Crafting Change: Six Ways Zohran Mamdani Can Transform NYC

Introduction

Congratulations are in order for Zohran Mamdani, who has remarkably risen from obscurity to become the mayor-elect of New York City. With a campaign fueled by social media savvy and a focus on the city's challenging cost of living, Mamdani has challenged the status quo. His victory serves not only as a personal achievement but also as a beacon of hope for a city that has long felt disconnected from its leadership.

The Weight of Expectations

While I didn't support Mamdani's primary candidacy due to concerns regarding his experience and policy ambitions, I find myself rooting for his success. New York—the crucible of ambition and aspiration—now needs a mayor who can deliver on promises, not just sweep them under the rug. The stakes have never been higher, especially with a political landscape under the looming shadow of figures like former President Trump, who is more committed to sowing discord than to fostering unity.

Lessons from the Past

History has shown us that big-city leaders often fall short amidst high expectations. From Chicago to San Francisco, many progressive politicians have struggled to balance their ideals with practical governance. Mamdani's challenge will be managing this delicate balance. The ghosts of predecessors like Bill de Blasio linger, reminding us of the failures that resulted from idealism without execution.

“For Mr. Mamdani to be effective, he will need to grapple with the recent history of big-city civic leaders promising bold, progressive change.”

1. Housing: Addressing the Crisis

The housing situation in New York is an unrelenting crisis. For years, city leaders have consistently failed to address the affordability crisis. Constraints on construction, put in place since the 1960s, have only exacerbated the issue. Mamdani has previously placed blame on landlords and developers while largely ignoring the role of government in this predicament. However, he has recently signaled a willingness to rethink this stance, which I consider a positive step forward.

To consistently produce housing units, he will have to embrace private development as instrumental rather than adversarial. By supporting the City of Yes initiative pioneered by Mayor Eric Adams, and focusing on denser developments near transit stations, Mamdani can alleviate the pressure on low-income renters.

2. Transportation: Making Mobility a Reality

With promises to make buses both faster and free, the road ahead is as promising as it is complex. Speed is the more crucial goal. Currently, buses crawl along at an average speed of just eight miles per hour. Areas like the dedicated bus lane on 14th Street show that improvements are feasible, yet substantial challenges remain. While offering free fares sounds appealing, it risks depriving the system of necessary revenue while not adequately addressing rider safety or security.

A solution that focuses on reduced fares for lower-income riders represents a pragmatic path that Mamdani can take to expedite repairs and enhancements. By partnering with Governor Kathy Hochul, he has the potential to create a more reliable transit system.

3. Child Care: Prioritizing Families

The soaring cost of child care in New York is a harsh reality for many families, consuming over a quarter of their income. Mamdani's plan for free, universal child care from six weeks onward is undoubtedly commendable, but the feasibility of such an ambitious goal warrants scrutiny. Achieving even partial improvements in the existing preschool system would present a major win and could set the stage for broader reforms.

4. Public Safety: Earning Trust

Despite a decline in crime rates, public perception remains fraught with anxiety. As major felonies are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, addressing public safety will be critical. Mamdani must pursue an intelligent, multi-faceted approach that builds trust with the police while also exploring alternatives for mental health crises. His commitment to hiring more police, alongside initiatives focused on community safety, could strike the right balance.

“New York should pursue an all-of-the-above approach that combines more officers and alternatives when feasible.”

5. Education: Enhancing Opportunities

Education has not received the attention it deserves from Mamdani—an oversight that must be corrected. His idea to decentralize control of city schools contradicts successful models that demonstrate the benefits of strong central authority. The most productive educational reforms have occurred when oversight is combined with accountability. I urge Mamdani to use his power to improve educational outcomes rather than sidestep them.

6. Jobs: Bridging the Economic Divide

The apprehension among business leaders regarding Mamdani is palpable, given his ties to socialism. Yet, cooperation is essential. Fostering a work environment conducive to both innovation and stability will benefit New Yorkers across the socio-economic spectrum. Aiming for a ten-percent increase in the number of businesses in New York during his first term reflects the kind of ambitious yet attainable goal that could build invaluable trust with skeptics.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

In the coming months, Mamdani has a unique opportunity to reshape the narrative of democratic governance. I recommend he build a leadership team comprised of individuals with proven management skills and leave partisan ideology for another day. By focusing on pragmatic solutions that directly affect New Yorkers, he can create a city where citizens feel safer, more empowered, and economically stable—a vision that may well cement him among the great mayors of New York.