Rent freeze and free buses: New York mayor-elect’s ambitious plan for city
The once little-known state politician and former rapper has ambitious plans for the US’ largest city.
Zohran Mamdani has just made history.
The once little-known New York State politician is set to become New York City’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor after a landslide victory in Tuesday’s closely watched mayoral election.
The 34-year-old Democratic socialist defeated his main rival, former state governor Andrew Cuomo, earning over 1 million votes and 50 per cent of the ballots.
“My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,” Mr Mamdani said in his victory speech after defeating the Cuomo name made famous by Andrew’s father Mario Cuomo, who was also governor of New York.
“I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life. But let tonight be the final time I utter his name, as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few,” Mr Mamdani continued.
“New York, tonight you have delivered. A mandate for change. A mandate for a new kind of politics. A mandate for a city we can afford. And a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that.”
Mr Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and raised in New York, campaigned on a promise to make New York City more liveable and affordable – a message that has resonated with migrant families, young progressives and working-class voters.
He will be officially sworn in as the city’s second youngest mayor on January 1, giving him less than two months to prepare to run the US’ most populous city.
Mr Mamdani has already named five women to co-chair his transition team, including Maria Torres-Springer, who resigned her post as deputy mayor under outgoing Eric Adams due to his engagement with US President Donald Trump.
Here’s what you need to know about New York City’s mayor-elect and his ambitious policies.
Born in Uganda and rapping in New York
Mr Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, to university professor Mahmood Mamdani and acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, both of whom are of Indian descent.
The 34-year-old thanked his parents during his victory speech, praising them for making him “into the man I am today”.
“I am so proud to be your son,” he said.
Mr Mamdani made the move to New York with his family when he was seven years old.
He went on to attend public school at the Bronx High School of Science, where he co-founded the school’s first cricket team.
He later graduated from Bowdoin College with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies in 2014.
After college, he worked as a foreclosure prevention counsellor in Queens. He also moonlit as a rapper, performing under the monikers Young Cardamom and later Mr Cardamom.
Mr Mamdani was first elected to the New York Assembly in 2020, becoming the first South Asian man, first Ugandan and third Muslim to serve in the assembly.
Outside of politics, Mr Mamdani is married to his wife Rama Duwaji, a 27-year-old Brooklyn-based Syrian artist, whom he met on the dating app, Hinge.
Rent freeze
One of Mr Mamdani's major campaign pledges was a four-year freeze on New York’s one million rent-stabilised apartments.
However, some critics have argued the move, which would need approval from the Rent Guidelines Board, does not help the millions of Americans living in market-rate apartments.
“Our greatness will be anything but abstract,” Mr Mamdani said during his victory speech.
“It will be felt by every rent-stabilised tenant who wakes up on the first of every month knowing the amount they’re going to pay hasn’t soared since the month before.”
Mr Mamdani has also proposed to build 200,000 new affordable units over the next 10 years.
“The number one reason working families are leaving our city is the housing crisis. The Mayor has the power to change that,” his website reads.
Free buses
Mr Mamdani has promised to make every bus across New York City’s five boroughs free for the next four years.
“Today in the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, one in five New Yorkers cannot afford the bus fare,” Mr Mamdani said in the final debate of his campaign.
The mayor-elect has also promised to address the slow speed of New York’s buses, which are forced crawl through the city’s bustling traffic, by building priority lanes, expanding bus queue jump signals, and dedicated loading zones.
Free childcare
Mr Mamdani has pledged to expand free child care in New York removing fees for every child in the city aged from six weeks to five years old.
New York currently only offers free child care for children aged three and four years, with families paying over $US20,000 (about $A30,000) a year in child care fees.
Mr Mamdani’s campaign estimated the plan would cost $US6 billion (about $A9 billion) annually.
The mayor-elect has also promised to increase wages for childcare workers to match those of public school teachers in the city.
City-owned grocery stores
Mr Mamdani has also proposed to create city-run grocery stores in each of New York City’s five boroughs.
The stores would be “focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit,” his website reads.
“Without having to pay rent or property taxes, they will reduce overhead and pass on savings to shoppers.
“They will buy and sell at wholesale prices, centralize warehousing and distribution, and partner with local neighborhoods on products and sourcing.”
Mr Mamdani said the initiative is estimated to cost $US60 million ($A92 million).
Views on Israel and Palestine
Mr Mamdani has expressed unwavering support for Palestinian rights, criticised Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza which he has labelled “a genocide”, and has called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested.
Mr Mamdani has also called for action against antisemitism in New York – which has the largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
“We will build a city hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism,” Mr Mamdani said in his victory speech.
“No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election,” he added.
“This new age will be defined by a competence and the compassion that have too long been placed at odds with one another.”
‘Reject Trump's fascism’
Throughout his campaign, Mr Mamdani has been repeatedly attacked by Donald Trump, who has called the Democratic socialist a “little Communist” and threatened to cut off federal funds to the city where he made his name if he was elected.
Mr Mamdani, who has called for people to “reject Trump’s fascism,” directly addressed the President during his victory speech.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he said.
“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.
“We will hold bad landlords to account because the Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable taking advantage of their tenants. We will put an end to the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Trump to evade taxation and exploit tax breaks.”
Despite tensions, Mr Mamdani said he is open and ready to discuss the issue of cost of living with Mr Trump.
Speaking at a briefing in Queens on Wednesday, US time, the Democratic socialist said: “The White House hasn’t reached out to congratulate me.”
“I continue to be interested in having a conversation with President Trump on the ways in which we can work together to serve New Yorkers, whether that be delivering on his campaign promises around cost of living or the many issues many New Yorkers have been sharing with me about the drastic impacts that the legislation that President Trump has ushered through Washington.”
– With AFP
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Originally published as Rent freeze and free buses: New York mayor-elect’s ambitious plan for city
