Memphis, Michigan, is a town exactly one square mile in size and home to about 1,200 people — very different from New York City.
Yet, as the former mayor of Memphis, I have advice for the candidates for mayor of New York City.
When I took office in 2009, the recession had gutted our community. Nine of our 13 downtown buildings were vacant, and the idea of community seemed dead. By the time I left, most buildings were full, we had the first new commercial construction since 1957, and we were debt-free.
More importantly, there was a rebirth of idealism. This is not what candidates like Zohran Mamdani are offering…