The hysteria surrounding Zohran Mamdani has both surprised and shocked me. This is a man running for Mayor of New York City—a city with an annual budget of over $100 billion. How many corporations around the world spend more than $100 billion a year? How many countries operate with a federal budget that size?
If Mamdani can’t run a few grocery stores, he certainly shouldn’t be running the city government. This is a straightforward management issue.
But the controversy isn’t really about grocery stores. It’s about the fact that he is Muslim and of Indian origin. I hadn’t realized racism could still run this deep in our public discourse. Just a few decades ago, a Senate Majority Leader lost his job over one comment that was perceived as racist. That happened in America. And today? The contrast is night and day.
Of course, you can disagree with someone’s policies. Can you disagree with Netanyahu’s policies? Absolutely. Trump’s? Yes. Modi’s? Of course. Likewise, you can disagree with Mamdani’s proposals. For example, you might oppose his idea of city-run grocery stores. (It does seem like you can take Mamdani out of India, but you can’t take India out of Mamdani—the very idea of running grocery stores as public services!)
And yes, you can also disagree with Mamdani’s disagreements with the policies of Netanyahu, Trump, or Modi.
But let’s be clear: the office of New York City Mayor is the second most visible political position in the country, after the presidency itself. And the level of hysteria directed at Mamdani today feels new—and much of it is deeply inappropriate.
The Mamdani Moment: Racism, Responsibility, and the Future of NYC
The hysteria surrounding Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral ambitions has taken a disturbing and frankly revealing turn. What should be a reasoned debate about policies, management capabilities, and vision for New York City has instead devolved into racially charged panic, coded fear-mongering, and outright xenophobia.
Let’s start with the basics. The Mayor of New York City oversees an annual budget of over $100 billion. That’s more than the entire GDP of many countries and more than the annual revenue of most corporations on the planet. This isn’t a ceremonial job. It’s the second most visible and consequential executive role in the country after the presidency. To be Mayor of New York is to be a head of state in all but name.
So yes, management matters. If Zohran Mamdani wants to run this city, then a basic test is whether he can operate something as tangible and practical as city-owned grocery stores. Because when you’re dealing with systems that touch millions—transit, sanitation, education, emergency response—competence is not optional, it is existential. Grocery stores may seem like a small thing, but they are a microcosm of the larger challenge: delivering quality, affordable services to all residents, especially the most vulnerable. If this is socialism, it is socialism with checkout lanes and price tags.
But the backlash isn’t about groceries. Let’s not pretend. It’s about who Mamdani is. A Muslim. An Indian-origin politician. A name that feels foreign to some, and threatening to others. And that’s the rot underneath this outrage. Not policy, but identity.
We’ve regressed. Just a few decades ago, a Senate Majority Leader lost his job over a single racially-tinged remark. Now, we’re awash in a climate where barely veiled racism is not only tolerated but mainstreamed. The idea that Mamdani can’t be trusted with public office because of who he is rather than what he proposes is not only offensive—it is profoundly un-American.
Disagree with his policies? Fine. Question the feasibility of city-run grocery stores? Fair game. Debate his critiques of global leaders like Netanyahu, Trump, or Modi? Absolutely. But weaponize his faith, his name, or his heritage? That’s not disagreement. That’s discrimination.
New York deserves a policy debate, not a culture war. The Mamdani moment reveals not just how far we have to go, but how much we’ve lost.
And it’s time we name that, confront it, and do better.
Why NYC Needs City-Owned Grocery Stores — And Free Buses Too
In a city as wealthy and dynamic as New York, it’s a moral and economic failure that so many New Yorkers struggle to afford groceries or reliable public transportation. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani’s vision for city-owned grocery stores isn’t just bold — it’s necessary. And it fits neatly alongside his long-time push for free public buses. Together, these ideas form the foundation of a more equitable, efficient, and resilient city.
The Grocery Crisis
Across the five boroughs, New Yorkers face a dual problem: rising food prices and disappearing access. Corporate grocery chains have pulled out of low-income neighborhoods. Bodegas are filling the gap — but with higher prices and limited fresh food. The result is food deserts, health inequality, and financial stress on families already living paycheck to paycheck.
What if the city stepped in?
City-owned grocery stores can reverse this trend. With no profit motive, no rent burden, and no city tax obligations, these stores can beat even the most efficient private chains on price. Imagine Costco-quality goods with Trader Joe's affordability — accessible to all, regardless of zip code.
Lessons from Gujarat: Government Can Work
Skeptics will say: government-run programs are inefficient. But that’s a political choice, not a law of nature.
When Narendra Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat, he didn’t privatize everything. He professionalized it. By removing political interference and holding leaders accountable through clear key performance indicators (KPIs), state-run enterprises turned profitable and performant. The same can be done in New York.
You treat grocery stores not as bureaucracies but as public utilities. You hire managers with retail experience. You let data guide stocking decisions. You reward teams for hitting efficiency and satisfaction targets. The goal is service delivery — not red tape.
Free Buses: The Other No-Brainer
Public transit is a public good. Buses move more people, with less pollution, and more equity than any other urban transport method. And yet fare enforcement, turnstiles, and payment infrastructure create friction, waste, and exclusion.
Free buses aren’t just compassionate — they’re smart.
Cities that have adopted fare-free transit have seen increases in ridership, economic productivity, and small business foot traffic. The cost of collecting fares can nearly cancel out the revenue. Make buses free, and suddenly the city is easier to navigate for everyone: workers, students, seniors, and the disabled.
A New Ethos for City Government
If NYC can run grocery stores and buses better than the private sector, it sends a powerful message: the public sector can work — and work well. These two programs could be the proving grounds for a new city ethos: one that values efficiency and equity, professionalism and public purpose.
The ultimate goal? To take this ethos and spread it. To housing. To healthcare. To every city service.
But let’s start with food and buses.
Because no one in New York should be hungry or stranded. Not in this city. Not with this potential.
Zohran Mamdani, born October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, is of Indian descent through his parents, Mahmood Mamdani, an Indian-Ugandan academic of Gujarati Shia Muslim descent, and Mira Nair, an Indian-American filmmaker of Hindu Punjabi descent. He moved to New York City at age seven, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018, and is a practicing Shia Muslim. Mamdani is a New York State Assemblymember representing the 36th district in Queens since 2021 and a Democratic Socialist. He is the presumptive Democratic nominee for New York City mayor in the 2025 election, having defeated Andrew Cuomo in the primary. His platform focuses on affordable housing, free public transit, and progressive policies. He’s also known for his activism, including hunger strikes for taxi driver debt relief and Gaza ceasefire advocacy, and his past as a hip-hop artist under the name Mr. Cardamom.
Mira Nair (born October 15, 1957, in Rourkela, Odisha, India) is an acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker of Punjabi Hindu descent, renowned for her vibrant storytelling that bridges Indian and global perspectives. Raised in Bhubaneswar, she studied sociology at Delhi University before earning a scholarship to Harvard University, where she honed her craft in documentary filmmaking. Nair gained international recognition with her debut feature, Salaam Bombay! (1988), a raw portrayal of Mumbai’s street children, which won the Camera d’Or at Cannes and earned an Oscar nomination. Her notable films include Mississippi Masala (1991), exploring interracial romance; Monsoon Wedding (2001), a colorful celebration of Indian family life that won the Golden Lion at Venice; and The Namesake (2006), a poignant adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel about Indian immigrant identity. Nair’s work often tackles themes of cultural displacement, love, and social issues with a lyrical yet grounded style. She founded the Maisha Film Lab in Uganda to mentor African filmmakers and has directed projects across genres, including the TV series A Suitable Boy (2020). Married to Ugandan-Indian academic Mahmood Mamdani, she is the mother of New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. Nair splits her time between New York, Kampala, and New Delhi, continuing to shape global cinema with her distinctive voice.
avg number of stars the atoms in your body have been in since the big bang? 3 - will be in? 3 - half way
galactic habitable zone * enough time to cook heavy elements & life but not too long * not so close to the center of galaxy (too active) but not so far (not enough metals) pic.twitter.com/mR59vF48vJ
“Given everything we know about this planet, a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have.” – Nikku Madhusudhan, the scientist who led the research
Mamdani’s Victory: A Historic Moment, Not a Socialist Revolution
When Zohran Mamdani won his election, I’ll admit—I hadn’t taken a deep look at his platform. But now that I have, one thing stands out: it’s not the radical socialist program some corners might have painted it to be. Sure, there are several government programs on the agenda—but since when did that become the sole criteria for labeling someone a socialist?
Programs like free city buses aren’t controversial to me. In fact, I’ve been advocating for them for years. They encourage public transit use, reduce traffic congestion, are better for the environment, and save people money. Seeing this idea on Mamdani’s platform was a pleasant surprise—and a clear signal that he's thinking practically, not ideologically.
Let’s be clear: having government programs is not socialism. Neither is wanting a more equitable city. The debates over tax rates or the size of government are legitimate, ongoing conversations in any functioning democracy. But what matters most is whether the numbers add up, and whether the programs are designed with long-term impact in mind.
And then there’s his age. In a political landscape dominated by older generations, electing someone in his early 30s to a position of this scale is a breath of fresh air. It signals a shift—a generational one—and it’s exciting to see what that brings. Youth doesn’t mean inexperience; it can also mean energy, vision, and a closer connection to the issues of the present, not just the past.
Mamdani isn’t calling for the nationalization of companies. He’s not attacking entrepreneurship. If anything, a safer, more stable, and more affordable New York is good for business. Many of his proposals are grounded in making the city more livable for everyone, and that includes the small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who make NYC hum with economic energy.
This is a historic election. Let’s not lose sight of that. The role he now occupies is arguably the second most powerful directly elected office in the United States. And because this is New York City—the so-called capital of the world—this local election carries global resonance. It’s being watched in cities from Mumbai to Madrid, from Nairobi to Sรฃo Paulo.
What happens next is the real question. As the saying goes, you campaign in poetry, but govern in prose. The hard work begins now, and the challenge will be translating the ideals into implementable policy without losing public trust—or momentum.
And of course, in the background looms another tantalizing question: Will Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez run for Senate? Or won’t she? That could be the next tectonic shift in New York politics.
For now, Mamdani’s win marks a new chapter—not an end, not a revolution, but a fresh start. Let’s see what prose he writes.
1/ When Zohran Mamdani won his election, I hadn’t really looked at his platform. Now that I have, here’s what I see: not a socialist revolution, but a serious, progressive policy agenda with some surprisingly practical ideas. @ZohranKMamdani@AOC
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 25, 2025
Here’s a breakdown of Mamdani’s major proposals and how they could be funded within NYC’s existing $112 billion budget:
NYC currently collects about $27 billion in taxes annually (en.wikipedia.org)
A $20 billion uptick would nearly double city-collected revenue—a major but not implausible shift if implemented fully and phased in over time.
✔️ 6. Existing fiscal safeguards
NYC maintains balanced budgets by law
Strong reserves and AA credit rating support fiscal flexibility (barrons.com)
FY 2025 features $2–3 billion in built-in savings (PEGs), with extra state/federal reimbursements, e.g., asylum seeker funds (comptroller.nyc.gov)
๐งฎ Quick summary table
Proposal
Approx. Cost
% of FY 2025 Budget
Fare-free buses
$650 million/year
0.6%
Trans health funding
$65 million/year
0.06%
Housing/rent measures
TBD (similar to $100–200 M)
~0.1–0.2%
Minimum wage raise (phased)
Progressive impact
Budgeted over years
Total estimated annual cost
$800–1,000 M+
~0.7–0.9% annually
These additions are less than 1% of the FY 2025 budget—and crucially, Mamdani plans to fund them via major revenue increases from high earners and corporations.
✅ So—do the numbers work?
Yes—on paper. The incremental costs are modest within the overall $112 billion budget. Funding depends on enacting large surtaxes and corporate tax hikes—ambitious but achievable with state approval and over a phased timeline.
Importantly, NYC already has $2–3 billion in savings built in, healthy reserves, and a balanced-budget requirement—giving space to make these moves without immediate disruption (osc.ny.gov, fr.wikipedia.org, barrons.com).
๐งญ Bottom line
Mamdani’s agenda is fiscally plausible if key revenue measures are implemented. The added program costs are small relative to NYC’s total spending, and the city operates with strong fiscal checks and reserves. The real test won’t be math on paper—it’ll be political will, state-level approvals, and gradual implementation.
What do you think of this? A Radical Blueprint to Transform New York City into the World’s Greatest Metropolis https://t.co/IzOJs3h2R5
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 27, 2025
Please endorse this book: AOC 2028: : The Future of American Progressivism https://t.co/OFT21hoLmW
— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 27, 2025
The Corporate Democrat’s Biggest Nightmare He’s on the way to becoming mayor of New York City ........ Leave it to the Democratic Party to snatch existential crisis from the jaws of electoral victory. ....... It’s one thing for Trump to call Mamdani “a 100% Communist Lunatic.” That’s to be expected from the vulgarian-in-chief. It’s another for Matt Bennett, co-founder of the centrist Democratic group Third Way, to warn that Mamdani’s “affiliation with the (Democratic Socialists of America) is very dangerous.” ......... Dangerous for whom? Bernie Sanders nearly won the Democratic primary for the 2016 presidential election after announcing he was a democratic socialist — and probably would have won had the Democratic National Committee not torpedoed him. ............ Lawrence Summers, treasury secretary under former Democratic President Barack Obama, says the New York City results make him “profoundly alarmed about the future of the (Democratic Party) and the country.” ........ Well, I’m profoundly alarmed, too — by just this kind of vacuous statement. If polls are to be believed, the current Democratic Party doesn’t have much of a future. Mamdani and other young politicians with the charisma to connect with the people and a willingness to take on corporate America and Wall Street may be the only way forward for the Democrats. ........... Nor has the mainstream media greeted Mamdani’s upset victory with much enthusiasm. The Associated Press writes that “the party’s more pragmatic wing cast the outcome as a serious setback in their quest to broaden Democrats’ appeal.” .........
Pragmatic wing?
....... If it were pragmatic — in the sense of wanting to win elections and fire up the base — Democrats would not have lost the House, Senate, and presidency in 2024. .......... the Post criticizes Mamdani’s proposals for a 2 percent annual wealth tax on the richest 1 percent of New Yorkers and for increasing the state’s corporate tax rate from 7.25 percent to 11.5 percent: “Mamdani’s tax plans would spur a corporate exodus and drive more rich people out of town, undermining the tax base and making existing services harder to maintain.” ......... The reality is that if you invest in your people — in their skills, education, affordable child care, affordable elder care, and the infrastructure needed to link them together — they’ll be more productive, and their higher productivity will attract corporations (and the wealthy). A major way to afford all these things is to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy. ........ Mamdani is the corporate Democrat’s biggest nightmare — a young, charismatic politician winning over Democratic voters with an optimistic message centering on the cost of living. Putting together a multiethnic and multiracial coalition backed by a sprawling grassroots campaign that brings out enormous numbers of volunteers. Aiming to fund what average people need by taxing corporations and the rich. ............ Instead of wringing their hands over him, Democrats should follow his lead......... The largest force in American politics today is antiestablishment fury at a system rigged by big corporations and the wealthy to make them even richer and more powerful............ Trump is killing the economy, fueling inflation with his tariffs, reducing the U.S. government to rubble, and destroying our relationships with our allies. He’s readying another giant tax cut for the wealthy and big corporations — this one to be financed by cuts in Medicaid, food stamps, and other things average people need, along with trillions more in national debt. .......... If Democrats had had the guts years ago to condemn big money in politics, fight corporate welfare, and unrig a market that’s been rigged in favor of big corporations and the rich, Trump’s absurd bogeymen (the deep state, immigrants, socialists, trans people, diversity-equity-inclusion) wouldn’t have stood a chance. ........... most Americans don’t want a Trump Republican budget that slashes Medicaid, food stamps, and child nutrition in order to make way for a giant tax cut mostly for the wealthy. ......... Most don’t want tariffs that drive up the prices they pay for food, gas, housing, and clothing. Most understand that tariffs are taxes paid by American consumers. Most don’t want a government of, by, and for billionaires. Most believe in democracy and the rule of law and don’t want Trump trampling on the Constitution, acts of Congress, and federal court orders. ......... The nation is in clear and present danger. Democrats must stand up for American ideals at a time when the Trump regime is riding roughshod over them.
Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 New York City mayoral campaign platform focused on addressing the cost-of-living crisis for working-class New Yorkers through progressive, socialist-inspired policies. Key proposals included:
Rent Freeze: Freezing rent increases for over 2 million tenants in rent-stabilized apartments to prevent displacement and provide immediate financial relief.
Free Public Buses: Expanding a successful fare-free bus pilot program citywide to increase ridership, reduce violence against drivers, and ease transit costs. Estimated cost: $900 million annually.
Universal No-Cost Childcare: Offering free childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years to support working parents and boost the economy. Estimated cost: $2–$7 billion annually.
City-Owned Grocery Stores: Establishing five municipal grocery stores (one per borough) to sell affordable staples at wholesale prices, addressing food deserts and price gouging. Estimated cost: $60 million.
Affordable Housing: Tripling the city’s production of permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes, including 200,000 new public housing units.
Raising Minimum Wage: Increasing the city’s minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030.
Tax Increases: Funding these initiatives by raising $10 billion through higher taxes on corporations (to 11.5%) and a 2% flat tax on incomes over $1 million, plus hiring more tax auditors and cracking down on corrupt landlords.
Community Safety: Creating a Department of Community Safety to prevent violence through mental health and crisis response programs, reducing reliance on police.
Trump-Proofing NYC: Strengthening sanctuary city policies by expelling ICE from city facilities, increasing legal support for immigrants, and protecting LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights.
Mamdani’s platform, endorsed by economists like Yanis Varoufakis and backed by progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, aimed to reject austerity and make life more affordable. Critics, including business leaders and opponents like Andrew Cuomo, argued the proposals were fiscally unrealistic and underestimated costs, requiring state approvals unlikely from Governor Kathy Hochul.
In N.Y.C. Mayor’s Race, Mamdani Responds to a Call for His Deportation Vickie Paladino, a councilwoman from Queens, called Zohran Mamdani a “radical leftist” who hates America, and warned against “future Zohrans.” ......... a Republican city councilwoman from Queens called for him to be deported. (Mr. Mamdani is a U.S. citizen.)
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 25, 2025
Congratulations to @ZohranKMamdani, our Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City!
His was a campaign powered by the people, and the people made their voices heard. New Yorkers are ready for a city we can all afford. Now it is time to bring our city together and win! pic.twitter.com/yjB6sj8lyR
This means a great deal to me, @ewarren. Thank you for your leadership, your fight for working families, and your support. https://t.co/BOVb6hO4Wr
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 25, 2025
“Voters in New York City demanded change and, with Zohran’s triumph, we have a direct repudiation of Donald Trump’s politics of tax cuts and authoritarianism.” https://t.co/prLA6Rmm5Y
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) June 25, 2025
Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani and his thousands of grassroots supporters for their extraordinary campaign. You took on the political, economic and media Establishment- and you beat them. Now it’s on to victory in the general election.
