A Socialist Mayor in a Capitalism Driven City: Can They Co-Exist?

The culmination of an election is a coronation, the swearing in with pomp and circumstance and the Mamdani ceremony fit the bill. Thousands of supporters, taking place on the steps of City Hall, a choir from an elementary school with Mandy Patinkin, a poem   written for the occasion, Bernie Sanders administering the oath of officeContinue reading “A Socialist Mayor in a Capitalism Driven City: Can They Co-Exist?”

Will Mayor Mamdani, City Speaker Menin and Governor Hochul “Play Nice?”

As the ball drops and Mayor/Elect Mamdani becomes Mayor Mamdani and on New Year’s Day his block party and inaugural speech to tens of thousands of NYers: a victory lap and rolling out his platform: affordability and public safety will be at the top of his list.  A week later the 51-member City Council will electContinue reading “Will Mayor Mamdani, City Speaker Menin and Governor Hochul “Play Nice?””

Do Transition Teams Impact Mayoral Policy Decisions?

Transition Committees are not mentioned in the City Charter, a combination city constitution and bylaws, a slim 150 plus pages. Mayors-elect select experts, friends, former high ranking city officials to serve on committees, Mamdani, quickly, appointed an experienced, very experienced deputy mayor and a close associate as chief of staff. Mamdani announced he is appointing Dean Fuleihan as his first deputyContinue reading “Do Transition Teams Impact Mayoral Policy Decisions?”

Responding to Pedro Noguera’s Flawed Critique of Mandami’s Education Agenda

One of my favorite education books is my autographed copy of Pedro Noguera’s  “The Trouble with Black Boys: Race, Equity and the Future of Public Education”  (2006). Over the years I occasionally chatted with Pedro at NYU, thoughtful and challenging conversations. A few years ago Pedro decamped to UCLA, our loss.  A recent Pedro essay, “Filling inContinue reading “Responding to Pedro Noguera’s Flawed Critique of Mandami’s Education Agenda”

From Campaigning to Governing: Climbing the Mountain

Zohran wins!!  Champagne corks pop, probably more likely beer can tabs click!! The victory speech, beginning by quoting socialist Eugene V Debs was stirring, watch here, a speech to be remembered, perhaps the beginning of the end of the Trump dynasty,  After the celebration, the post coital reality, governing. The next two months the interregnum, aContinue reading “From Campaigning to Governing: Climbing the Mountain”

How Would a Cuomo Victory Impact Education (and the governing of the City)?

A three way race with the most recent poll showing Mamdani leading Cuomo by 13 points, see the polls here.  One of the highly regarded pollsters writes, Caroline Soler     Polling researcher There have not been any new polls since Eric Adams announced he was ending his re-election campaign in September, but the move is unlikely toContinue reading “How Would a Cuomo Victory Impact Education (and the governing of the City)?”

Tik Tok: Five Weeks Until the November 4th Mayoral Election

The mayoral election has been unpredictable and weird. The polling in the Rank Order primary had Cuomo winning in the final vote transfer, Mamdani won in the first transfer by 12%.  Why was the polling so wrong?  A poll depends upon identifying a stratified random sample of “likely voters,” and asking the sample their candidateContinue reading “Tik Tok: Five Weeks Until the November 4th Mayoral Election”

Mamdani, Cuomo and Charter Schools

In December, 1998 Governor Pataki called a lame duck session of the NYS legislature with two items on the agenda: the creation of charter schools and a substantial raise, guess what happened. The Board of Regents (BoR) and the Charter School Institute, part of SUNY, are authorizers. Charter Schools fall into two categories, the networkContinue reading “Mamdani, Cuomo and Charter Schools”

Post Labor Day: The Race for NYC Mayor Begins

Vacations over, no more lounging on a beach, back to work, schools open and mayoral candidates begin the sprint to November 4th. A two person race: Mayor Adams polling in single digits, a 68 year old three time elected governor versus a 33 year old Assembly member virtually unknown prior to the June primary. AContinue reading “Post Labor Day: The Race for NYC Mayor Begins”

Who Will Be More Effective in Fixing Tier 6? Mamdani, Cuomo or Adams

Tier 6 became law in 2010, currently 50,000 teachers are Tier 6 members in NYC and each year all new teachers become Tier 6 members, read summary of Tier 6 here (fixtier6.org), at the top of the Fix Tier 6 list is reducing retirement age with full benefits from 63 to 55, matching Tier 4.Continue reading “Who Will Be More Effective in Fixing Tier 6? Mamdani, Cuomo or Adams”