Mamdani, Cuomo answer to community concerns while Sliwa joins Brooklyn rally

FLUSHING, Queens (PIX11) — On Sunday, Metro IAF NY, an interfaith coalition, hosted a mayoral forum giving community members a chance to ask New York City mayoral candidates directly about their plans to address key issues.

Both former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani took part in the event, where a wide range of community concerns were front and center.

“NYCHA has too many excuses why they can’t solve these problems,” said Blanca Ramos from Monte Sion Christian Church as she took the podium.

She was followed by Reverend Rashad Moore from the First Baptist Church of Crown Heights. “NYC, the wealthiest city in the world, has one of the highest rates of student homelessness in the nation,” Moore said.

“1 in 5 New Yorkers, the entire population of Manhattan, experience mental health illness,” added Andrew Riblet of Manhattan Together.

Shortly after representatives from congregations, nonprofits, schools, and unions voiced their community members’ frustrations, both candidates had three minutes to talk directly to the crowd.

“Leaders don’t get to determine the scale of the crisis that they face,” said Democratic candidate Mamdani.

Meanwhile, Independent candidate Cuomo added, “We have a city that has tremendous needs and is not making the progress that it can make.”

Affordable housing dominated the discussion. Both called it a crisis, with questions about converting the Aqueduct Racetrack and scrapping the Flushing Airport plan for housing.

“Flushing Airport, yes, on the 26 acres of Aqueduct, I think we are asking for too little,” said Cuomo. “You have 172 acres that resort homes abutting those 26 if they want to build a casino, they need to give us some of those 172.”

On the other hand, Mamdani said, “I want to better understand the legality of withdrawing the already issued proposal and I look forward to working together to better understand that.” Adding, “The second is to commit to the city aqueduct and then to work together for the state land to ensure we can fulfill”

Both candidates agreed on tackling the mental health crisis, funding NYCHA repairs, holding developers accountable, and appointing a deputy mayor to track progress. They also addressed concerns about rising violence affecting Christian, Jewish, immigrant, and other vulnerable communities, who say they no longer feel safe in the city.

“While this nation is polarized, we should be unified and I’m dedicated to that,” said Cuomo.

“We cannot have a city where your safety depends on who you know,” Mamdani said.

Curtis Sliwa skipped the forum and instead joined a “No More Shelters” rally in Brooklyn’s Coyle Street, led by Chinese American community members opposing a planned homeless shelter. He was optimistic about his odds of being the next mayor.

“I don’t trust the polls. It’s about getting your vote out and as you can see a got a lot of supporters in the outer voters who were probably never asked any questions in these polls.”

Early voting starts on Saturday, and the election is on Nov. 4.