Mayor Zohran Mamdani is abandoning his proposal to hike taxes on all New York City property owners, following widespread criticism over the initiative.
This NYT report marks the 10th review/interview about my book "The Authoritarian Commons: Neighborhood Democratization in Urban China." I'm grateful that people are still paying attention to everyday life in China. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/w...
Thank you, Emily! I'm flattered:)
Property is the drive...
1/ Totally fascinating story from NYT on how homeowners associations and private property are spaces for political resistance in China: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/w...
If a quiet method of mineral exploration is successful, it could thread a loophole in the law governing public lands, helping open these areas for mining that much more quickly—and controversially, Lauren Steele reports.
Miami-based #UChicagoLaw alums — come join @adamchilton.bsky.social & me tonight to discuss the future of presidential administration
Kudos to Mayor Mamdani.
This is what economic justice looks like.
And it's a reminder of how we can fight corporate greed at the state and local level. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/01/mamdani-ice-delivery-workers-settlement-backpay-uber-gig-workers-million/
Thank you for the review!
The mayor’s plan to raise the taxes by 9.5% drew backlash, but her still supports a tax on second homes worth $5 million or more.
3/ Shitong Qiao @shitongqiao.bsky.social who is quoted in the NYT story has written THE definitive book on homeowners association as spaces for political activism and engagement in China. It's meticulous and brilliant.
scholarship.law.duke.edu/faculty_book...
2/ The images of ordinary folk driving Mercedes Benzes while pointing out abuses of the law reminds me of this rare form of protest, also about protecting private property (in this case huge villas), which I did in northern Beijing a few years ago
www.npr.org/2021/01/26/9...
The paradox is in the title. Commons and authoritarian governance are supposed to contradict. If neighborhood democratization happens inside an authoritarian state, either the state is more porous than the label suggests or commons do not require liberal preconditions. Which is it?
