Real Talk NYC

New York City is having a moment. The Knicks have won the championship. The World Cup is underway. And the country just marked its 250th Anniversary. Through it all, New York is at the center of the action. But how does that energy turn into real economic impact? In this episode, we’re joined by Melissa Pumphrey, Chief Economist at NYC Economic Development Corporation, to break down what this mome...

New York City runs on the services, infrastructure, transit, and jobs that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day. But behind much of that is a source of support that often goes unseen: real estate. REBNY’s new Invisible Engine report shows how real estate helps power the City’s financial health and everyday quality of life. In this episode, Zach Steinberg, REBNY’s Executive Vice President for...

Technology is rapidly transforming how we live, work, and build in New York City. But understanding what that change means takes people who can connect innovation with real human needs. That’s the work Nikki Greenberg has built her career around. In our latest episode of Real Talk Insiders, Nikki shares her perspective as a globally recognized futurist and leading voice in PropTech. From founding...

Local Law 97 is quickly becoming one of the biggest challenges facing New York City buildings — especially co-ops and condos. Designed to cut carbon emissions, the law sets strict limits for large buildings, with steep penalties for those that don’t comply. It’s a major step toward the city’s climate goals, but for co-ops, the path forward is far from straightforward. So what does compliance actua...

Creating access to opportunity in New York City takes more than policy — it takes people willing to meet students where they are and help them move forward. That’s the work Dr. Suzanne Jones has dedicated her career to. In our latest episode of Real Talk Insiders, Dr. Jones shares how she’s expanding inclusion, accessibility, and career readiness. Through programs like the Summer Youth Employment...

Sidewalk sheds are everywhere in New York City — lining blocks, darkening storefronts, and often staying up for years. Originally designed to protect pedestrians from falling debris, many of these structures stem from Local Law 11, the city’s facade inspection requirement for taller buildings. The law was created to improve safety, but critics say it has also led to thousands of long-term sheds an...

New York City is already one of the most expensive places in the country to live — and to do business. It has some of the highest taxes in the nation and one of the highest levels of government spending. Now, just weeks into his term, Mayor Mamdani has announced a $12 billion budget gap and renewed calls to raise taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. Supporters say higher taxes are needed...

One year ago, New York City launched congestion pricing: one of the most ambitious and controversial transportation policies in its history. Supporters said it would reduce traffic, speed up buses, improve air quality, and fund critical transit upgrades. Critics warned of economic fallout, traffic spillover, and unfair impacts. Now, a year in, we have data. In this episode, we’re joined by John Mc...

Since its founding in 1896, the Real Estate Board of New York has played a pivotal role in shaping the city through cycles of growth, challenge, and reinvention. Many of today’s policies and planning decisions can be traced back to that long history of advocacy. In this episode, we’re joined by Steven Spinola, REBNY’s longest-serving President, and Jim Whelan, REBNY’s current President, to reflect...

Every day, more than two million packages move through New York City. And behind each delivery is a complex system of trucks, warehouses, and last-minute logistics most of us never see. As we head into the holiday season, that system is under even more strain. In this episode, we’re joined by Zach McHugh of Sitex Group, a leader in industrial and logistics real estate that keeps New York’s supply...

Five major ballot proposals could reshape how New York City plans, builds, and governs itself. Supporters say they’ll cut red tape, accelerate housing production, and modernize city government. Critics argue they’ll weaken community input and centralize decision-making in City Hall. In this episode, we’re joined by Basha Gerhards, Executive Vice President of Public Policy at REBNY, to unpack how t...

New York’s rent-stabilized housing system covers nearly a third of the city’s apartments and shelters more than 2 million New Yorkers. But rising costs, outdated regulations, and political battles are pushing this system to the brink. In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Engel, President of Langsam Property Services, to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes. We explore how 2019 ref...

Why are so many new buildings in New York City topping out at exactly 99 apartments? In this bonus episode, we’re bringing you quick insights as REBNY Senior Data and Policy Researcher Henry Perez-Tlatenchi explains the surprising reason behind this trend and what it means for the future of development across the city. To learn more, read Bloomberg’s full article at bloomberg.com/news/articles/202...

New York is getting hotter, wetter, and less predictable. For decades, the city was defined by a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. But according to the latest U.S. National Climate Assessment, New York has officially shifted to a subtropical climate, marked by more extreme heat, milder winters, and heavier rainfall. In this episode we’re joined by Rohit Aggarwala, Commissione...

Have you ever wondered who’s been shaping New York City into one of the world’s leading tech hubs? In this episode of Real Talk Insiders, Julie Samuels, Founder of Tech:NYC, shares her journey from lawyer to civic tech leader and how she built a career at the intersection of technology, policy, and urban life. Under her leadership, Tech:NYC has become a vital bridge between technology companies an...

New York City runs on infrastructure, but some of its most vital systems have long struggled to meet modern demands. In this episode, we're joined by Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to explore two of the most ambitious transit projects in the country: the $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport and the long-overdue redevelopment of the Midtown Bu...

Have you ever wondered who's behind the evolution of New York City's iconic Central Park? Introducing Real Talk Insiders, a new series featuring candid conversations with the leaders reshaping New York City’s built environment and urban experience. In our first episode, Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, shares how she's guiding Central Park into the future, from launc...

New York City has officially gone all-in on composting. As of this year, all residential buildings are required to separate food waste—and for the first time, fines are being issued for those who don’t. It’s a sweeping policy change that raises a fundamental question: how do you get millions of fast-moving New Yorkers to actually change their habits? Catesby Perrin, Chief Business Officer at Mill,...

Every few years, New Yorkers have the chance to shape the future of their city through local elections, but most don’t. In the 2023 primary, just 7% of registered voters turned out, leaving major decisions in the hands of a small, highly motivated group. Sally Goldenberg, Senior New York Editor at Politico , joins us to break down what’s at stake in this June’s Democratic primary. From the power o...

Tech is now the fastest-growing industry in New York City, and artificial intelligence is playing a major role in that rise. As AI becomes more embedded in daily life, city and state lawmakers are beginning to draft the rules that will govern how it’s used. Alex Spyropoulos, Director of Government Relations at Tech:NYC , joins us to unpack the latest AI legislation being discussed in New York. Fro...

In recognition of National Fair Housing Month, we’re taking a closer look at the fight for housing equity and what still stands in the way. April DeSimone, founder of Publis, joins us to explore how the design of our cities impacts justice and opportunity. From her upbringing in the Bronx to her work at the intersection of policy and the built environment, April unpacks how systemic inequality is...

Sixty years after the NYC Landmarks Law was passed, we’re taking a closer look at how landmark status is decided – and why it matters. Meenakshi Srinivasan, former Chair and Commissioner of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, joins us to explain how buildings earn protection, who makes the call, and how preservation fits into a city that’s always changing. From iconic facades to hidden gems, we...

Midtown South is one of New York City’s most transit-rich and centrally located neighborhoods, yet few people call it home. That’s because outdated zoning laws – some dating back more than half a century – have long prohibited new housing in the area. In this episode we talk with Edith Hsu-Chen, Executive Director of the New York City Department of City Planning, to discuss the Midtown South Mixed...

New York City has an ambitious goal: reaching carbon zero by 2050. But with nearly 70% of the city’s emissions coming from buildings, meeting that goal requires transformative action—and fast. That’s where Local Law 97 comes in. Passed in 2019, LL97 imposes strict energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission limits on most buildings over 25,000 square feet. Supporters see it as a critical step to...

In December, the New York City Council approved a plan called City of Yes—a sweeping set of reforms designed to modernize the city's zoning laws. In this episode, REBNY’s Senior Vice President of Planning Basha Gerhards helps us unpack what City of Yes means for New York's future. For more information about City of Yes, visit https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/city-of-yes/city-of-yes-overview...