by Serwan Zangana
As the new Mayor of New York City, Zoharan Mamdani, was sworn in on January 1, 2026, it was indeed a historical event for many people across America in general, and for the New Yorkers in particular. And for many Muslims, Mamdani’s victory was perceived as a victory for Islam in America, in which religion should not be a tool to impact elections, and elected officials, should refrain from playing a religious card.
But the question that should be asked: Can Mamdani fulfill his promises to all New Yorkers or like other politicians he was painting a colorful image and taking the New York voters to Utopian society?
To those who have lived long enough, seen, and heard speeches and rhetoric from politicians and elected officials, Mamdani is another enthusiastic politician who came with a hope for hardworking New Yorkers. Unfortunately, he is a reflection and a continuation of the majority politicians in the country.
As Mamdani was previously undecided whether to move to Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York City, or to stay in his apartment, for his family’s safety as he stated that he will move to Gracie Mansion. However, this is Mamdani’s first move that puts him above the average New Yorkers who struggle with high rent.
Obviously, “ A City We Can Afford” was Mamdani’s slogan during his political campaign, which attracted and impacted the majority New Yorker voters and resulted in Mamdani’s win. However, it is critical to turn a City like New York to be affordable while the population is tremendously increasing. According to United States Census Bureau, between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, New York City’s population has increased by 87,184 residents.
With such an enormous increase in the population, turning New York to an affordable City is just a dream, and instead, the cost of living will increase. New York City is in a predicament that the middle class, the lower middle class, and the poor are facing a steeper hill every year as the quality of life is sinking. Evidently, with empty promises of the elected officials, people’s lives in the City have not improved, In fact; only the lives of the elected officials as they moved to Gracie Mansion have been improved.
Also, Mamdani’s Socialist ideology apparently appears much prettier than the Capitalist system, but the pretty face of Socialism has not been able to replace the ugly face of Capitalism yet as in fact Socialism has been rejected by the reality of life and failed in many countries in the past.
It is necessary to realize that the foundation of every economic system is the capital that is the money to run the system and pay for the services. Mamdani’s major plan to bring revenue to the City is taxing the wealthy and the corporations, which perhaps can be a viable idea. But conducting a policy based on raising taxes on high income earners, millionaires, and corporations can also be a slippery slope and causes the rise of the costs of the necessities and products, which impacts the average person.
Moreover, from public grocery stores to free buses, Mamdani has promised the New Yorkers of a better life and affordable City of New York. But how many times the hard working people, specifically, the minorities have heard such messages and given hope just to capture their votes?
Indeed, the last slogan that was echoed in the nation was “ Make America Great Again” by President Trump. However, it is nearly a year since President Trump took the oath of office, neither America was made great again nor the American lifestyle has improved. Between Mamdani’s Left and Trump’s Right, people will only dream of Utopian society.
