Us Today: Issue Seven

Its Turkey time... A time for family gathering, lots of food and of course elections. I was deciding what kind of post I wanted issue seven to be as New York City is preparing for one of its most significant political events: the mayoral election knowing that this election will shape the city’s future, affecting everything from public safety to housing, transportation, and education. As the city’s residents look ahead, understanding the key issues and candidates is essential for making an informed choice. (Hint the importance of proper information about the candidates being advertised and published.)

The mayor of New York City holds a powerful position, responsible for managing a budget of over $90 billion and overseeing millions of residents. The decisions made by the next mayor will impact daily life in the city for years to come. Some of the most pressing challenges include:

• Public Safety: Crime rates have fluctuated in recent years, and residents want clear plans to keep neighborhoods safe.

• Affordable Housing: The city faces a housing shortage, with many struggling to find affordable places to live.

• Transportation: Aging infrastructure and crowded subways require urgent attention.

• Economic Recovery: Post-pandemic recovery efforts remain a priority, especially for small businesses and workers.

New York City uses a ranked-choice voting system for mayoral elections. This means voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on second choices. This process continues until one candidate has a majority.

Ranked-choice voting encourages candidates to appeal to a broader audience and reduces the chances of a winner without majority support. It also allows voters to express their true preferences without worrying about “wasting” their vote.

When deciding who to support, voters should look beyond campaign slogans and focus on:

• Experience: Has the candidate held public office or managed large projects successfully?

• Specific Plans: Are their proposals detailed and realistic? Vague promises are less helpful.

• Community Engagement: Do they have a history of working with diverse communities across the city?

• Accountability: How transparent are they about funding and decision-making?

  
  

Attending candidate forums, reading local news coverage, and reviewing official campaign materials can provide valuable insights.

Public debates and media coverage play a crucial role in informing voters. They offer a platform for candidates to explain their views and respond to criticism. However, media can sometimes focus on controversies or personality clashes rather than policy details.

Voters should seek balanced sources and look for fact-based reporting. Independent analysis and nonpartisan voter guides can help cut through the noise.

The mayor’s decisions affect many aspects of city life:

• Education: Funding and policies for public schools shape opportunities for children.

• Transportation: Improvements or neglect can influence commute times and air quality.

• Public Health: Initiatives around healthcare access and pandemic response protect residents.

• Economic Opportunity: Support for businesses and workers affects job availability and wages.

  
  

Understanding these connections helps voters see why the mayoral election matters beyond politics, this includes religion and other bias' that may affect not only the vote but the way the mayorial elect operates and runs our government.

Engagement doesn’t end at the ballot box. Residents can:

• Volunteer for campaigns or community groups.

• Attend town halls and public meetings.

• Stay informed about city government actions.

• Advocate for issues important to their neighborhoods.

  
  

Active participation strengthens democracy and ensures leaders remain accountable.

Post election -

Congratulations to our new Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. He is an African - American politician (Born in Kampala, Uganda and an American citizen since 2018) , a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. He has served as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 36th district (Queens) since 2021,

He is the city's first Muslim and first South Asian mayor.

Fun fact: Both his parents are of Indian descent;^[16] his father is a Gujarati Shia Muslim from the Khoja community, born in Mumbai and raised primarily in Uganda.^[17][18] His mother is a Punjabi Hindu^[19][20][21] who was born in Rourkela and raised in Bhubaneswar.^[22] His paternal grandparents were born in present-day Tanzania, and his father's family was part of the Indian diaspora in Southeast Africa.^[18] His maternal grandfather, Amrit Lal Nair, was a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer,^[23] and his maternal grandmother, Praveen Nair, was a social worker and founder of the Salaam Baalak Trust in India.^[24]