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Our history and mission

City Limits uses investigative journalism through the prism of New York City to identify urban problems, examine their causes, explore solutions, and equip communities to take action. City Limits exists to inform democracy and empower citizens to create a more just city. City Limits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by foundation support, ad sponsorship and donations from readers.

1976
City Limits founded to cover issues affecting low-income communities in NYC, focusing on housing, development, and government policy.
1980s
Expanded reporting to include more in-depth investigations on homelessness, healthcare, and urban planning.
1990s
Became a go-to source for in-depth analysis of NYC policies and grassroots movements. Launched special projects focusing on welfare reform and neighborhood revitalization.
2000
Transitioned from print to digital publication, increasing accessibility and reach.
2009
Merged with the Center for an Urban Future, enhancing its capacity for investigative reporting on urban challenges.
2010
Relaunched as an independent nonprofit newsroom with a renewed mission to highlight underserved communities.
2016
Celebrated 40 years of impactful journalism, continuing to provide essential coverage on social justice, urban policy, and economic inequality in NYC.
 

Our Team

Gary Clemons

Gary Clemons

Executive Director

Gary Clemons is a seasoned non-profit executive with 25+ years of experience and a passion for supporting marginalized communities. He tripled the budget and expanded services at Friends of the Children New York, becoming a leader in strategic growth and community partnerships. In his free time, Gary enjoys interior design, traveling, and spending time with his dog, Biggie, while continuing to move the CULTURE forward.

Jeanmarie Evelly

Jeanmarie Evelly

Executive Editor

Jeanmarie Evelly, City Limits’ Executive Editor since 2021, joined the team in 2018, previously serving as youth program manager, deputy editor, and managing editor. A veteran metro reporter, she covered Astoria and Long Island City for DNAinfo.com and reported for Bronx community papers, including the award-winning Norwood News. She holds degrees from SUNY New Paltz, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and an MFA from Queens College. She lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Daniel Parra

Daniel Parra

Spanish Language Reporter/Editor

Daniel, City Limits’ Spanish-language editor/reporter, is a seasoned investigative reporter from Colombia. He has worked as a freelancer for more than seven years and has covered war, politics, religion, culture, fashion, and beers. Daniel loves poetry, short stories, and long-form journalism.

Fran Reilly

Fran Reilly

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Fran Reilly, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Youth Program Development, previously served as Co-Executive Director and Executive Director/Publisher. She leads strategic partnership funding and the youth internship program, CLARIFY.  Earlier in her career she was a  business development executive on multiple national media startups. She holds an MFA in creative writing. A Bronx native, she lives in Beacon, NY.

Mariana Simões

Climate and Environmental Reporter

Mariana Simões, who joined City Limits in 2023, covers climate and the environment. A Brazilian investigative journalist, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Economist, Vice, and more. A Columbia J-school alum, she has led award-winning projects and directed Brazil’s first journalism cultural center.

Adi Talwar

Contributing photographer

 

City limits board

Martha Nelson, chair

Former SVP and Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo! and former Editor-in-Chief of Time Inc.

Neill Coleman, vice chair
Principal, Mission Magnified Consulting
Mark Edmiston, treasurer
Managing Partner, Civil Management LLC
Andrew Breslau
Senior Vice President for Communications and Marketing, Downtown Alliance
Stephen Fee

VP, Communications at Enterprise Community Partners

Erica González Martínez
Deputy Director, Power4PuertoRico
David R. Jones
President, Community Service Society
Nick Lundgren
General Counsel, New Destiny Housing Corporation
Erik Spooner
Marketing Creative Director, Quad
Chester Jesus Soria

Senior Vice President, Berlin Rosen

 

Advisory Board

Edward Lewis
Magazine publisher and entrepreneur
Meg Louis
Legal, Nonprofit, and Business Consultant
Michael Moskowitz
SVP Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Rashad Nelms
In-Residence with Indiana University‘s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs
Lisette Nieves
President, Fund for the City of New York
Michael Rezendes
Senior Investigative Reporter, The Associated Press
Paul Spivey
Principal, Phillips Oppenheim
Tanzina Vega
Adjunct Professor, NYU; Contributing Columnist, Boston Globe Opinion Section
Mon Yuck Yu
Director of Policy, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President and Co-Founder & Board Member, RaisingHealth Partners
 

Recent Awards

2024 Silurian Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards Merit Prize for Environmental Reporting, Merit Prize for Feature Photography
 
2023 Silurian Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards Merit Prize for Environmental Reporting, Merit Prize for Investigative Reporting
 
2022 Nonprofit News Awards Finalist for The Insight Award for Explanatory Journalism, Finalist for Insight Award for Visual Journalism
 
2022 Association for Women in Communications Clarion Awards Finalist for Online Journalism – Special Feature Section
 
2021 Silurian Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards Merit Prize for Feature Reporting
 
2020 Association for Women in Communications Clarion Awards Online Journalism – Special News Section
 
2018 Ippies Award
 

Partners

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