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May 22, 2025 - We explore the topline state budget numbers, including what's driving New York's spending to record heights, with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.
It's been over a week since the April 1st deadline and state budget negotiations have stalled because of discovery reform! Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie introduced a bill that would allow lawmakers to get paid when the budget is late due to policy. We're joined by Patrick Orecki, director of state studies with the Citizens Budget Commission, to unpack the calls from good government groups for more transparency in the state budget process for New Yorkers. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (D - Chair of Internet and Technology Committee) joins us to discuss artificial intelligence regulatory priorities at the Capitol this year. EXPLORE MORE: nynow.org
Jan. 22, 2025 - Gov. Kathy Hochul has unveiled a $252 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year, so we unpack the proposal with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission. We explore what is driving costs, consider the impact of changes in the federal government, and much more.
Nov. 5, 2024 - We analyze the state's fiscal position with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission, who helps us break down the mid-year financial update from the Hochul administration.
Oct. 30, 2024 - New York is not on track to hit its green energy and emission reduction goals for 2030, so the Citizens Budget Commission says it's time to reset our goals so our response to the climate crisis can be recalibrated. We examine this argument, including what it means for an effort to cap pollution, with Andrew Rein, the group's president.
Former Hochul-Cuomo Aide was arrested and charged this week with federal charges. Linda Sun is accused of using her position in state government to help push the agenda of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing calls from good-government groups to sign a bill that would increase transparency of state emergency contracts. Patrick Orecki, of the Citizens Budget Commission, joins us to discuss more. The Great New York State Fair just wrapped up this week. New York NOW reporter Elise Kline unpacks the fan-favorites and new additions from this year's fair. Kline also unpacks new-signed legislation focused on women's issues. EXPLORE MORE: nynow.org
Aug. 19, 2024 - Before skedaddling out of Albany in June, state lawmakers approved an extension of a tax break for commercial and industrial properties, which needs additional scrutiny, according to Sean Campion, director of housing and economic development studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.
On This Week's Edition Catch this week's show on your local PBS member station, or watch on YouTube, Facebook, or using the free PBS app anytime after Friday. A podcast version is available wherever you normally get podcasts. On This Latest Edition of New York NOW: The state budget included savings to the Medicaid program as well as cuts to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) program. Patrick Orecki, of the Citizens Budget Commission, joins us to unpack the reality of funding Medicaid as well as healthcare priorities this year. Adam Ruder, of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, talks the implementation of electric school buses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, there have been protests at college campuses across the country - includingat Columbia University, Fordham University and CUNY.
This week, new details emerged from a sexual assault allegation against New York City Mayor Eric Adams by a former NYPD aide. The woman claims that Adams in 1993 demanded sexual acts in exchange for helping her with her career in the department. The mayor vehemently denied the allegations, saying he doesn't even recall ever meeting the woman who filed the lawsuit. NY1 political reporters Bobby Cuza, Kelly Mena and Dan Rivoli weigh in on the allegations as well as the somewhat-muted reaction from city lawmakers. After that, a new survey from the Citizens Budget Commission found that just 30% of New Yorkers are happy with their quality of life – a sharp decline from when the poll was last taken in 2017. The “Off Topic” team looks at the poll and discusses why New York got a bad report card from so many residents. Leave a message: 212-379-3440 Email: yourstoryny1@charter.com
The perception of public safety in New York City has seen a substantial shift in recent years, according to a survey released this Tuesday. Night-time subway rides, once seen as routine, were considered unsafe by a staggering 78% of residents by 2023, marking a notable increase in apprehension. The city's living standards were also reviewed negatively by many, with only 30% expressing a positive outlook, showing a downward trend of 21% since 2017. The Citizens Budget Commission, a non-partisan group which conducted the survey of over 6,600 households, sounded a clear message from their findings: 'There is much that needs to be done for New Yorkers to feel at home in the city.' Interestingly, the unease around subway safety showed little distinction between day and night in the data collected. In 2017, the commission found that New Yorkers felt only marginally safer travelling on the subway during the day than they did at night. The level of comfort plummeted 32 points by 2023, with only 49% of the population feeling safe commuting via subway in day-time. A parallel can be drawn to 2017 figures where 46% of New Yorkers admitted feeling safe during night-time subway travels. Despite these—somewhat alarming—safety concerns, it is important to note certain nuances in the data. The year 2017 was regarded as one of the safest in the modern history of the city, with the number of homicides reaching an all-time low of 292. The figure at the time was a significant reduction from the early 2000s, which witnessed over 600 annual homicides according to NYPD data. Hence, the comparison may not represent a typical trend. To put things into perspective, though the number of homicides did hit 391 in the year under consideration (2023), it still represented a consecutive year of decrease. However, such numbers continue to add to the complexity of the tasks at the desk of Mayor Adams. The mayor had run his 2021 campaign with promises of enhancing public safety and city services. The data, though, underscores the difficulties he along with Governor Hochul may be facing to alleviate the anxiety related to the subway system's safety concerns. Remarkably, the study was brought to light prior to a sudden increase in instances of subway crimes this winter, culminating in a scuffle and shooting incident on a rush hour A train. This event, no doubt, deepened concerns around subway safety. Governor Hochul made an attempt to bolster security sentiments by deputing 750 soldiers from the National Guard to check bags in the subway. Critics, however, argued that the presence of military might inadvertently enhance the feelings of lawlessness. Security is not the only issue, however. The study found that several other amenities provided by the city were falling short of New Yorkers' expectations. Cleanliness ratings had dropped significantly, with satisfaction dipping by 13 percentage points to 34%. Garbage collection services satisfied only 57% of residents, down 9 points since 2017. An alarming 18 points fall was seen for rat control satisfaction which had dropped to 27%, adding to Mayor Adams' list of challenges. In their report alongside the poll findings, the Citizens Budget Commission asserted that the focus of Mayor Adam's administration more or less aligns with what New Yorkers view as their priorities. However, they noted a notable gap with respect to how residents were rating the quality of life now versus their past ratings. 'There's a significant scope of improvement needed to get back to former contentment levels that the citizens once enjoyed,' said the report. Mayor Adams, a middle-of-the-road Democrat, prioritized public safety during his campaign, along with other issues like ramping up the fight against the rat menace and improving trash collection mechanisms. His promise had been clear and attractive: taxes paid by New Yorkers would return in the form of superior and value-driven services. 'The government has a responsibility to provide goods and services in return for the taxes paid by our citizens,' he had said during his election night speech. Despite his commitment to system reforms, the sentiment today reflects disillusionment. The recent poll found only 11% residents believed that the city judiciously uses their tax dollars, down from 21% during the term of Mayor Bill de Blasio. When it comes to grading city-provided services in general, positive responses fell dramatically from 44% to 24% over a span of six years. A similar trend was spotted for public safety statistics in New York City. In the recent survey, a 13-point drop was recorded in the share of participants who considered the state of public safety to be either good or excellent. The concerns with the subway system have been a significant contributor here. On the other hand, the Mayor's statements seem contrary to the feedback being garnered. Mayor Adams, since his tenure began at the start of 2022, has been asserting that NYC remains the safest big city in the nation. Despite growing statistics showing an increase in subway crimes, the overall violent crime rates appear to be on a downward trajectory in the city. Mayor Adams brushed aside potential blame for the diminishing sentiment, downplaying its association with his two-year administration. He asserted that the community acknowledges his administration's prioritization towards making New York a better and safer city. 'I assure the people, their concerns are my concerns. We are combatting public safety issues, space concerns, and rat infestations. We are working in the right direction and will continue to do so,' Adams said. Clarifying this stance, President of the Citizens Budget Commission, Andrew Rein, confirmed that comparing the current safety levels with those from 2017 isn't reasonable, given that it was a categorically different era, marking a significantly low crime rate. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the current data undeniably illustrates that a sizable population of New Yorkers are still feeling insecure about their city, especially now as COVID-19 pandemic becomes a part of our past. Rein said, 'It would be very cynical to examine these ratings and believe that New Yorkers are content. Many New Yorkers are expressing unease despite the receding pandemic, indicating a level of discomfort with the current state of their beloved city.' To sum up, it's evident that New Yorkers' perspective towards the city's public safety and quality of life is changing, necessitating a reassessment of the strategies in place not only for subway safety but also for overall governance and provision of municipal services. Focused efforts to bridge the gap between the administration's targets and the residents' expectations could be a feasible path forward. Real News Now Connect with Real News Now on Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealNewsNowApp/ X Twitter: https://twitter.com/realnewsapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realnews/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realnewsnowapp Threads: https://www.threads.net/@realnews/ Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/realnewsnow Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@RealNews YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@realnewsnowapp End Wokeness: https://endthewokeness.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 19, 2024 - Democrats in the state legislature are looking to get creative in how they raise federal Medicaid dollars, but the proposal may not fly with the Biden administration and could cause problems in the future, according to Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.
December 12, 2023 - If state policymakers want to adopt broad benefit enhancements for public employees, the Citizens Budget Commission asks that they do it in the context of the state budget. We discuss this concern with Patrick Orecki, the director of state studies for the business-backed, fiscal watchdog.
Citizens Budget Commission leaders Andrew Rein and Ana Champeny joined the show to help break down what New Yorkers need to know about the New York City budget, the city's fiscal health as of December 2023, and debates over saving, cutting, and spending. They help illuminate challenges facing Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council as they determine city spending priorities discuss spending on the migrant crisis, federal pandemic funding "cliffs," and much more. (Episode 424)
November 29, 2023 - The Citizens Budget Commission has some suggestions for the Hochul administration on how to craft a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the state. We discuss the CBC's ideas with Ana Champeny, vice president of research for the business-backed fiscal watchdog.
Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein: Budget crisis puts New York on a fiscal cliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, talks about the impact of the migrant influx on the city budget and Mayor Adams' latest calls for department heads to cut 5% in November, January and April.
July 25, 2023 - New York's state and local economic development subsidies came to nearly $11 billion in 2022 and are likely to keep growing in the immediate future, according to Sean Campion, director of housing & economic development studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.
June 15, 2023 - The latest analysis of the state's finances by the Hochul administration points to lower than anticipated tax revenues and higher than previously projected budget deficits, according to Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.
On this week's edition of New York NOW (5/05/2023): After more than a month of delays, a new state budget was approved this week by lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul. We'll have details. Anna Gronewold from Politico New York and Yancey Roy from Newsday join us with analysis and more news from the week. Patrick Orecki from the Citizens Budget Commission joins us to go over the financial side of the budget. A new edition of On The Bill looks at legislation that would ban certain pesticides that environmentalists oppose, but that many farmers depend on. Explore More: nynow.org
Frank Morano brings you the issues that matter the most with style and wit in the Other Side of Midnight Local Spotlight. Frank discusses filing a complaint against Judge Juan Marchand who is presiding over the criminal case against Trump, the Citizens Budget Commission putting out a statement saying that the final NY State budget 'weakens the state's financial footing', The Lawrenceville School finally taking responsibility for student Jack Reed's suicide last year, and legislative leaders bypasing the three day aging period as it relates to the NY State budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 20, 2023 - Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission, a business-backed watchdog, makes sense of the taxing and spending priorities formally adopted by the majorities in the Assembly and Senate.
Feb. 07, 2023 - We break down the top-line spending figures from Gov. Kathy Hochul's budget, consider how her fiscal approach compares to her predecessor and discuss future budget gaps with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission, a business-backed fiscal watchdog.
On this week's edition of New York NOW (2/03/2023): Gov. Kathy Hochul released her plan this week for the state budget, which is among the most consequential items negotiated at the Capitol each year. Patrick Orecki from the Citizens Budget Commission joins us to break down the numbers. Capitol reporters Michael Gormley from Newsday and Elise Kline from Lilly Broadcasting join us with analysis. Plus: How does a bill become a law in New York? Reporter Alexis Young explains. Learn More: nynow.org
Jan. 17, 2023 - A more transparent budget process, with independent oversight and less wiggle room with spending are just some of the reforms to crafting and adopting a state budget in New York that the Citizens Budget Commission recommends. Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the group, discusses these changes in advance of the governor unveiling her executive budget.
On this week's edition of New York NOW: New York's overdose crisis got worse during the pandemic, after a few years of progress. Reporter Alexis Young explores new strategies for addressing the epidemic. Affordable housing continues to be hard to find in New York, where an overall housing shortage persists. James Lloyd from the New York State Association for Affordable Housing joins us to explain. We're at the half-way point in New York's state budget, and the state just released a progress report. Patrick Orecki from the Citizens Budget Commission has details. Explore more of New York on NYNOW.ORG.
Nov. 15, 2022 - In the wake of the State Division of Budget releasing a mid-year financial plan update, we'll examine New York's fiscal condition and projected deficits with Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission.
Mitch Korbey, chair of Herrick's Land Use and Zoning Group, sat down with Sean Campion, Director of Housing and Economic Development Studies for the Citizens Budget Commission to discuss CBC's September 2022 report and how the City of New York can revamp and redesign the land use review process in New York City to encourage development, streamline the process and work with local communities. New York is one of seven states that mandates environmental review for discretionary land use actions. It has the longest median timeline for approvals among cities that have similar requirements, according to the report. The Citizens Budget Commission is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization devoted to influencing constructive change in the finances and services of New York State and New York City governments.Music by Michelangelo Sosnowitz
Good Tuesday everyone, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Just a reminder: FLF Conference Plug: Folks, our upcoming Fight Laugh Feast Conference is just 2-months away from happening in Knoxville TN, October 6-8! Don't miss beer & psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers which includes George Gilder, Jared Longshore, Pastor Wilson, Dr. Ben Merkle, Pastor Toby, and we can’t say yet…also dont miss our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and stuff for the kids too…like jumpy castles and accidental infant baptisms! Also, did you know, you can save money, by signing up for a Club Membership. So, go to FightLaughFeast.com and sign up for a club membership and then register for the conference with that club discount. We can’t wait to fellowship, sing Psalms, and celebrate God’s goodness in Knoxville October 6-8. Let’s start today with our friends from the North… https://thepostmillennial.com/trudeau-liberals-ban-on-handgun-imports-set-to-take-effect-august-19?utm_campaign=64487 Trudeau Liberals' ban on handgun imports set to take effect August 19 In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that his government would be moving to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership, essentially making it impossible to buy, sell, transfer, or import of firearms in Canada. On Friday, the Liberals announced that the temporary ban on handgun imports would be taking effect on August 18 as a "stopgap" while the more comprehensive national freeze moves through the legislative process. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly held a joint press conference in Etobicoke on Friday to discuss the move, which according to CTV News, was pushed through without the approval of Parliament. "There's no doubt that there is a very pressing issue that lies before us," Mendicino began, "and that is the need, the necessity to eradicate gun violence, one of the most pernicious and complex social harms that we see visited upon our communities every day." He went on to announce that in order to hasten the implementation of the handgun freeze laid out in Bill C-21, "nearly all individuals and businesses in Canada will be banned from importing handguns" beginning August 19. Joly explained that as foreign minister, she has "the authority to deny any import or export permit application that is contrary to Canada's security." She noted that when Trudeau announced the freeze in May, there was an "uptick" in guns being purchased by Canadians. "We want to prevent that," she said, explaining that since most guns in Canada are not made in Canada, implementing a ban on imports would effectively ensure no new guns are purchased legally. The move to ban handguns has faced pushback from many who question its effectiveness. In 2019, for example, Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer said that Canada already had very strong firearms regulations in place and that no further action was required. He added that the vast majority of gun crimes, especially those with handguns, are committed using illegal guns, thus it makes very little sense to ban an already prohibited weapon. https://www.theepochtimes.com/southern-california-city-to-consider-banning-abortions-declaring-sanctuary-for-life_4646733.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport California City to Consider Banning Abortions, Declaring ‘Sanctuary for Life’ Officials in the City of San Clemente, California, will consider a resolution Aug. 16 that would ban abortion and declare the city a “sanctuary for life.” The resolution defines the beginning of human life to be the moment of conception and would make it the city’s declared duty to protect that life until natural death. If passed, it would declare the city’s support for the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and ban the act of abortion, abortion clinics, and abortion pills in the city. The resolution allows exceptions for women at risk of losing their lives in the process of birth and for victims of rape or incest. It also suggests that human beings do not have the authority to decide to end the life of the unborn. “We believe that life is God-ordained and God is the author and finisher of every life,” the resolution states. “[A]s a city council, we will protect and sustain life at every stage.” The resolution cites Poelker v. Doe of 1977—a legal precedent that allowed a city in Missouri to refuse to provide publicly funded hospitals for nontherapeutic abortions even though it provided facilities for childbirth—saying that “the Constitution does not forbid a state or county or city … from expressing a preference for normal childbirth instead of abortion.” Councilman Steve Knoblock, who proposed the resolution, hopes it will help to initiate change within California, considering the current trend in pro-abortion laws. “The ultimate purpose of government is to protect the life and liberty of humans including unborn individuals,” Knoblock told The Epoch Times in an interview. Councilwoman Laura Ferguson told the City News Service Aug. 3 that it was a “distraction” from more important topics in the city—such as homelessness—when abortion is “something already legal and codified in state law.” A spokesperson for the state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said access to abortion remains fully protected under state law, according to the City News Service. Mario Mainero, Associate Dean for Chapman University’s law school, told The Epoch Times this resolution would have no legal effect because state law pre-empts city law. “California state law permits abortion up to fetal viability and no city can counter that,” Mario said. “They can’t ban abortion clinics because that would violate state law and they can’t do that.” Armored Republic The Mission of Armored Republic is to Honor Christ by equipping Free Men with Tools of Liberty necessary to preserve God-given rights. In the Armored Republic there is no King but Christ. We are Free Craftsmen. Body Armor is a Tool of Liberty. We create Tools of Liberty. Free men must remain ever vigilant against tyranny wherever it appears. God has given us the tools of liberty needed to defend the rights He bestowed to us. Armored Republic is honored to offer you those Tools. Visit them, at ar500armor.com https://www.foxnews.com/us/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-blasts-texas-gov-gregg-abbot-second-bus-migrants-arrives-horrific NYC Mayor Eric Adams blasts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after second bus of migrants arrives: ‘This is horrific’ New York City Mayor Eric Adams blasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday after a second bus full of illegal migrants arrived at his doorstep. Adams gave a news conference Sunday morning at the Port Authority where he greeted an incoming bus of around 40 migrants — only 14 of whom disembarked in the Big Apple. https://nypost.com/2022/08/05/nyc-mayor-adams-request-photos-of-city-job-applicants-to-increase-diversity/ Adams asks for photos of city job applicants in effort to increase diversity: report Mayor Eric Adams is collecting headshots of potential city workers in a thinly-veiled effort to increase diversity, according to a new report. Adams has requested city agencies to provide photographs of potential hires to City Hall as candidates go through the interview process for city jobs ranging from assistant commissioner to departmental press secretary, Politico reported Thursday. Several unnamed city officials told the outlet that the request is clearly an effort to hire more diverse staffers. However, Adams maintains that it will merely help him recognize his employees in the sprawling city workforce. “Everyone knew what it was. There was no question. It was the first thing everybody said: ‘We’re going to start counting complexions now,’” one recently-departed City Hall employee told Politico. The majority of the officials interviewed by the outlet — who requested anonymity to speak freely about the internal measure — said they supported a more diverse workforce but worried the practice is already causing the Adams administration to make hiring decisions with a greater emphasis on race and ethnicity than merit. Compounding the issue, nearly every official Politico spoke to also said the headshot request created another snag in the drawn-out hiring process — straying away from the mayor’s signature motto of “get stuff done” at a time when city job vacancies are unusually high. About 8 percent of municipal jobs were vacant as of April, according to data from the Citizens Budget Commission. Politico obtained emails sent by the mayor’s team to about a dozen high-ranking officials at other city agencies asking them to submit headshots of people they hope to employ for Adam’s own review. One official said they were verbally told that Adams wanted agencies to hire people who “reflect the constituencies we serve.” Hiring managers aren’t expected to ask job candidates for headshots, but instead grab photos from social media sites like LinkedIn to appease the mayor’s request, two sources told Politico. https://www.outkick.com/jon-gruden-email-leak-hit-job-agent/ JON GRUDEN’S AGENT BELIEVES FORMER COACH’S EMAILS BEING LEAKED WAS A HIT JOB: ‘HE’S NOT A RACIST’ We’re approaching the one-year mark since Jon Gruden was forced to resign as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders following a scandal involving an email leak, but his agent is still going to bat for his client, now calling it “a hit job.” Gruden stepped down as the Raiders’ head coach in October of 2021 after emails directed at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were leaked that contained racist and homophobic comments. The emails were discovered in what was a league investigation into the Washington Commanders’ workplace culture. An email reportedly implied that Gruden was annoyed that the NFL forced the then St. Louis Rams to draft “queers,” which is a reference to the team drafting Michael Sam in 2014. Gruden reportedly sent an email making fun of the size of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith’s lips. “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires,” the email from 2011 reportedly read. The collection of emails dated back to Gruden’s time at ESPN, before he joined the Raiders for his second stint as head coach. With the original investigation not directly pointed at Gruden, his agent Bob LaMonte is convinced the NFL was simply out to get his client. “I can tell you right now that was a hit job,” Bob LaMonte told JoeBucsFan.com. “Why now, of all things, does that come out in an investigation that had already gone away? It was 10 years ago. And then why Jon and why the Raiders? He wasn’t even in the league at the time of those e-mails…That’s the tragedy of it. You can say what you want, but if anyone really understands Jon, they know he’s not a racist. That’s quite obvious.” LaMonte’s comments about Gruden echo those of legendary college football broadcaster, Brent Musburger, who was also the former radio broadcaster for the Raiders. Report: Raiders Brent Musburger Breaks Silence on Jon Gruden- Play 2:40 - 5:29 Gruden has since filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Goodell as he believes the league sought to ruin his career and make an example of him. The NFL looked to dismiss the case, but a judge denied that ask. Now, let’s end things on more of a positive or interesting note, because not everything is bad news out there: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/eyes-up-for-perseid-meteor-shower-and-saturn-show/ The PUR-SEE-IDS meteor shower is one of the best shows all year for “shooting stars”. Though the Perseids have been active since July 14, the frequency of meteors hurtling through the sky is now heating up this week. In fact, Perseids can produce up to 150 meteors per hour under dark skies! Scientists say the peak time to view this shower will be on the night of Thursday, August 11 & Friday the 12th. The full moon that night may make it tougher to spot the meteors, so train your eyes toward the darker areas and watch closely. This week is also one of the best times to see the ringed planet of Saturn in dramatic fashion. On Sunday, August 14, the giant world will line up with the Earth and the Sun. The alignment is called an “opposition.” Saturn will be closer to Earth than it has been in more than a year. If you want a peek at the planet, look for a golden yellow light shining steadily in the east after sunset. With binoculars, you may even see the spectacular Saturn rings. This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief. If you liked the show, go ahead and share it for me would ya? If you want to become a club member, sign up for our conference, or become a magazine subscriber, you can do all of that at fightlaughfeast.com. Why not do all three? And as always, if you want to become a corporate partner, send me a news story, or ask me about our conference, email me at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great day, and Lord bless.
Good Tuesday everyone, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Just a reminder: FLF Conference Plug: Folks, our upcoming Fight Laugh Feast Conference is just 2-months away from happening in Knoxville TN, October 6-8! Don't miss beer & psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers which includes George Gilder, Jared Longshore, Pastor Wilson, Dr. Ben Merkle, Pastor Toby, and we can’t say yet…also dont miss our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and stuff for the kids too…like jumpy castles and accidental infant baptisms! Also, did you know, you can save money, by signing up for a Club Membership. So, go to FightLaughFeast.com and sign up for a club membership and then register for the conference with that club discount. We can’t wait to fellowship, sing Psalms, and celebrate God’s goodness in Knoxville October 6-8. Let’s start today with our friends from the North… https://thepostmillennial.com/trudeau-liberals-ban-on-handgun-imports-set-to-take-effect-august-19?utm_campaign=64487 Trudeau Liberals' ban on handgun imports set to take effect August 19 In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that his government would be moving to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership, essentially making it impossible to buy, sell, transfer, or import of firearms in Canada. On Friday, the Liberals announced that the temporary ban on handgun imports would be taking effect on August 18 as a "stopgap" while the more comprehensive national freeze moves through the legislative process. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly held a joint press conference in Etobicoke on Friday to discuss the move, which according to CTV News, was pushed through without the approval of Parliament. "There's no doubt that there is a very pressing issue that lies before us," Mendicino began, "and that is the need, the necessity to eradicate gun violence, one of the most pernicious and complex social harms that we see visited upon our communities every day." He went on to announce that in order to hasten the implementation of the handgun freeze laid out in Bill C-21, "nearly all individuals and businesses in Canada will be banned from importing handguns" beginning August 19. Joly explained that as foreign minister, she has "the authority to deny any import or export permit application that is contrary to Canada's security." She noted that when Trudeau announced the freeze in May, there was an "uptick" in guns being purchased by Canadians. "We want to prevent that," she said, explaining that since most guns in Canada are not made in Canada, implementing a ban on imports would effectively ensure no new guns are purchased legally. The move to ban handguns has faced pushback from many who question its effectiveness. In 2019, for example, Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer said that Canada already had very strong firearms regulations in place and that no further action was required. He added that the vast majority of gun crimes, especially those with handguns, are committed using illegal guns, thus it makes very little sense to ban an already prohibited weapon. https://www.theepochtimes.com/southern-california-city-to-consider-banning-abortions-declaring-sanctuary-for-life_4646733.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport California City to Consider Banning Abortions, Declaring ‘Sanctuary for Life’ Officials in the City of San Clemente, California, will consider a resolution Aug. 16 that would ban abortion and declare the city a “sanctuary for life.” The resolution defines the beginning of human life to be the moment of conception and would make it the city’s declared duty to protect that life until natural death. If passed, it would declare the city’s support for the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and ban the act of abortion, abortion clinics, and abortion pills in the city. The resolution allows exceptions for women at risk of losing their lives in the process of birth and for victims of rape or incest. It also suggests that human beings do not have the authority to decide to end the life of the unborn. “We believe that life is God-ordained and God is the author and finisher of every life,” the resolution states. “[A]s a city council, we will protect and sustain life at every stage.” The resolution cites Poelker v. Doe of 1977—a legal precedent that allowed a city in Missouri to refuse to provide publicly funded hospitals for nontherapeutic abortions even though it provided facilities for childbirth—saying that “the Constitution does not forbid a state or county or city … from expressing a preference for normal childbirth instead of abortion.” Councilman Steve Knoblock, who proposed the resolution, hopes it will help to initiate change within California, considering the current trend in pro-abortion laws. “The ultimate purpose of government is to protect the life and liberty of humans including unborn individuals,” Knoblock told The Epoch Times in an interview. Councilwoman Laura Ferguson told the City News Service Aug. 3 that it was a “distraction” from more important topics in the city—such as homelessness—when abortion is “something already legal and codified in state law.” A spokesperson for the state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said access to abortion remains fully protected under state law, according to the City News Service. Mario Mainero, Associate Dean for Chapman University’s law school, told The Epoch Times this resolution would have no legal effect because state law pre-empts city law. “California state law permits abortion up to fetal viability and no city can counter that,” Mario said. “They can’t ban abortion clinics because that would violate state law and they can’t do that.” Armored Republic The Mission of Armored Republic is to Honor Christ by equipping Free Men with Tools of Liberty necessary to preserve God-given rights. In the Armored Republic there is no King but Christ. We are Free Craftsmen. Body Armor is a Tool of Liberty. We create Tools of Liberty. Free men must remain ever vigilant against tyranny wherever it appears. God has given us the tools of liberty needed to defend the rights He bestowed to us. Armored Republic is honored to offer you those Tools. Visit them, at ar500armor.com https://www.foxnews.com/us/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-blasts-texas-gov-gregg-abbot-second-bus-migrants-arrives-horrific NYC Mayor Eric Adams blasts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after second bus of migrants arrives: ‘This is horrific’ New York City Mayor Eric Adams blasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday after a second bus full of illegal migrants arrived at his doorstep. Adams gave a news conference Sunday morning at the Port Authority where he greeted an incoming bus of around 40 migrants — only 14 of whom disembarked in the Big Apple. https://nypost.com/2022/08/05/nyc-mayor-adams-request-photos-of-city-job-applicants-to-increase-diversity/ Adams asks for photos of city job applicants in effort to increase diversity: report Mayor Eric Adams is collecting headshots of potential city workers in a thinly-veiled effort to increase diversity, according to a new report. Adams has requested city agencies to provide photographs of potential hires to City Hall as candidates go through the interview process for city jobs ranging from assistant commissioner to departmental press secretary, Politico reported Thursday. Several unnamed city officials told the outlet that the request is clearly an effort to hire more diverse staffers. However, Adams maintains that it will merely help him recognize his employees in the sprawling city workforce. “Everyone knew what it was. There was no question. It was the first thing everybody said: ‘We’re going to start counting complexions now,’” one recently-departed City Hall employee told Politico. The majority of the officials interviewed by the outlet — who requested anonymity to speak freely about the internal measure — said they supported a more diverse workforce but worried the practice is already causing the Adams administration to make hiring decisions with a greater emphasis on race and ethnicity than merit. Compounding the issue, nearly every official Politico spoke to also said the headshot request created another snag in the drawn-out hiring process — straying away from the mayor’s signature motto of “get stuff done” at a time when city job vacancies are unusually high. About 8 percent of municipal jobs were vacant as of April, according to data from the Citizens Budget Commission. Politico obtained emails sent by the mayor’s team to about a dozen high-ranking officials at other city agencies asking them to submit headshots of people they hope to employ for Adam’s own review. One official said they were verbally told that Adams wanted agencies to hire people who “reflect the constituencies we serve.” Hiring managers aren’t expected to ask job candidates for headshots, but instead grab photos from social media sites like LinkedIn to appease the mayor’s request, two sources told Politico. https://www.outkick.com/jon-gruden-email-leak-hit-job-agent/ JON GRUDEN’S AGENT BELIEVES FORMER COACH’S EMAILS BEING LEAKED WAS A HIT JOB: ‘HE’S NOT A RACIST’ We’re approaching the one-year mark since Jon Gruden was forced to resign as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders following a scandal involving an email leak, but his agent is still going to bat for his client, now calling it “a hit job.” Gruden stepped down as the Raiders’ head coach in October of 2021 after emails directed at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were leaked that contained racist and homophobic comments. The emails were discovered in what was a league investigation into the Washington Commanders’ workplace culture. An email reportedly implied that Gruden was annoyed that the NFL forced the then St. Louis Rams to draft “queers,” which is a reference to the team drafting Michael Sam in 2014. Gruden reportedly sent an email making fun of the size of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith’s lips. “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires,” the email from 2011 reportedly read. The collection of emails dated back to Gruden’s time at ESPN, before he joined the Raiders for his second stint as head coach. With the original investigation not directly pointed at Gruden, his agent Bob LaMonte is convinced the NFL was simply out to get his client. “I can tell you right now that was a hit job,” Bob LaMonte told JoeBucsFan.com. “Why now, of all things, does that come out in an investigation that had already gone away? It was 10 years ago. And then why Jon and why the Raiders? He wasn’t even in the league at the time of those e-mails…That’s the tragedy of it. You can say what you want, but if anyone really understands Jon, they know he’s not a racist. That’s quite obvious.” LaMonte’s comments about Gruden echo those of legendary college football broadcaster, Brent Musburger, who was also the former radio broadcaster for the Raiders. Report: Raiders Brent Musburger Breaks Silence on Jon Gruden- Play 2:40 - 5:29 Gruden has since filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Goodell as he believes the league sought to ruin his career and make an example of him. The NFL looked to dismiss the case, but a judge denied that ask. Now, let’s end things on more of a positive or interesting note, because not everything is bad news out there: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/eyes-up-for-perseid-meteor-shower-and-saturn-show/ The PUR-SEE-IDS meteor shower is one of the best shows all year for “shooting stars”. Though the Perseids have been active since July 14, the frequency of meteors hurtling through the sky is now heating up this week. In fact, Perseids can produce up to 150 meteors per hour under dark skies! Scientists say the peak time to view this shower will be on the night of Thursday, August 11 & Friday the 12th. The full moon that night may make it tougher to spot the meteors, so train your eyes toward the darker areas and watch closely. This week is also one of the best times to see the ringed planet of Saturn in dramatic fashion. On Sunday, August 14, the giant world will line up with the Earth and the Sun. The alignment is called an “opposition.” Saturn will be closer to Earth than it has been in more than a year. If you want a peek at the planet, look for a golden yellow light shining steadily in the east after sunset. With binoculars, you may even see the spectacular Saturn rings. This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief. If you liked the show, go ahead and share it for me would ya? If you want to become a club member, sign up for our conference, or become a magazine subscriber, you can do all of that at fightlaughfeast.com. Why not do all three? And as always, if you want to become a corporate partner, send me a news story, or ask me about our conference, email me at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great day, and Lord bless.
Good Tuesday everyone, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Just a reminder: FLF Conference Plug: Folks, our upcoming Fight Laugh Feast Conference is just 2-months away from happening in Knoxville TN, October 6-8! Don't miss beer & psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers which includes George Gilder, Jared Longshore, Pastor Wilson, Dr. Ben Merkle, Pastor Toby, and we can’t say yet…also dont miss our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and stuff for the kids too…like jumpy castles and accidental infant baptisms! Also, did you know, you can save money, by signing up for a Club Membership. So, go to FightLaughFeast.com and sign up for a club membership and then register for the conference with that club discount. We can’t wait to fellowship, sing Psalms, and celebrate God’s goodness in Knoxville October 6-8. Let’s start today with our friends from the North… https://thepostmillennial.com/trudeau-liberals-ban-on-handgun-imports-set-to-take-effect-august-19?utm_campaign=64487 Trudeau Liberals' ban on handgun imports set to take effect August 19 In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that his government would be moving to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership, essentially making it impossible to buy, sell, transfer, or import of firearms in Canada. On Friday, the Liberals announced that the temporary ban on handgun imports would be taking effect on August 18 as a "stopgap" while the more comprehensive national freeze moves through the legislative process. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly held a joint press conference in Etobicoke on Friday to discuss the move, which according to CTV News, was pushed through without the approval of Parliament. "There's no doubt that there is a very pressing issue that lies before us," Mendicino began, "and that is the need, the necessity to eradicate gun violence, one of the most pernicious and complex social harms that we see visited upon our communities every day." He went on to announce that in order to hasten the implementation of the handgun freeze laid out in Bill C-21, "nearly all individuals and businesses in Canada will be banned from importing handguns" beginning August 19. Joly explained that as foreign minister, she has "the authority to deny any import or export permit application that is contrary to Canada's security." She noted that when Trudeau announced the freeze in May, there was an "uptick" in guns being purchased by Canadians. "We want to prevent that," she said, explaining that since most guns in Canada are not made in Canada, implementing a ban on imports would effectively ensure no new guns are purchased legally. The move to ban handguns has faced pushback from many who question its effectiveness. In 2019, for example, Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer said that Canada already had very strong firearms regulations in place and that no further action was required. He added that the vast majority of gun crimes, especially those with handguns, are committed using illegal guns, thus it makes very little sense to ban an already prohibited weapon. https://www.theepochtimes.com/southern-california-city-to-consider-banning-abortions-declaring-sanctuary-for-life_4646733.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport California City to Consider Banning Abortions, Declaring ‘Sanctuary for Life’ Officials in the City of San Clemente, California, will consider a resolution Aug. 16 that would ban abortion and declare the city a “sanctuary for life.” The resolution defines the beginning of human life to be the moment of conception and would make it the city’s declared duty to protect that life until natural death. If passed, it would declare the city’s support for the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade and ban the act of abortion, abortion clinics, and abortion pills in the city. The resolution allows exceptions for women at risk of losing their lives in the process of birth and for victims of rape or incest. It also suggests that human beings do not have the authority to decide to end the life of the unborn. “We believe that life is God-ordained and God is the author and finisher of every life,” the resolution states. “[A]s a city council, we will protect and sustain life at every stage.” The resolution cites Poelker v. Doe of 1977—a legal precedent that allowed a city in Missouri to refuse to provide publicly funded hospitals for nontherapeutic abortions even though it provided facilities for childbirth—saying that “the Constitution does not forbid a state or county or city … from expressing a preference for normal childbirth instead of abortion.” Councilman Steve Knoblock, who proposed the resolution, hopes it will help to initiate change within California, considering the current trend in pro-abortion laws. “The ultimate purpose of government is to protect the life and liberty of humans including unborn individuals,” Knoblock told The Epoch Times in an interview. Councilwoman Laura Ferguson told the City News Service Aug. 3 that it was a “distraction” from more important topics in the city—such as homelessness—when abortion is “something already legal and codified in state law.” A spokesperson for the state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said access to abortion remains fully protected under state law, according to the City News Service. Mario Mainero, Associate Dean for Chapman University’s law school, told The Epoch Times this resolution would have no legal effect because state law pre-empts city law. “California state law permits abortion up to fetal viability and no city can counter that,” Mario said. “They can’t ban abortion clinics because that would violate state law and they can’t do that.” Armored Republic The Mission of Armored Republic is to Honor Christ by equipping Free Men with Tools of Liberty necessary to preserve God-given rights. In the Armored Republic there is no King but Christ. We are Free Craftsmen. Body Armor is a Tool of Liberty. We create Tools of Liberty. Free men must remain ever vigilant against tyranny wherever it appears. God has given us the tools of liberty needed to defend the rights He bestowed to us. Armored Republic is honored to offer you those Tools. Visit them, at ar500armor.com https://www.foxnews.com/us/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-blasts-texas-gov-gregg-abbot-second-bus-migrants-arrives-horrific NYC Mayor Eric Adams blasts Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after second bus of migrants arrives: ‘This is horrific’ New York City Mayor Eric Adams blasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday after a second bus full of illegal migrants arrived at his doorstep. Adams gave a news conference Sunday morning at the Port Authority where he greeted an incoming bus of around 40 migrants — only 14 of whom disembarked in the Big Apple. https://nypost.com/2022/08/05/nyc-mayor-adams-request-photos-of-city-job-applicants-to-increase-diversity/ Adams asks for photos of city job applicants in effort to increase diversity: report Mayor Eric Adams is collecting headshots of potential city workers in a thinly-veiled effort to increase diversity, according to a new report. Adams has requested city agencies to provide photographs of potential hires to City Hall as candidates go through the interview process for city jobs ranging from assistant commissioner to departmental press secretary, Politico reported Thursday. Several unnamed city officials told the outlet that the request is clearly an effort to hire more diverse staffers. However, Adams maintains that it will merely help him recognize his employees in the sprawling city workforce. “Everyone knew what it was. There was no question. It was the first thing everybody said: ‘We’re going to start counting complexions now,’” one recently-departed City Hall employee told Politico. The majority of the officials interviewed by the outlet — who requested anonymity to speak freely about the internal measure — said they supported a more diverse workforce but worried the practice is already causing the Adams administration to make hiring decisions with a greater emphasis on race and ethnicity than merit. Compounding the issue, nearly every official Politico spoke to also said the headshot request created another snag in the drawn-out hiring process — straying away from the mayor’s signature motto of “get stuff done” at a time when city job vacancies are unusually high. About 8 percent of municipal jobs were vacant as of April, according to data from the Citizens Budget Commission. Politico obtained emails sent by the mayor’s team to about a dozen high-ranking officials at other city agencies asking them to submit headshots of people they hope to employ for Adam’s own review. One official said they were verbally told that Adams wanted agencies to hire people who “reflect the constituencies we serve.” Hiring managers aren’t expected to ask job candidates for headshots, but instead grab photos from social media sites like LinkedIn to appease the mayor’s request, two sources told Politico. https://www.outkick.com/jon-gruden-email-leak-hit-job-agent/ JON GRUDEN’S AGENT BELIEVES FORMER COACH’S EMAILS BEING LEAKED WAS A HIT JOB: ‘HE’S NOT A RACIST’ We’re approaching the one-year mark since Jon Gruden was forced to resign as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders following a scandal involving an email leak, but his agent is still going to bat for his client, now calling it “a hit job.” Gruden stepped down as the Raiders’ head coach in October of 2021 after emails directed at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell were leaked that contained racist and homophobic comments. The emails were discovered in what was a league investigation into the Washington Commanders’ workplace culture. An email reportedly implied that Gruden was annoyed that the NFL forced the then St. Louis Rams to draft “queers,” which is a reference to the team drafting Michael Sam in 2014. Gruden reportedly sent an email making fun of the size of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith’s lips. “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires,” the email from 2011 reportedly read. The collection of emails dated back to Gruden’s time at ESPN, before he joined the Raiders for his second stint as head coach. With the original investigation not directly pointed at Gruden, his agent Bob LaMonte is convinced the NFL was simply out to get his client. “I can tell you right now that was a hit job,” Bob LaMonte told JoeBucsFan.com. “Why now, of all things, does that come out in an investigation that had already gone away? It was 10 years ago. And then why Jon and why the Raiders? He wasn’t even in the league at the time of those e-mails…That’s the tragedy of it. You can say what you want, but if anyone really understands Jon, they know he’s not a racist. That’s quite obvious.” LaMonte’s comments about Gruden echo those of legendary college football broadcaster, Brent Musburger, who was also the former radio broadcaster for the Raiders. Report: Raiders Brent Musburger Breaks Silence on Jon Gruden- Play 2:40 - 5:29 Gruden has since filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Goodell as he believes the league sought to ruin his career and make an example of him. The NFL looked to dismiss the case, but a judge denied that ask. Now, let’s end things on more of a positive or interesting note, because not everything is bad news out there: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/eyes-up-for-perseid-meteor-shower-and-saturn-show/ The PUR-SEE-IDS meteor shower is one of the best shows all year for “shooting stars”. Though the Perseids have been active since July 14, the frequency of meteors hurtling through the sky is now heating up this week. In fact, Perseids can produce up to 150 meteors per hour under dark skies! Scientists say the peak time to view this shower will be on the night of Thursday, August 11 & Friday the 12th. The full moon that night may make it tougher to spot the meteors, so train your eyes toward the darker areas and watch closely. This week is also one of the best times to see the ringed planet of Saturn in dramatic fashion. On Sunday, August 14, the giant world will line up with the Earth and the Sun. The alignment is called an “opposition.” Saturn will be closer to Earth than it has been in more than a year. If you want a peek at the planet, look for a golden yellow light shining steadily in the east after sunset. With binoculars, you may even see the spectacular Saturn rings. This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief. If you liked the show, go ahead and share it for me would ya? If you want to become a club member, sign up for our conference, or become a magazine subscriber, you can do all of that at fightlaughfeast.com. Why not do all three? And as always, if you want to become a corporate partner, send me a news story, or ask me about our conference, email me at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great day, and Lord bless.
Even as the US recovers from the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities continue to see substantial weakness in commercial office space utilization. The expert panel discusses research findings that reflect the slow return of employees to offices, which cities' tax revenues may be most vulnerable, and what solutions are being deployed to adapt to the new workplace reality. Our panel of experts includes Nick Bloom, William Eberle Professor of Economics, Stanford University, and co-founder, WFH Research; Andrew S. Rein, president, Citizens Budget Commission; Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore Professor of Real Estate, Columbia Business School; and Lauren Weber, reporter, the Wall Street Journal. Notable Quotes: “...there are four reasons why people have been going hybrid. The first is employees really like it. If you survey employees, which I've been doing in multiple waves, they report that getting to work from home 2-3 days a week is about the same as a 5-10% pay increase.” - Nick Bloom “Office tenants have to make multi-years commitments when they sign a new lease, and what the data shows so far is about a 10% drop in revenue on all active leases between the end of 2019 and the end of 2021.” - Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh “380,000 Manhattan workers live elsewhere in New York State, so there's a question of that shift in economic activity. Doesn't hurt the state necessarily, but it hurts the city. Also, 380,000 live in New Jersey and Connecticut, and that is where that change in economic activity is going to hit the city fisc and the state fisc.” - Andrew Rein “I think a huge issue is that many workers just feel that no one has made a case to them about why they should be back in the office, and I think that's especially the case for younger people, who don't necessarily want to be told what to do.” - Lauren Weber Be sure to subscribe to Special Briefing to stay up to date on the world of public finance. Learn more about the Volcker Alliance at: volckeralliance.org Learn more about Penn IUR at: penniur.upenn.edu Connect with us @VolckerAlliance and @PennIUR on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Special Briefing is published by the Volcker Alliance, as part of its Public Finance initiatives, and Penn IUR. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the panelists and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Volcker Alliance or Penn IUR.
Chair of Herrick's Land Use and Zoning group, Mitch Korbey, and leader of our Real Estate Tax Incentives team, Brett J. Gottlieb, are joined by Basha Gerhards, Senior Vice President of Planning at REBNY and Sean Campion, Senior Research Associate at Citizens Budget Commission to discuss the next steps in the renewal of the 421-a “Affordable New York” law or Governor Hochul's proposed replacement, 485-w “Affordable Neighborhoods for New Yorkers”. Listen and become more familiar with what “what could be” and possibly “what should be” on the table with respect to pending legislation as lawmakers debate solutions for affordable housing in New York City.Music by Michelangelo Sosnowitz
March 28, 2022 - New York is poised to set a new record in spending with the state budget due in a few days, do we turned to the Citizens Budget Commission's Patrick Orecki for context on what state lawmakers are hoping to do, the ambiguity surrounding funding for the budget and the need for greater financial transparency.
On this week's edition of New York NOW: Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her first state budget address, and releases her proposal for the state's annual spending plan. We'll have details. Lawmakers react to Hochul's budget, which kicks off negotiations with the Legislature on a final state budget. Darrell Camp reports. Patrick Orecki from the Citizens Budget Commission breaks down the numbers in Hochul's budget plan. Bill Mahoney and Marie French, both from POLITICO NY, have more analysis on Hochul's budget, this week's campaign filings, and more. Learn More: nynow.org
Nov. 8, 2021 - New York's revenue collections halfway through the fiscal year continue to exceed budget projections, according to the Citizens Budget Commission's Patrick Orecki, who breaks down the latest financial update from the Hochul administration.
On the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Howard Cure of Evercore Wealth Management and Andrew Rein of the Citizens Budget Commission share memories of that day, how New York managed the crisis and prospects today as the city looks to recover from the pandemic. Paul Burton hosts. (26 minutes)
It's all too common that our high school graduates go on to college unprepared for the rigor of the college classroom. Or that they go into the workforce without the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. It's costing everyone dearly--from the cost to our industries to train new graduates to even those graduates' future incomes. Stanley Litow, today's guest, has a solution. And it's one that's been growing since its inception as a single school in Brooklyn, NY in 2011. Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) has since grown to 240 schools in 12 states and 28 countries and has helped to close the achievement gap among some of the most undereducated youth. On this episode, Stanley explains the philosophy behind P-TECH, how it supports schools, students and industry, why it saves us all money, and what we as educational leaders can do to help support models like this. About Stanley Litow: Stanley S. Litow is a Professor at both Columbia and Duke University. At Duke University, he also serves as Innovator in Residence. Stan is the author of The Challenge for Business and Society: From Risk to Reward and co-author of Breaking Barriers: How P-Tech Schools Create a Pathway from High School to College to Career. He previously served as President of the IBM International Foundation and as Deputy Chancellor of Schools for the City of New York. Before his service at IBM and the NYC public schools, he served as President and Founder of Interface and as Executive Director of the NYC Urban Corps, operated out of the Mayor's Office. He has served on multiple Presidential and Gubernatorial Commissions and in addition to his service on the SUNY Board of Trustees; he also serves on the board of Roosevelt House and the Citizens Budget Commission. Stan helped devise the innovative school to college to career program called P-TECH, as well as the IBM Corporate Service Corps, often referenced as the corporate version of the Peace Corps. He has received multiple awards for his community service, from organizations such as the Anne Frank Commission, the Martin Luther King Commission, and the Center for an Urban Future as well as the Corning Award from the New York State Business Council. Jump in the Conversation: [2:00] Stanley's journey of contributing to society [6:15] Challenges in education today [7:21] How P-TECH is working to change that [12:12] How P-TECH is set up [19:01] The cost of remedial courses for high school graduates [20:13] The financial benefits of completing college [26:16] What's the next step [28:17] How P-TECH influences high school curriculum [33:49] Getting buy-in from key stakeholders [37:48] How to get businesses to say yes to teenage interns [50:42] Stanley's magic wand [52:28] Maureen's takeaways Link Stanley's book: Breaking Barriers: How P-Tech Schools Create a Pathway from High School to College to Career P-Tech website Barack Obama Book: The Barack Obama Biography Email Maureen Maureen's TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools The Education Evolution Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution EdActive Collective Maureen's book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Micro-school feature on Good Morning America The Micro-School Coalition Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition LEADPrep
May 27, 2021 - The newly released (and late) state financial plan sheds new light on New York's finances. Patrick Orecki, director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission, explains what this new information tells us about the state's fiscal situation and how federal stimulus money is being spent.
Andrew Rein of the Citizens Budget Commission and Howard Cure of Evercore Wealth Management dive into the city's operating and capital budgets. Paul Burton hosts. (38 minutes)
In a supplemental episode of Recalibrate Reality, Andrew Rein, President of the Citizens Budget Commission, joins Scott Rechler to provide additional details on the New York State Budget, as well as an overview of the current fiscal conditions concerning New York City and New York State. Recalibrate Reality is presented in collaboration with 92nd Street Y and the Regional Plan Association (RPA).
Andrew Rein, President of the Citizens Budget Commission, speaks with John Catsimatidis and guest hosts Lidia Curanaj and Kevin McCullough, to discuss the new state budget and how it affects New Yorkers and their taxes.
Mar. 17, 2021 - Patrick Orecki, Senior Research Associate at the Citizens Budget Commission, outlined his organization's analysis of the proposed revenue sources included in the legislative budget proposals.
Howard Cure of Evercore and Maria Doulis, formerly of the Citizens Budget Commission, explore New York City's fiscal variables amid the pandemic. Paul Burton hosts. (30 minutes). Recorded Jan. 26.
Dec. 8, 2020 - On the federal level, lawmakers are still hammering out the details of a second stimulus package. We heard from Dave Friedfel, Director of State Studies at the Citizens Budget Commission, on how previous stimulus packages have impacted New York and how the state should use this second package.
Winston C. Fisher directs Fisher Brothers' financing/investing activities, property acquisitions and dispositions, and oversees all new development initiatives. With experience across a broad range of transactions, Mr. Fisher leads all financial analysis, due diligence, project capitalization efforts, and joint-venture partnerships for new and distressed real estate projects. His active participation in the company's development projects includes serving as CEO of AREA15, a first-of-its-kind experiential and interactive retail, dining and nightlife complex. In addition, he manages the Fisher Brothers; investment portfolio, including asset allocation, risk management, and investment manager selection and holds the position of Chairman of Lionheart Strategic Management, which provides financing on transitional assets.Mr. Fisher is the Co-Chair of the NYC Regional Economic Development Council and serves as a Trustee on the Citizens Budget Commission. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York. Mr. Fisher also serves on the Board of the Realty Foundation of New York and is on the Board of Trustees at Syracuse University, and the Horace Mann School.Involved in a number of philanthropic activities, Mr. Fisher is on the Board of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and has been active through Team Intrepid Fallen Heroes in participating in extreme sports to raise funds to support our U.S. wounded troops. He also serves on the Board of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, has been following the city and state budgets for some time, and he knows that the Covid-19 pandemic has put them both in a precarious state. Rein argues that there are lessons we can learn from previous fiscal crises, and that there are creative measures we can take before the government looks at cutting services or raising taxes, both of which could have cyclical negative impacts on the city overall.
Navigating an unprecedented mix of challenges mayors across the US rely on innovative fiscal and managerial actions to navigate the lasting early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and new challenges on the horizon. In discussing these actions panelists touch on the research on city fiscal conditions by Professor Reschovsky as well as a new national survey of municipal leaders by Engaging Local Government Leaders, Route Fifty, and other partners. This special briefing features a panel of experts, including Linda J. Bilmes, Daniel Patrick Moynihan senior lecturer in public policy and public finance, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University; Andrew Reschovsky, professor emeritus of Public Affairs and Applied Economics, Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Bill Lucia, senior reporter, Route Fifty; Andrew Rein, president, Citizens Budget Commission of New York. Notable Quotes: “A rough scaling up of these estimates to all local governments in the entire United States suggests revenue shortfalls this fiscal year of $103-$165 billion.” - Andrew Reschovsky “Just over 60% of respondents said that capital projects would be the budget item most impacted by revenue shortfalls stemming from the Coronavirus. Among leadership positions the percentage of respondents who said so was even higher.” - Bill Lucia “The Mayor (of NYC) has actually talked about, if we don't get this $1 billion saved, we need to lay off 22,000 workers, or we need to borrow money. We think that is a false choice.” - Andrew Rein “The best run cities that I'm working with are trying to quickly convert at least key portions of their budgets into activity-based budgets.” - Linda Bilmes Be sure to subscribe to Special Briefing to stay up to date on the world of public finance. Learn more about the Volcker Alliance at: volckeralliance.org Learn more about Penn IUR at: penniur.upenn.edu Connect with us @VolckerAlliance and @PennIUR on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Special Briefing is published by the Volcker Alliance, as part of its Public Finance initiatives, and Penn IUR. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the panelists and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Volcker Alliance or Penn IUR.
Howard Cure of Evercore Wealth Management and Maria Doulis of the Citizens Budget Commission examine variables related to the city's FY21 spending plan amid the coronavirus pandemic, a deep recession and civil unrest. Paul Burton hosts.
NYATEP's Executive Director Melinda Mack catches up with David Friedfel, Director of State Studies at the Citizens Budget Commission at the NYS Capitol.
The data point for today is 1981, the year in which the State Legislature enacted S7000A, the landmark bill that formalized the current property tax system for New York City. A response to the Hellerstein case, which found the system was in violation of State law, S7000A essentially codified the status quo. In doing so, it established a system of property classification, fractional assessments, caps, phase-ins, and class shares that is still with us 37 years later. These structural features and statutory requirements are the root of the system’s inequities and complexities. A home worth $500,000 can face the same tax bill as a home worth $1.5 million, while the value of a condominium unit, according to the City, is a fraction of its sale price. In fact, some buildings have values that are below the sale price of individual units. And commercial and rental property faces a higher average property tax burden than 1-, 2- and 3-family homes. These inequities and problems have led to repeated calls for reform, including pending litigation. This past May, Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson formed the Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform. In September, the Citizens Budget Commission, the Regional Plan Association, and NYU Robert Wagner School of Public Service held a panel to discuss the problem, inequities and potential reforms
David Friedfel is the director of state studies for the Citizens Budget Commission and a returning guest to Poozer Politics. He talked about what’s going on behind the scenes of the legislature’s joint budget committees, explained a controversial proposal from Governor Cuomo to take more control over the budget process and outlined his organization’s blueprint … Continue reading "Art of the Budget Deal"
James Parrott, of the Fiscal Policy Institute and Charles Brecher, of the Citizens Budget Commission, discuss the complexities and the uncertainties of the New York City budget.
Wednesday, Aug 7, 6pm EDT: New York's Mayoral race is on. There is an interesting cast of characters who are running–it would certainly make an interesting Broadway show. One of the more solid candidates, Jack Hidary, doesn't have a background in politics,interestingly, at all. Which may be a tremendous advantage. What he does have, however, is an extensive background in business and entrepreneurship, as well as has a background in neuroscience and philosophy, both excellent disciplines to have for entering the political arena. After handing off management of the company to a new team, Jack became active in public service. He got engaged in helping small businesses grow and championing new models of education. Jack has served as an associate partner at the Partnership for NYC, a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission and a member of the steering committee of ABNY. Jack has been recognized for his leadership by organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the National Committee on US-China Relations. He is a founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a group created by President Bill Clinton to bring together government, the private sector and non-profits together to solve the big problems of our day. Jack has also been a member of YPO. Please note that the other candidates for Mayor were invited onto the show but their staff was apparently so busy, none of them got in under the deadline. As a result, the independent candidate, which A Better World tends to favor, will get the benefit of being the featured candidate on our show. Listen on-line at www.abetterworld.tv Or listen by phone! 602-753-1860 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/abwmitchellrabin/support
This public policy forum consists of presentations and a panel discussion on issues pertaining to more equitable school aid system for New York, co-sponsored by School of Public Affairs, Center for Governmental Research (CGR), and Citizens Budget Commission (CBC). Douglas Muzzio, Co-Director, Center for Innovation& Leadership in Government and Professor at Baruch College welcomes the speakers and participants. At 1:58, Kent Gardner, President, Center for Governmental Research speaks. At 5:10, Elizabeth Lynam, Duputy Research Director, Citizens Budget Commission, makes a presentation on CBC's research on school finance reform for New York State. At 12:38, a panel discussion is moderated by Eugene J. Keilin, Trustee of CBC. Other Panelists include: Robert Jackson, City Council Member; Steve Sanders, former Assemblyman; David Shaffer, President, The Public Policy Institute; Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education; and Erika Rosenberg, Senior Research Associate, CGR. The event takes place on September 28, 2006 at Vertical Campus, Room 14-220.
The School of Public Affairs presents "Pork Barrel Spending: Are Earmarks Kosher?" - 2010 Fall program of the Peter F. Vallone, Sr. Lecture Series. Speakers focus on the topic of budgetary earmarks made by legislators and whether or not these earmarks provide a valid service to the recipient as well as the taxpayer. Panelists include: Carol Kellerman, President, Citizens Budget Commission; Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Councilmember; Nicole P. Marwell, Associate Professor, Baruch College School of Public Affairs; David Weprin, New York State Assembly. The panel discussion is moderated by Peter F. Vallone, Sr., former Speaker, New York City Council. David Birdsell, Dean, School of Public Affairs, makes the opening remarks. The event takes place on November 22, 2010 at the Baruch College Newman Conference Center, Room 750.
Baruch College School of Public Affairs and the Citizens Budget Commission present "The Buck Stops Here", a debate between the Democratic Primary Candidates for New York City comptroller. Candidates include City Council members Melinda Katz, John C. Liu, David I. Weprin and David Yassky. The event is moderated by David S. Birdsell, Dean, School of Public Affairs, and Carol Kellermann, President, Citizens Budget Commission. Barbara Fife, Director of External Affairs, introduces the event. Stan Altman, Interim President, Baruch College, and James Lipscomb, Chairman, Citizens Budget Commission, make welcoming remarks. The event takes place on September 2, 2009, at the Baruch Newman Conference Center, Room 750.
Baruch College School of Public Affairs and the Citizens Budget Commission present "The Buck Stops Here", a debate between the Democratic Primary Candidates for New York City comptroller. Candidates include City Council members Melinda Katz, John C. Liu, David I. Weprin and David Yassky. The event is moderated by David S. Birdsell, Dean, School of Public Affairs, and Carol Kellermann, President, Citizens Budget Commission. Barbara Fife, Director of External Affairs, introduces the event. Stan Altman, Interim President, Baruch College, and James Lipscomb, Chairman, Citizens Budget Commission, make welcoming remarks. The event takes place on September 2, 2009, at the Baruch Newman Conference Center, Room 750.
The School of Public Affairs presents "Pork Barrel Spending: Are Earmarks Kosher?" - 2010 Fall program of the Peter F. Vallone, Sr. Lecture Series. Speakers focus on the topic of budgetary earmarks made by legislators and whether or not these earmarks provide a valid service to the recipient as well as the taxpayer. Panelists include: Carol Kellerman, President, Citizens Budget Commission; Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Councilmember; Nicole P. Marwell, Associate Professor, Baruch College School of Public Affairs; David Weprin, New York State Assembly. The panel discussion is moderated by Peter F. Vallone, Sr., former Speaker, New York City Council. David Birdsell, Dean, School of Public Affairs, makes the opening remarks. The event takes place on November 22, 2010 at the Baruch College Newman Conference Center, Room 750.
Baruch College School of Public Affairs and the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) present "Managing for Results: Giving New Yorkers a Voice." David Birdsell, Dean, Baruch College School of Public Affairs makes the welcoming remarks. The panelists discuss issues on how people understand that government is doing, how citizens can more directly affect their lives, and how government can better respond to them. At 02:54, Diana Fortuna, President, Citizens Budget Commission talks about CBC's recent research findings on the topic. At 13:25, James Liebman, Chief Accountability Officer, NYC Department of Education speaks on "Better Information for Better Instruction and Better Results" in schools. At 22:24, Brooke Myhre, Performance Development Manager, City of San Jose, California discusses performance management and practices in the City of San Jose. At 39:08, Jeffrey Kay, Director, NYC Mayor's Office of Operations speaks on "How Do You Give New Yorkers a Voice." Moderated by Douglas Muzzio, Professor, Baruch College School of Public Affairs, the event takes place at the Newman Conference Center on June 19, 2006.
Doug sits down with Carol Kellermann, President of the Citizens Budget Commission, and Nicole Gelinas, the Searle Freedom Trust Fellow at the Manhattan Institute. They discuss the state and city budgets and the way cutbacks will affect New Yorkers.
This week, Doug welcomes frequent City Talk guest Diana Fortuna, President of Citizens Budget Commission. Ms. Fortuna lends her significant expertise to a discussion on Governor Spitzer’s tactics in achieving New York State's new budget.