Mamdani, even as she endorsed him over her old boss, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Now that Mamdani’s officially the mayor-elect, her remarks have taken on extra weight.
“I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways. But can we find a path to make it more affordable for people who need help? Of course we can,” Hochul said.
Mamdani has proposed that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which Hochul controls, would eliminate the fare for New York City buses. MTA leadership has already expressed skepticism of the plan, even after Mamdani won a short-lived pilot program for one free bus in each borough in 2023.
Hochul also dug into the difficulties of implementing free, universal child care. She has embraced the concept, which was a key plank of Mamdani’s campaign, but suggested it would take time to phase in, raising concerns about training enough child care workers and having enough facilities.
She also said the state was on a “collision course” given federal cuts from President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Our ambitions are big, and I believe in them, and I want to accomplish them. We also have to figure out — now I’m in the hole $3 billion already on Medicaid cuts,” she said. “So if Republicans would stop doing that, and I got back to my normal budgeting cycle, it looks a lot easier.”
And Hochul’s concerns with Mamdani aren’t just about the budget. Addressing the many Jewish New Yorkers who felt alienated by Mamdani’s staunchly anti-Israel politics, Hochul said they need some time to “see action” from the mayor-elect.
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