Episode 408: Jessica Ramos Says NYC Can Do Better Than Another ‘Megalomaniac Mayor’
Mar 15, 2025
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Jessica Ramos, a State Senator and mayoral candidate known for her advocacy on labor and mental health, discusses her vision for New York City. She plans to declare a mental health emergency on her first day in office, addressing the city's challenges in healthcare and housing. Ramos critiques the current administration, citing corruption and incompetence, and emphasizes the need for genuine public service. She also reflects on combating food insecurity, improving education post-pandemic, and fostering empathy-driven leadership for a better NYC.
The candidate aims to enhance NYC's care economy and mental health services, addressing historical challenges with facility closures and support.
Emphasizing education reform, she advocates for universal childcare and initiatives to mitigate pandemic-related learning losses for youth.
To combat economic inequality, she proposes property tax reform and taxing unrealized capital gains to generate revenue for public services.
Deep dives
Vision for New York City
The mayoral candidate expresses a strong desire to prioritize the needs of New Yorkers through a focus on building a robust care economy and enhancing mental health services. Historical issues, such as the closure of mental health facilities by former Governor Cuomo, have led to inadequate support for those struggling with mental health challenges. Additionally, the candidate emphasizes the necessity of a union climate economy, pointing out that retrofitting buildings and increasing housing availability are essential in meeting city infrastructure needs. The candidate insists on restoring basic city services, such as waste collection and pothole repairs, which have suffered under current leadership.
Fundraising and Union Support
The candidate acknowledges the challenges faced in fundraising, noting a slower start compared to competitors but anticipates that union endorsements will soon bolster support. As the chair of the Labor Committee in the state Senate, the candidate highlights a desire to re-engage labor unions, which have been underwhelmingly active in this mayoral race thus far. The expectation is that the unions will rally behind candidates like her, who have a strong labor background and track record. Ranking choice voting dynamics in the upcoming primary also add interesting complexities to how campaigns are strategized.
Pandemic Preparedness and Lessons Learned
The candidate reflects on the profound impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had during her first-term senatorial experience and emphasizes the need for a thorough evaluation of the city’s pandemic response. Ideas include creating a commission to assess what can be improved for future crises, from healthcare readiness to infrastructure resilience. She argues that historical oversights, like those during Superstorm Sandy, necessitate proactive measures to safeguard against future emergencies. Investments in healthcare resources, including sufficient staffing and equipment, are also crucial to prevent tragedy in future crises.
Education Reform and Support Systems
Education is framed as a critical focus for the candidate, who pushes for universal childcare, expanded bilingual education, and changes to high school start times. A significant concern is the learning loss experienced during the pandemic, highlighting the need for universal after-school programs and guaranteed job opportunities for youth year-round. By leveraging collaboration with CUNY, the candidate aims to address workforce shortages in mental health professions, underscoring the importance of education in economic stability. She envisions a revitalized education system as an essential step toward lifting families out of poverty.
Economic Challenges and Fiscal Solutions
The candidate points out the pressing economic challenges faced by New Yorkers, particularly in the context of rising inequality and the concentration of wealth among billionaires. To address these issues, she advocates for revenue generation strategies that include property tax reform and the taxation of unrealized capital gains for the wealthiest New Yorkers. Additionally, she calls for a comprehensive approach to ensure that public services keep up with the demands of an increasingly diverse population. The ultimate goal is to create an environment where economic opportunity is accessible to all New Yorkers regardless of their background.
Ramos also delved into her position as “a labor Democrat… in a lane of my own,” her “plan to call for a mental health emergency on day one of my mayoralty,” the city’s “new Gilded Age” and the battle for a casino license here (“Andrew Carnegie, who wasn’t as rich as Steve Cohen is today, by the way he built 2,500 public libraries”), and much more In the latest episode of the pod’s series of sitdown interviews with the Democratic mayoral candidates.
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