Government
Will Cities Be Heard in Campaign 2012?
Jarrett Murphy |
Great nations feature great cities. But American campaigns usually don’t. Four years after voters elected a president who pledged to do more for cities, is that about to change?
Brooklyn
Downtown Remains Contested Territory
Neil deMause |
The major rezoning of Brooklyn in 2004, coupled with the recent economic slowdown, has produced mixed results for residents and businesses.
Bronx
Bike Plan Aims to Get Bronx Armory on Track
Milesska Contreras |
In 2009 a controversy over wages scuttled a plan to build a mall in the long-empty Kingsbridge Armory. Now there’s a plan to host bike races there. Is a renovation project finally getting in gear?
Health and Environment
City, AIDS Activists Clash Over Fees
Patrick Arden |
Advocates say a Bloomberg administration reduction of brokers’ fees paid under an HIV/AIDS housing program has made life harder for HIV-positive clients.
Economy
Earning Farm Subsidies … on the Upper East Side?
Jake Mooney |
As a national debate over farm subsidies heats up, a look at the top New York City beneficiaries reveals the nuances of a controversial program.
Justice
From Tix-Fix to Pepper-Spray, NYPD Discipline in Spotlight
Jeanmarie Evelly |
Indictments in the Bronx, scuffles on Wall Street, cops charged with planting drugs and running guns. The NYPD is getting a lot of bad press these days. But calls for stricter outside monitoring face familiar obstacles, both practical and political.
Housing and Homelessness
Affordable Housing 'Maze' Confronts Would-Be Tenants
Patrick Clark |
The city is in the midst of an historic plan to build affordable housing. But people who want to live in those low-income units face enormous difficulty finding and applying for government-subsidized apartments.
Government
Consultants' Prescriptions for City Hospitals Get Closer Look
Ruth Ford |
Facing a severe fiscal crisis, New York’s public hospitals brought in a consultant for advice. But determining best practices for a one-of-a-kind charity healthcare system is a tricky operation.
Government
From Buses to Special Ed, Contractors' Role in Schools Questioned
Adrienne Day |
Many private firms’ projects in city schools have not been “disasters.” But that doesn’t mean these multimillion-dollar projects are the best way for a school system to spend its money.
Government
Privatization's Risks Involve More Than Money
Adrienne Day |
Not only has city spending on outside contractors swelled in the past decade. The role of private firms in developing city policy has expanded. Have accountability and transparency kept pace?
