Podcasts

Jonathan Peters, a finance professor at the College of Staten Island and research fellow at CCNY's University Transportation Research Center, delves into aging infrastructure, cost overruns and interagency bickering that affect such projects as Gateway, Second Avenue subway and East Side access. Hosted by Paul Burton and Andrew Coen.

PNC Capital Markets managing director Tom Kozlik discusses the results of his third annual poll of municipal bond analysts, which reveals pensions and Washington policy uncertainty as the two biggest concerns. Hosted by Paul Burton.

Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO OpenTheBooks.com, talks about how his database of public spending could make governments more accountable. Andrzejewski ran for governor in Illinois, which he calls the “Super Bowl of corruption.” He cites outlandish salaries, waste at the federal level, and “compensation buckets” at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Hosted by Paul Burton.

As the White House kicks off its Infrastructure Week, Chris Hamel, head of public finance for RBC Capital Markets, explores possible remedies for the infrastructure funding crisis in the U.S. He also discusses challenges and opportunities the municipal bond industry faces amid change over the next few years. Hosted by Paul Burton.

New York State Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, D-East Harlem, visits The Bond Buyer and touches on his initiatives pushing for more affordable housing units, Harlem’s economic renaissance with help from tax credits and the public finance background he brought to Albany. Hosted by Andrew Coen.

The Bond Buyer presents a special Memorial Day podcast with three U.S. military veterans who are now working in munis. Matthew Murawski of Drexel Hamilton, Steve Kay of Academy Securities, and Jonathan Herrick of Mischler Financial Group talk about their lives and careers, their introduction into the world of public finance and their advice for service men and women looking to enter municipal finance field. Hosted by Chip Barnett.

Gary Hall, senior managing director and head of investment banking at Siebert Cisneros Shank, talks infrastructure financing and funding in this climate of uncertainty, the performance and competitiveness of small firms in the market, the re-entrance of UBS as a market player, and what makes the municipal bond market attractive as a career choice for young people. Hosted by Chip Barnett.

Dentons partner Jonathan Ballan takes us through three creative bond transactions: LaGuardia Airport, Scranton parking and Glen Cove, N.Y., economic development. He also discusses infrastructure financing and his years of service on the New York MTA board. Hosted by Paul Burton.

Columbia, S.C. Mayor Steve Benjamin talks about why municipal bonds play a key role in helping to finance the nation's massive infrastructure needs. The mayor is second vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which is very involved in infrastructure policy, and chair of Municipal Bonds for America, an advocacy group for tax-exempt bonds. Hosted by Lynn Hume.

Michael Decker, co-head of the municipal securities division for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, talks about the recommendations a SIFMA task force has made to administration officials and members of Congress on how to fund the nation’s massive infrastructure needs. Hosted by Lynn Hume.