Today is Primary Day for New Yorkers, and for those voters who didn’t cast their ballots early, Times Opinion offers a printable card to take to the polls, offering advice on where candidates stand on issues such as housing, quality of life, crime and leadership. These assessments are those of the 15 New Yorkers who came together to bring their expertise and experience of the city to The Choice, a new voting guide introduced by Times Opinion in early June. We saw an enormous value in having new and wide-ranging voices weighing in on the future of the city. Seven panelists of the 15 chose Comptroller Brad Lander as their overall best choice for mayor, making him the only candidate to receive more than two votes in that category. State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani drew praise for his spirited approach to improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. Several panelists, some with significant reservations, saw former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a steady hand on public safety. As a New York voter myself, I particularly found it useful to read the panelists in discussion with one another on the merits of — and their concerns about — the slate of candidates. This primary could prove to be a defining one — a race about what kind of city New York is. Many residents have lost faith in the Democratic Party and its veteran leaders, but they are also savvy about politics and wary of charismatic leaders with little government experience. It felt vital that Times Opinion offer several viewpoints on who is best suited to lead the city. Mara Gay urged voters to look past Cuomo’s name recognition and take into consideration his bullying approach to governing as well as the sexual harassment accusations that forced him to resign as governor. Ezra Klein took a tour of Brooklyn with Lander to demonstrate how his policies could benefit more New Yorkers. David Wallace-Wells predicted the political story New Yorkers would tell should Mamdani capture the nomination. Nicole Gelinas explored how continued worries about crime will shape this election. As the head of The Times editorial board, I said last year that it would no longer be making pro forma endorsements in elections. That includes this one, though we keep the option open to do so in the future should we find the circumstances so compelling or a candidate with qualities that truly match the moment’s challenges. Given what’s at stake today, though, we offered our own guidance about where New York has been and where it should be headed.
Here’s what we’re focusing on today:
We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you’re in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times.
|
