ZOHRAN MAMDANI'S PRICES CRISES

THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WASN'T RUNNING ON TRUE "AFFORDABILITY." HE RAN AGAINST PRICES.

- PETER SUDERMAN

ZOHRAN MAMDANI'S CAMPAIGN for mayor of New York City was defined by a single word: affordability. Mamdani repeated the word, almost robotically, in every imaginable setting, no matter the question or context.

In a debate with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani contrasted his approach with his opponent's, insisting that Cuomo offered fear, whereas he would deliver affordability. When journalist Jorge Ramos asked Mamdani about whether he'd call Latin American authoritarians dictators, Mamdani demurred, saying he was more focused on affordability for the five boroughs. Mamdani's campaign was bolstered by clever social media, and one of his most memorable and effective videos was a complaint about the high price of takeout meals from halal food carts, which were suffering from “halalflation.” On Mamdani’s campaign website, the top of the platform page that lists and summarizes his main policy proposals is emblazoned with bold letters that say: “New York is too expensive. Zohran will lower costs and make life easier.”

Don’t get your hopes up.

Mamdani’s promise was that, as mayor, he would defeat high prices. But many of Mamdani’s signature ideas are variations on price controls. Take a deeper look at his policies, and it becomes clear that he ran against prices, period.