Commentary

Original essays, new research and data analysis on many of the biggest questions facing New York and other cities

Stanley Richards on the Past, Present and Future of Rikers Island

Comings and Goings

Stanley Richards on the Past, Present and Future of Rikers Island

Elizabeth Glazer Mar. 11 2026

What Molly Park Knows About Homelessness and City Government

Podcast

What Molly Park Knows About Homelessness and City Government

Jamie Rubin Mar. 11 2026

Can Erin Dalton Make Progress in Curbing Chronic Homelessness?

Can Erin Dalton Make Progress in Curbing Chronic Homelessness?

Caterina Roman Mar. 11 2026

A porta potty installed along the side of a construction site

Infrastructure

Sewer Socialism, Meet Toilet Socialism

Sachi Takahashi-Rial Mar. 09 2026

A public bathroom designed as part of the Tokyo Toilet art project is illuminated at night

Infrastructure

Tokyo’s Toilet Teachings

Joe McReynolds Mar. 09 2026

A man holding a black box stands at a crosswalk next to which a police car is parked and a truck is driving by

Reality Check

Reality Check: Why Do New York City’s Crime Numbers Change?

John Hall Mar. 04 2026

A chain hangs in front of the side of a bus with a row of houses painted on it

City Government

Abundance On a Budget

Robert Joyce, Catherine Vaughan Mar. 03 2026

For Whom the Plows Come

Sanitation

For Whom the Plows Come

Khaled Eltokhy Mar. 02 2026

The Hidden Cost of Trash

Sanitation

The Hidden Cost of Trash

Stephen Smith Mar. 02 2026

Children and their families play in Washington Square Park in front of a tower of snowballs

Police-Community Relations

Of Molehills, Mountains and Snowballs

Brandon del Pozo Feb. 28 2026

A Halal cart vendor reaches out of his cart during a snowstorm

City Government

A New Mayor’s Trial By Snow

John Surico Feb. 25 2026

Three boys stand at a street corner while a police officer crosses the street

Crime

Criminal Risk Assessment and the Character Trap

Robert J. Sampson Feb. 25 2026