Books. Art. The New York Mets. Sometimes I write about all three. For The Economist, LA Review of Books, The Forward, Urban Omnibus, City Lab, & elsewhere.
Brooklyn, NY
Joined June 2011
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My new essay - about the wonderful documentary Drop Dead City and why watching it feels like looking at the reels of your own home movies - the films of the 70s. For @AWFJ
50 years ago New York City was on the edge of bankruptcy, dangerous and decrepit. Wonderful #FearCity doc #DropDeadCity from #MichaelRohatyn & #PeterYost about the 1975 fiscal crisis is a retelling of this pivotal moment in NYC history. @idapost reviews: awfj.org/blog/2026/02/06/dro…
My latest for Dear Dave Magazine - two stunning exhibits of the photography of Andrea Modica - Italian Story, at the Alice Austen House, and Catholic Girl, at AMR Dumbo. Do not miss these. And if you’ve never been to the Alice Austen House trust me you are due.
deardavemagazine.com/deardav…
Not understanding the “you have to respect the ambition and ‘big swing’” and “his very important commentary” - that is Innaritu’s only register.
I can’t think of a better way to wade into and understand all of this than Mason B. Williams new brilliant book City of Fortune - about NYC since the fiscal crisis in 1975 and among other things, the rise of the school choice movement (he goes deep). And as someone who grew up in NYC public schools and has now had a front row seat for other reasons - I see the role of self selection and then siphoning off of students and money as one of the most fatal of these structural issues.
One thing I keep thinking about re: this piece is that is raises the complex question of how to solve the “bad school” problem. And progressives have been incoherent on this. Is it just lack of funding? A student body with more challenges? Bad teachers and admin? I’ve certainly heard people argue that there are few bad schools just selfish parents with incorrect perceptions. What do we define as the problems here and what are the solutions?
Yael Friedman retweeted
The craziest part of growing up in the northeast is finding out knowing a ton of Irish and Italians is actually not standard for the United States.
Yael Friedman retweeted
"Just know that I love you all."
@HowieRose signs off from tonight's broadcast, which could be his final one in the Mets radio booth 🫶
Yael Friedman retweeted
Worth reading, or re-reading today. John McPhie on Arthur Ashe, one of the greatest pieces of sports writing ever published. newyorker.com/magazine/1969/…
Yael Friedman retweeted
The Yankees' dining staff made @HowieRose a special cake and cupcakes before he calls his final game at Yankee Stadium today 💙🧡
Yael Friedman retweeted
September 26 2026:
Jalen Brunson 1st Knick host SNL
October 18 1975:
Bill Bradley 1st Knick on SNL
It was the second episode ever
Yael Friedman retweeted
I saw a local Queens biz owner point out that @usta used to at least pretend to try and promote local businesses in the borough, and had some at the Open. Not anymore. (Just something to think about it)
Yael Friedman retweeted
psychiatrist: why are you here today?
me: so there's this tennis player called Daniil Medvedev...
Yael Friedman retweeted
OG Anunoby is in Times Square missing threes to help people recreate his game-winning tip-in from Game 4 of the NBA Finals 🔥
(via @winsjuliet)
Yael Friedman retweeted
All happening inside a public park that’s overrun for private, incredibly expensive use for weeks. And as any other tenant in the park will tell you, USTA is not the best neighbor.
A grounds pass ticket for day 1 at the @usopen is currently $363. Some might call it market forces, but in simple terms, it's an outrage. New Substack here. Subscribe for free if you can.
