Dear City Limits Friends,

We are pleased to share this update featuring highlights from our first quarter of 2024. Thank you for being a vital part of the City Limits community.
Please join us in welcoming two new trustees to the Board of City Limits.
Nick Lundgren is an attorney with over 20 years of experience in affordable housing and economic development law and policy in the government, for-profit, and non-profit sectors. Lundgren is currently the General Counsel of New Destiny Housing Corporation, a non-profit supportive housing developer in New York City that seeks to end the cycle of domestic violence and homelessness for low-income families and individuals by developing and providing permanent affordable housing and support services. Previously, Lundgren was the General Counsel of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. In 2012, Lundgren helped to form the State of Connecticut's Department of Housing and served as Deputy Commissioner, assisting DOH to create and preserve affordable housing and reduce homelessness statewide. Lundgren has also been an attorney in private practice and at the NYC Economic Development Corporation and,
earlier in his career, was one of the founders of the Community Development Project at the Legal Aid Society of New York City. Lundgren received his B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Yolanda Rodriguez was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents. She is an award-winning and published playwright and director who has had her work produced at Off and Off-Off Broadway theaters throughout New York City. Her play, “Rising Sun, Falling Star,” appears in “Nuestro New York: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Plays" and was the recipient of the Berrilla Kerr Playwriting Award. Ms. Rodriguez was also awarded the New York Foundation for the Arts’ PlayWriting Award. Her collection of short stories, “Urban Folk Tales: Stories,” was recently published and was chosen by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) for their National Hispanic History Month reading list and their recent Women’s History Month reading list. Ms. Rodriguez is also a professional singer and songwriter. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and has worked with the New York City Council, the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, CUNY, Random House, and not for profits organizations for
over 25 years, as an administrator, teacher, legislative aide/author of city laws, graphic artist, and editor. Ms. Rodriguez was an investigative reporter and photojournalist with the Community Herald Newspaper in Manhattan. She serves as an ex-officio member with the Board of Directors at El Museo del Barrio. Ms. Rodriguez is a member of the Dramatists Guild and lives in New York City.
Lynda Hamilton is the Community Partner Engagement Manager, Center for Smart StreetScapes, SIPA-Columbia University. We are delighted to welcome Lynda Hamilton to our Advisory Board and thank her for her service as a Board trustee.
Mon Yuck Yu serves as Director of Policy at the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, working on policy including maternal and mental health, safety, and education. Her work has contributed to new legislation, Brooklyn’s first comprehensive plan for public health, and the launch of a targeted maternal health outreach campaign combating Brooklyn’s maternal mortality crisis. Read more about Mon Yuck here ([link removed]) .
Chris Janaro ([link removed]) is a recent graduate from CUNY’s Craig Newmark School of Journalism, where his assigned metro beat was Queens’ Community District 14 in the Rockaways. His freelance work has delved into national housing market issues, including those related to the VA Home Loan Program. Janaro joins City Limits as part of the Newmark Veterans in Journalism Fellowship Program ([link removed].) , a partnership between Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ), the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY that places fellows in host newsrooms for nine months as they begin their careers in journalism.
• We are excited to share that City Limits has been selected to participate in the GNI Fundamentals Lab for INN members ([link removed]) . This program offers invaluable insights and training tailored to audience development, reader revenue, and sponsor advertising.
• We are delighted to share our participation in the Center for Community Media — Newmark J-School ([link removed]) ’s Growth Mentorship Program 2.0. This initiative provides mentorship opportunities aimed at bolstering our media operations.
• This month marks the completion of our participation in LION Publishers ([link removed]) ’ Sustainability Booster Coaching program. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with an industry professional to develop an updated advertising sponsor strategy.
Check out the top 5 most read articles this quarter from City Limits’ reporters, as they delve into crucial housing issues.
[link removed] Scenes From Closing Day at a Bronx Benefits Center ([link removed])
[link removed] Public Housing Residents Demand $5 Billion in State Funding ([link removed])
[link removed] Supreme Court Tosses Lingering Challenges to Rent Stabilization in NY ([link removed])
[link removed] ‘Why Are You Making It So Difficult’? NYC Cash Aid Applicants Face Denial Surge ([link removed])
[link removed] Simmering State Rent Increase Proposals Have Tenant Groups On Guard ([link removed])
We're excited to welcome our new members at City Limits! Since the beginning of the year we have close to 300 members. Here's what they had to share when asked about their reasons for donating:
• “It covers subject matters vital to working class and lower income New Yorkers.”
• “It helps me to keep up with the challenging social issues in New York City communities.”
• “Professional and in-depth research combined with clear writing, highlights critically important stories for those living and working in and around NYC.”
• “I care deeply about Journalism and City Limits has been fierce, fearless and friendly!”
• “The world needs more good journalism, and you are providing it.”
• “You focus on local issues that help connect the community to solutions.”
• “You cover important city issues not covered elsewhere.”
• “Reporting is the best in the city and beyond.”
• “Excellent local coverage. I appreciate the emphasis on city hall, housing, and quality of life in NYC.”
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on your support to continue our mission. Not a member? Become one today. Join here ([link removed]) !
On March 26, we hosted the first of our Salon Series on the NYC Housing Crisis, “Making Vouchers Work,” with Baaba Halm ([link removed]) , VP and New York Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners, in conversation with Emma Whitford, Deputy Editor at City Limits.

The second one, on June 6th, will be a conversation on “NYC’s Housing Shortage & Getting Communities on Board” with Vicki Been, Faculty Director of NYU’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, in conversation with Jeanmarie Evelly, Executive Editor at City Limits. We’re looking forward to sharing these conversations ([link removed]) with you on City Limits.
Planning is underway for our upcoming six-week summer internship and training program for NYC youth in partnership with the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) ([link removed]) and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY ([link removed]) . As NYC’s oldest nonprofit investigative news agency, we’re proud to empower youth through this unique training opportunity in public service journalism. Since its launch in 2014, CLARIFY has been generously supported by the Pinkerton Foundation, Harman Family Foundation, DJ McManus Foundation, and the Dow Jones News Fund. Read more about the CLARIFY program here ([link removed]) . We are currently seeking Instructors for the summer six week session. If you are a journalist with teaching experience and interested in applying, please contact us at [email protected].
Searching for an Executive Director — Apply Today!
As City Limits continues to grow in a strategic direction to deeply cover the issues of housing and homelessness in NYC, we seek a visionary leader to serve as our Executive Director. The ideal candidate will be passionate about New York and well-acquainted with the issues of housing and homelessness, believe in the role of journalism in a democratic society, possess strong networking abilities, and have a track record of building successful programs. Apply here. ([link removed])
Please Help Us Reach Our Spring Fundraising Goal!
We’re almost there! With your support, City Limits is close to meeting our $10,000 goal for our Spring Fundraiser. Your contribution ensures that we hold elected officials accountable, provide essential local coverage, and address critical issues of housing and homelessness in NYC.

Join us in sustaining nonprofit investigative journalism that makes a real impact in the lives of New Yorkers. Donate today ([link removed]) !
We are incredibly grateful for the support of our Board and Advisory Members:

Board: Martha Nelson-Chair, Neill Coleman-Vice Chair, Andrew Breslau, Mark Edmiston, Stephen Fee, Erica González Martínez, David R. Jones, Esq., Edward Lewis, Nicholas Lundgren, Yolanda Rodriguez, Erik Spooner.

Advisory Board: Lynda Hamilton, Meg Louis, Michael Moskowitz, Rashad Nelms, Lisette Nieves, Michael Rezendes, Paul Spivey, Tanzina Vega, Mon Yuck Yu.
[link removed]
Warmly,
Marjorie W. Martay & Fran Reilly

Co-Executive Directors, City Limits

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