Zohran Mamdani, who will represent the 36th Assembly District that covers Astoria
Sept. 18, 2020 By Christian Murray
We talk to Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist who will be representing the 36th Assembly District in Albany next year.
Mamdani, 28, is an Astoria resident who won the Democratic primary against incumbent Aravella Simotas in June in what proved to be a very competitive race. He was the only Queens assembly candidate endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.
Mamdani, who will represent a district that covers Astoria, discusses his platform that aims to tackle the housing crisis, inequities in the criminal justice system, the inequalities of the public-school system, and a transportation system that he believes should include free MTA fares and better infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.
He talks about the need for a progressive income tax structure to pay for many of the services that he believes should be free. He advocates increasing the personal income tax rate on people who earn more than $150,000 a year as well as taxing Wall Street.
Mamdani, who was previously a foreclosure prevention specialist, plans to focus heavily on the housing crisis. He talks about the need for universal rent control—which would cover all market rate apartments with the exception of most 2-to-3-family homes—to protect tenants in a similar manner as rent stabilization.
He talks about the need for a state flip tax—or short-term capital gains tax– to prevent speculators buying and selling property within 12 months for a hefty profit.
Mamdani said that one in four homes are bought by unnamed investors in Astoria which he says is leading to residents being priced out.
He is calling for the complete elimination of cash bail and solitary confinement, as well as a reduction in funding for the NYPD. While the NYPD budget falls under the purview of the city council, Mamdani said he will use his bully pulpit to advocate for the reallocation of those funds to homeless services and other areas that the NYPD is not best equipped to handle.
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8 Comments
How did all these Communist’s Thugs win in Astoria ? They are destroying what made Astoria great
this guy’s socialist agenda does NOT represent the long-term residents of both the renters and property-owners of Astoria – you know what Mamdani- go by yourself a car and drive away from Astoria, best yet: out of this state – hopefully he will be a one term loser – Democrats shame on you for offering this sham of a candidate to represent us
It’s sad those newcomers from out of state living in Astoria elect those socialists. They are bad for NYC.
Here is what he and his team said on their first virtual meeting:
“Great questions…”
We can’t afford to listen to Greeks and Italians.
We don’t get enough money from the state.
We need a raise.
And it’s not our problem but a city issue.
And we are going to tax the rich whoever they may be…
is this gentleman for real?
Key: Democratic Socialist = Communist
Bail was to incentivize returning to court to those considered flight risks with a history of never returning to court. Universal rent control goes against market forces. Leads to zero maintenance. Also essentially stealing from home owners. Mussolini was a socialist. This guy is a wealthy gentrifiers actually displacing the poor and stealing from the middle class
yeah, that’s what this city needs … more socialists, less funded police, less bail and no solitary. Anything else? What planet is this guy (and the others like him) from? The city is crumbling, crime is rampant, these are very dark days for NY, and this yahoo wants socialism? Wake up dummies. Being “woke” doesn’t mean anything (it’s not even a real word). This will only lead to anarchy. How can you not see this?