Changing New York City Politics

First published in 1991, Changing New York City Politics provides an important grounding for understanding where New York City politics is likely to go in the coming two years.

Three decades after New York City’s first Black mayor was elected and then defeated after only one term, the city’s second Black mayor is facing challenges that in many ways are similar to those of his predecessor, yet different in others. Like David Dinkins, Mayor Eric Adams faces worries about crime and public disorder, recovery from an economic downturn, and criticism over his managerial style. It may be a quite different city today in terms of the makeup of its electorate - less white, more diverse, but certainly no more Black - and Adams may have a closer connection to the Police Department than Dinkins could manage - but the challenges of constructing a multi-racial electoral and governing coalition in the face of skepticism from white voters remains.

This book will be of interest to students and researchers of political science, American history, and comparative politics.

Asher Arian, at the time of the first publication, was a member of the Wagner Institute of CUNY, USA.

Arthur S. Goldberg, at the time of the first publication, was a member of the Wagner Institute of CUNY, USA.

John H. Mollenkopf teaches Political Science and Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center, directs its Center for Urban Research, and chairs the public policy subfield in political science. His teaching and research interests focus on urban politics and public policy, using New York City as a case study in comparison with similar large cities in the U.S. and Europe to understand urban political mobilization, immigrant political incorporation, and the formation of governing coalitions. Prior to joining the Graduate Center in 1981, he directed the Economic Development Division of the New York City Department of City Planning and taught urban studies and public management at Stanford University. He was also Program Director for Urban Initiatives at the Social Science Research Council, chaired its Committee on New York City, and served on the editorial boards of PS and Urban Affairs Review.

Edward T. Rogowsky was Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Brooklyn College, CUNY. He served as director of the Brooklyn College Graduate Center for Worker Education, New York City from 1989 to 1995. In 1990, Rogowsky was appointed to the New York City Planning Commission by the Brooklyn borough president, a position he served in until in March, 2001.