What's The [DATA] Point

Citizens Budget Commission
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Podcast by Citizens Budget Commission

  1. 630,000 with Andy Byford

    FEB 3

    630,000 with Andy Byford

    630,000 is the number of riders who travel through Penn Station every day—making it the busiest transportation hub in the nation. The catch? It was designed, reportedly, for just 200,000. Revitalizing Penn Station is a bit of a white whale for its many stakeholders, including three transit agencies, two states, one city, and now, the Federal government. There is momentum at long last in part thanks to the head of the project for Amtrak, Andy "Train Daddy" Byford. So—what should the station look like? What will happen to MSG? Who will pay—and who's in charge? Listen in as CBC President Andrew Rein and Byford have a substantive conversation about the project's future.

    56 min
  2. 1,039,069 with Grace Rauh

    JAN 16

    1,039,069 with Grace Rauh

    1,039,069 is the number of kids under the age of five in New York who could ultimately qualify for free or subsidized childcare under the Hochul/Mamdani plan. How should the State and City design a flexible program that meets the needs of diverse families? How should it be phased? What does "universal" mean exactly? And what is the budget impact in an uncertain fiscal environment? To help answer these questions and more is Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union and a long-time advocate for childcare reform in New York City.

    35 min
  3. 1,143, with Camille Joseph Varlack

    12/19/2025

    1,143, with Camille Joseph Varlack

    1,143 is the number of days Camille Joseph Varlack served in city government as Chief of Staff, Deputy Mayor for Administration and briefly First Deputy Mayor during the Adam's administration. A good Chief of Staff can make an administration—but they're rarely in the spotlight. On this episode of What's the [DATA] Point, Joseph Varlack joins CBC's Andrew Rein to reflect on her successes and the challenges of continuing to deliver in choppy waters, talk about what a Chief of Staff actually does, and how to inspire the best and brightest to consider public service.

    36 min
  4. 17, with Incoming First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan

    12/18/2025

    17, with Incoming First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan

    17 is the number of days, at the time of this conversation’s recording, before Dean Fuleihan becomes First Deputy Mayor for a second time. As Mayor-Elect Mamdani turns from campaigning to the practicalities of governing, First Deputy Mayor Fuleihan will be an expert hand involved in every step. On this episode of What’s the [DATA] Point, Fuleihan joined CBC’s Andrew Rein to talk about how to achieve the administration’s priorities, and what to do about the unexpected. The conversation ranged from the deteriorating condition of rent stabilized housing, to raising taxes in a city whose competitiveness is challenged by neighboring states, and delivering effective programs at a price point New Yorkers can afford.

    53 min
  5. 51, with Presumptive City Council Speaker Julie Menin

    12/15/2025

    51, with Presumptive City Council Speaker Julie Menin

    51 is the number of members in the New York City Council. Six weeks before the Council was scheduled to vote on its next leader, Council Member Julie Menin announced herself the presumptive Speaker after garnering the support of a supermajority of her council colleagues. On this episode of What's the [DATA] Point, CM Menin joined CBC's Andrew Rein and New York Law School's Ben Max to discuss her broad vision for a proactive City Council, her working relationship with Mayor-Elect Mamdani in service of shared interests, the Council's role in prioritizing important programs with budget constraints, and much else besides.

    1h 6m
  6. 791, the Comptrollerpalooza Episode

    11/20/2025

    791, the Comptrollerpalooza Episode

    791 is the number of staff the City Comptroller can employ for the vital task of auditing City agencies, managing the $306 billion pension fund, registering contracts, analyzing the budget, monitoring the economy—essentially serving as the people's check on the Mayor's office. This episode of What's the Data Point involves a conversation between the 'Three C's', NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and NYC Comptroller-elect Mark Levine—with the former providing their guidance and wisdom, and the latter his plans for the office. Listen in for a robust chat on what shape the City budget and economy are in, what's coming down from the federal government, and how each thinks about the fiscal contours of Mayor-elect Mamdani's proposed affordability programs.

    55 min
  7. 221: Part 1 of the Mayoral Smart Choices Series

    10/21/2025

    221: Part 1 of the Mayoral Smart Choices Series

    221 is the number of New Yorkers who joined CBC's Mayoral Smart Choices Half-Day Conference. In part 1 of a three-part series, a panel explores important question about the City's finances: how does the next mayor bring spending to sustainable levels and build the City’s reserves? What does fulsome preparation for federal cuts look like? How do labor deals balance fair compensation with fiscal reality? What tax policies will maintain the city’s attractiveness? - Louisa Chafee, Director, Independent Budget Office - Ana Champeny, Vice President for Research, CBC - Ken Girardin, Fellow, Manhattan Institute - Nathan Gusdorf, Executive Director, Fiscal Policy Institute - Ben Max (moderator), Program Director, Center for New York City and State Law at New York Law School

    57 min
  8. 221: Part 3 of the Mayoral Smart Choices Series

    10/21/2025

    221: Part 3 of the Mayoral Smart Choices Series

    221 is the number of New Yorkers who joined CBC's Mayoral Smart Choices Half-Day Conference. In part 3 of a three-part series, a panel explores important questions on how to make the City affordable, safe, and livable. There are many competing needs, from boosting housing production to making childcare more affordable; providing fast, reliable public transit; delivering clean, safe and vibrant streets and high quality education. How do we achieve all this on a budget New York can afford? - Majora Carter, CEO, Majora Carter Group - Rafael Cestero, CEO, Community Preservation Corporation; former Commissioner, NYC HPD - Nicole Gelinas, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute - Elizabeth Glazer, Founder Vital City; former Dir. Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice - Alicia Glen (moderator), Founder and Managing Principal, MSquared; former Deputy

    58 min
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4.8
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Podcast by Citizens Budget Commission

Information

  • Creator
    Citizens Budget Commission
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    162
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    What's The [DATA] Point

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