Mamdani's Success Was Not Spurred by Austerity Measures

In the realm of politics and urban affairs, several thought-provoking pieces have been published recently, shedding light on various issues and proposals.

In a New York Times op-ed penned by Jay Jacobs on August 19, 2025, the author criticized New York City's hostility towards welfare policy, suggesting it has contributed to the rise of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. However, it's important to note that nearly half of the city's residents are on Medicaid, and the city is committed to affordable housing and sheltering the homeless.

Meanwhile, a different op-ed, titled "Eric Adams Is Right - We Need Involuntary Treatment to Solve the Public Drug Scourge," was published in the New York Post by City Journal Senior Editor Charles Fain Lehman. The piece discusses the controversial proposal for involuntary commitment of individuals with substance-use problems, raising questions about civil liberties and public safety.

On the topic of immigration, Santiago Vidal Calvo argues against the repeal of a provision that allows universities to hire faculty from other countries without counting against the H-1B program's visa cap. Calvo suggests that the focus should be on ensuring H-1B visas are awarded to talented foreigners who will love and respect the United States.

Regulatory overreach, global competition, and policy missteps have been identified as key factors in the hollowing out of the American industrial base. Steven Malanga proposes that the long-term key to American reindustrialization lies in clearing away outdated rules and building an economic environment that rewards investment and risk-taking.

In a separate discussion, Charles Fain Lehman, Ilya Shapiro, Carolyn Gorman, and John Ketcham examined the federalization of the D.C. police under the Trump administration and its implications for local governance in the nation's capital.

Cullum Clark, in a piece for a quarterly magazine of urban affairs, City Journal, published by the Manhattan Institute and edited by Brian C. Anderson, argues that smart suburban expansion, as seen in 25 cities in the Sun Belt since 2010, offers a model for other states and localities. This model involves building out infrastructure to support metropolitan expansion, attracting employers to suburban communities, promoting mixed-use centers and greenspace, and avoiding urban growth boundaries or any policy aimed at forcing people into built-up core cities.

The discussion also covered the broader atmosphere of disorder in New York City and the surprising rise in alcohol abstention among young Americans. Manhattan Institute Cities Policy Analyst Paul Dreyer wrote an op-ed titled "NY Dems Aim to De-Mask I.C.E. Agents to Scare Them off Their Raids - Not to Protect the Public" in the New York Post.

Lastly, Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Christopher Pope wrote an op-ed titled "Obamacare Faces a Subsidy Cliff - Don't Bail It Out Without Reform" in The Hill. The piece discusses the potential implications of the subsidy cliff for Obamacare and the need for reform.

These op-eds and discussions provide valuable insights into various aspects of urban affairs and politics, offering food for thought for policymakers, academics, and the general public alike.