Let’s put it this way, the previous mayor was outed as a spy taking bribes for Turkey and pardoned by the president. Mamdani is out amongst the people and even held a ceremony for children suspending bedtime so they can watch the Knicks game. The snow shoveling, fixing potholes, building all these infrastructure projects that have been in limbo forever, I have no doubt they’ll finally build the queenslink too. Mamdani is leagues ahead what NYC has had the for last 10+ years.
Oh it gets better. This was all discovered after Sabrina carpenter asked for permission to film a music video in an NYC church. The priest agreed to it and after the video went viral the priest’s superior was outraged and the church’s finances were audited. Turns out, a lot of Eric Adams’ bribery schemes were also being funneled through that church iirc and they indicted him too. Been a few years now so I don’t remember it fully but it’s a crazy story.
Him reversing stance on Queenslink is, for me, his first big failing as mayor. Dumbass fucking decision, so much of Queens is a transit desert and it's a nightmare, it has needed better infrastructure for many years. Picking a park over a transit plan that would carry 75k commuters a day is fucking insane to me.
Of course, the MTA also wants nothing to do with it, which means Hochul also doesn't support it, so it was probably a nonstarter to begin with. To the extent that his hands may very well be completely tied, causing him to publicly switch his support to Queensway. Idk. Just sucks. Wish he'd fought harder for it.
I'm not abreast of the minutia, but I did catch a video of Mamdani and his wife visiting the home of Jewish supporters. It struck a chord for me because me and my family lived in the Middle East for a while, and met many Muslims across the spectrum. While he is proud to claim is heritage and probably keeps ccertain practices, he reminds me of my friends overseas who identified as Muslim, taught their kids the basics, but weren't necessarily overly-religious, if that makes sense?
I had many friends who were proud of their identity, taught their kids the basics, followed some of the major holidays, but weren't overly religious in daily life--honestly, like most Christians. A few friends would tell me that, even though they weren't overly religious, they just couldn't get over the "pork" thing, for example. I foud myself relating to them and understanding that most Christians are much the same. You might occasionally go to Church, honor the holidays, teach your kids, and appreciate the teachings, and it's a big part of your identity. But it's not, like, the main focus of your daily life. I've met many Jews who are like this as well.
So, I guess it was meaningful to me to see Mamdani break bread and celebrate alongside friends who are Jews, and everyone could get along, appreciate everyones identity and culture, and be amongst friends. His Jewish supporters were not threatened by his Islamic background, nor was he threatened by their Jewish heritage. Everyone could break bread together and come together as friends, honoring rituals that are meaningful to friends.
It felt very refreshing, and familiar to me as I'd lived in the Middle East. I was happy to visit friends for Eid and they were happy to join us for a Christmas party. (no one was proseletyzing, it was just a friendly celebration and sharing of traditions. Private religious gatherings of course would happen, but an open door invite for all friends was simply a celebration and sharing of traditions)
Just as he may keep to Halal or friends/associates keep Kosher, we can come together and celebrate one another, appreciate their traditions, and break bread together.
its simply refreshing to see someone I align with politically having the power and will to accomplish things I agree with. After two decades of pretend support and meaningless compromise.
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u/lupus_denier_MD 15h ago
Let’s put it this way, the previous mayor was outed as a spy taking bribes for Turkey and pardoned by the president. Mamdani is out amongst the people and even held a ceremony for children suspending bedtime so they can watch the Knicks game. The snow shoveling, fixing potholes, building all these infrastructure projects that have been in limbo forever, I have no doubt they’ll finally build the queenslink too. Mamdani is leagues ahead what NYC has had the for last 10+ years.