Dynamics of New York Public Policy

New York City is often considered unique among cities because of its diverse population, a municipal budget of over $95 billion, complex governance structure, and politically engaged community and advocacy organizations. As we explore the dynamics of public policy in New York and how it manages its extensive network of services, we will focus on a set of questions that are relevant to governance in any city. Through an in-depth analysis of current policy challenges, we will better understand this dynamic and how it works in the New York City context. 

This course is designed to prepare future policymakers to critically analyze and evaluate critical urban and social policy issues in New York and other large cities by examining how the City functions and how it relates to key stakeholders in state government (Albany) and national government (DC), and - most importantly - in the neighborhoods and communities where its residents live and work. The course is unique in that it exposes students to applied and theoretical perspectives on urban policymaking in real-time as we explore ever-evolving and important urban issues, including education, health care, poverty and homelessness, criminal justice, economic development, fiscal policy, media, immigration, transportation, environmentalism, intergovernmental affairs, labor, and race and ethnicity. This course aims to prepare students for working creatively in a policy environment and finding new solutions to complex urban problems in a manner that prioritizes people over politics and bureaucracy.