Elaine Rivera

WNYC reporters Elaine Rivera, Cindy Rodriguez, and Matthew Schuerman discuss David Paterson's first year as New York's Governor and how his administration has affected New York City.

New York, NY —

Today marks Governor Paterson's first year after his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, had to step down after admitting being involved with a prostitution ring. WNYC's Elaine Rivera has been following the state's 55th governor, and joins WNYC's Richard Hake to talk about his roller-coaster ride in ...

It was a who's who of Bronx elected officials - along with a smattering of Manhattan pols - who showed up to give their support to Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Junior as he announces his official candidacy for the Bronx borough president's race. Among the prominent faces were Congressmen Jose Serrano and Eliot Engel, former Bronx Borough president Freddy Ferrer and City Comptroller Bill Thompson.

Diaz portrayed himself as a unifier who wants bring together the borough's party that has been strife with factional infighting. Diaz has emerged as a top contender for the seat after a main rival, City Councilman Joel Rivera, said he would not enter into the race. That prevented a battle between two of the most visible Bronx families - the Riveras and the Diazes.

Attending the announcement was Kenny Agosto, an 80th Assembly District leader with the Liberty Democratic Association, says he was once a Rivera supporter but was impressed by Diazes' agenda to build coalitions. Here's what he had to say:

New York, NY —

New York Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Junior is casting himself as a coalition builder, as he officially announces a run for the Bronx borough president's seat. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports. REPORTER: Diaz appeared to be taking a page out of President Obama's handbook by pledging to ...

New York, NY —

The state Assembly has passed a bill that calls for sweeping changes to New York's 36-year-old Rockefeller-era drug laws. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says the bill is long overdue in addressing what he calls the state's outdated, failed drug policies. The ...

New York, NY —

The New York Assembly is poised to pass a repeal of the state's drug laws, ending the 36-year-old mandatory sentencing requirements of the Rockefeller Drug laws. While they've gradually been relaxed in the past five years, today's bill would give judges the discretion to sentence ...

New York, NY —

Legislation to soften New York's strict drug laws is gaining momentum in Albany. The State Assembly is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a bill that would give judges more leeway to sentence nonviolent offenders to parole and addiction treatment, instead of prison. Queens Assemblyman Jeff ...

New York, NY —

The New York State Assembly is expected to pass a bill this week that will reform the Rockefeller-era drug laws. As WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports, it would be the first major drug law reform in New York in decades.

REPORTER: Advocates are lauding the assembly bill ...

New York, NY —

Adolfo Carrion has served his last day as Bronx Borough President. He's joining the Obama Administration as Urban Policy Director. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: Carrion's departure is expected to unleash a competitive battle over who will be the next Bronx Borough president. So far, Assemblyman ...

New York, NY —

The crisis that started on Wall Street is now hitting main streets everywhere. WNYC has started a new project called Main Street NYC to track the changes on five streets. Last month we took you to Smith street in Brooklyn. In the Bronx we're going ...

In the Bronx at 161 st Street, just in the shadow of the new Yankee Stadium, urban planners and developers have begun the process of converting this commercial strip into a global marketplace. A massive proposed rezoning has many long time Bronx residents watching this street closely.

View of old and new Yankee Stadiums

The view of the old (left) and new (right) Yankee Stadium. The old stadium will eventually be torn down.

New York, NY —

He was a hero and an inspiration to Puerto Ricans across the city, legendary boxer Jose Torres, known as the People's Champion. He died last month of a heart attack, at the age of 72. His legacy has been celebrated around the city. WNYC's Elaine ...

New York, NY —

New York Republicans say they don't want Governor Paterson to back down on his opposition to a millionaire's tax.

He's facing increasing pressure from fellow Democrats to tax wealthy New Yorkers to help close the state's budget gap.

Brooklyn Republican State Senator Martin Golden says affluent families ...

New York, NY —

New York's new junior senator Kirsten Gillibrand continues to reach out to constituents far from her conservative upstate roots. She visited a Brooklyn High School yesterday to speak with people there about a student who was killed in gun violence last month. WNYC's Elaine Rivera ...

New York, NY —

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says she's ready to tackle gun violence, after visiting a Brooklyn school where a student died in a shooting last month.

Gillibrand says she wants to work with the parents of the victim to combat gun trafficking.

GILLIBRAND: One of the biggest ...

New York, NY —

As many companies around the country cut jobs, the Yankee organization is one of the few employers that's currently increasing the worker pool, as the team prepares to open the new stadium in April. But who gets the jobs remains to be seen. WNYC's Elaine ...

New York, NY —

While many employers are shedding jobs, there's one in the Bronx that's adding them. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: Job seekers have been standing in the frigid cold outside of the old Yankee Stadium to apply for a thousand new jobs that'll be created when the ...

More than 500 people lined up Thursday to apply for service industry jobs at the new Yankee Stadium. More people are expected to show up Saturday to apply for the 1000 new jobs. Applicants are told they must speak, read and write English and there will be random drug testing ...

New York, NY —

A prisoner rights group says the state should restore funding for in-prison college programs to reduce recidivism. WNYC's Elaine Rivera has more.

REPORTER: The Correctional Association of New York looked at a number of long-term studies showing that inmates who participated in higher education programs tended ...

New York, NY —

City lawmakers and activists plan a rally at City Hall this afternoon to protest U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's record on immigration issues. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: The coalition of politicians and immigrant activists say they're alarmed over what they describe as Gillibrand's anti-immigrant positions. Gillibrand ...