Commentary/Op-Ed - December 2008
Q&A with Eldon Scott, founder of the Union Square Holiday MarketAs part of our series of Q&As with New York City innovators, entrepreneurs and policy experts, the Centers Jonathan Bowles interviews Eldon Scott, who is arguably the person most responsible for creating the city's holiday markets.
Commentary/Op-Ed - September 2008
An Investment That WorksThis Off the CUF commentary criticizes the Bush administration for sharply cutting funds for workforce development in recent years at a time when developing the skills of workers is increasingly important to the economic fortunes of New York and other cities.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2008
New York Needs An Olympic-Sized Infrastructure InvestmentThis Off the CUF commentary by the president of RPA points out that China is aggressively expanding its urban infrastructure and argues that officials in the U.S. and New York need to do the same.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2008
A Desirable OptionFollowing up on the Center's "Schools That Work" report, this New York Sun opinion column asserts that Mayor Bloomberg's task force on career and technical education has identified the problems facing CTE, but has not offered enough detail in its plans to address them.
Commentary/Op-Ed - July 2008
Opportunity CostsOur latest Off the CUF commentary criticizes City Hall for slashing the budget of a critical ESOL program at a time when immigrants make up a growing share of the city's workforce and there is a huge unmet need for English language instruction.
Commentary/Op-Ed - June 2008
Trouble BrewingThis Off the CUF commentary by the co-founder of the Brooklyn Brewery details his firms unsuccessful four-year saga to find new space in the five boroughs and calls on policymakers to provide more support for small manufacturers in the face of gentrification, rezoning of industrial areas and rising real estate prices.
Commentary/Op-Ed - June 2008
Recipe For GrowthThis Off the CUF commentary urges city economic development officials to support the creation of additional kitchen incubators, which give food entrepreneurs something that's often impossible to find in New York: a licensed commercial kitchen at affordable rates.
Commentary/Op-Ed - February 2008
Q&A with Matthew Goldstein, chancellor of CUNYAs part of our series of Q&As with New York City innovators, entrepreneurs and policy experts, the Center's Jonathan Bowles interviews Matthew Goldstein about CUNY's recent accomplishments, the universitys role in the city's changing economy and Governor Spitzer's new higher education initiatives.
Commentary/Op-Ed - February 2008
Q&A with Cathie Mahon, head of the citys Office of Financial EmpowermentAs part of our series of Q&As with New York City innovators, entrepreneurs and policy experts, the Center's Jonathan Bowles interviews Cathie Mahon about Mayor Bloomberg's new anti-poverty initiatives and what her office is doing to help low income New Yorkers open banking accounts, build savings and avoid costly fees for basic financial transactions.
Commentary/Op-Ed - February 2008
Q&A with Blake Walters Foote, head of NYCs Workforce Investment BoardAs part of our series of Q&As with New York City innovators, entrepreneurs and policy experts, the Center's David Fischer sits down with Blake Walters Foote to discuss the WIBs priorities and the future of workforce development in New York.
Commentary/Op-Ed - February 2008
Something To Build OnThe Mayors Commission on Construction Opportunity has produced promising early results in bringing women and non-whites into the citys construction workforce. But will the changes prove lasting, or merely cosmetic?
Commentary/Op-Ed - December 2007
Immigrants Would Thrive With More English ClassesIn this op/ed for Newsday, the Center's Tara Colton argues that the growing unmet demand for English-language instruction could have dire economic consequences for Long Island.
Commentary/Op-Ed - November 2007
Recapturing Suburban ShoppersThis policy brief shows that ethnic retail strips from Jackson Heights to Richmond Hill are attracting hordes of suburban shoppersand having a big impact on the citys economy.
Commentary/Op-Ed - September 2007
Too Few Jobs For YouthNew York City's Summer Youth Employment Program recently completed another successful summer--but, as CUF notes in this recent Gotham Gazette op-ed, it's still reaching too few of the city's teens.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2007
Libraries, An Invaluable Resource for ImmigrantsIn this op-ed for El Diario/La Prensa, CUF Director Jonathan Bowles argues that the restoration of six day a week service at the city's public libraries is a huge victory for immigrants, children, seniors and working adults.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2007
Engineering A Tech SectorThis Off the CUF essay argues that NYU's proposed merger with Polytechnic University could provide a critical spark to the city's long-frustrated efforts to establish a more robust high-tech sector.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2007
Branching OutThis Off the CUF essay argues that the decision to restore six day a week library service is a landmark achievement that will boost the competitiveness of New Yorks workforce.
Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2007
Immigrant Entrepreneurs on Staten IslandIn this op-ed in Staten Island Business Trends, CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that Staten Islands growing immigrant population could be a catalyst for the boroughs economy in the years ahead.
Commentary/Op-Ed - December 2006
Help More Immigrants Learn EnglishIn an op/ed in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, CUF Associate Research Director Tara Colton highlights the tremendous need for English language instruction throughout New York State and urges business leaders and elected officials to step up their support for ESOL programs.
Commentary/Op-Ed - November 2006
Q&A with NYC-based video game developer Eric ZimmermanNew York is a global creative hub, home to an unmatched number of creative people and scores of businesses in industries from film to advertising. But where does the city stand when it comes to the video game industry, one of the nations fastest growing creative fields? To find out, read the Centers latest Q&A, with Eric Zimmerman, CEO and co-founder of Tribeca-based Gamelab, the city's largest game development studio.
