No Cap by CRE Daily Politics vs Housing: How NYC’s Mayoral Race Became a Battle for Affordability
Nov 2, 2025
56:12
Season 4, Episode 8: Jack Stone and Alex Gornik sit down with Alicia Glen, Founder of M Squared, former Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development in NYC, and Co-Chair of the Gateway Development Commission, to unpack what it really takes to get housing and infrastructure built in America.
Glen brings a rare insider view on how public and private sectors collide, the realities of financing affordable housing, and the lessons she learned managing the country’s most complex urban markets.
She also shares how M Squared is reimagining capital to drive social impact while staying commercially disciplined, and what cities must do now to stay livable and competitive.
TOPICS
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – From Goldman Sachs to City Hall
06:28 – Inside NYC’s Housing Agenda and Early Lessons
10:15 – Building M Squared and Its Mission
14:47 – Politics and Production of Affordable Housing
18:59 – When Public and Private Sectors Collide
23:40 – The Gateway Project and Federal Funding Realities
28:22 – Market Constraints, Zoning Reform and Affordability
33:31 – Structuring Capital for Impact and Scale
38:26 – Lessons From City Hall and Cross-Sector Leadership
47:51 – The Next Chapter for Cities and Urban Development
Shoutout to our sponsor, Lev. The AI-powered way to get real estate deals financed.
For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily
About No Cap Podcast
Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America’s economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry’s biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate.
About CRE Daily
CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.
Glen brings a rare insider view on how public and private sectors collide, the realities of financing affordable housing, and the lessons she learned managing the country’s most complex urban markets.
She also shares how M Squared is reimagining capital to drive social impact while staying commercially disciplined, and what cities must do now to stay livable and competitive.
TOPICS
00:00 – Introduction
02:10 – From Goldman Sachs to City Hall
06:28 – Inside NYC’s Housing Agenda and Early Lessons
10:15 – Building M Squared and Its Mission
14:47 – Politics and Production of Affordable Housing
18:59 – When Public and Private Sectors Collide
23:40 – The Gateway Project and Federal Funding Realities
28:22 – Market Constraints, Zoning Reform and Affordability
33:31 – Structuring Capital for Impact and Scale
38:26 – Lessons From City Hall and Cross-Sector Leadership
47:51 – The Next Chapter for Cities and Urban Development
Shoutout to our sponsor, Lev. The AI-powered way to get real estate deals financed.
For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily
About No Cap Podcast
Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America’s economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry’s biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate.
About CRE Daily
CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.