Commentary

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

The State of New York City’s Jails, Mid-2024

data

The State of New York City’s Jails, Mid-2024

Vital City Sep. 05 2024

A view of an apartment building from the outside at night, with some windows lit up

Crime

Crime Rhetoric vs. Crime Realities

Elizabeth Glazer Aug. 22 2024

City Beautiful, City Ugly

Place

City Beautiful, City Ugly

Vishaan Chakrabarti Aug. 22 2024

A woman reads a copy of the New York Times outside of a building with a blue wall; on the wall is taped a sign with the words "Vote Here" printed underneath

culture

New York Times to New York: Drop Dead

Harry Siegel Aug. 14 2024

The State of Crime in New York City at Midyear 2024

Crime

The State of Crime in New York City at Midyear 2024

Vital City, Paul Reeping Aug. 13 2024

A man walks in front of a row of buildings with some windows boarded up with colorful boards and their doors painted a variety of bright colors

History

Jane Jacobs Would Support ‘City of Yes’

Benjamin Schneider Aug. 08 2024

Subway Gun Scanners: The Wrong Tech in the Wrong Place

Technology

Subway Gun Scanners: The Wrong Tech in the Wrong Place

Barry Friedman, Max Isaacs, Katie Kinsey Jul. 31 2024

A Decade After Garner's Death, an Explosion of Knowledge — But Limited Progress

Crime

A Decade After Garner's Death, an Explosion of Knowledge — But Limited Progress

Neil Gross Jul. 26 2024

Times Square Good, Times Square Bad

Crime

Times Square Good, Times Square Bad

Nicole Gelinas Jul. 18 2024

How Architecture Can Create Community — or Isolation

City Planning

How Architecture Can Create Community — or Isolation

Anjulie Rao Jul. 10 2024

A child reads a book while lying on a green slide at a playground

culture

What We're Reading

Greg Berman Jun. 26 2024

A child doing a wheelie trick on his bike in front of a colorful mural

Where Do We Go From Here?

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

Majora Carter Jun. 26 2024