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Last night, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist and State Assemblymember, won the New York City mayoral general election, defeating independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, and securing 50.4% of the total vote, according to the Associated Press.
His win clearly signals a mandate for a change in priorities for New York City, particularly concerning the city's affordability crisis. Mamdani's campaign, in fact, was built around a populist platform centered on economic relief for working-class New Yorkers, a message that culminated in a historic victory that makes him the city's first Muslim mayor .
Mamdani's signature proposals included a pledge to implement a rent freeze for all rent-stabilized tenants, a promise to make city buses fare-free, raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030, providing universal childcare and creating a network of city-owned grocery stores, among others.
Lofty and certainly appealing to the vast majority of New Yorkers, these proposals, though, will require significant political and legislative effort to turn into reality. Which leads to the question: how realistic are Mamdani's key promises, and what would a potential timeline for implementation look like? We break it down.
Rent freeze for all rent-stabilized tenants
Mamdani has promised to freeze rents on rent-stabilized units in the city. His ability to do this comes from his authority to appoint members of the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB). It’s important to note that the board cannot act arbitrarily; its decisions must be based on economic indicators, and failing to do so could leave it vulnerable to lawsuits. That said, using the RGB to implement a rent freeze is not far-fetched: former Mayor Bill de Blasio set a precedent by appointing members who voted for rent freezes in three of the eight years he was in office.
It’s also important to remember that Mamdani’s authority only applies to roughly one million rent-stabilized units—he cannot freeze rent on market-rate apartments, co-ops, condos or the city’s thousands of other affordable housing units.
Mamdani must also consider the last few months of Eric Adams’ term. The outgoing mayor was considering appointing new members to the RGB, which could split the board and make an immediate freeze less likely. If that happens, Mamdani would only have full control of the board and the ability to influence votes after subsequent terms expire in 2026.
Verdict: By appointing members to the RGB, Mamdani could influence their votes and push for rent freezes, but he cannot unilaterally mandate them. This would apply only to a specific subset of rent-stabilized units.
Fare-free and faster city buses
Regarding free buses, the local bus network is run by the state-controlled Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which answers to the governor. This means no mayor can eliminate fares on their own. It would require cooperation with the MTA board, the governor, and approval from the state legislature.
Verdict: Given the MTA’s current budget deficit—$800 million in annual losses, according to CBS—it’s doubtful a fare-free proposal would succeed. Mamdani could, however, try to speed up buses by creating new dedicated bus lanes through the Department of Transportation, which operates under his own purview.
Raising the minimum wage to $30
The state sets the general minimum wage in New York City, so Mamdani cannot directly increase it. He could potentially pursue a city-specific increase by working with the NYC Council to pass local legislation, though such a law could face legal challenges under state regulations.
Verdict: Raising the minimum wage to $30 by 2030 at the city level is ambitious and unlikely. However, a smaller city-level increase could be possible through local legislation, though it might still face legal hurdles.
Universal childcare
Mamdani has promised to expand city-funded childcare, aiming to provide free childcare for all children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and to expand existing programs. Funding would likely come from higher taxes on high earners, which would require state approval. The Adams administration has also prioritized early childhood education, which may provide a foundation for Mamdani’s plan.
Verdict: If Mamdani secures state approval for tax increases, he could fund expanded childcare programs. However, this is unlikely given the estimated $5 billion annual cost, which would require Albany-authorized taxes.
City-owned grocery stores
To establish city-run grocery stores, Mamdani could utilize the city’s Economic Development Corporation, which is under mayoral control, making this project feasible. He has discussed a pilot program to create five government-subsidized grocery stores, one in each borough, that would operate on a non-profit basis. By using city-owned property and purchasing at wholesale prices, these stores could keep prices low for consumers.
Verdict: Because the responsible government body is under his control, Mamdani could potentially establish the five pilot stores. However, critics have raised concerns about practical challenges, including supply and maintenance issues, which could affect how long these stores remain operational.