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Anne Norton's avatar

An apt comparison! La Guardia was a brilliant, practical and radically democratic mayor. I hope New Yorkers have the courage and good sense to vote for Zohran Mamdani. His election could transform politics in this country.

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Margaret L Anthony's avatar

Thank you. I enjoy learning and this article was especially informative. Please keep up the excellent work.

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Rachel Villarreal's avatar

I’ve heard Mr. Mamdani speak and he’s dynamic. Inventive. I hope he gets the primary.

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Merieh S's avatar

New York sorely needs a mayor with the bold vision and humanity of LaGuardia. Fingers crossed.

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Linda Gillison's avatar

Thanks for bringing this source/thinker to my attention! Yes, fingers crossed for today's primary. May New Yorkers step up! It would be really nice not to have to look forward to seeing Cuomo constantly in the press again--and to watch Mamdani at work for the betterment of NYC!

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Lynn's avatar

Brilliant article. Thank you.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Well done and probably apt, but you glide over the elephant in the room. Mamdani's refusal to disavow "Globalize the Intifada" is chilling, and something that a lot of us Jews feel in our bones. Being a progressive Jew is lonely these days, but he had so much space to say something reassuring to us and just did not. I was listening and rewound to make sure I heard his response properly, It was thoroughly insufficient.

As a writer, i think words matter and "globalize the intifada" means something other than "spread the word" or "keep the fight going." It just does. There are so many ways he could have finessed an answer. Like, of course all lives matter, but saying so in response to Black Lives Matter had a meaning beyond that, and we all understood it to be so.

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SG Oz's avatar

For a less rosy, more considered analysis of Mamdani's economic policies, see Noah Smith on noahopinion. Also, I don't know what the Latin word is for this kind of argument, where one person's reputation is layered over another's so the latter acquires the golden glow of the former (who is no longer around to object) but am pretty sure the ancient philosophers would have had a word that is wry, if not the equivalent of eyebrows raised.

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MarciaGrace's avatar

What a wonderful notion! That a progressive mayor in New York City could light a fire in the hearts of our citizens to bring us back to a place of hope, equality and the necessary creativity to truly make this country great again!

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George M's avatar

I was a child living in Brooklyn, NY when Mayor La Guardia held office. I was charmed by his reading on radio of the Sunday comic strips. The people must have admired many more things, such as you've recounted. Naming a major airport after him was a singular honor. Its renovation is expected to be technically challenging and demanding architectural brilliance. I wish it well.

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Marian Gillis's avatar

So much money is spent on means testing. Rather than service. Collecting and accounting for bus fares, qualifying and requalifying people for food stamps,

marketing and messaging to deny healthcare and then bankrupt families.

The election in NYC can open the door to a common sense populism that rings true across the USA. Why?

It’s Cheaper!

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Randy Cunningham's avatar

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was as the Talking Heads put it.

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Regina Islas's avatar

What a treat! TY!

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