Mayor Daniel Lurie and Sup. Rafael Mandelman want to update and reform the City Charter, which is a fine idea: Under the current charter, the mayor has too much power and elected officials are able to refuse or duck sunshine requests with impunity. The city desperately needs to address economic inequality. Among other problems. Yes, it's big-in part because progressives have pushed for changes over and over since the last full revamp in 1995, and many have been efforts to increase community participation.
The numbers are staggering: over 500,000 older New Yorkers are on the waiting list for affordable housing, with average waits stretching beyond a decade. For many, a decade is longer than they can afford to wait. Behind each number is a person facing the daily uncertainty of where they will live out their later years-whether they can age with dignity, or whether they will spend their final chapter in limbo.