Innovative Ideas. Independent Policy.

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  Report - August 2026

  Harnessing NYC’s Natural Areas

  New York City’s 12,000 acres of natural areas can improve public health, strengthen communities, and build climate resilience, yet remain overlooked and underused. Our research suggests that realizing more of that potential may depend on continued investment in staffing and maintenance, stronger awareness and wayfinding, and new approaches to programming, partnerships, and long-term funding.
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  Report - July 2026

  5 Ideas to Advance Economic Mobility in NYC

  The Mamdani administration and City Council have taken promising steps to ease the affordability crisis squeezing New Yorkers. But making the city truly affordable will require more than lowering the cost of living. This report presents five actionable ideas to raise incomes and build wealth, developed for CUF’s third annual NYC Economic Mobility Summit.
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  Commentary/Op-Ed - June 2026

  Closing NYC’s Street Safety Gaps in the Communities Most at Risk

  New York City traffic deaths are at a record low, but street safety progress remains deeply uneven. This report finds that lower-income communities of color continue to face disproportionate danger—and that many have yet to benefit from the full toolkit of proven street safety improvements
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  Report - March 2026

  From Degree to Career

  In this challenging hiring environment, many of CUNY’s students are struggling to gain access to well-paying jobs. This report urges city and state leaders to invest in strengthening CUNY's employer partnerships and expanding its career success initiatives to turn more degrees into careers.
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  Impact - February 2026

  “The think tank quietly influencing NY’s top officials”

  Crain's New York Business recently published this in-depth profile of the Center for an Urban Future (CUF), titled “The think tank quietly influencing New York’s top officials.” The article noted that “CUF has hit its stride in recent years, managing to catch the attention of powerful city officials with its brand of pragmatic, hyper-specific ideas for improving economic mobility.”