A CCNY professor developed a new technique to assess community needs by surveying pedestrians on the street in New York City neighborhoods. The professor conducted surveys by stopping and interviewing over 1,000 pedestrians in West Harlem. The surveys found that unemployment and lack of affordable housing were the top two concerns mentioned by residents. The professor believes this low-cost polling method could easily be used across New York City to give residents a way to directly communicate their priorities to local officials.