New York deserves better than its upcoming mayoral election

My father, a proud Naval Academy graduate, served two tours in Vietnam, flying A-4s off aircraft carriers. He raised me with a strong sense of patriotism, a commitment to service, and a belief in community — a community that includes everyone: rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight, left and right, young and old, Jews, Muslims, Christians, and everyone in between. All reasons to love New York by the way. 

It’s through that lens that I think about the upcoming mayoral election. After living in New York City for 22 years, and founding and running several businesses here, I consider myself a New Yorker. We can debate whether it’s the greatest city in the world, but one thing is undeniable: New Yorkers deserve better choices for mayor.

Let’s start with Zohran Mamdani. He is energetic, passionate, and I understand why young people are drawn to his message. But let’s be honest: he would be a disaster as mayor. His open disdain for capitalism is fundamentally at odds with the very DNA of New York — the beating heart of American capitalism. Vilifying the wealthy may make for good campaign slogans, but if they leave for Florida, our tax base collapses and we’re left with fewer resources for the very people we most want to help.

Housing is the clearest example. This is not a problem solved by freezing rents or punishing developers. Housing is a supply-side issue. We need to encourage real estate developers to put billions of dollars to work increasing supply so rents come down. Discouraging development will only drive investment elsewhere. The next mayor should take a page from Bloomberg’s playbook: harness the enormous capital base of New York’s businesses and real estate funds through bold public-private partnerships. Don’t raise taxes. Instead, channel private wealth into public good.

On public safety, New Yorkers need a mayor who is both tough and fair. Rudy Giuliani’s personal legacy has aged poorly, but the truth is, he restored order in this city. We need a police force that is well-led, highly-trained, and committed to protecting every New Yorker. Mamdani’s idealism may be well-intentioned, but his inexperience and lack of pragmatism would make for a failed experiment — one New York cannot afford.

Then there’s Andrew Cuomo. Experience is not his problem; integrity is. He embodies the old political machine — the big names, the power base, the entitlement. His misconduct toward women wasn’t just offensive; it was disqualifying. New Yorkers made the right call in rejecting him, and in doing so, we sent a message: the old guard’s time is over. That doesn’t erase the good he did for the state, nor the Cuomo family’s legacy. But it is time to turn the page.

As for Eric Adams — I supported him, campaigned for him, believed in him. But he has broken the most sacred contract in leadership: trust. Trust is gained in drops and lost in buckets, and Adams has emptied the bucket. That leaves us with disappointment — and a warning for future leaders. Without a foundation of trust, there can be no stewardship of our city’s finances, agencies, nor safety.

So where does that leave New Yorkers? Sadly, with no great options in this race. But elections are also mirrors. They show us who we are — and who we’re willing to settle for. This should be a call to action for the future. In the greatest city on earth, is it really too much to ask for candidates who are: