Upcoming Events
- Redistricting Reform: Visions for the Future
Co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters
Tuesday, February 9
2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Panelists: Senator Martin Malave Dilan Sr. |
Senator Andrew Lanza | Assemblyman Daniel J. Burling | Assemblyman William Parment | Gerald Benjamin, SUNY New Paltz | Blair Horner, NYPIRG
Moderator: Susan Arbetter, WCNY-TV - An Agenda for Education Reform in New York
Wednesday, February 24
10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Speaker: David M. Steiner, Commissioner, New York State Education Department
Recent Forums and Events
What Federal Health Care Reform Means for
State and Local Governments
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
As Congress considers various health reform proposals aimed at providing insurance coverage for more Americans, state and local governments will face major new challenges of cost and implementation, according to government and academic experts speaking at this public policy forum. The speakers were Timothy J. Hoff of the University at Albany School of Public Health, Wendy Saunders of New York State and John W. Rodat (pictured) of Albany County.
Institute Forum summaryAudio (Full)
Video of Timothy Hoff's presentation
Timothy Hoff's slide presentation
Video of Wendy Saunders' presentation
Video of John Rodat's presentation
Video of Question-and-Answer session
States’ Long-Term Budget Gaps:
Are There Any Solutions?
Monday, November 30, 2009, New York City
New York State leaders and national experts on state finances explored the fiscal problems facing the states and proposed roadmaps for the future at the Institute’s first national conference on states’ long-term budget gaps. New York Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch called on both elected leaders and citizens to demand greater budgetary discipline, saying that national and state-level economic trends require a new approach. State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher highlighted ways in which SUNY will leverage public resources in light of new economic realities. David M. Walker, president of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, outlined the primary drivers of states’ long-term budget gaps and urged solutions including “fiscally responsible health care reform.”
Details on these and other speakers appear below.
- Honorable Richard Ravitch (pictured, above left), Lieutenant Governor, New York State
Video - Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor, State University of New York
Slide presentationVideo - Kim Rueben, The Urban Institute:
“Challenges in State-Local Expenditures”
Slide presentation
Ronald Snell, National Conference of State Legislatures: Discussion
Video of Rueben and Snell - David M. Walker (pictured, left), President, Peter G. Peterson Foundation
Slide presentationVideo
- Donald J. Boyd, Rockefeller Institute:
“Challenges in State-Local Revenues”
Slide presentationVideo - Nick Johnson, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities:
“Revenue Solutions”
E.J. McMahon, Empire Center/Manhattan Institute:
“Expenditure Solutions”
Slide presentation
John Cape, Public Financial Management Inc.:
Discussion
Video of Johnson, McMahon and Cape - Richard P. Nathan, former director, Rockefeller Institute: “Implications for Fiscal Federalism: Weakening of the States”
PaperVideo
Design Excellence + New Civic Architecture
in New York
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
New York State should implement an architectural design excellence program modeled after the federal government's, Brian Carter (top left), dean of the University at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning, urged at this forum. Through its program, the U.S. General Services Administration awards contracts for federal buildings to architects with "integrative designs" that consider factors such as operating costs, environmental concerns and community development, Carter said. New York State Office of General Services Commissioner John C. Egan (bottom left) said such a statewide program would be possible, but would require legislation. Egan said the state currently is concerned with sustainability and energy efficiency in new building projects. He also spoke about lessons from major projects including the Empire State Plaza (completed in 1978) and Albany International Airport terminal (completed in 1998).
Institute Forum summaryAudio (Full)
Video of Brian Carter's presentation
Brian Carter's slide presentation
Video of John Egan's presentation
Video of Question-and-Answer session
New York State Network for Economic Research Conference: A Focus on Human Capital
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sustaining and advancing New York’s “human capital” is critical to the state’s efforts to recover from the current recession and compete in the global economy, according to experts at this event. Keynote speaker Isaac Ehrlich (pictured), chair of the Department of Economics at the University at Buffalo and editor of the University of Chicago Press’ Journal of Human Capital, said human innovation and ingenuity are responsible for the technological advances that have fueled the U.S. economy over the last century. He urged further investment in the state's human capital, not only to help speed economic recovery but also to help the nation maintain its position as an economic leader. Other speakers discussed such topics as education and employment trends, and their relationship to economic activity.
Institute Forum summaryAudio
Keynote Speaker:
Isaac Ehrlich, University at Buffalo and Journal of Human Capital
“A Perspective on Human Capital”
Video
Panel I:
Donald J. Boyd, Rockefeller Institute
"Public and Private Employment in New York During the Recession"
Slide presentationVideo
James Parrott, Fiscal Policy Institute
“The State of Working New York”
Slide presentationVideo
Irene Lurie, Rockefeller Institute
Discussant
Video
Panel I Question-and-Answer session
Video
Jaison R. Abel (pictured, left), Federal Reserve Bank of New York
“Human Capital and Economic Activity in U.S. Metro Areas”
Paper Slide presentationVideo
John Porter (pictured, right), State University of New York
“Higher Education Enrollment Trends During Recessions”
Paper Slide presentationVideo
Laura Anglin, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Discussant
Prepared remarksVideo
Panel II Question-and-Answer session
Video
Thomas Conoscenti, New York University
“Effective Property Tax Rates in Downstate New York”
Slide presentationVideo
Eamon Moynihan, Cost of Living Project
“The Cost of Living in New York”
Slide presentationVideo
