New York, Oct. 2025 – As the New York City mayoral race heats up, candidates Zohran Mamdani, Curtis Sliwa, and Andrew Cuomo outlined sharply contrasting visions on issues ranging from public schools and transit to sex work and urban development.
Gifted Programs Under Debate
The city’s system for assessing 4-year-olds for gifted programs remains controversial. Critics point out that children from affluent families often outperform peers from disadvantaged backgrounds in vocabulary and other early skills even before age two.
Mamdani has called for phasing out the kindergarten track for gifted programs, while Cuomo and Sliwa propose expanding seats. City schools, one of the largest municipal bureaucracies, remain a key area where a mayor can exercise significant control.
Unlike New York, most U.S. school districts rarely start gifted programs in kindergarten, do not rely solely on teacher recommendations, and often do not have separate programs for the youngest students. Education, though not a dominant theme in the mayoral debate, remains a critical local issue with lasting implications.
Transit and Fair Fares
Mamdani highlighted that one in five New Yorkers are “priced out” of public transit. He supports expanding programs like Fair Fares, which allows qualifying low-income commuters to pay half-price fares, but he acknowledged that advocates say the program does not go far enough to reach all who need it.
Sex Work and Decriminalization
Mamdani emphasized that he has never supported legalizing prostitution. However, he has sponsored legislation aimed at removing criminal penalties for adults involved in sex work. His campaign clarified that a Mamdani administration would focus on combating sex trafficking, supporting victims, and offering alternative career paths for sex workers, while broader decriminalization remains a topic under discussion.
Urban Development and “City of Yes”
Sliwa criticized the Adams administration’s pro-development “City of Yes” initiative, which encourages housing projects across the city. He aligns with voters in lower-density neighborhoods of Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx who resist large-scale development.
Presidential Preferences Make Brief Appearance
In a lighter moment, candidates were asked about their favorite modern presidents. Cuomo praised Bill Clinton, Mamdani selected F.D.R., and Sliwa eventually chose Ronald Reagan after an initial mention of George Pataki.
The debate underscored the wide range of priorities among mayoral candidates, from early childhood education and housing policy to public transit and criminal justice reform. Voters in New York City face clear choices as the race continues to unfold.