photo credit: Cindy Schultz, Reuters
(New York, NY) — Governor Kathy Hochul appears to be shooting down New York City Mayor elect Zohran Mamdani’s plans to give New Yorkers free buses.
She said over the weekend she cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses. Hochul said while she supports some of the democratic socialist’s agenda — including universal child care — she can’t get behind his plans to make bus service in New York City free by taxing the city’s wealthiest households. The city can’t raise taxes unilaterally, so the plan would ultimately need approval from Hochul and the Democratic-controlled state Legislature.
Mamdani didn’t address her comments directly but says he’s confident there will be a politics of partnership in Albany not seen in some time. He says affordability unites many across the Democratic Party and he looks forward to delivering on his commitment of free buses.
