quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
How much do the people, including the “elite,” who have been living and working in NYC for decades have in common with the culture of places like (most of, anyway) Florida and Texas? As has been demonstrated time and again, when people get fed up with where they’re living because of the culture or disadvantages there and move someplace else, they don’t leave their attitudes and expectations behind: They take them with them, at least to a large extent.

Therein lies the problem with unchecked immigration in general...those people who bring their failed practices to the US and don't want to assimilate create the very problem they were trying to escape in the first place.

For city/state migration, it's a kind of cognitive dissonance. Blue state ideologues move to a red state in droves, refusing to believe that it was their own belief system that brought ruin to the place they fled: "No! It was the OTHER people living there, not us!"

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:

As a former NY state resident, the influence NYC has over state politics can not be overstated- every single Ill conceived poorly executed bad idea NYC has gets dumped on the state at large. If you think that NY state won’t bail out a faltering NYC you are sadly mistaken

Upstate is dying. It was in visible decline in the 80's when we were there. Upstate upstate, the areas beyond commuting distance to the city and excluding Albany. Industry has largely fled or died. The population is aging, and many have fled. The typical incomes are a lot lower out there. Real estate values are quite low, and for good reasons.

There's not much wealth to be grabbed by Albany from upstaters. I suppose they will find ways to borrow even more, kicking the can further down the road.

It has been noted that when a failed entity is bailed out, the next round of failures is with the entity that bailed them out.

I largely agree with you, but Albany has and will continue to squeeze the very life out of upstate in every way possible to continue to support NYC and the leftist agenda. Property and income and sales taxes, using state resources disproportionately on NYC projects and interests
When the rust belt industries disappeared, little took its place. Building / starting a business anywhere in NY state is something no one wants to do anymore, and businesses that have options leave for better business climates.

I am often reminded of that old expression “ the south will rise again” and here we are. New businesses coming to establish American footholds, or old northeast manufacturing powerhouses that decide to expand do what? Open facilities in GA NC SC Florida Texas etc

Revolution Comes to New York City
By Greg Salsbury

“The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.” — David Horowitz, when he was still part of the left.

That quote, often dismissed as cynical, is in fact the key to understanding Zohar Mamdani’s victory in New York City. While pundits fixate on charisma, free buses, and grocery stores, and immigrant outreach, they miss the deeper truth: Mamdani’s win was not about policy; it was about revolution.

This was not a vote for municipal tweaks. It was a vote for rupture.

Mamdani’s core supporters were not casting ballots for groceries or rent freezes. They were voting against the system itself—against the Constitution as it was written, against the legacy of liberal democracy, and against the institutional scaffolding of American governance. This was a “Queers for Hamas”-type moment: a seemingly paradoxical coalition united not by shared values with the candidate, but by shared opposition to the regime. Just as LGBTQ activists chanting for Hamas are not endorsing its theology, Mamdani’s voters were not endorsing his grocery math. They were endorsing the overthrow.

His victory speech made this unmistakably clear. He opened not with policy, but with reference to early 20th-century socialist and serial presidential candidate Eugene Debs: “I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity.” He invoked activist Nehru’s post-colonial rhetoric: “We have stepped out from the old into the new.” And he framed his win as a toppling of dynasties, not a recalibration of city budgets. “These are not hands that have been allowed to hold power,” he said, referencing voters such as warehouse workers and delivery bikers—not to promise them subsidies, but to declare their symbolic seizure of authority. “...let tonight be the final time I utter his name...” he told us in a symbolic political exorcism of and ritual severance from the Cuomo reign.

This is not the language of governance. It is the language of power and revolution.

Exit polls reinforce this thesis. Despite his references to the bruised and burned hands of various workers, those people did not constitute his support. Mamdani’s support came not from the city’s poorest or most blue-collar neighborhoods, which theoretically stood to benefit most from his specific policies (those voters went to Cuomo), but from younger, highly educated, middle-income voters in gentrified districts.

Polling further confirms that these voters are increasingly motivated by ideological solidarity, not personal economic gain. The Politico/Public First survey found that voters under 45—especially those identifying as “very liberal”—cited various moral imperatives such as fighting racial injustice or standing with marginalized communities over direct economic benefits. The YouGov poll showed that 26% of very liberal respondents said political violence is justified to achieve political goals, compared to just 3% of very conservative respondents.

Notably, in New York, Mamdani voters weren’t just indifferent to his policies—they actively disagreed with them, yet voted for him anyway. The Manhattan Institute refers to the “striking dissonance between Mamdani’s electoral strength and support for his progressive policy agenda,” pointing out that the majority of voters in his district were not supportive of free buses, grocery stores, rent freezes, and defunding the NYPD. That’s not a transactional vote. That’s a symbolic one. The issue was never the issue. The issue was always the revolution.

https://www.americanthinker.co...o_new_york_city.html

Thanks, chellim1 and David Horowitz. Nihilism, personal or societal, seems to be in. Big time.

Poor little Mamdani- looks like his biggest impediment to keeping his promises might be his own governor hahaha! She’d rather focus on statewide childcare to the tune of 15 billion dollars she doesn’t have…

https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroug...-universal-childcare

During the final day of the Somos conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gov. Kathy Hochul threw cold water on one of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s key policy proposals: free MTA bus rides.

“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways. But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course, we can,” Hochul said during a press conference with reporters, referencing her prior deals with the MTA to provide billions for the authority’s next capital plan, as well as other investments like cameras on subway cars.

Hochul said she’s also looking at expanding a universal childcare program statewide — but the total price tag is $15 billion.

“Child care I already committed to,” she said. “I’m committed to this as mom governor, I get it, but also to do it statewide right now, it’s about $15 billion — the entire amount of my reserves.”

Hochul said she prefers to phase in an expansion first with certain age groups and “geographically” underserved communities.

The governor then promised a resolution by the start of the new year in January 2026.

Meanwhile, Mamdani addressed concerns that the business community and New Yorkers who did not vote for him have shared about his status as a democratic socialist.

“I’ve said throughout the entirety of this campaign that this is a campaign to bring the struggles of working New Yorkers back to the focus of our politics, and to ensure that City Hall is seen as a place that not only recognizes those struggles but also delivers on the needs of those working people,” he said at a separate availability with reporters.

One key potential ally, state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the top Democrat in the chamber, who expressed a willingness to back Mamdani’s proposals, like a tax hike.

“It’s November. It’s still kinda early. We gotta see how things fit inside of the state budget. But I think there’s a willingness. I don’t want to speak for the other two partners in this. But we want Zohran, the mayor-elect, to be successful,” he told reporters Friday evening.

Meanwhile, a leadership showdown in the City Council is underway, as current Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is term-limited and several Democratic members are vying to take her place.

“There are so many areas of commonality around universal childcare, about building more affordable housing. I’m really excited about the council having a proactive vision,” Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin said.

“I’m excited about the big, broad coalition I’ve continued to build throughout my career, and in this race it’s no different,” Crystal Hudson, a Brooklyn councilwoman, told NY1.

“I’ve met with almost every single council member, many of them in their home districts to meet them where they’re at, and tell them that I’m the one that’s actually gonna bring change,” Christoper Marte, a Manhattan councilman, said.

“I think it’s really important as an outer borough member, that is starting from a really great foundation of what working families are looking for, to be leading the rest of the city in that way,” said Amanda Farias, a councilwoman representing the Bronx.

And no free shit for any of you!

I do agree, Western NY State is rather depressing.

I agree with this.

Here’s another thought. On the one hand there’s the talk about the Government grocery store. How does that mesh with EBT, welfare & other benefit cards?

What I mean is, say there was extra $$ to open a govt store, wouldn’t it be easier, and cheaper, to just add $50 to the monthly welfare payment? The $50 is just for conversation, just divide this extra $$ into the welfare payments, let that $$ go to established grocery stores.

No I'm not advocating doing such, just pointing out another folly of the silliness to think a govt run store is going to solve any issue.

Of course - the goal of "government assistance" is NEVER about helping the populace.

It is always about cronies.

I'm sure he already selected which crony will have the contracts/who will get the management jobs.

I THINK the right solution to any borderline "safe" democrat districts - if there were real conservatives - would be to back libertarians.

I think a libertarian push - if educated, sane candidates were offered/actually had some backing - could do better in NYC than GOP candidates.

An interesting listen for those looking for insight from behind enemy lines and the realities that NYC will face.

Spotify
City Journal Reacts to Election Night

Same also on video

The “Government” grocery store should only sell government approved “Healthy” food. All the basics for a healthy, happy life. Nothing fancy or unneccesary.

The EBT, welfare & other benefit cards should only be accepted at these government grocery stores.

It should be a Federal Crime to resell the food.

We can help if that’s what you need.

From the comments in this FN article...

“The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because its handle was made of wood, it was one of them.”


https://www.foxnews.com/politi...sal-overhauling-nypd

From the new chief of staffs wikipedia page

"Her hiring process involved four interview rounds, including with the New York City Democratic Socialists of America and the Muslim Democratic Club of New York"

Very thorough vetting process eh?

quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
The “Government” grocery store should only sell government approved “Healthy” food. All the basics for a healthy, happy life. Nothing fancy or unneccesary.
The EBT, welfare & other benefit cards should only be accepted at these government grocery stores.
It should be a Federal Crime to resell the food.
We can help if that’s what you need.

I think I agree with this...
We have to end EBT.
If there are truly starving people, direct donations of food are better than the EBT cards.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

We have to end EBT.
If there are truly starving people, direct donations of food are better than the EBT cards.

The number being bandied about is 1 in every 8 people receive SNAP. That wouldn't include other food assistance such as free meals at school.

If it is true that 1 in 8 cannot afford to adequately feed themselves, then we would be in the worst economy of our history. Or, it would mean we have a shocking level of true disability preventing people from earning at least a subsistence level income.

Yet nobody seems to be discussing it.

NYC is on a clear path worse than San Francisco when the latter elected London Breed as mayor in 2018.The city went from a single turd in the bowl to overflowing shit over the seat and onto the floor. Flashmob robberies in stores, rampant, unstoppable shoplifting and car break-ins, hundreds of shops and restaurants closing, many chains leaving. Out of control drug dealing, overdoses, deaths, record number of homeless and tent cities. Commercial real estate values falling to over 50%, major hotels going into bankruptcy.

Etc, etc, etc.

The city suffered extensive, long term damage, and the outrage was enough to have the voters throw out Breed and replace her with a white male moderate Democrat businessman. No question, at the very minimum, the same damage will be heaped upon NYC in the next four years, and very likely worse. And like a self-inflicted gunshot wound, NYC voters only have themselves to blame.

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
The number being bandied about is 1 in every 8 people receive SNAP.

A coworker and I just had a very short discussion on this.
Think for a second: stereotypically speaking, which demographic receives the SNAP benefits? Mamas with 5 or 6 kids running around. Does that help distort/explain that statistic a little? Maybe so, maybe no.

Coworker gave the example of a family he saw this week: piles of honey buns and junk food in the grocery cart, paid for with a SNAP card. Then the adult whips out a wad of cash and buys two cartons of cigarettes with it.