The Brian Lehrer Show Poverty on the Rise in New York City
Mar 17, 2026
Richard Buery, CEO of Robin Hood and former NYC deputy mayor, discusses a new report on rising poverty in New York City. He explains how poverty is measured, who is most affected, and the roles of public benefits like SNAP and childcare. Conversations cover racial gaps, pandemic-era supports, risks from federal cuts, and policy priorities to keep working families in the city.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
NYC Poverty Hits 26 Percent In 2024
- New York City's poverty rose to 26% in 2024, roughly 2.2 million residents including about 450,000 children.
- Richard Buery and Columbia/Robin Hood data show this predates federal safety-net cuts that begin implementation afterward.
Supplemental Poverty Measure Reflects NYC Costs
- The report uses the Supplemental Poverty Measure which counts after-tax wages plus public benefits and measures real local costs.
- For a family of four in NYC the basic subsistence threshold is about $50,000 under this measure.
Material Hardship Extends Beyond Income Poverty
- Material hardship can mirror poverty even for households above the income line; people at double the poverty line report similar struggles.
- Buery notes New Yorkers earning ~$100,000 for a family of four may still face food and bill trade-offs.