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December 27, 2005.  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Spending in New York (PDF). This report, by FPI Senior Economist Trudi Renwick, reviews the evolution, over the past nine years, of New York State's use of its federal TANF block grant funds and the related "Maintenance of Effort" (MOE) resources. It also presents a preliminary review of the implementation, by social services districts across the state, of the Flexible Fund for Family Services (FFFS), New York's new "state-to-local block grant."

December 27, 2005.  BEHIND THE NEWS: One of the issues raised by the late December 2005 strike by Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) was the future of pension or retirement plans for American workers.  A debate has aslo ensued about the validity of the claims by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that pension costs are a significant cause of its projected budget gaps in 2008 and beyond, and about the pros and cons, from a policy perspective, of the MTA's efforts to cut back on employee pension benefits. On Thursday, December 22, 2005, the New York Daily News published a pair of point-counterpoint op eds on these questions by James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, and Charles Brecher, research director of the Citizens Budget Commission (PDF).

December 9, 2005.  New York City's Labor Market Outlook with a special emphasis on Immigrant Workers (PDF). A Presentation by James A. Parrott, Ph.D., FPI's deputy director and chief economist, to the NYC Employment & Training Coalition's forum, "NYC's Labor Market: Where Are the Jobs?"

October 17, 2005.  Comments by Frank Mauro on the Budget Reform Constitutional Amendments (in HTML), as presented at an October 17th press conference in Albany.  These comments are based on a longer analysis (in PDF) that he prepared earlier this year of the proposed amendments.

September 27, 2005.  The State of Working New York City 2005. (PowerPoint Presentation)  A special supplement to the 2005 edition of the Fiscal Policy Institute's biennial report on The State of Working New York.

September 22, 2005.  FPI Testimony at the NYS Assembly's hearing on "The Effect of Welfare Reform Policy in New York State. (PDF)

September 15, 2005.  An Open Letter from Civic Groups in New York on 9/11 and Katrina to Members of Congress and Concerned Individuals and Groups on the Gulf Coast. (PDF)

September 15, 2005.  FISCAL POLICY NOTE$: New National Report Offers Sobering Look at Trends in New York's Early Childhood Education Workforce. (PDF)

September 4, 2005.  The State of Working New York 2005:  Treading Water in a Tenuous Recovery.  The tenuous economic recovery of the past two years has been characterized by such weak wage growth that most of New York's working families have been left treading water, according to the latest edition of the Fiscal Policy Institute's biennial report on The State of Working New York.  

September 4, 2005.  Little in the Middle.  New York Times Op Ed by Fiscal Policy Institute Senior Fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick.

September 1, 2005.  Understanding and Evaluating the New York State Legislature's Proposed Budget Process Constitutional Amendments by Frank Mauro (PDF).

August 19, 2005.  Newsday article "Technology's Human Need" (PDF) on the Fiscal Policy Institute's new report, Prospects for Information Technology Jobs in New York's Finance Sector (PDF), prepared for the CUNY Institute for Software Design and Development.  This is the the latest in a series of FPI reports on important labor market sectors.

June 28, 2005.  Comments on the New York City Charter Revision Commission's preliminary recommendations on "public reporting and data access" (PDF) by FPI Executive Director Frank Mauro.

June 27, 2005.  Comments on the New York City Charter Revision Commission's preliminary recommendations on "fiscal stability" (PDF) by FPI Executive Director Frank Mauro.

June 16, 2005.  The Problem with the Hudson Yards Property Tax Breaks (PDF) by FPI Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott.

June 16, 2005.  Testimony by FPI Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott on Expenditure of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) in New York City at March 22, 2005 City Council hearing.  Copy of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's June 9, 2005, Veto Message of City Council legislation requiring greater accountability in the expenditure of PILOT revenues. (PDF)

June 15, 2005.  FPI joins with Better Choice Budget Campaign, the New York State Accountable Development initiative and other organizations to present an 8-point plan for improving the operations of New York's Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs).

June 12, 2005.  Social Security. PowerPoint Slides from the presentation given by FPI Senior Economist Trudi Renwick at the Rockland County Community College forum, "The Future of Social Security:  Where are We Going?" 

June 10, 2005.  Privatization without Competition equals Huge Losses (PDF) by Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Frank Mauro.  How New York State's Approach to "Contracting Out" Wastes Hundreds of Millions of Dollars a Year. (revised version of June 6, 2005, release)

June 6, 2005.  Who foots the bill for $6-billion rail job? (PDF) by Fiscal Policy Institute Senior Fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick.

June 4, 2005.  A Little Bit of Tax History by Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Frank Mauro.  How New York State has Increased the Tax Burden on the Middle Class while Cutting Taxes for its  Highest Income Taxpayers by Over $8 Billion a Year (HTML).

May 23, 2005.  The Federal Income Tax Deduction for State and Local Taxes Paid: A Key Element of American Federalism and a Protection Against Double Taxation  (HTML).

May 17, 2005.  Taking Away the Ladder of Opportunity:  Hotel Conversions and the Threat Posed to New York City's Tourism Jobs and Economic Diversity (PDF).  Despite record tourism and business travel levels, the wave of conversions of high-end hotel rooms to luxury condominiums is costing the city dearly in terms of hotel jobs.  Over 3,200 Manhattan hotel rooms will be lost in 2004 and 2005 and another 3,000 hotel rooms are in jeopardy of conversion.  As a result of conversions, hotel employment in New York City has fallen by 2,200 or five percent since September 2004.  Also see the Fiscal Policy Institute's press release: Hotel conversion wave cuts deeply into hotel jobs despite strong tourism growth (PDF).

May 2, 2005.  The Tentative Recovery is Still a Long Way from Restoring Jobs, Wages and Incomes to Pre-Recession Levels for New York City's Low- and Moderate-Income Households (PDF). Testimony by James Parrott, FPI Chief Economist, before the New York City Rent Guidelines Board.

April 1, 2005.  Good Jobs New York press release with links to report on Zone Equivalent Area (ZEA) program and list of recipients including Giuliani Partners, Ernst & Young, Fox News and News America:  Companies certified prior to June 2004 sunset of little known and badly misused tax break are back in the money Click here for the press release. (HTML).

March 30, 2005.  Vulnerable New Yorkers would lose up to $4.4 billion in federal funding under House budget plan. FPI press release with New York estimates (HTML) and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Report (HTML with links to PDF versions) with estimates for all 50 states.

March 24, 2005.  One Million New York Elderly Rely on Social Security for At Least Half Their Income (HTML)

March 23, 2005.  Testimony on "Fiscal Stability" presented by FPI's Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott to the New York City Charter Revision Commission.  This testimony deals with the Charter Commission's interest in determining if any of the expiring provisions of the New York State Financial Emergency Act for the City of New York should be incorporated into the New York City Charter. (PDF)

March 22, 2005.  FPI joins with environmental, human services and other budget watchdog groups in releasing an 11-Point Plan to Reform the State's Empire Zones Program. (HTML). 

March 22, 2005.  Testimony by FPI's Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott to the New York City Council's Finance Committee on "The Expenditure of Payments in Lieu of Taxes."  This testimony deals with the discovery of the fact that Mayor Bloomberg and several of his predecessors have been spending some PILOT payment revenues without appropriations by the City Council. (PDF)

February 17, 2005.  There's Still a Better Choice. Alternatives to Reducing Funding for Education, Health Care and Other Services That New Yorkers Depend On!  This joint statement (PDF) and a 2-page back-up document (PDF) were released by the Fiscal Policy Institute and over 100 other groups and organizations from throughout New York State at a press conference at the Legislative office Building in Albany.  (For an HTML version of the joint statement and the back-up information, click here.)

February 16, 2005.  Testimony presented at the New York State Legislature's Joint Budget Hearing on Economic Development and Taxes.  (HTML)

February 15, 2005.  Testimony presented at New York City Council Immigration Committee Hearing, Immigrants and the New York City Labor Force. (PDF)

February 7, 2005.  Testimony presented at the New York State Legislature's Joint Budget Hearing on Human Services. Updated March 11, 2005. (PDF)

February 2, 2005.  New York City's 2005-2006 Budget Outlook.  Includes analyses of the Mayor's January 27, 2005 Financial Plan, the MTA Operating Budget and 2005-2009 Capital Program and the fiscal implications of the Far West Side Proposal. (MSWORD)

February 2, 2005.  Keeping New York's Transit System Safe and On-Track for the Future:  the MTA Operating and Capital Budgets. An Analysis Based on Governor Pataki's January 2005 executive Budget. (PDF)

February 2, 2005.  Escalating Prescription Drug Costs - The Reality and Options for Reform.  Fiscal Policy Notes. (PDF)

January 25, 2005.  Balancing New York State's 2005-2006 Budget in an Economically Sensible Manner. (PDF) This is the Fiscal Policy Institute's briefing book on Governor George E. Pataki's Executive Budget and alternative approaches to balancing New York State's 2005-2006 budget.

January 18, 2005.  Testimony presented to the NYS Assembly Standing Committee on Local Governments, Public Hearing on Industrial Development Agencies. (HTML)

January 19, 2005.  New York Daily News OpEd by James Parrott, FPI Chief Economist on the financing of far West Side development:  "West Side pyramid scheme." (MSWORD)

January 18, 2005.  Testimony submitted to the Empire State Development Corporation on the Proposed Financing for the New York Sports and Convention Center. (MSWORD).  Other FPI Testimony on the Far West Side development proposals include the following:

• December 15, 2004.  Testimony before the NYC Council Committee on Finance regarding the Proposed Financing for the Hudson Yards Project East of 11th Avenue (MSWORD)
• June 3, 2004.  Testimony before the NYC Council Economic Development Committee, "How Will the Proposed West Side Stadium Complex Impact Our City?" (MSWORD)