Hostos Delegation Attends Mayor Mamdani’s WNYC Town Hall

On April 20, 2026, a delegation of four Hostos Honors students, accompanied by History Professor Dr. Kristopher Burrell, attended a town hall meeting featuring a conversation between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and WNYC Senior Politics Editor, Bridget Bergin, titled “NYC Mayor Mamdani’s First 100 Days: Lessons from LaGuardia.” The event also featured a panel discussion with historian Kim Phillips-Fein, former NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and former Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott about the legacy of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia on the landscape and politics of New York City. The students, Fabian Del Valle, Sarai Roca, Veronica Rosa, and Jorge Sanz, were all excited to attend and two of them even spoke to the mayor. The event was livestreamed by WNYC and is available for viewing here.
   

The conversation between Mayor Mamdani and Senior Editor Bergin began the evening and was wide-ranging, touching on the city’s housing situation, plans for expanding affordable childcare for city families, and relationships with the federal, state, and city governments that are critical for helping the mayor accomplish the many items on his agenda to make the city livable for more of the city’s residents. Mayor Mamdani talked about governing boldly in ways that centered working-class New Yorkers, and even considered propositions from audience members that might either create new revenue streams for the city, and/or improve the quality of life for city residents.

Two Hostos students were even able to ask questions and make requests of Mayor Mamdani during the question and answer period, which included questions about CUNY’s policies regarding the presence of ICE officers on CUNY campuses, efforts to address pay inequities for the very childcare professionals that would make universal childcare possible, and both the rewards and challenges of being mayor of this vibrant and sprawling international city. 

Hostos Honors student, Sarai Roca, asked the mayor (at 1:02:52) whether any of the expected revenue from the recently announced Pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes valued at $5 million or more would be going toward helping those dealing with substance abuse and homelessness. The mayor affirmed that the new revenue would help fund a wide range of city initiatives including cleaner streets and safer neighborhoods, and he thanked her warmly for advocating for her South Bronx community. And Jorge Sanz, another Honors student, was able to make a request to the mayor (at 1:07:07) that the city ensure any childcare professional the city hires be trained in infant and toddler care.

Throughout the event, Mayor Mamdani responded  deftly to all of the questions posed to him, demonstrating his masterful communication skills, laying out his governing principles and leadership philosophy, providing some policy proscriptions, while also being deliberately vague on other issues, including whether childcare providers could explicitly expect the Mayor or city governmental agencies to advocate for salary or wage increases for these employees in particular.

After Mayor Mamdani had to leave the event, the political and historical panel began, both reflecting on the mayor’s remarks and tying them in with the work and legacy of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. While the two former civil servants sparred over the similarities and differences between Mayor Madani and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Professor Phillips-Fein grounded Zohran Mamdani’s mayoralty in the historical trajectory of Fiorello LaGuardia and illustrated the ways in which Mayor Mamdani’s governing mandate fits together with LaGuardia’s expansive vision in how they both govern from the belief that government could, and has to be, a positive force in the lives of people. And that when this is the central animating principle of city government, it is possible to increase civic engagement and bring new people into the political fold. Mayor Mamdani also made these same points during his conversation with Editor Bergin.

For the Hostos students, it was important to hear Mayor Mamdani in-person, and to hear him articulate how his vision for the city either aligned with their own, or perhaps did not. Not only was it a great learning experience for the students, but it was also a chance to participate in civic discourse with other CUNY community college students and faculty from across the university who were also in attendance. Other students approached the small Hostos delegation after the event to commend them for their questions of the mayor, which was a testament to the salience of their questions. 

“Attending yesterday’s event at WNYC with the mayor was an invaluable opportunity and a truly enriching experience,” said student Veronica Rosa.  “Learning more about former mayor Fiorello La Guardia and his lasting impact on New York City was especially fascinating and has inspired me to further explore his contributions. Listening to the questions and perspectives shared by students from across City University of New York was thought-provoking. In particular, hearing about concerns at Bronx Community College regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence on campus and its impact on student safety was deeply troubling. Educational institutions should serve as safe and supportive environments where all students feel protected.  I also appreciated hearing about the mayor’s initiatives, including proposals related to financial support and universal childcare, and I am hopeful that these plans will be implemented effectively. As a future nurse, one moment that resonated strongly with me was the mayor’s account of a nurse facing a long commute due to the high cost of living. This highlights a critical issue: many of the individuals who keep New York City functioning cannot afford to live here, which is deeply concerning.”

For his part, Student Jorge Sanz didn't agree with many of the mayor's positions, but found the experience to be very valuable nonetheless. "While I found the mayor’s ability to clearly identify issues affecting New Yorkers to be compelling, I found myself differing from him on several key philosophical points. Most notably, his apparent view on the role of government," he said. "Ultimately, I left the event with a deeper appreciation for civic engagement and the importance of open dialogue. I also valued the opportunity to briefly participate by voicing my request, even though doing so required stepping outside of my comfort zone. Experiences like this reinforce the importance of being actively involved and willing to engage, even when perspectives differ."

Professor Burrell  extends his thanks to Dr. Stephen Petrus of the Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College for inviting the Hostos delegation to this event and providing the opportunity to involve our students in this important town hall event.