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Op Ed
City Budget
Vote yes on a rainy day fund for New York City
New York Daily News
October 21, 2019
When New Yorkers head to the polls to vote, they will find five important ballot proposals, but one in particular is worth supporting because it would make an important change to how the city manages its budget.
Op Ed
City Budget
The Rainy Day Fund New York Needs
The Gotham Gazette
June 10, 2019
Most New Yorkers are unaware they will have the opportunity this fall to vote to dramatically change their city government.
Op Ed
City Budget
What de Blasio, City Council should do with $800 million
Crain’s New York Business
May 22, 2019
While de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson have both stressed the importance of preparing for an eventual economic downturn, the mayor's proposal falls short of what's needed.
Press Mention
City Budget
Charter Revision Commission Hears Expert Testimony on City Budgeting and Contracting
Gotham Gazette
March 13, 2019
The 2019 Charter Revision Commission, which is looking at ways to improve the city’s central governing document, heard suggestions on Monday from community-based organizations, fiscal watchdogs, and former and current city officials about potential changes to the city’s byzantine budgeting process.Over the course of more than three hours, experts weighed in on the city’s flawed contract procurement system, the severe lack of transparency in spending on capital projects, the possibility of creating a rainy day fund for the city, and measures to generally improve accountability in city spending. There was general agreement that city procurement needs to be overhauled to make it more efficient and transparent, but broader opposition to changes in the budgeting process and the administration’s ability to set revenues and expenditures.
Press Mention
City Budget
New York's Wide Variables
The Bond Buyer
December 27, 2016
CBC's Maria Doulis joins a discussion of what effect the Donald Trump presidency would have on New York City.
Press Mention
Pensions & Benefits
Taxpayers Will Foot the Multi-Million Dollar Bill to Make up for the Citys Sagging Pension Funds
NY1
December 07, 2016
The City is will send hundreds of millions of dollars to the pension fund after it has not met expected returns of 7% two years in-a-row.
Press Mention
City Budget
City Pensions Will Cost Taxpayers $722M Over Next 3 Years
November 18, 2016
Taxpayers must pick up a $722 million tab over the next three years to replenish the city’s cash-strapped municipal employee pension system.
Press Mention
City Budget
Brooklyn Bridge Repairs Expected to Cost $811M
November 11, 2016
“Big public projects take too long to complete and routinely run over budget,” said Maria Doulis, an analyst for the watchdog Citizens Budget Commission.
Press Mention
City Budget
Trash Complaints Rise Despite Sanitation Spending Spree
NBC New York
November 03, 2016
The city's Department of Sanitation has seen a 13 percent payroll increase under Mayor de Blasio, but New Yorkers have lodged 24 percent more 311 complaints about missed trash collection in that time, leading some residents to wonder if taxpayer money is being put to good use.
Op Ed
City Budget
The “20-20-20-20” Dilemma
The Need to Curtail New York City’s Legacy Costs
August 03, 2016
A giant and rapidly growing slice of the New York City budget pays for "legacy costs" - pensions, retiree health benefits, and debt service - which already exceed 20 percent of the budget and will expand by 20 percent to more than $20 billion in annual spending by fiscal year 2020. But the City can take steps to deal with it.
Op Ed
City Budget
The Rapidly Rising Cost of City Workers
New York City Employees Get $138,000 in Pay and Benefits, and Rising
June 09, 2016
The mayor and City Council quickly came to an agreement on the details of an adopted budget for fiscal year 2017, but little attention has been paid to spending projected over the course of the five-year financial plan. We ought to focus, and hold onto our wallets.
Op Ed
City Budget
Make NYC’s Retiree Health Benefit Trust More Trustworthy
May 25, 2016
The City of New York has a $70 billion liability for retiree health insurance costs and other post-employment benefits (OPEB), not including pensions. These benefits are contractually owed to retired city employees and are largely unfunded.
Op Ed
City Budget
A Mixed Budget Message
May 02, 2016
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s executive budget and accompanying four-year financial plan send a mixed message about New York City’s fiscal outlook. For the short term, economic performance and local revenues are exceeding expectations this year.
Op Ed
City Budget
Mayor de Blasio's Citywide Savings Program: Too Little of the Really Good Stuff
February 24, 2016
In his second year de Blasio reestablished the practice under the new name of Citywide Savings Program (CSP). The resurrection has been uninspired; the CSP in the latest plan, released last month, is too small and includes too few efficiency initiatives.
Op Ed
City Budget
Reducing Organic Waste Without Increasing Costs
February 03, 2016
The Department of Sanitation's focus on organic waste is merited by the size of the waste stream (more than 1 million tons annually) and environmental benefits of reducing greenhouse gases through use of alternative disposal strategies, such as composting, rather than transport to distant landfills.
Op Ed
City Budget
What de Blasio’s Budget is Missing
January 21, 2016
The mayor’s plan increases spending without any increases to tax rates, thanks to rising property values and continued economic growth: Employment has reached an all-time high, real wages are growing and tourists are still flocking to the city in record numbers.
Op Ed
City Budget
New York City Should Be Cautious About Increasing Its Debt
June 16, 2015
New York City has more outstanding debt than ever before, and Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed a 10-year capital plan that will increase it substantially.
Op Ed
City Budget
The New York City Housing Authority's Bold Plan Deserves Support
May 27, 2015
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Shola Olatoye, Chair and CEO of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), released a 10-year roadmap called "NextGeneration NYCHA". The roadmap is a bold plan that deserves to be supported.
Op Ed
City Budget
The Importance of Increasing Efficiency in New York City Government
April 26, 2015
Mayor Bill de Blasio has thus far declined to require city agencies to meet targets for increasing efficiency in the delivery of government services. In doing so, he has broken a pattern established by every mayor since the fiscal crisis in the 1970s, and he's taking a gamble that may come back to haunt the city's taxpayers.
Op Ed
City Budget
Residential Garbage Fees Vital to Achieving NYC's Environmental Goals and Lowering Costs
February 17, 2015
Landfilled trash managed by New York City's Department of Sanitation costs $300 million each year and produces more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The high expense and environmental impact result from the City's low residential diversion rate and high reliance on private and municipal landfills in faraway locations.