The Perez Notes

🎙 The Perez Notes | Richard Carranza: Leading America’s Largest School Systems In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Richard A. Carranza — former New York City Schools Chancellor, former Superintendent of Houston ISD, and former Superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District. Carranza reflects on his three decades in education leadership, from the challenges of running the n...

In this episode of The Perez Notes, Jagpreet Singh of DRUM joins to discuss Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, the growing political power of NYC’s South Asian community, and their fight for immigrant rights, voter registration, and representation ahead of November’s general election.

Dr. Ashwin Vasan: Public Health, Mental Health & NYC’s Recovery In this episode of The Perez Notes, former NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan joins Roberto Perez for a deep dive into the state of public health in New York City. We discuss the city’s mental health crisis, its ongoing recovery from COVID-19, and the lessons learned from leading the Department of Health through unprecedente...

Dr. Ashwin Vasan, former NYC Health Commissioner, joins The Perez Notes to reflect on his proudest moments leading the city’s public health response, the meaning of Zohran Mamdani’s primary win for South Asians, and how his work as a physician, epidemiologist, and advocate continues to shape public health in NYC and beyond.

🎙️ Bradley Tusk on NYC Politics, Mobile Voting & the Future of the Democratic Party Venture capitalist and political strategist Bradley Tusk joins The Perez Notes for a wide-ranging conversation on the crossroads of power, tech, and elections. We get into: 🗳️ The chaos and stakes of the NYC Democratic primary 📱 His bold push for mobile voting and what’s standing in the way 🏛️ Reflections on A...

🎙️ The Perez Notes – Interview with Ethan Stark-Miller, Senior Politics Reporter at amNewYork In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Stark-Miller, senior politics reporter for amNewYork, to break down the latest currents shaping New York City politics. From City Hall to Albany, we discuss the behind-the-scenes dynamics driving 2025’s biggest races, the state of local media coverage, and what repor...

On this episode of The Perez Notes, I speak with reporter Peter Sterne, editor at City & State NY, about the growing political influence of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York. We discuss how DSA organizers approached the recent Democratic primary, their impact on key races, and what the results signal for the movement’s future. Peter also breaks down the upcoming general election for...

On this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by Council Member Chi Ossé, who represents Brooklyn’s 36th District and is the youngest member of the New York City Council. We talk about the NYC Democratic mayoral primary, the national Democratic race, and the evolving political landscape in Central Brooklyn. Chi reflects on his role as co-chair of the Brooklyn Delegation, discusses his recent legi...

Ali Najmi on Power, Politics & the South Asian Vote On this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by NYC attorney and political strategist Ali Najmi—election law expert, civil rights defender, and longtime advisor to Zohran Mamdani. We dive into the critical role South Asian and Muslim voters played in reshaping the Democratic primary, the strategy behind Zohran’s historic win, and what it signal...

In this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by veteran journalist Laura Nahmias, Senior Reporter at Bloomberg News, former Daily News editorial board member, and POLITICO alum, for a no-holds-barred breakdown of the latest shifts in New York politics. 🗳️ Episode Highlights: ​ Cuomo vs. Mamdani — Round Two. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched an independent bid to challenge Democratic nomi...

In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Adam Carlson, veteran pollster and founder of the newly launched Zenith Research. We dive into the 2025 NYC Democratic primary, exploring what the polling got right—and what it missed. Adam walks us through some of the anomalies in the numbers and breaks down how polling really works, from methodology to messaging impact. It’s a candid conversati...

Jasmine Gripper on the Democratic Primary, Cuomo’s Influence, and the Road to November On this episode, I’m joined by Jasmine Gripper, co-executive director of the Working Families Party. We break down the results of New York’s Democratic primaries, including Zohran Mamdani’s headline-making victory. Jasmine offers sharp insight into Andrew Cuomo’s attempted political comeback, Mayor Eric Adams’ s...

In this episode, I’m joined by political scientist and commentator Christina Greer for a wide-ranging conversation on the aftermath of the NYC Democratic primary. We unpack Zohran Mamdani’s headline-making victory, what it signals for the city’s progressive movement, and what it all means for Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection prospects. We also discuss the political future of Andrew Cuomo, break down t...

In this episode, I sit down with political strategist Bill Neidhardt to break down Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani’s decisive Democratic primary victory and Bill’s role advising the pro-Zohran independent expenditure effort. We discuss how Mamdani’s win fits into the broader landscape of progressive politics in New York and draw comparisons to the movement in Chicago, where Bill now works closely wi...

On this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by Edward-Isaac Dovere, senior reporter for CNN and author of the bestselling book Battle for the Soul. We break down the results of the NYC Democratic primary, including Zohran Mamdani’s significant victory and what it signals for the progressive movement. Dovere brings his years of sharp political reporting to the conversation as we also dive into w...

On this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by journalist and political commentator Ross Barkan, a contributing writer for Crain’s New York Business and The New York Times. Ross returns to the show to reflect on his 2020 State Senate campaign—where he was joined by a then-rising political organizer named Zohran Mamdani, who served as his campaign manager. We discuss Zohran’s political ascent si...

On this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by Amit Singh Bagga, a two-decade veteran of federal, city, and state government and the founder of Public Progress Solutions. We dive into the upcoming NYC Democratic primary, breaking down the key races to watch, the candidates shaping the conversation, and what’s at stake for the future of the city. With his extensive experience in government and p...

On this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Eric McClure, Executive Director of StreetsPAC, a political action committee devoted to making New York City’s streets safer, more accessible, and more vibrant. We discuss the urgent need to rethink how our public spaces—our sidewalks, roadways, and plazas—are used and who they’re designed for. Eric shares StreetsPAC’s vision for a more livable c...

Transportation, Equity, and the Future of NYC Streets: A Conversation with Ben Furnas On this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, to talk about the fight for safer, more sustainable streets in New York City. We dive into the organization’s vision for reducing traffic violence, expanding bike and bus infrastructure, and reclaimi...

Episode Title: Inside NYC Politics with Jacob Kornbluh: Mayoral & Comptroller Races Unpacked In this episode of The Perez Notes, I’m joined by Jacob Kornbluh, senior political reporter at The Forward, for an in-depth conversation on the high-stakes races shaping New York City politics. We dive into the dynamics of the NYC mayoral race and explore the evolving landscape of the comptroller’s rac...

The Perez Notes – Episode Title: Amplifying Voices: Justin Sanchez’s Vision for NYC District 17 In this episode of The Perez Notes, we sit down with Justin Sanchez, candidate for New York City Council in District 17. As the former Chief of Staff to NYS Senator Nathalia Fernandez and a dedicated leader in the Young Democrats of America and the Stonewall Democrats, Justin brings a passion for servic...

Episode Title: Maya Kornberg on Pragmatic Progressivism and the Future of District 39 In this episode of The Perez Notes, we sit down with Maya Kornberg—political scientist, author, and now Democratic candidate for New York City Council District 39. Maya shares her journey from academia to activism, discussing her book Inside Congressional Committees and her work at the Brennan Center for Justice....

Episode Title: Roots, Resistance, and Resilience – A Conversation with Clarisa Alayeto In this episode of The Perez Notes, we sit down with Clarisa Alayeto—an Afro-Latina organizer, advocate, and lifelong Bronxite with roots in East Harlem and District 8. Raised in NYCHA housing and a product of the public school system, Clarisa brings a lived understanding of the struggles faced by working-class...

Episode Title: Jess Coleman: Fighting for a Livable Future in Lower Manhattan Show Description: In this episode of The Perez Notes, we’re joined by Jess Coleman, a lifelong Lower Manhattanite and candidate for New York City Council in District 1. Jess is running to bring bold, responsive leadership to a district facing urgent challenges—from soaring rents and rising displacement to gridlocked stre...

Episode Title: Andrea Gordillo: Culture, Community, and the Fight for a Just NYC Show Description: On this episode of The Perez Notes, we sit down with Andrea Gordillo—a cultural leader, proud daughter of Peruvian immigrants, and longtime resident of the Lower East Side/East Village—who currently serves as Chairperson of Manhattan’s Community Board 3. With nearly a decade of experience advancing r...