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Letter
Taxes
CBC Recommendations to the New York State Tax Relief Commission
November 26, 2013
This letter to the NYS Tax Relief Commission includes cautions about the State's ability to commit to large new property tax relief programs, and recommendations for providing better relief with the $4 billion the State spends on current programs.
Op Ed
Economic Development
Find Ways to Attract Talent
August 11, 2013
CBC's Director of New York City Studies Maria Doulis pens an op-ed in the New York Times' Room for Debate on how the next mayor can achieve important economic development goals: more jobs, a more diversified industry mix, a larger middle class and enhanced entrepreneurship.
Letter
Transportation
CBC Calls for Improved Budget Process, More Transparency at the Port Authority
July 16, 2013
The CBC urged the Port Authority to improve its budget process and make it more transparent. The letter offered six recommendations to resolve these problems, such as long-term planning, regular reporting, and detailed budgeting.
Op Ed
Economic Development
Remaining the World's Most Competitive City
June 18, 2013
A study released earlier this month by The Economist Intelligence Unit held good news for New York City, which ranked first among 120 global cities based on ability to attract capital, businesses and talent. But the competition is fierce, and is not limited to international megacities like London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
The Next Mayor's Biggest Challenge
May 19, 2013
As the New York City mayor's race builds momentum, candidates are discussing a wide range of issues - but not how they would tackle the biggest challenge the next mayor will certainly face: negotiating municipal labor contracts.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
Finding a Better Way on Labor Bargaining
May 18, 2013
Taxpayers are at a disadvantage in collective bargaining with police and firefighter unions in New York state because of the way binding arbitration is done. The culprits are provisions of a statute, known as the Taylor Law, that expire July 1.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Reining in New York City's Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs
April 17, 2013
The City's employee unions, whose contracts have expired, may prefer to wait and negotiate with the next mayor, but the election won't change the fiscal reality: the City's share of health insurance premiums for city workers and retirees is high in comparison to norms in the private and public sectors.
Op Ed
Economic Development
NY's People Strengths Need Constant Work
February 09, 2013
Human capital is a hot topic. Thriving in the information economy requires a highly skilled workforce with specialized expertise and an ability to innovate. Attracting such a workforce is essential to New York's ability to retain strength in core industries and cultivate emerging ones.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
City Workers, Pay Your Share
February 03, 2013
The cost of health insurance for New York City public employees and retirees is projected to grow by almost 40% by 2016 — rising to nearly $7 billion a year. That growth will amount to $1.5 billion of the $1.9 billion budget deficit projected for 2016.
Testimony
Energy & Environment
Testimony on NYC Solid Waste Management Practices
Submitted to NYC Council Committee on Sanitation & Solid Waste Management
October 27, 2011
New York is being wasteful in its waste management practices. We could save tens of millions, perhaps even hundreds of millions, of dollars without harming the environment by more sensibly managing New Yorkers’ solid waste. An improved system for waste collection and disposal could prevent further reductions in essential services in coming budgets.
Op Ed
Capital Spending
Think Small to Think Big
July 10, 2011
In the July 2011 edition of the PPP Journal, Senior Research Associate Maria Doulis reviews the success of public-private partnerships in NYC and considers opportunities for pursuing additional PPPs.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Inquiry About the Health Insurance Premium Stabilization Fund
June 27, 2011
CBC Letter to Comptroller John Liu asking three questions about the Health Insurance Stabilization Fund (HISF) and calling for an audit.
Op Ed
Transportation
MTA Bus Service: Lots of Passengers, Limited Efficiency
May 17, 2011
CBC Executive Vice President and Director of Research Chuck Brecher pens an op-ed on our recent report comparing the MTA's unit costs with other large urban transit agencies in the United States.
Op Ed
State Budget
Bravo on Budget; Now to Lawmaking
April 02, 2011
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state legislative leaders deserve credit for agreeing on a budget that breaks some bad habits. It was on time, reins in spending that was growing at an unsustainable pace, and minimizes the facile devices that checkered past budgets—deficit borrowing, tax hikes, one shots and other gimmickry.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
City Worker Pensions Vs. Kids
Bloomy Must Cut Youth Services Because Adult Costs Are Out Of Control
December 04, 2010
New York provides a troubling example of how the inability to contain costs associated with a large municipal workforce imposes a greater burden on the most vulnerable populations, notably low-income children.
Letter
Transportation
CBC Encourages MTA to Link Fares to Operating Expenses; Explore Peak Pricing
September 30, 2010
The CBC seeks to stress two points: 1) the fare increases to be approved for January 2011 and proposed for January 2013 should move toward establishing a long-term policy to cover half of operating expenses with fare revenue, and 2) the MTA should explore the feasibility of incorporating the practice of “peak pricing" for subways and buses.
Letter
City Budget
CBC Urges Gov. Cuomo to Veto Arbitrary Training Mandate for Firefighters
September 29, 2010
CBC recommends to the governor that A9885/S6784, which mandates that New York City firefighters be provided an additional 80 hours of training on the Buildings and Fire Codes, be vetoed because it is an arbitrary addition to existing preparation that is unnecessary and financially burdensome.
Op Ed
City Budget
Reform New York City Municipal Union Welfare Funds
August 04, 2010
CBC president Carol Kellermann pens an op-ed that advocates for the reformation of the taxpayer-supported municipal union welfare funds.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony to the New York City Charter Revision Commission
August 02, 2010
CBC submits this testimony to express our opposition to granting charter-mandated formula budgets to certain City offices, as doing so would be fiscally imprudent and would undermine the long-established process by which the Mayor and the City Council establish budget priorities as elected representatives.
Op Ed
Transportation
Keeping the City from Falling Apart
July 28, 2010
With the city's 2011 operating budget recently approved it is worth asking how well current budgets provide for repair and maintenance of our roads, bridges, tunnels, parks and other public infrastructure. The answer is disappointing.