New York City’s Budget Explained: A Mirror of Priorities, Politics, and Power

The Budget as a Mirror of the City

At the foundation, it is imperative to remember that a budget is more than a spreadsheet. Every budget is representative of what leaders fund, what the city is willing to promote, and what it is willing to disregard. For example, New York City has a $110 billion budget. The stakes are significant. The budget is representative of everything you experience in the city: school classrooms, subway platforms, access...