The socialist’s base is composed of young, college-educated adults—not the poor.
New York City is well known for its expansive public sector. New York State is first nationally in state and local taxes per capita and as a percent of personal income, and second in terms of state and local spending per capita. While those statistics aren’t available at the municipal level, state spending is certainly getting funneled to Gotham. Forty-seven percent of New York City residents are enrolled in Medicaid, for example, compared with 35 percent statewide. Consider, also, the city’s multibillion-dollar affordable housing effort and its unique commitment to sheltering the homeless. Austerity, this is not.
