Will Pay Back City for Trips (Daily News, Apr 12, 2010)

Fire Fighters Land Disability Pensions (NY Post, Apr 11, 2010)

Tartan Day Parade Gets The First Shorter Route (NY Times, Apr 10, 2010)

Misspending on MTA Cameras (am New York, Apr 8, 2010)

Neglected MTA Property in Brooklyn (am New York, Apr 7, 2010)

7 Train Extension Going Over Budget (Daily News, Apr 7, 2010)

Brownfield Tax Credits a Snag in Budget Debate (Associated Press, Apr 7, 2010)

Assembly Looks to Save OTB -- Again (Daily News, Apr 6, 2010)

Money for Veterans Used to Close Deficit (NY Post, Apr 6, 2010)

As City Takes Over Projects, Concerns Raised About Privatization of Parks (City Hall, Apr 6, 2010)

Bloomberg Blasts Albany for Budget Delay (NY 1, Apr 2, 2010)

Construction Industry Appeals to Paterson (Crain's, Apr 2, 2010)

State Halts 12 Public Construction Projects in City (NY Post, Apr 2, 2010)

Paterson Asks Unions to Forego Pay Rise (Reuters, Apr 2, 2010)

Budget Proposal Hits Community Boards Hard (Daily News, Apr 1, 2010)

Unnecessary Furniture Expenses at Education Department (NY Post, Apr 1, 2010)

City Eyes Own 'Race to the Top' Bid (Daily News, Apr 1, 2010)

American Airlines to Officially Sponsor City Tourism (NY Times, Apr 1, 2010)

Albany Misses Budget Deadline (NY Times, Apr 1, 2010)

Government Subsidies Helped Wall Street Make $61 Billion in 2008 (Crain's, Mar 28, 2010)

With Deadline Approaching, State Leaders Make Little Progress on Budget (NY Times, Mar 27, 2010)

State Increases Use of Minority-Owned Bond Underwriters (Bloomberg, Mar 25, 2010)

Klein Warns Budget Cuts Threaten 8,500 Teachers (Daily News, Mar 25, 2010)

Paterson, Legislature at Odds Over Budget (NY Times, Mar 25, 2010)

Agencies Must Cut $1.3 Billion (Reuters, Mar 24, 2010)

Assembly Budget Borrows $2 Billion (Albany Times Union, Mar 24, 2010)

City May Lay Off Thousands (NY 1, Mar 24, 2010)

Proposed Amendments to Healthcare Bill Would Give New York $2.1 Billion More (Crain's, Mar 23, 2010)

Senate Democrats' Budget Plan Cuts Education and Health Care (Albany Times Union, Mar 23, 2010)

State Collects Taxes from Beyond its Borders (NY Times, Mar 22, 2010)

Cuomo Probes 'Decades'-Old Pension Padding (NY Post, Mar 19, 2010)

Cuomo to Investigate Individual Pension Cheats Who Pad Overtime (Daily News, Mar 19, 2010)

Cuomo Probes Pension 'Spiking' (Wall Street Journal, Mar 19, 2010)

MTA Postpones Student MetroCard Vote (NY 1, Mar 18, 2010)

Bus Fare Beaters Cost $8 Million (Daily News, Mar 18, 2010)

Liu Hopes to Post City Expenditures Online (Daily News, Mar 18, 2010)

DiNapoli Warns Against More Borrowing (Reuters, Mar 18, 2010)

February Income Taxes Beat Estimates (Bloomberg, Mar 18, 2010)

Larger Cash Shortfall Is Projected in Albany (NY Times, Mar 18, 2010)

Paterson Pleas for Federal Help with Budget (NY Post, Mar 16, 2010)

Budget Would Leave Fewest Police Since 1990 (Daily News, Mar 12, 2010)

Protests Give Lift to State Parks (Albany Times Union, Mar 11, 2010)

Ravitch Remedy: $6 Billion Loan, Oversight (Albany Times Union, Mar 11, 2010)

Albany Taking New Budget Proposal Seriously (NY Times, Mar 11, 2010)

Bloomberg, Paterson Oppose Borrowing to Close State Deficit (NY Post, Mar 9, 2010)

Bailout Softened Recession's Blow on New York (NY Times, Mar 3, 2010)

Bloomberg Calls His Plan for Electronic Time Sheets a 'Disaster' (Daily News, Mar 2, 2010)

Bloomberg Opposed to Alcohol Tax for Now (Daily News, Feb 26, 2010)

Bloomberg Prepares Council for Budget Cuts (NY Post, Feb 26, 2010)

Paterson Plans to Withhold Another $1.4 Billion (Albany Times Union, Feb 26, 2010)

MTA Dumps Major Advertising Contract (Crain's, Feb 25, 2010)

Health Department Considers Alcohol Tax (Daily News, Feb 25, 2010)

de Blasio Proposes Sunlight for Earmarks (NY Times, Feb 25, 2010)

A Federal Ally for Threatened Parks (Albany Times Union, Feb 25, 2010)

Teacher's Union Contract Nears Arbitration (NY Times, Feb 25, 2010)

MTA Could Trade Layoffs for Pay Freeze (am New York, Feb 24, 2010)

Wall Street Bonuses Increase (NY Post, Feb 24, 2010)

State Sales Tax Revenues Drop Sharply (NY Post, Feb 24, 2010)

City Sales Tax Collections Declined (Crain's, Feb 23, 2010)

Paterson: Blame Lawmakers if Tax Refunds Delayed (Associated Press, Feb 19, 2010)

Station Rehabs Overbudget, Behind Schedule (am New York, Feb 19, 2010)

State Retirement Fund Bounces Back (Wall Street Journal, Feb 19, 2010)

Albany Democrats Accuse GOP of Wasteful Spending (Daily News, Feb 19, 2010)

Closings Loom for State Parks, Historic Sites (Associated Press, Feb 18, 2010)

Politically Connected Charter Schools to Get Millions from City (Daily News, Feb 15, 2010)

Vandalism Takes Toll on City's Parking Meters (NY Post, Feb 13, 2010)

Paterson Proposes Hike in City Payroll Tax to Help MTA (Crain's, Feb 9, 2010)

Questions About Crime Stats Prompt Doubts About Other City Data (NY Times, Feb 9, 2010)

Some Homeowners to Get a Reprieve on Water Bills (Daily News, Feb 9, 2010)

MTA Capital Payroll Balloons (NY Post, Feb 8, 2010)

Bloomberg Defends Wall Street (NY Post, Feb 7, 2010)

Pols Stiff Katrina Victims (NY Post, Feb 7, 2010)

Local Leaders: MTA Can Take Action To Prevent Service Cuts (NY 1, Feb 5, 2010)

Bloomberg: MTA Will Hike Fares if Budget Gap Goes Unfilled (NY Post, Feb 5, 2010)

New Fare Warning by MTA (NY Post, Feb 5, 2010)

Comptroller DiNapoli Rides MTA Hard on Runaway Overtime Tab (Daily News, Feb 5, 2010)

MTA Sells Delayed Bonds (Businessweek, Feb 5, 2010)

Cutbacks on Wall St. Are Burden for Albany (NY Times, Feb 4, 2010)

State Feficit Grows to $8.2 Billion (Albany Times Union, Feb 4, 2010)

Paterson: Budget Deficit Could Reach $8.2 Billion (NY Post, Feb 4, 2010)

MTA Poised to Move Forward With Bond Sale After Rating Cut (Bloomberg, Feb 4, 2010)

Moody’s Cuts New York MTA Rating After Tax Drops (Businessweek, Feb 4, 2010)

Beyond Doomsday: MTA Hit with $400 Million Budget Hole (am New York, Feb 4, 2010)

Council Members Want Stipends Donated to Haiti (Associated Press, Feb 4, 2010)

City Budget Seeks to Close 15 Day Care Centers (NY Times, Feb 4, 2010)

MTA Paid Millions to Shoddy Contractors, Report Finds (am New York, Feb 3, 2010)

State Education Chief Slams Paterson's School Cuts (Associated Press, Feb 3, 2010)

City, State Budget Put Focus on Public Employees (Daily News, Feb 3, 2010)

Fire Department Prepares for Cuts (NY Times, Feb 2, 2010)

Big Winners in Stuy Town? You. (NY Observer, Jan 28, 2010)

Mayor Says Teachers Must Take Cut or Face Layoffs (NY Times, Jan 28, 2010)

Bins Promote Ex-Councilmember (NY Post, Jan 27, 2010)

MTA Short on Security System Cash (NY Times, Jan 27, 2010)

Threat of OTB Closure Comes Again (Reuters, Jan 26, 2010)

Charter Advocates Hope State Makes Second Deadline (Daily News, Jan 21, 2010)

Bloomberg to Albany: Don't Kill the Golden Goose (NY Post, Jan 21, 2010)

Paterson Budget vs Tax Dodgers (Daily News, Jan 20, 2010)

$104 Million in Additional MTA Cuts (StreetsBlog, Jan 20, 2010)

Paterson Budget Offers $25 Million Toward Student MetroCards (Daily News, Jan 20, 2010)

City Hit Under Paterson Bill (Associated Press, Jan 20, 2010)

Governor's Plan Would Extend Film Tax Credit (Crain's, Jan 20, 2010)

Paterson Seeks Huge Cuts (NY Times, Jan 20, 2010)

Rough Time for Budget Plan? (Albany Times Union, Jan 20, 2010)

Failure to Agree on Charters (Associated Press, Jan 20, 2010)

Request for School Aid Pushed to the Wire (NY Times, Jan 20, 2010)

Failure to Lifter Charter Cap (NY Post, Jan 20, 2010)

Latest Tax Hikes Burn Up Wallets (NY Post, Jan 16, 2010)

Klein Reverses Course Over Rainy Day Fund (Daily News, Jan 15, 2010)

Walder Vows to Unclog Bus Routes, Upgrade Subways (Daily News, Jan 15, 2010)

MTA to Test Eliminating Tollbooths for E-ZPass (NY Times, Jan 15, 2010)

MTA Ridership Hammered by Recession (NY Post, Jan 15, 2010)

Transit Advocates Call for Shifting Some Capital Funds to Cover Operating Costs (WNYC, Jan 13, 2010)

Low Library Temperatures Can Bring A Bonus (NY Times, Jan 12, 2010)

Lure of Aid Shifts Paterson's Charter Stance (Albany Times Union, Jan 8, 2010)

Seeking Grants, Paterson Urges Education Changes (NY Times, Jan 8, 2010)

Governor Favors Unlimited Charters (NY Post, Jan 8, 2010)

Paterson Urges Swift Education Changes (Daily News, Jan 8, 2010)

Penalty Relief Program Pulls $11.1 Million (NY Post, Jan 8, 2010)

State Pledges to Save Student MetroCards (am New York, Jan 8, 2010)

City Pension Funds Rebound (Daily News, Jan 8, 2010)

Bloomberg: Feds Should Fund Terror Trial Security (Associated Press, Jan 7, 2010)

Port Authority Seeking Private Partner for Freedom Tower (NY Times, Jan 4, 2010)

Paterson Says State Likely to Repay Schools (Daily News, Dec 24, 2009)

Paterson Firm on Refusal to Release Education Funds (NY 1, Dec 24, 2009)

State Budget Chaos Years in the Making (Albany Times Union, Dec 24, 2009)

Paterson Vows to Fight School-Aid Lawsuit (NY Post, Dec 24, 2009)

City Officials Cite Risks in Watershed Drilling (NY Times, Dec 24, 2009)

Comptroller and Comptroller-Elect Scold Mayor on Accounts (NY Times, Dec 22, 2009)

Paterson: Layoffs on the Table (NY Post, Dec 18, 2009)

Morgenthau Not Alone in 'Hidden' Accounts (NY Post, Dec 18, 2009)

Paterson Supports Raising Charter Cap (NY Post, Dec 17, 2009)

Paterson Sued Over School Payments (NY Times, Dec 17, 2009)

MTA Approves 2010 Doomsday Budget (Associated Press, Dec 17, 2009)

Cuts to Strand Thousands in Bronx (NY Post, Dec 17, 2009)

MTA Approves Major Service Cuts (NY Post, Dec 17, 2009)

MTA Cuts Greatly Impact Access-A-Ride (Daily News, Dec 17, 2009)

Statehouse Slashed Contribution to Student MetroCards (Daily News, Dec 17, 2009)

MTA Approves Doomsday Budget (NY Times, Dec 17, 2009)

Atlantic Yards Sell Bonds (NY Post, Dec 16, 2009)

State Budget Cuts Next Year Could Hit City Hard (Daily News, Dec 16, 2009)

MTA Board to Vote on Cuts (WABC, Dec 16, 2009)
The MTA board will vote on a new budget plan that includes costly system-wide service cuts. Meanwhile, several protests were held Tuesday as people have their say about the drastic cuts to bus and subway service.

City: Reservation Cigarettes Still Sold Untaxed (Associated Press, Dec 11, 2009)

Port Authority Approves $6.3 Billion Budget (Associated Press, Dec 11, 2009)

Teachers Ask Judge to End 'Rubber Rooms' (Daily News, Dec 11, 2009)

Paterson Warns Schools of $1 Billion Deficit (Crain's, Dec 10, 2009)

Service Cuts May Not Fill MTA Budget Gap (am New York, Dec 9, 2009)

Bloomberg Opens up on Morgenthau Dispute (NY Post, Dec 6, 2009)

Legislature Passes Budget and Pension Measures (NY Times, Dec 3, 2009)

Statehouse Approves Pension Plan (NY Post, Dec 3, 2009)

MTA Elevated-Line Workers Slack on Job (Daily News, Dec 2, 2009)

Officials Call for More Liberty Bonds (NY Observer, Dec 2, 2009)

Fire Department Begins Engine Staff Cutbacks (NY 1, Dec 2, 2009)

Votes on Budget, Gay Marriage Postponed (NY Times, Dec 2, 2009)

City Has More Debt than Ever (Daily News, Dec 1, 2009)

City to Crack Down on Tax Cheats (NY Post, Dec 1, 2009)

Paterson to Act on Own to Cut Deficit (Bloomberg, Nov 30, 2009)

Medicaid Audit Finds City Hospitals Misspent Funds (NY Post, Nov 29, 2009)

DiNapoli Sees State Going into the Red (NY Post, Nov 28, 2009)
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli yesterday branded as "optimistic" Gov. David Paterson's projection that the state would end the year virtually bankrupt, with just $36 million in the bank, if the legislature failed to close the looming $3 billion-plus budget deficit. DiNapoli believe the state could end December with a negative balance, about minus $3 million.

State Running out of Money as Stalemate Continues (NY Times, Nov 27, 2009)
Without a budget deal, New York will be left with just $36 million in the bank by the end of December, according to current projections. And the money will last that long, officials say, only if the state chooses to fully exhaust its emergency reserves by tapping several billion dollars’ worth of temporary loans from its rainy-day fund and short-term investments.

Governor Asks for Unilateral Authority to Cut Budget (NY Times, Nov 25, 2009)

Cuts to Have Ripple Effect on Staten Island (Staten Island Advance, Nov 24, 2009)

Thompson, Bloomberg Clash Over Brooklyn Jail (Daily News, Nov 19, 2009)

MTA: No Fare Hikes, Service Cuts in 2010 (NY Post, Nov 19, 2009)

Assembly Approves Authorities Oversight (NY Times, Nov 19, 2009)

Bloomberg Leans on Unions (NY Post, Nov 18, 2009)

Council Set to Ease Parking Rules Despite Bloomberg's Opposition (am New York, Nov 16, 2009)

Paterson Might Drop Plan Requiring New License Plates (NY Times, Nov 15, 2009)

City Hardest Hit if Albany Runs Out of Money (Daily News, Nov 12, 2009)

New $25 License Plants Mandatory on All Vehicles in State (Daily News, Nov 11, 2009)

Despite Paterson's Warnings, Albany Doesn't Act on Budget (Daily News, Nov 11, 2009)

No Deficit Deals in Special Session (Newsday, Nov 11, 2009)

Paterson Urges Spending Cuts (Bloomberg, Nov 10, 2009)
Spending cuts recommended by the governor include $480 million in aid to local school districts and $287 million to Medicaid. He called in his speech for lawmakers not to raise taxes or resort to borrowing or unrealistic revenue assumptions to close budget deficits.

Paterson Paints Grim Picture of State Finances (NY Times, Nov 10, 2009)
Addressing a joint session of the Legislature during its traditional off-season, Gov. David Paterson used stark language to describe the gravity of the state’s economic health and tried to prod lawmakers to make major cuts to health and education programs.

Bank loses Checks for City Teachers (NY Post, Nov 8, 2009)

Bloomberg Offers Extra $850,000 for Public Advocate's Budget (Daily News, Nov 6, 2009)

Possible Third Fare Hike Coming (NY Post, Nov 6, 2009)

New York Hospitals Worry Health Bill Will Hurt Them (NY Times, Nov 3, 2009)

Water Liens Could Spur Foreclosures (Daily News, Nov 1, 2009)

Hiring Freeze Leaves New Teachers Stranded (Village Voice, Oct 30, 2009)

Public Pension Money Flows into Hedge Funds (Crain's, Oct 30, 2009)

With Teachers' Contract Set to Expire, Talks Are Unusually Quiet (NY Times, Oct 30, 2009)

MTA Weighs Lower Fares During Off-Peak Hours (NY Times, Oct 22, 2009)

Paterson Administration Fears Cost of National Health Care Overhaul (NY Times, Oct 22, 2009)

Albany: Schools to be Reimbursed for MTA Taxes (NY Post, Oct 22, 2009)

Thompson: City Can't Afford 4 Percent Raise for Teachers (Daily News, Oct 22, 2009)

Paterson Pushes Sugary Drink Tax Again (Daily News, Oct 21, 2009)

New Report Blasts MTA Mega-Projects (NY Post, Oct 21, 2009)

Options for the MTA After Budget Cuts (NY Times, Oct 19, 2009)

Judge Saves 500 Education Positions (Daily News, Oct 18, 2009)

City Spends Millions to Open up Schoolyards (NY Post, Oct 18, 2009)

Ethics Challenge Hurts Rangel’s Campaign Account (Daily News, Oct 17, 2009)

State Comptroller Warns Albany to Cut Deficit (NY Times, Oct 15, 2009)

Paterson Tackles Huge Deficit (NY Post, Oct 15, 2009)

State Running Out of Cash (Crain's, Oct 15, 2009)

Transit 'Day of Outrage' Little Noticed (NY Times, Oct 15, 2009)

Riders, MTA Brace for 'Day of Outrage' Stoppages (Daily News, Oct 14, 2009)

Bus Drivers' Threat to Hit 'Breaks' (NY Post, Oct 14, 2009)

Paterson Orders Agencies to Cut Additional $500 Million (Associated Press, Oct 7, 2009)

School's Vending Machines to Become Healthier (NY Times, Oct 7, 2009)

MTA's Lawyers Cost $1M (NY Post, Oct 6, 2009)

Mets Lose to Madoff (Newsday, Oct 6, 2009)

New Poverty Data Shows just the Start of Recession (NY Times, Sep 29, 2009)

Schumer Rakes in Wall Street Cash (Politico, Sep 29, 2009)

Cost of Skyscrapers Slashed (New York Magazine, Sep 29, 2009)

New York Tightens Pension Rules (Wall Street Journal, Sep 24, 2009)

Comptroller Bans Pension Fund Pay-to-Play (USA Today, Sep 24, 2009)

Comptroller Bans Donations From Money Managers (Bloomberg, Sep 24, 2009)

Pension Reform Order Signed (Albany Times Union, Sep 24, 2009)

Comptroller Candidates Got Money from Pension Fund Executives (Daily News, Sep 23, 2009)
Both candidates for city comptroller have taken campaign contributions from bankers whose firms manage city pension funds. The Daily News found $32,650 in contributions to David Yassky. John Liu, who has vowed to refuse contributions from anyone who does business with the comptroller, took in $8,979 in contributions since 2006 from people at pension management firms but produced receipts showing he returned $5,200 of that on Sept. 5. He says he'll consider returning the rest.

Candidates Run to Fundraise (NY Times, Sep 19, 2009)

MTA Approves New Chief's Salary and Severance Package (Daily News, Sep 17, 2009)

One MTA Moneymaker: Unused Metro Cards (AM New York, Sep 16, 2009)

Downtown Brooklyn Project Gets Federal Money (Crain's, Sep 16, 2009)

New York's War on Reservation 'Smoke Shops' (Associated Press, Sep 16, 2009)

Lehman Brothers Owes $1.5 Billion in Taxes, State Says (Bloomberg, Sep 16, 2009)

Atlantic Yards Could Cost City Millions, Report Finds (Daily News, Sep 11, 2009)

MTA to Begin Pulling Subway 'Customer Assistants' (NY Post, Sep 9, 2009)

Stimulus Funds Go to Company Under Cloud (NY Times, Sep 4, 2009)

Public Authorities Debt Surpasses $140 Billion (Associated Press, Sep 3, 2009)

Water Filtration Plant Costing $1 Billion More than Estimated, Audit Finds (Daily News, Sep 2, 2009)

Paterson to Announce OTB Bankruptcy Plan (NY Post, Sep 1, 2009)

City Collects 10 Percent Less in Sales Tax Revenue (Daily News, Sep 1, 2009)

Preventing the Mob From Getting Stimulus Funds (NY Times, Aug 31, 2009)

Controller Candidates Flunk Budget Quiz (Daily News, Aug 31, 2009)

Paterson Slow to Decide on Lottery Terminals for Aqueduct (Albany Times Union, Aug 31, 2009)

The New Arts Funding Process (, Aug 27, 2009)
The city's new arts funding process has created a more level playing field for organizations seeking money, according to the Independent Budget Office.

Tallying Stimulus Jobs Not Easy in New York (NY Times, Aug 27, 2009)

State Comptroller Puts $7 Million Stimulus Project on Hold (Daily News, Aug 25, 2009)

Transit Official Says Bloomberg Approved Raises (NY Times, Aug 21, 2009)

Mayoral Candidates Point Fingers on Campaign Spending (Daily News, Aug 21, 2009)

New Espada Hires Cost $350,000 (Daily News, Aug 20, 2009)

Senate Approves Espada Hires (Newsday, Aug 20, 2009)

Senate Goes on Hiring Spree (NY Post, Aug 20, 2009)

Pension Funds No Barometer for Comptroller (NY Times, Aug 19, 2009)

State Senators, Bloomberg Clash Over Bill on Public Authorities (Associated Press, Aug 18, 2009)

Stalled Brooklyn Project to Get Stimulus Money (NY Post, Aug 18, 2009)

Chinatown Bus Company One of City's Top Parking Scofflaws (AM New York, Aug 14, 2009)

Transit Agencies Slow to Spend Stimulus Cash, Report Finds (NY Post, Aug 14, 2009)

Dangerous Park Conditions Go Untended (NY 1, Aug 13, 2009)
A study obtained by NY1 shows dangerous conditions at city parks have gone unfixed for too long. Investigators for State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found it sometimes took weeks to correct about 50 percent of the hazardous conditions it surveyed in parks across the five boroughs.

Private Busses Rack Up Fines (AM New York, Aug 13, 2009)
AM New York outed the top ten parking scofflaws in New York City.

Two Operators on Trains for Now (NY Times, Aug 12, 2009)

Inmates Collected $30,000 in Unemployment Benefits (NY Post, Aug 12, 2009)

State May Be $80 Billion Short on Infrastructure Spending (Daily News, Aug 11, 2009)

MTA $10 Billion Short on Construction Plan (Daily News, Aug 11, 2009)

Ratner Races to Atlantic Yards' Finish Line (NY Times, Aug 10, 2009)

Councilmembers Doled Out Bonuses (NY Post, Aug 10, 2009)

New York Behind in Spending Stimulus (Newsday, Aug 9, 2009)

City Council Hikes Staffer Salaries (NY Post, Aug 7, 2009)

Controversy Over Bloomberg's Minority Business Rule (NY Post, Aug 7, 2009)

Web Site Lists Lawmaker's Pork-Barrel Spending (Associated Press, Aug 6, 2009)

City Seeks $627 Million in Taxes from Lehman (NY Times, Aug 5, 2009)

What's Wrong With NYC-TV? (Village Voice, Aug 5, 2009)

Computer Consulting Firm Bilked Board of Ed (, Aug 4, 2009)
Future Technology Associates has held a no-bid contract from the DOE for the past four years to integrate the school system's financial management software with that of other city agencies. Records show that very little of the $250,000 per consultant that the city paid the group went to salaries.

Staten Island Ferry to Receive Stimulus Funds (Staten Island Advance, Aug 3, 2009)

City Off Track Betting Contracts Under Scrutiny (NY Post, Jul 31, 2009)

Transit Head Nominee Gets Possible $850,000 Parachute (Daily News, Jul 30, 2009)

MTA Projects a Balanced Budget Through 2011 (NY Times, Jul 30, 2009)

City Spends to Aid Minority Firms but Fails (NY Times, Jul 30, 2009)

Pension Costs Could Skyrocket to $96 Billion (City Room, Jul 29, 2009)

City Gets Stimulus for Cops (NY Times, Jul 29, 2009)

Hank Morris and the State Pension Scandal (New York Magazine, Jul 27, 2009)

Executive Salaries Rise Sharply at Port Authority (NY Post, Jul 26, 2009)

State Raids 911 Service Money (Associated Press, Jul 24, 2009)

Yassky Says He'd Reduce Pension Payouts as Comptroller (NY Post, Jul 23, 2009)
With the city's pension costs about to explode, only one of the four Democratic candidates running for city comptroller was willing yesterday to consider reducing retirement benefits for future workers. Councilmember David Yassky said that as a "last resort" the city should push Albany to impose a lower retirement tier, even over the objections of municipal unions.

2nd Avenue Subway Delayed Again (NY Post, Jul 22, 2009)

Assemblyman Proposes Madoff Bill (Fox News, Jul 22, 2009)

Bill to Regulate Authorities in Governor's Hands (NY Times, Jul 22, 2009)

City and State to Pay Federal Government for School District Services (NY Post, Jul 22, 2009)

City and State Improperly Billed Feds for Medicaid Services (Reuters, Jul 22, 2009)

To Bolster Pension Fund, Health Care Union Agrees to Wage Freeze (NY Times, Jul 21, 2009)

State Revenues Drop Sharply (NY Times, Jul 21, 2009)
New York's revenues for April through June fell nearly $4.1 billion, or 25 percent, compared with the same period last year, according to a report issued Monday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Revenues for that quarter were $305 million below what state budget officials had projected, suggesting that the state government will probably have to make midyear budget cuts this fall.

Maria del Carmen Arroyo on Radar in Slush Probe (Daily News, Jul 17, 2009)

Slow-Moving Scandal Speeds Up for Council (NY Times, Jul 16, 2009)

City Spending on Lawsuits Dwarfs Other Big Cities (City Journal, Jul 16, 2009)

Comptroller Rejects Non-Union Raise for His Staff (Crain's, Jul 14, 2009)

Bring Banking to the Poor (NY Post, Jul 13, 2009)
In a recent study, Councilmember Eric Gioia said, his office found that the city has eight ZIP codes without a bank.

Senators Paid $5 Million During Feud (NY Post, Jul 10, 2009)

Broadway’s Car-Free Zones: This Space for Rent (NY Times, Jul 9, 2009)

Albany Stalemate Cancels Police Recruit's First Day (Newsday, Jul 9, 2009)

Williamsburg Littered With Stalled Construction (NY Post, Jul 6, 2009)

Welfare Checks Will Rise (NY Times, Jul 5, 2009)

Retirees Double Dip in Pensions (Daily News, Jul 4, 2009)

City Proposes New Plan for Gowanus Canal Cleanup (NY Times, Jul 2, 2009)

State Divests $86 Million From Companies Tied to Iran, Sudan (WNYC, Jul 2, 2009)

Bloomberg: Albany Stalemate will Cost City $60 Million a Month (Daily News, Jul 2, 2009)

With More Money, City Schools Added Jobs (NY Times, Jul 1, 2009)

MTA Splurging on Medical Perks for Execs (NY Post, Jul 1, 2009)
The MTA is blowing nearly $600,000 over five years on medical-exam perks for its top officials -- a move critics say is a waste of the cash-strapped agency's money.

Bill Signed for Online Hotel Tax (WNYC, Jun 30, 2009)

Bloomberg Considers Giving City Managers Raises (NY Post, Jun 29, 2009)

MTA Needs $600 Million to Keep Going (Daily News, Jun 26, 2009)

New York's Subway Riders Cover Major Share of System's Cost (AM New York, Jun 24, 2009)

MTA Sells Naming Rights to Brooklyn Subway Station (NY Times, Jun 24, 2009)

Atlantic Yards Developer Can Delay Payments to MTA (Crain's, Jun 24, 2009)

MTA Gives Atlantic Yards Developer a Break (NY Post, Jun 23, 2009)

Prosecutors lower Madoff's Ponzi Scheme total to $13B (Associated Press, Jun 20, 2009)

MTA Hit with $300,000 Fine (Daily News, Jun 19, 2009)

Banned Group Gets Council Earmarks (NY Post, Jun 19, 2009)

State Gets $283 Million from Homeland Security (Associated Press, Jun 19, 2009)

Subpoenas Issued to Landlords Who Rented to Seabrook (NY Times, Jun 18, 2009)

State Tax Revenue Tumbles 36 Percent in May (City Room, Jun 18, 2009)

Tax Break Boon For Island (Staten Island Advance, Jun 16, 2009)

No Agreement on Ground Zero Rebuilding (NY Times, Jun 16, 2009)

World Trade Center Site Negotiations Continue (Crain's, Jun 15, 2009)

Head of State Workers' Compensation Board Quits (NY Times, Jun 13, 2009)

Councilmember Seabrook’s Group Got Inflated City Payments (NY Times, Jun 11, 2009)

Councilmember Arroyo's Kin Accused of Stealing $200,000 (NY Post, Jun 11, 2009)

Coney Island and Willets Point Projects Escape Budget Axe (NY Observer, Jun 11, 2009)

Mayor: Don't Cap Property Tax (Reuters, Jun 7, 2009)

Conserve Water and Get a Bigger Bill (Staten Island Advance, Jun 7, 2009)

Pension Deal Reached in Albany (NY Times, Jun 6, 2009)

Unions and Governor Reach Pension Deal (NY Post, Jun 6, 2009)

Pension Deal Reviews (Daily Politics, Jun 6, 2009)

Governor Vetoes Pension Bill (Daily News, Jun 4, 2009)

Veto Sets Off Alarm for Firefighters and Officers (NY Post, Jun 4, 2009)

Silver to Support Disclosing Income (NY Post, Jun 4, 2009)

Bills Could Allow Union Strikes, City Hall Says (Staten Island Advance, Jun 4, 2009)

Judges Win Pay Raise Lawsuit (Daily Politics, Jun 3, 2009)

City Labor Unions Agree to Reductions in Health Benefits (NY Times, Jun 3, 2009)

Judge Delays Water Bottle Deposits for a Year (Associated Press, Jun 3, 2009)

Albany Debates Raising Wages to Build Lower-Cost Housing (NY Times, Jun 2, 2009)

Partners Sue MTA Chairman Over Building Deal (Crain's, Jun 2, 2009)

Council in Sketchy Spending Spree (NY Post, Jun 2, 2009)

Ratner May Receive Generous New Terms from MTA (Brooklyn Papers, Jun 2, 2009)

Yankees: Subpoena Will Cost More than $5 Million (Associated Press, Jun 2, 2009)

Mayor and Council Agree on Two Sales Tax Measures (NY Times, Jun 2, 2009)

Comptroller Disputes Bloomberg’s Budget (Crain's, Jun 2, 2009)

City Nixes Proposed Plastic Bag Tax (Metro, Jun 2, 2009)

Despite Cuts, Mayor, Council Expected to Reach Budget Agreement (Daily News, May 31, 2009)

State Pension Fund Records Major Losses (Crain's, May 31, 2009)
The New York state employee pension fund shed 26 percent of its value in the year ended March 31, and taxpayers will need to cough up greater contributions to cover the shortfall.

Governor, Comptroller Clash Over How to Help State Pension Fund (NY Times, May 30, 2009)
New York’s governor and state comptroller clashed on Friday over how to make up steep losses in the state’s pension fund. The comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, said that local governments other than New York City would have to significantly increase their payments into the pension system for the first time in several years. Gov. David Paterson sharply disagreed, saying such increases would have “a devastating impact on already overburdened local property taxpayers.”

Pension Fund Has Record Loss, But DiNapoli Says It's Safe (Daily News, May 30, 2009)
Buffeted by the world economic crisis, the state pension fund took a serious beating in the last fiscal year, plummeting an estimated 26% to just under $110 billion, state Controller Thomas DiNapoli said Friday.

National Grid May Owe Most for Cleanup of Gowanus Canal (Daily News, May 28, 2009)

$1.3 Billion in Stimulus for City (NY Post, May 28, 2009)

City Modifying Film Tax-Credit Plan (Crain's, May 28, 2009)

State Comptroller Bans Worst Managers in Pension Fund Scandal (Daily News, May 26, 2009)
State Controller Thomas DiNapoli is booting 10 hedge fund managers from doing business with New York's scandal-scarred $122 billion pension fund, the Daily News has learned.

Schumer Aims to Punish Spam Credit Calls (Associated Press, May 25, 2009)
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer says he wants the federal government to stop companies that target consumers with automated calls pitching bogus credit card interest rates and mortgage scams.

Bloomberg Swears Off Additional Public Funds for Atlantic Yards (Brooklyn Papers, May 22, 2009)

Dan Halloran on Taxes and GOP (, May 22, 2009)

Paterson Warns More Cuts May Be Needed This Year (NY Times, May 21, 2009)

Budget Gap Could Hit $6 Billion by Next Year (Daily News, May 21, 2009)

State Budget May Already be $3 Billion in Debt (NY Post, May 21, 2009)

World Trade Center may go $1.1 Billion Over Budget (Daily News, May 21, 2009)

Atlantic Yards, Finance Footrace (NY Observer, May 21, 2009)

Civic Groups Call for Limits on Public Funding of Construction at Trade Center Site (Crain's, May 20, 2009)

State Revenues Drop Sharply (NY Times, May 20, 2009)
Less than two months into the state’s fiscal year, revenue collections are about half of what they were last year, according to a report issued by the state comptroller on Tuesday.

State Settles with Carlyle in Pension Case (, May 15, 2009)

Drop of Relief in Water Rate Hike (, May 15, 2009)
The Post reports that water rates, originally expected to rise by 14% this year, will jump 12.9 percent instead.

Four More Fire Companies Will Close (Daily News, May 15, 2009)
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta will close four FDNY companies - and has warned that 12 more may follow.

Businessman Pleads Guilty in Pension Probe (Associated Press, May 13, 2009)

State Bracing for More Health Layoffs (Crain's, May 12, 2009)

City to Offer Free Financial Counseling (NY Post, May 12, 2009)

Subway and Bus Riders Will Pay More, but Less Than They Feared (NY Times, May 12, 2009)

MTA Approves Fare Hikes (Daily News, May 12, 2009)

Fare Hikes on Track (NY Post, May 12, 2009)

Espada Has One Week to File All Campaign Finance Reports (Daily News, May 12, 2009)

Councilmembers Say Higher Sales Tax Would Cost Retail Jobs (WNYC, May 12, 2009)

Trade Center Plan Could Shrink to Two Towers (Daily News, May 11, 2009)

Libraries Urge Readers to Speak Up on Cuts (NY Post, May 11, 2009)
Even librarians want you to shout about this: Facing a potential $23.2 million funding cut in Mayor Bloomberg's budget, the book lenders of the New York Public Library are protesting.

Weiner: Child Care Costs Soar (NY Post, May 11, 2009)
The cost of child care in New York City has skyrocketed 20 percent over the last four years, according to a study released yesterday by Rep. Anthony Weiner.

New York City Recession-Style (New York Magazine, May 11, 2009)

Firm Makes $100,000 After Ferrer Introduction (NY Times, May 10, 2009)

Silver and Mayor Call For End to Ground Zero Impasse (Associated Press, May 10, 2009)

Stimulus Funds Go to Summer Jobs (NY Times, May 10, 2009)

City May Look at Offshore Accounts (NY Post, May 10, 2009)
Wealthy tax cheats, beware: New York has your number.

Opinion Allows Earmarks for Council Relatives (NY Post, May 8, 2009)

EPA Reveals Gowanus Cleanup Could Cost $300 to $400 Million (Brooklyn Downtown Star, May 8, 2009)

Federal Budget Pulls Funding for Police Anti-Terror Program (Daily News, May 8, 2009)

Council Members Face Political Hitch Over Tow Proposal (NY 1, May 7, 2009)

MTA Rescue Passes, but Impact Is Questioned (NY Times, May 7, 2009)

Schools Chief Bans Hiring of Teachers From Outside (NY Times, May 7, 2009)

Brodsky, Yankees Headed for Extra Innings (Albany Times Union, May 7, 2009)

Legislators Pass MTA Bailout (Daily News, May 7, 2009)

MTA Rescue Plan Elicits Muted Applause (Crain's, May 7, 2009)

Fare Deal Approved (NY Post, May 7, 2009)

Albany Amok: Whose Bailout Is This, Anyway? (NY Observer, May 7, 2009)

Anger Lingers Among Foes of MTA’s Bailout (Metro, May 7, 2009)

GOP: Transit Bailout to Cost Upstate, Long Island (Associated Press, May 6, 2009)

Paterson, Lawmakers Vow to Address Property Taxes (Associated Press, May 6, 2009)

Official's Husband Was Highest Paid Parking Judge (NY Times, May 4, 2009)
The highest-paid parking judge in New York City in 2006 and 2007 is the husband of the first deputy commissioner for the Finance Department, the agency that hires the judges. Questions about earnings by the judge, Allan Patricof, were the first in a series of events that raised questions about Martha Stark’s stewardship of the Finance Department and resulted in her resignation last week.

Morris' Pensions Fund Dealings Extended West (Daily News, May 4, 2009)
Hank Morris, the indicted top political aide to former state Controller Alan Hevesi, had his tentacles in public pension funds from New York to California, with New Mexico in between, court records and interviews show.

Paterson Demands Vote on MTA Bailout (NY Times, May 3, 2009)

Bloomberg Proposes Sales Tax Increase (NY Times, May 2, 2009)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a budget Friday that would increase the city’s sales tax by half a percentage point as the centerpiece of $1 billion in new taxes to help the city avoid deeper spending cuts and minimize layoffs.

Budget Keeps Services Largely Intact (NY Post, May 2, 2009)
The $59.4 billion fiscal 2010 budget -- which requires approvals from Albany and municipal unions for $1.4 billion in revenue that the mayor is counting on -- kept major services largely intact and was less punishing than some government observers had expected. But it does hit residents with $1 billion in additional taxes, including restoration of the city portion of the tax on all clothing sales.

Mayor Unveils Doomsday Budget (Daily News, May 2, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a doomsday budget Friday that would wallop New Yorkers with a nearly 9 percent sales tax while eliminating the exemption on clothes and charging a nickel for plastic bags.

Shoppers Assail Sales Tax Plan (NY Post, May 2, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg's proposed sales-tax hike got a big thumbs down yesterday from New York shoppers who predicted the "terrible" idea will further cripple the city's economy and send consumers scurrying across the river to spend their dough in New Jersey.

Hostile Reaction To Tax Hikes (Daily News, May 2, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg wants to balance the budget with nickels and dimes, but in times like these, New Yorkers say they can't spare the change.

Cuomo Issues Subpoenas in Pension Probe (NY Times, May 2, 2009)
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said on Friday that his office was issuing more than 100 new subpoenas to investment firms and intermediaries who brokered deals with public pension funds, in the latest expansion of his corruption investigation.

MTA Plan Is Said to Relieve Cost on School Districts (NY Times, May 1, 2009)

Governor's MTA Plan Revealed (NY Post, May 1, 2009)

Mayor Said to Drop Plan to Ask City Workers to Pay for Health Coverage (NY Times, May 1, 2009)

Bloomberg To Outline New Layoffs, Sales Tax Hike (NY 1, May 1, 2009)

Water Rate Hike Criticized (Queens Chronicle, May 1, 2009)

Paterson Settles Discrimination Suit for $300,000 of Public Money (NY Post, May 1, 2009)

Bloomberg Proposes Higher Sales Tax Hike (NY Post, Apr 30, 2009)

Paterson Holding a Last-Ditch MTA Proposal (Associated Press, Apr 30, 2009)

24 Hour Subways 'Doomed' (NY Post, Apr 30, 2009)

Second MTA Fare Hike Looms this Year (Daily News, Apr 30, 2009)

New Cuts Could Doom Late-Night Subway Service (NY Times, Apr 30, 2009)

State Budget Could Stay on Track (Albany Times Union, Apr 29, 2009)

Pension Funds Suspend Use of Middlemen (NY Post, Apr 29, 2009)

Bloomberg Weary of Accusations Against Finance Commissioner (Daily News, Apr 29, 2009)
City officials told the Daily News that Mayor Bloomberg was weary of ethics revelations. The probe into allegations against Martha Stark will continue.

Finance Commissioner Resigns (NY Times, Apr 29, 2009)
The New York Times suggests that Finance Commissioner Martha Stark was pushed out of the office she's led since 2002. She continues to maintain that she did nothing improper.

MTA Negotiations Stall in Albany (NY Times, Apr 28, 2009)

Tabloids See Drop in Circulation (Crain's, Apr 28, 2009)

Personal Income Tax Revenues Plunge (Reuters, Apr 28, 2009)

Hunter Gets Cash from Mystery Donor (Associated Press, Apr 28, 2009)

Food Pantry Needs Grow on Staten Island (Staten Island Advance, Apr 28, 2009)

Astor Son's Trial Starts (Daily News, Apr 28, 2009)

City Pension Deputy Goes on Vacation as Investigation Mounts (NY Post, Apr 27, 2009)

Bloomberg Struggling to Avoid Layoffs (NY Post, Apr 27, 2009)

City Board Votes to Cease Investing in Target of Probe (Daily News, Apr 27, 2009)

Unions Want State Funded Projects to Follow Union Guidelines (Legislative Gazette, Apr 27, 2009)

Bloomberg Among Many Opposed To New MTA Bailout Plan (NY 1, Apr 24, 2009)

Albany Restores $30 Million in Charter School Funding (NY Post, Apr 24, 2009)

Weiner Outraged Over Parking Meter Rate Hike (The Forum, Apr 24, 2009)
Drivers who park at metered spots along local shopping strips will have to shell out a little more change to avoid a ticket, now that the city has reduced the amount of time a quarter gets you from a half hour to twenty minutes. "Queens shoppers are being nickel-and-dimed at the expense of small businesses," said Rep. Anthony Weiner on Thursday. "We want to help local neighborhood stores, not drive shoppers away."

Bailout Vote Due in Albany (NY Post, Apr 23, 2009)

Construction Leaders Balk at Bloomberg Cuts (New York Construction, Apr 23, 2009)

MTA Freeze on Hiring as Crisis Grows (Daily News, Apr 23, 2009)

City Could End up Chipping in for EPA Gowanus Clean-up (Brooklyn Papers, Apr 23, 2009)

State Budget Director Resigns (Crain's, Apr 23, 2009)

Cuomo Turns Pension Fund Inquiry Toward City Comptroller's Office (Daily News, Apr 23, 2009)

Pension Funds Inquiry Turns to City Comptroller’s Office (NY Times, Apr 23, 2009)

State Pension Fund Bans Controversial Middlemen (Crain's, Apr 23, 2009)

Silver Arranged Pension Sitdowns (Daily News, Apr 23, 2009)

Pension Probe to Eye City (NY Post, Apr 23, 2009)

Albany Bars Placement Agents for Pension Fund (NY Times, Apr 23, 2009)

Senate Democrats Offer Another Plan (NY Times, Apr 21, 2009)

Taxi Surcharge is Part of New Plan (Daily News, Apr 21, 2009)

Job Losses Slow Down (Crain's, Apr 21, 2009)

The Ties to State's Pension Probe (Bloomberg, Apr 21, 2009)

Survey Shows Half of Income Paid on Rent (Daily News, Apr 21, 2009)
More than one New Yorker in four spends half the family income on rent, with those in the outer boroughs digging deepest to pay their landlord.

State Pension Scandal Snowballs (NY Times, Apr 18, 2009)

Stimulus Money Could Help Retrofit City Office Buildings (Real Deal, Apr 17, 2009)

Compromise Is Offered to Bridge Toll Opponents (NY Times, Apr 16, 2009)

Refinancing Deal May Save Low-Cost Housing in Brooklyn (NY Times, Apr 16, 2009)

Tolls Revived in MTA Rescue Bid (NY Post, Apr 16, 2009)

Staten Island's Sen. Lanza Draws Ire of Transit Advocates (Staten Island Advance, Apr 16, 2009)

Silverstein Seeking Financing Support (Crain's, Apr 15, 2009)

Shortfalls at State Pension Fund (Crain's, Apr 15, 2009)

Teams, Not City Will Staff Stadiums (Daily News, Apr 15, 2009)
Parks Department workers were charged with maintaining Shea Stadium and the old Yankee Stadium. But Citi Field and the new Yankee Stadium, both built on city land, will be maintained by workers hired directly by the teams.

Finance Commissioner Under Fire (WNYC, Apr 15, 2009)

Pension Deals Focus of Inquiry (NY Times, Apr 14, 2009)

Financial Titans Find Friend in Bloomberg (NY Times, Apr 14, 2009)

Actions of City Finance Comissioner Under Review (NY Post, Apr 14, 2009)

Silverstein's Sweet Salary (Daily News, Apr 14, 2009)
Port Authority Paying Silverstein $21.5 For for Development Tips

Key Union Rejects Paterson's Plea (Associated Press, Apr 10, 2009)

Pensions Will Crush City, Bloomberg Warns (NY Post, Apr 10, 2009)

Bloomberg Sees Possibility for Avoiding Layoffs (Daily News, Apr 10, 2009)

Unions Rail Against Paterson's Layoff Plan (Albany Times Union, Apr 9, 2009)

City Agencies Trim Budgets, Layoffs Likely (Associated Press, Apr 9, 2009)

Web Site Allows Comparison of New York Taxes, Spending (Associated Press, Apr 9, 2009)

Cut Deeper, Bloomberg Warns Unions (Daily News, Apr 9, 2009)

Paterson Presses for MTA Rescue (WNYC, Apr 8, 2009)

With Demand Strong, City Boosts Sale of Bonds (Bloomberg, Apr 8, 2009)

Lawmakers Want $1.5 Billion in Federal Earmarks (NY Post, Apr 7, 2009)

Council Staffers Get Raises Despite Economy (NY Post, Apr 6, 2009)
Despite the city's dire fiscal situation, the City Council doled out 90 staff raises this year, with one aide getting a $20,000 increase even though his title did not change, The Post has found.

Riders Left Miles Away from Stations (Daily News, Apr 5, 2009)

In Tough Times, Public School Makes a Comeback (NY Times, Apr 5, 2009)
For some young families who bought during the housing boom, having it all meant an affordable brood-sized apartment in possession of a good public school zone. But other parents in pursuit of real estate never even thought about schools. They assumed they would send their children to private school, often because they too had followed that route.

Weiner Gets Campaign Donation from Hospital he Fought For (Daily News, Apr 5, 2009)
Mayoral contender Anthony Weiner fought doggedly to keep a troubled Queens hospital open - just months after its president raised more than $11,500 for his campaign.

Carrion Uses Campaign Cash for Going Away Bash (NY Post, Apr 5, 2009)
Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion spent more than $50,000 in campaign contributions on a party for supporters and to enrich the Bronx Democratic Party soon after he was named President Obama's urban-affairs chief six weeks ago, according to filings at the Campaign Finance Board.

Member Items Throughout the State Budget (NY Times, Apr 5, 2009)

State Approves $131 Billion Budget (NY Times, Apr 5, 2009)

Weiner Campaign Deposited Illegal Checks by Mistake (NY Post, Apr 4, 2009)
Rep. Anthony Weiner's mayoral campaign admitted yesterday it had mistakenly deposited illegal checks made in the names of foreign models.

New Rise in Rates for Water Is Expected (NY Times, Apr 3, 2009)

de Blasio: Stimulus for City Needs Transparency (WNYC, Apr 3, 2009)

State Budget Decimates Staten Island Mental Health Program (Staten Island Advance, Apr 3, 2009)

Shutoffs to Resume Over Water Bills (City Room, Apr 3, 2009)
On Monday, Steven Lawitts, acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, announced that it had resumed its shutoff enforcement program for “chronically delinquent” water and sewer customers. The program, which was suspended in October 2008 “in consideration of heating season,” has proved to be quite a success: More than 90 percent of customers who received shutoff notices last year paid up.

Senate Agrees to Overcome Roadblock to Key Budget Vote (Daily News, Apr 3, 2009)

Paterson Issues Ultimatum to Lawmakers Over Bailout Plan (Daily News, Apr 3, 2009)

Ailing Senator Allowed to Vote on Budget Bills (Newsday, Apr 3, 2009)

MTA Deal Falls Through Ahead Of Weekend Break (NY 1, Apr 3, 2009)

Quinn: Eliminate Income Tax for Poor (WNYC, Apr 2, 2009)

Education Department's Cost Estimates Off by $700 Million (NY Post, Apr 2, 2009)

Council Awakens to Flood of Red Ink (Daily News, Apr 2, 2009)

City to Get $261 Million in Stimulus Funds for Infrastructure (Associated Press, Apr 2, 2009)

Paterson Blasts Senate on Stalled MTA Talks (Daily News, Apr 2, 2009)

Debate and a Senator’s Trip to the Hospital Delay Votes on the Budget (NY Times, Apr 2, 2009)

Long-Winded Lawmakers in Albany Fail to Pass Budget (Daily News, Apr 2, 2009)

DiNapoli Rips Fellow Democrats (NY Post, Apr 2, 2009)

Paterson Fears Budget May Not Work (Buffalo News, Apr 2, 2009)

Bumps in Budget Road (Albany Times Union, Apr 1, 2009)

State Aids a Hospital Overflowing With Patients (Daily News, Apr 1, 2009)
Swamped by a recent spike in patient volume, Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens in Long Island City has been tapped to receive $1 million in reimbursements from the state Health Department.

Albany Considers Taxi Surcharge (Daily News, Apr 1, 2009)
Cab passengers could be paying 50 cents more per ride, according to one version of the MTA bailout plan being discussed.

Details of the State Budget Deal (NY Times, Mar 30, 2009)

State Busts Bank With Budget (Daily News, Mar 30, 2009)

Spending and Taxes Increase (NY Post, Mar 30, 2009)

City Tax Appeals Up (NY Post, Mar 30, 2009)

Klein Raises Cash for Nonprofit on City Time (NY Post, Mar 30, 2009)
Schools Chancellor Joel Klein has used taxpayers' time to raise $1.5 million for a national nonprofit he co-founded last year -- with the blessing of the city's ethics board, The Post has learned

Rents Slide and Tenants Trade Up (NY Times, Mar 29, 2009)

Budget Packed with Pork (Daily News, Mar 29, 2009)

MTA Plan from Albany Could Come Soon (Daily News, Mar 29, 2009)

Overtime Limited for Fire Department (NY Times, Mar 29, 2009)
The Fire Department said on Friday that it would limit the amount of overtime for firefighters and other uniformed personnel to spread such payments more evenly throughout the department and to control pension costs.

Mayor Discusses Small Business Initiatives (Staten Island Advance, Mar 29, 2009)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today important city initiatives would help homeowners and small businesses save money

Over 1,000 MTA Workers May be Laid Off (Daily News, Mar 27, 2009)

Budget Talks: Higher Tax Brackets, No School Spending Increase (NY Times, Mar 27, 2009)

MTA Bonds May be Downgraded (Daily News, Mar 27, 2009)

Klein: 2,000 Teachers Could be Laid Off (NY Post, Mar 27, 2009)

The Shakedown Operation in Comptroller Hevesi's Office (Village Voice, Mar 26, 2009)

MTA Passes 'Doomsday' Budget (, Mar 26, 2009)
After a fiery hearing Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 12 to 1 to approve subway, bus and commuter train fare hikes from 25 percent to 30 percent and impose severe service cuts, including elimination of two subway lines and 21 local bus routes.

Senators Derailed Rescue Plan (Daily News, Mar 26, 2009)
Nearly every major figure in the city - politicians, labor leaders, community activists - support the so-called Ravitch plan to minimize a fare hike and stave off service cuts by charging motorists who cross into Manhattan. The unfortunate exception is the "Gang of Three," a trio of state senators from the city: Carl (Cars) Kruger of Brooklyn, along with Ruben (Road Rally) Diaz Sr. and Pedro (Escalade) Espada, both of the Bronx.

Massive Fare Hikes Can Be Stopped (Daily News, Mar 26, 2009)
There's still time for state officials in Albany to rescue riders facing painful service cuts and sky-high fare hikes, the MTA brass said Wednesday. "We really have the month of April before people get impacted," Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Elliot Sander said.

DEP Doles out Raises Amid Budget Crisis (Daily News, Mar 25, 2009)

MTA Poised to Raise Fares (NY Times, Mar 24, 2009)

Cuomo Gets Bonuses Back (, Mar 24, 2009)

Multi-Family Housing Sales Plummet (Crain's, Mar 24, 2009)

Cigarette Fee Hike Draws Ire (Daily News, Mar 24, 2009)

Hiring Freeze Doesn't Halt Albany Big Hires (NY Post, Mar 24, 2009)

Mayor Hopes to Help Freelancers (Crain's, Mar 24, 2009)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Freelancers Union will work to develop a federal unemployment benefit for independent workers who lose all their clients, the mayor announced Monday.

Disabled Could Get Cab Credit Card (NY Post, Mar 24, 2009)
Paratransit riders may soon get a credit card they can use only with city-approved yellow cabs and black cars, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday.

Council Takes Aim at Children's Services Cuts (NY Times, Mar 24, 2009)
Facing a $62 million budget shortfall and the impending layoffs of 557 employees, the commissioner of the city’s Administration for Children’s Services vowed on Monday not to let caseloads rise above an average of 12 per caseworker, saying that would be unacceptably high.

Paterson, Democrats Reported to Have Reached Budget Deal (NY Post, Mar 23, 2009)

State Budget Talks Remain Secret (NY Times, Mar 22, 2009)

Port Authority May Help Ground Zero Developer (NY Times, Mar 22, 2009)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering giving the developer Larry A. Silverstein financial backing to help pay for one of three office towers that he is required to build at the World Trade Center site.

Silverstein Seeks Bailout (Daily News, Mar 21, 2009)
Larry Silverstein, the embattled developer of three towers at Ground Zero wants a bailout to complete the long-stalled towers, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. Silverstein is requesting the Port Authority give him money so he can complete cash for at least two of the three planned office towers

World Trade Center Plan Faces Further Woes (Wall Street Journal, Mar 21, 2009)
The rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, already hobbled by years of delays and infighting, is facing fresh problems as private developer Larry Silverstein asks the government for crucial financial assistance, according to people familiar with the matter.

Paterson Could Support Change in Pension Funds (Daily News, Mar 21, 2009)
The bombshell indictment of two top advisors to former state Controller Alan Hevesi is "disturbing" enough to consider changing how the state pension fund operates, Gov. David Paterson said Friday.

State Legislative Conference Committees History? (Albany Times Union, Mar 20, 2009)

Hevesi Aides Indicted in Kickback Scheme (NY Times, Mar 20, 2009)

City Hospitals Tighten Their Budget by $105 Million (Crain's, Mar 20, 2009)

Silver Puts Mayor’s Governors Island Idea on Hold (Downtown Express, Mar 20, 2009)

$1 Billion Cut from Javits Expansion Plan (NY Post, Mar 20, 2009)

State Leaders Talk Budget as Deadline Nears (Associated Press, Mar 20, 2009)

More Millions for 7 Train Extension (AM New York, Mar 20, 2009)

Tax Revenue Drops (, Mar 20, 2009)
State tax revenues declined significantly in last month, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said this week. Monthly business tax receipts were down 66 percent in February compared to last February, while personal income taxes dropped 23 percent during the same period.

M.T.A. Plan May be Sidetracked as Smith Calls Budget Priority (Daily News, Mar 20, 2009)

Taxes Not Seen as Making the Rich Flee New York (NY Times, Mar 19, 2009)

M.T.A. Doomsday Budget Details: Single ride $2.50, Unlimited $103 (Daily News, Mar 19, 2009)

Bailing Out Governor’s Island (NY Observer, Mar 19, 2009)

Crunch Time for Bottle Deposit Bill (Associated Press, Mar 19, 2009)

Cuomo to Subpoena AIG (NY Times, Mar 17, 2009)

Union Looks to Employ More (City Limits, Mar 17, 2009)
At a time of rising unemployment and overstretched public funding, the city is facing a serious challenge in trying to engage the workforce and balance its budget. The largest public sector municipal labor union in the city is advocating for an approach it claims would mitigate both problems – helping people to get employed and off welfare, and saving the city money at the same time.

State Senate Looks to Tax the Wealthy (NY Times, Mar 16, 2009)

Finance Commissioner Resigns from Second Job (NY Times, Mar 15, 2009)

State Comptroller Under Scrutiny (NY Times, Mar 15, 2009)

Fare Hikes Loom Unless State Comes to the Rescue (Daily News, Mar 13, 2009)

Transit Rescue Plan Author Opposes Stopgap Measure (NY Times, Mar 13, 2009)

Bus Routes in Danger (NY Post, Mar 13, 2009)

State Senate Stalls Over M.T.A. Rescue Plan (NY 1, Mar 13, 2009)

City Paid Out $568 Million for Lawsuits Last Year (Metro, Mar 13, 2009)

Monserrate Yanks Support for Tolls (NY Post, Mar 13, 2009)

Bloomberg Seeks Full Control of Governors Island (Daily News, Mar 13, 2009)

Drastic M.T.A. Hikes Fair Game Again (Daily News, Mar 12, 2009)

G.O.P. Senators Claim They're Blocked from Budget (Associated Press, Mar 12, 2009)

Police Behaving Badly Cost City $35 Million (Daily News, Mar 12, 2009)
Controversial cop tactics - including excessive force and false arrests - cost the city $35.2 million last year in settlements over charges of improper police action, up 40 percent over the previous year, a report out Thursday from city Controller William Thompson shows.

Report Calls for More Disclosure by State Pension Fund (Associated Press, Mar 11, 2009)

Thousands Call for Budget Solutions (City Limits, Mar 10, 2009)

New York Times Sells Off Office (Associated Press, Mar 10, 2009)

New Station Prone to Leaks (AM New York, Mar 10, 2009)

Governor's Train Is Not A Speedy Project (NY Post, Mar 10, 2009)

Conflict of Interest for Carrión? (Daily News, Mar 10, 2009)

Life Proves Difficult for Homeless Youth, Study Shows (NY Times, Mar 10, 2009)

Thompson Joins Millionaire's Tax Call (Daily News, Mar 10, 2009)
Amid darkening forecasts for the city's economy, Controller William Thompson reversed course Monday and called for a "millionaire's tax" he had opposed in October.

City Official Defends Prohibiting Rich Tax (NY Post, Mar 10, 2009)
They're the golden geese of New York - a mere 41,282 taxpayers who account for nearly half the city's income-tax collections - and some are bound to fly the coop if the rich get hammered with higher taxes, a top city official warned yesterday as a dire new report forecast more job losses, higher deficits and dwindling tax revenues.

Weiner Talks of Tolling Non-Residents (NY Post, Mar 10, 2009)
Mayoral hopeful Rep. Anthony Weiner wants the MTA's financial crisis to take the biggest toll on out-of-towners.

Paterson Shifts on Emissions, Drawing Fire (NY Times, Mar 6, 2009)

Albany's 'Gang Of Three' Oppose Ravitch Plan (NY 1, Mar 6, 2009)

Bloomberg Rejects Discretionary Grants (NY Post, Mar 6, 2009)

DiBrienza's Own Council Grants Keep His Office Open (NY Post, Mar 6, 2009)
Bounced from office by term limits, former Councilman Stephen DiBrienza is making a run for his old Brooklyn seat - but it's almost as if he never left. Since leaving the council at the end of 2001, DiBrienza has continued to work out of his former district office, which now houses a not-for-profit group - founded by DiBrienza and funded with a total of $1.185 million in council grants, according to city, state and federal records.

Amid State’s Budget Crisis, a Scramble to Spend Billions (NY Times, Mar 5, 2009)

Transit Audit Finds Unclaimed Savings (AM New York, Mar 5, 2009)

Bloomberg Says Stimulus Funds Getting Lost in Albany (NY Post, Mar 5, 2009)

'Lulu' Survives Despite Budget Crunch (Daily News, Mar 4, 2009)
City Council last week rearranged its committee chair positions, giving more members a chance at a $10,000 "lulu."

Paterson Pension Plan Could Save Billions (NY Post, Mar 4, 2009)

Madoff Papers Come Ashore in Queens (New Yorker, Mar 3, 2009)

DiNapoli Defends Pension System (Daily News, Mar 3, 2009)

Foreclosures May Help Tenants (NY Times, Mar 3, 2009)

Film Industry Hopes for Breaks not Cuts (NY Times, Mar 3, 2009)

Thompson Takes Lobbyist Cash (NY Post, Mar 3, 2009)
City Comptroller William Thompson, a Democratic mayoral hopeful, has received more than $83,000 in donations to his war chest from lobbyists with city business during the time he has been considered a likely contender for City Hall, a review of records shows.

Smith Wants MTA Audit (NY Post, Mar 3, 2009)

Credibility of MTA Could Deter Bailout (Daily News, Mar 3, 2009)

Silver's Plan to Add Bridge Tolls Praised (Newsday, Feb 27, 2009)

Deal for Bridge Tolls All but 'Done' (NY Post, Feb 27, 2009)

Silver’s Bridge Toll Plan Divides Brooklyn (Brooklyn Papers, Feb 27, 2009)

Silver Leans Toward Okaying Tolls to Cross East River (Daily News, Feb 27, 2009)

Thompson Calling for Amnesty for Tax Scofflaws (Daily News, Feb 27, 2009)

Cuomo Probing Political Links to State Pension Business (Daily News, Feb 27, 2009)

Big Business Gangs Up on Millionaires Tax (NY Post, Feb 27, 2009)

Sidewalk Fixes Tripping Up City (Daily News, Feb 26, 2009)

New York Leaders Detail Stimulus Spending (Associated Press, Feb 26, 2009)

Targeting Debt Cheats (NY Post, Feb 26, 2009)
The city moved yesterday to toughen regulations against collection agencies, 17 months after a study found debt-ridden New Yorkers are losing judgments worth $800 million each year because they're not showing up for court hearings.

Silver Proposes Tolls on East and Harlem River Bridges (NY Times, Feb 26, 2009)

Growing Support to Tax NY's Rich (Associated Press, Feb 25, 2009)
As similar "fair share" tax bills progress in the Senate and Assembly, a new poll shows 51 percent of New Yorkers prefer raising taxes on the wealthy over budget cuts. The poll found most New Yorkers -- 77 percent -- support proposals that would raise the income tax rate on those making $1 million or more a year, while 59 percent support raising the rate for New Yorkers making $250,000 or more a year. Just 22 percent prefer additional budget cuts in education and health care over raising the rate. '

Stock Exchange Considers Changes in $1 Rule (Crain's, Feb 25, 2009)
With many major companies trading in penny-stock territory, the New York Stock Exchange is considering relaxing a rule that requires shares to trade above a dollar.

A New Approach to Wall Street (NY Times, Feb 23, 2009)

Quinn Calls for Cutting Biz Red Tape (NY Post, Feb 23, 2009)
The city is getting ready to cut the red tape for small-business owners.

Younger Cops Retire With Pensions (NY Post, Feb 23, 2009)

Jersey Lures Downtown Employer (NY Times, Feb 22, 2009)

Paterson Wavers on Millionaires Tax (NY Post, Feb 22, 2009)

Bloomberg Lists How City is Helping During Recession (Staten Island Advance, Feb 22, 2009)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg said today the city is working to help New Yorkers through the recession while finding ways to boost the economy.

City Collections Often Convoluted (Daily News, Feb 22, 2009)

A New Call to End Garden Breaks (Daily News, Feb 22, 2009)
A city council member says it's time for Madison Square Garden's massive tax break to go the way of the New York Americans hockey team.

Bloomberg's Jokes Bomb (Daily News, Feb 21, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg is running for reelection as the only man who can save the city, but a roomful of worried New Yorkers at a recent Brooklyn forum weren't convinced

MTA Plan for Revenue Draws Host of Critics (NY Times, Feb 20, 2009)

Federal Innovation Bonus Eyed for City Schools (NY Post, Feb 20, 2009)

Mayor: Hudson River Park’s Money Should Go to Governors Island (Downtown Express, Feb 20, 2009)

State Officials Try to Sort Out Stimulus Projects (Associated Press, Feb 19, 2009)

New Yorkers Support Tax On The Wealthy, Poll Shows (NY 1, Feb 19, 2009)

More Funding Problems at Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brooklyn Papers, Feb 19, 2009)

Council Bill Would Return All Taxes to Poorest Families (Staten Island Advance, Feb 19, 2009)

NYC Transit Payouts to Litigants up 40 Percent Since '04 (Daily News, Feb 19, 2009)

Quinn Expects 'Scathing' Slush Find Report; No Indictments (NY Post, Feb 19, 2009)

New York to Cash in on Stimulus (Daily News, Feb 17, 2009)
In a confluence of seniority, hard work and some luck, New York's congressional delegation is now stacked with power players, and it shows in how the massive, $787 billion stimulus package will soon be carved up.

Porn Industry Assails iPod Tax (Associated Press, Feb 16, 2009)

Cost of Battery Park Ferry Terminal Triples (NY Post, Feb 16, 2009)

Unions Fight Over Control of Amalgamated Bank (Crain's, Feb 16, 2009)

Mayors See Stimulus Plan as Good Start (Washington Post, Feb 16, 2009)
Urban leaders and advocates say the stimulus plan that President Barack Obama will sign Tuesday will create jobs in cities and blunt the impact of the economic crash. But they hope the funding package only begins to hint at the ambitious urban policy agenda Obama has articulated.

New Yorkers Owe $2 Billion in Unpaid Taxes, Fines (Daily News, Feb 15, 2009)

New York State to Get $24.6 Billion from Stimulus (NY Times, Feb 15, 2009)
New York State stands to get about $24.6 billion for Medicaid, education, transportation and other priorities over the next two years as part of the federal stimulus package, an increase of more than $3 billion from an earlier estimate, according to a state analysis released on Saturday.

$100,000 in Overtime for Some City Workers (Daily News, Feb 14, 2009)
Scores of workers are still racking up hefty six-figure overtime, with Pablo Martinez, a Board of Elections senior systems analyst keeping his title as king of New York overtime. He received $144,768 in overtime last year, which added to his base pay of $91,210 means he made Martinez made $235,978.

Bloomberg Blasts Tax on Rich (NY Post, Feb 14, 2009)
Charging that it's "easy to rile against the rich," Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned Friday that the income-tax increases being considered for the wealthiest New Yorkers would drive them from the city.

Quinn Urges Higher Taxes on High Incomes (City Room, Feb 13, 2009)

Selling NYC at $10 a Dot (AM New York, Feb 13, 2009)

Obama Stimulus Plan May Mean Huge Infusion of Funds (Daily News, Feb 13, 2009)

Stimulus Funds Offer Relief to City and State (NY Times, Feb 13, 2009)

New York to Get at Least $20.5 Billion in Stimulus Aid (Newsday, Feb 13, 2009)

Resistance Is Building to Payroll Tax in Rescue Plan for MTA (NY Times, Feb 13, 2009)

Banks Got $550 Million in Tax Breaks to Create Unproven Jobs (Daily News, Feb 12, 2009)

Assembly: State Budget Gap Grew Another Billion (Daily News, Feb 12, 2009)

Council Speaker Proposes Tax Increase for Top Earners (AM New York, Feb 12, 2009)

Smith: Income Tax Hike Could Force Wealthy to Leave (NY Post, Feb 12, 2009)

Uncovering the Perks of Albany's Fallen GOP (NY Times, Feb 12, 2009)

Bloomberg: Stimulus May Save Teaching and Police Jobs (Daily News, Feb 12, 2009)

Bloomberg Puts City Unions on Notice (Daily News, Feb 12, 2009)

IBO's Ideas Could Save Money, and Raise Hackles (NY Times, Feb 12, 2009)

Police Department Plans to Cut Early 2010 Police Academy (Associated Press, Feb 12, 2009)

City Get $175 Million Collected in Financial Misconduct Cases (Associated Press, Feb 11, 2009)

Retailers Reel From Recession (New York Magazine, Feb 10, 2009)

Federalizing Bloomberg's Approach to Poverty (City Limits, Feb 10, 2009)

Fire Department to Take on Overtime (NY Post, Feb 10, 2009)

Rich Tax Gains Momentum (NY Times, Feb 10, 2009)

70 Percent of Firefighters Retire on Disability (NY Post, Feb 8, 2009)

State Expects More Federal Housing Aid to Help Fix Elevators (NY Times, Feb 6, 2009)

Millionaires Leaving New York (Daily News, Feb 5, 2009)

Stimulus Bill Brings Windfall to a Troubled Transit Project (WNYC, Feb 5, 2009)

Theater Executives Protest Proposed Ticket Tax (Daily News, Feb 4, 2009)

State Closes This Year's Deficit (NY Times, Feb 4, 2009)
With less than two months remaining in the state fiscal year, Gov. David A. Paterson and the leaders of the Legislature reached a long-delayed agreement on Tuesday to close the state’s $1.6 billion budget gap.

State Budget Deal (Daily News, Feb 4, 2009)
Gov. David Paterson and state lawmakers agreed Tuesday to a $1.6 billion plan to close this year's budget gap, rejecting many deep cuts, particularly to health care, that Paterson wanted.

Paterson Taking Heat for Health Care Proposal (NY Times, Feb 2, 2009)

Picture Darkens for City's Museums (Crain's, Feb 2, 2009)

Brooklyn Leaders Urge MTA to Sell Empty Building (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb 2, 2009)

Mayor's Budget Would Shrink Capital Plan by 30 Percent (NY Observer, Feb 2, 2009)

Costs Soar at Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brooklyn Papers, Feb 2, 2009)

Paterson Restores School Attendance Policy (Staten Island Advance, Feb 2, 2009)

State Overtime Dips, but Still High (Daily News, Feb 2, 2009)

City, State Scrap Over Housing Fund (, Jan 30, 2009)
Governor Paterson wants the Battery Park City Authority to transfer up to $270 million in excess revenues to the state’s general fund, but Mayor Bloomberg already had plans for that money.

Philippine Government Will Pay Back Taxes (NY Times, Jan 30, 2009)
The government of the Philippines has agreed to pay $9 million in interest and overdue property taxes on a Fifth Avenue building that house a number of businesses. Though diplomatic missions are exempt from property taxes, this government owned building housed a restaurant, bank and airline office.

New York's Slice of the Stimulus Pie Could Pack a Punch (Daily News, Jan 30, 2009)
The city's lobbying arm in Washington estimated that New York's share of the $819 billion stimulus package would be more than $7.1 billion over two years. Money would go to work from major infrastructure projects to expanded food stamp benefits.

Grim Doomsday Budget to Cut 23,000 Jobs (Daily News, Jan 30, 2009)
Mayor Bloomberg's bare-bones budget for next year will slash the city work force by 23,000 and drastically increase its sales tax, in an effort to fill a growing budget gap.

Mayor Bloomberg Will Seek Increase in Sales Taxes (NY Times, Jan 30, 2009)
A month after imposing a property tax increase, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is expected to call for a $900 million increase in the city’s sales tax in his budget address today. New York City already has one of the highest sales taxes in the nation, at 8.375 percent, and retailers are likely to fight the increase.

Pricey Stadium Stations (Metro, Jan 29, 2009)

Two Queens Hospitals in Danger of Closing (The Forum, Jan 29, 2009)

Local Stimulus Fund Candidates (NY Observer, Jan 29, 2009)

IBO Deputy Director Says Atlantic Yards Plan Needs Retooling (Brooklyn Papers, Jan 29, 2009)

Wall Street Bonuses Drop (Daily News, Jan 29, 2009)
State Controller Thomas DiNapoli estimated Wednesday that Wall Street's year-end bonuses fell to $18 billion in 2008 - a 44 percent decline over the previous year.That translates to $1 billion less in income tax revenues for New York State and an extra $275 million hit for New York City.

Critics Question Hefty Bonuses (NY Times, Jan 29, 2009)
Despite crippling losses, multibillion-dollar bailouts and the passing of some of the most prominent names in the business, employees at financial companies in New York,, collected an estimated $18.4 billion in bonuses for the disastrous year of 2008. That was the sixth-largest haul on record

Klein Implores Legislators to Reduce Cuts to Schools (NY Times, Jan 29, 2009)

Klein Says 15,000 Jobs May Be Lost (Daily News, Jan 29, 2009)

Wall Street Bonuses Decline 44 Percent (Associated Press, Jan 29, 2009)

City Sees Benefits From Movie Breaks (NY Times, Jan 28, 2009)

Upkeep Price Tag For Brooklyn Bridge Park Soars (NY Post, Jan 28, 2009)

Platform Gap Delays Station Opening (Daily News, Jan 28, 2009)

Mayor Offers 50 Percent Investment Deal (NY Post, Jan 28, 2009)
If someone guaranteed you a 50 percent return on your investment you'd call the cops, but that's the extraordinary deal Mayor Bloomberg offered yesterday to convince poor New Yorkers to open and build savings accounts.

Cost Increase at Yankee Stadium Parks (NY Times, Jan 28, 2009)

Venture Capital Still Alive In New York City (Crain's, Jan 24, 2009)
Venture capital investing in New York metro area tech firms held up last year, despite the ailing economy. Funding in New York area firms rose 10% to about $1.9 billion in 2008 from a year ago, according to the latest quarterly MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.

Bloomberg: State's Budget Unfair to NYC (Crain's, Jan 23, 2009)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg sharply criticized Gov. David Paterson’s proposed budget Thursday as seriously flawed and unfair to New York City. He said the city is prepared to shoulder some of the burden as the state closes a $15 billion deficit over the next 15 months, but that the $1.6 billion in cuts the city is being forced to bear is disproportionate and unwise, given that Gotham “remains the state’s economic engine.”

New York Borrows to Pay Jobless Claims (NY Times, Jan 22, 2009)

Proposed Budget Shuts Out Zoos, Aquariums and Gardens (NY Times, Jan 22, 2009)

Deal or No Deal Time on West Side Yards (NY Observer, Jan 22, 2009)

MTA Chief Makes Case for More Funds (Crain's, Jan 22, 2009)

Bloomberg Girds for State Aid Fight (Daily News, Jan 22, 2009)
Gov. David Paterson is taking a bigger bite from the Big Apple than other parts of the state, cutting $327 million in annual revenue-sharing aid, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will argue Thursday in Albany. The mayor charges that New York is the only municipality to lose this particular source of funding, money he says is needed to plug holes in the city budget.

In Albany, an Expectation of Higher Taxes for the Rich (NY Times, Jan 21, 2009)

The Post-Victory Landscape of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (Village Voice, Jan 21, 2009)

City Approves $370 Million in Bonds for the Yankees (NY Times, Jan 17, 2009)

Property Taxes to Rise Even Though Values Dropped (NY Post, Jan 16, 2009)

Poll: New Yorkers Oppose 'Fat Tax' 2-to-1 (NY 1, Jan 16, 2009)

Second Hudson Rail Tunnel Clears Key Federal Hurdle (NY Times, Jan 15, 2009)

Amazon.com Loses Tax Fight in Court with State (Metro, Jan 15, 2009)

Controversial Hotel at Brooklyn Bridge Park Canceled (Brooklyn Papers, Jan 15, 2009)
A ballyhooed hotel that would have funded a large part of the maintenance budget for the controversial Brooklyn Bridge Park has been quietly abandoned by the condo-and-greenspace development’s planners.

Bloomberg Playing Politics on Yankee Stadium (NY Times, Jan 14, 2009)
If the city term limit extension is overturned, Mayor Bloomberg will certainly need the support of powerful allies like Jerry Speyer and Howard Rubenstein who are, respectively, building Yankee Stadium and representing the Yankees.

Thompson Wants Bloomberg to Renegotiate Stadium (Associated Press, Jan 14, 2009)
New York City Comptroller William Thompson on Tuesday said the mayor should renegotiate the city's funding for the Yankees baseball team's stadium, as it is saddling taxpayers with "astronomically steeper costs."

Bloomberg Leads Yankees in Steals (, Jan 14, 2009)
In this week's Village Voice Tom Robbins looks back at the 1976 Yankee Stadium project and argues that today's endeavor is just as fraught.

Subpoena for Yankees' Levine (Newsday, Jan 14, 2009)
A state Assembly committee probing the taxpayer-backed financing of a new stadium for the team issued subpoenas for Yankees president Randy Levine and Seth Pinsky, chairman of the city's Industrial Development Authority.

Brooklyn Borough President Wants a Cheaper Arena (NY Post, Jan 14, 2009)

Thousands to Lose Unemployment Benefits (NY Times, Jan 12, 2009)

Assemblyman: Four-day Work Week Will Save State Money (NY Times, Jan 12, 2009)

Contract Dispute Over Police Radio (NY Times, Jan 10, 2009)

No Short Term Solution for Pension Woes (NY Post, Jan 10, 2009)
The pension bill for municipal workers is headed for the stratosphere, but there's no short-term solution, Mayor Bloomberg acknowledged yesterday.

City Deficit at $11.3 Billion, Much Worse Than Bloomberg's Estimate (Daily News, Jan 9, 2009)

New Report Says More Jobs at Risk (Crain's, Jan 9, 2009)

Forecast: Business Taxes on Historic Slide (Associated Press, Jan 9, 2009)

City Employee Pay Is Outpacing Private Sector (NY Times, Jan 9, 2009)

Bloomberg Wants Cities, Not States, to Get Federal Money (NY Observer, Jan 9, 2009)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said of President-elect Barack Obama's stimulus plan: "There are projects at the city level, basically not at the state level but at the city level, and we’ve made the case to his staff, that a lot of this money should go to the cities. If it goes to the state it gets spread very thinly and the states don’t really do things; it’s the cities that do things. 85 percent of people in this country live in cities and we’ve got to get some money down there.”

Lawmaker Criticizes Yankees Over Stadium Funding (NY 1, Jan 8, 2009)

Support Program for Teens Could Be Cut (Staten Island Advance, Jan 6, 2009)

New Yorkers Owe $13 Billion in Unpaid Taxes (NY Post, Jan 4, 2009)

Paterson Warns Budget Gap Could Get Bigger (Daily News, Jan 3, 2009)

Paterson, Other Governors Propose Stimulus Plan (NY Times, Jan 3, 2009)
Gov. David Paterson joined governors from several other large states on Friday in ramping up their calls for assistance from the federal government, asking for a total of $1 trillion for all 50 states over two years.

DiNapoli Deems Paterson's Budget Risky (Daily Politics, Dec 31, 2008)

Paterson's Budget Could Cost City $1 Billion (Daily News, Dec 31, 2008)

City Nears Deadline to Raise Day Care Pay or Lose Subsidy (NY Times, Dec 31, 2008)

State Could Get Up to $18 Billion More in Federal Aid (Associated Press, Dec 31, 2008)

Downtown Projects Stuck in the Station (Downtown Express, Dec 31, 2008)

Advocates and Officials Seek MTA Bailout from Albany (Daily News, Dec 31, 2008)

New Class Brings in 1,1129 New Police Graduates (NY Post, Dec 31, 2008)

City Removes Snapple from Municipal Buildings (NY Post, Dec 31, 2008)
Snapple's sales in city buildings have been so dismal that its 724 vending machines will be removed from all municipal buildings beginning in April.

Federal Stimulus Could Help Shrink State’s Budget Gap (NY Times, Dec 29, 2008)

Obama Plan Could Help the MTA (Daily News, Dec 29, 2008)

Federal Transit Stimulus Planned (NY Post, Dec 29, 2008)

Obscure Fee Pays for Efficient-Energy Projects (NY Times, Dec 29, 2008)

Closing Schools Swimming in Cash (NY Post, Dec 29, 2008)

Transit-Related Relief for Mayor's Strongholds (NY Post, Dec 29, 2008)
Two of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's crucial voting bases got some transit-related relief this month, just as his controversial campaign for a third term heats up.

Quinn Accused of Unfairly Rewarding Allies in Council (NY Post, Dec 29, 2008)
Council Speaker Christine Quinn has quietly been rewarding her political allies by allowing a handful of loyal lawmakers to bolster their legislative staffs with funding from her own budget.

MTA Took $500 Million Hit in Wall St. Meltdown (Daily News, Dec 24, 2008)

City Could Face $8 Billion Budget Gap, State Comptroller Says (Bloomberg, Dec 23, 2008)

Pension Proposal Comes from the Past (NY Times, Dec 22, 2008)

More New Yorkers Could Start Businesses (Daily News, Dec 21, 2008)

Governor Talks Of Taxing Rich (NY Times, Dec 21, 2008)

Checks In the Mail Tomorrow (NY Post, Dec 21, 2008)
Your homeowner rebate check is in the mail - almost. The Finance Department will begin mailing out rebate checks to city homeowners as early as tomorrow, a spokesman told The Post.

Budget Leaves City Worker Benefits Vulnerable (AM New York, Dec 19, 2008)

DiNapoli: Public College Students Should Buy Online Textbooks (NY Post, Dec 19, 2008)

Paterson Plan Would Tax 'Lifestyle Drugs' (Daily News, Dec 19, 2008)

Twenty-Year Deal May Prevent Recycling Cuts (WNYC, Dec 19, 2008)

The Council Passes Budget Cuts (Gotham Gazette, Dec 19, 2008)

City Council Approves 7 Percent Property Tax Increase (NY Times, Dec 19, 2008)

Property Boost Follows Cuts by MTA, Governor (NY Post, Dec 19, 2008)

Lawmakers Greenlight a City Hotel Tax (Crain's, Dec 19, 2008)

Council Revokes 7 Percent Property Tax Cut (Crain's, Dec 19, 2008)

Council Votes to Hike Property Taxes by 7 Percent (AM New York, Dec 19, 2008)

MTA Approves Cuts but Seeks Help (NY Times, Dec 18, 2008)

MTA Adopts Budget; Fare Hikes, Service Cuts Planned (Newsday, Dec 18, 2008)

MTA Approves Doomsday Plan (NY Post, Dec 18, 2008)

Council Set to Approve Higher Hotel and Property Taxes (NY Times, Dec 18, 2008)

Set to Go Forward, Schools May Instead Go Two Steps Back (NY Times, Dec 18, 2008)

Paterson's Plan Would Release Chronically Ill Violent Inmates (Daily News, Dec 18, 2008)

Fees, Taxes, Would Make New York Tough on Young (Associated Press, Dec 18, 2008)

Child-Welfare Agency Funding Threatened (NY Post, Dec 18, 2008)

Police Union Criticizes Effort to Reduce a Pension Benefit (NY Times, Dec 18, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to extend police officers length of service to 25 years for new hires was met with sharp criticism on Wednesday by the union representing police officers, where it was seen as a callous disregard for the tolls of police work. The city portion of the proposal was developed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and is estimated to save the city $5.4 billion over the next 20 years.

Paterson Unveils Budget Plan (NY Times, Dec 17, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson’s administration unveiled an austerity budget on Tuesday that laid out a painful plan to close the largest deficit in the state’s history, including 137 new or increased taxes and fees and what is sure to be a controversial reckoning with the state’s workforce.

Paterson Plan Offers New Fees, Taxes (Daily News, Dec 17, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson released a $121 billion slash-and-burn budget Tuesday morning that slams New Yorkers with 88 new fees and taxes - even on their iPods.

New and Higher Taxes Attract Ire (AM New York, Dec 17, 2008)
New Yorkers are fuming today at the prospect of new taxes on everything from downloading music to riding in taxis to watching cable TV.

Council Holds Hearing on Plan to Finance Subways (NY 1, Dec 17, 2008)

Plan Would Tax Music, Video Downloads (, Dec 17, 2008)
The governor wants to begin taxing music and movie downloads as part of an effort to plug the budget gap - a move New Yorkers say will only make piracy more appealing.

Paterson Would Roll Back Pensions (NY Times, Dec 17, 2008)

Soda Tax Prompts Debate (NY Times, Dec 17, 2008)

Bankruptcy Rate Outpaces Nation (NY Times, Dec 16, 2008)

Express Busses to Get the Same Fare Hike (NY Post, Dec 16, 2008)

Feds To Increase Train Service (AM New York, Dec 16, 2008)

State Cuts Slash At City Aid (NY Post, Dec 16, 2008)
Gov. Paterson's proposed new cut-to-the-bone state budget will slash more than $620 million in badly needed funds to New York City - aid that Mayor Bloomberg has been counting on to help the city stay financially afloat, The Post has learned.

Statewide Poll: Raise Personal Income Tax (Albany Times Union, Dec 15, 2008)
A statewide poll conducted by the Working Families Party found that most New Yorkers are favor increasing personal income taxes on relatively wealthy people if the change comes in concert with budget cuts to remedy.

Bloomberg Gives Council Budget Ultimatum (NY Post, Dec 12, 2008)

State Cutting Down on Contracts (NY Observer, Dec 12, 2008)

Ground Zero Lawsuits to Begin in 2010 (NY Times, Dec 11, 2008)

Plans For More Medicaid Cuts Worry Hospital Officials (NY Times, Dec 11, 2008)

Next Fire Class Delayed Amid More Cuts (Associated Press, Dec 11, 2008)

Council Burns Through Money for Slush Fund Defense (NY Post, Dec 11, 2008)
The firm Brune and Richard was hired Sept. 30 with a $90,000 retainer - and no public announcement. This, despite assurances from Quinn the process would be transparent. White-collar crime specialist Steptoe & Johnson so far has been paid $122,173. A $95,000 retainer for the firm Sullivan & Cromwell already has been depleted. And ex-federal prosecutor Lee Richards, who charges $600 an hour, has been hired as personal criminal defense lawyer for Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Ravitch: Make Bridge Tolls 'Flexible' (Daily News, Dec 11, 2008)
Former MTA boss Richard Ravitch, who crafted the pending transit bailout plan that includes tolling free bridges, said Wednesday that not everyone should have to pay. "Clearly there has to be some flexibility," said the former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman. Ravitch made his comments at a state Assembly hearing in Manhattan conducted by Richard Brodsky.

City Must Raise Taxes or Cut Jobs, Mayor Says (Daily News, Dec 10, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg warned Tuesday of major layoffs if the City Council balks at his emergency budget plan - which includes ending a 7 percent property tax break worth $576 million.

Bloomberg Calls for Another 7 Percent in Budget Cuts (Associated Press, Dec 10, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is ordering all city agencies to slash spending by another 7 percent for next year, a month after he already proposed unpopular cuts and tax hikes amid a grim economic slowdown.

Mayor, Speaker Clash Over Property Tax Rebates (NY Post, Dec 9, 2008)
Council Speaker Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg met over property tax rebates that the mayor has refused thus far to release. The mayor has indicated he will distribute the money, but the Post reports that sources said Quinn blasted him for dragging his feet to force City Council approval of his midyear budget package.

Mayor Wants to Limit Express Bus Cuts (Daily News, Dec 8, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg has told the MTA board members he appoints to look for ways to save express bus riders from sweeping planned fare hikes and service cuts, sources said.

Queens Election Workers Raise Cash For Patrons (Daily News, Dec 8, 2008)

Mayor Gets Hit on Tolls (NY Post, Dec 8, 2008)
Comptroller Bill Thompson yesterday blasted Mayor Bloomberg for ducking the politically sensitive issue of tolling the free East River bridges.

Obstacles Abound For Tolling Bridges (NY Times, Dec 7, 2008)
The report by a state commission charged with finding ways to raise badly needed money for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority made it sound quite simple: The authority, it said, "should be authorized to acquire the East River and Harlem River bridges from New York City, and it should be empowered to impose an electronic cashless system of tolls."

Parks Employees Get Stadium Box (NY Post, Dec 7, 2008)
The city's luxury box at Shea Stadium was used almost entirely over the last four years by employees of the Parks Department - which oversees the ballpark - while other city agencies were largely shut out.

Council to Consider Two Tax Bills (NY Times, Dec 7, 2008)
The New York City Council is set to consider two bills next week that would increase property taxes in January and hotel taxes in March to help plug a projected $4 billion shortfall over the next two years.

New Majority Leader Owes Thousands in Fines (NY Times, Dec 7, 2008)

Commission Chair Defends MTA Report (Daily News, Dec 7, 2008)

Raises Questioned at Elections Board (Daily News, Dec 7, 2008)

Police Cut Quality of Life Units (NY Post, Dec 7, 2008)

Mixed Reviews on Transit Plan (NY Times, Dec 5, 2008)

FIre Department Chops Staff to Save $9 Million (Daily News, Dec 5, 2008)
The Fire Department will slash nighttime staffing in half at four firehouses - including City Island's lone stationhouse - in a $9 million cost-cutting plan unveiled Thursday. The FDNY also plans to completely shutter its station on Governors Island, staffing it only during events. Pushed to cut costs during the city's fiscal crisis, the department will shave $9 million off its budget by moving one company out of four firehouses overnight, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.

Seats in New School Plan Inadequate, Advocates Charge (Norwood News, Dec 4, 2008)

Port Authority Gets No Bids on Bond Offering (Bloomberg, Dec 4, 2008)

Still Buying 'Citi Field' After Government Bailout (Staten Island Advance, Dec 4, 2008)
Despite being the beneficiary of a multibillion-dollar government bailout, Citigroup still plans to plaster its name all over the Mets' new stadium in Queens, paying a cool $400 million for the privilege. Welcome to Citi Field.

Bloomberg Revises Budget Projections (NY Post, Dec 4, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg darkened his economic forecast yesterday, warning that the city's deficit for fiscal year 2010 will come in higher than the $1.3 billion estimated last month because tax revenues keep dropping.

Governor Welcomes MTA Tax and Toll Plan (NY Post, Dec 4, 2008)

Paterson: Panel to Suggest Much Smaller Fare Hike (Daily News, Dec 4, 2008)

Paterson Voices Support for MTA Rescue Plan (NY Times, Dec 4, 2008)

Still No Deal on Tax Rebates (Daily News, Dec 3, 2008)
Negotiations are continuing between Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council over the mayor's financial plan to generate $4 billion in savings or revenues over two years.

Rebate Checks May Soon be Mailed (NY Post, Dec 3, 2008)
Aides to Mayor Bloomberg have told City Council members that City Hall is ready to send out long-delayed property-tax rebate checks this month in time for the holiday shopping season, sources told The Post last night.

State Agencies Fail to Meet Governor's Cuts (Daily News, Dec 2, 2008)

Condo Sales Slump With Economy (AM New York, Dec 2, 2008)

City Forced to Refund $800 Million in Corporate Taxes (NY Times, Dec 1, 2008)

City Officials Pressed Hard for Luxury Suite and Free Food at Yankee Stadium (NY Times, Nov 30, 2008)

Comptroller's Office Avoids Budget Cuts (NY Post, Nov 30, 2008)
City Comptroller William Thompson's office was spared budget reductions ordered by Mayor Michael Bloomberg because the Office of Management and Budget gave the comptroller a $6 million credit for turning up hidden revenue in an audit he released last May.

Rise in People Who Can't Pay Property Taxes Expected (Daily News, Nov 29, 2008)
As New Yorkers lose their jobs and struggle to make ends meet, the city expects the number of people who can't pay their property tax bills to shoot up by one third this year.

Panel to Call for Taxes and Tolls to Aid MTA (NY Times, Nov 27, 2008)
A state commission appointed by Gov. David Paterson and headed by Richard Ravitch, is expected next week to propose a rescue package for the financially imperiled Metropolitan Transportation Authority that includes a new tax on corporate payrolls and tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges.

Paterson: No Education Cuts Now Means Worse Cuts Next Year (Daily News, Nov 26, 2008)

City to Raise Emergency Medical Costs (NY Post, Nov 26, 2008)
The city is raising the cost of an ambulance ride - with transports for the most critical patients going up to $850 per ride - as part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's orders to slash costs to raise revenue and plug future budget holes.

Markowitz Pushing for Control of Borough President's Office Finances (NY Post, Nov 26, 2008)
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is vowing to fight for a City Charter revision that would take control over his budget away from the mayor and council, a move he says would restore much of the powers the borough presidents lost some 20 years ago.

City Shelter Shakeup Leaves Advocates Scrambling (City Limits, Nov 25, 2008)

MTA Could Close Cash Lanes (NY Post, Nov 25, 2008)

City Shouldn't Expect Bailout (Reuters, Nov 25, 2008)
Neither New York City nor the state can count on a bailout from the U.S. government because it is only salvaging industries "that have a cascading impact through our economy," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday.

Rangel’s Brush With Ethics and Finance (NY Times, Nov 25, 2008)

Higher Vehicle Fees Could Help MTA (NY Times, Nov 24, 2008)
The New York City comptroller, William Thompson recommended Sunday that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s gaping budget deficits be diminished by increasing automobile registration fees in 12 counties served by the authority’s trains and buses.

Rebate Money is There: Comptroller (NY Post, Nov 21, 2008)

Bloomberg Softens Tone in Rebate Check Dispute (NY Times, Nov 21, 2008)

MTA Warns of Service Cuts and Fare Increases (NY Times, Nov 21, 2008)

MTA Pushing for 23 Percent Fare Hike (Daily News, Nov 21, 2008)

MTA Proposes 23 Percent Fare Hike, Service Cuts (Newsday, Nov 21, 2008)

Straphangers in for a Bumpy Ride (NY Post, Nov 21, 2008)

MTA's Biggest Headache: Its 5-Year Capital Plan (NY Times, Nov 20, 2008)

Mayor Won't Issue Tax Rebate (NY Times, Nov 20, 2008)
After being dealt a rare public embarrassment by the City Council, which forced his administration to acknowledge on Monday that Mayor Michael Bloomberg was legally required to send out $400 rebate checks promised to hundreds of thousands of New York homeowners, a defiant Bloomberg said on Wednesday that he had no plans to release the money.

MTA to Eliminate M8 Crosstown Bus (Daily News, Nov 20, 2008)

Brooklyn and Queens Buses Slashed (NY Post, Nov 20, 2008)

Levy, Skelos: City Should Not Reimpose Commuter Tax (Newsday, Nov 20, 2008)

Administration for Children's Services Struggles With Cuts (City Limits, Nov 20, 2008)

City Plans to Reduce Aid to 21 Day Care Locations (NY Times, Nov 20, 2008)
The city will reduce funds for 21 day care sites in January as part of efforts to close a yawning budget deficit, city officials said on Wednesday. While officials made it clear that the sites would not be closed, critics charged that the reductions would have the same effect, by destabilizing the centers to the point that they would be forced to shut down.

Mayor Defiant on Rebate (NY Post, Nov 20, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg suggested yesterday that he won't send out the annual $400 property-tax rebate to small homeowners - even if legally forced to do so by the City Council.

Wall Street Workers Turn to Teaching During Tough Times (Daily News, Nov 19, 2008)

Could The City See a 1970s Rerun? (AM New York, Nov 19, 2008)

Deal Favors Hiring Out of Work Teachers (NY Times, Nov 19, 2008)
The Bloomberg administration and New York City’s teachers’ union reached a deal on Tuesday intended to help teachers who remain on the payroll without assignments to find permanent placements in schools.

Budget Negotiations Fall Apart (NY Times, Nov 19, 2008)

Why Leaders Didn't Solve the Budge Crisis (NY Times, Nov 19, 2008)

Leaders Fail to Fix the Budget Gap (Daily News, Nov 19, 2008)

MTA Plans For Fare Increase and Service Cuts (NY Times, Nov 19, 2008)

Disability and Express Fares to Increase (Daily News, Nov 19, 2008)

Defying Mayor, City Council Stands by 2008 Rebate (Gotham Gazette, Nov 18, 2008)

Eliminating Tax Rebate Requires Council Approval (NY Times, Nov 18, 2008)

Paterson, Legislative Leaders Fail to Agree on Budget Cuts (NY Times, Nov 17, 2008)

State's Budget Crunch Will Have Wide Effects (Wall Street Journal, Nov 17, 2008)

MTA Suffering from Office Bloat, Auditors Say (NY Post, Nov 16, 2008)

Mayor Stakes Popularity on Budget Fix (NY Times, Nov 15, 2008)
In persuading the City Council to revise its term limits law so he could seek a third term, Mayor Bloomberg cast himself as an economic white knight who is uniquely capable of leading the city through a steep downturn. Yet the severity of what he must do, the short time he has to accomplish it and his frequent lack of delicacy could threaten his popularity at a time when he needs it most.

Cost of Grading Schools Is Said to Be $130 Million (NY Times, Nov 14, 2008)

Midlevel Court Rejects Judges' Lawsuit for Raise (Associated Press, Nov 14, 2008)

MTA Workers Doing Their Job? (WABC, Nov 14, 2008)

Cash-Strapped City Cancels Leaf Collection Program (Flatbush Life, Nov 14, 2008)

Silver Puts it All on the Table for Budget Cuts (Daily News, Nov 14, 2008)

City and State Vie for Federal Stimulus Money (NY Observer, Nov 13, 2008)

School Bus Route Cuts (NY Post, Nov 13, 2008)
For the third time in two years, the Department of Education is planning to reduce yellow-bus routes for city students, budget documents show. The reductions planned for September are a bid by officials to cut nearly $7 million a year from the transportation budget.

Paterson Calls for $5.2 Billion in Budget Savings (NY Times, Nov 13, 2008)

Schools See Pain Ahead if the State Cuts Aid (NY Times, Nov 13, 2008)

State Slashes School and City Funding, Hikes State College Tuition (Daily News, Nov 13, 2008)

Paterson's Proposed Budget Cuts Face Entrenched Legislature (Daily News, Nov 13, 2008)

Governor's Budget Ax Targets $2 Billion (NY Post, Nov 13, 2008)

Opposition Building to Paterson's Budget Cuts (Crain's, Nov 13, 2008)

Senate Won't Act on Governor's Budget Plan (Associated Press, Nov 13, 2008)

Dispute Over Property Tax Rebate (NY Post, Nov 12, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to rescind the $400 homeowner property tax rebate without City Council approval - setting the stage for a battle in the courts.

Tax Increases, Service Decreases (Daily News, Nov 12, 2008)
The city and state governments plan to charge higher taxes, more fees and bigger tolls - even issue more parking tickets - to bridge the money gap. In return, the government will do less - fewer road repairs and trash pickups, fewer cops on the street, fewer fire engines at night.

Bloomberg Could Support Bridge Tolls (Reuters, Nov 12, 2008)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday said he could support charging tolls on free East River bridge crossings if the cash was spent on improving mass transit combined with expense cuts.

Paterson to Seek School, Health Cuts (Daily News, Nov 12, 2008)
Faced with a worsening economy, Gov. Paterson wants to slash school aid, shrink health care funding and hike public college tuition. The governor, who will propose $2 billion in budget cuts Wednesday, also wants public employees to go without raises for at least a year, sources said.

Subway Riders Could Face Huge Fare Hike (Daily News, Nov 12, 2008)
Straphangers could be slammed with a fare hike that jacks the cost of a ride to as much as $3 next year - unless there's a state bailout, a Daily News analysis reveals.

Paterson Talks Tough at Budget Forum (NY Times, Nov 12, 2008)
At a meeting in Syracuse, New Yorkers anxious about the state’s economy expressed concern about what Gov. David Paterson and the State Legislature might do when they meet next week in an emergency session to trim as much as $2 billion from this year’s budget.

SUNY Trustees ask for Tuition Increase (Albany Times Union, Nov 11, 2008)
News that SUNY's endowment plunged this summer came as SUNY officials recommended more cuts to deal with a financial crisis so deep that one trustee spoke of the "survival" of the country's largest public higher education system.

Union Leaders Won't Reopen State Contracts (Albany Times Union, Nov 11, 2008)
New York's most powerful public employee unions say they won't reopen contracts to any concessions despite the state's fiscal crisis, delivering an early blow to Gov. David Paterson's plans to fill a $2 billion deficit next week.

Bleak MTA Budget Likely to Mean Severe Cuts (NY Times, Nov 11, 2008)

MTA Threatens More Fare Hikes, Service Cuts (NY 1, Nov 11, 2008)
Drivers are dead set against tolls.

Blight at the end of the MTA Tunnel (NY Post, Nov 11, 2008)
Commuters may be paying more cash for fewer rides next year if the MTA can't climb out of its growing budget hole.

Express Busses Likely to See Service Cuts (Daily News, Nov 11, 2008)
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials wouldn't release details of a still-developing doomsday budget plan, but sources said bus riders - particularly on express routes - would likely see the biggest cuts.

Commission Calls For Tolls on Bridges (NY Post, Nov 10, 2008)

State Leaders Ignore Paterson’s Call for Cuts (Daily News, Nov 10, 2008)

Paterson Identifies Cuts For Budget Hole (NY Times, Nov 10, 2008)

Legislature's Leaders Balk at Cuts (NY Post, Nov 10, 2008)

City Pays the Price for Willets Point Property (NY Post, Nov 9, 2008)
The city bought itself a half-acre of land at Willets Point for $3.5 million - snapping up three parcels in Queens' redeveloping "Iron Triangle" at nearly 10 times their assessed value.

Raises Withheld For City Managers (NY Post, Nov 8, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg is weighing withholding raises from some 7,000 city managers, The Post has learned.

Dispute Over School Budget Numbers (Daily News, Nov 8, 2008)
City Controller William Thompson got into a war of addition with Schools Chancellor Joel Klein this week, accusing him of inflating figures on education budget savings.

Bag Tax Could Add Up (Daily News, Nov 8, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg's proposed nickel-a-bag tax on plastic shopping bags may not sound like much if you're buying a quart of milk - but try shopping for a family of eight.

State Public Asset Sale Hearings Off to a Slow Start (Metro, Nov 7, 2008)

City Could Receive More Homeland Security Funds (NY 1, Nov 7, 2008)

State to Cut Drug Abuse Programs for Ex-Convicts (NY Times, Nov 7, 2008)

City Reaches Agreement With State on Sewage (NY Times, Nov 7, 2008)

Council Looks to Thwart Bloomberg's Tax Plan (Daily News, Nov 7, 2008)

Back Up Plan for 911 Takes Major Hit (NY Post, Nov 7, 2008)

Principals Fear Big Cuts (NY Post, Nov 7, 2008)
On the heels of a 1.3 percent cut to every school's current budget, Chancellor Joel Klein warned the principals yesterday to expect a hefty 3.5 percent cut in next year's budget, they said. In another development, education officials are scrapping a program to test GPS locator systems on school buses.

Yankees Took $11 Million in Improper Rent Deductions (Daily News, Nov 7, 2008)
The Yankees improperly deducted more than $11million from their annual rent bill for Yankee Stadium over a four-year period, city Controller William Thompson has found.

In Mayor's Plan, the Plastic Bag Will Carry a Fee (NY Times, Nov 7, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called for charging shoppers 6 cents for every plastic bag needed at the register.

Shrinking Budget Means Fewer New School Buildings (NY Times, Nov 6, 2008)

Mayor Cancels Rebates for Homeowners (NY Times, Nov 6, 2008)

Bloomberg: City May be Forced to Raise Taxes (Daily News, Nov 6, 2008)

Bloomberg to Rescind Tax Breaks (Associated Press, Nov 6, 2008)

School Construction Scaled Back (NY Post, Nov 6, 2008)

Bronx Borough President Laying Off Staff (Daily News, Nov 6, 2008)

Bloomberg on the Budget (NY Post, Nov 6, 2008)

Bloomberg Plans to Cut 3,000 City Jobs (Daily News, Nov 5, 2008)

Bloomberg to Propose More Taxes, Fewer City Jobs (NY Times, Nov 5, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to recommend eliminating the popular $400 property tax rebate and other possible tax increases. He will also reduce the city’s work force by 3,000 employees and cancel the next training class for more than 1,100 police cadets as he seeks to help plug an anticipated $4 billion budget shortfall over the next two years.

City to Cut Police Class (NY Post, Nov 5, 2008)
The city is going to cut the work force by 3,000 - including some 500 layoffs - and cancel January's Police Academy class to deal with a two-year budget gap that has to $4 billion, an administration official said yesterday.

ACORN Warned of Mortgage Crisis Early (City Limits, Nov 4, 2008)
The national advocacy group warned the country early on that a celebrated rise in minority mortgage lending in New York and nationwide was driven by sub prime loans that were going to prove disastrous for homeowners and banks alike.

Gas Prices Highest in West (Newsday, Nov 3, 2008)

Governor's Spending Habits Change With Office (NY Times, Nov 3, 2008)

Groups Call For State Credit Card Freeze (Daily News, Nov 3, 2008)

City Workers to Get Salary Increase (Daily News, Nov 3, 2008)

Pension Funds Test the Market (NY Post, Nov 2, 2008)
The city is rolling the dice with its pension funds - tossing up to $1.1 billion into risky hedge funds in the middle of a Wall Street crisis.

New Bus Retirement Program Saves $600,000 in Months (Daily News, Oct 31, 2008)

Governors Call for Rescue Package for States (NY Times, Oct 30, 2008)

Mayor's Deficit Forecast Disputed (NY Times, Oct 30, 2008)

Paterson on Rand (NY Post, Oct 30, 2008)

Paterson Asks Feds for Help (Daily News, Oct 30, 2008)

State Hires 31,684 During Hiring Freeze (Buffalo News, Oct 30, 2008)

New Municipal Bond Issues Start Selling Again (Crain's, Oct 30, 2008)

Controversial Program for Housing Subsidies Moves Forward (NY Times, Oct 29, 2008)

Budget Deficit Could be $47 billion (NY Times, Oct 29, 2008)

Paterson Looks for Federal Fiscal Help (Daily News, Oct 29, 2008)

State Budget Gap Grows (Daily News, Oct 28, 2008)
The state's projected budget gap for next year has ballooned to a record $12.5 billion, according to a Paterson administration source. The staggering 2009-10 deficit estimat surpasses the previous record of $11.2 billion the state faced after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and nearly double the $6.4 billion deficit estimate for 2009-10 the Paterson administration released in August.

Tishman Speyer, Buyer of Stuyvesant Town, Suffers Reverses (Crain's, Oct 26, 2008)

Congressional Committee Criticizes Financing of New Yankee Stadium (Newsday, Oct 25, 2008)

Delays on $80 Million Data System While Schools Face Cuts (NY Times, Oct 24, 2008)

Croton Park Filtration Plant Cost Overruns Unaccountable (Riverdale Press, Oct 24, 2008)

Paid Holiday on 9/11 Draws Criticism (Associated Press, Oct 23, 2008)

Atlantic Yards Developer Can Use Tax-Free Bonds (NY Times, Oct 22, 2008)

Financial Crisis Already Costs City 1.5 Billion (Daily News, Oct 22, 2008)

State Deficit Could Reach $10 Billion Next Year, Paterson Warns (NY Post, Oct 21, 2008)

Group Affiliated With Monserrate Spent City’s Money, but Has Not Shown How (NY Times, Oct 19, 2008)

Congress Questions Appraisals of Stadium (NY Times, Oct 17, 2008)

Market Volatility Forces MTA to Revise Bond Issue (WNYC, Oct 17, 2008)

City Said to Explore Rise in Personal Income Tax (NY Times, Oct 16, 2008)

Quinn Talks Trash and Taxes (Daily News, Oct 16, 2008)

Quinn Brainstorms Budget (NY Post, Oct 16, 2008)

Ads on Garbage Trucks? City May Go There (AM New York, Oct 16, 2008)

Firefighters in Contract Accord (NY Times, Oct 16, 2008)

MTA Transit Worker Deal Hits Roadblock (Daily News, Oct 16, 2008)

Pension Funds Damage from Wall Street Turmoil Still Unknown (City Hall, Oct 16, 2008)

Stadium Appraisals Under Fire (Newsday, Oct 16, 2008)

Washington investigates Yankee Stadium appraisals (Daily News, Oct 15, 2008)
A congressional panel has scheduled a hearing in Washington next week to determine whether appraisals of the Bronx property on which the new Yankee Stadium is being built were manipulated by the city.

Goldman Goes for New York Charter (Wall Street Journal, Oct 14, 2008)

Wall Street Woes Hit Small Businesses (Daily News, Oct 14, 2008)

Affordable Housing Faces Credit Crunch (Daily News, Oct 14, 2008)

Primary Winner's Funds Probed (NY Post, Oct 14, 2008)

Manhattan Rental Market May be Softening (AM New York, Oct 14, 2008)

Business Improvement District for Hudson Park? (Downtown Express, Oct 10, 2008)

Times Square National Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits (Newsday, Oct 10, 2008)

Trade Center's Retaining Wall Hampers Plans (Daily News, Oct 9, 2008)

Port Authority and Silverstein Spar Over Late Fees (Associated Press, Oct 9, 2008)

State Ranked Second Worst for Business Taxes (Associated Press, Oct 9, 2008)

States to Focus on Tax Cheats as Economy Sags (Associated Press, Oct 9, 2008)

How Businesses Back Bloomberg (City Limits, Oct 7, 2008)

State Pension Suits Settled (Newsday, Oct 7, 2008)

Nonprofits Feel a Pinch (NY Times, Oct 7, 2008)

Matching Funds Would Lower With Another Term (NY Post, Oct 7, 2008)
One of the unintended consequences of extending the length of term limits is that taxpayers will probably save millions of dollars in campaign matching funds, officials said yesterday.

MTA Wants to Light Up Tunnels with Ads (AM New York, Oct 3, 2008)

$75 Million Needed to Put Trade Center Memorial on Track (Daily News, Oct 3, 2008)

State Senators Spent Over $500,000 on Office Supplies (Daily News, Oct 2, 2008)

Paterson Weighs Leasing of State Assets (Associated Press, Oct 1, 2008)

Bloomberg Doesn't See Job Cuts (Associated Press, Oct 1, 2008)
The prospect of cutting city jobs isn't necessarily imminent despite the Wall Street meltdown and projected multibillion-dollar budget deficits, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said yesterday.

Tappan Zee Replacement Plans Aim High (NY Post, Sep 29, 2008)

City Apartments May Be Next in Housing Crisis (Crain's, Sep 29, 2008)

Budget Bind Turns Spotlight on Reserve Teacher Policy (NY Times, Sep 26, 2008)

Union, City Dig In Heels Over Fate of Reserve Teachers (NY Sun, Sep 26, 2008)

MTA Budget Woes (, Sep 26, 2008)
Nearly half of the MTA's $6.4 billion budget gap-closing program is relies on additional state or city aide and more than a third of the program's savings are unspecified, according to a new report by the state comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli. The comptroller warns that the Wall Street turmoil makes it unlikely that the city or state will provide funds. The 2010-2014 capital program is underfunded by at least $15 billion, the report also notes.

City Charges MTA $12 Million a Year for Water, Cops (Daily News, Sep 26, 2008)

Members of Police Union Approve Contract (Newsday, Sep 26, 2008)

Paterson Calls Public Meeting On Economy (Associated Press, Sep 26, 2008)

Mayor's Memo on Discretionary Spending (Politicker, Sep 25, 2008)

Bloomberg's $19.5 Million Slush Fund (NY Post, Sep 25, 2008)

Bloomberg Reveals Discrectionary Spending (Daily News, Sep 25, 2008)

How a Plan for Bus Fuel Grew Expensive (NY Times, Sep 25, 2008)

Bloomberg: City Can Cut $1.5 Billion Without Layoffs (Daily News, Sep 25, 2008)

House Panel Probes Rangel (NY Post, Sep 25, 2008)

State to Get Nearly $500 Million in Heating Aid (Associated Press, Sep 25, 2008)

MTA Board Strips Emergency Workers of Free E-ZPass (Newsday, Sep 25, 2008)
Calling it a necessary step to help bridge an expected $1-billion budget gap next year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority narrowly voted Wednesday to revoke thousands of free E-ZPass privileges from nearly 100 public agencies.

Probe Examines Railroad Retirees Getting Disability (NY Post, Sep 24, 2008)

Where the Collapse Comes From (Village Voice, Sep 24, 2008)

Mortgages By City Outdo Nation, Mayor Says (NY Post, Sep 24, 2008)
Perhaps Mayor Bloomberg should be named the nation's chief mortgage officer. With once-mighty financial institutions around the United States reeling from the subprime-mortgage crisis, the mayor announced yesterday that only five of the 17,109 mortgages granted under the city's $7.5 billion affordable-housing program are in foreclosure.

More Budget Cuts On the Way (NY Times, Sep 24, 2008)

Bloomberg May Seek Property Tax Hike (NY Times, Sep 23, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, worried about the effects of the global financial crisis on New York City’s economy, said on Monday that his administration is considering imposing a 7 percent property tax increase on homeowners in January.

Teachers Without Classes Cost City $74 Million, Report Says (NY Sun, Sep 22, 2008)

Bloomberg May Seek Tax Hike (NY Post, Sep 22, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg will try to hike the city's property tax by 7 percent six months early - and even that might not be enough to fill gaping budget holes that are sure to widen amid Wall Street's meltdown, according to insiders

City Pension Funds Suffer Losses (NY Sun, Sep 22, 2008)
New York City's pension system appears to have lost about $230 million since June from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and American International Group, increasing the strain on taxpayers after a year in which the funds already took a $6 billion hit.

Congress Member Finds 'Improprieties, Possible Fraud' in Yankee Stadium Deal (Newsday, Sep 19, 2008)

Thompson Suspends Short-selling by City Pension Funds (NY Sun, Sep 19, 2008)
City Comptroller William Thompson announced yesterday that he will suspend short-selling through the city's pension funds. His decision reflected mounting concern that short-selling, where investors bet that a stock will go down, is artificially depressing share prices.

Mayor Opposes Carbon Tariff (NY Sun, Sep 19, 2008)
Testifying before Congress yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg opposed a so-called carbon tariff that would tax imports from countries that do not sign onto a global agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

Comptroller Says City Pensions Will Weather Wall Street (NY Sun, Sep 18, 2008)
Comptroller William Thompson asserts that despite the tumult on Wall Street, city pension funds are healthy, and his office is "ready for the trying times that are no doubt ahead."

Yankees' Deal May Have Violated Law, Report Says (NY Times, Sep 17, 2008)

MTA Wants On-Duty Police, Fire to Pay Tolls (Daily News, Sep 17, 2008)

City Declines To Participate In Hearing on Stadium Financing (NY Sun, Sep 17, 2008)

Marty Markowitz: $680,000 is Legit (Daily News, Sep 17, 2008)
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz fired back Tuesday at watchdogs who criticized him for steering city contracts to his nonprofit group, saying it's all legal. "This is a matter of public trust and I take this compliance very seriously," Markowitz said. "I'm thrilled that it has received the public and private support it has - and proud of what we've been able to accomplish."

Expansion is Sought for Film Production Tax Credits (NY Sun, Sep 17, 2008)
City and state legislators are calling for an expansion of the city's film tax credit and the creation of a post-production tax credit as a means to bring more movie industry jobs to the city.

Bloomberg Rethink on Disclosure Bill (Daily News, Sep 17, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg is rethinking a bill that would let public officials keep their private incomes secret. A hearing on the bill, which was to be introduced at the mayor's request, was suddenly called off Tuesday at the request of Bloomberg's aides.

Head of Conflicts Board Opposes Disclosing Finances (NY Times, Sep 17, 2008)
The chairman of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board, which administers the disclosure process for 8,000 public servants, is among those who object to having their forms released publicly. The chairman, Steven Rosenfeld, a lawyer appointed to the board by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in May 2002, said he was not concerned about his own privacy, but the privacy of the law firm he is a partner at. The answer to at least one question, he said, provided a glimpse into the larger financial structure of the firm, which is a private concern.

For Stadium Seating, City Officials Demand Luxe (NY Times, Sep 16, 2008)

Markowitz Steers Funds to Nonprofit He Controls (Daily News, Sep 16, 2008)

Council To Take Up Financial Disclosure Bill Today (NY Sun, Sep 16, 2008)

Department of Education Questioned on Class Size (NY Sun, Sep 16, 2008)
State school officials are asking the city's Department of Education to explain how it failed to reach its own goal of reducing class sizes by using a new influx of state money.

Congestion Pricing Is Popular Among Ideas To Boost MTA (NY Sun, Sep 16, 2008)
Business leaders, academics, and activists are offering up a range of suggestions — which include reviving congestion pricing, selling city bridges, and eliminating subway fares altogether — on how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority should handle its looming shortfalls.

Expert: MTA Should Buy Bridges for $1, Charge Tolls (AM New York, Sep 16, 2008)
The MTA could solve much of its financial woe by acquiring the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges from the city for just a buck and charging tolls, a transportation expert said Monday.

Governor Says State Will Take $1 Billion Hit (NY Post, Sep 16, 2008)

Wall St. Turmoil Strains Area Economy (Associated Press, Sep 16, 2008)

State to Allow AIG to Get $20 Billion from Subsidiaries (Newsday, Sep 16, 2008)

Midtown Businesses Already Feel Lehman’s Pain (Crain's, Sep 16, 2008)

New York Economy Will Feel Wall Street's Pain (Crain's, Sep 16, 2008)

Real Estate Market Girds for Lehman Fallout (Crain's, Sep 16, 2008)

City and State Brace for Greater Demands on Diminishing Resources (NY Times, Sep 16, 2008)

Wall Street Woes Endanger Funding for the Arts (NY Sun, Sep 16, 2008)

As Bonuses Dry Up, So Could Condo Sales (Crain's, Sep 16, 2008)

Reduced Tax Revenue Will Hurt City, State (Crain's, Sep 16, 2008)

Consolidation Could Flood City Office Space Market (NY Sun, Sep 16, 2008)

Lehman Bankruptcy Brings Uncertainty to Office Market, Port Authority Plans (Real Deal, Sep 16, 2008)

Bloomberg Draws on Old Ties in Dealing With Crisis (NY Times, Sep 16, 2008)

On AIG, Dinallo Goes Against Ex-Boss Spitzer (NY Sun, Sep 16, 2008)

"I Lost $6 Million Overnight" (NY Post, Sep 16, 2008)

London Catching Up as Financial Center? (NY Times, Sep 15, 2008)

Rangel Lobbies for Yankees (Daily News, Sep 15, 2008)

Tax Breaks Balloon Under Bloomberg (AM New York, Sep 15, 2008)

Mayor Cancels Trip Because of Financial Turmoil (Associated Press, Sep 15, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg has canceled a trip to California amid troubles in the American financial industry.

Disclosure Requirements to Be Overhauled for Board Members (NY Times, Sep 13, 2008)
Lorne Michaels and Oscar de la Renta probably do not follow the deliberations of the New York City Council standards committee any more than most people. But they and other prominent, wealthy New Yorkers who volunteer on local civic boards and commissions might want to tune in on Tuesday.

HIgh Ranking Police Have Security Cameras (Newsday, Sep 12, 2008)

Seven Years After 9/11, Where Did $21 Billion Go? (WNYC, Sep 12, 2008)

Mayor Criticizes Congress Over Homeland Security Funds (NY Post, Sep 11, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly took aim at Washington on the eve of the seventh anniversary of 9/11 during a hearing by the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.

Tax Problem Didn’t Stop Brooklyn Judge Candidate (NY Times, Sep 11, 2008)

Governor Calls Legislators 'Bloodsuckers' (NY Post, Sep 9, 2008)

State Recovers Medicaid Fraud (NY Sun, Sep 9, 2008)

City to Crack Down on Bus Fare-Evaders (Daily News, Sep 3, 2008)

Bids Out for Stadium Demolition (NY Post, Sep 3, 2008)

Ruling Favors Gristedes Workers (Metro, Sep 3, 2008)

Cigarette Suit Can Now Move Forward (NY Sun, Sep 3, 2008)

Economy Poses Manageable Challenges So Far (NY Times, Sep 3, 2008)

Yankees Poor Showing Could Cost City Millions (NY Post, Sep 2, 2008)

After Delays, Underground Water Plant Takes Shape (NY Sun, Aug 29, 2008)

Jobless Fund Running Dry, but Benefits Will Continue (NY Times, Aug 29, 2008)

Paterson Addresses Convention With Greater Strength (NY Times, Aug 27, 2008)

Court Account Off By Millions (Newsday, Aug 27, 2008)

Poverty Level Decreases in City as Nation's Increases (NY Sun, Aug 27, 2008)

City Housing Department Skips Bidding Rules (Daily News, Aug 26, 2008)
Of the $146 million city agencies have spent for emergency products and services since 2006, $45 million was spent by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and $41.5 million by the Dept. of Environmental Protection. Agencies can skip the city's usual bidding rules if they can convince the Law Department and the controller's office there's a compelling need to do so.

Behind the Police Contract (NY Times, Aug 24, 2008)
When Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday that the city had struck a tentative four-year contract with the city’s main police union, the news came as a shock to many government watchdogs and political veterans. After all, the two sides had not reached a settlement at the bargaining table in 14 years. But for the better part of the last year, the city and the quietly tried to lay the foundation for a less acrimonious future.

Deal Raises Officers’ Pay 4 Percent a Year (NY Times, Aug 22, 2008)

Police Officers Could See Further Salary Gains (NY Sun, Aug 22, 2008)

Deal Cuts States Spending (Daily News, Aug 20, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders finalized a deal on Tuesday night to cut $1 billion from the state budget over two years.

Governor and Legislators $400 Million Apart on Budget (NY Post, Aug 19, 2008)

State Police See a Raise (NY Sun, Aug 18, 2008)

Proposal Floated For New Yorker Perks (AM New York, Aug 18, 2008)

Bankruptcies on the Rise in New York (Daily News, Aug 18, 2008)

Budget Cuts Shrink in Legislative Negotiations (NY Post, Aug 18, 2008)

Rent Highest for Pol with Worse Attendance Record (NY Post, Aug 17, 2008)
The legislator with the worst attendance record in the City Council is also renting the most expensive district office.

Corporate Giants Giving to Comptroller Race (Daily News, Aug 16, 2008)
Corporate giants with millions of city pension dollars invested in their stock have given generously to the mayoral campaign of the man who oversees those investments, Controller William Thompson - and to the campaigns of four politicians running to replace him.

Hospitals, Paterson at Odds Over Proposed Cuts (NY Sun, Aug 15, 2008)

Listing by City Council Member of Unspent District Money in 2008 (Daily News, Aug 15, 2008)
Check out how frugal your Council member is - or isn’t. a list of district money they didn’t spend in the 2008 fiscal year, which ended July 1. The money is used for traveling, advertising, mailings, rent and office supplies. Any surplus is rolled over into the city’s general fund.

Council Members with Parking Spaces Spent NYC Money on MetroCards, Cabs (Daily News, Aug 15, 2008)
Three City Council members who have reserved parking spots - which Mayor Bloomberg promised to end after the Daily News exposed the perk - spent hundreds of taxpayer dollars on MetroCards and cabs last year, documents show.

City Hospitals Most Affected by Proposed Medicaid Cuts (NY Sun, Aug 14, 2008)

Wall Street Sees Losses Wiping Out NYC Tax Bill, Bloomberg Says (Bloomberg, Aug 12, 2008)
Some Wall Street firms say their losses this year have reduced their New York City tax bill to zero and are demanding refunds on prepayments made to the city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

Paterson Seeks Cuts of $1 Billion (NY Times, Aug 12, 2008)

Paterson Sets a Showdown on Hospitals (NY Sun, Aug 12, 2008)

Governor's Chopping Spree (NY Post, Aug 12, 2008)

No Bid Contracts from Education Department Questioned (NY Post, Aug 11, 2008)

Public Toilets Proven Popular (NY Times, Aug 11, 2008)

Verizon and Union Reach Deal (Associated Press, Aug 11, 2008)

Plan to sell Power Out of State Clogs New York Grid (NY Post, Aug 11, 2008)

Council Members Could Benefit In Control Over Rent Board (NY Sun, Aug 11, 2008)
The City Council's efforts to gain more control over the board that oversees the city's rent-stabilized apartments stand to benefit Speaker Christine Quinn and the other council members who pay below-market rents for their apartments.

Bloomberg Voices Support for Runway Auction (NY Sun, Aug 11, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg is calling on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to implement a Bush administration plan that would auction off landing slots at Newark, John F. Kennedy, and La Guardia airports.

Senate Passes Property Tax Cap (NY Times, Aug 11, 2008)

Claimants Against City Get Boost From Comptroller (NY Sun, Aug 8, 2008)

Feds Fund $210 Million for East Side Access (Newsday, Aug 8, 2008)

Subway Stations for Sale Soon? (AM New York, Aug 7, 2008)

Shea Seats on Sale Later This Month (Bloomberg, Aug 6, 2008)

Paterson Signs Foreclosure Legislation (Daily News, Aug 6, 2008)

Cuomo's Role in the Mortgage Meltdown (Village Voice, Aug 6, 2008)

Squadron Balks at Connor's Bill to Offer Bonuses to Full Time Legislators (NY Sun, Aug 6, 2008)

State Comptroller Has an Idea for Increasing Growth in New York’s Pension Fund (NY Times, Aug 5, 2008)

Out-of-State Medicaid Fraud Costs New York (NY Post, Aug 5, 2008)

Probe Targets Tax Evasion By Wealthy New Yorkers (NY Sun, Aug 5, 2008)

MTA Woes Fuel Renewed Talk of Congestion Pricing (NY Times, Aug 3, 2008)
The Metropolitan Transportation Administration's worsening financial situation could revive something that seemed doomed only last spring: the plan to charge people to drive in Manhattan. The MTA sees a $900 million budget shortfall next year and faces a projected deficit of $15 billion to $20 billion in its forthcoming five-year capital plan. As a result, a commission set up to devise a plan to rescue the agency from its financial hole, is looking again at congestion pricing.

Paterson: Could Be a New Depression (Daily News, Aug 1, 2008)

City Spends Millions on Empty Offices (NY Sun, Aug 1, 2008)

Change in Tax Break Sparks Building Boom (Daily News, Jul 30, 2008)

Congress to Probe Land Appraisals at Yankee Stadium (Newsday, Jul 30, 2008)

Governor Calls Legislature Back to Work (NY Times, Jul 30, 2008)
Gov. David A. Paterson, in a brief and rare live televised address, said Tuesday evening that New York is facing a fiscal crisis and he called on the Legislature to return next month to grapple with it.

Paterson Expected to Announce Cuts Today (Daily News, Jul 30, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson is expected to announce stat spending cuts today, including a hiring freeze and reductions of up to 7 percent from state agencies on top of the 3.35 percent imposed early this year, sources said.

Budget Cuts Face Opposition (NY Sun, Jul 30, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson's dramatic "call for action" on the state's rapidly widening deficit is inspiring a backlash from lawmakers and other powerful statehouse players. Immediately after the speech, the legislature's top Democrat and the largest union of state employees warned Paterson to watch where he aims the budget ax.

State Could Sell Roads, Bridges (NY Post, Jul 30, 2008)
In his speech on the state's fiscal crisis yesterday, Gov. David Paterson raised the specter that New York may have to sell off roads, bridges and tunnels to close a massive budget deficit. He cited "private-public partnerships" involving the sale of state assets - widely condemned by critics as fiscal gimmickry - as one way to stem a tide of red ink brought on by the sagging economy and woes on Wall Street.

Yankee Stadium Subsidy Questioned (Associated Press, Jul 29, 2008)

Paterson and Bloomberg Warn of Huge Deficits (NY Times, Jul 29, 2008)
Gov. David A. Paterson and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg warned of further deterioration in state and city finances.

Mayor Bloomberg Warns of Looming $2.3 Billion Budget Gap (Daily News, Jul 29, 2008)
A coming "train" of economic hardship and a looming $2.3 billion budget gap in 2010 could mean higher taxes and service cuts, city and state leaders warned Monday.

Immigration Laws Dampen City Economy (NY Sun, Jul 28, 2008)

State Comptroller to Audit MTA (AM New York, Jul 28, 2008)

From Disarray to Debt at the MTA (NY Times, Jul 28, 2008)

Wall Street Pay to Plummet and City Prepares (NY Times, Jul 28, 2008)

Governor Could Warn of Worsening Conditions (NY Post, Jul 28, 2008)

Business Backs Bloomberg, Again (NY Post, Jul 27, 2008)
Big Apple business honchos want four more years of Mayor Bloomberg - and are preparing to do whatever it takes to help him stay in City Hall for a third term.

Give MTA Employees a Raise: Bloomberg (Daily News, Jul 26, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg favors trimming MTA spending, but Friday he called for the cash-starved agency to give workers a raise.

Bus Drivers Accumulated 19,000 Hours of Unnecessary Overtime (Daily News, Jul 25, 2008)

MTA Wants Two Fare Hikes in 18 Months (AM New York, Jul 24, 2008)

Proposed MTA Budget Has More Pain in Store (Daily News, Jul 24, 2008)

MTA Plans to Seek Second Fare Increase in 2011 (NY Times, Jul 24, 2008)

Tax Cap Plan May End Up Costing City (NY Sun, Jul 24, 2008)

City to Cut One-Third of School District Family Advocates (NY Post, Jul 24, 2008)

Watchdog: City Must Give Up Tax Break Next Year (Daily News, Jul 23, 2008)

New York Gets More Terror Funding (Newsday, Jul 23, 2008)

Bruno Takes Top Post With State Contractor (NY Times, Jul 23, 2008)

Fare Hike Draws Criticism From City and State Officials (NY Times, Jul 23, 2008)
A proposal by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to increase transit fares and tolls in 2009 drew sharp criticism from an array of powerful officials on Tuesday, as the mayor, City Council speaker and Assembly speaker said they would oppose it, and the governor pledged “to do everything I can to prevent it.”

State Cracks Down on Tax Refund Fraud (NY Sun, Jul 22, 2008)

City Ignored 54,000 Parking Ticket Emails (NY Post, Jul 21, 2008)

Senate Backing, Silver Blocking Property Tax Cap (NY Sun, Jul 21, 2008)

Borough Presidents' Spend Millions on Aides and Cars (NY Post, Jul 20, 2008)

State Business Tax Revenues Plummet (NY Sun, Jul 18, 2008)

Governor Gets Millions In Special Interest Money (Daily News, Jul 16, 2008)

Vacant Building Could Save MTA Millions (AM New York, Jul 16, 2008)

IRS Presents Hurdles to Development (NY Observer, Jul 16, 2008)

Liu Outpaces Other Candidates (NY Sun, Jul 16, 2008)
John Liu, the first Asian American to be elected to the City Council, is tapping a new set of political donors for a campaign for citywide office that outpaced two mayoral candidates in fund-raising over the past six months.

Quinn Raises Less Money Amid Inquiry Into Council (NY Times, Jul 13, 2008)

MTA Urged To Reconsider Capital Program Deferrals (NY Sun, Jul 10, 2008)
Comptroller William Thompson is urging the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to hold off on plans to defer $2.7 billion of its current capital program to later years, saying it should wait for the findings of a commission that is studying long-term solutions to the agency's budget woes.

Subway Stations to Suffer from Budget Pinch (AM New York, Jul 10, 2008)

MTA Tells Staffers to Curb Car Use (Daily News, Jul 10, 2008)

Baez Silent Amid Sea of Controversy (Norwood News, Jul 10, 2008)

MTA to Slash $5 Million from Operating Budget (NY Post, Jul 10, 2008)

Report Urges Nonunion Labor Use (NY Sun, Jul 10, 2008)

Struggling Agency Gets Large City Bill (NY Times, Jul 7, 2008)

Taxis May Turn to Fuel Surcharge (Associated Press, Jul 7, 2008)

Subway Fines To Increase (AM New York, Jul 7, 2008)

Councilman Asks Diplomats to Pay Up (AM New York, Jul 7, 2008)
Queens councilman Eric Gioia is calling on the city's biggest diplomatic scofflaws to pony up the $75 million they owe in unpaid parking tickets and back property taxes.

More Money to Parks This Year (NY Post, Jul 7, 2008)
With New York City parks plagued by barren weed-strewn areas that are nesting grounds for crime, the Bloomberg administration is planning more than 400 projects to clean up green space.

Friends Awarded, Enemies Punished (NY Post, Jul 4, 2008)
Speaker Christine Quinn's friends on the City Council brought pounds of pork home to their districts - while neighborhoods represented by members on her enemies list often get beans, a review of this year's budget shows.

State Finds Fund Misuse at 19 Child Care Centers (NY Times, Jul 3, 2008)

Day Care Centers Stole Millions (Daily News, Jul 3, 2008)

Cement Workers Strike Stalls Construction (NY Times, Jul 2, 2008)

Transit Hub Design Scaled Back (NY Times, Jul 2, 2008)

Housing Slump Could Hit Next Year (NY Sun, Jul 2, 2008)

Price of Milk To Go Up (ABC News, Jul 2, 2008)

Budget Increases Vary Depending on Who You Ask (NY Sun, Jul 2, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg and his aides have emphasized that spending this fiscal year is almost flat, with a slight increase coming in below the rate of inflation, but budget experts say spending is much higher. That's because the administration and outside observers are not comparing the same figures.

Bloomberg and Council Reach Deal on Budget (NY Times, Jun 27, 2008)

Budget Deal (NY Post, Jun 27, 2008)

City Budget Deal Is Reached (NY Sun, Jun 27, 2008)

Inquiry Into Council Funding to End Soon (NY Times, Jun 27, 2008)

Brooklyn Jail Opponents Speak Out (NY Sun, Jun 27, 2008)

Diplomats Owe $18 Million in Parking Tickets (AM New York, Jun 26, 2008)

Deutsche Bank Demolition Costs $280 Million (NY Sun, Jun 26, 2008)

City Pension Funds Lose Billions (NY Sun, Jun 26, 2008)

Council Bid to End Con Ed Tax Breaks (NY Post, Jun 24, 2008)
The city wants Con Ed removed from a tax-abatement program, but the utility warns it would have to pass its ensuing 10-year, $1 billion loss on to its customers.

Cuts Come to MTA Board Today (AM New York, Jun 23, 2008)

MTA Board in Favor of Losing Free Passes (Daily News, Jun 23, 2008)

Food Stamps No Longer Go As Far (NY Times, Jun 23, 2008)

Council Backs Hedge Fund Tax (NY Sun, Jun 23, 2008)
A majority of the City Council is backing a tax-the-rich plan that would require hedge fund and private equity fund partners to pay a city tax on income generated by investments, making it more likely to gain traction in Albany.

Congressman Accepts Special Interest Money (Daily News, Jun 23, 2008)
Rep. Anthony Weiner has sworn off special interest money for his mayoral campaign next year - but he's raking it in for his congressional reelection bid this fall, federal records show.

Bloomberg Delivers Harsh Gas Message (NY Post, Jun 21, 2008)
Let the little people pay higher gas taxes. That was the harsh message for beleaguered motorists delivered yesterday by Mayor Bloomberg.

Role of Lobbyists Examined in Slush Fund Scandal (NY Sun, Jun 20, 2008)

Millions in Economic Stimulus Checks Not Claimed in City (NY Post, Jun 20, 2008)

Bloomberg Balks At Proposed Hotel Tax (NY Sun, Jun 20, 2008)
Mayor MIchael Bloomberg is balking at a City Council proposal to increase the hotel tax to 8 percent to avoid budget cuts to public schools. "We don't want to have more taxes that would hurt the economic well-being of this city. For example, a tax on tourists is a terrible idea. We desperately need tourists from around the world," he said yesterday. "International tourism is down throughout our country something like 17 percent. It is up 9 percent in New York. Killing the golden goose is not a smart thing to do." A council member of Queens, John Liu, said the hotel tax increase is a serious proposal that some members find more "palatable" than cutting $450 million from the Department of Education budget.

Confusion Over Guidelines for Nonprofits (Daily News, Jun 19, 2008)
Scores of neighborhood groups got millions of taxpayer dollars even though they may not be valid nonprofits. Many of the community groups are in jeopardy of losing the City Council funding in the proposed 2009 budget unless they complete paperwork to prove they are nonprofits in the next few months. City officials discovered the error in this year's budget negotiations when they started vetting community groups in the wake of the slush fund scandal.

Milk Vendors To Bid on Schools Boroughwide (NY Post, Jun 18, 2008)

Service Improvements Too Costly For MTA (Daily News, Jun 18, 2008)

Small Business Bill Floated at Council (NY Sun, Jun 18, 2008)
City agencies would have to issue detailed reports on how their rule changes would impact small businesses and offer less burdensome alternatives under legislation being introduced by Council Member James Oddo of Staten Island.

Public Housing Residents Face Loss of Their Community Centers (NY Times, Jun 17, 2008)

District Attorney Investigates Police Horse Stable Contracts (NY Post, Jun 17, 2008)

Council Member Urges MTA to Sell Building (NY Sun, Jun 16, 2008)
City Councilmember Eric Gioia, a likely candidate for public advocate in 2009, is calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to sell off the 20-story building it owns at 44th Street and Madison Avenue before it raises fares again.

Late Deal Saves OTB (NY Times, Jun 16, 2008)
Confusion and discord gave way to handshakes on Sunday as Gov. David A. Paterson and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg agreed on a deal authorizing the state to take over the city’s Off-Track Betting Corporation while still granting the city a share of gambling revenues.

Bloomberg May Abandon Property Tax Cut (NY Times, Jun 14, 2008)

No More Extra Money for Mayor's Favored Politicians (NY Post, Jun 14, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided to freeze the money he had distributed in past years to select legislators during the budget adoption process. Last year, Bloomberg parceled out $4.5 million to eight City Council members and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

Politically Connected Groups Got City Funds (Daily News, Jun 14, 2008)
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to two politically connected organizations to counsel and protect tenants. United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, an Orthodox group that politicians like to court, received $216,570, while the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, synonymous with its founder, Assemblyman Vito Lopez, the powerful head of the Assembly Housing Committee, got $475,265.

Bloomberg May End Tax Cut (Daily News, Jun 14, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned Friday the 7 percent property tax reduction he introduced just a month ago is in jeopardy because of the recent police contract and the troubles on Wall Street.

City Ponders Port Authority Role at Moynihan (Crain's, Jun 13, 2008)

MTA Paid $1.1 Billion in Settlement Costs Over 12 Years (NY Sun, Jun 13, 2008)

Politicians Swat at Yankees Pitch (NY Post, Jun 13, 2008)

Public to MTA, Yanks: Enough Already! (AM New York, Jun 13, 2008)

No More Stadium Tax Breaks, Politicians Howl (Daily News, Jun 13, 2008)

Question Mark Looms Over Three Expensive Projects (NY Times, Jun 13, 2008)

'Soviet-Style' Tactics Said To Be Used To Help Yankees (NY Sun, Jun 13, 2008)

Yankees Seek More Public Financing for Stadium (Newsday, Jun 12, 2008)

MTA Gives 'Fare' Warning of Costlier RIde (NY Post, Jun 12, 2008)

NY Judge Orders Himself a Raise (NY Sun, Jun 12, 2008)

Judge Rules: Give Us Pay Raise or Else (NY Post, Jun 12, 2008)

A Justice Orders a Pay Raise for New York’s Judges (NY Times, Jun 12, 2008)

Twenty Percent of Maltese Member Items Go Outside District (Times-Ledger, Jun 12, 2008)

City Pulls Money for Four Non-Profits that Council Members Sought to Fund (NY Post, Jun 11, 2008)

Thompson on Pension Funds and Social Change (NY Sun, Jun 11, 2008)
In a speech at Harvard yesterday, City Comptroller William Thompson, a likely candidate for mayor in 2009, praised New York's practice of investing in institutions with social agendas, such as a variety of funds that promote the construction of "affordable" housing in the city.

Teachers Bonus Plan to Expand (NY Sun, Jun 9, 2008)

Mayor Sees More Transit Hikes (Daily News, Jun 7, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg warned Friday that straphangers could face another fare hike next year - and said the city is broke and can't help.

Catch Larry Seabrook If You Can (Village Voice, Jun 4, 2008)

Verizon Owes Millions In City fines (NY Post, Jun 3, 2008)

State Tax on Cigs Increases (AM New York, Jun 3, 2008)

MTA May Trade Carbon (Newsday, Jun 3, 2008)

Pensions Cost City Millions More (NY Times, Jun 3, 2008)

Financial Dispute Stalls Razing of College Building Damaged on 9/11 (NY Times, Jun 1, 2008)

Police Contract Could Set Costly Precedent (Daily News, May 31, 2008)

Department of Investigation Secretly Attending Budget Council Hearings (NY Post, May 30, 2008)
The city Department of Investigation has been quietly attending City Council hearings without informing members, The Post has learned. Council members, already on edge over the ongoing probe into a secret slush fund, were startled by the presence of a prober at a routine Finance Committee hearing this week.

UN Owes City $6 Million in Rent (NY Post, May 30, 2008)
A government agency created to provide office and residential space for UN workers stiffed the city on more than $12 million in rent, Comptroller William Thompson charged yesterday. Thompson said the United Nations Development Corp. forked over half the amount, $6 million, on April 2, right after his auditors delivered their preliminary findings. Asked if the agency would have made the payment without the shove, Thompson responded, "Absolutely not."

Housing Cuts Are Proposed to Help Close Budget Gap (NY Times, May 30, 2008)

Education Department's Phantom Cuts (NY Post, May 30, 2008)

Health Commissioner Sees Wasteful Council Health Initiatives (NY Post, May 29, 2008)
Some of the $70 million the City Council has allocated for health initiatives through nonprofit groups is being wasted on "poorly managed programs" and isn't producing the desired outcomes, according to the city's top health official.

Quinn Explains Big Budget Adjustment With Little Notice (Politicker, May 29, 2008)
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn faced some pointed questions at a press conference this afternoon about the timetable by which the City Council voted on $2.9 billion upward adjustment to the city’s current city budget.

Now You See It, Now You Don't - City's $3 Billion Surplus (Daily News, May 29, 2008)

Bloomberg's Hidden Debt (NY Observer, May 29, 2008)

Financing Woes Could Doom Lower Manhattan Agency (NY Sun, May 29, 2008)

Cuomo Says E-ZPass Perks are Illegal (Associated Press, May 29, 2008)

Stringer Calls to End Tax Breaks for Bad Firms (Daily Politics, May 29, 2008)

Big Chains Benefit From City Tax Incentives but Don’t Create Jobs, a Report Says (NY Times, May 29, 2008)

Stringer: Reforms for Development Incentive Program (Crain's, May 29, 2008)

Paterson Urges Austerity Instead of Tax Hikes (Daily News, May 28, 2008)

Council Members Get $277,000 for Little Extras, On Top of $112,000 Salary (Daily News, May 27, 2008)

Leaf Collection Programs Face Budget Cuts (NY Post, May 26, 2008)
At the same time that Mayor Bloomberg is stepping up his campaign to plant 1 million trees, the Sanitation Department plans to eliminate a special leaf-collection program due to budget cuts.

Bloomberg Wants Deal with Police Union (NY Post, May 24, 2008)
There's a small window of opportunity right now for the city and the police union to negotiate a new contract and avert another tense bout of arbitration, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday.

Two City Parks Receive $25 Million Donation (NY 1, May 23, 2008)

Department of Investigation Asks for More Investigators for Slush Probe (NY Post, May 23, 2008)

Mayor Backs Quinn Amid Slush Fallout (NY Sun, May 22, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is defending Speaker Christine Quinn's record amid fallout over the City Council's slush fund scandal, saying she has "unfairly been beaten up a little bit in the press."

Brooklyn Bridge Park Costs Continue to Rise (NY Post, May 22, 2008)

Firefighters Want to Reopen Contract (NY Post, May 21, 2008)

Principals Wait For Individual Budgets (NY Sun, May 21, 2008)

A New Approach Brings Bankers As City Landlords (Village Voice, May 21, 2008)

Quinn Doesn't Rule Out Rich Tax (NY Post, May 21, 2008)
Heading for a possible collision with Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said yesterday she wouldn't rule out a surcharge next year on taxpayers earning $1 million or more.

Assembly Halts Action on Bills Analyzed by Union-Paid Actuary (NY Times, May 17, 2008)

City Cashes in on Gas Tax (NY Times, May 17, 2008)
The New York City government is cashing in on the rising price of gasoline. The city’s 4 percent sales tax on motor brought in $26.4 million in December, January and February, or 8.6 percent more than the same period the year before. Figures for March and April, when gas prices rose even higher, are not yet available

Of Attorneys, Earmarks And Friday Night Press Releases (Daily Politics, May 17, 2008)

Weiner, an Earmark Critic, Has His Own (NY Times, May 17, 2008)

EMT Shortage to Hit City This Summer (Daily News, May 16, 2008)

Unions Bankrolled Analyst Vetting Pension Bill (NY Times, May 16, 2008)

Boost in Anti-Terror Grants for Transit, Ports (Associated Press, May 16, 2008)

Library Board Backs Quinn, and Vice Versa (NY Sun, May 16, 2008)
As Speaker Christine Quinn fought for extra funding for the city’s libraries last year, her campaign coffers swelled with tens of thousands of dollars in donations from trustees of the New York Public Library.

Council Will Put Moratorium on New Initiatives (NY Sun, May 16, 2008)
The City Council will not propose funding any new initiatives in 2009 in response to the city’s weakening economy, Speaker Christine Quinn announced yesterday. Instead, the council will focus on restoring cuts to government services.

Bloomberg Says Discretionary Funds No Secret (NY Post, May 15, 2008)

Arroyo Now in Criminal Probe (Daily News, May 15, 2008)
A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations that Bronx City Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo funneled taxpayer money to a nonprofit that employed her relatives.

Council Members Gave Grants, Then Got Campaign Funds From Officers of Grant Recipients (NY Sun, May 15, 2008)
City Council members steering millions of taxpayer dollars to groups outside of their districts are receiving campaign contributions from employees and board members of the groups they are giving the discretionary grants.

For Those Running for Citywide Office, Member Item Money Flows Outside Council Districts (NY Sun, May 13, 2008)
City Council members running for citywide office are allocating "member item" money to organizations miles away from their council districts, a New York Sun analysis has found.

Delays at Trade Center Site Cost City, State Millions (Daily News, May 12, 2008)

Council Funding Scandal Threatens Quinn's Political Future (New York Magazine, May 12, 2008)

Bloomberg Opposes Retirement Bills (NY Times, May 12, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is appealing to Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders to hold firm against two bills that the city believes would cost as much as $300 million a year.

Failure of Hudson Yards Deal Could be Costly for MTA (NY Sun, May 12, 2008)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority could lose tens of millions of dollars if its tentative deal with Tishman Speyer to develop the West Side rail yards collapses, according to a number of sources. Representatives of the MTA and Tishman Speyer are scheduled to meet today to try to salvage the deal. A failure could lead the MTA to reopen the bidding process, or possibly approach one of the runner-up bidders. Both scenarios, observers say, leave the MTA with reduced bargaining leverage.

Political Role of Group Monserrate Financed Said to Be Investigated (NY Times, May 8, 2008)

In Wake of Council Scandal, Quinn Offers New Rules (NY Sun, May 8, 2008)

A Brooklyn Assemblyman's Earmarks Are Political Surrealism (Village Voice, May 7, 2008)

Mayor Bloomberg Sticks to Water Rate Hike (Daily News, May 6, 2008)
No. That's the icy answer Mayor Bloomberg gave City Council critics who want him to eliminate a unique rental arrangement that could lower the proposed 14.5 percent water rate hike by nearly 5 percentage points. Such a move would save 825,000 water customers as much as $122 million in fiscal 2009, which starts July 1, when the new rates would kick in.

Mayor Defends Council Spending (NY Post, May 6, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg yesterday said the public can be "reasonably assured that 99.999 percent" of the City Council's discretionary spending was legitimate.

A Look Into the Rubber Rooms (Daily News, May 5, 2008)

Union Defends Teacher Pool (NY Sun, May 5, 2008)

Council Money Moved to Unregistered Charities (Daily News, May 5, 2008)
The City Council has secretly moved millions of taxpayer dollars to unregistered charities through ghost groups that often have ties to the lawmakers themselves, a Daily News investigation has found.

Legislation Proposed to Vet City Budget (NY Post, May 4, 2008)
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn should be held personally responsible for the validity of the budget - with criminal penalties to pay for fraud, said one local lawmaker.

Papers Filed for Judicial Hearing on City Council Spending (NY Times, May 3, 2008)

State Officials Predict a Deep Recession (NY Times, May 2, 2008)

Bloomberg Blasts Gas Tax Cut Plan (Crain's, May 2, 2008)

Educators Will Fight Cuts (NY Sun, May 2, 2008)

Bloomberg Will Cut Property Tax Next Year (NY Post, May 2, 2008)

Mayor's New Budget Puts Hold on Spending (Crain's, May 2, 2008)

Mayor Says Wall Street Turmoil is 'Scary' for Local Economy (Associated Press, May 2, 2008)

Mayor: City Can Afford Rebate, Tax Cut (Newsday, May 2, 2008)

Bloomberg Proposes Lean Budget (NY Times, May 2, 2008)

Mayor Says Police Contract Stalemate Could Hurt Property Tax Relief (Staten Island Advance, May 2, 2008)

Siegel Sues Over Slush Fund Scandal (Daily Politics, May 2, 2008)

MTA Faces $2 Billion to $3 Billion Budget Gap (Daily News, May 1, 2008)

Brooklyn Councilman's Funds for a Group He Founded Were Blocked (NY Times, May 1, 2008)

Quinn Gave to Nonprofit - and She Got $16,000 (Daily News, May 1, 2008)
Speaker Christine Quinn was one of 14 City Council members who sponsored $260,000 in "discretionary funds" for the Hetrick-Martin Institute last year. But only she got some $16,000 in campaign donations from its board members - 16 times more than the combined amount received by other co-sponsors. Current and former Hetrick-Martin board members - including Quinn's partner, Kim Catullo - gave Quinn $16,025 in campaign donations between May 2007 and Jan. 11, records show.

Quinn: I Am Not Target of Investigations (NY Sun, May 1, 2008)
Speaker Christine Quinn is stating emphatically that she is not a target of federal and local investigations into the City Council, and she is standing by her statement that she learned about the existence of fictitious organizations in the budget only within the last several months.

Mayor's Budget Could Restrict Council Spending (NY Sun, Apr 30, 2008)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's upcoming budget negotiations with City Council could give the mayor with a chance to clamp down on spending by the council, which has been dogged by questions about its use of taxpayer dollars. Bloomberg’s best chance to exert his authority may come in his negotiations over the portion of the budget -- usually around $250 million --the council gets to spend on its own each year. Some political observers are insisting the mayor has no choice but to rein in that spending.

Plan To Cap Property Taxes Seen as Dead (NY Sun, Apr 29, 2008)

Mayor Wary of Surplus in Budget (Daily News, Apr 29, 2008)
Even as the nation's financial woes worsen, cash is still rolling into city coffers, Mayor Bloomberg admitted Monday as he prepares to unveil a new budget. The city is still on pace to rack up a $4 billion surplus this year - a welcome stash of money, but a slightly politically sticky situation for the mayor.

City Organizations Stranded Without Council Funds During Investigation (NY Post, Apr 29, 2008)
A major veterans organization and an AIDS-research group have been left stranded by the investigation into the City Council's phantom accounts.

Quinn Gives Taxpayer Money to High Line Group, Who Gives Campaign Money (Daily News, Apr 29, 2008)

Weiner Breaks Silence On Slush Fund Scandal (Daily Politics, Apr 29, 2008)

Comptroller Gives Warning on State Budget (NY Post, Apr 28, 2008)

Officers Pulled Off Streets After Threat (Daily News, Apr 28, 2008)

Judges Slow Down Cases In Protest (Daily News, Apr 28, 2008)

City Issues More Tickets (NY Post, Apr 28, 2008)

Officials Look For Fixes to Water Rate Hike (Staten Island Advance, Apr 28, 2008)

Legal Service for Council Members Departs From Common Practice (NY Sun, Apr 28, 2008)

Funds Given To Charity Run By Aides (NY Times, Apr 28, 2008)
Hiram Monserrate, a city councilman from Queens, has supplied more than $400,000 in city funds in recent years to a nonprofit agency that has been run by some of his closest aides and whose financial records have devolved into what its current director calls “a mess.”

Nonprofits Stiffed In Budget Scandal (NY Post, Apr 28, 2008)
A major veterans organization and an AIDS-research group have been left stranded by the investigation into the City Council's phantom accounts, The Post has learned.

Councilwoman Gives Thousands to Her Former Tenant Group (NY Post, Apr 27, 2008)
A Bronx City Councilwoman earmarked thousands of taxpayer dollars for a tenants association in her former apartment building - an association residents say doesn't exist.

Governor Warns of Mid-Year Budget Cuts (NY Post, Apr 25, 2008)

In Council Campaigns, Relatives on the Payroll (NY Times, Apr 25, 2008)
More than a dozen of the 51 current members have used campaign funds to pay family members — or themselves.

Councilman Provided Hundreds of Thousands to Nonprofit with Sister on Board (Daily News, Apr 25, 2008)
Manhattan City Councilman Miguel Martinez has shipped hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit group where his sister sits on the board of directors.

Bronx Non-Profit Questioned in Council Funding Probe (NY Post, Apr 25, 2008)
The woman at the helm of three nonprofits whose funding has been frozen amid a federal probe of City Council slush money claims she provides vital services for a senior center in her Bronx neighborhood.

As Scandal Grows at Council, Miller Stays Out of Sight (NY Sun, Apr 25, 2008)
As fallout from the City Council slush fund scam widens and threatens to damage the political career of Speaker Christine Quinn, a key figure in the budget scandal has vanished from the scene: Gifford Miller, the former speaker of the council.

BIll Would Ban Member Items for Family Members (Daily News, Apr 24, 2008)
As some of his colleagues duck for cover, Councilmember Peter Vallone proposed a fix on Wednesday for pork-funding abuses revealed by the Daily News. Vallone asked Council lawyers to draft a bill banning members from doling out pork to groups employing their relatives or current and former staffers.

Bronx Water Plant With a Towering Price Tag (NY Times, Apr 24, 2008)

Grants from Seabrook Worth $1 Million are Frozen (NY Post, Apr 24, 2008)

Quinn's Half-Billion-Dollar Secret (Village Voice, Apr 23, 2008)

Over $12 Million in Council Grants Frozen (NY Post, Apr 23, 2008)

Funds Drying Up Amind Slush Probe (NY Post, Apr 22, 2008)
City Comptroller William Thompson is blocking funds to scores of community groups across the city because of the ongoing probe into the City Council's slush fund.

Bloomberg Aides Push For New York Times Bid (Newsweek, Apr 21, 2008)

Wealthy Taxpayers Would Flee New Plan, Mayor Says (NY Sun, Apr 18, 2008)

Probers Slog Through Pile of Paper in Council Scandal (Daily News, Apr 18, 2008)
Department of Investigation probers are poring through thousands of documents bearing the names of politicians, dollar amounts and a roster of nonprofit groups - some real, some not.

Scandal Shows Flaws in Screening (Daily News, Apr 18, 2008)
The city has an extensive checks and balances system to weed out shady groups it contracts with, starting with a program known as the vendor exchange system. But the case of the Donna Reid Memorial Education Fund proved the system isn't foolproof.

Duh! Council Had Slush Funds, Former Politician Snorts (Daily News, Apr 18, 2008)
"I told you so!" So said former Brooklyn Councilmember Sal Albanese, who often railed against secret pork-barrel spending in the Council, where he was a member from 1982 through 1997.

Quinn Offers Apologies to Council (NY Times, Apr 18, 2008)
In a series of private meetings with rank-and-file members of the City Council on Monday, Speaker Christine Quinn kept apologizing. She told them she had blundered badly in her response to revelations about the Council’s appropriation of money to fictitious organizations.

2 Council Aides Accused of Embezzling Funds (NY Times, Apr 17, 2008)

Aides to Brooklyn Council Member Indicted on Fraud Charges (Newsday, Apr 17, 2008)

Council Member in Funding Flap (Daily News, Apr 17, 2008)

Quinn's Foggy Attempt at Transparency (NY Observer, Apr 17, 2008)

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04172008/news/regionalnews/suspect_failed_to_address_key_blunder_106855.htm (NY Post, Apr 17, 2008)

Busts in Political Slush Rush (NY Post, Apr 17, 2008)

State Officials Start Talks on OTB (NY Post, Apr 16, 2008)

Questions Linger in City Council Scandal (Village Voice, Apr 16, 2008)

Bloomberg Defends Sales Tax Suspension (NY Post, Apr 16, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg defended his decision yesterday to quietly extend a 1 percent city sales tax scheduled to expire this summer, saying the money is needed.

Tax Data of Three State Officials Show More Than Income (NY Times, Apr 15, 2008)

City, State Eye New Taxes on Fund Managers (NY Sun, Apr 15, 2008)

Speaker's Plan to Overhaul Spending Overruled by Council Members (NY Post, Apr 15, 2008)
A proposal by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to allow mayoral agencies to dispense roughly $20 million of the council's political pork was dead on arrival last night - after an unprecedented mutiny by legislators.

Mayor Seeks To Extend Tax (NY Post, Apr 15, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg asked Albany to halt the sunset of the MAC debt tax and reimpose the sales tax so that it could be used for general city operating expenses.

Atlantic Yards Could Cost Public Billions (NY Post, Apr 14, 2008)

Budget Alters Wicks Law (Associated Press, Apr 11, 2008)

City Proposes Raising Water Rates Again (Daily News, Apr 11, 2008)

Finance Commisioner OK With Bogus Grants (NY Post, Apr 11, 2008)
The city's finance commissioner yesterday defended phantom grants as no big deal. Commissioner Martha Stark said using bogus accounts to reserve millions of dollars in government grants was nothing to be concerned about because all the money earmarked by the City Council eventually landed at legitimate organizations.

Quinn Urged To Resign (NY Sun, Apr 11, 2008)
The speaker of the City Council, Christine Quinn, is facing calls to resign following disclosures that the council hid millions of budget dollars behind fictitious organizations to create a slush fund that could be used for political favors. Charles Barron, a council member of Brooklyn and a longtime critic of Ms. Quinn, said yesterday that the speaker is "an embarrassment and distraction for City Hall." A law enforcement group, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, also called on Ms. Quinn to resign yesterday.

Comptroller Orders Review, Audit of Council Funds (NY Sun, Apr 10, 2008)

New York City and Long Island Schools Benefit From Deal in Albany (NY Times, Apr 10, 2008)

Politicians Threw Us Under Train, Straphangers Say (Daily News, Apr 10, 2008)

Budget Passes, Bloomberg Calls it 'Good News' (Daily News, Apr 10, 2008)

State Agrees on 2008 Budget (Crain's, Apr 10, 2008)

Legislators Back Spending Rise in State’s Budget (NY Times, Apr 10, 2008)

Paterson: State Can't 'Tax Our Way' to Future (NY Sun, Apr 10, 2008)

MTA Chief Puts Fare Hike on the Table (NY Post, Apr 10, 2008)

Panel to Examine MTA Finances (NY Post, Apr 9, 2008)

Paterson Calls for Cuts (NY Post, Apr 9, 2008)
Gov. David Paterson declared yesterday that he intends to reduce next year's state budget by 5 to 10 percent - up to $12 billion - because the spending plan he inherited this year is "too big and too bloated."

Budget Deal Reported Near (NY 1, Apr 9, 2008)
The final details of the $124 billion state budget trickled out late Tuesday from closed-door negotiations. The proposal on the table would increase spending by 4.5 percent, and includes $1.1 billion in capital projects around the state.

Paterson Plans Panel to Study MTA Budget (NY Times, Apr 9, 2008)

Paterson Pledges Leaner Budget Next Year (Daily Politics, Apr 9, 2008)

Comptroller Warns Albany on New Budget (Crain's, Apr 9, 2008)

Thompson to Audit Council Spending (Politicker, Apr 9, 2008)

Quinn's District Gets Quarter of Mystery Funds (NY Post, Apr 7, 2008)

City Eyes Property Tax Breaks For Staten Island (Staten Island Advance, Apr 7, 2008)

Council Speaker's Influence Withers as Slush Fund Dries (NY Sun, Apr 7, 2008)

Senate Democrats Attend Political Conference During Budget Negotiations (Daily Politics, Apr 7, 2008)

Reformer Stumbles Over Budget Scandal (NY Times, Apr 5, 2008)
In her evolution from a campus activist nicknamed Mad Dog to the first female speaker of the City Council and a likely candidate for mayor, Christine C. Quinn has taken care to project an image of reform and an openness about the workings of government.

In Albany, Secrecy Surrounds Budget Talks (NY Times, Apr 5, 2008)

Seattle Police Department Recruiting in New York (Daily News, Apr 4, 2008)

High Line Got Boost from Slush Fund (NY Post, Apr 4, 2008)

Criminal Charges Eyed in Probe of Council (NY Sun, Apr 4, 2008)

Legislators' $500,000 Rainy-Day Fund Swells Into $4.5 Million Headache (NY Times, Apr 4, 2008)

Phony Allocations by City Council Reported (NY Times, Apr 4, 2008)

Bloomberg Wouldn't Have Signed Off on Budget Had He Known (NY Post, Apr 4, 2008)

$1.4 Million for Empty Lt. Gov.'s Office (Daily News, Apr 4, 2008)

Congestion Pricing Critics See A $1 Billion Accounting Trick (NY Sun, Apr 4, 2008)

'Impossible To Detect,' Comptroller Insists (Daily Politics, Apr 4, 2008)

Avella Calls On Cuomo To Investigate Council (Daily Politics, Apr 4, 2008)

Federal Judge Blasts Police Department in Back Pay Lawsuit (Associated Press, Apr 3, 2008)

City Spends Millions On Projects Other Than Pricing Plan (Metro, Apr 3, 2008)

City Begins To Shut Off Water Service To Deadbeat Customers (NY 1, Apr 3, 2008)

Drivers Entering Manhattan on Bridges Would Also Pay (Daily News, Apr 3, 2008)

Battle Over Congestion Pricing Proposal Continues, Now in Two States (NY Times, Apr 3, 2008)

Lt. Gov.'s Office Fully Funded (Daily Politics, Apr 3, 2008)

Fare Hike Fear (Daily Politics, Apr 3, 2008)

New York's 2008 Congressional Earmarks (Politicker, Apr 3, 2008)

Money for Quinn's Taking (NY Post, Apr 3, 2008)

Quinn Names Phantom Groups (Politicker, Apr 3, 2008)

Quinn's Future (Politicker, Apr 3, 2008)

Quinn Under Pressure (Daily Politics, Apr 3, 2008)

Does Ticket Scalping Law Shut Out Fans? (AM New York, Apr 2, 2008)

Manhattan Apartment Prices Hit Record (NY Times, Apr 2, 2008)

Judges Plan Suit Over Pay Raises (Associated Press, Apr 2, 2008)

Probe Finds Feds Deny Officer Benefits Often (NY Post, Apr 2, 2008)

Quinn Sees A Brighter City Budget (NY Sun, Apr 2, 2008)

State Plans Nation's Highest Cigarette Tax (Associated Press, Apr 2, 2008)

Legislators Reach Deal on Health Care in Budget Talks (NY Times, Apr 2, 2008)

Candidate for de Blasio's Seat Talks Community Board Budget Cuts (Brownstoner, Apr 2, 2008)

As Budget Deadline Looms, Spending Cuts Remain Elusive (NY Times, Apr 1, 2008)

Lt. Gov. Office Budget Savings? (Daily Politics, Apr 1, 2008)

More Bars in More Places (Daily Politics, Apr 1, 2008)

Hope in Albany for Passing Budget on Time (NY Times, Mar 31, 2008)

Fuller Picture Emerges of Paterson’s Aid to Hospital That Employed His Wife (NY Times, Mar 30, 2008)

A State Budget Built on Hope (Albany Times Union, Mar 30, 2008)

Albany Move Would Block Bloomberg's School Cuts (Daily News, Mar 29, 2008)
The latest move in state budget gamesmanship would block Mayor Bloomberg from cutting public school costs - and result in the loss of 3,778 cops and 520 firefighters, a City Hall analysis shows.

Millionare's Tax Slips Out of Budget (NY Times, Mar 28, 2008)

Middle Class May Feel Tax Burden (AM New York, Mar 28, 2008)

Five Percent Spending Hike Near in State Budget (NY Post, Mar 28, 2008)

Glitch by US Government Is Delaying Medicare Payments (NY Sun, Mar 28, 2008)

Costs and Disruptions Rise for Yankee, Met Stadiums (Village Voice, Mar 27, 2008)

Subway and Bus Upgrades Not Derailed, Insists MTA (Daily News, Mar 27, 2008)

Appeal Allows Lawsuits by Ground Zero Workers (NY Times, Mar 27, 2008)

State Moves Toward Deal on a Budget (NY Times, Mar 27, 2008)

Paterson, Leaders Agree to 'Framework' of State Budget (Associated Press, Mar 27, 2008)

No Sleep 'Til Budget? (Daily Politics, Mar 27, 2008)

MTA Delays Improvements, Citing Drop in Real Estate Sales Taxes (NY Times, Mar 26, 2008)

Quinn: MTA's Money Problems Underscore Need For Congestion Pricing (Daily Politics, Mar 26, 2008)

Bus drivers protest (AM New York, Mar 26, 2008)

Paterson Campaign Funds Went to Personal Expenses (Daily News, Mar 24, 2008)

City Talks to Yankees and Mets On Stadium Buys (NY Post, Mar 24, 2008)
The Yankees and Mets are in secret talks with the city to buy their old ballparks before the wrecking balls hit - so they can plunder them for lucrative memorabilia to peddle to fans, The Post has learned.

Millionaires Have Range of Opinions on Tax Plan (NY Times, Mar 22, 2008)

School Chief Tells Council Deep Cuts Are Needed (NY Times, Mar 21, 2008)

Education Department Spares Poorest Schools from Budget Cuts (NY Post, Mar 21, 2008)

Mayor Called On To Cut City Government Staff (NY Sun, Mar 21, 2008)

Council Voices Crime Fears Amid Cuts to Police Force (NY Sun, Mar 20, 2008)

City Faces the Prospect of Its Smallest Police Force Since the 1990s (NY Times, Mar 20, 2008)

Budget Cut Will Pull Police Department to Lowest Level in 16 Years (Daily News, Mar 20, 2008)

Thousands Protest Budget Cuts Aimed at City Schools (NY Times, Mar 20, 2008)

Medicaid Soars, Covering One-Third of New Yorkers (NY Sun, Mar 20, 2008)

State Budget Behind Schedule, Leaders Not Agreeing on Much (Associated Press, Mar 20, 2008)

Costs to City for Yankees Stadium Skyrockets (Village Voice, Mar 20, 2008)

Three More Countries to Pay City (NY Times, Mar 19, 2008)
The governments of India, Mongolia and the Philippines owe New York City roughly $57 million in property taxes, a federal judge has ruled, closing a long chapter in the Bloomberg administration’s efforts to force foreign governments to shoulder some of the costs of their presence at the United Nations.

Paterson Admits to Affiars, Looks Toward Budget (Daily News, Mar 19, 2008)

Paterson Trims Budget (Daily News, Mar 19, 2008)

3 Nations Told to Pay $57 Million to New York (NY Times, Mar 19, 2008)

Activists: City Could Lose 10,000 Section 8 Housing Units (The Real Estate, Mar 19, 2008)

$267 Million To Fix Gowanus Expressway? (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mar 19, 2008)

State Pension Funds Hit By Bear Sterns Collapse (Albany Times Union, Mar 18, 2008)

Elections Board Decries Budget Shortfall (Daily News, Mar 17, 2008)

So Much For Unity: State Budget Woes (Daily Politics, Mar 17, 2008)

Bloomberg Opposes Millionaire Tax (NY Post, Mar 14, 2008)

Council Moves To Cut Its Own Budget (NY Sun, Mar 13, 2008)
The City Council, in voting yesterday to reduce its budget by 4.3%, is showing solidarity with other city agencies facing budget cuts, Council Speaker Christine Quinn said. The cuts, which total some $2.3 million, would come from the council's central office, meaning that individual council members' budgets will not be affected. The move fulfilled a pledge Quinn made last month during her State of the City address.

On Trips, Spitzer Mixed Business with Pleasure (Daily News, Mar 13, 2008)

Spitzer's Pension (Daily Politics, Mar 13, 2008)

Klein Offers New School Funding Plan Alternative to Budget Cuts (Daily News, Mar 13, 2008)

Paterson Faces Early Test With State Budget (NY Times, Mar 13, 2008)

Nonprofits with City Contracts Face Increased Scrutiny (City Limits, Mar 12, 2008)

Borough's Subway Stations on Track for $3.7 Billion in Renovations (Daily News, Mar 11, 2008)

Jobs Slashed Despite Tax Breaks (NY Post, Mar 10, 2008)

Ferry Plan Faces Choppy Waters (City Hall, Mar 10, 2008)

Oversight for Overseas Police Unclear (City Hall, Mar 10, 2008)

MTA Executives Receive $4 Million Compensation Combined (AM New York, Mar 7, 2008)

City Hall Renovations Costlier Than Anticipated (NY Post, Mar 7, 2008)

Mayor Pledges Arts Programs To Survive Cuts (NY Sun, Mar 7, 2008)

Atlantic Yards Secures $55 Million in Public Funding (Crain's, Mar 6, 2008)

New Tax Method Shifts Burden to Renters (AM New York, Mar 5, 2008)

Bloomberg Cuts Budget Again (NY Times, Mar 5, 2008)

City Seeks to Give Out Tax Credit (NY Post, Mar 4, 2008)
In the Bloomberg administration's continuing effort to combat poverty, officials have identified thousands of residents eligible for some $15 million in Earned Income Tax Credits, but who never claimed the money.

Spitzer to Present a Plan to Reduce Foreclosures (NY Times, Mar 4, 2008)

Cuomo Settles with Lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (Crain's, Mar 4, 2008)

Bloomberg/Spitzer Budget Battle Joined (Daily Politics, Mar 4, 2008)

State's Anglin Versus City's Page on Budget (Politicker, Mar 4, 2008)

Thompson Critiques Bloomberg's Budget (Carefully) (Daily Politics, Mar 3, 2008)

Spitzer’s Fiscal Certainty Is Met With Skepticism (NY Times, Mar 3, 2008)

State Won't Sell Javits Block (Associated Press, Feb 29, 2008)

Comptroller Says Spitzer's Budget Would Raise Debt Payments Nearly 50 Percent (NY Post, Feb 29, 2008)

Fare Hikes, Overcrowding, More Loom if Funding for Projects Fails, Says MTA (Daily News, Feb 28, 2008)

MTA Plan Shows Less Help From Congestion Pricing (NY Times, Feb 28, 2008)

Mayor Defends Subsidy Plan For Baseball (NY Sun, Feb 28, 2008)

Fewer Lock Ups, Enough Money? (City Limits, Feb 28, 2008)

City Budget Gap May Be Bigger Than Projected (Daily News, Feb 27, 2008)

Corporate Welfare Lives, Especially for Baseball (NY Times, Feb 27, 2008)

Funding Shortage Will Likely Not Affect Atlantic Yards (NY Post, Feb 25, 2008)

Moynihan Station Plan in Jeopardy Over Finance and Coordination (Daily News, Feb 25, 2008)

Special Needs Present Water Lien Loophole (Daily News, Feb 24, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg may soon find that cutting off more than 8,000 deadbeat water customers isn't as easy as turning the spigot. A city crackdown aims to reclaim part of $600 million in unpaid bills by letting faucets run dry in single-family homes for the first time ever.

Plan to Rebuild Penn Station Area May Be Close to Failure (NY Times, Feb 23, 2008)

No State Income Tax on Federal Rebate Payments (NY 1, Feb 22, 2008)

Sale of One Javits Parcel Enough for Affordable Housing Fund (The Real Estate, Feb 22, 2008)

Elderly Advocates Angry Over Bloomberg Plan to Change Hot-Meal Deliveries (Daily News, Feb 22, 2008)

Congestion Pricing a Money Grab: Hevesi (Times-Ledger, Feb 22, 2008)

West Side Residents Cry Foul on No. 7 Line Extension (The Real Estate, Feb 21, 2008)

Deutsche Bank Contractors Fined (Daily News, Feb 20, 2008)

Liens for Late Water Bills on the Way (NY Post, Feb 20, 2008)

Comptroller Wants Contribution Disclosure from Companies (NY Sun, Feb 20, 2008)

Mansion Gets Expensive Title (NY Observer, Feb 20, 2008)

OTB Could Soon Close (Daily News, Feb 20, 2008)

OTB Unanimously Approves Plan for a Shutdown in June (NY Times, Feb 20, 2008)

Bloomberg Threatens To Foreclose on 25,000 Properties (NY Sun, Feb 20, 2008)

Opponents Organize Against State’s Plan to Scrap Javits Center Expansion (NY Times, Feb 19, 2008)

Spitzer Administration Delivers Rebuke On OTB (Daily Politics, Feb 19, 2008)

For City’s Schoolteachers, Retirement May Be Closer (NY Times, Feb 17, 2008)

Preliminary Mayor's Management Report (, Feb 15, 2008)
An interim look at the performance of various city agencies was released yesterday in a report called the Preliminary Mayor's Management Report. Published annually, it takes a look at the city's performance in the first four months of the fiscal year and forecasts performance expectations. Much of the information can be broken down by individual agency, issue, or community. Some significant highlights were: Sewer back up complaints jumped by 23 percent; the average response time to heat complaints rose by 50 percent (although stays within the goal of seven hours); and major felony crimes in schools were nearly a third lower than the same quarter last year.

Anti-Terror Budget Gap at MTA (Metro, Feb 15, 2008)

Hundreds Rally Against Education Budget Cuts (NY 1, Feb 15, 2008)

Teachers Get Big Gift From State GOP (NY Sun, Feb 15, 2008)

Bloomberg, Quinn Get Back-Up From Senate GOP On Javits (Daily News, Feb 15, 2008)

Silver Reserves Judgment On Spitzer Javits Plan (NY Sun, Feb 15, 2008)

Former MTA Chief to City Council: Watch the Debt (The Real Estate, Feb 15, 2008)

Despite Critics, Thompson Resists Divestment Efforts (City Hall, Feb 14, 2008)

Port Authority Could Bridge Moynihan Funding Gap (NY Sun, Feb 14, 2008)

Budget Office Offers 63 Ways For City To Save (NY Sun, Feb 14, 2008)

Comptroller Offers Caution on Economy (Metro, Feb 14, 2008)

Liu Blames Bloomberg for School Cuts (NY Observer, Feb 14, 2008)

Credit Crunch Squeezes Funds for Affordable Housing (Real Deal, Feb 13, 2008)

Quinn Seeks Sales Tax Break (NY Times, Feb 13, 2008)
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn yesterday proposed a mix of modest cost-saving initiatives, spending plans and tax-cutting proposals on Tuesday, including a one-week suspension of the sales tax.

Speaker Seeks Hiatus on Sales Tax for a Week (NY Times, Feb 13, 2008)

Port Authority, MTA Run Into Trouble Selling Bonds (The Real Estate, Feb 13, 2008)

Opponents of the Govenor's Proposed "Drug Tax" (NY Post, Feb 12, 2008)

Dozens of Companies Underpay or Misreport Workers, State Says (NY Times, Feb 12, 2008)

Council Members Cutting On Quinn Budget Cuts (Daily Politics, Feb 12, 2008)

Spitzer Responds On Javits (Daily Politics, Feb 12, 2008)

Javits a Billion Dollar Mess After 21 Years (NY Post, Feb 12, 2008)

Spitzer Quickly Reduces Revenue Projections, Citing the Gloomy Economy (NY Times, Feb 11, 2008)

Embassies Ordered to Pay Taxes (Associated Press, Feb 11, 2008)

Legislators Look For Pay Raise (NY Times, Feb 11, 2008)

Spitzer Lowers Revenue Expectations (NY Times, Feb 11, 2008)

City Finance Commissioner Interested in Comptroller's Office, but Not Campaigning for It (City Hall, Feb 11, 2008)

Big Drop Is Seen in Real Estate Tax Revenues (NY Sun, Feb 11, 2008)

State Legislators Pushing to Raise Their Pay (NY Times, Feb 10, 2008)

Alleged Mobster Contributed to City Campaigns (NY Post, Feb 10, 2008)
One of the 62 reputed Gambino wiseguys busted by the feds last week dished up political campaign money along with the oysters and rigatoni at his popular Brooklyn eatery.

Cost of New Yankee Stadium Up to $1.3 Billion (NY Sun, Feb 8, 2008)

Adolfo Carrion to Pitch for Comptroller Job (Daily News, Feb 8, 2008)

Schools Ready for Budget Cut Fight (NY Post, Feb 8, 2008)

MTA Hudson Yards Deal Fraught with Caveats (Crain's, Feb 7, 2008)

City's District Attorneys Worry Over Big Funding Cuts (NY Sun, Feb 7, 2008)

Proposal Would Weaken Mayor, Council Speaker in Budget Process (NY Sun, Feb 7, 2008)
The mayor and City Council speaker's power over the budget process would be weakened and dispersed among committees under a proposal being floated by Council Member David Yassky of Brooklyn. The plan calls for the budget to be broken into individual line items by the Independent Budget Office, a nonpartisan city agency that analyzes the city's finances, instead of by the mayor, and for Council committees to vote separately on city agencies' budgets before approving the overall budget.

Push for 9/11 Health Funds (NY Post, Feb 7, 2008)

Funding Could Go to Ferry Terminals (AM New York, Feb 6, 2008)

Spitzer’s Budget Plans, and the Iffy Real Estate Deals Behind Them (NY Times, Feb 4, 2008)

Principals Told to Cut Budgets by 1.7 Percent (Daily News, Feb 1, 2008)

Federal Funding for Transit Security to Double (Newsday, Feb 1, 2008)

Bloomberg Skeptical About Secession But Does See City as the 'Economic Engine' (NY Observer, Feb 1, 2008)

Vallone Resurrects Secession Proposal (NY Post, Jan 31, 2008)
Councilmember Peter Vallone has resurrected a proposal for the city to secede from New York state amid a push by city officials for a greater share of state-tax revenues. Vallone is proposing legislation to set up a committee to explore the issue in a bid to pressure the state Legislature to grant the city more autonomy and reduce the tax burden on its residents.

End Tax Deal for Garden, Council Urges (NY Times, Jan 31, 2008)

Audit Raises Concerns About Fraud at Boat Basin (NY Times, Jan 31, 2008)

Potential Fraud at Hudson River Boat Basin (Associated Press, Jan 31, 2008)

Major MTA Projects Will Continue but at Slower Pace (AM New York, Jan 31, 2008)

Budget Cuts at Schools Begin (NY Post, Jan 31, 2008)

Village Wants to Keep Its Fields as They Are on Pier 40 (NY Times, Jan 30, 2008)

Spitzer Reneged on Aid to City, Bloomberg Says (NY Times, Jan 29, 2008)

Bloomberg Says Spitzer is Shortchanging City (NY Post, Jan 29, 2008)
Mayor Bloomberg yesterday accused Gov. Spitzer of reneging on promised funding that could threaten school construction, and labeled as "chutzpah" one of the governor's budget proposals that Hizzoner said would cost the city another $10 million.

MTA prefers Leasing Hudson Yards (Crain's, Jan 29, 2008)

Brooklyn Stadium in Jeopardy (NY Post, Jan 28, 2008)

Brennan: 'Peevish' Bloomberg Should Learn To Be Team Player (Daily Politics, Jan 28, 2008)

Plan to Close Prisons Stirs Anxiety in Rural Towns (NY Times, Jan 27, 2008)

Bloomberg Defends Tax Cuts (NY Post, Jan 26, 2008)
A $324 million cut in the school system would be a "healthy" way to induce principals and administrators to review their priorities, Mayor Bloomberg argued yesterday.

Questions Surround Idea of Privatizing the Lottery (NY Times, Jan 26, 2008)

In Turnabout, Mayor Seeks Spending Cuts (NY Times, Jan 25, 2008)

Mayor Bloomberg Unveils 2009 Budget (Daily News, Jan 25, 2008)

Somber Note on Budget Struck by Mayor (NY Sun, Jan 25, 2008)

City Wants to Sell Naming Rights of Parks Department Attractions (NY Post, Jan 25, 2008)

Bronx Courthouse to Open, Costlier and Later Than Planned (NY Times, Jan 25, 2008)

Fortuna Departing Citizens Budget Commission (Daily Politics, Jan 25, 2008)

Bloomberg Not A Fan Of Property Tax Cap, Little Sympathy For Albany (Daily Politics, Jan 25, 2008)

MTA Terror Plan Behind Schedule, Over Budget (AM New York, Jan 24, 2008)

NYC Subway Surveillance Project Lagging (NY Post, Jan 24, 2008)

Largest Settlement Ever Recorded Paid to Conflicts of Interest Board (NY Post, Jan 24, 2008)

City Added Thousands to Payroll Since Freeze (Daily News, Jan 24, 2008)

Mayor Expected To Call For Education Department Cuts (NY Sun, Jan 24, 2008)

New Cost for Some Smokers and Drinkers (NY Times, Jan 24, 2008)

City Expanding Water Bill Amnesty (NY Post, Jan 24, 2008)

Comptroller Raises Concern Over Incentive Packages (NY Sun, Jan 23, 2008)

New Yorkers Fear Recession (AM New York, Jan 23, 2008)

Spitzer’s Second Budget (NY Times, Jan 23, 2008)

$25 Million Tab Expected for NYC Primary (Daily News, Jan 21, 2008)

Lower Aid Increase Planned for Schools in New York City (NY Times, Jan 21, 2008)

In The Case Of A Recession, 'All Bets Are Off' For City Budget (Daily Politics, Jan 18, 2008)

Mayor Plans Budget Cuts, an Aide Says (NY Times, Jan 17, 2008)

Big Expansion Projects Bring Even Bigger Delays (NY Sun, Jan 17, 2008)

Congestion Pricing Cash to Go to Transit 'Lock Box' (Daily News, Jan 17, 2008)

Closure Plan Developed By Off Track Betting (Albany Times Union, Jan 17, 2008)

Which Rising Star Will Be 'Next Randi Weingarten'? (NY Sun, Jan 17, 2008)

More Trouble for MTA at Fulton St. (Metro, Jan 17, 2008)

Long Robust, Gains in New York City Property Values Start to Flatten Out (, Jan 16, 2008)

State Budget Deficit May Be Bigger Than Expected (, Jan 15, 2008)

Sick Days Spike At Fire Department (NY Post, Jan 14, 2008)

Tourism on the Rise (NY Sun, Jan 14, 2008)

Two Councilmen Raise More Than $1 Million (Daily News, Jan 14, 2008)
Two City Councilmen will report this week that they have more than $1 million in the bank for their next campaigns - almost two years ahead of the election.

Katz and Yassky Might Lead in Comptroller Cash (NY Sun, Jan 14, 2008)
The race for comptroller is heating up, with two City Council members pulling in about $600,000 each over the last six months.

Congestion Funds Could Go Elsewhere (Daily News, Jan 14, 2008)
Drivers may soon be forced to pay up to $8 to drive into Manhattan - but there’s no way to ensure the money would go for mass transit as promised, the head of the City Council’s Finance Committee said Sunday.

Weiner Raises $1.6 Million (NY Post, Jan 13, 2008)
With nearly two years to go before the 2009 mayoral election, Rep. Anthony Weiner led the field of likely candidates by raising $1.6 million in the past six months, campaign officials said yesterday.

Between Rock and the River, the Going Is Slow, and Costly (NY Times, Jan 13, 2008)

State to Audit No-Bid Award of City’s School Contracts (NY Times, Jan 12, 2008)

City Is to Start Anew, and Alone, on Bronx Golf Course (NY Times, Jan 12, 2008)

MTA Video Ads Cash in on Station Walls (AM New York, Jan 11, 2008)

Education Department to Award its Largest Ever No-Bid Contract (Daily News, Jan 11, 2008)

State Teachers’ Union Is Leery of Effort to Limit Taxes (NY Times, Jan 11, 2008)

City Possibly Facing Big Hike in Property Tax (NY Sun, Jan 10, 2008)

Disabled Woman's Education to End (Daily News, Jan 9, 2008)

Brooklyn Lawmaker Proposes Alcohol Tax (Daily News, Jan 8, 2008)

Spitzer May Seek Property Tax Cap in Address (NY Times, Jan 8, 2008)

Garden Defends Tax Exemption (NY Sun, Jan 8, 2008)
A consultant hired by Madison Square Garden, Thomas Hazinski, defended the arena's 25-year-old property tax exemption at a City Council hearing yesterday as "well within industry norms" and comparable to what other New York sports venues receive.

Bronx Groups Have Not Received Promised Funds from Yankees (NY Times, Jan 7, 2008)

Council Members Fight Garden's Tax Break (NY Sun, Jan 7, 2008)

Madison Square Garden Owners Attack Quinn (NY Post, Jan 7, 2008)
The owners of Madison Square Garden sharply criticized a former ally, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, over her call for hearings today on the arena's controversial $11.5 million annual tax break, charging that she has ignored $1 billion in subsidies to other teams.

Officials Call for Investigation Into Cost Overruns at Filtration Plant (Norwood News, Jan 4, 2008)

Extra State Money for City Schools Threatened (NY Sun, Jan 4, 2008)

City Wants More Power Over Brooklyn Bridge Park (NY Observer, Jan 3, 2008)

Bad 'Bridge' Work Pays Off (NY Post, Jan 3, 2008)

National Solutions May Not Help New York's Sub-Prime Crisis (City Limits, Dec 27, 2007)

Federal Defense Pork for New York (Village Voice, Dec 26, 2007)

Man Who Slipped on Pigeon Waste in Subway Awarded $6 Million (NY Post, Dec 24, 2007)

City Urged to Restore Stop on Extension of No. 7 Train (NY Times, Dec 21, 2007)

7 Line Extension May Get 41st Street Stop (AM New York, Dec 21, 2007)

City Tells MTA: Let’s Split 7 Station Costs (Metro, Dec 21, 2007)

Bus and Subway Fares Approved (City Room, Dec 20, 2007)

Fare Approval May Lead to Spare Change Windfall (NY Times, Dec 20, 2007)

Fare Hike Approved (NY Sun, Dec 20, 2007)

Expansion Plans for Javits Shrink (NY Sun, Dec 20, 2007)

Deals That Lead to Lost Property Taxes (Daily News, Dec 20, 2007)

"Opportunity NYC" May Use Public Funds in Future (NY Post, Dec 19, 2007)

Jump Seen in City's Juvenile Detention Costs (NY Sun, Dec 19, 2007)

Settling Civil Claims Costs Police Department Millions (WNYC, Dec 19, 2007)

Morgenthau: Revenues Up 40 Percent, Murder Rate Cut by Almost Half (NY Sun, Dec 19, 2007)

Special Education Gets a System Boost (Daily News, Dec 19, 2007)

Board Expected to Approve Fare Hike (AM New York, Dec 18, 2007)

Bloomberg Open to Congestion Pricing Alternatives (NY Post, Dec 18, 2007)
Mayor Bloomberg would consider alternatives to congestion pricing as long as the options reduce the number of cars coming into the city, generate significant revenues for mass transit and are acceptable to the federal government

Bloomberg Contends City Needs Sales Tax Increase (NY Sun, Dec 18, 2007)
Mayor Bloomberg, who is attempting to push an increase in the city's sales tax through Albany next year, is arguing that revenues from the tax are essential to the city.

MTA Waste and Bloat (Daily News, Dec 17, 2007)

Free Subways Via Congestion Pricing (New York Magazine, Dec 17, 2007)

State Investments Will Weather Credit Crisis, DiNapoli Says (Newsday, Dec 14, 2007)

Library's Fliers Criticized as Promoting Politicians (NY Sun, Dec 13, 2007)

Con Edison Proposes 19 Percent Steam Rate Hike (Daily News, Dec 13, 2007)

City Fighting Harder Not to Pay for Special Ed at Private School (NY Times, Dec 12, 2007)

MTA Cuts $60 Million, but Not to Save Fare (Daily News, Dec 12, 2007)

Mayor Wants To Extend Sales Tax (NY Sun, Dec 12, 2007)

Food Shortage Calls for Greater Price Fix (City Limits, Dec 11, 2007)

Mayor and Governor OK Fare Hike (Daily News, Dec 11, 2007)

Monthly Metro Card Still Best Bet (AM New York, Dec 11, 2007)

Office Building Workers Could Strike (Newsday, Dec 11, 2007)

New Newsstands Beset by Problems (NY Post, Dec 11, 2007)

Street Parking Could Soon Cost Up to $15 an Hour (NY Post, Dec 11, 2007)

The Pay Phone's Fate (AM New York, Dec 11, 2007)

Project's Financing Plan Ripped for Lack of Affordable Housing in Queens West (Daily News, Dec 11, 2007)

The Roles Blur for the Mayor and the Mogul (NY Times, Dec 8, 2007)

Council Candidate Petitioning to Make City Council Full-Time (Politicker, Dec 7, 2007)
Bob Zuckerman, past president of the Stonewall Democratic Club and prospective City Council candidate in Brooklyn’s 39th District, thinks the job of a Council member should be considered full-time. (It's currently part-time.) At a hearing yesterday, Zuckerman brought the issue up again and said he now has a web site, FullTimeCouncil.com.

City Keeping Water Rate From Rising (NY Times, Dec 7, 2007)

Spitzer Trying to Bring Bloomberg on Board for Fare Increase (Daily News, Dec 7, 2007)

Report: Primary-Care Providers Lose Money on Every Patient Served (NY Post, Dec 7, 2007)

Charter School's Caribbean Rewards Are Criticized (NY Sun, Dec 7, 2007)

MTA Blasted for Emergency Workers Cut (AM New York, Dec 6, 2007)

25 Percent of Construction Jobs 'Off the Books' (Crain's, Dec 6, 2007)

Budget Cuts Could Put Children's' Agency in Jeopardy (Daily News, Dec 6, 2007)

Council Stipends Brought Into Question (NY Post, Dec 6, 2007)

Brooklyn Bridge to Have Low-Watt LED Lights Installed Next Year (Daily News, Dec 6, 2007)

Are City Council Members Paid Enough? (City Room, Dec 6, 2007)

Pricing Plan Could Keep Fares Down: Bloomberg (Daily News, Dec 4, 2007)
Charging drivers new tolls under a congestion-pricing proposal could help keep fares "reasonable," Mayor Bloomberg said Monday.

Inflatable Rat Plans for Weingarten Scrapped (Daily Politics, Dec 4, 2007)

As No. 7 Extension Kicks Off, Cost Questions Loom (The Real Estate, Dec 3, 2007)

Comptroller’s Report Issues Warning About City’s Economy (City Room, Dec 3, 2007)

Queens Councilman David Weprin Jockeys for New OTB Plan (Daily News, Dec 3, 2007)

City Urged to Rethink Rail Access to West Side (NY Times, Dec 1, 2007)

Traveling With Troopers Has a Price in Privacy Lost (NY Times, Dec 1, 2007)

New York Targets Nation's Largest Mortgage Firm (NY Post, Dec 1, 2007)

MTA Savings Proposal May Mean Service Cuts (NY Times, Nov 30, 2007)

Police Commissioner Calls for Raise at Brooklyn Event (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov 30, 2007)

Renegotiating Cable TV Deals with City (Daily News, Nov 30, 2007)

Recycling in NYC's Subways (WNYC, Nov 30, 2007)

MTA Spending on Track to Soar 43 Percent Over '04 budget (Daily News, Nov 30, 2007)

A Lawmaker and His Lobbyist Brother (Politicker, Nov 30, 2007)

Comptroller and Motrgage Fraud (CNBC, Nov 30, 2007)

MTA Seeks Up to $10B in Additional Funding (Crain's, Nov 29, 2007)

Can New York Be Too Successful? (City Room, Nov 29, 2007)

No Cheers For Delayed Education Funds (Daily Politics, Nov 29, 2007)

Unions: Redevelopment Projects Should Have Affordable Housing Guarantees (Daily News, Nov 29, 2007)

Spitzer Orders Charters To Pay Union Wages (NY Sun, Nov 28, 2007)

MTA Lost Millions in Fuel Foulup (Daily News, Nov 28, 2007)

Two Department of Transportation Officilas Arrested on Bribery Charges (Daily Politics, Nov 28, 2007)

Son and Lawyer Face Criminal Charges in Astor Case (NY Times, Nov 27, 2007)

School Aide Says Union President Quashed His Bid (NY Times, Nov 24, 2007)

Silver: Subsidies Should be Considered Before Fare Hike (Daily News, Nov 20, 2007)

MTA Could Lose Funding if Project Doesn't Stay on Track (NY Post, Nov 20, 2007)

Quinn Targets Madison Square Garden Exemptions (Daily News, Nov 19, 2007)

Tax Inquiries Can Combine Guesswork and Digging (NY Times, Nov 18, 2007)

More Cops Quit for Long Island (Metro, Nov 16, 2007)

No More Taxpayer-Funded Self Promotion (Daily Politics, Nov 16, 2007)
The Council is poised to adopt new rules today that will ban members from using city funds for ads that serve no purpose other than self-promotion.

Long Island City Business Gets Jamaica's Tax Breaks (NY Observer, Nov 16, 2007)

Port Authority to Raise Tolls to Support Second Hudson Rail Tunnel (NY Times, Nov 15, 2007)

Bloomberg Warns of Financial Troubles for Off Track Betting (NY Post, Nov 15, 2007)

Three MTA Board Members Dodged Every Fare Hike Meeting (Daily News, Nov 15, 2007)

City Hall Urges that Fiscal Panel Keep Right to Watch Budget (Daily News, Nov 9, 2007)

Judge Denies Transit Union Dues Collection (Metro, Nov 9, 2007)

Termination of Contract Means City Paying More to Golf Course Builder (NY Times, Nov 9, 2007)

Fiscal Policy, 30 Years After the Crisis (City Room, Nov 9, 2007)

Amnesty on late charges for unpaid water bills (Daily News, Nov 9, 2007)

Straphangers Blast Fare Hike (AM New York, Nov 6, 2007)

Brooklyn Hospital Fights Closure (City Limits, Nov 6, 2007)

State Panel Probes Women’s Museum (Daily News, Nov 6, 2007)

Bloomberg’s Pay Raises for Unions May Trouble the City After He Leaves (NY Times, Nov 4, 2007)

If Madison Square Garden Moves, Bloomberg will End $11 Million Tax Break (Daily News, Nov 2, 2007)

Council Members Split on Budget Cuts (NY Post, Nov 1, 2007)
Some City Council members said yesterday they're taking a wait-and-see approach on $1.5 billion in service cuts Mayor Bloomberg is seeking, while others say the reductions are necessary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/nyregion/01toll.html?ex=1351656000&en=bb1b3dd5533dae2b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss (NY Times, Nov 1, 2007)

Donations from Battery Park City Authority Questioned (NY Observer, Nov 1, 2007)

Bloomberg Orders Hiring Freeze (NY Times, Oct 31, 2007)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, responding to shrinking revenues from a cooling economy, imposed a hiring freeze for all agencies yesterday and directed commissioners to devise spending reductions of 2.5 percent this fiscal year and 5 percent in the next.

Cuts in Wall Street Bonuses Predicted (NY Post, Oct 31, 2007)
Wall Street bonuses may be down as much as 10 percent this year, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported yesterday, as both the city and state took steps to brace for the fallout.

Transit Costs Highest in New York City (Daily News, Oct 30, 2007)

Can Bloomberg’s Antipoverty Program Work? (New York Magazine, Oct 30, 2007)

City Council To Oppose Any Midyear Budget Cuts (NY Sun, Oct 29, 2007)
If Mayor Bloomberg proposes midyear budget cuts to soften the blow of lower than expected tax revenues, he may face stiff opposition in the City Council.

Bloomberg Says 'Maybe' to Fare Hike (NY Sun, Oct 26, 2007)
If Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's books and finds it "is being run efficiently and is still expecting future deficits," then he sees nothing wrong with a fare hike.

Advocates Say Lower Fare But End DIscounts (NY Post, Oct 26, 2007)

City Wasted Millions on Bronx Golf Project, Audit Says (NY Times, Oct 26, 2007)

City's Pension Fund Soared in Latest Year (NY Sun, Oct 25, 2007)

Water Revenues Up For First Half Of The Month (NY 1, Oct 25, 2007)

MTA: State Money Won't Affect Fare Increase (AM New York, Oct 25, 2007)

Water Board Revenues Rise (NY Post, Oct 24, 2007)
Water bill revenues jumped 12 percent above projections in the first half of this month - a sorely needed rise as the Water Board weighs an 18.5 percent special rate hike, officials said yesterday.

Bail’s Cost on the Poor (City Limits, Oct 23, 2007)

Water Bill Amnesty (NY Post, Oct 23, 2007)
Thousands of single-family homeowners who have disputed their water bills with the city will have an opportunity to clear up any backlog of payments without penalties in an amnesty program, city officials announced yesterday.

Rookie Cops to Get Loans Paid Privately (NY Sun, Oct 23, 2007)
The police commissioner is turning to private money to entice new police officers to join the force, as the lower starting salary set by the city and the police union appears to be hurting recruitment efforts this year.

Mayor Might Close City OTB Parlors (NY Sun, Oct 19, 2007)
because of a state mandate for revenue-splitting that benefits the state more than the city, the mayor says he'd prefer to just shut down the Off Track Betting Corp. than continue complying.

Teachers Agree to Bonus Pay Tied to Scores (NY Times, Oct 18, 2007)

Deal on Teacher Merit Pay May Sway National Debate (NY Sun, Oct 18, 2007)

State Lawmakers Offer Money to Ward Off Fare Hike (AM New York, Oct 18, 2007)

City Starts Leaning on Customers Not Paying Water Bills (NY 1, Oct 18, 2007)

Quinn Refunds Money to CIty for SUV Use (NY Post, Oct 17, 2007)
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has reimbursed the city of $2,197 for the personal use of her city SUV.

Tax Burden Rests With Labor Law, Study Says (NY Sun, Oct 16, 2007)

Tight Budgets For Some Council Members (NY Post, Oct 16, 2007)
A dozen members of the City Council are living on such tight budgets that they didn't list a single investment on their 2006 financial-disclosure forms, according to documents made available yesterday.

Council To End Member Ad Buys (NY Sun, Oct 12, 2007)

Federal Inquiry Into State Pension Fund (NY Times, Oct 12, 2007)

City Approves $35 Million For Three Nonprofits (Crain's, Oct 12, 2007)

Seabrook Allowed to Keep $20,000 in Election Funds (NY Post, Oct 12, 2007)

Quinn Calls for Fiscal Policy Changes (Crain's, Oct 11, 2007)

Millions Lost From Water Bills (NY Times, Oct 9, 2007)

City Stops Selling Tax Liens (NY Post, Oct 9, 2007)

Higher Building Costs Threaten City’s Construction Boom (NY Sun, Oct 9, 2007)

City Leaders Hope to Preserve Small Businesses (Newsday, Oct 9, 2007)
Startled by the sheer number of banks she saw opening in her Upper West Side district, Councilwoman Gale Brewer took it upon herself to count them. In the blocks between West 54th and West 96th streets, she found almost 60.

Plan Still Good, Despite Price: Bloomberg (Daily News, Oct 9, 2007)
Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that his congestion-pricing plan is a good thing for mass transit in the city - even though it would cost the MTA an extra $767 million to set up and $104 million a year to operate.

Council Urges Banks to Watch For Predatory Lenders (Daily News, Oct 8, 2007)
With foreclosures skyrocketing, city Council members yesterday called on bank regulators to scrutinize companies that issue predatory loans.

MTA says Mayor’s Traffic Plan to Cost Millions (NY Times, Oct 8, 2007)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to ease traffic congestion by charging motorists who drive into the busiest parts of Manhattan would cost hundreds of millions of dollars for new bus and subway services and mass transit improvements to accommodate tens of thousands of new riders, transportation officials say.

Quinn Gets Campaign Cash From Red Hook Shipper (NY Post, Oct 8, 2007)
Council Speaker Christine Quinn pocketed $17,500 in campaign donations traced to the operator of Brooklyn's only working dock, records show - just three months before she jumped on board its bid to stop the city from converting the ports to a cruise-ship destination.

Homeowners May Be Forced To Plant Trees (NY Sun, Oct 5, 2007)
In an attempt to help the city meet Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to plant an additional 1 million trees by 2030, the city is proposing that homeowners building additions or conversions to their property be mandated to plant a new tree.

Funds for Job Training (NY Times, Oct 5, 2007)
The Bloomberg Administration announced $4.2 million dollars in awards for companies that develop their own job training programs for disadvantaged New Yorkers.

Schools Pay Big Markup for Custodial Supplies (NY Sun, Oct 5, 2007)

Yankees Billed Taxpayers for Souvenirs, Bar Tabs (Associated Press, Oct 4, 2007)

City Mails Rebate Checks (NY Post, Oct 3, 2007)
The latest $400 property-tax rebate checks have been mailed out to city homeowners.

Judges Doubt City's 9/11 Illness Immunity Claim (Associated Press, Oct 2, 2007)

Queens Homeowners Seek Flood Claims (NY Post, Oct 1, 2007)

Regulators Blast Con Ed Rate Hikes (Daily News, Oct 1, 2007)

Domino Developer Lobbies City (NY Post, Oct 1, 2007)
The developers planning to convert the old Domino Sugar refinery on the Brooklyn waterfront into condos have forked over at least $577,000 to lobby city officials for a zoning change needed to break ground on the $1.2 billion project, records show.

Finance Department Resolves Audits (NY Post, Sep 30, 2007)
Without fanfare, the Finance Department quietly resolved seven large open audits last year for an astonishing $581 million - more than the entire annual budget of most city agencies

Feds Give City $3M for Radiation Detectors (Daily News, Sep 28, 2007)

Housing Agency Misses $750,000 in Payments (NY Sun, Sep 28, 2007)

Brooklyn Councilman Tosses Hat Into Ring for Comptroller’s Job (City Room, Sep 27, 2007)

State Finances Affordable Housing Owners (Crain's, Sep 27, 2007)

Pension Funds Used to Purchase Affordable Housing (City Limits, Sep 25, 2007)

Authority Profits From Cell Service Contract (Newsday, Sep 25, 2007)

Coney Island Boardwalk Repairs to Cost $200M (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sep 21, 2007)

Plan To Extend No. 7 Line Has Only One Bidder (NY Sun, Sep 20, 2007)

State Property in Queens Flipped by Developer (City Hall, Sep 20, 2007)

Cabbies Sue the Taxi and Limousine Commission (AM New York, Sep 20, 2007)

The Fate of the Real Estate Bubble in New York (New York Magazine, Sep 18, 2007)

City Prepares for Tighter Budget With Wall Street Slowdown (NY Times, Sep 18, 2007)

Possible Mayoral Candidates Spill Finances (NY Sun, Sep 18, 2007)
While most New Yorkers have long known that Mayor Bloomberg is worth billions of dollars, the finances of his potential successors are now coming under the microscope as the 2009 mayoral race gets closer.

Push Is Growing for U.S. Funding of Remaking of Penn Station (NY Sun, Sep 13, 2007)

Tougher State Pension Fund Fee Rules (NY Post, Sep 13, 2007)

Mayor Bloomberg Urges Cuts in City Budget Spending (Daily News, Sep 10, 2007)
City Hall is tightening its belt under orders from Mayor Bloomberg - and he's warning everyone to get ready for tough days ahead.

Report Says Mobsters Controlled School Bus Union (NY Times, Sep 7, 2007)

World Trade Center Transit Hub to Keep 'Wing' Design (NY Post, Sep 6, 2007)

Racing Deal Left Unresolved (NY Sun, Sep 5, 2007)

Cut in Sales Tax Lures Shoppers to City (Newsday, Sep 4, 2007)

Snapple Deal Falls Flat (NY Post, Sep 3, 2007)
Snapple didn't meet the sharply reduced sales targets set for its popular beverages last year in a deal with the city that was revised downward by an embarrassing 93 percent.

Cracks Starting to Appear in Manhattan Office Rents (Crain's, Aug 29, 2007)

Hevesi Consultant Also Being Investigated (NY Post, Aug 29, 2007)

Spitzer Disputes Comptroller’s MTA Report (Newsday, Aug 28, 2007)

Commuting Costs Are Going Up, Says Bloomberg (Daily News, Aug 28, 2007)
Whether you drive or take the subway, the price of commuting is going up - and Mayor Bloomberg says you're going to get "socked" either way.

Bloomberg Not Pushing for Federal Storm Aid (NY Sun, Aug 28, 2007)
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is offering only a lukewarm public endorsement to the idea of pursuing a federal disaster designation for areas of the city dealing with damage from the Category 2 tornado that touched down earlier this month

Two Trainers of Home Aides Admit Fraud in Certification (Associated Press, Aug 24, 2007)

New York's Medical Malpractice Bill Rises (NY Post, Aug 24, 2007)

State Aid Will Not Stop Housing Authority Layoffs (Chief-Leader, Aug 23, 2007)

Housing Foreclosures Soar in City (NY Post, Aug 22, 2007)

Pay Phones: Reach Out and Sell to Someone (NY Times, Aug 17, 2007)

High-End N.Y. Real Estate Cools Along With Stocks (NY Sun, Aug 17, 2007)

Iraq War Costs New Yorkers $15.1 Billion: Advocacy Group (Metro, Aug 17, 2007)

Washington Gives New Yorkers Mixed Signals on Driving to Work (NY Times, Aug 16, 2007)

Sanitation Workers Approve New Contract (Crain's, Aug 16, 2007)

New State Housing Funds for City (NY Post, Aug 16, 2007)

Union Leader to Head Police Fund (NY Sun, Aug 15, 2007)
Police union leaders are praising the appointment of one of their own, Anthony Garvey, as director of the New York City Police Pension Fund, which rules on line-of-duty disability claims, including those related to the ground zero cleanup.

Queens Parks Net $111 Million in Funding for Playgrounds (Daily News, Aug 9, 2007)

With Thousands Not Paying Water Bills, City Pursues 11 of Them (NY Times, Aug 8, 2007)

Comptroller Presents Alternatives to Transit Fare Hike (AM New York, Aug 8, 2007)

Agreement Reached on Tax Breaks for Housing (NY Times, Aug 8, 2007)

Housing Deal Includes Break for Atlantic Yards (NY Post, Aug 8, 2007)
The Bloomberg administration yesterday agreed to back a compromise state bill give $200 million in exclusive property-tax breaks for developer Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards project, as opposed to the $300 million in the original bill, and provides tax exemptions to the controversial megaproject for 15 years rather than 25.

Stock Market Woes Will Hurt City Tax Revenue, Mayor Says (NY Sun, Aug 2, 2007)

MTA Plans Fare Hike (NY Times, Jul 25, 2007)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expected to take the first steps today toward a substantial fare and toll increase. The plan, which will be discussed at a meeting of the authority’s board, does not specify how much the base subway fare, unlimited ride MetroCards or bridge and tunnel tolls would go up but calls for an overall increase in fare and toll revenues of 6.5 percent.

Bond Rating Raised Again (NY Sun, Jul 19, 2007)
The city could see millions in savings following a major credit rating agency's decision to upgrade New York City’s bond rating yesterday, the third such agency to do so in the past six weeks.

Comptroller Says Pension Fund Papers Are Missing from Predecessor's Files (NY Sun, Jul 17, 2007)

9/11 EMTs Request Benefits (NY Post, Jul 12, 2007)

Cops and Teachers Violate Pension Rules (NY Post, Jul 5, 2007)

Audit Finds Public Advocate Violated Purchasing Rules (NY Post, Jul 3, 2007)

Albany (NY Observer, Jun 28, 2007)

City to Get Boost in Security Funding (Daily News, Jun 21, 2007)

Some May See City (NY Times, Jun 17, 2007)
When their property tax bills start arriving this week, New Yorkers may be expecting to benefit from a 7 percent tax rate cut for the city’s homeowners.

City and State Give $200 Million in Incentives for JP Morgan Chase (NY Post, Jun 15, 2007)

City To Withhold Funding For Private Capital Projects (NY Sun, Jun 14, 2007)
The city is putting a one-year moratorium on funding for private capital projects as part of its next budget.

Budget Deal Reached (NY Times, Jun 13, 2007)
New York City homeowners would get a larger-than-expected break on their property taxes under a $59 billion budget deal announced last night by city leaders. The pact would also use a record $4.4 billion surplus to eliminate taxes on clothing and shoes and increase library service to six days a week – but it would not reduce taxes for people who rent rather than own their homes.

State Comptroller Proposes Dumping Pension Fund Investments Linked to Darfur (NY Post, Jun 12, 2007)

City Hall to Debate Campaign Finance Bill (NY Sun, Jun 12, 2007)
A bill to revamp the city's campaign finance system, which has incurred some opposition because it does not restrict donations from unions, will be debated today at a hearing at City Hall.

Bloomberg Defends Campaign Finance Bill (NY Sun, Jun 7, 2007)
A bill that would revamp the city's campaign finance system would be better if it restricted donations from unions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said yesterday.

Without State, City Aid, Subway Fare Could Reach $3 (Daily News, Jun 6, 2007)

City Bond Rating Raised to New High (NY Sun, Jun 6, 2007)

Bloomberg To Weigh Bigger Tax Cut (NY Post, Jun 1, 2007)
Mayor Bloomberg hinted yesterday that he might agree to a larger property-tax hike than he has proposed if the City Council agrees to rein in new spending.

Rebate for Renters May Be Out Door, Quinn Says (Daily News, Jun 1, 2007)
Renters shouldn't bank on getting any cash payouts from the upcoming city budget - but homeowners may enjoy a bigger tax break than they expected, officials said yesterday. Despite City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's push to create rebates for renters, "she doesn't hold high hopes" Albany will sign off on the idea, a person close to the negotiations said.

City Hall Considers Expanding Tax Cuts (NY Post, May 31, 2007)

Governor Spitzer Says He Will Start Budget Talks Early (Daily News, May 24, 2007)

State Spending Cap Plan Called Inadequate (NY Sun, May 24, 2007)

City Budget Surplus Brings Calls For Tax Cuts (NY Sun, May 23, 2007)

Mayor's Fund Attracting Big Money from Business (NY Sun, May 22, 2007)

To Finance Second Avenue Subway, Bloomberg May Drop JFK Rail Link (NY Sun, May 21, 2007)

State Budget to Increase Sending by 8 Percent (Associated Press, May 11, 2007)

Mayor's Grab at Transit Funds May Fail (NY Sun, May 11, 2007)

Bloomberg Holds High-Powered Talks on Threat to City's Financial Position (NY Sun, May 3, 2007)

Bloomberg Refuses to Negotiate with Unions (Daily News, Apr 27, 2007)
The city may be flush with cash - but cops shouldn't expect Mayor Bloomberg to ease his tough negotiation tactics with NYPD unions. The mayor said yesterday he wants to pay cops more but that union leaders are refusing to negotiate - a stance that outraged labor leaders.

Surplus Is Larger Than City Expected (Daily News, Apr 26, 2007)
The city is expected to end the fiscal year with a whopping $4.4 billion surplus, but Mayor Bloomberg intends to squirrel away that money to combat massive deficits in future years.

Chase Threatens to Leave City (NY Times, Apr 25, 2007)
JPMorgan Chase is threatening to move thousands of employees from Midtown to Stamford, Connecticut, if New York officials do not give it a larger subsidy package to build a 50-story skyscraper near Ground Zero, according to real estate executives and government officials. Chase struck a tentative deal with the Port Authority in late March to pay about $300 million for the development rights at the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Deutsche Bank building. Chase planned to build a 1.3-million-square-foot tower there and move thousands of employees from Park Avenue to Lower Manhattan, in what was widely regarded as a boon for Lower Manhattan, which has lost jobs since the 9/11 attacks.

Bloomberg Compromises on School Funding (NY Times, Apr 20, 2007)
Ceding ground to the city teachers’ union, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced changes yesterday to his plan for a new school budgeting system. The changes mean that it will be harder and take longer for the mayor to redistribute senior teachers, who tend to cluster in middle-class neighborhoods, more evenly across the school system.

Official Calls for More Governors Island Funds (NY Sun, Apr 18, 2007)

Freelancers Target A Tax For Removal (NY Sun, Apr 16, 2007)
Independent contractors who say their income is in effect taxed twice by an assessment on unincorporated businesses are mobilizing to lobby City Hall to exempt them from future payments.

Water Rates to Rise (NY Times, Apr 11, 2007)
New York City officials plan to raise rates 11.5 percent on the water that every New Yorker uses, the largest annual increase in 15 years.

A Budget That Covers All the Bases (NY Times, Apr 9, 2007)
The first budget passed under Gov. Eliot Spitzer includes $170 million worth of pet projects divvied up by the Assembly and the Senate.

City's Tax War Set To Erupt at High Court (NY Sun, Apr 9, 2007)
When the city's chief lawyer, Michael Cardozo, goes before the U.S. Supreme Court this month to demand tax dollars from Mongolia and India, he will stand in opposition to the Justice Department on the issue.

Social Worker Accused of Stealing $3.6 Million from Comptroller's Account (Daily News, Apr 6, 2007)

Quinn Juggles Few Million in Mayor's Budget (Daily News, Apr 6, 2007)
Council Speaker Christine Quinn isn't asking for much - she's staked a claim on just 1 percent of Mayor Bloomberg's proposed city budget. Setting the stage for her second budget negotiation with the mayor since becoming speaker, the Manhattan Democrat unveiled her own city spending plan yesterday.

Finding the State Budget Pork (Daily News, Apr 4, 2007)
To find the $170 million in pork-barrel spending tucked into the new state budget by lawmakers, it helps to have a road map and a magnifying glass - but it's in there. A review by the Daily News of the $120.9 billion budget found that, despite reforms by political leaders, the budget measures are still shrouded in murkiness - offering no clue as to which lawmaker got the pork and no clear purpose for the outlay of tax dollars.

Legislature Delays Release of List of Pet Items (NY Sun, Apr 4, 2007)
State lawmakers are delaying the release of a $170 million master list of legislative pork barrel handouts, which are lined out in the budget but in the form of dozens of partial lists scattered among thousands of pages of bills.

State Attorney General Settles Student Loan Charges for $5.27M (Crain's, Apr 3, 2007)

School Aid Fight Erupts in Albany as Budget Passes (NY Times, Apr 2, 2007)
Lawmakers finished passing an estimated $120.9 billion budget Sunday morning that they had not had time to read and had barely debated. But almost immediately after the final vote, the governor’s staff and the Legislature began to dispute what was written in the most contentious portion of the budget — education — underscoring the secretive nature of the negotiations that led to thousands of pages of legislation.

Tax Deal Provides Added Relief to Middle-Income Homeowners (NY Times, Apr 2, 2007)
Middle-class homeowners in Westchester County will get nearly $3,000. In Albany, they will receive $994, and in Erie County, $842. That is a sampling of the tax relief that homeowners will receive under a plan hammered out this week by Gov. Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders that would add $1.3 billion to the state’s School Tax Relief program, known as STAR. Under the plan, the state would spend nearly $5 billion on STAR in the coming year.

Hospitals Win in Budget Deal (NY Post, Mar 29, 2007)

Council (Daily News, Mar 29, 2007)
Street namings and resolutions don't come cheap: For the first time, the cost of running the City Council will average $1 million per member. Under a new budget approved yesterday, the Council will spend $54.6 million on itself in 2007-08 - a 7.5% increase over the last budget.

Costs Rise for New Rail Station Near Yankee Stadium (Metro, Mar 28, 2007)

Deal Near on State Budget (NY Times, Mar 28, 2007)
In a major step toward passing a state budget by the April 1 deadline, Gov. Eliot Spitzer and state legislative leaders agreed Tuesday night to add at least $850 million to his proposed budget and appeared to have resolved the main issues that divided them.

Governor More Flexible on Budget Deadline (NY Sun, Mar 27, 2007)

Budget Cut Memo Raises Concerns in Council (NY Sun, Mar 22, 2007)
City Council members are expressing concern about a directive from Mayor Bloomberg's budget office that asks city agencies to identify possible budget cuts.

Despite Surplus, City Agencies Told to Propose Budget Cuts (Daily News, Mar 21, 2007)

Costs Increase In Building Of Second Avenue Subway (NY Times, Mar 20, 2007)

State Lobbyists Spent A Record $151 Million; Third Highest, Forest City Ratner, Developers Of Atlantic Yards (Metro, Mar 20, 2007)

Deputy Mayor Warns of Funding Problems for Second Avenue Subway (NY Sun, Mar 16, 2007)

Comptroller William Thompson (Briefly) On The MTA, Contracts, And His Plan To Run For Mayor (Metro, Mar 13, 2007)

Comptroller Calls Spitzer (NY Post, Mar 8, 2007)

Numbers Show Continued Strength of Job Growth in NYC (Crain's, Mar 8, 2007)

State Budget Could Cost City Millions (NY Times, Mar 7, 2007)
City budget director Mark Page yesterday attacked Governor Eliot Spitzer’s proposed state budget asserting that it would create an $862 million shortfall in the New York City budget for the fiscal year that starts on July 1.

New York State Has $575 Million More For Budget (NY Post, Mar 5, 2007)
Gov. Spitzer and legislative leaders agreed yesterday that the state would have $575 million more to spend in the fiscal year starting April 1 than the governor estimated on Jan. 31, when he proposed to the Legislature a $120.6 billion budget.

City Surplus May Reach $3 Billion (NY Post, Mar 2, 2007)
While the Bloomberg administration has forecast a $1.4 billion surplus for fiscal year 2008, which begins this July, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says that that figure could be far too low. He said the city has underestimated its revenues and the surplus could reach $3.1 billion.

Council Member Seeks Discussion Of Tax Rate Cut (NY Sun, Feb 28, 2007)
The minority leader of the City Council, James Oddo, is calling for formal hearings to begin this spring to examine the implications of cutting personal income tax rates in New York.

Bloomberg Blasts Lieberman For (NY Post, Feb 27, 2007)

Case Before The Supreme Court (Involving MTV Founder Thomas Freston): Should Parents Of Disabled Be Reimbursed For Tuition In Private School If They Haven (NY Sun, Feb 27, 2007)

City Government Spends $4.6 Billion On Construction (Daily News, Feb 24, 2007)
The city shelled out $4.6 billion more on construction in the past six years than it had planned - with most of the cost overruns coming from schools and environmental protection projects, a report released yesterday revealed.

Bloomberg Defend High City Taxes (NY Post, Feb 23, 2007)
New Yorkers pay more taxes because they get more services, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday as he defended the city's tax rates.

Stopping "Pay To Play" (Campaign Contributions In Exchange For Contracts) In The Works, But Not Easy (Metro, Feb 20, 2007)

Effort To End Pay To Play (New York Magazine, Feb 20, 2007)

MTA Faces Fiscal Crisis, Experts Say (Daily News, Feb 16, 2007)

Governor Spitzer Stays On Attack Against Legislature Over Comptroller Selection (NY Times, Feb 13, 2007)

Bloomberg (Daily News, Feb 13, 2007)
Hidden in Mayor Bloomberg's good-news budget proposal are more than $144 million in cuts to programs vitally important to many New Yorkers. Bloomberg has called for slashing $22.2 million in city education programs, $30.3 million in aid to the City University of New York, $5.4 million to the beleaguered Administration for Children's Services, $6 million for child health clinics and $3 million for rapid HIV testing.

World Trade Center Transportation Hub Cost Estimate Shoots Up To $3.4 Billion (NY Post, Feb 9, 2007)

Dems Say Bush Budget Would Cost NYC $1.5 Billion, But Claim It Won't Pass (, Feb 6, 2007)
City hospitals, cops, public housing and heating assistance programs took a huge hit yesterday in President Bush's $2.9 trillion budget, but lawmakers said a Democrat-controlled Congress won't allow the deep cuts. The Bush budget could cost the city up to $1.58 billion, according to estimates by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "Fortunately there's a new Congress, and this budget, with its misplaced priorities, is as dead on arrival as any I have seen," Schumer said.

Bloomberg Says Spitzer (, Feb 6, 2007)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg strongly criticized Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s budget proposal on Monday, arguing that a recommended cut of $327.9 million in annual state aid to New York City would “produce an enormous hole” in the municipal budget. In his first public clash with the new governor, Mr. Bloomberg argued repeatedly that the city did not get its fair share of state dollars, from property tax exemptions to public housing subsidies. The governor disputed that characterization. He said the city would gain more than $1.3 billion in the coming fiscal year under his budget plan — although more than half of that sum comes from actions previously taken by the state to limit the local growth in Medicaid spending and to take over costs associated with the Family Health Plus insurance program. “Look at the net impact,” Mr. Spitzer told reporters at the Capitol. “Don’t look at just one line item in isolation. Look at the net. When you look at the net, I think the city of New York comes out extraordinarily well, as it should.”

Bush (, Feb 6, 2007)
The budget that President Bush proposed yesterday includes deep cuts in spending to train young doctors, cuts that would hit New York especially hard, eliminating several hundred million dollars a year in payments to teaching hospitals around the state. Skip to next paragraph Related Bush Releases Budget Aimed to Erase Deficit (February 6, 2007) News Analysis: Democrats Face Limits in Changing Bush’s Budget (February 6, 2007) The proposals arrived just days after Mr. Bush put forward a different set of cuts that would affect New York much more than the rest of the country, and after Gov. Eliot Spitzer proposed significant health care cuts of his own. The combined reductions would total more than 4 percent of New York hospitals’ total incomes — well over $1 billion a year — a prospect that left industry officials and elected officials struggling to describe the dire effects. “This is the worst, the most damaging scenario,” said Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association.

Legislator Said Set To Defy Spitzer And Pick Assemblyman DiNapoli for Comptroller (NY Post, Feb 6, 2007)

Bloomberg Set For Budget Battle (NY Post, Feb 4, 2007)
Gov. Spitzer's plan to cut $350 million a year in revenue sharing to the city hasn't sparked the kind of outrage that greeted Albany's decision to eliminate the city's commuter tax in 1999.

Assembly Moves Closer to Confrontation with Spitzer Over Comptroller (NY Sun, Jan 31, 2007)

Spitzer (NY Times, Jan 30, 2007)

Some 22,000 Section 8 Vouchers, Subsidizing Housing, Available For First Time In More Than A Decade, Thanks To $100 Million From The Feds (Daily News, Jan 30, 2007)

City Subsidy Of Atlantic Yards More Than Doubles, To $205 Million (NY Post, Jan 30, 2007)

Fulton Transportation Hub Will Cost More Than Expected, And Won (Metro, Jan 30, 2007)

City Surplus Double Earlier Estimates (Daily News, Jan 26, 2007)
New York is flush with a nearly $4 billion surplus this year - double what city officials predicted just two months ago, Mayor Bloomberg revealed yesterday as he proposed his $57.1 billion budget. The money comes from a spate of commercial property, taxes on pricier buildings and record-high Wall Street.

Comptroller Choices a Rebuke to Silver (NY Sun, Jan 26, 2007)
A three-member panel charged with selecting candidates to become state comptroller dealt a setback to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, by selecting only three finalists, none of whom is a member of the state legislature. The panel's surprise choice threw into doubt whether Silver would abide by its recommendations.

Bush Plan Would Cost City Hospitals Millions (NY Times, Jan 24, 2007)
New York City’s public hospitals and clinics would lose billions of dollars over the next few years under changes President Bush proposes to make to Medicaid — far more than his plan would cost other parts of the country, according to local and state officials.

Pfizer Shutting Down Brooklyn Facility Where It Was Founded in 1849, Eliminating 600 Jobs And Jeopardizing The Remainder Of Its City Tax Breaks (NY Sun, Jan 23, 2007)

New Program Helps New Yorkers Get Tax Credit (NY Post, Jan 22, 2007)
Augustine Modeste, who supports three sons on what he makes as an assistant building super and doorman in Brooklyn, is about to get a $3,200 windfall - thanks to Mayor Bloomberg. The cash was Modeste's all along, but he never claimed tax credits that would have put the money back in his wallet. An aggressive new program Bloomberg announced last week helped fix that by sending Modeste, and thousands of others like him, tax forms with the work already done.

New York May Lose Reputation As Business Capital, Report Says (Daily News, Jan 22, 2007)
New York City is running uphill in the race to lure the world's sharpest business minds, bogged down by a lawsuit-happy culture and tough immigration policies, according to a report due out today.

New Yorkers Pay Country (NY Post, Jan 18, 2007)

Mayor to Call for Tax Cuts (NY Times, Jan 17, 2007)
In his State of the City speech today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to propose cutting property taxes by roughly 5 percent, eliminating the city sales tax on clothing and footwear and changing some business taxes.

Bipartisan Panel to Screen Candidates for State Comptroller (NY 1, Jan 10, 2007)

Budget Surplus Predicted (Daily News, Jan 10, 2007)
The city will enjoy a $2 billion budget surplus this year, the independent Budget Office predicted yesterday, prompting some City Council members to call for a property tax cut.

Council Members Seek Tax Cut (NY Post, Jan 10, 2007)
With experts projecting a city budget surplus, some members of the New York City Council have begun pressing for a cut in property taxes.

Brooklyn Brownstone Buyers Get a Tax Break (NY Sun, Jan 10, 2007)
The City Council is giving a 25-year tax break worth at least half a million dollars to buyers of property in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood, where brownstones sell for $1.5 million and up.

Spitzer Cuts (Long-Criticized) High Cost Of Inmate Telephone Calls, Reducing State Revenue By $16 M (NY Sun, Jan 9, 2007)

John Thain, CEO Of New York Stock Exchange, Is Transforming It With The Help Of Technology (New York Magazine, Jan 2, 2007)

Ronnie Lowenstein Reappointed To Head Independent Budget Office, Now Ten Years Old And Much Praised (NY Times, Jan 2, 2007)

Minimum Wage in NY Goes Up To $7.15 An Hour, Affecting Some 265,000 Workers Statewide (Daily News, Jan 2, 2007)

$600 Million in Losses for City as Congress Fails to Pass Spending Bill (NY Post, Dec 20, 2006)

Bloomberg Questions Fund-Raising for Democratic Convention (NY Sun, Dec 20, 2006)
Mayor Bloomberg is raising serious concerns about whether the city will be able to raise the estimated $85 million needed to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Hevesi Plea Deal Would Have Him Resign to Avoid Indictment (NY Post, Dec 20, 2006)

Feds Finally Approve Billions For Second Avenue Subway And Long Island Rail Road connection to Grand Central Terminal (NY Times, Dec 19, 2006)

Sale of Pataki (Daily News, Dec 14, 2006)

State Senator's Indictment Draws Attention to Member Items (NY Sun, Dec 14, 2006)

Property Taxes Need Fix, Says Finance Commissioner Martha Stark (NY Sun, Dec 12, 2006)

Water Bills Are So Flawed, NYC Department Of Environmental Protection Cannot Collect Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars (NY Times, Dec 12, 2006)

Debt Burying NYC, City Comptroller Says (NY Post, Dec 8, 2006)
It's not quite time to hit the panic button, but the city's growing mountain of debt - $6,801 for every man, woman and child - needs to be "carefully monitored," Comptroller William Thompson warned yesterday. New York and its various entities owe $55 billion. Debt service reached 12.3 percent in fiscal 2006 and is expected to hit 16.6 percent by 2010. Thompson said no other city in a large survey came close.

City Hall Issues Bonds to Fund Subway Extension (NY Sun, Dec 7, 2006)

City Government Owed Millions in Rent for Brooklyn Navy Yard, Comptroller Says (NY Post, Dec 6, 2006)

Tax Breaks Seem To Favor Affluent Neighborhoods (NY Times, Dec 5, 2006)

Comptroller: NYC To End 2007 With $1.9 Billion Surplus, Higher Than Expected (Crain's, Nov 30, 2006)
New York City will end fiscal 2007 with a record surplus of $1.9 billion, helped by record Wall Street profits and a strong market for commercial real estate, according to a report released Wednesday by state Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

Report: Wall Street Is (NY Sun, Nov 30, 2006)

Comptroller Vows to Change No Bid Law (Daily News, Nov 22, 2006)
The city controller said he would push for a change in state law to curtail the Department of Education’s practice of contracts without a public process.

New York Court Cuts Aid Sought by City Schools (, Nov 21, 2006)
New York State’s highest court ended a landmark legal fight over education financing yesterday, ruling that at least $1.93 billion more must be spent each year on New York City’s public schools — far less than the $4.7 billion that a lower court called the minimum needed to give city children the chance for a sound basic education. In its 4-2 ruling, the Court of Appeals noted that in 2004 a commission appointed by Gov. George E. Pataki contemplated a range of spending options for the state to fulfill its constitutional obligation to the city’s nearly 1.1 million schoolchildren, with $1.93 billion at the low end of the scale. The court endorsed the $1.93 billion as “reasonable.”

School Case Now Goes to Spitzer (NY Sun, Nov 21, 2006)
A new ruling from the state's highest court that the state owes only a fraction of the money demanded in a long-running lawsuit on behalf of New York City schools shifts the issue onto Governor-elect Spitzer. Mr. Spitzer, while campaigning for governor, said he would move to quickly settle the lawsuit for between $4 billion and $6 billion a year in additional operating aid, which is at least double the $1.93 billion mandated by the court yesterday.

$650 Million in Bonds Sold to Finance School Construction (NY 1, Nov 17, 2006)

Spitzer Expected to Seek Hevesi (NY Times, Nov 17, 2006)
Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer will almost certainly ask the State Senate to remove Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi, who used a state worker as a chauffeur for his ailing wife, after the new term begins in January, people involved in the discussions said on Thursday.

Bloomberg to Press Fight for State Money for Schools (Daily News, Nov 15, 2006)
The Bloomberg administration has named Michele Goldstein, a former lobbyist for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to convince the state to give the city more money for education. The courts have ruled in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case that city schools need more money but outgoing Governor George Pataki has resisted such efforts and the city and state disagree over how much additional funding should come from the city and how much from the state.

Lack of Contract for Principals is Union (NY Post, Nov 9, 2006)

At Crowded Hearing, Council Members Discuss Giving Themselves Raises (NY Sun, Nov 9, 2006)
On a rainy day dominated by talk of blockbuster election results and the resignation of President Bush's defense secretary, a public hearing was held on the idea of a $22,500 pay hike for City Council members.

Take Your Pick -- New Teachers (NY Sun, Nov 8, 2006)
Teachers appear to be the all-out winners in a tentative new labor contract with the city announced Monday, a surprising turnaround after the bitterness of past contract negotiations that has left experts scratching their heads at the mayor's motives.

Or, Mayor Scores Victory in Teachers Contract (NY Post, Nov 8, 2006)
In its surprise contract with the United Federation of Teachers, the Bloomberg administration got none of the work-rule or merit-pay concessions it considers central to its education reforms. But while observers cast the deal that will bring top salaries over $100,000 as a win for the union, they contend the pact may have bought the key to the administration's reforms - extending mayoral control.

Teachers Union And Mayor Reach Early Tentative Deal That Would Mean 7.1 Percent Salary Increase Over Two Years (NY Sun, Nov 7, 2006)

City Hall Pays $11 Billion to Private Contractors to Provide Services, Report Finds (Daily News, Nov 3, 2006)

Buoyed By Wall Street and Real Estate Sales, City Budget Gap Shrinks (Daily News, Nov 2, 2006)

Salary Increases Up To 27 Percent For City Officials Recommended By Mayoral Commission (Daily News, Oct 24, 2006)
Big raises urged for officials & Council BY MICHAEL SAUL DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF Elected officials across the city deserve salary hikes ranging from 10% to nearly 27% following seven years of no raises, a mayoral commission recommended yesterday. The commission recommended the following salaries: $225,000 for mayor (a $30,000 raise - 15.4%) $185,000 for controller (a $25,000 raise - 15.6%) $165,000 for public advocate (a $15,000 raise - 10%) $190,000 for district attorney (a $40,000 raise - 26.7%) $160,000 for borough president (a $25,000 raise - 18.5%) $112,500 for City Council member (a $22,500 raise - 25%). Mayor Bloomberg, a billionaire who accepts a token $1 annual salary, endorsed the panel's recommendations in a letter yesterday to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. The Council plans to introduce legislation tomorrow on the issue and is expected to vote on it by year's end.

Judge (NY Sun, Oct 20, 2006)

Funding Problems May Sink Randall (Metro, Oct 20, 2006)

Cigarette Tax Could Rise Again (NY Post, Oct 20, 2006)
The city will ask state lawmakers for the authority to hike the cigarette tax by 50 cents next year, Sarah Perl, the health department's assistant commissioner told City Council yesterday. In 2002, the city increased the excise taxes on cigarettes to $1.50 a pack.

Disagreeing With Spitzer, Bloomberg Says City Should Not Have To Pay Share Of School Equity Settlement (Daily News, Oct 19, 2006)
If Eliot Spitzer becomes governor, he shouldn't try to stick New York City with a billion-dollar bill for court-ordered school aid, because the city has already paid its share, Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday. The mayor reacted forcefully after Spitzer said Monday the city owes a share of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity judgment, the historic award meant to remedy years of the state's shortchanging of urban schoolkids.

Wall Streets Workers Makes Five Times What Other New Yorkers Do (Bloomberg, Oct 18, 2006)

Subway Fare-Beating Cost the Transit Authority $6.8 Million, Almost One-Tenth What It Used To Cost (Daily News, Oct 10, 2006)

City Hall, Reversing Policy, Will Not Seek Back Pay From Widows Of City Employees Who Died In Iraq (NY Sun, Oct 10, 2006)

Can Beautiful Parks Survive Without Proper Funding? E.G. Barretto Point Park In The Bronx (Metro, Oct 9, 2006)

Ten Counties in Nation With Highest Property Taxes Are All In NY Metro Area, But None In NYC (Daily News, Oct 5, 2006)

Stock Market Hit Record High (NY Post, Oct 4, 2006)

Feds Boost Anti-Terror Funds For NY Ports And Public Transportation, But Not Enough To Please Local Officials (Metro, Sep 26, 2006)

City Hall Reconsidering How Much In Back Wages It Will Demand From City Employees Who Left Their Jobs To Fight In Iraq And Afghanistan (NY Sun, Sep 26, 2006)

Republicans In U.S. Senate Kill Proposal For $2 Billion To Sick 9/11 Responders (Daily News, Sep 15, 2006)

City Hall (NY Sun, Sep 15, 2006)

Critics Charge City Tax Rebate Program Helps the Rich (Metro, Aug 30, 2006)

Comptroller Hevesi Outlines Concerns About Moynihan Station, Such As Its Cost (Metro, Aug 29, 2006)

Costly Promises: State Upgrades Pensions, And City Gets The Bill (NY Times, Aug 22, 2006)

Council To Hold Hearings On Concessions In Parks (Metro, Aug 22, 2006)

Education Department Giving Out Increasing Number of No-Bid Contracts (Daily News, Aug 21, 2006)

Silver Delays Plans for Moynihan Station (Daily News, Aug 21, 2006)

City Pursuing Those Who Bought Tax-Free Internet Cigarettes (Daily News, Aug 10, 2006)

Bloomberg And Schumer Push For Larger Javits Convention Center Expansion, Adding $600 M To Cost (NY Sun, Aug 8, 2006)

City Hopes $650 M In Tax Breaks Will Boost Hudson Yards Development (Metro, Aug 8, 2006)

City Tax Money Paid for Yankee Lobbyists (Village Voice, Jul 26, 2006)

Feds Say They Are Sending $25 Million In Anti-Terrorist Funds To NYC Non-Profits (NY Sun, Jul 25, 2006)

City's Deal With Public Employees Union DC 37 Gets Mixed Reviews (NY Sun, Jul 18, 2006)

Lawmakers Criticize 9/11 Recovery Aid Administration (Daily News, Jul 13, 2006)

Report Shows Quick Growth in New York Since 9/11 (NY Times, Jul 13, 2006)
New York City’s economy bounced back after Sept. 11 with surprising speed and is much healthier now than its slow-growing job market indicates, according to a report released yesterday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Bloomberg Says West Side Rail Yards Deal is Fair (Daily News, Jul 11, 2006)
Mayor Bloomberg yesterday defended the city's $500 million offer for the development rights of the West Side railyards.

Councilmember Calls for More Disclosure of Budget Pork (Metro, Jul 11, 2006)

Expect Battle Over Terror Funding, Says Bloomberg (Daily News, Jul 6, 2006)
Congress will have "one heck of a battle" on its hands if it withholds terror funding from cities that don't help the feds catch illegal immigrants, Mayor Bloomberg warned yesterday.

City Council Approves $53 Billion City Budget (Gotham Gazette, Jun 30, 2006)

Budget Deadline Approaches (Daily News, Jun 23, 2006)
The Bloomberg administration and the City Council are zeroing in on a $53 billion budget deal - and just in time. The spending document is legally due in eight days.

Police Commissioner Kelly Invokes 17 Past Terrorist Attacks In NYC To Argue Against Cuts In Homeland Security Funding (Daily News, Jun 13, 2006)

City Budget Director Won't Rule Out Tax Hikes to Replace Security Funding (NY Sun, Jun 9, 2006)

New Council Speaker Has Chance to Rein In Freewheeling Budget Process (NY Times, Jun 8, 2006)
Each year, the battle over New York City's $50-billion-plus budget often comes down to a mere hundreds of millions of dollars that lawmakers want for new or expanded programs. This time around, that battle is being watched even more closely as a sign of how the new City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, deals in her first budget negotiation with a mayor who was re-elected last year in a landslide. The council members have now come up with their wish list, and a copy obtained by The New York Times not only shows their spending priorities — like aiding tenants hit by new fees in public housing and giving property-tax credits to older homeowners — but also suggests who most adroitly navigated the speaker's more rigorous process for spending requests.

Bioterror Funds For NYC Slated To Be Cut Too, By 15 Percent (Daily News, Jun 5, 2006)

Security Cuts for New York (NY Times, Jun 1, 2006)
After vowing to steer a greater share of antiterrorism money to the highest-risk communities, Department of Homeland Security officials on Wednesday announced 2006 grants that slashed money for New York and Washington 40 percent, while other cities including Omaha and Louisville, Ky., got a surge of new dollars. ...New York officials were given a one-page tally that explained, in part, how the region's risk-based standing was calculated. The document said the region had no "national monuments or icons," four banking or financial firms with assets of over $8 billion, 28 chemical or hazardous material sites, as well as nearly 7,000 other possible important, high-risk targets, like hospitals or major office buildings, a tally that some city officials said had major omissions or errors. "It's outrageous that these bean counters don't think the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge are national monuments or icons," said Jordon Barowitz, a spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg.

Feds To City: Drop Dead (, Jun 1, 2006)
The city was stunned yesterday to find that its share of federal anti-terror funds was slashed nearly in half by bureaucrats who said it has no national icons to protect and lousy defense plans. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff determined, however, that cities that have never been targeted by Al Qaeda — like Louisville, Atlanta and Omaha — deserve whopping increases. "This is a knife in the back," fumed a furious Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "As far as I'm concerned, the Department of Homeland Security has declared war on New York." Mayor Bloomberg ridiculed Homeland Security's reasoning. "When you stop a terrorist, they have a map of New York City in their pocket. They don't have a map of any of the other 46 places or 45 places [that get funding]," he fumed.

Dispute Over Madison Square Garden (NY Sun, May 31, 2006)

Mayor Says City Can't Afford Tax Rebate Boost for Seniors (Daily News, May 25, 2006)
Mayor Bloomberg gave two thumbs-down yesterday to a proposal that would give seniors property tax rebates of up to $1,000.

Eight Plans to Cut Costs at Ground Zero (NY Times, May 25, 2006)

Thompson Proposes Bigger Tax Rebates for Seniors (Daily News, May 24, 2006)

Hevesi Says State Budget Fails to Plan for the Future (NY Sun, May 24, 2006)

New York Proposes Special Tax on Commercial Colleges (NY Times, May 18, 2006)

State Outlays Soar to the Fastest Rate Since Rockefeller (NY Sun, May 18, 2006)

Bloomberg Opposes Transit Fare Hike, Given MTA Finances (, May 13, 2006)
The odds of a 2007 fare hike lowered yesterday when Mayor Bloomberg strongly indicated he opposed sticking bus and subway riders with another increase.

Firms Cut Workers But Got City Tax Breaks, Study Says (Metro, May 10, 2006)

Quinn Alters Council Rules on Financing Pet Projects (NY Times, May 7, 2006)
Speaker Christine Quinn has clamped down on the free-wheeling council budget process, a move that has angered many of the 50 other council members and has created the most serious dissension in the legislative body since she was elected its leader in January.

Mayor Chastises Foundation Over Memorial's Costs (NY Times, May 6, 2006)
During his weekly radio program, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg suggested that the cost of the World Trade Center memorial could be cut to $500 million, in part by moving a museum and the state-built visitors center out of the memorial and into the nearby Freedom Tower.

Comptroller Uses Pension Power to Challenge Oil Companies on Price Gouging (NY Sun, May 5, 2006)

Bloomberg Earmarks $12 Million to Give Cops Better Bullet Proof Vests (Daily News, May 5, 2006)
Spurred by the heartbreaking death of a hero cop, Mayor Bloomberg earmarked $12 million yesterday for new "maximum coverage" bulletproof vests to protect the city's Finest.

Governor's Budget Trouble (NY Sun, Apr 27, 2006)

Politicians OK $2 Billion for Stadiums (Daily News, Apr 27, 2006)
The City Council played ball with the Mets and Yankees yesterday by approving stadium-financing deals worth nearly $2 billion combined.

Community Benefits Deal Sets Stage for Approval of New Mets Stadium (Daily News, Apr 26, 2006)

Budget Crisis Looms In Albany, With Legislature Expected To Override Governor (NY Sun, Apr 25, 2006)

State Budget Gives Police Free Bridge and Tunnel Passes (Daily News, Apr 17, 2006)

New Yorkers Leave City to Shop at Wal-Mart (NY Sun, Apr 17, 2006)

Governor Vetoes Albany Spending and Tax Breaks (NY Times, Apr 13, 2006)
Gov. George E. Pataki has vetoed nearly $3 billion worth of tax cuts and spending initiatives from the Legislature's budget, saying on Wednesday that they would lead to irresponsible future deficits.

Yankees' Financing Scheme For Stadium May Not "Fly" With IRS, Head Of Independent Budget Office Testifies (Metro, Apr 11, 2006)

Text of Speaker Quinn (Gotham Gazette, Apr 7, 2006)
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s remarks describing the council’s budget plan.

Quinn Has Plan to Beef Up Children's Services (Daily News, Apr 6, 2006)
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn will unveil a sweeping initiative today to help the beleaguered Administration for Children's Services - including strengthening child-advocacy centers.

Bonds Key to Stadium Plans (AM New York, Apr 5, 2006)
Much of the construction costs for the new stadiums for the Yankees and Mets would be financed through tax exempt bonds, according to a plan drafted by the city’s economic Development Corporation. Such bonds would make the stadiums cheaper for the two teams but some critics, who consider the bonds a subsidy, question the arrangement.

Clothing And Footwear Under $110 Now Tax-Free In New York (NY Sun, Apr 3, 2006)

State Budget Has New Money for School Construction but Not Daily Expenses (NY Times, Mar 30, 2006)

State Budget Deal (NY Times, Mar 29, 2006)
Legislative leaders agreed Tuesday on a $112.4 billion budget that authorized $11.2 billion for school construction in New York City and included a broad tax-cut package . The deal to provide the city with school construction money over several years through a complex bonding plan came in last-minute negotiations as the Assembly and the Senate raced toward a midnight deadline to print budget bills so they can pass a budget by the April 1 deadline for the second time in more than two decades.

New Yorkers Will Pay to Sweat at 6 Previously Free Centers (, Mar 18, 2006)
Starting July 1, the city's Department of Parks and Recreation plans to set membership fees of $50 to $75 a year at St. Mary's and five other recreation centers, all of them in low-income neighborhoods in the Bronx, Manhattan or Brooklyn. Children 17 and under would still be admitted free, and adults would have the option of paying the mandatory annual fee in two or four installments. Residents 55 and over would pay only $10 a year.

Are Tax Breaks for Builders Still Needed in Hot Market? (, Mar 16, 2006)
The Bloomberg administration's recent move to re-evaluate the tax breaks used to encourage apartment construction in New York City has led to the beginnings of what will likely be an impassioned debate: In the hottest real estate market in decades, to what extent do developers still need tax incentives to entice them to build?

H&R Block Sued By The State For Alleged Fraud (NY 1, Mar 16, 2006)

City Approves Bonds for Yankees and Mets Stadiums (Daily News, Mar 15, 2006)
The Yankees and Mets scored big in the old bond game yesterday - getting financial boosts from the city to help them build their new back-to-the-future ballparks. The city's Industrial Development Agency gave preliminary approval to the Yankees' bid for $930 million in bonds.

Film and TV Business Booming In NYC, Mayor Considers Limiting Tax Incentives (NY Times, Mar 14, 2006)

Speedier Settlements for Suits Aaginst City (, Mar 13, 2006)
The city is settling lawsuits involving emergency and sanitation vehicles faster - and paying out more money - in a new policy that officials say will save taxpayer dollars in the long run. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, the city settled 574 such claims, paying victims about $12 million in damages.

City Tax System Murky (NY Times, Mar 12, 2006)
New York City’s property tax system, which is largely controlled by state laws, is widely considered one of the most complex in the country.

Malpractice Claims Rose Against New York City Last Year (NY Times, Mar 9, 2006)
Medical malpractice claims against city-run hospitals and other municipal health care providers rose last year for the first time in five years, and cost taxpayers about $145 million in settlements and judgments, according to preliminary data compiled by the City Comptroller's Office.

Budget Shortfalls Loom After '06 Projected Surplus (NY Sun, Mar 7, 2006)
Although the city expects a $3.3 billion surplus at the end of this year, the comptroller is warning that budget shortfalls are looming. William Thompson Jr., a likely Democratic contender for mayor in 2009, testified yesterday before the City Council's Finance Committee, telling members that while the fiscal situation has improved, "the good fortune experienced by the city in recent years is unlikely to continue."

Albany Apparently Readies Compromise On Education Funds (NY Sun, Mar 6, 2006)

New York Has Nation (NY Sun, Feb 27, 2006)

Comptroller Says He Wants Tax Cut For Some Seniors (NY Sun, Feb 16, 2006)

City's Hidden Tax (Daily News, Feb 15, 2006)
Mayor Bloomberg encourages New Yorkers to embrace new technology, but he doesn't mention that it may cost you - even when paying your taxes.

Mayor Steps Up Pressure For School Aid From The State (NY Times, Feb 14, 2006)

Summary Of Preliminary Mayor's Management Report (NYC, Feb 10, 2006)

Yankee Stadium Costs (Daily News, Feb 8, 2006)
A report issued by Good Jobs New York found that, even if the Yankees pick up construction costs for their new stadium, the public will face other expenses and lost revenue totaling nearly half a billion dollars. Meanwhile, the total fiscal benefits - such as increased tax revenue and lease payments from the operation of new garages - were put at $290.3 million. The report, released amid city and state support for the stadium , is significant because its tally includes new calculations of the city's own consultant. The Yankees hope to start building the $800 million stadium, a block north of where it now plays, by May 1. Team officials disputed the figures in the report.

Surplus Could Eliminate Need for Transit Fare Hike in 2007 (Daily News, Feb 1, 2006)

A Businessman (Daily News, Feb 1, 2006)
Mayor Bloomberg acted more like the businessman he is, rather than the politician he pretends to be, when he unveiled his budget for the next fiscal year.

City Officials Called On Albany To End Permanently The State Portion Of The Sales Tax On Clothing (Daily News, Jan 30, 2006)
Some elected city officials called on Albany to kill the state portion of the sales tax on clothing permanently.

Despite Promise To Trim Administrative Costs, Schools Chancellor Klein Raised Top Aides' Salaries To $200 K (Daily News, Jan 24, 2006)
Education Department brass got 5% pay hikes in 2004-05, boosting the salary of deputy chancellors to between $177,000 to $210,000,Among those getting raises were Deputy Chancellor for Instruction Carmen Fariña, who was bumped to $210,000, and Deputy Chancellor of Finance Kathleen Grimm and Deputy Chancellor of Operations Laverne Srinivasan, who now each earn $177,236.

Mayor Criticizes Pataki Budget For Shortchanging NYC, Especially In School Construction (Newsday, Jan 24, 2006)

NYC Depends on Wall Street, But Does Wall Street Depend on NYC? (City Journal, Jan 18, 2006)

Pataki Cuts Taxes, Not Programs (NY Sun, Jan 18, 2006)
George Pataki will finish out his long tenure as governor doing what he did when he first came into office: aggressively scaling back taxes to boost business in a New York economy that lags behind the nation. But he is still calling for an increase in spending that is much higher than the rate of inflation.

King Day Rally Of Home Health Aides (Attended By Clinton, Schumer, Et Al) Calls For "Livable Wage," Health Insurance (Metro, Jan 17, 2006)

1,121 New Police Recruits Sworn In Yesterday Will Make Lowest Salary In Two Decades (Daily News, Jan 10, 2006)
A new batch of NYPD recruits sworn in yesterday is the first to earn $25,100 - the lowest starting salary for New York's Finest in at least two decades. That's "bad public policy," according to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly - who called on the city and the police union to boost starting wages. ...Kelly blamed the salary plunge on a state arbitrator and said it will hurt recruitment; yesterday's class of 1,121 applied before the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association contract was settled last year.

Special Tax Deals Save 238 Companies Millions $ (NY Sun, Jan 10, 2006)
Hundreds of companies have negotiated special tax deals with New York City that this year will allow them to pay $48.2 million less in property taxes than they would have without the deals. The tax breaks have been criticized by some advocacy groups who say across-the-board tax breaks would be fairer and would create more growth than special deals offered only to some businesses. But city officials say the city comes out ahead by offering tax breaks to help businesses grow in New York and to prevent them from moving jobs out of the city. Data provided to The New York Sun yesterday from the City Council show that 238 companies will benefit from the special tax breaks in the fiscal year that ends in June.

Compensation Remains Unclear and Unpaid for Property Owners Ousted from Times Site (NY Sun, Jan 9, 2006)

Pataki (NY Sun, Jan 6, 2006)

Pataki Announces Tax Free Zone for Lower Manhattan (Newsday, Jan 4, 2006)

Bloomberg, Weiner Criticize New Federal Plan for Anti-Terror Funds (NY Sun, Jan 4, 2006)

Pataki May Veto Pension Refunds in Transit Pact (NY Times, Dec 30, 2005)
Gov. George E. Pataki's office said last night that he was inclined to veto a key provision of the New York City transit contract settlement announced this week - one that gives 20,000 workers refunds of pension contributions - noting that he had vetoed a similar provision twice before.

Far-Flung Use Of 9/11 Loans (NY Times, Dec 29, 2005)

MTA Will Reimburse 20,000 Transit Workers For Past Pension Contributions (, Dec 29, 2005)
Thousands of bus and subway workers are poised to reap up to $14,000 each in a new contract pension windfall that will ease the pain of their strike penalties - but will cost commuters an estimated $110 million. News of the surprise Metropolitan Transportation Authority payout to up to 20,000 union members follows last week's crippling three-day strike, which cost the city an estimated $1 billion and wreaked pre-holiday chaos. The $110 million represents a refund of extra pension contributions that up to 20,000 union members made between 1994 and 2000. The new transit contract will give workers back the 2.3% of wages they paid toward pensions for those six years - plus interest.

Huge Rise Looms for Health Care in City's Budget (NY Times, Dec 27, 2005)
When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposed making new workers chip in more to its pension fund than current workers do, it was enough to send the union out on strike and bring the nation's largest mass-transit system to a halt for three days. But the cost of pensions may look paltry next to that of another benefit soon to hit New York and most other states and cities: the health care promised to retired teachers, judges, firefighters, bus drivers and other former employees, which must be figured under a new accounting formula. The city currently provides free health insurance to its retirees, their spouses and dependent children. The state is almost as generous, promising to pay, depending on the date of hire, 90 to 100 percent of the cost for individual retirees, and 82 to 86 percent for retiree families. Those bills - $911 million this year for city retirees and $859 million for state retirees out of a total city and state budget of $156.6 billion - may seem affordable now. But the New York governments, like most other public agencies across the country, have been calculating the costs in a way that sharply understates their price tag over time.

Strike Sets Stage for Continued Battle Over Pensions (NY Sun, Dec 23, 2005)

Banks are Booming in Manhattan, But Avoiding Poor Neighborhoods in Other Boroughs (Daily News, Dec 19, 2005)

City Agencies Asked to Submit Cutback Plans (Newsday, Dec 16, 2005)

Bloomberg Continues Push for Austerity as Fiscal Outlook Brightens (, Dec 16, 2005)
Even as fiscal monitors reported a rising budget surplus, Mayor Bloomberg called yesterday for more belt tightening by his commissioners. New York Post Newsday

Hevesi Says City Will Have $2.8 Billion Surplus (Daily News, Dec 15, 2005)

Decision Delayed In World Trade Center Developer Larry Silverstein (Daily News, Dec 13, 2005)

Fat Cats Milked Ground Zero (Daily News, Dec 5, 2005)
Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid intended to help small downtown businesses that were reeling from the 9/11 attacks often went instead to huge international corporations, companies with little attachment to the stricken area and businesses that were never in jeopardy. The beneficiaries included a stock brokerage firm that had closed more than a month before the terrorists hit, a giant real estate firm that repeatedly said it wasn't hurt by the attacks, scores of wealthy self-employed floor traders and a Gramercy Park messenger service with a tiny satellite office downtown,

New York Racing Association Ethics Questioned Again (Daily News, Nov 17, 2005)

The City Council Plans To Reduce The Property Tax (Daily News, Nov 16, 2005)
The City Council plans to readjust the property tax rate today, saving residential property owners more than $200 million in taxes..

Bloomberg Wants Commuter Tax Back (, Nov 12, 2005)
Rather than charging people who drive into Manhattan at peak times, Mayor Michael Bloomberg would like to see the commuter tax reinstated.

How To Get Diplomatic Scofflaws To Pay $218 M In Parking Tickets And Property Taxes? Deduct The $ From Their Foreign Aid, Say Senators Clinton and Schumer (Daily News, Nov 7, 2005)

Proposed Federal Tax Plan Would Cost New Yorkers Money (Newsday, Nov 2, 2005)

Federal Tax Changes Could Sock City's Rich (Newsday, Oct 31, 2005)
City taxpayers could ship an additional $1.4 billion to Washington in coming years under a federal tax plan now in the works, according to a city agency's report issued Friday.

OTB Keeps Losing Money (Daily News, Oct 30, 2005)
OTB is losing dough, City Council officials say. "It's almost unimaginable that the largest legal gambling operation in the entire country could be on verge of going broke," said Councilman David Weprin.

Transportation Bond Act -- Critical For Economic Growth Or Reckless Addition To Dangerous Debt? (NY Times, Oct 25, 2005)
Its name, the Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act of 2005, hardly arouses excitement. Many voters are only dimly aware of it. It is not an issue in the mayoral race, since both major candidates have endorsed it. But the success or failure of the $2.9 billion proposition on Election Day could have a profound effect on the New York City region for decades. The stakes are especially high for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which would get half the money. The authority considers the measure essential to maintaining and improving its transit network over the next five years, and has recently saturated subway cars with advertisements urging support. Approval on Nov. 8, the authority says, would permit the completion of the first leg of a Second Avenue subway by around 2015. The other half of the money would pay for 130 projects for roads, bridges, inland ports and railroad systems.

Ed Koch Exhibit: "Mayor Who Brought the City Back from the Brink" (NY Sun, Oct 24, 2005)

Underfunding City University (Gotham Gazette, Oct 24, 2005)

Mayor Works Leverage Over Unions (, Oct 14, 2005)
It has become almost expected: A municipal union gives up precious perks, in exchange for salary increases that barely keep up with the city's rising cost of living.

Mayor's Ad Hints At Tax Rebate Check Not Yet Approved (, Oct 11, 2005)
In recent campaign commercials, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg takes credit for a third round of $400 property tax rebates next year. But there's a problem with this: a 2006 rebate has yet to be approved and remains far from certain, given the city's budget constraints.

City Sends Rebate Checks Minus Mayor's Name (Newsday, Oct 3, 2005)

Sports Betting Pushed (Daily News, Sep 29, 2005)
Some elected city officials urged New York yesterday to take a gamble on legalizing sports betting - and help pump $1.9 billion a year into education.

Parking Tickets Can Be Plea-Bargained (, Sep 27, 2005)
William Beaman works for the city's Department of Finance as part of its parking settlement program, which was started this year in all five boroughs as a service to parking ticket recipients waiting to contest their summonses.Mr. Beaman offers a driver the option of pleading guilty immediately and paying a reduced fine - avoiding the wait for a hearing and the risk of a guilty ruling from the judge followed by the full fine.

Lower Police Pay Leads To Sharp Drop In Recruits (Daily News, Sep 27, 2005)
Fewer people want to be cops since the starting salary was slashed to $25,100. Some 21,236 candidates signed up to take the October police exam - a 39.3% drop from the 35,000 who registered for the exam given last October.

MTA Surplus Seen (, Sep 27, 2005)
The MTA could end the year with a bigger-than-expected $923 million surplus - and should consider using the money to scrap planned fare and toll hikes, state Controller Alan Hevesi said yesterday. The MTA is looking at an extra $95 million thanks to higher taxes and state fees enacted earlier this year, as well as income the agency gets from real estate transactions, Hevesi said. In July, the MTA projected an $833 million surplus, and Executive Director Katherine Lapp raised the possibility of using about half of that to build a deck over the West Side railyards. That would spur development and reap $1 billion or more that the MTA could use for construction and maintenance projects, she said. But Hevesi yesterday said that idea should be derailed.

MTA's Budget Surplus Has Hevesi Taking Aim at Fare and Tax Hikes (, Sep 27, 2005)
This year's subway fare hikes and tax increases aimed at boosting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's revenue stream were unnecessary in light of the MTA's ever-growing budget surplus, now approaching $1 billion, the state comptroller, Alan Hevesi, said yesterday. In July, the MTA projected its surplus to be about $833 million. Yesterday, Mr. Hevesi's office released a report estimating the surplus will be about $928 million for this year, mostly from a windfall in revenue the authority receives from real estate transaction fees. Mr. Hevesi called for "rolling back or delaying a fare increase" expected to be put in place in 2007. Fare increases on unlimited ride MetroCards are expected in 2009.

Javits Center Gets Approval of a Bond Sale to Help Pay for Expansion (Daily News, Sep 22, 2005)
Plans to expand the Javits Convention Center so it can draw bigger trade shows got a boost yesterday with the approval of a bond sale to help pay for construction.

Street Vendors Protest Fine Hikes (NY Times, Aug 23, 2005)

Goldman Sachs Promised $1.65 Billion In Tax-Exempt Liberty Bonds (In Addition To $200 M In Tax Breaks) (Daily News, Aug 16, 2005)

New York's Economy Is Stalling (City Journal, Aug 9, 2005)

Mayor Bloomberg's Testimony Before the Financial Control Board on the Fiscal Health of NYC (, Jul 28, 2005)

City's Portion Of Sales Tax On Clothing Under $110 Eliminated (Daily News, Jul 26, 2005)
At Mayor Bloomberg's request, Gov. Pataki yesterday signed legislation eliminating the city's 4% sales tax on clothing and footwear under $110, beginning Sept. 1.

Mayor 's Ads Tout Tax Cuts, But Taxes Are Higher Than When He Took Office (NY Sun, Jul 26, 2005)

Transit Bonds On Ballot Track (, Jul 19, 2005)
The Transportation Bond Act, if approved, would authorize the state to borrow $2.9 billion - half of which would go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the Second Ave. subway, to extend the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal and to pay for such improvements as new buses and subway cars.

Court Rules NYC Can Sue India And Mongolia For $25 M In Unpaid Property Taxes (Daily News, Jul 12, 2005)

City Still Waiting for Security Funds (Daily News, Jul 8, 2005)

City Overpaid Hospital (Newsday, Jul 6, 2005)
The city's Administration for Children's Services mistakenly paid New York Foundling Hospital in Manhattan nearly $500,000 in improper reimbursements for contracted social service programs and then tried to cover up the transaction. according to an audit released yesterday by the city comptroller's office.

State Vetoes Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Capital Budget, Delaying Subway Renovations And Other Transportation Projects (Daily News, Jul 5, 2005)

Ten Percent Raise For City Cops (, Jul 2, 2005)
In a decision that will likely reverberate in other negotiations between New York and city employees, an arbitration panel awarded the largest police union a 10 percent raise over two years. The decision forces the city to break from its pattern bargaining position, in which pay increases to city employees—whether teachers or police officers—are tied to each other. The panel concluded that New York police were underpaid compared to police in other major cities and other local departments.

Budget Approved Amid Accusations That Speaker Used It To Retaliate (NY Times, Jul 1, 2005)
In an unusually open and personal display of anger, a handful of City Council members yesterday accused Speaker Gifford Miller of cutting their budget requests in retaliation for their decision not to support his fight against the mayor's citywide trash plan. The accusations arose as the Council approved a $50 billion city budget for next year that delivers millions of dollars for community groups, social service providers and cultural institutions in council members' districts. The members had competed for a share of that money in recent weeks, and at a meeting yesterday in City Hall it became apparent that some believed their requests fell victim to political retribution by Mr. Miller, a Democratic candidate for mayor. (Daily News) (Newsday) (New York Post)

Capitol Insiders Get Awarded Billions In No-Bid Contracts (, Jun 12, 2005)
In the back rooms of Albany, former aides to the state's top leaders secretly lobby for no-bid contracts worth billions of dollars, a Daily News investigation found. In the state Department of Transportation alone, lobbyists schmoozed the agency on nearly $1.3 billion in contracts in the past two years, according to a computer analysis by The News. The analysis showed only a handful of these contracts were awarded competitively with sealed bids, a process that significantly restricts influence-peddling.

New York Fails In West Side Stadium Quest, Hurting Olympic Bid (, Jun 7, 2005)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's nearly four-year quest to build a Manhattan football stadium that could spark the redevelopment of the West Side and lure the Olympic Games to New York was defeated yesterday when two of Albany's leaders refused to approve the $2.2 billion project. The decision threw into serious doubt the city's bid to bring the 2012 Olympics to the United States. By far the most contentious development project proposed for New York City in years, the stadium became a victim of the city's and state's clashing rebuilding priorities after the World Trade Center attack. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who held veto power over the stadium, said yesterday that he could not support the project on the West Side, along with the large commercial redevelopment plan the mayor has proposed, because it would undermine the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan, his district.

Speaker Miller Blasts Approval Of Jets Bid As Worst Land Deal Since $24 Sale of Manhattan (, Apr 4, 2005)
7-sentence statement

Bloomberg Announces New Sidewalk Repair Program (, Apr 4, 2005)
Three days after tackling potholes, Mayor Michael Bloomberg returned to Queens Thursday to declare war on wayward tree roots that ruin sidewalks -- a five-borough program costing $3.4 million that is expected to repair up to 2,000 sidewalks in the first year.

Corporate Tax Avoidance In the States Even Worse Than Federal (, Feb 7, 2005)
A new analysis of the state corporate income taxes paid by 252 of America’s largest and most profitable corporations finds that by 2003, these companies on average failed to include two-thirds of their actual U.S. pretax profits on their state tax returns.

Pataki's Plan Looks to Spread Medicaid Cuts Without a Major Overhaul (, Jan 20, 2005)
The big idea guiding Gov. George E. Pataki's plan this week to rein in Medicaid spending was his desire to steer the state's poor away from costly long-term care in hospitals and nursing homes and into home health care. Over the long term, his administration says, such a move could save huge amounts of money. So his budget calls for squeezing hospitals and nursing homes by cutting the reimbursement rates they receive, raising their taxes and creating a commission to recommend closing underused hospitals. At the same time, it calls for spending more on home health aides and other programs to help the elderly stay in their homes longer. But the governor's plan to cut $1.1 billion in Medicaid spending is not the radical revision of the state's biggest and fastest-growing spending category that some legislators had hoped for and many health care providers had feared. While some governors around the nation are retooling their Medicaid programs by cutting their rolls by hundreds of thousands, imposing severe spending caps and drastically reducing benefits, Mr. Pataki's plan consists of a series of more pragmatic measures that his aides say would spread the pain and trim the $44.5 billion program without nearing the bone

The Field of Schemes (, Jan 12, 2005)
The Field of Schemes is a website that tracks the use of public benefits for private sports facilities nationwide, including the proposed Jets stadium plan.

West Side Plan Is Risky Effort, Forecasters Say At Council Hearing (, Dec 21, 2004)
he Bloomberg administration's $4.1 billion financial plan for transforming the West Side of Manhattan has run into increasing criticism from independent financial analysts (testifying at a City Council hearing) as an expensive and risky strategy that may be impossible to pursue under current statutes. Critics are not opposed to the extension of the No. 7 subway line from Times Square to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, or the new streets, parks and other projects within the plan. But they say that the administration's method of paying for these projects, along with the city's $300 million share in a new football stadium for the Jets, will add an unnecessary $1.3 billion to the price tag and pose risks for the city budget.

The Times' Sweetheart Deal (, Dec 8, 2004)
The paper gets huge subsidy, then sells old headquarters building for a huge profit

Hudson Yards: Overview (, Dec 8, 2004)
The City Planning Commission has released the final generic environmental impact statement on the Hudson Yards plan associated with the adjacent Jets stadium/convention center expansion

Bridges Loom as Cash Cow That Nobody Dares to Milk (, Nov 13, 2004)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The authority, which runs the city's subways and buses, faces deficits of more than $12 billion... In a report released on Thursday, the Independent Budget Office, a nonpartisan city agency, said that a $4 toll on the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro Bridges - the same toll charged on the Triborough Bridge - could generate about $500 million a year. Another policy group, the Regional Plan Association, issued an even higher estimate of potential income from tolls on the bridges last month in a roundup of financing options for the authority, about $710 million. For decades, proposals to charge tolls on the East River bridges have been opposed so loudly by Brooklyn and Queens residents - and by their representatives on the City Council and in the State Legislature, which would have to authorize them - that supporters have always backed down.

The MTA withdraws its doomsday plan (, Nov 13, 2004)
The MTA unexpectedly has withdrawn its doomsday plan to raise fares, slash service and pink-slip workers. New Yorkers had been told to prepare for the worst, including a nearly across-the-board hike in discount MetroCard prices. Now the agency says it suddenly has pulled millions of dollars out of its hat - crediting higher-than-expected tax revenues. So the MTA backed off its most dire predictions and said it needs far less money.

Financing Options for the MTA Capital Program (, Nov 13, 2004)
In September 2004, the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority spparoved a $28 billion capital program for 2005-2009, for good repair, expansion projects, security programs, etc. This report by the Regional Plan Association examines potential sources to pay for this program.

In Transit Crisis, A Cash Bind Many Foresaw (, Nov 13, 2004)
New York's city and suburban transit network faces enormous, fast-growing debts and budget deficits, with no clear plan for addressing them. It raised fares last year, plans to raise them again next year and warns that it may do so again in 2006. This is not a surprise to people who monitor the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The current situation was predicted four years ago by, among others, former top transit officials, fiscal watchdogs like the Independent Budget Office and the Citizens Budget Commission, the state comptroller, business groups like the New York City Partnership and transit advocates like the Regional Plan Association and the Straphangers Campaign.

Comptroller: West Side Plan A Money Pit (, Nov 10, 2004)
City Controller William Thompson is no fan of Mayor Bloomberg's financial plan to redevelop Manhattan's far West Side. In a stinging letter, Thompson blasted Bloomberg's plan as a "backdoor financing scheme which is not only fiscally imprudent, it also flouts the principles of responsible government."

Deputy Comptroller's Testimony Before the Committee On Contracts (, Nov 10, 2004)
Argues there has not been substantial improvement in contract reform, especially not in "retroactive contracts" -- contracts made after payment has already been made.

IBO Report: How a Bigger Education Budget Became Less Money for Schools (, Nov 10, 2004)
An analysis by the Independent Budget Office on how the city budget could increased spending for education by $570 million but, thanks to "rising costs and a complex allocation process...more money for education can still equal less money to individual schools."

Running On Empty: The MTA's 2005 Budget And Financial Plan (, Nov 10, 2004)
The Independent Budget Office analyzes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's preliminary budget and financial plan through 2008, and how it faces a shortfall of $695 million in 2006, and $1.2 billion in 2008.

Office of Management And Budget: City's Financial Plan Update (, Nov 10, 2004)
A one-page update from the mayor's Office of Management and Budget shows tax revenue projections for this fiscal year are up nearly $600 million, and after adjusting for some other new revenues and some new costs, the city is about $350 million ahead.

Mayor Bloomberg Chides The MTA For Its Failure To Control Costs (, Nov 10, 2004)
ayor Michael R. Bloomberg sharply stepped up his criticism of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority yesterday at a hearing on its plans to increase fares and cut service, accusing the agency of presiding over "bloated payrolls" and "out-of-control spending." Mr. Bloomberg said that rather than ask riders or the state or city for more money, the authority should "look in the mirror" and realize that "business as usual just doesn't cut it anymore."

High School Overcrowding Eases, But 75 Percent Of Students Still In Schools Over Capacity (, Oct 6, 2004)
The Independent Budget Office's reports on overcrowding in the city’s high schools

Help Sites For Dropouts Are Closed (, Oct 6, 2004)
The Times reports on one of the school chancellor’s recent unannounced shutdown of school programs

Revenue Implications of New York City (, Jul 17, 2004)
A new Federal Reserve study of New York City's tax system over the past 30 years suggests the city is overly dependent on personal and corporate income taxes, a somewhat ironic point at a moment the adopted budget reduces property taxes.

How Mayor Bloomberg's Business Pros Dribbled Their Marketing Mission (, May 10, 2004)
Tom Robbins has written recently [about controversies surrounding the mayor’s Snapple contracts and a new Bronx Meals on Wheels contract.

The City (, Mar 11, 2003)
An Analysis by the Citizens Budget Commission

Mayor Bloomberg (, Feb 11, 2003)
The mayor’s proposal, including the financial plan for fiscal years 2003 to 2007.

Fiscal Policy Institute (, Jan 11, 2003)
The Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) works to increase public and governmental understanding of issues related to the fairness of New York's tax system and the stability and adequacy of state and local public services. FPI is part of a consortium of state-level organizations whose goal is to enhance the timeliness, credibility, accessibility and usefulness of the analysis that is available on the broad range of state tax and budget issues that affect low-income and other vulnerable populations.

10 Myths About Balancing New York City's Budget and 5 Ways to Lower the Cost of Government by $1 Billion Per Year [pdf] (, Dec 7, 2002)
The Citizens Budget Commission has prepared this document to clear up a series of common misunderstandings that hinder the debate and to focus attention on the potential for significant savings by delivering City services more efficiently.

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Comptroller of The City of New York for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2002 (, Nov 1, 2002)
The City Comptroller's one-volume audit of the previous fiscal year's budget, published each November.

Tax Tales: The City (, Oct 22, 2002)
A brief report on how the City's mix of taxes has shifted dramatically over the years.

Budget Options for New York City [pdf] (, Apr 1, 2002)
A very useful list of pros and cons of budget options for those interested in filling the City's budget gaps wisely.