What Should Mayor-Elect Mamdani Do Next? NYU Wagner and Vital City Host Expert Panel
After a mayoral election discussed around the world, many are wondering what’s next for New York City and for Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. On Wednesday, November 12, NYU Wagner and Vital City partnered to present a panel of experts to delve into what may lie ahead as Mamdani prepares to take office.
In a packed room in Wagner’s Main Event Space, Errol Louis, political anchor on Spectrum News NY1 moderated the discussion between panelists:
- Polly Trottenberg, dean, NYU Wagner;
- Kimberly Phillips-Fein, Gardiner-Kenneth T. Jackson Professor of History, Columbia University and author of Fear City;
- Martha Stark, former commissioner, New York City Department of Finance and clinical professor of public service, NYU Wagner;
- Michael Lange, writer and political analyst;
- and Jeffrey Toobin, lawyer and author of True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump.
The discussion began with an exploration of New York City’s fiscal picture. Trottenberg noted that the City receives tens of billions of dollars in federal funding and encouraged working with officials on both sides of the aisle in Washington to attempt to get ahead of “the unknowns,” in terms of funding cuts. Stark added that the City should also be considering challenging existing budgetary frameworks, including its reliance on what she called a “broken” property tax system.
The panel explored a number of other hot-button topics, including ICE in New York City, Mamdani naming his team, and affordable housing. Regarding Mamdani’s proposal for free bus fare for all, the panelists mentioned possible alternatives, such as expanding the Fair Fares program or offering free service on certain lines that serve predominantly low-income neighborhoods.
In discussing how much agency Mamdani will have in putting his ideas into action, Toobin underscored the importance of the media environment, noting that inflammatory headlines can impact public perception. To that, Louis posed a question to all the panelists: What should the media know when reporting on the mayor? Trottenberg mentioned the significance of understanding what’s happening at the state capital, Phillips-Fein discussed highlighting grassroots political organizing, and Toobin stated plainly that facts and data are most important in painting an accurate and fair narrative.
Overall, the tenor of the event was echoed in one of Stark’s remarks: “It’s important to send the message that government service matters, and local government service especially matters.”