As Zohran Mamdani prepares to become New York City's mayor, his Albany background is being closely scrutinized. The Queens Democrat has built a reputation as a fierce advocate for progressive causes, and it's unclear how this experience will translate to the city's halls of power.
Mamdani's time in the state Assembly was marked by his willingness to challenge the status quo, often taking on the governor and other powerful Democrats. His decision to spend a night on the floor of the Capitol building with fellow lawmakers in 2021 was a symbol of this commitment to change. Now, as mayor-elect, he faces an even more daunting task: convincing Albany to fund his ambitious agenda.
One major hurdle is Gov. Kathy Hochul's opposition to increasing the state income tax and her reluctance to make buses fare-free. This has left Mamdani with a $10 billion revenue plan that relies heavily on these two measures. To achieve this, he will need to build consensus with Hochul and other legislative leaders behind closed doors.
Mamdani's allies argue that his experience in Albany is crucial to achieving his agenda. Dean Fuleihan, one of his earliest hires as deputy mayor, brings a deep understanding of the state's inner workings. In an interview, Fuleihan suggested that Mamdani's path to universal child care will be easier than it was for former Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan in 2014.
The alliance between Mamdani and Hochul is complex, with some of Mamdani's supporters pressuring the governor to do more. This has led to a tense dynamic, with Hochul warning that public pressure could backfire if not managed carefully.
As Mamdani prepares to navigate Albany, it's clear that his success will depend on building relationships and finding common ground with the governor and other lawmakers. The question is whether this experience will be enough to overcome the significant hurdles ahead.
Mamdani's time in the state Assembly was marked by his willingness to challenge the status quo, often taking on the governor and other powerful Democrats. His decision to spend a night on the floor of the Capitol building with fellow lawmakers in 2021 was a symbol of this commitment to change. Now, as mayor-elect, he faces an even more daunting task: convincing Albany to fund his ambitious agenda.
One major hurdle is Gov. Kathy Hochul's opposition to increasing the state income tax and her reluctance to make buses fare-free. This has left Mamdani with a $10 billion revenue plan that relies heavily on these two measures. To achieve this, he will need to build consensus with Hochul and other legislative leaders behind closed doors.
Mamdani's allies argue that his experience in Albany is crucial to achieving his agenda. Dean Fuleihan, one of his earliest hires as deputy mayor, brings a deep understanding of the state's inner workings. In an interview, Fuleihan suggested that Mamdani's path to universal child care will be easier than it was for former Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan in 2014.
The alliance between Mamdani and Hochul is complex, with some of Mamdani's supporters pressuring the governor to do more. This has led to a tense dynamic, with Hochul warning that public pressure could backfire if not managed carefully.
As Mamdani prepares to navigate Albany, it's clear that his success will depend on building relationships and finding common ground with the governor and other lawmakers. The question is whether this experience will be enough to overcome the significant hurdles ahead.
he's got my vote all the way! i love how he's not afraid to challenge the status quo and fight for what's right. like, who wouldn't want free bus fares? 
it's gonna be so interesting to see him work with Gov Hochul and the rest of the lawmakers. fingers crossed they can make this $10 billion plan happen! 
his team seems super talented, esp dean fuleihan... bring on universal childcare!!! 
her opposition to increasing income tax is crazy, I get it we need more revenue but $10 billion is a lot for one hurdle idk how Mamdani's gonna get that done 
his Albany days were all about shaking things up so hopefully he can bring some of that energy to the mayor's office 
Fuleihan's got skills tho 
universal child care is still on the table and I'm hyped 
. His Albany background is a big plus, no doubt about it, but how's he gonna make buses fare-free when Hochul's all chill on that front? 
. And what's up with this $10 billion revenue plan? Is that even realistic? 
I'm excited to see him tackle the universal child care thing, though - it was kinda tough for de Blasio back in the day 
. Still, gotta keep an eye on how things go down between Mamdani and Hochul. Maybe they can make it work, but if not... 
. He's got a rep for being bold and challenging stuff in Albany, which is good, but now he's gotta navigate the city's politics, which can be super tricky 
.
. I mean, who wants to increase taxes? That sounds like a total bummer 
. But at the same time, it's all about finding common ground and building relationships... that makes sense 
.
️. He's definitely got a strong track record of challenging the status quo, but can he make it work in Albany? 
. That guy's like a state insider expert 
. If Mamdani can't get that done, it's gonna be tough for his other plans to fly 
. Guess we'll just have to keep an eye on this guy and see how it all plays out 
. If he can't make his $10 billion plan work, it'll be a major setback 
. Still, I'm rooting for the underdog – we could use some fresh perspective in NYC 
like New York... I mean, who needs actual urban planning experience when you've spent time in the state capitol? And $10 billion is just a small price to pay for universal child care, right? 
.
. The challenge will definitely be getting Albany on board, but I think his experience in the Assembly is gonna help him navigate those tricky negotiations 
.
! With Mamdani at the helm, there's hope that NYC can become a beacon of progress and inclusivity for the entire country 
. Bring it on! 
.
. And without Fuleihan by his side, it might take some time to build that consensus 
.
. But, we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out 
. Mamdani thinks he can just waltz into Albany and get what he wants, but there are strings attached 
. That governor Hochul, she's not gonna let him just walk all over her without a fight 
. And don't even get me started on the buses fare-free thing... what's really going on there? Is this about lining pockets or actually helping out the people? 
. As a Queens Democrat, he's built a rep for being all in on progressive causes 
. His $10 billion plan relies heavily on Hochul's blessing 
, which she ain't giving 
.
. If he wants to make buses fare-free 
, he'll need to butter up the governor and other lawmakers big time 
... hopefully Mamdani can navigate this better 
, but Albany politics can be super slow 
... wish him luck! 
It's gonna take more than just being a rebel to get stuff done here. And with Hochul opposing increasing the state income tax and making buses free, that's like asking Mamdani to walk on water... not impossible, but pretty darn challenging 
. However, navigating the complex web of Albany politics will require delicate diplomacy and strategic compromise 
. One can only hope that Mamdani's experience in the state Assembly serves as a springboard for his success in NYC 
.
! I tried this crazy-good Korean taco place and now I'm hooked 
. And I wonder, what if Zohran Mamdani could bring some of that creativity to Albany? Maybe instead of focusing on tax hikes, he could propose some innovative solutions for public transportation or affordable housing? Just a thought 
He tried to do some big changes and it just didn't work out. And now Mamdani is trying to tackle a $10 billion plan that's basically asking the state to break the bank 
. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's gonna take some serious magic from Mamdani and his team 
. And what about Gov Hochul? She's being super tough on him already... does he have any tricks up his sleeve? 
I hope he can make it work, because it would be a shame if all that hard work went to waste