Author Archive

Ross Barkan

is a writer, journalist, and former State Senate candidate

Opinion

Opinion

Commentary: Can Brad Lander really beat Eric Adams?

Young progressives, older liberals and many activist-minded Democrats will be thrilled to vote for Lander, but others will be indifferent or outright hostile.

Commentary

Opinion

Commentary: Why are pro-Palestinian activists protesting Bowman and AOC?

Even as pro-Israel groups spend millions against Rep. Jamaal Bowman, some pro-Palestinian activists remain critical of him.

Andrew Cuomo

Opinion

Commentary: It’s too early to anoint Cuomo the next mayor

He’d struggle in ranked-choice voting. Campaign finance laws would prevent him from transferring his war chest into a mayoral campaign. And he doesn’t even live in New York City.

Opinion

Opinion

Commentary: The hard part of being mayor has started for Eric Adams

His supporters hoped he might be a more populist version of Mike Bloomberg. But he has unwittingly echoed Donald Trump.

Opinion

Opinion

Commentary: Hakeem Jeffries’ socialist problem

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries can’t defeat the Democratic Socialists of America, and they can’t defeat him, leading to an uncomfortable stasis.

Commentary

Opinion

Commentary: Chris Quinn for Mayor?

The former City Council speaker has spent nearly a decade running a homeless services nonprofit. She could be a strong contender in 2025 – if only she would challenge Adams.

Opinion

Opinion

Commentary: Apocalyptic Eric

Why does the mayor of New York City insist that New York City is doomed?

Commentary

Opinion

Commentary: The newspaper war that will shape the 2025 mayoral election

The New York Times and New York Post are the last two newspapers in the city with the power to move votes. Their coverage of Eric Adams could make all the difference.

Opinion

Opinion

Commentary: Jamaal Bowman is Eric Adams' political nightmare

He doesn't live in New York City (yet), but Rep. Jamaal Bowman could be a real threat to Eric Adams in the 2025 mayoral primary.

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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.