Mamdani began his term as New York City mayor, On January 1, 2026. He showed up making big promises and demanding much. At day 100, the results are starting to show. Yes, he has kept his promises. Some still hit major obstacles. Take a closer look at seven major promises and how they stand right now.
1. Free Universal Child Care
Mamdani hurried ahead quickly. Eight days after taking office, he promised free childcare for 2-year-olds. He and Governor Kathy Hochul kicked off the program in Brooklyn together. He also made the 2-K program run for 10 hours each day. It now works 260 days each year. So it’s more like full-time care than school. Yes, this was his clearest early victory.
2. Rent Freeze for Stabilized Tenants
This promise has serious political impact. Mamdani named six of the nine Rent Guidelines Board members. So the board started working toward a possible freeze on rent. Also, his team ran rental scam hearings around the city. But the last vote won’t happen until June. So, this key promise is still not kept.
3. Fast and Free Buses
Mamdani pushed hard for transit reform. So he brought back four bus and bike projects. The Adams administration had put them all aside before. He expanded public restroom access throughout all five boroughs. Bigger transit fights need help from the state. Yes, progress is happening, yet problems still linger.
4. City-Owned Grocery Stores
The pledge got lots of attention in the campaign. Mamdani set aside $70 million in his proposed budget for the work. He plans to open a city-run grocery store in every borough. The Economic Development Corporation said planning is already in motion. Still, no shop has opened. So, voters are still waiting for this.
5. Closing Rikers Island
Mamdani made justice reform his top priority from Day One. He first demanded the city follow its ban on solitary confinement. He also named Stanley Richards as correction commissioner. Richards is the first person who was once incarcerated to run that department. The mayor also opened a Bellevue medical outpost for Rikers detainees. But real closure takes ongoing work from lawmakers.
6. Protecting Immigrant Communities
Mamdani moved quickly here. He signed Executive Order 13 to strengthen protections for sanctuary cities. It keeps ICE out of schools, shelters, and hospitals unless they have a warrant. His team rolled out a Know Your Rights campaign in ten languages. They also handed out 30,000 flyers at places of worship. In February, Mamdani met Trump and spoke up for a jailed Colombian student. Surprisingly, the student was freed soon after the meeting.
7. Affordability Reporting and Racial Equity
Mamdani vowed to highlight inequality. To do that, he shared a “true cost of living” report in early April. Surprisingly, 62% of New Yorkers can’t afford the city’s basic cost of living. He also unveiled the city’s first racial equity plan. It covers 45 agencies, over 200 goals, and more than 600 indicators altogether. Unlike that, the Adams administration never made the needed document.
What the Numbers Say
New Yorkers seem cautiously impressed. A Marist Poll taken in late March found that 48% of city residents approve of Mamdani’s job performance. Also, 60% think he’s keeping his campaign promises. About 52% say he’s making New York City better. 61% say he’s bringing the city together more than pushing it apart. These figures show real early support.
After 100 days, Mamdani advanced fast. Until now, he rarely stumbled and often spoke loudly. But his toughest battles are still ahead. In the meantime, a $5.4 billion budget gap is looming. The rent vote is slated for June. The grocery stores are still not built. Still, the mayor set a speed that surprised most people. New York City’s mayor is unlike most others.
“Sources: NY1, The City NYC, amNewYork, Marist Poll, NYC Mayor’s Office, ABC7 New York”
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