Mamdani, Sliwa, and Cuomo actually traded jabs about Trump, rent, and Israel during the New York City mayoral debate

pivotal moments.

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Final thoughts.

This concludes our live coverage of the last mayoral debate in New York.

In a short while, our political team will provide an analysis.

The 90-minute event, which centered on a lengthy debate between Democratic nominee Zohan Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, the former governor he defeated in the primary and is now running as an independent, seemed unlikely to have changed many people’s opinions overall.

In contrast to Mamdani, the state assemblyman who is nearly half his age, Cuomo persisted in emphasizing that his decades of experience in state and federal government should make him the best candidate.

Since New York is turning into “a museum of where working-class people used to be able to live,” Mamdani positioned himself as the candidate for change, emphasizing affordability.

Although Sliwa is a captivating television personality, he did little to alter the impression that he is still more of a peculiar cultural figure than a likely government official.

It was updated at 02:59 CEST.

The debate is over.

During the campaign’s last debate, the candidates were asked to identify one thing that New York did well during the pandemic.

According to Sliwa, Cuomo made a mistake.

According to Mamdani, he received his COVID-19 vaccination in just fifteen minutes. He claims, “It was an efficient experience.”.

“I appreciate the compliment,” Cuomo says. That was a city-run vaccination location, Mamdani responds. “.”.

“It wasn’t,” Cuomo responds.

Amatulli Jen.

When the question of whether the candidates would close Rikers Island, a Bronx prison that houses over 7,500 inmates, if elected was brought up, Cuomo and Mamdani got into yet another heated argument in the first half of the second hour of the debate. The New York City Council passed a bill in 2019 requiring its closure by 2027.

Sliwa promised to keep Rikers open if elected. Following Mamdani’s statement that he wanted to close Rikers because Cuomo wouldn’t release 7,000 criminals into New York City, Cuomo responded by firing a shot at Mamdani right away.

Despite the fact that current Mayor Eric Adams has made it “nearly impossible” to close the prison by the deadline, Mamdani pushed back, saying he would try his best to meet it. Additionally, he referred to the prison as a “stain on the history” of NYC.

Shortly afterward, Cuomo and Mamdani got into another argument over the former’s past and the latter’s lack of experience. To contrast Mamdani, Cuomo brashly enumerated some of his project management accomplishments, such as the Mario Cuomo Bridge and the Second Avenue subway. “You will hear from Andrew Cuomo about his experience as if we don’t know about it,” was Mamdani’s response. “Your experience is the problem! We went through what you went through!”.

at 02:41 CEST, an update.

Inquiring about the 13 women who worked under his administration and accused him of sexual harassment, Mamdani turns to Cuomo.

“You have even pursued these women out of the law. Charlotte Bennett, one of those women, is present in the audience this evening. You wanted to see her private gynecological records,” Mamdani claims. Because you filed a defamation lawsuit against her, she is unable to advocate for herself. I am able to speak, though. To the thirteen women you sexually harassed, what would you say?

After a short silence, Cuomo responds, “You have to be serious and mature if you want to be in government.”. Sexual harassment was allegedly committed. You are aware that everything you just stated was false because they went to five district attorneys, litigated the case for four years, and then had it dropped. “.”.

“Everything I said was false,” Mamdani claims.

“Yes,” responds Cuomo, “because the cases were dropped.”.

When Cuomo has the chance to question another candidate, he questions Mamdani about why he posed for a picture with a Ugandan leader who is anti-LGBTQ+ and why he would oppose a boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against Uganda because of its anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Mamdani claims that if he had known about the Ugandan figure’s anti-LGBTQ+ views, he would not have posed for that photo.

Then he charges Cuomo with lacking any policies to assist New Yorkers who identify as LGBTQ+. He goes on, “All you have are the insults that you have lobbed.”.

revised at 02:15 CEST.

Jenna Amatulli.

Some of the tensions between the three candidates were eased by a brief moment of humor in response to a lightning-round question that asked, “What is your favorite live music venue?”. It should be noted that the Chainsmokers are a musical group rather than a venue, as Sliwa yelled strongly: “Chainsmokers! EDM!”.

While Cuomo mentioned Under the K Bridge, a park in an industrial area of northern Brooklyn, Mamdani mentioned Forest Hills, a stadium in Queens.

updated at 02:18 CEST.

In a lightning round, the candidates were asked if they were in favor of more police tickets in response to the recently implemented 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes.

Mamdani claims that he would prefer to take tough measures against delivery services that rely on apps and put pressure on riders who ride their bikes too quickly.

Cuomo responds “yes,” while the others say “no” when asked if they would accept Eric Adams’ endorsement. Sliwa declares his desire for Adams to be imprisoned.

They were also asked how they would vote if the three of them were running for mayor in a ranked-choice election. According to Mamdani, he would put himself first and Sliwa second. Sliwa replies, “Please don’t be glazing me, Zohran!” He declares that he would only vote for himself. Cuomo adds that he would cast his vote solely for himself.

It was updated at 02:12 CEST.

Jenatulli.

Cuomo and Mamdani’s disagreement reached a breaking point almost midway through the debate when the latter was accused of being vague or evasive about his beliefs.

“In terms of our schools, I think that every single child should have an excellent public education,” Mamdani first stated. After that, he made reference to the need for increased literacy and funding for public schools, but he did not go into further detail about his proposal to reform education in New York City. He changed his approach and specifically criticized Cuomo for taking so long to build more housing while he was governor.

Mamdani interrupted, saying, “Not if it’s you!” after Cuomo pointed out right away that the governor doesn’t construct housing.

As the candidates interrupted one another with louder and louder comebacks, the situation swiftly descended into chaos. Again, Cuomo cited Mamdani’s lack of experience, while Mamdani criticized Cuomo for his inadequacies as governor.

At one point, Cuomo told Mamdani, “You fail to understand how to manage a government and how to deal with an emergency.”.

Moderators told Sliwa to maintain order, but he weighed in and claimed that his fellow candidates were “fighting like kids in the school yard.”. Sliwa remarked of Mamdani, “Your shortcomings could fill a public school library,” and of Cuomo, “Your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin.”. “”.

revised at 02:20 CEST.

Andrew Cuomo simply stated: “Mayor David Dinkins did it” in response to a public safety discussion about the prosecution of misdemeanor quality-of-life crimes. “.”.

He continues by accusing Zohran Mamdani of being enchanted by American democratic socialists.

Dinkins, the former mayor of New York, was also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, but Cuomo failed to mention this.

updated at 02:20 CEST.

A video of Sliwa telling Cuomo, “You’re in the back pockets, Andrew, of the developers who wined, dined, and pocket-lined you,” was recently posted on social media by Mamdani’s account. “”.

The account also stated, “This just so happens to be true.”.

It was updated at 01:48 CEST.

Mamdani, who has criticized Israel, especially its war on Gaza, is accused by Cuomo of being one of those who “stoke the flames of hatred against Jewish people.”.

In the past, the former governor has advocated that Mamdani’s stance on Palestinian rights should make Jewish New Yorkers, who comprise a sizable portion of the city’s population, feel unsafe in his role as mayor.

After seemingly equating support for Palestinians with support for terrorism, Sliwa implies that Mamdani is in favor of “jihad,” or holy war.

Mamdani claims that this attack is being staged because he is the first Muslim to be in a position of authority in the city. “I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad,” he says.

Mamdani has previously stated that, as an American, he supports a state that grants equal rights to everyone, regardless of ethnicity or religion, avoiding a statement that he supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

Mamdani goes on to say that he hopes to become a mayor who will protect the Jewish children of Sliwa.

modified at 01:44 CEST.

Even when he is not on stage, Zohran Mamdani has the opportunity to respond to Andrew Cuomo virtually thanks to his campaign team’s live-tweeting of the debate.

Moments ago, the account wrote, “Andrew Cuomo didn’t just watch from the sidelines as the homelessness crisis grew.”. He held political authority and repeatedly made decisions that exacerbated the situation. “.”.

updated at 01:35 CEST.

According to Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani cannot freeze rent for New Yorkers since he has no authority over the rent guidelines board.

“Andrew Cuomo is your choice if you want a mayor candidate who tells you everything he can’t do,” Mamdani responds. Then, he makes the right argument that the mayor selects the board members.

It was updated at 01:29 CEST.

Regarding his tenure as governor of New York, Cuomo claims that the number of homeless people has more than doubled since he left office.

Looking across the stage at Cuomo, Sliwa remarks, “Andrew, you didn’t leave, you fled from being impeached.”. “You fled? You left!”.

It was updated at 01:28 CEST.

“You can’t beat Trump, he has all the cards,” Curtis Sliwa responds when asked how he would handle Donald Trump, implying that he is the candidate with the best ability to handle the president.

Cuomo claims that if Mamdani prevails, Trump “will take over New York City” and asserts that “I have confronted him and I have beaten him.”.

According to Mamdani’s eroding response, viewers have just heard from the Republican candidate and “Andrew Cuomo, Donald Trump’s puppet.”.

According to Mamdani, Trump has made it apparent that he wants Cuomo to win, despite rumors that the former governor has conferred with the president about the race’s strategy.

revised at 01:18 CEST.

The first query relates to Tuesday’s raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on street vendors on Manhattan’s Canal Street.

Cuomo says he would have pushed the White House to withdraw the federal officers, while the other two candidates all condemn the ICE raids.

“ICE is a careless organization that doesn’t give a damn about the law,” Mamdani claims.

While agreeing that the raids were a bad idea, Sliwa calls the response of the New Yorkers who resisted the officers during the raid incorrect.
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