Editorial: Dems win on Trump resistance, now comes the hard part
In a surprising turn of events, New York City has elected Zohran Mamdani as its new mayor, who is making bold promises that include free child care, free public transportation, city-run grocery stores, and a rent freeze on controlled apartments. These ambitious initiatives are set to be funded by increased taxes on the wealthy, many of whom are reportedly leaving the city in droves. Mamdani’s election reflects a broader desire for change, resonating with a wave of anti-Trump sentiment that swept through various elections across the country, including Democratic victories in New Jersey and Virginia. His victory speech was a clear jab at the former president, signaling a commitment to progressive values and a stark departure from the status quo.
However, the feasibility of Mamdani’s grand plans raises significant questions. While he champions taxing the rich as the “most straightforward and productive way” to finance his $10 billion agenda, he also acknowledges the need for alternative funding sources if those taxes do not materialize. This admission highlights the precariousness of his proposals, as the reliance on wealthy taxpayers may not yield the expected revenue, especially if they continue to flee the city. Critics point out that the burden of funding these initiatives could ultimately fall on middle-class New Yorkers, raising concerns about the sustainability of such a transformative agenda. As Mamdani and his supporters celebrate a mandate for change, the challenge remains: ensuring that this change genuinely benefits all New Yorkers, rather than perpetuating a cycle of political power struggles that often leave the average citizen behind.
The recent elections serve as a reminder of the cyclical nature of American politics, where each party experiences its highs and lows in response to the current administration. With President Trump’s approval ratings languishing at a mere 37%, the Democratic wins signal a potential shift in the political landscape as the country gears up for the 2024 midterms. However, as history has shown, midterm elections often reflect a backlash against the sitting president, leaving voters to wonder how effective this push for change will be in addressing the pressing issues facing everyday Americans. The current government shutdown further complicates matters, highlighting the urgent need for lawmakers to prioritize solutions over partisan victories. As Mamdani embarks on his ambitious agenda, the eyes of New Yorkers—and indeed the nation—will be watching closely to see if this new chapter in the city’s leadership can deliver on its promises without falling into the pitfalls of previous administrations.
New York City just elected a mayor who promises free child care, free buses, city-run grocery stores and a rent freeze on rent-controlled apartments, all paid for by taxing rich people who are beating a hasty retreat from the city.
What could go wrong?
Plenty, of course, but the election of Zohran Mamdani wasn’t about sound strategy, it was about change. That’s the theme that played out across the mini-midterms on Tuesday: Democrats took the governor’s seats in New Jersey and Virginia, and California voters gave the green light to Prop 50, a redistricting ballot measure.
It was, as many pundits have said, a referendum on President Trump and his policies. Mamdani made his stance clear with his victory speech, which included a Trump slap: “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
Winning Dems were fueled by anti-Trump sentiment, as evidenced by the president’s dismal 37% approval rating in a CNN poll, with 63% disapproving.
Is this all a harbinger of next year’s midterms? Possibly. It’s also fairly typical of the political pickleball played out in election years. The midterms are a reliable reflection of pushback against the president, whoever that happens to be.
President George Bush called the blue wave of the 2006 midterms a “thumping.” President Barack Obama referred to the major losses the Democratic Party experienced in the 2010 midterms as a “shellacking.” That tends to be the midterm pattern, with the thumpers and thumpees changing sides accordingly.
Where does this get voters? If elections are more about wresting power from the other side, how does our country move forward? The current shutdown only underscores the folly of Capitol Hill lawmakers, so focused on “victory” that they dismiss the suffering the shutdown is causing Americans nationwide. It’s not leverage, it’s abominable.
As Dems hail the mandate for change that carried them to election wins, they can’t lose sight that change has got to be for the better. Otherwise, the power football will just keep being passed from party to party.
Mamdani’s win is a seismic change as the socialist mayor-elect didn’t hold back on election promises. Expensive ones. But as the New York Post reported, the foundation for those promises may not be on solid ground.
Mamdani admitted he might need another plan to fund his $10 billion, freebie-filled agenda if he can’t score tax hikes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations.
Mamdani, during a campaign event last month on affordability in Queens, said that taxing the rich is the “most straightforward and productive way” to pay for his pricey proposals, but added that paying for the programs is more important than how the money is raised.
“If this money is funded by the additional taxes or it’s funded by a better-than-expected (tax) assessment, or it’s funded by a pot of money that wasn’t previously spoken about, or savings that have come in, then the most important thing is that it’s funded,” he said.
Odds are better than even that the “pot of money” is a new term for middle-class New York taxpayers. Good luck, Gotham.
Editorial cartoon by Al Goodwyn (Creators Syndicate)
