The Waiting City · Fact-checking recordRegistry built 2026-09-05 · Methodology · Checks · Gaps

Fact-checking record

Blind check report

Pass 1 (values and definitions) ran against the registry as built at about 14:00 ET on Sept. 5, 2026, with the checker blind to every registry value. It found 32 definition mismatches and about 20 further notes (data/blind_check_agent_summary.md); every one was then addressed in data/mmr_lines.json and data/queues_manual.json and the registry rebuilt. Pass 2 re-checked the corrected descriptions against the sources (data/blind_check_pass2_summary.md): 76 match, 5 caveat-wording issues, all corrected. Pass 3 was a fresh checker barred from the registry and from both earlier check files (data/blind_check_pass3_summary.md): values agreed on every figure; 4 definition mismatches and 33 notes, all addressed in the rebuild at about 17:15 ET, including a switch to the month value (dataset field acceptedvalue) for point-in-time counts, which the fiscal-year-to-date field had been averaging. Source-internal defects the passes surfaced are listed in data/source_issues.md. Pass 2 and 3 notes shown below describe the registry text as it stood before each fix.

Values: 79 figures compared, 78 agree with the checker's independent extraction, 1 do not.

claimlinevalue result / remaining definition issuepass 2 definition
nycha-section8-waitlist#0Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlistPASS-2 DEFINITION: 200,000 households; release: '200,000 households randomly selected via lottery' and later 'a total of 200,000 applications were randomly selected by lottery' -- both units present, caveat correct. 'will continue to be served and did not have to reapply' verbatim. MMR series checked live: July 2024 = 203, Aug 2024 = 205, June 2025 = 197 (thousands), as the caveat says. One unsuppmismatch
nycha-section8-waitlist#1Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlistPASS-3 VALUE registry=633808 checker={'online': 633808, 'paper': 4416, 'total': 638224}match
nycha-section8-waitlist#2Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlistmatchmatch
nycha-section8-waitlist#3Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlistmatchmatch
hpd-housing-connect#0Housing Connect affordable housing lotteriesmatchmatch
dohmh-food-vendor-permit-waitlist#0Food vendor waiting list (Department of Health)matchmatch
dcwp-general-vendor-waitlist#0General vendor license waitlistmatchmatch
dob-filing-to-approval-computed#0DOB NOW filings: filing to approval (computed distribution)PASS-3 NOTE: Single median masks a bimodal split by filing_review_type (about 1.6 vs 27 days).; PASS-3 NOTE: Timestamp vs date-only computation changes the median by up to a day; registry should state which it used.match
hpd-problem-close-computed#0HPD housing complaint problems: received to closed (computed distribution)PASS-3 NOTE: Registry caveats do not mention the duplicate-flag exclusion or the emergency/non-emergency split.match
dcas-eligible-lists#0Civil service eligible listsPASS-3 VALUE registry=403200 checker={'live_2026_09_05': {'rows': 403777, 'exams': 855, 'titles': 432}, 'stats_json_2026_07_13': {'candidates': 403200, 'exams': 850, 'titles': 428, 'oldest_list': '2018-02-14', 'newest_list': '2026-07-01'}, 'funnel': {'appointed': 452206, 'removed_total': 1674337}}; PASS-3 DEFINITION: Counts, the 1.67 million removals and 452,206 appointments, and the Sept. 5 livematch
hpd-housing-connect-furman#0Housing Connect: verification and approval (Furman Center sample)PASS-3 NOTE: Registry omits the clock start (receipt of a log number) and the exclusions (appeals, complaints, HPD audit) the report states.match
hpd-housing-connect-furman#1Housing Connect: verification and approval (Furman Center sample)PASS-3 NOTE: Wording: source 'nearly 600,000', registry 'roughly 600,000'.match
parks-trees-sidewalks#0Trees and Sidewalks repair programPASS-2 DEFINITION: Landing page: 'our review of 1,069 repaired sidewalks found that the average time from inspection to repair was 419 days'; 'homeowners had to wait an average of 101 days ... 71 days longer than the 30 day internal DPR SLA'; 'does not have a target time frame'; eligibility 'owner occupied one-, two-, and three-family homes (property tax class 1)'. Those match. Two mismatches: (1)mismatch
housing-court-eviction-cases#0Housing Court active eviction casesPASS-3 NOTE: Source contradicts itself on the moratorium end (January 2021 in the intro vs January 15, 2022 in the body); registry notes only the intro-vs-key-findings difference.match
nycha-section8-waitlist-mmr#0Section 8 voucher waiting list (Mayor's Management Report count)PASS-3 NOTE: Unit word: source says 'families', registry says 'households'.match
nycha-vacant-unit-turnaround#0Turnaround of vacant public housing apartmentsmatchmatch
nycha-maintenance-work-orders#0NYCHA maintenance work ordersmatchmatch
nycha-skilled-trades-work-orders#0NYCHA skilled-trades and vendor work ordersmatchmatch
nycha-elevator-outages#0NYCHA elevator outagesPASS-3 NOTE: Encoding as hours:minutes is inferred from the title and measurement_type, not stated in the description; the registry should say so.match
nycha-heat-outages#0NYCHA heat outagesPASS-3 NOTE: FYTD value averages only heating-season months; July-Sept rows are 0.00.match
nycha-nonemergency-service-requests#0NYCHA non-emergency service requestsmatchmatch
nycha-nonemergency-within-15#0NYCHA non-emergency requests within 15 daysmatchmatch
nycha-nonemergency-within-60#0NYCHA non-emergency requests within 60 daysmatchmatch
nycha-emergency-transfer#0NYCHA emergency transfer requestsPASS-3 NOTE: Unit word: source says 'cases', registry says 'requests'.match
hpd-section8-voucher-issuance#0HPD Section 8: completed application to voucherPASS-3 NOTE: Period label 'through quarter beginning Oct. 2025' is not supported by the dataset; the source only gives valuedate 2025-10-01 (and an identical 78 at 2025-09-01).; PASS-3 NOTE: Unit: description counts 'applications'; registry says 'households'.match
hpd-section8-lease-up#0HPD Section 8: voucher to leasePASS-3 NOTE: Period label 'through quarter beginning Oct. 2025' is not supported by the dataset (valuedate 2025-10-01; identical 137 at 2025-09-01).match
hpd-lottery-applicant-approval#0Housing Connect: certificate of occupancy to applicant approvalmatchmatch
hpd-lottery-project-approvals#0Housing Connect: certificate of occupancy to 95% of applicant approvalsPASS-3 NOTE: Source description is internally garbled ('from the certificate of occupancy issuance to approval to completion of 95%').match
hpd-homeless-setaside-leaseup#0Homeless set-aside units in new construction: lease-upmatchmatch
hpd-homeless-voluntary-leaseup#0Homeless voluntary units in new construction: lease-upPASS-3 NOTE: Source description typos: 'revealed TCO' and 'HPS'.match
hpd-inspection-heat#0HPD heat and hot water complaints: first inspectionmatchmatch
hpd-inspection-nonemergency#0HPD non-emergency complaints: first inspectionmatchmatch
hpd-close-emergency#0HPD emergency complaint problems: closePASS-3 NOTE: Unit inconsistency inside the registry: 'requests' here vs 'items (problems...)' on hpd-problem-close-computed for the same object; source says 'problems'.match
hpd-close-nonemergency#0HPD non-emergency complaint problems: closePASS-2 DEFINITION: Definition: 'The median number of calendar days to close a nonemergency problem in a privately-owned building received before or during the period that was closed during the reporting period. Problems can be closed due to an inspection, callback to tenant, or repeated attempts for access.' Registry caveat says 'Scope is unique problems in privately owned buildings' -- the word 'mismatch
hra-cash-assistance-timeliness#0Cash assistance applications decided on timePASS-3 NOTE: end_event 'accepted or denied' is not the source's wording ('application processing completed').match
hra-snap-timeliness#0SNAP applications decided on timePASS-3 NOTE: Nov. 2025 monthly and YTD values are blank in the dataset.match
hra-medicaid-timeliness#0Medicaid applications decided on timePASS-3 NOTE: Caveat wording: data are unavailable after fiscal 2024 (from fiscal 2025), not 'since fiscal 2024'.; PASS-3 NOTE: Query per instructions ($limit=20) returns no non-NA row; had to widen to 129 rows.match
hra-idnyc-timeliness#0IDNYC cards issued on timematchmatch
hra-hasa-timeliness#0HASA rental assistance applications decided on timePASS-3 NOTE: end_event 'approved or denied' vs source 'processed'.match
hra-home-care-initiation#0Home attendant and housekeeper services: start of carematchmatch
dhs-los-families-children#0Families with children in shelter: length of staymatchmatch
dhs-los-single-adults#0Single adults in shelter: length of staymatchmatch
dhs-los-adult-families#0Adult families in shelter: length of stayPASS-3 NOTE: Caveat overstates: adult-families and families-with-children definitions are word-for-word the same; only single adults differs.match
acs-child-care-eligibility#0Child care assistance eligibility decided on timematchmatch
hh-third-next-adult#0NYC Health + Hospitals: new adult primary care appointmentmatchmatch
hh-third-next-pediatric#0NYC Health + Hospitals: new pediatric appointmentmatchmatch
dcas-exam-results#0Civil service exam resultsmatchmatch
dof-scrie-initial#0SCRIE initial applicationsmatchmatch
dof-drie-initial#0DRIE initial applicationsmatchmatch
dof-sche-initial#0SCHE initial applicationsmatchmatch
dof-dhe-initial#0DHE initial applicationsmatchmatch
dof-property-tax-refund#0Property tax refundsmatchmatch
dof-parking-hearing-mail#0Parking summons hearings by mailmatchmatch
dof-parking-hearing-inperson#0Parking summons hearings in personmatchmatch
dob-filing-to-approval#0DOB NOW filings: filing to approvalmatchmatch
dob-first-plan-review#0DOB NOW filings: first plan reviewmatchmatch
dob-first-plan-review-nb#0DOB NOW new building filings: first plan reviewmatchmatch
dob-inspection-construction#0DOB construction inspectionsmatchmatch
dob-inspection-electrical#0DOB electrical inspectionsmatchmatch
dob-inspection-plumbing#0DOB plumbing inspectionsmatchmatch
dcp-simple-zoning-review#0Simple zoning actions: pre-certificationPASS-3 NOTE: Caveat about DCP publishing applicant-vs-agency time split is not in this source (cannot check here).match
dcp-eas-zoning-review#0Zoning actions with an environmental assessment: pre-certificationmatchmatch
dcp-eis-zoning-review#0Zoning actions with an environmental impact statement: pre-certificationmatchmatch
dcwp-license-processing#0DCWP license applicationsPASS-3 DEFINITION: Description: 'median number of calendar days required to process new and renewal applications for DCWP-issued licenses. Licenses requiring approval by outside agencies, special inspections, mandatory waiting periods, or extensive legal review are excluded ... Days where the renewal is pending additional information from the applicant or clearance of certain requirements ... arematch
dcwp-license-within-30#0DCWP license applications within 30 daysmatchmatch
dcwp-licensing-center-wait#0DCWP Licensing Center in-person waitmatchmatch
dohmh-birth-certificates#0Birth certificate requestsmatchmatch
dohmh-death-certificates#0Death certificate requestsmatchmatch
doris-vital-records#0Municipal Archives vital record requestsmatchmatch
dot-permit-processing#0DOT permit applicationsmatchmatch
bic-waste-hauling-pending-age#0Waste hauling license applications: age of pendingVALUE registry=223.0 checker=257; PASS-3 VALUE registry=223.0 checker=257; PASS-3 DEFINITION: Description: 'average number of days new waste hauling license and registration applications are pending, from the date of the filing through the current reporting period. This does not include applications slated for denial or under long-term investigation.' Registry text matches. But the value: acceptedmatch
bic-waste-hauling-approval#0Waste hauling license applications: time to approvematchmatch
bic-waste-hauling-pending#0Waste hauling license applications pendingmatchmatch
cchr-caseload-age#0Human Rights Commission complaints: age of open caseloadmatchmatch
cchr-open-matters#0Human Rights Commission open mattersPASS-3 NOTE: Source says 'matters'; registry assumes these are discrimination complaints.match
oath-hearing-decisions#0OATH hearings: decision after hearingPASS-2 DEFINITION: Definition: 'The average time decisions were pending at the OATH Hearings Division calculated by dividing the total number of days decisions were pending at the Hearings Division by the total number of summonses heard and having a decision rendered at the OATH Hearings Division during the reporting period.' Registry unit is 'cases'; the definition counts summonses. The figure ismismatch
oath-trials-decisions#0OATH Trials Division decisionsmatchmatch
oath-special-ed-hearings#0Special education impartial hearingsPASS-3 NOTE: Period label 'through quarter beginning Mar. 2026' is not supported; rows fall at Sept./Dec./March, which are fiscal quarter ends.match
lpc-minor-work-permits#0Landmarks permits for minor work within 10 business daysmatchmatch

Blind check, agent pass

Checked 81 claims on Sept. 5, 2026 without opening the registry: 66 rbed-zzin indicators queried live, 12 document or derived claims read from sources/, 3 recomputed from Open Data with fresh code.

Definition check: 49 match, 32 mismatch, 0 cannot check.

Mismatches

Problems on lines that otherwise match

Cross-cutting

Recomputes


Blind check, pass 2: definitions against sources

Checked Sept. 5, 2026. Scope: the 81 claims in data/blind_claims.json. For the 66 Mayor's Management Report claims the live description field of rbed-zzin was pulled for every indicator (129 rows each, description text identical across the series). For the 15 document and computed claims the local copies under sources/ were read, plus the full Comptroller audit PDF (MH18-058A.pdf), the source project's stats.json, the live column lists of w9ak-ipjd and ygpa-z7cr and a live row count of vx8i-nprf. The registry itself was not opened.

Result: 76 match, 5 mismatch, 0 cannot check. All five mismatches are wording or scope slips in caveats; no headline figure, unit, center or clock start was found wrong.

Encoding check

The three time-span indicators encode the printed clock form as a decimal:

That is consistent with H.MM and M.SS across the whole series. Decoding to decimal hours or minutes is the right treatment.

Remaining mismatches

1. parks-trees-sidewalks#0. The caveat says "Stale: fiscal 2017-18 data." The audit says "The scope of this audit was July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017" and "1,069 sidewalks were repaired during Fiscal Year 2017 (July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017)." The 419-day average is fiscal 2017 repairs and the audit covers fiscal 2016 and 2017, not 2017-18. The period_label's note that "the full report should be pulled" can be closed out with that scope sentence. Separately, the caveat describes the program page as having "a waitlist tier for sites rated 80 to 89 and a three-year expectation for 90 and above"; the page's chart reads "<80", "80-90" and "90-100", with "Site has been waitlisted" under 80-90 and "Site expected to be repaired within three years" under 90-100.

2. nycha-section8-waitlist#0. The caveat says "Households leave the list when housed, when they fail to respond or when found ineligible." The release supports only the eligibility part: "Being named to the waitlist does not necessarily guarantee receipt of a voucher, as applicant eligibility must be confirmed." Failure to respond is not in the source.

3. doe-3k-unlisted-placement#0. The caveat pairs "94,840 3-K and pre-K applications in 2025" with "about 27,000 of 136,000 seats unfilled." Chalkbeat's 136,000 is "seats for the city's free child care programs for children ages 4 and under," which includes infant and toddler care; 3-K plus pre-K capacity in the May 2025 story was roughly 117,000.

4. hpd-close-nonemergency#0. The caveat says "Scope is unique problems in privately owned buildings." Only the emergency indicator's definition says "unique"; the non-emergency definition reads "a nonemergency problem in a privately-owned building received before or during the period that was closed during the reporting period."

5. oath-hearing-decisions#0. The registry unit is "cases"; the definition divides "the total number of days decisions were pending" by "the total number of summonses heard and having a decision rendered." Summonses, not cases, and the figure is a ratio of pending-days to decisions rather than a straightforward per-case mean.

Notes on matches worth a glance


Blind check, pass 3

Checked all 81 claims in data/blind_claims.json on Sept. 5, 2026 without opening the registry, the queue files, the computed files or scripts/. Sources used: the local copies under sources/, the live rbed-zzin dataset (66 claims), fresh recomputations from w9ak-ipjd and ygpa-z7cr, the live vx8i-nprf dataset and nyc-civil-service-hiring/data/stats.json.

Counts: 81 claims; definition_check match 77, mismatch 4, cannot check 0. 29 claims carry at least one problem note; 33 problem notes in total. Confidence: high 76, medium 5, low 0.

Values extracted

Every rbed-zzin indicator returned a value except Medicaid timeliness, which needed 129 rows rather than 20 to reach its last non-NA figure (88.4, June 2024). The Section 8 waitlist (000) indicator reads 202, i.e. 202,000 families, multiplication_factor 1000. The three time-format indicators (elevator 6.41 hours:minutes, heat 7.12 hours:minutes, HRA counter wait 96.38 minutes:seconds) are consistent with H.MM / M.SS encoding: no fractional part in any FY2026 row exceeds .59, though the dataset never says so.

DOB recomputation (w9ak-ipjd, approvals Sept. 1, 2025 to Aug. 31, 2026): n 141118, median 6.87 days, p90 89.49 days; Professional Certification median 1.62 days (n 65704), Standard Plan Examination median 27.14 days (n 75414). Because filing_date is date-only and approved_date has a time of day, a date-only computation gives median 6.0 and p90 89.0.

HPD recomputation (ygpa-z7cr, problems closed March 1 to Aug. 31, 2026, duplicates excluded): n 377002 (37659 duplicate rows dropped), median 8.27 days, p90 67.19 days; by type: EMERGENCY median 6.11 (n 177038); IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY median 2.24 (n 17122); NON EMERGENCY median 12.68 (n 182842).

Civil service: live vx8i-nprf holds 403,777 rows, 855 exams, 432 titles on Sept. 5, 2026; stats.json (generated 2026-07-13) says 403,200 candidates, 850 exams, 428 titles, 452,206 appointed and 1,674,337 removed since 2007. All match the registry caveats.

Mismatches

All problem notes, by claim

Things that checked out and are worth saying

The Waiting City · Josh Greenman · Back to the registry