{"id":450669,"date":"2025-12-16T09:49:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T09:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/450669\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T09:49:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T09:49:14","slug":"diversity-is-at-the-heart-of-new-yorks-progressive-politics-and-in-turn-mamdanis-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/450669\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversity is at the heart of New York’s progressive politics and, in turn, Mamdani’s win"},"content":{"rendered":"

Analysts are still working to understand Zohran Mamdani\u2019s decisive victory in last month\u2019s New York mayoral race. Like the blind men in the old Indian story of The Blind Men and the Elephant<\/a>, the explanations offered have been mostly accurate but incomplete.<\/p>\n

Mr Mamdani\u2019s focus on affordability was clearly appealing, as was his compelling affability on display in clever and incisive social media posts. The fact that he was constantly on the move, meeting and engaging voters where they were, was also a factor in his favour. It communicated his authentic desire to know voters and have them know him.<\/p>\n

In the stale consultant-driven political environment in which Americans find themselves, Mr Mamdani was a breath of fresh air<\/a>. With his opponents spending tens of millions on negative attack ads, Mr Mamdani\u2019s approach was new and exciting. Despite running against the well-funded campaign of a former governor and much of the New York Democratic Party establishment that saw him as a threat to their hegemony, he not only prevailed but also won more votes than any previous mayoral candidate in the city\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

Three other factors were also decisive in shaping the outcome.<\/p>\n

The first is the changing demographics of New York City. In 1980, more than half of the city\u2019s population was white. Today it is less than one third white. In 1980, 1,400,000 New Yorkers were Hispanic. Today they number two and a half million. During this same period, New York\u2019s black population remained fairly stable at about 1,700,000, though more than one third of today\u2019s black population are immigrants or the descendants of recent immigrants from African or Caribbean countries. One of the biggest shifts has been the dramatic growth of New York\u2019s population of Asian descent. They have grown from a few hundred thousand to 1,400,000.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

New York mayor-elect vows to ‘stand up’ for the city against Trump<\/p>\n

These changing demographics in favour of newer immigrant communities resulted in substantial shifts in the composition of the electorate, and it mattered in this election. Mr Mamdani easily won among Asian, Hispanic and black voters. But it\u2019s important to note that he almost evenly split the white vote with his main opponent. Performing that well among all demographic groups is unusual in New York politics.<\/p>\n

Another critically important factor in Mr Mamdani\u2019s win<\/a> was the role an empowered grassroots movement played. The political group that powered his victory was the Democratic Socialists of America. With thousands of organisers throughout New York City, they had already accounted for a number of upset wins during this past decade.<\/p>\n

The first was in 2018, when upstart Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> defeated Congressman Joseph Crowley. At the time of his defeat, Mr Crowley was the chair of the Queens County Democratic Party and vice chair of the Democratic Caucus in Congress. In many ways, Ms Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s win presaged Mr Mamdani\u2019s. Mr Crowley had the support of the establishment and far more money than his unknown insurgent opponent, but the party apparatus he headed had grown lazy and stale. She had a grassroots movement that out-organised the establishment.<\/p>\n

In the years that followed, DSA activists won a number of elections for state and local posts across the city (including Mr Mamdani\u2019s 2021 election to the New York State Assembly). They showed that an organisation of energised grassroots activists can defeat the establishment and their money.<\/p>\n

A final factor that played a critical role in Mr Mamdani\u2019s victory was the impact of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza on the electorate in general, and specifically on the Jewish community in New York City.<\/p>\n

For decades, the accepted political wisdom was that because of the size of the Jewish community in New York City, a political candidate who wanted to win there had to pay homage to Israel. It was assumed that the Jewish community was in lockstep with Israel and that those who wanted their votes or support should act accordingly. This not only silenced any reasoned discussion of the Middle East<\/a>, but also had a devastating impact on the ability of Arab Americans and, especially after 9\/11, American Muslims to freely participate in the city\u2019s political life.<\/p>\n

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s win presaged Zohran Mamdani\u2019s<\/p>\n

One example stands out. In 1988, Jesse Jackson\u2019s presidential bid became the first to welcome the Arab community into a presidential campaign. The New York rally and fundraiser Arab Americans organised for Mr Jackson was one of his most successful events. When, the following year, one of his New York co-chairs announced that he would run for mayor, the Arab community<\/a> was ready to play a part.<\/p>\n

Early in the year, I was called to New York by the candidate and his campaign manager. They told me that the city\u2019s Jewish establishment was upset by the role Arabs had played in Mr Jackson\u2019s effort and by his embrace of Palestinian rights. They told me: \u201cTell your people we don\u2019t want their support. If the Arabs give us a thousand dollars, the Jewish community will raise one hundred thousand to defeat us. Keep them away.\u201d<\/p>\n

I left the meeting shocked and upset and went to prominent Jewish writers I knew at The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Village Voice and told them what had happened. They wrote scathing attacks on this bigoted exclusion. But, fear still won, and the exclusion continued.<\/p>\n

Given this context, it becomes clear what an enormous difference was in evidence in this year\u2019s New York election. The impact of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza transformed politics. Support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel\u2019s policies have become mainstream issues. Arabs and Muslims are welcomed. At the same time, this election shattered the myth of a monolithic Jewish vote. Despite the hysterical anti-Mamdani reaction<\/a> of the Jewish establishment (more than one leader referred to him as \u201cthe enemy of the Jewish community\u201d), the majority of young Jews supported Mr Mamdani, along with more than one third of all Jewish voters.<\/p>\n

These factors together demonstrate how New York City has changed, the\u202fcity\u2019s Democratic Party is changing and the Arab American, American Muslim and American Jewish communities are changing \u2013 all for the better<\/a>. The bottom line: it\u2019s not your daddy\u2019s New York anymore.<\/p>\n

THE CLOWN OF GAZA<\/p>\n

Director: <\/strong>Abdulrahman Sabbah\u00a0<\/p>\n

Starring: <\/strong>Alaa Meqdad<\/p>\n

Rating: <\/strong>4\/5<\/p>\n

Persuasion<\/p>\n

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarrie%20Cracknell%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDakota%20Johnson%2C%20Cosmo%20Jarvis%2C%20Richard%20E%20Grant%2C%20Henry%20Golding%20and%20Nikki%20Amuka-Bird%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n

The specs<\/p>\n

Engine:<\/strong> 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: <\/strong>620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: <\/strong>760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: <\/strong>Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: <\/strong>Now
Price: <\/strong>From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)<\/p>\n

ETFs explained<\/p>\n

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.<\/p>\n

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.<\/p>\n

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock\u2019s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.<\/p>\n

Company Profile<\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> Thndr
Started:<\/strong> 2019
Co-founders:<\/strong> Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector:<\/strong> FinTech
Headquarters:<\/strong> Egypt
UAE base:<\/strong> Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff:<\/strong> More than 150
Funds raised:<\/strong> $22 million <\/p>\n

The biog<\/p>\n

Born:\u00a0Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and\u00a0fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and\u00a0basketball<\/p>\n

Scoreline<\/p>\n

Arsenal 3
Aubameyang\u00a0(28′),\u00a0Welbeck\u00a0(38′,\u00a081′)
Red cards: El Neny\u00a0(90′ 3)<\/p>\n

Southampton 2
Long\u00a0(17′), Austin\u00a0(73′)
Red cards:\u00a0Stephens\u00a0(90′ 2)<\/p>\n

Company profile<\/p>\n

Date started<\/strong>: 2015<\/p>\n

Founder<\/strong>: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki<\/p>\n

Based<\/strong>: Dubai<\/p>\n

Sector<\/strong>: Online grocery delivery<\/p>\n

Staff<\/strong>: 200<\/p>\n

Funding<\/strong>: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends<\/p>\n

COMPANY PROFILE <\/p>\n

Founders:<\/strong> Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi<\/p>\n

Total funding: <\/strong>Self funded<\/p>\n

The specs<\/p>\n

Engine:<\/strong> 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors<\/p>\n

Power: <\/strong>Combined output 920hp<\/p>\n

Torque:<\/strong> 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm<\/p>\n

Transmission: <\/strong>8-speed dual-clutch automatic<\/p>\n

Fuel consumption: <\/strong>11.2L\/100km<\/p>\n

On sale:<\/strong> Now, deliveries expected later in 2025<\/p>\n

Price: <\/strong>expected to start at Dh1,432,000<\/p>\n

Ovo’s\u00a0tips\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0extra\u00a0heat<\/p>\n