Committees

Committees of trustees oversee the Commission’s staff research and take policy positions based on that research. CBC has three standing committees that address recurring issues: Budget Policy, Competitiveness and Transportation. The CBC also creates ad hoc committees to examine issues that do not fall under the auspices of these standing committees, but are seen as important to the Commission’s mission. Currently, there are three ad hoc committees: Economic Development, Solid Waste Management and Port Authority. Other recent ad hoc committees have included State and Local Realignment, Rent Regulation, Public-Private Partnerships, Parks and Public Authority Reform.

Budget Policy

Walter Harris, Co-Chair
Alair A. Townsend, Co-Chair

This committee reviews the annual city and state budgets and develops policy positions on the proposed and adopted budgets. The Committee also identifies topics for research in the areas of collective bargaining, pension benefits and public employee health insurance.

Competitiveness

David R. Greenbaum, Co-Chair
Vishaan Chakrabarti, Co-Chair

This Committee is concerned with how the New York metropolitan region can become more competitive for jobs and residents. It has undertaken comparative analyses of public infrastructure important to business activities and completed a project on the impact of “green” policies on the competitiveness of New York City. Early in 2013 the Committee released a scorecard on the competiveness of the New York region in attracting educated and talented workers, and the staff will be updating that scorecard in future years.

Transportation

Seth P. Bernstein, Co-Chair
Steven M. Polan, Co-Chair

This Committee’s recent work has focused on the finances of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It oversaw a multi-year project on the implementation of the MTA’s capital program and published a series of indicators and comparative benchmarks for the efficiency of subway, bus and commuter rail services. The Committee is currently focused on ways to finance the MTA’s capital program and balance its operating budget.

Economic Development

John Rhodes, Co-Chair
Mark Willis, Co-Chair

This Committee assesses the effectiveness of state and municipal economic development programs and seeks to identify and promote ways to make public sector efforts in this arena more cost-effective and accountable. It has completed studies of the State’s Empire Zone program and the economic development programs operated by the New York Power Authority. The Committee now oversees staff efforts to track and guide the implementation of new State Regional Councils. A new project is being developed to examine options for making more effective use of the New York City Economic Development Corporation in the next administration.

Solid Waste Management

Carol Rosenthal, Co-Chair
Michael Ryan, Co-Chair

This committee was launched in mid-2011 to find ways to reduce the more than one billion dollars per year cost to taxpayers of disposing of New York City’s garbage. The Committee released its first report in May 2012 on the savings from reducing reliance on long-distance exporting to out-of-state landfills and expanding use of waste-to-energy plants. The Committee’s second report will evaluate the cost of picking up garbage and recycling and propose cost efficiencies.

Port Authority

Steven Cohen, Co-Chair
Robert Lamb, Co-Chair

This new Committee held its first official meeting on February 21, 2013. The Committee reviewed a background memorandum, and they agreed with its recommendation to pursue research aimed at improving the PANYNJ’s budget process and improving the profitability of its PATH and maritime port operations. Colleen Woodell has been engaged as a consultant to support the Committee’s work.

Innovation Prize

Thomas J. Brodsky, Co-Chair
Justin S. Steinberg, Co-Chair

This committee seeks to identify and highlight a New York City or State government agency that demonstrates an innovative approach to providing government services. The CBC awards this prize at its annual dinner both to celebrate creative thinking and to share government achievements with the public and other agencies. To learn more, click here.