his rebuttal isn’t about changing my mind — it’s about sharpening it. I’m using AI not to reinforce my original views, but to challenge them, test their limits, and uncover new solutions. In a world drowning in certainty and tribalism, we need more public thinking that invites contradiction. This is what open-mindedness looks like in the age of AI.

In March, I published a piece titled “Billions for Non-Citizens, Nothing for You: NYC's $6.9 Billion Betrayal,” expressing deep frustration with New York City’s migrant spending. While that anger hasn’t faded, I’ve taken a step back — and this is my rebuttal to myself. The issue runs deeper than outrage. What I once framed as betrayal is more accurately the result of systemic failure, federal inaction, and misaligned priorities. This essay digs into the root causes, challenges my original assumptions, and proposes real solutions grounded in conservative values, fiscal responsibility, and functional compassion. If we want our city back, slogans won’t cut it. Reform will.