Time and again, I’ve seen politicians from both political parties lose the public’s favor because they stop caring about their communities the second they get elected.
Will you need ID for NYC’s grocery stores? Mamdani says no
Mayor Zohran Mamdani received backlash from Republicans this week after claims circulated that an ID would be needed for city-owned grocery stores.
Things are getting done in New York City, block by block – and it’s all thanks to social media.
Recently, my TikTok feed has been full of New Yorkers asking Mayor Zohran Mamdani for help when they notice things in their neighborhood that could be better. But instead of just shrugging off his constituents as if they were pestering trolls, Mamdani’s office seems to be responding.
Pothole on your street? Fixed within the day.
No water fountains in Prospect Park during a heat wave? NYC Parks employees are on it.
Even the silliest requests are being met with tangible answers. No boyfriend waiting for you on the steps of the Brooklyn Museum? Check out the city’s summer programming for date ideas.
It’s gotten to the point of meme status among New Yorkers. I even know people who will take the time to directly message him on Instagram about concerns they see around the city (although this probably isn’t as effective as a viral video).
Responding in this method – on social media, often directly linking to the original content creator – is effective messaging. It helps foster a relationship with the viewer (who, in these instances, are also voters) that feels personal. It’s a move that Democrats at all levels of government would be wise to steal from Mamdani’s team.
And, perhaps most important, it’s bound to drive Republicans crazy.
Mayor Mamdani is getting things done in New York
We’re just eight months into Mamdani’s first term in office, and I am genuinely surprised at how much he’s been able to accomplish – even if he’s been met with the occasional roadblock.
He managed to freeze the rent and make headway on universal childcare. He’s trying to have the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share through the pied-à-terre tax despite legal challenges. He’s securing space for the city-run grocery stores.
Considering that he’s managed to make waves on several campaign promises, it would be easy for him to filter out the day-to-day critiques of New Yorkers. After all, it’s a big city – there’s always something to complain about.
Yet he isn’t ignoring people – at least, not the ones who go viral.
When Mamdani was sworn into office on New Year’s Day 2026, I wrote that one of his areas of focus should be constituent services. People like seeing things get done in their communities; when there’s a direct response to every street that needs repair, every park that needs attention and every bus running late, it endears you to the people who got you elected.
Republicans seem really upset about citizens getting the help they want
The humor in all of this is that Republicans will still try to make Mamdani the bad guy, saying that his democratic socialist beliefs are corrupting New York City.
Republicans want the mayor to be their next campaign scare tactic so they can say they warned us about the rise of socialism in the United States.
New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman went on Fox News on Aug. 12 and said that “Zohran Mamdani only lies when his mouth is moving.”
Let’s take a moment laugh at a Republican calling somebody a liar.
President Donald Trump went on a Truth Social rant on Aug. 11 about the second-homes tax, referring to the folks in charge as “Radical Left Jihadists” and saying the federal government would seek to intervene in the city to keep it from becoming “a filthy, crime ridden, decrepit place of mockery and scorn.”
But if the rise of a progressive movement means that more municipalities take care of everyday problems, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.
In fact, Republicans could probably learn a thing or two about strategy from Mamdani. Aside from simply being the correct thing to do for the people who voted you into office, taking care of everyday issues is a great way to endear yourself to the public.
Time and again, I’ve seen politicians from both political parties lose the public’s favor because they stop caring about their communities the second they get elected. They no longer show up to hear the concerns of the people; they don’t respond to calls and letters. They forget that all politics is local politics.
If I’m supposed to fear Mamdani for taking care of business, consider me terrified. I’m just happy that things are getting done in the city I live in.
Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on Bluesky: @sarapequeno.bsky.social