There has been a lot of talk about New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani lately, and much of it is misleading. Some people are calling him things he is not, twisting his goals and words and spreading false claims about his policies. As someone who believes in what he stands for, I want to set the record straight.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Mamdani is that he is a communist. That claim is false. He identifies as a democratic socialist, which is not the same thing as a communist. Communism means the government controls all property and businesses. Mamdani’s vision works within the current system, aiming to make it fairer and more balanced for the average New Yorker.
He supports higher taxes on the wealthy, stronger protections for renters and more public investment in services like housing, transportation and childcare. His goal is to make the economy work for ordinary people by fixing things in their daily lives, not tearing the system down.
Mamdani’s beliefs and campaign focus on affordability and equality in daily life. He has talked about freezing rents for tenants, building more affordable housing and lowering or ending fares on certain public transit. He also supports more funding for childcare programs and creating city-run grocery stores that will sell food at its original unit price to help families struggling with food costs.
These proposals are not about robbing people. They are about helping people live stable and secure lives in a city that has now become too expensive for many families.
Critics have claimed that Mamdani’s ideas would lead to “bread lines,” or a situation where people rely on the government for everything. That is simply not true. His policies focus on public investment, not government control.
For example, making transit more affordable would help workers and students save money and reach opportunities, such as jobs or school. A rent freeze would give families stability and prevent displacement. Mamdani believes that if people spend less on necessities, they can invest more in their communities and the local economy.
To pay for his proposals, he has said he would raise taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations, as well as collect unpaid taxes already owed to the city. He is not proposing to take money from everyday workers, but to make sure those with the most contribute more.
Another false claim is that Mamdani wants to pour massive amounts of taxpayer money into transgender programs or fund gender-affirming surgeries for everyone nationwide. That is not accurate. About $65 million from the city’s health budget would go to improve gender-based health care access in New York City, according to his proposal.
The goal is to ensure that transgender people, including minors, can receive appropriate medical care and mental health support through public hospitals. He has also said that hospitals that deny necessary care should be held accountable.
The important thing is that this funding would come from the same higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, not from cutting money to other public needs.
Mamdani’s plan would slightly increase taxes on millionaires and major corporations. He argues that those who have benefited most from the city’s economy can afford to contribute more to support services that help everyone, taxing them just enough so that it would not hurt their way of life.
His proposals would not “punish” the rich, as some claim. They would make the system fairer and ensure public money benefits more than just a small group at the top.
Zohran Mamdani is not a communist and he’s not trying to bring back bread lines. He’s a democratic socialist who believes in fairness, equality and opportunity. His plans are to make New York City more affordable, not more divided.
People have spread a lot of false information about him. But if you look at his actual proposals, they show a simple idea: a city that works for everyone, not just the rich.
