City Watch is a forum for detailed discussion and analysis of social, economic, and political issues affecting New Yorkers.  We air the voices of the people living and working in the communities, the researchers, government leaders, budget advocates, and organizers, and provide an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter. Our questions and dialogue help to make the issues come alive for our listeners, and shows also focus on culture, commerce, and controversy - always with an eye toward highlighting the issues of the day. 

Jeff Simmons has more than three decades of experience in private and public sector communications, media, and journalism. Since joining Anat Gerstein, Inc. as Executive Vice President in 2012, Jeff has provided strategic communications and public relations services to nonprofits through New York City. He previously served as Senior Vice President for Communications at the Alliance for Downtown New York, the country’s largest Business Improvement District. Prior to that, he oversaw communications for New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. for eight years, and served as Campaign Advisor to Thompson in 2009 and Campaign Manager in 2005, as well as serving as Communications Director for David Paterson in his campaign for New York State Lieutenant Governor. Jeff spent 17 years as a journalist at New York 1 News, New York Daily News, New York Post, and The (Bergen) Record of Hackensack. His freelance writing has appeared in Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, Metrosource, The Advocate, and New Jersey Monthly Magazine, and regularly leads workshops on nonprofit communications. Jeff lives in Queens.

Carlos Menchaca is a longtime champion of progressive causes, He was the first Mexican-American elected official in New York City and Brooklyn’s first openly gay legislator. A strong advocate on immigration, equality and worker rights, Carlos' most recently served two terms on the New York City Council, representing diverse Brooklyn neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood Heights, and portions of Borough Park, Dyker Heights and Windsor Terrace. 

During his tenure in the Council, he successfully advocated for measures: granting non-citizens the right to vote in local municipal elections in New York City, strengthening worker protections for delivery-app workers, expanding permits to street vendors, advancing workplace safety with apprenticeship training, punishing predatory landlords, and improving street safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Carlos co-authored the legislation for New York’s first municipal identification card, IDNYC, which serves more than one million registrants.

As Chair of the Committee on Immigration, Carlos led negotiations that funded the nation’s largest public defender program for undocumented immigrants. He supported innovative programs for immigrant day laborers, street vendors, delivery workers and worker cooperatives.

Throughout his life, Carlos Menchaca has fought against gentrification and displacement, stood with tenants to preserve and strengthen their rights, and worked with community-based organizations to address hunger and housing insecurity and ensure all New Yorkers are treated with respect and dignity.