(The Center Square)—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is dumping cold water on New York City mayoral-elect Zohran Mamdani’s signature campaign pledge to increase taxes on the wealthy to cover public bus rides.
Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani’s campaign, 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.
“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters Saturday in live-streamed remarks from Puerto Rico, where she and other New York Democrats are gathering for an annual get-together. “But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course, we can.”
A Hochul spokesperson later said that Hochul and Mamdani are committed to “delivering an affordability agenda” for New York City’s working families following last Tuesday’s election, when Mamdani won the city’s top elected post after defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
“The governor is focused on achieving universal child care and will continue to have ongoing conversations on other proposals, including making transit more accessible and affordable, while ensuring the MTA has the resources it needs to serve New Yorkers,” the statement said.
The Hochul administration has already invested in the MTA’s $68.4 billion capital plan for infrastructure and subway safety improvements, according to the statement, and is focused on preventing fare evasion, which costs the taxpayer-funded public transit agency more than $315 million a year.
The city’s Independent Budget Office estimates that fare-free buses on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system of more than 200 local routes would cost more than $652 million a year.
To pay for it, Mandani has pitched a flat 2% tax on New Yorkers with income of more than $1 million per year to fund “free” buses but also universal childcare and government-run grocery stores. He’s also called for increasing corporate taxes. New York state already has the highest top income tax rate in the nation.
While Hochul — who is seeking reelection next year — was quick to rule out support for his taxing plan, Mamdani appears to have at least support from Democratic Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Both leaders endorsed his mayoral bid and have refused to rule out raising taxes next year to pay for his proposals.
Senate President Andrea Stewart-Cousins described Mamdani’s win last week as a “moment of progress” for New York City, saying that she will work with the new mayor to “advance an affordability agenda” for the city.
A Mamdani spokesperson issued a statement saying the mayor-elect “looks forward to working with the governor to fund and deliver on our popular affordability agenda, including universal childcare and fast and free buses.”
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