How could Zohran Mamdani pay for his bold agenda for New York? We broke it down

"But making the city more affordable for residents is an expensive government task, and many economists and politicians to Mamdani's right say he faces too many obstacles to meaningfully deliver on his signature ideas. Further complicating matters is the Trump administration, which will almost certainly pull funding for New York in an attempt to sabotage Mamdani and create budget holes that make it more difficult to pay for new priorities."

"And New York City must get state legislature approval to adjust many revenue streams. Matt Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, cited the state legislature stopping the city from increasing dog licensing fees in 2014 because of a disagreement between the then mayor, Bill de Blasio, and a lawmaker. The dramatic way of putting it is New York City can't raise dog licensing fees without state legislature approval, and it was true then, and it's true now, Gardner said."

"The Mamdani campaign estimates it could raise about $10bn by increasing the corporate tax rate, taxes on the wealthy, and existing fee and tax collections. Detractors say businesses and the wealthy will relocate, but that is contradicted by credible research. And the corporate tax is on profits made in the state no matter where a company is located, making the argument at least partially moot."

Zohran Mamdani campaigned on making New York City more affordable with proposals including free buses, universal childcare and a large expansion of low-cost housing. Delivering those proposals requires substantial government spending and faces obstacles from opposing economists, politicians, and anticipated federal funding cuts under the Trump administration. State legislative approval is required for many revenue changes and has constrained city authority before. Campaign estimates suggest about $10 billion could be raised through higher corporate and wealthy taxes and improved fee collections, while critics warn of potential business and resident relocation despite research disputing that outcome.

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