Among the series of free policies that New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has been ambitiously pursuing since taking office, it appears that the free bus service will not be implemented this year.
This is because it has been confirmed that the free bus service in New York City will not be included in the major policies to be announced in 2026 in New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s New Year’s address on the 13th.
In an interview with the press on the 8th, Governor Hochul said, “I have no plans to include the free bus project, which was one of the key pledges that Mayor Mamdani made during the election, on the list of policies to be announced in the New Year’s address. Not now. But it has not been completely ruled out.”
Mayor Mamdani had garnered support from the working class by making the free bus service a key campaign promise during his mayoral election. He estimated that the free bus service would require $700 million annually, and he planned to raise this by raising taxes on the wealthy. However, adjusting tax rates, such as the personal income tax rate and corporate tax rate, such as raising taxes on the wealthy, requires the approval of the New York State Legislature and the Governor, and thus the Governor’s cooperation was essential. However, Governor Hochul stated that “it cannot be pursued this year.”
Political circles analyze that Governor Hochul, who is running for re-election this year, has passively turned away from the free bus policy, which is controversial due to his own election conscious. Governor Hochul emphasized, “It makes no sense to impose more taxes on everyone, especially the wealthy (millionaires), just for the sake of raising taxes.” However, Governor Hochul actively cooperated with Mayor Mamdani’s free childcare policy, which expanded free childcare services in New York City to children up to 2 years old.