Rick McGahey

Vital City | What Came After ‘Drop Dead’ In the 1970s, the federal government helped rescue New York, but cities today can’t count on help from Washington.

As we revisit the 50th anniversary of New York's fiscal crisis and near bankruptcy, #DavidEichenthal in @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social reminds us federal aid ultimately was provided, and how cities now face much worse prospects under @realdonaldtrump.govmirrors.com. www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/wha...

No Kings in Sedona AZ thousands marching lots of supportive car honking

Thousands in Sedona and lots of supportive honking

Sedona AZ easily thousands marching and lots of supportive car honking

Vital City | Can Cities Withstand Trump’s Assault? Economically, New York faces few good options in the face of Washington’s hostility.

#Trump attacks on #cities combined with America's anti-urban bias mean even if @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is New York's next mayor, he'll have little room to enact or expand his programs. My article in @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social: www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/can...

Making Federal Semiconductor Billions Work For Everyone Billions in government support is spurring semiconductor investments, which a conference at Arizona State says need worker, environmental, and community benefits.

Billions in public dollars for #semiconductor reshoring now in economy, important conference at @arizonastateuni.bsky.social Center for Work and Democracy on how #industrialpolicy can benefit economy, industry, workers, and communities. My latest @forbes.com:
www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Rethinking New York City’s Economy: “The Menace Of Prosperity” A new history of New York City's economy shows alternative visions from the past with ideas for the future; it will interest Mamdani and others who care about cities.

As @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social makes us think how New York CIty's economy can better serve those left out, a timely and important new book by historian Daniel Wortel-London, "The Menace of Prosperity," shows us that battle through the city's history. www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Shutdown Crisis: Trump Battling Over Congress’ Constitutional Powers The pending government shutdown also is about a constitutional fight over Congressional and presidential power.

The pending federal #shutdown is not only about spending, but reflects a growing #Constitutional fight over Congressional and presidential power. My latest @forbes.com blog: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

World Cup, Disney World, Taylor Swift—Is AI Ticket Pricing Unethical? The World Cup, Disney World, and Taylor Swift all use AI-enabled ticket pricing, but some complain it is unfair and unethical.

#AI dynamic pricing used for tickets to #WorldCup, #WaltDisneyWorld, Taylor Swift tour, and elsewhere. Fair and efficient, or disempowering for consumers and workers, and ethically challenged? My latest @forbes.com blog: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

@nytimes.com story on @UAW.org doesn’t mention UAW higher education members, some estimates over 25% of membership (I’m in @UAWRegion9A.bsky.social) Fain has support strong there

Shawn Fain, Who Pledged to Reform U.A.W., Faces Internal Dissent nytimes.com/2025/09/15/bus… via @NYTimes

Progressives NIMBYs Threaten Affordable Housing In New York And L.A. Opposition by some progressives to housing development in New York and Los Angeles could worsen housing affordability.

New York #BoardofElections approves pro-housing amendments for voter consideration, in spite of some progressive opposition. But some in NY and L.A. fight against more housing, a mistaken position that will make affordability worse. My latest @forbes.com blog: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Labor Day 2025: Can Conservatives Support Workers Without Unions? Labor Day 2025: Conservatives like Oren Cass say they support workers, but their opposition to unions means workers won't get benefits or protections they need.

On #LaborDay, conservatives like #OrenCass say they support workers, but oppose unions. But as @epi.org and @aflcio.org know, without unions, workers won't get the benefits and protections they need. My latest @forbes.com blog: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Both Red And Blue Regions Are Blocking Affordable Housing Both blue and red metropolitan areas block affordable housing as insiders use overregulation to prevent new construction

Insiders in both red and blue metros are blocking #affordablehousing, important recent #NBER paper by Glaeser and Gyourko. My latest @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Can A Socialist Mayor Mamdani Deliver For New York City? Can socialist Zohran Mamdani be an effective New York City mayor and keep his progressive policy ideas?

Can @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social deliver his policies for New York City? Tension between progressive goals and realities of governing. My latest @forbes.com : www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Very important report out today on debt and development, written by progressive economist and commissioned to buy Pope Francis. Even with the Trump craziness, we must pay attention to these long-term structural problems that are choking off development for much of the world‘s population

Republicans: “Unbelievable Unity,” Not Division, On Big Beautiful Bill Republican have virtual unanimity on Trump's "big, beautiful bill": large regressive tax cuts, big reductions in social programs, and trillions more in borrowing.

Republicans are united, not divided, around #Trump #big,beautifulbill. Deep, regressive tax cuts paid for by severe cuts in the safety net and trillions more in borrowing. The Republicans share these objectives. My latest @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Good old #patriarchy at the #NewYorkTimes. Story on Amy Comey Barrett "confounding the right and the left" says she "locked in conservative victories on gun rights, affirmative action, and the power of federal agencies." Guess ending womens' right to choose wasn't so important.

New York’s Challenges In Budgeting For Racial Equity New York City voters added racial equity provisions to the city charter. But implementation is lagging with required reports not issued.

New York City revised its charter in 2022 to focus on #racialequity, coordinating that issue with the budget process. But the city is not meeting its deadlines and is behind what other cities are doing. My latest @forbes.com blog: www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Here's what happened in one place.

Trump’s First 100 Days Fuels An Economic Debate: Strategy Or Chaos In his first 100 days, Trump claims to have an economic strategy while many economists see chaos and potential inflation and recession.

The first #100days of @donaldjtrump-maga.bsky.social include dramatic economic policy changes, especially in #tariffs. Do economists see a coherent strategy, or mostly chaos? (Hint: mostly chaos). My latest @forbes.com:

www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Alexis Herman, First Black Secretary of Labor, Dies at 77 A social worker, she became a Democratic Party insider and joined President Bill Clinton’s cabinet during his second term.

Very sad news, my old boss and great Labor Secretary #alexisherman has died, too soon. Smart, principled, effective, and great to work for, she will be sorely missed. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/u...

7 Alarming Facts About Wealth Inequality: Bring On the Pitchforks? Now more than ever we are living in an era defined by a gaping and growing divide between the haves and have-nots.

Here we are. America’s richest have never been richer & most Americans are scared they won’t be able to retire. It’s not hard to see why a pitchforks metaphor resonates. Fixing Social Security won’t solve everything. But it’s a smart and humane first step tinyurl.com/mstt9pvz

Andre Perry’s “Black Power Scorecard” Is Essential Reading, Especially Now Andre Perry's "Black Power Scorecard" details America's persistent racial gaps and what it might take to overcome them.

Amid continuing attacks on #DEI, @andreperryedu.bsky.social has a timely and important new book, "Black Power Scorecard," on continuing racial gaps and what it might take to overcome them. My review @forbes.com : www.forbes.com/sites/richar...

Brad DeLong and others call this “sanewashing” making crazy and destructive actions sound like there’s some regular logic to them

They are so abusive of procedure and reality, they probably will just fire the parliamentarian if there's an adverse ruling, and hire one who will toe the line.

Social Security Is Breaking Down— Millions Will Feel It First Trump and DOGE have not cut or delayed Social Security checks—yet. The Social Security Administration does not miss checks. In 80 years, it never missed payment

#SocialSecurity is being wrecked by Trump, Musk, and Doge. @tghilarducci.bsky.social tells us how hard it will hit seniors, and how the wreckage will have long term damage, in #Forbes. www.forbes.com/sites/teresa...

except that's what recent research and experience (Austin, Minneapolis) show. We progressives should embrace more supply, across the board, along with more tenant protections. Both/and, not either or.

Brillilant review of #abundance by @toddturner.bsky.social who finds much to like but points out political naïveté of @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and @dkthomp.bsky.social. A political movement requires broad political support, especially #unions, Tucker doesn't think authors have a political path.

Respectfully disagree with this. Although Trump‘s personality makes for good news copy, his actions are directly out of an authoritarian playbook that you could see in Hungary and other countries. See our New School work on authoritarian economics: muse.jhu.edu/issue/53301

This is a total failure of your leadership. It was the only thing we have to fight with against Trump and Musk. You should step down as Democratic leader and get somebody else in there who can be strategic and will fight.