As a Midwest native, I never would have imagined that my mental state would be linked to the mayor of New York City, but I can’t help but be obsessed with the efforts of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Mostly through following his social media, I’m able to keep up with his various efforts in NYC as the city’s first elected democratic socialist, and I’m blown away by the work he’s accomplished in just the first 100 days of the year.
When New York faced record snowfall through January and February, Mamdani used tax dollars to hire emergency snow shovelers (made up of the very constituents being taxed) to clear the street. It was a very clear example of the actual purpose of tax dollars: returning value to the people.
Mamdani has also been very vocal with a progressive social media following, interacting with users’ suggestions and actually interacting with the people of NYC. Mamdani launched a large-scale pothole filling blitz to fill over 100,000 potholes that popped up across the city after the snowstorms. Mamdani also took steps to begin work on two of his largest campaign goals: universal childcare and city-run grocery stores. The mayor announced five city-run grocery stores will open (one in each borough) starting next year and has been working with city and state officials to begin outlining a comprehensive plan for his childcare, including a $1.2B investment in free childcare for two- and three-year-olds.
While the work he’s accomplished has been very impressive, it also leaves me feeling extremely disappointed—not in Mamdani, but in the rest of the country. Mamdani has handily shown that leadership can actually be effective, truthful and use tax dollars efficiently.
Meanwhile, the current presidential administration continues to focus their efforts on making life easier for the .1%. The government is once again chasing ghosts across the ocean. The president can’t stick to his campaign promises about decreasing food and gas prices and has done net harm to the country over the last year.
Oddly enough, I feel like, despite living in the Midwest, my life has been improved more by Mamdani through his social media cheering me up than any efforts the federal government has made to ‘improve’ my life
I believe Mamdani represents a new age of progressive activism and leadership our country is clearly lacking. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. If Mamdani can actually finalize further efforts for universal childcare and open his planned grocery stores, it will not only be a win for the city of New York and democratic socialism but also a win for our entire country.
