In a recent post on social media, Mark Levine, a Democratic Party member and the Manhattan Borough President known for his progressive views, raised concerns about the Democratic Party losing support and New Yorkers leaning towards Trump. He urged the party to listen to the voices of the people on issues such as public safety, the economy, housing, and quality of life, warning of dire consequences if they fail to do so.
On November 9, Levine shared an election map from the City University of New York (CUNY) Urban Research Center, which clearly showed a shift in New York City, traditionally a Democratic stronghold, towards the Republican Party, with most areas on the map turning red.
“This is a map of New York City shifting towards voting for Trump. This dramatic change did not happen in places like the Upper West Side or Park Slope. But it occurred in Washington Heights, West Bronx, Flushing, Richmond Hill, and Bensonhurst – communities of colored working-class people,” wrote Borough President Levine in his post.
“If we (the Democratic Party) do not listen to the voters on issues like public safety, the economy, housing, and quality of life, these votes will not come back. This will have terrible consequences for the Democratic Party. We may even risk losing all levels of elected officials in New York State. This is a critical moment,” he continued.
As a progressive Democrat, Levine has been a supporter of gun control, LGBTQ+ education, and congestion pricing. His recent “reflection post” has garnered significant attention, with over 2.1 million views and more than 200 comments.
Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Brooklyn’s Park Slope are renowned upscale residential areas with a majority of white residents. According to “The Real Deal” in August, former Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette sold a century-old townhouse in Park Slope for $6.5 million.
In contrast, Washington Heights and West Bronx in Northern Manhattan have predominantly Black and Hispanic populations, while Queens’ Flushing and Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst are mainly Asian and Hispanic communities. Washington Heights is notorious for being a high-crime area in New York City and is home to the city’s first government-operated “safe injection site.”
Flushing has experienced frequent incidents of violent smash-and-grab robberies in recent years, with many victims being Chinese business owners. Bensonhurst recently elected its first Asian-American Republican state senator in opposition to a homeless shelter on 86th Street.
The shift towards the Republican Party among New York voters is noticeable to Francisco Marte, founder of the Grocery Industry and Small Business Association. Marte shared in an interview with “Epoch Times” on November 11 that many of his Dominican friends have switched to registering as Republicans and even formed Republican clubs, a departure from the norm.
Earlier in mid-April, Marte invited Trump, embroiled in a hush money lawsuit, to visit a grocery store in Harlem that had been violently robbed. Trump vowed to improve public safety in New York and support law enforcement. Spanish-speaking residents warmly welcomed Trump, chanting “Vote for Trump,” creating a unique scene in immigrant communities predominantly registered as Democrats.
Having run a grocery business in Brooklyn for decades, Marte has witnessed firsthand the impact of smash-and-grab crimes and “zero-dollar bail” policies on small business owners. “We have spoken out countless times. People want good public safety, they don’t want consequences-free crime, and they don’t want bail reform. We also don’t want socialism or communism,” Marte emphasized.
“Voters now pay attention to what politicians have done, not just what they say,” Marte said.
Peter Tu, Chief Advisor of the Flushing Chinese Business Association and founder of the Flushing JFK Democratic Club, pointed out in his response to “Epoch Times” that the Democratic Party has many individuals capable of deep reflection who do not simply blame others. He stressed that it is a critical moment for progressive leftist lawmakers to seriously reconsider their positions, as they have drifted too far from the people’s expectations.