Just over a week before the NYC mayor's race on November 4, approximately thirteen thousand attendees filled the Queens stadium for the “NYC Is Not For Sale” event, headlined by Congresswoman AOC, senator Bernie Sanders and the mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani.
The historic open-air venue was filled to capacity. New Yorkers of diverse ages and origins assembled, but it was the Gen Z crowd that seemed to bring the excitement.
Many described the event as a significant moment. It was a moment of unity, discontent and hope all at once. For one attendee, 23, of Queens, the motivation to attend was simple: “I’m here because the government sucks, to be honest with you … and I feel like we should bring about reform as a country, and New York City is definitely the starting point.”
Audience Enthusiasm and Views
For Spencer, 29, who lives in the neighborhood, the vibe of the event signaled something he hasn’t felt in city elections in a long time. “It’s thrilling that someone who actually might change things is appearing in an area that I’m in,” he said. “If it’s here, it’s like, why not? If we’re not gonna be involved now, then when is the time?”
Another local, a supporter, 29, shared a comparable excitement: “I think it’s inspiring to be a part of this movement. We even went out to cast ballots earlier today because we were preparing to be psyched for everything that he’s for.”
The variety of the crowd reflected the city itself. Longtime residents, recent arrivals, working youth and retirees all were in attendance. For an attendee, 68, from Astoria, it was his first rally of the campaign. “I’m here because, well, I want to hear what they have to say, and there’s no other viable candidates, in my opinion,” he said.
Key Issues and Voter Concerns
For the Astoria resident, the primary concerns facing NYC right now are “safety, the trains being safe, and cost of living”, adding that while he’s doubtful about whether the candidate can deliver on all his promises, he’s receptive. “I don’t know who’s going to pay for all this stuff he wants done … but I’m going in without prejudice, and just hoping somebody is proposing some alternatives.”
Another attendee, 30, also from Astoria, said their main concerns were defending LGBTQ+ equality and addressing the city’s affordability crisis. “I think the assemblyman is doing a excellent work of addressing everything I’m worried by,” they said.
Nicole, 30, echoed that sentiment, praising Mamdani’s genuineness: “I feel like he is very sincere in his responses in a way that isn’t typically seen in most elected officials. He’s a little less empty rhetoric than usual.”
Rally Speeches and Moments
The candidate had a clear message he was aiming to get across at the rally; inclusion is NYC’s biggest strength. At one point, he had a rabbi, a reverend, and an imam all on stage together in backing his campaign. The city’s comptroller, a former candidate in this election, also came out to endorse Mamdani.
The senator received the loudest applause of the evening, tied with only Mamdani himself. Sanders spoke of the importance of voting for Mamdani to the position of mayor not only for the sake of making the city more affordable, but also as a means to send a message to the former president and the wealthy elites he has in his circle.
“Everyday citizens get a single ballot,” Sanders said. “Meanwhile, the ultra-rich get the chance to spend as much as they want to elect the politicians they want. That is the backdrop in which this election is taking place.”
The state's leader Kathy Hochul was the only speaker met with mixed responses, with the audience frequently breaking into chants to enthusiastically chant “Tax the rich!” Mamdani came out at the end of her speech to, quite literally, stand with her, as if to show the supporters the importance of her appearance and backing.
It was a stark difference to representative Ocasio-Cortez, who spoke just after the governor and was met with the audience calling out for her.
When it came time for Mamdani himself to take the stage, the crowd had been more than sufficiently hyped. As with the mayoral debate days earlier, he did not hesitate at criticizing the former governor.
“Let our message ring so loud that Cuomo can hear them tonight in his expensive rental,” the mayoral hopeful said. “Let them be so powerful that he can hear them even if he’s in Westchester tonight.”
But he did not focus excessively on Cuomo, instead dedicating the latter half of his speech to expressing gratitude to the coalition who had backed his campaign for the past several months and contributed to his historic campaign.
Perhaps the most evocative moment came towards the end, when he asked anyone in the crowd who had volunteered and gone door-to-door for his campaign to turn on their lights. The arena immediately lit up in a sea of glowing screens, innumerable.
“We are just getting started. On November 4 we set ourselves free,” Mamdani said in his closing words.