The mayoral candidate won on a bold, progressive platform. Some of his opponents had even bolder ideas.
In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral primary, Sophia Lebowitz of Streetsblog NYC has some advice for the candidate.
Acknowledging Mamdani’s transit- and pedestrian-friendly proposals (including free bus fare and more bike lanes), Lebowitz notes that “there are some areas where the young leader can look to his former rivals to make his platform even stronger from a livable streets perspective.”
For one, Lebowitz suggests Comptroller Brad Lander’s proposal to expand the Fair Fares program, which could be an easier political sell than free fares. Lander also has a more comprehensive plan surrounding micromobility and delivery vehicles that called for a licensing system for app companies and data sharing with the city.
When it comes to housing, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s Rebuild NYC plan proposes rebuilding the New York City Housing Authority and adding almost 100,000 new units of public housing, rezoning some industrial areas, and reallocating shelter funds to permanent housing.
How did Mamdani’s victory break down along neighborhood lines? Find out with this map from The City.
FULL STORY: Here’s What Mamdani Can Steal From Other Candidates To Strengthen His Livable Streets Platform
NYC mayor walks back free buses promise
Mayor Mamdani admitted that a key campaign promise, 'fast and free buses,' won't be fulfilled this year.
February Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
Transit agencies like BART and TriMet face lingering budget shortfalls, forcing major service cuts and layoffs, while federal plans to ban fare-free transit throw a wrench in NYC Mayor Mamdani’s proposal to make the city’s buses ‘fast and free.’
NYC Mayor Mamdani Backs Down on Expanded Rental Assistance Program, Citing $7 Billion Deficit
The new mayor had promised to expand the CityFHEPS rent assistance program to an additional 47,000 households.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association