NY Citizens expect competent administrative leadership from their mayor. In other words, they desire efficient and effective management of city affairs.

In the bustling metropolis of New York City, the race for the mayoral election in 2025 is heating up. With a population larger than that of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia combined, the city's most powerful position is often compared to running a nation, not just a city.

One of the known candidates for the upcoming election is Zohran Mamdani, a junior Assembly member from Queens. However, Mamdani faces criticism for lacking adequate management expertise, a common challenge for mayors in New York City, as stated by Stu Loeser, a former press secretary for Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Another contender, Brad Lander, has described himself as a good manager who loves New York City. Lander's motto is "Vision, Experience, Competence," reflecting his focus on effective leadership.

Scott Stringer, another potential candidate, also emphasizes competence, with his motto being "Vision, Experience, Competence." Stringer is known for his decisive strides towards his "moonshot goal" to build 500,000 new homes in a decade, a feat he achieved with the help of the City Council.

The position of the mayor of New York City comes with immense responsibilities. The mayor interacts with a press corps hungry for news, manages the largest police force and education system in the country, and oversees a municipal workforce of over 306,000 people, which is larger than most state governments.

The mayor's budget, around $110 billion, is a significant factor in managing the city's resources. Notable mayors who have left their mark on the city include Michael Bloomberg, often seen as the city's most effective mayor this century. Bloomberg, a technocratic, data-driven leader, fought to improve public health, banning public smoking indoors and increasing life expectancy by two years in the city.

Bill de Blasio, another former mayor, successfully championed universal pre-K, a landmark program that remains deeply popular today. Adrienne Adams, another potential candidate, frequently describes herself as "no drama, no nonsense."

The mayor's position also functions as a highly influential bully pulpit, both domestically and internationally. The ongoing political context involving the Chinese consulate's attempts to influence the election adds an additional layer of complexity to the race.

In the midst of this competitive landscape, ads paid for by super PACs supporting Andrew Cuomo claim he is the one to get things done. Cuomo, who has charged that legislative skills are different from executive skills, states that he is an executive. An ad supporting him reads, "Cuomo: The One to Get Things Done."

Rudy Giuliani's tough-on-crime crusade helped get him elected and was credited for driving down crime rates in the early 2000s. New York City's population of over 8.4 million people ranks it 103rd when compared to 233 countries and dependent territories, placing it between Sierra Leone and Laos. Despite this, the city is known for its multiple good ideas for every square foot of land.

As the race for the 2025 New York City mayoral election continues, the candidates will need to navigate these challenges and demonstrate their ability to manage the city effectively. The future of New York City will depend on their decisions.

NY Citizens expect competent administrative leadership from their mayor. In other words, they desire efficient and effective management of city affairs.