Zohran Mamdani may soon discover that governing New York City comes with no shortage of hidden traps.
Mamdani, the Democrat socialist who will be sworn in as mayor on Thursday, will quickly learn that voters form opinions about their mayor early, one observer said.
"It's the first 100 days that people remember," said George Arzt, a former spokesman for Mayor Ed Koch, told Politico.
Koch "used to say: If a sparrow dies of a heart attack somewhere in the city, it's my fault," Arzt added.
At 34, Mamdani is the youngest New York City mayor in more than a century and has no executive experience, having spent eight years as a state assemblyman.
Previous mayors have been judged by how they handled crises — from snowstorms and terrorist attacks to labor disputes and constant clashes with state government over implementing their agendas.
Much of Mamdani's agenda depends on securing approval from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature, particularly for his proposal to raise taxes on the wealthy.
Though Hochul endorsed Mamdani, she has been lukewarm on several of his proposals, including tax increases and making city buses free — a position shaped in part by her reelection bid in November.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio saw much of his agenda blocked amid a bitter feud with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's effort to build a stadium on Manhattan's West Side was ultimately killed by the state Assembly.
"Your expectations have to be low for what goes on in Albany," Rory Whalen, a special adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, told Politico. "The Legislature is going to toy with him. They're not going to deliver his agenda. He's not going to get everything."
Mamdani could also face resistance from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to deploy the National Guard to New York City and cut off federal funding. Still, the two appeared cordial during a recent White House meeting.
Adams and de Blasio encountered early, unexpected crises, including major snowstorms and the shooting of police officers in the line of duty.
Police officers famously turned their backs on de Blasio when he arrived to pay condolences. Adams, meanwhile, was quickly dogged by allegations of cronyism after appointing a longtime associate — previously accused of cronyism — as deputy mayor for public safety.
Adams was later indicted on federal corruption charges, though the case was dropped.
Mamdani will also contend with a hostile press corps, particularly the New York Post, which sharply criticized him throughout his campaign.
"The Post by itself in 2026 is not strong enough to doom a mayoralty," Democratic strategist Trip Yang told Politico. "But a bad relationship with the broader press corps, including the Post, can determine the ceiling — or the floor — of a mayor's career."
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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