Mamdani makes Trump his general election target

With assistance from Amira McKee

MAMDANI’S STRATEGY: A FOCUS ON TRUMP

In a twist that could be straight from a political playbook, Zohran Mamdani has shifted the narrative of his campaign for New York City mayor from affordability to an all-out assault on Donald Trump. His recent five-borough tour, dubbed “against Trump,” aims to highlight the perceived dangers the former president poses to the city and bolster Mamdani’s position as the leader New Yorkers need.

In a classic Democratic maneuver, Mamdani is linking his opponents—Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams, and Curtis Sliwa—directly to Trump, painting them as the president’s favored candidates. This strategy not only consolidates his base but also frames the election as a showdown between progressive values and Trumpism.

The timing of this recalibration is telling. It coincides with Trump’s announcement to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C., with New York and Chicago potentially next on his list. This backdrop creates an atmosphere ripe for Mamdani’s claims about the dangers of a Trump-influenced administration.

Moreover, a recent New York Times article revealed Trump’s discussions with Cuomo regarding the election, an encounter that Cuomo has vehemently denied. “We see far too many parallels between Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo, far too many stories that make clear that both administrations have been characterized by corruption, by a sense of impunity,” Mamdani stated, emphasizing his campaign’s main theme at a press event.

Defeating Cuomo in June, despite his formidable name recognition and a $25 million PAC backing, Mamdani now faces the challenge of securing a decisive victory in November to legitimize his mandate. As a democratic socialist, he actively seeks endorsements from prominent party figures like Gov. Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer, although he seems determined to pursue his agenda with or without their support.

Mamdani has pointedly noted Cuomo’s conversations with Trump, Adams’ dropped criminal fraud case at Trump’s prompting, and Sliwa’s alignment with the GOP as evidence of their complicity with the former president. “My administration will be Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” he proclaimed, asserting that his policies will address the very issues Trump has exacerbated for working-class voters.

In a display of political theatrics, Trump has questioned Mamdani’s citizenship, threatened to arrest him for interfering with federal operations, and warned of slashing federal funding to New York City if Mamdani doesn’t comply with his directives. Meanwhile, Cuomo, still reeling from his defeat, argues that Trump would easily overpower Mamdani, likening the scenario to a pancake being flattened.

Adams has taken a more measured approach, asserting that he is not beholden to Trump and seeks a collaborative relationship for the city’s benefit. Conversely, Sliwa, the underdog Republican candidate, has publicly urged Trump to steer clear of the mayoral race.

In response to Mamdani’s rising profile, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed him as “the American people’s worst nightmare,” contending that his policies would wreak havoc on the economy and prioritize undocumented immigrants over citizens. —Emily Ngo

PROGRESS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION

New York City’s public school system, the largest in the nation, has reported notable improvements in reading and math scores, although significant disparities remain among Black, Hispanic, and disabled students, according to data released by city officials.

In the 2024-25 academic year, 56.3% of students in grades three to eight achieved proficiency in English, a significant increase of 7.2 percentage points from the previous year. This follows a concerning dip in scores the year prior, coinciding with the implementation of a new curriculum.

Math scores also saw an upswing, with 56.9% of students meeting proficiency standards, up from 53.4% the previous year and significantly higher than 49.9% in 2023. Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos acknowledged some initial “implementation hiccups,” but remained optimistic about the direction of progress.

“These numbers indicate that we’re heading in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done,” she stated, emphasizing that while improvements are commendable, they are far from sufficient.

Despite these gains, proficiency levels among Black, Hispanic, and English language learners, along with students with disabilities, remain disproportionately low. About 43% of Black and Hispanic students demonstrated math mastery, showing modest improvements from the previous year.

Aviles-Ramos called the ongoing gaps “unacceptable” while celebrating the substantial increases as evidence that their strategies are indeed yielding results. “We know that what we’re doing is working,” she concluded. — Madina Touré

CUOMO’S ‘ZOHRAN’S LAW’

In a politically charged move, Andrew Cuomo has introduced “Zohran’s Law,” a proposal aimed at barring wealthy individuals from residing in rent-stabilized apartments. While this initiative is clearly a political jab at Mamdani, it raises a significant question: how receptive would the Democratic-dominated state Legislature be to collaborate with Cuomo if he were to reclaim the mayoral office?

Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, suggested that such changes could only materialize if Albany were to repeal the Urstadt Law, a regulation that reserves rent control authority for the state. This proposal has faced stiff resistance over the years, with most state lawmakers hesitant to relinquish their grip on housing regulations, largely due to the influence of landlord donations in political campaigns.

Despite his past attempts to engage real estate stakeholders during housing negotiations, Cuomo has never publicly advocated for repealing the Urstadt Law. As former City Councilmember Jumaane Williams pointed out in 2014, many politicians, including Cuomo, have not clarified their stance on this pivotal issue that affects housing rules in New York City.

In a nutshell, while Cuomo’s new law proposal may resonate with some voters, its practical viability hinges on a deeply entrenched political landscape resistant to change. — Bill Mahoney

— MAMDANI’S PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVE: Mamdani’s vision for a new Department of Community Safety shows promise, yet experts caution that transferring NYPD responsibilities to this proposed agency could pose considerable administrative challenges. (Gothamist)

— REUSE OF SHELTERS: Developers in New York City are exploring options to convert closed hotel shelters into residential apartments. (The Wall Street Journal)

— ICE ARRESTS: New York City leads the nation in immigration courthouse arrests by ICE authorities. (THE CITY)

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