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Lorissa Rinehart's avatar

Interestingly, La Guardia fell in love with Jeanette Rankin, America’s first congresswoman, pacifist, early proponent of RCV, passionate advocate for electoral reform, and fierce adversary of oligarchs.

Though he certainly had a mind of his own, their conversations undoubtedly shaped his opinions and helped strengthen his resolve.

Though La Guardia asked her to marry him more than once, she refused preferring to remain an independent woman untethered by another’s agenda.

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David Gottfried's avatar

La Guardia was legendary. Born of a Jewish Mother and an Italian Father, he was the first minority candidate. He vigorously fought fascists whether they be landlords or Nazi agents infiltrating New York

And, BTW, Viva Mamdani

https://davidgottfried.substack.com/p/why-this-jew-supports-mamdani-for

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Will Thompson's avatar

One day I hope to arrive to NYC by high speed rail, step out, and breath its air for the first time on the open concourse of the Mamdani Transit Transfer Station

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Emma Goldman-Sherman's avatar

and it will be free!

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Leigh Horne's avatar

As a non New Yorker, I knew nothing of this, and I am so, so grateful for your presentation of a man strong, and yes loving and clear-eyed enough to stand up for we the people in the face of such unjust criticism. I am honestly breathless in the face of that. And I hope, I pray that we will elect more and more people just like him, as the business of the day, maybe the century, is a thoroughgoing shift toward social and economic justice. I unashamedly call that progress. Thank you for this piece. More, please.

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Scott's avatar

There is a difference between a helping hand and a handout. Both La Guardia’s and FDR’s infrastructure programs did not involve the latter. Investing in infrastructure programs that created a livable wage for the worker, created dignity in achievement, and pride in a shared community project to the betterment of the community is different than seizing the means of production by the government, redistributing private business and land to run and develop by the government, and placing the cost solely on those who are wealthy. La Guardia funded public works through federal funding and public/private investment partnerships not through increased taxation. While FDR did increase taxes on the wealthy to fund the war effort he also expanded the tax base requiring lower income earners to pay taxes - in other words - everyone contributed, everyone participated. If we were to start a Civilian Conservation Core in NY or any other city today how many people are showing up to perform the real back breaking labor to improve our infrastructure? How many people are showing up to dig another battery tunnel? Construct and maintain sewage plants? Promising something for nothing is not what La Guardia or FDR promised or delivered. What they both said is if you push up your sleeves, grit your teeth, and help improve our infrastructure you’ll be rewarded with a wage, an improved community, and a safety net (social security). While Mamdani is articulate, youthful, energetic, and has a brilliant social media campaign which a younger audience finds engaging, promising something for nothing at the sole cost of the wealthy, is not exactly in line with La Guardia or FDR. I need to hear more substance, a more developed economic program than “I’ll tax the rich, and your life will be better.” This isn’t the public/private partnerships of La Guardia. Now, with regard to radical ideas, Mamdani has a few which are not in line with La Guardian or FDR, such as defunding the police as police reform to me is different than eliminating policing which is required for an ordered society to enforce the rule of law, or violence is just a social construct, or not investigating domestic violence allegations - all critiques based upon views he espoused. These things concern me. I’m willing to listen, and learn (this article was informative), but I’m not sold.

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Jane McKay's avatar

This was utterly fascinating and a beacon of hope. As a Scottish woman I am so proud of the brave principled socialists in our recent history who were passionate about social justice and the rights of working class people - the very fabric of every society. They would be disgusted at the betrayal of our so called socialists today with their complete abandonment of ordinary people struggling to survive. Understanding history is critical and context is everything. This is not something our governments and their masters - those unregulated, thieving, morally and ethically corrupt corporations- want or feel they can allow. So they keep us distracted and as ignorant as they can get away with. Pulling back the curtains to expose where their fingers are stuck in every exploitative, freedom sucking plan, every scheme and every imperialist power play is the only way forward. I think people are ready to listen and to really hear.

Thank you for your efforts in bucking the trend.

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Jeannette Weaver's avatar

La Guardia was a hero in my eyes.

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Andre Banks's avatar

I was recently at a dinner table in New York of wealthy, politically influential progressive elites that are deeply committed to racial, social and economic justice. I was genuinely shocked by how much this kind of reactionary thinking about Mamdani was passed off in that circle as "pragmatism". You've made it very clear how that pov is at least ahistorical and very likely wrong.

Great piece!

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