STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In an effort to engage directly with the community, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani embarked on a visit to Staten Island on Friday, focusing on local businesses and issues faced by residents as he campaigns for mayor of New York City.
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, took a whirlwind tour that included stops in St. George and Stapleton. He emphasized the importance of listening to constituents, a principle he believes is often lacking in political discourse.
“I think too often there isn’t much listening in politics. It’s lecturing,” he stated during his visit. “We need to have a city government that listens to the very people who would be served by this infrastructure.”
His day began at St. George Pharmacy, where he spoke with store clerk Ael Loetterle regarding the needs and aspirations of Staten Island youth. Later, at The Basement restaurant, Mamdani engaged with several patrons, including educator TJ Smolka, who proposed transforming the Empire Outlets into a new school.
These conversations highlighted Mamdani’s political philosophy centered on the everyday experiences of New Yorkers. Although specific policies tailored to Staten Island remain sparse in his campaign, he expressed a clear understanding of issues like homeownership and transit.
Citing U.S. Census data that confirms higher rates of homeownership on Staten Island, Mamdani introduced a homeowner policy platform aimed at making housing more affordable for New Yorkers across the five boroughs. “I think Staten Island has long been a place where New Yorkers can find a little more stability in their lives, especially when we’re thinking about housing—close to double the rate of home ownership,” he explained, stressing the city’s role in facilitating homeownership.
On the transit front, Mamdani proposed a controversial plan to make city buses free throughout the city, funded by higher taxes. This proposal would require approval at the state level, but it underlines his commitment to enhancing transit accessibility.
Additionally, he spoke about the challenges small businesses face in navigating city bureaucracy. “I think about just the Byzantine process by which you navigate city bureaucracy,” he noted. His plan includes reducing fines and enhancing government support for small businesses, with the initiative of creating a “Mom and Pops Czar” to complement the existing Department of Small Business Services.
Mamdani’s campaign appears to be gaining momentum, particularly in light of his engaging interactions with constituents during his Staten Island tour. At one point, he made a self-deprecating joke about his high school experience when visiting the area, saying, “Where I couldn’t get in.”
Despite trailing behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo in polls, recent survey results show that Mamdani is narrowing the gap, now sitting just eight points behind in a ranked-choice voting scenario, compared to previous double-digit deficits.
Supporters of Mamdani are optimistic about potential endorsements from prominent democratic socialists like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. However, Mamdani remained humble about these prospects on Friday, expressing his intent to run a campaign they would be proud to endorse.
In contrast to Mamdani’s rising popularity, Staten Island’s Democratic Party establishment has largely rallied behind Cuomo. The party’s executive committee endorsed him even before his formal entry into the race, and he secured backing from notable local figures like Assemblymember Charles Fall and Councilmember Kamillah Hanks.
Mamdani responded to Cuomo’s position by attributing it to name recognition and established political legacy rather than genuine support. He remarked, “Governor Cuomo’s support is support based on name recognition, is support based on being a former governor who’s the son of a former governor and an idea that his campaign has put forward of inevitability.”
He characterized Cuomo’s backing as superficial, stating, “What we’ve seen though is that that support is a mile wide and an inch deep. It’s support that exists in many ways like a house of cards.”
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, countered Mamdani’s criticisms by drawing attention to the former governor’s achievements in office. Azzopardi emphasized Cuomo’s record on raising wages, implementing paid family leave, and developing major infrastructure projects.
Citing Mamdani’s upbringing and legislative record, he labeled the assemblyman a “silver spoon socialist” and dismissed his legislative contributions as minimal, claiming “a paper thin record in public service as a backbencher legislator punctuated by performative press stunts and only three bills to his name his entire time in Albany.”
Despite not having the establishment’s backing, Mamdani has garnered support from progressive factions across the city, including an endorsement from the Staten Island Democratic Association.
Reflecting on his campaign’s prospects in Staten Island, Mamdani drew parallels with Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, which saw considerable success on the island against Hillary Clinton. He perceives a growing disillusionment with traditional political practices, particularly under the current administration of Mayor Eric Adams.
Mamdani expressed, “I see Staten Island as a real example of while there isn’t an ideological majority in this city, be it progressive or anything else, there is a majority of New Yorkers who feel left behind by the economic policies of this mayoral administration and of politics in general.”
He concluded with an optimistic outlook, believing that by acknowledging residents’ grievances and presenting a viable path forward, he could build a broader coalition for his campaign. “If you recognize that and offer them a path that addresses it and requires of them only a recognition and a belief in the urgency of that, then you can build an actual coalition.”
As Mamdani’s campaign progresses, his engagement with Staten Island residents and focus on their concerns may prove vital in carving out a path to electoral success.
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