City Journal Audio — “Mamdani’s First Three Months”
Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Brian Anderson (Editor, City Journal)
Guest: Nicole Gelinas (Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute)

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep dive into New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s first three months in office. Host Brian Anderson speaks with Nicole Gelinas, a prolific commentator on New York urban policy, to discuss Mamdani’s approach to the city’s dire fiscal issues, shifting policy priorities, early executive competence, public safety, policing controversies, relations with the press, and the lingering economic situation post-COVID.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Adams Budget Crisis” and Property Taxes

[01:21 – 05:40]

• Gelinas analyzes Mamdani’s pivot from a campaign focused on raising taxes “on the rich” to fund new social programs, to his present stance of threatening a universal property tax increase if the state doesn’t cooperate.
• Quote:
  “It’s a little bit of a bait and switch... The optimistic tone, at least as regards to the budget, has entirely disappeared.” — Nicole Gelinas [02:14]
• Mamdani’s major programs include universal infant-to-pre-K childcare, a new Department of Community Safety, free city buses—collectively costing billions.
• Since Albany (state government) has resisted the proposed income and business tax hikes, Mamdani pushes for a city-controlled property tax hike of 9.5% across all property owners.
• This measure would impact middle-class homeowners and renters alike, contrary to the progressive campaign promise.
• Gelinas argues the real issue is unchecked social services spending:
  “The real crisis is just failing to cut back on the spending growth, particularly in social services, to such an extent that it imperils the program that the mayor ran on. But the mayor has no appetite to cut back on any of that spending. It’s just raise some type of taxes immediately or else.” — Nicole Gelinas [05:22]

2. Early Executive Leadership & Adaptability

[05:40 – 08:49]

• Gelinas discusses whether Mamdani, at 34 with little executive experience, is up to the job.
• She finds some encouraging signs:
  • During the prolonged January/February cold snap, Mamdani reversed campaign pledges and ordered clearing of homeless encampments to get people out of the cold.
  • Similarly, he shifted on involuntary commitment of mentally ill homeless when circumstances demanded.
  • “He does show some adaptability and flexibility when things are not going according to his theories... when he sees that his own ideology is going to cause him an immediate crisis, he does show some flexibility on that.” — Nicole Gelinas [06:25]
• Notes openness to constructive criticism and input from advisors such as Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

3. Public Safety, Policing, and the Gracie Mansion Attack

[08:49 – 11:44]

• The city experienced an attempted bombing at a protest, highlighting the persistent threat landscape.
• Mamdani’s populist plans to cut police numbers and dissolve the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) are challenged by recent events:
  • The SRG played a critical role in preventing escalation and violence.
  • NYPD staffing remains 6,000 officers below peak levels, even as subway crime rises and protest activity intensifies.
• Quote:
  “You need more than just community police officers... You need people who are trained to look for something suspicious... So these are important things to think about that he’s definitely been blase about.” — Nicole Gelinas [10:19]
• Gelinas advocates for re-evaluating police staffing and urges for realism in public safety policy.

4. Press Relations and Transparency Concerns

[11:44 – 15:04]

• Mamdani’s administration, Gelinas argues, has been unusually restrictive and selective in press access, even more so than previous mayors.
• Examples:
  • “Invite-only” press events for approving outlets, excluding credentialed journalists.
  • Confusion at “rental ripoff hearings,” billed as public but operated privately, making participants uncomfortable.
  • “When you are the mayor, you have a different responsibility toward the press corps... Instead, the mayor has developed a habit of some events are just invited press only and there’s no way to apply to be invited...” — Nicole Gelinas [12:21]
• Gelinas cautions that such maneuvers are “being too cute for their own good” and risk undermining both administration credibility and genuine public engagement.

5. Economic Recovery & Risks of Further Taxation

[15:04 – 17:21]

• The city’s post-COVID job growth lags far behind national rates, especially in retail and hospitality—the sectors crucial for entry-level opportunity.
• Ongoing high taxes and proposed minimum wage hikes risk driving more businesses out of the city.
• “Our job growth and our income growth lag far behind the nation as a whole... We’re already seeing some of the impact of the high minimum wage, $17 minimum wage, very high taxes... They are creating more jobs outside of New York City and New York State than they are in the city and the state.” — Nicole Gelinas [15:44]
• City must be cautious about introducing more fiscal burdens before ensuring economic health.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The optimistic tone, at least as regards to the budget, has entirely disappeared.” — Nicole Gelinas [02:14]
• “The real crisis is just failing to cut back on the spending growth... But the mayor has no appetite to cut back on any of that spending.” — Nicole Gelinas [05:22]
• “When he sees that his own ideology is going to cause him an immediate crisis, he does show some flexibility on that.” — Nicole Gelinas [06:25]
• “You need people who are trained to look for something suspicious... that he’s definitely been blase about.” — Nicole Gelinas [10:19]
• “When you are the mayor, you have a different responsibility toward the press corps.” — Nicole Gelinas [12:21]
• “Our job growth and our income growth lag far behind the nation as a whole.” — Nicole Gelinas [15:44]

Important Timestamps

• [01:21] – Budget proposals & shift from campaign rhetoric
• [06:11] – Early executive performance, flexibility in crisis
• [08:49] – Security incident at Gracie Mansion, policing implications
• [11:44] – Press access and transparency issues
• [15:30] – City economy, lagging recovery, risk of more tax hikes

This episode provides a comprehensive, clear-eyed assessment of Mayor Mamdani’s turbulent start—highlighting a rapid shift from progressive optimism to pragmatic crisis management, ongoing tensions between spending priorities and fiscal realities, and the rocky relationship unfolding with the press. As Nicole Gelinas observes, the coming months will prove decisive both for Mamdani’s reputation and for New York City’s near-term future.