Innovative Ideas. Independent Policy.

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  Report - September 2026

  Strengthening NYC’s Entry-Level Tech Pathways in the Age of AI

  The tech sector remains a vital source of well-paying jobs in NYC, but entry-level hiring for tech positions has plummeted in recent years, impacting college grads and tech training participants. With the first rung of the ladder under pressure in today’s AI era, city leaders should help reimagine on-ramps to tech careers for low-income New Yorkers.
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  Report - September 2026

  Unlocking Public-Private Partnerships to Help Support and Strengthen NYC’s Parks

  New York has a long history of tapping public-private partnerships to strengthen vital city services and infrastructure. This report argues that it's time for NYC to develop a new generation of public-private partnerships to support the city’s parks, while strengthening existing partnerships. It offers five ideas for doing so.
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  Report - August 2026

  Strengthening CUNY’s Computer Science Faculty to Prepare Students for NYC’s Changing Tech Economy

  Computer science enrollment at CUNY has more than doubled over the past decade, but faculty capacity has not kept pace. To bolster this vital pathway to the middle class, policymakers should help CUNY recruit and retain enough faculty with applied expertise and industry experience to equip students with the skills and experiences employers increasingly demand.
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  Report - August 2026

  Harnessing NYC’s Natural Areas

  New York City’s 12,000 acres of natural areas can improve public health, strengthen communities, and build climate resilience, yet remain overlooked and underused. Our research suggests that realizing more of that potential may depend on continued investment in staffing and maintenance, stronger awareness and wayfinding, and new approaches to programming, partnerships, and long-term funding.
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  Report - July 2026

  5 Ideas to Advance Economic Mobility in NYC

  The Mamdani administration and City Council have taken promising steps to ease the affordability crisis squeezing New Yorkers. But making the city truly affordable will require more than lowering the cost of living. This report presents five actionable ideas to raise incomes and build wealth, developed for CUF’s third annual NYC Economic Mobility Summit.
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  Commentary/Op-Ed - June 2026

  Closing NYC’s Street Safety Gaps in the Communities Most at Risk

  New York City traffic deaths are at a record low, but street safety progress remains deeply uneven. This report finds that lower-income communities of color continue to face disproportionate danger—and that many have yet to benefit from the full toolkit of proven street safety improvements