Why Governor Cuomo’s Education Proposals Are As Bad for Students As They Are for Teachers Why Governor Cuomo’s Education Proposals Are As Bad for Students As They Are for Teachers
Governor Cuomo's public school agenda puts both students and teachers in jeopardy.
Mar 13, 2015 / StudentNation / Leah Brunski
Giuliani’s Love for His Country Is Equal to the Money He Makes Giuliani’s Love for His Country Is Equal to the Money He Makes
For Rudy Giuliani, the greater the threat or instability, the more money he makes.
Feb 25, 2015 / Tim Shorrock
Why Did a ‘Liberal’ Critique of Bill de Blasio Distort His Record? Why Did a ‘Liberal’ Critique of Bill de Blasio Distort His Record?
Noam Scheiber says the mayor should focus more on economic populism—but neglects to mention his big wins for New Yorkers.
Feb 11, 2015 / Column / Eric Alterman
José Martí on the Great New York Snowstorm of 1888 José Martí on the Great New York Snowstorm of 1888
“For two days the snow has had New York in its power.”
Jan 27, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Greg Grandin
What’s the Difference Between Sheldon Silver and Jamie Dimon? What’s the Difference Between Sheldon Silver and Jamie Dimon?
Federal prosecutors want to put one in prison for taking kickbacks for doing political favors. The other has been richly rewarded for defrauding investors and saving fellow bankers...
Jan 27, 2015 / William Greider
Can a Progressive Mayor Govern New York City? Can a Progressive Mayor Govern New York City?
Bill de Blasio was elected to unite a divided city, but some rifts are hard to mend.
Jan 21, 2015 / Feature / Sarah Jaffe
Ganzeer Versus the NYPD Ganzeer Versus the NYPD
One of the works appearing prominently in the Egyptian artist Ganzeer’s first US solo show has already been displayed to the thousands who attended this fall’s anti-police brutality protests. It’s a silkscreened print in yellow and blue, with a picture of Eric Garner being choked by an NYPD officer. Along the side, bold lettering reads: BE BRUTAL. The mock recruiting poster carries contact information at the bottom: NYPDKILLS.COM / 212-KILL-PEOPLE. Mohamed Fahmy, 32, who goes by the name Ganzeer (or “bicycle chain”) achieved international fame during the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt. For many foreign artists, a New York show might be viewed as an opportunity to focus an audience’s attention on their home country, but Ganzeer wasn’t interested. “I think that’s what they were expecting: ‘This guy’s from Egypt. He’s going to do a show about Egypt and the situation there,’” he said about being approached by the Leila Heller Gallery curator and Middle Eastern art expert Shiva Balaghi. But Ganzeer had other ideas; he wasn’t going to be Orientalized—a problem, he noted, that never seemed to be experienced by the British street artist Banksy or the Italian artist Blu. “I’m interested in making art about relevant things that are happening in the world,” he said. In other words, when in America, set your sights on America. “At first there was some hesitancy,” he said of the gallery, “but I think they really got into it.” Please support our journalism. Get a digital subscription for just $9.50! He arrived in New York in mid-May, his first trip to the United States. He began to immerse himself in American politics and history. “He’s been reading Howard Zinn,” said Balaghi. The only link to his Egyptian work is a reference to a poster that landed him in the clink. In 2011, Ganzeer and two associates were arrested by Egyptian security forces while hanging a silkscreen called The Mask of Freedom, of a man wearing a ball-gag and blinders, wings protruding from his temples. In the new image, the ball-gag remains, the blinder is replaced by a full Captain America mask with no eye holes, and the man sports a business suit. “Great American Mask of Freedom,” the poster reads, “since 1776 and still going strong.” At least for now, Egypt’s loss is our gain. Ganzeer’s show will be on display at the Leila Heller Gallery through February 21. Read Next: Michelle Chen on police unions
Jan 21, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Ali Gharib
Egypt’s Revolutionary Artist Takes On the NYPD Egypt’s Revolutionary Artist Takes On the NYPD
Ganzeer’s new show opens today in New York.
Jan 16, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Ali Gharib
Police Unions Don’t Serve the People. Can the Labor Movement Force Them To? Police Unions Don’t Serve the People. Can the Labor Movement Force Them To?
We banned police from the “house of labor.” Look at them now.
Jan 9, 2015 / Michelle Chen
The District Attorney Who Failed to Secure an Indictment Against Eric Garner’s Killer May Be Running for Congress The District Attorney Who Failed to Secure an Indictment Against Eric Garner’s Killer May Be Running for Congress
Could the new civil rights movement thwart the Staten Island DA’s ambitions?
Jan 8, 2015 / Zoë Carpenter