New Yorkers are jittery in the final stretch before Election Day, and they know why: crime is still front of mind for families who want to walk their streets without fear. Polling shows a persistent worry about becoming a victim and a sense that public safety must be reclaimed before the city can heal.
Despite those fears, Zohran Mamdani—the self-described democratic socialist who rode a wave of progressive energy to the Democratic nomination—now stands as the prohibitive favorite in many polls to win City Hall. Establishment figures and media elites are already treating his potential victory as a fait accompli, even as ordinary New Yorkers tally up the consequences of the policies he promotes.
Mamdani’s platform reads like a wish list for big government: fare-free buses, universal childcare, city-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and a $30 minimum wage—policies that expand the public payroll while offering little that actually deters criminals. His approach consistently prioritizes social programs and decriminalization efforts over tough, commonsense law enforcement that protects working families.
Those priorities have real-world tradeoffs. Opponents have hammered Mamdani on his ties to DSA-led reform efforts and on legislative moves connected to decriminalization debates, and critics warn that vague promises to “reform” misdemeanors could translate into fewer consequences for thieves and repeat offenders. The public has also been unsettled by revelations about his past associations, which opponents have seized on to question his judgment on matters of security.
Conservatives and concerned citizens are not waiting to be steamrolled: GOP operatives and wealthy donors are publicly pressing for consolidation to stop a socialist mayor, while some Democrats and community leaders have even defected to back alternatives out of fear for safety and the city’s future. The last-minute politicking—calls for candidates to step aside and high-profile endorsements switching lanes—shows just how high the stakes have become.
This is a moment for patriots who still believe in safe streets, secure neighborhoods, and fiscal common sense to show up and vote. If New Yorkers reward promises of endless giveaways and soft-on-crime experiments, they will inherit a city less safe and more expensive; conservatives must turn concern into ballots and demand leaders who will protect families first.
