By: Najla Alexander
Paterson officials stated that the Honorable Mayor Andre Sayegh will announce that the City of Paterson will partner with New York University’s (NYU) Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP) at the Tandon School of Engineering (NYU CUSP) after the Paterson City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City of Paterson to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NYU CUSP.
Under the partnership, the City and NYU CUSP intend to explore collaboration in areas such as applied research, student internships, technical assistance, data analysis, policy evaluation, and innovation initiatives, according to Paterson officials. The partnership may also create opportunities to jointly pursue grants and other funding that support Paterson’s priorities.
The City is currently developing the final terms of the MOU. The intended partnership would give City departments access to NYU Tandon’s expertise in urban analytics and applied data science to help address practical challenges, improve operations, and identify potential funding opportunities, Paterson officials say.
Paterson officials said it would also give NYU students hands-on experience with real-world municipal issues, helping develop the next generation of public service and data professionals.
As part of this effort, Paterson officials stated that the City anticipates working with NYU students during the 2026–2027 academic year on projects related to environmental quality and traffic safety, including:
-AI Illegal Dumping Detection: Building on prior work, exploring the use of artificial intelligence to help detect illegal dumping, along with an updated assessment of litter conditions in Paterson.
-Crash and Traffic Safety Data Analysis: Examining traffic crash data to help inform the City’s traffic safety priorities and support data-driven planning.
The approval reflects the City of Paterson’s commitment to using innovation, research, and data to improve municipal operations, address community needs, and advance its strategic goals, according to Paterson officials.