The Gist Rent-Stabilized and City-Run: Mamdani Rises as Rivals Flail
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Aug 19, 2025 Harry Siegel, Editor of The City and host of FAQ NYC, dives into the turbulent New York City mayoral race. He highlights Zohran Mamdani's rise amidst potential liabilities like old tweets and promises of city-run grocery stores. Siegel raises concerns about how federal pressure could impact candidates. Additionally, he explores the long-term implications of Trump's economic strategies and how they might influence New York's local dynamics. The conversation is insightful, reflecting on the complexities of urban democracy and governance.
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Long Payoff Horizons Are Risky
- Mike Pesca warns that Trump's major policies (tariffs, civil service purge, NATO realignment) have payoffs far beyond his term and risk long-term damage.
- Those policies' benefits, if any, likely materialize eight to eleven years out, making succession plans critical.
Mamdani Is Presumptive But Untested
- Harry Siegel labels Zohran Mamdani the presumptive mayor given current polling and a crowded field that hasn't stress-tested him.
- Siegel warns Mamdani hasn't been seriously tested on governance or hostile federal responses yet.
Mamdani’s Rent‑Stabilized Apartment
- Mamdani revealed he lives in a rent-stabilized apartment and explained financial reasons for being there early in his career.
- He and his wife plan to move to a larger space, and opponents have tried to make the rent-stabilized fact into a campaign issue.