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While appearing on a TV show Sunday, Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani commended Rudy Giuliani, an ally of Trump, recognizing the former mayor for reinstating the free fare on the Staten Island Ferry.
During his appearance on MSNBC’s “The Weekend,” Mamdani, currently leading the race for the city’s mayor, spoke positively about former leaders of New York City.
“Although I have my differences with Giuliani, he was someone who made public transit on the Staten Island Ferry free,” Mamdani mentioned to co-hosts Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels, and Jackie Alemany. “This history is part of the movement for free bus transit that we are advocating.”
Mamdani only told half the story.
The SI Ferry service was free, but then-Mayor David Dinkins imposed a 50 cent fare in 1990 to pare spending during a fiscal crisis.
Giuliani scrapped the fare for the ferries between Staten Island and lower Manhattan when he ran for re-election in 1997.
Giuliani oversaw the city Department of Transportation which operates the ferry service and had say over the fare but Mamdani would need approval from the MTA and likely the state legislature and governor to eliminate the bus fare.
He also lauded Dinkins for promoting the city s a “gorgeous mosaic” and noted the late mayor was also a democratic socialist.
Mamdani touted former three-term Mayor Mike Bloomberg for his management style and for expanding green space, while applauding fellow Democrat former Mayor Bill de Blasio for instituting a universal pre-k program, which helped save working parents thousands of dollars in child care costs.