Transcript: ATU Local 726-Staten Island, NY, and ATU NY State Legislative Conference Board Endorse Andrew Cuomo for NYC Mayor
NYC Transit Workers Back Cuomo’s Vision for Affordable, Sustainable Mass Transit, Oppose Mamdani’s “Free Bus” Plan That Bankrupted Kansas City
Staten Island, NY - Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726-Staten Island, NY, and the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board formally endorsed Andrew Cuomo for Mayor of New York City at an event earlier today.. With over 20,000 members in the metropolitan area and thousands of bus operators and transit professionals across the five boroughs, this endorsement signals growing labor momentum behind Cuomo’s campaign, joining the Teamsters Joint Council 16 and IBEW Local 3.
A rush transcript of Cuomo’s remarks are below
Thank you very much, and good morning to everyone. It’s a pleasure to be back on Staten Island, and it really is a beautiful day. I was in charge of the weather today—just in case anyone’s interested.
I am honored and flattered to be endorsed by the ATU. These women and men represent the people who literally move New York. The jobs they do—and the way they do them—make them true New York heroes. These are the people who showed up for work through COVID, dealing with the public, putting their own health at risk. Every day, they face all sorts of people boarding their buses—some dangerous, some combative—but they still show up, they still do their jobs, and they do them well.
The express HOV lane made a tremendous difference, and we achieved that together. That was a real accomplishment, saving commuters about 40 minutes a day. I want to thank the ATU for their cooperation in making that happen. But most of all, I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. They are who I represent. They are why I am in government. They make New York, New York. So please, give yourselves a round of applause.
Now, I want to talk about the free bus proposal you just heard about, but first I want to set a little context for this race.
This election is not just about two viable candidates—it’s about two very different philosophies.
The philosophy I represent says that America is a land of opportunity, and New York is a place that values hard work, where people who show up and do their jobs get paid a fair wage. New York is a union town. The labor movement built the middle class, built the Democratic Party, and secured basic safety and security for working people.
We believe in law and order. We believe in the NYPD. We believe in the rule of law. We believe in a public education system where every child can get a good education and build a better life than their parents.
We believe in affordable housing—and the way you get affordable housing is by building more housing. There’s no quick gimmick, no shortcut.
We believe that when taxpayers give government their hard-earned dollars, government should deliver results. Politicians shouldn’t just be talkers—they should be doers. That’s our philosophy.
My opponent, Mr. Mamdani, believes the exact opposite. Everything he proposes is empty rhetoric that won’t make a difference in anyone’s life. His answer to every problem is: Free. Free transportation. Free food. Free clothes. Free everything. But New Yorkers know there’s no such thing as a free lunch—somebody has to pay.
Zohran Mamdani has said, in his own words, that the NYPD is racist, wicked, corrupt, and a threat to public safety. He believes the NYPD should be defunded, disarmed, and disbanded.
We reject that completely.
He also advocates for a government-run grocery store in every borough. So, let’s think about that. Staten Island would have one grocery store—operated by the City of New York. Prices would supposedly be lower because the city “isn’t trying to make a profit.” But why would taxpayers subsidize wealthy New Yorkers who can afford their own groceries? And does anyone believe that the same city government that struggles to fill a pothole is suddenly going to run a grocery store—one of the lowest-margin businesses there is—successfully? It’s absurd.
Like his other proposals, it’s empty talk. No substance. No reality. No impact on people’s lives.
Now, free buses. Sounds great, right? But here’s the reality: free buses would cost the MTA $700 million a year. To put that in perspective, congestion pricing—with all the aggravation it caused—brings in $500 million a year. Free buses would wipe out every dollar raised by congestion pricing and then leave the MTA another $200 million in the hole.
That makes no sense. Free buses would also be free for people who can easily afford to pay the fare. I believe in free buses and free subways for low-income, working New Yorkers—where it truly makes a difference. But again, what he’s offering is a slogan, not a solution.
And let’s not forget: when Mr. Mamdani was asked who the best mayor of his lifetime was, his answer was Bill de Blasio. Bill de Blasio—the best mayor. That says it all.
Zohran Mamdani offers the same thing de Blasio did: political theory, rhetoric, empty words—no delivery, no results, no impact.
This race isn’t about words. It’s about changing lives. That’s exactly what we are going to do.
We don’t need de Blasio 2.0.
Thank you very much.
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