Author Archive

Ross Barkan

is a writer, journalist, and former State Senate candidate

New York City

Opinion

Barkan: Kathryn Garcia is as moderate as Yang and Adams

Progressives may be turning towards because she is competent, but her ideology doesn’t always align with theirs.

Opinion

Opinion

Unquestioning support for Israel is no longer safe for NY Democrats

Until very recently, even staunch progressives unconditionally backed the Netanyahu government. Not any more.

Opinion

Opinion

Barkan: Eric Adams has no principles

The Brooklyn borough president flip flops even more dramatically than Andrew Yang.

Opinion

Opinion

Yang and Adams benefit from rejecting defund the police

Progressives have been on a winning streak in New York City, but the mayoral race is shaping up differently.

Labor

Policy

When union endorsements matter, and when they don’t

In 2021, the smaller the race, the bigger the bounce from organized labor’s backing.

Opinion

Opinion

Yang can’t stop remote work

The mayoral candidate wants a tax break for companies requiring employees go to an office. This is a very bad idea.

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Coronavirus

Opinion

NY needs to make it easier to vaccinate

The governor took a step in the right direction by increasing the eligible groups, but he needs to make it easier on providers and patients.

Coronavirus

Opinion

Coronavirus proves socialists are right

Universal health insurance, paid sick leave and other social programs would slow the virus’ spread.

Ross Barkan

Opinion

Legislature should reject high campaign contribution limits

If the Public Campaign Finance Commission doesn’t lower its preliminary new donation cap, public financing will be undermined.

New York City

Opinion

NYC Surrogate’s Court is broken, it should be fixed or abolished

The Public Administrator’s office is part of political patronage in the judicial system.

New York State

Politics

The WFP won. That’s why it could go extinct.

Working Families was founded by outsiders to make New York more progressive. Now that progressivism is mainstream, what’s left?

New York City

Opinion

Hector Figueroa’s left legacy

Hector Figueroa stood apart from most labor leaders because he cared deeply about engaging with broader left movements beyond his union’s immediate interests, writes Ross Barkan.

New York State

Opinion

Would ending fusion voting hurt GOP and help suburban Dems?

Many prominent Democrats have rushed to the defense of fusion voting, but the practice actually empowers minor parties on the right, such as the Conservative Party and the WFP can pull the Democrats leftward through other means, writes Ross Barkan.