Zohran Mamdani is a 34-year-old politician who has just become New York City’s mayor. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, he moved to the United States at age seven and became an American citizen in 2018. His mother is a filmmaker, and his father is a well-known professor at Columbia University. Mamdani studied at Bowdoin College, where he supported progressive causes like Palestinian rights. Later, he became active in politics and was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 to represent Queens, a diverse and immigrant-rich area.Mamdani is a progressive Muslim and a member of the left wing of the Democratic Party.
His campaign for mayor focuses on making New York affordable for everyone. He promises free buses, rent control, and affordable housing. He plans to finance his social programs by raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations. However, many of his ideas would need state approval to become reality. Mamdani’s rise has surprised many Americans, as he represents a new, more inclusive vision for one of the world’s most expensive and unequal cities.
Vocabulary:
• Front-runner (noun): a person most likely to win a race or election.
• Melting pot (noun): a place where many cultures and people mix.
• Grassroots (adj): coming from ordinary people in a community.
• Affordable (adj): not too expensive; something you can pay for.
• Rent control (noun): government limits on how much rent can increase.
• Borough (noun): one of the main areas of a large city like New York.
• Campaign (noun): organized activities to reach a goal, like winning an election.
• Wealthy (adj): rich; having a lot of money.
• Tax (noun): money people or companies must pay to the government.
• Progressive (adj): supporting social and political change.
Source: AFP News Agency