🌊 What Can Zohran Actually Do?

I do believe Zohran will improve housing costs and his other campaign points.  I think the root cause is an obvious dissociation with the wealthiest american's and the total lack of taxes on that wealth.  An overhaul of how stock is taxed, largely at this point discussed by Trevor Noah, is a big part, but also increasing the State (i.e. Massasachusetts' "Millionaire Tax") and Federal taxes are the starting blocks to funding the social programs we need.  Forcing Amazon, Wal-Mart, and other major employers to pay a living wage that would prevent their employees from qualifying for Federal and State aid is another step.  Fixing Healthcare by creating a one payor system, or a Government controlled system like every other developed nation has accomplished besides us.  Getting rid of the "middle people" in insurance, housing, and taxing the wealthy would make giant leaps to improving our country and its most vulnerable.  

I appreciate your well-written and thoughtful analysis of New York City’s current political climate. My view on this issue is that behind Mayor Zohran’s promises of justice lies a campaign that exploits race and class, targeting so-called “wealthy white neighborhoods” while overlooking equally affluent non-white communities.  

When Mayor Zohran speaks about creating a “Comprehensive Plan” to fix the legacy of racially discriminatory zoning and to “crack down on bad landlords,” he presents himself as a champion of justice. In reality, his approach deepens division and threatens the stability of New York City’s housing system. His policies punish small property owners, discourage investment, and use race and class as political tools instead of promoting cooperation and shared progress.

Zohran’s message often singles out what he calls “wealthy white neighborhoods” as symbols of privilege and inequality. Yet he ignores that some of the most prosperous communities in the city today are no longer majority white at all. Neighborhoods such as Bayside, Forest Hills Gardens, and large sections of Flushing and Jamaica Estates are home to thriving Asian and South Asian populations who have achieved remarkable success through education, entrepreneurship, and community cooperation. Their achievements should be celebrated, not used as selective evidence in a political narrative. By targeting only white or European-descended New Yorkers, Zohran creates an illusion of fairness while quietly protecting the very communities that now hold significant economic influence.

As a small landlord who manages rent-stabilized apartments in Queens, I see the results of this kind of political posturing every day. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in my building is about $1,400, which is far below the real cost of maintaining and repairing older properties. Owners carry the full responsibility for taxes, insurance, and repairs, yet the law prevents us from addressing tenants who refuse to pay rent, damage property, or create hazards for others. Tenants are shielded from accountability even when their actions harm their neighbors. This imbalance leaves property owners struggling to sustain safe and well-kept homes for responsible tenants who do pay their rent.

The expansion of rent control, promoted as a way to make housing affordable, is producing the opposite result. Buildings that are already regulated cannot generate enough income to cover necessary upkeep. When owners can no longer reinvest in their properties, roofs begin to leak, boilers break down, and the living environment deteriorates for everyone. A sustainable housing system must include fairness for both tenants and property owners. Without that balance, affordability becomes an illusion, and the city’s housing stock falls into decay.

Zohran’s version of equity is not about equality. It is about favoring the communities he personally identifies with while portraying others as oppressors. This rhetoric divides neighborhoods and undermines trust among New Yorkers who have all contributed to the growth of this city. If he truly cared about justice, he would focus on policy that rewards responsibility, encourages investment, and ensures accountability for all residents, regardless of race or income.

New York’s future depends on restoring mutual respect and shared responsibility. This city was built by people of every background working together, not by isolating one group to elevate another. Leadership must return to fairness, cooperation, and balance values that have always defined the real strength of New York City.

I hate the implication that the heartland is inherently anti-socialist or Trump-supporting. Looking at a map of Oklahoma vs New York State, you'll see a very similar trend of rural vs urban divide. But living in OK day to day, you will meet some of the MOST socialist, sometimes straight up communist people. As of January 2025, Oklahoma City has 197k registered Republicans, 161k registered Democrats, and 112k registered Independents. Talk about political diversity. 

Moreover, the heartland has some of the most impoverished people who can't afford to vote. Hopefully I don't have to go into detail about barriers to voting, it's the usual jobs of no PTO, lack of transportation, etc. A lot of people don't even try to vote because of apathy. But they are often the ones facilitating meals during the SNAP freeze. They're the ones organizing mutual aid on queer Facebook groups. They're the ones teaching other leftists how to shoot (that's one stereotype I'll stand by, everyone knows how to handle a gun). 

Anyway, I could write a whole column but I'll stop here. It is harmful to perpetuate the idea that NYC is the only place vying for change. Leftists exist everywhere. Even if we aren't voting with our ballots, we are voting with our actions.