NYC Mayor/2021 Megathread

[brucejoel99]

Jacobin gives their take on Andrew Yang
The important part:

...

However, the central proposal of Yang’s presidential campaign was actually a surprisingly right-wing variant of a Universal Basic Income. A 2019 Hill article noted that many longtime UBI advocates were actually against Yang’s “Freedom Dividend” plan, arguing that “Yang’s version could do more harm than good because some Americans would need to choose between accepting $1,000 a month and receiving certain public assistance benefits.” In other words, the “Freedom Dividend” plan was far from a redistribution of wealth. It was just a reshuffling of social programs — undermining existing entitlements like Medicare in order to provide $1,000 a month instead.

...

Yang has done nothing to prove that he’s actually different than Bloomberg. In fact, he’s done quite the opposite: according to Politico, Yang is “in talks with Tusk Strategies, the consulting firm that worked on Mike Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral campaign.” CEO Bradley Tusk was Bloomberg’s campaign manager, has been a political adviser for Uber, and is a former consultant for the Police Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union. In a mayoral race where the debate about policing will undoubtedly loom large, it’s alarming that even before announcing, Yang is unabashedly teasing an association with a pro-cop power player...

[snip]

Any thoughts?

My thoughts are that this article is a bizarre f**king read.

It's literally just a take-down piece based on nothing more than baselessly attaching Yang to policies which he's never stated that he supports. The attempted comparison to Bloomberg is downright laughable. (Does it not make sense that he'd talk to some consultants who actually know what running for Mayor requires, even if they've worked for somebody whom nobody likes?) The author clearly knows very little about Yang if their biggest arguments & takeaways are that Yang is pro-police/anti-BLM, wants to get rid of welfare, & thinks NYC should be expensive high-rises. Yang stated repeatedly that his Freedom Dividend would've been opt-in. If somebody makes more than $1000/month through assistance, then they'd still receive that same amount. If they'd rather have the $1000 in cash, then that's their decision to make too. And when those assistance programs help in getting that person in-need onto a better footing, that $1000/month will still be there as an option for them as an incentive to continue improving their lives. And down the line, when their employer doesn't value their work appropriately, & that person wants to organize & contend for better working conditions, pay, etc., those monthly payments become a potentially crucial safety net that empowers workers to fight for better labor rights, which sounds to me like something a magazine with Jacobin's ideological inclinations should actually approve of.

Would I ever expect Jacobin to endorse Yang? No, because they're a full-on socialist magazine & Yang doesn't even identify as a socialist. But him not being a "socialist" who literally thinks that workers should seize the means of production doesn't mean that they need to have a bug up their ass about him & unfairly smear him by painting him in the worst possible light, either. Like Donerail, I don't know how Yang will fare as Mayor. It's an extremely difficult position that comes with a horde of issues & different groups to cater to, perhaps now moreso than ever. But I do know that Yang isn't the evil Bloomberg-like, free-market capitalist businessman that Jacobin wants the left to believe he is.

[tosk]

Jacobin gives their take on Andrew Yang
The important part:

...

However, the central proposal of Yang’s presidential campaign was actually a surprisingly right-wing variant of a Universal Basic Income. A 2019 Hill article noted that many longtime UBI advocates were actually against Yang’s “Freedom Dividend” plan, arguing that “Yang’s version could do more harm than good because some Americans would need to choose between accepting $1,000 a month and receiving certain public assistance benefits.” In other words, the “Freedom Dividend” plan was far from a redistribution of wealth. It was just a reshuffling of social programs — undermining existing entitlements like Medicare in order to provide $1,000 a month instead.

...

Yang has done nothing to prove that he’s actually different than Bloomberg. In fact, he’s done quite the opposite: according to Politico, Yang is “in talks with Tusk Strategies, the consulting firm that worked on Mike Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral campaign.” CEO Bradley Tusk was Bloomberg’s campaign manager, has been a political adviser for Uber, and is a former consultant for the Police Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union. In a mayoral race where the debate about policing will undoubtedly loom large, it’s alarming that even before announcing, Yang is unabashedly teasing an association with a pro-cop power player...

I suppose this article makes him lose soft DSA-type support, leaving Yang with just the portfolio managers as a last possible option and the rich and “Dividend Receiving-aspiring” weed bro’s along with the Tech Bro’s as his base.

The question now would be if Yang manages to garner both soft left and conservative support to push him across the finish line over more established progressives. Any thoughts?

This is a good read on the situation. Yang's appeal in the prez primary was pretty niche, and this election will be a good test of it's broader applicability. It seems to me his initial coalition isn't the strongest, but it *could* grow in surprising ways.

For example, Yang is popular among republicans like me. So would someone like Max Roses supporters list Yang as a second choice? Further, would berniecrats spot Yang as a decent 2nd choice who's on the progressive side of the issues?

Yang's politics place him in an odd spot where he's both a progressive but also liked by more conservative elements of the electorate. In a RCV election that could pay dividends (ha).

I don't expect him to win, but if he does, I suspect it's with a patchwork coalition of voters.

[Babeuf]

https://twitter.com/j_remy_green/status/1339249896629686274

Good news for RCV in the legal challenge against its implementation!

[warandwar]

Menchaca is my councilman, and I think he'd be great, but I doubt he'll get far here. Assuming he doesn't surprise here, I think he would be a good fit for NY-7, either as a primary challenge or successor when Nydia Velazquez retires.

Velazquez won't get primaried, and I'm pretty sure Julia Salazar's gunning for the seat. He'd be a decent fit if she didn't exist

[Zaybay]

https://twitter.com/MayorOfNYC2021/status/1340521963844988928

[tosk]

https://twitter.com/MayorOfNYC2021/status/1340521963844988928

does nadler have a big influence on city politics?

[Never Made it to Graceland]

Did you guys know that Eric Adams once accused Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo of being a race traitor because he was married to a white Jewish woman? I gotta say, the more I learn about this guy, the less I like him. I'd take Donovan over him if those were the only two choices.

[Alcibiades]

Did you guys know that Eric Adams once accused Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo of being a race traitor because he was married to a white Jewish woman? I gotta say, the more I learn about this guy, the less I like him. I'd take Donovan over him if those were the only two choices.

Jeez...that’s the kind of comment that ought to be career-ending.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Did you guys know that Eric Adams once accused Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo of being a race traitor because he was married to a white Jewish woman? I gotta say, the more I learn about this guy, the less I like him. I'd take Donovan over him if those were the only two choices.

Jeez...that’s the kind of comment that ought to be career-ending.

Yeah, dude has some really nasty populist streaks that are going to sink him down the stretch, between this and the "Go back to Ohio" comments. He's not what New York needs right now by a long stretch.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Did you guys know that Eric Adams once accused Bronx Borough President Herman Badillo of being a race traitor because he was married to a white Jewish woman? I gotta say, the more I learn about this guy, the less I like him. I'd take Donovan over him if those were the only two choices.

Zoinks

[StateBoiler]

Jacobin gives their take on Andrew Yang
The important part:

...

However, the central proposal of Yang’s presidential campaign was actually a surprisingly right-wing variant of a Universal Basic Income. A 2019 Hill article noted that many longtime UBI advocates were actually against Yang’s “Freedom Dividend” plan, arguing that “Yang’s version could do more harm than good because some Americans would need to choose between accepting $1,000 a month and receiving certain public assistance benefits.” In other words, the “Freedom Dividend” plan was far from a redistribution of wealth. It was just a reshuffling of social programs — undermining existing entitlements like Medicare in order to provide $1,000 a month instead.

...

Yang has done nothing to prove that he’s actually different than Bloomberg. In fact, he’s done quite the opposite: according to Politico, Yang is “in talks with Tusk Strategies, the consulting firm that worked on Mike Bloomberg’s 2009 mayoral campaign.” CEO Bradley Tusk was Bloomberg’s campaign manager, has been a political adviser for Uber, and is a former consultant for the Police Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union. In a mayoral race where the debate about policing will undoubtedly loom large, it’s alarming that even before announcing, Yang is unabashedly teasing an association with a pro-cop power player...

[snip]

Any thoughts?

My thoughts are that this article is a bizarre f**king read.

It's literally just a take-down piece based on nothing more than baselessly attaching Yang to policies which he's never stated that he supports.

Were you expecting a rational facts-only take from Jacobin?

[KaiserDave]

Stringer increasingly feels like the far and away frontrunner, but Yang's entrance, McGuire's money, or an AOC endorsement can still shake up this race.

Adams is charismatic, but his past is gonna be shook and brought out.

[Donerail]

PPP today:

Mayoral frontrunner Andrew YANG 17%
Cop Eric Adams 16%
De Blasio heir Maya Wiley 7%
Former Council Speaker Christine Quinn 6%
Nonprofit CEO Dianne Morales 5
Comptroller and the "far and away frontrunner" Scott Stringer 5%
Finance dude Ray McGuire 4%

Second poll in the last few weeks to show Yang leading, Adams in a close second, and Stringer trailing. High marks for Cuomo, poor numbers for Blaz.

[Suburbia]

Stringer increasingly feels like the far and away frontrunner, but Yang's entrance, McGuire's money, or an AOC endorsement can still shake up this race.

Adams is charismatic, but his past is gonna be shook and brought out.

Stringer and Adams are going to split the Giuliani-Bloomberg-Weiner outerborough vote that goes to Max Rose.

[The Houstonian]

Yang should get in the ring.

[Suburbia]

The question remains who wins the Barrons' endorsement?

I'm talking about central Brooklyn's power couple, Assemblyman Charles Barron and City Councilman Inez Barron, who both are pretty far-left, and have made anti-Semitic comments in the past.

Barron has made controversial comments about white people, Jews, etc

[brucejoel99]

Yang should get in the ring.

He's very obviously going to.

[The Houstonian]

Yang should get in the ring.

He's very obviously going to.

Good.

[VAR]

https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1341532413684551680

[Former Crackhead Mike Lindell]

YANG IN

Andrew Yang Files Paperwork to Run for New York City Mayor

^{https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/andrew-yang-files-paperwork-to-run-for-new-york-city-mayor/2797754/}

[TrumpBritt24]

LET'S GOOOOOO

[brucejoel99]

YANG IN

Andrew Yang Files Paperwork to Run for New York City Mayor

^{https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/andrew-yang-files-paperwork-to-run-for-new-york-city-mayor/2797754/}

LET'S GOOOOOO

YANG GANG, RISE UP!!!

[Never Made it to Graceland]

YANG IN

Andrew Yang Files Paperwork to Run for New York City Mayor

^{https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/andrew-yang-files-paperwork-to-run-for-new-york-city-mayor/2797754/}

LET'S GOOOOOO

YANG GANG, RISE UP!!!

I think he might be my guy.

I like Stringer but if his campaign is as DOA as the polling seems to indicate, I might have to find a more viable candidate. And I will do anything to stop Eric Adams from being mayor.

[PSOL]

If Yang f•••s up NYC enough, do y’all think it’s rent prices wil go down to something more resembling other Coastal Eastern cities? I may be interested in getting a new apartment the next 4 years or so.

[KaiserDave]

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/andrew-yang-files-paperwork-to-run-for-new-york-city-mayor/2797754/

Yang in. I'll be watching his campaign closely. I've cooled on him, but I'm interested to see what he does. Definitely could rank him highly.