Timing is everything though and it's now too late for a new candidate to be added to the city ballot. Any candidate entering at this time would have to run as a write-in.
Realistically, the only alternative is Eric Adams, a 22 year veteran of the NYPD before becoming Mayor, who is already on the ballot as an independent candidate. Any effort spent on anyone else simply dilutes the votes against Mandani.
From what I’ve read of Ackman’s comments, he does not intend to run. But he would support and help finance a competent person who does offer a realistic alternative. Socialist policies, however, well-meaning, do not work. It’s been proven over and over again in a variety of contexts. Rent controls, publicly owned grocery stores, addressing public safety issues with fewer policemen and more social workers — it’s all been tried and shown to fail. The way forward is not through more regulation and bureaucratic congestion. It’s through slimming down, scaling back, making hard choices, living within one’s means (both privately and societally). It’s not about ditching capitalism, which is an indisputable wealth creator. But it’s also not about mindless consumerism. People are free to choose and they need to own their own choices. It’s about finding a purpose in life, a sweet spot between family (however defined) and work, and embracing a philosophy of “enough” in one’s personal space. What’s happening now in NYC is an object lesson in the failure of American culture, the momentary victory of shallow charisma, good intentions, and the total absence of load-bearing ideas set against a background of lots of educated young people just not “getting it.” The majority of those young people were liberal and asian or liberal and white, but not liberal and black or liberal and hispanic. Cuomo was clearly not a good choice, but he still fared better with the black and hispanic voters (based on precinct demographics) than did Mamdani. Short version: hopefully with Ackman or others like him, this is not over for America’s most famous city.
Why do you think he wants to run? Main thing is to not allow Mamdani to win. Need a strong candidate who can beat him and is not antisemitic. If Ackman can do thiss. Great. But NY is a strongly Democrat city and he may not have much chance.
Any new entrant to the race can apparently only run on a write-in. It is hard to win that way. People have to spell the name correctly and put it in the correct box with the correct ink for it to count. You will have people writing Bill Ackerman or Bill Actman. I cannot imagine he would want to run and lose to this loser in every sense of the word Mamdani. Better for Bill to consider running for POTUS in the future.
Maybe New Yorkers need another class in Socialist civics before they decide to educate themselves and select better candidates. I don't care as long as the rest of us don't need to bail the City out.
That's an interesting idea, Ayaan. My experience is that when kooks out of left (or right) field reach elective office, it's usually because the rest of the vote is split among an excessive plethora of candidates that siphon off their share of votes, leaving the kook with his/her core constituency able to slip by into power. It sounds like that is a real risk in New York City. Having said that, Ackman would be a great choice in my view.
Timing is everything though and it's now too late for a new candidate to be added to the city ballot. Any candidate entering at this time would have to run as a write-in.
Realistically, the only alternative is Eric Adams, a 22 year veteran of the NYPD before becoming Mayor, who is already on the ballot as an independent candidate. Any effort spent on anyone else simply dilutes the votes against Mandani.
Good point.
Why not support the current incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams this coming November?
From what I’ve read of Ackman’s comments, he does not intend to run. But he would support and help finance a competent person who does offer a realistic alternative. Socialist policies, however, well-meaning, do not work. It’s been proven over and over again in a variety of contexts. Rent controls, publicly owned grocery stores, addressing public safety issues with fewer policemen and more social workers — it’s all been tried and shown to fail. The way forward is not through more regulation and bureaucratic congestion. It’s through slimming down, scaling back, making hard choices, living within one’s means (both privately and societally). It’s not about ditching capitalism, which is an indisputable wealth creator. But it’s also not about mindless consumerism. People are free to choose and they need to own their own choices. It’s about finding a purpose in life, a sweet spot between family (however defined) and work, and embracing a philosophy of “enough” in one’s personal space. What’s happening now in NYC is an object lesson in the failure of American culture, the momentary victory of shallow charisma, good intentions, and the total absence of load-bearing ideas set against a background of lots of educated young people just not “getting it.” The majority of those young people were liberal and asian or liberal and white, but not liberal and black or liberal and hispanic. Cuomo was clearly not a good choice, but he still fared better with the black and hispanic voters (based on precinct demographics) than did Mamdani. Short version: hopefully with Ackman or others like him, this is not over for America’s most famous city.
Why do you think he wants to run? Main thing is to not allow Mamdani to win. Need a strong candidate who can beat him and is not antisemitic. If Ackman can do thiss. Great. But NY is a strongly Democrat city and he may not have much chance.
New Yorkers under 40 reportedly accounted for 40% of the vote for Mamdani. Millennials deserve what they are going to get from him.
Brilliant argument, Ayaan. As a former New Yorker, now in the DC suburbs (don't ask), I say, Run Bill Run!
If New Yorkers are truly this stupid (as they now clearly are) I say serve up this idiot on a silver platter.
Any new entrant to the race can apparently only run on a write-in. It is hard to win that way. People have to spell the name correctly and put it in the correct box with the correct ink for it to count. You will have people writing Bill Ackerman or Bill Actman. I cannot imagine he would want to run and lose to this loser in every sense of the word Mamdani. Better for Bill to consider running for POTUS in the future.
Maybe New Yorkers need another class in Socialist civics before they decide to educate themselves and select better candidates. I don't care as long as the rest of us don't need to bail the City out.
That's an interesting idea, Ayaan. My experience is that when kooks out of left (or right) field reach elective office, it's usually because the rest of the vote is split among an excessive plethora of candidates that siphon off their share of votes, leaving the kook with his/her core constituency able to slip by into power. It sounds like that is a real risk in New York City. Having said that, Ackman would be a great choice in my view.
How can we accomplish this ?