Transit Union leader promotes Mamdani’s free bus fare proposal at campaign event

Union Leader Backs Fareless Bus Initiative Amid Mayoral Campaign

The president of the national transit workers’ coalition, which represents 41,000 members in New York, is showing support for left-leaning mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani by endorsing the fareless bus initiative championed by democratic socialists.

Transportation Union President John Samuelsen clarified that his unexpected appearance at Mamdani’s rally on Saturday night didn’t mean he was officially endorsing the candidate’s campaign.

Nonetheless, his attendance at the event was notable, especially since Mamdani’s supporters included figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. John Lew.

In a conversation about joining the rally, Samuelsen stated, “Zohran worked with me on a no-food-bath initiative. He advanced the union’s no-fare bus status.”

He articulated a vision of a fareless future, suggesting that such a transformation could boost ridership on buses and subways and serve as economic drivers. “Companies without fares should be the future,” he noted, before taking on his role as TWU Local 100 leader and later becoming the national TWU president.

Samuelsen expressed that implementing free bus services could significantly reduce incidents of assault against bus drivers, framing it as a safety improvement.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the mayor has yet to establish a fare policy. While the mayor is set to be appointed to the MTA board, the authority for metropolitan transport still rests with the state.

The governor’s influence will extend to the MTA through additional appointments, including that of the chairman and CEO.

Mamdani’s campaign has projected that the cost of replacing fare revenue from city bus riders would reach at least $630 million annually. He believes that this can be offset by a 2% tax increase for individuals earning over $1 million per year.

This tax package is estimated to generate around $10 billion annually, according to Mamdani’s campaign.

As of now, TWU Local 100 hasn’t made an endorsement in the mayoral Democratic primary. In 2021, the union backed Mayor Eric Adams, and Samuelsen pointed out that Adams maintains a base of support within TWU Local 100.