People in the street (photo: NYC Department of Transportation)

May 15, 2023 - Max Politics Podcast: A Vision for a More Livable City, with Sara Lind of Open Plans

Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans, joined the show to discuss the group's vision for a more livable New York City, including specific programs, like Open Streets and Open Restaurants, state and city policy priorities, and more.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the

City Council District 6 Democratic primary debate

Six candidates running in the Democratic primary for City Council District 6, which includes most of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, met for a zoom debate hosted by Manhattan Neighborhood Network and moderated by Gotham Gazette editor Ben Max. Participating candidates included: Gale Brewer, Sara Lind, Maria Danzilo, David Gold, Jeffrey Omura, and Zack Weiner. Watch:

Supportive Housing (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

For several years, perhaps the foremost issue in New York City politics was homelessness. But for all the talk, not much has been done. In fact, things have in some significant ways only been getting worse.

Housing is a human right. It is a physiological need and we cannot have a functioning society without it. Yet our city has made this most basic need

Gale Brewer (photo: Gale Brewer on flickr)

The five Democratic candidates running for City Council District 6, a seat based on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, appeared Thursday night at a forum hosted by the West Side Democrats. The six Democratic candidates running for Manhattan Borough President in this year’s election also appeared before the club. The primaries will be in June and will feature ranked-choice voting.

Forum participants answered questions focused on a range of issues, including public and private housing, homelesssness, transit, land use and