Manhattan Institute

As New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday, a new Manhattan Institute poll reveals a sharp divide between candidate popularity and support for progressive ideas—part of a broader look from MI scholars at the city’s politics, economy, and future. A new MI poll led by Jesse Arm finds Zohran Mamdani leading the NYC mayoral field—and even beating Andrew Cuomo head-to-head. Yet most voters reject his policy agenda: 58% oppose free bus fares, 64% support expanding gifted and talented programs, and 55% favor repealing bail reform. In UnHerd, John Ketcham explores how the growing political strength of Muslim New Yorkers is shaping the mayoral race—and how candidates are competing for this pivotal coalition. In City Journal, senior fellow Nicole Gelinas argues that New York’s wealthiest residents will better withstand progressive experiments—like rent freezes, free transit, and police budget shifts—than the city’s middle class. NYC’s next mayor will also face an unprecedented challenge: 1.2 million visitors arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As Santiago Vidal Calvo writes in City Journal, the event will stretch city infrastructure—from hotels and transit to public safety systems. In Bloomberg Opinion, Allison Schrager explains why persistently low credit spreads—often seen as a sign of calm—may actually reflect growing economic complacency. A new MI issue brief by adjunct fellow Jennifer Weber argues that mayoral control of public schools leads to more accountable leadership and lasting education reform. For the latest from MI and City Journal, subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eriGg5NU

For more than 20 years, mayoral control has given NYC the ability to implement consistent, citywide education reforms—and the results are hard to ignore. A new Manhattan Institute issue brief by Jennifer Weber makes the case for preserving and strengthening mayoral control as the city’s most effective governance model for public education. Since 2002: • Graduation rates have risen from 53% to 83% • Achievement gaps have narrowed sharply for Black and Hispanic students • NYC’s 8th-grade reading performance has caught up to the national average • The system has sustained reform across three mayoral administrations Weber’s research compares NYC’s trajectory with other major districts—like Los Angeles and Houston—still governed by elected school boards. The contrast is clear: stable leadership and clear accountability matter. As the 2025 mayoral election approaches, the future of this model is once again on the line. Read the full brief: https://bit.ly/3Lg3rmv

How can students know which colleges will give them the best educational value for their dollar? Neetu Arnold shares her personal experience with racial preferencing in college admissions and explores City Journal's new College Rankings with Renu Mukherjee and Rafael A. Mangual. Watch the entire episode: https://lnkd.in/eckQ5c5P

The American Conservatism and Governing Fellowship is now accepting applications. This fellowship brings together cohorts of successful mid-career public-service professionals to study the foundational principles of American conservatism. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/emfcsV_G

In his new Manhttan Institute report, Daniel Di Martino argues that a smarter immigration policy can boost the economy, advance the national interest, and stop demographic decline—all without touching a single tax or spending law. Read the entire report: https://lnkd.in/eM5vZ5xR

From Rikers to Canal Street, NYC’s biggest issues took center stage in the final mayoral debate. Nicole Gelinas, John Ketcham, and Rafael Mangual discuss who rose, who stumbled, and what it all means for voters on the new episode of the City Journal podcast. Watch the entire episode: https://bit.ly/3WTMVuV

America’s higher-ed crisis is just one front in a broader struggle over national priorities—from immigration reform to public safety and national defense. Here’s what MI scholars have been tackling this week: Most college rankings reward prestige—not purpose. Our new City Journal College Rankings evaluate 100 schools on what really matters: educational quality, free inquiry, and outcomes that justify the cost. In a major new report, MI fellow Daniel Di Martino models the long-term fiscal and economic impact of immigration—using a Congressional Budget Office–style approach. His findings: smarter, merit-based immigration strengthens growth and fiscal sustainability. In the New York Post, fellow Rafael A. Mangual and former NYPD commissioner William J. Bratton warn against a proposed law that would strip the police commissioner of disciplinary authority. Their message: weakening accountability means weaker public safety. In The Atlantic, Charles Fain Lehman digs into how fear of crime and disorder drives people off subways, buses, and light-rail systems. Quality of life, not convenience, determines whether cities thrive—or empty out. In City Journal, Carolyn Gorman examines New York’s proposal to legalize hallucinogens. Her warning: amid rising mental-health crises, policymakers are flirting with drugs that carry serious risks. City Journal Investigative analyst Stu Smith exposes a global activist campaign to undermine the F-35 fighter program—one of America’s most vital defense assets. If unchecked, this movement could erode U.S. military readiness for years to come.  For the latest from MI and City Journal, subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eriGg5NU

Immigration can strengthen—or strain—the nation’s finances. It depends on who we admit.   A new Manhattan Institute report from Daniel Di Martino finds that: · Immigrants with college or graduate degrees contribute millions more in taxes than they receive in benefits. · Those with lower education levels tend to be net fiscal costs. · Shifting visas toward high-skill categories could reduce federal debt by nearly $20 trillion and raise GDP by 4.6%—without increasing total immigration. A smarter, merit-based system can make immigration fiscally sustainable and economically strong. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eM5vZ5xR

City Journal has released a new tool to help students and parents understand higher education more clearly.   The City Journal College Rankings assess 100 leading U.S. colleges on key measures of educational quality, campus culture, and civic purpose—going beyond traditional rankings that focus narrowly on prestige or resources.   Read the full rankings here: https://lnkd.in/eifCvXh4

What sent Rafael A. Mangual down an intellectual rabbit hole? Watch today's City Journal Podcast with Daniel Di Martino and Tal Fortgang to find out: https://lnkd.in/e7FwvuEM