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Mamdani Confronts Funding Hurdles for Promised Free NYC Bus Rides

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pledged free bus service across New York City but has not provided a finalized funding plan. His campaign proposes raising the top state corporate tax to 11.5% and adding a 2% NYC surtax on incomes over $1 million, options that would require state cooperation. Governor Kathy Hochul has rejected tax hikes, leaving the proposal's future uncertain. Mamdani insists the priority is funding the program, framing it as an investment in workers and small businesses.

12:42 AM, 11/22/2025Politics
Mamdani Confronts Funding Hurdles for Promised Free NYC Bus Rides

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has repeatedly pledged to make bus service free across the city, but now faces the practical challenge of securing the funds to implement that promise. With the election over, the details of how the program would be financed remain unresolved and politically contested.

When pressed by reporter Dan Mannarino about how he would raise the necessary revenue if Governor Kathy Hochul opposes tax increases, Mamdani pointed to two main options: increasing the state's corporate tax rate or imposing an additional city income surtax on high earners. He said the priority is ensuring the program is funded, even if the precise mechanism is still to be worked out.

Mamdani's campaign has proposed concrete tax changes to pay for expanded transit benefits, including raising the top state corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent and adding a 2 percent New York City income tax on residents with incomes above $1 million. Those proposals would require state cooperation and face political resistance.

Governor Hochul has signaled she is reluctant to support tax hikes, telling reporters earlier this year that she is "not raising taxes on people at a time when affordability is the big issue." That stance makes it uncertain whether the mayor-elect can secure the state-level approvals or the political consensus needed to enact his plan.

Mamdani has framed free buses as an investment in workers, small businesses and a more connected city. In a post on X, he stated:

"Free buses are an investment in our people and our economy — helping workers, small businesses, and every New Yorker who deserves a more connected city."

The mayor-elect has also sought to raise $4 million to fund his transition while pledging not to accept wealthy donors, highlighting a contrast between ambitious campaign promises and the fiscal and political realities of implementing them. Delivering free bus service will likely require negotiations with state officials, trade-offs in the city budget, or alternative revenue sources yet to be specified.

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