Mamdani on Day 1 Plans: ‘The First Order of Business’ Will Be Freezing Rent for More than 2 Million Rent-Stabilized Tenants

MANNARINO: “You know, one thing that you know about — very quickly — is that New Yorkers don’t have patience. Right? And they want to know, what are you going to accomplish on day one? And so, you are not going to have a lot of time to prove some of the things that are going to need the time to get done, right? So, just for New Yorkers’ sake, you round three big agendas. It sounds like universal childcare might be the first that gets done. Is that accurate? While you are firing on all cylinders, what’s the first that might get accomplished?”

MAMDANI: “I think that the first order of business will, frankly, be the Rent Guidelines Board and freezing the rent for more than two million rent-stabilized tenants. That is something that happens on an annual basis here in New York City. The other two, as you referred to, is making buses fast and free, and delivering universal childcare. And just this past week I had a great meeting with the governor where we spoke about our shared focus on affordability agenda and on universal childcare particularly. And this is something that will take a period of time. These are all promises that I intend to keep over the time that I am mayor, and I also know that what they have the potential to do is transform New Yorkers’ ability to live in this city. I mean, parents have to spend $22,500 a year for a single child. That’s less money — that’s more money than they would spend if that kid went to CUNY 18 years later.”