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CUF in the News
Center for an Urban Future
is a New York City-based think tank that fuses journalistic reporting techniques with traditional policy analysis to produce in-depth reports and workable policy solutions on the critical issues facing our cities.
is a New York City-based think tank that fuses journalistic reporting techniques with traditional policy analysis to produce in-depth reports and workable policy solutions on the critical issues facing our cities.
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Immigration
CONCEPT PAPER
An Action Agenda for ESOLThis concept paper written by the Center for an Urban Future and the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy includes eight recommendations for supporting and strengthening the state's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs. The action agenda, which was endorsed by an unusual coalition of the state's leading business groups, immigrant advocates, literacy providers and workforce training professionals, calls on New York policymakers to guarantee level funding for state-run ESOL programs even in this difficult fiscal environment. It argues that supporting ESOL programs is increasingly important to New York's economic competitiveness since immigrants represent the fastest-growing part of the workforce in nearly every corner of the state.
COMMENTARY
Immigrant Entrepreneurism: An Engine for Economic Recoveryby Jonathan Bowles
In this essay for the new book What's Next for New York City's Economy, published by the Drum Major Institute, CUF's Jonathan Bowles argues that New York's economic development officials should look to immigrant entrepreneurs to provide a key spark to the city's economic recovery.
REPORT
Six Months Later: What Has President Obama Done for New York City?By David Giles, David Jason Fischer and Marc Shavitz
A week before President Obama took office, the Center for an Urban Future published a report that laid out 51 specific recommendations for what the Obama administration and the 111th Congress could do to help New York City and other cities. Now, at the six month anniversary of President Obamas inauguration, we are taking a close look at which of these 51 recommendations have been achieved. Our conclusion: While the administration still has a long way to go to create a comprehensive national urban policy, it has already made an extraordinary amount of progress on issues that matter to New York and other cities.
REPORT
Central New York's New WorkforceBy Tara Colton
Our survey of Central New York businesses finds that 40 percent employ workers with limited English proficiency. As immigrants comprise a rising share of the population and workforce throughout the region, upgrading their language skills will be key for local businesses and the areas future economic growth.
REPORT
Reviving the Middle Class Dream in NYCBy Jonathan Bowles, Joel Kotkin and David Giles
This major report by the Center for an Urban Future, titled "Reviving the City of Aspiration," concludes that New Yorks longstanding legacy as a place that both sustained a large middle class and elevated countless people from poorer backgrounds into the middle class is now in serious jeopardy.
COMMENTARY
Paying Attention to CitiesBy Jonathan Bowles
After years of federal policies neglecting urban areas, Barack Obama has sent some encouraging signals that he understands their importance. Certainly, New York could use a helping hand. In this commentary for Gotham Gazette, CUF director Jonathan Bowles lays out some ideas for what the president could do to aid New York. Bowles and CUF deputy director Tara Colton also appeared on WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show to discuss these ideas.
January 2009
REPORT
51 Things the Obama Administration Should do for New York CityBy Jonathan Bowles, Tara Colton, David Jason Fischer, David Giles and Jim O'Grady
The advent of the Obama administration offers great hope that the period of years, if not decades, when the federal government all but turned its back on the needs of urban communities is finally over. But what exactly should the new president do for New York City? Our new report, 50+1: A Federal Agenda for New York City, lays out 51 specific recommendations for what the Obama administration and the 111th Congress could do to help New York City. The ideas range from taking immediate steps to ensure that the 2010 Census does not undercount New York and providing anti-terror funds to localities based on risk to accelerating the rollout of new air traffic control technology to reduce flight delays.
TRANSCRIPT
Transcript of A World of Opportunity: Should New York and Other Cities Look to Immigrant Entrepreneurs as a New Engine for Economic Growth?The full transcript from the conference the Center co-sponsored with the Field Center for Entrepreneurship at Baruch College, which examined the impact immigrant entrepreneurs are having, the specific obstacles they face in starting and growing businesses and what policies local and national officials ought to undertake to support this under-appreciated part of the economy.
COMMENTARY
Opportunity CostsBy Tara Colton
Our latest Off the CUF commentary criticizes City Hall for slashing the budget of a critical ESOL program at a time when immigrants make up a growing share of the city's workforce and there is a huge unmet need for English language instruction.
COMMENTARY
Immigrants Would Thrive With More English ClassesBy Tara Colton
In this op/ed for Newsday, the Center's Tara Colton argues that the growing unmet demand for English-language instruction could have dire economic consequences for Long Island.
TESTIMONY
Creating Greater Opportunities for Immigrant EntrepreneursBy Jonathan Bowles
In this testimony before a City Council hearing prompted by the Center's "A World of Opportunity" report, CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that policymakers and economic development officials must do more to support immigrant entrepreneurs, which are a growing but often neglected part of the city's economy.
TRANSCRIPT
Transcript of Developing New York's New Workforce ConferenceThe full transcript from the conference the Center co-sponsored with the Business Council of New York State and SCAA, where business leaders, literacy experts and state officials agreed that expanding English-language instruction is increasingly important for the states economic competitiveness. Panelists included Manuel Rivera, NYS Deputy Secretary for Education; Kenneth Adams, president/CEO of The Business Council of New York State; and Chung-Wha Hong of The New York Immigration Coalition
REPORT
Still Lost In TranslationBy Tara Colton
A new analysis shows that the enormous gap between demand for ESOL and the supply of available classes in New York State has gotten even worse over the past year.
COMMENTARY
Recapturing Suburban ShoppersBy Jonathan Bowles
This policy brief shows that ethnic retail strips from Jackson Heights to Richmond Hill are attracting hordes of suburban shoppersand having a big impact on the citys economy.
COMMENTARY
Libraries, An Invaluable Resource for ImmigrantsBy Jonathan Bowles
In this op-ed for El Diario/La Prensa, CUF Director Jonathan Bowles argues that the restoration of six day a week service at the city's public libraries is a huge victory for immigrants, children, seniors and working adults.
COMMENTARY
Branching OutBy Jonathan Bowles
This Off the CUF essay argues that the decision to restore six day a week library service is a landmark achievement that will boost the competitiveness of New Yorks workforce.
COMMENTARY
Immigrant Entrepreneurs on Staten IslandBy Jonathan Bowles
In this op-ed in Staten Island Business Trends, CUF director Jonathan Bowles argues that Staten Islands growing immigrant population could be a catalyst for the boroughs economy in the years ahead.
TESTIMONY
Meeting Demand for ESOL in NYCBy Tara Colton
In this testimony before a City Council hearing prompted by the Center's 2006 report, "Lost in Translation," associate research director Tara Colton lays out steps the city can take to address the enormous unmet demand for ESOL classes.
REPORT
A World of OpportunityBy Jonathan Bowles
This new report by the Center documents that immigrant entrepreneurs have emerged as a key engine of economic growth for cities from New York to Los Angeles--and, with the right support, could provide an even bigger boost to these cities in the years ahead. Click here to view media coverage of the report.
COMMENTARY
Help More Immigrants Learn EnglishBy Tara Colton
In an op/ed in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, CUF Associate Research Director Tara Colton highlights the tremendous need for English language instruction throughout New York State and urges business leaders and elected officials to step up their support for ESOL programs.
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