Michael F. Armstrong, Former Chief Counsel of the Knapp Commission

"Police Integrity: Revisiting the 1972 Knapp Report"

John C. Liu, New York City Comptroller

"The Role of the Comptroller in City Government"

Addressing recent questions of the propriety of certain contributions to his campaign, Liu said that the allegations were “quite embarrassing,” and that citizens deserved a “full accounting” of his campaign finances.

Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, President, MTA Capital Construction

"Status of the MTA's Mega Projects"

On October 14, 2011, Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, President of MTA Capital Construction, spoke at New York Law School. He discussed the status of the MTA's mega projects, including the Fulton Street Transit Center, Second Avenue Subway, LIRR East-Side Access into a new terminal at Grand Central, the No. 7 Subway Extension, and the new South Ferry Terminal Station. The MTA created Capital Construction in 2003 to oversee the mega projects, which constitute the largest transit expansion program in the nation. Horodniceanu described the unique challenges involved in each project, which range from blasting under Grand Central Terminal to preventing tunnel boring machines from freezing in winter weather.

Dennis Walcott, Chancellor, New York City Schools

"Educators, Familes, Communities: Working Together to Prepare All NYC Students for College and Careers"

Lillian Roberts, Executive Director, District Council 37

"Public Employee Unions"

On April 15, 2011, District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts spoke passionately on behalf of public unions, declaring that “public service workers all over this country are under attack.” She decried practices in states such as Wisconsin and Indiana, where she said governors had given tax breaks to the business community, then proceeded to ask public employees for givebacks. Roberts also criticized the Bloomberg Administration’s use of private contractors, which she claimed infringed on civil service jobs and cost more than public employees’ salaries. She argued that civil service testing was the only fair way to allocate jobs, and that “when people in the City aren’t working, we all share the burden.” Roberts also addressed the City’s fiscal difficulties, stating that “we are in a crisis mode we shouldn’t be in,” due in part to uncollected taxes owed by certain businesses.

04/15/11

Lillian Roberts
 

E.J. McMahon
Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

 

"The Public Pension Crisis in New York City and New York State"

On March 11, 2011, E.J. McMahon, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, gave a lecture on the public pension crisis in New York. After an overview of the various State and City pension funds, McMahon discussed the “fundamental and structural” reform he believes is necessary to avert fiscal catastrophe. He commented that in New York State, the average public sector pension is twice as large as the average private sector pension. Moreover, only one-fifth of private employers offer the public sector’s defined-benefit pension plan, which guarantees minimum pension benefits. McMahon noted that State and City public employee contributions to pension funds have remained steady since the 1980s, while employer contributions have risen drastically in the past ten years and are expected to rise even more in coming years. Investment losses in the past decade have led to increased contributions by the State and City, with City pension contributions expected to reach $8.4 billion in 2012. Highlighting that New York’s public pension funds are not fully funded, McMahon said that he and a colleague had calculated the State’s unfunded pension liability at $120.5 billion. McMahon concluded that the goals of pension reform are: affordability and predictability for taxpayers, elimination of open-ended long-term liabilities,retirement security and flexibility for employees, and minimal opportunities for pension distortion and gaming. McMahon proposed various models as alternatives to raising employee contributions and/or the minimum retirement age. These included fixing employer contribution rates, sharing risk between employers and employees, and offering a hybrid defined-benefit/defined-contribution plan.

03/11/11

E.J. McMahon

Michael B. Mukasey
Former U.S. Attorney General

 

"The War on Terror: Where We Are and How We Got There"

On February 4, 2011, former U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey discussed the history of Islamist terrorism in the U.S. and recent developments in the war on terror. Mukasey defended controversial Bush administration policies and tactics, such as the detainment of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and the use of water boarding as an interrogation technique. Mukasey credited the former CIA Interrogation Program with yielding a “huge trove of information” and preventing successful terrorist attacks on the U.S. for a period of seven years. Regarding the Obama administration’s approach, Mukasey derided its intentions to close Guantanamo Bay and limit interrogation techniques to those in the publicly available Army field manual. Mukasey also remarked that the policy of trying Guantanamo detainees in civilian courts disregards the Military Commissions Act and essentially gives unlawful combatants “a better deal” than lawful military combatants. In closing, Mukasey explored alternative approaches to the war on terror. On the judicial front, he made clear that he was against proposals to indefinitely detain prisoners of war. Instead, Mukasey noted that Congress has the power to create a special court for terrorist cases, in which the military could provide juries and prosecutors. On the executive front, Mukasey commented on the need to focus on the nature of our adversary, which is motivated by a religiously-derived, “militant ideology.” Mukasey urged that we can only prevail over this adversary by staying “a jump ahead” through intelligence gathering, including invaluable human intelligence gathering that is uninhibited by a limited interrogation program.

02/04/11

Michael B. Mukasey

Matthew Goldstein
Chancellor
The City University of New York


 

"The 2010 NYC Charter Revision Commission Recommendations"

Matthew Goldstein, CUNY Chancellor and Chair of the 2010 New York City Charter Revision Commission, discussed the commission’s recommendations at the Center’s October 22, 2010 breakfast. Goldstein spoke about the use of technology as “a defining principle” of the 2010 commission, which webcast hearings and meetings, and made use of social networking resources like Twitter and Facebook. Goldstein discussed the operating principles he established for the commission, and the importance of “not biting off more than we could chew.” Goldstein said the commission decided to bundle its recommendations into two initiatives because of this year’s ballot design, over which it had no control. Goldstein claimed that time constraints prevented the commission from formulating recommendations on non-partisan elections, land use, and government structure; he noted, however, that the commission was able to “create a bundle of material for the next commission.”

10/22/10

Matthew Goldstein

Judith S. Kaye
Of Counsel
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Formerly Chief Judge of the State of New York

 

"Juvenile Justice: Now Is the Moment"

On August 27, 2010, Judith S. Kaye, attorney and former Chief Judge for the State of New York, addressed the topic of juvenile justice. Kaye remarked that the United States, once a leader in juvenile justice, is almost third-world in its punitive approach to juvenile crime. She cited data that incarceration is more likely to lead to recidivism than rehabilitation, and that the U.S. has failed to constructively use science about adolescent behavior and brain development. Commenting on the current high interest in juvenile justice, she urged audience members to “seize the moment” and consider more ways to end “the deadly cradle-to-prison, school-to-prison, placement-to-prison pipelines.” She expressed particular enthusiasm for school-justice partnerships such as school-based youth courts “where offenders are heard and sentenced by their peers.”

08/27/10

Judith S. Kaye

Norman Siegel
Civil Rights Attorney

Ross Moskowitz '84
Partner
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP
 

"The Use (or Misuse) of Eminent Domain in NYC"

 At the City Law breakfast on April 27, 2010, civil rights attorney Norman Siegel stated the use of eminent domain in New York State was frequently “a misuse,” and discussed his recommendations to make the law more equitable. Siegel said the current law favored developers, and took issue with the state’s ambiguous definition of “blight,” which he said invited selective enforcement. He also suggested changing the process for challenging eminent domain actions, and recommended barring consultants from serving both private developers and government simultaneously. Siegel discussed his role in the challenge to an eminent domain plan for the expansion of Columbia University. Partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Ross Moskowitz countered that while eminent domain was “a power that people love to hate,” it was an important tool to “take care of community-based problems.” Moskowitz added that the vast majority of properties in state-sponsored redevelopments were acquired through “negotiated purchases.”

04/27/10

Norman Siegel and Ross Moskowitz

Edward Skyler
Deputy Mayor
Operations

"Can Government Work?"

On April 16, 2009, departing Deputy Mayor of Operations Ed Skyler discussed the accomplishments of the Bloomberg Administration, and some of the challenges it faces as it enters its third term. Skyler noted the administration’s successes in the “nuts and bolts” aspects of governance, such as snow clearing, as well as achievements like ending the institution of “rubber rooms” for teachers. Skyler passionately addressed the issue of gun control, expressing disbelief that the federal government had not yet closed the “gun show loophole,” which allows people to purchase guns without a background check. Skyler also discussed the effect of the financial downturn on the City’s budget, and the need for health care and pension reform.

04/16/10

Edward Skyler

Michael E. McMahon '85
Congressman
U.S. Representative for the 13th Congressional District of New York

"Healthcare, Afghanistan, and Veterans"

On February 5, 2010 Congressman Michael E. McMahon, who represents Staten Island and South Brooklyn, discussed his efforts to improve mental health screening and care for veterans, saying that, for returning soldiers, “the struggle doesn’t end when the camouflage comes off.” McMahon also addressed the health care debate, and his decision to vote against the plan. He voted against the health care bill because it would reduce federal payments to New York City hospitals. McMahon also argued that New Yorkers needed to raise their voices against the “populist anger” directed towards the financial services industry, noting the sizeable amount of jobs and taxes the industry generated.

02/05/10

Michael E.McMahon

Linda Gibbs
Deputy Mayor
Health and Human Services

"Social Services: The Next Four Years"

Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, spoke at the November 20, 2010 City Law Breakfast. Gibbs stated that recent accomplishments, including banning trans-fats, have contributed to increased life expectancy for New Yorkers. Gibbs addressed the issues facing the Administration in a time of budget cuts, and the “difficult political strategy” of cutting underperforming programs instead of making across-the-board cuts. Gibbs also discussed the need for procurement reform, and the cost-savings realized when non-profits issue group RFP’s when purchasing supplies.

11/20/09

Linda Gibbs

Robert D. LiMandri
Commissioner
NYC Department of
Buildings

"New Initiatives at Buildings"

On October 16, 2009, Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri addressed Buildings’ efforts in raising standards, both for the Department and for the construction industry. LiMandri discussed the Department’s latest attempt to combat corruption, which includes the use of GPS technology to track inspectors during their shifts, and highlighted the creation of a new concrete unit to ensure the structural integrity of buildings. LiMandri also stated that the $29 million invested in infrastructure and technology projects during the Bloomberg administration has “opened the Department’s doors virtually to anyone who uses a computer.”

10/16/09

Robert D. LiMandri

Mark Page
Director
NYC Office of Management and Budget

Joseph Parkes, S.J.,
Chairman
NYC Campaign Finance Board

Amy M. Loprest,
Executive Director
NYC Campaign Finance Board

"Campaign Finance in New York City: Looking Ahead to November 2009"

On November 7, 2008, Joseph P. Parkes, S.J., and Amy M. Loprest, Chair and Executive director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, respectively, discussed the continuing relevance of the Campaign Finance Board, and its necessity in “fostering democracy at the local level.” They spoke of recent reforms to the campaign finance rules which increase the participation of small donors in elections, and put greater “pay to play” restrictions donors who do business with the City.

11/7/08

Joseph Parkes, S.J. and Amy Loprest

Eric Lane
Senior Fellow
Brennan Center for Justice
Distinguished Professor
Public Law and Public Service at Hofstra Law School

"Exorcize the Term Limit Demon"

On October 17, 2008, Eric Lane, Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Public Service at Hofstra University, and Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, spoke of the need to remove mandatory term limits, which he called a “democratic fantasy,” that “weighs against consensus and compromise” in legislative bodies.

10/17/08

Eric Lane

Christopher O. Ward
Executive Director
Port Authority of
NY and NJ

Martin F. Horn
Commissioner
NYC Department of Correction

Robert B. Tierney
Chair
Landmarks Preservation Committee

Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council