I heard a slightly different version of this tonight on the cable news program Inside City Hall. I'm not sure how much of this he can do without Governor Hochul, and she's against raising taxes, I suspect, because she's running for re-election. I guess all Mamdani can do is run it up the flag pole.
At least we don't have former mayor Adams piling up the debt and hiding it or former mayor Bloomberg arguing that raising taxes will drive his friends out of the city. I find Mayor Mamdani refreshing, and I'm pulling for him to succeed.
The hard part is there are a lot powerful people who don't want him to succeed. But he is a formidable challenger. He is also gathering supporters and progressive policy planners. It really comes down to redistribution, so it is hard to get the wealthy on board, even though they are a very small group, they do have an enormous influence. His election shows that we want change.
Good article, Mandami has it right, we all need to adjust tax percentages to match the income that is made yearly. Multi- millionaires can live very comfortably and still pay a little more to make the city they live in and enjoy a better lifestyle for all. Rich people still use the same city conveniently available as the poor or middle class. Also the more money average people make and get to keep they spend more in their city so it’s a reciprocal income tax where everyone wins.
Massachusetts - from the state (under Mitt Romney) that gave us the model of mandatory universal health insurance and taxing the wealthy.
Thank you Qasim for lifting up Mayor Mamdani! I am so grateful for the bright light he continues to shine (and I love the naming of the challenge as the Adam’s Budget Crisis- accountability counts!).
It has to happen because there is no alternative. The 1% have run away with the nation's wealth and now must return it through a strongly progressive income tax without loopholes that allow it to be escaped. Imagine if all the money spent by the wealthy/corporations on lobbying had been paid as income tax instead of bribing Congress!
Every day Mayor Mamdani gives us a Master Class on Governance with dignity, integrity, imagination, and accountability. He ran the campaign this way, and I would expect no less from someone who quoted Eugene V. Debs in their inaugural address.
He is part of a lineage of too many too quickly forgotten who stood up and did the right thing, and inspired others to do the same, to dream to fight to get up another day.
From Fred Harris' memoir: "Does People Do It?": "As I put in my original memorandum, "Too few people have all the money and power; most people have little or none. [A}dress the real day-to-day problems of people-heavy and unfair taxes; bad or nonexistent housing; inadequate and costly medical care; inflated food, utility, and other prices; high interest rates; exorbitant military expenditures and waste; cynical and interventionist foreign policy; low wages and unemployment-in terms of how economic and political privilege thwarts the will of the people." 1974 memorandum Harris wrote for his presidential campaign. (He was also a co-author of the Kerner Commission Report w/NYC Mayor John Lindsey during LBJ's presidency.) Perhaps enough time has elapsed where we can at long last address these same tired issues; and I believe Mayor Mamdani (and the people of NYC) will triumph. Fiat Lux! TY Qasim!
Mayor MamdanI has faced his first challenge, the big snow storm, and he did a good job. The streets were cleared, the children were able to attend school online, and only a few people died because of the weather. We can’t expect that score to be perfect.
I hope no one asks me if I have read Isabella Weber's work, cause I have not. I tried to borrow it from my library but if they have it they re not lending it out. I am not even sure it has been translated. I base my recommendation on the few critical papers, and articles I have read. Someone needs to revive the work of Keynes and Galbraith!
Can I add---this is all so curious! I thought Mamdani was supposed to win the election, hijack an airplane, and fly it into NYC and kill everyone! THIS must be Plan B???
This model could help so many communities. If only the people in charge would be willing to speak truth. I think he’s going to do bigger things. And I truly like it. 🙏🏻✌🏻❤️
This is wonderful, Qasim. Thanks for this well-stated article! Mamdani is exceptional as a leader. Interestly, what I worry about re the Trump admin is that we don't know where ALL this money he's throwing around is coming from. I fear one day we will be told " the country is broke". "We ALL need to tighten our belts (are you listening lower 99% citizens) and bring this country out of debt!!" At that time, I sure as Hell hope there's a Zohran Mamdani around to help us.
I don't know if Mayor Mamdami has read Isabella Weber's magisterial work on free market economics. It builds on and validates what used to be called Keynsian theory; that America's economist Mr. Galbraith promoted until the day he died. Mamdami could do worse than to purchase her book, which is either 600 pages long or costs $600.00 - I can't remember which - maybe it is both He should chain it to a pedestal in City hall and require everyone who enters to read the pages it is opened to before proceeding to their business. (I hope it has been translated to English) Perhaps someone could provide a precis of each page and email it to every city employee? AT the end of the 600 pages there should be a test on the books messages for every employee. Perhaps all the State employees and representatives should be included in the e-mails?
Widespread knowledge of her work could change the course of this nation, and if there is any hope for capitalism, it might also change the beliefs of late stage predatory capitalists.
I heard a slightly different version of this tonight on the cable news program Inside City Hall. I'm not sure how much of this he can do without Governor Hochul, and she's against raising taxes, I suspect, because she's running for re-election. I guess all Mamdani can do is run it up the flag pole.
At least we don't have former mayor Adams piling up the debt and hiding it or former mayor Bloomberg arguing that raising taxes will drive his friends out of the city. I find Mayor Mamdani refreshing, and I'm pulling for him to succeed.
The hard part is there are a lot powerful people who don't want him to succeed. But he is a formidable challenger. He is also gathering supporters and progressive policy planners. It really comes down to redistribution, so it is hard to get the wealthy on board, even though they are a very small group, they do have an enormous influence. His election shows that we want change.
Good article, Mandami has it right, we all need to adjust tax percentages to match the income that is made yearly. Multi- millionaires can live very comfortably and still pay a little more to make the city they live in and enjoy a better lifestyle for all. Rich people still use the same city conveniently available as the poor or middle class. Also the more money average people make and get to keep they spend more in their city so it’s a reciprocal income tax where everyone wins.
Massachusetts - from the state (under Mitt Romney) that gave us the model of mandatory universal health insurance and taxing the wealthy.
Thank you Qasim for lifting up Mayor Mamdani! I am so grateful for the bright light he continues to shine (and I love the naming of the challenge as the Adam’s Budget Crisis- accountability counts!).
This is very exciting! A good example for the rest of the country. Kudos to Mayor Mamdani
It has to happen because there is no alternative. The 1% have run away with the nation's wealth and now must return it through a strongly progressive income tax without loopholes that allow it to be escaped. Imagine if all the money spent by the wealthy/corporations on lobbying had been paid as income tax instead of bribing Congress!
Such helpful analysis—thank you.
It's high time we stopped falling for the scare tactics of the rich. If it worked in Massachusetts, it can work anywhere.
Way to go, Mayor!! Now we need 10,000 more of you to run our cities and states!
Thank you, Qasim, for reporting this good news.
If this is democratic socialism, bring it on!!!
Every day Mayor Mamdani gives us a Master Class on Governance with dignity, integrity, imagination, and accountability. He ran the campaign this way, and I would expect no less from someone who quoted Eugene V. Debs in their inaugural address.
He is part of a lineage of too many too quickly forgotten who stood up and did the right thing, and inspired others to do the same, to dream to fight to get up another day.
From Fred Harris' memoir: "Does People Do It?": "As I put in my original memorandum, "Too few people have all the money and power; most people have little or none. [A}dress the real day-to-day problems of people-heavy and unfair taxes; bad or nonexistent housing; inadequate and costly medical care; inflated food, utility, and other prices; high interest rates; exorbitant military expenditures and waste; cynical and interventionist foreign policy; low wages and unemployment-in terms of how economic and political privilege thwarts the will of the people." 1974 memorandum Harris wrote for his presidential campaign. (He was also a co-author of the Kerner Commission Report w/NYC Mayor John Lindsey during LBJ's presidency.) Perhaps enough time has elapsed where we can at long last address these same tired issues; and I believe Mayor Mamdani (and the people of NYC) will triumph. Fiat Lux! TY Qasim!
Mayor MamdanI has faced his first challenge, the big snow storm, and he did a good job. The streets were cleared, the children were able to attend school online, and only a few people died because of the weather. We can’t expect that score to be perfect.
I hope no one asks me if I have read Isabella Weber's work, cause I have not. I tried to borrow it from my library but if they have it they re not lending it out. I am not even sure it has been translated. I base my recommendation on the few critical papers, and articles I have read. Someone needs to revive the work of Keynes and Galbraith!
Can I add---this is all so curious! I thought Mamdani was supposed to win the election, hijack an airplane, and fly it into NYC and kill everyone! THIS must be Plan B???
Sorry, love you Zohran.
This model could help so many communities. If only the people in charge would be willing to speak truth. I think he’s going to do bigger things. And I truly like it. 🙏🏻✌🏻❤️
This is wonderful, Qasim. Thanks for this well-stated article! Mamdani is exceptional as a leader. Interestly, what I worry about re the Trump admin is that we don't know where ALL this money he's throwing around is coming from. I fear one day we will be told " the country is broke". "We ALL need to tighten our belts (are you listening lower 99% citizens) and bring this country out of debt!!" At that time, I sure as Hell hope there's a Zohran Mamdani around to help us.
I don't know if Mayor Mamdami has read Isabella Weber's magisterial work on free market economics. It builds on and validates what used to be called Keynsian theory; that America's economist Mr. Galbraith promoted until the day he died. Mamdami could do worse than to purchase her book, which is either 600 pages long or costs $600.00 - I can't remember which - maybe it is both He should chain it to a pedestal in City hall and require everyone who enters to read the pages it is opened to before proceeding to their business. (I hope it has been translated to English) Perhaps someone could provide a precis of each page and email it to every city employee? AT the end of the 600 pages there should be a test on the books messages for every employee. Perhaps all the State employees and representatives should be included in the e-mails?
Widespread knowledge of her work could change the course of this nation, and if there is any hope for capitalism, it might also change the beliefs of late stage predatory capitalists.