State of Our City

Thursday, February 23, 2012
Baruch College – 55 LEXINGTON AVE, NYC
NEWMAN VERTICAL CONFERENCE CTR, 14TH FL.

City & State’s State of our City will be a one-day series of conversations featuring a truly dynamic line-up of New York City commissioners, officials and thought leaders to discuss some of the pressing challenges and opportunities facing New York today, and to reflect on the short and long term state of our city.

The half-day event, coming shortly after Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City Address, will feature three separate panels of Administration officials with the discussions moderated by some of New York City’s academic, public policy and thought leaders. This special annual event promises to provide a rare level of insight into the thoughts, goals and operations at some of the City’s most dynamic agencies.

Session 1 : Infrastructure & Development (9:00 AM – 10:15 AM)

Sponsored By:

Discussion will cover old and new West Side Development/Access proposals and progress, as well as potential coordination of NYS and NYC Capitol Projects and agencies.

Moderator: David Birdsell, Dean of Baruch’s School of Public Affairs

• Seth Pinsky, President of New York City Economic Development Corporation
• Dick Anderson, President of the New York Building Congress
• Joe Lhota, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the MTA

Session 2 : City Living (10:30 AM – 11:45 AM )

Sponsored by:

A unique discussion and insight into how New York City is evolving with regards to livability. Talking points will range from open space and new parks; plaNYC and other environmental initiatives; alternative transportation; touching on other topics such as architecture, city planning and life after the Bloomberg administration.

Moderator: Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director of Center for Urban Future

• Cas Holloway, New York City Deputy Mayor of Operations
• Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters
• Ronda Wist, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the Municipal Art Society

Session 3 : Higher Education (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

How is NYC working towards the preparedness of students for the transition to higher education and accessibility/affordability for NYC students? How does New York City work with private institutions on ‘master planning’ with regards to those issues and beyond? What is the role of proprietary and community schools, and are they necessary to remediate?

Moderator: Andrew Hawkins, Managing Editor of City & State

• Shael Polakow-Suransky, Chief Academic Officer and Deputy Chancellor at NYC Dept. of Education
• John Mogulescu, Senior University Dean for Academic Affairs at CUNY and the Dean of the CUNY School of Professional Studies
• Additional Panelists TBA