Reality check – would free NYC buses really attract “addicts and vagrants”, like opponents claim?

Photo above – Candidate Zohran Mamdani becomes testy during an appearance on Stephen Colbert, when asked to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to Hamas terrorism. He later walked offstage, claiming the question was unfair.

Today’s man-bites-dog story: Reliably progressive newspaper The Washington Post (motto: “Democracy Dies in Dorkiness”) has taken a stance against NYC candidate Zohran Mamdani. The presumptive mayor who apparently no other candidate will be able to defeat. The issue? Free public buses. The WaPo opposes them. Stop laughing – this is 100% true. See link below.

The natural question to ask is: does the WaPo even have a dog in this fight? How are free New York buses a threat to DC?

We probably won’t see dozens of big city mayors trying to copy Mamdani’s campaign rhetoric. But the WaPo’s claim that free bus rides will result a system overwhelmed by addicts and vagrants is tough to swallow. After all, the NYC subway system is already overrun with addicts and vagrants, and it’s never been free. Addicts and vagrants are apparently a feature of city life in NY, not a bug. The Post missed the real reason to oppose free buses, subways, and free hotel rooms migrants: the city is already going broke, and Mamdani has pledged to end public school programs for gifted students as a way to make ends meet.

Hmmm . . . free bus fare for those without a buck, or keep trying to improve public schools? Hey . . . is this a trick question?

Maybe the Washington Post smells blood in the water, with Mamdani’s campaign. Zohran recently stalked offstage during a taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert because he took exception to terrorism and antisemitism questions. On the way home from the taping (which so far hasn’t aired) Mamdani had to dodge city residents asking if he would formally and clearly renounce the imposition of Sharia Islamic law in New York City when elected.

I don’t think Mamdani actually promised Sharia law as part of his campaign. Getting people to sign up for stoning or beheading for consensual acts like adultery and sodomy might be a tough sell in NY. But taking a step back from Jihad and Fatwahs might be a good idea. It might even help the city save money in the long run.

I’m just sayin’ . . .



Washington Post blasts Mamdani's free bus proposal, warns it would attract ‘vagrants and drug addicts'

Zohran Mamdani says “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” asked him to play on-air 'game' about Israel's war on Gaza