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

Episode 100: $4 billion, with United for Housing

December 22, 2020
$4 billion is the amount of annual investment in housing recommended by a broad coalition of groups called United for Housing. In the fourth episode on the subject of land use, we continue the conversation with two representatives of the United for Housing coalition: Michelle de la Uz of the Fifth Avenue Committee, and Paimaan Lodhi of the Real Estate Board of New York.

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.

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.

8,200, with Councilmember Brad Lander

October 15, 2020
8,200 is the number of new housing units that could be created by the proposed rezoning of Gowanus, Brooklyn. Councilmember Brad Lander joins "What's the [DATA] Point?" to discuss the rezoning plan and make the case for comprehensive planning.

20,000, with Industry City CEO Andrew Kimball and Councilmember Carlos Menchaca

September 24, 2020
20,000 is the number of jobs that could be potentially created by proposed rezoning of Industry City, a sprawling retail, office, and manufacturing complex in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. But this week the developer pulled the plug on the proposal after negotiations with stakeholders came to a standstill. What went wrong, and what does that mean for the future of Industry? This is episode is a tale of two rezonings, as told by Industry City CEO Andrew Kimball and NYC Councilmember Carlos Menchaca.

72%, with NYC Business Leaders

August 16, 2020
72% is the share of firms which have experienced challenges in the switch to remote work spurred by the pandemic. The datapoint is from a survey of business leaders representing several key NYC economic sectors. We convened a panel of five CBC Trustees representing real estate, finance, law, health, and job development to discuss the survey's finding, and how they believe their sectors--and the City as a whole--will look like in the short-term and the long-term.

$1 billion, with Adrian Pietrzak and Ana Champeny

July 02, 2020
$1 billion is the target reduction in the NYPD budget that became the focal point of recent budget negotiations. Was this cut actually made in the NYC Adopted FY2021 Budget? CBC's Adrian Pietrzak and Ana Champeny discuss the NYPD's budget and how it's going to change in the coming year in this special mini-episode.

Episode 93: $88.2 billion, with Ana Champeny

July 01, 2020
$88.2 billion is the size of the NYC budget adopted for FY 2021. After years of economic expansion, this is the first budget Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson negotiated in a recession. CBC's Ana Champeny joined the podcast to discuss why this is just the first of many tough choices facing City leaders.