It wasn’t exactly unexpected, but the insults flew as the three mayoral candidates–Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa–duked it out in New York City’s first televised mayoral debate this week.
Mamdani and Cuomo were mostly focused on jousting with one another, while Sliwa (sans his iconic red beret) took the opportunity to antagonistically jab at both of his opponents.
“Zohran Mamdani seemed poised, prepared, and forward looking. He focused like a laser on the issues that New Yorkers care about like affordability. He had plans, he was ready to describe how he wants to implement those plans,” said Maurice Mitchell, national director for the Working Families Party (WFP) at a civics bingo night held at Bunnan restaurant in Brooklyn on Oct. 16.
“I thought Curtis Sliwa provided some comic relief and Andrew Cuomo continued to look tired. He had diversions. He wasn’t focused on actually building anything, just pointing out mistruths and lies about Zorhan’s message.”
Going into the debate, Mamdani is still maintaining a hefty lead (46%), according to a recent polling from Quinnipiac University. Cuomo as a second runner up (33%) is gaining some steam, due largely to incumbent Mayor Eric Adams dropping out of the race. Sliwa is in third with 15% voter support.
Breakdown of the candidates positions as expressed in the debate:
Mamdani
- Wants to invest in the Second Ave subway infrastructure project in Harlem
- Clarified will eliminate gifted and talented programs “solely for Kindergarteners”
- Against mayoral control of the public school system
- Promised to defend and protect Jewish New Yorkers
- Apologized to police NYPD police officers for previous “Defund the Police” tweets from 2020 characterized as incendiary
- Would not allow the National Guard in.
- Peaceful protests and demonstrations are a right. Wouldn’t join in.
- Create Department of Community Safety
- Free bus ride plan
- Freeze rent for rent stabilized apartments
“If we have a health pandemic, then why would New Yorkers turn back to the governor who sent seniors to their death in nursing homes? That’s the kind of experience that’s on offer here today. What I don’t have in experience, I make up for integrity. And what you [Cuomo] don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for in experience.”
Cuomo
- Spends $150 a week on groceries and $7,800 on rent
- Hire and retain 5,000 NYPD officers and increase public safety
- Expand gifted and talented programs and supports mayoral control
- Claims dropped from sexual harassment cases. Some are still in courts
- Develop and build more specialized high schools in all boroughs
- Keep the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)
- Would not allow National Guard troops in
- Peaceful protests and demonstrations are a right.
- Would back up people with legal representation when it comes to ICE courts
“I never had a conversation with the president that the assemblyman was talking about. He’s had a distant relationship with the truth.”
Sliwa
- Would work with Trump for federal funding
- Peaceful protests and demonstrations are a right. Would remove face coverings.
- Wants to convert unused commercial spaces into housing
- Crackdown on fare evasion and subway crime
- Wants to expand gifted and talented slots to all kids, especially Black and Brown students.
- Urges people to vote no to Ballot Props 2, 3, and 4 centered around housing and City of Yes plans.
- Need to protect migrants that are essential workers and use ICE to target criminals
“When you were governor, for eight years, your parole board released 43 cop killers back into the street. Your father, when he was governor, released none. I knew Mario Cuomo. You’re no Mario Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo.”
Each candidate promised to make 311 more efficient and responsive to address quality of life issues like noise, rats, and trash, for New Yorkers.