Housing in view (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office)

The United States, and New York particularly, faces a housing crisis of its own making. Today, housing costs arethe main driver of inflation, which is leading to painful interest rate hikes across the whole economy. And they’re the...

(l-r) Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, Suraj Patel

Once allies in Congress, Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney have become fierce competitors as they both run in the new 12th Congressional District of New York in this month’s Democratic primary. The two long-time House members were each first elected to Congress in 1992, but a chaotic redistricting process led to both their bases being drawn into the same new district, which includes much of both the East Side and West Side of Manhattan from about 18th Street to the north end of Central

Suraj Patel on the campaign trail (photo: @surajpatelnyc)

This month, Suraj Patel is poised to lose his third consecutive New York congressional primary. Though I won’t be voting for him, as an Indian-American politico Patel’s candidacy this time around has meant more to me than I

Rep. Carolyn Maloney joins other top elected officials to outline plans for protecting abortion rights (photo: Don Pollard/Governor’s Office)

August 8, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Rep. Carolyn Maloney on Her Campaign for Congress in the New NY-12

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat representing the current 12th Congressional District of New York, joined the show to discuss her campaign in the August primary for the new 12th Congressional District, a race that also includes Rep. Jerry Nadler and attorney Suraj Patel.

Listen to the conversation and let us know

Voters on the move (photo: Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photo Office)

There are less than three weeks until primary day, August 23, and the deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot is Monday, August 8. In New York’s 10th and 12th congressional districts, where there are heated Democratic primary contests underway, absentee ballots may play a particularly significant role under the peculiar circumstances of the election.

“Absentee ballot organizing is likely to be the single most important factor in determining the winner of these races,” Neal Kwatra, founder of Metropolitan Public

Suraj Patel (photo: Patel campaign)

July 27, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Suraj Patel on Running for Congress in the New NY-12

Suraj Patel, the author, on the campaign trail (photo via Patel campaign)

Today, it’s hard not to be frustrated. The cost of everything – from rent to gas to groceries to clothes to even toys - is going up. At the same time inflation also has another nefarious side effect: wages - which were already stagnant - essentially went down as inflation went up. This is an inflationary pay cut and it means workers are being squeezed from both sides. Rather than putting our heads in the sand, or pointing to alternative data points to try and deflect people's pain, it’s time for real

Suraj Patel campaigning (photo: Facebook)

Wealthy Manhattanites, more than others, fled New York City when the coronavirus pandemic erupted here, according to New York Times data reporting. Now, it’s unclear how that exodus might affect voting behavior in party primary elections happening this month, like in New York’s 12th Congressional District, where much of incumbent Representative Carolyn Maloney’s support has historically been in parts of Manhattan home to many of

Left to right: Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Suraj Patel, Pete Harrison, Lauren Ashcraft

The Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District features incumbent Rep. Carolyn Maloney and three challengers: Suraj Patel, Peter Harrison, and Lauren Ashcraft. All four candidates were set to debate Monday night, but Maloney canceled the day of the debate due to illness. Her three challengers met to discuss a variety of issues and strategies in a debate hosted by Empire State Indivisible and moderated by Gotham Gazette's Ben Max. Watch the debate below.

All Democratic

Left to right: Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Suraj Patel, Pete Harrison, Lauren Ashcraft

UPDATE: This debate occurred on June 8, among the three challengers after Rep. Maloney backed out the day of the debate due to illness. Watch the debate video here.

The four candidates running the Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and is currently