In his first ten days in office, New York City's new Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has swiftly begun implementing a bold agenda centred on housing and childcare, directly challenging the dystopian warnings issued by his right-wing critics during the election campaign.
Policy Moves Counter Right-Wing Predictions
Following his inauguration on New Year's Day 2026, the 34-year-old democratic socialist has focused on concrete measures rather than the "collapse" and "political repression" some opponents had forecast. The reality of his early tenure stands in stark contrast to visions of a far-left hellscape that would supposedly drive the wealthy from the city.
Mamdani's campaign was built on the pivotal issue of affordable housing. On his very first day, he established two key taskforces. One is charged with reviewing city-owned land for potential development, while the other aims to identify and dismantle bureaucratic barriers that slow down home construction.
He also announced a series of public "rental ripoff" hearings, empowering tenants to testify about poor living conditions as a step towards cracking down on negligent landlords. Further executive orders gave officials 45 days to bring homeless shelters up to health and safety code and demanded a plan to improve conditions in city jails, including an end to solitary confinement.
A Major Win: Free Childcare Expansion
A significant early achievement, which also served to rebut claims he would be stymied by state government, was a joint plan with New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Announced at an event at the Flatbush Branch YMCA on 8 January 2026, the initiative will provide free childcare for two-year-olds in New York City.
The move was hailed by advocacy groups and the New York Democratic Socialists of America as a "huge moment for parents" and a "big win for the people of New York." This policy enjoys substantial public support, with polls indicating two-thirds of New York voters back free childcare funded by taxes on the wealthy.
Criticism and Pragmatic Fixes
Despite the popular nature of these promised policies, right-wing media outlets have maintained a critical stance. Fox News lamented his siding with tenants, and the New York Post criticised the childcare plan as a "taxpayer-slamming boondoggle," largely ignoring its widespread popularity.
Mamdani also faced backlash for condemning a potential US military operation in Venezuela and for calling out the killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE officers.
Alongside major policy launches, the mayor has addressed smaller, longstanding quality-of-life issues. In a characteristically direct move, he personally oversaw Department of Transport workers smoothing out a notoriously awkward and dangerous dip for cyclists on the Manhattan exit of the Williamsburg Bridge—a fix residents had requested for years.
This pragmatic action, improving daily life for thousands of commuters, was a quiet but meaningful accomplishment that even his most ardent critics struggled to fault.
