No Excuses with Fernando Mateo

No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 05-24-26

Fernando Mateo and his guests criticize a proposal by Mayor Mandami to open city-run grocery stores in New York City. The conversation highlights the perceived absurdity of claiming a single Bronx location can serve millions, arguing instead that the government should support existing small businesses rather than using taxpayer dollars to compete against them. Mateo and leaders from the United Bodegas of America and the National Supermarkets Association suggest that the Mayor is prioritizing political optics and ego over practical solutions like subsidies for established neighborhood stores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Sandra Hackz and Susana Osorio | 05-17-26

Susana Osorio and Sandra Hackz discussing the dramatic rise and decline of the Dykeman Street business corridor in Inwood. The conversation highlights how these women transformed a once-dangerous neighborhood into a thriving hub for upscale dining and outdoor cafes, only to face a modern crisis characterized by skyrocketing rents and restrictive urban planning. The primary conflict centers on a city-mandated pedestrian plaza that the owners claim has decimated their visibility and customer access, leading to a staggering loss of revenue and staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Jake Novak | 05-17-26

Fernando Mateo and Jake Novak critique Ivy League universities for amassing massive endowments while failing to improve the struggling public education systems in their surrounding communities. They argue that these elite institutions operate as tax-exempt entities and major landowners, yet they "game the system" by prioritizing status and endowment growth over genuine social responsibility. The speakers propose that government officials should threaten their tax privileges unless these schools direct a portion of their wealth toward building and managing high-quality private or charter schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 05-17-26

Fernando Mateo gives a critical look at the economic and educational failures currently affecting New York City’s local communities. The program begins by highlighting the struggles of small business owners on Dykeman Street, where high taxes, soaring rents, and restrictive urban plazas have turned a once-vibrant restaurant row into a "desert" for female entrepreneurs. Mateo and his guests advocate for government intervention to reopen streets and provide tax relief to landlords so that neighborhood staples like Mama Sushi can survive. The second half of the show shifts focus to Ivy League endowments, arguing that elite universities should leverage their massive, tax-exempt wealth to fund charter schools in disadvantaged areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 05-10-26

Fernando Mateo and guest Jake Novak critique the current political and social landscape of New York City, specifically targeting government inefficiency and the protection of criminals over victims. The duo expresses deep frustration with elected officials who allegedly prioritize anti-enforcement rhetoric and support for undocumented offenders over the safety of working-class residents and the integrity of law enforcement. They propose a shift toward private-sector partnerships, suggesting that the city’s affordability and housing crises could be solved by incentivizing billionaires and tax-advantaged institutions to invest in public infrastructure. Furthermore, they argue that prestigious organizations like the Met, which hold massive endowments, should provide free admission to New Yorkers rather than accumulating wealth through high entry fees and lavish fundraisers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]