The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich Zohran Won. Now Comes The Hard Part. (My conversation with Mamdani's First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan)
Nov 11, 2025
Dean Fuleihan, the incoming First Deputy Mayor of New York City, shares insights from his extensive experience in government operations. He discusses the deputy mayor's vital role in implementing city services and executing ambitious policies alongside Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Fuleihan reflects on lessons learned from past administrations, stresses the importance of working closely with Albany, and emphasizes the need for ongoing engagement from campaign volunteers to drive change. His blend of experience and youthful leadership sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in NYC politics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
City Government Is Where Services Meet People
- New York City government delivers the most direct services to residents, from sanitation to the largest municipal health care system in the U.S.
- Dean Fuleihan says that immediacy makes it clear quickly when policies succeed or fail.
Universal Pre-K Was Delivered Fast
- Fuleihan recounts de Blasio's push for universal pre-K and how skeptics predicted it would take five years.
- He says unified effort made it happen in two years, illustrating what coordinated government can achieve.
Turn Political Support Into Concrete Plans
- Coordinate city, state, and agency teams early to convert shared commitments into concrete plans and funding.
- Use existing momentum (e.g., governor's public support) to push from planning to implementation.