New York, NY —

The advocacy group ACORN is promising serious reform in light of an outrageous video that shows a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute and workers advising them on how to account for their illegal profits. The advice includes, placing the money in a tin can and burying it outdoors. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: An advisory council that includes John Podesta, who helped lead President Obama's transition, is supposed to help select an independent auditor and investigator. In addition, ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis says no new clients will be accepted until the review is complete. Staff will also get re-trained. In New York City, ACORN has been aggressive in advocating on behalf of families in foreclosure and the group successfully fought along with Senator Chuck Schumer to keep a large subsidized housing complex in Brooklyn from going market rate. Schumer recently voted in the Senate to cut the groups funding. And, other elected officials have been calling for the same. The state says its contracts with ACORN total less than $20,000 and those will be scrutinized. Mayor Bloomberg says ACORN gets no money directly from the city, though it might from city council funds. For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez.