Nice article. I like Yang. In today's hyperpartisan, hyperpolarized, controversy and gotcha-obsessed media/political landscape his unabashed positivity and humanity has been a breath of fresh air. He doesn't play dirty, he doesn't bring other down, he sticks to his message and in his whirlwind tour through New York, seems to be engaging individual voters block-by-block, handshake-by-handshake. Some of his ideas might be difficult to make happen, but I also jive with his desire to give ordinary New Yorkers an economic floor.
You mention this in your post, and on twitter, but it really seems like the New York political establishment truly loathes Yang. Every take I see of him is negative, or neutral at best. And yet, Yang is winning, and his lead doesn't seem to be going away despite all the bad press. Could it be because those in the media/political bubble don't resonate with ordinary New Yorkers like Yang (whose "New Yorker" bona fides are suspect at best), because they are too detached from the struggles of everyday New Yorkers?
I think you should interview some Yang voters and see what they like about him, what issues they prioritize, and how much they are influenced by twitter/conventional news outlets. Seems like their power has waned.
You barely mention DSA but they could be an anti Yang factor who has been referred to as Bloomberg light. Assume uft will be stringer/Wiley. DSA could be a factor for Morales.
DSA didn't endorse Morales. DSA voters will be for her, but that's a few thousand people. DSA's strength is in organizing for local campaigns. Harder to see them moving the needle citywide.
A community board is not terribly representative of one’s area but the many neighborhood groups surrounding you are. Full of people who not only have intimate knowledge of the district’s needs and people, they play a huge part in the success or failure of “downballot” candidates.
And that’s not because these are shadowy star chambers where favors are traded, it’s because residents come to rely on these individuals they see year in and year out for their opinion on who will best represent them.
I think you misunderstand these networks and possibly resent them for your loss. But being involved isn’t just a chit on the way to something else. There are really people who give a shit and while being active isn’t necessary to be elected, you will have to convince the “insiders” that you did more than just appear on the ballot.
Yang is going to win.
No he isn't.
Nice article. I like Yang. In today's hyperpartisan, hyperpolarized, controversy and gotcha-obsessed media/political landscape his unabashed positivity and humanity has been a breath of fresh air. He doesn't play dirty, he doesn't bring other down, he sticks to his message and in his whirlwind tour through New York, seems to be engaging individual voters block-by-block, handshake-by-handshake. Some of his ideas might be difficult to make happen, but I also jive with his desire to give ordinary New Yorkers an economic floor.
You mention this in your post, and on twitter, but it really seems like the New York political establishment truly loathes Yang. Every take I see of him is negative, or neutral at best. And yet, Yang is winning, and his lead doesn't seem to be going away despite all the bad press. Could it be because those in the media/political bubble don't resonate with ordinary New Yorkers like Yang (whose "New Yorker" bona fides are suspect at best), because they are too detached from the struggles of everyday New Yorkers?
I think you should interview some Yang voters and see what they like about him, what issues they prioritize, and how much they are influenced by twitter/conventional news outlets. Seems like their power has waned.
You barely mention DSA but they could be an anti Yang factor who has been referred to as Bloomberg light. Assume uft will be stringer/Wiley. DSA could be a factor for Morales.
DSA didn't endorse Morales. DSA voters will be for her, but that's a few thousand people. DSA's strength is in organizing for local campaigns. Harder to see them moving the needle citywide.
A community board is not terribly representative of one’s area but the many neighborhood groups surrounding you are. Full of people who not only have intimate knowledge of the district’s needs and people, they play a huge part in the success or failure of “downballot” candidates.
And that’s not because these are shadowy star chambers where favors are traded, it’s because residents come to rely on these individuals they see year in and year out for their opinion on who will best represent them.
I think you misunderstand these networks and possibly resent them for your loss. But being involved isn’t just a chit on the way to something else. There are really people who give a shit and while being active isn’t necessary to be elected, you will have to convince the “insiders” that you did more than just appear on the ballot.
I've covered CB's for 9 years. Some nice people. But not enough turnover.
I wasn't talking about community boards. I was talking about the many neighborhood groups and organizations that surround you in your district.