The Spectator's Wishlist for Zohran Mamdani

On November 4th, democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral election. Mamdani, who will be inaugurated into office in January 2026, ran a campaign built on hope for all New Yorkers. To fulfill this promise, The Spectator has developed a wishlist for the mayor-elect, detailing what we as high school students approaching adulthood hope to see in NYC’s future. 

Protect Immigrant New Yorkers 

Since President Donald Trump entered office, New York City has seen a continuous increase in ICE raids targeting immigrant neighborhoods. Most recently, the enforcement operation on Canal Street led to arrests, protests, and fears for immigrant safety. Mamdani’s victory has heightened tensions concerning increased ICE raids in the city. 

Mamdani has already outlined his plan to protect immigrant New Yorkers. From ensuring that no city resources are used for immigration enforcement to building the public’s trust in local law enforcement and supportive government agencies, Mamdani aims to protect the city’s standing as a safe haven for all. Immigrant legal services and counseling play a critical role in supporting immigrants, and Mamdani’s aim to focus funding on services such as the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative and Immigrant Opportunity Initiative is promising, while ambitious. While Mamdani’s goals align with the hopes of many students, we want to see specific, actionable policies to ensure the continued safety of immigrants in New York.

Protect NYC’s federal funding 

A number of agencies in New York City rely heavily on federal funding, including the Administration for Children’s Services and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which protects vulnerable children and families by providing them with child welfare support and safe housing. Organizations that provide support and essential services for city residents, like the MTA, NYC Housing Authority, and NYC Health + Hospitals are also being threatened by cuts to federal funding. With federal funding already projected to decrease from $9.7 billion in 2025 to $7.4 billion in 2026, we encourage Mamdani to protect NYC’s federal funding and defend the city’s essential programs. This is especially important now, as Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding from the city in the wake of Mamdani’s election. This would go against the Impoundment Control Act (1974), which regulates the president’s right over congressional spending decisions. However, Trump has defied this act in the past, such as when he withheld funding for Head Start, a country-wide childcare program, making this situation not without precedent and one that must be addressed and circumvented.

Improve Subway Safety

Currently, the standard procedure in the case of a crisis on the subway is to call 911 immediately, to which an NYPD officer will respond. Mamdani, however, has detailed plans to lower this police presence, instead advocating for teams of mental health professionals from the Department for Community Safety (DCS) to be dispatched, except in the case of serious, violent crimes. However, we are concerned about the feasibility and effectiveness of this plan. According to Mamdani’s campaign, the DCS’s budget will be $1.1 billion; $605 million will be redirected to the DCS from existing programs, and $455 million will be “generated through efficiencies and reallocated resources.” The specifics of these efficiencies are vague. We fear that this plan could be unsafe for both passengers and dispatched mental health professionals. Furthermore, statistics suggest that by more efficiently organizing police, violent crime can be heavily countered. For the first three months of 2025, crime dropped to record lows with a 23 percent drop in shootings and an 18 percent drop in subway crimes. This change was credited to a “massive influx of police officers to patrol trains and subway platforms.” As students who depend on the subway and share concerns over safety, we urge Mamdani to take the influence of police officers into consideration, rather than eliminating them.

Improve MTA Infrastructure

Numerous subway cars are equipped with aged air-conditioning units. Between 2020 and July 2024, passengers submitted nearly 2,934 complaints regarding hot cars on the 1 line alone. Although the MTA claims it achieves its internal target of deploying cars with functional AC 99 percent of the time, the number of complaints and the service records of older car models suggest otherwise. As subway-riding students, we recognize that dependable cooling is essential for safety and both physical and mental well-being.

Stations’ ventilation and climate regulation require immediate improvements. The current cooling system expels heat into the tunnels and onto the platforms, creating unpleasant conditions for passengers. These conditions also raise concerns for public health. Air quality studies have also found that subway platforms contain high concentrations of particulate matter, including iron particles from train wheels, rails, and brakes, that exceed federal and international health standards. The MTA has recently solicited proposals for innovative cooling technologies for subway stations, including a geothermal pilot at deep stations like 168 St. and 181 St. Implementing these technologies and improving airflow would directly reduce exposure to hazardous particles and create safer, healthier environments for riders. This change is necessary; students and commuters should not have to risk their health simply by waiting for the train. 

Furthermore, the MTA plans to remove benches from certain stations and replace them with leaning bars, citing them as an accessible alternative for people who may find it challenging to sit that also reduces congestion. However, we suspect that this is intended to be hostile architecture meant to prevent homeless people from loitering. These leaning bars are also uncomfortable and inconvenient for students, especially during long waits. Mamdani and the MTA need to prioritize riders over temporary solutions to combat homelessness.

The MTA also proposed the installation of platform barriers acting as guard rails on certain portions of platforms in response to 59 percent of riders complaining about the lack of protective platform barriers. They also are a low-cost alternative to platform screen doors. We believe that these barriers are a viable starting point, but stronger methods should be pursued by the Mamdani administration to ensure subway safety; they should learn from systems in other states, Europe, and Asia. 

Work to Create More Efficient Buses 

New York City buses are notoriously slow and unreliable; a report by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander revealed that 56 percent of bus lines were consistently late or bunched. With over one million residents relying on the system every day, Mamdani must work with the MTA to implement improvements. We urge him to make two key reforms:

First, creating busways is a proven way to increase bus efficiency. This entails reserving certain—often high traffic—roads for buses, limiting movement by other vehicles through these intersections and prioritizing bus traffic.  These busways have been implemented successfully across New York City already; the busway at 14th street in Manhattan increased bus speeds by 29 to 56 percent. While several projects have been successfully approved, opposition to new projects has halted progress.

Additionally, Transit Signal Priority (TSP) is one promising policy in the fight to reduce rider wait times. TSP reduces wait time at traffic signals by increasing the duration of green lights for buses. In doing so, the Department of Transportation would also have to adjust the system to allow pedestrians and cars sufficient time to cross. Thus far, the implementation of TSP has shown success: Chicago had increased bus speeds by up to 15 percent as of 2013.

Address Unfinished MTA Projects

The Second Avenue Subway line was first proposed in the 1920s yet still remains incomplete. Phase One alone took 45 years to add four new stations. This is just one example of the MTA’s many failures to complete projects in a timely fashion.

We would also like to see the Interborough Express (IBX) be completed in a timely manner. In the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan, the MTA hopes the IBX will decrease travel time between Queens and Brooklyn by 30 percent and help lower-income communities that lack adequate access to transportation. It will also offer connections to other subway lines and the LIRR for 160,000 daily riders. 

Given the MTA’s history with delays, we ask Mamdani to work with Governor Hochul and ensure the completion of projects that have been pursued but quickly sidelined.

Provide Stronger Teen Mental Health Resources

New York City teenagers are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression, with the city’s State Of Mental Health Report reporting that close to 50 percent of teenagers experienced depressive symptoms ranging from mild (27 percent) to severe (11 percent). This spike in adolescent mental-health struggles cannot be overlooked by the Mamdani administration as part of the mayor-elect’s vision to build a less restrictive and stressful city.

To address this mental-health crisis, Mamdani should expand on existing programs like Teenspace, which already provide free, virtual therapy for teenagers across the city. Teenspace offers teens immediate support without the logistical challenges of arranging meetings at in-person sites. However, Teenspace is often regarded as “interim care” and should not replace in-person therapy. Mamdani should expand Teenspace’s capacity while also working to attach it to long-term care options so teens can get the support they need. 

Plan for Snow Days 

With winter approaching, the DOE’s approach to snow days grows more concerning for New York City students and families. Shifting toward remote instruction on snow days has left many students with technical issues unable to access virtual classrooms, as shown during a snowstorm on February 13, 2024. Students and parents have expressed discontent with such use of devices in education for young children, and these struggles impede on teachers’ ability to complete lessons.

Additionally, it is important that students have earlier and clearer notice of weather complications, especially given students with long commutes across boroughs, many of whom depend on public transportation that may be delayed. Late warnings or decisions can cause unnecessary danger as students are forced to commute through snow and ice early in the morning. This extends even beyond snow days, with other inclement weather events posing risks. 

Under Mamdani’s administration, we would like to see more timely communication in order to prioritize student safety, as well as more accessible solutions to snow days rather than remote learning—perhaps just give us the day off! 

Combat NYC Food Insecurity 

As SNAP benefits are being denied for millions of Americans, New Yorkers, including 30 percent of children, are facing increasing food insecurity. Mamdani has proposed creating city-owned grocery stores to keep food prices low. These stores will buy wholesale products and collaborate with local communities to source goods. While other cities, such as Atlanta and Madison, Wisconsin, have opened city-owned supermarkets with relative success, there are still concerns regarding the cost and execution of Mamdani’s plan. Given that these city-owned grocery stores will not need to pay property taxes or rent, their budget is reasonable and well-planned. 

Additionally, we hope to see more student-oriented solutions to New York’s food insecurity. In particular, New York City public schools should provide students with stronger food options. Students are often served snacks or small portions for breakfast and lunch, which are insufficient to provide them with the nutrients they need. Thus, schools should serve more substantial and nutritious meals that increase in size at the middle and high school levels. 

Make SHSAT Prep Accessible 

Performing well on the SHSAT is difficult without some level of prep. Many students take preparatory courses leading up to the exam, but these classes can be costly. Each year, low-income students have disproportionately low specialized high school acceptance rates compared to their wealthier counterparts. Currently, the DREAM: Specialized High School Institute (SHSI) aims to widen access to SHSAT prep and guide disadvantaged middle schoolers through the high school admissions process. In order to qualify for the weekly program, students must live in a poorer school district or meet certain income requirements, as well as receive a score of about 3.3 in both the English and Math State Tests in sixth grade. We feel that the Dream program is a fitting way to combat the unequal access to resources for SHSAT prep by providing free tutoring for disadvantaged students. Thus, we would like Mayor-elect Mamdani to expand the Dream program in order to give more students access to prep. Mamdani could do this by opening more Dream centers across the city, especially in low income neighborhoods. The Mamdani administration should also work to spread awareness about the SHSAT across all middle schools in the city, ensuring that a diverse set of students have the chance to attend a specialized school. 

Lead with Transparency 

When elected, the mayor is expected to address city-wide issues with consistently strong leadership, creating both trust and clear communication with the public. However, many New Yorkers, us included, have lost faith in this position. From Rudy Giuliani, who, despite being “America’s Mayor” post 9/11, fell from grace due to his public support of racist behavior and unprofessional behavior, to Bill de Blasio, characterized by his perpetual lateness, recent NYC mayors have been far from reliable. Most recently, Eric Adams has been evasive about the myriad of rumors surrounding him and dismissive of his various lawsuits. Mamdani will have to bring change by not following the example of his controversial predecessors. We hope this change comes from a genuine commitment to transparency, cordiality, and concern for our city’s communities. 

Mamdani’s campaign was built on change and acting for the people. He presented himself as “one of us,” walking around freely, visiting clubs, attending soccer tournaments, and reaching a diverse expanse of New Yorkers. He echoed this sentiment throughout his acceptance speech. “Thank you to the next generation of New Yorkers who refuse to accept that the promise of a better future was a relic of the past,” he said. “We are breathing in the air of a city that has been reborn.” 

We hope that Mamdani can stick to his commitments and remain honest with New Yorkers. Transparency and accountability help ensure that information is not withheld, allowing citizens to stay involved in matters that affect their community. Furthermore, it is important for the community to see a mayor who is visibly engaged and present, which we hope Mamdani can continue to be.

Inevitably, all of our wishes will not be fulfilled. However, The Spectator hopes that the Mamdani administration is able to usher in a new, brighter future for New York, one that speaks to the concerns of its everyday citizens.