New York Metropolis mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander stopped by The Late Present to replicate on their campaigns so far and to clarify why they’re endorsing one another.
Host Stephen Colbert kicked off the prolonged interview by asking why precisely they determined to collaborate to make sure they’re ranked primary and two on the poll. “We each agree, for starters, that corrupt, abusive Andrew Cuomo shouldn’t be allowed wherever close to Metropolis Corridor,” Lander mentioned. “And we all know that by teaming up a majority of New Yorkers gained’t select him. On the identical, we’ve a optimistic imaginative and prescient.”
Mamdani added, “Brad has been a principled and progressive chief on this metropolis for years. So lots of the legal guidelines that we have a good time on this metropolis are ones that he really dropped at bear… It’s thrilling to know that whereas every of us suppose we’ll make the subsequent finest mayor of New York Metropolis, we additionally perceive that it’s time for a politics of the longer term. And which means a politics of collaboration, a politics of sincerity, a politics of precept.”
The duo additionally addressed why this explicit mayoral race has grow to be information on a nationwide stage slightly than simply in New York. Mamdani famous that it’s as a result of it appears like a “referendum” on the place the Democratic celebration goes from right here, calling it a “battle of organized money versus organized folks.”
“Finally, it’s a query for our personal celebration of how can we transfer ahead,” he mentioned. “Can we transfer ahead with the identical politicians of the previous, the identical insurance policies of the previous that delivered us this current, or can we transfer ahead with a brand new technology of management, one that’s really trying to serve the folks?”
Elsewhere within the interview, Colbert requested every candidate about their views on Israel, anti-semitism, and their very own non secular views. Notably, he urged Mamdani to clarify how he would purpose to construct a bridge between the town’s Jewish group and its Muslim group. Mamdani that he would carry humanity to the forefront, which is “essentially the most New York Metropolis factor we will do.”
“For thus many people who’ve grown up on this metropolis, distinction is one thing that we have a good time,” he mentioned. “It’s one thing that we all know is definitely part of the material of this place that we name house.”
Colbert additionally requested Lander about being handcuffed by ICE for linking arms with an immigrant named Edgardo they tried to detain. Lander defined that he had been volunteering to assist households stroll out of the constructing and had beforehand finished it efficiently 5 occasions earlier than. “On this case, you noticed they grabbed us, separated us,” he mentioned. “I used to be detained for 4 hours. Edgardo stays in ICE detention right this moment.”
Lander and Mamdani are operating for New York Metropolis mayor in opposition to Cuomo, who has a known history of sexual harassment. Earlier this yr, it was revealed that within the 4 years since Cuomo resigned as governor, New York taxpayers have paid $60 million in authorized bills associated to Cuomo’s conduct in workplace, together with efforts to defend the previous governor in lawsuits regarding his dealing with of the Covid-19 pandemic, his guide deal, and the sexual harassment accusations. The overwhelming majority of that whole — $46.9 million — is said to the investigation and litigation of the quite a few harassment claims.
