When ICE Comes Knocking
On Saturday, December 13, small businesses of the West Village were approached by 21 members of the Village Independent Democrats (VID) to help educate them about their rights against ICE.
Category: Politics
In Defense of Caving In
When eight Democrat and Independent senators voted to end the government shut down, they were severely criticized for giving in to the Republicans. Other Democratic leaders, like Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, also caught flak for not fighting harder or somehow controlling the senators and preventing them from caving in.
Things Fall Apart
When I was a mere lad of 29 and a recent law school graduate full of adventurous spirits, I was a lecturer in law in Africa for two academic years; the first in Nigeria, the second in Zambia. There were others like me at the time (1966 to 1968). Our help was welcomed to fill lectureships left vacant or newly created as British colonial rule was transferred to exuberant but unready leaders, experienced in political struggle but untrained in government administration.
Who Wants to Dump Dan Goldman?
We are witness to a government that is continually less reflective of its constituents and more partial of its donors. We often say we are at a crossroads in politics, but it seems more like a slide. Each election feels special, because they represent moments to reflect on the worsening material conditions and political sway of everyday people.
More Political Mish-Mosh, More Choices on the Ballot
There have been some pretty shocking developments since our political recap. First, Erik Bottcher, who has been City Council member for the Village west of Sixth Avenue since 2021 has decided to run for what seems to be the uncontested state Senate seat which Brad Hoylman-Sigal will leave when he becomes Manhattan borough president on January 1. If the schedule holds, the Democratic County Committee members in that district will nominate a candidate on January 11, and there will be a special election in early February.
Mayor Adams’ Christmas Gift to Greenwich Village: A “Hudson Mosaic” Tower to Replace the Tony Dapolito Center
After months of review, the outgoing Adams administration has announced plans to build a residential complex called “Hudson Mosaic” on Clarkson Street—demolishing and replacing the landmarked Tony Dapolito Center. Preservationists are livid. But a new political reality promises more.
Joyous Community Celebration as Harvey Epstein Sworn In as New City Council Member
It was a bit like American Idol, but hamish (Yiddish for homey) and very East Village—a rousing chorus of tribute to community, diversity, and “for-the-people” politics. It was new District 2 City Council Member Harvey Epstein’s community swearing-in ceremony, in a packed auditorium at the 14th Street Y on December 6.
A New Generation Steps In — Now Comes the Hard Part
There was a moment during this year’s mayoral race when something felt different. Watching Zohran Mamdani on the trail, I thought: This smells like Clinton. This smells like Obama.
Time to Give Zohran a Chance
Zohran Mamdani won in Greenwich Village, getting far more votes in the East, and while winning the Central and West Village, the results differed block by block.
Open Up
A story in the New York Times was the inspiration for today’s lesson in good government. The Democrats and their causes had extraordinary results on November 4.
- Two “Abys” Are Better Than One
Abyssinians are often called the “dogs of the cat world,” and our two-year-old cat, Busy, has certainly lived up to that description. She is smart, loyal, and always on the move, with an impressive amount of energy for a small cat.