What's The [DATA] Point

The data points are 348 and 74. 348 is the number of Local Development Corporations and Industrial Development Agencies in NYS. These corporations made $16.2 billion in economic development investments from 2011 through 2015, yet only 5 of the state's 62 counties have had job growth higher than the national average. For this half of the podcast WTDP is joined by CBC Research Associate, Riley Edwar...

This episode's datapoint is $95 billion, the current value of all of the future retiree benefits, except pensions, already earned by current retirees and employees of NYC. This amount, referred to as OPEB, or 'Other Post-Employment Benefits,' is primarily the cost of health insurance for NYC employees, their spouses and families. Special guest Dr. Thad Calabrese of NYU, and author of CBC's latest...

This episode's datapoint is 1936, as in the last time that voters in New York chose to call a convention to amend the state constitution. It is a question that is mandated to be on the ballot every 20 years, and after it was voted down by voters in 1957, 1977, and 1997, we are again at the 20-year mark here in 2017. Today's special guest is Dr. Gerald Benjamin of SUNY New Paltz, an expert on the c...

This episode's datapoint is "60+," as in the combined years of professional experience of special guests Renee Boicourt and Kent Hiteshew in matters of public finance. Listen to a live recording from CBC's recent event, "Fiscal Crises," where our expert guests discussed lessons learned from the bankruptcy of Detroit and the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico.

This episode's datapoint is "4,” as in Bill de Blasio's four years as mayor. Greg David of Crain's New York Business and CUNY Journalism School joined the podcast to discuss his recent investigative piece in Crain's about Mayor de Blasio's performance during his first term.

95 is the number of days remaining in the second term of City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland. Julissa is the first woman, first person of color, and the youngest person to chair the Council’s powerful Committee on Finance, which oversees the adoption of the City’s $85 billion annual budget. This past June Julissa announced that she would not seek another term in the Council-- she discuss...

77,651 is the number of affordable housing units financed thus far in Mayor de Blasio’s 10-year plan to construct or preserve a total of 200,000 affordable units over 10 years. Since the Mayor took office, NYC Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) has overseen the commitment of $2.8 billion for affordable housing, most of it through loans and development programs. HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-...

Today’s data point is $66 billion – the amount New York’s school districts received in revenue during the 2015-2016 school year. The state's 674 districts collect an average of $23,635 per student - however, 15 districts surpass this amount, collecting $40,000 per student, while 11 districts fall short, collecting only $11,000 per student. Broken down by revenue source there’s even more variabilit...

This week's data point is 30% - the share, based on dollar value, of city contracts to be awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses by fiscal year 2021, according to a goal set by Mayor Bill de Blasio in September 2016. New York City Deputy Mayor Richard Buery joins the podcast to discuss his efforts to meet that goal.

This week's datapoint is $1.5 billion - the amount of money that can be raised by the congestion pricing plan known as MOVE NY. The plan introduces tolls to the East River bridges, a surcharge on taxis and for-hire vehicles, and lays out specific plans for using the funding to improve transportation across the city.

This week's data point is $17 billion - the capital needs for rehabilitating the nation's largest housing authority. NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye joins the podcast to discuss strategies for addressing these capital needs and to review progress implementing NextGenNYCHA, its strategic plan.

This week's datapoint is 2008 - the year in which NYC's economy entered the Great Recession. Special guest John Breit, former chief risk advisor to Merrill Lynch, shares with us his unique perspective on the recession and on the risks of the City's investments in the pension funds.

This weeks data point is 100,000 - the number of “good-paying jobs” the de Blasio administration says it will foster over the next 10 years. Special Guest Alicia Glen, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, discusses the news jobs plan, as well as commercial development, affordable housing, and NYC's competitiveness.

This week's data point is 30 days - the period in which MTA New York City Transit will conduct a "top-to-bottom" review to identify changes necessary to improve its performance. CBC's Director of Infrastructure Studies Jamison Dague discusses underinvestment and how resources are being directed in the capital plan with Ben Max and Maria Doulis.

This week's data point is $32.5 billion - the value of Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA's) capital plan for 2015 to 2019. Special guest MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber discusses the MTA's capital priorities and how the authority can improve management of its mega-projects.

This week's data point is $780 million - the value of contracts involved in the alleged bid-rigging and corruption scandal involving State economic development programs. Special guest New York State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli discusses his proposal for independent review and reform of state procurement practices with Ben Max and Maria Doulis, and Dave Friedfel reviews what else did-- and didn't-- ha...

This week's data point is 44% - the share of New Yorkers who are satisfied with New York City municipal services. Listen to Ben Max, Maria Doulis, and special guest Alyssa Katz of the Daily News discuss the findings of CBC's Citywide Resident Feedback Survey.

New York City recently adopted an $85.2 billion budget. What are the largest aspects of spending, the most contentious parts of the budget deal, and the risks ahead?