In the third year of his administration, Newark Mayor Cory Booker continues to learn new lessons about creating a culture of accountability in government. How do urban leaders inculcate new values and entrepreneurial passion in city bureaucracies that have long been unmovable, dependent on political appointments and patronage?
Read MoreThe Bloomberg administration is mounting an all-out campaign to reduce the length of time children spend in foster care and to make preventive and post-reunification supports for families more effective. Few disagree with these goals. But in a child welfare system managed by nonprofits, the city must use its power over contracts to drive change. It’s an enormous and controversial challenge.
Read MoreOver the past year and half, the state legislature and Governor Pataki have modified New York’s Rockefeller Drug Laws. How effective have thosechanges been? Is further reform needed? What else could be done to improve the state’s drug policies, increase access to treatment for offenders and make alternatives to incarceration more meaningful and effective?
Read MoreWith Medicaid expenses accounting for one-third of NYS's budget and still rising, there has been much debate about how to control costs while recognizing the vital importance of the Medicaid program. This explored the political feasibility of major reform of Medicaid, including the possibility of a State take-over of Medicaid spending, as well as long term care and other issues relevant to Medicaid-related spending.
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