Between all the political polarization in the world, there has been a significant unifying force driving humans together, and his name is Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City.
Mamdani is a political figure whom all other political figures should aspire to be. He always knows what to say, he works for the people, and he’s got the looks (wink wink). He works tirelessly for his city, always making time to be with the people on the streets, riding bikes, or even at a PinkPantheress concert to promote voting. Got an event? Mamdani will be there.
Aside from his amazing attendance, appearing almost everywhere, he shines when it comes to understanding his community’s needs. Within his first 100 days in office, Mamdani has completed an extensive list of community-focused projects, the major of which are: free childcare, pothole blitz, battling blizzards, and gracefully ripping the money out of mangy rich hands!
Starting with childcare, Mamdani, with funding from Governor Kathy Hochul, is looking to expand the free childcare program this coming fall, offering 2,000 free seats for 2-K children. Mamdani is working to kickstart the childcare program, with applications opening on April 30 for Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) workers. Following this, the city will begin working on a $10 million facility renovation for future childcare services.
Mamdani not only cares about residents’ children, but also about their cars and bikes, too. Since Mamdani took office, he has partnered with the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and filled over 100,000 potholes (as of April 6), completing more than 7,000 in a day-long “blitz,” according to nyc.gov. This comes after his incredible efforts of street clearing during New York City’s historic blizzards this past winter.
During said historical NYC blizzards this winter, Mamdani made sure everyone had shelter. In a statement to the people on Feb. 21, he stated: “Let me be clear: no one will be denied shelter.” And he stuck to his word. The city provided 18 warming buses, 13 school warming centers, and 11 Health + Hospitals open as warming spaces. They also employed mobile warming spaces, handing out items such as socks and warm food. Mamdani also made this an employment opportunity, inviting residents to bring their papers to their local sanitation garage to make some extra money as Emergency Snow Shovelers!
Finally, on April 15, also known as National Tax Day, in an Instagram reel, Mamdani announced that he had secured a pied-à-terre tax. This tax implements “an annual fee on luxury properties worth more than $5 million, whose owners do not live full-time in the city,” according to the social media video. Mamdani estimates this tax will bring in at least $500 million for the city. These funds will be used to advance free childcare and keep New York City safe and sanitary. If that is not music to everyone’s ears, they must have poor taste in music.
That’s my mayor! (Everyone says in unison from Harrisonburg, Va.). Despite all the hard work he’s put in, he is still not done. These are only his first 100 days, and they are historic. From starting large projects (including penalizing bad landlords, ahem, Seth Miller) to partaking in Iftar and fast-breaking with community members, Mamdani can do it all, and do it all well. Don’t worry, he will tackle those free buses soon enough.