100 days tends to be the typical time frame for judging but can you give some specific examples. Here is what Grok told me:
Zohran Mamdani (often referred to as “Mamdani”) was sworn in as Mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026, after winning the 2025 election. As of mid-February 2026 (roughly 6-7 weeks into his term, close to the “2 months” mark), his early performance has drawn a mix of praise, criticism, and polarized reactions.
Key Achievements and Positive Views
Mamdani has moved quickly on several campaign promises focused on affordability and progressive priorities:
- Launched initiatives like free child care for two-year-olds (in partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul).
- Issued executive orders for rental hearings, expanded public bathroom access, accelerated housing development, and fee cuts for small businesses.
- Revitalized offices like the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and appointed figures to roles emphasizing economic justice and media/entertainment.
- Handled a major winter snowstorm early in his term, with reports describing his response as competent (e.g., clearing streets effectively and maintaining high visibility through updates and media).
- Announced plans like restarting bike lane projects (e.g., in Queens), creating business improvement districts, and potentially fare-free buses during events like the World Cup.
- Maintained sanctuary city policies, including non-cooperation with ICE.
Media coverage (e.g., from The Nation, The New York Times, and progressive outlets) often highlights his strong communication skills, social media presence, and “flood-the-zone” approach to spotlighting wins. He’s been described as energetic, ubiquitous (appearing in videos on transit, at events, etc.), and effective at projecting command during crises like the snowstorm.
Polls show solid early support: A Siena Research Institute poll around early February 2026 gave him a 48% favorable rating (his highest ever), with 64% favorability among Democrats and positive views from independents. Some sources note his popularity among young voters and progressives remains high.
Criticisms and Challenges
On the flip side, he’s faced pushback, particularly on fiscal and public safety issues:
- The city faces a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit (initially projected at $12 billion, later revised down), leading to proposals like a 9.5% property tax increase (as leverage against the state) and cuts to NYPD hiring (e.g., canceling thousands of positions), library funding, and other areas.
- Conservative outlets (e.g., Fox News, New York Post) and critics accuse him of prioritizing “racial/gender equity” spending while threatening tax hikes and weakening policing.
- Some reports mention policy shifts (e.g., reinstating homeless encampment sweeps, despite earlier promises) and ongoing challenges like NYPD relations, protests, and crime perceptions.
- Right-leaning commentary often portrays his term as chaotic or failing on basics (e.g., budget, homelessness, crime spikes in early data), with memes and posts exaggerating negatives like fare increases or crime stats (though some claims appear overstated or attributed to prior policies).
Overall Assessment
It’s still very early—most evaluations note that 100-day marks are more typical for judging mayors—but Mamdani appears to have started strongly in terms of visibility, progressive deliverables, and crisis management (e.g., snow response). Supporters see him as delivering “audaciously” on affordability and equity, while detractors view his fiscal fights (e.g., with Albany) and budget proposals as risky or ideologically driven. Public opinion leans positive among his base and in some polls, but the term’s success will likely hinge on navigating the budget shortfall, state relations, and crime/homelessness longer-term.
Reactions remain highly partisan: Progressives largely celebrate him as a breath of fresh air, while conservatives see early signs of dysfunction. No universal consensus exists yet on “success,” but he’s avoided major blunders and maintained momentum from his campaign.
