They love their city, but most described it as \u201cdysfunctional,\u201d \u201canxious,\u201d even \u201cschizophrenic.\u201d Public safety and the cost of living topped their list of concerns.<\/p>\n
For many, the subway is the flashpoint. Single women said that they avoid riding late at night. Several mentioned anti-Asian assaults. Longtime residents said the city feels markedly less safe than it did before the pandemic. What bothered them most wasn\u2019t crime statistics but seeing police officers \u201clollygagging\u201d on their phones.<\/p>\n
That said, many were also uneasy about Mamdani\u2019s previous calls to defund the police and wanted to hear more specifics about the candidate\u2019s plan. Would it mean fewer officers? Lower pay? In the words of one participant, \u201cif the police funding is cut, where are those funds going to be allocated next?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rent was another sore spot. All agreed that housing prices are spiraling out of control. Rent-controlled apartments, they said, were often unavailable to those who needed them most.<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s plan for a rent freeze drew skepticism even from his soft supporters. Would landlords still make repairs? Should the freeze apply to all housing, or only to low-income units? \u201cI don\u2019t know how you do that and expect landlords to keep improvements and repairs going,\u201d one participant said. The recurring worry was execution: Mamdani\u2019s ideas might sound good in theory, but how would he deliver on them?<\/p>\n
That question fed into a deeper hesitation: Mamdani\u2019s inexperience. Compared with Adams and Cuomo\u2014both tainted by scandal but seasoned in office\u2014Mamdani was seen as untested.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be easy, or it would have been done already,\u201d one participant said. Yet Mamdani\u2019s youth and ambition were also praised. To some, his optimism felt refreshing. To others, it seemed naive.<\/p>\n
What they weren\u2019t sure about was whether Mamdani had that quintessential New York quality, \u201cgrit\u201d \u2014the sharp elbows and toughness they thought the job required.<\/p>\n
Most participants worried that a Mamdani mayoralty would sharpen divisions in an already fractured city. His seemingly earnest conviction appealed to some, but many saw his campaign as one of oppositions\u2014socialism vs. capitalism, left vs. right, young vs. old, pro-Israel vs. anti-Israel. In a city that prides itself on being the nation\u2019s melting pot, this posture\u2014more than any specific policy or promise\u2014caused unease among undecided voters. As one participant put it, \u201cBeing able to understand and articulate the needs of each borough and speak the language of New Yorkers, it requires a certain skillset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adams, for most, was a nonstarter. Ten of 11 said they wouldn\u2019t back him, calling him beholden to Donald Trump after the president\u2019s intervention on his behalf. Sliwa drew some good-humored affection, but the Republican candidate was written off as irrelevant, unknown, or unserious.<\/p>\n
That left Cuomo, with all his baggage. He was labeled a \u201cwomanizer,\u201d and his scandals \u201cconcerning.\u201d Still, many felt that he had proved his toughness during the early days of the pandemic. For several voters, the choice looked to be Mamdani\u2019s hope versus Cuomo\u2019s grit.<\/p>\n
One participant compared the city to \u201cBritney Spears just after being released from conservatorship\u201d\u2014chaotic, unstable, and without guardrails.<\/p>\n
Above all, these voters said, they wanted a mayor who could restore order, address everyday quality-of-life concerns, and stand up to Washington. Whether Zohran Mamdani can convince them that he\u2019s that leader remains an open question.<\/p>\n
Below is a partial transcript of our conversation, selected for insight and lightly edited for clarity.<\/p>\n
Participants<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s who joined our focus group:
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Laura-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Laura, a 69-year-old white woman, is a Democrat from Manhattan who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. She\u2019s totally undecided in November.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Jerry-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Jerry, a 64-year-old white man, is an Independent from Manhattan who voted for neither major presidential candidate in 2024. He\u2019s leaning toward Eric Adams in November but says he\u2019s likely to change his mind.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Rachel-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Rachel, a 48-year-old white woman, is a Democrat from Manhattan who voted for Harris in 2024. She\u2019s not sure how she\u2019ll vote in November but voted for Andrew Cuomo in the primary.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Christian-Manhattan-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Christian A, a 50-year-old Asian man, is a Democrat from Manhattan who voted for Trump in 2024. He voted for Andrew Cuomo in the primary and expects to do so again in November.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Isaac-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Isaac, a 25-year-old white man, is an Independent from Brooklyn who voted for Harris in 2024. He voted for Brad Lander in the primary but is unsure of what he\u2019ll decide in November.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Alvin-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Alvin, a 38-year-old black man, is an Independent from Brooklyn who voted for Harris in 2024. He leans toward Zohran Mamdani but could change his mind.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Christian-Queens-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Christian B, a 52-year-old white man, is a Democrat from Queens who voted for Harris in 2024. He leans toward Mamdani and voted for him in the primary.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Mandi-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Mandi, a 41-year-old white woman, is a Democrat from Brooklyn who voted for Harris in 2024. She voted for Mamdani in the primary but says she\u2019s unsure about November.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Tiffany-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Tiffany, a 48-year-old black woman, is an Independent from Brooklyn who voted for Trump in 2024. She\u2019s not sure whom she\u2019s voting for in November.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Barbara-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
Barbara, a 50-year-old white woman, is a Democrat from the Bronx who voted for Harris in 2024. She voted for Mamdani in the primary but is unsure about November.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ShaKing-Blue-200.png\")
<\/p>\n
ShaKing, a 59-year-old black man, is a Democrat from the Bronx who voted for Harris in 2024. He describes himself as neutral among the candidates in November.<\/p>\n
Moderator: If New York City were a person right now, how would you describe this person\u2019s personality?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAnxious\u201d \u2013 Barbara, 50, Bronx<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDysfunctional\u201d \u2013 ShaKing, 59, Bronx<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSchizophrenic\u201d \u2013 Rachel, 48, Manhattan<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cUncertain\u201d \u2013 Jerry, 64, Manhattan<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOutgoing, fun, and expensive\u201d \u2013 Tiffany, 48, Brooklyn<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBritney Spears just after being released from conservatorship\u201d \u2013 Mandi, 41, Brooklyn<\/p>\n
Moderator: What\u2019s the single most important issue to you in the mayoral elections?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe high cost of living, in particular with housing. It\u2019s out of control and I feel like there\u2019s no one speaking up to say, \u2018Okay, we\u2019ve got to stop this.\u2019 I just feel like it\u2019s never going to end, so I\u2019m almost feeling like I should move out of the city.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI put safety, and the reason I put that is because it\u2019s something that\u2019s really bothered me. I\u2019ve seen tons of protests where there are people that look really angry marching the streets and I\u2019ve had to navigate around the encampments, things like that.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI commuted by the train here, and I\u2019ve been here for 17 years. To ride the train now it\u2019s $2.90 and I feel like sometimes you\u2019re waiting there forever . . . And then on top of that, I just feel like it\u2019s starting to become way more unsafe on transportation.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic safety. Nothing else is going to matter without that baseline.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cProtecting New York City from Donald Trump. Protecting education, protecting access to health care, reproductive health care, protecting immigrants, giving them the due process they deserve. I could go on and on.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think policy regarding housing, because I think that to a large part determines the landscape of New York City.\u201d \u2013 ShaKing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m worried about socialism . . .\u00a0I moved here 18 years ago, it felt very safe. I could go home at two o\u2019clock in the morning. Now I would never take the subway after 9:00. And I could see the violence towards Asians as well.\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
Moderator: How would you define socialism? Are you concerned about it?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if socialism gets too big it becomes unmanageable. It\u2019s not very New York. What about small business owners like me? And also, what would motivate a landlord to keep up their buildings if there are no incentives?\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic schools would technically be socialism, our roads are socialism, the fire department is socialism, all those are public goods. So, I guess I would just want to know how narrow or how broad are you wanting us to cast it? Because a lot of the programs cities need to do are just a socialist idea or a socialist policy.\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need the government coming in and running a grocery store, coming in and telling me what I can buy, what I can\u2019t buy, that kind of stuff. Getting into my finances, what I should spend, who I should spend it on. I like to make my own decisions about that, about who I want to give to.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, these grocery stores, there\u2019s probably going to be really long lines, it\u2019s going to separate people, like the haves and have-nots. I just don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea. I agree with Isaac, certain programs I think need to be structured and that\u2019s what our taxes pay for, but we can decide which programs we want to support.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
Moderator: When you hear the name Zohran Mamdani, what comes to mind?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCondescending\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cEducated\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cTenacious, open to new ideas and new approaches\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFinding his way\u201d \u2013 Laura<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cInexperienced, polarizing\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDangerously trendy\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIdealistic but inexperienced\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDifferent, young, socialist\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
Moderator: What\u2019s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Eric Adams?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIncompetent, corrupt, bully\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrupt, puppet for Trump, represents the worst of bullies and liar\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDisaster, liar, untrustworthy\u201d \u2013 Laura<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrupt lap dog\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cUndisciplined grinder\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cPaid by foreign government, cop, corrupt, vegan, fraud, funny, ridiculous\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe safe choice, hasn\u2019t broken New York City but he hasn\u2019t pushed it forward either\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cTrump puppet\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHe seeks the support of everyone when he doesn\u2019t really have the support of anyone.\u201d \u2013 ShaKing<\/p>\n
Moderator: What comes to mind when you think of Andrew Cuomo?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cConcerning, but I also think that he is experienced.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWomanizer, liar, politician in the worst sense\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cUndisciplined, cynic\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCharismatic, experienced, sore loser, downfall, comeback, disgraced\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cItalian, pervert, grandma killer, nepo baby and has-been\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSelfish, won\u2019t go away, power hungry, politically experienced\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDelusional\u201d \u2013 ShaKing, 59<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a sad story to me. It\u2019s sad because his story is sad. I thought he was fantastic during COVID until he wasn\u2019t and the women harassment issues are concerning.\u201d \u2013 Laura<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSlick, effective, bully, disappointment\u201d \u2013 Barbara\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCareer politician, money, womanizer\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter than Zohran\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
Moderator: What comes to mind when you think of Curtis Sliwa?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a Republican. He\u2019s not going to win.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t win. Well-meaning but not politically savvy\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAnimal lover, sticks to values, New Yorker and Republican\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNot going to happen.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDedicated New Yorker\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a chance.\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of touch, tenacious\u201d \u2013 Laura<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cUnrealistic\u201d \u2013 ShaKing, 59<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIrrelevant\u201d \u2013\u00a0Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Moderator: Tell us a bit more on your impressions of Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I look at Mamdani\u2019s agenda, I agree with a lot of it, but I have no idea how he\u2019s going to try to make it happen. I don\u2019t know that he has the experience or the grit that would be needed to get it done in New York City . . . I think, in my mind, in New York politics you have to have sharp elbows to get things done and I question that. I think there has to be a certain mindset of how to get things done and having those connections, and I question whether he has those.\u201d \u2014 Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree that Mamdani is dangerously trendy. I want to support him wholeheartedly, I want to believe that everything he\u2019s promising is possible, but I\u2019m scared that he doesn\u2019t know how to do it and will make a big mess.\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s going to win the election and a lot of my champagne liberal friends are cancelling the ones that disagree with them. And then the ones that are like me, I\u2019m a business owner so I\u2019m into capitalism and I think it\u2019s bad for New York.\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look at his age, he\u2019s, what, 33? 34? There is some inexperience there, but I also feel like we can put someone in there who has experience and they can still not deliver for the people.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an elected Assembly Member, to me that\u2019s qualification enough.\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is incredibly intriguing to me about him, and makes me really take a very sharp look, is who\u2019s supporting him right now and endorsing him. Those are surprising to me, but they hold a lot of weight for me. AOC and Sanders, and the people that I like and listen to are supporting him, and it\u2019s surprising to me.\u201d \u2013 Laura<\/p>\n
Moderator: What are your thoughts on Mamdani\u2019s plan to freeze rents?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFreezing rent would only apply to the housing that\u2019s under affordable housing. So, for me, who doesn\u2019t live in that\u2014I mean, I\u2019m glad it works. As a union member, a lot of my union siblings that live in it, I know it would be good to have frozen rent. But for me, I\u2019m\u00a0not affected by that. So, yes, cool, I am glad that we are freezing rent, but there needs to be more for my particular housing situation.\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that it could be across the board for everybody. Where I\u2019m at in the Bronx, a lot of building happened and nobody moved in. These places were gutted and restaurants went in and are having to close down. I talked to the owners and it was because all of the apartments in that area were too high in price and people just wouldn\u2019t move to the South Bronx to pay what you would pay in Brooklyn.\u201d \u2013\u00a0Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think if Mamdani was able to outline how he would address the issue for landlords with the change, I think it would probably make a big difference for him. I think he needs to be speaking to both renters and landlords.\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree that something needs to be done to stop out-of-control rents, but I want to see the nuances. You know, the specifics of the plan. So, maybe he could do it for a period of time or something like that.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just seems impractical. I don\u2019t know how you do that and then expect landlords to keep improvements and repairs and all of that going.\u201d \u2013 Laura<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cRent-controlled apartments in New York get passed down by generation. That\u2019s not what the program was intended for. The program was intended to preserve a middle class. Now, it\u2019s a lottery ticket.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
Moderator: How do you react to the argument that Mamdani\u2019s plans sound expensive and might lead to higher taxes?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to fund a lot of the things that we want to accomplish, that most people in this room want to accomplish, regardless of who is in office, we have to increase taxes. We have to find the money and the best place to increase the taxes is on people who are paying less taxes.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI know a lot of people who are business owners that share that concern. I am a small business owner. Honestly, if I have to pay more tax, and I think the lives of all New Yorkers are improved, I would pay more tax.\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI already pay too much taxes. I can\u2019t afford to have any more of my taxes taken off, so, I agree with maybe taxing the super wealthy . . .\u00a0I am not willing, as a public servant, a teacher with a mortgage, I\u2019m not paying any more. My accountant is already mad at me and tells me I need more write-offs.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think, again, this is all very vague. I would want to know what the numbers are, where the money\u2019s coming from. Am I willing to spend, pay a little bit more in taxes? Yes. Am I willing to do hundreds of, you know, dollars or thousands of dollars? I can\u2019t.\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
Moderator: What are your reactions to this statement: \u201cI don\u2019t like the idea of cutting police funding\u2014we already have safety problems, and I think that would make it worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cMy answer is almost like a question. Okay, if the police funding is cut, then where are those funds going to be allocated to next? Is it going to go into education? Because that would make me happy.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there definitely has to be more oversight. I have known folks who have been police officers who, after overtime, are making hundreds of thousands of dollars. That, to me, just seems insane and not wise spending. I would like to see more money going into helping the homeless and mentally ill people in the subway systems.\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NYPD is really well funded and I\u2019ve read things like they own submarines that they keep and maintain. It just seems like they have a slush fund. And the integrity I\u2019ve seen by NYPD does not meet the slush fund they have with how much I see them playing on their phones when someone\u2019s obviously having an overdose in the subway system . . . We need to cut the funding in order to give it to social services that would improve things like mental health.\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of cops looking at their phones and a lot of cops who don\u2019t look very impressive.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel like having a cop there makes criminals think twice before they try something, so, I do feel safer with having more police. I would like to see them at more train stations so I can feel safe staying out a little bit later at night with my girlfriends.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel safer with the police just being there in the subway.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
Moderator: What are your thoughts on this statement regarding Mamdani: \u201cHe feels like he\u2019s running for the activist crowd\u2014far-left, college-educated types\u2014not for the whole city.\u201d?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that resonates.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m connected to communities with very different political views than mine. My friends all support Mamdani, and then I have people coming to me and they\u2019re like, \u2018This is so crazy, any Jewish person who supports Mamdani hates Jews.\u2019 I don\u2019t know what that\u2019s about. I disagree with that. But I hear this a lot. I think it\u2019s true, I think it resonates with a lot of people.\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it\u2019s one of those things. I probably fall into the far-left, college educated types, but I think he could overcome this if he\u2019s actually engaging with more people that are not that.\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things about his campaign\u2014this is going to sound maybe superficial, performative\u2014but while Cuomo was missing in action, Mamdani walked the entire length of Manhattan and shook hands.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
Moderator: What are your reactions to this statement: \u201cSome of the things he\u2019s [Mamdani] said after October 7, and stuff from when he was a young rapper praising Hamas\u2014I worry he\u2019s got a problem with Jewish people\u201d?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s probably the number one reason why I would never vote for him. I think he\u2019s very anti-Semitic, and I\u2019m a Jewish person. I actually fall in the educated-left view, and I feel like my Democrats, my left side has abandoned me and I feel not supported. I don\u2019t think he has my interests in mind. He would encourage, I feel like, the crazies.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a different take on it because it\u2019s like, who looks for their political stuff through entertainment? You know, people say a lot of things when they\u2019re rapping or singing or things like that. You know, how does that reflect?\u201d \u2013 ShaKing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that he was in a very creative space. This is how he wanted to perform his stuff. It\u2019s just like poetry and I don\u2019t know if this is his true values in the lyrics that he was rapping.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I want is all of this to be clarified and now we have the opportunity for this to come up again and he can say, \u2018Here is where I am, I made a mistake,\u2019 or \u2018This is what I thought when I was younger but now I\u2019ve put away childish things,\u2019 but it\u2019s time to clarify all of these things.\u201d \u2013\u00a0Laura<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the anti-Semitism, division, and activism all go hand-in-hand.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
Moderator: How would an endorsement from President Trump affect how you view the candidates in this race?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he has strong political chops, if he does endorse, a lot of times those candidates get elected. But I think he should stay somewhat neutral as well because he is, you know, a polarizing figure. I don\u2019t want the other side to be energized to come out and vote for Mamdani, so I think he should not do a formal endorsement.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he endorses Eric Adams, that\u2019s kind of like, \u2018Duh.\u2019 If he comes out and endorses Cuomo\u2014I\u2019m not saying that I would then vote for Cuomo, but I think it would be a game-changer because people who would otherwise support Mamdani think that any power he [Mamdani] could seemingly obtain would be then taken away by Trump.\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t regard Donald Trump as having integrity.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the kiss of death in New York City.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
Moderator: Let\u2019s come back to Andrew Cuomo. A lot of you have mentioned the womanizing issues in relation to Cuomo. Is it only concerning, or is it also disqualifying?<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn general, the public didn\u2019t penalize Trump for it.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s disqualifying to me because it shows a pattern, that he can abuse power. So, regardless of party, the moment you take advantage of your employee, because it was in the workplace, that shows an abuse of power. How can I trust you to lead if you do that to your employees?\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
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\u201cPolitical candidates, their personal life doesn\u2019t really matter to me. I\u2019m just one of those kinds of people. I\u2019m just concerned about: what are you going to do for me? How are you governing and how can you move New York forward?\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about a person\u2019s personal life until it becomes illegal. Putting somebody in that much power that\u2019s working for the state or the city and then subjecting the women who work for him to that, to me, is disqualifying. I do think he is a person who could stand up to Trump and to the federal authorities, but it\u2019s kind of out of the frying pan and into the fire.\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
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\u201cI would look at how he handled the public crisis of Covid and I, as a New Yorker, felt safe when he was the governor and how he kept us. Afterward it was chaotic, but I think at some point he was able to make us feel safe, so I think that there is experience there in terms of strength.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
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\u201cBeing the mayor of New York City isn\u2019t quite like any other job that\u2019s out there. You\u2019re dealing with a unique dynamic of people working here in the city and so, having the ability to see the boroughs and the life of people in the boroughs and what they bring to the city, it\u2019s a lot. So, being able to understand and articulate the needs of each borough and speak the language of New Yorkers, it requires a certain skill set.\u201d \u2013 ShaKing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that the people who are hesitant to vote for Mamdani don\u2019t actually believe that he can actually get anything done and I think that people when they look at Cuomo, given his history, given his offenses towards women, they\u2019re like, \u2018Well, he could still get stuff done.\u2019\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
Moderator: For each of these past mayors of New York (Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, and Bill De Blasio), rate their performance on a scale from 1 to 10.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NYC-FG-Mayor-Ratings-1024x543.png\")
<\/p>\n
Moderator: Do you think New York City and the next mayor should work with federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants, or unauthorized people, who have committed crimes here?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. If they have committed crimes and they are illegal, yes.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m an immigrant, and yes.\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
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\u201cYes, put any criminal away, immigrant or not.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, provided constitutional safeguards are met.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think I agree with Jerry. The hang up I have is that there\u2019s no red line. The federal government has already crossed that.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly in the presence of due process.\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
Moderator: What\u2019s the biggest problem with the buses in New York City?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cJust getting east to west.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one pays. You sit on a bus, you watch people get on and just walk right by.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what I\u2019ve seen change over the times is the courtesy of the drivers. Like, they\u2019ll get on and it\u2019ll be old, elderly people and they just take off. No concern for them getting anywhere, jerkiness. It\u2019s, like, have you passed your driving test?\u201d \u2013 ShaKing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiting for them to come.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cFrequency.\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
Moderator: Has congestion pricing improved your life?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
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\u201cNo difference for me. It doesn\u2019t affect me.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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\u201cI don\u2019t notice a change, no.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cNo difference.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
Moderator: Okay. Let\u2019s discuss which candidate or candidates you\u2019re leaning toward and why that is.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel very dedicated to my values and Mamdani is the cleanest candidate.\u201d \u2013 Christian B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Cuomo is the safest choice.\u201d \u2013 Christian A<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI would vote for Cuomo. He is the safest choice and honestly, I think Mamdani\u2019s dangerous. I would not vote for him.\u201d \u2013 Rachel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody but Mamdani. Like I said, I would go with Eric Adams but he\u2019s not in striking distance, so I\u2019m going with those that are closer to Mamdani in the polls. And that\u2019s Cuomo, followed by Curtis Sliwa. And I think Trump, if he weighed in, you know, then he could help either one of those candidates to get closer.\u201d \u2013 Tiffany<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think politically, I could be with either Cuomo or Mamdani. As a woman, it would just be really nice not to have someone with sexual harassment allegations against them. I think that\u2019s just politics right now. What would sway me either way is if I feel like Mamdani just doesn\u2019t have a plan. Like, there\u2019s a saying a church mentor taught me that goes, \u2018Don\u2019t be so heavenly minded that you\u2019re no earthly good.\u2019 And I think he lands in that space.\u201d \u2013 Barbara<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the idealist in me wants a new approach to the mayoral office and I think that Mamdani represents hope for a lot of people who support him. I\u2019m very concerned, and I\u2019ll be watching closely for the next few months, and I think that that\u2019s going to make my decision. I don\u2019t want to vote for Cuomo but I would if it meant it wouldn\u2019t be Eric Adams.\u201d \u2013 Mandi<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI should disqualify Eric Adams but you know, there\u2019s an emotional factor here. I think Eric Adams is the one guy here, he\u2019s probably worked harder and gone farther than anybody. He\u2019s made some mistakes, he\u2019s done some almost-despicable things, but I can\u2019t cut him loose. I really think he\u2019s an achiever in the way these other guys aren\u2019t in a very real way, a very New York way.\u201d \u2013 Jerry<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cCuomo was already governor, and he has the experience of running a state. I think that if he comes in as a mayor for the city, that makes me feel a little bit comfortable with Cuomo. Zohran Mamdani, I don\u2019t know, something about him, it\u2019s more of a feeling . . . It\u2019s making me feel like I can be safe with Zohran Mamdani. But there\u2019s one thing I do want to bring up because I do know, like, yes, Cuomo had a scandal with the allegations but it\u2019s, like, where\u2019s the redemption arc? Because you have Trump: that\u2019s a felon and he\u2019s the president.\u201d \u2013 Alvin<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI think [I lean toward] Mamdani as much as anyone because when you\u2019re in that role, people will gravitate to you. When you\u2019re running for office, you know how to find good people to help you because you don\u2019t know everything, and I think he has access to resources of people who would be there to help and guide him to do the right things. [I lean toward] Cuomo in the sense that I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be bullied, and I think he will look out for New Yorkers because he is one, a New Yorker. I think it would be for him, \u2018If I can get back, I will try to correct things, I\u2019ll try to be better than what I did before because I know what this is like.\u2019\u201d \u2013 ShaKing<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI like Zohran a lot, and my council member I know is a big supporter of him and I like the council member\u2019s politics a lot, too, in my neighborhood. So that gives me comfort in supporting him. I don\u2019t like the other two Democrats running as independents. Even though I don\u2019t think I\u2019d vote for Curtis Sliwa, I think he has a lot more integrity and specifically, I watched an interview on Fox News where he got mad at the interviewer for bringing up Mamdani\u2019s religion, and he kind of stood up for Muslim New Yorkers\u2014and to me that signified an old school Republican who supports freedom of faith.\u201d \u2013 Isaac<\/p>\n
Moderator: Place yourself on this grid in alignment with the candidates you are currently deciding between and\/or leaning toward.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/MI-NYC-FG-Grid-1024x673.png\")
<\/p>\n
Photo by Spencer Platt\/Getty Images<\/strong><\/p>\n