“The thought occurs that in each of the Age of Television's three great contests over the Constitution, the rogues' gallery has never really changed. Those are proud and patriotic Republicans sitting over there.”
Originally published January 20, 1987
“The fact is that Koch has protected Bess Myerson because he has long recognized that there is no way that a damaged Myerson wouldn’t also damage him. And perhaps turn on him”
Originally published June 23, 1987
“The Friedman records, seized by the feds early last year, unveil the machinations of a remarkable range of prominent New Yorkers — from mobsters like Tony Salerno and Tommy Gambino to publishing giant Si Newhouse and developer king Donald Trump”
Originally published February 10, 1987
“Jackson has inspired debate over his cosmetic decisions because the residue of the ’60s black nationalism and the condescension of those who would pity or mock black Americans have met over the issue of his face, his skin tone, his hair”
Originally published November 17, 1987
“Detroit is a city whose horror reaches cinematic proportions, like 'The Living Dead Wear Kangols and Filas.' However you like your chiller theater, Detroit is the worst because it’s real.”
Originally published December 1, 1987
The fundamental question about the Koch administration is no longer why the mayor gave power to so many crooks, but exactly what happened years ago when whistleblowers, law enforcement investigators, and private citizens first tried to warn him
Originally published February 3, 1987
“My mother is an urban peasant and I am my mother’s daughter. The city is our natural element. We each have daily adventures with bus drivers, bag ladies, ticket takers, and street crazies. Walking brings out the best in us.”
Originally published March 17, 1987
“Jehovah has, in His Kingdom here on earth, a warehouse that contains a printing press and a supply of food; the World Headquarters are located at the foot of Brooklyn Heights”
Originally published September 1, 1987
“A lot of people around here going off the deep end with all these epidemics going around, like the crack epidemic”
Originally published September 1, 1987
Washington Heights: That was where I’d found my kind of party people, that 25-to-35-year-old posse of race-conscious black professionals and community organizers whose politics are Pan-Afrikanist (if not just pro-black)
Originally published September 1, 1987