"Ideas matter more. For the last decade, Republicans have driven the city's policy agenda while Democrats have too often been seen as defending the status quo. This is untenable. New York City needs a progressive version of the Manhattan Institute to generate left-of-center policies that are urban-focused. Whether it's a new vision or a New Democratic plan, Democrats running for mayor in 2009 will have to offer more than just more of the same. This does not mean abandoning the party's core principles, but it does mean exploring updated solutions, and a willingness to test promising and innovative policies, even if we ruffle some feathers. New York City Democrats should be in the forefront of charting an urban agenda for the 21st century. If we fail to offer new solutions to our city's problems we do not deserve to lead - and we won't," Gigi Georges and Howard L.Wolfson on Saturday's New York Times Op-Ed page.

We couldn't agree more.

And on that note, some thoughts for Mayor Bloomberg as he plans his second term, courtesy of DMI Fellows who spend their days in the trenches:

Mark Winston Griffith on the Mayor talking to his girl, the New York State Banking Superintendent, about abandoning plans to permit state chartered banks to offer overdraft protection.

Andrew Friedman on a citywide commitment to making English language instruction available to the 2 million New Yorkers who don't speak English, while providing critical translation services in the meantime.

Maureen Lane on making higher education available to welfare participants - the most proven way to move from dependence to the American Dream.

http://www.dmiblog.net/archives/2005/11/ideas_matter_more.html