Oscar Perry Abello
@oscarthinks.bsky.social
Senior Economic Justice Correspondent, @nextcity.org. Author of The Banks We Deserve https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-banks-we-deserve-reclaiming-community-banking-for-a-just-economy-oscar-perry-abello/21374823 Based in NYC. oscar@nextcity.org 🇵🇭
Pinned
As some of you know, since I started at Next City in 2015, I've informally tracked the race/ethnicity & gender of the sources I quote in my reporting. It's a way for me to stay accountable for reporting that represents the actual make up of the cities & communities I cover. Here are the latest #s.
Looks like Cuomo got the private pool vote
November 7, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Looks like Cuomo got the private pool vote
1.1 million New Yorkers voted for any mayoral candidate in the 2021 general election
1 million plus voted for Zohran Mamdani alone in the 2025 general election for NYC mayor
1 million plus voted for Zohran Mamdani alone in the 2025 general election for NYC mayor
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 AM
1.1 million New Yorkers voted for any mayoral candidate in the 2021 general election
1 million plus voted for Zohran Mamdani alone in the 2025 general election for NYC mayor
1 million plus voted for Zohran Mamdani alone in the 2025 general election for NYC mayor
Call your governor’s office. If they aren’t already, they will soon begin the process of selecting eligible census tracts for Opportunity Zone designation starting in 2027.
November 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Call your governor’s office. If they aren’t already, they will soon begin the process of selecting eligible census tracts for Opportunity Zone designation starting in 2027.
October 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
As part of its legally dubious downsizing last week, the White House has terminated all employees of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, or CDFI Fund, an arm of the U.S. Treasury that supports investments in underserved, low-income urban and rural areas, blue and red districts.
October 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
As part of its legally dubious downsizing last week, the White House has terminated all employees of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, or CDFI Fund, an arm of the U.S. Treasury that supports investments in underserved, low-income urban and rural areas, blue and red districts.
Reposted by Oscar Perry Abello
Please read my preview of what might be one of the most consequential political cases this Supreme Court will hear, and let me know what I should be listening out for tomorrow during oral arguments!
NEW: “I would bet my left arm that they will tell us that Section 2 is in violation of the Fifteenth Amendment.”
For decades, Section 2 has forestalled attempts to discriminate against minority voters. But tomorrow, SCOTUS will consider declaring it unconstitutional.
For decades, Section 2 has forestalled attempts to discriminate against minority voters. But tomorrow, SCOTUS will consider declaring it unconstitutional.
Fair Elections — and Perhaps Control of Congress — at Stake as SCOTUS Hears Challenge to VRA
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Please read my preview of what might be one of the most consequential political cases this Supreme Court will hear, and let me know what I should be listening out for tomorrow during oral arguments!
This week for @nextcity.org:
As civic institutions go, foundations can be among the most frustrating, right up there with banks. At their worst, they embody a kind of top-down, power-hoarding, ivory tower gatekeeping of resources distributed in predictable patterns of white supremacy and misogyny.
As civic institutions go, foundations can be among the most frustrating, right up there with banks. At their worst, they embody a kind of top-down, power-hoarding, ivory tower gatekeeping of resources distributed in predictable patterns of white supremacy and misogyny.
September 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
This week for @nextcity.org:
As civic institutions go, foundations can be among the most frustrating, right up there with banks. At their worst, they embody a kind of top-down, power-hoarding, ivory tower gatekeeping of resources distributed in predictable patterns of white supremacy and misogyny.
As civic institutions go, foundations can be among the most frustrating, right up there with banks. At their worst, they embody a kind of top-down, power-hoarding, ivory tower gatekeeping of resources distributed in predictable patterns of white supremacy and misogyny.
This week for @nextcity.org, I report on the Boston Ujima Project investing in the Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust.
For its democratically-controlled investment fund, Ujima's voting members get a chance to review credit memos as part of its approval process.
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
For its democratically-controlled investment fund, Ujima's voting members get a chance to review credit memos as part of its approval process.
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
Boston Ujima Project Is Investing in a Community Land Trust. Here’s Why It Matters.
Traditional lenders remain slow to open their coffers to community land trusts. But this community-controlled investment fund did the work to understand the value of investing in a model built to disr...
nextcity.org
August 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
This week for @nextcity.org, I report on the Boston Ujima Project investing in the Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust.
For its democratically-controlled investment fund, Ujima's voting members get a chance to review credit memos as part of its approval process.
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
For its democratically-controlled investment fund, Ujima's voting members get a chance to review credit memos as part of its approval process.
nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
Reposted by Oscar Perry Abello
"unlike real experts, Heritage and Feulner’s promise was that every problem could be solved with a conservative solution, or that every nonconservative solution would be a disaster. ... The result is that Feulner bears much of the responsibility for the polarization of American politics."
I was surprised that no major outlet ran an obituary for Ed Feulner, the founder of the Heritage Foundation, so I wrote my own for @chicagotribune.com
Feulner is as responsible as anyone for the Republican Party’s turn away from truth and good governance.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/08/o...
Feulner is as responsible as anyone for the Republican Party’s turn away from truth and good governance.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/08/o...
E.J. Fagan: The Heritage Foundation founder’s legacy is complicated
Edwin Feulner will be remembered as the person responsible for the Republican Party’s turn away from truth, expertise and good governance.
www.chicagotribune.com
August 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
"unlike real experts, Heritage and Feulner’s promise was that every problem could be solved with a conservative solution, or that every nonconservative solution would be a disaster. ... The result is that Feulner bears much of the responsibility for the polarization of American politics."
Another city, another library, another copy of my book! And next to one of my all time faves, by @mehrsab.bsky.social. Seattle Public Library, central library
July 30, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Another city, another library, another copy of my book! And next to one of my all time faves, by @mehrsab.bsky.social. Seattle Public Library, central library
WNYC both-sidesing genocide this morning, platforming an “urban military ops researcher” who admitted on air he’s never interviewed any actual residents of Gaza but is claiming what the Israeli government is doing isn’t genocide. This is what we’re supposed to defend from Trump budget cuts? 🤮
July 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
WNYC both-sidesing genocide this morning, platforming an “urban military ops researcher” who admitted on air he’s never interviewed any actual residents of Gaza but is claiming what the Israeli government is doing isn’t genocide. This is what we’re supposed to defend from Trump budget cuts? 🤮
Reposted by Oscar Perry Abello
Home is no longer a safe space for thousands of families who live with someone who's undocumented. Caught between housing assistance and ICE surveillance, many are forced to be silent—or self-evict. Shelterforce's Shelby King reports: bit.ly/4mdSlvG
HUD's Cooperation with ICE Stokes Fear in Immigrant Communities
Home is no longer a safe space for thousands of mixed-status families who live with at least one undocumented person.
bit.ly
July 23, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Home is no longer a safe space for thousands of families who live with someone who's undocumented. Caught between housing assistance and ICE surveillance, many are forced to be silent—or self-evict. Shelterforce's Shelby King reports: bit.ly/4mdSlvG
👀👀👀
I updated the story after my social media clock expired. So here's the full story. Trump administration already filed its notice of appeal.
news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/...
July 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
👀👀👀
Side note, since when was the area just north of the Vine Street Expressway (home to @asianartsphilly.bsky.social, Asian Americans United, the FACTs charter school that AAU founded, & several Chinese-American churches) *not* considered part of Philly's Chinatown?
www.inquirer.com/transportati...
www.inquirer.com/transportati...
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Side note, since when was the area just north of the Vine Street Expressway (home to @asianartsphilly.bsky.social, Asian Americans United, the FACTs charter school that AAU founded, & several Chinese-American churches) *not* considered part of Philly's Chinatown?
www.inquirer.com/transportati...
www.inquirer.com/transportati...
Reposted by Oscar Perry Abello
What I learned patrolling for ICE in Terminal Island.
The same federal facility that detained Japanese Americans in 1942 is now the staging ground for immigration raids across LA.
One San Pedro resident documents what he’s seen and why history feels like it’s repeating itself.
The same federal facility that detained Japanese Americans in 1942 is now the staging ground for immigration raids across LA.
One San Pedro resident documents what he’s seen and why history feels like it’s repeating itself.
What I learned patrolling for ICE in Terminal Island
The same federal facility that detained Japanese Americans in 1942 is now the staging ground for immigration raids across Los Angeles. One San Pedro resident documents what he's seen—and why history f...
lapublicpress.org
July 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
What I learned patrolling for ICE in Terminal Island.
The same federal facility that detained Japanese Americans in 1942 is now the staging ground for immigration raids across LA.
One San Pedro resident documents what he’s seen and why history feels like it’s repeating itself.
The same federal facility that detained Japanese Americans in 1942 is now the staging ground for immigration raids across LA.
One San Pedro resident documents what he’s seen and why history feels like it’s repeating itself.
Not one but two! Two copies of my book on the shelf in the business collection at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in #CharmCity #Baltimore. Join us at @redemmas.org 7pm tonight for a book talk moderated by @jnoor.bsky.social. Pick up a copy of your own and I’ll sign it for you!
July 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Not one but two! Two copies of my book on the shelf in the business collection at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in #CharmCity #Baltimore. Join us at @redemmas.org 7pm tonight for a book talk moderated by @jnoor.bsky.social. Pick up a copy of your own and I’ll sign it for you!
Hey #Baltimore friends, hope you can join us next Tuesday! Really excited to be in conversation with @jnoor.bsky.social at the legendary @redemmas.org withfriends.co/event/237097...
7/15 - Oscar Perry Abello presents "The Banks We Deserve" in conversation w/Jaisal Noor by Red Emma's
Get tickets and support Red Emma's by becoming a member
withfriends.co
July 11, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Hey #Baltimore friends, hope you can join us next Tuesday! Really excited to be in conversation with @jnoor.bsky.social at the legendary @redemmas.org withfriends.co/event/237097...
Reposted by Oscar Perry Abello
Our feeds are flooded with what’s broken and going wrong. But to care for our mental health and our communities we need stories about how to build something better. Grateful to @oscarthinks.bsky.social for this powerful book, and to @redemmas.org for hosting such a timely conversation.
In "The Banks We Deserve", journalist @oscarthinks.bsky.social argues community banking can play a crucial role in addressing urgent social challenges, from creating a more racially just economy to preparing for a changing climate. Join us for a conversation w/ @jnoor.bsky.social on 7/25 at 7pm!
July 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Our feeds are flooded with what’s broken and going wrong. But to care for our mental health and our communities we need stories about how to build something better. Grateful to @oscarthinks.bsky.social for this powerful book, and to @redemmas.org for hosting such a timely conversation.
Reposted by Oscar Perry Abello
In "The Banks We Deserve", journalist @oscarthinks.bsky.social argues community banking can play a crucial role in addressing urgent social challenges, from creating a more racially just economy to preparing for a changing climate. Join us for a conversation w/ @jnoor.bsky.social on 7/25 at 7pm!
July 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
In "The Banks We Deserve", journalist @oscarthinks.bsky.social argues community banking can play a crucial role in addressing urgent social challenges, from creating a more racially just economy to preparing for a changing climate. Join us for a conversation w/ @jnoor.bsky.social on 7/25 at 7pm!
Hey did you know
1) my first book came out in February
2) this week shipping is free for the @bookshop.org anti-Prime sale
Support local independent bookstores!
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
1) my first book came out in February
2) this week shipping is free for the @bookshop.org anti-Prime sale
Support local independent bookstores!
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
The Banks We Deserve: Reclaiming Community Banking for a Just Economy
Reclaiming Community Banking for a Just Economy
bookshop.org
July 8, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Hey did you know
1) my first book came out in February
2) this week shipping is free for the @bookshop.org anti-Prime sale
Support local independent bookstores!
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
1) my first book came out in February
2) this week shipping is free for the @bookshop.org anti-Prime sale
Support local independent bookstores!
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
On the shelves at @greenapplebooks.bsky.social in the Richmond! Also at their 9th Ave location in the Sunset District if you’re curious
greenapplebooks.com/book/9781642...
greenapplebooks.com/book/9781642...
July 6, 2025 at 1:34 AM
On the shelves at @greenapplebooks.bsky.social in the Richmond! Also at their 9th Ave location in the Sunset District if you’re curious
greenapplebooks.com/book/9781642...
greenapplebooks.com/book/9781642...
There is so much about this bill that bothers, worries and angers me. Some are already pointing to the community development tax incentive programs in the bill as a silver lining.
I’m here to tell you, not so fast.
My latest for @nextcity.org: nextcity.org/features/tru...
I’m here to tell you, not so fast.
My latest for @nextcity.org: nextcity.org/features/tru...
Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful’ Tax Bill and the Future of Community Development
The budget mega-bill will likely make the Opportunity Zones and New Markets Tax Credit programs permanent. There’s good news and bad news.
nextcity.org
July 4, 2025 at 1:56 AM
There is so much about this bill that bothers, worries and angers me. Some are already pointing to the community development tax incentive programs in the bill as a silver lining.
I’m here to tell you, not so fast.
My latest for @nextcity.org: nextcity.org/features/tru...
I’m here to tell you, not so fast.
My latest for @nextcity.org: nextcity.org/features/tru...