SPA In the News

SPA Students Participate in Investigation to Catch Cab DriversRefusing Outer-Borough Fares
New York Post, New York, NY - March 11, 2011
Crain's New York, New York, NY - March 9, 2011
New York Daily News, New York, NY - March 9, 2011

College Students enlisted by the city to pose as Manhattan taxi passengers heading to another borough got turned down by yellow-cab drivers a shocking 50 percent of the time as part of a city sting, it was disclosed yesterday.

"We had concern that our enforcement agents are recognizable by taxi drivers -- we only have 100," said taxi chief David Yassky, explaining why four graduate students from Baruch College's School of Public Policy were quietly pressed into service in January and February to cibduct undercover tests. For the full New York Post story, click here. For the full Crain's New York story, click here. And for the full New York Daily News story, click here.

SPA Professor Comments on relationship between Mayor and Governor
New York Times, New York, NY - March 4, 2011

“There is an inevitability about this,” said Douglas A. Muzzio, a professor of public affairs at Baruch College. “Mike Bloomberg may be the $16 billion gorilla, but in New York State government, Andrew Cuomo is the 800-pound gorilla.” For the full story, click here.

SPA Professor Comments on Governor's Budget Proposal
Wall Street Journal, New York, NY - February 5, 2011

"What Cuomo is doing is — if not unique — extraordinarily novel," said political scientist Doug Muzzio of Baruch College. "He's running a permanent campaign as governor." "How does it play to the public? The last polls I looked at were really high," Muzzio said. "If he keeps up the momentum, like a great running back keeping his feet churning, he can break tackles and make long runs." "It ain't going to be easy and it's going to be bloody," Muzzio said. For the full story, click here.

MPA Student Honored for work in NYC's Mexican-American Community
WABC, New York, NY USA - August 13, 2010

Angelo Cabrera, MPA student at Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs, was awarded the first annual La Union Organization Cuauthil’s award for his leadership and work as president and founder of the Mexican-American Students Alliance (MASA). The mission behind MASA is to promote higher education for students of Mexican descent who are living in New York. This year, La Union Organization, a Brooklyn-based group made up of immigrants working to advance the rights of immigrant parents and students, chose to honor Cabrera for his efforts. The Cuauthil’s award recognizes outstanding community leaders and role models within the Mexican-American community. Cabrera’s leadership in student activism includes a three-day hunger strike that helped to pass the New York State In-State-Tuition Law in 2001-2002. This policy made it possible for all to attend CUNY and SUNY colleges regardless of their immigration status.

The Cuauthil’s award was presented to Cabrera on April 24, 2010 along with proclamations from Public Advocate Bill Di Blasio, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, New York State Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz, and NYS Controller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Coverage of Cabrera's work through MASA was most recently featured on WABC -- to view the video, click here.

SPA Alumnus Discusses Pakastani Floods and Seeks Aid for the Victims
CNN - August 13, 2010
Al Jazeera - August 12, 2010

SPA Alumnus Mosharraf Zaidi, MPA '01, is an active editorialist contributing to The National and other publications. He made recent television appearances on CNN and Al Jazeera to discuss the devastating floods in Pakistan and relief work underway in the affected areas of the country. For the CNN video, click here. For the Al Jazeera video, click here. Below is Mosharraf's brief summary of the extent of the damage and links to several organizations working to alleviate the suffering.

From Mosharraf Zaidi:

On July 29, most of the northern part of Pakistan experienced the worst monsoon rains in nearly a century. The ensuing flooding has been a slow-motion calamity unlike the world has seen in terms of the sheer scale of destruction. By August 9, the UN annoucned that 13.8 million people were affected by the floods, making the scale of the disaster worse than the 2004 tsunami, the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake -- combined.

The impact of the current floods on the livelihoods of millions of poor Pakistanis that make their homes on the banks of the Indus River is severe. Livestock and agriculture, the two mainstays along the river, have been completely destroyed. The physical infrastructure, roads and bridges, will need years of work.

As millions of Pakistanis sleep in makeshift tens, in horrible conditions tonight, it is important for all of us to reach out to them. They should know that they are not alone. Some breathtaking work is already being done by international and local NGOs in Pakistan. Your contribution can add to the chorus of voices singing a song of solidarity with the people of Pakistan. "You are not alone."

One of the US State Department's recommended means of donation is a $10 contribution that can be made by texting the word "SWAT" to the number 50555. The funds received will go toward UNHCR's procurement of tents and relief supplies. For more information, click here.

Among international NGOs, some of the most stellar work is done by the following groups. Click on the links for more information or to donate:

• OXFAM
• Islamic Relief
• International Committee of the Red Cross

Some of the best Pakistani organizations to contribute to include the following. Click on the links for more information or to donate:

• The Citizens' Foundation - TCF Relief
• Edhi Foundation
• Pakistan Red Crescent Society

New York Politics Riled by ethics scandals
PBS Newshour  - Washington, DC, USA - March 3, 2010
NBC4 - New York, NY, USA - March 3, 2010
See frequent SPA political commentators, SPA Dean David Birdsell and Professor Doug Muzzio, discuss the recent ethics scandals of Congressman Charlie Rangel and Governor David Paterson. For Dean Birdsell's interview on NBC4 News- New York, click here. For Professor Muzzio's interview on PBS Newshour, click here.

Book: Spitzer Put on Suicude Watch During Scandal
CBS2 News  - New York, NY, USA - March 5, 2010
"It's clearly a bump on his road to rehabilitation. He's been trying to present himself again as a credible candidate to the people of New York, as a credible candidate for public office," said David Birdsell, the dean of public affairs at Baruch College.” Read the full story here.

Associate Dean Jonathan Engel comments on national healthcare op-ed
New York Times  - New York, NY, USA - March 4, 2010
"I am skeptical that we are flinty enough, and uncaring enough, to allow patients to die on the doorsteps of our hospitals. Rather, I suspect that we will treat them gratis, as we always have. Given this, people will exploit Mr. Starr’s proposed mechanism to avoid buying insurance.” Read the full item here.

New York City Workforce expands in recession
Crain's New York - New York, NY, USA - November 15, 2009
"[In prior downturns] people would leave the city, say, "It's too tough, I have to go back home,'" Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber said at a Baruch College forum last week. “This time ... people are actually coming to New York to look for work from other cities in the country.”

Old Feuds Resurface in a Brooklyn Rezoning Fight
New York Times - New York, NY, USA - August 5, 2009
... many of them were profiled in "Bargaining for Brooklyn,” a 2007 book by the sociologist Nicole P. Marwell that chronicles the role of community-based organizations in the lives of the poor. ...

By opting out of forums, Mark Green irked his public advocate rivals...
New York Daily News - New York, NY, USA - August 2, 2009
David Birdsell of Baruch College's School of Public Affairs concedes “it's probably smart politics” for Green to avoid exposing himself to face-to-face ...

City Council and other public office candidates seek union endorsements ...
New York Daily News - New York, NY, USA - July 29, 2009
"A DC 37 endorsement is like chicken soup - it can't hurt," said Doug Muzzio, a political scientist at Baruch College. "It helps, but we don't know how much ...

Lacking tough opponent, NY mayor battles the press
Reuters - USA - June 5, 2009
And the press in many ways has stepped in to fill that vacuum," said David Birdsell, a professor of public affairs at Baruch College in New York. ...

Al Sharpton emerges as Obama ally
Politico - Washington, DC, USA - June 2, 2009
Some people would describe it as having no principles,” said Doug Muzzio, a professor at Baruch College's School of Public Affairs. ...

The Mystery of Faculty Priorities
Inside Higher Ed - USA - May 28, 2009
and as Dahlia K. Remler and Elda Pema note in a provocative new paper, the emphasis extends beyond research that pays for itself.

Klein Digs in His Heels on Mayoral Control
New York Post - New York, USA - May 12, 2009
said Klein, who spoke at a forum on mayoral control sponsored by the Citizens Union and the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College, which hosted the meeting.

Absentee Ballots to Decide NY House Race
Washington Post - Washington, DC, USA - April 1, 2009
Douglas Muzzio, a political scientist at Baruch College of the City University of New York, said, "You may be looking at this for days. ...

Time to Revisit Privatization
Bacon's Rebellion - Fairfax, USA - March 31, 2009
As noted by Dr. ES Savas, a professor in the School of Public Affairs at New York’s Baruch College, a former deputy city administrator and author of ...

NY's Cuomo wins praise for pursuing AIG on bailout
Monterey County Herald - Monterey, USA - March 18, 2009
Perceived missteps and inaction have Americans scared by and angry at their government, said Doug Muzzio, a politics professor at Baruch College. ...

Video of Pelosi's cat shows pols are discovering YouTube, for ...
New York Daily News - New York, USA - March 18, 2009
David Birdsell of Baruch College agrees that Pelosi's cat clips don't add much to the political debate - but calls them a good illustration of the old ...

Rising Sea Levels Set To Have Major Impacts
Science Daily - USA - March 11, 2009
Gordon McGranahan, Deborah Balk, and Bridget Anderson; Environment and Urbanization.