{"id":340448,"date":"2025-10-29T09:34:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T09:34:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/340448\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T09:34:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T09:34:30","slug":"opinion-new-york-city-mayoral-candidates-who-would-be-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/340448\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion | New York City Mayoral Candidates: Who Would Be Best?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Times Opinion convened a
panel of New Yorkers to
assess the mayoral candidates
for the Nov. 4 election.<\/p>\n

Oct. 29, 2025<\/p>\n

On a scale from 0-10<\/strong>, we asked panelists to rate each candidate\u2019s potential to be a great mayor of New York City. <\/p>\n

New York City has rarely had a mayoral election so transfixing, or with such critical stakes for its future. In the cross hairs of President Trump\u2019s assault on America\u2019s cities and facing an acute affordability crisis, voters will choose on Nov. 4 from a unique slate of candidates: Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, who surprised experts by winning the Democratic primary in June; Andrew Cuomo, the three-term governor forced to resign amid a wave of sexual misconduct accusations, now running as an independent; and Curtis Sliwa, a Republican making his second run for mayor. <\/p>\n

Times Opinion brought together 14 panelists to assess the candidates and their ability to lead the city; 11 returned from the panel we convened for the Democratic primary<\/a> in June. In particular, the panelists explored how Mr. Cuomo stacked up against Mr. Mamdani, who has maintained a steady lead in the polls after energizing a broad coalition of voters with a message laser-focused on the cost of living.<\/p>\n

Some of the panelists who favored Brad Lander, the city\u2019s comptroller, in the June primary, embraced Mr. Mamdani\u2019s vision for fresh approaches to seemingly intractable problems, while placing a bet that he would overcome his relative inexperience in government. \u201cWe\u2019re riding on hope here,\u201d said one. Many agreed with another panelist\u2019s assessment that it was \u201ctime for a generational shift.\u201d A few panelists spoke favorably about Mr. Cuomo\u2019s long experience in government, but most felt he represented a tired and pugilistic style of politics and hadn\u2019t done enough to change that dynamic. <\/p>\n

The Choice was compiled by editors in Times Opinion using a brief questionnaire, material from a round-table discussion in early October and individual discussions. The material has been edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n

After one participant dropped out late in the process, Joseph Borelli was added to the panel, but not in time for the round-table discussion; He conveyed his views in an interview and in the questionnaire. <\/p>\n

Jump to topic <\/p>\n

Mamdani Skepticism Mamdani SkepticismNew York and Trump New York and TrumpEducation and Housing Education and HousingPublic Safety Public SafetyThe Democratic Party The Democratic PartyIsrael IsraelCurtis Sliwa Curtis SliwaSizing Up the Candidates Sizing Up the Candidates<\/p>\n

\"Eleanor <\/p>\n

Eleanor Randolph Journalist and former Times editorial board member<\/p>\n

It looks like Mamdani is going to win, but you never know absolutely what\u2019s going to happen in an election. We\u2019re riding on hope here because we don\u2019t really know who this guy is, ultimately, but he\u2019s doing a lot of the right things, like talking and listening to people in the business community as part of understanding how complicated this city is.<\/p>\n

\"Caitlin <\/p>\n

Caitlin Kawaguchi Nonprofit strategist and community representative in Brooklyn<\/p>\n

I hear that we don\u2019t know definitively how he will be as mayor, whereas with Cuomo, we have his background. But I think with Cuomo, his background is not good, right? We\u2019ve seen that he rewards his donors<\/a>. We\u2019ve seen that he retaliates against folks who oppose him.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019s had a platform, he\u2019s used it to his own personal gain<\/a>.\"Amit <\/p>\n

Amit Singh Bagga Democratic strategist and former city official<\/p>\n

On his core issues, Mamdani has stayed remarkably consistent. He\u2019s had a laser focus on affordability and quality of life as it is experienced. And that is the No. 1 issue facing New Yorkers. Like Eleanor, I\u2019ve been pleased and encouraged by what I have experienced as genuine and sincere outreach to corners of New York City society and economy that perhaps were very skeptical of him. And he has demonstrated a remarkable degree of openness that many politicians do not seem to have, a willingness to learn.<\/p>\n

\"Neil <\/p>\n

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker<\/p>\n

This is effectively a two-way choice. On the one hand, you have somebody who has a wealth of experience, has been an attorney general, a governor, a cabinet secretary. And on the other hand, you have somebody who hardly has work experience. So that\u2019s what it comes down to for me.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph <\/p>\n

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island<\/p>\n

Andrew Cuomo will not be as conservative as I\u2019d like him to be. I think he won\u2019t be as progressive as others would like him to be. I think he\u2019ll be more moderate by definition. And that, to me, is a better outcome than having someone who will almost always be looking to accelerate the progressive socialist agenda. Mamdani is running not just to fix the potholes. He\u2019s running to implement a vision of government that is not shared by myself and not shared by a lot of New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

\"Mitchell <\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.<\/p>\n

I think Mamdani\u2019s a compelling candidate with vast upside but much more downside than people recognize. He doesn\u2019t know what he doesn\u2019t know. He is prepared to give up control of the school system, and that is a path to more education failure, not greater success.<\/p>\n

Policywise, he has a thin agenda. The rent stabilization that he proposes would not help people in NYCHA [the city\u2019s public housing agency]. It doesn\u2019t help people who rent in two-family homes. But it\u2019s very attractive symbolically. Affordability is a great concept, but as for free buses, the buses aren\u2019t actually under his control, but under an M.T.A. board.\"Antonio <\/p>\n

Antonio Weiss Financial executive and former U.S. Treasury official<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to unpack in what Mitchell said. Since the \u201970s we\u2019ve had the Financial Emergency Act, which calls for a balanced budget. And so the budget should also be thought of as a set of choices that the mayor and the City Council make about the allocation of resources. Mamdani has been clear about the priorities he would set in a way that this current administration has not done. And look, we\u2019re going to be in a pitched battle next year with a federal administration that\u2019s withholding funds.<\/p>\n

New York State passed its budget as if none of this were happening. New York City passed its budget as if none of this were happening. And what Mamdani has shown us is he\u2019s reaching out across the board. And yes, that\u2019s a coalition to get elected. It\u2019s also a coalition to govern.\"Frederick <\/p>\n

Frederick A. Davie Senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary<\/p>\n

I want to explore a little bit of an intangible. Mamdani has tapped into the way that a whole swath of this city that\u2019s a lot younger than me understands and experiences life. And he\u2019s able to not only grasp that, but give voice to a lot of what they\u2019re feeling and offer solutions and directions that they can connect to. And I think there\u2019s a genius in that we shouldn\u2019t miss or dismiss. And I think that same genius can be brought to bear on governing the city. It\u2019s probably time for a generational shift in leadership in this city.<\/p>\n

\"Iwen <\/p>\n

Iwen Chu Former New York State senator representing South Brooklyn<\/p>\n

Brad [Lander] was my choice in the primary, and then Brad now is not on the ticket. What option do I have?<\/p>\n

For me, there are four factors. We look at the past for your record. We look at the future for your vision. We look at your team, your leadership. We look at your personal ethics. That\u2019s how I ranked it.And I think Mamdani\u2019s approach, how he handled police, public safety, education, Israel issues, business is all the same: He listens. So I think how he builds his team is crucial, to build the trust for the voters.\"Frederick <\/p>\n

Frederick A. Davie Senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary<\/p>\n

So Mamdani\u2019s under no illusion that Trump\u2019s going to make it easy for him. But he also knows it\u2019s not a battle he has to fight alone, that he has the governor, state legislative leaders and members of Congress.<\/p>\n

\"Christina <\/p>\n

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the \u201cFAQ NYC\u201d podcast<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t trust Cuomo to protect New York City. I think that he will acquiesce to Donald Trump in ways that he says he won\u2019t, but he\u2019s a lot of bluster.<\/p>\n

I do agree with Mamdani in the sense that it will take Hakeem [Jeffries] and Chuck [Schumer] having a backbone and supporting him in a lot of ways. I do think we will be penalized \u2014 as a city economically, if not worse, with the National Guard and ICE agents.Is Mamdani an ideal candidate, 33 years old, who\u2019s never been citywide elected? [Mr. Mamdani turned 34 after this discussion took place.] No. Are these the cards that we have and we\u2019re going to play them? Yes. And I think I\u2019m optimistic with him, sort of, getting people power to resist the Trump administration and the draconian policies that will come out of Washington, D.C.\"Joseph <\/p>\n

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island<\/p>\n

I think this issue has been framed to be one-sided. Why do we assume that Trump is going to come after New York when, in reality, Mamdani is going to benefit politically from going after the Trump administration, and being the leading far-left figure in American politics?<\/p>\n

\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer<\/p>\n

I think that Andrew Cuomo actually had a really good opportunity to push back on the Trump administration when they threatened to arrest<\/a> someone \u2014 Mamdani \u2014 who won a Democratic contest for mayor. He didn\u2019t. And I think that\u2019s really indicative of who Andrew Cuomo is. To the extent he was an effective leader, it\u2019s because he was a bully. He cannot deal with Trump, someone with more power than him.<\/p>\n

\"Whitney <\/p>\n

Whitney Toussaint Co-president of Community Education Council 30 in Queens<\/p>\n

On Trump, Cuomo has already sold out. He\u2019s not really spoken out against the harmful things the Trump administration has already done. He\u2019s courting many of the same kinds of voters.<\/p>\n

\"Howard <\/p>\n

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been profoundly disappointed by the lack of conversation about education during the campaign from all the candidates. The Times recently published a story, 140,000<\/a> homeless students in New York. And I don\u2019t hear the candidates really talking an awful lot about how to address what is, in my view, a really systemic crisis. I think the mayor should be running the school system. There should be a point of accountability. If parents feel like they have been shut out and Mamdani feels that way, too, he can bring them in.<\/p>\n

\"Neil <\/p>\n

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker<\/p>\n

I think around a million students having a school system overseen by someone who has managed an office of five or so people and only has a few years of experience in the State Assembly \u2014 <\/p>\n

I think that is a major abdication of responsibility by us as voters to those kids, to put somebody in charge of them that has so little experience. And to layer on, he\u2019s been against mayoral control of the schools, which is the single most important governance issue for our schools, and to ensure that we\u2019re educating our kids.\"Whitney <\/p>\n

Whitney Toussaint Co-president of Community Education Council 30 in Queens<\/p>\n

On school control, the law is what the law is. He will still have to appoint a chancellor and members to the panel of education policy. The mayor still has to do that. But we do need to engage parents who are active.<\/p>\n

Mamdani is listening to us on education. Cuomo is talking at us instead of including parents like me in these discussions. We are talked at. You know what Eric Adams called us? Professional parents. Well, damn it, I am.\"Caitlin <\/p>\n

Caitlin Kawaguchi Nonprofit strategist and community representative in Brooklyn<\/p>\n

On housing, it\u2019s a central issue to New Yorkers of all ages, especially renters. I think there\u2019s a real need for not only a focus on building, which I think is crucial, but also deep affordability.<\/p>\n

One thing that\u2019s really resonating with folks, including myself, about Mamdani\u2019s platform is that it feels like he\u2019s willing to try new things and to push the envelope. Freezing the rent is something specific to rent-stabilized tenants, which is not all of New York. But I think it is emblematic of a commitment to thinking about solutions in a way that can be talked about and communicated.\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer<\/p>\n

Housing is not my first issue. But if it were, I think I\u2019d be really excited about Zohran. It has been a big part of his affordability messaging. And just looking at how he\u2019s prioritizing it, I can tell that he cares a lot about it.<\/p>\n

\"Howard <\/p>\n

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration<\/p>\n

Cuomo had the edge on this last time we met because he did not call for defunding the police. And he didn\u2019t call them racists, which Mamdani did and has now walked back from. This was like five years ago, during the beginning of his political career.<\/p>\n

\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer<\/p>\n

And after George Floyd died, we saw 10 minutes of people actually caring about racialized policing. Now we\u2019re seeing real retrenchment from that. I think that is why Cuomo was given so much unearned grace. Something that we haven\u2019t really talked about here yet is that Mamdani is the first Muslim candidate who has a very real chance of becoming mayor. For most of his life, he is much more likely to have been profiled because of who he is than to be mayor, to be any elected official at all whatsoever.<\/p>\n

And so I don\u2019t really like the fact that he walked those statements back. At the end of the day, is it reflective of policy? I actually am a little bit worried that it is.\"A. <\/p>\n

A. Mychal Johnson South Bronx social justice advocate<\/p>\n

Mamdani has talked about how policing alone cannot solve <\/strong>social issues happening on the street \u2014 trauma, mental health, housing.<\/strong> If the police are the first in, people in crisis end up in Rikers, not in care. That\u2019s not the answer.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve personally been stopped and frisked. Who else in this room has been? OK, only people of color. Mamdani\u2019s approach here is, how do we do things a little bit differently? Andrew Cuomo wants to increase the police force. Is that the answer? I say no. We need police. Who doesn\u2019t say we need police? But we also need the community care and infrastructure that actually make all of us safe. Cuomo hasn\u2019t shown a willingness to do anything differently.\"Joseph <\/p>\n

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island<\/p>\n

I think Sliwa would be the best to deal with policing, but he\u2019s not going to win. I think he has a more rational view: that there are bad people who need to be prosecuted, punished and put in jail.<\/p>\n

\"Iwen <\/p>\n

Iwen Chu Former New York State senator representing South Brooklyn<\/p>\n

Public safety and policing are totally different subjects. School safety, mental health, homeless issues: They\u2019re all public safety.<\/p>\n

But policing and the quantity of the police are not equal to public safety. Mamdani wants to hold the law enforcement accountable \u2014 that\u2019s policing. How he can build a coalition and work with the law enforcement and make sure our law enforcement is functional \u2014 that\u2019s a separate subject.\"Eleanor <\/p>\n

Eleanor Randolph Journalist and former Times editorial board member<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another issue besides public safety. And that is how the police and the mayor are going to deal with the possibility of the president and his team sending up people to walk around the streets with their guns out and all that sort of stuff.<\/p>\n

You can hear the drumbeat and you know he\u2019s coming after New York. So how does that work with a police department and the way the next mayor operates?\"Neil <\/p>\n

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s important to look at the data. The data shows that more police officers in the subway, on the streets and on corners in high-crime neighborhoods can reduce crime.<\/p>\n

Between Cuomo and Mamdani, one is proposing expanding the police force and one candidate is not. When Mamdani claims that he wants to defund the police and then now claims to be an advocate and a champion for N.Y.P.D., are we supposed to believe that he\u2019s going to be able to lead and inspire the nation\u2019s largest municipal police force to do their best work?\"Frederick <\/p>\n

Frederick A. Davie Senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary<\/p>\n

Eric Adams was probably the most pro-police mayor that we\u2019ve had in a while. And we\u2019re still hemorrhaging police officers.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m not sure that that in and of itself gets us to where we want to be. Could Andrew Cuomo have a better relationship with the N.Y.P.D. than Zohran Mamdani would or could? The answer to that is probably in the beginning, yes. But again, I think what we\u2019re seeing with Mamdani is that what he understands is that he needs to aggregate around him people who have expertise in areas and places where he does not.\"Howard <\/p>\n

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration<\/p>\n

Mamdani has energized an enormous number of people who were previously outside of the political process and did not see themselves as central to it. And to miss that would be an enormous mistake and, as a Democrat, completely foolish.<\/p>\n

The flip side of that is that the Democratic establishment \u2014 of which, for better or worse, mostly, I\u2019m something of a card-carrying member \u2014 utterly failed during this campaign. It attempted to elevate candidates that were deeply flawed, were unable to solidify behind people who would have been able to present an alternative to Mamdani.\"Caitlin <\/p>\n

Caitlin Kawaguchi Nonprofit strategist and community representative in Brooklyn<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not as if the establishment could have produced a Mamdani. The Democratic Party has not been engaging with folks who could be the next great electeds. And it\u2019s not going to be just a person who presents in the same way as Mamdani. We\u2019ve seen campaigns across the country who are looking to emulate his campaign by doing walking-style TikTok videos. But that\u2019s not what was great about Mamdani\u2019s campaign. It was great because it was connecting with everyday New Yorkers around issues that matter to them, that presented creative solutions.<\/p>\n

\"Christina <\/p>\n

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the \u201cFAQ NYC\u201d podcast<\/p>\n

I have some strong critiques of the Democratic Socialists of America still, but they have been using their network as a way to bring people into the political fold in a way that the parties haven\u2019t. I think a lot of voters feel really disrespected by the establishment. Because the voters spoke on June 24 and said: We don\u2019t want you, Andrew Cuomo. Go home.<\/p>\n

\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer<\/p>\n

I have to think that a lot of the refusal to support Mamdani is Islamophobia. And I think that there\u2019s going to be a real reckoning with that at some point.<\/p>\n

\"Iwen <\/p>\n

Iwen Chu Former New York State senator representing South Brooklyn<\/p>\n

I lost my election last year because Democrats don\u2019t know how to address cost of living. When the primary result came out, it was like: What am I going to do as a voter, as an immigrant? I looked at Mamdani\u2019s policies again. Sure, I do want those city-run grocery stores down my block. Do I want free buses? Yes, I do. New York State actually can afford statewide universal free lunch, school lunch. It\u2019s just about priorities. We don\u2019t have a shot if we don\u2019t try. We need to try.<\/p>\n

\"Antonio <\/p>\n

Antonio Weiss Financial executive and former U.S. Treasury official<\/p>\n

Democrats have to embrace winning and be a bit more fearless about that. As important or more important than this election is that, once elected, Mamdani succeeds, and the Democrats abandon their approach of disqualifying and discouraging winning candidates and instead start investing in their success.<\/p>\n

\"A. <\/p>\n

A. Mychal Johnson South Bronx social justice advocate<\/p>\n

Mamdani is running like he wants to serve. It\u2019s not like he\u2019s running for a job or for power. And we too often have candidates who are about power and control, not community.<\/p>\n

\"Amit <\/p>\n

Amit Singh Bagga Democratic strategist and former city official<\/p>\n

Some of his promises are achievable independently at the city level; others require real partnership with Albany. Overall, these fresh ideas are proxies for goals that he wants to achieve because they are the core issues that people face every day.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph <\/p>\n

Joseph Borelli Republican former city councilman from Staten Island<\/p>\n

I think the city was ripe for new ideas. The problem is, some of those ideas aren\u2019t really practical or financially feasible. We can talk about free buses, but what happens when you take, you know, $800 million out of the fare box of the M.T.A.? How do we make up for that shortfall? <\/p>\n

How does this affect the need to raise tolls and congestion pricing down the road? These are all scary things.\"Whitney <\/p>\n

Whitney Toussaint Co-president of Community Education Council 30 in Queens<\/p>\n

The universal child care that he\u2019s proposing. He wants families of newborns to get baby baskets, something they do around the world. You don\u2019t realize how expensive these things are until you have to go shopping for a baby. <\/p>\n

And I\u2019m going to bring it back to what Mychal said, because I love what you said. He is running like someone who wants to serve.\"Mitchell <\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.<\/p>\n

We basically have hope versus despair. Cuomo is despair. Each one has different strengths. But my students are working for Mamdani. And I mean of every race and income.<\/p>\n

\"Howard <\/p>\n

Howard Wolfson Deputy mayor in the Bloomberg administration<\/p>\n

On Israel, I believe his views are deeply felt.<\/p>\n

I happen to be in very strong disagreement with him in this area. There was a real effort post-primary to encourage him to condemn the phrase \u201cglobalize the intifada.\u201d To his credit, he met with and spoke with many people who shared their very strong concerns about that. And I believe that he was sincerely listening. In the end, where he landed was he was going to discourage people from using it.That was a really long time to brew some really weak tea. I think it was indicative of a very strongly held set of beliefs on his part that are very much at odds with my set of beliefs and the set of beliefs of many of my friends and neighbors.\"Mitchell <\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.<\/p>\n

I think that we have to appreciate that he\u2019s not changing. This is a belief. And when you buy the mayor, you buy the belief.<\/p>\n

\"Mitchell <\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.<\/p>\n

We should recognize the lunacy of voting for Sliwa. I\u2019m not saying he\u2019s not going to get votes, but it\u2019s a wasted vote.<\/p>\n

\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer<\/p>\n

I would vote for Sliwa before Cuomo.<\/p>\n

\"Amit <\/p>\n

Amit Singh Bagga Democratic strategist and former city official<\/p>\n

So would I.<\/p>\n

\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo Law professor and former defense lawyer<\/p>\n

That\u2019s saying a lot. To be clear, Sliwa is not the lovable eccentric some make him out to be \u2014 he\u2019s not a serious candidate. His platform is riddled with proposals that a mayor can\u2019t actually enact, like rolling back the 2019 state tenant protections that only Albany can touch. Other parts of his agenda veer into the downright Orwellian. He\u2019s not even a Bloomberg Republican. On policy, he\u2019s Trump in a red beret.<\/p>\n

That said, I do think he\u2019s genuinely committed to ending the inhumane practice of horse-drawn carriages. He is the most qualified candidate for equine liberation, and that is it.\"Christina <\/p>\n

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the \u201cFAQ NYC\u201d podcast<\/p>\n

I think Sliwa will do better than expected. There\u2019s going to be some people who are like: This 33-year-old kid and some of these ideas are just maybe a bridge too far for me. [Mr. Mamdani turned 34 after this discussion took place.] And Cuomo is an absolute no. And there are some people who will never be able to vote for a nonwhite person.<\/p>\n

\"Mitchell <\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss Urban policy professor at N.Y.U.<\/p>\n

I admire the way in which Mamdani has framed his belief that we can make the city better. His work in political campaigns has been terrific. The evidence that he\u2019s a great manager is the great campaign he ran. But running for office and governing are opposite skills. One is performance art. The other is a day-to-day job of distributing not just joy and benefits, but pain, too.<\/p>\n

\"Antonio <\/p>\n

Antonio Weiss Financial executive and former U.S. Treasury official<\/p>\n

Mamdani\u2019s appointments, if he wins, will matter a lot. Who\u2019s going to be the first deputy mayor? Is there going to be a deputy mayor charged with figuring out how to integrate the Department of Community Safety with the N.Y.P.D.? Every indication is that he\u2019s going about not just his campaign but his transition with the intent of providing convincing answers to all of that.<\/p>\n

\"Neil <\/p>\n

Neil Blumenthal Co-founder and co-chief executive of Warby Parker<\/p>\n

There\u2019s just a big difference between running a campaign and running one of the largest cities in the world. Experience matters for the second most important job in America.<\/p>\n

\"A. <\/p>\n

A. Mychal Johnson South Bronx social justice advocate<\/p>\n

I\u2019m just hearing all these comments about Mamdani\u2019s relative lack of experience, but the ones who had experience didn\u2019t deliver for the people who mobilized behind Mamdani. These are people and communities who have been left behind for decades.<\/p>\n

\"Christina <\/p>\n

Christina M. Greer Political scientist and a host of the \u201cFAQ NYC\u201d podcast<\/p>\n

Well, we\u2019ve got someone who has the most important job in America who has zero experience. Take a chance.<\/p>\n

About our panel These 14 local leaders assessed the candidates independently, as individual voters, not on behalf of their organizations. Joseph Borelli was unable to attend the round-table discussion and provided his comments in separate interviews. Some panelists made donations to candidates; that information is disclosed in their biographies.<\/p>\n

\"Amit <\/p>\n

Amit Singh Bagga <\/strong>is a Democratic strategist who runs a political consulting firm and a veteran of New York State, city and federal government. While in city government, he helped lead the 2020 census campaign. In 2021 he made an unsuccessful bid to represent City Council District 26 in Queens.<\/p>\n

He has contributed $100 to Zohran Mamdani\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n

\"Neil <\/p>\n

Neil Blumenthal<\/strong> is a co-founder and co-chief executive of the New York-based eyewear company Warby Parker. Since 2015, the company has partnered with New York City agencies and organizations to provide free eyeglasses to students. Mr. Blumenthal also serves on the boards of Robin Hood, Tech:NYC and the Partnership Fund for New York City.<\/p>\n

\"Joseph <\/p>\n

Joseph Borelli<\/strong> is a Republican former city councilman who represented the South Shore of Staten Island for nearly 10 years. He was the council\u2019s minority leader from 2021 to 2025 and chaired its Committee on Fire and Emergency Management. He served in the New York State Assembly for three years and currently works as a political strategist.<\/p>\n

\"Iwen <\/p>\n

Iwen Chu<\/strong> is a former state senator from South Brooklyn and a former State Assembly aide and community education council member. During her two years in office, she helped secure funding for schools and Asian American community organizations. Ms. Chu was the first Asian American woman to serve in the State Senate.<\/p>\n

\"Frederick <\/p>\n

Frederick A. Davie<\/strong> is a senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary in Morningside Heights. He helps lead community and civic engagement with social and economic justice organizations. He also has served in New York City administrations since the 1990s. He was deputy borough president of Manhattan in the mid-1990s and was chair of the board responsible for civilian oversight of the New York Police Department from 2017 to 2022.<\/p>\n

\"Christina <\/p>\n

Christina M. Greer <\/strong>is a political scientist at Fordham University who studies Black politics, mayors, elections and public opinion. She writes a weekly column for The Amsterdam News and co-hosts the podcast \u201cFAQ NYC,\u201d about city politics and culture.<\/p>\n

\"A. <\/p>\n

A. Mychal Johnson <\/strong>is a South Bronx community leader focused on economic and social justice for working-class communities of color through grass-roots organizing and policy advocacy.<\/p>\n

\"Caitlin <\/p>\n

Caitlin Kawaguchi<\/strong> is a co-founder of the nonprofit consultancy Parkes Philanthropy and the former president of New Kings Democrats, a grass-roots organization in Brooklyn. She has served on the Brooklyn Democratic Party\u2019s County Committee since 2018 and is an appointed member of Brooklyn\u2019s Community Board 1.<\/p>\n

\"Mitchell <\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss<\/strong> is a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University and an expert on cities and technological change. He has advised city and state governments on infrastructure policy and economic growth. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed him to a committee shaping policy on transit, open space and equitable opportunity to guide New York\u2019s economic goals.<\/p>\n

\"Eleanor <\/p>\n

Eleanor Randolph<\/strong> is a journalist who managed city and state political endorsements as a member of the New York Times editorial board from 1998 to 2016. In 2019 she wrote \u201cThe Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Whitney <\/p>\n

Whitney Toussaint <\/strong>is a co-president of Community Education Council 30 in western Queens. She has collaborated with the City Council and other local leaders on the construction of schools in Hunters Point and Court Square.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u200bMs. Toussaint has contributed $100 to Zohran Mamdani\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n

\"Jared <\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo<\/strong> is a professor at CUNY School of Law, where he teaches constitutional law and critical race theory. He is a chair of the New York City Bar Association\u2019s L.G.B.T.Q. Rights Committee and a former president of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys.<\/p>\n

\"Antonio <\/p>\n

Antonio Weiss<\/strong> is a partner in the investment firm SSW, a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and a former official at the U.S. Treasury, where he led the domestic finance department. He is a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission and a former chair of an independent budget panel advising the city.<\/p>\n

He contributed $2,100 to Andrew Cuomo\u2019s campaign during the primary and has contributed $2,500 to a group that supports Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n

\"Howard <\/p>\n

Howard Wolfson<\/strong> is a Democratic strategist who heads Bloomberg Philanthropies\u2019 education work. He was a deputy mayor under Michael Bloomberg from 2010 to 2013, overseeing collaboration among the city, state and federal governments.<\/p>\n

\u00d7 About our panel <\/p>\n

These 14 local leaders assessed the candidates independently, as individual voters, not on behalf of their organizations. Joseph Borelli was unable to attend the round-table discussion and provided his comments in separate interviews. Some panelists made donations to candidates; that information is disclosed in their biographies.<\/p>\n

Amit Singh Bagga <\/strong>is a Democratic strategist who runs a political consulting firm and a veteran of New York State, city and federal government. While in city government, he helped lead the 2020 census campaign. In 2021 he made an unsuccessful bid to represent City Council District 26 in Queens.<\/p>\n

He has contributed $100 to Zohran Mamdani\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n

Neil Blumenthal<\/strong> is a co-founder and co-chief executive of the New York-based eyewear company Warby Parker. Since 2015, the company has partnered with New York City agencies and organizations to provide free eyeglasses to students. Mr. Blumenthal also serves on the boards of Robin Hood, Tech:NYC and the Partnership Fund for New York City.<\/p>\n

Joseph Borelli<\/strong> is a Republican former city councilman who represented the South Shore of Staten Island for nearly 10 years. He was the council\u2019s minority leader from 2021 to 2025 and chaired its Committee on Fire and Emergency Management. He served in the New York State Assembly for three years and currently works as a political strategist.<\/p>\n

Iwen Chu<\/strong> is a former state senator from South Brooklyn and a former State Assembly aide and community education council member. During her two years in office, she helped secure funding for schools and Asian American community organizations. Ms. Chu was the first Asian American woman to serve in the State Senate.<\/p>\n

Frederick A. Davie<\/strong> is a senior executive vice president at Union Theological Seminary in Morningside Heights. He helps lead community and civic engagement with social and economic justice organizations. He also has served in New York City administrations since the 1990s. He was deputy borough president of Manhattan in the mid-1990s and was chair of the board responsible for civilian oversight of the New York Police Department from 2017 to 2022.<\/p>\n

Christina M. Greer <\/strong>is a political scientist at Fordham University who studies Black politics, mayors, elections and public opinion. She writes a weekly column for The Amsterdam News and co-hosts the podcast \u201cFAQ NYC,\u201d about city politics and culture.<\/p>\n

A. Mychal Johnson <\/strong>is a South Bronx community leader focused on economic and social justice for working-class communities of color through grass-roots organizing and policy advocacy.<\/p>\n

Caitlin Kawaguchi<\/strong> is a co-founder of the nonprofit consultancy Parkes Philanthropy and the former president of New Kings Democrats, a grass-roots organization in Brooklyn. She has served on the Brooklyn Democratic Party\u2019s County Committee since 2018 and is an appointed member of Brooklyn\u2019s Community Board 1.<\/p>\n

Mitchell L. Moss<\/strong> is a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University and an expert on cities and technological change. He has advised city and state governments on infrastructure policy and economic growth. Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed him to a committee shaping policy on transit, open space and equitable opportunity to guide New York\u2019s economic goals.<\/p>\n

Eleanor Randolph<\/strong> is a journalist who managed city and state political endorsements as a member of the New York Times editorial board from 1998 to 2016. In 2019 she wrote \u201cThe Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whitney Toussaint <\/strong>is a co-president of Community Education Council 30 in western Queens. She has collaborated with the City Council and other local leaders on the construction of schools in Hunters Point and Court Square.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u200bMs. Toussaint has contributed $100 to Zohran Mamdani\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n

Jared Trujillo<\/strong> is a professor at CUNY School of Law, where he teaches constitutional law and critical race theory. He is a chair of the New York City Bar Association\u2019s L.G.B.T.Q. Rights Committee and a former president of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys.<\/p>\n

Antonio Weiss<\/strong> is a partner in the investment firm SSW, a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and a former official at the U.S. Treasury, where he led the domestic finance department. He is a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission and a former chair of an independent budget panel advising the city.<\/p>\n

He contributed $2,100 to Andrew Cuomo\u2019s campaign during the primary and has contributed $2,500 to a group that supports Zohran Mamdani.<\/p>\n

Howard Wolfson<\/strong> is a Democratic strategist who heads Bloomberg Philanthropies\u2019 education work. He was a deputy mayor under Michael Bloomberg from 2010 to 2013, overseeing collaboration among the city, state and federal governments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Times Opinion convened apanel of New Yorkers toassess the mayoral candidatesfor the Nov. 4 election. Oct. 29, 2025…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":340449,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,5707,5706,12927,9124,5959,91924,90,5708,5705,155798,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,91183,11228,167715,1054,12926,277,67,586,16852,132,5230,61909,68,2969,5709],"class_list":{"0":"post-340448","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-andrew-m","10":"tag-cuomo","11":"tag-curtis","12":"tag-democratic-party","13":"tag-donald-j","14":"tag-education-k-12","15":"tag-elections","16":"tag-mamdani","17":"tag-mayors","18":"tag-muslim-americans","19":"tag-new-york","20":"tag-new-york-city","21":"tag-newyork","22":"tag-newyorkcity","23":"tag-ny","24":"tag-nyc","25":"tag-politics-and-government","26":"tag-real-estate-and-housing-residential","27":"tag-rent-control-and-stabilization","28":"tag-republican-party","29":"tag-sliwa","30":"tag-trump","31":"tag-united-states","32":"tag-united-states-of-america","33":"tag-united-states-politics-and-government","34":"tag-unitedstates","35":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","36":"tag-urban-areas","37":"tag-us","38":"tag-usa","39":"tag-zohran"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=340448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/340448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/340449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=340448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=340448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=340448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}