One of the most difficult things to accept in a very contentious America, is how badly our young people have been educated since our system of public education essentially collapsed in the 1970’s.
Once upon a time, the New York Times would publish an annual article following college graduations in the Spring informing us that our most recent grads were doing better than their parents did. They have long since stopped publishing that article.
And we know, believing it or not, that today’s young millennials cannot sign their name to a legal document, cannot make change if they use money, cannot even tell time looking at a clock and cannot deal with making their ‘wants’ happen unless those wants are handed to them.
Like most uneducated, and therefore essentially ignorant people, they do not know what they do not know making the reality of common sense impossible.
America has always depended upon the next generation – once smarter, sharper, closer to technology and better educated – to step into their place in line whether it was in business, in education or in government.
That’s gone. Today, they can talk, they can want but they cannot do.
We had better change that dependence on the next generation because it no longer works. And sadly, that will be true for the next generation after that unless we begin to educate them again – and fast.
If you want to see what will happen should Zoran Mamdani become Mayor of New York, come with me to Brooklyn where people his age are running the government…into the ground.
We are heading to Williamsburg/Greenpoint, the first landing spot for the Dutch explorers arriving in the New World. As we drive down the East River Drive to the Queensboro Bridge at 59th Street, which will take us to Queens and then Brooklyn, let’s first make a quick visit to Borough Hall in Brooklyn where Borough President Reynoso had decided where to build affordable housing – one of the genuine needs in all of New York.
Mr. Reynoso selected an area which when completed would have his new housing block the Sun from reaching the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and doom that grand place to an inevitable death.
Now we understand that there is a site that could be ideal for significant affordable housing on the waterfront in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.
What exists there now are abandoned warehouses and wharfs – perfect for the task. But instead, the young millennial government is talking about constructing a forest of trees and bushes.
We are not making this up. But a “forest” does remind us of Williamsburg where the young millennials in total charge of the government in that area have talked of constructing a piazza…just like in Italy.
Turning off the Bridge at Jackson Avenue, we remain stunned at the enormous construction of towering residential and office buildings that have been built in this section where once only one-story buildings existed. As we drive up Jackson to eventually leave this section of Queens to enter Brooklyn by going over the Pulaski Skyway ( wincing at the sight of ugly ‘Pencil buildings” that tower over the empty skyline ) we are suddenly in Brooklyn and on McGuiness Blvd…the major neighborhood commercial road that along with that bridge connects three boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens – and see what has happened to it.
Each borough has its major boulevards…two and three lane roads/streets that make it possible for commerce to be as productive and connected as possible.
But McGuiness is no longer such a street. McGuiness is now one lane of traffic with parking spots and a generous bike lane where cars and delivery trucks use to move. “Move” is no longer the word.
And this is the first sign of what our young millennials have done to make the communities of Williamsburg and Greenpoint their own despite the senior communities of former immigrants who have long made these very early stations of New York City their homes.
Now bikes rule. NYC Bike Stands on corner after corner dominate as do Open streets which are closed to cars and all traffic.
The Community Board has year by year removed senior members from its ranks.
Concerns from this senior element and business interests in the community are met with derision and often visits to the homes of dissidents where those now in charge shout at them from the street. This conduct is and is meant to be, intimidating. These senior residents are told to move to Florida and take their cars with them.
Longtime community residents no longer feel the neighborhood is welcoming and that they have any say or control at all.
At the same time as this inner turmoil continues and is kept very carefully controlled, Williamsburg is experiencing a stunning and long-awaited rebirth. High end shops that once existed on upper Madison Avenue in Manhattan are now being built; hotels and expensive restaurants exist; the waterfront on the East River now has glass and steel condos with parks and playgrounds. Ferraris and Maserati’s are seen on the streets.
Williamsburg is only one Subway stop from midtown Manhattan.
The cost of all apartments is well beyond affordability for young residents – so they rent rooms all over the community…individuals and couples both; some with babies, some with dogs, living side-by side, room by room – just like college dormitories.
But for longtime residents the actions of the government they have elected, have become corrosive and there is the sense that older residents have lost a sense of community.
MAMDANI
This action is not illegal. It is political. And surprise, surprise…it works.
Bernie used it in two Presidential campaigns knowing full well he would never be elected and so would never be put to the test of doing what he said had to be done.
Young Zoran recently stood next to Bernie and said America should not have millionaires and billionaires. He did not know that Bernie took $36 million in campaign contributions and bought himself a lovely piece of beautiful Vermont.
AOC told a lot of stories about her background which weren’t true. But her opponent for Congress, Joe Crowley, never bothered coming back from Washington – even one day or weekend – to campaign against her – and she won.
Now she awaits Chuck Schumer’s retirement or death in the Senate. Mr. Crowley is out of politics.
Mr. Mamdani has his own Crowley in a broken former Governor, Andrew Cuomo.
Stunned by early indications that those who lost parents to the Covid pandemic because the Cuomo Administration botched their care during the early and worst conditions in America with a coverup worse than the original mistakes, Mr. Cuomo heard cries of “murderer, murderer” in early campaigning and so “hid” in the one safe place he had – black churches.
Instead, he spent millions donated to him by monied elements in New York – to expose Mr. Mamdani’s activities and attitudes. Those commercials gave Mamdani more publicity than he could afford to give himself.
Cuomo lost with the most votes for Mamdani coming from Brooklyn. Yet he still received 44% of the primary vote.
Coming from a highly educated family with a college professor Dad and a creative Mom who makes movies in India, Mamdani is no dope.
But he has absolutely no experience at all – none – in running anything much less a government with the size and influence of a New York City.
The Mayor of New York is considered the second toughest political job in this country – with the President number one.
The idea that this simple truth exists and Mamdani is the favorite to become Mayor makes real the idea that if Donald Trump can be America’s President twice, anything goes and ignorance prevails.
Brad Lander, who will actually run the government, is not the Heritage Foundation and its 900 page set of directions and its 900 page budget formula.
One hopes that Mr. Cuomo will discover a strength and courage to realize that he has a chance to “make good” if he runs a real campaign between now and Election Day and becomes Mayor.
There is plenty of time and plenty of votes that will be his as New York “wakes up”.
We reminded him recently that unless he does, all that will be left of the names Mario and Andrew Cuomo will be a bridge.
Mr. Mamdani is likely the City’s next mayor. What might his administration be like? Many of his platform ideas cannot be implemented without Albany’s approval, especially tax increases, and that’s unlikely. Other parts if the platform are contingent on the increases. Will there be accusations of reneging on his promises as a result? Interesting times ahead.