we are advancing the future of the built environment, education & employment,
and Democracy & Government.
THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMeNT
Address affordability by investing in housing, energy, and infrastructure.
The Future of The Built Environment will shape how people live, work, and move in cities. By 2030, nearly five billion people—about 60% of the world’s population—will live in urban areas. While cities remain engines of economic growth and innovation, they are also under growing strain from housing shortages, changing work patterns, climate change, migration, aging infrastructure, and tightening public-sector finances.
In New York City, these pressures are already visible. Median rents have climbed to nearly $4,000, almost half of residents are housing cost–burdened, and the city must add 500,000–800,000 new homes over the next decade to meet demand. At the same time, energy costs are rising, emissions reduction targets are being missed, and additional electricity demands are stressing outdated grids.
Coordination among government, business, and civil society is necessary to scale investments in housing, decarbonization, transportation, and technology infrastructure. From dense, affordable, and resilient housing to clean power, smart grids, low-carbon mobility, and climate-ready infrastructure, leaders must pursue integrated solutions that align growth with economic and environmental sustainability.
priorities
Launch Sustainable Improved Districts (SIDs) in New York City to embrace community-based climate action
Scale C-PACE programs to invest in building retrofits, reduce energy costs and building emissions, and create jobs
Identify upzoning opportunities around mass transit where New York City can develop new housing
Advance the Technology, Energy, Research, and Robotics Accelerator (TERRA) in upstate New York
THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
Expand economic opportunity by improving education and workforce development.
As artificial intelligence and automation transform the workforce, The Future of Education & Employment will be even more interconnected, blurring traditional boundaries between academic pursuits and workforce development.
At a time when educational attainment is ever more critical for adaptability, only half of children in New York State are proficient in reading. In New York City, the figure is even less, with about 40% of kids proficient in math or reading despite spending more than $42,000 per student – double the national average.
To adequately equip students and lifelong learners, educational institutions at all levels will need to foster creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence while providing opportunities for continuous reskilling and upskilling throughout one's academic and professional career. Investments and reforms in early childhood and primary education are vital to providing high-quality education to families across socio-economic backgrounds. Higher education must embrace an industrial policy and evolve beyond the traditional four-year degree model, offering more flexible, modular learning pathways that allow students to stack credentials over time while working and training for areas with worker shortages, effectively democratizing access to education, enhancing social mobility, and ushering in employment opportunities.
priorities
Target 2% cost savings in the NYC Department of Education budget ($800M) and redirect resources to support early childhood education, high-impact tutors, and high-need communities
Champion reforms in K-12 and higher education, including high-performing public charter schools, vocational training to address labor shortages, and innovative pilot programs
Scale workforce development and lifelong learning models, including new forms of financing for training and apprenticeships and support for the Good Jobs Guarantee Act in Albany
THE FUTURE OF democracy & government
Improve government by increasing civic engagement and efficiency.
The Future of Democracy & Government will be shaped by how effectively the public sector modernizes its institutions to rebuild trust, increase civic participation, and deliver better services at lower cost. In New York, rising expectations for transparency, accessibility, and accountability demand bold reform and adoption of new tools to strengthen democracy and improve public sector performance.
Civic engagement remains low, with only a small fraction of eligible voters casting ballots local elections. Closed primaries and outdated voting systems continue to exclude large swaths of the electorate. To reinvigorate democracy and encourage voter participation, New York should embrace innovations like mobile voting and open primaries.
At the same time, the state and city face mounting budget pressures and public dissatisfaction with service delivery—from housing permits to benefits processing. By adopting modern technologies, digitizing workflows, and responsibly deploying artificial intelligence, government can cut costs, increase responsiveness, and improve outcomes.
priorities
Develop an Innovation Fellowship to advance change management and technology adoption with city and state employees
Create an educational content platform to increase civic engagement and understanding of city and state government
Support reforms to improve voter turnout, including open primaries, same-day voter registration, employer engagement, and mobile voting pilots
