While the mayoral race in New York City has become a flashpoint for national political discourse, the attitude of the city’s residents remains largely indifferent. This is the central thesis of David Marcus’s article, which reports on interviews with New Yorkers across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Their responses, as Marcus documents, suggest that the election is a source of little concern for the majority of Gotham’s residents.
The article begins with Al, a 40-something transit worker in Mott Haven, who is dismissive of Zohran Mamdani’s socialist proposals, including his call for free municipal buses. Al’s comment—‘Free buses is stupid’—is underscored by his pragmatic assessment of ‘my bosses like money.’ This reveals a deep-seated skepticism toward left-wing economic policies, even as the city’s mayoral race is seen as a battleground for ideological influence.
Further interviews with locals like Derrick, a hospitality worker in midtown, add complexity to the narrative. Derrick expresses his support for Bill de Blasio over Eric Adams, but is also backing Curtis Sliwa, a political outsider with an eccentric but popular profile. His reasons for supporting Sliwa are personal, noting that ‘we know Curtis and he loves New York City.’ Sliwa’s perceived connection to the city’s working-class roots makes him a favorite in certain precincts, despite his lack of traditional political experience.
Back in Staten Island, Cindy and Denise, a bartender and a retired educator, express the broader apathy of many New Yorkers. Cindy’s blunt assertion that ‘life happens here, not up with the kings who run stuff’ reflects a general disdain for the political elites—whether they are Democrats or Republicans—who are preoccupied with governing rather than addressing the everyday hardships of residents.
Naveed, an Uber driver from Pakistan, provides another perspective. He reports that his Pakistani friends in California are eager to vote for Mamdani, but that he himself has already cast his ballot. This highlights the stark contrast between national political discourse and the personal priorities of many New Yorkers, whose main focus is often on work, family, and daily life over political campaigns.
In Republican enclaves like Bay Ridge, the tone is no less apathetic. Steve and Suzanne, lifelong residents of the neighborhood, express little interest in the race, noting that ‘it is what it is.’ Their sentiment is echoed in the broader community, where the focus is on the city’s enduring identity rather than the political upheaval associated with the mayoral contest.
Marcus concludes that, despite the national attention and political fervor, New York City is experiencing its own form of political inertia. The city’s residents, while diverse in their opinions, share a common sentiment: the election is a distraction from the real work of making a living and maintaining the city’s character. As Marcus notes, ‘New York City is New York City, and truly, it is what it is.’