Opinion | New York City Mayoral Candidates: Who Would Be Best?

Eleanor Randolph Journalist and former Times editorial board member

It seems to be like Mamdani goes to win, however you by no means know completely what’s going to occur in an election. We’re using on hope right here as a result of we don’t actually know who this man is, finally, however he’s doing a variety of the correct issues, like speaking and listening to folks within the enterprise neighborhood as a part of understanding how sophisticated this metropolis is.

Caitlin Kawaguchi Nonprofit strategist and community representative in Brooklyn

I hear that we don’t know definitively how he can be as mayor, whereas with Cuomo, we’ve his background. However I believe with Cuomo, his background just isn’t good, proper? We’ve seen that he rewards his donors. We’ve seen that he retaliates towards people who oppose him.

When he’s had a platform, he’s used it to his personal private gain.

Amit Singh Bagga Democratic strategist and former city official

On his core points, Mamdani has stayed remarkably constant. He’s had a laser give attention to affordability and high quality of life as it’s skilled. And that’s the No. 1 difficulty going through New Yorkers. Like Eleanor, I’ve been happy and inspired by what I’ve skilled as real and honest outreach to corners of New York Metropolis society and economic system that maybe have been very skeptical of him. And he has demonstrated a outstanding diploma of openness that many politicians don’t appear to have, a willingness to be taught.

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker

That is successfully a two-way alternative. On the one hand, you could have any individual who has a wealth of expertise, has been an lawyer normal, a governor, a cupboard secretary. And alternatively, you could have any individual who hardly has work expertise. In order that’s what it comes all the way down to for me.

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island

Andrew Cuomo is not going to be as conservative as I’d like him to be. I believe he received’t be as progressive as others would love him to be. I believe he’ll be extra average by definition. And that, to me, is a greater final result than having somebody who will nearly all the time be seeking to speed up the progressive socialist agenda. Mamdani is operating not simply to repair the potholes. He’s operating to implement a imaginative and prescient of presidency that’s not shared on my own and never shared by a variety of New Yorkers.

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.

I believe Mamdani’s a compelling candidate with huge upside however far more draw back than folks acknowledge. He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. He’s ready to surrender management of the varsity system, and that may be a path to extra training failure, not larger success.

Policywise, he has a skinny agenda. The hire stabilization that he proposes wouldn’t assist folks in NYCHA [the city’s public housing agency]. It doesn’t assist individuals who hire in two-family houses. But it surely’s very engaging symbolically. Affordability is a good idea, however as at no cost buses, the buses aren’t truly beneath his management, however beneath an M.T.A. board.

Antonio Weiss Financial executive and former U.S. Treasury official

There’s loads to unpack in what Mitchell stated. For the reason that ’70s we’ve had the Monetary Emergency Act, which requires a balanced finances. And so the finances also needs to be considered a set of selections that the mayor and the Metropolis Council make in regards to the allocation of assets. Mamdani has been clear in regards to the priorities he would set in a manner that this present administration has not executed. And look, we’re going to be in a pitched battle subsequent 12 months with a federal administration that’s withholding funds.

New York State handed its finances as if none of this have been taking place. New York Metropolis handed its finances as if none of this have been taking place. And what Mamdani has proven us is he’s reaching out throughout the board. And sure, that’s a coalition to get elected. It’s additionally a coalition to manipulate.

Frederick A. Davie Senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary

I need to discover a bit little bit of an intangible. Mamdani has tapped into the best way that an entire swath of this metropolis that’s loads youthful than me understands and experiences life. And he’s capable of not solely grasp that, however give voice to a variety of what they’re feeling and supply options and instructions that they’ll connect with. And I believe there’s a genius in that we shouldn’t miss or dismiss. And I believe that very same genius might be dropped at bear on governing the town. It’s in all probability time for a generational shift in management on this metropolis.

Iwen Chu Former New York State senator representing South Brooklyn

Brad [Lander] was my alternative within the main, after which Brad now just isn’t on the ticket. What choice do I’ve?

For me, there are 4 elements. We have a look at the previous to your document. We have a look at the longer term to your imaginative and prescient. We have a look at your staff, your management. We have a look at your private ethics. That’s how I ranked it.And I believe Mamdani’s strategy, how he dealt with police, public security, training, Israel points, enterprise is all the identical: He listens. So I believe how he builds his staff is essential, to construct the belief for the voters.

Frederick A. Davie Senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary

So Mamdani’s beneath no phantasm that Trump’s going to make it straightforward for him. However he additionally is aware of it’s not a battle he has to combat alone, that he has the governor, state legislative leaders and members of Congress.

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the “FAQ NYC” podcast

I don’t belief Cuomo to guard New York Metropolis. I believe that he’ll acquiesce to Donald Trump in ways in which he says he received’t, however he’s a variety of bluster.

I do agree with Mamdani within the sense that it’ll take Hakeem [Jeffries] and Chuck [Schumer] having a spine and supporting him in a variety of methods. I do assume we can be penalized — as a metropolis economically, if not worse, with the Nationwide Guard and ICE brokers.Is Mamdani a great candidate, 33 years outdated, who’s by no means been citywide elected? [Mr. Mamdani turned 34 after this discussion took place.] No. Are these the playing cards that we’ve and we’re going to play them? Sure. And I believe I’m optimistic with him, kind of, getting folks energy to withstand the Trump administration and the draconian insurance policies that can come out of Washington, D.C.

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island

I believe this difficulty has been framed to be one-sided. Why will we assume that Trump goes to come back after New York when, in actuality, Mamdani goes to learn politically from going after the Trump administration, and being the main far-left determine in American politics?

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer

I believe that Andrew Cuomo truly had a extremely good alternative to push again on the Trump administration once they threatened to arrest somebody — Mamdani — who received a Democratic contest for mayor. He didn’t. And I believe that’s actually indicative of who Andrew Cuomo is. To the extent he was an efficient chief, it’s as a result of he was a bully. He can’t cope with Trump, somebody with extra energy than him.

Whitney Toussaint Co-president of Community Education Council 30 in Queens

On Trump, Cuomo has already bought out. He’s probably not spoken out towards the dangerous issues the Trump administration has already executed. He’s courting lots of the similar sorts of voters.

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration

I’ve been profoundly dissatisfied by the dearth of dialog about training through the marketing campaign from all of the candidates. The Instances lately revealed a narrative, 140,000 homeless college students in New York. And I don’t hear the candidates actually speaking an terrible lot about the right way to deal with what’s, for my part, a extremely systemic disaster. I believe the mayor must be operating the varsity system. There must be a degree of accountability. If mother and father really feel like they’ve been shut out and Mamdani feels that manner, too, he can convey them in.

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker

I believe round one million college students having a college system overseen by somebody who has managed an workplace of 5 or so folks and solely has a couple of years of expertise within the State Meeting —

I believe that may be a main abdication of duty by us as voters to these children, to place any individual in command of them that has so little expertise. And to layer on, he’s been towards mayoral management of the faculties, which is the one most vital governance difficulty for our colleges, and to make sure that we’re educating our children.

Whitney Toussaint Co-president of Community Education Council 30 in Queens

On faculty management, the regulation is what the regulation is. He’ll nonetheless should appoint a chancellor and members to the panel of training coverage. The mayor nonetheless has to try this. However we do want to have interaction mother and father who’re energetic.

Mamdani is listening to us on training. Cuomo is speaking at us as a substitute of together with mother and father like me in these discussions. We’re talked at. You recognize what Eric Adams known as us? Skilled mother and father. Nicely, rattling it, I’m.

Caitlin Kawaguchi Nonprofit strategist and community representative in Brooklyn

On housing, it’s a central difficulty to New Yorkers of all ages, particularly renters. I believe there’s an actual want for not solely a give attention to constructing, which I believe is essential, but additionally deep affordability.

One factor that’s actually resonating with people, together with myself, about Mamdani’s platform is that it seems like he’s prepared to attempt new issues and to push the envelope. Freezing the hire is one thing particular to rent-stabilized tenants, which isn’t all of New York. However I believe it’s emblematic of a dedication to desirous about options in a manner that may be talked about and communicated.

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer

Housing just isn’t my first difficulty. But when it have been, I believe I’d be actually enthusiastic about Zohran. It has been a giant a part of his affordability messaging. And simply how he’s prioritizing it, I can inform that he cares loads about it.

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration

Cuomo had the sting on this final time we met as a result of he didn’t name for defunding the police. And he didn’t name them racists, which Mamdani did and has now walked again from. This was like 5 years in the past, through the starting of his political profession.

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer

And after George Floyd died, we noticed 10 minutes of individuals truly caring about racialized policing. Now we’re seeing actual retrenchment from that. I believe that’s the reason Cuomo was given a lot unearned grace. One thing that we haven’t actually talked about right here but is that Mamdani is the primary Muslim candidate who has a really actual probability of changing into mayor. For many of his life, he’s more likely to have been profiled due to who he’s than to be mayor, to be any elected official in any respect in any respect.

And so I don’t actually like the truth that he walked these statements again. On the finish of the day, is it reflective of coverage? I truly am a bit bit apprehensive that it’s.

A. Mychal Johnson South Bronx social justice advocate

Mamdani has talked about how policing alone can’t resolve social points taking place on the road — trauma, psychological well being, housing. If the police are the primary in, folks in disaster find yourself in Rikers, not in care. That’s not the reply.

I’ve personally been stopped and frisked. Who else on this room has been? OK, solely folks of colour. Mamdani’s strategy right here is, how will we do issues a bit bit in another way? Andrew Cuomo needs to extend the police drive. Is that the reply? I say no. We’d like police. Who doesn’t say we’d like police? However we additionally want the neighborhood care and infrastructure that truly make all of us secure. Cuomo hasn’t proven a willingness to do something in another way.

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island

I believe Sliwa can be the very best to cope with policing, however he’s not going to win. I believe he has a extra rational view: that there are unhealthy individuals who should be prosecuted, punished and put in jail.

Iwen Chu Former New York State senator representing South Brooklyn

Public security and policing are completely totally different topics. College security, psychological well being, homeless points: They’re all public security.

However policing and the amount of the police will not be equal to public security. Mamdani needs to carry the regulation enforcement accountable — that’s policing. How he can construct a coalition and work with the regulation enforcement and ensure our regulation enforcement is purposeful — that’s a separate topic.

Eleanor Randolph Journalist and former Times editorial board member

There’s one other difficulty in addition to public security. And that’s how the police and the mayor are going to cope with the potential for the president and his staff sending up folks to stroll across the streets with their weapons out and all that kind of stuff.

You possibly can hear the drumbeat and you already know he’s coming after New York. So how does that work with a police division and the best way the following mayor operates?

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker

I believe it’s vital to take a look at the information. The info reveals that extra cops within the subway, on the streets and on corners in high-crime neighborhoods can cut back crime.

Between Cuomo and Mamdani, one is proposing increasing the police drive and one candidate just isn’t. When Mamdani claims that he needs to defund the police after which now claims to be an advocate and a champion for N.Y.P.D., are we presupposed to imagine that he’s going to have the ability to lead and encourage the nation’s largest municipal police drive to do their finest work?

Frederick A. Davie Senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary

Eric Adams was in all probability probably the most pro-police mayor that we’ve had shortly. And we’re nonetheless hemorrhaging cops.

So I’m undecided that that in and of itself will get us to the place we need to be. Might Andrew Cuomo have a greater relationship with the N.Y.P.D. than Zohran Mamdani would or may? The reply to that’s in all probability at first, sure. However once more, I believe what we’re seeing with Mamdani is that what he understands is that he must mixture round him individuals who have experience in areas and locations the place he doesn’t.

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration

Mamdani has energized an infinite quantity of people that have been beforehand exterior of the political course of and didn’t see themselves as central to it. And to overlook that may be an infinite mistake and, as a Democrat, fully silly.

The flip aspect of that’s that the Democratic institution — of which, for higher or worse, largely, I’m one thing of a card-carrying member — totally failed throughout this marketing campaign. It tried to raise candidates that have been deeply flawed, have been unable to solidify behind individuals who would have been capable of current an alternative choice to Mamdani.

Caitlin Kawaguchi Nonprofit strategist and community representative in Brooklyn

It’s not as if the institution may have produced a Mamdani. The Democratic Get together has not been partaking with people who could possibly be the following nice electeds. And it’s not going to be only a one that presents in the identical manner as Mamdani. We’ve seen campaigns throughout the nation who wish to emulate his marketing campaign by doing walking-style TikTok movies. However that’s not what was nice about Mamdani’s marketing campaign. It was nice as a result of it was connecting with on a regular basis New Yorkers round points that matter to them, that introduced artistic options.

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the “FAQ NYC” podcast

I’ve some sturdy critiques of the Democratic Socialists of America nonetheless, however they’ve been utilizing their community as a method to convey folks into the political fold in a manner that the events haven’t. I believe a variety of voters really feel actually disrespected by the institution. As a result of the voters spoke on June 24 and stated: We don’t need you, Andrew Cuomo. Go house.

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer

I’ve to assume that a variety of the refusal to assist Mamdani is Islamophobia. And I believe that there’s going to be an actual reckoning with that sooner or later.

Iwen Chu Former New York State senator representing South Brooklyn

I misplaced my election final 12 months as a result of Democrats don’t know the right way to deal with value of residing. When the first consequence got here out, it was like: What am I going to do as a voter, as an immigrant? I checked out Mamdani’s insurance policies once more. Positive, I do need these city-run grocery shops down my block. Do I need free buses? Sure, I do. New York State truly can afford statewide common free lunch, faculty lunch. It’s nearly priorities. We don’t have a shot if we don’t attempt. We have to attempt.

Antonio Weiss Financial executive and former U.S. Treasury official

Democrats should embrace profitable and be a bit extra fearless about that. As vital or extra vital than this election is that, as soon as elected, Mamdani succeeds, and the Democrats abandon their strategy of disqualifying and discouraging profitable candidates and as a substitute begin investing of their success.

A. Mychal Johnson South Bronx social justice advocate

Mamdani is operating like he needs to serve. It’s not like he’s operating for a job or for energy. And we too typically have candidates who’re about energy and management, not neighborhood.

Amit Singh Bagga Democratic strategist and former city official

A few of his guarantees are achievable independently on the metropolis stage; others require actual partnership with Albany. General, these contemporary concepts are proxies for objectives that he needs to realize as a result of they’re the core points that folks face every single day.

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island

I believe the town was ripe for brand spanking new concepts. The issue is, a few of these concepts aren’t actually sensible or financially possible. We will speak about free buses, however what occurs whenever you take, you already know, $800 million out of the fare field of the M.T.A.? How will we make up for that shortfall?

How does this have an effect on the necessity to increase tolls and congestion pricing down the street? These are all scary issues.

Whitney Toussaint Co-president of Community Education Council 30 in Queens

The common little one care that he’s proposing. He needs households of newborns to get child baskets, one thing they do world wide. You don’t understand how costly these items are till you need to go purchasing for a child.

And I’m going to convey it again to what Mychal stated, as a result of I really like what you stated. He’s operating like somebody who needs to serve.

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.

We mainly have hope versus despair. Cuomo is despair. Each has totally different strengths. However my college students are working for Mamdani. And I imply of each race and earnings.

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration

On Israel, I imagine his views are deeply felt.

I occur to be in very sturdy disagreement with him on this space. There was an actual effort post-primary to encourage him to sentence the phrase “globalize the intifada.” To his credit score, he met with and spoke with many individuals who shared their very sturdy considerations about that. And I imagine that he was sincerely listening. In the long run, the place he landed was he was going to discourage folks from utilizing it.That was a extremely very long time to brew some actually weak tea. I believe it was indicative of a really strongly held set of beliefs on his half which might be very a lot at odds with my set of beliefs and the set of beliefs of lots of my mates and neighbors.

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.

I believe that we’ve to understand that he’s not altering. It is a perception. And whenever you purchase the mayor, you purchase the assumption.

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.

We should always acknowledge the lunacy of voting for Sliwa. I’m not saying he’s not going to get votes, but it surely’s a wasted vote.

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer

I might vote for Sliwa earlier than Cuomo.

Amit Singh Bagga Democratic strategist and former city official

So would I.

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer

That’s saying loads. To be clear, Sliwa just isn’t the lovable eccentric some make him out to be — he’s not a critical candidate. His platform is riddled with proposals {that a} mayor can’t truly enact, like rolling again the 2019 state tenant protections that solely Albany can contact. Different components of his agenda veer into the downright Orwellian. He’s not even a Bloomberg Republican. On coverage, he’s Trump in a pink beret.

That stated, I do assume he’s genuinely dedicated to ending the inhumane observe of horse-drawn carriages. He’s probably the most certified candidate for equine liberation, and that’s it.

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the “FAQ NYC” podcast

I believe Sliwa will do higher than anticipated. There’s going to be some people who find themselves like: This 33-year-old child and a few of these concepts are simply possibly a bridge too far for me. [Mr. Mamdani turned 34 after this discussion took place.] And Cuomo is an absolute no. And there are some individuals who won’t ever be capable of vote for a nonwhite individual.

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.

I love the best way through which Mamdani has framed his perception that we are able to make the town higher. His work in political campaigns has been terrific. The proof that he’s an awesome supervisor is the good marketing campaign he ran. However operating for workplace and governing are reverse abilities. One is efficiency artwork. The opposite is a day-to-day job of distributing not simply pleasure and advantages, however ache, too.

Antonio Weiss Financial executive and former U.S. Treasury official

Mamdani’s appointments, if he wins, will matter loads. Who’s going to be the primary deputy mayor? Is there going to be a deputy mayor charged with determining the right way to combine the Division of Neighborhood Security with the N.Y.P.D.? Each indication is that he’s going about not simply his marketing campaign however his transition with the intent of offering convincing solutions to all of that.

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker

There’s only a huge distinction between operating a marketing campaign and operating one of many largest cities on the earth. Expertise issues for the second most vital job in America.

A. Mychal Johnson South Bronx social justice advocate

I’m simply listening to all these feedback about Mamdani’s relative lack of expertise, however the ones who had expertise didn’t ship for the individuals who mobilized behind Mamdani. These are folks and communities who’ve been left behind for many years.

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the “FAQ NYC” podcast

Nicely, we’ve obtained somebody who has a very powerful job in America who has zero expertise. Take an opportunity.