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
City Budget
275, with MTA Board Member Veronica Vanterpool
November 21, 2019
275 is the number of meetings Veronica Vanterpool has attended since she was appointed to the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. She is one of four individuals appointed by the Mayor to the 21 member board. She joined the pod to discuss her time on the board, the important challenges facing the MTA, and more.
Podcast episode
City Budget
$15 billion, with Dean Fuleihan
November 12, 2019
$15 billion is the CBC's estimate of the three-year revenue shortfall for New York City government in a recession. First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan joined CBC President Andrew Rein for a wide-ranging discussion about the City's budget, closing Rikers, access to hydropower, NYC's competitiveness, and more.
Podcast episode
Taxes
Episode 83: $81.3 billion, with Commissioner Michael Schmidt
October 24, 2019
$81.3 billion the amount of tax revenue New York State will collect in fiscal year 2020—46 percent of all resources in the $176 billion New York State budget. Michael Schmidt, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, joined the podcast to parse the details on the State’s tax base and taxation policies.
Podcast episode
City Budget
5, with Gail Benjamin and Carl Weisbrod
October 16, 2019
5 is the number of questions on the ballot for New Yorkers this November. The ballot questions are the product of a year-long review of the NYC Charter by the Charter Revision Commission. Two Commissioners—Carl Weisbrod and the Commission’s Chair Gail Benjamin—joined the pod to tell us more about these proposals.
Podcast episode
State Budget
$7.3 trillion, with Linda A. Lacewell
October 04, 2019
$7.3 trillion is the total assets of the more than 3,000 insurance and financial institutions regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). DFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell discusses DFS' critical role as a regulator.
Podcast episode
Housing
90%, with Sean Campion
September 20, 2019
90% is the share of NYCHA units that are at risk of no longer being cost effective to repair by 2027 at the current rate of deterioration. NYCHA released a plan to address this in December 2018. CBC Senior Research Associate Sean Campion joins the pod to discuss progress, the urgency of success, and the dismal impact of failure.
Podcast episode
Education
16,000, with Council Member Cornegy and David Tipson
September 05, 2019
16,000 is the number of New York City students in Gifted & Talented programs, which the School Diversity Advisory Group recommended phasing out. David Tipson, Executive Director of Appleseed, and City Council Member Robert Cornegy discuss the report’s findings and recommendations.
Podcast episode
Education
118,997 with James Merriman
August 13, 2019
118,997 is the number of students enrolled in charter schools in NYC in 2019. That enrollment has grown 66 percent since 2014 and applications continue to surpass the number of available seats. James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center, joined the pod to discuss the politics, policies, promises, and pitfalls of charter schools.