Mamdani For Mayor? Here's How His Platform Could Impact Workers Across NYC

Forbes

10 hours ago

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 19: Mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, visits the Recess Juneteenth ... More Kickball tournament on June 19, 2025 in the borough of Brooklyn in New York, New York. A community organization, Recess, hosts a kickball league that starts on the Juneteenth holiday that mixes culture, party and sports. (Photo by Stephanie)
In an unexpected win, 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani became the presumptive Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, declaring a victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, was able to galvanize young voters, with one of his key issues being the city's affordability crisis. Some of Mamdani's key proposals include city-owned grocery stores in each borough, higher taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent, as well as corporations, rent freezes for almost a million New Yorkers, expanded protections for immigrant New Yorkers, and free child care for children between six weeks and five years old. Mamdani also proposed free fares for city buses.
'I vote in every election, but this one felt different,' shared Donna Dockery. Dockery, a clinical psychologist and anti-racism educator based in Brooklyn, says the possibility of a better New York City is what motivated her to vote for Mamdani. 'I was hopeful for a significant change in leadership to positively alter the city's future.'
Clinical psychologist and anti-racism educator, Donna Dockery
In the fall, Mamdani may have stiff competition, running against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and possibly Cuomo, if he decides to run as an independent. If Mamdani wins in November, he will be the city's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor. How could a Mamdani win impact workers across the city?
Gig worker protections
Mamdani received the support of Los Deliveristas Unidos, a group that advocates on behalf of the 65,000 app-based delivery workers in New York City. Mamdani promised to strengthen licensure requirements for delivery apps, expand resources to support the 80,000 'Black, brown and immigrant' delivery workers, improve street infrastructure and expand NYC's Department of Transportation's e-bike program, among other things. Mamdani also highlighted how the misclassification of delivery workers, rideshare drivers, and other gig workers as independent contractors prevents them from being entitled to the rights, benefits, and worker protections they deserve. A push from Mamdani for more gig worker equity could set a powerful precedent for other cities.
Improved quality of life
A major cornerstone of Mamdani's campaign has been affordability. By 2030, he wants to raise New York City's minimum wage to $30 an hour. Many have also lauded Mamdani's promise of free city bus fares. 'As a freelance photographer in New York City, the biggest challenge is balancing inconsistent income with the high cost of living,' shared Daniel J. Vasquez. Vasquez is the co-founder of Studio 3KBK and Frame of Mind Project. 'Fare-free public bus service would open up a lot for me and my daughter. I'd be able to do more locally without weighing every ride against my budget—running to 125th for her groceries, getting her to gymnastics at Wendy Hilliard, and then back to Riverbank for tennis or summer camp, all without stressing about swipe limits.'
Photographer and co-founder of Studio 3KBK, Daniel J. Vasquez
Rent affordability has played a significant role in driving residents out of the city. 'Housing is the key issue for most low-income and moderate-income New Yorkers,' said Leah Goodridge. Goodridge, who is Brooklyn-born-and-raised, is an attorney and former member of the NYC Rent Guidelines Board. She went on to share, 'People can't afford rent, and many are shut out of the homebuying market…either because the homes are too expensive, or they are nudged out by cash buyers. Mamdani's approach to housing is to tackle affordability head on with a rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants. That's great.'
Attorney and former member of the NYC Rent Guidelines Board, Leah Goodridge
Many of the programs proposed by Mamdani are aimed at improving the quality of life for New Yorkers. There is a wealth of studies that indicate that when one's basic needs are met, well-being increases. When New Yorkers don't have to worry about affordability, whether in the form of rent increases, the exorbitant price of food, the ballooning cost of childcare or steadily rising transportation costs, their quality of life increases and they can show up to work as happier, more whole and fulfilled beings. A Mamdani win could signal a transformative shift for workers all across New York City.