Six pieces of media about New York

This week, as we near the end of summer, we're deviating from the typical deep dives into policy to share some of my favorite media on New York’s cultural and political landscapes. From a weekly podcast with influential policy leaders to a daily dish of some of the coolest spots in town, here are six of my favorite pieces of media centered on New York. 

1. A documentary on the near bankruptcy of New York

In Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises, the character Mike Campbell is asked how he went bankrupt. He replies, "Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly." The recent documentary Drop Dead City explains how New York City found itself in a similarly precarious position in 1975, and how a group of business and civic leaders pulled the city back from the brink of bankruptcy. The film is directed by Michael Rohatyn, whose father, Felix, was the banker and diplomat at the center of the negotiations.

2. A daily Substack on what’s cool in business, media, and the city

I first came across Emily Sundberg’s Substack Feed Me following a profile on her in the New York Times and an interview on Semafor’s podcast about media. About two-thirds of her daily newsletter covers media and business, while the remainder surfaces interesting restaurants, hotels, and events in New York. Recent editions explored changes at Nine Orchard in Dimes Square, citizen science on the subways, and the launch of the new liberal Substack The Argument. 

3. Instagram Reels explaining real estate and rezoning

I don't watch a lot of Instagram Reels, especially related to complex public policy, but Nile Berry's Instagram @urbanexplained does an incredible job making these topics interesting, informative, and digestible. From the recent midtown rezoning to infrastructure challenges ahead for the next mayoral administration, he combines visuals, data points, and historical references in short, simple narratives.

4. A morning newsletter on New York politics

This won't be new for active political observers, but POLITICO's New York Playbook delivers a comprehensive collection of stories across City Hall, Albany, and the Congressional delegation every morning. I’ve been on the distribution list since 2010, when I worked in City Hall and Mike Allen penned the national edition daily. This week, as the team has taken a short summer break from publishing, I’ve felt significantly less knowledgeable about New York news.

5. A lengthy tome on the building of modern New York

I finally got around to reading the 1,300-page book, The Power Broker, after Kathy Wylde mentioned it at our event in June. Actually, I’m listening to it on Audible, which, even at 1.5x speed, is a 44-hour journey exploring the life of the influential urban planner Robert Moses. I’m often traversing that history while walking along the Riverside Park, which was expanded by 130 acres under Moses's direction and runs adjacent to the West Side Highway, which was also constructed during his mixed tenure. 

6. A weekly podcast interview with influential policy leaders

I regularly tune into the Max Politics podcast to understand the who and what of New York politics. In his weekly interviews, Ben Max interviews some of the city and state's most influential policymakers, political candidates, civic leaders, strategists, and other movers and shakers. Recent episodes have explored insights from the mayoral race and the housing reform recommendations from the New York City Charter Revision Commission.

If you have time over the long weekend to check out any of these items, let me know your thoughts, and if you have any favorites I should add to the mix in the future.

Three more things

• On public theater, Shakespeare in the Park is currently running until September 14th at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater. Here are a few ways you can secure free tickets.

• On advancing impact in New York, Breakout, The David Prize, and a group of partners are bringing together 150 New Yorkers for SEE NYC, a three-day immersive experience taking participants to sites across the city. I'm attending and know some other great folks joining. There are a few more spots open, and you can apply here.

• On the Democratic Party, following a reported loss of 2.1 million members over the last four years, Bradley Tusk outlines a simple solution for the party: They need to present a clear vision for America. We’re hosting a conversation with Bradley on October 28th on The Future of Civic Engagement. Learn more and RSVP here.