Overview
As New York slowly emerges from the pandemic, there’s one thing to be certain — New York City has changed and is changing. Hybrid and remote work are here to stay, changing how New Yorkers commute and shifting the reliance of long-standing business districts.
As rents continue to spike to new highs, the need for more housing—particularly affordable housing—is at a crescendo. Meanwhile, the city’s housing stock continues to age and isn’t meeting the demands of New Yorkers.
How will New York City meet this moment?
WNYC and Gothamist will host a discussion with Mayor Eric Adams, followed by a panel discussion with local politicians, community leaders and urban planners to explore what the future of housing in the five boroughs looks like—from incremental changes that can happen now to the bold ideas that may forever change our city’s landscape.
Support for WNYC’s housing and homelessness reporting is provided by Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies.
Credit: Photo provided by Guest
Mayor Eric Adams has served the people of New York City as an NYPD officer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President, and now as the 110th Mayor of the City of New York. He gave voice to a diverse coalition of working families in all five boroughs and is leading the fight to bring back New York City’s economy, reduce inequality, improve public safety, and build a stronger, healthier city that delivers for all New Yorkers.
Credit: Photo provided by Guest
With over twenty-five years of proven experience authoring and implementing visionary urban architecture, Vishaan Chakrabarti is the Founder and Creative Director of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, where he leads the firm’s growing global portfolio of cultural, institutional, and public projects and is the author of the highly acclaimed book, A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America (Metropolis Books, 2013), and an upcoming book for Princeton University Press entitled The Architecture of Urbanity: Designing Cities for Pluralism and Planet.
Credit: Photo provided by Guest
Leah Goodridge is an award-winning movement lawyer, thought leader and writer. Born to a working-class family and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Leah is a prominent voice on housing justice, gentrification and workplace anti-racism. Currently, she is the Managing Attorney for Housing Policy at Mobilization for Justice. There she leads a team, under the Right to Counsel initiative, which represents tenants facing eviction. Leah has played a key role in shaping housing policy in New York City. In 2021, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams appointed Leah to the NYC Planning Commission. Prior to joining the commission, former NYC mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Leah to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board as the tenant member. She successfully advocated for rent freezes for rent regulated New Yorkers. Two bar associations have recognized and honored her as a trailblazer in the legal field. Leah’s work on anti-racism is taught at over 30 universities, companies and organizations and has been featured in Forbes and Dame Magazine.
Credit: Photo provided by Guest
As Chief Housing Officer, Jessica Katz oversees the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York City Housing Authority, the Housing Development Corporation, the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations and the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. Katz most recently served as executive director of the research nonprofit Citizens Housing and Planning Council, where she led a policy and research agenda on topics ranging from basement apartment conversions to equitable code enforcement to resident decision-making at NYCHA. She previously served for over ten years at HPD, most recently as the associate commissioner for New Construction, where she oversaw the creation of affordable and special needs housing. Katz held a variety of roles at HPD, including as assistant commissioner of Special Needs Housing, senior adviser to the commissioner, and assistant commissioner for Preservation Finance. Katz holds a BA in Urban Geography from McGill University and a Masters in City Planning from MIT.
Credit: Photo provided by Guest
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was elected to serve as our city’s budget watchdog and chief accountability officer on November 2nd, 2021. Lander’s background in community organizing and urban planning informs his work to make government work better for all New Yorkers. First elected to the City Council in 2009, Lander co-founded the Council’s Progressive Caucus and has a strong track record of partnering with community advocates to win transformative change for a more just and equitable city. Lander was one of the founders of Local Progress, now a 1000-member strong network of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. Prior to holding public office, Lander spent 15 years in the nonprofit sector as the director of the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Pratt Center for Community Development.