Commentary

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

Case Studies from Other Large Cities

Subway Safety

Case Studies from Other Large Cities

Vital City Dec. 16 2025

What Mamdani Can Learn from a de Blasio Administration Safety Innovation

Safety

What Mamdani Can Learn from a de Blasio Administration Safety Innovation

Renita Francois, Abdul Nasser Rad Dec. 10 2025

Reality Check: Has Youth Crime in New York Risen After Raise the Age?

Crime

Reality Check: Has Youth Crime in New York Risen After Raise the Age?

Vital City Dec. 09 2025

A New Manhattan Project

Technology

A New Manhattan Project

Vishaan Chakrabarti Dec. 09 2025

How Mamdani Can Deliver Free Buses — and Subways, Too

policy

How Mamdani Can Deliver Free Buses — and Subways, Too

Howard Yaruss Dec. 09 2025

The Rikers Receivership Risk — and Opportunity

Jails

The Rikers Receivership Risk — and Opportunity

Vincent Schiraldi Dec. 09 2025

New York City Needs a Smarter Way to Control Rents

Housing

New York City Needs a Smarter Way to Control Rents

Eddie Palka Dec. 05 2025

Daylight Savings: A Safer, Cheaper and Quicker Way to Design Intersections

Safety

Daylight Savings: A Safer, Cheaper and Quicker Way to Design Intersections

Vital City Dec. 05 2025

Taking Mamdani’s Revolution to the Streets

Streets

Taking Mamdani’s Revolution to the Streets

Benjamin Schneider Dec. 04 2025

The Urban Optimist's Holiday Gift Guide

culture

The Urban Optimist's Holiday Gift Guide

Vital City Dec. 02 2025

Rolling the Dice? How New York City Came to Approve Three Vegas-Style Casinos

Infrastructure

Rolling the Dice? How New York City Came to Approve Three Vegas-Style Casinos

Aaron Short Nov. 25 2025

What Mamdani Gets Wrong About Severe Mental Illness & Crisis Response

Mental Health

What Mamdani Gets Wrong About Severe Mental Illness & Crisis Response

Brian Stettin Nov. 24 2025