Commentary

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

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani points at a TV screen displaying his May 2026 financial plan

Budget

Call It What It Is: A State Bailout of New York City

Paul Francis May. 14 2026

A woman takes out cash in front of a table of grapes and cherry tomatoes at a grocery market

City Government

Mamdani’s Supermarket Mistake

Howard Yaruss May. 13 2026

Alex Bores on Housing, AI Regulation, and His Campaign for Congress in New York's 12th District

interview

Alex Bores on Housing, AI Regulation, and His Campaign for Congress in New York's 12th District

New York Editorial Board May. 13 2026

A person stands next to a window in their apartment taking a phone call; outside the window can be seen water tanks on rooftops

Infrastructure

New York’s Wooden Water Tanks: A Perfect Fusion of Form and Function

Thomas Mellins May. 12 2026

Antonio Reynoso on Mamdani, Immigration, and His Campaign for Congress in New York's 7th District

interview

Antonio Reynoso on Mamdani, Immigration, and His Campaign for Congress in New York's 7th District

New York Editorial Board May. 08 2026

Vincent R. Impellitteri, Robert Moses, William O'Dwyer, John Cashmore and Lazarus Joseph talk in a group huddle during the Board of Estimate Hearing

History

The Voting Rights Act in New York City

Tim Tompkins May. 07 2026

An overhead shot of two rows of Waymo robotaxis sitting parked in a lot

Transit

A Different Waymo Future Is Possible

Bryant Walker Smith, Matt Wansley May. 07 2026

Members of the United Federation of Teachers hold signs at a rally

Labor

The Unions and the Cities

Nicholas Bagley May. 04 2026

Two men talk on stage in armchairs before a seated audience

Does When We’re Born Make Us Who We Are?

Vital City Apr. 30 2026

Claire Valdez on Mamdani, AOC, and Her Campaign for Congress in New York's 7th District

interview

Claire Valdez on Mamdani, AOC, and Her Campaign for Congress in New York's 7th District

New York Editorial Board Apr. 30 2026

Children look at the murals in the Las Cabanas museum in Guadalajar

Borrow and Steal

How Guadalajara Killed the Paper Permit

Cara Eckholm Apr. 29 2026

A person raides their hand above a computer in a room full of computers where blue wires hang down from the ceiling

Technology

Government AI, the Road to More Bureaucratic Discretion and Accountability

Stephen Goldsmith Apr. 29 2026