New York City has for decades collected data about itself through more than 2,500 statistical indicators. But now, that number has been chopped down to about 1,200. Officials say it creates a streamlined look at the city, but others call it a loss.
The city stopped producing its report with the complete 2,500 statistical indicators last year, and some in the city feel the missing data leaves part of the city's story untold -- and unable to be affected by relevant policies.
"'Just because a data element has been collected for 30 years doesn't make it a useful data element,' said Jeffrey A. Kay, the director of the Mayor's Office of Operations, who oversees the publication of the Mayor's Management Report. 'We inherited about 2,500 indicators. We then pared it down to about 1,200. And that's pretty much what we have today.'
But critics say many of the indicators that were eliminated were important measures of the city's performance - and said they were surprised that statistics were pared under a mayor who believes that quantitative measurements are crucial to solving problems.
'There are some significant statistics that have dropped out,' said Doug Turetsky, a spokesman for the nonpartisan Independent Budget Office. He cited statistics on drunken driving arrests, the total number of runs by Fire Department vehicles and arrests for violating orders of protection."
FULL STORY: Statistically Speaking, at Least, the City Is a Quieter Place These Days

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie