Zohran Mamdani | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #687

The Mayor's Mandate: From Uganda to City Hall [00:00:00]

• Born in Uganda, Zoran Mamdani moved to New York City at age seven, developing a deep connection to the city.
• He sees his role as mayor as serving the city he loves and making it a place where everyone can not only love but also afford to live.

  "And to me right now, I have the greatest job in the world, because every day I get to wake up, serve the same city that I've loved since I was seven years old."

The Call to Action: Frustration Fuels Candidacy [00:01:00]

• Mamdani was driven to run for mayor by a frustration with leaders who discussed problems without proposing solutions.
• He felt a sense of abdication of duty, with leaders seeming unwilling to tackle the city's issues.

  "And I think it's not to say these are easy things to resolve. It's not to say you can snap your fingers and people just were refusing to do it. But it's that a lot of times it felt like people weren't even trying."

Unveiling the Deficit: A Shocking Fiscal Reality [00:03:00]

• Upon taking office, Mamdani discovered the city's budget was deeply mismanaged, with a deficit far larger than reported.
• The prior administration claimed a balanced budget, but an audit revealed a potential $12 billion deficit, with no external global event to explain it.

  "And the prior administration had said, you know, we had a balanced budget. We had, I don't know, maybe a $6 billion deficit or so in the year to come. And then we came in, we looked through all the books, and we found that at a best case scenario, we were at a $12 billion deficit."

Incompetence and Inaction: The Roots of the Deficit [00:04:00]

• Mamdani attributes the massive deficit to incompetence and a lack of interest in resolving fiscal issues.
• He emphasizes the importance of leaving the city in good standing for future administrations, regardless of political affiliation.

  "I think a lot of it is incompetence and a lack of interest in resolving it. A sense that you could just keep pushing it until it was somebody else's problem."

Budgeting for Blizzards: A Flawed System [00:05:00]

• The city's budgeting for services like snow removal was based on averages of recent years, leaving insufficient funds when unexpected events occurred.
• This short-term thinking in government operations was a recurring shock upon entering office.

  "So the way we budget for snow removal services is as an average of the recent year's cost of snow removal. So, if you haven't had snow for the last few years, you're not going to have any money, really, set aside for that snow removal."

Waste and Consultants: Inefficiency in Government [00:06:00]

• Mamdani identified a reliance on consultants and general waste as significant issues within city government.
• He initiated a program with Chief Savings Officers in each department to find savings without cutting services.

  "There's also this addiction to consulting. A sense that, you know, for years we've been told that if you contract something out of government, you will save money by bringing in kind of specialized consultants."

Fiscal Responsibility: Saving Millions Through Efficiency [00:07:00]

• Through renegotiating contracts and reducing unused office space, the city saved millions.
• These efficiencies generated over a billion dollars without impacting public services.

  "So we saved $94 million just by renegotiating contracts to a better rate. We saved $24 million just by letting go of unused office space."

The American Dream: An Ideal in Peril [00:10:00]

• Mamdani questions whether the American dream is still alive, defining it as the belief in a fair chance for a better life.
• He argues that it's becoming an ideal that is not a guarantee, and this erosion of its perceived attainability is a critical issue.

  "The American dream is the belief that anyone in the United States, regardless of where they started, should have a fair chance to build a better, freer, and more fulfilling life through ability, effort, and opportunity. It's an ideal, not a guarantee."

Housing Counselor: Witnessing Systemic Struggles [00:13:00]

• As a foreclosure prevention housing counselor, Mamdani worked with middle-class homeowners facing financial emergencies.
• He realized individual assistance was insufficient, highlighting the need to address systemic issues creating these conditions.

  "And that's then what made me think about running for office was understanding that actually, if you want to resolve this, you have to get into the systems and the structures that create these kinds of conditions."

Rent Control and Relief: Providing Breathing Room [00:18:00]

• Mamdani champions rent control and a two-year moratorium on rent increases for over 2 million New Yorkers.
• These policies are designed to give residents a chance to "take a breath" amidst rising costs.

  "Yeah, that's what the independent rent guidelines board that came out, they said for the next year and the year after that, no rent increase for more than 2 million New Yorkers."

The "Inshittification" of Services [00:23:00]

• Mamdani discusses the concept of "inshittification," where successful services degrade in quality while profits increase.
• He relates this to the widening gap between rent prices and income, making life increasingly unaffordable.

  "The process where online platforms or digital services progressively degrade in quality over time as they chase maximum profits."

Battling Greed: Holding Corporations Accountable [00:27:00]

• Mamdani believes greed is baked into the economy and can be held accountable, citing the DoorDash settlement as an example.
• He argues that profit maximization should not come at the expense of fair wages or breaking the law.

  "And I think to your question, can you hold greed to account? I believe you can. You just have to be willing because it's not an easy thing."

DoorDash Settlement: A Landmark Victory for Workers [00:28:00]

• The city secured a $131.5 million settlement from DoorDash for underpaying over 260,000 delivery workers.
• This is the largest labor settlement in New York City history, with funds being directly distributed to the affected workers.

  "What they did, they poured through terabytes of DoorDash data, and they found that DoorDash was underpaying or not paying at all more than 260,000 workers for $131.5 million."

The Nurses Strike: Fighting for the Underdog [00:37:00]

• Mamdani publicly supported nurses during their strike, emphasizing the importance of fighting for the underdog.
• He highlights their demands for safe staffing and better patient-to-nurse ratios as basic necessities.

  "And Desmond Tutu spoke about a long time ago that neutrality in the face of oppression is choosing injustice."

Universal Childcare and Potholes: Delivering for the People [00:47:00]

• The administration has launched universal childcare programs, saving families significant amounts, and fixed 200,000 potholes.
• These actions demonstrate a commitment to both large-scale social programs and basic city services.

  "We've shown that we can do the big things, the little things. We've paved 200,000 potholes. We've won this $131.5 million back for the working class people who deliver the food that people need to stay full."

Click to Cancel: Empowering Consumers [00:49:00]

• New York City is launching a "click to cancel" rule, allowing residents to easily cancel subscriptions online.
• This initiative aims to combat predatory business practices that trap consumers.

  "And then that's the thing is that it has to be as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. Yeah, because it's not fair because they trap you, bro."

Defining Socialism: Dignity and Democracy [00:54:00]

• Mamdani defines socialism as the government's responsibility to ensure everyone has what they need for a dignified life, extending democracy beyond the ballot box.
• He argues that essentials like housing, childcare, and public transit should not be subject to market forces.

  "Socialism to me, it means that you will have whatever you need to live a dignified life. And that it is the government's job to deliver on that."

The Gaza Conflict: Accountability and Humanity [01:09:00]

• Mamdani asserts that no Jewish person in NYC is responsible for the actions of the Israeli state and condemns the alleged genocide in Gaza.
• He calls for the U.S. to join the International Criminal Court and enforce its warrants.

  "One, that no Jewish person in New York City is responsible for the actions of the state of Israel. And if you want to hold anybody accountable, it's the people who are making those decisions."

Hope as a Discipline: Moving Forward [01:17:00]

• Mamdani emphasizes that hope is a discipline that must be practiced, not a feeling that passively arises.
• He believes the government's job is to make it easier for people to hope by demonstrating tangible positive change.

  "Hope is a discipline. You have to practice hope. And you can't, you won't just wake up one morning and naturally feel it. It comes from what you do."

Engaging with Disagreement: The Sunnyside Yard Project [01:01:00]

• Mamdani acknowledges ongoing disagreements with President Trump but prioritizes collaboration on projects like the Sunnyside Yard development.
• This massive housing project, requiring federal partnership, aims to create 12,000 homes and 30,000 jobs.

  "And so when we met recently at Gracie Mansion, uh, I brought up this idea we talked about in the White House called Sunnyside Yard. It's a rail yard in Queens in a neighborhood called Sunnyside, where you could build a platform over the rail yard, and then you could build housing on the platform."

Pigeonholing Voters: Beyond Party Lines [01:19:00]

• Mamdani argues that voters are increasingly disengaging from traditional party labels, seeking change that impacts their material reality.
• He believes politicians should focus on listening to voters rather than categorizing them into boxes.

  "The phrase pigeonhole originated in the 1500s as a literal term for a small nest recessed or opening in a dovecote where domesticated pigeons live or a dovisote."

The Illusion of Choice: Apathy and Disengagement [01:24:00]

• A significant portion of the voting-age population chooses not to vote, indicating disinterest or a belief that politics is irrelevant to their lives.
• Mamdani stresses the need to bridge the gap between people's struggles and the political options presented to them.

  "When you're talking about people don't see themselves as part of a side, people are choosing a new side, which is to be uninvolved."

A Politics of Humanity: Global and Local Impact [01:28:00]

• Mamdani advocates for a "politics of humanity" that addresses both domestic affordability and international conflicts.
• He believes the government's role is to deliver tangible improvements and inspire hope.

  "And I think it has to be a big part of what comes next is a politics of humanity, not just for the people that we represent at home, but also the people that were bombing abroad."

Confronting Impunity: The ICC and War Crimes [01:31:00]

• Mamdani expresses a strong belief that the U.S. should join the International Criminal Court and enforce its warrants.
• He criticizes the lack of accountability for alleged war crimes and genocide.

  "If I had my say, the U.S. government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they've issued."

The Weight of Witnessing: Gaza and Complicity [01:33:00]

• Mamdani describes the profound impact of hearing firsthand accounts from Palestinian families affected by the conflict in Gaza.
• He highlights the moral imperative to stop the violence and U.S. complicity through financial aid.

  "And all these people want is what everybody wants. They just want their family. They want safety. They want dignity. And to know that not only have we watched as that has been stripped from them, but that we're financing it."

A Question of Curiosity: Understanding the World [01:36:00]

• Mamdani praises curiosity as a vital tool for understanding the world, especially in complex political matters.
• He encourages asking questions and listening to others, rather than shaming those who seek answers.

  "Your curiosity is a beautiful thing. It is because that is also how you understand the world. And none of us are experts on any of these things."

The Long Halloween: A System in Need of Change [00:25:00]

• Mamdani uses the metaphor of a "long Halloween" to describe the current system, suggesting it has been a prolonged period of hardship for many.
• He implies that a fundamental shift is needed, not just superficial changes.

  "It's been a fucking, it's been a long Halloween for a lot of people."

Finding Community: The Democratic Socialists of America [00:52:00]

• Mamdani found his political home in the Democratic Socialists of America, realizing he wasn't alone in his feelings.
• He emphasizes the importance of community and collective action in driving change.

  "The place that I found as my political home was an organization called the Democratic Socialists of America. And this was a place where I would just go for meetings and I would meet people who felt the same way."

Radicalizing Encounters: Seeing Life Through Others' Eyes [00:53:00]

• Knocking on doors and witnessing people's living conditions, especially in a wealthy city, was a radicalizing experience for Mamdani.
• He highlights the disconnect between the city's wealth and the struggles of its residents.

  "And one of the most radicalizing things is when you knock on somebody's door, they open their door, they invite you into their home and you see the life that they live. And you ask yourself, how can this be okay in a city this wealthy?"

Social Security and Grocery Stores: Historical Precedents [00:58:00]

• Mamdani draws parallels between current socialist proposals and historical programs like Social Security, which were initially met with fear.
• He defends the idea of city-run grocery stores as a necessary response to rising food costs.

  "When the idea of social security was introduced, it was described as trying to Sovietize the republic. That's how people talked about it. And now social security is the most normal thing you could think of in this country."

The Illusion of Capitalism: When the System Fails [00:57:00]

• Mamdani acknowledges the desire to believe in capitalism but questions its efficacy when it only benefits a small percentage.
• He argues that when capitalism fails to work for everyone, alternative solutions must be considered for humanitarian reasons.

  "But at that point, it's not humane to still believe in something that doesn't seem like it's working."

The Power of a Question: Seeking Answers [01:37:00]

• Mamdani encourages asking questions as a fundamental way to understand the world and oneself.
• He stresses that it's okay not to have all the answers, as the process of inquiry is valuable.

  "And I think to, to your point, to the reaction that we're talking about is also a human reaction to watching something horrific, seeing it, knowing that we're complicit in it and asking ourselves, what is there to do?"

Ending Impunity: A Call for Global Justice [01:38:00]

• Mamdani believes that ending impunity for atrocities is crucial for restoring faith in international law and morality.
• He advocates for a future that prioritizes humanity over violence and oppression.

  "And bring it end to this and, and make it easier for people to hope again. That's the work."