Mamdani Faces Backlash After City Bus Fares Increase-lllllllll
The new mayor of New York City is facing a wave of criticism after fares for city buses increased this week, though he promised free buses for all residents during his campaign. New York City transit riders began paying higher fares this week after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority implemented a long-planned increase, raising the base fare for buses and subways from $2.90 to $3.
Reduced fares rose to $1.50, while express bus fares increased to $7.25, Newsweek reported.
The fare hike took effect shortly after Zohran Mamdani assumed office as mayor, drawing criticism online from residents who pointed to his campaign pledge to make city buses free. Critics argued the increase highlights a gap between campaign rhetoric and the financial realities of governing the nation’s largest city, the report said.
While the mayor does not directly control MTA fare decisions, the timing of the increase has renewed debate over whether progressive transit promises are achievable without new taxes or additional public subsidies. The MTA board approved the fare hike last year as part of its regular budget cycle, citing rising operating costs and inflation.
In response to the criticism, Mamdani posted on social media that he rode the Q70 bus, the city’s only fare-free route, over the weekend to hear from riders. He did not announce any immediate changes to fare policy.
“Today, New York City subway and bus fares rose from $2.90 to $3. I spent the evening riding the only free bus in the city, the Q70, to hear what a fare free ride has meant for New Yorkers,” Mamdani wrote on X on Sunday. “What was clear right away was the relief this one bus line gives working class New Yorkers. Imagine if every bus felt like this.”
“As mayor, I’ll make every bus fast and free,” Mamdani said in a campaign video last year.
Mamdani took office on Thursday, and in his inauguration speech, he said: “Getting on a bus without worrying about a fare hike or whether you’ll be late to your destination will no longer be deemed a small miracle—because we will make buses fast and free.”
Although the fare increase was approved before Mamdani took office and rate increases are determined by the MTA Board, social media users still criticized the rise in costs and highlighted Mamdani’s campaign promise, Newsweek pointed out.
“Mamdani promised us a free ride, but all we got is a higher fare,” one X user wrote, per the outlet.
“Bus and Subway fares in NYC are jumping to $3 as of today. The good mayor promised free. Hoodwinked!” said another.
Another X user wrote that Mamdani “has been in office for 3 days” and “the fare increase was set in September.”
Supporters of the increase note that transit fares help fund system maintenance and operations, and that freezing or eliminating fares would require alternative funding sources. The MTA has warned that without periodic increases, the agency could face deeper service cuts or budget shortfalls.
The fare hike comes as city and state officials continue to grapple with balancing affordability for riders against the long-term financial stability of New York’s transit system.
The MTA noted on its website: “Fares and tolls give the MTA resources to operate a safe and reliable transportation system that New Yorkers can count on. Fare and toll changes are small and occur at regular intervals to keep up with inflation and avoid surprising customers with unpredictable or double-digit increases.”
Meanwhile, a federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday blocked Mamdani’s attempt to intervene in the sale of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments. The Mamdani administration sought to delay the transaction after tenants complained that the current owner, Pinnacle Group, had failed to properly maintain the properties.
BANNED' - Clinton Judge Reads Her Verdict - President Donald Trump Has Been Informed That He Just Beat Gavin Newsom...
JUDICIAL RECKONING
The return of national sovereignty and administrative lethality reached a new milestone this Thursday, April 9, 2026. A blockbuster ruling in Los Angeles has left the DNC establishment and globalist elite reeling.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against California’s controversial "No Secret Police Act," blocking the state from prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks. Judge Christina Snyder ruled the law unconstitutional, marking a decisive victory for President Donald J. Trump and the Department of Justice.
The court affirmed the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, stating California cannot discriminate against federal officers while exempting its own law enforcement. Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised the ruling, emphasizing the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on harassment of federal agents.
This decision reflects the 2026 mandate: a legal framework prioritizing the safety of American officers over the sanctuary policies pushed by Governor Gavin Newsom. It signals a sweeping rollback of state overreach in immigration enforcement.
Meanwhile, in Texas, a federal jury delivered historic terrorism convictions against nine members of a radical antifa cell. The group was found guilty for a violent 2025 attack on an ICE detention facility that left a police officer shot in the neck.
Ringleader Benjamin Song faces potential life imprisonment after evidence proved the attack was a coordinated assault using explosives and rifles—not the “noise demonstration” the defense claimed. Prosecutors called the verdict a landmark affirmation of Trump’s domestic terror designation.
With Kash Patel at the FBI and Todd Blanche at the DOJ, the dismantling of extremist cells has accelerated. Federal agencies continue to secure detention centers like Prairieland against those attempting to destabilize the republic.
Governor Gavin Newsom attempted to spin the court ruling as a “win,” citing the upheld “No Vigilantes Act.” But the truth remains: the centerpiece of his anti-ICE agenda—the “No Secret Police Act”—has been effectively struck down.
The defeat exposes the weakening foundation of California’s sanctuary policies. While Sacramento prioritizes the “civil rights” of illegal aliens, the Trump administration is defending the constitutional rights of federal officers.
The week closes as a sweeping administrative triumph for the Trump-GOP platform. From Los Angeles courtrooms to Texas jury boxes, real results—not rhetoric—are forging the 2026 midterm shield.
With 5% GDP growth and a secure border, the nation is reclaiming its stability and sovereignty. America moves forward with vigilance, resolve, and a renewed commitment to law and order.
God bless the USA—and the leaders who refuse to bow to the swamp or the radical mob.
