Public Policy and Planning in New York

New York City is the nation's largest city, with a strong, active municipal government and an annual municipal budget of approximately $110 billion. The city charter provides the mayor with more power than the mayor of any other large city in the United States. The role of the mayor, the state government and the city council are explored with a focus on economic development policies, public safety, immigration, transportation, planning and climate change. The class will also analyze demographic trends -- more than one-third of the population is foreign born -- and how disasters have shaped the city over the past two centuries.