Local Change, Big Ideas: Inside Zohran Mamdani’s Work and Vision
In an era of profound political frustration, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has become a standout voice for progressive change in New York. Representing parts of Queens, he’s built a reputation for pushing bold policies on housing, transit, and immigrant justice, while staying closely connected to the communities he serves. For many New Yorkers, Mamdani represents not just a politician, but a reminder that the government can still work for the people.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani is poised to become the Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor, after leading in the city’s ranked-choice primary.
History-making: If elected, he would be NYC’s first Muslim mayor and also the youngest in more than a century.
What to know about him:
Early years: Born in Kampala, Uganda, to academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair. He moved to New York with his family at the age of seven and became an American citizen in 2018.
Inspiration: Mamdani drew inspiration to run for office from his previous job working as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor in Queens. This is where his strong feelings toward economic reform stemmed from.
Present time: Mamdani is a 33-year-old state assembly member and democratic socialist. He was virtually unknown when he jumped into the crowded primary field last fall.
His recent rise: Mamdani’s rise in the polls is fueled by in-person interactions, viral videos, and policy proposals that appear to resonate with younger and first-time primary voters. 18- to 29-year-olds led the turnout, a stark difference from four years ago when the majority of voters in the 2021 mayoral primary were over the age of 60.
His message: Zohran Mamdani will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, and that is safe for you.
What is he fighting for?
Focus on the economy and affordability: Running to lower the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers.
Proposals:
-Free city buses
One in five New Yorkers struggles to afford the ever-rising bus fare. Public transit should be reliable, safe, and universally accessible. New York City’s buses are the slowest in the nation, robbing working people of precious time for spending time with family, leisure, and rest. As Mayor Mamdani plans to eliminate the fare on every city bus permanently, make them faster by rapidly building priority lanes, expanding bus queue jump signals, and having dedicated loading zones to keep double parkers out of the way. Fast and free buses will not only make buses reliable and accessible but will also improve safety for riders and operators. Creating the world-class service New Yorkers deserve.
-Freezing rents
The majority of New Yorkers are tenants, and over 2 million of them reside in rent-stabilized apartments. Mamdani plans to immediately freeze the rent for all stabilized tenants and utilize every available resource to build the housing New Yorkers need and reduce rent. The number one reason working families are leaving New York is because of the housing crisis; the mayor has the power to change that.
-Reforms to make housing more affordable
Mamdani is working to make housing by and for New York. For decades, NYC has relied almost entirely on changing the zoning codes to entice private developers. The housing that does get built is often out of reach for the working class who need it most. As Mayor, Mamdani will put our public dollars to work and triple the city’s production of permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes. He will also ensure that city housing agencies are fully staffed, allowing us to focus on building more affordable housing. Mamdani also firmly believes that everyone deserves a safe and healthy place to call home. Mamdani will overhaul the Mayor’s office to protect tenants and coordinate code enforcement under one roof, ensuring that agencies work together to hold property owners responsible for the conditions of their buildings.
-City-owned grocery stores
Food prices are out of control. 9 out of 10 say the cost of groceries is rising faster than their income. Mamdani aims to establish a network of city-owned grocery stores that prioritize keeping prices low, rather than generating a profit. They will buy and sell at wholesale prices, centralized warehousing and distribution, and partner with local neighborhoods on products and sourcing. This will redirect public money to a real public option.
-Free childcare
After rent, the most significant cost for New York’s working families is childcare. New Yorkers with children under six are leaving at double the rate of all others. The burden of childcare falls the heaviest on mothers, who are giving up paid jobs to do unpaid childcare. Mamdani plans to implement free childcare for every New Yorker aged six weeks to five years old, ensuring high-quality programming for all families. He will achieve this by raising wages for childcare workers, a quarter of whom live in poverty, to parity with those of public school teachers. This will help foster early childhood development, save parents money, and most importantly, keep our families in the city they call home.
All paid for by raising taxes on the top 1% and corporations. Mamdani discusses finances the way New Yorkers discuss finances. Raising taxes on the top 1% will not affect how they use these resources, because more often than not, they don't need to worry about the cost of housing, transportation, groceries, or childcare.
How he will fight against President Donald Trump: Mamdani will use his power to reject Trump’s fascism, stopping masked ICE agents from deporting our neighbors, governing our city as a model for the democratic party, a party where we fight for working people with no apology.
Mamdani’s relationship with the Jewish community of New York City: Democrats in America’s most Jewish community have nominated an outspoken critic of Israel. Though this did alarm some in New York’s Jewish community, Mamdani has a close relationship with New York City Comptroller and fellow mayoral candidate Brad Lander. However, they do disagree on some key issues, mainly the U.S. foreign policy towards Israel and Palestine. They both have worked to oppose antisemitism and advance other shared priorities. Mamdani appealed to Jewish voters who prioritize local issues, such as elder care, paid family leave, affordable housing, and combating discrimination.
Mamdani’s Legislative wins:
Zohran Mamdani has successfully passed three bills, including the State Administrative Procedure Act (A6267). This bill authorized a three-year pilot for seven state regulatory agencies to utilize innovative techniques during public hearings. This was a way for the public to be more meaningfully involved in an agency's decision-making process.
He then passed another State administrative procedure act to amend further and increase public participation in the rulemaking process.
Lastly, he proposed an amendment to section 64 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. This law impacted a particular group of people: those visiting the Astoria Museum of the Moving Image who wanted to have a drink. This was written as an amendment to the state’s liquor license law, specifically concerning the sale of alcohol at a location adjacent to an elementary school. This law provides detailed information about where alcohol can be consumed at the Museum of the Moving Image.
Who endorses Zohran Mamdani?
High-profile progressives:
-Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose congressional district includes parts of Queens
-Senator Bernie Sanders
-Representative Nydia Velázquez
-Former New York representative Jamaal Bowman
-New York attorney general Letitia James
-New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams
-Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
-Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich
-United States Senator Elizabeth Warren
Organizations:
-The New York Working Families Party
-The National Youth Climate Group, Sunrise Movement
-Multiple local unions
Why Mamdani is restoring hope for New York residents:
What voters are sick of: Voters are sick of the status quo, sick of being force-fed these old, uninspiring candidates and told to vote for them without question. They want change.
What does it mean for politics that NYC voted for Mamdani over the more classic name of Andrew Cuomo?
Zohran Mamdani VS Andrew Cuomo:
Cuomo was a combination of the worst qualities of Joe Biden and Donald Trump: Like Trump, Cuomo left office in disgrace and was embarking on a vengeance tour. Like Biden, he’s old, has no new ideas, and no ability to inspire people.
Not thinking of New York as a whole: Instead of talking about New York as a whole, Mamdani brought it down to a granular level for people. His focus on the economy is something that many Democrats, including Mamdani supporters, say is a key takeaway for party members seeking to learn from his victory.
Mamdani’s focus on the economy differs from Cuomo’s: Mamdani is an advocate for the working-class people, whereas Cuomo, in contrast, focuses on big businesses and real estate development as drivers of economic growth. Mamdani strongly sides with taxing the wealthy in favor of economic growth.
Zohran Mamdani isn’t just proposing change—he’s proving that it’s possible. By staying grounded in his district and driven by his values, he has shown that politics can be both principled and practical. In a time when many feel disconnected from their representatives, Mamdani offers a rare sense of trust, action, and hope. For New Yorkers looking for leaders who listen and lead, he’s a reason to believe in what’s next.
