"Valdez moved to New York City in 2015, and ran for Congress 11 years later; Velázquez settled in New York City in 1981, and ran for Congress 11 years later"
Wow. I would vote for Reynoso if I was in that district. But the trash talk about "outsiders" is inappropriate, even without the laughable hypocrisy. (For what it's worth, I say that as a native and almost lifelong New Yorker.)
Coattails and endorsements are often overemphasized, on top of the June primary ballot Gov Hochul, will she have coattails? Will the UFT, get involved, plenty of young teacher and paraprofessionals, many PRs, and, of course, by June Mamdani may be looking for friends, buses may not be free and the rents not frozen.
Yet another reason why socialists need to fully break with the Democratic Party yesterday and get serious about building an independent political party that serves the entirety of the working class.
Strip away the slogans and this is New York politics in its purest form. Townies versus transplants. Old guards versus drop-ins with megaphones. Velázquez is saying what no one else will: you don’t parachute into a neighborhood, skim the vibes, and crown yourself its conscience. Mamdani’s people mistake proximity for ownership and activism for legitimacy. But politics isn’t a pop-up shop. It’s memory, relationships, scars, and debts. The “Commie Corridor” isn’t having a civil war over ideology—it’s fighting over who actually belongs. And history suggests Brooklyn doesn’t surrender quietly.,
Great piece Michael. Going to enjoy reading your work this year! Wouldn’t Maya Wiley have been a core candidate for the socialist left in 2021? Her campaign feels like more than “a footnote”
Would prefer Reynoso stay in local government - we need more YIMBY-adjacent politicians. Gotta be honest- calling someone who has lived here for a decade a "transplant" is wild. That's a long time!
"Valdez moved to New York City in 2015, and ran for Congress 11 years later; Velázquez settled in New York City in 1981, and ran for Congress 11 years later"
Wow. I would vote for Reynoso if I was in that district. But the trash talk about "outsiders" is inappropriate, even without the laughable hypocrisy. (For what it's worth, I say that as a native and almost lifelong New Yorker.)
His silence on Gaza alone is enough to not get my vote
A good piece, although more thoughtful and less juicy than I hoped when I read the headline and lede.
Coattails and endorsements are often overemphasized, on top of the June primary ballot Gov Hochul, will she have coattails? Will the UFT, get involved, plenty of young teacher and paraprofessionals, many PRs, and, of course, by June Mamdani may be looking for friends, buses may not be free and the rents not frozen.
Yet another reason why socialists need to fully break with the Democratic Party yesterday and get serious about building an independent political party that serves the entirety of the working class.
This race is the true test of whether DSA’s surrogate strategy (takeover the Dem party from within) has legs
Beautifully crafted. It will be 8nteresting to see if the candidates' gloves come off...
Strip away the slogans and this is New York politics in its purest form. Townies versus transplants. Old guards versus drop-ins with megaphones. Velázquez is saying what no one else will: you don’t parachute into a neighborhood, skim the vibes, and crown yourself its conscience. Mamdani’s people mistake proximity for ownership and activism for legitimacy. But politics isn’t a pop-up shop. It’s memory, relationships, scars, and debts. The “Commie Corridor” isn’t having a civil war over ideology—it’s fighting over who actually belongs. And history suggests Brooklyn doesn’t surrender quietly.,
Great piece Michael. Going to enjoy reading your work this year! Wouldn’t Maya Wiley have been a core candidate for the socialist left in 2021? Her campaign feels like more than “a footnote”
God this column is like crack to me lol it’s truly pilled me into being an urbanist
Would prefer Reynoso stay in local government - we need more YIMBY-adjacent politicians. Gotta be honest- calling someone who has lived here for a decade a "transplant" is wild. That's a long time!
DSA endorsed Nydia in 1992