This is the second year of the Collective Future conference. It is a participant-driven conference, meaning that conversations flow at each session as if you are having a dinner party. Each hour had 8-11 sessions going at once. There is a tech slant to this event, so the conversations were about anything from reindustrialization to wearing all hats as a founder to algorithms and AI.

Someone said Artificial Intelligence means less User Intelligence, although if you want to use AI through your own lens, you need to enter user intelligence to get the desired effect. AI is something I continue to think about on how we can use AI to make Gotham run smoother. Can we use AI to look at past successful campaigns and repurpose that content to use with a new angle? What can we use to make accounting much easier? Are there operational tools that help run the store easier? If anyone has any AI platforms that they are using for retail or ecommerce that has been successful, please send them my way.

I led a conversation with Julie Samuels, the President and CEO of TechNYC, titled “What Would Make NYC a Better Place to Work and Live?” We asked everyone to say their name and what they loved and hated about NYC. Not shocking, everyone in the room gushed about their love for the city. The frustrations are not surprising. The high cost of living here, the lack of affordable housing, the surge of mentally ill people on the streets, and the illegal cannabis shops. What is all pointed to was lack of government leadership over the past 12 years has taken a toll on our city.

This city has always run on help from the private sector, and everyone in the room has the means and smarts to help if that means running for an office, getting behind an organization that is making a difference, or joining a non-profit board. Civic engagement is essential.

One thing is that I got into the tech industry back in 1996, and through Fred even before. It is exciting to see how mature the industry has become. Seeing young entrepreneurs starting their second or third company, many people I knew when they were not even dating, having a family of young kids, and navigating the city’s school system. Best of all is hearing from the majority of people that kids coming from college want to be in NYC not SF where the tech industry continues to grow and make impact in every single industry in the city.

The event always gets me thinking, which is very good.

There are few voices out there standing up to Trump, who is hellbent on being king of the world. He believes everything he does is the best. I hate to break it to him, but he doesn’t have a bone of empathy in his body or a sense of style and his decisions are going to create havoc on our economy. Everything he touches has turned to shit, so why are so many universities, lawyers and business people caving to him?

Columbia University should be ashamed of itself. The lawyers who understand the law seem happy to continue to line their pockets and agree with whatever Trump does, and stopping DEI at countless companies is the key to success, so why are they caving too? Are we all just sheep?

There are a few voices out there, and I applaud every one of them when they speak up. Kristy Edmunds, the Director of MASS MoCa, pointed out the grants that were given to MoCa were awarded in November 2024, prior to Trump becoming President (ugh). The letter sent to them is absolutely authoritarian. The letter emphasizes that funding “is no longer consistent with agency priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States”. Think about that. Art and community no longer serves the interest of the US?

Where is all this money now going? To the military? Towards taking immigrants out of this country who have come here for a better life, and that means paying taxes and raising a next generation of Americans, what exactly is happening in our country? Are we all going to have to wait for the midterms when the Republicans might (might is the important word here) to realize that they are going to lose their seats? At what point do we go from being sheep into becoming independent thinkers who fight back for our country?

At what point is there backlash? The Democrats who kept Biden in power are no better. Do we wait for the midterm elections and hope? Hope is never an answer, but it appears that is all we got.

Last week’s earnings from the multi-state operators (MSOs) in cannabis were abysmal. The losses that each of these companies took are overwhelming. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?

The only state that seems to have gotten the cannabis rollout right is Illinois, because the $490M tax revenue from this industry is going directly back to supporting and investing in underserved communities that have experienced violence, excessive incarceration, and economic disinvestment because the other tax dollars are being eaten up by debt and pensions.

Every state has taken a different stance, wanting to make a social impact with this nascent industry that will be one of the largest tax generators in the future. Few states have not gone legal. The ones that haven’t gone legal are fighting absurd political battles as the products are being sold everywhere anyway just not legally. Even in NY, on Long Island, where most towns said no to cannabis, they are selling it anyway and the towns are not getting any of the tax benefits. It is absurd.

Why aren’t states cracking down hard on illegal stores and the illegal flow of cannabis products? Is it because of political lobbying to stay in office? Why can’t the federal government legalize weed so we can have banking, use of credit cards, and give everyone the ability to build real businesses with tax revenue? Why have states caved to union interference?

Every day, new data comes out showing that the plant has multiple healing properties, including a Swiss study that significantly improves health outcomes and reduces problematic use, including alcohol. In a new bourgeoning business, why has the government, who benefits from the taxes, made it so damn hard?

The quasi-methodical destruction of America by Americans is mind-boggling. It is hard to wrap my head around all of it. I am not a fan of dissing on those in need the most. The entitled attitude of those who have to assume that those who don’t somehow deserve to be thrown out with the bathwater makes no sense. Government is vital on countless levels.

The other night, I wanted to watch a documentary on PBS and needed to download the app to the TV. I did like that PBS asked me for a donation before allowing me to get the app, but after that, everything went sideways. I stuck with it because I wanted to watch the film but I was also curious to see how the process worked.

It took me about 20 minutes to get everything up and running. There were countless firewalls, most of which made no sense in 2025. I couldn’t help but wonder if the government had not funded PBS all these years, would the process have been better?

PBS, particularly Sesame Street, was a daily part of my life growing up. The importance of PBS doesn’t take much as we are all paying for the content we watch daily, and not everyone has those funds.

The majority of the government is still operating on a paper-based system. Like every other company, we have yet to catch up to technology at the government level. That pronounced difference began in the early 90s as backend systems were being built rapidly, but not in the government. Is that what pisses Elon off?

Every day, the slash-and-burn of support that goes to research, programs, education, arts, etc., is astounding and frightening, considering there seems to be no real plan except to make the underserved suffer more.

After spending time trying to get PBS up and running, and now getting their countless emails, I wonder how the government needs to change. The unions and the layers of bureaucracy add up to massive dollars and delays. How do we fix that? Firing people and slashing agencies is not a solution but an angry response. There is no government program that does not run overtime and is over budget. Every finger is on the scale taking a piece of the pie through unions, corruption, and incompetence. This has to change but certainly taking people off the streets and out of their homes is not the answer, nor is destruction of the government with zero direction. I am also angry at the incompetence of our government building anything but dictatorship and taking money from the Saudis is certainly not an answer.

Where is the voice of change for good? The only worthy voice I heard this week about PBS was someone who said, “Trump doesn’t want to pay for PBS? Well, I do not want to pay for his golf game. Bravo!”

Gotham’s latest campaign is around Mothers. This campaign is called The Highs That Bind. It is a tribute to mother – a celebration of how cannabis is evolving within families and across generations. By sharing these stories, we hope to challenge outdated perceptions and honor the many ways cannabis brings people together.  

When I first saw the film, tears came to my eyes. These mothers’ deep bond with their children is shown in the photos and the film. Our photos are plastered throughout the city.

Below is what I wrote for the weekly newsletter for the Public Housing Community Fund, which is near and dear to my heart.

I love being a mother more than anything else I have done. Having a relationship with someone I nurtured, cared for, listened to, and championed is like no other. There are multiple stages to having children: the early years, the middle years, the later years, and then, of course, adulthood.  

As Chair of the Public Housing Community Fund and founder of Gotham, I’ve seen how powerful mothers can be – both in shaping families and transforming communities. At the Fund, we’re proud to stand alongside the women of NYCHA who are raising children, supporting neighbors, and leading change across generations.

This Mother’s Day, I’m thinking about the mothers and grandmothers who joined us on Governors Island for our wellness retreat—a rare and restorative day just for them. I’m thinking of the moms who sat beside their daughters, helping them apply for a once-in-a-lifetime summer camp experience. And I’m thinking of the women who are making space for new life by hosting community baby showers and leading health programs in their neighborhoods.

These mothers are the beating heart of public housing and of New York City. Their strength, love, and leadership remind us that when we invest in women, we invest in the future.

If only the world were run by mothers. Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!

There are many elements about cooking that I love. Feeding people feels good. 

Planning staff meals every week reminds me of the days when the kids were young. Trying to shake it up every day takes thought.  I try to start with one great dish, build around it, and make it easy.  This past week was a big hit.  It started with the cucumber salad with roasted peanuts and chile. On the side, I added stir-fried bok choy and broccolini with some ginger and smoky chili flakes, sauteed shrimp, and roti straight from Queens.

This recipe can be doubled, tripled, and more.

• 6 Persian Cucumbers – cut lengthwise in half, then sliced again into a thin spear and crosswise in to 2″ pieces
• 1/4 cup salted, roasted peanuts – chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves – chopped
• 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 3 Tbsp. natural unsalted peanut butter (I prefer Koeze)
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tsp. sugar
• kosher salt

Whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. If the mixture is too thick, add a tbsp of water. Toss with the cucumbers. In a separate bowl, mix together the chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Sprinkle half the peanuts and cilantro on a platter, pour over half the cucumber salad, and repeat. If you want, you can drizzle chili oil over the top( I did not) and serve immediately.

So easy and insanely good.

There was a time when I wrote about all the restaurants I ate at, and now I post the pics on Instagram if I am intrigued. This past Friday night, we had such an incredible meal at F&F that I had to share.

I met the Franks in the early days of Eater, and lucky for me, we have continued eating, talking, and getting stoned. Frank and Frank are the reason that Gotham exists. They were paying attention to the cannabis space in NYC and called me up, thinking this could be the opportunity for us to do something together. Their space in Carroll Gardens has become a small compound that happens to sit next to a church and a school, so cannabis was not going to be our calling, but it was for me.

They have taken their F&F pizzeria (which is fantastic) and upgraded it a bit to combine with simple Italian dishes. It is perfect. They have thought of every detail and made most of it with their own hands, down to the lighting fixtures.

I did not take enough photos, so I’m only showing a few here, but it is essential to get the Sette Anne peppers (stuffed with anchovies straight from Sicily) with olives to start with a big green salad and the fava beans if they are in season.

Moving forward, pizza, of course. Shrimp, clam, pesto, three separate wins.

The main courses are also delicious. The menu is constantly changing but the squid a la plancha, the brasato beef with gnocchi were wins. A cheese and wild boar calzone came out at the same time, and I could not stop eating either of them.

Desserts are excellent too. Chocolate lava cake with whipped cream is back! The tarte tatin and Italian cheesecake were worthy, too. But the roasted prunes with marscapone is magical.

I could eat here once a week, no problem. The vibe is great, the food is excellent, and I do love the Franks.

There is a scene in Dying for Sex (based on a true story which I highly recommend) where Molly, played by Michelle Williams, the main character, is having a back and forth with her Mom, Sissy Spacek where Molly says to her Mom, “I’m just trying to find myself.” It hit me.

My niece, curious, intelligent, and morally just, loves to dig deep into why we behave the way we do. I happened to see her after I wrapped up Dying for Sex. We always discuss family history and how that has impacted who we are.

As most of my friends are dialing it down, I am dialing it up. Over the years, I have had countless ideas but chose not to execute them because I was busy doing other things. My priority, and it still is today, is our family. Even though our kids are now adults, and everyone is highly independent, they are always at the top of our minds.

Instead of growing my own business, I helped others do it. Leadership is hugely different, and so is the responsibility. I could engage in many companies, meet many people, make an impact, and still be home in the mornings and afternoons, getting ready for dinner. Perfect for me.

As the kids started to leave the house, my perspective on my time changed. I was ready for something else; as Fred says, “I have one more in me.” I now have the time to focus on what I want to build and do. I would do it the same way again.

Though this time, I have come to know myself better, and not being that self-reflective when I was younger worked really well for me. Perhaps that is what keeps me building. There are countless reasons that I love Gotham, and why I am passionate about the Public Housing Community Fund, and why I am about to shoot a short for a docuseries I have wanted to do for years. I am exhausted, but I am exhilarated every single day.

I love building things, but I am putting together the why.

Consuming changed the day the tariffs were announced. Absorbing the costs of tariffs will have a brutal impact on the design industry. No business can take it on the chin and keep its customers happy without raising prices. Many of the items have already been purchased with six month lead times before the word tariff was part of our daily conversation will struggle to hike the price. Gotham is beginning to see the tariff costs roll in.

The reality is that the craftsmanship and design of other countries are superior to those in the US. Even if the US began building new factories to replace the design-to-detail we find overseas, it would be done with technology, not human beings.

These tariffs are a big wake-up call for the everyday consumer. Other countries have benefits different from those of the US, which enables them to make products for a lot less than we do here. The bottom line is that the cost of goods will go up.

Is there a silver lining here? We will start to look at creating small batch products in the US at technology-driven manufacturing plants that can make a small group of items and turn them around quickly. This will be better for the environment, too. Yet more companies, like a Prada, makes countless items to ship around the globe every month, and for them to shift gears into small batch, quick turn around, perhaps using technology for people to choose items with them being made based on their personal specs (very future thinking here), and then delivered to their door, will destroy the current model. It is one thing to make that decision as a small brand that is privately owned, it is another decision for a publicly traded company.

It will take years for new models to rise to the top. In the meantime, Gotham is thinking about pricing, our customers, our vendors, and what the future will look like with tariffs added to our glass bottles with Alibaba. Do we raise the price or figure out how to make them in the US, where the cost might be just as high as the Chinese glass products with the tariff? We will find out soon enough.

We began the day at Objects Are, a Secret Cafe, a company that we carry and are working with for the Nas drop this weekend! It was fun to talk shop, eat a cornetto, and sip on coffee.

The Dorian Show was next, where we saw up-and-coming brands and many that Gotham already carries. I particularly loved this wooden stool. It is simple and elegant.

The next installation is on the outskirts of Milan, called Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, and is set in an old compound. The weather was magical, so it was nice to walk through these old buildings and see interesting installations.

I loved these deconstructed candles.

Buttons stations

We walked down the street through town for about ten minutes to get to the other Alcova installation at Villa Borsani. These glass objects made me think of Jeff Koons.

A dressing table.

And this was the perfect thing to see before we made our way back to Milan.

Dinner was at Via Stampa. A bit different than everywhere else, this felt more farm to table. The toasted brioche with beef tartare topped with saffron creme was insanely good.

And the pastas, were richer than what we have had. Both are excellent, especially the roasted boar ragu.

Back to the hotel and left the next day, and that’s a wrap—an incredible trip. Getting back and seeing objects come in from abroad, being hit with 20% tariffs, is not pretty. I am not convinced that the customers, particularly as we more than likely slip into a recession, will be inclined to pay the prices needed to make a business’s margins. Many of these items will never see the light of day in the US. We will have to rethink our strategy on merchandise at Gotham so we can continue to create fresh concepts that our customers are drawn to. We will see what happens in the months ahead. It is a sad extremely sad for the design world.