Mamdani Makes Mockery of Socialism

Gwendolyn Hart

Most of the American left has hailed the election of Zohran Mamdani like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member won the mayorship of New York City on a massive swell of support based on the working-class demands he ran on: taxing the rich for free childcare, free buses, city-run grocery stores, and freezing the rent. 

What has he done instead? Immediately after taking office, Mamdani reappointed Zionist police chief Jessica Tisch, who led the attack on anti-genocide protests at Columbia University under Mayor Eric Adams. He tried to cut the library budget and failed due to public outcry. He endorsed the arch-corporate New York Governor Kathy Hochul for re-election as she was breaking the nurses’ strike. The cost of buses has gone UP by 25 cents.

Mamdani also blocked the candidacy of fellow DSA member Chi Ossé, who was running against the pro-ICE, pro-genocide Democrat and all-around awful guy Hakeem Jeffries. Mamdani not only used the weight of his platform to attack Ossé inside DSA but also pre-emptively endorsed Jeffries. This may be a world record for pulling the ladder up behind yourself.

Recently Mamdani has been in the news for plugging the $12 billion deficit in the New York City budget, they say “without making any cuts.” Did he find all that money by following through on his promise to tax the rich? No. Besides a couple billion extra coming in from the New York state purse, the vast majority of the savings is from delaying payments to the city’s pension funds for several years (except for the police who will get their money on time) and delaying or cancelling programs like rent vouchers for poor New Yorkers. So, cuts that Mamdani and his backers don’t want to call cuts.

Now, Mamdani is throwing home healthcare workers under the bus. Workers are demanding “No More 24” — an end to inhumane 24-hour shifts in the homecare industry. Mamdani supported the demand when he was running for office, but now that he’s in office he’s trying to back down. Instead of banning the barbaric practice of all-day shifts, he wants to make it “voluntary.” The leadership of DSA has followed Mamdani’s lead, overturning a decision of their own members to support the “No More 24” campaign.

This isn’t socialism. It’s a sellout. Workers and socialists shouldn’t allow Mamdani to pull a progressive veneer over attacks on workers.