Wonderful! Thanks for your analysis. I wonder if a good precedent is Fiorella La Guardia? He was a one-time member of the Socialist Party of America, did quite a few Sewer Socialist-style projects, was from a still somewhat marginalized ethnic group, bucked Democratic machine politics, and piloted NYC through a period of economic decline and rising fascism. If that comparison is apt, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about a Mamdani administration!
Very true, and good points. By the same token, there's no dastardly Robert Moses around to be a foil to The Little Flower, and the appetite for more mass transit is available. Strange times!
This is maybe the best thing I've ever read of yours, Ross (and as a Milwaukee native, a shout out to our sewer socialists always touches my heart). Bravo.
Good stuff. I know very little about NYC politics (I live in Baltimore, MD), but I'm all for seeing something different.
I've run into a lot of center-left types who frustrate me lately; they seem to think Wokeness and Socialism are the same thing. No. They're not even close to the same thing. These people are just going on vibes.
Your grasp and analysis of politics is like your writing, outstanding and forward thinking yet realistic. What a joy. Zohran's win is so encouraging. To think that the voters saw a man who really is who he is and choose those characteristics and his seemingly natural and well developed affinity for leadership is a beautiful moment. I look forward with great hope to see him win the office and navigate the perils to success for the city. He has the Right Stuff.
what's you problem with those? free bus rides are a strategy, not a raffle prize. And childcare is essential, and its insane cost is driving away many young families.
Yesterday Zohran Mamdani captured the Democratic nomination for NYC mayor.
I try to avoid commenting on politics and have detached myself from the Establishment parties, but Mamdani’s win is worth paying attention to because it reflects a growing trend in this country: the call for more “free” stuff and a complete disconnect from economic reality.
Yes, our economy is broken. Yes, our infrastructure and basic services are failing. Most of us realize this by now.
But “going after the rich” never works. Why? Because the rich have loopholes that will always shield them. Raising taxes on people with multiple homes will only lead to their flight from the city — along with their tax dollars. The “free” services Mamdani touts must ultimately be borne by a shrinking middle class that is unemployed, underemployed and struggling to get by.
The net result will be a smaller tax base and higher crime as more people simply leave and give up on saving a once-great city.
The only way to truly “fix” our economy is at the federal level with a drastic reform of debt-based monetary policy. The best that local leaders can do until then is (a) limit immigration that overwhelms scarce resources, (b) support law enforcement who try to keep citizens safe, and (c) and cut budgets so that cities operate as efficiently as possible with less administrative bloat and more money directed to nuts-and-bolts services.
There’s no easy way out of this mess. There will be plenty of pain all around. But selling voters on “more free stuff” gimmicks is definitely not the solution. Someone has to pay for the “free” stuff — and we’re running out of people with the means to do it.
Many businesses in NYC already pay for people's transit passes. Now that might be an expense that the business doesn't have to pay to get people to work for them. It also means employees can be on time. Free buses is good for small and large businesses.
“The New York Post will treat Mamdani as its greatest foil; they longed for Obama to be a Muslim socialist, but now they’ve found the genuine article.”
I think the part that resonates with me the most as a Tennessee-born moderate Democrat is that he’ll have to deliver. The people of New York gave him a resounding victory, but his governance will no doubt affect the future of this movement from sea to shining sea.
He’ll have to do better than his supporter’s expectations. It’s not fair. But you seem to think if anyone can do it, Mamdani can.
We’re all rooting for him and willing to do anything to help him get there.
Cuomo, who is so loathed and vilified by his critics (often with good reason) has behaved pretty well since the results were announced. He conceded the race, invited his supporters last night to applaud Mamdani, and is bowing to the will of the voters. That happens in no other system of government.
Haha I respect ur dedication to this take. But consider the role lander played in Z winning; consider the role Tish James played in keeping Adrienne on the team. Think you're really missing the point
I love the reference to the USA’s Old Republic with sewer socialism! But, not at all a critique of your broader point, I think you may be unintentionally understating the effectiveness of the old Democratic Party, which was a lower case “d” democratic party, not a socialist party, not a labor party, and not what it transformed into over the post war decades and is now: a technocracy party. Even Chicago was much better than what he implies (and btw, it wasnt complete Democrat control, but rather a coalition of parties, each of the others also operated within the lower case “d” democratic framework. It held cities, towns and countries all across the country, and the system that everyone else operated in was a broader national system of their design that they launched around the 1830s.
They had their faults but they also had many long unsung amazing things as well, just one of sever different examples, those urban machines were quite possibly the most effective community uplifting systems in all of history, not just because of the number of communities, but if you look at some of the ones they did it for successfully, communities that had essentially spent multiple hundreds of years in serfdom or like it, those communities didnt have the tools many did, and no they didnt just do it through “hard work” (like many say today but fail to mention what their recent ancestors received) although that was necessary, the old Democratic Party had a specific program and it usually worked
terrific! Hits all the main points of the moment, fluidly, cogently, and readably. Appreciate the comment about DSA (which still suffers from internal, rigid factionalism., but what else is new...)
Wonderful! Thanks for your analysis. I wonder if a good precedent is Fiorella La Guardia? He was a one-time member of the Socialist Party of America, did quite a few Sewer Socialist-style projects, was from a still somewhat marginalized ethnic group, bucked Democratic machine politics, and piloted NYC through a period of economic decline and rising fascism. If that comparison is apt, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about a Mamdani administration!
The closest parallel to Mamdani I’m afraid for better or worse is Zelensky, witty, smart, courageous, anti-ncorruption and a target.
lol
Very true, and good points. By the same token, there's no dastardly Robert Moses around to be a foil to The Little Flower, and the appetite for more mass transit is available. Strange times!
I didn't vote for him but if he's going to be my mayor then I will root for him to do a great job.
Same. The interview with Derek Thompson also gives me some hope.
This is maybe the best thing I've ever read of yours, Ross (and as a Milwaukee native, a shout out to our sewer socialists always touches my heart). Bravo.
Good stuff. I know very little about NYC politics (I live in Baltimore, MD), but I'm all for seeing something different.
I've run into a lot of center-left types who frustrate me lately; they seem to think Wokeness and Socialism are the same thing. No. They're not even close to the same thing. These people are just going on vibes.
No. They are not.
Your grasp and analysis of politics is like your writing, outstanding and forward thinking yet realistic. What a joy. Zohran's win is so encouraging. To think that the voters saw a man who really is who he is and choose those characteristics and his seemingly natural and well developed affinity for leadership is a beautiful moment. I look forward with great hope to see him win the office and navigate the perils to success for the city. He has the Right Stuff.
They saw a man promising free bus rides and childcare.
what's you problem with those? free bus rides are a strategy, not a raffle prize. And childcare is essential, and its insane cost is driving away many young families.
Let me add that I’m guessing you would take care of my kids for free, and drive a city bus out of the goodness of your heart.
Monica Harris:
1h
Yesterday Zohran Mamdani captured the Democratic nomination for NYC mayor.
I try to avoid commenting on politics and have detached myself from the Establishment parties, but Mamdani’s win is worth paying attention to because it reflects a growing trend in this country: the call for more “free” stuff and a complete disconnect from economic reality.
Yes, our economy is broken. Yes, our infrastructure and basic services are failing. Most of us realize this by now.
But “going after the rich” never works. Why? Because the rich have loopholes that will always shield them. Raising taxes on people with multiple homes will only lead to their flight from the city — along with their tax dollars. The “free” services Mamdani touts must ultimately be borne by a shrinking middle class that is unemployed, underemployed and struggling to get by.
The net result will be a smaller tax base and higher crime as more people simply leave and give up on saving a once-great city.
The only way to truly “fix” our economy is at the federal level with a drastic reform of debt-based monetary policy. The best that local leaders can do until then is (a) limit immigration that overwhelms scarce resources, (b) support law enforcement who try to keep citizens safe, and (c) and cut budgets so that cities operate as efficiently as possible with less administrative bloat and more money directed to nuts-and-bolts services.
There’s no easy way out of this mess. There will be plenty of pain all around. But selling voters on “more free stuff” gimmicks is definitely not the solution. Someone has to pay for the “free” stuff — and we’re running out of people with the means to do it.
https://substack.com/@monicaunplugged/note/c-129346670?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=eo3qf
simply, YES
Many businesses in NYC already pay for people's transit passes. Now that might be an expense that the business doesn't have to pay to get people to work for them. It also means employees can be on time. Free buses is good for small and large businesses.
“The New York Post will treat Mamdani as its greatest foil; they longed for Obama to be a Muslim socialist, but now they’ve found the genuine article.”
Perfect
Did he win any poor people? It looked like the borgouiese NYers carried him. Strange.
Spoken like someone who knows literally nothing about the demography or geography of New York City.
He won the middle class - I thought winning the middle was crucial to winning elections?
There is a middle class in New York City? How much do they make and what color are they?
Saw you on the coverage last night and was impressed by your analysis. This posting is spot on.
I think the part that resonates with me the most as a Tennessee-born moderate Democrat is that he’ll have to deliver. The people of New York gave him a resounding victory, but his governance will no doubt affect the future of this movement from sea to shining sea.
He’ll have to do better than his supporter’s expectations. It’s not fair. But you seem to think if anyone can do it, Mamdani can.
We’re all rooting for him and willing to do anything to help him get there.
I love democracy.
Cuomo, who is so loathed and vilified by his critics (often with good reason) has behaved pretty well since the results were announced. He conceded the race, invited his supporters last night to applaud Mamdani, and is bowing to the will of the voters. That happens in no other system of government.
Excellent article!
In a very dark time, this is a bright spot. Thank you for your words and analysis!
Great piece! Any reconsiderations of ur anti-WFP takes? 🤣
No, their comptroller candidate got walloped and Zohran didn't need them
Haha I respect ur dedication to this take. But consider the role lander played in Z winning; consider the role Tish James played in keeping Adrienne on the team. Think you're really missing the point
So amazing, I have been buzzing since last night!
I love the reference to the USA’s Old Republic with sewer socialism! But, not at all a critique of your broader point, I think you may be unintentionally understating the effectiveness of the old Democratic Party, which was a lower case “d” democratic party, not a socialist party, not a labor party, and not what it transformed into over the post war decades and is now: a technocracy party. Even Chicago was much better than what he implies (and btw, it wasnt complete Democrat control, but rather a coalition of parties, each of the others also operated within the lower case “d” democratic framework. It held cities, towns and countries all across the country, and the system that everyone else operated in was a broader national system of their design that they launched around the 1830s.
They had their faults but they also had many long unsung amazing things as well, just one of sever different examples, those urban machines were quite possibly the most effective community uplifting systems in all of history, not just because of the number of communities, but if you look at some of the ones they did it for successfully, communities that had essentially spent multiple hundreds of years in serfdom or like it, those communities didnt have the tools many did, and no they didnt just do it through “hard work” (like many say today but fail to mention what their recent ancestors received) although that was necessary, the old Democratic Party had a specific program and it usually worked
terrific! Hits all the main points of the moment, fluidly, cogently, and readably. Appreciate the comment about DSA (which still suffers from internal, rigid factionalism., but what else is new...)