Bob Hennelly

New York, NY —

In Trenton last night, after several hours of passionate public testimony on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the Senate Judiciary panel voted to send the landmark legislation to the full state Senate. WNYC's Bob Hennelly was there.

REPORTER: The marriage equality bill passed by a ...

New York, NY —

The New Jersey legislature begins deliberations today on same-sex marriage. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: First stop for the landmark Marriage Equality bill - the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democratic panel member Senator Loretta Weinberg says legislators who are worried they'll lose their seat if they vote ...

New York, NY —

The front line in the battle to legalize same sex marriage has now shifted to New Jersey.

A week after New York senators voted down a gay marriage bill, senators in New Jersey are debating the measure at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. More ...

New York, NY —

The Corzine Administration is taking the unprecedented step of withholding millions of dollars from dozens of municipalities. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: The amounts range from as little as $1,500 for the state's smaller towns to as much as $2.1 million for Newark. Elizabeth Mayor Chris ...

New York, NY —

The Corzine administration is taking the unprecedented step of withholding millions of dollars from dozens of municipalities.

The amounts range from as little as $1,500 dollars for the state's smaller towns to as much as $2.1 million for Newark. Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage says the impact ...

A behind-the-scenes battle between the Bloomberg Administration and Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is causing waves.

New York, NY —

As Trenton officials work to plug New Jersey's $800 million budget hole, a state report released this week finds local governments paying out millions to retiring employees on top of their pensions.

The independent State Commission of Investigation looked at municipal governments ranging from struggling cities ...

New York, NY —

A behind-the-scenes battle between the Bloomberg Administration and Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is causing waves. The question is who should control tens of millions of dollars in criminal forfeitures and fine settlements.

City Hall says Morgenthau has improperly salted away more than $80 million in ...

The New York legislature has passed a bill that establishes a cheaper pension tier for future state workers.

New York, NY —

The redevelopment of the World Trade Center site has hit a major milestone with the groundbreaking for a new Fiterman Hall. It'll replace a 14 story building that was a key part of the campus of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, until it was ...

New York, NY —

The New York legislature has passed a bill that establishes a cheaper pension tier for future state workers.

The public pension reform package is projected to save local, county, and state governments tens of billions of dollars over the next 30 years. Matt Anderson, a spokesman ...

New York, NY —

Mayor Bloomberg suprised a lot of observers this week by selecting 36-year-old Caswell Holloway to head the city's Department of Environmental Protection.

The former corporate attorney has been Chief of Staff for Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler since 2006. Holloway played a key role behind-the-scenes, resolving difficult ...

New York, NY —

Governor Paterson and legislative leaders are expected to resume negotiations today on how best to close this year's more than three billion dollar budget gap. But as WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports, that's minimal compared to future deficits.

REPORTER: Next year the New York State budget gap ...

As economists declare the country to be officially heading out of recession, many are looking around them and still seeing severe economic troubles. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter ...

New York, NY —

Both the New Jersey Assembly and Senate are back to work this week in Trenton as the clock winds down on gay marriage and other issues this lame duck session.

The Democratic leadership of both houses is taking a wait and see approach when it ...

The Greene Space is full of 20-year-olds today, and the 30 Issues in 30 Days series takes a look at how New York and New Jersey can best remain an attractive and affordable place for young people. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein and Bob Hennelly discuss, along with Joel Kotkin professor at ...

New York, NY —

In New Jersey double-digit unemployment and thousands of foreclosures are stressing the state's network of 800 food pantries, which are being swamped by families and individuals with nowhere else to turn. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has this report.

REPORTER: Across the Garden State emergency food providers and ...

New York, NY —

As more New Jersey families struggle to put food on the table and heat their homes, Governor Corzine and Governor-elect Christie have different takes on what to do about it. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: Double digit unemployment and thousands of foreclosures continue to take a ...

New York, NY —

It was just weeks ago that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine was defeated handily by Republican Chris Christie. Now Democratic legislators who control both the state Assembly and Senate have revamped their entire leadership team.

Come January, Essex County Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver will become Assembly Speaker.

OLIVER: ...

New York, NY —

In New Jersey hundreds of gay marriage advocates packed the State Capitol in Trenton, hoping to press lawmakers to take a vote on the issue. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

REPORTER: Democratic lawmakers who support same-sex marriage legislation are facing division in their ranks. There is one ...