New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani received a standing ovation from his former colleagues and fellow lawmakers in Albany, as Governor Kathy Hochul echoed his agenda on the State of the State speech Tuesday. The 34-year-old mayor was hailed for his affordability message that dominated his winning campaign, with Hochul echoing many of his proposals.
At Hochul's address, Mamdani took a seat between Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens in the fourth row, drawing sustained cheers when he was introduced by name as a trusted partner in her fight for universal child care. The Governor featured him prominently in a video message from local mayors and county executives, emphasizing their shared commitment to making New York more affordable.
Hochul's plan to fund an expansion of child care statewide, including funding for the first two years of a 2-care program for 2-year-olds in New York City, was met with applause. Mamdani's platform has dominated the conversation so much that lawmakers were careful not to limit its application to just NYC.
While some of Mamdani's priorities, such as his proposal for fast and free buses, did not make it into Hochul's address, he expressed hope for continued partnership between the governor and city officials. He also vowed to continue lobbying for big-ticket items like tax hikes on corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers – a stance opposed by Hochul.
Despite his busy schedule, Mamdani fielded questions from lawmakers and visitors, including NYC Councilmember Gale Brewer, who lobbied him on behalf of Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber. However, some friends, including early endorser state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, were unable to get a meeting.
Mamdani's focus on partnership marked a break from traditional battles between the mayor and state officials. As he looks to implement his affordability agenda, one question remains: how will New York City fare under Mamdani's leadership?
At Hochul's address, Mamdani took a seat between Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens in the fourth row, drawing sustained cheers when he was introduced by name as a trusted partner in her fight for universal child care. The Governor featured him prominently in a video message from local mayors and county executives, emphasizing their shared commitment to making New York more affordable.
Hochul's plan to fund an expansion of child care statewide, including funding for the first two years of a 2-care program for 2-year-olds in New York City, was met with applause. Mamdani's platform has dominated the conversation so much that lawmakers were careful not to limit its application to just NYC.
While some of Mamdani's priorities, such as his proposal for fast and free buses, did not make it into Hochul's address, he expressed hope for continued partnership between the governor and city officials. He also vowed to continue lobbying for big-ticket items like tax hikes on corporations and the wealthiest New Yorkers – a stance opposed by Hochul.
Despite his busy schedule, Mamdani fielded questions from lawmakers and visitors, including NYC Councilmember Gale Brewer, who lobbied him on behalf of Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber. However, some friends, including early endorser state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, were unable to get a meeting.
Mamdani's focus on partnership marked a break from traditional battles between the mayor and state officials. As he looks to implement his affordability agenda, one question remains: how will New York City fare under Mamdani's leadership?
. On one hand, I love that he brought a fresh perspective to the mayor's office and really made affordability a central part of his campaign. The fact that Kathy Hochul echoed many of his proposals shows how much momentum he's got behind him.
. It's possible that they just weren't ready for primetime yet, but I worry that Mamdani might get too bogged down in negotiations and lose sight of his core goals.
. And if he can keep pushing for those universal child care and fast bus initiatives, I'm all for it 
. We'll just have to wait and see how his affordability agenda plays out over time 
Meanwhile, I think it's super weird that Hochul is echoing his agenda. Doesn't she have her own plans? Shouldn't she be making some decisions on her own instead of just following Mamdani's lead? And what's up with the fact that he got a standing ovation from lawmakers who clearly support his 'affordability message'... doesn't that sound kinda like they're all in on some secret club or something 
️? like isn't that part of his platform too? 
. And what about corporations? Mamdani wants to hike their taxes but won't that hurt small businesses too? 
. but seriously, its cool to see some of zohran's policies being echoed by governor hochul. fast and free buses tho? who thought that was a good idea? would be great for the tourists though 
. I mean, we've heard so much about his proposals before, but what's new with Hochul's version? 
. Now we just gotta see how it all plays out on the streets of NYC 
. Will they be able to make it work? Only time will tell 
. it's cool that Hochul is on board with some of his ideas, but I'm still worried about how NYC is gonna pay for all these fancy initiatives 
it's like a magic trick 
... how does he plan to make all this stuff affordable without breaking the bank? 
his message about affordability is literally changing the game and i love that Kathy Hochul was supportive of his ideas 
that takes guts and humility. and let's be real, his proposal for fast and free buses is a total win - who doesn't love public transportation?! 
but for now, let's just enjoy the fact that we have an mayor who actually cares about making a difference in people's lives 
. The real question is: how will New York City benefit from this partnership between Mamdani and Hochul? Will they be able to make the tough decisions needed to bring about real change?
. Can we really say it'll work without trying out some of his proposals first though?