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 Taxes

151,700, with Maria Doulis

January 31, 2024
151,700 is the net loss of New York personal income tax filers in 2020 and 2021. Was this primarily due to the pandemic? CBC is relaunching its podcast with a focus on policy discussions, starting with the podcast's founder and CBC alum Maria Doulis, Deputy New York State Comptroller for Budget and Policy Analysis. Tune in as we explore the challenge of retaining and attracting more New Yorkers.
Podcast episode Energy & Environment

85%, with Doreen Harris and Basil Seggos

January 26, 2024
85% is the amount New York State must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The State’s Cap-and-Invest program is a key strategy to cap and reduce emissions, auction emission rights, and invest proceeds in energy transition. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYS Energy Research and Development Authority, and Basil Seggos, Commissioner of NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, joined CBC to discuss Cap-and-Invest, and much more.
Podcast episode Transportation

$1.5 trillion, with the MTA's Janno Lieber and Jamie Torres-Springer

December 19, 2023
$1.5 trillion is the MTA’s total asset value—the trains, buses, yards, and stations...all the infrastructure moving New Yorkers round the clock. At a recent CBC event, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and President of Construction and Development Jamie Torres-Springer discussed congestion pricing, fare evasion, congestion pricing, state of good repair, the future of Penn Station, and more.
Podcast episode City Budget

$10.6 billion, with Andrew Rein and Ana Champeny

December 11, 2023
$10.6 billion is the real-world, all-in budget gap that NYC could be facing once you include all spending that is currently unbudgeted or underbudgeted. In a co-production with Ben Max's podcast "Max Politics," CBC President Andrew Rein and Vice President for Research Ana Champeny about the City's decisions and unforeseen events that lead to the real-world budget gap, and the options for closing it.
Podcast episode Energy & Environment

44 million, with Commissioner Jessica Tisch

October 20, 2023
44 million pounds of trash are generated by New Yorkers every day. The NYC Department of Sanitation not only collects residential waste, recyclables, and compostables, but it also removes snow, cleans streets and lots, removes graffiti, and fights rats. CBC Chair Marissa Shorenstein is joined by Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is leading "New York's Trash Revolution." The revolution includes expanding composting citywide, residential and commercial waste containerization, sanitation truck and bin redesign, and more.
Podcast episode Economic Development

4.67 million, with Andrew Kimball

October 05, 2023
4.67 million is the total number of jobs in New York City, just shy of employment pre-pandemic. Though the economy is stable and employment generally strong, challenges remain. The economy is undergoing longer term transformation including remote work, which will affect our labor market and commercial real estate, and the City faces proximate challenges with the influx of new migrants and asylum seekers. NYC EDC's President and Executive Director joined CBC to discuss the Administration’s economic growth strategy, projects ranging from Willets Point to SPARC Kips Bay, the green economy and offshore wind, soccer, ferries, and more.
Podcast episode Economic Development

50,000, with Hope Knight

June 29, 2023
50,000 is the number of jobs New York State expects to be created over the next 20 years by attracting Micron to central New York with $7.2 billion of incentives. New York has long been a leader in economic development, with the State and localities offering tax incentives and spending totaling over $10 billion a year. Joining the podcast to discuss the Micron deal, workforce development, the film tax credit, Penn Station, and what analysis is done to show these investments are worth the cost is Hope Knight, President, CEO & Commissioner of Economic State Development.
Podcast episode City Budget

$4.3 billion, with NYC Budget Director Jacques Jiha

June 09, 2023
$4.3 billion is the Adams' Administration's estimate of the cost to house and provide services to asylum seekers this and next year. But that is only a small portion of the City's fiscal challenges. NYC Budget Director Jacques Jiha joined the CBC to discuss the fiscal year 2024 Executive Budget, negotiations with the City Council, future budget gaps, efforts to improve the City's management and more.