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Fire Inspections: Closed Doors Aren't the Only Barrier
After an April fire killed a family in a building that had been illegal converted, City Hall established a new task force to improve inspections. Some pols pushed for more aggressive action. But there's more to improving building safety than political will.
City Sewage Plan Faces Obstacles, Questions
Advocates praise the motives behind New York's plan to reduce the amount of sewage released untreated into its waterways. But they're worried about the details.
Can Job Training Reduce Unemployment?
Governments are pouring money into job skills programs as a way of combating poverty. But what jobs are participants being prepared for?
Concerns Persist Over Child Welfare Cases Involving Mental Health
As many as one in five child welfare cases involves a parent with a mental health diagnosis, creating challenges for parents, children and caseworkers. Advocates say efforts to address those challenges haven't gone far enough.
Report: Young NYers Face Higher Barriers To Public Assistance
A study of low-income New Yorkers under the age of 24 indicates they have trouble getting welfare benefits to which they are entitled. City officials say the report—and others that raised similar questions—suffers from poor methodology.
In A Bad Economy, Even Opera Vocalists Sing The Blues
The soft labor market is a challenge for all job seekers. But young people who have trained for artistic careers—who help make New York a cultural capital—face unique obstacles. Do they also possess special tools to survive?
In Debate Over New Jail, City Says An Aim Is To Prevent Violence
Hoping to reduce fights, prevent suicide and help inmates avoid returning to jail, New York is changing the way it evaluates new prisoners—and building a new jail. Advocates are split on whether that will solve the problem.
Albany Bill Would Let Check-Cashers Provide Loans
The Senate and Assembly banking committees have both approved a bill to permit check-cashing outlets to provide short-term loans. Backers say it offers financing to those whom regular banks don't serve. Critics say it would permit exploitative “payday” lending.
Male Guards, Female Inmates And Sexual Abuse In NYS Prisons
Several New York State prisons ranked high in a recent federal survey of inmates reporting staff sexual abuse. A City Limits investigation finds that sexual misconduct in New York's prisons eludes stereotypes—and, sometimes, detection.
Senate, Assembly Resist Cuomo Cuts To Services
Legislators want to restore many human services that Gov. Cuomo proposed cutting. But the Senate and Assembly still differ by tens of millions of dollars on social funding, and some programs still face elimination.
Critics Of Homeless Program Fight To Save It
Advocates for the homeless have long criticized the Bloomberg administration's approach to getting people out of shelters. But with the state threatening to end funding for the program, most advocates have joined the city to oppose the cuts.
Obama's Urban Policy: Slow Start. Sustainable Finish?
The president's campaign pledge to pay attention to cities got some tough early reviews. But now communities around the country are getting federal help to plan for the future.
Cuomo Rakes In Donations From Energy Sector
Power companies with a stake in natural gas are among Cuomo's largest campaign contributors, raising questions about how he'll handle the statewide debate over hydrofracking.
Cuomo, Paladino & Remedies For Our Ailing Economy
If the seven-member comedy act that was the October 18 gubernatorial debate can be said to have had a serious message, it was likely this: It's the jobs, stupid.
Espada & Rivera Square Off In Tuesday's Primary
Despite the coalescence of an anti-Espada movement around Rivera, Rivera says the race is not just about dislodging Espada. He says it’s about bringing to the community much needed resources such as jobs and housing.
Tough Love In The Big City
Kids in New York have often had a lot to fear. So how’d we end up afraid of them?
A Troubled Age: Tough Times For NYC Youth
The new issue of City Limits magazine looks at five challenges confronting youth in the five boroughs.
Espada Sued For Raiding Nonprofit
Pedro Espada, the Bronx senator at the center of last year's leadership battle in Albany, has been sued for allegedly looting a nonprofit he helped run. Read the attorney general's complaint here.
Black Caucus Attacks Joblessness
At a hearing in Washington, experts recommend more green jobs, tax credits and networking to increase employment rates – plus less classic job discrimination.
A Tough Gang To Follow
New York City has a long history of ordinary people affecting extraordinary change through active engagement with their governments, communities, and fellow residents. Read about any one of the many social issues covered in City Limits’ 30-year history that inspired movements formed around the basic need to get involved.
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New York's Top Judge Echoes Our 2007 Bail Investigation - Jarrett Murphy
Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman called for reforms of the bail system, including limiting the use of financial bail to detain defendants in non-violent cases.
Heart Attacks Are Biggest Threat to Firefighters - Jarrett Murphy
In the department's first line-of-duty death in more than two years, the FDNY lost a 17-year veteran to what appeared to be a heart attack at the scene of a warehouse fire in Brooklyn.
Hope for Relief from Flooding in Southeast Queens - Karen Loew
After months of pressure from residents of an area plagued by poor drainage and rising groundwater, the city recently announced a set of measures to keep Southeast Queens dry—or at least drier—this spring and summer.
What’s Not to Like About the Cuomo Budget? - Jarrett Murphy
Amid a sea of praise for Gov. Cuomo's second budget, advocates for low-income New Yorkers raised complaints. That, plus the latest on NYCHA, city job creation and the sick leave bill —all in our policy roundup.
Cuomo Calls For Easier Food Stamp Access - Jarrett Murphy
In a wide-ranging annual speech, the governor said fingerprinting applicants is an unnecessary barrier to access. He also called for $1 billion in investment to renew Buffalo.
Seen Here First: The NYPD's Pot Play - Jarrett Murphy
New York police officials last week distanced themselves from an arrest tactic that nabbed small-time pot users who obeyed when cops asked them to empty their pockets. City Limits broke that story in 2009.
Out of Media Glare, the Bronx Faces Irene - Jarrett Murphy
Even far outside of the Zone A areas, there were signs of the impending danger, though they were subtle. Closer to the water's edge, the menace felt very real.
Decision in the Rockaways: Stay, or Go? - Patrick Arden
Tina Parker tried to convince her neighbors to leave. “I’ve been in two hurricanes in Alabama, and I’m not taking a chance,” she said.
Hugh Carey, 1919-2011 - Jarrett Murphy
The former congressman who guided New York State through the 1970s fiscal emergency as governor, was 92. A 2010 biography reassessed Carey's role during the days of crisis.
EVENTS
A Place at the Table
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
6:00pm -
Word for Word: Dan Savage
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Justice For All: Appleseed at 20
Thursday, June 20, 2013
6:00p - 9:00p
CONVERSATIONS/OPINONS
What Does the City's Recovery Need? More Libraries
Libraries perform a critical role in workforce development for low-income New Yorkers. But budget cuts have so curtailed service that Detroit's libraries are now open more than New York's.
Can NYCHA Be Saved?
Yes, says this writer, but it will require vision and renewed drive by the Bloomberg administration: Doing a few things better will not be enough.
Who Cares About New York’s Teen Fathers?
The city's teenaged dads can make a huge difference in the lives of their kids. Yet they are forced to navigate Family Court with little guidance, and must deal with agencies and jurists who know next to nothing about them.
Firefighter for a Day
After months reporting a story on the FDNY, all it took was three steps into a smoky room for this reporter to realize how much he didn't know.
Why I'm Fasting To Protest Budget Cuts
As leaders in Washington, Albany and City Hall have contemplated huge funding reductions, advocates have mounted protests, written letters and pleaded through the press. Now some are giving up food. One Bronx leader explains why.
MULTIMEDIA
Do Housing Voucher Households Cause Crime?
Potential neighbors often express worries that Housing Choice Voucher holders heighten crime. Yet no research systematically examines the link between the presence of voucher holders in a neighborhood and crime.
FDNY report on fatal fire, January 23, 2005
The fatal fire investigation report on the death of Firefighter Richard T. Sclafani of Ladder 103 at 577 Jerome Street, Brooklyn.
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CITY LIMITS EVENTS
Defining Brooklyn Launch
City Limits celebrates the launch of its March 2011 issue: Defining Brooklyn.The 35th Anniversary Celebration
City Limits celebrates its 35th Anniversary at BMCC in Tribeca.Brooklyn Bureau Launch
The Brooklyn Bureau launch as part of Social Media Week 2012.Tackling Poverty
The Tackling Poverty Series at Galapagos Art Space in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn.Tackling Poverty (Manhattan)
City Limits & the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness
