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."
Read the full story: Statistically Speaking, at Least, the City Is a Quieter Place These Days
NYC’s ‘Rare and Comprehensive’ Public Data Reveals Congestion Pricing's Success
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s analytics and data team maintains over 180 regularly updated datasets about the city’s transportation system.
Promised Data-Driven Infrastructure On Hold at Hudson Yards
When the Manhattan megadevelopment got its start, big data was a major part of Hudson Yards' marketing pitch. Now it's "probably the last thing we'll get to."
Using Yelp to Predict Gentrification
New research draws on the popular review site Yelp to predict changes in housing prices and demographics.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority