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Testimony
Economic Development
Testimony on the Penn Station Area Civic and Land Use Improvement Project
Submitted to Empire State Development
December 08, 2021
Individually and collectively, these projects could contribute to New York’s long-term competitiveness and well-being.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on NYCHA’s Capital Spending of City Funds
Submitted to the City Council Committee on Public Housing and Subcommittee on Capital Budget
November 18, 2021
I will focus on two topics: first, how additional City capital funding and new policy approaches are helping to address NYCHA’s capital needs, and second, the process and procurement reforms needed to ensure that NYCHA spends all—not just City—capital dollars effectively and efficiently.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on Oversight of Changes to Municipal Retirees’ Health Care Plan
Testimony before the City Council Committee on Civil Service and Labor
October 28, 2021
This agreement starts right and then veers off course to miss the finish line because the resulting savings do not flow to the City’s bottom line.
Op Ed
Public Workforce
Early Retirement Incentives for City Workers Is Foolhardy and Expensive
Crain’s New York Business
April 15, 2021
New York state has just authorized New York City to offer most civilian employees an incentive to retire early. The city should flatly reject this opportunity.
Testimony
City Budget
Testimony on Comprehensive Long-Term Planning (Intro. 2186)
Submitted to the New York City Council
February 23, 2021
Intro. 2186 proposes a new comprehensive planning framework that would reform the City’s land use and capital planning process.
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.
Testimony
Housing
Testimony on the NYCHA Physical Needs Assessment
Submitted to the New York City Council Committee on Public Housing
November 15, 2018
NYCHA has an astounding $32 billion in capital needs, a nearly fivefold increase over the last decade. Today nearly all its properties require substantial rehabilitation.
Testimony
Economic Development
NYS ABO's Oversight and Regulation of IDAs
Testimony before the New York State Authorities Budget Office
September 04, 2018
The purpose of today’s public hearing is to discuss regulations recently proposed by the Authorities Budget Office to impose additional disclosure requirements on local industrial development agencies (IDAs).
Statement
Housing
Statement on NYCHA Physical Needs Assessment
July 02, 2018
Radical changes need to be undertaken immediately
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
Transportation
Four years after 'Bridgegate,' Port's fiefdoms are coming back
Crain's New York Business
May 30, 2018
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a crucial agency, but it is badly governed and in need of reform.
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.
Testimony
Capital Spending
Testimony on the City of New York’s Capital Commitment Plan
Submitted to the NYC Council Committee on Finance and Subcommittee on Capital Budget
March 20, 2018
NYC's Capital Commitment Plan is unrealistic in its ambition, obscures capital priorities, and discourages accountability for completing capital projects efficiently.
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?
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.
Testimony
Economic Development
Testimony on Economic Development Programs
Given to the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, and the Standing Committee on Small Business
November 13, 2017
Testimony on economic development programs that leverage state funds to translate technological advancements into viable long-term business development and economic growth.
Testimony
Transportation
Improving the New York City Subway System
Submitted to the NYC Council Committee on Transportation
August 08, 2017
System enhancements have often been prioritized over capital improvements of the MTA's infrastructure. The sensible and ambitious turnaround plan should be funded by motorists and increased labor productivity.
Statement
Transportation
Statement on the Mayor’s Proposal to Raise Revenue for the MTA
through an Increase in the NYC Personal Income Tax
August 07, 2017
Mayor de Blasio’s proposal to raise the top rate on the personal income tax is not an appropriate way to raise funds.