Hacks Celebrate Defeat of Reform

The word is that the city’s Democratic Party has been energized! Yes, those donkeys are ready for action now. Why, they’ve even begun to count down the number of days until Mayor Bloomberg is returned to civilian life.

They’re smiling and cheering, those Democrats. The newspapers have taken notice of the bounce in their Read More

Hacks Relax: O’Hare Is Leaving

A survey of state and local government in New York does not always leave observers inspired, uplifted and generally giddy about the joys and virtues of democracy.

Begin, if you dare, with our part-time legislators in the frozen wastelands of Albany. Oh, some of them are fine and even admirable, as one might expect in Read More

Sometimes You Get What You Pay For

Since you ask, I’ve spent the last several weeks pursuing a

project that will manifest itself between two hard covers sometime in late

November. As this sort of work requires a certain intensity and focus, I’ve

been following Henry David Thoreau’s short guide to a happy life-I’ve been

skimping on newspapers, periodicals and other chronicles Read More