The Democracy-Delivery Doom Loop
New York's vicious circle of corruption, inefficiency, and apathy
Note: As we were preparing to the send this email, the Trump administration announced that it is revoking federal approval of congestion pricing. We’ll plan to share our analysis and calls to action in the coming days.
It’s Wednesday, and the fate of the city hangs in the balance. Given the pace of the revelations, you’d be forgiven for needing a refresher:
Last week, interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigned rather than follow through with dismissing corruption charges against Mayor Adams, saying he “repeatedly urged” a quid pro quo of immigration enforcement in exchange for absolution
On Monday, four of his deputy mayors announced their resignations in response to the scandal
Yesterday, the Governor met with her consiglieres and members of a potential “Inability Committee” who could vote to remove Adams as she considered using her power to boot him herself
Today, all eyes are on Judge Dale Ho, who will determine whether to allow dismissal of the charges against Adams as Trump’s DOJ directed
Much of the press coverage and political class chatter has focused on what each new development says about the personalities of the players: Hochul waffling, Delgado jockeying for power, Cuomo seizing the moment to center himself in a cringe Valentine’s Day video.
To us, the sad affair throws into relief the brokenness of our politics—and provides a stark reminder that any forward-looking, visionary agenda for New York requires a democracy that works and a government empowered to deliver.
We’ve talked before about the unrepresentativeness of political decision-making in New York. A small minority of voters chooses city leaders for millions. Member deference gives individual council members veto power over growth needed citywide. Community Boards wield undue influence. Environmental review is abused by neighborhood NIMBYs.
Meanwhile, it’s understandable why most New Yorkers tune out: our government isn’t working. Public toilets cost millions of dollars. Subway extensions take decades, and billions of dollars, to build. Service delivery is hobbled by a municipal staffing crisis. Decades of scarcity politics have led New Yorkers to vote with their feet—driving New York’s loss of Congressional seats and Electoral College votes, and New Yorkers’ loss of faith in Democrats and democracy itself.
When Adams was first distracted by his indictment—and his most loyal staffers, also implicated, were falling like dominoes—we briefly wondered whether this moment would allow highly qualified public servants like First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer to shine, demonstrating “government, finally, at work.” But Torres-Springer’s resignation letter poignantly juxtaposes the inability to continue to serve the public faithfully under a Mayor Adams and her pride at a list of the administration’s accomplishments, topped by City of Yes. It’s clear that this latest quid pro quo is a nail in the coffin of even a semi-functioning government under Adams.
Without effective government delivery, we see the erosion of democracy; without healthy democracy, the gears of government grind ever slower and less effectively.
The doom loop leads many to gravitate to strong-man politics, someone who will impose order on chaos or tear it all down. But our view is that we need a different kind of radical change—electeds who will invest in government capacity, not starve the state; and a democracy that’s inclusive and responsive, not captured by small minorities best served by the status quo.
That’s what our growing community of 2,000 is pursuing; from now until Election Day (whenever that may be), we will be uplifting a cohort of citywide, boroughwide, and city council candidates who share our vision and agenda. Stay tuned for our first endorsements, volunteer opportunities, candidate forums, an Abundance voter guide, and events hosted by our affiliated PAC.
While most eyes are on courtroom dramas and chatter from unnamed sources, let’s keep our eyes on the ball—a new generation of leadership, a city that can build, and a democracy that can deliver.