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Testimony
Pensions & Benefits
The Health Care Savings Agreement: A Look Back and a Look Forward
Testimony Submitted to the New York City Council Committees on Finance and Civil Service and Labor
November 29, 2018
Savings to health benefit expenditures are crucial to attaining labor settlements that are fair and reasonable for both City employees and taxpayers.
Letter
Pensions & Benefits
Governor Cuomo Should Veto Costly Employee and Retiree Benefits
A Letter to the Governor
November 27, 2018
CBC Recommends veto of A8164-b/S3770-b, A8402-b/S6435-b, A9909/S7705, A9910/S7704, and A10735/S7933.
Op Ed
Economic Development
The Smart Money on Amazon
Strengths and weaknesses in the Long Island City deal
November 23, 2018
As New Yorkers search for Black Friday deals, including on Amazon, we are also scrutinizing the deal offered to the retail giant to come to Long Island City.
Letter
Economic Development
Veto Ten Bills That Expand Economic Development Programs
A Letter to the Governor
August 14, 2018
The Governor should veto ten bills that would expand the State’s economic development programs. Three of the bills would expand or enrich existing programs, six bills would create a new targeted program, and one bill would create a new broad program.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Pension sweeteners a bitter prospect for New York City
New York Daily News
June 15, 2018
The City Council adopted a budget for fiscal year 2019 that totals almost $90 billion. Almost $10 billion will be devoted to pensions for public employees, and the amount is projected to grow. And yet, for some, this is not enough.
Op Ed
City Budget
How New York City Can Afford Fair Fares
Slowing the growth of the city’s workforce would provide the needed savings
April 16, 2018
The Fair Fares proposal can be accommodated within the city budget by exercising greater restraint in hiring and more aggressively tackling inefficiencies in its operations.
Op Ed
Economic Development
The State Budget Keeps Wasting Economic Development Cash
City & State
April 06, 2018
As the New York state budget was being adopted by the Legislature this weekend, some legislators objected to a $3 million appropriation for an upstate luxury golf tournament deemed to be an economic development initiative.
Op Ed
Transportation
Latest value capture proposal could harm NYC
City taxes should not be diverted to the MTA without local input
March 22, 2018
While value capture makes sense in theory, any such arrangement should be tailored to specific projects and circumstances - with the agreement of the City.
Letter
Housing
NYCHA's Project Labor Agreement Needs Evaluation
A Letter to the Mayor and NYCHA Chair
March 05, 2018
Has the PLA between NYCHA and the BCTC delivered on expected savings? An evaluation is needed before any decision to renew the PLA.
Testimony
Economic Development
NYCEDC 2018 and Beyond: Borough-by-Borough in the Next Four Years
Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Economic Development
February 06, 2018
How can EDC improve its performance in 2018?
Letter
Economic Development
Watchdog Groups: Freeze Business Subsidies Until Major Reforms Adopted
A Letter to the Governor and Legislative Leaders
January 18, 2018
The Governor should reject any new economic development and business subsidies until major anti-corruption and transparency reforms are put in place.
Op Ed
Economic Development
New York needs better return on economic investments
Albany Times Union
January 17, 2018
While upcoming corruption trials may provide a revealing behind the scenes look at state operations, they should not distract from the pressing need to reform the state's approach to economic development in this legislative session.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
NY Needs Real Pension Reform
December 07, 2010
Senior Research Associate Maria Doulis pens an op-ed on the need to reform public employee pensions that costs state and local governments nearly $1.5 billion.
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
Pensions & Benefits
CBC Encourages Governor Paterson to Veto Benefit Sweeteners
July 22, 2010
The fiscal realities of the time have not deterred the Legislature from advancing dozens of bills enhancing benefits for State and local employees and retirees. Three were already sent to you for consideration this week; another will be shortly. We are writing to ask that you veto them.
Op Ed
Pensions & Benefits
Sickening 'Sweeteners'
June 28, 2010
Pension contributions this year will cost the state government alone $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2010-11 -- an amount already set to grow 85 percent, to $3.2 billion, by 2014. How much higher must it go before the Legislature puts the taxpayers ahead of special interests?
Op Ed
Economic Development
NY Needs to Create Jobs
June 02, 2010
Deputy Research Director Elizabeth Lynam penned an op-ed in the Albany Times Union that advocates for the overhaul of the State's economic development programs in order to capture true job creation with scarce resources.
Letter
Economic Development
CBC Urges the State Legislature to Let the Empire Zones Program Sunset
April 12, 2010
This letter was written to urge the State legislature to allow the seriously flawed Empire Zones program to sunset as of June 30, 2010, as established by law, and to enact the Excelsior program as proposed by the Governor.
Op Ed
City Budget
Time for Prudence in City Benefits
April 10, 2010
Executive Vice President and Director of Research Charles Brecher pens this op-ed that discusses ways to rein in growth of the City's retirement benefits, notably pensions and health insurance.
Op Ed
Education
What Mike Must Get From Teachers
January 31, 2010
President Carol Kellermann outlines what Mayor Bloomberg must accomplish in his negotiations with the Teachers' Union in order to get the vital reforms needed to fix the school system.