CARRIE LUKAS: Women And Their Risky Bet On Mamdani

New York City women overwhelmingly voted for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Undoubtedly, his emphasis on affordability resonated with women struggling to afford childcare, groceries, and energy bills. Many likely found his optimism and promise to help poor communities appealing. Women want systems to help the vulnerable.

Yet these women overlook how they themselves are vulnerable, and their rights are vulnerable, when radical anti-Western politicians like Mamdani take power.

Put aside last-minute campaigning, and Mamdani has consistently supported reducing police power and punishments for crime. While this potentially impacts all law-abiding citizens, women are uniquely affected whenever a community becomes more dangerous.

A 2018 New York University study called “The Pink Tax on Transportation” found that safety concerns cost women an extra $25 to $50 a month because women avoided using public transportation at night. Women not only pay more to avoid danger but change their behavior. Thirteen percent of women in the NYU study also said they changed how they dressed because of safety concerns, compared to 3% of men. If anything, these numbers are surprisingly low given that three out of four female survey respondents reported experiencing some form of harassment or theft on New York’s transit system.

Those findings are from 2018. NYC transit safety deteriorated further post-COVID and the ensuing massive immigration influx. Today, New York officials celebrate improving crime statistics. Given that, in 2023, 16% of New York City residents reported in a Sienna poll having been physically assaulted that year, one certainly hopes New York is getting safer. Yet residents should remember how quickly crime can surge when leaders signal that criminal rights will once again be prioritized over policing and public safety.