After Zohran Mamdani ran away with the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in June’s primary, business leaders across the city lost their collective minds. Billionaire Bill Ackman declared that Mamdani’s “policies would be disastrous for NYC.” Fellow billionaire Daniel Loeb compared Mamdani to Fidel Castro. Venture capitalist Bradley Tusk predicted New York might go the way of Detroit and Baltimore, cities he said had become “dirty and dangerous.” On CNBC, Jim Cramer wondered if, in Mamdani’s New York, the rich would “get shot.” An emergency meeting was held at the Pool Room about stopping the 33-year-old democratic socialist, whose name, to some, had become the scariest word du jour, the mere mention of which would send shivers down their spines.
At the same time, some business leaders have actually met with Mamdani face-to-face, in private, and come away with the shocking revelation that…he’s kind of delightful! And they actually like him!
Yes, The New York Times reports that over the last few months, a “surprising thing has been happening when Mr. Mamdani gets behind closed doors with New York’s elite,” which is that instead of spitting in their faces or adopting a Mr. Smithers–esque tone while telling them he’s going to tax them at 90% and use their penthouses for his city-run grocery stores, he “listens, asks questions, and is amiable.” Another thing they like: “He doesn’t lecture the business leaders, instead absorbing their points of view and, at times, promising to think about their arguments.” (It’s probably also helpful that he has said that there is “a very important role to be played” by the private sector when it comes to addressing NYC’s housing crisis.) Among those who have sat down with the would-be mayor are James Whelan, the president of the Real Estate Board of New York, who Mamdani cold-called and asked for a meeting; real estate manager Jeffrey Gural; Pfizer executive Sally Susman; and Michael Bloomberg and his longtime adviser Howard Wolfson. (He’s also reportedly “spoken briefly” with JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and “discussed economic policy” with former UBS Americas CEO Robert Wolf.)
“I don’t want him to fail,” Gural told the Times, also saying that Mamdani came off as “personable” and “smart.” (Gural maintained that he still plans to vote for Andrew Cuomo.) Susman similarly called the candidate smart and a “good listener,” noting that he “picks up on things.” Meanwhile, Wolfson—who maintained that Mamdani would not get his vote—described the democratic socialist as “intelligent and engaged and engaging,” adding that “he asks good questions, he avoids unnecessary argument.” According to Wolfson, the former mayor was equally impressed by the candidate.
“Zohran has made clear that he’s willing to meet with anyone—including those who disagree with him—to advance his affordability agenda,” a spokeswoman for Mamdani told the Times.
Meanwhile, as the ruling classes make their peace with Mamdani, his popularity continues to spread. The online astrologer Chani Nicholas appeared in a video this week wearing a “New York Jews for Zohran” T-shirt, while the Hot Girls for Zohran group is hosting a number of events this month in support of the candidate.
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