New York, NY
In New York City, HR&A implemented an online and canvass survey and convened public conversations to raise awareness of public sentiment across policy areas and inform the agenda of the city’s incoming mayor.
Challenge
As New York City prepared to greet a new mayor for the first time in 12 years, the city’s philanthropic community had a bold idea to transform the usual closed-door process between Election Day and inauguration into an opportunity for New Yorkers to make their voices heard. As Washington, D.C. prepared to welcome its new mayor, a consortium of District-based grantees wanted to engage the public as well. Looking for an exciting and engaging way to capture public attention and gather insights on residents most pressing challenges, the foundations engaged HR&A to design a citywide public engagement program.
Response
In New York City, HR&A convened public conversations that would raise awareness and inform the agenda of the city’s incoming mayor. To achieve this vision, HR&A produced 120 live events in an open “think tent” on Canal Street, which served as the initiative’s transparent town hall. The programming extended into the city’s neighborhoods with a team of over 100 canvassers with digital surveys.
Impact
TalkNYC was one of the most expansive public opinion surveys in New York City’s history. Nearly 70,000 people weighed in on government-influenced quality of life issues. HR&A aggregated the results in the “Sentiment of a City” report, which showed that the housing affordability, finding employment, and representation in policy decisions are among New Yorkers’ highest concerns. The Foundation briefed the incoming administration on these insights in efforts to further inform policy making.
Partners
Special thanks to the following partners who supported Talking Transition in New York City:
The Atlantic Philanthropies
Brooklyn Community Foundation
Ford Foundation
The New York Community Trust
New York Foundation
The New York Women’s Foundation
North Star Fund
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
The Conversation
New York Today: Hey, Mr. Mayor-Elect (New York Times)
Coalition Seeks Public’s Advice on New York City’s Goals [New York Times]
A Clever Way for New Yorkers to Give De Blasio a Piece of Their Mind [The Atlantic Cities]
Piden participación de la comunidad en transición [El Diario La Prensa]
Talking Transition Tent Opens for New Yorkers to Discuss Priorities in the Next Administration [NY1]
Latinos juntos 'Hablando de la Transición' en NYC [El Diario La Prensa]
Panel At Transition Tent Discusses Growing Role of Ethnic Media in NYC [NY1]
Bill de Blasio's Transition Chairs Visit "Talking Transition" Tent [NY Daily News]
Groups Pick New Yorkers’ Brains, Pass Feedback To De Blasio [CBS New York/AP]
Talking Transition: Mayor- Elect De Blasio Gets an Earful From Writers [Huffington Post]
Leave an Idea, Take an Idea [New York Times]
De Blasio Visits the Talking Transition Tent -- Names Transition Team [WNYC]
Parks and Accumulation [The New Yorker]
Talking Transition: See photos, video of New Yorkers’ priorities for the mayor [Time Out New York]
De Blasio Talks With 3 Candidates for Police Commissioner [New York Times]
Bagels and de Blasio: Can New York's Next Mayor Advance City Food Beyond Bloomberg? [Huffington Post]
Q&A: The Man Behind the Talking Transition ‘Think Tent’ Spills His Secrets [NY Mag]
Talking Transition Tent Closing Down With New Yorkers Optimistic About Future [NY1]
