The Washington Post editorial board has taken a critical stance against Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic mayoral candidate in New York City, particularly targeting his ambitious plans to revamp the city's bus system.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, has proposed eliminating bus fares and enhancing route efficiency. However, the board argues that such measures would impose a significant financial burden on taxpayers, including those who do not utilize the service.
According to Fox News, the editorial board highlighted examples from other cities to underscore the potential pitfalls of Mamdani's proposal. "Plenty of cities have eliminated bus fares, but it always comes at a cost. Olympia, Washington, did so in 2020 to avoid having to upgrade their fare-card readers but hiked the local sales tax. That means everyone pays, whether they ride or not," the board noted. This critique aligns with a broader conservative perspective that emphasizes fiscal responsibility and the potential drawbacks of expansive government-funded programs.
The editorial further scrutinized the financial implications of Mamdani's plan, challenging his assertion that the cost is manageable. "Sure enough, the self-described democratic socialist estimates his proposal would cost the city just under $800 million a year, which is $50 million less than what New York spent on the new Buffalo Bills stadium." The board sarcastically questioned the feasibility of such a figure, pointing out that additional expenses would arise from Mamdani's commitment to improving bus speed and reliability. "Naturally, that will require a lot more spending, too. Mamdani has promised to install new dedicated bus lanes across the city and other service upgrades. He also wants more loading zones on city streets to make it quicker for people to get on. So add those costs onto the tab as well," the editorial elaborated.
A significant concern raised by the board is the potential impact on middle and lower-income taxpayers. With New York Governor Kathy Hochul having "already ruled out raising taxes on high-income residents to pay for his agenda," the financial burden would likely fall on those less able to afford it. Additionally, the board warned of the social consequences of a fare-free bus system, citing past instances where similar systems have led to increased crime and vandalism. "Other free systems have drawn criticism for becoming magnets of crime and vandalism, such as Portland, Oregon, where fare-free transit was discontinued in 2012," they noted.
The editorial board also expressed apprehension about the broader implications of Mamdani's candidacy for New York City and the Democratic Party. In a previous editorial, they cautioned that his leadership could lead the city back to "the bad old days of civic dysfunction" and potentially tarnish the reputation of the Democratic Party's emerging leaders. "New Yorkers should be worried that he would lead Gotham back to the bad old days of civic dysfunction, and Democrats should fear that he will discredit their next generation of party leaders, almost all of whom are better than this democratic socialist," the board stated.
Furthermore, the board has criticized Mamdani's educational policies, particularly his proposal to phase out early elementary school programs for gifted students in the name of equity, describing the idea as "shocking."
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