Brian Laird on WNYC. So how is Mayor Mamdani doing, according to the group that he belongs to and did a lot to help him get elected, the Democratic Socialists of America, New York chapter.

How's he doing with these storms

and the safety of homeless people on the streets?

He did announce a resumption of homeless encampment sweeps last week,

though he says they'll be more humane than under Mayor Adams.

How does his big budget blueprint released last week look to the New York City

DSA leaders after the mayor said this from the podium in his inaugural?

Do the rich have everybody else over a barrel? Because, no, that's the wrong clip. He said,

I was elected as a Democratic socialist and I will govern as a Democratic socialist.

One thing to note, this preliminary budget does not include a Department of Community Safety,

a core campaign proposal. And you probably know it does include two tax hike options to help close

the $5 billion budget gap that the mayor inherited. Of course, he's just

been in office for, you know, two months. He didn't cause this. He inherited it. His preferred

choices to raise taxes on the wealthy, as you know, and wealthy corporations, but he's got

a property tax hike plan B. Now, apart from the tax increases, Mamdani required every government agency to appoint

chief savings officers tasked with eliminating waste and inefficiencies. Makes me wonder, can there

be a democratic socialist version of Doge? There's also some lines in his budget that critics have

compared to austerity measures implemented

by previous administrations.

Public libraries are facing a $30 million cut.

And City Pheps, the rental assistance program that helps low-income households get out and

stay out of the shelter system, remains underfunded compared to the demand and eligibility. So let's get a DSA report card.

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