The denizens of New York City have to be living in a condition of anxiety, as their metropolis has just been turned over to political neophyte Zohran Mamdani. Even those who enthusiastically voted for the avowed Democratic Socialist must have levels of caution that imbue their excitement. It has been amazing how swiftly all of the words of warning delivered about the man, which were shouted down as racist or otherwise demonized, are already coming to fruition.
His inauguration was an apt metaphor of his socialist agenda, as it was uncatered and no one had the foresight to provide portable bathrooms for the crowd. Just a look at how he is setting up his cabinet delivers brake-tapping hesitation. His Chief Counsel is Ramzi Kassem, a lawyer who has defended an Al Qaeda terrorist and an anti-Israel spokesman. He hired as the chief of the NYFD an intersectional woman who has never been a firefighter(person). He created the position of Deputy Mayor of Economic Justice (nothing subversive with that title), filled by failed Biden appointee Julie Su. And now we are watching as his Tenant Advocate, who declared owning a home an act of white supremacy, was confronted about her parents living in a posh mansion.
So yes, there is absolutely zero surprise that inside of a week, Mamdani’s tenure is already wheels up in a ditch. But there was another small event that is perfectly descriptive of his corrupted mindset, albeit one that is extremely trivial. This is not a severe problem or even an issue that 98 percent of people care about, yet he exposed so many of his problems here as he was springing into action – about World Cup Soccer ticketing problems.
As it has been repeatedly insisted, the upcoming staging of the FIFA World Cup here in the States is supposedly a big deal. Organizers are facing the real challenge of American apathy over this sporting event, but we are being told to care. And now, Mamdani has seen fit to take action.
The issue is that ticket prices for the games are more than exorbitant; they border on ransom-level pricing. So the newly christened mayor has decided he will take action on behalf of soccer fans.
A $60 "supporter ticket" for 1.6% of seats isn't enough. Not when FIFA just set the highest ticket prices in World Cup history.
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) December 17, 2025
Thousands spoke up demanding that this be a tournament that New Yorkers can afford.
Here's what we actually need: end dynamic pricing, cap resale… pic.twitter.com/E5uBF6oFX2
That he sees a need to inject himself into this supposed problem speaks to the knee-jerk mindset that every social issue has to have governmental involvement. He actually believes that the government needs to be injected into any and all facets of social life, and this headlong rush into things has him oblivious to various realities.
He feels he can dictate ticket pricing, as if it is in line with his other giveaway proposals, like free commuter line access, rent controls, and government-operated grocery stores. Unfortunately for him, the World Cup is not a government operation and therefore operates apart from his Utopian mandates. This is what happens when someone regards the free market as anathema to his desires; reality becomes an inconvenience for those who operate in a realm of theoretical ideals.
One other niggling detail he has missed: The games in the area are not even held in his jurisdiction. Some of the qualifying matches, as well as the championship game, will be held in the stadium shared by the New York Giants and New York Jets, which is in East Rutherford, New Jersey. But he will not let that interfere with his collective “for the people” bromides. He wants this game to be available "to each and every New Yorker," yet the stadium only has a capacity of just over 80,000. This impacted thinking should have the local NFL teams on high alert.
It has been amazing to behold how, already, there have been more than cracks seen in the facade of this administration. It has been more like hammering a nail to hang some artwork, only to have the whole wall fall away because it was never properly anchored on day one. Good luck to those remaining in New York City; it has only been one week under the Mamdani administration.
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