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Zohran Mamdani is New York City's newest mayor and residents are more fearful than ever for what the future holds. The democratic socialist beat his Republican opponents, Curtis Silwa and Andrew Cuomo, Tuesday evening after a nail-biting election campaign. The 34-year-old has promised his supporters a number of things, from freezing rent, free bus fares and tax hikes on the rich, among other initiatives that many believe won't be possible to achieve. In fact, people are so startled by his promises that a recent Daily Mail poll predicted that 25 percent, or 2.12 million residents would 'consider' fleeing the city in what would be the largest mass exodus in US history. In the eyes of the Gen-Z population, Mamdani's promises have potential to go far, but for long-time New Yorkers, it is all feeling a bit too similar to the crime-ridden city they knew in the 1970s and 1980s. Here are all the aspects of New Yorker's lives that could be upended now that Mamdani has won. RENT FREEZE & BIG BUILD Mamdani has promised to free rent hikes for all stabilized tenants and triple the city's stock of publicly subsidized, permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes. He's also committed to building 200,000 new units over 10 years at an estimated cost of $100 billion. Why critics say it will backfire A rent freeze acts as a price control, discouraging landlords from maintaining or building properties. Analysts have warned this will lead to shortages, disrepair, and fewer available apartments. The taxpayer-funded construction drive would drown in red tape and crush private investments, leaving the city with less housing and higher costs, not more affordability. FREE BUSES & CITY-OWNED GROCERY STORES Mamdani, who has lived in NYC most of his life after moving there from Uganda with his family, has pledged to make city buses free to New Yorkers. Many have seen this as a good idea and made it part of the reason why they've voted for Mamdani. Similarly, residents are excited for the government-run grocery stores Mamdani has promised that would be 'focused on keeping prices low, not making a profit.' Why critics say it will backfire Eliminating bus fares would strip billions in revenue and degrade service quality, leaving more room for crime and chaos. City-run supermarkets would rely on subsidies and undercut private grocers, echoing the inefficiency of other government-run services. Additionally, taxpayers would foot the bill for a loss-making bureaucracy, not cheaper food. FREE CHILDCARE UP TO AGE FIVE Mamdani has promised universal free childcare from six weeks to five years, costing up to $8 billion annually. Why critics say it will backfire Nothing is ever 'free.' The costs would shift to taxpayers, including families who don't use childcare. Demand for childcare would also outstrip its capacity, quality would fall, and private centers could collapse under state competition, leaving parents with fewer choices. $30 MINIMUM WAGE The Democratic socialist said he will increase the Big Apple's minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. The current minimum wage is at $16-per-hour. Why critics say it will backfire Businesses unable to pay the hefty hourly price would cut jobs, reduce hours, or raise prices, creating an inflationary spiral. California did something similar and it has backfired. The Golden State raised their minimum wage for fast food workers to $20-an-hour in April 2024, but it triggered mass layoffs... a warning for New York City. The policy meant to help workers could price them out of work and drive up everyday costs. TAX HIKES ON THE RICH & BUSINESSES Mamdani is threatening to fund his lavish promises by imposing a two percent income tax increase on New Yorkers earning over $1 million annually. He says he will also raise the top corporate rate from 7.25 to 11.5 percent. Why critics say it will backfire Opponents predict a wealth exodus because of this. High earners, who already provide half of the city’s income-tax revenue, would flee to low-tax states like Florida and Texas, collapsing the city’s finances. Companies would follow, triggering job losses and an economic tailspin that makes every promise unaffordable. POLICE AND 'PUBLIC SAFETY' OVERHAUL Mamdani wants to disband the NYPD's Strategic Response Group, as well as criticizing the force as 'racist' and a 'rogue agency,' although he has apologized. Why critics say it will backfire Dissolving elite police units could gut the city’s frontline defenses and see a dramatic surge in subway murders and assaults, for example. Opponents warn it would embolden criminals, endanger commuters, and erase two decades of hard-won crime reduction. Mamdani has sworn to scrap sole mayoral control of the city’s million-student system, which has been in place since 2002, and replace it with 'co-governance' shared among parents, teachers, and local councils. The mayor would still appoint the schools chancellor but decisions would be decentralized. Why critics say it will backfire Dividing authority risks returning to the 32-board chaos of the 1980s, when corruption and bribery plagued local education. Analysts warn it would paralyze decision-making, blur accountability, and worsen outcomes as absenteeism and underperformance already surge. RADICAL IDEOLOGY AND CULTURAL AGENDA Mamdani’s fiery rhetoric has included claiming 'the boot of the NYPD is laced by the IDF' as well as happily posing with a Brooklyn imam named as a potential 1993 World Trade Center bombing co-conspirator, fueling antisemitism fears. He also lied about his aunt being racially abused for wearing a hijab after 9/11 - a story that drew outrage from victims’ families. Why critics say it will backfire Opponents say his words deepen division in an already fractious city and risk alienating Jewish New Yorkers who make up 1.27 million of the NYC population. President Trump has branded him a 'communist' and warned he could jeopardize federal funding. His polarizing identity politics, they argue, would leave New York poorer, angrier and more divided than ever. HUMAN FLIGHT FROM NYC A JL Partners poll for the Daily Mail found that nearly one million New Yorkers are preparing to flee if Zohran Mamdani wins, an exodus on the scale of Washington D.C., Las Vegas or Seattle. According to the survey, nine percent of residents said they would 'definitely' leave and another 25 percent, or about 2.12 million people, would 'consider' it, out of the city’s 8.5 million population. Among high earners, seven percent of those making over $250,000 a year said they would definitely go, with another quarter thinking about it. The top one percent of earners pay about half of all city income taxes, meaning even a modest outflow could devastate New York City's finances. Pollster James Johnson of JL Partners said the 'prospect of Mamdani is so scary to some that they are considering throwing in the Big Apple for new digs,' adding that 'older New Yorkers,' Staten Islanders, and white voters are the most likely to say they would pack up and leave. When asked how they would sum up Mamdani’s New York, they say it would be a ‘disaster,’ ‘hell,’ and — close your eyes younger readers — a ‘s*hole.’ Only 59 percent of New Yorkers said they would definitely stay, with Staten Island residents most likely to bolt — 21 percent saying they would definitely leave and 54 percent saying they might. Realtor Jay Batra said wealthy clients in the $3-5 million range have already pulled out of deals over fears of rent freezes and tax hikes, while Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said his city is preparing to welcome relocating New York firms, promising a 'low-tax, safe, vibrant business ecosystem.' Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbot has promised to place a 100 percent tariff on any New Yorkers who try to call the Lone Star State their new home if Mamdani wins. Economists warn that if even part of the threatened flight occurs, it could crater the economy, gut tax revenues, and leave Mamdani unable to fund his socialist agenda.
