Author Archive
Ross Barkan
Opinion
Opinion
Barkan: Adams’ residency matters less than his real estate policies
Adams is a landlord and that’s how he approaches rent regulation.
- By Ross Barkan
Campaigns & Elections
Opinion
Barkan: Stringer should drop out and endorse Wiley
Progressives need to consolidate behind their only candidate with a chance of winning.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
Opinion
Opinion
Barkan: Eric Adams has no principles
The Brooklyn borough president flip flops even more dramatically than Andrew Yang.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
Opinion
Opinion
After Stringer, is there any progressive with a chance of being NYC mayor?
The two remaining options are Maya Wiley and Dianne Morales, but each may have limited appeal.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
Opinion
Opinion
Larry Schwartz’s calls to county executives are classic Cuomo
The governor’s team prizes loyalty and is quick to turn to intimidation tactics.
- By Ross Barkan
Andrew Yang
Opinion
Why Andrew Yang is wrong to promote casinos in NYC
There are more effective means of economic development.
- By Ross Barkan
MagazineShow All
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.
- By Ross Barkan
Coronavirus
Opinion
Cuomo only looks great between de Blasio and Trump
The governor hasn’t managed coronavirus perfectly.
- By Ross Barkan
Coronavirus
Opinion
Coronavirus proves socialists are right
Universal health insurance, paid sick leave and other social programs would slow the virus’ spread.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By Ross Barkan
New York City
Opinion
How Keith Wright can be a lobbyist and Manhattan Democratic chairman
The county party’s decentralized power structure makes it possible.
- By Ross Barkan
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?
- By Ross Barkan
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.
- By 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.
- By Ross Barkan