Rebecca Solnit: "I think of voting as a chess move, not a valentine."#
I changed the header graphic on Scripting News today to raise a question with NYC voters. #
Bill de Blasio was mayor. A funeral for two murdered cops. The police stand at attention, their backs turned on the mayor. This was a statement about him for sure, but even more about their disdain for the people who elected him, you and me, the people they're sworn to protect. I grew up in NY, and had plenty of experience with NY cops and this kind of disrespect is, from my point of view, who they are. I know they see themselves as martyrs, that's what the demonstration meant. But they also have a job to do and a chain of command.#
There's a lot of pent up resentment and you can't just wish it away. The mayor, for better or worse, owns it. I can't imagine they'd have much respect for the Democratic Party nominee. Like it or not, this is the city NYers live in. #
I am old enough to remember when John Lindsay, a liberal Republican, back when there were such things, was the newly elected mayor in 1966 and was greeted by a transit strike, shutting down subways and buses. The unions walked all over him. Welcome to NY. #
I think NYC and NYers will fare better with a Andrew Cuomo. #
This isn't the first time I've stood up for him on this blog. He did resign in disgrace, humiliated, but I never will forget his leadership during the darkest times of Covid. Cuomo, along with Donald McNeil at the NY Times and Dr Anthony Fauci were the bright beams of intelligence and compassion. You may think differently, but I haven't forgotten.#
Last update: Sunday October 26, 2025; 12:00 PM EDT.
You know those obnoxious sites that pop up dialogs when they think you're about to leave, asking you to subscribe to their email newsletter? Well that won't do for Scripting News readers who are a discerning lot, very loyal, but that wouldn't last long if I did rude stuff like that. So here I am at the bottom of the page quietly encouraging you to sign up for the nightly email. It's got everything from the previous day on Scripting, plus the contents of the linkblog and who knows what else we'll get in there. People really love it. I wish I had done it sooner. And every email has an unsub link so if you want to get out, you can, easily -- no questions asked, and no follow-ups. Go ahead and do it, you won't be sorry! :-)
