Testimony - July 2014
A Call for Better Transit Outside of ManhattanAt a July 2014 hearing before the MTA Transportation Reinvention Commission, the Center’s David Giles highlighted New York City’s rapidly changing economic geography and called on the MTA to make addressing non-Manhattan commuting a top priority.
Testimony - June 2014
Testimony: Aging Infrastructure - New York City’s Gas, Steam and Water InfrastructureIn this testimony before a joint Economic Development, Environmental Protection and Consumer Affairs City Council hearing, the Center’s Adam Forman highlights numerous vulnerabilities in the City's gas, water and sewage infrastructure. He recommends that the city prioritize the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and better coordinate its capital planning process across agencies.
Testimony - June 2014
Testimony: Aging out of Foster CareAt a June 2014 City Council hearing on youth aging out of the foster care system, CUF Senior Fellow Thomas Hilliard testified on the importance of exploring the developmental outcomes of foster care, such as high school graduation rates, early predictors of dropout and use of city services after leaving care.
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.
Testimony - June 2012
Keeping Up with the BoroughsThe New York City Council held a hearing that was prompted by the Center for an Urban Future's 2011 "Behind the Curb" report, which documented that New York City's public transit service has not kept pace with recent job growth and transit ridership gains in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The Center commended the Council's Transportation Committee for convening the hearing, which is titled "Keeping Up with the Boroughs—Addressing Public Transit Needs Outside Manhattan."
Testimony - April 2012
The Economic Impact of NYC’s LibrariesAt a City Council hearing on the city's proposed $100 million budget cut to public libraries, CUF's David Giles testified on the growing importance of branch libraries as community centers. At a time when the city faces enormous human capital challenges, more and more New Yorkers depend on the public libraries for job information, resume writing help, adult literacy, English language classes and other key services.
Testimony - December 2010
Closing the College Achievement GapAt a December 14th New York State Assembly hearing on strengthening student success in higher education, CUF Senior Fellow Thomas Hilliard testified that policymakers should make student success a top state priority and restructure the way New York governs and finances its community colleges.
Testimony - October 2009
Translating New York’s Science and Technology Assets Into Economic ActivityAt an October 9th hearing held by the Governors Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships, CUFs Jonathan Bowles testified about how to make New Yorks pre-eminent scientific research institutions engines of entrepreneurship and economic growth.
Testimony - June 2009
Using Workforce Development As A Tool to Diversify the EconomyAt a June 23 New York City Council hearing on how workforce development can help diversify the local economy, CUF project director David Jason Fischer testified that officials must force alignment between job training programs and the city's economic development objectives and investments.
Testimony - October 2008
The Road to Reforming CTEAt a recent City Council oversight hearing, CUF project director David Jason Fischer called upon city officials to add more detail and specificity to plans for remaking career and technical education in New York City.
Testimony - June 2008
Are New York Schools Preparing Students for Work?In this testimony before a New York State Senate hearing, the Centers David Jason Fischer detailed the promise of high school career and technical education programs to guide New York students toward remunerative careers in high-demand fields.
Testimony - January 2008
Measuring the Success of Workforce Development ProgramsAppearing before a City Council hearing, CUF project director David Fischer testified that the problems of New Yorks workforce programs-grossly inadequate funding, statutory limitations and too-modest ambition-are properly laid on Washington, DC doorsteps.
Testimony - December 2007
Creating Greater Opportunities for Immigrant EntrepreneursIn this testimony before a City Council hearing prompted by the Center's "A World of Opportunity" report, CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that policymakers and economic development officials must do more to support immigrant entrepreneurs, which are a growing but often neglected part of the city's economy.
Testimony - September 2007
It’s Time to Reinvent New York’s Street FairsIn this testimony before the City Council, associate research director Tara Colton argues that a significant overhaul of the citys street fair system is long overdue and the city should do more to involve local entrepreneurs and artists in the fairs.
Testimony - May 2007
Meeting Demand for ESOL in NYCIn this testimony before a City Council hearing prompted by the Center's 2006 report, "Lost in Translation," associate research director Tara Colton lays out steps the city can take to address the enormous unmet demand for ESOL classes.
Testimony - February 2007
In Working OrderAt a City Council hearing on the state of NYC's workforce development system, CUF Project Director David Fischer testified that the Bloomberg administration has made great strides but needs more resources and a broader vision.
Testimony - September 2006
From Disconnected to Career-DirectedAt the NYC Workforce Investment Board meeting on Sept. 13, CUF Project Director David Fischer made this presentation on aging worker replacement and career opportunities for disconnected youth in several vital sectors of the city's economy.
Testimony - June 2006
A New Workforce for New York: How the City Can Replace Thousands of Retiring Baby BoomersAt a City Council hearing prompted by the Center's May 2006 report, "Chance of a Lifetime," project director David Jason Fischer testified about what the city must do to prepare at-risk young New Yorkers for the world of work, and the value of a youth-focused workforce intermediary to rationalize and coordinate these efforts.
Testimony - April 2006
Immigrant Entrepreneurs’ Role in the Growth of Staten Island’s EconomyCUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that immigrant entrepreneurs could be a significant catalyst for economic growth on Staten Island in this speech, which he delivered on April 25 at the Staten Island Conference, sponsored by SIEDC.
Testimony - April 2006
The Limits of WIAIn testimony before a New York City Council hearing on April 11, CUF project director David Jason Fischer articulated how the severely limited funding and onerous legislative restrictions of the federal Workforce Investment Act have impaired efforts to serve New York City employers and jobseekers.
