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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I’m not surprised at all that Zohran Mamdani is the next mayor of New York City. I’m sad for my former hometown, but not surprised.
Remember this, half of the people who currently live in New York City were born outside of our country. That doesn’t mean that they’re bad citizens. But it does mean that a large part of the electorate is not well-versed in American democracy. People who’ve been in the country longer have already come to the conclusion that socialist-communism is incompatible with a successful free market economy.
I have no idea how a first-generation American makes a go of it in New York City. Someone who works a cash-register job simply cannot afford the rent in Manhattan. So the candidate who comes along and promises to free the rent, let you ride the bus for free, make daycare free, and set up less expensive city-owned grocery stores is going to have some appeal.
But those of us who live in the real world know that “free stuff” policies don’t work. Apartment buildings that become rent controlled will fall into under-maintained dilapidation. Free mass transportation will be overrun with homeless people. Waiting lists will explode for free daycare. City owned grocery stores that failed spectacularly in Kansas City won’t suddenly be viable in New York City.
New Yorkers will also find themselves on their own. Donald Trump is correct that taxpayers elsewhere won’t be funding the Big Apple’s political experiment.
Remember the two talk show hosts you’ve heard on this radio station. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity were wealthy enough to live anywhere they wish. If they loved Yankee games and Broadway shows enough, the could grin and bear it and live in Manhattan. Even they eventually cried “uncle;” both relocated to Florida. Many many other New Yorkers will come to the same conclusion… the city no longer works for them. The exit light is flashing brightly.
Chris Conley
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