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NYC DOE: But our deal with the devil will be a good one
Jargon-ridden and light on genuine reflection, NYC Department of Education’s initial guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in the public schools augers a new frontier for strategic failure in a system long plagued by meager vision and reactive leadership.
Renewing the fight for accessibility in NYC: CCHR + DOB + HPD + DOT
Despite having the strongest law in the country, barriers to accessibility for people with mobility impairments have been allowed to persist in New York City for far too long. There's an easy toool that the Mamdani administration can use to help begin a real crackdown.
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From earlier this year
Dissecting Mayor Mamdani’s veto message on legislation relating to protests at educational institutions
Both parts that ring true and parts that ring false raise issues of concern. At the same time, any claims on the Council side that the legislation would materially change police procedure are without basis. Did Speaker Menin have a more subtle, supplemental motive in pushing the legislation?
Major capital improvements in rent-regulated buildings: still landlord-friendly
The element of the system that has not been getting much attention is how landlords of rent-regulated apartments recoup costs for major capital improvements (MCIs) — things like new roofs, boilers, windows, plumbing, and electrical wiring.
Three housing pilots Mamdani should jump on (and be judged by)
Let's put together a wider range of tools and prove that they can work.
From the archives
Market-rate condos as an affordable housing tool?
Legislation recently enacted by New York State as part of its budget process directly offers the prospect of preserving several thousand affordable housing units at risk for losing their tenant protections, and indirectly raises the question of why an obvious set of tools aren’t being used to change the day-to-day reality of luxury condominium buildings being developed with zero percent affordable units included.
Did Paul Clement play it straight?
Assigned by the presiding judge in the Mayor Adams case to grapple with issues raised by alleged improper conduct by DOJ in seeking dismissal, former Solicitor General appears to falsely pretend that "all roads" lead to a dismissal with prejudice (and not denial of leave to dismiss). We annotate the brief and ask you to consider: did Clement fairly make his case?
Hochul's "Pro-Housing Community" program so far falling flat
A large percentage of municipalities in Westchester and Nassau Counties — two of the beating hearts of exclusionary zoning in the New York City metropolitan area — are saying in effect, “No, thank you, we like our exclusion just the way we have it.” The lack of progress is especially apparent in municipalities with the lowest percentages of non-Hispanic Black residents.
Lyric of the week
Jul 19, 2026
You were born in California
I was born in F.L.A
I went out there with a rock n’ roll band, yeah
Looking for somewhere else to play
You were an angel, an independent girl
You were not afraid of the big wicked world
You took me in and gave me hope
When I was at the end of my rope
And I will always be grateful
For finding you when I did
I will always treasure you
As my dearest and deepest friend
I’ve heard there’s a light at the end of the tunnel
I’ve heard there’s a wisdom and uncertainty
I’ve heard every cloud has a silver lining
Well, I hope that’s true for you and me
"It is written,"