Northeast

Pittsburgh could follow in Chicago’s footsteps and lease its parking spaces and city-owned garages to a private operator.

New York City plans to begin selling $1.3 billion of general obligation bonds this week when it offers retail investors a refunding portion of the deal on Friday.

Moody’s Investors Service changed New Jersey’s outlook to negative from stable, citing a structural deficit, the end of federal stimulus funds, and the state’s unfunded retirement costs.

The Long Island Power Authority plans to sell Build America Bonds for 2011 capital needs by the end of this year to take advantage of the program before it expires or changes.

The new slate of bond counsel firms announced Wednesday by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York includes three teams pairing large firms with smaller minority-owned firms.

Newark’s Municipal Council Tuesday afternoon granted its initial approval for a proposed real estate lease-back agreement to be financed with bonds.

New York City’s two economic development issuers adopted new disclosure practices at a monthly board meeting on Tuesday.

Pennsylvania is gearing up to issue at least $2 billion of general obligation debt via competitive bid before the end of the calendar year as officials keep a wary eye on the possible expiration of the Build America Bond program.

Pennsylvania’s last-minute plan to help its capital city meet a $3.3 million general obligation payment to bondholders last week is a “credit positive,” but Harrisburg needs “external support” to achieve long-term fiscal stability, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

New York Lieut. Gov. Richard Ravitch on Monday called for an overhaul of the state Medicaid system, which he said was on an unsustainable growth path.