Arun Venugopal

New York, NY —

It was a bad day in court for State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who's charged with slashing his ex-girlfriend in the face. WNYCs Arun Venugopal has more on the testimony from the physician who met with her, soon after the incident.

REPORTER: Dr. Dawne Kort is the ...

New York, NY —

It was a bad day in court for State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who is charged with slashing his ex-girlfriend in the face.

REPORTER: Dr. Dawne Kort, the physician who met with Karla Giraldo soon after the incident, testified in court today.

Dr. Kort is the attending physician ...

New York, NY —

The two remaining candidates for public advocate square off in their only scheduled debate before Tuesdays' run-off election. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: Tonight's debate is the first since last week's primary, when in something of a surprise, Bill De Blasio won more votes than ...

That loose knit-group of political imposters who take on big issues through big stunts are hitting a local media outlet. Their latest action is timed to correspond with the first-ever New York City Climate Change ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson says he has no plans of bowing out of next year's gubernatorial race, despite reports that the White House is asking him to. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more.

REPORTER: Reporters and TV crews mobbed the governor in Harlem, where he was marching in the ...

Mark Green continues to attack his opponent in the public advocate race, City Councilman Bill de Blasio, for what he terms a conflict of interest. Green says de Blasio should not have received campaign donations from groups that received special Council funds from his office. He said De Blasio had ...

Queens state Senator Hiram Monserrate's fate will be decided by a judge, not a jury. Monserrate's attorney, Joseph Tacopina, asked for, and got, a bench trial with State Supreme Court Justice William Erlbaum. Tacopnia says he's concerned a jury might be swayed by emotion:

"We're that comfortable with the ...

Candidates for political office campaigned hard this weekend ahead of tomorrow's primary election, not just in citywide races but in some local races that might see a change of guard. In the 14th Council District, one challenger, Fernando Cabrera, has ...

New York, NY —

Queens state senator Hiram Monserrate's fate will be decided by a judge, not a jury. Monserrate's attorney, Joseph Tacopina, asked for a bench trial today. He says he's concerned a jury might be swayed by emotion, and not by the facts.

TACOPINA: We're that comfortable with ...

The 45th Council District covers Flatbush, East Flatbush and the Flatlands.

Map of the district

Kendall Stewart in the West Indies parade

It was only last June that Stewart found his office at the center of the City Council's so-called slush-fund scandal. Two aides pled guilty to stealing $145,000 that was supposed to go to non-profits. Stewart says he's innocent, but the issue has motivated some half dozen challengers to enter the race against him. Moderator Felicia Adams, the Editor of Carib World newspaper, raised it at a recent debate, co-sponsored by Whatz Up TV.

MODERATOR: Why should voters trust to send you back to City Hall for a 3rd term?

Stewart says it was his aides who were illegally diverting money from community-based organizations, or CBO's, without his knowledge.

STEWART: These members were not supposed to be involved with CBO's on the outside. And I know many people are involved with CBO's. You don't know what the executives are doing. You cannot really place that burden on the office.

Dexter McKenzie supporters in the West Indies parade

Stewart has led the field in fundraising. His re-election campaign has raised some $65,000. Another candidate, college instructor Sam Taitt, has raised $43,000, while Dexter McKenzie, a physician has raised $49,000.

But in the last few days, one challenger has pulled even with Stewart. As of yesterday, Jumaane Williams had raised just $33 less than Stewart.

Unlike Stewart, who is a property owner with support from the real estate industry, Williams is a community organizer who's worked on affordable housing issues. He's also secured most of the big endorsements: from DC-37, 1199 and other powerful unions.

On a recent afternoon, he went door to door with an aide from the Working Families Party, trolling for votes.

Jumaane Williams

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed the mayor for a 3rd term, despite that painfully pink sweater.

The West Indian Day parade brought hundreds of thousands of people to Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn, including one very prominent person of West Indian descent... Colin Powell.

The former secretary of state showed up to formally endorse Mayor Bloomberg's campaign for a third term.

Listen to what endorsers say, listen to what Mayor Bloomberg says, but at the end of the day, what's best for you and what do you think is best for your city and vote that way. And if they do that I think they'll find that Mike is the guy who ought to be mayor for a third term.

The mayor's opponent, Comptroller Bill Thompson marched in the parade with Governor Paterson.

Some Thompson supporters, including a group of transit workers, shouted 'No More Years' a reference to the mayor's quest for a third term.

Members of TWU campaigning against Bloomy

Roland Rogers for mayor. It can happen

The parade highlighted some lesser-knowns as well.

New York, NY —

The West Indian Day parade brought hundreds of thousands of people to Eastern Parkway, in Brooklyn, including one very prominent person of West Indian descent... Colin Powell.

The former Secretary of State showed up to formally endorse Mayor Bloomberg's campaign for a third term.

POWELL: Listen to ...

New York, NY —

Bill de Blasio says he'd make a better public advocate than his more aggressive challengers, because he also knows how to work with the mayor. The Brooklyn council member was on The Brian Lehrer Show this morning, where he noted that he's advanced legislation by ...

. But as long as the office does exist, it's worth understanding why it does, and who the contestants are.

The office of public advocate has only existed, in current form, since the early 90s, and has seen just two occupants: Mark Green (who's running again this year) and Betsy Gotbaum, who has been the PA since 2001.

In essence, the public advocate performs the following functions:

• Advocates for tenants on a citywide basis
• Issues reports on various aspects of city governance
• Holds the mayor's feet to the fire
• Succeeds the mayor, if the mayor can no longer serve

Point # 3 – The public advocate’s ability to hold the mayor’s feet to the fire – is what most clearly defines the office in the eyes of the public. In the 90s, Mark Green frequently did combat with Mayor Giuliani, much to the delight of the media. On the other hand, Betsy Gotbaum does not view herself as an antagonist, and that has resulted in a less visible office. It hasn’t helped that the mayor and City Council recently slashed the budget of the office by 40 percent, and that Councilman Simcha Felder has proposed eliminating the office.

Listen to the debate:

The four major candidates for public advocate faced off in a debate that was broadcast Sunday morning. Early on, Councilman Bill DeBlasio took aim at the front-runner, Mark Green, who held the job during ...

New York, NY —

The four major candidates for public advocate faced off in a debate that was broadcast yesterday morning. Early on, Councilman Bill DeBlasio took aim at the front-runner, Mark Green, who held the job during the Giuliani administration.

DEBLASIO: I have to say with all due respect ...

Fashion Week is a couple weeks away but Pet Fashion Week has just concluded. The event, for purveyors of high-end pet clothes and accessories took place this weekend in Chelsea. WNYC's Arun Venugopal checked in with wholesalers and retailers there and found those who showed up for the ...

New York, NY —

Some Council members say the city needs to crack down on illegal street vending, especially at high-tourism sites like the Met Museum, where carts have proliferated recently. But some of the vendors say the effort is misguided.

Howard Dalton operates outside the Met and is one ...

New York, NY —

The hot weather might mean cold drinks for some people, but for Muslims observing Ramadan, drinks -- and food -- aren't an option. The holy month began Saturday and that means fasting between dawn and sunset and frequent prayers in between.

Ibrahim Balde is a 16-year-old ...