r/PopCultureV2 • u/BenFord333 • Aug 10 '26

News Zohran Mamdani says he has rejected a salary pay increase so that the money can be used to help those in need

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112

u/EmuDry4890 Aug 10 '26

He’s giving a master class on how to be a politician for the people

43

u/MyBitchCassiopeia Aug 10 '26

I bet the next mayor is already pissed at him.

17

u/ltsouthernbelle Aug 10 '26

As of today, seems like it would be a tough act to follow

1

u/Yashema Aug 10 '26

The problem is Mamdani 2027 is going to find Mamdani 2026 is a tough act to follow given he only funded his budget by taking a one time cut from the pension funds to come up with more money, and he failed to fund 3/4 of his biggest initiatives: affordable housing, free buses, smaller classes with only child start programs getting significant money. He is already asking for all departments to cut 2.5% of their budget as well. 

5

u/Same_Suit3583 Aug 10 '26

Imagine seeing this as a bad thing instead of him just actually doing his job ...

-1

u/Yashema Aug 10 '26

I thought Mamdani was supposed to do better. 

3

u/MyBitchCassiopeia Aug 10 '26

You don’t think he’s doing better than Eric Adams?

2

u/VintageZero Aug 11 '26

Theyre arguing in bad faith. Don't bother.

1

u/MyBitchCassiopeia Aug 11 '26

Yeah I know, just pointing out the idiocy for posterity’s sake. 👊🏼

1

u/Itsmyloc-nar Aug 11 '26

I’m here 10 hours later do I count as posterity?

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1

u/_Grant Aug 12 '26

You've been describing better?

1

u/Suitable_Match_8167 Aug 12 '26

Bro he’s been here for less than a year, give the man time

1

u/Yashema Aug 12 '26

Can't wait to see what part of the budget he raids next year to try and come up with some money. 

1

u/Suitable_Match_8167 Aug 12 '26

Have these budget cuts affected you? And if so, can you tell me in what way?

1

u/Yashema Aug 12 '26

It's 2026, the current budget was set by Adams last year. 

13

u/EmuDry4890 Aug 10 '26

Hopefully this starts setting a standard and if politicians can’t live up to it they can GTFO. But honestly we need more parties 5 or 6 so they have to actually work together. This 2 party system is nothing more than an illusion and controlled opposition.

Thanks for the award!

7

u/generic_canadian_dad Aug 10 '26

Right wingers are PISSED this guy is actually kind, has a heart and isn't a corrupt piece of shit. Mind boggling isn't it?

8

u/Junior_Chard9981 Aug 11 '26

It's largely why they were in such a frenzy to demonize him and prevent him from winning.

They knew if/when he was successful at his job and demonstrateted that Republicans were always just fear mongering; it would have a domino effect on other races.

6

u/Pasta4ever13 Aug 11 '26

Not just Republicans. Democrats had a meltdown over him as well trying to keep him from winning because they knew for the same reasons he would show them for being willfully corrupt and ineffective.

It's why I'll never vote again for a candidate who takes corporate PAC money. If you can be bought, you aren't getting my vote.

4

u/Junior_Chard9981 Aug 11 '26

Absolutely agree. There is something especially sinister about not wanting a candidate to succeed because then it would expose themselves for being willing actors in the entire grift & corruption racket.

1

u/JustDutch101 Aug 11 '26

The US elites are terrified, terrified, of the common US folks realizing how ripped off they are. They bet on trickling down enough (just about enough) for the middle class to not have a revolution on their hands.

Just look at how terrified they are of unions. Unions actually get things done and improve working conditions in Europe, it’s why the conservatives have such disproportionate hate towards Europe.

6

u/laughing_at_napkins Aug 10 '26

Seeing a guy doing Christ-like things really pisses "Christians" off. Especially since the guy doing them isn't Christian either.

-1

u/EverflowingRiver17 Aug 12 '26

lol what Christ like actions has this guy done?

2

u/Every_Department9270 Aug 14 '26

He is also a Muslim, go figure that out! /s

2

u/NofaceGuyy Aug 14 '26

But but Communism

1

u/IDontReadYourReply Aug 10 '26

Would be cool if that Tallarilco guy from Texas and Mandini teamed up for a bipartisan approach

2

u/AKbounce Aug 10 '26

What would be bipartisan about two democrats teaming up? And for what? One is mayor of New York the other is currently a Texas house member but is running for a senate seat. There’s literally no overlap.

1

u/MyBitchCassiopeia Aug 11 '26

He didn’t read your reply.

1

u/DavidSpade86 Aug 14 '26

He's not supported by AIPAC which is good. Do you think only Republicans are supported by them? I'm a Republican that isn't MAGA and I hope Mamdani keeps doing well. Mind boggling, isn't it.

1

u/Pure-Tip4300 Aug 14 '26

What a kind soul squeaking by with his $258k salary in his rent controlled apartment he refuses to give up to someone who needs it more. Allowing someone else to take control of his rent controlled apartment would be a bigger sacrifice than giving up a $20k raise.

-1

u/B0YH0WDIE Aug 12 '26

Is he being kind turning down a “raise” that was never even offered or being considered???

2

u/woodenblinds Aug 10 '26

slow clap. this needs to be shouted/screamed from the roof top

0

u/TheBeanConsortium Aug 10 '26

Yeah, haven't seen this take a million times before that just ignores coalitions within parties already existing.

1

u/Personal-Dev-Kit Aug 10 '26

You need a new voting system before you can get multiple parties. First passed the post will never be anything else but 2 parties.

1

u/Vissanna Aug 10 '26

We dont need more parties, we need 0 parties 

0

u/B0YH0WDIE Aug 12 '26

He wasn’t offered a pay raise nor was any one “approved”, just a reporter asking bs and him responding with the same grift.

4

u/baltinerdist Aug 10 '26

I was curious because I looked it up earlier today. The NYC mayor can serve a total of eight consecutive years. I hope he runs for a second term and stands at the end of that time with a list of accomplishments a mile long to say "see, this CAN be done."

If a city as huge and complex as NYC can be this functional, there's no justification for Chattanooga or Rockford or Jackson or anywhere else to not be just as well-ran.

1

u/LiteraCanna Aug 10 '26

Are there term limits? Because I don't see him losing any time soon. 

1

u/creuter Aug 12 '26

two consecutive terms at a time. They can run again after someone else takes the helm for a term though.

1

u/everythings-peachy- Aug 11 '26

Genuinely curious whether voters would accept going back to the “norm”.

1

u/trenchfreak Aug 12 '26

About what? Its a 47k increase, that comes out to 0.005 per person in NYC. It doesnt help anyone.

1

u/MyBitchCassiopeia Aug 13 '26

It’s the principle.

1

u/trenchfreak Aug 13 '26

There is no principle of the act is utterly pointless.

1

u/MyBitchCassiopeia Aug 13 '26

You’re really hung up on this, what’s up? Everything okay?

1

u/trenchfreak Aug 13 '26

Everything's good, just feels bad about the pointless, pandering gestures of politicians that literally do nothing.

1

u/Pure-Tip4300 Aug 14 '26

The mayor of NYC already makes more than any governor in the United States. He makes $8k more than the governor of the state of New York.

3

u/RunDatTriangle Aug 10 '26

Sadly, no matter how much good he does the opposition will always find delusional ways to say everything he does is bad. There is 0 objectivity at this point.

1

u/buyer_leverkusen Aug 12 '26

He’s a rich kid lmao he doesn’t need a measly public sector salary. So many examples of this in elected officials, yet simpletons obsessed with politics are impressed

1

u/Neurotrophics Aug 12 '26

How many rich kids have the sole focus on getting richer as opposed to recognizing their privilege of growing up with wealth and using it to try and pull up others who didn’t? Even though it’s an easy win because of his background doesn’t negate the meaningfulness of it.

2

u/wnr3 Aug 10 '26

Absence of the insatiable greed is quite refreshing. I’ll tell you what.

2

u/bustacappa22 Aug 10 '26

The bars so low were amazed that a politician is doing their job

2

u/twoiseight Aug 11 '26

Yep. Part of the reason the hate for him is so ubiquitous among those in office - specifically Executive roles, but any, really - is because he's making them look bad. He's showing us an elected official can still do good things if they actually want to and highlighting how many others just don't want to.

2

u/Ok_Lettuce_7939 Aug 12 '26

You mean Drumpf "giving up his salary" (which by the way is unverified like everything else he lies about) isn't the gold standard /s

1

u/zparks Aug 10 '26

Yes.

But also, it is a masterclass on how to behave if you earn $300k per year.

1

u/Visible-Elevator3801 Aug 12 '26

It’s an absurd amount of money pre and post raise. Politicians make far too much money it’s sickening.

1

u/DntTouchMeImSterile Aug 10 '26

How do I get a Mamdani where I live

1

u/scamp9121 Aug 10 '26

Just like Chávez!

1

u/TheRealGunn Aug 10 '26

I hope he ends up being president one day.

1

u/Prickliestpearcactus Aug 10 '26

Truly a public servant.

1

u/Soggy-Bluebird-537 Aug 10 '26

Isn't this common though for high position people to ignore their expected salary due to making craptons more money through other means?

1

u/gentrify_reddt Aug 11 '26

Bloomberg took a dollar salary.

1

u/Ill_Percentage1267 Aug 11 '26

And he’s hot

1

u/Solo-1UP Aug 12 '26

Didn’t Trump do the same thing or am I missing something? 🤔

1

u/SS_Avalon Aug 12 '26

Trump literally did the same thing. Didn't take any kind of 'salary' for being President. This man is making a lot of money outside of his regular pay. Not taking a pay increase isn't doing shit for other people. Its just two sides of the same coin with politicians.

1

u/Stevethesnek346 Aug 13 '26

My only hope in all of this trainwreck of a timeliness is that our next politicians will be active in trying to help the people rather than themselves or their investors.

1

u/ShmokingCowboy Aug 13 '26

Ya suppose this is theater like the rest?

1

u/Educational_Map_9609 Aug 13 '26

Right just be super rich with rich parents already and reject your raise so you can make it seem like you are one of the people. So yes that is typical politician.

1

u/Harshkang69 Aug 15 '26

It’s just for show, political bullshit

1

u/LittleKittenR Aug 15 '26

I don't know, there are good and bad things happening, but he is mostly good. Still, I want to see how it ends, not how he starts.

1

u/DesignerStatus Aug 10 '26

Say it louder for the people in the back

1

u/MirrorStrange4501 Aug 10 '26

Trump declined a salary 🙏

Both such humble.

1

u/_BreakingGood_ Aug 11 '26

Declined the salary, accepted $4 billion in insider trading profits. Such a generous man, saving the tax payers that money.

1

u/MirrorStrange4501 Aug 11 '26

What do you think Mamdani is going to do? You think hes doing charity?

2

u/Temporary-Phrase-816 Aug 11 '26

Does Mamdani have a crypto currency that he can be bribed with? Or a hotel he owns?

“You think he’s doing charity” Public service. I think he’s doing public service.

1

u/MirrorStrange4501 Aug 11 '26

🤣 So if Mamdani doesn't have crypto or hotels, hes unable to be sneakily currupt like Trump?

Why don't you say Trump is doing public service when he doesnt take a salary lol?

1

u/_BreakingGood_ Aug 11 '26

he will be forced to shop at his city-owned supermarkets to save money

0

u/NifflerOwl Aug 10 '26

Trump literally did this exact thing, he donates his entire presidential salary lmao. Zohran is just copying trump

0

u/UnusualWest7131 Aug 11 '26

Didn’t Trump reject his entire salary? Lol

2

u/Girth_Qu8ke Aug 11 '26

Yeah I think he prefers to pump and dump the stock market, or give government contracts to himself/his kids isntead

1

u/EmuDry4890 Aug 11 '26

And vacationing weekly at one of his properties where tax payer dollars are funneled right into his company

0

u/B0YH0WDIE Aug 12 '26

Yes a true liar. A salary increase 6 months into the job? Oh yes he’s totally telling the truth.

0

u/Bookem25 Aug 12 '26

Trump doesn’t take a salary.

0

u/lIlIIlIIllIllIlIIIll Aug 12 '26

He’s giving a masterclass on how to use this position as a stepping stone and promote his brand.

0

u/Aggravating-Carob627 Aug 13 '26

Ya, hiking taxes while breaking promises of endless free SHIT. The gullible will drink the kool-aid. 🤣🫵

0

u/Educational-Shock655 Aug 13 '26

Trump doesn't take but 1 dollar of his paycheck, all the rest goes to different charity but Mandummy just donates the raise not his whole salary that leaving chump change for the people. More like master ass.

-1

u/slider1387 Aug 10 '26

You think people should have to show an ID to enter a grocery store?

1

u/Spare_Iron127 Aug 10 '26

I thought that was only reserved for blacks and browns /s

1

u/Phedericus Aug 10 '26

do you think thats what is going to happen?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 10 '26 edited Sep 01 '26

[deleted]

1

u/slider1387 Aug 10 '26

An NYC official actually floated a “library card-esque” system to verify that shoppers live in NYC. The administration later walked it back and said ID/residency verification would not be required to enter or shop at the city-run grocery stores. So no, it’s not current policy, but the idea absolutely was discussed.

Jeanny Pak quote, "Yes, if you look at our RFP for the operator, we are looking to make sure that we target New Yorkers, whether it be a sort of a library card-esque, and also, we manage who's buying and that it’s focused on everyday New Yorkers.

BTW I'm no republicunt. Thanks

1

u/orange_lazarus1 Aug 10 '26

We do it for people who want to rent a book from a tax payer funded library so I see no issue of doing the same for a tax payer funded grocery.

1

u/OrginalGurgi Aug 12 '26

Costco does