2026
Why Mamdani’s New ‘Office of Mass Engagement’ Matters
By centering broader, more accessible forms of participation and tying engagement to real outcomes, the city has an opportunity to align civic conversation with civic reality.
2025
How and Why I Voted Yes on the Brooklyn Marine Terminal Plan
The Vision Plan is not perfect, but it is clear and concise. It is a 15-year, three-phase framework that sets enforceable commitments around housing, climate resilience, transportation, and social services.
Elections aren’t enough: Democracy, elections, and a Twin Peaks reference
New Yorkers are hearing a lot about something that sounds like democracy. Glossy mailers are landing in mailboxes. Overheated tweets are flying. Maybe there’s even a debate or two. Candidates are declaring that the…
The City Charter Has Shaped NYC for Over a Century — Speak Up!
We need even more voices, from every borough and background, to help shape this charter review.
Strengthening local democracy through charter reform
If you believe the New York City government can — and should — work better for all of us, I urge you to join us this Tuesday, May 6th, from 5-7 p.m. at Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy. That’s when the City Council’s…
2023
Apply to Choose
The deadline for applying for membership on Brooklyn Community Boards is on Feb. 23. So spread love the Brooklyn way and apply soon! Biggie references aside, if you’re over 16 and live in Brooklyn, you really should;…
2021
History, Hitherto, Henceforth
The history of all hitherto existing New York Politics is the history of Cuomo’s. “All” is an oversimplification, but when a father and son tandem wins six gubernatorial elections governing for over two decades between…
A Jungle and The General
There’s a lot of talk about the lack of unity and how we’re often so divided “these days.” Hardly a unique historical circumstance, but if you think back a few weeks, you’ll recall the moment New Yorkers stood as one to…
Takeaways for an undetermined future
Two weeks ago, when discussing the election, I asked So, first, what do we know? Where do we stand? What does it mean? The next few years will determine, in terms of the material conditions of our city and people, what…
FY, FYI, Billions & Beyond
While we’ve been collectively, and figuratively, holding our breath, waiting on the Board of Elections to finish counting, Mayor de Blasio finished his final budget with the blessing of the City Council. The total price…
It’s Broken, Fix It
A few days ago, I thought to myself, “hmm, the Board of Elections seems to be doing okay; maybe giving them time is the right move.” Then came Tuesday, June 29th. As regular “Racioppo Readers” know I’m a Kathryn Garcia…
To be determined but examined
Greek philosophers are probably the last thing that comes to mind when thinking of New York City politics. However, I can’t stop wondering, reappropriating Socrates by asking if a to-be-tabulated election, specifically…
RCV, SCRIE, KG
A few weeks back, I wrote that I’d have two things on my mind for the foreseeable future; my focus would be on the race to be New York City’s 110th Mayor. Nothing has changed, and that’s still the case. I write and…
Early voting in the primary is risky
I’m writing this on Wednesday, June 9th; the earliest you’ll read it is Friday, June 11th. Then, in less than 24 hours, on Saturday, June 12th, voting for our next city government, and most consequentially, the 110th…
2009, Today, Tomorrow
As I and others have noted, there’s been a lack of polling for the upcoming mayoral primary election. Polling is a snapshot that can tell one where things stand, but it can also be a big part of where things end up (aka…
Certainty and clues
I’ve got two things on my mind for the foreseeable future, AKA until the end of June. First, professionally, as CB6 District Manager, that’s organizing the Community Board portion of the Gowanus rezoning ULURP review.…
Relatable preferences
In this year’s Mayoral election, much of the ink and oxygen has gone to Andrew Yang. I assume he will vote for himself, which will be the first time he had enough incentive to vote for Mayor. This despite being eligible…
We need a ‘World Class Administrator’
In last week’s column, I discussed and did my best to explain ranked-choice voting. I also explained that, on my ballot, the number one spot for comptroller would go to Brad Lander; for Brooklyn Borough President, it…
Ranked Choice Future
In our age of smartphones and the web, traffic-based advertising often devolves into clickbait that includes promises of lists to confirm or confound your beliefs, to amuse, or thrill. Things like “you won’t believe the…
Blame, Control, Transportation, Taxation
Last year I wrote that the 2021 primary elections should be moved back to September, where they had always been. There were many reasons, not the least of which was the lack of knowledge and understanding about…
Budgets, bonds, rates, relief
As I started writing this, the New York State legislature and beleaguered, stubborn, and bullying-prone Governor Cuomo agreed on a $212 billion state budget. The most significant changes to the budget from last year are…
Empathetic screens savers
Since October, I’ve been fortunate to have this space to express myself as I please. I use it to opine for and against various policies drawing a link from macro to the local. Still, nothing draws that line more…
Elevator, budgets and billionaires
As was reported by this paper and other publications, Park Slope’s Seventh Avenue F/G subway station will be getting an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant elevator. In my day job, I was happy to announce…
Public pandemic lessons
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to be remembered in ways similar to 9/11, Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination, and other historic moments. I say “likely” because there’s a lot of interesting writing and research on how…
How Brooklyn Does America
As I’m writing, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden will sign into law while the hard copy of this column is printed. The plan’s not perfect (what in life is) but, for context, Senator Bernie…
Crisis, investigation and resignation
Machiavelli said, “Never waste the opportunity offered by a good crisis.” While Machiavelli’s been dead for nearly 500 years, the sentiment remains true and applicable. Why is it applicable? Because during a time of…
Taking care
There’s a saying, “Take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.” When applied broadly, or as an idiom, it amounts to a belief that if you pay attention to small details (pennies), the bigger…
Planning perspectives
We are inclined to think that the times we live in are the best of times or worst of times, but the takeaway is that we don’t write as well as Charles Dickens. What most distinguishes humans from other species is our…
On Peter Weiss, pandemics, and accessories
Sadly, Peter Weiss, who for decades was one of the most dedicated activists and campaigners in Brooklyn politics, died Feb. 8 at the age of 73. I was lucky enough to get to know him, call him a friend, and talk over…
DSNY and what testing means
For a political party, it’s essential to win elections and implement policies that are popular and allow you to keep winning elections. I am a member of the Democratic Party. Historically, my party has operated on the…
Waiting for Gowanus
In my day job as district manager of Brooklyn’s Community Board 6, we’ve been in a holding pattern — as a community — with regards to the Gowanus Rezoning. We have had multiple meetings on numerous aspects of a possible…
Nice life, New POTUS, Neighborhood Democrats
On Jan. 20, after a 78-day tantrum enabled by the rest of the GOP and way too much of the media, Donald Trump (DT) became a former president. In his final speech as president, DT listed many grievances, things he…
Wake up and never sleep
The last week has made folks focus, understandably, on a failed insurrection that may be a dress rehearsal for a coup attempt on a larger scale in the coming days. However, I don’t have a column based on my insight or…
Lessons picked from peaches
I’ve only spent a few hours in Georgia, but because of their particular election rules, Georgia’s on my mind. Those election laws resulting in Warnock and Ossoff Senate wins propels Park Slope’s own Chuck Schumer to…
2020
Resolution of solution
It has become cliche to express how or why 2020 is a morbidly awful year, but cliches reflect simple truths. While 2020 is broadly seen as the worst year in recent memory, we shouldn’t forget other years that qualify…
Grievance and strength
Considering the calendar, this should be my “Christmas Column.” But, with apologies to Hallmark — and as one who is grumpy, yet hopefully not Grinchy beyond my years — welcome to my Festivus celebration. Join me in the…
Vacuums abhorred
Aristotle thought nature abhorred a vacuum, but then again he thought there were four basic elements. Apparently the city and community planners don’t object to maintaining an empty space when it comes to completed…
Cured by Democracy
Last year, if I may help you recall such distant times, voters overwhelmingly approved a charter revision to implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in New York City primary elections. Ranked choice voting is, in essence,…
Get ready, not Rudy
2020 is a year unto itself, and hopefully, it remains that way. COVID-19 has made masks required fashion among the rational. Zoom is now a common noun and verb. All sorts of bad economic records are being shattered. New…
There’s something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving
I’ve always liked Thanksgiving. It’s not because of a fictionalized history, Charlie Brown specials, or football (although I enjoy rooting against the Cowboys). It is because, unlike Christmas, it’s celebrated across…
People don’t eat in the long term
My previous column was about cynicism ceding ground to the celebrations that broke out across Brooklyn and the world when the current president lost his bid for re-election. It’s a pleasant memory and indicates, or at…
Cynicism cedes to celebration
I closed my previous column by hoping that, by the time you read it that former Vice President Joe Biden would be “President-Elect Joe Biden.” Well, outside of the coup-curious Republican/Trumpist party, Biden and his…
Hope for Could, Should, Would
This column is something of a time capsule as the earliest you’ll be reading it is Friday, Nov. 6, and I’m starting it on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day. Like millions across the city, I am nervous that,…
Mattering not nattering
Early voting has started, and we brace for the eventual results of the 2020 election. From the day this is published (Friday, Oct. 30,) through Tuesday, Nov. 3, many people are going to continue to tell each other to…
Zoning for reality
In my first three columns, I’ve focused on what the state and the federal government can do for our city. This week I’ll ask not what can be done for the city but what the city can do for itself? While not limited to…
What, When, How
Political Scientist and Yale Law Professor Harold Laswell famously defined politics as “Who Gets What, When, and How.” If people are getting what they want, they’re less inclined to change as change is inherently risky.…
Buddy, Business, Borrowing
Before getting into my opinions, I want to offer a few words about community luminary Buddy Scotto, who passed away a few weeks back at the age of 91. There were several well-written articles about him, but I wish to…
Thoughts on avoiding austerity
Hello Brooklyn Paper readers, My name is Mike Racioppo, and while you might remember me from articles such as “Community Board Leaders Urge Speaker To Reinstate Funding For Vocal New York” or “Man launches furious…