Lynne Thoman

It is my pleasure to have you as a guest today. Seth, New York is a heavily built-up city where it's hard to get things done between powerful unions, real estate owners, and Wall Street. You were selected to head the Economic Development Corporation by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, one of the best mayors any city has ever had. How did you start?

It is my pleasure to have you as a guest today. Seth, New York is a heavily built-up city where it's hard to get things done between powerful unions, real estate owners, and Wall Street. You were selected to head the Economic Development Corporation by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, one of the best mayors any city has ever had. How did you start?

So there were several crises, and each time you and the Bloomberg administration used those crises as opportunities. How did you use Hurricane Sandy as an opportunity?

So there were several crises, and each time you and the Bloomberg administration used those crises as opportunities. How did you use Hurricane Sandy as an opportunity?

Can you give two or three specific examples of what was accomplished?

Can you give two or three specific examples of what was accomplished?

You mentioned the financial crisis. Many cities are dependent on one industry, and New York was no exception. It was very dependent on Wall Street. And when Wall Street had bad years, the city suffered both economically and in terms of jobs. One of your goals was to diversify the city away from finance. And diversifying a city's business is a key objective of many cities.

You mentioned the financial crisis. Many cities are dependent on one industry, and New York was no exception. It was very dependent on Wall Street. And when Wall Street had bad years, the city suffered both economically and in terms of jobs. One of your goals was to diversify the city away from finance. And diversifying a city's business is a key objective of many cities.

especially when the key industry or key companies move elsewhere. But unfortunately, many cities are not successful at doing this. How did you think about diversifying New York's economic base and what did you do?

especially when the key industry or key companies move elsewhere. But unfortunately, many cities are not successful at doing this. How did you think about diversifying New York's economic base and what did you do?

You also thought about geographic diversification. You thought New York was too centered on Manhattan and its central business district, as opposed to the other four boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. How did you think about diversifying the city geographically and how did you do that?

You also thought about geographic diversification. You thought New York was too centered on Manhattan and its central business district, as opposed to the other four boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. How did you think about diversifying the city geographically and how did you do that?

The High Line, which transformed a derelict rail yard, is an example to me of an extremely innovative project. Can you talk about that?

The High Line, which transformed a derelict rail yard, is an example to me of an extremely innovative project. Can you talk about that?

Hudson Yards is another innovative project. It transformed a 10 plus block area of the city that was previously known as Hell's Kitchen. Can you talk about that?

Hudson Yards is another innovative project. It transformed a 10 plus block area of the city that was previously known as Hell's Kitchen. Can you talk about that?

Seth, you've talked about this huge variety of successful transformations. What are the keys to success?

Seth, you've talked about this huge variety of successful transformations. What are the keys to success?

Seth, you're now leading one of New York's premier arts and cultural institutions, the 92nd Street Y. People like Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Peggy Noonan, and Malcolm Gladwell all come to the 92nd Street Y, but it's also a place where people come for coffee. How do you think about arts and culture in a city?

Seth, you're now leading one of New York's premier arts and cultural institutions, the 92nd Street Y. People like Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Peggy Noonan, and Malcolm Gladwell all come to the 92nd Street Y, but it's also a place where people come for coffee. How do you think about arts and culture in a city?