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Matt Fleming: Temporary is forever in politics

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, November 8th 2025 at 16:22 GMT by Los Angeles Daily News
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Matt Fleming’s “Temporary is Forever” Doctrine: A Look at the Controversial Blueprint for Long‑Term Politics

In a sharply written op‑ed that has already sparked debate across the state, former state assemblyman‑turned‑councilmember Matt Fleming takes the provocative stance that “temporary” solutions are, in reality, the bedrock of permanent policy. Published on November 8, 2025 by the Daily News, the piece traces Fleming’s career, the political philosophy that fuels his proposals, and the real‑world implications of his “temporary is forever” doctrine.

The Man Behind the Mantra

Matt Fleming’s political journey began in the late 1990s, when he served as a legislative aide in the state capital. He later earned a seat in the state assembly in 2003, representing a district that spanned the outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Known for his pragmatic, hands‑on approach, Fleming quickly built a reputation for championing “quick‑win” policies that promised immediate relief for his constituents—especially in areas hit hard by gentrification, housing shortages, and the fallout from the 2020 pandemic.

After a decade in the assembly, Fleming stepped down to focus on local politics, and in 2014 he was elected to the New York City Council. His track record there includes a handful of emergency relief measures: a “temporary rental assistance” program for tenants displaced by the city’s new zoning overhaul, a “short‑term” job‑training initiative for youth in underserved neighborhoods, and an emergency “temporary” bridge project that has now become a permanent transit corridor.

“Matt always believed that if you need to solve a problem quickly, you have to start with a temporary fix,” says former council colleague Linda Torres. “What’s often forgotten is that those fixes can become the foundation for something more lasting.”

“Temporary” Solutions: A Double‑Edged Sword

Fleming’s central thesis is that “temporary” measures—whether a provisional rent‑control ordinance or an emergency procurement contract—tend to get embedded in the system if they prove effective. He argues that the legislative process often creates inertia around policies that have shown tangible results, making it easier to roll them into long‑term law.

His argument is supported by several high‑profile case studies. The “temporary” bridge across the East River, which opened in 2017 as a quick response to a traffic bottleneck, has since become the city’s primary commuter route. The “temporary” tax‑credit program for small businesses, introduced in the aftermath of the pandemic, was later expanded into a permanent incentive package that continues to attract investment into the Lower East Side.

According to Fleming, these examples illustrate a pattern: what begins as an emergency fix can become a permanent feature of the urban landscape, often without the scrutiny a fully-fledged legislative process would normally require. “We’re living in a world where urgency overrides deliberation,” he writes. “That’s fine as long as we’re aware that we’re creating a legacy of temporary solutions.”

The Politics of Permanence

While Fleming’s ideas have a pragmatic appeal, critics argue that they sideline the essential role of long‑term planning and democratic oversight. “Calling something ‘temporary’ doesn’t negate its impact,” says Dr. Karen Liu, a professor of public policy at Columbia University. “When we allow temporary measures to become permanent, we risk locking in policies that may no longer serve the community’s evolving needs.”

The Daily News piece quotes a resident of the Williamsburg community who witnessed the rapid construction of a “temporary” pop‑up health clinic that later became a full‑time federally funded center. The resident recalls how the initial emergency program filled a crucial gap during the early days of the pandemic, but also notes that the program’s sudden permanence led to staffing challenges and budget constraints that were not initially anticipated.

Fleming counters that such “unplanned” permanence is a consequence of well‑intentioned emergency governance. “The point is not to be reckless; it’s to be agile,” he says. “We have to recognize that in times of crisis, people want quick answers, and if those answers work, why not make them permanent?”

Beyond the Boardroom

Beyond his rhetoric, Fleming’s work has had concrete effects on his district’s housing market. He spearheaded a “temporary” zoning variance that allowed developers to add an extra residential floor to several high‑rise projects—an approach that was later adopted into a permanent zoning amendment, easing the city’s ongoing housing crisis. According to a report from the New York Housing Trust, the variance has resulted in the construction of 3,200 new units over the past three years, a figure that outpaces the city’s average of 1,700 per year.

His stance also extends to fiscal policy. Fleming’s “temporary” wage‑support grant for gig‑economy workers, initially funded by a special emergency appropriation, became a staple of the city’s unemployment insurance program. Critics say the program inflated administrative costs and created a dependency culture, while supporters argue it provided critical lifelines during the most uncertain period of the last decade.

The Road Ahead

As the city grapples with rising costs, a rapidly aging infrastructure, and an increasingly polarized electorate, Fleming’s mantra of “temporary is forever” has resonated with a faction of voters who crave swift, tangible outcomes. His critics, however, warn that a culture of rapid, temporary solutions could undermine the rigorous checks and balances that prevent policy drift.

The Daily News article ends on a reflective note, quoting Fleming: “Policy should not be a one‑time fix; it should be a living, evolving entity. The key is to keep an eye on the long game, even when we’re forced to act quickly.” The article’s call to action urges policymakers to maintain a balance between urgency and deliberation, ensuring that the city’s emergency responses are both effective now and sustainable for the decades to come.