$18 billion price tag for mandatory new schools; NYC won’t have free buses and daycare after all?

Photo above - Millionaire candidate Zohran Mamdani rides the subway as a campaign stunt earlier this year. He just announced a subway fare increase, and he hasn't even been sworn in yet. He's also surrendering his rent-controlled apartment to get free lodging in the Gracie Mansion, built in 1799, the mayor's official residence.

Zero for three! During his campaign Zohran Mamdani promised to fire thousands of police, arrest Israel’s PM Netanyahu, and offer free bus rides for everyone, everywhere, all the time. Who WOULDN’T go for this? (insert sarcasta-bang here).

Instead, after winning the election, Mamdani begged the police commissioner to remain, promising no police job cuts; he discovered that mayors can’t arrest diplomats visiting the UN, and raised subway fares. Low information voters are probably outraged.

The big enchilada is no free NYC buses or day care. I bet there are thousands of single moms in NYC who could benefit from this. And thousands of kids who would be warehoused in decaying buildings with inadequate staff ratios because when stuff is free, you get what you pay for.

It turns out all of that money for freebies will be needed to build $18 Billion (with a B) in new schools. And billions more for teacher salaries. Voters were also promised smaller class sizes (no more than 25 rugrats per room) and replacement of buildings with leaky roofs, overflowing toilets, and freezing winter temps. Who knew these things would be important to parents?

I just found out why my New York friend moved from the city to the suburbs, and paid $1,000 a square foot for modest (2K sf) home assessed at $40k annually in property taxes. He did a deep dive on the school districts. His new district already has class size limits and buildings which don’t violate health and occupancy codes.

In America, we can have anything we want, provided we’re willing to pay for it. The problem is, our wants get stoked to the max during political campaigns, and there’s no discussion of how to pay for that stuff.

I’m just sayin’ . . .



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