Innovative Ideas. Independent Policy.

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  Report - November 2021

  Branches to Recovery: Tapping the Power of NYC’s Public Libraries to Rebuild a More Equitable City

  Libraries are already among the city’s largest and most trusted providers of programs and services aligned with New Yorkers’ greatest needs. With a clear citywide strategy and a new level of investment, their impact could be even greater.
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  Data - November 2021

  Expanding Registered Apprenticeships in NYC

  While New York State has made significant progress in expanding registered apprenticeships since 2018, New York City has seen little growth. With renewed support, the city has the opportunity to leverage this high-impact training model and make apprenticeships in high-growth industries like tech and healthcare a key component of an inclusive economic recovery.
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  Data - November 2021

  Before the Next Flood: NYC Needs More Progress Building Green Infrastructure

  While the city has made significant progress in ramping up the construction of green infrastructure, it has fallen short of state-mandated targets and struggled to finish construction on thousands of green infrastructure assets in a timely manner. The next administration needs to expand its goals and accelerate construction throughout the city.
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  Report - November 2021

  Making Rezoning Work

  This report—a joint effort between the Center for an Urban Future and JobsFirstNYC—demonstrates the need to integrate a comprehensive workforce development strategy into future rezonings and offers a blueprint for how to do so.
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  Report - July 2021

  RE:NEW YORK CITY

  250 Ideas from New Yorkers to Revive NYC's Economy, Spark Good Jobs, and Build a More Equitable City
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  Report - July 2021

  Creative Comeback: Surveying NYC’s Cultural Ecosystem in the Wake of COVID-19

  Drawing from a survey of 643 community-based arts organizations conducted by Americans for the Arts, this report offers new insights into the severe damage done by the pandemic to the city’s arts ecosystem. Despite the remarkable resilience of artists and organizations, city leaders, including the next mayor, will have to take further action to stabilize the city’s cultural ecosystem and strengthen it in the future.
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  Report - June 2021

  Opportunity Costs: Affording the True Costs of College in NYC

  Each year, thousands of CUNY community college students drop out without a degree. To help many more New Yorkers earn a college credential and access quality jobs, city and state leaders should focus on helping students overcome nontuition expenses like MetroCards, textbooks, technology, and childcare that add thousands to the cost of college and are a key factor in persistently low graduation rates.