Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, marked the 73rd and 74th days of Zohran Mamdani’s term as mayor. amNewYork is following Mamdani around his first 100 days in office as we closely track his progress on fulfilling campaign promises, appointing key leaders to government posts, and managing the city’s finances. Here’s a summary of what the mayor did this weekend.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent a weekend heavily in Queens, where he visited two food pantries on Saturday, including the Hungry Monk Rescue Truck in Ridgewood and BHALO (Bangladeshi Humanitarian Aid and Leadership Outreach) in Jamaica.
NYS Assembly Member Claire Valdez joined the mayor in her district to give out food, including fruit and potatoes, outside the Ridgewood pantry.
“Spent this afternoon with Claire Valdez and Ridgewood leader Father Mike Lopez, distributing food to our neighbors at the Hungry Monk Rescue Truck,” the mayor said on X. “No better way to start the weekend.”
People on social media had mixed reactions to the post, with some thanking the mayor for helping those in need within the community, and others calling it a public relations move.
Supporting taxes on inherited wealth
Others on social media took to commenting on the mayor’s taxation policy, which now includes a proposal to cut New York’s estate tax exemption threshold from more than $7 million to just $750,000 and raise the top estate tax rate from 16% to 50%, per multiple reports.
“So thrilled that you, through your taxation policy, will increase the need for more people to require assistance,” one commenter wrote on the mayor’s Saturday post.
The proposed tax change, which is essentially a levy on inherited wealth, is unlikely to be enacted this year, Crain’s reported on March 13.
Many U.S. states do not tax inherited wealth. The Empire State is one of several states that impose separate state-level estate taxes on top of federal estate taxes. If the proposed change becomes law, New York’s estate tax exemption threshold would be the lowest in the U.S, per the Crain’s article.
Mayor gives out free movie tickets
The mayor also announced on Saturday that his office partnered with a local film alliance to give out thousands of free movie tickets at independent theaters throughout the city.
“We’re partnering with Art House NY to give out 5,000 free movie tickets at independent theaters around the city,” he said. “Our independent theaters are among the best in the world — building community through culture and strengthening the local economy. More New Yorkers deserve to experience them.”
Extreme weather possible on Monday
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the mayor, along with leaders from the city’s Emergency Management office (NYCEM), warned New Yorkers of severe weather, including floods, that could potentially hit the area through Tuesday.
“New York, sustained rain and wind could come as early as tonight and stay through to Tuesday — with the potential for flooding in stretches of the city, the mayor wrote on X. Please be careful getting around, expect travel delays, and visit nyc.gov/beready to prepare.”
Emergency management said rain and thunderstorms are expected to impact New York City on Monday as a strong cold front moves through the region. Rain may begin Sunday evening around 7 pm and continue overnight into early Monday morning.
Periods of moderate rain are likely through the overnight hours and into the Monday morning commute.
“New Yorkers should allow extra travel time during periods of heavy rain, especially during the Monday evening commute,” emergency management officials said. “Avoid driving through flooded streets. Even shallow water can stall vehicles.”
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