Speaker 1 (00:00):
… and that I'm still here with my children. We have to get more information about the city's services for postpartum support, for breastfeeding support, for all of the other programs the city offers into the hands of more parents so that they can also stick around to see their children grow up.
(00:17)
The last thing I want to say is that this is really the least the city can do for new parents. We're doing the joyful work, but the hard and unseen work of raising the next generation of teachers and nurses and firefighters, and everyone else it's going to take to keep the city moving. So we're really grateful to future Mayor Zohran for proposing this, for getting it out there.
(00:37)
And the last thing I'll say is go vote. Polls open on Saturday. Voting closes on the 4th. And I'm going to pass it over to the borough president.
Antonio Reynoso (00:47):
All right, thanks so much. All right. Good afternoon. I am Antonio Reynoso, the president of the greatest borough in the City of New York, which is Brooklyn. But I am out here. Zohran is going to be the mayor so he can no longer say Queens is the best borough. But I want to thank all the parents that are here today, because they are sleep-deprived and have decided to join us in this press conference, and I'm deeply grateful for them being here because this is important.
(01:09)
About three years ago, we did baby baskets in Brooklyn. We were able to give about 500 families baby baskets from three public hospitals, in Woodhull Hospital, Kings County, and Coney Island Hospital. And we had two things that we really wanted to address.
(01:24)
The first thing is that the leading cause of death for Black women after pregnancy is postpartum depression and anxiety and mental health issues that lead to suicide, and other postpartum issues. So we wanted to show them that there is a village for them here. That, when you have a baby in Brooklyn, that you will be greeted, or you'll be given a gift basket that shows that we want to be partners with you, that we will help take care of you, and that we want to make sure that the last thing you think about is a box of diapers or some wipeys. We're going to handle that for you so you can go home and have a peace of mind and know that we'll be there for you.
(02:02)
Also, this is a sacred act, to have a baby, especially here in New York City. And what we should be doing as a city is making sure we introduce the youngest people of our great city in a way that is reflective of how much we actually want to care for them. A baby basket does that and much more. It's not just goods for parents that are financially struggling. It's not just about supporting new parents. It's also about the status, the standard we want to set forth in New York City. We are the greatest city in the world. And when you have a baby here, you're going to be introduced to resources and support that is unusual in other cities.
(02:40)
So, we wanted to start it in Brooklyn. It was a great first step. Obviously, the resources I have as a borough president pale in comparison to what somebody might have as a mayor. But I am deeply grateful that Zohran takes ideas, takes these moments, and makes them into something real, understands the value of these core principles of who we want to be as a city and applies them. So I want to thank, I want to say, the next mayor of the city of New York, Zohran Mamdani.
Audience (03:04):
[Inaudible 00:03:05].
Antonio Reynoso (03:04):
I was going to say mayor elect, but we're not there yet.
Zohran Mamdani (03:24):
Not yet, not yet.
(03:24)
Thank you all so much. It's a real pleasure to be here with the borough president, and to be here with so many incredible New Yorkers and the next generation of New Yorkers. Next year, New York City will welcome 125,000 babies across the five boroughs. And these are families bringing our youngest New Yorkers to this city across every single borough that we call our home. It is both the happiest, and at times, the most overwhelming moment in many of these families' lives.
(03:59)
And the responsibilities and costs are daunting. City Hall is not seeking to raise the children of this city, but what we are going to do is support the parents who will. And what that means is, a program that builds upon the successes we've already seen in this city, that Borough President Reynoso shared, in the pilot program that he shepherded, and build on an idea that we first shared in January of this year with Brian Lehrer. And that is to deliver baby baskets to the parents of every single child born in New York City.
(04:36)
Now, these baskets will be provided no matter where you give birth to your child. They will be baskets that will include diapers, baby wipes, swaddles, and books. They will also have nursing and postpartum pads for parents of these children. And in addition to these resources, it will also share information, information about breastfeeding, information about our new city's home visiting program, and resources to combat postpartum depression.
(05:08)
Now, in a city, as other speakers have mentioned, where maternal mortality continues to disproportionately target Black mothers, where they face a rate nine times higher than that of white mothers in this city, this is one example of how we can start to actually address these crises and respond to them with the urgency that they require.
(05:30)
This is a proposal that takes inspiration from not only Finland, but countries across the world where we've seen this idea be successful. But there's also evidence right here in the United States, beyond just the pilot program that Borough President Reynoso shared, where we have seen this program take a profound impact. The federal government did a pilot program in this country, and it found that 64% of mothers who participated reported improved mental health. It found that 63% reported a decrease in mental stress. And it found that it doubled participant's trust in government.
(06:07)
Now, even Eric Adams has expressed support for a similar policy in the 11th hour of his mayorality, in between catching the Knicks courtside with his chosen successor. Now, this program only costs $20 million, which is the exact cost that Eric Adams' chosen successor, Andrew Cuomo, spent in taxpayer funds to defend himself from credible accusations of sexual harassment.
(06:34)
What we want to do is to make this a city where it is easy to raise a family. What we want to do is to make this a city where families come here because of how we support them in building their family. And that doesn't just mean baby baskets, it also means having universal child care be a reality for New Yorkers across the five boroughs, fully funding our public schools, and understanding that no longer can we have families raise children in spite of everything this city does. We have to make it such that families are raising children here because of what this city does.
(07:12)
So I want to say that in a moment when Donald Trump is cutting benefits for SNAP, is cutting Head Start, it is time for city government to step up and show what it can look like to lead this city. This is the greatest city in the world. And in order to ensure we retain that title, we have to ensure that we allow for another generation to grow up in this city. And honestly, I must say it is such a pleasure to be here alongside that very generation and the leaders who are shepherding them through these five boroughs. Thank you very much.
Bobby (07:48):
Mr. Cuomo, BBC.
Zohran Mamdani (07:48):
Did you say Mr. [inaudible 00:07:50]?
Speaker 5 (07:50):
Sorry.
(07:50)
We're going to start with on-topic questions first, and then we'll move on to off-topic. So on-topic questions. No on-topic questions. Go ahead, Bobby.
Bobby (07:58):
Sorry if this is too personal, but do you plan on starting a family yourself in New York City?
Zohran Mamdani (08:03):
I feel like I'm talking to my mother right now. Right now, my plan is on leading this city. At one point I will have a child in the city, but right now the focus is on November and then January 1st.
Bobby (08:15):
Mr. Cuomo made a comment a couple of days ago that he was surprised by the amount of attention you got because of the issue in Gaza and Palestine. He said he thought that was one of the reasons that you won. Would you give your final analysis of why voters took a look at you at the beginning of this process when many didn't know you? Do you think that played a major role, because others talk about affordability as well. Do you think that set you apart? Do you think that analysis is correct?
Zohran Mamdani (08:42):
I think last night's debate is instructive. I spent 90 minutes on stage with Andrew Cuomo and I, like many here could tell you his critiques of me, his critiques of Curtis Sliwa, but I could not tell you what he was actually running on to deliver for this city.
(08:57)
And so as much as there are other candidates or politicians who speak about affordability, that has been missing in this race for many other of my opponents. And I've started from the very beginning with a focus on New York City and also a desire to have a consistent set of politics no matter who we are speaking about or what it applies to.
(09:15)
And so when I've been asked if I believe in human rights, if I believe in safety and justice and freedom, I say that I do and that I extend that belief to every person in the world and that includes Palestinians.
(09:26)
And I think what I've heard from New Yorkers is they're tired of a politics of inconsistency. They're tired of seeing a former governor stand up and describe believing in human rights as if it is something to be an indicative sign of bigotry, when what it is in fact, is a belief in universalism. One that is sorely missing in our politics today.
Audience (09:45):
[inaudible 00:09:46].
Speaker 5 (09:45):
Go head, [inaudible 00:09:48].
Speaker 7 (09:48):
Actually, I actually have one on and one off.
Zohran Mamdani (09:49):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (09:50):
So on topic, why not include some other cities, like Seattle for example, put together automatic counseling programs for new parents. Milwaukee gives away pack and plays to prevent infant mortality. So why not take it one step further? Is that on the table? And then the off-topic question, I'll just get them in and then you can answer.
Zohran Mamdani (10:08):
Sounds good.
Speaker 7 (10:08):
I know you were just talking to my colleague, Dan about the comments that Cuomo made on the Sid Rosenberg show this morning. You stopped short of calling it Islamophobic. Do you believe Mr. Cuomo or Mr. Rosenberg were being Islamophobic?
Zohran Mamdani (10:23):
Yes, I believe that they were. We're talking about a radio show host who's described me as an animal, who's called me a terrorist. We're speaking about a former governor who, in his final moments in public life, is engaging in rhetoric that is not only Islamophobic, not only racist, is also disgusting, and is his final closing argument with less than two weeks before election day.
(10:57)
New Yorkers are living in the most expensive city in the United States of America. They're looking for a mayor who will deliver affordability, deliver safety, and Andrew Cuomo's message is to smear and slander the first Muslim candidate on the verge of leading this city, to look at a city where one in eight New Yorkers are Muslim and say that by virtue of your faith, you are worthy of suspicion.
(11:20)
It is both incredibly disappointing and yet not surprising given how Andrew Cuomo has run this campaign and how little he thinks of the very people that he is also going to serve if he were to actually be a leader in this city.
Speaker 8 (11:32):
Would you [inaudible 00:11:32] your initiative forward.
Zohran Mamdani (11:33):
And…
Antonio Reynoso (11:33):
[inaudible 00:11:38]
Zohran Mamdani (11:37):
Please.
Antonio Reynoso (11:38):
Yeah. So just on the initiative related to mental health services. After they have a baby, the state of New York. Through Kathy Hochul, actually expanded that Medicaid can be used for one year, and study was only used for three months. They expanded it to one year for mental health services for new mothers, so they can be eligible for it. If you have private insurance, you should check to make sure that you have access to that as well. But in both cases, when it comes to mental health services, we've expanded it and made it so that it's something that's a standard in our city. And hopefully you guys push that and educate people on the availability of these resources.
Zohran Mamdani (12:12):
And I think the point being also the borough president's remarks is that we are incredibly exciting at delivering a baby baskets program across the city, and it will not be the end of the efforts that we bring forth to make it easier to raise a family here in New York City.
Audience (12:24):
[inaudible 00:12:26].
Speaker 9 (12:26):
So we know the differences-
Zohran Mamdani (12:27):
Sorry. This [inaudible 00:12:29].
Speaker 10 (12:28):
Thank you. I know you're going to kill me. I have to. Just your reaction to the Eric Adams anticipated endorsement today of Mr. Cuomo. And also I hear what you're saying about the comments this morning on the radio. What do you say to people who question whether any [inaudible 00:12:49] posts on social media help to fuel the [inaudible 00:12:53]?
Zohran Mamdani (12:53):
One year ago today, we launched our campaign. And on that day we made clear that Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo are two illustrations of the same broken politics. And today will be an illustration for New Yorkers of the fact that Eric Adams's record is Andrew Cuomo's agenda. When Andrew Cuomo looks at a record of raising rents by more than 12% on more than 2 million New Yorkers, a record of raising the water bill to the highest it's been in 13 years, a record of supporting Conn Edison when they wanted to increase gas and electric by $65 a month, and a record of failing to take on a broken property tax system, he sees his own agenda.
(13:36)
And we also know that this is the art of the deal. We have a president of this country who has spoken publicly of his desire for Eric Adams to drop out of the race. Eric Adams dropped out. Spoken of his desire for candidates to consolidate behind Andrew Cuomo, today Eric Adams is endorsing Andrew Cuomo.
(13:54)
And so we know that in a moment when New Yorkers are looking for an answer to the authoritarianism that we're seeing from Washington, DC, they don't want the continuation of making City Hall into an embassy of that same administration.
(14:11)
And to your second question, I do not think that anything justifies these kinds of remarks. And for Andrew Cuomo to have been on stage with me yesterday speaking about how he was going to bring New Yorkers together and then the next morning, get on a radio show and say this kind of language, it shows both how hollow his commitments are and how he is in fact the illustration of the very division he says that he would fight.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
Awesome. We've got time for one more. We're going to go right here.
Speaker 11 (14:52):
What should other Democrats learn from the success of your campaign?
Zohran Mamdani (14:52):
Last night, we spent 90 minutes listening to politicians for many New Yorkers, that's their experience of politics. Hearing a politician tell you again and again what you should care about. This campaign has been one where we have sought to bring the concerns of New Yorkers to the forefront, where we've looked at, listened to New Yorkers.
(15:13)
A year ago, we began the campaign and we said, then what we say now. We're going to freeze the rent for rent stabilized tenants, make buses fast and free, deliver universal childcare. It wasn't because we had commissioned a poll. We couldn't afford a poll. It was because we had actually spoken to New Yorkers and heard from them at their doorsteps, at their bus stops as they were walking through their city of what they were facing, and they were saying it was the cost of living.
(15:38)
And it is time for us to put forward a politics that speaks to that concern because if we do not do so, we will have presidents like Donald Trump exploit that despair as a means by which to only heighten it. Fiorello LaGuardia said many decades ago, you cannot preach liberty [inaudible 00:16:08].
(16:08)
We have to show that city government's job is to make life easier for New Yorkers, and then we have to do the work of actually doing so. And so I'm proud to be here alongside examples of people who have done so, when they have led the borough of Brooklyn. And parents who do so every single day. They make the impossible possible.
(16:26)
And so every time I hear a politician telling me what we can't do, I look to the parents who have the same amount of hours in the day as I do, but somehow manage to not only move themselves through the day, but raise another child in this city. They're an example of what's possible if we put our minds to it. I'm excited to be the next mayor to actually show that same kind of resolve in City Hall instead.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Great.
Zohran Mamdani (16:47):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
Parents can just take five steps backwards. Okay. Keep stepping back a little bit further for me. Okay. All the babies. [inaudible 00:17:06]. Oh, okay. Perfect. Gorgeous. Incredible. Amazing. You can't take a bad picture. You guys are good. That's great. I believe so. Yeah. Yeah. Impossible to not.
Audience (17:50):
[inaudible 00:17:50]. Where's yours?