New York City's newly inaugurated mayor, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, revealed plans to increase taxes on "the richest New Yorkers" less than one month into his term, blaming former Mayor Eric Adams (D) for a budget shortfall.
On Thursday, Mamdani held a press conference to detail the "Adams Budget Crisis," claiming that the former mayor "misled and misinformed" New Yorkers about the "true state" of the city's finances.
'And here's the part socialists hate saying out loud: "Free" is a lie.'
"I will be blunt: New York City is facing a serious fiscal crisis. There is a massive fiscal deficit in our city's budget to the tune of at least $12 billion. We did not arrive at this place by accident. This crisis has a name and a chief architect," Mamdani said.
"This is the Adams Budget Crisis."
He accused Adams of handing the new administration "a poisoned chalice" by "systematically" under-budgeting necessary services, including rental assistance, shelter, and special education.
"Knowing his time in office was likely coming to an end, Mayor Adams chose political self-preservation over fiscal responsibility. This is not just bad governance. It is negligence," Mamdani remarked.
"The Adams administration dramatically and intentionally understated the problem."
Mamdani vowed to balance the budget over two fiscal years by implementing "bold solutions," including "recalibrating the broken fiscal relationship between the state and the city." He argued that New York City contributes 54.5% of the state's revenue but receives only 40.5% of its operating expenditures.
RELATED: 'Proud to be a sanctuary city': Mamdani announces another handout for illegal aliens in NYC
"Working people did not cause this crisis, and they cannot be made the victims of its solution," Mamdani stated.
"The time has come to tax the richest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations," he declared.
Mamdani stated that he could "build a stronger city for everyone" if New York's top 1% earners paid an additional 2% in income taxes, while claiming that the increase was not significant enough to drive wealthy individuals to leave the state.
Adams fired back at Mamdani in several posts on X, denying that he left a deficit in the city's budget.
"Facts have a way of getting in the way when slogans replace math and blame replaces leadership," Adams wrote. "I didn't leave a 'budget hole.' I left over $8 BILLION in reserves. Only someone who can't read a balance sheet would call that a crisis."
"And here's the part socialists hate saying out loud: 'Free' is a lie. Every so-called free program comes with a price tag, and someone always pays for it," he added.
Adams argued that Mamdani's real motive behind his press conference was to find a way to pay for the "laundry list of 'free' giveaways" he promised New Yorkers "to buy votes."
"Now that the math doesn't work, instead of owning the fact that he misled New Yorkers, he's blaming me," Adams said. "This is the same Mamdani who spent years attacking me for not spending enough during the migrant crisis. The only reason those reserves exist is because I ignored him and his socialist comrades who demanded we blow billions more with no guardrails."
Adams mocked Mamdani in a third post on X, writing, "When you promise 'free' everything on Sunday, boldly declare that millionaires and billionaires shouldn't exist on Monday, and by Tuesday you're scrambling to fund your giveaways with the very people you wanted gone just yesterday."
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Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of anti-Semitism over moves the freshly inaugurated mayor made during his first day in office Thursday.
The New York Times said Mamdani canceled two executive orders by his predecessor — former Mayor Eric Adams — that had barred city agencies from boycotting Israel and defined some criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.
'Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect.'
"On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel," the Foreign Ministry wrote on X. "This isn't leadership. It's antisemitic gasoline on an open fire."
The Times called the statement from Israel's Foreign Ministry "an extraordinary accusation of anti-Jewish animosity."
Israel's consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, added that Mamdani's decision posed "an immediate threat to the safety of Jewish communities in New York City and could lead to an increase in violent anti-Semitic attacks throughout the city," according to the paper.
The Times said New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
More from the paper:
Mr. Mamdani has been a strong critic of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians throughout his public life, and the Israeli government has denounced him before. As recently as October, it described him as someone who “excuses terror and normalizes antisemitism” and said he “stands with Jews only when they are dead.”
The two Israel-related executive orders revoked on Thursday were among a dozen orders issued by Mr. Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, that were canceled or amended by the new mayor on his first day in office. A spokeswoman for Mr. Mamdani had no immediate comment but said that the mayor expected to address Israel’s comments at an unrelated news conference in Brooklyn on Friday afternoon.
On Friday, a coalition of major Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee and the UJA Federation of New York, issued a joint statement opposing the cancellation of the executive orders.
The statement indicated Mamdani had “reversed two significant protections against antisemitism” and expressed particular alarm over the revocation of Adams’ ban on city agencies boycotting Israel, the Times said, adding that Adams signed that executive order just last month.
“Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect,” the statement said, according to the paper.
The other Adams order Mamdani canceled was a definition of anti-Semitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and included 11 examples intended to illustrate anti-Jewish bigotry — seven of which include or relate in some way to criticism of Israel, the Times said.
Mamdani's views on Israel have been controversial, to say the least. The Times said the new mayor has criticized the Jewish state "in ways that were once seen as unthinkable for an elected official in New York."
For instance, the paper said Mamdani has called Israel an apartheid state and has supported accusations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Mamdani also has supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel — and he even wants the New York Police Department to enforce an arrest warrant against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Times added.
But the ride into office hasn't been completely smooth for Mamdani, either. Last month, one of his appointees was forced to resign after the Anti-Defamation League brought to light anti-Semitic social media posts.
RELATED: 'Money hungry Jews': Mamdani appointee abruptly quits after her anti-Semitic online posts resurface
The New York Post noted other officials who criticized Mamdani's moves.
Bruce Blakeman, executive for Nassau County and a Republican gubernatorial candidate, said in a statement that "Mayor Mamdani wasted no time showing New Yorkers exactly who he is," the Post reported. "His very first executive action as mayor was not to address crime, public safety, or quality of life — it was to repeal protections for Jewish people. At a moment of exploding anti-Semitism, Mamdani sent a message that Jewish concerns are negotiable and Jewish safety is optional. It's indefensible."
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) posted on X that "Zohran is officially the face of the Democrat Party," the Post added.
Brooklyn Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov urged Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York to stand up to Mamdani, the Post said: "@GovKathyHochul can fix this with the stroke of a pen! Will she stand up to Mamdani or will she cower to avoid a Mamdani primary? The Jewish community is watching!"
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Sanctuary city policies continue to shield criminal illegal aliens amid the Trump administration's ongoing effort to ramp up deportations.
The Department of Homeland Security revealed Monday that there are thousands of known criminal illegal aliens currently incarcerated in New York City that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to remove from the country.
'Honor those detainers, and then we won't have to flood the zone with our ICE law enforcement.'
"We're seeing that these criminal illegal aliens are exiting the jails and going back on to New York, or Chicago, or these other sanctuary streets to re-perpetuate their crimes," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News.
"Today, in New York City's jails are 7,169 criminal illegal aliens," McLaughlin continued. "We're talking about hundreds of murderers, hundreds of sexual predators, drug traffickers, the worst of the worst."
McLaughlin encouraged sanctuary city politicians to cooperate with immigration officials to remove these known threats from the country.
"Honor those detainers, and then we won't have to flood the zone with our ICE law enforcement. We won't have to put those men and women on the ground because we will get these vicious criminals out of New York City's jails," McLaughlin added.
RELATED: ICE makes pitch to NYPD cops after Mamdani promises radical overhaul
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has vowed to resist the immigration raids and criticized current Mayor Eric Adams (D) for cooperating with the Trump administration.
In October, Mamdani called Trump's ICE "a reckless agency," arguing that "collaboration hasn't worked."
"We need to change our laws — and stand up to Washington," he stated.
RELATED: Socialist Mamdani promises to 'Trump-proof' New York City, expel ICE
After securing a victory in the mayoral election, Mamdani issued a warning to ICE.
"My message to ICE agents, and to everyone across this city, is that everyone will be held to the same standard of the law. If you violate the law, you must be held accountable," Mamdani said.
"There's sadly a sense that is growing across this country that certain people are allowed to violate the law whether that be the president or agents themselves," he stated. "What New Yorkers are looking for is an era of consistency. An era of clarity and an era of conviction. And that's what we will deliver to them."
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President Donald Trump has offered a preview of his highly anticipated meeting with New York City's newly elected socialist mayor.
Trump's meeting with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (D) in the Oval Office Friday afternoon is proving to be one of the most highly anticipated sit-downs of his second term. Trump described Mamdani, a staunch progressive and outspoken critic of the president, as "a little bit different" but remained optimistic about the meeting.
'I give him a lot of credit.'
"He's got a different philosophy," Trump told Brian Kilmeade Friday. "He's a little bit different."
One of the focal points of Mamdani's campaign was affordability, an issue that has also been a pillar of Trump's administration. Although their respective solutions to address affordability are at odds, Trump maintained that the two New Yorkers are ultimately "looking for the same thing."
RELATED: Is Trump meddling with Mamdani's candidacy?
"I give him a lot of credit for the run. He did a successful run, and we all know that runs are not easy," Trump said. "But I think we'll get along fine. Look, we're looking for the same thing. We want to make New York strong."
Since his decisive victory in early November, Mamdani has continued to rail against Trump and his administration. During his victory speech, Mamdani infamously told Trump to "turn the volume up." In response, Trump issued Mamdani a warning but commended his campaign nonetheless.
RELATED: Zohran Mamdani becomes first openly socialist mayor of New York City
"Well, I was hitting him a little hard too, in all fairness," Trump said. "It's hard to be totally friendly to the opponent, you know. ... He had some interesting opponents. But he ran a good race. I don't know exactly what he means by 'turn the volume up' because 'turn the volume up,' he has to be careful when he says that to me."
"I think it's going to be quite civil. You'll find out."
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Democrat candidate Zohran Mamdani became the first openly socialist candidate to sweep the New York City mayoral race Tuesday night.
Mamdani secured 50% of the vote, while independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo won 41.4%,according to the Associated Press. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who was widely regarded as a spoiler candidate for Cuomo, won just 7.7% of the vote.
His brazen embrace of socialism raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Current New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) did attempt to run for re-election, but eventually dropped his bid in September.
RELATED: Is Trump meddling with Mamdani's candidacy?
Mamdani consistently campaigned on progressive policies, offering a socialist antidote to New Yorkers who struggled with affordability. Some of these policies include rent freezes, free buses, city-run grocery stores, and free child care.
Although this clearly appealed to residents of America's most expensive city, his brazen embrace of socialism raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Despite living in Brooklyn, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) declined to say whether he voted for the Democrat candidate.
Zohran's candidacy created a unique alliance between President Donald Trump and Cuomo. Leading up to the election, Trump urged New Yorkers to vote for Cuomo instead of Mamdani or even Sliwa, the Republican candidate.
RELATED: Zohran Mamdani’s Soviet dream for New York City
"I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE," Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday. "He was nothing as an Assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as Mayor of potentially, again, the Greatest City in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former Glory!"
"We must also remember this — A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani," Trump added. "Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!"
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The elections today are undoubtedly important, especially the one taking place in New York City — where the entire city risks falling to socialism at the hands of Democrat voters.
Gen Z is reportedly coming out in droves for Mamdani, with early voting data recording 117,042 adults ages 18 to 29 casting ballots in the election. This is 16% of the vote share, which is higher than previous elections for this age group.
Democratic socialist Mamdani is favored to win and would be the first Muslim mayor and first Asian American mayor of the nation’s largest city.
BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere wonders what a Mamdani win would mean for the Democrat Party as a whole.
“The question is, is he going to be the face of the party?” Burguiere asks.
“I think the answer to that is the Democrats don’t actually want that. They don’t like his package. They like the fact that he, you know, can come out, and he’s packaged as a very, you know, happy-go-lucky candidate that’s saying important things about affordability,” he explains, adding, “But they do not want this to happen.”
“What conservatives need to do if Mamdani does win is to step back and say, ‘Holy crap, that’s the face of the party.’ That’s who they’re running against. You know, the guy you’re saying is a moderate in that swing-state election. Actually, he’s Mamdani and that will be true more often than it is not,” he continues.
There is one man running against Mamdani who Burguiere believes would do a great job, but unfortunately, the odds are not stacked in his favor.
“I’m a New Yorker. I was born in New York, but I have very little sympathy for New York City. They were the ones that picked Mamdani. They were the ones that showed Cuomo that he has a chance of winning, which helped him in the race. They’re the ones that are ignoring Curtis Sliwa, who’s been just a good guy who likes the city and should be the next mayor,” Burguiere says, noting that while he’d “be the best one,” the other two are essentially the same to him.
“I don’t really care honestly who wins out of Cuomo or Mamdani,” he says, adding, “I think they both suck and they both do incredible damage to the city. It’ll be worse than it is now because of these two people.”
To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
The frail condition that Millennial young men like Mamdani find themselves in should be a wake-up call to parents, educators, and policymakers to look for ways to encourage young men to lead, build, and — at very least — lift.
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