The editorial board of The Washington Post criticized Democratic socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his unrealistic idea of abolishing bus fares, cautioning that the primary beneficiaries would be the city’s homeless population and substance users.
“Those experiencing homelessness and addiction would take over the buses throughout the day, especially during the colder months,” the harsh op-ed stated on Sunday.
“Parents would fear allowing their kids to ride alone,” the board forewarned.
The publication also took aim at Mamdani for underestimating the nearly $800 million in expenses his proposal would impose on the city annually, a cost he downplayed as “$50 million less than what New York allocated for the new Buffalo Bills stadium.”
“Oh, really? That’s nothing?” the board retorted sarcastically, highlighting the candidate’s numerous costly enhancements he aims to enact for the city’s bus system if victorious, such as improving service, adding new loading zones, and creating dedicated bus lanes throughout.
“Let’s also consider those costs — assuming there’s no political roadblock, as seen with Mayor Eric Adams (D), who also tried to broaden bus routes,” the editorial continued.
The article referenced widely condemned fare-free initiatives in other cities across the U.S., which correlated with increases in “crime and vandalism,” like the case in Portland, Oregon, where fare-free transit was abolished in 2012.
A comparable initiative in progressive Olympia, Washington, saw local sales taxes rise after bus fares were removed in 2020, meaning that both riders and non-riders faced the expense.
“The quality of service declines when it’s provided for ‘free,’” the board emphasized.
Saturday’s editorial was not the first instance of the left-leaning newspaper criticizing Mamdani, especially following a major editorial restructuring earlier this year initiated by owner Jeff Bezos, leading to several notable departures and the addition of several conservative columnists.
In June, the editorial board labeled Mamdani’s candidacy as detrimental to both New York and the Democratic Party.
“New Yorkers should be alarmed that he could lead the city back to its troubling days of dysfunction, while Democrats should worry that he undermines the credibility of their up-and-coming leaders, who are all, in comparison, more capable than this democratic socialist,” it concluded.
