“We shouldn’t have billionaires,” asserts Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old member of the New York State Assembly and self-proclaimed democratic socialist. His viewpoint challenges the status quo, asserting that violent crime is merely a myth. Mamdani’s political platform, which is provocative to say the least, advocates for hefty taxes on “richer and whiter neighborhoods” and positions violent student demonstrators—who have occupied parts of university campuses—as victims of systemic oppression rather than lawbreakers. He dreams of dismantling what he terms the “carceral state,” and instead of advocating for justice, he questions the very essence of violence, framing it as a social construction.
As the Democratic frontrunner for the 2025 New York City mayoral election, Mamdani’s policy proposals are as ambitious as they are contentious. Among them are a freeze on rents in stabilized buildings, initiatives to create city-operated grocery stores, and an audacious plan for building 200,000 publicly subsidized homes over a decade, projected to cost $100 billion.
His vision extends beyond housing; he envisions a transformation of public transport and childcare, advocating for free services in both sectors, alongside proposals to raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. To fund his grand designs, he proposes a $10 billion hike in corporate and wealthy taxes—a move that would undoubtedly squeeze the New York economy further.
Critics argue that Mamdani’s ambitious agenda would escalate the tax burden on average New Yorkers and deepen the city’s existing financial woes, potentially pushing businesses away and fostering dependency on public assistance. Such policies could inadvertently promote idleness, disincentivizing productivity and attracting individuals more interested in welfare than in work.
Moreover, Mamdani has expressed support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. His 2023 legislative effort aimed to prevent registered charities from donating to organizations associated with Israeli West Bank settlements or its alleged human rights violations in Gaza, aligning his position with those advocating for the delegitimization of Israel as a Jewish state.
Controversy grew as Mamdani hesitated to publicly denounce the term “global intifada,” which many interpret as antisemitic, only softening his stance following warnings from business leaders concerned about its potential electoral repercussions. On April 18, 2024, he took to X to describe Columbia University protesters—who briefly occupied campus buildings and allegedly threatened Jewish students—as “students arrested for the crime of peacefully protesting against genocide.” His father, Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia professor, was notably involved in the same protests, lending a familial backdrop to the discourse.
Mamdani’s defense of entities alleged to collaborate with Hamas, alongside confrontations with figures like former ICE Director Thomas Homan—who reminded him that free speech does not extend protection to advocacy for terrorist groups—highlights his contentious relationship with law enforcement and raises alarms about his leanings towards extremist agendas. His candidacy arguably threatens both the security and social fabric of New York City.
Voicing her concerns, Republican City Council candidate Alina Bonsell doesn’t mince words about the potential fallout from Mamdani’s policies. A Jewish immigrant from Soviet Ukraine, Bonsell navigated her own family’s flight from a repressive regime in 1989, experiences that continue to inform her political stance.
Another Jewish immigrant from Russia, similarly skeptical of Mamdani’s liberal agenda, succinctly encapsulated his views: “I’ve seen this movie, and it doesn’t end well.”
Bonsell shared insights into the conservative leanings of most Eastern European immigrants, particularly among Russian Jews. “Many are Trump supporters and consistently vote Republican,” she elaborated, suggesting a broader trend that transcends geographical borders within Eastern Europe.
This phenom mirrors observed patterns across the country, where Vietnamese Americans, having fled communism, predominantly supported Trump, as did Cuban nationals escaping Castro’s Cuba—even if their American-born children display a more mixed political allegiance.
Those who’ve never experienced such political oppression may struggle to understand the implications of their votes. Liberals in New York aligning with Hamas, Iran, and communism are inadvertently courting systems that could ultimately lead to their own disenfranchisement.
Bonsell contends that Eastern Europeans immigrating to America do so in pursuit of capitalism, not socialism. “Ironically, they could rely on welfare benefits, yet they opt to work instead.”
The essence of her own family’s migration resonates with this ethos. “My family arrived from the former Soviet Union, navigating great hardships to be here,” she reflected. “Americans have myriad opportunities to succeed, regardless of race, religion, or background. Failure to leverage these chances is not the government’s fault; it’s a personal shortcoming.”
Bonsell reiterated that the U.S. offers “privilege through education and work,” noting accessible public education systems and support for families earning under $125,000. “Numerous individuals from challenging backgrounds have turned their lives around, built businesses, and uplifted future generations. But if our focus shifts to extracting wealth from the industrious, we stifle ambition. Who aspires to toil merely to fund others’ inaction?”
This ideological shift, she warns, could nurture a cycle of dependence that diminishes drive and usefulness. “It’s easier to remain poor and live on benefits than to strive for success in this framework,” she cautioned. “What kind of society are we inadvertently crafting?”
Reflecting on the successes of legal immigrants, Bonsell cited Indian immigrants as a prime example of how valuing education and opportunity fosters achievement. “Those who grasp the opportunities presented in America—and remain thankful—tend to flourish. Sadly, many born into privilege overlook their fortuitous circumstances,” she posited.
While Mamdani envisions handing out free money, Bonsell argues this kind of approach fails to uplift the very communities he aims to assist; it instead exacerbates existing challenges. New Yorkers enjoy complimentary educational opportunities, reside in a city bustling with jobs, and often command some of the highest salaries in the nation. As the saying goes, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.”
In a nod to her immigrant roots, Bonsell humorously recounted, “In my family, we joked that there’s so much opportunity in New York that if you can’t make it here, you can’t make it anywhere.”
Bonsell, who is campaigning in District 5—covering Manhattan’s Upper East Side—stressed the importance of countering Mamdani’s aspirations while rallying support for Republican candidates within the City Council. “Think of it as the Congress of local government,” she explained. “The City Council serves as a legislative counterbalance to the mayor, where power dynamics are crucial.” She underscored that if Republicans can gain traction in the council, they could effectively stymie Mamdani’s radical legislative efforts, but she acknowledged the odds are steep.
“Currently, our City Hall lacks balance,” she noted, considering the 51 council seats that represent New York City. Eight belong to Manhattan, with the remainder distributed among the other boroughs. Presently, New York City houses only six Republicans in a council dominated by 45 Democrats—an astonishingly low figure for the nation’s largest city.
For skeptics of local voting, Bonsell reminded them, “New York City commands a $116 billion budget—larger than many national economies.” This immense financial framework, she pointed out, exerts influence that reverberates beyond city limits. Policies developed in New York often serve as templates for major cities elsewhere, and even small municipalities across the nation take note. She urged Republicans nationwide to treat their local council elections with the seriousness they deserve, emphasizing the importance of preventing liberal or socialist ideologies from embedding themselves into law.
