A look inside Mamdanis socialist dream to shake up NYC transit

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made “fast and free buses” a defining promise of his administration, framing the proposal as both an affordability measure and a long-overdue fix for a bus system that advocates say has been neglected for decades.But his big swing seems poised to collide with the political realities of New York City.Supporters argue fare-free buses would reduce conflict, improve safety, and offer immediate relief to riders who depend on buses the most.

Skeptics, including on-air pundits and transit organizations, warn the idea risks creating a major funding gap for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unless the city commits to a durable revenue stream and a clear operational plan.New York City bus riders already face some of the slowest service in the nation despite carrying millions of passengers each day.“We’re the biggest ridership, and yet we’re subject to the slowest buses.It’s a fundamental unfairness.

It’s an embarrassment,” Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director at the Riders Alliance, told Fox News Digital during a bus ride through the Bronx.That history helps explain why Mamdani’s proposal has resonated politically.Pearlstein said bus riders, many of whom are students, seniors, and caregivers, are pressed for time and money just like drivers or subway commuters.

Yet buses have long been deprioritized on New York City streets.“That is why this administration’s call for fast and free buses resonates,” he added.Pearlstein’s interview, among others, is part of Fox News Digital’s “The Rise of Socialism” series, which examines how socialist ideas and policies are increasingly shaping political debates and public policy in major cities across the United States.Advocates point first to safety and reduced conflict.Multiple interviewees claimed that fare disputes are a persistent source of tension between riders and bus operators.“When you eliminate fare payments on the buses,...