Fareed Zakaria Critiques Spending in Blue Cities, Focusing on New York
On Sunday, Fareed Zakaria, a host at CNN, voiced his criticisms about blue cities, especially New York City, suggesting they’re spending excessively while yielding little in terms of tangible benefits for residents.
He described the situation in New York as emblematic of issues that Democrats often overlook. “New York is a classic example of exactly the kinds of problems that Democrats don’t want to confront,” he remarked. Zakaria emphasized that these cities, by promising more and spending more, ultimately deliver less, pushing financial troubles into the future.
He particularly called attention to Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s proposed budget of $127 billion for 2027, criticizing it as unaffordable given Mamdani’s campaign promise to make the city more accessible financially. Zakaria pointed out that this budget figure is almost equivalent to the annual expenses of mid-sized nations like Greece or Thailand, which is staggering when you think about it.
Mamdani’s Budget and Cuts to NYPD
He compared the current budget proposal with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s budget of around $70 billion back in 2014. Zakaria also noted a concerning trend: New York’s overall population is declining, and despite this massive budget, residents aren’t reaping the benefits in crucial areas like education. “Graduation numbers, test scores, and reading proficiency levels are middling at best,” he stated, adding that these figures often resemble those from areas spending significantly less.
He also took a shot at the city’s high tax rates, contrasting them with European countries that provide universal health care and free education in return for such taxes. “New Yorkers have access to approximately 300 miles of sidewalk sheds,” he quipped, highlighting a perceived failure in priorities.
Proposals for Tax Increases
Mamdani’s plans include raising income and corporate tax rates—or, if that doesn’t happen, increasing property taxes by nearly 10%. As of 2022, property taxes in New York had already exceeded 27% of homeownership costs, surpassing the national average. Zakaria noted that if a proposed tax on the wealthy fails, it would place an even heavier burden on current homeowners.
Other cities are similarly caught in this cycle, with Zakaria mentioning Los Angeles and Chicago, both also struggling with homelessness despite significant financial allocations aimed at addressing this crisis. Los Angeles, for example, has budgeted about $950 million for the upcoming fiscal year, yet has seen a sharp rise in homelessness over recent years.
Calls for Change in Governance
Addressing the issue of homelessness, he pointed out that a recent audit revealed that officials couldn’t effectively track how $2.4 billion meant for homelessness was utilized. “This comes amid public discontent, despite billions being spent,” he remarked. He also remarked on Chicago’s mayor, whose significant pension obligations pose risks of financial collapse.
Zakaria posed the question of effective governance and suggested that simply adding new programs isn’t the solution. “Governments can become these machines that grow faster than the societies they oversee,” he noted.
He urged Democrats in city leadership to move away from merely announcing new entitlements. Instead, there should be a focus on providing jobs, ensuring safe streets, functioning schools, reliable sanitation, and sufficient housing for the middle class. “New York City doesn’t need more soaring rhetoric. We need more housing,” he concluded.
Zakaria also echoed support for Matt Iglesias’ views on the necessity of legalizing the construction of market-rate housing, indicating a potential path forward.
