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Steven K.'s avatar

I very much understand and respect all of the points made here, Ross; and, I find your political analysis unique and insightful. However, from personal experience representing the de Blasio administration at public events, I was repeatedly told that my prepared remarks accurately detailing the statistics which demonstrated how New York City is the safest large city in America were “tone deaf,” showed a “disconnect” between the administration and the public, and, in some cases, were “offensive.”

This feedback came almost entirely from members of low-income communities of color at community board meetings and where the administration held many of its “Know Your Rights” workshops and learning tours. The issue was not that local media was falsely implanting a sense of fear in these individuals; rather, it was from their own experiences in their neighborhoods and from taking the subway.

It was an uncomfortable position to be in to try and refer back to my cold statistics in the face of their genuine experiences. And I am certain that I came off as both aloof and elitist to suggest that what they saw with their own eyes was not reality. Looking back, I know that I was both.

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Adam Tannenbaum's avatar

First of all, a lot of this is generational. Second of all, what’s wrong with them having a moderate to conservative bent if it’s permissible for younger reporters to subscribe (openly or not) to the more millennial, social justice oriented worldview? I think Joe Torres is a great example of how to highlight and platform progressive activists, as he did yesterday, while still subjecting them to the more conservative scrutiny with questions that older viewers would have of these figures. He had an activist on his public affairs show from Sunset Park on yesterday.

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