Day One for the New Mayor
It’s only the first day!
Allies of Zoran Mamdani in the Democratic Socialist Party of America are gearing up to be fierce advocates for the new mayor, ready to take on the “corrupt Albany establishment” to move his ambitious agenda forward.
“Zoran’s initiatives demand fighters in Albany, hence our decision to run socialist candidates for the state legislature this year,” expressed Gustavo Gordilla, co-chair of NYC-DSA and a member of Mamdani’s Economic Development and Workforce Development Transition Committee.
“We’re aiming for free bus services, universal childcare, and safeguarding our communities. I think our mayor’s election was, in part, a response to the challenges posed by Trump,” Gordilla mentioned on Thursday.
“We will not let the corrupt Albany establishment obstruct that mission.”
Grace Moser, another co-chair of the NYC-DSA, highlighted that the group isn’t slowing down after Mamdani’s electoral win; it emphasizes their commitment to a shared agenda.
“This is the culmination of years of effort—not just to elect Zoran, but to empower New York City workers politically,” she elaborated.
“Just because Zoran is now mayor doesn’t mean the struggle is finished,” added Moser, who is also part of Mamdani’s transition committee focusing on small businesses, minorities, and women.
She further noted, “The same billionaires who supported Andrew Cuomo and Trump will try their hardest to derail Zoran’s plans at City Hall and in Albany. But they will be up against the mobilization that Zoran and the DSA have proven is possible.”
The DSA has long championed Mamdani’s “Tax the Wealth” initiative, advocating for increased taxes on individuals earning over $1 million annually.
They’re pushing for billionaires to also pay taxes on investment gains, alongside advocating for a pied-à-terre tax, stock transfer tax, and stock repurchase tax for non-primary residences valued over $5 million.
While Democratic Governor Cathy Hochul, who is up for re-election this year, is against raising income taxes for the affluent, she hasn’t dismissed the possibility of other tax increases, including on corporations.
The DSA’s influence has grown since helping Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeat former Congressman Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary, aiding other candidates for state legislatures and city councils and culminating in both Ocasio-Cortez’s and Mamdani’s surprising victories.
