Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

  • Shaun Donovan Officially Launches Campaign for Mayor of New York City

    shaun d

    Shaun Donovan (photo: Donovan campaign)


    Shaun Donovan, formerly a cabinet secretary under President Barack Obama and commissioner under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, officially launched his 2021 campaign for mayor of New York City on Tuesday. Donovan, who has been fundraising, taking meetings, and appearing at candidate forums for months, is one of a large and diverse field of candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June primary.  

    Donovan, who grew up on the Upper East Side and now lives in Brooklyn, is a first-time candidate for elected office but has been in

    ...
  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Race & Politics in Ten Years Since Obama's Nomination

    mxm logo

    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    August 22, 2018 - Max & Murphy Podcast: Race & Politics in Ten Years Since Obama's Nomination

    christina greer mcsilverDr. Christina Greer of Fordham University joined the show to discuss how President Barack Obama did, or didn't, live up to expectations, and how his presidency fits into the larger dynamics of

    ...
  • How Obama Can Help New York Immigrants Before Leaving Office

    menchaca city hall press conf

    City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, the author (photo: William Alatriste)


    Barack Obama may have given his farewell address, but he still has work to do. In his speech, the president rightly celebrated America’s history of welcoming immigrants and their contributions to our country. But Mr. Obama’s legacy on immigration is mixed. He has both deported more people than any prior president and acted in America’s best traditions by letting the Dreamers - undocumented youth brought to the United States as children – emerge from the shadows. There is one

    ...
  • Successful Presidential Transitions Rely on Attitudes, Organization and Law

    trump obama from trump facebook

    President-elect Trump & President Obama (photo: Trump on Facebook)


    President-elect Donald Trump visited The White House Thursday to discuss transition planning with President Barack Obama. While the election was just decided and it was Trump’s first public move in shifting from the campaign toward governing, the transition process has been underway for months -- both in the

    ...
  • Will the Democrats' Fresh Entitlements Lift Poor Families?

    de blasio upk

    De Blasio on a school visit (photo: Ed Reed, Mayoral Photography Office)


    Circle time at preschool teaches much about civility and unity, how best to contribute to a pint-size society.

    So when little Lela whispered from the corner, "I'm ready to come back," teacher Katie Wassel in Washington Heights figured lesson learned, the 4-year-old rejoined a tight crescent of fidgeting peers seated on a colorful rug. You can't elbow your neighbor at circle time.

    Hillary Clinton draws a wide and inclusive circle all her own, pitching fresh entitlements

    ...
  • The Wisdom of Primaries

    teachout fracktivists

    Zephyr Teachout, in yellow, with "fractivists" (photo: @zephyrteachout)


    In her zeal to attach herself to Barack Obama at the recent Democratic debate in Charleston, Hillary Clinton at one point issued a somewhat unexpected line of attack. In advance of the 2012 campaign, Clinton charged, Bernie Sanders had "publicly sought someone to run in a primary against President Obama." 

    There's no disputing that Sanders did in fact express such a position, based on his concern that Obama was moving to the right during his first term. But during

    ...
  • New York's Education Policy in Historic Disarray

    cuomo parental choice BK May 2015

    Gov. Cuomo in May, 2015 (photo: Office of the Governor - Kevin P. Coughlin)


    The past several months have been one of the most tumultuous periods in New York State's educational history, culminating several years of false starts and disarray in education policy. It's not without precedent, though, and history has valuable lessons for New York today.

    Disillusionment and disavowal of recent educational practices
    In December, President

    ...
  • Will New York Be Last to 'Raise the Age'?

    Cuomo inmates raise the age

    Gov. Cuomo meets with young inmates (photo: Governor's Office)


    Gov. Andrew Cuomo is fond of calling New York a "progressive leader," declaring the state trailblazing on issues that matter, like marriage equality and gun control. It is a tenet of the governor's new push for an eventual $15-per-hour minimum wage.

    However, New York lags so far behind other states on one criminal justice issue that it could soon be the only state in

    ...
  • The Week That Was in New York Politics, September 14-18

    week in review bus readers

    photo: Stanley Kubrick via Museum of the City of New York


    Gotham Gazette's Week in Review, Friday 

    PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: Mayor de Blasio delivers an education speech, via The Mayor's Office on flickr; NYPD Commissioner Bratton is briefed as the city prepares for the

    ...
  • Even Amid Albany Dysfunction, Advocates Forge Path to Paid Family Leave

    wfpct paid family leave

    Advocates for paid family leave (photo: @CTWFP)


    Upheaval in the capital due to another high-profile corruption scandal is not stopping advocates from heading to Albany to push for legislative action.

    With just six weeks left in the legislative session set to expire mid-June, on Wednesday activists will rally at the Legislative Office Building and lobby lawmakers to pass paid family leave in New York State.

    An 11:30 a.m. press conference will be led by Democratic State

    ...
  • Inaugural Student Voter Registration Day Kicks Off at 25 City Schools

    CM Rosenthal SVRD

    CM Rosenthal addresses students (photo: Cici Chen)


    NEW YORK - The 2013 New York City mayoral election’s record low 24 percent voter turnout rate is largely reflective of and dragged down by 11 percent youth voter participation. This especially paltry turnout among voters 18- to 29-years-old has spurred advocates and policy-makers to act. Friday saw the city’s first Student Voter Registration Day (...