A weekly election newsletter from THE CITY ✔️
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Dear New Yorkers,
Early voting starts this weekend, on Saturday. That’s also the last day you can register to vote. And the final mayoral debate is on Wednesday at 7 p.m., which I’ll be co-moderating with Errol Louis and Brian Lehrer — and which you can watch in many places, including online at thecity.nyc!
We’re almost at the end, which means the candidates have been busy campaigning these last days. Over the weekend, Republican Curtis Sliwa defended his role in the race after repeated calls by independent candidate Andrew Cuomo — and now the New York Post editorial board — to drop out.
But he isn’t going anywhere. “Stop complaining, moaning and groaning. Get your vote out,” Sliwa said Sunday.
On the same day, Zohran Mamdani and Cuomo both discussed mayoral priorities like housing and mental health services at an event sponsored by Metro IAF, a faith-based community coalition. Hours later, Mamdani celebrated in Coney Island with the winners of his “Cost of Living Classic” soccer tournament, joining them as they popped bottles of apple cider. (He also celebrated his birthday this weekend; he turned 34 on Saturday.)
As we’re almost at the final whistle, we’re answering a few extra voter questions in this edition. Check ’em out below!
— Katie Honan and THE CITY’s Election Team
What We’re Reading …
Prepare for tomorrow’s debate by reading our coverage of the first debate, in case you missed it.
What’s Ahead …
Days until the November general election: 14
Wednesday, Oct. 22: Leading contenders mayoral debate on NY1, co-hosted with THE CITY, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25: Early voting begins
Saturday, Oct. 25: Voter registration deadline for the general election
Your Election Questions, Answered.
Have a question for our election team? Reply back to this email or send your questions to ask@thecity.nyc.
❓Reader Teresa asked: What are [the candidates’] positions — Yes or No — on each of these ballot proposals?
Answer: Thanks for the question Teresa — you inspired a whole story answering this exact query! What we found out: Democratic frontrunner Mamdani will not share his stance on the six ballot proposals, whereas Republican candidate Sliwa has stated his opposition to all six. Independent candidate Cuomo has announced he is in favor of all of them. Read more about what the candidates have said about the ballot measures here.
❓Reader Ken asked: In order to implement many of [Mamdani’s] ideas and programs, he will need to increase NYC taxes. How does he plan to do that when taxation is not under the control of the mayor’s office but rather the state governor’s office?
Answer: Ken, you’re right, the city’s tax rates are decided by the state government and not the city. It will be necessary for Mamdani to secure state legislature and governor support for his plan to increase taxes on the rich. Here’s what he’s said about this topic in the past:
In Mamdani’s revenue proposal he stated his administration will “work with Albany to update our NYC income tax to require the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay their fair share.”
On NPR, Mamdani spoke about the fact he will need support from Albany to achieve his agenda: “Any mayor that has an ambition that meets the scale of the crisis of the people that they’re seeking to represent will have to work with Albany.”
And what does the governor say about this? In an opinion piece in The New York Times, Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed the assemblyman and wrote that she also has made affordability for New Yorkers a goal of her governorship, even though she previously voiced her concerns about Mamdani’s plan to increase taxes. — Lauren Hartley
❓Reader Gary asked: Whatever happened to the investigation into Chancellor Banks, his brother, his wife, the first deputy mayor, Commissioner Caban — all of the others who made the news headlines when their city cell phones were confiscated?
Answer: Since the mayor has dropped out, this is no longer an election-related question, but we wanted to answer it here anyway! (We aim to please.)
To refresh everyone’s memory, in early September 2024 the FBI and Department of Investigation confiscated electronic devices belonging to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, his brother Schools Chancellor David Banks, the chancellor’s wife, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and then-Police Commissioner Edward Caban as part of the investigation of corruption in the administration of Mayor Eric Adams. Investigators were looking into allegations that David and Philip did favors for clients of their brother, Terence, and whether Caban aided nightclub clients of his brother James who were seeking to resolve issues with the NYPD. Since then, we know that witnesses have been subpoenaed and interviewed, but no charges have been brought. We’re keeping a close eye on it, and will keep reporting on the case. — Greg B. Smith
THE CAMPAIGN KICKER: Curtis Sliwa has six cats. But how many names do they have? By our count, eight different names for his rescues have come up at least three times in different interviews: Apollo, Athena, Ajax, Mittens, Tiny, Low-Key, T2 and Maddy.
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