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Op Ed
City Budget
Taking Control of New York’s Budgetary Future
Vital City
January 25, 2024
Budget season kicked off with an Albany-New York City doubleheader last week, with brightening skies in both places thanks to proactive efforts to cut costs (especially in the city) and a resilient economy that is bringing in higher-than-projected tax receipts.
Op Ed
City Budget
A Big Budget Briefing for Eric Adams
New York Daily News
November 16, 2021
Upon getting elected, Mayor-elect Eric Adams vowed to “get stuff done.” Adams’ focus on delivering core services and managing the budget is exactly right.
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.
Op Ed
City Budget
Fed aid is a bridge; stable shore needed: American Rescue Plan good for NYC only if used prudently
New York Daily News
March 13, 2021
The American Rescue Plan will not only provide tremendous support to individuals, families, businesses and organizations, but can be a game-changer for New York state and city government. Success, however, is far from guaranteed.
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.
Op Ed
Housing
In Need of Partners
Affordability Gap Too Large for New York City to Cover Alone
October 17, 2018
The City's committment to create and preserve affordable housing units and make critical repairs at NYCHA is unprecedented. But can this effort address affordability for all rent-burdened New Yorkers?
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
Forcing budget discipline on big spender Bill
New York Daily News
May 02, 2018
Last week, Mayor de Blasio released an executive budget detailing $90.8 billion in spending in fiscal year 2019.
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.
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
City Budget
How Queens Residents Rate City Services And Quality Of Life
August 11, 2017
The Citizens Budget Commission recently released the results of a citywide survey of residents’ satisfaction with municipal services and the quality of life in their neighborhoods and across the city.
Op Ed
City Budget
Inside New Yorkers’ Satisfaction, or Lack Thereof, with City Services
June 01, 2017
New Yorkers are notoriously opinionated, but how often do they get to tell city leaders what they think?
Op Ed
City Budget
End de Blasio’s giveaway to bus companies
May 09, 2017
The program was bad policy from the outset-- and was extended for a third year. The City Council should defund it when the budget is adopted.
Op Ed
Transportation
Funding Fares Should Be the City's Responsiblity
April 02, 2017
If the mayor supports the policy, it should be a priority that is accommodated within the city’s financial plan.
Op Ed
City Budget
Why we're asking New Yorkers to assess the quality of life in their neighborhoods
January 24, 2017
We're asking New Yorkers all over the city to fill out a survey on public services and quality of life in NYC.
Op Ed
Transportation
Make the MetroCard a gateway to opportunity, not a barrier
Transit should be half-price for the working poor
January 08, 2017
Half-priced metrocards for low-income adults should be paid for by the City, not the MTA. The City already supports reduced fares for the elderly and disabled.