In New York City's mayoral race, a stark reality is unfolding. For Black voters like Renee Collymore, who has lived in Clinton Hill for decades, gentrification has become a personal crisis. The neighborhood she once called home, where her parents raised their families and bought houses with pride, has been ravaged by rising rents and an influx of wealthier newcomers.
Collymore sees Zohran Mamdani, the young state assemblyman who won the Democratic primary, as the embodiment of the gentrifier's agenda. Despite his pledge to make the city more affordable, she fears that Mamdani's policies will only exacerbate the problem, pricing out even more long-time residents like her.
As a Black moderate Democrat, Collymore is an outlier in this racially diverse and liberal neighborhood. Her discomfort with Mamdani stems from his association with the Democratic Socialists of America and his proposals for bike lanes and free buses, which she sees as symbols of privilege. She has watched as countless neighbors have been forced out of their homes due to rising costs, leaving behind a community that once thrived.
The divide between Mamdani's supporters and critics like Collymore is stark. While some Black voters see Mamdani as the king of gentrifiers, others view him as a champion of affordability. The debate has become increasingly nuanced, with many Black voters acknowledging that their communities are facing an existential crisis due to resegregation.
The implications of this racial divide cannot be overstated. New York City has seen a significant exodus of Black families in recent years, with the number of non-Hispanic Black residents declining by over 6% between 2000 and 2020. The drop is most dramatic in communities like Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Brooklyn Heights, where data shows that only 18% of residents are now Black.
As the mayoral election heats up, voters like Brandon Lloyd Adams, a small business owner from East Harlem, are grappling with the consequences of Mamdani's policies. While he initially supported Mamdani in the primary, his enthusiasm waned as he considered the potential impact on his bakeries and livelihood.
Ultimately, this election is not just about who will become the next mayor; it's also about the future of Black communities in New York City. As experts caution against overgeneralizing the political views of Black voters, it becomes clear that there are differing perspectives within this already-diverse group. The question on everyone's mind is: what kind of city do we want to build for our children?
Collymore sees Zohran Mamdani, the young state assemblyman who won the Democratic primary, as the embodiment of the gentrifier's agenda. Despite his pledge to make the city more affordable, she fears that Mamdani's policies will only exacerbate the problem, pricing out even more long-time residents like her.
As a Black moderate Democrat, Collymore is an outlier in this racially diverse and liberal neighborhood. Her discomfort with Mamdani stems from his association with the Democratic Socialists of America and his proposals for bike lanes and free buses, which she sees as symbols of privilege. She has watched as countless neighbors have been forced out of their homes due to rising costs, leaving behind a community that once thrived.
The divide between Mamdani's supporters and critics like Collymore is stark. While some Black voters see Mamdani as the king of gentrifiers, others view him as a champion of affordability. The debate has become increasingly nuanced, with many Black voters acknowledging that their communities are facing an existential crisis due to resegregation.
The implications of this racial divide cannot be overstated. New York City has seen a significant exodus of Black families in recent years, with the number of non-Hispanic Black residents declining by over 6% between 2000 and 2020. The drop is most dramatic in communities like Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Brooklyn Heights, where data shows that only 18% of residents are now Black.
As the mayoral election heats up, voters like Brandon Lloyd Adams, a small business owner from East Harlem, are grappling with the consequences of Mamdani's policies. While he initially supported Mamdani in the primary, his enthusiasm waned as he considered the potential impact on his bakeries and livelihood.
Ultimately, this election is not just about who will become the next mayor; it's also about the future of Black communities in New York City. As experts caution against overgeneralizing the political views of Black voters, it becomes clear that there are differing perspectives within this already-diverse group. The question on everyone's mind is: what kind of city do we want to build for our children?
this gentrification thing is like a slow cooker, ya know? it's not just about Mamdani or the Democratic Socialists, it's about a whole system that's designed to push people out. i mean, 6% decline in black residents since 2000? that's a huge drop 
and it's happening in communities where they're already struggling to make ends meet. what kind of city do we want to build for our kids, indeed? one that prioritizes affordability and community over profit and progress 
. I mean, who wouldn't wanna know how Zohran Mamdani plans to make the city more affordable? Sounds good on paper, but Collymore's concerns are legit 
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. I'm not saying Mamdani is bad or anything, but Collymore has a point about him being out of touch with the community 
. This whole thing's got me wondering if there's more to it than meets the eye 
...like, who's really behind all this gentrification? 
It's like, what even is gentrification, right? 
I'm loving the nuance in this story though - it's clear that there are so many different perspectives on this issue and we need to listen to ALL of them 
. I mean, gentrification is no joke and it's heartbreaking to see Black communities being priced out of their own neighborhoods. Collymore sounds like a total hero for speaking up against Mamdani's policies, even if she doesn't agree with him. It's all about finding that balance between affordability and progress, you know? 
I'd rather see someone proposing concrete, community-driven solutions that benefit everyone, not just one group of people. What's the plan here? 
. But what I am saying is that this election is way more complex than just who's gonna win. It's about what kind of city we want to build, and how we're gonna make sure that everyone has access to affordable housing 
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. Like, what happens when you raise rents and prices too high? You drive out the competition and leave no room for innovation 
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. The fact that Black voters have different opinions on his agenda highlights just how nuanced this conversation needs to be. As a society, we gotta start asking ourselves: what does affordable mean for our communities? Is it a pipe dream or a feasible goal?
. We need leaders who will listen to and amplify the voices of long-time residents like Renee Collymore, rather than just catering to newcomers 
According to a 2020 survey, there's been a 34% increase in rent prices since 2015, with an average price increase of $1,300 per year 
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. As the mayoral election heats up, voters like Brandon Lloyd Adams are grappling with the consequences of Mamdani's policies 
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. It's no longer just about who's going to make the city more affordable, but also about who gets to decide what that affordability looks like 
. The real question is how we can create spaces for Black families to thrive without pushing them out themselves 
. It's gonna be tough to build a city that works for everyone, but I think that's what we need to figure out 
It's like, the politicians and experts keep talking about building a better future for Black communities, but how are they going to make sure that doesn't just benefit the newcomers and not the people who've been here for decades? Like, what about making sure that everyone has access to affordable housing, food, and healthcare? That's the real question.
. This election is a chance to shape the future of our cities, and I think we should be thinking carefully about what kind of city we want to build for our kids. 
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. But here's the thing - it feels like a class issue too, you know? Like, Mamdani's proposals might actually benefit some folks, but at what cost to those who can't afford it? It's like, we're having this conversation about affordability, but what about accessibility? 
. I'm not saying they're bad, per se, but sometimes you gotta wonder if they're just trying to placate the left without actually tackling the root issues. Like, we need to talk about systemic racism and inequality in our cities, not just slap some stickers on a bike lane 
. But at the end of the day, it's like, what kind of city do WE want to build for our kids? That's the real question.