221 is the number of New Yorkers who joined CBC's Mayoral Smart Choices Half-Day Conference. In part 1 of a three-part series, a panel explores important question about the City's finances: how does the next mayor bring spending to sustainable levels and build the City’s reserves? What does fulsome preparation for federal cuts look like? How do labor deals balance fair compensation with fiscal reality? What tax policies will maintain the city’s attractiveness?

- Louisa Chafee, Director, Independent Budget Office

- Ana Champeny, Vice President for Research, CBC

- Ken Girardin, Fellow, Manhattan Institute

- Nathan Gusdorf, Executive Director, Fiscal Policy Institute

- Ben Max (moderator), Program Director, Center for New York City and State Law at New York Law School