Stephen A. Smith ‘very concerned’ about NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani’s policies

Stephen A. Smith puzzled Wednesday the place the cash to finance newly elected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s bold initiatives would come from. He mentioned the democratic socialist’s largest supporters “will not be individuals who pay payments day by day.”

Whereas Smith commented On his “Straight Shooter” podcast that he personally likes Mamdani, he informed his viewers that he’s “not blissful” with the left-wing 34-year-old successful the mayoral race, including that he’s “very, very involved about a few of the issues he mentioned.”

“I simply need to know the place the cash comes from. Look, I am counting. Okay, I am counting, and I can not inform you what number of younger youngsters – they might be daughters, they might be nieces and nephews, they might be buddies and family members or family members of individuals with that age distinction, and also you’re asking the identical query. And what you are developing with?” mentioned Smith. “The individuals who love Mamdani most will not be the individuals who pay payments day by day.”

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Stephen A. Smith on the “ESPN NBA Countdown” set on the Intuit Dome on October 23, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Pictures)

He clarified that whereas his feedback don’t apply to all Mamdani supporters, “you do not see entrepreneurs clamoring” to assist the newly elected mayor.

Smith dug into the precise financial and municipal insurance policies Mamdani has proposed, emphasizing that “we’re at a crossroads on this nation” and there’s “no method to change that.”

‘Two % tax on the wealthy. Okay, fantastic. 11.5% capital beneficial properties tax. At first look, okay, fantastic. Free buses, free supermarkets in each neighborhood. Do you actually assume that is going to work?’ he mentioned.

In keeping with Smith, using even increased taxes on rich people in New York Metropolis will make the situation “unattractive” to each companies and residents, and can drive enterprise and capital elsewhere.

“So the cash they paid for his or her homes or hire, they transfer out of the town or out of state. Corporations comply with. And in the end the tax burden falls on the New Yorkers on the market – which implies hire freezes, which can be one thing Mamdani pushed for. Is that actually believable? Can you actually freeze hire or are you going to finish up doing it as a result of you do not have sufficient individuals right here to pay it? Tax income, the place do you get that from?

“Look, these are all issues we have to join and ask ourselves. One plus one, does that equal two? Is it actually possible that these items are going to occur?’ he added.

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Zohran Mamdani provides a victory speech at an evening watch occasion for the mayor, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

Along with his complaints about Mamdani’s proposed financial insurance policies, Smith additionally criticized the mayor-elect’s previous feedback about defunding the New York Police Division.

“I am very involved about what he as soon as mentioned about defunding the police,” he mentioned. “I am calling 9-1-1. I am being actual with you, I am calling 9-1-1. That is what I am doing. I do not need to see much less law enforcement officials, I need to see extra law enforcement officials.”

“I heard him discuss psychological well being specialists within the subway system. I do not care about that. I would like cops within the subways of New York Metropolis, the place I used to be born and raised, born within the Bronx and raised in Queens. That is what I would like. I do not need to hear about no psychological well being specialists within the subway. No, I am not attempting to listen to that,” Smith added.

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Resurfaced feedback from a 2023 socialist convention linking the NYPD to the Israeli army sparked backlash for Democratic Celebration candidate for New York mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Nicolas Economou by way of Getty Pictures and Democratic Socialists of America)

The candidate denied the feedback in June. “I cannot discourage the police. I’ll work with the police as a result of I imagine the police have a vital position to play in creating public security,” Mamdani mentioned.

Mamdani beforehand known as for “defunding” what he known as a “rogue state” of regulation enforcement, labeling the NYPD as a “racist, anti-queer and a serious menace to public security.”

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The newly elected mayor has beforehand indicated that he want to be stored knowledgeable NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tischhowever she has but to substantiate her place underneath Mamdani’s new authorities.

Fox Information’ Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi contributed to this report.