Mamdani: ‘Democrats Lost Their Focus on Working People’ — EXCLUSIVE

[0:00] Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for doing this. [0:02] Such a pleasure. Thank you for being here. [0:03] Let us go to City Hall. [0:05] After you win in the primary, I'm going to take you back a little bit. [0:08] The New York Times ran a headline that said Mamdani triumphed without a majority of black voters. [0:14] There have been questions and criticism about what kind of mayor you would be for black New Yorkers, [0:18] but there's been some recent polling by the New York Times that found black folks here in New York [0:23] had the highest approval rating of you of any ethnic group by 55% was what they said. [0:29] What do you think changed? [0:32] No, I think that for a number of voters, it was the first time that they were hearing of me. [0:36] You know, I recall at the time in that primary, it was an introduction more than an ability to persuade someone. [0:44] And I knew that I was going up not only against another candidate, but frankly, against a legacy of a name. [0:51] And in the time since then, we've been able to show exactly what we are governing for, and that is the working person. [0:58] And when we talk about a focus on the cost of living crisis, we know that for black New Yorkers, that's not an intellectual concern. [1:06] The city has lost 200,000 black New Yorkers over the last few decades alone. [1:10] From 2010 to 2019, we saw a 19% drop in the population of black children and teenagers. [1:17] So in focusing on the affordability crisis, in delivering on that crisis, [1:21] we are finally bringing the struggles of black New Yorkers and New Yorkers across the five boroughs to the heart of our politics and not just to the footnotes of it. [1:28] There's been a long-running criticism argument made about Bernie Sanders, Democratic Socialists in general, [1:35] that Democratic Socialism treats class as the primary lens and race as secondary, even sometimes ignoring it completely. [1:43] The assumption being that if you fix the economic inequality, racial inequality will just follow, and does it require its own focus. [1:50] It seems like you're saying you disagree with that. [1:52] I think that we need to have a vision that encompasses all of these things. [1:56] We have to have an understanding of the impacts of class, and we have to have an understanding of the impacts of race. [2:00] You know, we cannot divorce the racial inequities we see across the city, [2:04] which are so stark in just the measurements of median household wealth and income from the political choices and decisions that have been made over many years. [2:14] And, you know, I even think about there was a policy that Rudy Giuliani had implemented of a tax lien sale. [2:21] We found that the city was six times more likely to sell tax liens in a black neighborhood than in a white neighborhood. [2:27] That's, you know, that and the impact that it has on homeowners, one of the reasons why we put a pause to that sale. [2:32] And I think it just speaks to the many ways in which government has exacerbated racism across not just the city, [2:40] but frankly, across our country through its political choices, and it's time to actually address it through not only acknowledgement, [2:46] but frankly, through affirmative policies. [2:48] Yeah, even with that, with the numbers that we saw from this New York Times mayor's poll, there are still critics. [2:53] There's always going to be some who say that you're still not doing enough. [2:56] There was a lot of criticism about whether or not you had enough black staff, enough black people around you who are political professionals. [3:03] What do you say to them? [3:04] Yeah, I think it's a city of eight and a half million people. [3:06] I don't begrudge any New Yorker of their opinion. [3:08] I'd frankly be concerned if we had eight and a half million people agreeing on one thing besides the Knicks. [3:13] I think there's a lot of agreement. [3:14] We're incredibly excited. [3:15] And I think this is an administration where we're looking to not only reflect the city at large, but also to address the concerns of the city at large. [3:24] And to have this opportunity right now, it's one where we can show that it's going to be about delivering universal child care for the first time in New York City history for two-year-olds. [3:33] It's also going to be about paving over 102,000 potholes in 100 days. [3:37] That's the way in which we can combine a pothole politics that shows that there's no problem too big, no task too small. [3:43] Yeah. [3:44] I want to move to the racial equity plan from the city. [3:47] The Times reported that the administration chose not to restore references to diversity, equity, and inclusion that had been cut from a draft that you inherited from Mayor Eric Adams, and that officials expected federal blowback. [4:00] So, I guess, did you or someone on your team keep that DEI language out of there because of a fear with the fight with the Trump administration? [4:08] The focus that we had when it came to that report was, one, actually releasing it. [4:12] The prior administration had stonewall its release over many years. [4:16] The second focus was how can we not only name the racial inequities in this city that are so obvious for anyone who is looking, but also start to put together a framework that would address those inequities. [4:26] And the third focus was how can we ensure that all of this will stand up to whatever pressure it faces? [4:33] Because, as we all know, whenever you name racism for what it is, there is an immense pressure to try and back away from that. [4:40] We wanted to put together the strongest legal argument to ensure that we could actually move forward on it, and that's what we found in this report. [4:46] So, a legal argument that doesn't include the words DEI, do the words matter in there? [4:51] I think all of the argument that we laid out is one that we believe can withstand whatever pressure comes from the federal administration. [4:58] And for us, what we found is that New Yorkers care more about what we can deliver than the process by which we get to it. [5:05] And that's exactly what we're looking to do, is finally deliver a vision for racial equity that is able to get into a material consequence for New Yorkers. [5:13] On April 6th, the Assistant Attorney General, Hermit Dillon, posted that your plan, quote, [5:19] sounds fishy and illegal, will review, exclamation point. [5:23] Have you had any actual communication with the Justice Department over this? [5:26] You know, I have not had direct communication myself. [5:29] Our team is always in communication with the federal administration over a number of areas of disagreement, [5:34] but we are fully confident in this report and in our ability to withstand any pressure. [5:38] Are you worried about them coming here and taking federal funds in order to change the plan that you have? [5:45] Yeah, I think none of our values or our laws are bargaining chips. [5:51] And we will not step back in the face of any of this kind of pressure because we're not embarrassed about these things. [5:57] We're proud of them. [5:58] It's what makes us New Yorkers. [6:00] And so, if the federal government has issues with this report or any other policy, we look forward to that conversation. [6:05] But it's not one we're going to shirk from. [6:07] You're one of the maybe only mayors, Democrats, who has engaged with Donald Trump and the Trump administration publicly, [6:14] and it seems like everyone left not fighting. [6:18] What is the trick to that conversation and the relationship with Donald Trump that other mayors maybe could take a note from? [6:24] Well, I think it is unfair in that I have an advantage in that we are both from New York City, [6:29] and we share a love of the city amidst many disagreements that we have, whether about the country or about the city. [6:35] And one thing that the president said to me, as well as to the public, is the better the city does, the happier he is. [6:41] And in that, I ensure that our conversations are focused on how we can do better for the city. [6:46] And that doesn't mean shying away from disagreement. [6:48] You know, I've sat directly with the president, and I've spoken to him about the fact that I believe that ICE raids are cruel and inhumane. [6:54] And I believe they do nothing to serve the interests of public safety. [6:57] It just means being honest and ensuring that it isn't a conversation around personality or the two people who are there, [7:04] but rather around the people of New York City and how we can deliver for them. [7:07] I think you called him a fascist at the Oval Office, if I remember correctly. [7:11] Yes. [7:11] When was the last time you two spoke? [7:13] Yeah, I keep the nature and the cadence of those conversations between the two of us, [7:16] but I will tell you that whenever we have the conversation, it's about the city of New York. [7:21] Yeah, yeah. [7:21] You ran as an insurgent against the establishment. [7:24] What has governing taught you in the last six months or so that campaigning didn't? [7:30] I think what's incredible about governing is you have the opportunity to deliver. [7:34] During a campaign, you're asking people to believe. [7:37] And for some New Yorkers, that's easier. [7:38] But for others who've lived through decades of politicians coming to them with promises [7:44] and then abandoning them as soon as they have the opportunity to lose their principles, [7:48] it's hard for them to believe. [7:50] And so in governing, you can say, I understand why you weren't there in the beginning. [7:54] But now, when we're paving these potholes, when we're delivering universal child care, [7:58] when we're establishing the office to prevent deed theft, [8:01] when we're pausing the tax lien sale, [8:03] when we're holding bad landlords accountable to the tune of $65 million, [8:06] now, here's a reason to believe. [8:09] And what I've found is that it allows you to not only build a larger coalition, [8:14] but it also allows you to show those who had the courage in the first place [8:18] that they were right to hope. [8:19] Yeah. [8:20] Where, maybe you haven't had to, [8:22] but have you had to compromise a position you once in your head [8:25] when you were running or earlier in your life [8:27] that you thought was non-negotiable that you've had to compromise on? [8:30] I never thought that I'd be delivering for Yankees fans, [8:33] but I am delivering for every New Yorker. [8:35] And that's a new reality. [8:37] There's got to be a new, a different one than the Yankees. [8:40] I didn't think I'd be doing that. [8:41] Yeah, yeah. [8:41] Here I am. [8:42] And I think it just speaks to the fact that, you know, [8:44] you govern for everyone. [8:45] Yeah. [8:46] Not just for those who voted for you, for those who voted. [8:48] There are eight and a half million people in the city. [8:51] They want to see a better city. [8:52] No matter how they feel about me, it's my job to do it. [8:54] Yeah. [8:55] In that vein of maybe they are Yankees fans, [8:58] but at the end of the day, the business community. [9:00] There was lots of criticisms when you won business leaders [9:03] and all the wealthy would leave town. [9:05] I don't think that they did. [9:07] There's the pied-a-terre tax that came out. [9:09] You've been meeting with some of these CEOs, [9:12] Jamie Dimon, Ken Griffin, to name two. [9:15] Is this you trying to smooth those relationships over [9:18] for the benefit of the New Yorkers? [9:20] This is my meeting with business leaders [9:22] who have an important role to play in our city. [9:24] And I wish every New Yorker success in this city. [9:27] I wish for business leaders that they continue to contribute [9:29] to what is a strong economy and create good-paying jobs. [9:33] And I also know that in these meetings, [9:35] when I speak to business leaders, [9:37] that even amongst their own employees, [9:40] they are not immune to the affordability crisis. [9:43] You can be making six figures and still blink [9:45] when you realize you have to spend $20,000 a year [9:48] on child care for a single child. [9:50] And so what I see in them is also the opportunity [9:52] to partner, to work together. [9:55] You know, when I was sitting with Jamie Dimon, [9:57] we spoke about the ways in which we could make [9:59] the public sector as efficient and excellent as possible. [10:02] Because no matter a policy disagreement [10:04] on taxation structure or things of that nature, [10:07] we both agree that we need to have [10:10] the best possible city government in this city [10:12] that delivers by example and wins through that example. [10:15] Yeah. And that taxation plan, [10:17] and have you, are they more inclined [10:20] to be all right with it now that you guys have met? [10:22] I've heard, what I've heard is that [10:24] when you have those meetings, [10:25] people leave feeling a little bit differently [10:27] than they did before. [10:29] Well, I think I look to make clear [10:31] that the plan is not one that is built around [10:35] wanting to target any one group of people. [10:37] It is rather out of a belief [10:38] for a fairer system of taxation [10:40] and a way to make sure that everyone [10:42] can afford to leave in this city. [10:43] I think you'll still find that most people [10:45] who make more than a million dollars would prefer [10:47] not to pay more in taxes for that more than a million dollars. [10:50] But I think that most New Yorkers understand [10:52] that in the most expensive city [10:53] in the United States of America, [10:55] we do have to do more to make sure [10:56] that working people can still afford to live here. [10:58] You brought up immigration [11:00] and ICE detention camps. [11:02] Homeland Security Secretary Mullen [11:04] suggested so-called sanctuary cities [11:07] like New York, quote, [11:08] shouldn't be processing international flights. [11:11] JFK handles more international traffic [11:12] than any airport in the country. [11:14] If the administration follows through, [11:17] that is real economic pain [11:19] and just a headache for folks [11:21] that fly through here and the New Yorkers. [11:23] Beyond saying values aren't bargaining chips, [11:25] what's the plan to make sure they don't, [11:28] if they move on to JFK? [11:29] I think the first thing is to make clear [11:30] that we have heard many of these kinds of threats before. [11:34] We will fight each and every one of them [11:35] because these are not just threats [11:37] to the principles of our city. [11:39] They're also threats to the economy of our city [11:40] and the way in which our city runs. [11:43] And we are confident in our ability to do so [11:45] because this city is not just [11:47] the economic heartbeat of our state. [11:49] It's also the economic heartbeat of our country. [11:51] And we're looking to deliver [11:52] the best possible experience, [11:54] especially at a time when the World Cup is coming [11:56] for tourists who are visiting the city. [11:58] And ideas and suggestions just as this, [12:01] they just try and throw that into jeopardy [12:02] and we're not going to accept that. [12:03] Do you feel like you've seen a difference [12:05] since Mullen has taken over [12:06] when it comes to immigration enforcement in the country? [12:08] You know, I think you can change who's running the agency, [12:11] but by and large, what you will find [12:13] is the same vision that has cruelty at the heart of it. [12:16] And I think it's time for us to develop a vision [12:18] on immigration that has a little more humanity [12:20] as what guides it. [12:22] Just over the river here in New Jersey, [12:25] there's the Delaney facility. [12:27] There are folks there that are on hunger strike [12:29] over the conditions. [12:30] What's your reaction? [12:31] And I guess more importantly for New Yorkers, [12:33] what prevents a facility like that [12:35] from opening here in New York? [12:36] I think there are a few things. [12:38] One is a reaction of pain [12:41] at seeing what people have to go through [12:43] in these kinds of facilities. [12:45] And these are conditions [12:45] that they offend the conscience of so many, [12:49] not just here in New York City, [12:50] but frankly, across the country. [12:52] This is partially why I have put forward a vision [12:54] alongside so many others [12:56] to say that ICE should be abolished, [12:58] that there is no way to reform [13:00] this kind of cruelty that we're seeing endemic [13:02] in the way that immigration [13:03] is being enforced across the country. [13:05] When it comes to our city, [13:07] we are proud of our sanctuary city policies. [13:09] We are proud of the policies we've put forward [13:11] and also the executive orders we've put forward [13:13] to ensure that every single agency [13:15] is complying with those policies. [13:17] What do you say to people who say language, [13:19] and there's Democrats in D.C. [13:21] who say language like abolish ICE [13:23] or unhelpful for the political health [13:26] of the Democratic Party? [13:27] I think if we've listened to them before [13:30] and look where we are. [13:32] I think it's time to develop a new vision for this party, [13:35] one that is unflinching in its beliefs [13:36] and also uncompromising in its principles. [13:40] And one of those principles has to be [13:42] that Americans need not walk down the street [13:44] fearful of the fact that they might be shot dead [13:46] by federal agents in masks without badges. [13:48] There was the Israel Day Parade over the weekend. [13:53] What do you say to New Yorkers who heard you saying, [13:56] basically, I'll protect the parade, [13:58] I won't stand in it? [13:59] It was a promise you made, I think, during the campaign. [14:02] What I hear from some folks is that they said, [14:04] it felt like I'll keep you safe, [14:05] but won't stand with you. [14:06] And then also, [14:07] what do you say to New Yorkers' outrage [14:09] that members of the administration [14:11] marched with an Israeli official [14:13] who called for the total annihilation of Gaza's cities, [14:18] the finance minister, Smotrich? [14:20] You know, I've made clear time and time again [14:22] over the course of the campaign [14:23] my criticisms of the Israeli government. [14:25] And you can see in the participation [14:27] of the far-right Israeli minister, Smotrich, [14:29] as well as a number of other ministers, [14:31] a vision of annihilation, [14:34] a complicity in genocide, [14:36] and frankly, a belief [14:39] that does not have much value [14:41] for even the sanctity of children [14:44] in Gaza. [14:45] And I am offended, [14:46] as I know many New Yorkers are, [14:48] by their participation. [14:49] And when it comes to members of my administration, [14:51] I allow them to make their own decisions [14:53] as to what marches [14:54] they would like to participate in. [14:56] However, as I've said time and time again, [14:58] as the mayor of the city, [14:59] I need not be present [15:00] to ensure the security of a march. [15:02] And also that this is a march [15:04] to celebrate Israel. [15:06] That is something that many New Yorkers attended, [15:09] many New Yorkers did not. [15:10] When it comes to the sanctity [15:11] and the security of Jewish life in the city, [15:14] that is something that we are fully committed to, [15:16] to ensuring that each and every Jewish New Yorker [15:18] is not just safe in the city, [15:19] but is celebrated and cherished by the city. [15:22] Yeah, because what do you say [15:23] to some of the Jewish New Yorkers [15:24] who still feel like, [15:26] you know, [15:26] they don't have a place here [15:27] because of your own stances, [15:30] whether that's fair or not? [15:31] Well, I would say that, [15:32] you know, [15:33] criticisms of the Israeli government [15:35] are different from criticisms [15:36] of a religious faith. [15:38] And there are many [15:39] who share those criticisms in this city. [15:43] And what unites all of us, [15:45] no matter how we feel [15:46] about the Israeli government, [15:47] is a belief that Jewish New Yorkers [15:49] are a critical part of the city. [15:50] They have been, [15:51] they always will be, [15:52] and we're going to do everything we can [15:53] to ensure that's the case. [15:54] And I know one of the points of concern [15:56] has been the rise in anti-Semitism [15:58] that we've seen across the country. [16:00] And a commitment I made on the campaign [16:02] was to increase funding [16:03] for hate crime prevention by 800%. [16:05] And that's something we fulfilled [16:07] in our executive budget, [16:08] adding $26 million, [16:10] because so often, [16:12] the only answer we have to hate crimes [16:13] is responding to it, [16:15] to condemn it after the fact. [16:16] We want to invest in the tools [16:18] that can actually prevent [16:20] those hate crimes from happening. [16:21] That's what we're doing. [16:22] What are those kind of tools? [16:23] Those are the kinds of tools [16:24] that also really focus on education [16:26] and our young people, [16:27] because what we've seen [16:28] time and time again [16:29] is a belief that with time [16:31] comes understanding and knowledge. [16:32] And what we've actually seen [16:34] is that if you are not teaching [16:35] our young children, [16:36] especially about the lessons [16:38] of this history, [16:39] then we will see echoes of that history. [16:42] We talked about the Democratic Party [16:43] just a little bit. [16:44] I want to get back to that. [16:45] I won't ask you about the autopsy [16:46] unless you have thoughts [16:47] that you'd like to share. [16:48] I didn't think so. [16:50] In the Times-Siena poll, [16:52] twice as many Democrats recently said [16:55] that the party should move [16:55] to the center rather than the left [16:57] to win. [16:57] It was 52 to 25. [16:59] You are one of the most prominent figures [17:01] on the party's left flank. [17:03] How does the left win over more people [17:04] in the Democratic Party? [17:06] By delivering. [17:07] You know, there's a lot of talk [17:08] about the debate, [17:09] and what we have an opportunity [17:10] to do here in New York City [17:11] is to deliver on that vision. [17:13] You know, two people can argue [17:15] all they want, [17:15] but when you show somebody [17:17] the ability to deliver free child care [17:19] for 2,000 two-year-olds this year, [17:21] 12,000 two-year-olds next year, [17:22] every two-year-old by the end [17:24] of four years, [17:24] it showcases what we're fighting for [17:27] and why we believe so deeply in it. [17:28] When we talk about the need [17:30] to have a vision for working people, [17:32] when you can point to the ways [17:34] that you can actually make a difference, [17:35] that's what actually starts [17:36] to win so many more people on your side. [17:39] Otherwise, it just feels [17:40] as if it's an intellectual debate. [17:42] You said to deliver, [17:44] you also have to win. [17:45] So, right, well, then it sounds [17:46] like there's more pressure [17:47] on people like you [17:48] who actually have the power [17:49] to actually do things [17:50] to show that the rest of the left [17:52] should also be elected in office. [17:54] Is that what you're saying? [17:54] Or how do you... [17:55] You are right. [17:56] In order to deliver, [17:57] you do have to win. [17:58] And I think for those of us [17:59] who have won, [18:00] we have this opportunity. [18:01] And our job is to showcase [18:02] that these were not just ideas [18:04] on a campaign. [18:05] These were commitments. [18:06] We're now going to fulfill them. [18:07] When we talked about [18:08] affordable groceries, [18:10] that's what we're going [18:10] to actually fulfill. [18:11] When we talked about [18:12] delivering universal child care, [18:14] that's what we're fulfilling. [18:15] And when we talked about [18:16] doing all of these things [18:17] while also paving over potholes, [18:19] we're showing that [18:20] you don't have to make [18:21] that choice anymore [18:22] between the biggest vision [18:23] and the smallest problem. [18:25] You are one of those [18:25] rare politicians. [18:26] I know a lot of them. [18:28] So you seem to understand [18:29] the attention economy [18:30] in kind of a different way [18:32] than many of them. [18:32] Many of them are older. [18:34] There's all the videos online. [18:35] There's the pothole clips. [18:37] I don't know which one [18:37] of your team came up with that. [18:39] Now you have this Twitch show, [18:40] Talk with the People. [18:42] What should Democrats [18:43] be doing differently [18:44] to message directly to folks [18:45] or to go through the media [18:46] to do it but to change [18:47] the way that they're doing it? [18:48] I think we have to ask ourselves, [18:50] how are people consuming the news? [18:52] How are they understanding [18:53] the world around them [18:54] and then meet them there? [18:55] We can't pat ourselves [18:56] on the back and say, [18:58] you know, [18:58] I have this one way [18:59] to talk to people [18:59] and it's really sad [19:01] that nobody's listening to me. [19:02] We have to push ourselves. [19:04] And I think that's [19:05] a real understanding [19:06] within our own team [19:07] here at City Hall [19:08] is that we have to be relentless [19:10] in making sure [19:10] that we're speaking [19:11] to each and every New Yorker. [19:12] We've been on social media, [19:15] on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. [19:17] We speak to the news media. [19:18] It wasn't until we did Twitch [19:19] that there were a new set [19:20] of younger New Yorkers [19:21] who heard of us [19:22] for the first time. [19:23] We had someone [19:24] who works here in City Hall. [19:25] Their child came up to them [19:26] and said, [19:27] this was the first time [19:27] they'd ever heard of me. [19:28] It was because of this show. [19:30] And I think that just speaks [19:31] to the fact that [19:32] we cannot condescend any longer [19:35] to the way people understand [19:36] the world around them. [19:37] We have to actually be there. [19:39] And I think that also speaks [19:40] to our politics. [19:40] Too often, [19:41] if you ask someone [19:42] what they believe in, [19:43] they're going to list off [19:44] a five-step program [19:46] for what it is [19:47] that they would deliver for you. [19:48] People want to know, [19:49] what are you going to do for rent? [19:51] What are you going to do [19:52] for housing? [19:53] What are you going to do for gas? [19:54] What are you going to do for groceries? [19:55] We have to have answers to that. [19:57] And that's what we're trying to show. [19:58] Do you think the leadership [19:59] of the Democratic Party [20:00] understands that? [20:01] I think that the party [20:02] as a whole [20:03] has lost its focus [20:05] on working people. [20:06] And I'm hopeful [20:08] that we start to develop that. [20:09] And frankly, [20:10] we used to have that. [20:11] You know, [20:11] you look at the four freedoms. [20:13] You look at the real core [20:15] of the New Deal. [20:17] There was a moment [20:18] when this party [20:18] was unabashed [20:20] about its focus [20:21] on working people. [20:22] And I'm excited [20:22] to bring it back there. [20:23] Yeah. [20:24] On the left also, [20:26] you have Graham Plattner [20:27] in Maine. [20:28] At least one of your campaign aides [20:31] has gone from back and forth [20:32] from them, [20:33] Morris Katz. [20:34] There have been plenty [20:35] of scandals [20:35] with Graham Plattner. [20:37] As the party goes outside [20:39] of kind of the political [20:40] professional lane, [20:42] is this the amount of scandals [20:44] that end up happening [20:45] with some of these folks? [20:47] Is that just the doing business? [20:50] Is that just what happens [20:51] when you're changing [20:51] the way that you elect people? [20:53] What's the line there? [20:55] Yeah, I think what I've found, [20:57] I'll say my focus [20:58] in New York City [20:59] has been, [20:59] how do we deliver [21:00] on this affordability crisis? [21:01] When I step back [21:02] and I think about the party [21:04] and the country as a whole, [21:06] I've found that [21:06] what people are focused on [21:08] is does your vision [21:09] have room for them? [21:11] And do they see their struggles [21:13] in what you are fighting for? [21:15] I think oftentimes [21:16] that is more the primary focus [21:17] than the individual [21:18] who is fighting for them. [21:20] And too often, [21:21] I think that the focus [21:22] has been misplaced [21:23] when it should be [21:24] on those ideas. [21:25] And that's what I'm hopeful [21:26] we can start to deliver on. [21:27] But is there a line [21:28] of kind of moral clarity [21:30] that the party should have [21:31] on some of the things [21:32] that we're seeing? [21:32] Yeah, I think that we should [21:33] find our leadership [21:34] from rank-and-file Democrats [21:35] who will show us [21:37] what it is that they view [21:39] as the guiding principles [21:40] and who should be [21:40] the champions of that. [21:42] And I look forward to that [21:43] over the course of elections [21:44] that we'll see [21:45] across the country. [21:46] And here in New York City, [21:47] I've endorsed a number [21:48] of candidates that I believe [21:49] are the exact kind of stalwarts [21:50] we need in that, [21:51] whether it's Taria Lisa [21:52] or Villa Chevalier, [21:53] who's running for Congress, [21:54] or Claire Valdez [21:55] or Brad Lander, [21:55] who are all also running [21:56] for Congress. [21:57] You brought up [21:58] your endorsements. [21:59] You live in New York 12. [22:00] You won't endorse [22:01] unless you want to right now. [22:04] I'm not bringing it to you. [22:05] Okay, I just want to check. [22:07] I will vote. [22:08] As a resident [22:09] and the most influential [22:10] voice in the district, [22:11] what would a candidate [22:12] have to do to get your vote? [22:14] You know, I think [22:15] showcase an understanding [22:16] of the priorities [22:17] of constituents [22:19] across the district. [22:21] It's an incredible district [22:22] to be a part of. [22:23] It is also a district [22:24] that's not immune [22:25] to the affordability crises [22:26] and the pressures [22:27] of that crisis. [22:28] And I've got to say, [22:30] being the mayor, [22:31] it's a funny thing [22:31] where I haven't actually [22:32] received any campaign literature. [22:34] At all? [22:35] At all. [22:35] I don't know where it's going. [22:37] Maybe they're scared. [22:38] But there was one candidate [22:39] who came to the gate [22:41] and dropped the bomb card. [22:42] So I will be looking at that. [22:44] Do you think the people [22:45] in New York deserve [22:45] to know who you're [22:46] going to vote for? [22:48] I've told them [22:49] who I've endorsed [22:50] so I'm very excited about. [22:51] And I can tell them [22:52] I will vote. [22:54] And when I make that decision, [22:55] they'll see me be cast [22:56] in my ballot. [22:57] We are going on [22:58] to the 250th anniversary [23:00] of this country. [23:00] Yes. [23:01] You came to this country [23:02] as an immigrant, [23:03] now lead its largest city [23:04] as it turns 250. [23:06] What does this anniversary [23:07] mean to you [23:08] and what story of America [23:10] should we be telling [23:11] on July 4th? [23:13] This anniversary to me [23:14] is a celebration [23:15] of everything this country [23:16] has fought to be [23:18] and everything we keep fighting [23:19] to ensure that it [23:20] not only remains [23:21] but it can come. [23:22] And as you said, [23:23] I came to this country [23:24] at the age of seven. [23:26] Living in New York City, [23:27] growing up in this city, [23:28] one of my proudest moments [23:30] was when I got to become [23:31] a citizen of this country. [23:33] And it was only a few blocks [23:34] away from where we are [23:35] right now. [23:36] And I think in celebrating [23:37] the 250th anniversary [23:38] of our nation, [23:39] we also celebrate the fact [23:41] that every year [23:42] our nation is reborn [23:44] in that same image [23:46] we were fighting [23:46] against impunity, [23:47] against tyranny [23:48] and with a belief [23:49] in liberty. [23:50] And even in the time [23:51] from now until then, [23:52] we will see so many more [23:53] Americans being born, [23:54] whether as children [23:55] being born in our country [23:56] or whether as people [23:58] who are becoming citizens [23:59] for the first time. [24:00] And I can't wait [24:01] to welcome them all here. [24:02] President Trump [24:03] is doing the 250th celebration [24:05] on the National Mall. [24:06] He is headlining that [24:07] after several artists [24:08] pulled out because [24:09] of how political it's become. [24:12] When you think about [24:13] marking the milestone [24:14] of 250 for the whole country [24:15] in a way that includes [24:17] all Americans, [24:19] this doesn't appear [24:20] to be what's happening, [24:21] or claiming it [24:22] for one side, [24:23] it feels like a lot of folks [24:25] are looking at [24:25] what the president is doing [24:26] and has a lot of concerns [24:27] about that. [24:28] I think that, [24:29] as you said, [24:30] we want to see a vision [24:31] of this country [24:32] that has room for everyone [24:33] who calls it home. [24:35] And I'm excited [24:36] that New York City [24:37] will be a part of that. [24:38] I recently re-watched [24:39] the Seminole Classic Hitch. [24:41] I'm not sure. [24:41] You've seen it? [24:42] They go to Ellis Island [24:43] on a date? [24:44] I think these are moments [24:45] that New Yorkers [24:47] and Americans, [24:48] they really look to this city [24:49] also in understanding [24:50] our place, [24:51] and we're excited [24:52] to share a lot [24:53] of those stories. [24:53] Last question for you here. [24:55] You got 1,000 New Yorkers, [24:57] $50 World Cup tickets, [24:59] while fans everywhere [25:00] are facing all these [25:01] different prices [25:02] and price gouging. [25:04] That feels like [25:06] a different way [25:08] of doing politics [25:09] than other people. [25:10] Like, understanding [25:11] that politics and culture [25:12] are married [25:13] and making things [25:14] affordable to everyone [25:15] is probably a better way [25:16] to go. [25:17] The World Cup [25:18] coming here. [25:19] Thoughts? [25:20] It's an opportunity [25:21] to show that sports [25:22] shouldn't be a luxury commodity. [25:24] You know, so many New Yorkers, [25:25] what keeps us going [25:26] is the love of our team [25:27] or the love of the artists [25:28] that we're listening to [25:29] or watching, [25:30] and yet when they come to town, [25:31] people have to think [25:32] about foregoing [25:33] a rent payment [25:33] to perhaps being able [25:35] to see them. [25:36] And one of the things [25:36] that I wanted to make clear [25:37] is that we recognize [25:39] the fact that soccer [25:40] is at its core [25:41] a working class game. [25:42] We want to make sure [25:43] that people can actually [25:44] dream of attending [25:45] these games. [25:47] And so these $50 tickets, [25:49] it makes it actually [25:49] much more in reach. [25:51] We know we just announced [25:52] as well that we're going [25:52] to have $25 tickets [25:54] for a few of the friendlies [25:55] in the lead-up [25:55] to the World Cup. [25:56] But as you said, [25:58] we want the affordability [25:59] crisis to be understood [26:00] not just in terms [26:01] of the things that struggle [26:02] to allow New Yorkers [26:03] to live here, [26:04] but also the things [26:05] that allow New Yorkers [26:05] to breathe here. [26:07] I mean, we're talking [26:07] right now during [26:08] an incredible Knicks run. [26:10] We are in the finals [26:11] for the first time [26:12] since 1999. [26:14] It feels like the city [26:15] is alive. [26:16] This is what sports can do. [26:18] We're hopeful [26:18] the World Cup [26:19] will be the same. [26:20] I'll let you go [26:20] without asking you [26:21] about the arsenal. [26:21] I know they lost in tow. [26:23] How are you going to [26:24] stab me on live television? [26:26] Right up the end. [26:26] Right up the end. [26:27] Sir, thank you so much. [26:28] Thank you very much. [26:29] Real pleasure. [26:29] Thank you. [26:30] Thank you.