Just because John Liu has some campaign cash problems doesn't mean he doesn't have a job to do. Just ask the Parks Department, which just received a scathing audit from the Comptroller's office regarding its handling of concessions [PDF]. Though Parks strongly disagrees with the audit's findings, Liu and co. say that in the past three years the Department has left roughly $8.8 million in additional revenues on the table due to poor planning and mismanagement. The Parks Department's biggest mess-up over the years? Clearly the late Tavern on the Green. more ›

Precious theatergoers across the city are being wooed to linger (and drop more cash monies) at the venue before and after shows with the allure of local, artisanal concessions, the New York Times reported yesterday. Tumabdor chocolates, Ceci-Cela pastries, and hummus and lentil stew are showing up at theaters like Classic Stage and St. Ann's Warehouse, who are partnering with local restaurants and producers to provide the high-end snacks. more ›

Last month, the financially battered NY Times Co. had suggested it would close the Boston Globe, Massachusetts' biggest paper, because the paper lost $50 million last year and was on track to lose $85 million this year. Late last night, the Globe reports the Times made this threat: "Agree to major financial and contract concessions, including the abolition of lifetime job guarantees for some workers, or the Times Co. would begin the shutdown process." Currently two unions have made deals but negotiations are still continuing with the pressmen's union and the Boston Newspaper Guild. The Times bought the Globe in 1993 for $1.1 billion; it is also looking to sell its stake in the Boston Red Sox. more ›

The Civil Service Employees Association, the state's largest union, rejected Governor Paterson's offer of smaller raises and a two-year reprieve on layoffs, raising the possibility that thousands of jobs may be eliminated. Paterson had warned that without union concessions, given the state's huge budget deficit, he would have to lay off almost 9,000 state employees. But CSEA spokesman Stephen Madarasz said, "If we open one contract, what's to stop every other employer to say, 'We want to reopen the contract'? You set a precedent. You can never again do good-faith bargaining. It's a matter of principle as well as practicality." Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield told the AP, "They have rejected every single proposal that we put forward to prevent job losses among their ranks. Nonetheless, the governor is still committed to finding a resolution." more ›