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New York City
New York City is one of the largest cities in the world in both size and numbers.
Because of this it holds not only a vast population of diverse peoples, but it is also a hub
of world culture and industry. The world’s urban population percentage has been growing
steadily for centuries, and will continue to do so. This will ensure that mega-cities like
New York will stay powerful in world commerce and business. Growth in other cities
around the world has affected New York positively, offering new trading partners and
buying up New York’s (and the US’s) exports. New York should continue to prosper and
thrive as a modern mega-city, providing that the city is able to fix its current problems
with crime and pollution. With these issues cleaned up, New York ought to be able to
become an even bigger beacon for world culture and development.
Key points:
The New York City Department of Education recently made many changes
and improvements in its education system, under a program called Children
First.
While New York is doing a lot to improve its environment, there are still
many steps it must take in order to make it sustainable for future genereations.
The number one issue facing urban planners is trying to channel growth into
the city in a way that doesn’t strain the economy or harm the environment.
New York City is coping with this issue by creating structured zoning rules,
which if followed will contain the growing population. In addition they are
looking for innovative ways to bring municipal services and infastructure into
high density areas to cut down on costs and allow more sustainability. Lastly,
public transportation is being focused on now more than ever to help NYC's
working population travel in an efficient and affordable way.
The identity of New York has been shaped by centuries of immigration and
the exposure to many different cultures from various countries all over the
world.
New York City has a highly structured government, with numerous branches
with certain jobs assigned to certain officials, which allows the city to run
smoothly.
New York has been in a state of code orange of high risk of attack ever since
the terrorist attacks on 9/11
Background:
New York City is situated in the south eastern part of New York State in the
eastern part of the United States of America. 8,200,000 people live in the city making it
the 13th largest city in the world, the 2nd largest mega city, and the largest city in the
USA. It is one of the largest economic centers because it is home to 76 publicly held
corporations (the largest amount to be found in one city in America). It is also part of the
Bos-Wash (Boston-Washington DC) corridor of the United Sates, which is the second
largest mega-region in terms of economic output. New York City is broken into five
boroughs and 59 different neighborhoods. The five boroughs are Manhattan, Brooklyn,
Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. Manhattan is an island and was the first part to be
settled in 1624. It is the center of New York City and is home to famous places like
Times Square and Central Park. Brooklyn is the largest of New York’s five boroughs and
was settled in 1636. Queens was mostly settled by farmers and rural towns until the 19th
century when the population expanded due to an influx of immigrants moving to the city.
Bronx was settled in 1636, but just like Queens a population increase did not happen until
the 19th century. Staten Island also remained unsettled until a ferry made access to and
from the island east for people living in the city. This sudden in immigrant population is
the main reason why New York City is such an ethnically diverse place today. New York
City is an amazing global city full of growth, new technologies, and economic power.
Governance:
The Government in New York City is extremely important for the city’s
wellbeing
Its strong Mayor-Council system is organized under the City Charter which is
enacted and amended by the New York State legislature.
Each borough of New York City elects a Borough President; however, under the
current city charter, the Borough President's powers are limited with only a small
discretionary budget to spend on projects within the borough.
The executive branch is headed by the major (now Michael Bloomberg) who is
elected by the people’s votes and has power over five divisions of the city’s
government.
The legislative power consists of a council housing 51 members.
If a bill wants to be passed, it has to have the majority of the vote in the council
and then it is sent to the major where it can either be accepted or vetoed. If
vetoed, the council has 30 days to override the veto by two thirds majority vote.
The 51 members come from the 51 districts in the 5 boroughs of New York City.
The Council monitors the operation and performance of city agencies, makes land
use decisions and has sole responsibility for approving the city's budget.
The Council is an equal partner with the executive branch in the governing of
New York City.
The Public Advocate is an elected executive official that eases public relations
with the government, investigates complaints regarding city agencies, mediates
disputes between city agencies and citizens, serves as the city's ombudsman and
advises the mayor on community relations.
The comptroller is the chief financial advisor for the city. Not only does the
comptroller budget the city’s $80 billion dollar funds but also advised the major
and the council on any financial matters.
The Judicial Branch is headed by the State Supreme Court followed by the
Surrogate’s Court, The New York City Civil Court, The New York City Criminal
Court, and The New York City Family Court.
New York City is divided into 59 administrative districts that are headed by a
community board that decided on matters such as small budgets and technology
upgrades.
The Democratic Party holds the majority of government official positions. New
York City has not been won by a Republican since 1924.
The Working Families Party, affiliated with the labor movement and progressive
community activists, is an important force in city politics. Party platforms are
centered on affordable housing, education and economic development.
Candidates running for parliament in countries like the Dominican Republic visit
the large expatriate communities from their countries living in New York City to
solicit donations and absentee votes. New York City mayors, in turn, visit these
countries to build closer political and economic ties between the city and
governments abroad.
Urban Planning:
Zoning/Building Distribution
Residence districts are the most common zoning districts in NYC
The Zoning Resolution is broken into 10 districts (R1 through R10) in order to
control the diversity (such as bulk and density) in housing.
Lowest Density Districts (R1-R5):Found far from central business districts:
Single family detached homes, one/two family detached homes, semi-attached
buildings, landscaping and auto ownership typical
Some R3, R4, and R5 districts have additional regulations (A, B, D, X, or 1
suffixes) which preserve distinct traits and character of certain neighborhoods.
NYC Department of Buildings is responsible for most zoning.
Moderate and Higher Density Districts (R6-R10): Close to central and regional
business districts, near public transportation. Two categories:
Non-contextual restrictions: (R6-R9) follow optional Quality Housing Program
regulations that encourage traditional looks. Height Factor Regulations- allow
taller buildings surrounded by open space that are set back from the street, larger
lots allow taller buildings.
Contextual building restrictions: Quality Housing Regulations mandatory in R6-
R10: allows more lot coverage (lateral) but restricts height (same floor area)
R9&R10 Tower Districts: allow up to 35 floor buildings depending on density.
Large Scale Developments: At least 1.5 acres have special regulations
Low Density Districts: permit larger buildings in the interior of the property.
Floor area bonuses are available by getting a special permit that allows amenities
(enclosed parking etc.)
Inclusionary Housing Program (R10 and commercial districts) promotes
economic integration within redeveloping neighborhoods: preservation of
affordable housing.
Public Areas
Popular landmarks and buildings throughout the boroughs generally give a sense
of pride in the city’s culture and history.
Manhattan: Times Square, Central Park, Trinity Church
Lower Manhattan area: Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty
Brooklyn: Green Wood Cemetery, Bedford-Stuyvesant Historic District
Bronx: Yankee Stadium, NY Botanical Gardens, Bronx Zoo
Queens: Nogusi Museum, PS1Contemporary Art Center
Staten Island: Snug Harbor Cultural Central, Historic Richmond Town
Access to Municipal Services
The Watershed Protection and Partnership Council: long term protection of
drinking water and economic vitality of communities.
1.1 billion gallons of water come to 8 million NYC residents daily.
19 reservoirs, 3 lakes, and 1,972 watersheds supply NYC with water.
Annul water charge = $270 per household
SDWA controls the safety of the water; treated with chlorine, fluoride, and
phosphoric acid to ensure its cleanliness for NYC residents
Sewer system
Annual sewer charge $357 per household, 11,000 miles of sewer pipes.
Electricity
ConEdison: New York’s electrical company
System is known for its reliability, equal distribution and affordability.
NYC needs 2,600 megawatts of new electricity resources.
Public Transportation
Focuses on transportation in regards to economy (work with federal and state
governments to make services accessible to all) and environment (Regarding
sustainability; work with Blue Ribbon Commission to reduce energy
consumption and improve their ecological footprint).
energy consumption and CO2 output of NYC = quarter of average
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) runs New York City Transit
and the Staten Island Railway:
24 hour transportation through the 5 boroughs
Approximately 7 million riders every day, 2 billion per year
Most expansive subway car system in the world, with more buses than any area in
North America
Subways/ buses accept affordable MetroCards as tickets
Main issue facing Urban Planners
Need to create a more inclusive city:
Incorporating greater economic opportunities, affordable housing
Environmentally friendly services (within Bloomberg’s Sustainability
Requirements), putting emphasis on less developed areas, while still focusing
the most growth into transit-rich areas.
Economic Development:
The city of New York has one of the most powerful and influential economies in
the world. It is the home of the New York Stock Exchange, by far the largest in
the world in terms of total dollars, and the legendary Wall Street. The city’s
economy has taken a toll with the recent and steep decline of the stock market, but
remains strong. It is the second largest economy in the world, behind only Tokyo.
In 2005, the New York metropolitan area grossed $1.13 trillion, easily the most
for any city in the United States. New York City’s continual economic
progression leads the way for the rest of the United States.
The mega-city relies heavily on the huge industries of real estate, finance, and the
media. The real estate business in New York is a big time factor in the city’s
economic success. Real estate in New York City is some of the most expensive in
the country. Office buildings on major streets sell in the millions of dollars to
whoever is the highest bidder. The building located at 450 Park Avenue was sold
in 2007 at a price of $510 million, translating to almost $1,600 per square foot.
Prime office space entices potential clients and customers to offer their business,
and with their business, their money. With such big bucks being spent on real
estate, the city can only stand to benefit, for the real estate industry does not look
to be slowing down in New York.
New York is known worldwide as a financial hub, its financial industry alone
employing almost 350,000 workers in 2008. The city is home to six major stock
trading markets, including the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, and the New York Mercantile Exchange. These services account for
roughly 35% of the city’s total employment income. Even with the continuing
decline in the stock market investors still rely on New York City. Many of the
world’s largest companies have their headquarters in New York, including firms
like CitiGroup, Verizon, and Pfizer. Other massive companies like Merrill Lynch,
American Express, and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. also headquarter their business
in New York. According to Fortune Magazine, 43 of the 500 largest companies in
the United States had their business headquarters in New York City, not including
the 12 other companies who had their headquarters located elsewhere in New
York State. With all this financial success, New York looks to keep leading the
way in American economics.
New York City is often called “the media capital of the world”, and with good
reason. The book publishing industry in New York City by itself employs 25,000
people, showing how truly massive the New York media work force is. Over 200
newspapers have an office located somewhere in the city and around 350
magazines also have an office in the city, leading to an incredible amount of
publications streaming out from New York. Two of the three largest newspapers
in the United States (The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street
Journal), and four of the top six, are published in New York City. Both The
Times and the Journal, the two papers published in New York, have a circulation
of over one million. The economy of New York City is able to reap the benefits of
such a powerful media, allowing the economy to grow with each day.
The informal economy is quite large in New York City, as there are hordes of
street venders and independent merchants who will sell people whatever the
person is looking to buy. On nearly every street corner in Manhattan, a vendor can
be found selling food, or watches, or souvenirs. It is part of the draw for tourists,
for often the street vendors sell interesting things, and dealing with the vendors
can be an exciting experience for a stranger to the city.
Taxes have been collected in a fair and efficient way by the city of New York,
and they have announced, according to the New York State Department of
Taxation and Finance that this year they will be giving an increase of $250
million in refunds to tax payers. The city and state governments have always been
on top of things when it comes to taxing their citizens.
The employment rate in New York City is strangely higher than in the rest of the
country. In New York, the employment rate is 93.1%, whereas in the rest of the
country it is 92.4%. This is partly because the recent financial crisis affected the
construction industry and New York City is not a place where many new homes
are being made, so the city was not hit as hard as other places in the United States.
The city is looking to further develop its technology industry, as it could end up
being a major factor in the future economy. The city is also making efforts to
improve the literacy of the workforce and lower the already low 6.9
unemployment rate. A major problem in the city is that 21% of New York City
adults are high school dropouts, according to a poll by the New York Times. This
is a major problem because nationally 15% of high school dropouts are
unemployed. If the city can prevent high school students from getting pregnant
and get them away from drugs, the dropout rate should start to fall, and with it,
the unemployment rate.
Environment:
Avoidance of Energy Wasting
New York’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers free leak
surveys for the city’s residential water and sewer customers (New York City
Department of Environmental Protection).
The DEP in cooperation with the Department of Housing Preservation &
Development sponsors water conservation seminars for land owners and the
general public. It also runs free programs to provide students and teachers in local
schools with information and ways to take care of the environment in simple,
everyday ways (New York City Department of Environmental Protection).
Alternate Fuels
Diesel trucks carry Manhattans garbage 7.8 million miles every year. That is the
equivalent of driving around the earth 312 times (Recycling Facts).
Methane gas produced from wastewater treatment is used by the city as a source
of energy (How Biosolids Are Used).
New York’s Department of Transportation runs a program called “Alternative
Fuels Program,” which has goals to make the air in New York cleaner and safer
for its inhabitants and to promote the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel
vehicles by the residents of New York City (New York City Department of
Transportation).
The Department of Transportation’s equipment fills their heavy machinery with
B5, which contains 95% diesel fuel, and 5% soybean based fuel (New York City
Department of Transportation).
Recycling & Sanitation
Landfills are responsible for 36% of all methane emissions in the US. This
problem is one of the biggest contributors to global warming (Recycling Facts).
Residents in New York City only recycle 17% of their total waste. This amount
could be at least 50% with their current program (Recycling Facts).
New York City’s Department of Sanitation runs the Recycling Program, which is
in its 24th year. This program aims to make it easier for citizens to recycle their
trash that they would otherwise throw away (Department of Sanitation).
New York City’s recycling program is limited to certain plastics, glass bottles and
jars, metals, paper and cardboard. At this time other plastics and plastic grocery
bags are not recyclable (WasteLe$$).
Water Preservation
New York has 7 large water reservoirs in close proximity. As of March 12, 2009,
these reservoirs are about 88.1% full (Department of Environmental Protection).
Sustainability
New York City passed a number of green purchasing laws in 2005 that are
intended to increase the sustainability of the city. One year later, the mayor of the
city also announced a set of sustainability plans for the future (Portney).
State law forbids New York City to adopt policies that extend sustainability
initiatives to people outside the city (Portney).
Social Services:
New York City won the highest award in urban education, the national Board
Prize, in 2007.
New York has 1.1 million school-age children.
Children First is a program that was launched in 2003 by Mayor Bloomberg and
Chancellor Klein to improve the school system.
The three principals that Children First was based off are leadership,
empowerment, and accountability.
The leadership aspect has to do with principals being informed and well qualified
to run their schools.
Reforms include a uniform curriculum and a parent support system to get families
more involved.
The Leadership Academy was established to prepare school leaders, and 200
hopeful principals have graduated, most of who now lead schools.
A new contract between the Department of Education and the United Federation
of Teachers allows schools to hire the first-rate teaching staff they need.
The agreement allows a 15% pay raise for teachers, extra time for students to get
help, more power to principals to select their staff.
New York City has more than 1,400 public schools.
25% of New Yorkers over 25 have a high school degree and nothing else, 12%
only completed eighth grade.
Last school year, an experiment was conducted in which 332 public schools were
given more decision-making authority in exchange for certain results from the
students, and 80% of schools succeeded. This school year, all NYC public
schools are “empowered” this way.
Funding for students is equal and money follows each student to the school he
chooses. The new program for funding is Fair Student Funding, of FSF.
Funding is based on grade level, and those in need will receive extra money.
By 2007, New York had surpassed 2008’s goal of four priority health areas; colon
cancer screening, access to health care, tobacco smoking, and intimate partner
homicide.
Black New Yorkers are more susceptible to diseases than white New Yorkers.
A fast-food restaurant which had been complained about having rats passed
inspection the first time but was complained about again and evidence of an
infestation was clear.
The area with the highest percentage of people without a doctor is 36% in Central
Bronx.
The area with the lowest percentage of people without a doctor is the South
Shore, with 10%.
Southwest Queens has the lowest percentage of people who were screened for
breast cancer; 68%
89 is the highest percentage of people screened for breast cancer, in Hunts Point
and Mott Haven
49% of adults without insurance have doctors in Northeast Bronx, and are three
times less likely to have a colonoscopy.
Although free and low-cost health insurance is available, 28% of Northeast Bronx
residents living below the poverty level don’t have insurance.
Free, confidential STD clinics are offered to the public
Culture and Identity:
Population
Most populated city in the United States
o Estimated 8,274,527 people (as of 2007)
o Population of New York City occupying just under 305 square miles
o Population of New York City is larger than that of 39 different states
in the USA
o Estimated 40% of the state of New York’s population resides within
New York City
Male = 47.4%; Female = 52.6%
Population of New York is more than double the population of the next largest
city in the United States, Los Angeles
Race/Nationality
36% of citizens of New York City born outside the United States
5.3% White (35.1% non-Hispanic White alone)
o 26.2% Black or African American (23.7% non-Hispanic Black or
African American alone)
o 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
o 12.1% Asian
o 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
o 17.7% some other race
o 1.9% two or more races
o 7.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race
City hall employs translators for 180 languages
Households/Income
3,021,588 households (2000) with a median income of $38, 293 per year
30% of households have children under the age of 18 years
37% of households contain married couples living together
o 39% households contain non-families living together
The borough of Manhattan experienced a “baby boom” in 2000 and onwards…
increased number of children under the age of five
o Increase is only spotted in households with a $300,000 income or
higher
Religious Beliefs
Flourishing scene of Jewish American literature (started within the city limits)
In a 2000 census, the most prominent religious group in New York was recorded
as Catholic (Christian) at 51.73%
o Followed by 16.56% (not affiliated); 18.27 % (Jewish); 8.93%
(Protestant); 4.42 & (Other)
Staten Island borough has the highest percentage of Catholics in residence
Segregation of People
New York City is organized into five “boroughs” that are coextensive and
organized into the listing of counties in the New York State
o The Bronx – increased Irish and Italian population living there as of
2000
o Brooklyn – roughly 2.5 million residents; New York’s largest
borough; home of the Brooklyn Museum (the nation’s second largest
public art museum 1.5 million objects on display)
o Manhattan – most densely population county in the United States;
widest range of ethnic groups
o Staten Island
o Queens – rated the #1 county (in a 2001 study by Claritas) with the
most ethnically diverse population
Culture/Contemporary Life
Birthplace of modern hip hop music (1970s)
“Melting Pot” = description of New York – where all the immigrants and new
cultures end up living in
Witnessed a wave of immigration in it’s earlier years… New York’s culture
blends today are the result of the multiple different races and cultures brought
over
The New York subway system acts as a space in which there can be multiple
street performances, political polls and rallies, and venders
o Every week the New York City Transit Authority authorizes more than
150 musical concerts at 25 locations throughout the subway system
o Subway serves as a campaign stop for NY politicians – easy way to
get votes and opinions
Many arts were introduced within the city that have already spread to many other
urban areas in the world
o Graffiti emerged as a type of expression in the “Zoo York” subculture
of the 1970s a group of hippies who met in the subways and on
quieter streets to organize rallies
5 Important Issues Facing New York:
1. Because of New York City’s expanding population, there is an increasing housing
problem that is quickly rising.
2. New York City 23,600 metric tons of waste every day which results in improper
disposal of the waste.
3. Although recently the crime rate has been decreasing, New York City still has a
high crime rate due to its large size and large population.
4. Homelessness is a huge issue that New York City is plagued with.
5. Air pollution, while not as severe as in cities like Los Angeles or Beijing, remains
a major problem. The city's air has high levels of ozone and particulates, and
residents in some neighborhoods have very high rates of asthma.
