Opinion: Reviving NYC through bold progressive action

We can spend years reflecting on what went wrong for Democrats in the 2024 presidential election. But here in New York City, one undeniable truth emerges: we’ve fallen short in delivering the bold, transformative ideals that define progressive leadership.

This city has long stood as a symbol of ingenuity and fearless ambition – proof of what inclusive, effective governance can achieve. But our inability to deliver meaningful progress has shaken faith in that vision, with New York City experiencing some of the largest swings towards President-elect Donald Trump nationwide. The message from New Yorkers couldn’t be clearer: they’re not looking for promises; they’re demanding results.

The good news is we’re making progress, with several policies moving forward that are directly targeted at addressing the root causes of the crises we face. In particular, we’re finally starting to make progress on housing affordability, the most urgent crisis facing New Yorkers and urban dwellers nationwide – indeed, mounting evidence shows that housing costs were a key driver of the shift in urban regions toward Trump in 2024.

On Thursday, the New York City Council passed City of Yes, the most significant reform of the city’s zoning laws in over 50 years. These archaic rules – which include things like parking mandates and prevent even modest development near outer-borough subway stations – have long hampered housing construction, deepening the affordability crisis and the unfair power imbalance between landlords and tenants. They are also at the root of New York’s dwindling population, which continues to threaten the viability of progressive governance nationwide by shifting electoral votes to Republican-led states. 

The City Council also recently passed a bill to shift broker’s fees from tenants to landlords, offering immediate relief to millions of prospective renters. Much will be required to build on this progress – including stronger protections for tenants already in place and further efforts to expand housing supply – but these reforms are long overdue.

At the same time, the long-awaited central business district toll is set to be implemented, which will reduce crippling congestion in our busiest areas and inject much-needed funding into our dwindling public transit system. 

These are exactly the sort of concrete solutions that everyday New Yorkers crave, and will provide direct, material impact to our quality of life. But there’s a lot left to do.

The same systemic neglect that has priced people out of their homes has also left our streets and public spaces in disrepair, compounding a sense of decline. In particular, major lifestyle changes brought on by the pandemic – upending commercial districts, starving public transit and increasing car dependency – have drained life from too many neighborhoods, particularly here in Lower Manhattan.

By investing in policies that prioritize people and small businesses – such as Open Streets and pedestrian plazas, responsible outdoor dining and cracking down on illegal placard parking – we can begin to restore the energy and character that makes New York City streets so unique. We should also expand initiatives like Safe Haven shelters and public bathrooms, which are proven methods of reducing the prevalence and harms of homelessness in our communities. 

If we truly believe that housing is a human right, that climate change is an existential crisis and that small businesses are the engines of our communities, then we must deliver the visible, meaningful improvements New Yorkers have been promised for far too long. New York City cannot remain a place where stable housing is out of reach for all but the wealthiest, where public spaces fail to meet the needs of those who rely on them and where our streets reflect neglect instead of progress. 

The stakes extend beyond our city limits: as New York falters, so does the vision of inclusive, progressive governance that our nation desperately needs. This is our opportunity to prove what bold, people-centered leadership can achieve – not just for New Yorkers, but as a blueprint for the future of our country.