1. He has an aversion to the police.
Mamdani referred to the NYPD as “racist, anti-gay, and a serious threat to public safety.”
His “apology” feels insincere, aimed at “the words I used” rather than the impact those words had. His public safety strategy seems to rely on deploying “mental health teams” to deal with 911 calls, excluding police support. Because, you know, negotiations are everything—especially when someone could be pushed onto subway tracks.
2. His disdain for the police runs deep.
New York City’s police force is at its lowest level in two decades, dipping below 34,000 officers. Former Mayor Adams has hopes of increasing that number to 40,000 by 2028.
Mamdani is adamant that there won’t be an increase in staff, expressing no desire to cut back on government agencies. He claims he doesn’t support “defunding this fraudulent agency,” despite having suggested the opposite in past statements.
Ironically, he implied that defunding is still on the table. “It’s not a staffing issue. It’s a safety issue,” he recently remarked.
3. His views on police intersect with anti-Semitism.
Mamdani stated, “When the NYPD boots are around your neck, they are woven by the Israel Defense Forces.” For him, the notion of joint training exercises between the IDF and local police is pure conspiracy. It’s baffling, really. In his eyes, all connections to Israel are negative.
4. His mental health proposal lacks substance.
There’s a valid point in addressing the needs of mentally ill individuals on the streets, but his plan seems rather unrealistic. While promising counseling through outreach teams, the voluntary nature of the treatment raises concerns. Can someone struggling with mental illness really make decisions in their best interest? History suggests otherwise. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio spent a fortune on his Thrive initiative, which often resulted in inadequate support for those in need.
5. The free bus proposal feels unrealistic.
Mamdani aims to introduce free bus services, projecting an annual cost of $700 million, while the MTA estimates it could balloon to $1 billion. This concept has flopped in various cities before. Take Kansas City, for example, which faced financial failure with a similar service. In Olympia, Washington, they had to hike sales taxes just to keep it running. And let’s not forget the general decline in ride quality and instances of vandalism. Free buses often became temporary shelters for the homeless, leading to a decline in usability. The Washington Post was spot on in stating that such services could discourage parents from letting their kids ride alone.
6. He seems attached to failed concepts.
He views capitalism negatively and wishes to launch city-run grocery stores with controlled pricing. Located in city-owned buildings, these stores could undercut local immigrant-run bodegas. How will those businesses survive against such competition? History hasn’t been kind to similar initiatives either. In Kansas City, municipal stores struggled with affordability. But Zoran continues this pursuit without hesitation.
7. He wishes to globalize the intifada.
Mamdani has yet to denounce a controversial text calling for Israel’s destruction and violence against Jews. New York is already witnessing anti-Israeli protests, often resulting in harassment of Jewish residents. Would his mayorship exacerbate such tensions?
8. He risks causing an international stir.
While critical of the NYPD, Mamdani is eager to instruct them to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This could breach federal law, damage US-Israel relations, and give a boost to extremist views. His animosity toward Netanyahu is clearly a driving factor here.
9. He aligns himself with hatred.
Mamdani composed a rap song purportedly about love, dedicated to the Holy Land Five—Americans imprisoned for funding Hamas. He has engaged with figures like Imam Shirazi Wahadj, implicated in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He’s even interviewed with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who controversially claimed America deserved the 9/11 attacks. His mentor had ties to anti-Semitism as well.
10. He portrays himself as a victim.
Despite his actions, Mamdani claims that Muslims are the true victims. He once shared a personal anecdote about fearing for his aunt’s safety on the subway post-9/11, but that story didn’t hold up under scrutiny—there was no real evidence to back it up.
11. He advocates for releasing criminals.
Mamdani firmly believes Rikers Island will close by 2027, yet the replacement facility is behind schedule. Even if built, Rikers would accommodate 3,000 fewer individuals than its current population. Contrary to what’s often claimed, these aren’t low-level offenders. Thanks to “no bail” laws, many of those incarcerated are violent criminals, and Mamdani seems eager to facilitate their release.
12. He puts children at risk.
His long-held desire to legalize prostitution could degrade neighborhood life and endanger women. Cities like Los Angeles, which decriminalized it, have seen an uptick in child trafficking due to a lack of oversight.
13. He could worsen the housing crisis.
Mamdani plans to create a Rent Guidelines Committee that would freeze rent prices on a significant portion of the city’s apartments. This move could discourage people from moving, worsening vacancy rates and driving rents higher. Developers may shy away from new constructions if they sense a tightening grip on pricing. Plus, landlords facing frozen rents aren’t incentivized to maintain or improve their properties.
14. The school system stands to decline.
Despite prior efforts for mayoral control of schools, Mamdani has vowed to step back, allowing the teachers’ union to dictate future policies. The result? Lack of accountability, no metrics for performance, and minimal discipline. Unaffordable contracts and restrictions on educational choices leave students trapped.
15. He risks plunging the city further into debt.
New York City’s debt reached $300 billion last year, significantly outstripping that of other major U.S. cities. The City Council has resisted cutting the $115 billion budget or bolstering emergency funds. Mamdani seems unsure of how to address this debt, indicating plans for increased spending. Currently, a hefty portion of tax revenue goes toward interest payments, but where’s the limit?
16. He might drive away wealthy residents.
Thanks to Wall Street, New York City politicians often spend freely. The wealthiest 1% contribute significantly to the city’s income tax base. Instead of appreciation, however, Mamdani aims to hike taxes. Governor Hochul has hinted against tax increases—will Mamdani manage to sway Albany politicians? With escalating taxes and safety concerns, it’s plausible the affluent could choose to relocate elsewhere.
17. He may jeopardize federal funding.
Federal resources are vital for New York’s development. Mamdani seems ready to take the opposite approach, criticizing government leaders and opposing key entities in ways that could lead to lost funds for imperative infrastructure and public services.
18. He may use New York as a launchpad for a broader agenda.
Mamdani has aimed to position himself as a key player among socialists, even refusing to support Governor Hochul who had previously backed him. His aspirations seem more focused on broader political ambitions than local governance.
19. He lacks experience.
The 34-year-old has a mix of roles, from working as a foreclosure counselor to dabbling in activism. Running for state Legislature yielded few bills passed during his tenure. His limited experience in governance or management could raise concerns about his capacity to lead effectively.
20. He could treat New York as a test case.
If Mamdani ascends to power, expect a cabinet filled with radical thinkers. Every company would become subject to scrutiny and experimentation, irrespective of costs or consequences, all while disregarding historical evidence that often disproves these theories.
No matter the cost to taxpayers, his ambitious ideas may plunge the city even further into financial chaos. And it will be the residents who ultimately pay the price.
