Fabiola Galindo: Ya son nueve meses desde que llegó a la alcaldía y llegó con el voto latino prometiendo más asequibilidad, una ciudad más barata. Pero muchos todavía no ven eso. ¿Cuáles son los ejemplos claros en donde los latinos pueden decir, hoy mi vida es más barata?
Translation: It's been nine months since you took office, winning the Latino vote by promising greater affordability and a city that is less expensive to live in. But many people still aren't seeing that. What are some clear examples where Latinos can say, 'Today, my life is more affordable'?
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: So, one of the clear things we've done in these nine months is we've put our city on a path to universal childcare. We have, for the first time, offered free childcare for 2-year-olds. So Latino families that were spending $20,000 a year now, just as of about a month ago, can enroll their child into one of these schools where they will be able to save that money.
Additionally, we took 10,000 families that were off the waitlist that were waiting for childcare vouchers – we've given them those vouchers as well. So, families, making it easier for them to be able to afford to live in New York City.
The other clear thing is we have put everything of the power of City government in delivering for New Yorkers, even when it means holding large-scale corporations accountable. And when it comes to DoorDash, one of the largest companies in New York City, we held them accountable for more than $131 million, delivering money that they had not paid or underpaid to more than 260,000 delivery workers.
Galindo: Las elecciones de medio término están a pocas semanas de ocurrir, y usted ha mostrado su apoyo por el candidato al Senado en Michigan, el Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. Y quisiera preguntarle, ¿cuál es el rol del alcalde de Nueva York en estas elecciones, y que cree usted que está en juego?
Translation: The midterm elections are just a few weeks away, and you have shown your support for the Senate candidate in Michigan, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and I would like to ask you what is the role of the mayor of New York in these elections, and what do you think is at stake?
Mayor Mamdani: As I've said before, my focus is on New York City, and that's where I've kept my endorsements for this time. But I did have the pleasure of meeting with Dr. El-Sayed just yesterday in a small gathering.
And when I look at his campaign, I see what so many are excited by across the country because in his campaign he summarizes it as "Money out of politics. Money in your pocket. Medicare for all." And that, to me, is what so many Americans want from their politics in this moment.
And when you ask, "What's at stake?" What's at stake to me is whether or not working-class Americans look at democracy as something that can deliver for them or as something that's a value that they can't afford to care about.
Because there are too many people who work so hard every day, they still can't afford their rent; they still can't afford their groceries; they still can't afford their childcare. And I'm hopeful for Democrats across the country, but hope doesn't win the elections on its own. Everyone has to do everything that they can to get across the finish line.
Galindo: ¿Qué más hay en la papeleta en esta ocasión? Porque no solamente son elecciones de congresistas y senadores, sino también de muchos cambios en la ciudad.
Translation: What else is on the ballot this time? Because it's not just elections for members of Congress and senators, but also many changes happening in the city.
Mayor Mamdani: So, I'm really glad that you asked because these are sometimes the things which can feel overly bureaucratic or as if they're removed from people's lives. But when it comes to these five proposals, they are about New Yorkers' lives, because what these five proposals are about is whether or not to make government faster.
And so, for families – let's say if you're a family in Corona that owns a restaurant. These ballot proposals are about whether or not you can get outdoor dining faster. If you're a family in the Bronx waiting for the construction of affordable housing, these ballot proposals are about whether or not that housing construction can be sped up. If you're a family on Staten Island and your kid has to cross the same dangerous street every day, these proposals are also about speeding up the construction of those kinds of streets.
So really, whatever proposal you're looking at, one through five, it's all about making government faster. And it came out of something we commissioned called the Commission on Government Efficiency, because we want a City government that works as fast and as well as New Yorkers.
Galindo: ¿Cuál cree que es la promesa más grande que usted ha hecho que aún no ha cumplido y que los neoyorquinos deben estar atentos y esperar que la cumpla antes de que termine el año?
Translation: What do you think is the biggest promise you've made that you haven't yet fulfilled, and that New Yorkers should be watching for and expecting you to deliver on before the end of the year?
Mayor Mamdani: What I would say is that as the mayor of this city, my job is to deliver for all 8.5 million people of this city. And if there is something that you are seeing of City government not working as well as it should, you should hold me and City government to account.
And one of the things that gives me the most joy, frankly, is when I hear from New Yorkers about what little thing we could do to make their life that much better.
Galindo: Thank you so much, Mayor. Muchas gracias.
Mayor Mamdani: De nada.