Reggae Icon Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded a song called “Crazy Baldhead.” The term “baldhead” is a Jamaican dialect reference to people who supports social injustice, oppression, white supremacy and in short, those who are not in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of the world. New York Mayoral Candidate, Andrew Cuomo, is supported and funded by rich white donors; Andrew Cuomo and his financial backers have never engaged in social justice struggles for the working people of the City of New York. Andrew Cuomo and his financial backers have never said a word against the slaughter of the Palestinians in Gaza. The working people of New York City should not give Cuomo one vote. Send him into political oblivion: “chase” Andrew Cuomo out of town.

The 33-year-old Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, of Indian parents. He holds a B.A. in Africana Studies and is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America; he was elected to the NY State Assembly in 2021, representing the 36th District. The 36th District is located in the borough of Queens, and includes Central Astoria, Astoria Heights, Ditmars, and part of Long Island City. The politically refreshing thing about Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign, is that it has the potential to usher in a new paradigm in electoral politics. It is not the same old banal personality dependence, popularity without substance and, political “pimping” as is usual among certain Black elected officials.

The Zohran Mamdani platform calls in part for a $30 per week Minimum Wage; it proposes a year-long freeze on rents in rent-stabilized apartments; the elimination of bus fares and importantly, the formation of City-owned grocery stores. This latter proposal is critical to poor and underemployed people. It suggests that food staples can be purchased at discount prices and maybe even the extension of credit for food items. This if it becomes a reality will go a long way in making the income of underpaid people go farther and being able to do much more in providing for their families. City-owned grocery stores eliminate the scourge of overpricing and speculation by vendors.

 The White and Rich Team UP Against Zohran Mamdani

There is nothing for the working-class to gain from a Cuomo mayoralty. Andrew Cuomo represents white, big-money State and national oligarchs. He is beholding to them for underwriting his campaign with millions of dollars in donations; Cuomo is a supporter and apologist for the Zionists, and their colonial occupation and genocide in Gaza. Billionaires like Bill Ackman a Hedge Fund Manager and is also founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, and Ronald Lauder one of the heirs of the Estee Lauder cosmetics empire, and a pro-Israel activist, have contributed millions of dollars, in order to weaken and eventually defeat the working-class agenda of the Mamdani campaign.

Despite the authoritarian actions and vile speeches of Donald Trump, Cuomo has yet to make one definitive comment in opposition to Trump’s attacks on free speech, his attempt to circumvent the Constitution, and his attack on working-class people by the removal of Aid programs, including attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP. Millions of working-class people including children, face the threat of sickness or death without healthcare, because of these unjust and immoral actions of the Trump Administration.

NYC Mayoral Candidate, Andrew Cuomo - Photo: foccharleston.com

In their desperation and eagerness to win at all costs, the Cuomo campaign has resorted to racist, religious, and fear-mongering attacks against Zohran Mamdani. From Cuomo’s deliberate and imbecilic mispronunciation of Mamdani’s name to indirectly suggesting that he is a supporter of the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center and supporting criminal elements. On the Sid Rosenberg program Sid and Friends, aired on 77 WABC October 23, 2025, Rosenberg intimated that “God forbid another 9/11; can you imagine Mamdani in the Mayor’s seat?” Instead of distancing himself from the comment, Cuomo laughed along with Rosenberg. The HuffPost reported that during the second mayoral debate, Cuomo’s campaign posted a video showing mostly men speaking in favor of Mamdani, revealing themselves to be shoplifter, domestic abuser, drunk driver, pimp, and pro-Palestine activist. “I’m a criminal,” - each one of them says in turn, - “For Zohran!” When questioned, Cuomo’s campaign removed the video and commented that it was posted in error and was incomplete.

What is appalling although not surprising, is the capitulation and collaboration of some elected officials and Black preachers, in the distancing of Zohran Mamdani. I would like to borrow a phrase from the publishers of Black Agenda Report, because it is so fitting and it definitively describes some of those in our midst; the phrase is “the Black mis leadership class.” Mainly reserved for those in public office, Black preachers have now joined the group, who use their pulpit and influence in the communities to mislead and subliminally encourage support for actions and Policies, which are against the interests of their own parishioners. Black churches have invited disgraced politicians and political “pimps” and opportunists to speak at their churches. This is not only intellectual buffoonery but antithetical to anything close to “liberation theology.” Christ was against social injustice and was unforgiving of those who oppressed or collaborated with the enemies of the poor.

Time For Progressive Politics in New York City

For decades New York City has chosen dysfunctional and neoliberal mayors, and it is delightful that incumbent Eric Adams is no longer running. Adam’s Mayoralty has not only been riddled with scandal after scandal, but the working-class has not seen any improvement in their standard of living; the Police Department’s long discredited Stop and Frisk Policy is still in effect; and worst, it appears that Adams made some deal with the Trump Administration, in order to have his corruption convictions thrown out. It was Black people that rallied and got Adams in whatever public position he has held; the paradox is, it is the same Black people he has betrayed in preference to his own selfish interests. He too has joined the Zionist sympathizers in attempting to equate Mamdani with what he refers to as “Islamic extremism.” It seems that Adams is afflicted with the syndrome discussed in a book by Jerome E. Fox titled “Addicted to White;” the oppressed collaborating with the oppressor.

This is a critical moment in the country’s social history: the worsening crisis of capitalism and its impact on the national economy; the desperation of capitalism to burden the working-class more, by placing the crisis on the backs of the masses; the desperate attempt to regain lost global hegemony; the growing militarization of the country; the attacks on free speech rights and other attempts to circumvent the Constitution, all make the stakes of this election critical. There is a concerted effort by those in power and with money, to derail and crush any movement towards progressive politics. Only the organization and mobilization of the masses can stop this derailment. Zohran Mamdani says it best:

This election is: “A choice between democracy and oligarchy. A choice between a city you can afford or more of the same. A choice between a mayor who works for those straining to afford groceries or those straining to buy an election. A choice between the hope of a brighter future and a broken past.” It should be made clear that a Mamdani victory will not serve to weaken or end the rule of capital; Mamdani's aim is not to destroy capitalism but make it more "comfortable" to the working people. Despite its shortcomings, his platform still provides some relief and social benefits to the working-class. That is a good thing!