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Transit union boss touts Zohran Mamdani’s free bus fare plan at campaign rally

June 15, 2025
in News, Politics
Transit union boss touts Zohran Mamdani’s free bus fare plan at campaign rally
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The head of the national union representing 41,000 New York transit workers is giving a boost to lefty mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani — by touting the democratic socialist’s proposed fare-free bus program.

Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen insisted his surprise presence at a Mamdani rally Saturday night is not an official endorsement of his campaign — just a nod to the Astoria assemblyman’s free bus plan.

Still, his presence at the campaign event, which also included official Mamdani backers Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and state Sen. John Liu, did not go unnoticed.

Transport Workers Union International President John Samuelsen
Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen has backed mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s plan for free bus fare. REUTERS
Mamdani speaking at a Manhattan rally that Samuelsen attended on June 14, 2025.
Mamdani speaking at a Manhattan rally that Samuelsen attended on June 14, 2025. William Miller

“Zohran has collaborated with me on the fare-free bus initiative. He advanced the union’s position of fare-free buses,” Samuelsen told The Post, when asked about attending the Mamdani rally.

“Fare-free businesses should be the future. It would drive up bus and subway ridership and be an economic engine,” said Samuelsen, who headed TWU Local 100 before becoming the national TWU president.

Without the disputes over fare beating, free bus service would dramatically reduce assaults on bus drivers, he added.

However, the mayor does not set fare policy. The state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority does, though the mayor appoints some members to the MTA board.

MTA bus in Queens
The union boss said that Mamdani’s plan would “drive up bus and subway ridership and be an economic engine.” Stephen Yang

The governor exerts more control over the MTA through more appointments, including the chairman/CEO.

Mamdani’s campaign said it’d cost at least $630 million a year to replace the fare revenue brought in from the city’s bus riders.

He claims the city could cover the loss in fare revenue through a 2% tax hike on city residents making $1 million or more a year, which would require approval from the state Legislature in Albany.

NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani marches to the final debate at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Samuelsen insisted that his presence at the rally was not an endorsement of Mamdani’s campaign. Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock

The Mamdani campaign estimates the tax package would bring in $10 billion a year.

TWU Local 100 has not endorsed in the Democratic primary for mayor.

In 2021, the union endorsed Mayor Eric Adams, and Samuelsen noted Adams has supporters within the TWU Local 100.

Adams skipped the Democratic primary and is running on an independent ballot line in the general election.

The post Transit union boss touts Zohran Mamdani’s free bus fare plan at campaign rally appeared first on New York Post.

Tags: busesjohn samuelsenNYC Mayoral Election 2025transport workers unionZohran Mamdani
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