Commentary/Op-Ed - October 2013
Op-ed: Next mayor must build a better 311In this New York Daily News op-ed, the Center's Adam Forman writes that while New York created one of the first 311 systems, “the platform for the smartphone era is being created outside of New York.” He suggested that the next mayor should follow the lead of cities like Boston and Chicago, and enhance the 311 system by leveraging the full power of the Internet and mobile computing.
Testimony - September 2013
Testimony: Building Better LibrariesIn this testimony before a City Council hearing, the Center’s Jonathan Bowles points out that while New York’s libraries are more important than ever, the branches’ physical infrastructure hasn't kept pace. And with little capital dollars coming from the city, he argues that library administrators are smart to consider alternative ways of renovating branches.
Commentary/Op-Ed - September 2013
New York Times Room for Debate: Train Workers, Create JobsIn this Room for Debate essay in the New York Times, the Center's Jonathan Bowles argues that with so many New Yorkers out of work, the next mayor will have to make job creation a top priority and take steps to ensure that more New Yorkers are prepared to succeed in the 21st-century economy. The piece was part of a segment called “Vining the NYC Primaries,” in which a handful of New Yorkers were asked to write a brief piece and make an accompanying vine about a key issue facing New York on primary day.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2013
New York Times Room for Debate: Think Beyond ManhattanIn this Room for Debate essay in the New York Times, the Center's David Giles writes that to keep up with New York’s dramatically changing economic geography—which has brought about profound changes in commuting patterns—the next mayor will have to focus his transportation efforts beyond Manhattan.
impact - August 2013
CUF Reports Lead to Built/NYC, a New Program by the NYC Department of Design and ConstructionThe Center’s 2011 Growth by Design report concluded that far more could be done to harness New York City’s design sector. NYC Department of Design and Construction acted on this recommendation, creating a new program that will commission site-specific furnishings for city construction projects from local product designers.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2013
Op-ed: Building the American workforceThe U.S. economy faces a big problem that ought to be ripe for a bipartisan solution: too many Americans can’t find jobs, and too many employers can’t find the right person to hire.