Commentary
Original essays, new research and data analysis on many of the biggest questions facing New York and other cities
Neighborhood Life
Sustaining the Joyful City: A New York City Social Infrastructure Agenda
Mamdani needs a comprehensive strategy to connect New Yorkers in the physical spaces where we interact.
New York's Nameless Knights
On a subway platform earlier this month, I witnessed quiet heroism. It’s far more common than non-New Yorkers realize.
CompStat, Meet SafeStat
As he works to build a Department of Community Safety, Mayor Mamdani should pioneer a new way to measure not just crime, but broader public safety.
Mayor Mamdani, Here’s What Mass Engagement Looks Like in Practice
Hyperlocal democratic decision-making tools are out there, ready to be applied.
Incarceration
What Rikers’ Receiver Should Do Now
Follow the successful example of jails and prisons from other states.
The Unlikely Tool That Could Transform Second-Chance Hiring
Why insurance could unlock opportunity for thousands of previous offenders
The State of Crime in New York City: 2025 and Beyond
What happened in 2025 and what it bodes for 2026
