“The New Deal era ushered in a relatively generous local welfare system that was strained by the sudden rise in unemployment. The economic downturn of the 1970s nearly broke the city. A fiscal crisis left the city’s finances in the hands of the Financial Control Board, appointed by the Governor and with almost half its seats going to corporate chiefs rather than elected officials. It instituted painful cuts in services.”
(Insert plug for Kim Phillip’s Fein’s “Fear City” book)
Fascinating history - I did a report on boss Tweed for 7th grade civics 30 years ago! This is so fascinating learning more detail and the patronage dynamics. Thank you
By the way, a veteran reporter/columnist for “Corriere della Sera”, Aldo Cazzullo, recently published a book called “Mussolini il capobanda” (Mussolini the gang leader/crime boss). Unlike in the anglosphere, Italian commenters generally do not do a lot of hand-wringing about calling contemporary right-wing movements fascist, or framing them in the context of mafia-style lawlessness, failed state structures, and tribal patronage. Your arguments on these issues would find a lot of resonance there.
“The New Deal era ushered in a relatively generous local welfare system that was strained by the sudden rise in unemployment. The economic downturn of the 1970s nearly broke the city. A fiscal crisis left the city’s finances in the hands of the Financial Control Board, appointed by the Governor and with almost half its seats going to corporate chiefs rather than elected officials. It instituted painful cuts in services.”
(Insert plug for Kim Phillip’s Fein’s “Fear City” book)
Fascinating history - I did a report on boss Tweed for 7th grade civics 30 years ago! This is so fascinating learning more detail and the patronage dynamics. Thank you
The Brooklyn Navy Yard also shut down in the 1960s. A peace dividend similar to deindustrialization in LA in the 90s?
By the way, a veteran reporter/columnist for “Corriere della Sera”, Aldo Cazzullo, recently published a book called “Mussolini il capobanda” (Mussolini the gang leader/crime boss). Unlike in the anglosphere, Italian commenters generally do not do a lot of hand-wringing about calling contemporary right-wing movements fascist, or framing them in the context of mafia-style lawlessness, failed state structures, and tribal patronage. Your arguments on these issues would find a lot of resonance there.