What's the [DATA] Point?

What's the [DATA] Point? is a podcast by Citizens Budget Commission and Gotham Gazette on New York State and City policies.

 

It's hosted by Ben Max, Executive Editor of Gotham Gazette, and Andrew Rein, President of the Citizens Budget Commission, and produced by Kevin Medina and William J. Rice.

 

Stream below or download on your phone via iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.

 

Episodes

Podcast episode Housing

109,000, with Dan Garodnick

August 09, 2024
109,000 is the number of new homes New York City aims to create over the next 15 years through its City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning proposal.
Podcast episode City Budget

$116 billion, with Council Member Justin Brannan

July 26, 2024
$116 billion is the total NYC adopted budget for FY 2025, including the $4 billion of FY25 bills that were prepaid. This year’s budget talks between the Mayor and City Council took several twists and turns, ending with the narrowly on-time arrival of an adopted budget. New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, Chair of the Council’s Finance Committee, joined the podcast to discuss the budget, the Council’s role, and his prior career as a musician.
Podcast episode State Budget

$8.8 Trillion, with Adrienne Harris

June 27, 2024
$8.8 trillion is the total combined assets of the nearly 3,000 financial institutions that are regulated and supervised by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). In addition to navigating serious banking crises in recent years, DFS faces challenges on the horizon: artificial intelligence, cyber security, and cryptocurrency, to name a few. Joining the podcast is DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris, who shares with us the important work state leadership is doing to ensure a strong and secure financial services sector, while navigating this rapidly changing landscape.
Podcast episode City Budget

6,632, with First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright

June 13, 2024
6,632 is the number of NYC households who responded to CBC's 2023 NYC Resident Survey: "Straight from New Yorkers." The survey provides the most comprehensive, statistically valid, post-pandemic view of how New Yorkers are feeling about the City's quality of life and the quality of government services. Among the many eyebrow-raising pieces of feedback coming Straight from New Yorkers: Only 30% of rate their quality of life as excellent or good, down from 50% in 2017. Joining the pod to discuss the survey results and the City's priorities is New York City First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.
Podcast episode Housing

1.4%, with Vicki Been

May 02, 2024
1.4% is NYC’s current—and historically low—apartment vacancy rate. New York City and State are in the throes of a housing crisis caused by decades of underproduction. To discuss the latest housing policy news affecting both NYC and the state, we’re joined by national housing expert Vicki Been, professor at NYU's Furman Center and former NYC Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development.
Podcast episode Housing

$60 billion, with Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Jamie Rubin

April 05, 2024
$60 billion is how much NYCHA plans to invest in its infrastructure over 5 years. Facing ongoing challenges such as budget gaps, weakening rent collection, and deteriorating physical conditions, NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Chair Jamie Rubin shared their strategies for managing the nation's largest public housing system.
Podcast episode State Budget

$233 billion, with Blake Washington

March 26, 2024
$233 billion is the total NYS budget proposed by Governor Hochul for fiscal year 2025. NYS Budget Director Blake Washington spoke with CBC President Andrew Rein on the State's fiscal picture and other pressing issues facing New York.
Podcast episode Education

$39.5 billion, with Chancellor David Banks and Emma Vadehra

March 05, 2024
$39.5 billion is spent by NYC annually to educate our students. The New York City Public Schools has an enormous and challenging task: educate and develop 900,000 students from a wide diversity of backgrounds and needs. Are we getting the return we need on our dollars? How are our students doing? NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks and Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Emma Vadehra discuss.