Michael Friedrich

Michael Friedrich


I’m a journalist living in Brooklyn who writes about culture and cities. My work has appeared in The Baffler, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New York Times MagazineThe Washington Post, and other publications. I also do storytelling, research, and grant writing for nonprofits and philanthropies.

Before writing full time, I spent five years researching gun violence for a nonprofit at John Jay College. Before that, I studied English literature at Hunter College. Earlier still, I was very serious about making punk music. (I remain a punk.) I grew up in Maryland and on Long Island.

You can find me on Twitter and Instagram and email me at mafriedrich@gmail.com.

Writing


How Corporations Are Cashing In on Subsidized Low-Income Housing | The New Republic

The government’s leading program for creating affordable rentals is enriching corporate landlords while making life hell for struggling tenants.

The Landlords of TikTok Seem Happy to Play the Villain | The New York Times Magazine

Property owners on social media are crowing about the most loathsome parts of their jobs.

Affordable Housing Forever | The New York Times

As prices soar in American cities, community land trusts form a model to keep housing permanently affordable for low-income people.

Escape from Little Island | The Baffler

New York City welcomes the bad future of urban planning.

The Case Against YIMBYism | The New Republic

Encouraging private real-estate development is the wrong political priority in a housing crisis.

More Building Won’t Make Housing Affordable | The New Republic

America’s housing crisis has reached unfathomable proportions. But new construction isn’t enough to solve it.

You can view a full list of my publications here. Samples of nonprofit writing are available upon request.

color-3.png