Commentary

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

Two girls sit side by side on a subway car

Transit

Want to Fix the Subway? Stop Asking It To Be What It’s Not

Sarah Feinberg Mar. 05 2025

Three people in superhero costumes pass through subway turnstiles

Historical Lessons

What Role Should Nonprofits Play in Cities?

Elizabeth Glazer, Greg Berman Mar. 04 2025

Giant inflatable bowling pin costumes march in a parade

Historical Lessons

Alexis de Tocqueville and the Art of Association

Daniel Stid Mar. 04 2025

Two women sit on the Met Museum steps eating, a Met bag beside them

Historical Lessons

A Short History of Urban Nonprofits

Benjamin Soskis Mar. 04 2025

A person holds a rainbow umbrella flipped inside out on a stoop

culture

The Paradox of Nonprofit Trustworthiness

Leslie Lenkowsky Mar. 04 2025

Mayor Ed Koch in his office at New York City Hall

Historical Lessons

The Enduring Power of ‘Poverty Pimps’

Michael Woodsworth Mar. 04 2025

Snow-covered picnic tables sit near a roller coaster and flag mural

The Great Debate

An Antidemocratic Approach to Democratic Governance

Claire Dunning Mar. 04 2025

A marching band in pink and black uniforms parades down a street

The Great Debate

A Marshall Plan for the Nonprofit Sector

Lisette Nieves Mar. 04 2025

Several handmade cardboard dollhouses sit on a shelf

The Great Debate

Why Can’t We Solve the Homelessness Crisis in New York City?

Shams DaBaron Mar. 04 2025

A boarded, graffiti-covered apartment building looms over a passing motorbike

The Great Debate

How the Nonprofit Sector Fails Communities

Majora Carter Mar. 04 2025

A woman reads papers while standing in a red-paneled hallway

The Great Debate

Following the Money

Nicole P. Marwell Mar. 04 2025

Volunteers sort piles of donated clothing at a community center

The Great Debate

The Nonprofit Model of Social Service Delivery Makes Sense for New York

Jessica Katz Mar. 03 2025