New York City Bus | Photo by Yeka, UK on Unsplash
Part III of “Socioeconomics Reforms” Series
Here are the first three sentences of the maiden issue of this column, published on November 23, 2020. “It is time for Americans of Filipino descent to stop napping in the ‘City that never sleeps,’ was my message to several kin and acquaintances in New York — starting in 1977. Even at that time, the Big Apple was (and continues to be) the world’s capital of ideas, especially when it comes to finance and the media. And I said that eventually almost all Filipinos in North America started to catnap also, if not take long siestas”.
Today, nearly five years later, this columnist realizes that he should have changed the title of his first article in The Straphanger. Yes, from “Time to finally reinvent the Filipino presence in New York and North America” to “Time to Reinvent the Role of New York City in North America”.
Why? Because many Americans of Filipino descent continue to hold to their fondness for siesta, as inherited from their former Spanish colonizers. Perhaps the plea for reinvention should be addressed to the leaders of New York City and the tri-states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
The combined Filipino-American population in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area is estimated at more than 270,000, according to recent data. The largest populations are in New Jersey, with over 143,000, and in New York, with over 130,000 as of 2018-2019, while Connecticut has an estimated Fi-Am population of some 22,000 and counting.
However, in 2024, the Filipino-American population in New York City alone was estimated to be approximately 159,585. Other estimates, based on different data sources, suggest the population is around 160,000 or even 236,000. However, these figures vary depending on the source and the exact definition of “New York City” being used.
In just a year, the Philippine Daily Mirror publisher and CEO decided to make this column biweekly. Indeed, to his limited knowledge, this columnist is among the most prolific writers of a series of articles on a central theme in socioeconomic thought. This author enhances it by interspersing historical tidbits, especially on Philippine-American and Filipino-Hispanic Relations and data.
“The alternative is to transform bus firms — whether privately or publicly owned — into cooperatives. Perhaps Mayor-elect Mamdani, his socioeconomics advisers, and staff may like to study this proposal.”
The recent victory of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist leader, reminded this columnist that his grandfather-in-law, the late Senator Isabelo (Don Belong) de los Reyes, is acknowledged as the father of Filipino Socialism, the prime mover of the Philippine Labor Movement, and the first Filipino Renaissance Man. He also founded the Philippine Independent Church, which works together with the Episcopal Church of the United States and the Anglican Church of the United Kingdom.
Mayor-elect Mamdani should be happy to know that this columnist used to reside in New York City, where he obtained his first driver’s license in the United States in 1978. He renewed it in 1982. Ergo, for all intents and purposes, this columnist can be treated like a prodigal son of the Big Apple.
As a journalist and a long-time researcher in the fields of socialism and cooperative socioeconomics, this columnist wishes to offer the first of several “unsolicited advice” to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Perhaps the economic section of the new Mayor’s office would also like to read Parts I and II of this series, as well as other articles on ideas, to improve New York City’s economy.
First Advice. This column featured an idea for the Big Apple on July 19, 2023. The article was titled “City and Campus Sidewalks Can Raise Funds for Homeless Veterans.” The Office of the City Mayor may like to reread it.
Second Advice. While offering free bus rides to commuters is a good idea, there may be a better, more viable way to help folks who fondly hold straphangers (pun intended) become part-owners of the bus company. The alternative is to transform bus firms — whether privately or publicly owned — into cooperatives. Perhaps Mayor-elect Mamdani, his socioeconomics advisers, and staff may like to study this proposal. If they find the idea viable, they can inform the Philippine Daily Mirror office, and this columnist will write more about it. And if requested, he can also write other suggestions for socioeconomic empowerment for the people of New York, both the city and the state.
