Ben Guttmann
@guttmann.bsky.social
Exec. Director at Queens Economic Development Corporation. A former marketing guy who also teaches at Baruch College and wrote a book. Nobody wins unless everybody wins.
This was really something.
OSSOFF: Who won the 2020 election?
CLAYTON: Uhm, you know, I'm not going to do this with you
O: This is a job interview. You have an obligation to be honest with the committee. Who won the 2020 election?
C: I'm not gonna get into that with you
O: You're not being honest or forthright
C: ...
July 16, 2026 at 4:33 PM
This was really something.
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
New York’s heat wave is brutal. In this neighborhood, it’s even worse.
All New York Suffers in a Heat Wave. It’s Worse in Jamaica, Queens.
“Heat-vulnerable” parts of the city have few trees, little shade and limited access to air-conditioning. And the risk of death is also higher.
nyti.ms
July 3, 2026 at 3:00 AM
New York’s heat wave is brutal. In this neighborhood, it’s even worse.
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
Soaring bike share prices are a uniquely New York phenomenon — a 45-minute ride on an electric bike costs $4.50 in Boston, $3.50 in Paris, $2.10 in Tokyo, and just $1.75 in London.
In NYC? $12.15.
In NYC? $12.15.
June 16, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Soaring bike share prices are a uniquely New York phenomenon — a 45-minute ride on an electric bike costs $4.50 in Boston, $3.50 in Paris, $2.10 in Tokyo, and just $1.75 in London.
In NYC? $12.15.
In NYC? $12.15.
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
Parade. Thursday. Manhattan.
June 14, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Parade. Thursday. Manhattan.
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
I think this is what NYC must have felt like during the events seen in the documentary Ghostbusters
June 11, 2026 at 3:47 AM
I think this is what NYC must have felt like during the events seen in the documentary Ghostbusters
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
"Something remarkable happened in April. For the first time in history, wind and solar generated more electricity than gas across the entire planet. Not in a country. Not in a region. Globally."
Tons of great news here from Danny Kennedy (via @billmckibben.bsky.social's newsletter, which rules).
Tons of great news here from Danny Kennedy (via @billmckibben.bsky.social's newsletter, which rules).
Elite Cognitive Dissonance and the Asian Energy Disruption
Notes from the Field — Singapore & Indonesia, May 2026
proelectrica.substack.com
June 8, 2026 at 4:19 PM
"Something remarkable happened in April. For the first time in history, wind and solar generated more electricity than gas across the entire planet. Not in a country. Not in a region. Globally."
Tons of great news here from Danny Kennedy (via @billmckibben.bsky.social's newsletter, which rules).
Tons of great news here from Danny Kennedy (via @billmckibben.bsky.social's newsletter, which rules).
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
My colleagues @rosalindadams.bsky.social @haidee.bsky.social and I at @thecity.nyc spent the past several months tracking hundreds of ICE street arrests across the region through federal court records..🧵🧵
projects.thecity.nyc/ice-street-a....
projects.thecity.nyc/ice-street-a....
May 27, 2026 at 11:33 AM
My colleagues @rosalindadams.bsky.social @haidee.bsky.social and I at @thecity.nyc spent the past several months tracking hundreds of ICE street arrests across the region through federal court records..🧵🧵
projects.thecity.nyc/ice-street-a....
projects.thecity.nyc/ice-street-a....
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
Extraordinary reporting, gripping visuals and stellar data journalism from @thecity.nyc on ICE street arests in NYC region and its impact on families. Corona had the highest number of ICE street arrests of any New York City neighbourhood.
My colleagues @rosalindadams.bsky.social @haidee.bsky.social and I at @thecity.nyc spent the past several months tracking hundreds of ICE street arrests across the region through federal court records..🧵🧵
projects.thecity.nyc/ice-street-a....
projects.thecity.nyc/ice-street-a....
May 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Extraordinary reporting, gripping visuals and stellar data journalism from @thecity.nyc on ICE street arests in NYC region and its impact on families. Corona had the highest number of ICE street arrests of any New York City neighbourhood.
Excellent list. I’m between “Kids” and “All My Friends.” MGMT was more potent at the time, but LCD Soundsystem probably has had better legs in the years since.
had a debate last night about the definitive millennial song. some contenders: mgmt’s “kids,” yeah yeah yeah’s “maps,” kanye’s “all of the lights,” arcade fire’s “wake up,” postal service’s “such great heights,” animal collective’s “my girls,” lcd soundsystem’s “all my friends,” stroke’s “last nite”
May 11, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Excellent list. I’m between “Kids” and “All My Friends.” MGMT was more potent at the time, but LCD Soundsystem probably has had better legs in the years since.
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
this is also one of my hobbyhorses. you want a better caliber of lawmaker? you
want to reduce the odds of corruption? pay them more. a lot more.
want to reduce the odds of corruption? pay them more. a lot more.
I wrote a paper about this in 2010, for the Richmond Journal of Law and Public Interest. Basically, low-paying, part-time legislatures serve to enshrine conflicts of interest as a best practice. We should raise pay by 10x.
May 7, 2026 at 10:43 PM
this is also one of my hobbyhorses. you want a better caliber of lawmaker? you
want to reduce the odds of corruption? pay them more. a lot more.
want to reduce the odds of corruption? pay them more. a lot more.
Artemis II was the most incredible thing I’ve seen in a long time
April 11, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Artemis II was the most incredible thing I’ve seen in a long time
Nice to get one last photo before we blow ourselves up in a nuclear war
April 7, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Nice to get one last photo before we blow ourselves up in a nuclear war
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
extremely bad time for an astronaut to find out he's a werewolf
April 6, 2026 at 9:48 PM
extremely bad time for an astronaut to find out he's a werewolf
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
NASA isn't why the US doesn't have universal healthcare, or a social safety net. The US doesn't have those things because politicians with the power to provide them choose specifically not to (with varying levels of support from voters). Enthusiasm for human spaceflight doesn't drive that choice.
April 6, 2026 at 2:10 AM
NASA isn't why the US doesn't have universal healthcare, or a social safety net. The US doesn't have those things because politicians with the power to provide them choose specifically not to (with varying levels of support from voters). Enthusiasm for human spaceflight doesn't drive that choice.
There’s no group of people that I disagree with more than the “we should solve all of our problems at home instead of going to space” crowd.
Space exploration is one of the best things our species does! Have some wonder, curiosity, and hope! It’s incredible!
Space exploration is one of the best things our species does! Have some wonder, curiosity, and hope! It’s incredible!
April 5, 2026 at 9:36 PM
There’s no group of people that I disagree with more than the “we should solve all of our problems at home instead of going to space” crowd.
Space exploration is one of the best things our species does! Have some wonder, curiosity, and hope! It’s incredible!
Space exploration is one of the best things our species does! Have some wonder, curiosity, and hope! It’s incredible!
I just watched Artemis II complete its translunar injection burn, and for the first time in my life there are humans on their way to the moon. So, so, so cool.
April 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM
I just watched Artemis II complete its translunar injection burn, and for the first time in my life there are humans on their way to the moon. So, so, so cool.
This rules
New Yorkers, join us in the first ever Mayor’s Municipal Madness: a competition of city fixes where everyone wins.
Pick your fix and vote here:
nyc.gov/madness
Pick your fix and vote here:
nyc.gov/madness
March 27, 2026 at 4:26 PM
This rules
Love to see energy behind Sunnyside Yards. This is the biggest opportunity to transform our city. 180 acres!
Mamdani met with Trump today to pitch the 12K-unit Sunnyside Yards project in Western Queens
NYC released a final plan for the $14B project days before the pandemic hit in Mar 2020. Then it withered
It needs federal OK and $$$
Scoop for @wnyc.org and @gothamist.com gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
NYC released a final plan for the $14B project days before the pandemic hit in Mar 2020. Then it withered
It needs federal OK and $$$
Scoop for @wnyc.org and @gothamist.com gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Mamdani pitched Trump on building massive housing development in Sunnyside, Queens
Sources tell Gothamist that Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke with President Donald Trump about reviving a plan to build 12,000 housing units over the railyard in Sunnyside.
gothamist.com
February 27, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Love to see energy behind Sunnyside Yards. This is the biggest opportunity to transform our city. 180 acres!
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
Delays like this will become more frequent - and impact more riders - the longer we rely on the North River Tunnel. We need to complete the Hudson Tunnel Project as soon as possible to deliver reliable, modern rail infrastructure that riders can count on.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NJ to NYC Trains Delayed by 45 Minutes Due to Blocked Tunnel
A brutal week for commuters continued Friday with New Jersey Transit rail service in and out of New York’s Penn Station subject to large delays.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Delays like this will become more frequent - and impact more riders - the longer we rely on the North River Tunnel. We need to complete the Hudson Tunnel Project as soon as possible to deliver reliable, modern rail infrastructure that riders can count on.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Ben Guttmann
a few thoughts youtu.be/lERS4kJIQR8
Abolish ICE
YouTube video by Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 1:42 AM
a few thoughts youtu.be/lERS4kJIQR8
Huge!
Breaking News: Gov. Kathy Hochul, partnering with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, will unveil a plan to expand free or affordable child care for New Yorkers across the state.
Hochul and Mamdani to Announce Road Map to Expand Child Care
Governor Kathy Hochul will appear with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to lay out a plan to expand free and subsidized child care in New York, which had been a central focus of his campaign.
nyti.ms
January 8, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Huge!
The real ones know that cup is from Brooklyn Bagel, which is maybe the best bagel shop in the city. (And despite its name only has locations in Queens and Manhattan, not Brooklyn!)
Mayor Mamdani hasn't moved into Gracie Mansion yet and remains in his Astoria apartment for now, his team says. He expects to move at some point before his lease is up Jan. 30.
His team also shares this pic of him taking the W train to City Hall this morning from Astoria.
His team also shares this pic of him taking the W train to City Hall this morning from Astoria.
January 2, 2026 at 3:59 PM
The real ones know that cup is from Brooklyn Bagel, which is maybe the best bagel shop in the city. (And despite its name only has locations in Queens and Manhattan, not Brooklyn!)
Legally-mandated Shins concerts in every borough
Mamdani: As my first order of business, we are bringing back twee. This is a millennial city now
January 2, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Legally-mandated Shins concerts in every borough