New York City officials are finalizing plans to relocate the famous Charging Bull statue from its current location at Bowling Green to a pedestrian area near the New York Stock Exchange. The proposed move, which the mayor’s office says is intended to protect safety and avoid traffic congestion, has been challenged by the artist Arturo Di Modica, who gifted the statue to the city in 1989. Robert Balder, the Executive Director of Cornell’s Architecture Art and Planning department in New York City, and Thomas Campanella, associate professor of city and regional planning, weigh in on the proposed move.

Architecture, Art and Planning

New York City

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Christopher Wolf, professor of agricultural economics, says removing chocolate milk as an option in school cafeterias may limit sugar consumption, but also results in less students consuming milk.

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Nearly 900 New York City inmates could be released prior to Christmas before the bail-reform law takes effect in January. The New York Office of Court Administration says they're developing a plan to stagger the release of defendants starting in mid-December. Christopher Wildeman, policy analysis and management professor, studies the consequences of mass imprisonment for inequality, with emphasis on families, health, and children. He says while the inmates’ potential release would be a victory for both the defendants and their families, it’s important to be mindful of those reacclimating to life outside jail during a sometimes-stressful time of year.

Law, Government & Public Policy

Human Ecology

New York City

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Following Gov. Cuomo’s new coronavirus restrictions on schools, businesses and religious gatherings, Orthodox Jewish leaders have voiced criticism that they are being singled out for the new surge of COVID-19 cases. Jonathan Boyarin, professor of modern Jewish studies and an expert on Jewish experience and culture, is available for interviews. 

Arts & Humanities

New York City

Law, Government & Public Policy

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K-12 schools across the country are closing or moving to online education to help control the spread of the coronavirus. Jamila Michener, assistant professor of government says during times of public health crisis the consequences of inequalities surface and it’s going to be a huge challenge to support K-12 students facing school closures at home and also in their communities. 

New York City

Health, Nutrition & Medicine

Social & Behavioral Sciences

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Linda Shi, urban environmental planner and assistant professor in architecture, art and planning, comments on the Trump administration freeze of a climate resiliency study for New York City.

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

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On Tuesday, an advisory panel on school integration and equity in New York City released a report suggesting that city government pursue policies that would address segregation in NYC’s public school system. Noliwe Rooks says that the report does not sufficiently account for entrenched racism and opportunity hoarding on the part of privileged, white parents.

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President Trump suggested states should seriously consider reopening their public schools before the end of the academic year, even though many have already said it would be unsafe for students to return to school before next fall. Lee Adler, an expert on education and academic union issues says until widespread testing is available across the country it’s not safe for schools to reopen.

Industrial and Labor Relations

New York State

New York City

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The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a Norway spruce from Florida, New York, will be cut down on Thursday and transported to New York City, arriving this Saturday, Nov. 9. Daniel Weitoish, an arborist at Cornell Botanic Gardens, says the Norway spruce is an excellent choice for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Agriculture and Life Sciences

New York City

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Concern is growing given the sluggish rollout of the coronavirus vaccination distribution in New York. Cynthia Leifer, associate professor of immunology at Cornell University, says vaccines need to be given quickly as possible and rather than disqualifying sites from getting future distributions, expanding the number of distribution locations and incentivizing rapid use is a better solution.

Health, Nutrition & Medicine

Life Sciences & Veterinary Medicine

New York State

New York City

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