To The Partiers and Ravers in New York City, Let’s Ask Ourselves: What Do We Need From Mayor Mamdani?

The “scene” propelled Zohran to victory - can he make it safer? And better?

Zohran’s mayoral term will start with nightlife in New York City at a crossroads. 

Venue closures and ticket prices make going out less accessible; permit processes for new ones are bureaucratic and expensive; risks surrounding drug use and transportation persist; and over-policing remains an issue - all of which make nightlife less safe for guests, staff, and communities.

So, what can Zohran actually do? 

The Mayor is the head of New York City’s Executive Branch. Its Office has departments for:

• Criminal Justice

• Crime Victim Services

• Street Vendor Enforcement

• Neighborhood Safety & Prevention of Gun Violence

• Immigrant Affairs

• End Domestic & Gender-Based Violence

• Long Term Planning & Sustainability

• Urban Agriculture

• Gender Equity

• Drug Strategy

• Nightlife

• Committee on City Healthcare Services

• Prevention of Hate Crimes

• Minority & Women-Owned Businesses

• Food Policy

• Sports, Wellness, & Recreation

• Community Mental Health 

• Not-For-Profit Organizational Services

• Healthcare Accountability

Within Each of these Departments, the Mayor Has Power to:

• Appoint the heads of each department; 

• Create Commissions to study and propose current & new strategies (gender equity, drug strategy, city healthcare services), including citywide pilot programs.

• Advocate for changes to City law (decided by City Council)

• Through Executive Order, the Mayor can also: 

  • Create or abolish departments and individual positions;

  • Internally reorganize, merge, or repurpose departments and individual positions;

So now, let's discuss:

• What do we need from nightlife establishments which are lacking right now? 

• In what ways should the City help venues, and hold them accountable? 

• How can we lower barriers-to-entry for new DIY spaces? 

• Are there non-invasive, non-carceral ways in which community health services, the health department, and clubs, can work together to expand harm reduction and make venues safer?

• And do we want the future of nightlife in New York City to be like?