Covering the Big E-pple: What's hot at the Gotham Gazette

Since 1999, the Gotham Gazette has made New York City news and policy accessible to the world. In the city that never sleeps, neither do the site’s unique, diverse features.

Site editor Jonathan Mandell recently filled in OJC about recent developments at the Gazette.

A database of all laws passed by the New York City Council since January 2002 has become one of the site's most popular features. Mandell attributes its success to organization and language.

"Our database is organized by topic," Mandell said. "It is easy to search because it is written in plain language, not law language. Plain language makes things clear to the reader, not just to the specialist."

Database searches allow readers to select a bill by year, topic or bill number. There is an interactive quiz to help users understand how to use the database, an explanation on how a bill becomes law and a link to the city council website.

Another addition to the site is Today's Report. Every weekday a topic is summarized and links are provided to reports or surveys from a government agency, advocacy group or think tank. Some recent topics include unemployment, health care and art education.

When asked about Gotham Gazette’s future, Mandell joked, "If I could predict the future, I would have a much bigger apartment," but he does have some ideas on what the site will cover.

Campaign coverage will continue to be prominently featured, and Mandell said that in the future, he hopes to highlight New York races that are important but that do not garner much national attention.