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Articles by Ira Goldstein
Fair housing advocacy: Mortgage lending transparency matters more than ever
Fair Housing, as we have known it for several decades under Republican and Democratic administrations, is over.
Can development happen without displacement? Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood is a test case
By Ira Goldstein, Lecturer in the Urban Studies Program, University of Pennsylvania Neighborhood investments meant to improve housing and opportunity often spark fears of gentrification and displacement. That worry is playing out in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood, where a stalled Second Avenue housing project sits blocks from the 178-acre Hazelwood Green riverfront development. Hazelwood… Read complete article © The Conversation -
Can development happen without displacement? Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood is a test case Original
Neighborhood investments meant to improve housing and opportunity often spark fears of gentrification and displacement. That worry is playing out in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood, where a stalled Second Avenue housing project sits blocks from the 178-acre Hazelwood Green riverfront development. Hazelwood is a natural experiment that answers the question: Can development happen without displacement?
Can development happen without displacement? Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood is a test case
Neighborhood investments meant to improve housing and opportunity often spark fears of gentrification and displacement. That worry is playing out in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood, where a stalled Second Avenue housing project sits blocks from the 178-acre Hazelwood Green riverfront development. kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92K6=H@@5:?:E:2E:G6]@C8^9:DE@CJQmw2K6=H@@5k^2m :D 2 ?2EFC2= 6IA6C:>6?E E92E 2?DH6CD E96 BF6DE:@?i r2? 56G6=@A>6?E 92AA6?
IRA’S INSIGHTS - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is enjoying the start of the Fall season and staying safe out there on the road. October is always a good time to check in, get prepared for the colder months ahead, and make sure you are taking advantage of the resources available to you. As always, there is a lot to cover, so let’s get started. First, I want to touch on a broad package ofpedicabreformproposalscurrently before the New York City Council.
IRA’S INSIGHTS - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone had a safe and productive end to the summer. ptember is always a bit of a transition month, with families getting back into school routines, traffic patterns shifting again, and drivers adjusting to the pace of the fall season. I for one am not looking forward to the return of school traffic! As always, there is a lot happening across the industry, and I want to take some time this month to cover a few important updates that affect black car drivers across New York.
IRA’S INSIGHTS - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is staying safe and cool as we move through these final weeks of summer. August can be a busy and unpredictable month for drivers, with hot weather, changing traffic patterns, families squeezing in last-minute travel, and the city slowly getting ready for the back-to-school rush. As always, I want to start by recognizing the work you continue to put in every day behind the wheel.
IRA’S INSIGHTS - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is enjoying the mmer and staying safe out there on the road. July is always a busy month in New York, but this year it feels even bigger with World Cup excitement in the air and fans from all over the world coming through our area. As always, I want to recognize the work you continue to put in every day to keep New York moving, especially during a summer that has already been filled with energy, crowds, and plenty of activity.
A $400 million price tag for a ballroom? What if we invested in families instead?
The import of budget figures, particularly those large values contained within the federal budget, has become something to which we are numb, or worse, indifferent. A $1.5 trillion request for the U.S. Department of Defense, when all government expenditures total just over $7.5 trillion, is a large number and gets the attention of Congress. But the public is systematically desensitized to expenditures in the billions, and millions barely get noticed. This is not new; it just seems worse.
IRA’S INSIGHTS - Black Car News
Photos of the Rochester Business Journal 2026 ‘Best Places to Work’, at The Albany NY Hilton, taken by Raj Somwaru of Best Frame Forward Hello to all! We’re now heading into the summer months, and as always, there is a lot happening across the industry! It sometimes feels like there is never a quiet moment in this business.
Ira's Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! We’re now moving into May, and it’s remarkable how fast this year seems to be flying by. I want to start by recognizing the work you’re all putting in every day. Whether it’s long hours behind the wheel or managing the day-to-day challenges of being an independent contractor, this industry runs because of your consistency. That’s why it’s so important to me that The Black Car Fund continues to do everything it can for drivers – including expanding the benefits we offer.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all, and happy Spring! I hope you have all been enjoying the warmer weather after what felt like a historic winter. I have a lot of exciting news from The Black Car Fund this month, so I’ll jump right into it. Last month, we officially got our new Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) Chair, Midori Valdivia. Her confirmation hearing with the City Council’s Committee on Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards and Ethics went very well and she received widespread support from those testifying.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! Despite only having 28 days, February was a whirlwind of a month. Between the two massive snowstorms, freezing temps, and a blitzkrieg of advocacy on the issue of autonomous vehicles, there was barely a moment’s rest. There’s some important news to discuss, so I’ll jump right into it. You’ll recall last month I wrote about Governor Hochul’s State of State Address and her proposal to allow for the deployment of commercial for-hire autonomous vehicles (AVs) outside of New York City.
The SOC of the future: How teams can see, know and protect more
The biggest threat to the modern security operations center (SOC) isn't a lack of tools. It's that the tools aren't working together to empower better defenses. Leaders have invested in detection technologies, threat intelligence feeds, security information and event management, and automation, but still can't answer the most important questions fast enough: What's happening? What matters? Who's handling it?
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! What a winter we’ve had so far! It’s been years since we’ve had this much snow, and the temperatures have been quite brutal as well. I hope everyone has been staying safe and warm as we hope for a swift end to the winter weather. There are a few topics I’d like to cover today, so let’s jump right into it. Starting February 16, 2026, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will roll out major changes to the driver’s license point system.
Waymo’s blackout should be a New York red light
New Yorkers do not need to imagine what could go wrong if driverless cars are unleashed on our streets. We just watched it happen in San Francisco. That reality matters now more than ever, as Gov. Hochul proposed in her State of the State address opening the door to commercial, for-hire autonomous vehicle testing outside New York City. Supporters may argue that this proposal stops at the city line. But history tells us otherwise.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello and Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and are excited to kick off a new year. Before I jump into some updates and news, I wanted to remind you all that flu season is in full swing. In fact, cases started rising in 2025 earlier than expected, and levels are currently very high. Through Drivers Benefits, you can get a voucher for a free flu shot, and I would encourage everyone to take advantage of this benefit, which is available until April 15th.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! It’s hard to believe that another year is coming to a close. I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving with friends and loved ones. 2025 was not ready to end without at least one more major issue popping up, so I think I’ll jump right into it. By the time you’re reading this, you may have already heard that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) in mid-November, issued their proposed 2026-2035 Capital Plan.
Black and Latino homeowners in Philly face discrimination when appraisers assess their properties Original
For most families, owning a home is the primary way to accumulate wealth and transfer that wealth to future generations. But in Philadelphia and other U.S. cities, studies have shown that if you live in a Black or Hispanic neighborhood, your home is more likely to be appraised below its market value when compared to homes in non-Hispanic white neighborhoods. This is called home appraisal bias. An appraisal represents an expert opinion of the value of a home.
Black and Latino homeowners in Philly face discrimination when appraisers assess their properties
For most families, owning a home is the primary way to accumulate wealth and transfer that wealth to future generations. kAmqFE :? !9:=256=A9:2 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6:?G6DE>6?E]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_b^#6:?G6DE>6?E\uF?5\a_ad0p36==\u@F?52E:@?0pAAC2:D2=\q:2D]A57Qm@E96C &]$] 4:E:6Dk^2m[ DEF5:6D 92G6 D9@H? E92E :7 J@F =:G6 :?
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! October seems to have quickly flown by, and it’s hard to believe there’s just two months left in the year. As we enter the homestretch, there are a few things I’d like to update you on and a couple of reminders I think are important. I’ll jump right into it. As you may have heard, in October the MTA released the revenue numbers that congestion pricing has generated so far.
Marko Stout Lights Up New York Fashion Week with Sold-Out 'After Dark' Collection
Marko Stout Lights Up New York Fashion Week with Sold-Out 'After Dark' Collection Artist-designer Marko Stout poses with models following his sold-out “After Dark” runway presentation at New York Fashion Week 2025 After Dark” by Marko Stout debuts to a sold-out crowd at New York Fashion Week 2025 — a cinematic fusion of art and fashion Backstage moments before the show: precision, anticipation, and the electric energy of creation.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is enjoying these first few weeks of the Fall season. It really is a transformative time, as the weather cools, the autumn colors start to take over, and pumpkin spice pervades every place that sells food or drink. For me, it is always a reminder that another year is coming to a close and the holidays are on the way. I have a few updates to get through, so let’s jump right into it.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! Now that we are in these last days of Summer, I am certainly looking forward to the Fall and the cooler weather it will bring. As we enter this last quarter of the year, I think this is a good time to remind you of the incredible dental insurance benefit that we provide through our Drivers Benefits program. The reason I bring it up is because the $2,000 benefit amount it provides resets each year.
The Federal Government Won't Stop Home Appraisal Bias. Local Officials Can.
As the election of 2024 has made painfully clear, elections have consequences. One of the consequences of the recent federal election is a shift in the government’s approach to fair housing, especially its enforcement of federal civil rights laws. This includes a shift of federal attention away from home appraisal bias.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone has been staying cool during this very hot summer. If you think that summers in New York City have been getting worse, well, you’re right. In fact, New York City has actually been reclassified as having a humid subtropical climate.
Bringing the Housing Shortage Into Sharper Focus
Despite the attention the nation’s housing shortage is getting, there is remarkably little grasp of the scale or contours of the challenge. Estimates of the national shortage vary widely, and all suffer from a conflation of different parts of the housing market. The authors of this brief explain the variation in estimates and dig beneath the national numbers to assess the shortfall at the local level.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all. As I write this month’s column, New York City, and much of the United States, is in the firm grip of a brutal heat wave. As we prepare for more hot days ahead, it’s a good idea to check your vehicle’s tire pressure to avoid over-inflation, and make sure you stay hydrated! A lot happened in June that I need to catch you up on, so I’ll jump right into it.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! It’s hard to believe we’re about halfway through 2025. The saying goes “April showers bring May flowers,” but so far it feels like the showers haven’t stopped. As we make our way through June, let’s hope for some nicer weather as the temperature creeps up! There are a few updates I want to give everyone, so let’s jump into it. First, as many of you are likely aware by now, a number of passenger pick-up changes have gone into effect at JFK Airport.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone has been enjoying the Spring weather as nature blooms back to life throughout the city. As we move closer to Summer, there is a lot of news to report and issues to be aware of, so I will jump right into it. As you may have heard by now, changes to passenger pick-ups at JFK Airport are coming back. In mid-April, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) formally announced some details of its 2025 Summer Traffic Mitigation Plan for JFK.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! Spring has sprung, the clocks have changed, and with warmer weather, the city feels as though it is also springing back to life. As we move into April, there’s a lot I have to update you on, so let’s jump right into it. Since its implementation on January 5, 2025, New York City’s congestion pricing program has truly been a focal point of both local and federal dialogue.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone has been staying warm during this frigid winter. 2025 has wasted no time in becoming an eventful year. Let’s get into the news from February.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone has been staying warm, as it has been a very cold winter so far. I have a number of things I want to update you on, so I’ll jump right into them. It came down to the wire, but after Judge Leo Gordon rejected New Jersey’s push to stop congestion pricing from going into effect, the plan officially went into effect. New York became the first city in the United States to establish a congestion pricing system.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. We are now in the midst of the holiday season, as we bring 2024 to a close. November was a remarkably eventful month, and there’s a lot that I want to cover, so let’s get into it. Congestion pricing is undoubtedly the biggest story of the month.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone has been enjoying the start of the fall season. The changing leaves are always a reminder that the holiday season is almost upon us and that we’re getting close to wrapping up another year. This month we have a few topics to discuss, so let’s jump into it. To begin, we need to discuss a serious issue that has come to our attention.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all. It feels like this Summer has flown by as we now enter its last few weeks before Autumn begins. I hope everyone enjoys the end of summer and has a happy, healthy, and safe Labor Day. There are a few things I have to update you all on, so I’ll jump right into it. In August, the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) held a hearing on their proposed rules for implementing the recently passed law allowing interior advertising devices in for-hire vehicles (FHVs).
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! Between the attempted assassination of former President Trump and President Biden dropping out of the race, this past July has firmly secured its place in the history books. Amid all this turmoil, it can be easy to forget about local happenings, but there are some important updates to discuss. Let’s jump right into it. On the congestion pricing front, not much has changed since Governor Hochul ordered the MTA to put the program on an indefinite halt.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is enjoying summer. It didn’t take long for our first heatwave, as the end of June was brutal. June was also a remarkable month as far as news goes. As you have undoubtedly heard, the Central Business District Tolling Program, or congestion pricing as we’ve come to call it, was put on an indefinite pause by Governor Kathy Hochul. There’s a lot to unpack here, so I’ll jump right into it.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope that everyone has been enjoying the warm weather and is excited for the start of summer. This summer is poised to be an interesting one, with congestion pricing set to go into effect at the end of the month. As you know, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) gave their final approval to the congestion pricing plan and motorists will begin being charged for entering the congestion zone at midnight on June 30th.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all. I hope everyone has been enjoying the Spring weather and that you’re excited for the summer months to arrive. The past month has been a busy one and I have a few topics I’d like to cover, so I’ll jump right into it. The biggest news is undoubtedly related to congestion pricing. At the end of March, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) voted 11 to 1 to give their final approval to the plan to toll vehicles in Manhattan south of 60th Street.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone has been enjoying the warmer weather and longer days. I have several topics to discuss this month, including some sad news that rocked the traditional black car industry. On March 13th, Victor Dizengoff passed away peacefully at the age of 86. Most of you today probably don’t know who he was, but those who do, know the impact that he had on the black car industry. I’ve always referred to him affectionately as the godfather of the black car industry.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all. I sure hope that the groundhog was right because I for one am certainly looking forward to Spring and the warmer weather that comes with it. We have a lot to talk about, so let’s jump into it. In my column last month, I touched on congestion pricing and where we stand in the process. Not much has changed since then.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is staying warm. Between torrential rain, snow, and freezing cold, January was certainly a tough month. In my last column, I gave you an update on congestion pricing after the Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) issued their final report with recommendations for the tolling structure, which was ultimately approved by Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Board.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello and Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season with family and loved ones. 2023 was an eventful year and 2024 is shaping up to be the same. December was a very busy month and there are several issues that I need to update you on, so let’s jump right into it. As the year came to a close, congestion pricing took another large step towards becoming a reality.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! It’s hard to believe that another year is in the books. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with friends, family and loved ones. We are now fully into the holiday season as we approach the New Year. This is always a busy time of year and there are some updates I’d like to give this month so let’s jump right in. Last month, you’ll recall I wrote about the TLC’s decision to remove the FHV license cap on electric vehicles (EVs).
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all. I hope everyone is enjoying the autumn weather. The cool air and changing colors are reminders that we are approaching the holiday season. October always seems to be a busy month, and this one was no different. There are a few big updates I have to give, but before I jump into it, I’d like to take a moment to let you know about a flu vaccine clinic that The Black Car Fund is hosting with CVS Pharmacy at our Driver Education Center.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! September was a very wet month. In fact, as I’m writing this, we have gotten seven straight days of rain. Today, Governor Hochul declared a state of emergency in New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley as heavy rain – nearly seven inches in some areas – has begun causing widespread flooding. Flooding has been an increasingly grave concern for many parts of New York City these last few years. It feels as though we can expect future Septembers to follow this trend.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! It’s hard to believe how quickly summer came and went. August was a very busy month and there are some exciting events happening in September so I’ll just jump right into it. The congestion pricing issue continued to be at the forefront throughout August. The Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) held their second meeting in mid-August and the New York City Council also held an oversight hearing on congestion pricing.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! If you’re feeling like this is one of the hottest summers in recent memory, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re also correct, as this summer has seen record breaking heat around the globe. The benefits from The Black Car Fund are also heating up, but before I get into that, there are a few things I want to update you on! The Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP), or “congestion pricing” as it’s commonly called, has been at the forefront this past month.
Ira’s Insights - Black Car News
Hello to all! I hope everyone is enjoying the warm summer weather and that you all have a safe, happy and healthy Independence Day! June was a busy month and there is a lot I would like to cover in this month’s article, so I’ll jump right into it! Last month, I wrote about changes that were being made to the passenger pick-up process at JFK Airport’s Terminals 1 and 5. To recap, as of June 5, for-hire vehicles (FHVs) are no longer able to pick up passengers at the curbside at Terminals 1 and 5.
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