Episode 405: 'Inshallah Mayor’ Zohran Mamdani Says It's All About Making NYC More Affordable
Mar 7, 2025
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Queens Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a rising Democratic Socialist, passionately discusses making NYC more affordable for its working-class residents. He critiques current political approaches with a call for ‘less lecturing, more listening.’ Mamdani shares insights on unionizing campaign staff and takes aim at the failures of past leaders. Anecdotes about his journey from Uganda to NYC highlight the significance of representation. The conversation also lightens up with a fun lightning round, mixing humor with real talk about NYC culture.
Zohran Mamdani emphasizes making NYC more affordable through policies like rent freezes, universal child care, and municipal grocery stores.
The campaign advocates for a community-focused approach to public safety, restructuring policing rather than expanding the NYPD's budget.
Deep dives
Economic Agenda for Affordability
The campaign emphasizes making New York City more affordable as its primary focus, which is considered the most pressing crisis facing working-class New Yorkers. Key policies include freezing rents for over two million tenants, improving public transportation by making buses fast and free, and providing universal child care. Additionally, the candidate proposes establishing municipal grocery stores in each borough to ensure lower prices and aims to build 200,000 union-built, permanently affordable homes over the next decade. The overarching goal is to prioritize the needs of working people in political discussions and commitments.
Approach to Public Safety and Policing
The candidate critiques the current administration's handling of crime and public safety, advocating for a shift from traditional, punitive approaches to a more community-focused strategy. They reject the idea of increasing the size of the NYPD, instead proposing to eliminate their substantial overtime budget and restructure ineffective units. Emphasizing the need for a new Department of Community Safety, the campaign aims to create genuine safety without perpetuating a culture of impunity within law enforcement. This approach seeks to foster trust and address the real experiences and concerns of New Yorkers rather than relying on outdated models of policing.
Lessons from Political Movements
The candidate draws inspiration from significant moments in progressive movements, such as Occupy Wall Street and Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns. They highlight how these experiences have shaped their understanding of democratic socialism and the need for clear, actionable policies to tackle inequality. The excitement generated by other campaigns underscores the importance of unapologetically advocating for one's ideals and addressing the needs of marginalized groups. By connecting these lessons to their current campaign, the candidate positions themselves as a voice for transformative change rather than traditional politics.
Commitment to Community and Representation
The candidate asserts the importance of representation in politics, particularly as a first-generation immigrant and a member of marginalized communities. They recognize that representation alone is insufficient without policies that directly address the lived experiences of those they represent. By blending their personal narrative with their political agenda, the candidate aims to build trust with voters while emphasizing their commitment to policy-driven outcomes that improve quality of life. This dual focus on identity and effective governance is presented as a cornerstone of their campaign strategy.
"Democrats in general tend to show up to gun fights with bar graphs," Queens Assemblymember and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said as he sat down with the FAQ NYC crewto make his case. That boils down, he explained, to driving down the cost of living for New Yorkers and "less lecturing, more listening."
In a wide-ranging interview — the latest in the pod’s series with the Democratic candidates — the Democratic Socialist with surging support discussed why "absolutely there's space to have my campaign staff unionized," why he's aiming his fire at the "disgraced former governor and the disgraced current mayor" in the race, how hawking mix CDs helped prepare him for politics, and much more.
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