Podcast episode State Budget

$209 billion, with State Senator Liz Krueger, E.J. McMahon, and Patrick Orecki

June 30, 2021
$209 billion is the total spending in New York State's Enacted Budget for Fiscal Year 2022. Six months ago, New York State was staring down a four-year revenue shortfall totaling $60 billion—however, revenues have strengthened and the federal government passed a stimulus bill that includes what may be the largest state and local government relief program in history. Still, the State decided to raise taxes, boost education aid, and fund a host of economic recovery programs. Joining the podcast are three guests to discuss what this means for the State's fiscal future: State Senator Liz Krueger, Senior Fellow at the Empire Center and Adjunct Fellow at the Manhattan Institute E.J. McMahon, and CBC's Director of State Studies Patrick Orecki.
Podcast episode City Budget

$250 billion, CBC's Comptroller Candidate Forum

May 07, 2021
$250 billion—the assets held by the five pensions funds for which the New York City Comptroller is custodian, administrator, and investment advisor. But that's not the Comptroller's only responsibility. On today's special episode of "What's the [DATA] Point?" with an introduction from Ben and Andrew, listeners will hear CBC's "Comptroller Candidate Forum: Accountability, Not Just Accounting," which featured 13-minute conversations with each of six candidates: Brad Lander, Zach Iscol, Brian Benjamin, Michelle Caruso, Cabrera, Corey Johnson, and David Weprin. Each candidate shared how they plan to use the powers of the NYC Comptroller to serve the people of New York.
Podcast episode Education

270,00, with Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez

April 29, 2021
270,000—the number of two-year, four-year, and graduate degree seeking students enrolled in the City University of New York (CUNY). For generations CUNY has been an engine of economic mobility. With New York City sitting at the inflection point between the pandemic-driven recession and its recovery, CUNY will play a key role in preparing students and workers for, and linking them to, new opportunities in a changing economy. CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez joined the podcast to discuss the pandemic's impact on CUNY, his efforts to partner with the private sector to open career opportunities for students and to bolster CUNY's finances, and how City, State, and federal budget decisions and proposals may stabilize CUNY in the future.
Podcast episode Health Care

Episode 105: 21,200, with Stephen Berger and Dr. Mitchell Katz

April 06, 2021
21,200 is the total number of inpatient hospital beds in New York State—approximately 2.5 beds for every 1,000 people. The pandemic has brought a significant attention to New York's health care system, and some have called for greater hospital capacity to help New York be better prepared for the future. Joining the podcast are two of New York's leading health care experts: Stephen Berger, who was Chairman of the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, and Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals.
Podcast episode Transportation

24/7, with Sarah Feinberg and Janno Lieber

April 01, 2021
24/7 is the number of hours and days New Yorkers traditionally have had access to the subway system. In response to the pandemic the MTA suspended overnight service to clean and disinfect the subway, giving riders the confidence they need to return to the system. The pandemic decimated revenue and ridership this past year, but with an infusion of federal funds and slowly returning ridership the MTA financial forecast has stabilized for the time being. However, they're still not out of the woods. Today's guests are two leaders who will chart and manage the course forward for the MTA: New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg, and MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber.
Podcast episode Transportation

800,000, with John Porcari

March 21, 2021
800,000 is the approximate number of daily passengers who travel on Northeast Corridor trains. The only rail link that connects New York and New Jersey is through a 110-year-old tunnel under the Hudson River. The Biden administration has pledged to move forward the Gateway Program―the planned, phased expansion and renovation of the Northeast Corridor rail line, including the aging tunnel. John Porcari, the founding interim Executive Director of the Gateway Development Corporation, joined the podcast to update listeners on the status of this critical infrastructure project.
Podcast episode City Budget

$5.3 billion, CBC's Mayoral Forum

February 28, 2021
$5.3 billion is the current estimate of the budget gap the next Mayor will have to close in her or his first year. Ben and CBC President Andrew Rein introduce listeners to CBC's mayoral candidates forum "Managing NYC’s Fiscal Crisis" that featured 10-minute conversations with each of eight candidates: Maya Wiley, Kathryn Garcia, Andrew Yang, Dianne Morales, Eric Adams, Ray McGuire, Scott Stringer, and Shaun Donovan. Each candidate presented their plan to manage the crisis, answered targeted questions, and identified positions on key fiscal issues in a lightning round.
Podcast episode State Budget

$7.4 billion, with E.J. McMahon

February 03, 2021
$7.4 billion is how much NYS personal income tax was paid in 2018 by residents of other states. This revenue stream may be threatened if a lawsuit over taxation of out-of-state telecommuting residents prevails. Today's guest is E.J. McMahon, adjunct fellow of the Manhattan Institute and senior fellow of the Empire Center. He explains why this lawsuit is so important and also discussed elements of the NYS Executive Budget. And, in her final episode as host, Maria Doulis offers a brief analysis of the NYC Preliminary Budget.
Podcast episode City Budget

29 acres, the Special Flushing Waterfront District

December 03, 2020
29 is the number of acres in the proposed Special Flushing Waterfront District. In our third episode on land use and zoning, we move from Brooklyn to Flushing, Queens to discuss the proposed district that could add 3 million square feet of housing, hotel, retail and office space; remediate Flushing Creek; and create waterfront access and park space. Developer Helen Lee and proposal critic John Choe joined the podcast to share their competing views.
Podcast episode Health Care

2.9%, with Dr. Thomas Frieden

November 16, 2020
2.9% was New York State's COVID-19 positivity rate as of November 10, 2020. New York was the early epicenter of the pandemic, and though new cases started to decline in April and stayed relatively low through the summer, cases are beginning to rise again. Joining the podcast is one of the nation's foremost public health experts Dr. Thomas Frieden offers a clear explanation about what we know about the virus, how to best prepare for its rise, and what the prospects are for a vaccine.
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