Overview
- The 34-year-old democratic socialist is mayor-elect and will take office on January 1, 2026, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor.
- His signature promise is a rent freeze for roughly 2 million rent‑stabilized tenants, which he could pursue by appointing allies to the Rent Guidelines Board.
- To pay for his agenda, he proposes a 2% tax on incomes above $1 million and raising the city corporate tax rate to about 11.5%, measures that would require state approval.
- Estimated program costs cited in coverage include $600–800 million annually for fare‑free buses, about $6 billion a year for universal childcare, and subsidies for city-run grocery stores pegged around $140 million.
- Governor Kathy Hochul has signaled opposition to new income taxes, MTA leadership has questioned bus plans, analysts warn of economic risks, and President Trump has threatened federal funding retaliation.