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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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New York by the Numbers
Economic snapshots of the 5 boroughs
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Workforce
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.
REPORT
Closing the Skills Gapby David Fischer and Jeremy Reiss
This report, jointly published by CUF and the Community Service Society, finds that New York City faces a human capital crisis that could threaten the city's long-term economic competitiveness while relegating countless residents to low-wage jobs. It shows that an alarming number of New Yorkers now lack the skills and educational credentials to compete in today's economy and warns that the problem will only get worse in the years ahead. The report calls for a comprehensive campaign to develop the skills of New York's population.
DATA & STATISTICS
Low-Wage Jobsby Jonathan Bowles and David Giles
This edition of New York by the Numbers reveals that nearly a third of all adult workers in New York City are employed in low-wage jobs. While the percentage of low-wage workers is high across the city, the Bronx is in a league of its own, with 42 percent of the boroughs workers in low-wage jobs.
COMMENTARY
Will Low-Skilled Workers Benefit from Economic Recovery?by David Jason Fischer and Brandon Roberts
In this commentary for The Huffington Post, CUF's David Jason Fischer and Brandon Roberts of the Working Poor Families Project sound the warning that low-skilled workersalready bearing the brunt of the recessionmay find themselves left behind as an economic recovery takes hold.
September 2009
EVENT
Transcript of Addressing New Yorks Human Capital GapsThis summer, CUF and the Community Service Society held two conferences about the citys long-term human capital needs: one about the evolving needs of the citys business community and the other about current skills gaps facing large segments of the citys population. Speakers included Matthew Goldstein, Seth Pinsky, Herb Pardes, Kathy Wylde, Ester Fuchs, Saru Jayaraman and Lisette Nieves.
August 2009
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.
COMMENTARY
Job Training: Often Misunderstood But Too Important to Dismissby David Jason Fischer and Brandon Roberts
In this commentary for The Huffington Post on behalf of the Working Poor Families Project, CUF's David Jason Fischer and the WPFP's Brandon Roberts examine some of the misperceptions and realities around job training in the United States today.
July 2009
EVENT
CUNY Chancellor Delivers Major Address at CUF/CSS Forum on NYC's Human Capital NeedsA forum presented by the Center for an Urban Future and the Community Service Society.
New York's Human Capital: The Next Generation
CUNY Chancellor Dr. Matthew Goldstein delivered a major address at this conference, which focused on the current and future human capital needs of New York City's business community. The full transcript of the conference, including Dr. Goldstein's remarks, is now available.
TESTIMONY
Using Workforce Development As A Tool to Diversify the EconomyBy David Jason Fischer
At a June 23 New York City Council hearing on how workforce development can help diversify the local economy, CUF project director David Jason Fischer testified that officials must force alignment between job training programs and the city's economic development objectives and investments.
UPDATE
More Help NeededBy David Jason Fischer
In 2007, the Center published a report which found that growing number of New York City teens were being turned away from the citys Summer Youth Employment Program as a result of federal funding cuts to the program. Last month, the Bloomberg administration announced that the city will use millions of dollars in federal stimulus money to pay for the summer jobs program. But as this update details, a significant shortfall remains.
Q&A
Q&A with Anthony Carnevale, Director, Georgetown University Center on Education and the WorkforceBy David Jason Fischer
As part of our series of Q&A's with innovators, entrepreneurs and policy experts, the Center's David Jason Fischer interviews Anthony Carnevale, former chair of the National Commission on Employment Policy, about the changing labor market, the future of vocational education and the impact of the recession on New York City.
May 2009
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.
COMMENTARY
Working Toward A Workforce SystemBy David Jason Fischer
As the U.S. faces the worst economic crisis in decades, New York City is set to receive about $70 million in federal stimulus money for job training and employment services. This Off the CUF commentary evaluates the city's plans for the money and concludes that the influx of federal dollars could serve as the catalyst for positive changes to New York's workforce system that could reverberate long after the recession ends.
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.
TESTIMONY
The Road to Reforming CTEBy David Jason Fischer
At a recent City Council oversight hearing, CUF project director David Jason Fischer called upon city officials to add more detail and specificity to plans for remaking career and technical education in New York City.
COMMENTARY
A Desirable OptionBy David Jason Fischer
Following up on the Center's "Schools That Work" report, this New York Sun opinion column asserts that Mayor Bloomberg's task force on career and technical education has identified the problems facing CTE, but has not offered enough detail in its plans to address them.
August 2008
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.
TESTIMONY
Are New York Schools Preparing Students for Work?By David Jason Fischer
In this testimony before a New York State Senate hearing, the Centers David Jason Fischer detailed the promise of high school career and technical education programs to guide New York students toward remunerative careers in high-demand fields.
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